4.5 stars. Wow. This collection of narrative essays written by native women and women of color about miscarriage and infant loss packs a powerful punc4.5 stars. Wow. This collection of narrative essays written by native women and women of color about miscarriage and infant loss packs a powerful punch. These are highly readable. I thought I'd just dip in and out of this collection, and was mostly interested in reading Kao Kalia Yang's essay, since I know and love her writing, but I ended up going back to the beginning and reading this book cover to cover. An important work giving voice to women whose voices are not prominently heard in our society. Highly recommended for women, although a word of caution that this would be particularly difficult to read if you were currently trying to get pregnant, unless you want your experiences validated....more
Highly recommended for fans of Jane Austen. A man and woman from our future travel back in time with the goal of meeting Jane Austen, becoming a part Highly recommended for fans of Jane Austen. A man and woman from our future travel back in time with the goal of meeting Jane Austen, becoming a part of her world, and getting a copy of the unfinished "Watsons" or making copies of Jane's letters to Cassandra. It has the wonderful feeling of a Jane Austen novel, but with contemporary characters trying to fit in during a different time....more
Wow. I couldn't stop turning the pages of this fascinating work of narrative nonfiction. It's hard to stomach all the lies upon lies of Eliz4.5 stars.
Wow. I couldn't stop turning the pages of this fascinating work of narrative nonfiction. It's hard to stomach all the lies upon lies of Elizabeth Holmes and her company Theranos, especially considering that they provided inaccurate blood tests to so many people. I highly recommend this book to fans of narrative nonfiction....more
I love, love loved this book set in an Indian community in London. Nikki was born and raised in London by her Indian parents, but they lived 4.5 stars
I love, love loved this book set in an Indian community in London. Nikki was born and raised in London by her Indian parents, but they lived outside of the Indian community Southall. When Nikki takes a job there at a temple leading storytelling workshops, she is surprised both by the women's interest in telling erotic stories (which are included in this book) and by the community's repression of and violence towards women. Jaswal kept me turning the pages and I appreciated the strong themes she fearlessly explored. Highly recommended. After finishing this, I wasn't ready to be done with Jaswal's writing, so I immediately picked up her next novel "The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters."...more
My 2 and 4 year olds love to read this book over and over again. It's funny and a quick read, but also contains good messages about what to do when yoMy 2 and 4 year olds love to read this book over and over again. It's funny and a quick read, but also contains good messages about what to do when you mess up. A favorite worth purchasing....more
Super fun. The premise is that George Washington, instead of becoming President, became King. This book follows his current day descendants Beatrice (Super fun. The premise is that George Washington, instead of becoming President, became King. This book follows his current day descendants Beatrice (next in line to be Queen) and Samantha (Beatrice's younger sister, "the spare"), as well as Sam's friend Nina.
4.5 stars. LOVED IT! Honest, informative, and refreshingly open about issues like infertility and pregnancy complications. Lucy Knisley rocks. Can't w4.5 stars. LOVED IT! Honest, informative, and refreshingly open about issues like infertility and pregnancy complications. Lucy Knisley rocks. Can't wait for a book about Pal (hopefully).
If you liked "Kid Gloves," you'll enjoy her other graphic memoirs, especially "Something New" about planning her wedding and getting married....more
4.5 stars. I loved this feel good book. Sure to be one of my favorites of 2019.
Evvie Drake's husband died 1 year ago, and she's still not feeling good4.5 stars. I loved this feel good book. Sure to be one of my favorites of 2019.
Evvie Drake's husband died 1 year ago, and she's still not feeling good about life. What the people in her small Maine town don't know, is that when her well loved doctor husband died, she was in the process of leaving him. Evvie spends most of her time sitting around her too big house reading and doing the occasional transcribing job. When her best friend Andy asks if she'll rent the apartment in her house to his friend Dean, a disgraced major league baseball pitcher, she agrees.
Witty banter abounds as Evvie and Dean try to figure out what's next in their lives. Well written with just the right dash of hot baseball player romance....more
This book got me out of a reading slump. I ate it up and loved it. A perfect summer read with interesting characters living on a small east coast islaThis book got me out of a reading slump. I ate it up and loved it. A perfect summer read with interesting characters living on a small east coast island, including an unsatisfied stay at home mom (with a secret blogging job) staying in a summer rental, a single mom who owns a bakery and lives on the island, and a disgraced male author whose father is a bestselling author (think James Patterson). Highly recommended beach (and winter) read....more
Wow. Nora McInery's writing style is hilarious and real. She bravely bares it all in this book, going through the many mixed emotions she felt after fWow. Nora McInery's writing style is hilarious and real. She bravely bares it all in this book, going through the many mixed emotions she felt after falling in love again a little over 6 months after her first husband died of brain cancer at 35. After dating her soon to be second husband, Matthew, for a few months, she becomes pregnant, and they merge their families--his 14 and 9 year olds with her 3 year old. I can't overstate how much I enjoyed McInery's writing. This book is about sad, tough things (as well as happy things), and it is super readable. She also has quite a few chapters in here that feel like separate essays (I'm assuming they were previously written as such then collected here), but I was so charmed by her style that I didn't mind. Interesting thoughts on feminism, parenting, and how you live when people close to you have died. ...more
It's not often I'm tempted to give a book 5 stars (this is saved for my favorites books that I perpetually re-read). I thought I'd pick up this book fIt's not often I'm tempted to give a book 5 stars (this is saved for my favorites books that I perpetually re-read). I thought I'd pick up this book for a few pages and put it back down again, but Reichl had me from the first word. This is her captivating story of leaving her job as a New York Times restaurant critic to become Editor in Chief of Gourmet magazine. Her writing is as luscious as the food she critiqued, and the food is essential in this memoir. Highly recommended to anyone who loves a good (true) story. This is good reading, and would make for an interesting book club discussion as well.
Leila is an independent American woman who lives with her more traditional Indian parents. She's a teacher and enjoys spending time with her friends aLeila is an independent American woman who lives with her more traditional Indian parents. She's a teacher and enjoys spending time with her friends after work and going on occasional dates. Her parents start pressing her to get married. She's 26 and her mother wants to arrange her marriage. Leila asks her mother to give her a few months and if she still hasn't found anyone, her mother can analyze all the biodata sheets she wants to try and find someone right for Leila. Leila enlists her friends and tries dating apps and speed dating. She goes on a lot of terrible, hilarious dates, and even goes to a wedding in India for her cousin (the ultimate place to meet a husband).
I flew through this super fun book. Raheem does a great job examining the pull between traditional and modern. You'll root for Leila. This book went too fast....more
4.5 stars. I devoured this novel, perfect for fans of the Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman. Ivy and her sister Tabitha are twins. However, Tabitha is4.5 stars. I devoured this novel, perfect for fans of the Magicians trilogy by Lev Grossman. Ivy and her sister Tabitha are twins. However, Tabitha is magic, and Ivy is not. More than a decade since they've talked to each other, PI Ivy is hired to investigate the death of a teacher at the magical high school Tabitha teaches at. Ivy is likeable and real and has a lot of sister issues. She's also clever and determined to figure out what happened at Tabby's school filled with privileged, magical youth. "Magic for Liars" is extremely well written. Gailey draws you in right away. Once I started it, all I wanted to do was read this book straight through. The first thing I did after putting this book down was to look up Gailey's other books. I can't wait to read Gailey's next novel and I highly recommend this one....more
Wow, it was a treat to read Houston's stories about living on 120 acres in a valley in Colorado. This is the ultimate voyeurism: reading about living Wow, it was a treat to read Houston's stories about living on 120 acres in a valley in Colorado. This is the ultimate voyeurism: reading about living way out with the snow piling up and animals to care for, but without having to do the super hard work that goes along with that lifestyle. Houston switches off living on her land and teaching writing in California to support said land. Highly recommended.
Wow, I raced through this thought provoking novel. Gibson follows three women, all basketball players, as they apply to West Point (just before 9/11),Wow, I raced through this thought provoking novel. Gibson follows three women, all basketball players, as they apply to West Point (just before 9/11), go through college, and deal with life after school. She looks at the struggles they face as women, both in and out of the military. This was an enjoyable read that made me think and exposed me to a lifestyle I don't know much about. I only wish it was coming out sooner (publication date April 2019)!
Highly recommended to fans of Kristin Hannah....more