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?

September

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
Way back in 2013, our book club chose to read Ordinary Grace by William Kent Krueger. We all loved it, though I had never heard of his previous books. Ordinary Grace was a huge hit...but where was his next book? Usually authors capitalize on the buzz and pump out the next book quickly (and I find often, not nearly as good of a book). My oh my, I am so glad Krueger took his time with This Tender Land as it is well worth the wait. Set in Minnesota during the Great Depression, the story begins in a reformatory school for native children. Some were orphaned, some taken from their Native families to be 'retrained.' It is a terrible place, full of abuse and hate, run by the Brickman couple who are sufficiently evil bad buys to root against. When a chance arises to flee, four heroic children do just that. Each child has their own part in Odie's story: Albert, his brother and a mechanical genius; Mose, the Sioux boy whose tongue was cut out as a toddler, looking for his identity; Emmy, the little girl whose 'fits' foretell the future; and Odysseus (ie. Odie) whose search for home leads them all on their wild odyssey down the river. Yep, they run into a cyclops character, a siren who sings like the angels, and many other obstacles along the way. I became so enmeshed in these children's trials and tribulations that I could not put this book down. This book should be another huge hit for this author. Thanks to Net Galley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi
Anytime President Obama puts out a reading list, I figure all the titles are 'must-reads.' Hmmm...what a pleasant past reminder, that some presidents pick up books and read! Needless to say, Stamped from the Beginning is a powerful walk through history. Using five guides for each time period (Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, William Lloyd Garrison, W.E.B. DuBois, and Angela Davis), we are given an in-depth look at not only where racist ideas came from, but how they have been nurtured through each tumultuous time period, as well as those of so-called 'peace and prosperity.' I listened to this book, thinking it might be too dry for a read. I find myself most interested in the three later 'guides' through history, but the early ones definitely gave me lots of 'ah-ha' moments. Highly recommend if you're looking for some knowledge during the times we are living through today.

When All Is Said by Anne Griffin
This debut novel by Irish author Anne Griffin was a pleasant surprise. Short, beautifully written, emblematic of Irish culture and history, I had a hard time putting this one down and in fact, read it in just one day. Maurice, an elderly Irish gentleman, sits in his village hotel bar on night. As he gives a toast to each of the people in his life who influence him the most, we take a walk with Maurice through his past. He is a complex old fella: raised poor, gathered wealth and a wife and a family, strained relationships with some, shady business deals, questionable decisions, introspective and thoughtful to the nth degree. Admittedly, I got a little weepy in spots but Griffin was really able to pull on my heart strings without being maudlin or melodramatic, so kudos to her. This could be a provocative book club choice as it deals with the consequences of life decisions, as well as end-of-life choices.

Chasing My Cure: A Doctor's Race to Turn Hope into Action; A Memoir by David Fajgenbaum
As many of you know, I am always a big fan of real-life, medical mystery stories and this one does not disappoint. David Fajgenbaum takes the reader on a story of his life: his childhood with hyper-focus ADD, falling in love, his years in college and medical school, his mother's death, and ultimately his devastating diagnosis of Castleman disease. We go on the exploration with David as he tries to hunt down not only a diagnosis, but treatment, institutions, cure regimens, experimentation, you name it. At times he gets a little stuck in the weeds with the biology of it (admittedly, I occasionally skipped the super scientific stuff!), but he always brings it back to real life and what he experience as a patient. This is an outstanding book to give the medical student in your life, or the person who like me, just loves this kind of real world mystery. Thanks to Net Galley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

29 Seconds by T.M. Logan
This is an entertaining thriller if that is what you are looking for; it moves quickly, has some good twists and turns, and is topical in its plot devices surrounding the Me Too movement. However, I will say I had to suspend belief at times or I would have gotten frustrated. If you're able to do that, it's a roller coaster of a ride. Sarah is a young college professor, single mom of two young kids, trying to get tenure at a British university, but unfortunately she works for a sexist pig. Luckily for Sarah, she is owed a debt by a wealthy but criminally active man who can solve her problem for her. The action takes off from there. Will it make you turn pages? Yep. Is it competently written? Yep. Is it memorable? Not so much, for me. It's what I would call an absorbing beach read, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! Thanks to Net Galley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick
Lately, it feels like a pigpen cloud is over the States, with all the hateful talk, mass shootings, divisiveness, domestic terrorism. This sweet story is the perfect solution to blow the clouds away. We meet Arthur Pepper one year after his wife of forty years has died. He rarely leaves the house, is annoyed by his neighbor, has little relationship with his children, and is stuck deep in the rut of his daily routines. Yet, as he cleans out his wife's closet he finds a charm bracelet hidden in the toe of a boot. Finding the meaning behind each charm leads Arthur on a search for his wife's history, but also for a way out of his present life. Told in a crisp British accent, this narrator enveloped me in a delightful story, reminding me to reach out to all people who cross my path, to smile at the stranger, to show interest in other people, to live. Arthur Pepper is the perfect combination of Ove, Harold Frye, and Major Pettigrew so if you need a pick-me-up, this book won't steer you wrong.

August 3.0

Dominicana by Angie Cruz
A Book of the Month club choice, I probably would not have picked this book up without encouragement from the publicist. Why? Let's face it, I live in a majority white college town in the upper left hand corner of the states. Reading about a 15 year old Dominican Republic girl who marries an older man and moves to New York City in 1965 doesn't sound like my gig. Which is EXACTLY why I needed to read it. This book, and others like it, give us a window into a world we are not a part of, the life of an immigrant, the life of poverty and dreams of escape, the life of hard work, language barriers, losing one's way in the neighborhood, wanting more from life but feeling trapped. Angie Cruz has written a deep character study of young Ana Ruiz and encased it in gorgeous language and sentence structure, at times making me gasp, and at other times laugh out loud. I felt a part of Ana's life, and isn't that the magic of literature?

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri
In my constant attempt to learn about the world through books, this novel is an eye-opening one on the tragedy of Syria over these last eight years. As the world watched the protests devolve into civil war, as the world stood by and watched chemical poisoning and the government bombing their own people, as we all became numb to the terrible loss of life, this book reminds us how so many lives were destroyed. Lefteri tells the story of Nuri, who with his cousin Mustafa, operates an incredible honey business in the fields of Aleppo. Moving back and forth in both time and place, we see the beginnings of this terrible conflicts, as the hives are burned by government soldiers, bombs land in back yards, and dead children become commonplace. It is a story of how normal people, through circumstances beyond their control, flee and become refugees. That word, refugee, seems to have become a curse, a wound upon the society where they enter, a bargaining chip, a way to insult the 'other.' Read this book and you will be reminded what a refugee is...someone fleeing great danger at enormous peril, in such desperation to find a place of safety, to find a home.

After the End by Clare Mackintosh
Having read many of her thrillers (I Let You Go, etc.) , I stupidly assumed this would be another great thriller. I was waaaay wrong. This book is a deeply personal, incredibly gripping story of a couple grappling with a life and death decision over their critically ill son. Do they follow the doctor's advice and let their child die rather than exist in a body that cannot move with a brain that is permanently damaged? What is life, and what is existence? Do they pursue other treatments, hoping both for more time and a possible miracle? And what if the parents disagree?? This is a wrenching look into a difficult issue, with no completely right or wrong answers. Mackintosh uses a unique plotting structure to show the complexity of all the "what ifs" that is highly provocative and filled with tension. Highly recommend this one:)

The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger
Did you like Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty? If so, just wait - the parents in The Gifted School makes those women look like pussycats. What happens in a predominately white, privileged area when the school district decides to partner with surrounding districts and create a magnet school for gifted students? Oh, and test the kids for admission? Can you say craaaaazy parents??? Each one is uniquely vile: the doctor who makes excuses for her bad behavior; the widow whose only reward seems to be living life through her children; the non-working wealthy mother with the perfect only child; and the free-spirited mom with boisterous twins. I was fascinated by these mothers - I had met them on soccer fields, been questioned by them in parent-teacher conferences, and yes, had occasionally been them. While the ending was a bit too 'pat' for me and a bit implausible, I thoroughly enjoyed this mean look into modern day parenting.

Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden Keefe
With all the violence in today's world, it seems as if the past of Northern Ireland has been pushed back into the annals of history, but it was a terrible and dangerous time in Belfast and other areas of Northern Ireland. This well-told, well-researched book is a fascinating listen on librofm (this service benefits your independent bookstore instead of Amazon, just sayin). It begins with the horrific kidnapping of a young Irish mother, leaving numerous children behind, as she becomes one of the 'Disappeared' in the Troubles, the oddly named time period of the conflict in the last decades of the 20th century. The reporter then focuses on two sisters, particularly Dolours Price, and IRA leader Gerry James, and all the murder and mayhem created by the conflict. I learned a ton and was utterly fascinating by this piece of history, particularly in mind of Brexit and what could happen with a 'hard border' between the Republic of Ireland and the north, still owned and operated by the English.

Knife (Harry Hole, #12) by Jo Nesbo
Good grief, Nesbo has written a LOT of books about Harry; I wasn't sure how I would feel about this last one. Clocking in at well over 400 pages, it is a commitment. However, it is also his best Harry Hole novel, in my opinion. Harry, the most intelligent and skilled murder detective in the Oslo police department, has always been a hot mess. Yet in the final few books, life had settled down a bit while he was happily married to Rakel and being a stepfather to Oleg. All good, right? Not quite. Not to give anything away, but literally everything hits the fan in the first fifty pages and the hunt for a murderer is on. Once again, Nesbo has us chasing him down long rabbit holes, ending with a finale that is deeply satisfying. So if you have loved his books before, I highly recommend picking this one up. And if you've never read this detective series, think about it but be prepared for a dark, creepy, Scandinavian tale.

The Cutting Season by Attica Locke
This is a gorgeous mix of historical fiction and mystery and family drama, written by a very talented writer. Set in the deep south of Louisiana, a dead body is found in the first chapter, one of a young female field worker at Belle Vie, an old family plantation. Caren is the manager, living with her young daughter and dealing with her ex partner who is soon to be remarried up in Washington, D.C. As workers get pulled into the murder investigation, the old history of Caren's family ancestors who were slaves on this land gets pulled into play, as well as her own past history of her relationship with her mother, the plantation cook, her time in law school, her relationship with Eric, as well as the plans the owners have for Belle Vie's future. It is a complicated story with lots of twists and turns, and has a great narrator from Librofm.