Best of 2019

WINNER: A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum

Set in both Brooklyn and Palestine, it is the story of three generations of Palestinian women: Fareeda, the grandmother trapped by circumstance of war; Isra, a daughter of refugees, who knows only the confines of her home in Palestine yet follows a stranger in an arranged marriage to America; and her daughter Deya, who questions the plans for her future, who lives in America but is not of America, who wants to find her voice in a voiceless society. This book will take your heart and squeeze it until you cannot breathe, it will make you weep, it will make you stronger, it will give you hope in a hopeless world.

General Fiction: The Dutch House by Ann Patchett / Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

The Dutch House is a story of a brother and a sister, abandoned by their mother and death of their father, and a special house - Patchett weaves them all together into an unforgettable story.
In Olive, Again,  welcome back to the world of Olive Kittredge, a curmudgeon of the first order, who shows us what it is to age, to feel frustration and loss, and to love in authentic, very human ways.

Honorable Mention: Twenty-One Truths About Love; Red to the Bone; The Most Fun We Ever Had;  Beyond the Point; The Guest Book; South of Broad; Where the Crawdads Sing; Dear Edward

Mystery: The Lost Man by Jane Harper

The tale of three brothers begins with the death of one of them in the heat of the Outback, found at the mysterious old stockman's grave, a spot rife with legend and secrets. The Lost Man is breathtaking in its beauty, its richness, and its ability to keep one turning pages.

Honorable Mention: The Butterfly Girl (Naomi Cottle, #2); The Chestnut Man; The Whisper Man; Knife (Harry Hole #12); The Ruin (Cormac Reilly #1); 

Thriller: Thirteen (Eddie Flynn #4) by Steve Cavanaugh

Flynn is a conman turned lawyer, whose personal life is a hot mess, who has an intriguing collection of friends, who only defends the innocent, and who will literally do anything, legal and otherwise, to get his client free (in this case, a famous movie star entangled with a serial killer). Cavanaugh wraps his story in intelligent, thoughtful prose with a snappy sense of humor thrown in just when it is needed. 

Honorable Mention: The Silent Patient; Girls Like Us; Whisper Network; The Liar (Eddie Flynn #3); No Exit

Historical Fiction: The Huntress by Kate Quinn / The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

The plot line of The Huntress moves through three different perspectives: Nina, the Russian 'witch,' as she relates her time during WWII as a bomber pilot; Ian, a former famous war-time journalist now turned into a Nazi hunter; and Jordan, the young Boston girl, dreaming of work as a professional photographer, but stuck in an antique store with her new stepmother who has some secrets. This book is incredibly well-researched, using fascinating tidbits of history to weave a story of great tension and mystery.
The Great Believers uses the AIDS epidemic as the wheel its characters turn around and the interplay amongst them. Set in two time periods, Chicago in the mid-1980's and Paris in 2015, the characters of Yale and Fiona resonate with all of us who have loved, who have felt marginalized, who have grieved loss, and who have watched a country turn its back on its own people. 

Honorable Mention: The Only Woman in the Room; The Fountains of Silence; This Tender Land; City of Girls; The World That We Know; The Nickel Boys; The Storyteller's Secret; The Island of Sea Women

Fantasy: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo / Winternight Trilogy by Kathering Arden

Ninth House is a gritty tale of Yale's secret societies, the dark magic used to disrupt society, and a young woman who communicates with dead people.


The Winternight Trilogy (The Bear and the Nightingale, The Girl in the Tower, and The Winter of the Witch) is a magical blend of Russian folklore and historical fiction about 13th century Russia, all held together by one badass woman and truly gorgeous writing.

Sci-Fi:  The Testaments (The Handmaid's Tale #2) by Margaret Atwood

In this sequel, the story is told by three narrators: the baby Offred sends to Canada in hopes of a better life; Offred's first daughter, left behind in Gilead, training to be a Commander's Wife; and Aunt Lydia, the evil manipulator of the first book. Once again, Atwood plays with time as we are yanked back and forth, following the life events that drive the plot for each character. 

Honorable Mention: Recursion

Memoir: Know My Name by Chanel Miller

This is Chanel's story, her voice, her moment and she deserves all the accolades for the courage of her honesty, as she recounts the time in her life when she was raped by Brock Turner and the ensuing court trial.  "This is an attempt to transform the hurt inside myself, to confront a past and find a way to live with and incorporate these memories. I want to leave them behind so I can move forward. In not naming them, I finally name myself." This book was painful, crushing, inspiring, courageous, unforgettable...a Must Read for everyone.
Honorable Mention: Becoming; The Unwinding of the Miracle

Non-Fiction, History: Ashley's War, The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Each time I find myself whining about some stupid moment in my privileged life, I remember Ashley White - a 24 year old spitfire, who never gave up, who loved to bake for her fellow soldiers, who could outwork, outrun, outclimb any of the men she trained with, who treated her Afghanistan-American translator with dignity and respect, who left her marriage of six months to serve her country, and who gave her life for it as well. Ashley White is a name we should all know. Read this book and you will understand my passion for this American hero.
Honorable Mention: Stamped from the Beginning, The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America; Say Nothing, A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland 

Non-Fiction, Social Justice: She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor & Megan Twohey

Written by the reporters who blew the lid off Harvey Weinstein and his sexual harassment and abuse for decades, these two women and their editor are just simply badasses. If you're a woman, read this book. If you know a woman, read this book. If you've been harassed or abused or assaulted, or know someone who has, read this book. If you are desperate for truth in today's world, read this book. It is a masterpiece of journalistic investigation, the power of the press, and the inspiration of true heroes who were willing to put it all on the line to expose the truth. 

Honorable Mention: Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive; The Witches Are Coming, Amity and Prosperity, One Family and the Fracturing of America; The Moment of Lift

Non-Fiction, Science: The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson

The story covers the heist of bird feathers from a small museum in England. One might think "Hmmm, so what? Who cares about bird feathers?" But did you know there's a huge black market for them due to fly fishing? Or that bird feathers from centuries ago can tell how how the earth is doing, or not doing? That the feather industry was humongous in the 19th century, employing thousands of workers? Yep, it's an obsessive story, trust me.

Honorable Mention: Brain Rules, 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

Young Adult Fantasy: Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

If you like YA fantasy, strong complex characters, creative setting, romance, and taut tense cliffhangers, Throne of Glass is the series for you. (And if you've never done YA or fantasy - give it a shot. It is the best escapism from the crap in this world!) This finale is the best finish to a series that I have ever read. I wept, I turned pages obsessively, and I felt bereft when it was over.

Honorable Mention: The Toll (Arc of a Scythe #3);  The Grace Year; A Curse So Dark and Lonely; A Skinful of Shadows

Young Adult: Long Way Down by Jason Reynold

Fifteen year old Will leaves his apartment with a gun in his waistband, intent on revenge for his brother Sean's death. However, his elevator ride down stops on each floor, and a ghost enters, telling the story of the Gun, the Violence, the Rules. Do Not Miss This Book. My jaw was on the floor with the last two-word line.
Honorable Mention: Frankly in Love

Middle Reader: The Way Past Winter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Utterly delightful, this story has a cast of strong, smart, brave sisters who must find a way to rescue their brother, and defeat the enemy who has stolen so many boys, as well as brought years of winter to the harsh land of Russia. Hargrave has a beautiful voice, knows how to create tension without it being too scary, and develops each sister so that they are uniquely their own self. This would be a fantastic gift for either a boy or girl this holiday season.

Honorable Mention: Look Both Ways

Picture Book: Sophie's Squash by Pat Zietlow Miller

A story of a squash brought home from the market, and as time goes by, poor lil Sophie watches her new doll go soft and rotten. It's a beautiful story of fall, of renewal, of faith + it's funny:)

Honorable Mention: Be Kind; I Dissent, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark; Highest Mountain of Books in the World

December

Know My Name by Chanel Miller
Do you remember the victim statement of Jane Doe, read in a courtroom after Brock Turner was given only six months minus time served, for raping an unconscious woman at Stanford University? I do. She said every single thing every person who has been sexually assaulted feels - every angry feeling on the lack of justice, every frustrated moment of not being heard, every spark of rage of the 'how dare you?' This is Chanel's story, her voice, her moment and she deserves all the accolades for the courage of her honesty. "This is an attempt to transform the hurt inside myself, to confront a past and find a way to live with and incorporate these memories. I want to leave them behind so I can move forward. In not naming them, I finally name myself." This book was painful, crushing, inspiring, courageous, unforgettable...a Must Read for everyone.

The Butterfly Girl (Naomi Cottle, #2) by Rene Denfield
Sequel to The Child Finder, it is not necessary to read the first one to love this second one. Book #2 follows two story lines: Naomi, the newly married private investigator, famous for finding children no else could, now searching for her sister, the one she abandoned years ago as Naomi fled their kidnapper; and Celia, the young street kid, the runaway from an abusive home, the one the judge discounted, the one no one believed until Naomi did. These two incredible characters form a plot line that deals not only with a world of today's issues of homelessness, the opiate epidemic, and child abuse, but with questions about what makes a family, how does our past mold our future, and how does one move on? This is a beautifully written, compelling tale that I highly highly recommend.

The Education of an Idealist by Samantha Power
Yes, I continue my search for normalcy in the past political world by another memoir of an Obama appointee. I listened to this one and I will say...former UN Ambassador Power is a terrible narrator, but she does write an intriguing story. Power covers everything from the time of her birth, to the aftermath of the 2016 election (and I mean everything - could've used about 200 less pages). However, her life as an Irish immigrant, her time as a war reporter in Bosnia, her beginnings with Obama, her fight to have her voice heard in a world full of men, her close relationship with the President, all of these things do make for a fascinating story, especially if you're a political junkie like me.

Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
The premise is this story is rather silly: former schoolmates and 'friends,' Lillian and Madison have not spoken in years when Madison asks Lillian to come take care of her two stepchildren who can spontaneously combust. Yep, you heard that right - they catch on fire and can pretty much 'light' up a room (sorry, I couldn't resist!) Yet for the implausibility of the story, some home truths also exist. The story deals with privilege (Lillian is dirt poor, Madison has generations of wealth and family social standing), what is it to love a child (the two kids have been emotionally abused and tortured, and just need someone to love them), and what does success actually mean (is it power and money, or is it the attic room in your mother's house?). If you're looking for a light entertaining read, this could be it:)

The Toll (Arc of a Scythe, #3) by Neal Shusterman
I began this trilogy over three years ago, and it has been an exhilarating ride. A mix of fantasy and sci-fi, Schusterman has given us a look into the future. What would earth be like without disease, pain, death? The world population is controlled through 'scythes' (ie. assassins) who are supposed to 'glean' (ie. murder) judiciously, and the 'Thunderhead' is a god-like artificial intelligence who runs the world. But what happens if the scythes become too powerful? If two young acolytes start to distrust the system? If the Thunderhead loves the humans too much? If scythes start to enjoy the killing? This is YA fantasy at its best!

Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert
I was looking for some light reading after a time of great upheaval in life, so I turned to this audio book. The premise is as follows: Chloe has fibromyalgia and suffers from chronic pain, thus she has lost all her friends and social life so decides to do something about it. Enter Redford, the hot landlord of her apartment building in London. Yeah, can you tell this book is already not my style? Yet the narrator was delightfully British, it has a lot of steamy sex scenes, and is cutely funny yet has decent things to say about the life of chronic pain. Many others loves this book; it just wasn't my cup of tea.

American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century by Maureen Callahan
True life crime story about a prolific, dark, evil serial killer...perfect for weird people like me who love the Mindhunter series on Netflix and Erik Larson's book Devil in the White City. Alas, it should have been a long newspaper article by installments; there just wasn't enough to write an entire book about, as there are still so many questions surrounding this killer. Therefore, a bit long-winded with lots of filler - not one I recommend.

November 2.0

The Fountains of Silence by Ruth Sepetys
Having loved her previous book, Salt to the Sea, I know that Ruth Sepetys can write beautiful and evocative historical fiction. She did not let me down in Fountains of Silence. This time, Sepetys explores the Spanish Civil War: the opposing factions, the relationship between the Franco dictatorship and America, the 'disappeared' babies, and the role of the Catholic Church. She wraps all this history up in a discovery of love, of culture, of differences, in commonalities between Daniel, the son of wealthy Texas oilman and a Spanish mother, and Ana, the daughter of murdered Republicans, who works as a hotel maid to support her family. Woven throughout the story is the idea of freedom of the press and what journalism can do to bring truths to light, how a powerful country who looks the other way, who caters to the wealthy class regardless of their policies, can destroy the lives of the everyday natives, how children, beyond anyone else, should and must be protected, as well as how the bonds of love can reach across continents and time zones. This is an epic tale that taught me so much, as well as entertained me.

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don't Know by Malcolm Gladwell
Gladwell is always a quirky, unique writer who explores all kinds of weird stuff in life (ie. Blink, Outliers, etc.) This time around he begins his book with the story of Sandra Bland, a woman pulled over by a policeman, who ultimately committed suicide in a Texas jail. You may have read about it in the news...but you have no idea of all the details, at least I sure didn't! Ditto back stories on Amanda Knox, Sylvia Plath, Bernie Madoff, Cuban spies. Gladwell looks at all the psychological, sociological, cultural, and historical reasons and statistics as to why we are so terrible at understanding strangers. It is kind of mind-blowing. My husband and I discussed this book endlessly, as we listened to it on a long road trip - highly recommend the audio version from libro.fm:)

Look Both Ways and Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds

HOW am I just now discovering this incredibly talented YA writer??? Regardless of how long it took, I will now read everything written by him. This writer gives voice to kids of color; he has lived their lives, he inhabits their world, and he truly sees them. Long Way Down is Reynold's highly acclaimed book about gun violence. Fifteen year old Will leaves his apartment with a gun in his waistband, intent on revenge for his brother Sean's death. However, his elevator ride down stops on each floor, and a ghost enters, telling the story of the Gun, the Violence, the Rules. Do Not Miss This Book. My jaw was on the floor with the last two-word line. Wow just wow.

Reynold's latest book, Look Both Ways is a brilliant story of the lives urban kids lead after school, as the book is told in ten blocks, ten chapters. Their lives intertwine with each other, as well as their neighbors and it is a brilliant look into another world. If I was still teaching middle or high schoolers today, both these books would be on my Must Read list.

The Way Past Winter by Kiran Millwood Hargrave
As I stood in awe at Blackwell's bookstore in Oxford, England (they're known to have three miles of bookshelves in their basement!), I of course began to chat with a bookseller there. Her neighbor is this author, Krian Millwood Hargrave, who has found great success in writing magical adventure stories for middle readers (I would say grades 4-10 would enjoy her books). This one is utterly delightful, with a cast of strong, smart, brave sisters who must find a way to rescue their brother, and defeat the enemy who has stolen so many boys, as well as brought years of winter to the harsh land of Russia. She has a beautiful voice, knows how to create tension without it being too scary, and develops each sister so that they are uniquely their own self. This would be a fantastic gift for either a boy or girl this holiday season.

Broke: Hardship and Resilience in a City of Broken Promises by Jodie Adams Kirshner
Admittedly, I enjoy a good, detailed non-fiction that teaches me something about the world. I was completely absorbed by Evicted about the housing crisis in Milwaukee. Broke sounded intriguing - a story of Detroit and it’s slow inexorable fall into bankruptcy, as well the impact on its neighborhood and its people. Unfortunately, it fell flat for me. It is extremely detailed, to the point that my brain hurt from statistics. I was interested in the people the author chooses to follow to tell the story of Detroit, but needed more emotion in telling their stories. Ute I own that this is a personal taste of my own, wanting to be wrapped up in their lives. I think this is a very well researched and written book for people working in urban planning, policy, social work, government, etc. but perhaps not for me.

November

She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement by Jodi Kantor, Megan Twohey
Never have I ever...finished an audio book in just one day. Never. That is how compelling, fascinating, shocking, mind-blowing this book is. Written by the reporters who blew the lid off Harvey Weinstein and his sexual harassment and abuse for decades, these two women and their editor are just simply BADASSES. Step by step, this book takes us through the process, showing us their work on Trump and Kavanaugh as well. But it is Weinstein who is the center of this investigation and it will quite literally blow your mind. You will hear of people you viewed as heroes who are small, dark characters in reality. And you will see true heroic women who risked it all in order to do what is right. If you're a woman, read this book. If you know a woman, read this book. If you've been harassed or abused or assaulted, or know someone who has, read this book. If you are desperate for truth in today's world, read this book. It is a masterpiece of journalistic investigation, the power of the press, and the inspiration of true heroes who were willing to put it all on the line to expose the truth. Wow. Just wow.

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell
Having read previous solid thrillers by Jewell, I know she constructs plausible plot lines, creates tension, and develops interesting characters. In her latest, she continues her streak. Set in England as always, Libby is a young woman, just turning 25, whose life as a kitchen designer is staid and rather boring. Yet when she receives a letter telling her that her birth parents left a home for her to be given on this birthday, it sets into motion a long deliciously twisted trail of who Libby really is as well as her intriguing family members. This is an easy read that will keep you turning pages.

Twenty-One Truths about Love by Matthew Dicks
This delightful book consists of lists, one after the other, written by a quirky, unique, hilarious man who has quit his teaching job, opened a bookshop, and has a wife who wants a baby. His observations on life are spot on and made me laugh out loud, particularly ones about teaching and selling books:
“Read more. It allows you to borrow someone else’s brain, and will make you more interesting at a party.”
“The single greatest thing you can do to guarantee your future success is to read a lot.”
“If the childhood version of yourself would hate the adult version, you suck at life.”
“Darth Vader killed billions of innocent people then saved his only son. This did not make him a good guy. Just a selfish practitioner of nepotism.”
“The most important lessons taught by teachers have little or nothing to do with academics.”
“The best administrators understand that teachers are more knowledgeable about instruction than they could ever be.”
His list called The Worst People in the World
“ ‘Let’s start off with an icebreaker’ are words no human has ever wanted to hear.”
“I’m looking for a blue book. Tiffany blue. It’s about a woman I think.” Yup - I had customers in the bookstore who expected me to find this!
“The youngest skydiver ever was four years old, but that doesn’t mean that he was brave. He just had assholes for parents.”
“You should be required to read a book for every ten selfies you take.”
“What you permit, you promote.”
“A person is more than a person. A person is the promise of everything that person can be.”
'Nuff said. Buy this book for everyone you know:)

Yale Needs Women by Anne Gardiner Perkins
In 1969, the president of Yale decided it was time to admit women. Was that due to his enlightenment that women were equal to men? Or due to his acknowledgement of their ability to compete in an academic setting with men? Nope. It was because they were losing male students to Harvard because...yep, Harvard had women. This book chronicles the four years of those first female students: the constant fight for little things, like locks on bathroom doors, and big things, like blind admissions regardless of gender and hiring more female professors (one had to really search hard for any females as professors, much less in leadership roles at Yale). Historian Anne Perkins follows six intriguing women and weaves in the social, cultural, and academic happenings that impacted this first class of Yale women. At times, I found the statistics to drag the story down a bit, but each time I found my interest waning, she picked it back up and returned to the six women of focus. All together, an intriguing non-fiction of how far we have come, and how far we still have to go, when it comes to equal rights. 

The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup
Looking for that next dark, creepy, murder mystery written by a Scandinavian author, the kind that reminds one of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series? Here it is...two detectives - one female badass cop with an independent streak and no bullshit about her + an interpol cop with a history, quirky behavior, and an insatiable curiosity, some seriously dead bodies (as in, mutilated, gory, yeah you get the picture), a Danish minister whose daughter disappeared the previous year and is presumed dead (wait for it...), and some fingerprints that point the cops in 'interesting' directions. Throw in a few psychopaths, some stalking, a collection of chestnut dolls, and you won't be able to put this one down. Just like Girl, it is long but that is because the author really develops the plot and the characters so it is all worth it, as the final third of the book is fairly mind-blowing. 

Amy and Isabelle by Elizabeth Strout
Per previous blog posts, it is obvious I am an Elizabeth Strout fan (ie. Olive Kittredge, Olive Again, My Name is Lucy Barton, Anything is Possible). This was her very first book. Does it show? A bit, as the tension is weak but wow, it still shows the depth of her writing talent and her ability to draw characters that makes one feel as if we are inside their heads. It is the story of a mother and her daughter and the choices one makes in life. Yep, that's about it - see what I mean about tension? However, I was completely engrossed in this book, wondering where these two women's lives would go. If you like Strout, it is definitely worth the read.

October 2.0

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
Admittedly, I have not been a huge fan of Patchett in the past; she lost me with State of Wonder (such a weird book). However, this new one is a slam-dunk, cannot miss, five-star read! I love me a good family saga, and this one hits every correct note. First, it begins with a quirky, odd setting - the Dutch house, named thus because of the Dutch family that built it and lived in it, with all the encompassing sadness held within their walls. However, this story is about the next family who buys the run down old mansion in a well-to-do suburb of Philadelphia and tries to make it their home. First and foremost are Danny and Maeve, brother and sister with the real estate developer father, abandoned by their mother, raised by the two women who cook and clean for them, emotionally neglected by their stepmother, making their own way in the world of the 1960's and beyond. Maeve may be my most favorite literary character in quite some time; she is brilliant, loyal, honest to a fault, determined, righteous, and thoroughly authentic. And if you enjoy a good audio book, Tom Hanks tells this story and is one of the best narrators I have ever heard. Seriously, read this book.

The Women of Copper County by Mary Doria Russell
Mary Doria Russell could put out her grocery and I would buy it; I have read every one of her books and loved them all. She is unique in her variety of topics: sci-fi The Sparrow and Children of God, Westerns in Doc and Epitaph, Otherworldly in Dreamers of the Day, WWII history in Thread of Grace, and now social justice in this story of union organizers at the beginning of the 20th century. Big Annie Clement, a real person of the early union movement in the upper peninsula of Michigan is quite a woman. Standing well over six feet tall, she begins and maintains a strike of the copper miners. We get to see the best and worst of humanity: the manager of the mine who will not negotiate nor bend for any reason; the journalist who feels compelled to share the heroism of the women and children; Mother Jones, the fiery union activist who traveled the country in support of unions; the women and children who suffer for the corporations who ignore the safety of their husbands and fathers; and Annie, who carries a heavy flag at the head of each parade, who is jailed, beaten, and starved. I had forgotten the value of unions that were needed during these times of abuse, the loss of life during strikes as well as work time, and the heroes who rose up to the challenge. It is not the happiest book due to the content, however, but I admire Russell for putting this story back into the public eye.


On the Clock: What Low-Wage Work Did to Me and How It Drives America Insane by Emily Guendelsberger

I dare anyone to read this book and feel good about ordering from Amazon, being rude to a call-center employee, or being impatient at a fast-food restaurant. Yikes, working a low wage job in America is not easy, nor is it profitable, or good for one's health. Journalist Emily Guendelsberger goes to three different places of employment, works for a month, gathers stories from others, and has now written an explosive, often wry and funny, frequently shocking, story of her time at an Amazon fulfillment center, a call center, and an Oakland, California McDonald's. Reminiscent of Nickeled and Dimed, it takes a different direction as life has changed over the last twenty years, as has technology. This was truly eye-opening.

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo
It is hard to know where to begin with this one. Non-fiction, incredibly well written and researched, often uncomfortable, frequently depressing, sometimes shocking, quite provocative, ultimately powerful and unforgettable, but probably not for everyone. Lisa Taddeo, a well-respected journalist, interviews and relates the story of three women and their sexual lives. Yes, it's about sex. Each woman is uniquely herself; Maggie, a young troubled woman who has accused her high school English teacher of abuse from years ago; Lina, a lonely married woman with young children, involved in an affair with an old high school flame; and Sloane, a privileged woman and restaurant owner, who has an open marriage and a husband who likes to watch her have sex with others. I told you, not a book for everyone. There were many times when I felt like I wanted to take a shower, yet I was also fascinated by each woman's choices, her justifications, her humiliation, her sense of power, her helplessness, her victimization. Ultimately, we humans are sexual beings and this book provides many conversation starters about what that means.

Brain Rules: 12 Principles For Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina
As always, I am fascinated with any non-fiction book about brains, particularly as it relates to how we all learn. This was a fantastic listen from libro.fm (this company benefits your local indie bookstore, rather than Amazon - I'm a huge fan!). However, I think this book would also be very engaging to read as well. It is organized into the twelve chapters and the author uses intriguing anecdotes to relate how sleep, exercise, stress, genetics, etc. all play into how our brain works. I highly recommend this one to my teacher friends as it explained a few things to me, like how does one child survive trauma and abuse and succeed while another child from the exact same family struggle for years? Fascinating book.

October

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
What if the famous Yale secret societies were more than secret? What if they were...other worldly? Deadly? Full of dark magic, evil, and death? Yep, that would be a fascinating story, wouldn't it? In Bardugo's first venture into adult fiction, she takes the infamous "I see dead people" to an entirely new level. Galaxy (aka Alex) is a new freshman at Yale, with her admission aided by the Dean in order to be the new acolyte for Lethe House, the secret society tasked with the job of keeping all the other secret societies in line. Good luck with that, as all those wealthy, privileged, entitled brats like to mess around with magic in order to create opportunities for power and financial gain, regardless of the 'little people' it might harm...including Alex. However, Alex has a secret weapon, her ability to see the ghosts among us. This has created truly horrific experiences in Alex's childhood (warning: instances of violence, drug use, rape are disturbing), and definitely cause unlikely scenarios once she's at college. If you like horror, mystery, ghost stories, and characters who are rather 'complicated,' I cannot recommend this one highly enough. It scared the bejesus out of me at times, but I seriously could not put this book down. Bardugo is a master storyteller, and thanks to the ending, she's got lots more tales to tell about Yale and their creepy societies.

Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
Remember Olive Kittredge, the Pulitzer Prize winning novel of 2009? Well...shes baaaack! And as much as I loved the original, I think I loved this second book even more. Olive is still the curmudgeon that she has always been - passing judgment on the neighbors in her small Maine town, fighting with her son, badgering her second husband. Yet Olive also stops and listens to their stories, shows her former students that she saw something inside of them that was worthwhile, and ultimately details what life is like as we age, how the view narrows as our bodies betray us, and how we must find worth in a small space. Elizabeth Strout is one of my very favorite authors, writing in a clear sparse style, not mucking up the story with unnecessary verbiage, and creating stories of real life and real people. Oh, how I loved this book. If you missed Olive the first time around, I highly recommend going back and revisiting this book before going on to the sequel; you will not regret it.

Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson
Woodson is truly an iconic writer. Having been awarded the Newberry for her children's book, Brown Girl Dreaming, as well as winning numerous awards for other books, Woodson now creates a coming-of-age story involving an African-American family in Brooklyn. She follows three generations, focusing mainly on the women: grandmother, a survivor of a horrific race war years ago, still carrying the scars; mother, a young teenage mom who had dreams of her own; and the daughter, abandoned by the mother as she pursues those dreams, living through 9/11 and its aftermath, forging a life for herself in the 21st century. This was one of the best 'listens' I have ever heard (from libro.fm) - incredibly talented narrators reading a gorgeously written book. I wept over this one and was so moved by the story, the themes, the incredible characters.

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

If you like wickedly tense dystopia, this book will totally satisfy you. Think Hunger Games where the contestants are Handmaid’s. Then sprinkle in some Mean Girls and a little bit of crazy from The Crucible...and then set it all in the village from The Lottery. Sixteen year old girls (ie. future wives) head out to a remote area in the woods in order to dispel their ‘magic’ that destroys men. Traditions are hard to break, and these young girls face rebellion in their own ranks, power struggles, poison, violence, invaders, and the elements. Yet Tierney is the hero we all cheer for, relentlessly innovative and courageous. Thanks to @libro.fm for this amazingly told story - some of the best narration I have ever heard. I listened every chance I got and was blown away by the ending. Please please please tell me there’s going to be a sequel????

Frankly in Love by David Yoon
I am not usually a YA drama reader, but I had heard great things about this book so I decided to listen to it on libro.fm.  SO glad I did! Delightful narrator telling a delightful, yet also very topical, story. Frank Lee (get it?? the title!!) is a high school senior whose parents have disowned his older sister after she marries an African-American man. She had done everything right - studied constantly, went to Harvard, you name it - but they expected a Korean marriage. This book covers Frank's romantic life, as well as his friends', and his intriguing dynamics within the family. Will Frank live up to all his parent's expectations or will he rebel? So many funny moments, some tragedy and sadness, some racial insensitivity explored in a thoughtful way, I highly recommend this book.

The Whisper Man by Alex North
I had read many scary reviews of this book, so of course I ordered it for my BOTM club choice! Admittedly, the first 20% or so thought about being rather Stephen King-ish, but ultimately it is just a very solid police procedural mystery. Following the accidental death of his wife, Tom and his young son Jake move to a small English town and buy the 'scary' house. Each plot piece is methodically laid out, with skeletons, nosy neighbors, missing children, questionable schooling, and some very dedicated police detectives. Admittedly, I did not really like reading this one at night but I had to as I just could not put it down. If you like very British dark mysteries, this book is a good choice.

September 2.0

The World That We Knew by Alice Hoffman
Alice Hoffman is a go-to author for me. The history is always deeply researched, her characters flushed out and made human, and the writing...well, it is just magical. In her latest novel, set in WWII France, Hoffman makes good on a promise made to an audience member at a book talk, to tell the story of the Jewish people, to not forget, to remember the pain and suffering, but also the heroes who arose. Her characters are gorgeous: Ettie, the rabbi's daughter who wants to study with the boys, who creates the golem to protect a child, who fights for her world; Hanni, who suffers the greatest loss, who pours her tears into the golem's eyes so that she looks on her child with a mother's love, who knows the world as she knew it is gone; Lea, the child to be protected, who grows into a woman who sees the possibility in the new world to come, who must make the most painful choice of life or death; Julian and Victor, the two disparate brothers, who watch their Parisian world be destroyed, who fight in different ways, who sacrifice everything; Marianne and her father, the Huguenots, who rebel in the French mountains and fight to save thousands of Jewish children, to change their world; and Ava, the golem, made of mud and blood and tears, who is bound to protect, to defend, to kill if need be, who dances with a heron, who sees the Angel of Death and the World to Come, who must find a place in this world. Do. Not. Miss. This. Book.

The 10,000 Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
I requested an early copy of this book due to the cover (I mean, really!) but the writing, the story, the main character blew me away! This is one of my favorite books of the year. January is a young, lonely, semi-orphan, stuck with a rich old man as her guardian while her father explores the world, ostensibly looking for treasures. However, once January begins to read the secret book of his life, she starts to understand the magic portals that lead to adventures, secret lives, and danger. This author can seriously WRITE, and gives her main character a sassy authentic voice to tell her story. January is oh so human, making mistakes like many teenage girls, yet she surrounds herself with a heroic supporting cast. And the fact that January uses books to escape - isn't that what we all do when we bury ourselves in a book?? I could not put this book down. Alix Harrow transported me to worlds of magic, and swept me away from my mundane life.

The Testaments (The Handmaid's Tale #2)by Margaret Atwood
As a huge fan of not only The Handmaid's Tale (the book, not the show), and Margaret Atwood's other writing, my expectations were high. Did this book meet all of them? No. Did it entertain me and keep me turning pages? Absolutely. Can she still write the socks off most people? You bet. In this account, the story is told by three narrators: the baby Offred sends to Canada in hopes of a better life; Offred's first daughter, left behind in Gilead, training to be a Commander's Wife; and Aunt Lydia, the evil manipulator of the first book. Once again, Atwood plays with time as we are yanked back and forth, following the life events that drive the plot for each character. I found Lydia's background most fascinating; it is provocative to think what one might do for survival. A few small plot holes exist for me, and I found myself wondering "Would Atwood have written this sequel without the success of the television show?" Regardless, it is a worthy follow up and gives some closure to Offred and the freaky deaky world of Gilead (that is coming just far too close for comfort in our world of today).

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
I am quite torn on this one. On on hand, it is a beautifully written, lyrical, evocative tale that exposes the truth of slavery in all its ugliness. The  main character, Hiram Walker, is born a slave, yet son to the master, part of the Underground, yet 'Tasked' to labor, in love with a woman yet cannot own or control her, son to a dead woman yet is orphaned as she is sold south. It is a powerful story. However, it was a bit of a slog. It is looooong, there are so many characters to keep track of, and while the writing is gorgeous, there's just too much of it. The long, beautifully descriptive paragraphs wore me down at times. Obviously the man can write; his non-fiction book, Between the World and Me, as well as his writing for The Atlantic, proves that. I just did not need it proven to me over and over again. There's my honest take on this book, which I am sure will be highly lauded in smarter circles than to which I belong.

The Most Fun We've Ever Had by Claire Lombardo
Family drama on steroids in this long book of over 500 pages. It was tempting to just forego it, no matter all the positive reviews I had heard. I mean really, it was soooooo long. However, I read it in just two days (okay, I have no life and it was seriously wicked good). In varying perspectives and time periods, it tells the story of the Sorenson family and their four daughters: David, a doctor, and a rather stodgy father; Marilyn, the mother whose life took a different track, who loves her husband senselessly; Wendy, the oldest, a drunk, a busybody, with a wicked tongue and a complicated past; Violet, the 'good' daughter, with a dark secret; Liza, the professor with a clinically depressed boyfriend and an unintended pregnancy; and Grace, the 'epilogue' in the family who has no idea where the hell she's going. I kinda hated all of them for the first 100 pages, especially when the 'secret' comes out and disrupts everyone's lives. Yet the realness of family life comes through eventually, making me laugh out loud, or want to wring their neck, or roll my eyes, or completely relate to the craziness of family. It is just a great story.

A Field Guide to the Jewish People: Who They are, Where They Come Frome, What to Feed them...and Much More. Maybe Too Much More? by Dave Barry, Adam Mansbach, Alan Zweibel
I picked up and read this book in a day, the weekend of the terrible El Paso and Dayton mass shootings; I needed warmth and light and distraction from the horrors of the real world and this book provided just that. These three comedic writers take on all the stereotypes of Jewish culture and life and skewer them, shining a humorous yet pointed light on the history of Judaism. Quite often, I found myself laughing out loud, as well as thinking "Yep, I've seen that" or "Wow, never knew!" My own daughter converted to Judaism a few years ago, getting married under a chuppah, so while I have learned much from her, I also needed a crash course that entertained me. This book provides the exact amount of knowledge and laughter.

Inland by Tea Obreht
Literally could not finish. Listened to four hours and was bored beyond tears. Perhaps someone else will like it better?