I'm certainly not the only person who is quick to grab a copy of a new book from S.A. Cosby. Having read three of his books, I know to expect snappy wI'm certainly not the only person who is quick to grab a copy of a new book from S.A. Cosby. Having read three of his books, I know to expect snappy writing, flawed characters, and gritty scenes of violence as well as a plot that could have been ripped from today's headlines. Roland Carruthers is enjoying a successful career as a financial planner in Atlanta when his sister, Neveah, summons him home. It seems that their father is in the hospital after a car crash. Once back in Jefferson Run, Virginia, where his father runs a crematory, Roland quickly realizes that the crash was no accident and that his brother, Dante, is in big trouble. As Roland sorts through the mess, trying to find a way to fix everything and thwart the thugs who want their money back as well as a heaping measure of revenge, Roland concocts a plan using his connections and money skills to thwart them. However, as his plan unfolds, he finds himself taking action in ways that are just as bad as those of the Black Baron Boys. Of course, he justifies his deeds because he's saving his family. Clearly, he's haunted by a childhood trauma when his mother disappointed, and the responsibility for that death is hinted at early on. Fast paced, gripping, and troubling, this is another winner from Cosby. ...more
As so many of us who are moving into our sixties and seventies have come to realize when looking in the mirror or facing surgeries or physical limitatAs so many of us who are moving into our sixties and seventies have come to realize when looking in the mirror or facing surgeries or physical limitations have come to realize, we're not eighteen anymore. That doesn't mean that there isn't any joy or changes left in our lives. While society, popular culture, and even modern medicine often seem to relegate older individuals to the sidelines or overmedicate them, that shouldn't be the case. Weaving science, years of experience, personal anecdotes, and literature in an engaging narrative, Louise Aronson makes a strong case for change within the medical profession and within ourselves and those around us. How strange it is that so few others have come to the same conclusions as Aronson has! Reading this book has made me want to rage, rage, rage against those who would relegate the aged and the elderly to the sidelines. A geriatrician, she raises important questions and examines her own initial and subsequent reactions to aging. This is one of those must-reads. ...more
After her father's death, Lucretia Sanderson and her move to the small town of Candle Island, Maine, in order to heal and build their lives again. TheAfter her father's death, Lucretia Sanderson and her move to the small town of Candle Island, Maine, in order to heal and build their lives again. The small tourist town has appeal for them for many reasons, partly because of its beauty and isolation, but also because Lucretia has a secret, one that isn't revealed right away. While she and her mother paint, she also tends to a young osprey and forms a friendship with Bastian, one of the locals. He, too, has a secret that she accidentally discovers. As Lucretia deals with the animosity of Murdock, another local, she also lands in the midst of a conflict between the locals and the tourists, a conflict that builds inexorably across the book's pages. As with all books by this author, this one has an interesting setting and plot, characters that are richly drawn, and questions about grief, loss, voice, and being true to oneself. In many respects it's also an homage to art, writing and music (all means of self-expression) and the power they have to help us find our way and heal....more
Fans of Southern historical fiction and book clubs in search of a title worth reading and discussing are sure to enjoy this one [3.5 for me!], set durFans of Southern historical fiction and book clubs in search of a title worth reading and discussing are sure to enjoy this one [3.5 for me!], set during the 1930s and 1940s. The two protagonists, Del and Rae Lynn, haven't had easy lives, and readers may be shocked at the events that open their separate stories. While the slow burn of their relationship and the redemption they eventually find in each other is appealing, what sets this story apart from many others is how the author weaves in details about the turpentine camps and pine forests where their paths cross. Swallow Hill, which is one of those camps, is not the easiest or safest of places, and racism and sexism run rampant there. Amid the natural beauty of the setting, there is evil, anger, and violence, and kindness is often regarded as weakness. The descriptions are lush, sometimes raw, and the emotions and sentiments expressed are honest and just as appealing as the book's characters. I thoroughly enjoyed traveling back in time to learn more about longleaf pines and turpentine and considering what the land must have been like before so many of those pines were carelessly destroyed. ...more
I don't quite know how he does it, but this author always, always manages to tell stories in a way that makes me care about his characters, even thougI don't quite know how he does it, but this author always, always manages to tell stories in a way that makes me care about his characters, even though they are nothing like me, and prompts me to see the world as being a little brighter and humans as better than I have before. In his most recent title, he explores the power of friendship and artistic expression through the stories of four teens who spend a splendid summer together in a town by the sea. Their homes are not exactly sanctuaries as there is violence in some, death and dying in others, and carelessness in still others. But none of that matters when they're together. Their stories are told through the eyes of Ted, one of the boys, 25 years later, as he and Louisa, an 18-year-old artist, deal with loss and their connection to a recently deceased artist who has given her, a homeless girl, his most famous and most valuable painting. As usual with this particular writer, there are moments of immense pain and heartbreak, but there are also moments of joy and humor, and readers can't help but feel uplifted by his words and the time they have spent with these characters. ...more
An immersive mystery concerning a girl named Crow and her determination to learn more about her past, this excellent historical fiction will intrigue An immersive mystery concerning a girl named Crow and her determination to learn more about her past, this excellent historical fiction will intrigue many middle-grade readers. All of the characters, including twelve-year-old Crow, Osh, the man who cares for, and Maggie, their kind-hearted neighbor--yes, and even Mouse, the family cat--are well drawn and interesting even when they make mistakes or hold back their emotions. Set off the coast of Massachusetts, the book covers territory not found in most books for this age group, describing a leper colony on one of the islands and how the locals treated its residents or anyone like Crow that might be associated with it. As always, the author, Lauren Wolk, tackles big questions about family, destiny, and treasure with grace and thoughtfulness while describing this particular corner of the world with respect. ...more
Set in and around Spokane, Washington, this book [3.5 for me!] features flawed characters, several of whom are searching for some sort of redemption oSet in and around Spokane, Washington, this book [3.5 for me!] features flawed characters, several of whom are searching for some sort of redemption or a way to find their way back home. The central character, Rhys Kinnick, a former journalist who has gone off the grid to live on his family's land in the woods for several years, has surrounded himself with solitude and books as he tries to sort out the meaning of life and avoid the messiness of the outside world. He's had little to do with his daughter, Bethany, or his two grandchildren, Leah and Asher, but once the two of them land on his doorstep, he begins to regret his actions and what he's missed. But his daughter is in the midst of an identity crisis after the death of her mother and her husband, Shane's, increased involvement with a fundamentalist group that has a branch called AOL (Army of the Lord), and Rhys must find the youngsters after they've been kidnapped. There are some interesting twists and turns in the plot, but what sparkles here are the characters. Even the less important ones have stories and complexities that draw readers into the book. This is a fast read but one with layers and emotional resonance. ...more
Long before I moved to the Pacific Northwest, I read many books and articles about the serial killers who seemed to proliferate in the region. I oftenLong before I moved to the Pacific Northwest, I read many books and articles about the serial killers who seemed to proliferate in the region. I often wondered why there were so many of these individuals in the area. Perhaps they were just better publicized than others of their ilk or possibly there were plenty of serial killers out there who hadn't been caught or weren't known. I still don't have the answers to the questions posed by my younger self although this book and its author offer one possible one. Moving back and forth between the killers, their crimes and victims and the poisoning of the area, especially Tacoma, due to lead, copper, and arsenic, Murderland proposes that it's these chemicals, particularly lead, to which these serial killers had been exposed that contributed to their violence. Although I'm still not convinced after reading the book and considering her reasoning, it certainly is an interesting idea. The book covers plenty of familiar territory that anyone having read about serial killers such as Ted Bundy, the I-5 Killer, BTK, or the Night Stalker will already know, but she does so in such a fresh way, weaving in her own formative years and impressions of various events and moments in time, even television programs, songs, and political movements, that even the most jaded of readers will be intrigued, drawn into a world where home isn't particularly safe or nurturing and prompting questions about the value of human lives vs. progress and the bottom line. Although the small amount of time spent on the various murders and her tendency to jump from one serial killer to another can be rather jarring, especially initially, readers will finish the book impressed with the author's essay-writing ability and penchant for looking below the surface. I thoroughly enjoyed this one. ...more
While I realize that romance novels are formulaic and the ending rather predictable, I'd seen quite a lot of buzz around this book and decided to giveWhile I realize that romance novels are formulaic and the ending rather predictable, I'd seen quite a lot of buzz around this book and decided to give it a whirl. After all, the title and the premise sounded promising. Even though I'd read and not particularly enjoyed People We Meet on Vacation, also by this author, I figured it couldn't hurt to give the author another try. Unfortunately, this book, which so many reviewers seemed to find so original, reminded me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo except the subject of the possible bio, Margaret Ives, didn't have nearly as an interesting life as Evelyn did. I could forgive that since there were some interesting parts of her life story, but the romance between the two writers, Alice Scott and Hayden Anderson, just left me bored. There was all this business about holding back and not responding to each other physically but still doing everything except intercourse so that they wouldn't feel involved with each other or invested or have regrets that seemed old-fashioned and dated. It reminded me of how President Bill Clinton claimed not to have had sex with "that woman" back in the day when he meant not having penetrated her. Maybe romance fans will love this--clearly, they do, judging from the ratings, but for me, even the sexually charged passages don't redeem it enough for me to raise my rating to more than a 2.5. Haven't I read something quite like this, not just the Evelyn Hugo parts, before? Clearly, I'm not in the mood for love, at least when it's delivered in this particular predictable package. Perhaps the only redeeming point for me is that it was a quick read. ...more
Not only is this unique novel sweeping in its scope, moving back and forth in time and leaping from one character to another while also returning to tNot only is this unique novel sweeping in its scope, moving back and forth in time and leaping from one character to another while also returning to the night when one character disappears while walking along the beach with his daughter, but it's just as sweeping and massive in its writing. The author uses complex sentences, vivid descriptions, and small moments that capture the essence of her characters, and just when it seems that readers feel as though they know all about someone, that knowledge turns out to be untrue or incomplete. Since I knew nothing about how several individuals had been kidnapped and imprisoned in North Korea, much of the political aspect of this story was revelatory for me. There is so much to consider while pondering the slippery nature of memory and emotions here as well as family dynamics and how we choose to cope or simply continue on after great losses. It's a fascinating mystery that requires some patience on the part of readers, and the omission of great swaths of time may be problematic for some. But ultimately, everything fits together rather neatly, possibly prompting a reread to appreciate even more the author's storytelling and plotting abilities. I wasn't quite sure what to expect when starting this book, but I wasn't disappointed. As I reached the last pages, I found myself thinking about how little of what happens to us is actually in our control, something that the author makes quite clear. ...more
I've been a fan of this series ever since I read the very first book, and my admiration for its creator, Suzanne Collins, continues to grow as she offI've been a fan of this series ever since I read the very first book, and my admiration for its creator, Suzanne Collins, continues to grow as she offers fans the back story of some of the characters who appear in the first three books. While The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes offers readers the origin tale for the Hunger Games by focusing on Coriolanus Snow and his slow but relentless descent into the dark side, this book follow Haymitch Abernathy, winner of the fiftieth Hunger Games, as he becomes a tribute and manages to outlast all the other competitors. Savvy readers will recall how broken Haymitch is as he guides Katniss and Peeta in their Hunger Games, no doubt wondering what has caused him to be so broken. Surely, something terrible must have happened, and while fans of the series will already know that he survives, a feat that surely would haunt anyone because of what is necessary in order to leave the Games alive, they'll have no idea just how harsh his punishment will be for having embarrassed President Snow. His is not a triumphant return to District 12 at all, and I felt a literal chill at Snow's final words to him since I knew that he'd come home to nothing. While this book may not have quite the same emotional impact that the previous book does, it's still moving and disturbing, mimicking in some ways the helplessness that any individual or group of people must feel when all the odds are, indeed, stacked against them and are never in their favor. The skillful weaving of lines from Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" with its echo of "Nevermore" through parts of this particular love story adds another layer to the story, contributing to the hopeless yearning of Haymitch, who must surely be driven mad by his longing and feelings of loss. This one simply MUST be read. ...more
The protagonist and plot of this book [3.5 for me and a fast and engrossing read!] are great examples of how one shouldn't let outer appearances deceiThe protagonist and plot of this book [3.5 for me and a fast and engrossing read!] are great examples of how one shouldn't let outer appearances deceive them. After all, even the quietest of mild-mannered individuals--in this case, a middle-aged sweater-wearing librarian named Hana Babic--have stories and sometimes a dark past. For three decades Hana has lived in Minnesota, tending books and her farm as well as her memories of the Bosnian war for independence when Serbs and Bosnians fought. The story moves back in forth in time from the 1990s, mostly 1995, in rural Bosnia, and then years later, in Minnesota. Hana's quiet life is interrupted by the news of a friend's violent death. Naturally, this puts Hana on high alert as she tries to discover who knows her secrets. As she seeks to avenge her friend's death and protect the small life entrusted to her, Hana takes increasingly dangerous steps. Most readers in this country (the United States) probably know very little about the Bosnian war and some of the war crimes that occurred against Muslims during that time, making the sections entitled "Bosnia" in which Hana's experiences during the war are revealed in shocking detail eye-opening and disturbing. While there are some false notes sounded in the narrative, overall, this was a solid read, engaging, thoughtful, and fully rendering the long-term effects of trauma on teens like Hana. I can see why it's been garnering rave reviews, but it certainly isn't an easy read. ...more
Both a great beach read and insightfully humorous social commentary, this debut novel [3.5 for me!] couldn't be more timely or original. The book's prBoth a great beach read and insightfully humorous social commentary, this debut novel [3.5 for me!] couldn't be more timely or original. The book's protagonist, Julie Chan, struggles to make ends meet while her twin sister, Chloe Van Huusen, is living the high life as a social media influencer. Due to their parents' death, the girls were separated when they were four and have had little contact since then. After Julie receives a brief and aborted phone call from Chloe and then gets no response to her calls, she travels to Manhattan to check on her. Finding her dead, she impulsively decides to assume her identity and becomes involved with a group of influencers called the Belladonnas--beware of anyone or anything with that name!--who were her sister's friends. Initially, Julie is down to earth and immune to the lifestyle that their posts and views afford these women, but she's quickly lured into posting her own stories and photos due to the lucrative nature of these activities and the allure of all the positive feedback she receives online. Page by page, it becomes clearer that the old Julie Chan really is dead, and this iteration of her needs the adulation provided by online activity. While the book could have been even better by exploring this aspect of social media a bit more, it's still a strong debut, with whip sharp writing and insight into the hearts of humans. ...more
I daresay that most creative innovators have faced resistance when they introduced a new idea, a new approach or a new product. While many of those idI daresay that most creative innovators have faced resistance when they introduced a new idea, a new approach or a new product. While many of those ideas don't work out, others do. In this picture book [3.5 for me because I like wry stories!] a penguin named Frank introduces a spot of color in the form of a red knitted hat that he's wearing and showing off to the other penguins. This causes quite a stir since the penguins aren't used to much color. After all, they live on Antarctica where much of the landscape is covered in snow or rocks. When one penguin tries it on and meets a terrible fate, the other penguins refuse to wear the hat. Frank even knits hats of different colors and a hat with all sorts of embellishments. But there are other animals who like those hats, which consoles Frank and inspires him to further creations. The illustrations were created with digital collage and painted and folded papers that were scanned for texture. Those small touches of color really stand out. Observant readers will make note of the first appearance of the walrus when Frank is fishing and his last appearance on the last page. ...more
Dealing with loss and grief, whatever the form, is never easy. It's important that youngsters come to understand that death and/or loss are a part of Dealing with loss and grief, whatever the form, is never easy. It's important that youngsters come to understand that death and/or loss are a part of life, and even adults struggle with the emotions surrounding loss. In this moving picture book, Giselle, the protagonist, is quite observant and can tell that her father is feeling particularly sad on this day. While it could be that her mother is simply missing or has left the family behind for an adventure, it seems clear that she's dead, judging by the items that are on her dressed--earrings, perfume, and rings, all carefully dusted by Giselle. As Giselle thinks about happier times, she remembers how her mother used her imagination to dream and pretend that all the things they planned to do were happening now. Inspired, she drags her father into a series of imaginative adventures, including flying on a plane, attending a concert on the moon, and time traveling through a book, in this case, a scrapbook filled with family photos and mementos. Despite its subject matter, the story is hopeful, offering one path to healing. The luminous, color-drenched, surreal illustrations, including a much larger-than-life turkey sandwich, were created with textures that were painted and then scanned with Photoshop and Procreate. Giselle's shining example offers a way forward for others in similar circumstances. ...more
True crime stories and tales about journalism always thrill my little newshound heart, making this one [3.5 for me!] a good choice to keep me occupiedTrue crime stories and tales about journalism always thrill my little newshound heart, making this one [3.5 for me!] a good choice to keep me occupied. I knew a little bit about the 1922 murder at the heart of the book--the death of Reverend Edward Hall and Eleanor Mills, a member of his choir, both found posed in bizarre ways and with later evidence pointing to an affair. But this account, which provides various details, enough to satisfy my curiosity to know more, takes readers back in time and reels out a cast of possible suspects and motivation for the crime, which was never solved. Part of the story, of course, also focuses on the tabloid war that surrounded coverage of the case, with some newspapers even getting involved in trying to find witnesses for the trial(s). Part of the pleasures in reading this book is imagining solutions and pondering how it might have been handled in modern times as well as how the coverage of this case gave rise to the country's fascination with these sorts of events and coverage. I thoroughly enjoyed it although I wish the book had also contained a timeline and map. ...more
This one, the eighth and final book in the series, is a 3.5 for me. Anna Hibiscus truly is amazing. Every book in this series, set in Lagos, Nigeria, This one, the eighth and final book in the series, is a 3.5 for me. Anna Hibiscus truly is amazing. Every book in this series, set in Lagos, Nigeria, is simply charming, chockful of humor, love, and life lessons. This may, like the seventh title, may be the best book in the series as Anna deals with some family troubles caused by her twin siblings and mourns the death of her grandfather. She feels this loss keenly, partly because she was in denial about how he was fading and played outside rather than spending time with him. Consequently, she feels guilty and acts out at school, hurting her best friend. All of her emotions and actions are relatable, and the advice her grandmother gives her helps her start to process her grief. She takes comfort in knowing that her grandfather lives on through the memories she and others share. This one is so touching, supported as it is with ink drawings that support the text and provide a glimpse into Anna Hibiscus's world. I'm sad to see the series come to an end. ...more
Oh, this historical fiction, set in rural Iowa during the summer and fall of 1941, is so good, so emotionally rich, and well written. Not only does itOh, this historical fiction, set in rural Iowa during the summer and fall of 1941, is so good, so emotionally rich, and well written. Not only does it cover a little-known part of WWII history--the existence of a Quaker hostel for Jewish refugees--but it also tackles hard, almost unanswerable questions with respect, honoring their complexity. The plot focuses on Peggy Mott, 12 and 13 during the six months of the story, a math whiz who is convinced that all problems can be solved. But as she eventually learns, that may be true when it comes to numbers and math problems, but not when it comes to life, death, love, and even some choices that seem forced on us. When Peggy learns that her literary, poetry-loving cousin, Delia, has leukemia, she tries to force her rational approach to life on finding a cure. Her frustrating journey also reveals much about herself to Peggy, who experiences emotions she never imagined she would, including a crush, and makes plenty of mistakes along the way. Humor is deftly blended into the narrative, with one passage in which Peggy tries to explain a poem to Delia through a mathematics lens being particularly absurd but also offering clues to her own worldview. The characters in this book are just as complicated as life itself. And while the setting may seem, on the surface, to be dated, the emotions and questions are particularly relevant in today's political climate when it often seems that there is little that is within our control. ...more
Serendipitously I was reading another book about the Hall-Mills double murder in the fall of 1922 while also reading this one, which focuses on F. ScoSerendipitously I was reading another book about the Hall-Mills double murder in the fall of 1922 while also reading this one, which focuses on F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife, Zelda, but also features that very same crime as Sarah Churchwell, the author, examines the influence of that murder on Fitzgerald and his masterpiece, The Great Gatsby. Her research takes Churchwell and her readers to some interesting places as she relies on letters, notes, published columns, and newspaper articles as well as her own reading of Gatsby to offer a different perspective on the novel. While she doesn't completely succeed in her endeavors since the murder, which remains unsolved, doesn't offer enough material to fully flesh out each chapter, her take on this event is fascinating, provocative, and intellectually titillating. The inclusion of passages from Gatsby and from Fitzgerald's calendar and letters opens up new ways of reading his work, and any fans of his writing--myself included--will be drawn into the book, which is fascinating in its portrayal of Fitzgerald and those around him as well as those particular times while also offering insight into his writing life. The book's title comes from one of my own favorite passages in The Great Gatsby. ...more
Anyone who's read one of this author's previous books will know that she is particularly skilled at immersing readers in her setting through vivid desAnyone who's read one of this author's previous books will know that she is particularly skilled at immersing readers in her setting through vivid description and the use of vocabulary that fits the time period. In this case, it's the summer of 1894 in the Northwest. Having lost her job at a mineral springs hotel in central Oregon, Sally O'Malley, an orphan whose life has contained few moments of joy, decides to head west. Her aim is to see the sea, something she's heard about but never seen. Along the way, she meets Major, who delivers goods to various stores, and is accompanied by her faithful dog, Sarge, and a donkey, Mabel. Seeing something in Sally, 13, that may remind her of herself, she offers a ride to Sally. Along the way, they pick up an unusual package--a standoffish, priggish boy named Lafayette--who needs to be taken to yet another relative after other of his kin washed their hands of him. Sally is as rough around the edges as Lafayette is refined, but slowly, a friendship builds, and just as slowly, Sally realizes that there are individuals who are trustworthy, kind, and those who won't break her heart or take advantage of her. She also starts to see that she, too, is worthy and resilient. An ideal choice for a classroom read aloud, this well-written historical fiction might be predictable in many respects, but Sally's journey [to her best self and to the sea] will speak to middle-grade readers, some of whom will see themselves in her tough as nails exterior that hides a tender interior that emerges by fits and starts. ...more