This contest period's winners were Delores W. from Wilmington, NC; Hillary W. from Oak Creek, WI; and Valerie M. from Buckeye, AZ. Each received a copy of APOSTLE'S COVE by William Kent Krueger and WHATEVER HAPPENED TO LORI LOVELY? by Sarah McCoy.
Liz
What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange
Kyle left the small town of Potsdam, NY two-and-a-half years ago after suffering a devastating loss. He has left all that he loved behind. When he is called home to care for his father who has suffered a stroke, he comes to the realization that maybe all is not lost and he may be able to redeem himself to those he felt he hurt. This story is full of love, hope, sadness and joy. It is beautifully written.
Michelle
The Secret Book Society by Madeline Martin
A secret society of literary lovers in Victorian London save themselves and each other.
Carol
Endling by Maria Reva
Endlings are the last living creature of a species. In this book, which was longlisted for the Booker Prize, it’s snails. There is a marriage agency and the story of men who come to Ukraine to find wives. We follow an activist and a scientist and another woman who protest this agency and undertake drastic measures to change it. Simultaneously we have Russia bombing Ukraine and the invasion starting. The story tries to balance these two occurrences, but I lost the reasoning, and before I knew it the book was over.
Lana
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
This book, which I read for my upcoming book club meeting, literally gave me a nightmare. Fortunately the ending helped overcome the darkness and the intensity. It’s certainly one of the twistiest plots I’ve read. The one word that was used frequently to describe women really put me off. It seems many writers stepped over a line with the use of the name of a female dog, then with the f-bomb, and now this. I’m truly not a prude, but the degrading language that is becoming increasingly common really upsets me. I wonder what our society is becoming.
Teresa
The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
Really a 4 ½-star book.A very enjoyable story of a group of young women living on the island during WWII.
Mary Ann
Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein
An outstanding book based on true sisterhood.
Jayme
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray
I really found the beginning history of the book impressive. The story of how Belle da Costa Greene passed as white and landed the job as J.P. Morgan's personal librarian and helped to curate one of America's premier manuscript and rare books libraries is fascinating. However, where the story turned for me is with the fictitious idea that Morgan and Belle longed for each other, but chose not to act on it (there is no historical evidence of this), and then the second half of the book focuses on her romantic life blah blah blah. I think I would like to read a nonfiction version of her life. I might like her better.
Jayme
Raising Hare: A Memoir by Chloe Dalton
A lovely heartwarming book about how finding and caring for a wild baby hare impacted and changed her world focus. Not only did she help the baby hare, the hare helped the author to see how we must learn to coexist with nature. Very inspiring.
Michelle
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
When the main character is both a grandmother and a serial killer, you know it’s going to be an interesting ride! This was fast-paced and action-packed, with a main character you can’t help rooting for despite being appalled by her decisions.
Rosa
The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel
Kristin Harmel does it again. She has given me another perspective on the French Resistance during World War II. This story is about Colette Marceau, the descendant of a long line of jewel thieves in her family. Her mother tells her that they are descended from Robin Hood, and their family steals jewels from the "bad guys" in order to fund the "good guys" and their causes. It is a way to gain some justice and make a difference in the world. This is a convoluted story that goes back and forth in time, between 1940s France and 2018 in Boston. It is a compelling story, one that is believable and whose characters I rooted for and cared about. This would be a great book to discuss in a book club.
Helen
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
This book is hard to put down and keeps you guessing what the ending will be.
Carol
The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman
Historical fiction set in 1930s America, this book tells the story of immigrants and the eugenics movement. Interestingly, there are some sad parallels to the way immigrants and minorities are being treated in today’s America.
Dee
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
This powerful, gut-wrenching and compelling novel will be on a lot of year-end lists.
Sharon
A Twist of Fate by Se-Ah Jang
Two women meet on a train. Both have a secret to hide. Then one disappears off the train. A twist of fate brings them back together.
Gerry
Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton
3 ½ stars for an interesting eco-thriller set in present-day New Zealand, pitting a group of young "guerilla gardeners" against an America billionaire who offers to sponsor them but appears to have ulterior motives.
Alice
Redlined: A Novel of Boston by Richard W. Wise
An excellent book for a book club discussion.
Wanda
Lying Close by Frank F. Weber
A true crime story that is well told and written. Such awful things happen to those who do not expect it. It ended with a curve I never saw coming.
Gerry
The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman
THE LIES THEY TOLD is a novel about a sad period in US history when the Eugenics movement used its pseudoscientific claims to try to eliminate those believed to be of less value than white Americans of Northern European ancestry. Poor rural communities in particular were targeted, children were taken from their parents under the guise of placing them in more “appropriate” homes, many girls and women were deemed feeble-minded and sterilized to prevent them from bearing more children, and their farms and homes were destroyed by government officials appropriating the land. This is an engaging and well-written novel. It might have achieved a five-star rating, but the ending seemed unrealistic and a bit too "pat" for me.
Gerry
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins
THE STORM is a murder mystery narrated from multiple perspectives both in the past and in the present. At times, the identity of each narrator was unclear until several paragraphs into a new section, but as long as the reader paid close attention to the names of various characters and the timing of the several named hurricanes that struck St. Medard over the years, the story eventually became clearer. The main character, Geneva Corliss, must have been at least in her early 40s based on her relationships to other characters in the book, but she seemed much younger to this reader. All those quibbles aside, the story was engaging and held my interest, and the complicated resolution was neither completely predictable nor out of the blue.
Sean
The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker
This has pieces of a good thriller buried in it, but there are so many thoughtless decisions by the writer and the worst love story ever contrived. Author Ted Dekker creates a world that maybe is supernatural, maybe isn't, and struggles to write believable characters. The relationships between the male protagonist and the women in his life are so absurd I wonder if the author has ever spoken to a woman and not creeped her out. The ending was worse than all of that. Overall, it's a decent attempt at a thriller and a worse attempt at a love story.
Gerry
A Map to Paradise by Susan Meissner
I expected more about the Hollywood blacklist in the 1950s, but that turned out to be a relatively minor element in this story of three women searching for safety and security after suffering a loss.
Gerry
The Midwife of Hope River: A Novel of an American Midwife by Patricia Harman
2 ½ stars. I found much of this book repetitive and sometimes boring as our “heroic” main character was called out over and over (usually when already exhausted) to deliver babies in strangers' homes in rural West Virginia, typically arriving just in time to prevent disaster. All the while she’s looking over her shoulders, fearful that some lawman will arrive to haul her away for some “crime” in her past that wasn’t revealed until near the end of the book. Though the book is set in the South in the 1930s, the main character also spouted unlikely liberal views and came across as quite judgmental and moralistic. Some interesting insights into living conditions and the state of medical knowledge at that time, but overall not one I’d recommend.
Gerry
Blindness by José Saramago
This is a powerful novel about a world in which people are suddenly stricken by a contagious blindness, where one after another, their vision is covered by a white blankness. The government initially responds with quarantine measures, placing the blind in a former mental hospital, and their contacts --- who are expected to succumb to blindness soon as well --- in a separate wing. But the spread of the disease, if that's what it is, quickly overwhelms the system, and with too many blind people packed into a small space, conditions become more and more squalid, and both inmates and the soldiers guarding them devolve into their most base characters. Not an easy or a fun read, but one that offers much food for thought.
Delores
All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett
A good book but predictable.
Gerry
WITSEC: Inside the Federal Witness Protection Program by Pete Earley and Gerald Shur
2 ½ stars. This history of the federal Witness Protection Program was interesting but a bit repetitive and just went on too long. I was surprised that it had never really occurred to me that the protected witnesses were all either Mafia or relatives of Mafia. Apparently this program was successful in convincing enough mobsters to turn on their bosses that it led to hundreds, possibly thousands, of convictions, but the book left me unconvinced that it was all worth the time and money --- millions of dollars spent on individual witnesses in some cases --- our government has spent on protecting some 19,000 people since the early 1970s.
Gerry
Home Before Dark by Riley Sager
Paper-thin characters and too many "clever" complications made this a novel that, by the end, I really didn't care what was true or who was guilty. But it likely would be enjoyed more by readers who enjoy ghost stories.
Gerry
The World Played Chess by Robert Dugoni
THE WORLD PLAYED CHESS is a novel with three timelines. In 1968, William Goodman is one of many American males sent to Vietnam to fight for a cause they often didn't understand or care about. In 1979, Vincent Bianco has just graduated from high school and spends his summer working as a laborer on a construction crew that includes William Goodman. And in 2016, Vincent receives a copy of William's Vietnam journal with a request to read it, just as his own son is completing his senior year of high school and beginning his transition to college. William's journal was, for me, the most compelling portion of the novel. It described very forcefully the transition from raw recruit to seasoned soldier, and the experiences that resulted in PTSD.
Delores
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
An excellent story! I loved the characters and the setting.
Gerry
Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu
3 ½ stars. This novel started slowly, but I’m very glad I stuck with it. It's a family story that spans three generations. The Dao family sent two sons off to fight when Japan invaded China in 1938, but only one returned. Daughter-in-law Meilin is left a widow with a young son, Renshu. Forced to relocate multiple times by the Japanese offensive and then the civil war between the Chinese Communists and the Republic of China, Meilin and Renshu eventually settle in Taiwan, but their lives remain fraught as they adjust to new identities, language, customs and politics. Themes of finding family and home continue as the novel progresses through hardship and joy found by the next generations.
Gerry
The Gods of New York: Egotists, Idealists, Opportunists, and the Birth of the Modern City, 1986-1990 by Jonathan Mahler
4 ½ stars. Jonathan Mahler's account of the transformation of NYC in the 1980s is detailed, compelling, and for those of us who may not have been paying close attention at the time, quite informative. So many personalities and events that were vaguely familiar to me came vividly to life in this marvelous history. So much is going on in a short span of time! The events and personalities featured here are in many cases still quite relevant to our own politics and culture as a nation, serving as a preview, as it were, of events to come. Mahler's writing is never dry and always propulsive, producing a story that held my interest throughout. Carol, I think you'll love this one!
Gerry
Conclave by Robert Harris
Quite a ride! I listened to the audiobook and walked a good bit extra while listening in order to finish. The characters as Harris presented them were more human than holy (in most cases), sharing the same ambition for power that seems to be prevalent in the world outside the church. It was interesting to learn about the strictly regulated process that takes place in order to elect a new pope, and Harris kept the suspense going right to the end, adding an unexpected twist that I never saw coming --- and one that in real life seems extremely unlikely to occur.
Gerry
Trust by Hernan Diaz
TRUST is a well-written and completely engaging novel that tells the story of a wealthy financier in NYC in the early 20th century from multiple viewpoints: in a novel written by a competitor, in an autobiography dictated by the financier, in a narrative by the secretary hired to type and edit that autobiography, and in journal entries by his wife composed prior to her death from cancer. Four very different stories yield a fascinating tale of privilege and deceit. I read this one twice and enjoyed it even more the second time!
Gerry
The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz
An interesting, if a bit too convoluted for my taste, mystery set on an island off the coast of Mexico. Abby and Eszter were in love and engaged, when Eszter traveled to the island for a planned three-week stay where Abby was to join her for the last week. But just before Abby's departure, Eszter died of anaphylactic shock. Eszter's parents, who disapproved of the women's relationship, shut Abby out of all communication. Six months later, Abby traveled to the island, seeking closure. She meets a group of English-speaking expats on the island who had been friends of Eszter's, and they befriend her too. But there are mysteries around how and why Eszter died, and Abby is sure they are covering something up.
Gerry
Mask of the Deer Woman by Laurie L. Dove
A slow but generally interesting novel set on an Oklahoma reservation. A number of indigenous girls and women have gone missing over a period of several years. The reservation no longer has its own police force due to financial difficulties, and authorities outside the reservation have shown little inclination to take the cases of the missing girls seriously, choosing to treat them as runaways. Carrie Star, a former Chicago detective with a troubled background that is only revealed late in the book, has been hired by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to investigate. Simultaneously, an oil company is looking to purchase drilling rights on reservation lands, and residents are divided over whether this bodes well or ill for their future.
Gerry
A History of Burning by Janika Oza
4 ½ stars. This was a compelling and well-written family story that spanned four generations and over 100 years. From India to East Africa to London to Toronto, the family was repeatedly displaced by events very much outside their control. The patriarch, Pirbhai, was a teenager looking for work when he was taken from his village in India to labor for the British company building the East African Railway. Escaping from this brutal near-enslavement, he finds his way to Kampala, where an Indian family offers him work and a place to live. Marrying their daughter, he raises children and works to raise his family’s status in a culture where white Europeans rule, and Black Africans are even more oppressed than South Asians.
Gerry
The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline
This was a quick novel in audiobook format, narrated well by Maria Marquis, and set in Philadelphia and Tuscany. The main character is Julia, a young woman who witnesses the murder of her husband, Mike, in the opening chapter of the book. Some months later, she is contacted by an Italian attorney who informs her that she is the beneficiary of the estate of a woman in Tuscany. Initially believing the notification is a joke or scam, since she has no knowledge of the deceased woman, Julia eventually decides to travel to Italy to see the estate she has inherited and perhaps to learn more about her connection to the deceased. Having been adopted as an infant, Julia wonders if the woman could be her biological grandmother.
Michele
Something to Look Forward To: Fictions by Fannie Flagg
A feel-good book about human nature. Some do good, some have good done to them. But it ties us all together. A great book!
Gerry
Northwest Angle by William Kent Krueger
3 ½ stars. William Kent Krueger is quickly becoming an automatic must-read for me. This installment in his excellent Cork O'Connor series is set in remote Lake of the Woods, where Cork has taken his family in hopes of enjoying a restorative vacation. Instead, an unexpected gale sweeps across the lake, separating Cork and his daughter, Jenny, from the others, and strands them on an island, the site of a brutal murder of a young woman and her hiding place for her young infant. As Jenny becomes more and more attached to the infant, Cork works to solve the mystery of the young woman's murder. A quick and compelling read with interesting characters, and, as always, an interesting glimpse of Native culture and lore.
Gerry
Heaven's Keep by William Kent Krueger
As always, William Kent Krueger has written a tightly plotted and very atmospheric story, centered this time on the disappearance of a small plane somewhere over the northern Wyoming wilderness. Among the five passengers was Cork's wife, Jo, on her way with four other Native men to make a presentation at a tribal conference. When local authorities seem to be making no headway in locating the apparently downed plane, Cork and his son, Steven, begin searching on their own, discovering information that suggests this may have been more than a simple accident.
Gerry
In Berlin by Eric Silberstein
From the beginning, I was struck by this novel's unusual juxtaposition of characters, setting and events.The two main characters, both female, are Batul, a Syrian refugee in Germany, and Anna, a software engineer who suffers a spinal stroke in the early pages of the novel. It's this injury, which leaves Anna almost completely paralyzed, that initially brings the two together in a chance meeting at the hospital. Their story is influenced by their very different cultural backgrounds, their overlapping interests in science and medicine, and their needs for companionship and mutual assistance. This well-written novel prompted in me a strong emotional response, engaging my heart as well as my mind with its compelling story of human resilience.
Gerry
This Motherless Land by Nikki May
4.5 stars. This was a very engaging novel set in Lagos and London. Funké is the daughter of a Nigerian father and a British mother, living with her parents and younger brother in Lagos. After a traumatic event when she is nine years old, she is sent to London to live with her mother's sister, whose family also includes two cousins, Dominic and Olivia. Liv and Funké initially form an extremely close friendship, but as they move through their teen and young adult years, their friendship is strained by a number of events and eventually severed when Funké returns to Lagos. A main theme of the novel is identity and finding home. The ending hinges on an unlikely coincidence, but still came together in a satisfying conclusion.
Kelley
The Queen's Fortune by Allison Pataki
THE QUEEN'S FORTUNE is historical novel of Napoleon's rise and how it affects his family/friends. It had me looking up characters and moments in history. Fascinating!
Gerry
Cold Victory by Karl Marlantes
Set in 1947 Helsinki, this novel features an American and a Russian, both diplomats working in Finland as their nations vie for influence during the Cold War. The two are also expert skiers, and a friendly challenge to a cross-country race sets in motion a potential international crisis. The story is filled with fast-paced action, historical detail, and a keen eye for the way totalitarianism and loss of truth and privacy threatens love and friendship.
Gerry
The Home for Unwanted Girls by Joanna Goodman
This story of a teenage mother forcibly separated from her daughter at birth, and the lengths to which they go to find each other, is a powerful novel based on true events in Canada in the 1950s, though similar events also occurred in many parts of the US. Unwed mothers were sequestered away to hide their pregnancies, and after they gave birth, their infants were quickly taken away to be adopted by "good parents". But in too many instances, that adoption proved to be an illegal sale, or worse, infants deemed unadoptable were warehoused in orphanages where mistreatment and abuse were common. It's painful to read of the horrendous treatment these children endured at the hands of nuns charged with their care.
Gerry
Culpability by Bruce Holsinger
Wow! This was a fantastic novel, combining a completely engrossing family story with surprisingly interesting and thought-provoking commentary about ethics and artificial intelligence. The Cassidy family is traveling with 17-year old Charlie at the wheel, Dad (Noah) in the front passenger seat, and Mom (Lorelei) and daughters Izzy and Alice in the back of their new mini-van equipped with the latest autonomous driving technology, when suddenly there's a crash. The family members all survive, with varying degrees of injury, but an older couple whose vehicle was hit are both killed. What follows is a detailed exploration of each family member's reactions to the crash that changed all of their lives.
Gerry
A Forty Year Kiss by Nickolas Butler
This was a very enjoyable story about a man in his 60s reconnecting with his first wife, from whom he’d been divorced for 40 years. The characters and events are realistic. Though the plot was somewhat predictable, somehow that wasn’t a problem for me at all.
Gerry
The Same Bright Stars by Ethan Joella
3 ½ stars. I enjoyed the setting of this book in Rehoboth, DE, my home state and a beach town I remember fondly, though I haven't been there in decades. Jack Schmidt is the current owner of a restaurant that was started by his grandparents. A corporate entity called DelDine has been pressuring him to sell, and he's finally considering retirement. He also recently has reconnected with the woman he once thought he'd marry and finds himself wondering if he should pursue that relationship. There are a number of other minor threads to the story, involving longtime neighbors, friends and colleagues, all making this an interesting and engaging read. A good summer beach read!
Gerry
The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb
Brendan Slocumb’s writing in his third novel is just as compelling as in his previous books, but for me, the plot, involving comic book heroes and real-life villains, required too much suspension of disbelief and simply wasn’t as interesting as I’d hoped. Curtis Wilson, the main character, is a cellist who overcame immense odds to reach the pinnacle of success, only to be forced to give up his career after his father became a witness in a federal investigation that endangered his own and his son’s lives. When the FBI fails to capture the villains after several years, Curtis, his father and his stepmother take on the investigation themselves, determined to take down the criminals who threaten their lives.
Gerry
When We Had Wings by Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris and Susan Meissner
For a book written by three different authors, this novel flowed quite smoothly, and there was no way I could tell which of the three wrote any particular chapter or character. I knew little about the impact of WWII on the Philippines and found the historical aspects of this book quite interesting. The three main characters, nurses who were in Manila some six months before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, which drew American forces into the war, somehow remained flat, never coming to life for me. The events involving them seemed to flow almost too smoothly, with no real tension (despite the trauma of war and later of captivity) or climax.
Gerry
We Are the Light by Matthew Quick
3 ½ stars. Written in the form of letters to Lucas' analyst, the novel is sprinkled with bits of Jungian psychology, which seemed a bit overdone. There are many unanswered questions as the story unfolds, hints about events in the past that are perhaps less clear than they seem. There's been a terrible tragedy, that much is certain, and Lucas has made it his goal to help his community heal. He begins mentoring a young man who is something of an outcast in the town, because his brother was the villain in the tragedy. Together, Lucas and Eli embark on a project that they hope will save the town and may also save each of them. The climax of the story took me completely by surprise, giving me a new perspective on all I had read up to that point.
Gerry
Audition by Katie Kitamura
Katie Kitamura writes beautiful, spare prose, but with more emphasis on form than content. Sentences run on and on, with commas separating multiple clauses; quotation marks are never used to signify dialogue. AUDITION is presented in two parts featuring the same three main characters. The female lead is a wife, an actress, and possibly a mother --- but only in one of the two parts. Her husband is mysterious but rather flat and undeveloped. Xavier, the young man who is their son in Part II (but she emphatically denies that connection in Part I), is a budding playwright working as an assistant to the director of the play in which the female lead is currently performing. This is a strange book and not one I can recommend.
Gerry
The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner
3 ½ stars for an engaging story set in CA at the time of the 1906 earthquake and fire that badly damaged San Francisco. Sophie, a young Irish immigrant, traveled from New York to San Francisco as a mail-order bride, marrying Martin Hocking, a man she knew only from his advertisement and an exchange of letters. Theirs was an odd and rather cold marriage, and it appeared he had married her only to provide a housekeeper and a mother for his five-year-old daughter, whose own mother had died of consumption. Martin often traveled for business and was away on such a trip when Belinda came to San Francisco and to Sophie's home in search of her husband, James. So begins the unraveling of a complicated story of deceit that leaves both women shaken.
MH
Midnight in Soap Lake by Matthew Sullivan
I almost didn’t pick this book up because of the cover. However, it was an excellent read. Abigail, left alone in a new town when her new husband takes a six-month job in Poland, suddenly finds a young boy covered in blood, who leads her to his murdered mother. Abigail soon finds herself enmeshed in his story and that of his mother, Esme. Lurking in the back of the story is the local boogeyman, Tree Top, who makes unexpected appearances. One small criticism: I didn’t think Abigail’s marriage problems were resolved at the end of the novel.
Joni
The Lost Masterpiece by B.A. Shapiro
As always, B.A. Shapiro tells an intriguing story combining real artists, stolen Nazi art and a modern-day relative trying to find the truth of her long-ago relative and the painting. Shapiro has a knack for these stories starting with THE ART FORGER. In this latest book, I loved how she went from the art world of the 1800s to modern day. I can’t wait for what she writes next.
Gerry
The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
Vic Kemp, the eponymous central figure in the story, is a 70+ year-old widower and the father of four adult children, all of whom appear to idolize him and crave his approval. When he suddenly announces that he's madly in love with a 27-year-old woman, his children react with bemusement and dismay, and quickly conclude that the young woman, whom they've never met, must be after their father's money. That belief is solidified for at least some of the siblings when Vic and Bella-Mae leave London for the lake house in Italy where the family has enjoyed much time in the past, and quickly marry. The deep exploration of the characters' memories and connections with one another was most interesting.
Gerry
The End of Your Life Book Club: A Memoir by Will Schwalbe
Though I very much enjoyed listening to this in audio, I’m glad I have a print copy to browse and reread at some point. This one is definitely a keeper. It’s a memoir of the companionship the author shared with his mother through books after her diagnosis with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Books they read together prompted deep conversations about memories, values, hopes and dreams, life and death, and helped both mother and son come to grips with the great loss that was coming. The book includes a complete list of the books they shared and undoubtedly will add many more titles to my Want to Read shelf.
Gerry
Mina's Matchbox by Yoko Ogawa
This unusual novel prompted a lively book club discussion, thanks in no small part to the member who prepared and led the discussion. While I enjoyed reading it, I did find it a bit slow, and kept waiting for a bigger climax or reveal than was ultimately provided. But the lovely descriptive writing, the unusual characters, and the intriguing small detours into historical events in the family's past or present all made for an engaging and thought-provoking reading experience. Recommended for those who enjoy coming-of-age novels, and quiet glimpses into memorable or pivotal slices of life.
Gerry
A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci
4 ½ stars for a compelling mystery centered on the trial of a Black man accused of murdering his employers, an elderly white couple, in Virginia in 1968. There were surprises along the way, but no overdone red herrings sprinkled through the story. David Baldacci did an excellent job creating realistic characters in believable situations and letting the details of the story show the virulent racism that existed then (and still exists in too many communities) without ever becoming preachy.
Gerry
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I definitely recommend the audiobook for this one. It’s a compelling, very engrossing story of a fictional team of Astronaut Candidates (AsCans) from 1978, the first year women were permitted to apply for astronaut training, through 1984, when members of the team achieved full Astronaut status and were eligible for flight assignments on the Space Shuttle. Characters and their interactions are realistic and well-developed, and the story flowed at a good pace right up to the powerful conclusion.
Gerry
Moonrise Over New Jessup by Jamila Minnicks
4 stars for the content, 2 stars for the writing, which I found challenging, as it seemed not to flow smoothly, so 3 stars overall. But this story of a Black woman doing all she could to support her husband and protect her community did resonate with me. Unlike many stories of the South, it focused on the strengths of this Black community in its efforts to achieve status as an independent municipality led only by Black people who lived there, rather than remaining as the “other side of the woods” portion of a white town.
Gerry
How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
A sweet and often humorous story about a group of senior citizens trying to save their community center after coming together to make changes in their lives. Enjoyable but not memorable, populated with caricatures rather than relatable characters.
Gerry
Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson
A painful read, but one that seems thoroughly researched and that presents a clear and cogent picture of President Biden’s last months in office, increasingly surrounded and protected by a small cadre of supporters who filtered the information reaching him to present it always in the most favorable and optimistic light.
Gerry
Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein
Mia and Cricket have been very close throughout their lives, but especially since their mother died suddenly when Mia was 19 and Cricket was 13. Their mother had been training to play soccer in college and perhaps professionally when she became pregnant with Mia, dropped out of high school, and completely retooled her life's plan. Mia took her place as both Cricket's legal guardian and her constant support person as she worked hard to achieve success in soccer. Cricket had just reached the first of her goals when Mia's life changed dramatically: a complicated pregnancy and delivery left her with a beautiful little girl but also with serious kidney damage. Should Cricket give up her career to meet Mia's need for a new kidney?
Gerry
Trust: America's Best Chance by Pete Buttigieg
It was actually hard to listen to this, knowing it was written, edited and recorded in 2020 after Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the primary race but prior to the national election. In this short book, he described the dangers of our (then and now) current state of widespread mistrust, and the great importance of trust for the functioning of our republic. He closed the book with examples of how trust might be best restored, a process that was not successfully accomplished during Biden's presidency, and is now even more difficult to imagine with Trump 2.0 firmly in place. It also included his speech to his campaign team when he ended his campaign for the Democratic nomination in 2020, which was heartfelt and optimistic.
Gerry
Force of Nature by Jane Harper
3 ½ stars. I’d read the first and third books in this series, and now I finally got around to #2. Unfortunately, it was not as engaging or suspenseful as either of the others. Aaron Falk is working for an unnamed investigative agency when one of his sources suddenly disappears during a “team-building” event sponsored by the company he’s investigating. With multiple potential suspects and a couple of likely motivations, there was plenty to investigate even while the search for Alice proceeded. A good but not great mystery set in the Australian bush country.
Gerry
Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins
I had high hopes for this novel, having loved two previous titles (AMERICAN DIRT and THE OUTSIDE BOY) by this author. But this novel was so fragmented by the back-and-forth of multiple timelines that none of the characters was fully fleshed out, and I found myself caring less and less about them and the events of their lives. Actually, two of the three main female characters seemed so similar to one another (intentionally, perhaps?) that it seemed quite possible that the events described could have happened equally well to either of them. The ending was just as syrupy and unsatisfying as I'd expected based on other readers' comments. Disappointing.
Gerry
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
2 ½ stars for a thriller that started strong but went on too long before fizzling out with an unsatisfying ending. The resolution of the mystery was telegraphed pretty clearly early on, and although the author repeatedly tried to convince me my guess was wrong, it proved right in the end. None of the characters was exactly who he or she seemed to be, which made it difficult to like or connect with any of them. Chloe made so many poor decisions, and never seemed to use the knowledge and skills she should have developed as a PhD psychologist. All of the secrets and hidden motivations were meant to add to the mystery, I suppose, but just became tiresome by the end of the book.
Gerry
Daughters of the Bamboo Grove: From China to America, a True Story of Abduction, Adoption, and Separated Twins by Barbara Demick
This book is a powerful indictment of the corruption that fueled the business of international adoption in the late 20th century and gave me a lot to think about. Having friends who adopted children from China, South Korea, Ethiopia and Guatemala, all in the belief that in addition to creating a family for themselves that was otherwise impossible, they also were saving an abandoned or orphaned child from a life of poverty or institutionalization, I can’t help but wonder now if they too were misled by individuals or agencies that facilitated the adoptions, and were unwitting participants in this system of child trafficking that too often literally stole children from loving parents under the guise of enforcing the law.
Gerry
The Compound by Aisling Rawle
THE COMPOUND is a novel that takes place on the set of a reality TV show, the sort of show I have never watched and used to make fun of when my daughter watched them. They’re the opposite of reality, to my mind. Despite that, there was something unexpectedly compelling about this novel, so much so that I found myself returning to it in preference to another book I’d been reading. Overall it proved to be an interesting and engaging look at the reactions and interactions of 19 young adults to a rather bizarre and challenging experience. The ending, however, felt unsatisfying and abrupt, as if the author had run out of ideas and simply stopped writing.
Gerry
Isola by Allegra Goodman
Based on the life of a real French noblewoman in the early 16th-century, ISOLA is an amazing novel that brings to life a woman forced to fend for herself at a time when a woman had no power, no standing, no permission to do (or even think) anything except with the approval of the man who virtually owned her, whether that was her father, older brother, guardian or husband. In Marguerite's case, her parents were deceased, leaving her under the guardianship of her cousin, Roberval, who used the funds and property left to her by her parents to fund his own entertainment and adventures. Sailing to Canada, he left her on an uninhabited island to fend for herself, and remarkably, she managed to survive and find her way back to France.
Gerry
Rabbit Moon by Jennifer Haigh
I enjoyed this family drama set in Shanghai, especially after hearing the author discuss her novel at a recent author event. Aaron and Claire had been divorced for four years when she receives a phone call: their daughter Lindsey, who has been living in Shanghai, has been in an accident and is in a coma. Their younger daughter, Grace, is away at camp, so the two travel to China intending to bring Lindsey home to America for treatment. As the story progresses, the reader learns more about the family's history: the decision to adopt a baby girl from China, the trip to meet her that bonded Lindsey and Grace closely, a crisis that tore the family apart when Lindsey was in high school, the fractured relationship between Aaron and Claire.
Kathy
The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America by Elizabeth Letts
I grew up in the ‘50s, and this book brought back so many memories and new historical events I was not aware of, probably being too close to their happenings. This is a true story of a wonderful woman who decides to ride from Maine to California on her horse. Her adventures, the people she meets and problems she faces are all part of the life story, along with so much history. I highly recommend it!
Patricia
The Book Club for Troublesome Women by Marie Bostwick
I liked it a LOT! I'm glad I wasn't "a housewife" back then. It sure made me think a lot. Have we come very far since then?
Gabriel
Labyrinthine Self by Nicole Mello
This story is very unmoored, with no time or place existing outside of this moment in the forest. The main character isn't anyone but a vessel for this experience. The imagery of the icy darkness of the forest stretching on forever, with the main character being fully consumed by it, had its appeal. It externalized a certain sense of directionlessness and isolation that gave character to the mindless trek, making it feel like something out of a dream that sticks with you long after waking.
LuAnn
The Innocent by David Baldacci
David Baldacci is one of my favorite authors. He is such a good storyteller, and THE INNOCENT is no exception. What an intriguing story! At times, I had to force myself to put the book down --- to eat, sleep, you name it.
Aida
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
An interesting story of family dynamics with twins and their relationships. The novel revolves around the impacts of race and economics on relationships and people.
Elizabeth
A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet
This book really made me think about the world we are leaving the next generation. The story is about a group of kids, mostly teenagers, who are on a summer vacation with their parents in a rented house in the Northeast somewhere. The parents behave very badly and basically ignore their children, who are left to their own devices. When a catastrophic storm hits, the children are very resourceful while the parents escape into hedonism. There are several biblical allegories, but they don't drive the story.
Joan
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
A terrific story! I am telling all my friends to read it.
Rebecca
Brigid of Kildare by Heather Terrell
BRIGID OF KILDARE is a dual-time book The ancient tale is about the daughter of a wealthy lord in Ireland whose daughter, Brigid, forsakes the life of the wealthy to found an abbey dedicated to Christianity. The story of today is about an appraiser tasked with dating Irish artifacts from the time of Saint Bridgid. I enjoyed the ties linking the two eras, and I can recommend this novel.
Annie
The House at Tyneford by Natasha Solomons
This captivating, emotional and heartbreaking novel is memorable and unforgettable.
Susan
Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove
This book takes a sometimes comical look at how humanization of an AI-controlled spaceship evolves when it has to assume responsibility for the well-being of their human passengers after a disaster. Throw in the challenge of dealing with monster legends from the past, vampires, the wolfman and others made famous over the years, and you have a compulsive, enjoyable read. I found it a delightful surprise and hard to put down.
Ellie
The White Hare by Jane Johnson
This novel tugs at the heartstrings. It's beautifully written with vivid descriptions of the locale and tells an exceptional story that is unforgettable.
Lynda
Absolution by Alice McDermott
An historical fiction account of American "helpmeet" wives who join their prominent spouses (officers, engineers, etc.) in Vietnam and what they do during the early years of the war. A complex, thought-provoking take on the consequences of our interference in Southeast Asia.
Annmarie
The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club by Martha Hall Kelly
An interesting depiction of Martha’s Vineyard during WWII, this is great historical fiction with a strong plot, great suspense and wonderful characters. It captures the difference in how the war affected islanders and summer residents.
Sandy
Love Is a War Song by Danica Nava
This is a very interesting book, dealing with a young woman who is Native American but knows nothing about her background, including how to be an Indian. She has a horrible experience with a Rolling Stone cover that was supposed to shoot her into stardom as a Native American pop singer/songwriter, but instead it backfired big time, and her mother/manager sends her to her previously unknown grandmother to hide until the hullabaloo dies down. She finds much more than she expected. It's a fantastic story with a great ending.
Kathy
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
Beautifully written, interesting characters and a great story.
Rose
Julie Tudor is Not a Psychopath by Jennifer Holdich
Is she or isn't she? In my opinion, she definitely is! The cover of this book led me to believe that this was going to be humorous, and I suppose it could be classified as a dark comedy, but I didn't laugh at all. Julie works in an office and believes that she and her co-worker, Sean, are soulmates. Although Sean is kind to her, he isn't interested. When he advises Julie that he is serious about someone, she sets her sights on eliminating her competition. This isn't her first rodeo. She has a history of making sure that she is the only person who can capture the heart of the man she wants. It all comes to a head, and Julie is now wondering if she finally has met the man of her dreams.
Rose
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab
3 ½ rounded to 4 stars. I was really looking forward to this book because I loved THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LaRUE. This one is also about immortality, but is very different. A woman, Maria, wants to escape her marriage, so she visits a witch, Sabine, and asks for freedom. In doing so, she becomes a vampire, hungry for blood. This leads to an intricate tale of multiple women becoming immortal after being bitten. There is also Charlotte and Alice in this tale, and how their lives intertwine over the centuries. But when it becomes too much, are they able to truly break free? I felt it went on a bit too long, and the love was twisted, not real.
Lesley
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America's Shining Women by Kate Moore
A true account of the dangers of radium and how it affected women factory workers in 1920s America. I don't read a lot of nonfiction, but this book read like a story --- a truly unbelievable story that you must read!
Bonnie
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
I loved this book. There is lots going on. It is bittersweet for sure but evoked lots of childhood memories of the days when we ran free in the neighborhood as we played with our friends. Comparatively, we were blessed with safe, warm homes to go home to at the end of the day. We never knew what these kids experienced from life --- a rough reality to consider. Fredrik Backman made it an amazing story of what friends really are.
Jeanne
Beach House Rules by Kristy Woodson Harvey
BEACH HOUSE RULES is another sensational novel by Kristy Woodson Harvey. It is a well-written, perfect beach read with a plot filled with drama and heartwarming twists and turns. The author’s writing style and storyline drew me in from the very first page and captivated me to the very end.
Simonne
The Story of the Trapp Family Singers by Maria Augusta Trapp
The story of the origins of the famous family and their flight to America. The book is heavily religious (after all, Maria was studying to become a nun). I found that too much of what could be interesting was glossed over, particularly the escape from Nazi Austria. There is a lot of (too much) detail about religious celebrations.
Sonnie
Hello, Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
My book group loved this book as we reflected back on our childhood years when we read LITTLE WOMEN by Louisa May Alcott. One member brought her LITTLE WOMEN dolls, and we compared the four sisters in each story. Life's loves and losses repeat themselves down through the generations, and we had much to discuss in Ann Napolitano's novel, which is beautifully written with characters of very diverse personalities. Each group member liked it despite her preference of genre.
Beth
Now or Never: A Stephanie Plum Novel by Janet Evanovich
I enjoyed revisiting Stephanie, Lula, Grandma Mazur, Ranger and Morelli in this 31st installment of the Stephanie Plum series. I laughed aloud at the hijinks that this not-so-great bounty hunter encounters. Evanovich’s characters are comedic and charming at the same time. I can count on her to be witty and engaging, but not serious in every read.
Beth
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
DARLING GIRLS is my fourth Sally Hepworth book; just as with the other three, I liked this book very much. So it seems I can count on Hepworth to be one of my go-to authors. But it didn't look like DARLING GIRLS was going to be another winner at first. Miss Fairchild accumulates foster children over the years, and three of them --- Jessica, Norah and Alicia --- are permanent placements. Miss Fairchild is not only unfit in her role as foster mother; to these three children, in particular, she is downright sadistic. And it is those chapters where Hepworth describes the sadism that almost made me put the book down. Don't do it. You don't want to miss this story.
Luella
Storm Front: A Virgil Flowers Novel by John Sandford
An entertaining read with lots of action and humor.
Donna
Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
Although it was a bit more cozy than I was anticipating, I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining read. There were some gruesome details that had me cringing, and some hilarious moments that had me laughing out loud. Even with her murderous past, Lottie is quite likable. She’s someone you might enjoy having tea and cookies with. A deliciously dark read.
Rose
The Names by Florence Knapp
Can your name determine who you become? This novel examines a family and their children and how their names shape who they are. Cora, the mother, defies her husband, Gordon, in two of the scenarios. In one, she listens to her daughter, Maia, and registers her son's name as Bear. In the second scenario, she calls him by her chosen name, Julian. Finally, in the third scenario, he is called Gordon, which her husband wanted, as it is a family name passed down for generations.
Gordon, the father, is abusive, and in each of the three scenarios, a different fate is played out for the family. In each of the years depicted, Bear/Gordon/Julian behaves very differently. This was a wonderful story on how our names define us. Very unique.
Rose
The Story She Left Behind by Patti Callahan Henry
Clara's mother, Bronwyn, a famous author, walked away from her husband and daughter when Clara was just eight. This has haunted her every day. Now, 25 years later, she is a famous illustrator and receives a call from a man in England telling her he found her mother's satchel and a letter addressed to Clara in his father's belongings. It must only be opened by Clara, so she takes her young daughter, Winnie, and travels there. In doing so, she is able to unravel the story of her mother's disappearance, discover more of the language her mother invented, help her daughter and father find answers and direction, and find love. A beautiful story inspired by a real author prodigy who walked away from her family and was never seen again.
Francisca
The Guncle by Steven Rowley
Patrick loves his niece and nephew, who call him GUP (for Gay Uncle Patrick), and has always enjoyed their visits. But when his sister-in-law dies, he suddenly finds himself as the guardian to these two young people whose world has been rocked off its foundation. He is so NOT ready for this, but he will rise to the occasion, and he will open his heart to love and family. This was just charming and delightful, by turns funny and tender, heart-wrenching and joyous. I can hardly wait to read the sequel.
Tessa
The Bride Price: A Hmong Wedding Story by Mai Neng Moua
Moua was brought to the United States by her refugee mother when she was a child. Though she grew up more as an American than Hmong, when she wanted to marry, she and her groom came up against a Hmong tradition --- the bride price. In this memoir, Moua tries to explain the cultural importance of these rituals and her ultimate decision regarding these traditions.
Janet
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
The story was moving and relatable. The friends' descriptions were very vivid.
Andrea
The Jackel’s Mistress by Chris Bohjalian
The writing was spectacular! It brought everything to life, and I loved the story.
Marilyn
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Abraham Verghese at his best! This account follows a Christian family for three generations, 1900-1977, in Kerala, South India. In each generation, at least one family member dies as a result of drowning. They call the "disease" the Condition. It is many years before any light is shed on this situation. The characters are unforgettable. The story filled with descriptions of culture, family, faith, love and medicine.
Amy
Long Island by Colm Tóibín
Colm Tóibín’s LONG ISLAND is a return to Eilis from Brooklyn, only now she’s 20 years older, married, and stuck in a life that feels smaller than she imagined. One unexpected twist forces her to face what she really wants --- and what she might lose. The writing is calm and understated, but the emotions sneak up on you. It’s not flashy, but it’s sharp, moving and lingers long after you finish.
Denise
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
With alternating timelines, you are taken to a small country town to learn of a love story from the past that leads to an unexpected future. The author’s writing lets you feel the constant pace and natural beauty of farm life. From birth to death, the hard but honest work of farming is in Frank, Jimmy and now Beth’s blood. But a happy existence can change quickly when old feelings reemerge upon Gabriel’s return. Life gets complicated, and people say and do as you would expect in a small town. Gossip spreads, tempers fly and drama unfolds in the lives of loved ones.
As you read, there are unanswered situations leading to a slow build of suspense. By the end, you’ll learn the whole truth, and boy is there a twist. I didn’t see it coming.
Debbie
Trickster's Point by William Kent Krueger
Poor Cork O’Connor! He seems to bring death to so many friends. In TRICKSTER'S POINT, Cork holds his boyhood friend, Jubal Little, as Jubal dies from an arrow in his heart. To complicate Jubal’s death, Cork’s arrow sticks from Jubal’s chest. Dodging the police investigation and his involvement in the crime, Cork attempts to understand what has happened. William Kent Krueger does an excellent job with the setting and the characters. After reading him, other writers seem so juvenile.
Debbie
Mrs. March by Virginia Feito
I have very mixed feelings about this book. The reader does not learn Mrs. March’s first name until the last sentence of the novel. At times, this became a little annoying. The story centers on a woman with no worries in her life. Her parents gave her a privileged life, and her husband continues in that lifestyle for her. Mrs. March supports her husband, a famed writer, with wonderful parties and a rigid day. Then, she begins to suspect that he has killed a young woman in Maine. Mrs. March goes to Maine to investigate Sylvia’s death. Also, during this period, she falls into a little insanity. I am not really sure if the novel provided me with entertainment.
Rose
Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
3 ½ stars rounded to 4. I really liked A Good Girl's Guide to Murder trilogy by Holly Jackson, so I was looking forward to this adult novel. Jet is attacked in her home and due to this injury is sure to die within a week. She is determined to find who did this to her. There was some suspense, but I knew who the killer was in the first few.chapters, though not all the details as to why. The book reminded me of the trilogy as the heroine tries to figure out the crime without the police. I liked her relationship with Billy, but like book three of the trilogy, I found the steps taken were a bit unrealistic. All in all, though, I did enjoy it, and I liked all the reveals.
Francisca
The Art of Mending by Elizabeth Berg
An annual family reunion at the Minnesota State Fair begins a journey of reckoning with the past for Laura and her siblings, Caroline and Steve, when her sister makes a shocking allegation. I love how Elizabeth Berg writes about family dynamics. Her characters are adults, and for the most part they act like it. They ponder, discuss, act, react, and find ways to cope with whatever life throws at them. There are scenes of great tenderness and scenes that are difficult to witness.
Tessa
Dying for a Date by Cindy Sample
This is a pretty typical cozy with an amateur sleuth trying to solve the crime, so SHE doesn’t get arrested for it. There’s a very handsome detective who keeps warning Laurel McKay off the case, but she ignores him (of course). Her ex-husband seems to want to get back together. Her real-estate agent mother is a source of conflict. And she has a gay friend at work who is a great wingman.
Amy
Mutiny on the Bounty by Peter FitzSimons
This book reads almost like an adventure movie but with way more detail and grit. Peter FitzSimons really brings the story of Captain Bligh, Fletcher Christian and the infamous mutiny to life, making it feel both dramatic and human. You get the sense of just how harsh life at sea was, but also the personalities and tensions that led to the mutiny. At times it’s a bit heavy on detail, but overall it’s a gripping, fast-moving retelling of one of the most famous naval stories in history. If you like real-life adventure with a bit of scandal, this one is worth picking up.
Marcia
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
An interesting premise, but I don't care for Liane Moriarty's books in general. I can't really put my finger on why.
Lesley
A Resistance of Witches by Morgan Ryan
Something I hadn't yet seen in WWII historical fiction: magic and witches. Imagine there are witches in Europe working with the Allies and others with the Nazis. It's a mad dash to find an ancient and dangerous grimoire that could end it all. Mix in some ghosts, friendship, love and healing. Not bad for a debut novel.
Muriel
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
What a page turner this book was! There is early knowledge that a murder has occurred, and someone is on trial. The plot moves back and forth in time periods, filling in details concerning the characters. Beth has experienced much in her young life --- wildly in love at 17, pregnant, feeling alone and betrayed by the baby’s father, Gabriel, and loved by another. Frank, an honest and worthy young man, had loved her since she was 13 and married her. Since people have flaws and jealousies, naturally there will be conflicts when Gabriel and his young son enter Beth and Frank’s lives 12 years later. The reader knows there is a death. There are themes of loss and forgiveness woven into this compelling story and some surprises at the end.
Beth
Verity by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover's books were recommended to me by a friend whose taste in books is clearly not like my own. She suggested I start with VERITY because this is a mystery/thriller, which she knows I like, in addition to romance, which she knows I dislike. I gave it a try to satisfy my curiosity. A man is married to a successful writer who is now unable to finish a series of books because she is in a coma. So her publisher finds another writer to finish the series. The rest of the book involves this other writer who comes to live in the man's home (thus the sex/romance) and becomes suspicious of Verity (thus the mystery/thriller). I generously give VERITY three stars for the mystery portions and stop reading Hoover novels here.
Liz
Everything Is Probably Fine by Julia London
Lorna Lott had a difficult childhood and is not a likable person. She is a top salesperson in her company, but when an email meant for her sister is sent to her team, chaos ensues. She is forced to go to a 30-day wellness treatment center to learn how to come to terms with her anger issues. While there, she begins a journey of self-forgiveness and leaving the past in the past. Who knows? She may even find happiness while there.
Debbie
Tamarack County by William Kent Krueger
William Kent Krueger continues with his excellent writing in Tamarack County. So many events happen: Stephen shot, Stephen in love with Marlee, the disappearance of Evelyn, the judge’s wife, Cork sandwiched between Rainy and Stella, the choice Annie must make between the church and Skye, and the death pact of Walter Frogg. Henry cautions Cork that anger can force a person to make a mistake and miss the signs when tracking someone. When Stephen and Marlee fall into the lake, the community jumps in to retrieve them and to guard them. The sense of community love and caring shines through all the hate. The tensions build as Cork encounters so many problems with his children and the women in his life.
Lynda
The Forest of Vanishing Stars by Kristin Harmel
I liked learning more about Jewish refugees who fled from ghettos to hide in forests from the Nazis. The main character, Yona, was very familiar with survival tactics and saved many lives. She was a female hero.
Francisca
Crying in H-Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
Michelle Zauner’s memoir deals with her grief over losing her mother. More importantly, it deals with the relationship she had with her mother and father growing up, and during her mother’s fatal illness. She handles some difficult subjects with honesty and grace. I felt her grief and her healing throughout. And I am reminded how we show our love through food.
Chris
Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje
The writing was so evocative of mood and setting for me (though I've never been to Croatia, it feels familiar now). I love stories that describe characters inhabiting all of their humanity --- love, generosity, smallness and fear --- because I think our lives are impacted by all of those things.
Ruthanne
One Plus One by Jojo Moyes
A quick and enjoyable read, this book deals with the haves and the have-nots in a clever and interesting way. A successful tech guy unwittingly gets involved in insider trading. He meets a single mother with two kids who are struggling with issues. He agrees to drive them to a math competition that the young daughter needs to attend. The story flows smoothly, and although it's somewhat predictable, it works.
Ruthanne
Your Oasis on Flame Lake by Lorna Landvik
I chose this book because I had really enjoyed Lorna Landvik's ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS. Unfortunately, this one does not hold up. It tells the story of two friends since high school and their lives as adults with husbands and kids. It's just mediocre and not really worth reading.
Liz
Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler
Four longtime friends are reunited in their small Wisconsin town for a wedding. Secrets are revealed from the past, and trusts are broken. They are trying desperately to forgive and forget, but it is a difficult road. This was just an okay story, but the ending left me feeling flat.
Sean
Bearskin by James A. McLaughlin
James A. McLaughlin tells a really good, gritty eco noir story that doesn't read like anything I've read before because it's not a thriller, revenge tale or testosterone-filled shoot-'em-up. I really enjoyed it. Rice Moore has a complicated past and wants to leave it be, but his peace is shattered by bear poachers, biker gangs, locals, his own psyche and more. The book didn't take any obvious choice and was unexpected. Rice's time in prison was not as fleshed out as I would have liked, but the story comes full circle and it's an enjoyable read. Overall, McLaughlin's book reads like a nature book that stepped into a crime novel, and its uniqueness left me wanting more.
Donna
The Edge: A 6:20 Man Thriller by David Baldacci
Wow, another big book, and I flew through it. It kept you guessing for sure. I thought I knew, but you will never figure it out. Mr. Baldacci is amazing writing twists and turns. This is like a roller coaster in print! Also, the last sentence will keep you coming back for more. Enjoy the ride!
Debbie
Windigo Island by William Kent Krueger
The O’Connor family continues in a fight against Windigo, or the evil wolf. This book focuses on young girls who have left home for a better life. The better life glimmers as an illusion under the dirty greed of men. One girl washes up the shore, but her friend remains missing. Cork, Jenny, Henry and a host of the girl’s relatives travel throughout Minnesota and North Dakota looking for clues. William Kent Krueger employs the heart-breaking stories of the terrible life of the Native Americans, the promises made to them and the awful experience encountered in an effort to tame the savage beast. This leads to the question of who has been dealt a worse hand: the African Americans or the Native Americans.
Hillary
Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate
A beautifully written story with an interesting history that I knew little about. Although written in the perhaps played-out dual-timeline style, the author brought the two stories together in a very creative and satisfying way.
Denise
Two Nights in Lisbon by Chris Pavone
This twisted international thriller/mystery is centered on the entitlement and injustices that accompany great wealth. It is presented from the point of view of Ariel, a middle-aged woman newly married to a younger man who is kidnapped in Lisbon while she accompanies him on a business trip. What ensues is a frantic chase to find the ransom money while trying to get the help she needs from the hotel, local police and the embassy. Will she have to reach back to her past to find the money and revisit everything she has left behind? Trigger warning: Violence of a sexual nature.
Henna
The Art of the Heist: Confessions of a Master Art Thief, Rock-and-Roller, and Prodigal Son by Myles J. Connor Jr., with Jenny Siler
The content is not reflective of the title. The book is an account of the author's string of stays at various prisons rather than "The Art of the Heist." Nevertheless, parts of the book were interesting enough to motivate me to continue to read it.
Henba
The Riddle of the Labyrinth: The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code by Margalit Fox
A fascinating book! I read it in one sitting.
Henna
Crying in H Mart: A Memoir by Michelle Zauner
A very good book. Funny and wrenching.
Henna
The Long-Winded Lady: Notes from The New Yorker by Maeve Brennan
This book is hard to rate. Parts of it were golden. Parts of it were so boring!
Henna
The Stranger in the Woods: The Extraordinary Story of the Last True Hermit by Michael Finkel
A very interesting and unique topic. I wish the book had been longer.
Henna
Sociopath: A Memoir by Patric Gagne Ph.D.
The first two-thirds is very good. After that, it starts unraveling and is less coherent, wandering and repetitive. Overall it's an interesting and brave book.
Henna
The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More by Jefferson Fisher
An important topic, but a lot of self-evident, trite advice with some redeeming sections and anecdotes. Not as much substance as I expected.
Henna
Four Fish: The Future of the Last Wild Food by Paul Greenberg
An interesting read with a balanced take on stewardship. The information is likely outdated, given how many years have passed since its publication.
Diane
The Jackal's Mistress by Chris Bohjalian
Another wonderful tale crafted by Chris Bohjalian and based on a true situation during the Civil War between a Southern woman and a Union officer. It is the beautiful telling of how we respectfully treat each other as humans, rather than political enemies, that makes the story so very profound in today's world.
Francisca
The Air You Breathe by Frances de Pontes Peebles
The novel begins in 1930s Brazil, where nine-year-old orphan Dores works in the kitchen of a sugar plantation. Graça Pimentel is the spoiled daughter of the plantation’s owner, and the girls become fast friends. This is an epic historical novel, covering decades in the lives of these two. The writing is atmospheric; this reader’s senses enjoyed the sights, sounds, smells and tastes the characters experienced, especially the samba music. The song lyrics for the various compositions Dores wrote are truly poetic. The book is full of passion, love, hurt, anguish, joy, triumph and pain.
Karen
The Secret Life of Sunflowers by Marta Molnar
I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite the changing of voices. I loved that it was female-centric and especially appreciated the relationship the younger protagonist had with her grandmother. Go grandmas!!!
Rita
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
It's a good story with interesting characters and a glimpse into Native American culture. I listened to the audiobook. The narrators, Aaliya Warbus and Jordan Waunch, were good too.
Carol
The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
A good story of family dynamics as siblings try to piece together the details of their father’s death, figure out the mystery of their father’s young widow, and the meaning of their father’s art.
Henna
Slow Motion: A Memoir of a Life Rescued by Tragedy by Dani Shapiro
Excellent! Dani Shapiro is a great writer.
Sandy
The Note by Alafair Burke
Another whodunit that I couldn't figure out until the end. Actually, I never figured it out!
Rose
Murder Crossed Her Mind: A Pentecost and Parker Mystery by Stephen Spotswood
I love the quick wit and banter of Stephen Spotswood's Parker and Pentecost series. In the latest one, it starts off with Will being mugged and embarrassed about it. She hesitates to tell Lillian. Then, they get a new case that involves a missing elderly woman. When they investigate, they find the woman's apartment is full of newspapers indicating that she is a hoarder. Evidently, she was the secretary for a law firm and was involved with some interesting sleuthing work herself. As the duo investigate, they realize that everyone in the apartment building are suspects. The atmospheric vibes are great. I love this series!
Rose
The Fall by Louise Jensen
One of the daughters (Caily) of twin sisters (Kate and Beth) is injured in a fall and is in a coma. As the truth is revealed about what happened and why, the sisters, who have been so close, are now in a fractured relationship. Matt and Kate are working on Marsh Farm, trying to make ends meet. Beth and Sean are no longer together because Sean went to prison years earlier. Beth and Matt are hiding a secret from Kate, and someone is visiting the hospital hoping that Caily won't wake up. Her cousin, Tegan, is also harboring a big secret. There is a surprising twist at the end, but some of this was hard to believe.
Rose
The Life She Was Given by Ellen Marie Wiseman
A mother hides her daughter in the attic until one day, when her husband is away, she sells her daughter to the circus. The daughter becomes an elephant trainer/performer. One of the circus bosses is cruel and harmful to her. Years later, another daughter inherits the old house after her mother dies and finds info about the first-born child. Not knowing that she had a sister, she investigates and finds a surprising family history that includes a big secret. I really enjoy Ellen Marie Wiseman's stories, and this was another wonderful read with terrific characters.
Rose
Beach Reads and Deadly Deeds by Allison Brennan
A CPA, Mia is forced to take a vacation by her partners. She heads to a Caribbean island and hears that a woman has gone missing. Mia loves mystery and romance books, and after finding a book that the woman left behind, she decides that she is going to solve the mystery of the missing woman. Meanwhile, she starts falling for the sexy bartender, hoping for a vacation fling. What she finds as she tries to solve the mystery is surprising. This is a cute romantic mystery novel. I liked all the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, but I did find myself asking "Why would you do that?" when the character was sleuthing. A fun read.
Rose
King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby
S. A. Cosby always delivers a hard-hitting, gritty, graphic crime novel. When his father is beaten and is in the hospital in a coma, Roman Carruthers returns home to Virginia, where his family runs a crematorium. Roman's sister, Neveah, manages the business with her father. Their mother went missing years earlier, and the town speculates that the father killed her and burned her in the ovens. Dante, the youngest brother, is in trouble, and Roman makes a deal with Dante's mobsters to repay the debts. Roman puts together some shady deals for them, and all comes to a head when people keep getting killed. Crooked cops, family secrets and broken hearts all play into this raw novel.
Rose
A Twist of Fate by Se-Ah Jang
Jae-Young escapes an abusive relationship. After a fight, believing she killed her boyfriend, she runs to the train station to escape. On the train, she meets another woman with an infant son who tells her she is fleeing an unfaithful husband and hopes her in-laws will take her in. Jae-Young walks away, but when she returns, she finds the child with a note asking Jae-Young to take the child to the in-laws. The in-laws take her in, believing she is the mother of their grandson. They are a wealthy family, and Jae-Young becomes embroiled in the lie that she is the mother. However, that is not the only surprise. There is the brother who seems to be interested in Jae-Young, the mother of the child who holds a secret, and more!
Rose
A Light in the Forest by Melissa Payne
Vega runs from her abusive boyfriend, taking their young son with her. She decides to go to a town based on a postcard she found in her mother's things. As she hides out in the town, the community welcomes her and helps her. Slowly, she learns the truth about her mother and her mother's past, and what these townspeople mean to her. A story of found family and kindness.
Kay
Every Time We Say Goodbye by Natalie Jenner
An interesting time in the '50s post-WWII with its haunting aftereffects on people's lives. Lots of famous characters, like Peggy Guggenheim, movie stars and writers of the era.
Kay
We Need No Wings by Ann Dávila Cardinal
Tere Sanchez is thrown into disarray after the death of her husband, and she experiences episodes of levitating. This leads her to Spain to search for her forebear, Saint Teresa of Avila, and why she is suddenly changed.
Kay
This is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter
Will Trent and his bride arrive at the mountaintop McAlpine Lodge for their honeymoon. But they are lured into solving mysterious deaths and events surrounding their stay. It kept me guessing for the actual ending.
Kay
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez
An excellent book! My book club is reading banned books this year, and this is the one I selected. Such an interesting author and life. Along with the book, there was a PBS special on the author and her life.
Kay
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
The two female characters are both so strong in their childhood friendship, the separation and the coming back together at a much later date. Each of their lives pulls in such opposite directions. I liked how she wrote about the intertwining of the women's two paths.
Kay
An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s by Doris Kearns Goodwin
I loved this book! Such an interesting life led by Doris Kearns Goodwin with her husband, Dick Goodwin, who played a major role in the JFK and Johnson administrations. I learned so much about that time period that I lived through in my 20s and found that I really didn't know a lot about what really happened. I highly recommend this book.
Kay
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
A banned book highlighting the views of the war by the men of Alpha Company. Everyone has his own experience to tell, almost like a 365 perspective on the same events. I don't understand why this is banned.
Kay
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
A banned book read by our book club. I had read this book when it originally came out. The story really stuck with me, and re-reading it seemed even more striking. This well-written story holds up over time and held my attention even more than the first time I read it.
Rose
This Book Will Bury Me by Ashley Winstead
When her father dies unexpectedly, Jane is distraught. She puts her life on hold, dropping out of college against the wishes of her mother. Jane decides to find an outlet for her grief by looking into true crime. She becomes obsessed with a group of online friends who attempt to look into the deaths of three college girls, called The Delphine Murders. Jane inserts herself into the college to seek details about the murders. When the group finds a crucial clue, the FBI takes notice. This story is told after the crimes were solved, but what Jane reveals at the end is shocking. This book will appeal to those who like podcasts and true crime, and a group of amateur sleuths with secrets of their own.
Rose
A Man Downstairs by Nicole Lundrigan
When Molly returns home with her son, Alex, to be near her father in his final days, the memories of her mother's death haunts her. Told in alternating timelines, the novel tells us about the beautiful Edie Paltry, a lunch lady, and her courtship with and marriage to Gil. All the teen boys are infatuated with Edie, and one has an unnatural obsession with her. After Edie has Molly, she is depressed. Gil is a pharmacist and sometimes controls Edie with pills. Molly in present time is getting creepy calls and doesn't know who to suspect. When the truth comes out about her mother's death, Molly realizes that her memory was shaped by a false narrative. I found the whole story a bit unsettling.
Rose
The Summer We Ran by Audrey Ingram
Tess Murphy and Grant Alexander are running for governor of Virginia. They met as teenagers, but Tess was poor and Grant was wealthy, and his father expected Grant to do big things, and a poor girl wasn't in that future. They never told their current spouses about their relationship, and when a picture of them as teens together turns up, their past relationship threatens to upend their campaigns and their marriages. The real story is what broke them apart as teens and what happens next. This is a good story, but I wanted more.
