This contest period's winners were Candace M., Edie M. and Joyce S., who each received a copy of DARK TIDES by Philippa Gregory and NO TIME LIKE THE FUTURE: An Optimist Considers Mortality by Michael J. Fox.
Francisca
Rise & Shine, Benedict Stone by Phaedra Patrick
3.5 stars. This is a charming novel of one man’s awakening. Patrick has crafted a sort of modern fairy tale, with a cast of eccentric characters, a romantic quest, the mythology of gems, and a happy ending (of course). It was a delightful, heartwarming read.
Joyce
The Wicked Redhead by Beatriz Williams
Another spunky heroine written by Williams. Must read the first in the series. Many questions left unanswered in this book. Must be a third one coming out.
Beth
Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
I wish we could rate in half stars as I'd give this book a little less than 4 stars. I started it once before and abandoned less than 50 pages in. I don't know why because this time around I found it very readable. Everything gets wrapped up in the end. We understand much that we didn't at the start of the story with Meredith and Nina getting to know their mother as they so wanted to for so long. Enjoyed. Recommend.
Beth
The Wonder Boy of Whistle Stop by Fannie Flagg
Just finished reading my autographed copy thanks to attending a Friends and Fiction event. The book took me a bit to get into because there are a lot of characters and the timeline does move about, but once I got the hang of it, very much enjoyed.
Laurie
Finding Mrs. Ford by Deborah Goodrich Royce
Riveting literary suspense had me turning pages well into the night! FINDING MRS. FORD dealt with the themes of identity, friendship and loss very effectively. Brava Deborah Goodrich Royce!
Jennifer
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate
I enjoy this type of book - alternating chapters between two time periods and narrators. This story deals with former slaves trying to locate family members from whom they were separated in the post-Civil War years and a young teacher in Mississippi in 1987 who engages her students in researching their family history.
Karen
The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Hidden secrets about race. Are we what society labels us?
Nancy
Nowhere Like This Place by Marilyn Carr
Carr reminisces on her childhood growing up in a planned Ontario neighborhood where everyone's dad worked at the nuclear reactor plant, known as 'the plant,' although Carr at first thought her dad spent the entire day riding the bus that he took to work. With ironic humor, Carr recalls growing up as I did, in a world filled with unrecognized threats. Asbestos floor tiles that needed constant waxing and asbestos clay projects in school. Baby car seats with a horn that did nothing to protect the baby. Kids at the beach without lifeguards. Biking all day in bear country, eating wild berries and drinking from the river. Lead paint and eating glue. And snow boots that neither protected from the cold or offered traction on the ice. It was a joy.
Jeanne
The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike
THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM is a brilliantly written, haunting story by Signe Pike. It is the sequel to THE LOST QUEEN and is an historical fantasy fiction novel of the Authurian legend. This was a different type of read for me as I don’t usually read fantasy novels, but the more I read, the more intrigued I became. I commend the author for doing such a great job in methodically creating the characters, though at times it was difficult for me to keep some of them straight.
Jeanne
The Soldier’s Lady by Suzanne Dietze, Janette Foreman, Gabrielle Meyer, Lorna Seilstad
THE SOLDIER'S LADY is a delightful novella written by Susanne Dietze, Janette Foreman, Gabrielle Meyer, and Lorna Seilstad. It is a compilation of four historical fiction stories, each is very well written, and the characters are interesting, real and likable. Without giving away any spoilers, readers will enjoy reading about the lives and adventures of four courageous women during the Old West. I found each story to be delightfully entertaining.
Jayme
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Written in verse, this phenomenal story about family, grief, and secrets has become my favorite YA book of 2020. I loved it so much that I went to my online library and put every book by Acevedo on hold. Highly recommend!
Marsha
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult
Not many of us get to find out where life would have lead us if we had changed a significant decision in our past. Dawn gets to follow her choice of being with a professor in Boston or with an archaeologist in Egypt. What do you gain and what do you lose? I leaned more than I wanted to about ancient Egyptian burials and pyramids. The ending seemed disappointing until I realized it was speaking to me about the path I chose in life.
Candace
The Stranger Comes at Sundown: Living & Dying with Parkinson's Disease by Jane Kriete Awalt
Knowing someone with Parkinson's, I was glad to find a book actually written by someone who had lived through it with her spouse. "Sundowners" refers to that time of day, late afternoon to early evening, when confusion sets in and behavior changes are magnified. The experiences of the author were eye-opening; the writing was conversational, and the information invaluable.
Jayme
The Cat of Yule Cottage by Lili Hayward
This was such a sweet, magical catty Christmas story. I'm a bit sad that there isn't another book by this author.
Beth
The Nearest Exit May Be Behind You by Amulya Malladi
The concepts are good ones for any woman trying to make it in the cut-throat corporate world to keep in mind. The author intersperses a fictional book within the fictional book of career advice for women with the story of a almost 40-year-old single marketing director competing with a clueless “fratboy”- type for a VP position. But though I know cliches get their origins in truth, there were a bit too many for me here. The writing, particularly the dialogue, was stilted and predictable. I may have gotten more out of it earlier in my career perhaps.
Sherie
When We Were Young & Brave by Hazel Gaynor
A refreshing story from WW II era set at a boarding school for missionary children in China. My favorite part was the tie-in of the Girl Guide program (European version of Girl Scouts, of which my daughter was an active participant) and how the teacher motivated her girls to keep their chins up and survive when the Japanese took over their school. The children go through a few relocations during the war years, each a little worse than the last. A story of strength, resilience and making the best of the worst by supporting each other. One of my favorite books of the year.
Rebecca
The Book of Lost Names by Kristin Harmel
This historical novel kept my attention and told about the underground in France from a new prospective for me. I was sad to hear about the Jewish children losing their names and then finding a creative way so their original name could be retrieved.
Lisa
The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante
I read Ferrante's Neapolitan series, which I thoroughly enjoyed and was so looking forward to this book, especially after all the hype. What a disappointment! The story dragged and I was not drawn into the characters. Wish that I hadn't wasted my time on this book and had moved on to one of the others on my huge pile.
Michelle
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V. E. Schwab
More like a 3.5 stars for me. A great premise of a story, it pulled me in. However, for such a long book, I felt it lacked the depth and details I was looking for. I would have loved to feel the experiences of living through such extraordinary historic time periods that were breezed by. There was too much focus on inconsequential things. Some of it could have been chopped down. I loved the build-up to the ending which was satisfying enough.
Joyce
Bluff by Jane Stanton Hitchcock
Very amusing and witty story about a woman who prevails. Read it on my daughter's recommendation and then passed it on to a friend. We all loved it.
Gerriann
The Queen's Secret by Karen Harper
A very interesting read about the Queen Mother and her riveting royal secrets. After reading this book I wonder what other secrets are hidden by the Royals.
Donna
The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
What a creepy family! How two people moved in with a well-to-do family and turned it into a cult.
How the children escaped. Great read. I couldn't wait til the ending to find out who these people were.
LouAnn
The Stationery Shop by Marjan Kamali
This book had it all! I loved the characters and was sad when the book ended. It flips back and forth between the present and the 1950s. I learned a lot about Iran and Persian culture and the Iranian Revolution. The author threw in lots of information on Persian food and I actually Googled one of the cookies and made them. So when I say this book had it all I mean it had history, culture, food and romance.
Cecilia
The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline
I learned a tremendous amount about the Aboriginal people and the prisoners sent to Australia in the 19th century. Christina Baker Kline's female characters were so beautifully described and I could not put the book down for a minute.
Cathy
Snapped by Alexa Martin
I love, love, love this new book by Alexa Martin, which is the 4th in her football "Playbook" series. It somehow manages to be extremely timely and thought-provoking while also being humorous and romantic. Addressing issues including protest against racial inequity and kneeling during the anthem in football is a serious and difficult matter. But it is balanced here by a very appealing heroine and hero, along with an amazing group of supporting women and friends (featured in previous books). This can be read as a standalone, but the supporting characters have more meaning if one knows their history from the earlier titles. Here's hoping there are even more new entries in this entertaining contemporary romance series!
Linda
The Book of Joy by Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu
This is a perfect holiday gift book by two brilliant, spiritually aware men who are also good friends. They met in India to collaborate on this book of words to live by. I keep it bedside.
June
Christmas in Vermont by Anita Hughes
A fun holiday read.
Susan
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Okay, okay. It’s a bestseller and the author has written some very popular novels. This one is a miss for me. A sad story a jump from a bridge, fear of losing custody of one’s kids, lonely people, unite in one apartment as a hapless bank robber tries to escape from the police in a small Swedish town. It’s a closed-door mystery. We know whodunnit but how did the bank robber escape? Along the way Backman introduces the reader to ultimately over-the-top characters, throws in a lot of pathos and red herrings, and totally annoyed me with its melodrama. I’m sorry. I know I am supposed to love this, but I couldn’t wait till it was over and done.
Katherine
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain
This was a first read for some of us and a re-read for others. One thing we agreed on was that although we enjoy Hemingway's works, we think that his private life left much to be desired.
Tessa
Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark
The mother/daughter writing team gives us a cozy mystery featuring retired maid and lottery winner Alvirah Meehan, her husband, Willy, and their friends on a holiday cruise. The plot is suitably complicated, if somewhat outlandish. It’s a fun, fast, cozy mystery with a satisfying conclusion.
Edie
Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger
The author is a fabulous writer. Very inspiring and will read more books by this author. I recommend it - you won't be sorry!
Debbie
The Fire Thief by Debra Bokur
THE FIRE THIEF displays Hawaiian culture and interlaces Hawaiian language within the story. Debra Bokur artfully introduces Hawaiian phrases into the story. Detective Kali Mahoe, a Hawaiian spiritual leader, is a tattooed warrior. She aids the Police Captain, Walter Alaka’e, in investigating crimes on the island and in determining what type of crime has been committed. The story begins with a death of a young surfer and the stealing of solar panels on the island. Picturesque Hawaii is not Eden. Debra Bokur shows the drug problem, poverty on the island, and the influx of foreigners. The Hawaiian names are difficult to remember and I wish that Bokur had listed all the characters. The scenery and vegetation impel the reader to visit.
Debbie
Case Histories by Kate Atkinson
CASE HISTORIES by Kate Atkinson started slowly and almost lost my interest, then Jackson Brodie entered the story. I encountered Jackson in BIG SKY, and now I learn his whole history. So many characters in CASE HISTORIES; thank goodness I created a list of characters, which I wish Kate Atkinson had done. The story follows events in 1970, 1979, and 1994 with the multitude of characters that seem unrelated, but gradually the characters mesh together. The story begins in 1970 with Olivia Land, a 3-year old beautiful child disappearing and the tragedy that befalls the Land family: the death of the mother and the death of the baby girl after Olivia’s disappearance.
Diane
Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker
An excellent book that chronicles a family of twelve with six sons developing schizophrenia. Informative about the disease and how science is following this family.
Thomas
Thick as Thieves by Sandra Brown
I found it to be an excellent book.
Angela
Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar
PEARL IN THE SAND was a great book. It was based on the story of Rehab in the Bible and her journey to redemption love and forgiveness of herself and her father for selling her into prostitution at a young age. Then how she and her family was saved from certain death. And finding love and a true home in Israel.
Linda
The Searcher by Tana French
French is a great mystery writer. I enjoyed her characters in this story and I could visualize from her descriptions of Ireland. Much enjoyed.
Tessa
To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
4.5 stars. This is a marvelous adventure story, and an engaging look at personal growth. Both these lead characters experience heartache and difficulties, and yet both persevere in reaching their goals despite obstacles, naysayers and setbacks. I loved the use of diary entries and letters to tell this bifurcated story. The book is full of Native Alaskan people’s culture, traditions, and stories. There are several very strong Native characters. I love magical realism and Ivey seamlessly weaves these elements into her story.
Sean
Basket Case by Carl Hiassen
I loved this. First, off it was hilarious. Comedy in written form is by far the most difficult and Hiaasen nails it. The novel is a love letter to journalism, death, and rock n' roll. Jack Tagger, the main character, is believable and likable while still being far from perfect. The plot is silly, zany, and perfectly absurd. Once again, I loved it. It was a delight.
Sherrie
The Girl in the Mirror by Rose Carlyle
Mirror, mirror in the corner of the wall... And so begins a physiological thriller filled with lies and deceptions. How crazy would it be to look exactly, really exactly, like someone else - when does one person end and another begin is the tale told in this fast-paced story. I read it so fast as it was difficult to put down - I just had to know what happened next. Great idea for a story and a super ending!
Melanie
Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood
A bit like the Nero Wolfe series but the two main characters are women. I enjoyed it.
Melanie
A Time for Mercy by John Grisham
I had a hard time putting it down.
Melanie
A Time for Mercy by John Grisham
I had a hard time putting it down.
Barbara
The Answer Is... by Alex Trebek
A very good read that let me learn more about the character of my favorite TV personality. Such a warm and candid read.
Pamela
Lessons From Lucy by Dave Barry
Nonfiction memoir/personal commentary. Barry uses wry wit and his powers of observation to describe his behavior in response to characteristics of his beloved dog Lucy. We can learn a lot from Lucy about leading a happy life. Barry gives us eight lessons from Lucy and uses humor to describe how well he fulfills Lucy's lessons. The book was funny and entertaining and touching. I loved it.
Linda
Yogi by Jon Pessah
Best biography this year -- you will laugh, cry and think!
Carolann
Next to Last Stand by Craig Johnson
Love this series. Watched all episodes on Netflix. But the story continues with his books.
Ivy
His & Hers by Alice Feeney
Starts off a bit confusing, ends up a suspenseful scene right up to the end.
Julia
As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
Great characters. Spanish flu era.
Julia
Sisters in Law by Linda Hirshman
Excellent depiction of Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg careers, Supreme Court decisions, lives.
Barbara
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
Absolutely loved this book. Fantastic story about Shakespeare's family though he is never mentioned by name. His wife and son are the main characters and they are beautifully written. The language and descriptions are truly amazing!
Ruth
The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
Enjoyed.
Pamela
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
DEAR EDWARD was a fantastic read. I loved it. The character development was very good and so was the storyline. I could not put it down. I would highly recommend it.
Jayme
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
I'm really torn with this one because what started out being a book about a struggling writer grieving the death of her mother and the directionless of her life ended up being a love story about pretentious writers. But then again - maybe I should have read the title a bit more carefully.
Pat
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
Compelling.
Marsha
The Return by Nicholas Sparks
My favorite book so far from Nicholas Sparks. I enjoyed the North Carolina setting and the interesting characters. A young veteran, Trevor, recovering from PTSD, teenage Callie hurt and hiding from the past, and Natalie, a deputy sheriff, longing for love but hindered by her past. Their stories unfold and lead to a satisfying ending.
shelly
The Gift of Love by Debbie Macomber
Ashley is so excited that she can pay Cooper back the money she borrowed from him when she was in college. With the holidays approaching Cooper tells Ashley that his sister and her family will be coming home. Ashley is best friends his sister, Claudia, so the news makes her anxious. She is a little jealous that she is married and has two children. Wondering when her turn will come? She always loved Cooper but up until now never thought of him as someone she could spend the rest of her life with. Now she is thinking about wishing that her Christmas wish will come true.
Francisca
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman
I was predisposed to like this book because it focused on a bookworm. However, while I liked Nina and the other characters, I somehow didn’t really connect to the book. Perhaps I’m just too far past that young-adult/new-adult phase in my life to really immerse myself in the angst of dating or the romantic missteps we’ve all made in a new relationship. In any case, I still enjoyed it as I enjoy mind candy (and candy of the edible kind as well), but it just doesn’t stay with me for long, or really satisfy my hunger.
Sherri
Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling
Charming stories from an author who knows what small children like.
Bonnie
The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides
Page-turner that will keep you guessing til the end.
Bonnie
A Walk Around the Block by Spike Carlsen
Nonfiction. My favorite book read this year (out of 56, so far). This book is full of fascinating information about the things in your neighborhood that you take for granted. Fans of Bill Bryson and Mary Roach should enjoy it.
Bonnie
The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline
I loved this novel because it took me away to a place in the 1800s, a voyage to Australia. The women followed in this novel win your heart and you can't wait to see how they fare.
Bonnie
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Backman again brings to life characters we care about. Like A MAN CALLED OVE you won't be able to put it down.
Linda
The Cold Millions by Jess Walter
An excellent historical novel about the wild West of the 1910s, mostly taking place in Spokane. It's a commentary on the huge gap between the rich and powerful vs. the poor (very timely.) I love Walter's writing style, which is funny but also heart-wrenching. A must-read!
DEBBIE
Don't Look For Me by Wendy Walker
This is the book that I have been searching for - a book that grabs you and doesn't let go. A superbly-written thriller that captured my interest from the very first page. This has to be every woman's nightmare. Your car is out of gas, it's late at night on a lonely road with a storm coming in. A truck stops with a man a child...why wouldn't you accept his offer to take you to the next town? Buckle up and get ready for a page-turning thrill ride! Just when I thought I had figured out who the villain was, the plot twist begins. Build a fire, grab a blanket and curl up with a good book. This is my first by Wendy Walker and it won't be my last.
Christine
The Reincarnation of Peter Proud by Max Ehrlich
Peter Proud has a series of recurring dreams, which are revealed under hypnotism to actually be memories of a past life. He then becomes obsessed with finding out about his previous life and family. This was before the internet, so it was much more time-consuming to research such things. Keep in mind this was written in the early 1970s, and it shows, but don't let that stop you from enjoying this story.
Tessa
There's Something About Christmas by Debbie Macomber
It’s a Debbie Macomber Christmas story – cue the music and the snowflakes, grab some hot chocolate and enjoy the holiday romance. It’s a fun, fast read, if totally predictable.
Joyce
Yale Needs Women by Anne Gardiner Perkins
Fascinating explanation of how Yale became coed. Certainly worth reading to realize that change can be made if people are committed and determined to make it happen. Kept my interest and was a delightful, interesting change from my regular choice of books.
Jeanne
Vendetta in Death by J. D. Robb
VENDETTA IN DEATH by J.D. Robb is a real psychological thriller in the detective homicide detective series Eve Dallas. This storyline grabbed me from page one and is a nail-biting, suspenseful read. Without giving away any spoilers, the author did a great job in describing every little detail. I rated it a four because I would have preferred to learn who the killer was at the end instead a quarter of a way through the book. That being said, I can understand the author’s reasoning for this because it turns into a cat and mouse game for Detective Dallas to catch the killer before another victim surfaces.
Sherri
Crash & Burn by Lisa Gardner
Wyatt Foster, police detective, seeks to find out what is really going on with accident victim Nicole Frank who, following her crash into a deep ravine, awakes seeking Vira and no one knows anything about Vira. Interesting plot line involving trauma, human trafficking, intuition, memory loss, and relationships. I had been reading THE BRAIN KEEPS THE SCORE and saw many ties to that book in this fictional story. Both books brought more questions to my mind than answers.
Faye
The Order by Daniel Silva
This was so fascinating. A rare glimpse into workings of the Vatican. Please write to author and tell him not to retire Gabriel Allon into Italian villa. His family needs to grow up in the land of Israel. Other than what I sense is a planned preparation for denouement it was an excellent comprehensive book once again at his par.
Faye
Christmas Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Okay, we know the recipes are too sugary to eat, but you can enjoy reading about them, right? Delightful romp this time without murder but with a whodunit mystery. Appropriate for the holidays.
Faye
The Answer is...Reflections on My Life by Alex Trebek
Nice to finally flesh out the who behind the most beloved host. Does not detract from our reverence or our sorrow that he is gone. His reading is appealing. I find something smarmy about Ken the co-narrator reading as I listened via audiobook. Same sense when I see him as interim host. A love fest probably borne of Alex's need to find a successor but rings untrue. Otherwise very satisfying.
Faye
Sailor and Fiddler by Herman Wouk
Excellent concise review of this great author's life and accomplishments as a military man and as a writer. Heard it 3x over. Will listen again. Written when he was 101.
Jan
Melania and Me by Stephanie Winston Walkoff
Folks - I did the heavy lifting for you. Now you can just look at my words and repeat them. No need for you to take the time or effort to read it. Wolkoff just "loves Melania - if only everyone else could see her as I see her." The author was a star in her own right - rich, married well, worked for Vogue, knew all the right people (even recommended her children's private school for Barron), had organized the Met Gala for years and then got the call from Melania for help before the inauguration. Melania had done nothing about organizing or supervising First Lady activities. Wolkoff called in her friends, went to work for Melania full time for a year and a half and never got paid.
Jan
Memorial by Bryan Washington
An interesting book - I am not certain what the author wanted me to learn or question or answer. Two gay men, one is black and disowned by his well-to-do family; the other is a Japanese American chef. Like all of us, they have issues with their families - either estranged or not in frequent contact. Do these two guys love each other? Uncertain. Do they enjoy being with each other and leaning on each other? Most of the time. Then without warning, the Japanese American man gets a phone call from his mother telling him that his father back in Japan is dying and needs him. He decides to go immediately. Then the phone call that his mother saying is coming to visit. Yes, she is coming to stay in his home with his lover. There is no resolution.
Courtney
Blackwater by Michael McDowell
Fantastic southern Gothic horror! A generational story of a family starting with the mysterious appearance of a red-headed woman stranded in a hotel in the midst of receding floodwaters.
Jan
Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer
This novel is totally about family. A physician gets a phone call in the middle of the night from her sister; the younger sister is a drug addict and had been in and out of rehab, promised to quit drugs, bummed money, stolen money, lots of petty crimes. The physician goes immediately and finds her sister in distress - the drug addict is pregnant. Big sister doctor gets her into the hospital where her blood is drawn. The physician in charge sees that she has heroin in her blood. The story revolves around the pregnant woman wanting to care for her baby but having all sorts of criminal charges thrown at her. She is endangering her fetus. This book is set in Alabama, USA - a place that is not known to be liberal. Great for book groups.
Tessa
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
3.5 stars. I had great fun identifying Elizabeth, Darcy, Lydia, Wickham and Mr. Collins in this modern-day retelling of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, featuring a Muslim couple in Toronto, Canada. Their missteps, misunderstandings, wrong conclusions, and ultimate relationship flow seamlessly from who they are and how they perceive the world. Jalaluddin shows us characters who are faithful to tradition and yet living in the modern world, and she doesn’t shy away from exploring work-place (and societal) bias.
Bridget
Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
I cannot stress enough how wonderful The Stormlight Archive series is. It's full of twists and turns, and each character is so well developed you feel like you know them.
Shelley
The Vines by Shelley Nolden
THE VINES is a fictional history with mystical notes that will leave the reader wanting more. Coraline McSorley and her sister Maeve are sent to Riverside Hospital on North Brother Island with measles in 1901. Maeve doesn’t survive but Coraline does and is forced to undergo quarantine and testing by Dr. Otto Gettler. Along with Cora’s complicated relationship with the Gettler family, the island itself sustains and traps her so that her life becomes one of solitude and sacrifice. The story goes back and forth from the early 1900s to present day 2007. The youngest Gettler, Finn, discovers the family secret and is determined to save Cora. While disappointing not to have closure, THE VINES was a fun read.
Shelley
Amelia Unabridged by Ashley Schumacher
AMELIA UNABRIDGED is a beautiful story that is complex and simple at the same time. It's about friendship and sisterhood, making choices between obligations to others and listening to yourself, and being open to possibilities. Amelia and Jenna form a tight bond over a fantasy book called Orman to the point of author obsession. A tragedy happens after they attend a book festival and Amelia must learn to live without her close friend. She receives a mysterious package in the mail and takes off across the country to investigate. Who sent the package? Amelia meets Nolan, Alex, Val, and Wally who all make a huge impact on her life. Nolan has his own story of tragedy and success. Alex is a best friend that is always trying to make things better.
Jan
The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich
Another deep insider book about Native Americans today. I downrated this book because the ending just fades away. (This is not a spoiler - the book is great - I just wanted more resolution.) This story is true to life - the U.S. Congress planned to take land away from Native American tribes in the northeast and remove protections from the tribe. If Erdrich does nothing else, she makes readers aware of the terrible life that Indians have - not enough food, space, education.
The night watchman in a factory on tribal land is a tribal elder and chief, and has to work the night shift to get tribal things accomplished during the day. Erdrich builds wonderful characters. One of these is a young woman going to Minneapolis to find her sister.
Liz
A Summer to Remember by Erika Montgomery
Frankie Simon is a thirty-something young woman who runs the movie memorabilia shop in California that her mother has started. A package arrives containing a picture of her late mother, taken the year before she was born, with some famous movie stars. Frankie travels to Cape Cod in the hopes of finding out more information about her mother and possible a father she never knew. She didn’t count on falling in love. This story jumps back and forth in time and therefore it loses its momentum. The ending was predictable. But overall it was an okay read.
Francisca
Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev
2.5 stars. This retelling reverses the roles of Elizabeth and Darcy. Set in modern-day San Francisco it features neurosurgeon Trisha Raje (in the Darcy role), and master chef DJ Caine (in the Elizabeth Bennet role). I did like DJ, but Trisha is just a hot mess. In general, I think the author was trying too hard. Perhaps if she had just focused on the Bollywood-movie style romance without trying to force the elements of Austen’s classic into her story this might have worked better.
Carolyn
When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald
Andrew David Macdonald's WHEN WE WERE VIKINGS was an interesting read as it was strikingly original yet at the same time reminded me of other books I had read. He created unique characters who were both heartbreaking and annoying at the same time. The novel shared parallels with THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME and THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, but I liked a lot of what MacDonald did. Zelda is an intriguing protagonist, but her obsession with Vikings and that metaphor, as well as her focus on sex, was talked about ad nauseam to the point I didn't enjoy reading it anymore. But maybe that was the point --- living with Zelda would be like that. I preferred Gert, Annie and Dr. Laird, and the subplot of Zelda's emails to Dr. Kepple.
Beth
Sulfur Springs by William Kent Krueger
I have recently read, in this order, IRON LAKE (Cork O'Connor series), ORDINARY GRACE, THIS TENDER LAND, and now MUCH later in the Cork O'Connor series, SULFUR SPRINGS. WKK is the consummate storyteller, and as such, I really think I enjoy his mysteries. I feel like one could read any book in the Cork series in any order, which is appreciated as well.
