Now Read This: 'The House at the Edge of Night' by Catherine Banner

This book is a moving family saga of four generations that live on an enchanting Mediterranean island off the coast of Sicily. At the center of Castellamore and the island’s life is a cafe called The House at the Edge of Night where the community gathers to gossip, talk and take care of each other. The owner of the cafe is Amedeo Esposito, who came to the island in 1914 to be the island’s first doctor, until scandal lost him that job. He also is a collector of stories, preserving them carefully in a notebook. He and his wife, Pina, have three sons and a daughter, the last of whom is determined to keep the cafe going as her parents age.

The story follows the lives of the Esposito family and the other islanders who live and love, including a cruel count and his bewitching wife, a priest who loves scandal, a prisoner of war turned poet, an outcast girl who becomes a pillar of strength, and a wounded English soldier who emerges from the sea. The book of recorded stories appears throughout the book, reminding readers of the value of preserving the stories of a family and a community. Banner’s superbly written drama is rich in engaging characters, each with their own life struggle and the mystical island stories passed on from one generation to the next.

Two of the read-alikes recommended by NoveList happen to be two of my favorite books: “Cutting for Stone” by Abraham Verghese and “And the Mountains Echoed” by Khaled Hosseini. Goodreads.com says “Cutting for Stone” is “a family saga of Africa and America, doctors and patients, exile and home.”

“And the Mountains Echoed” is my favorite book by Hosseini where, also according to Goodreads, “He explores the many ways in which families nurture, wound, betray, honor and sacrifice for one another.” I had the distinct honor of hearing Hosseini speak a few years ago at a library conference. He is a gentle, intelligent soul who is anxious for the world to better understand the Afghanistan that he loves.

If you haven’t discovered Goodreads, it’s a great way to keep track of what you’ve read. I have it on my phone and find it to be a huge help when someone wants to “talk books” and I can’t remember what I’ve read!

Happy readings!

Betty

About Betty

Betty Martin is director of the Cape Girardeau Public Library.