May reading roundup #2

We are (somehow) halfway through May, and everything is blooming. Between tulips, morning runs and other adventures, here’s what I have been reading:

Why We Read: On Bookworms, Libraries, and Just One More Page Before Lights-Out, Shannon Reed
I enjoyed this smart, snappy collection of essays about the reading life. (I kept texting photos of the funniest passages to friends.) Reed recalls her bookish childhood, her years as a grad student, and her career as a professor (the vampire class is particularly amusing). Great fun for book lovers.

Owls and Other Fantasies, Mary Oliver
I picked up this collection at Seven and One last December and have been reading it slowly. Oliver turns her keen, loving eye onto the birds she sees. Lyrical and lovely, as always.

Murder Makes Scents, Christin Becher
Candle maker Stella and her mother, Millie, are heading back to Nantucket from a perfume conference in Paris and get caught up in an international intrigue. This cozy mystery was truly wacky – involving top-secret coded formulas, jumping out of a plane, and a concussion. Outlandish, but fun. Snagged for half-price at Jabberwocky Books.

We Still Belong, Christine Day
Seventh-grader Wesley Wilder has high hopes for Indigenous Peoples’ Day, when her poem about her Native heritage will be published in the school newspaper. The day doesn’t go as planned, but there are still sweet, funny, important moments. I loved Wesley’s wise, intergenerational family and the sensitive way Day handles middle-school friendship dynamics.

The Farmer’s Wife: My Life in Days, Helen Rebanks
I snagged this lovely British memoir at the library and inhaled it in two days. Rebanks is married to James (of Shepherd’s Life fame) and details their love story and her journey to embracing being a farm wife and mother of four in England’s Lake District. The narrative jumped around in a way I sometimes found confusing, but I loved the anecdotes of family life and the musings on staying true (or returning) to who we are. Lots of recipes included too.

Jane of Lantern Hill, L.M. Montgomery
I say it every year: I love living alongside Jane as she gets to know both Prince Edward Island and her long-estranged father. The descriptions are gorgeous, and Jane is so practical and kind. Always a delight to revisit the Island.

Up On the Woof Top, Spencer Quinn
Longtime readers know I love Chet and Bernie, and I enjoyed this Christmas-themed entry in which they’re looking for a lost reindeer, but find a murder cold case. Chet the dog is a hilarious narrator, and sometimes sharper than he knows. So much fun.

Most links (not affiliate links) are to my local faves Trident and Brookline Booksmith. Shop indie!

What are you reading?

Read Full Post »

April reading roundup #3

And just like that, it’s May. As the neighborhood continues to burst into bloom, here’s what I have been reading:

Jackie, Dawn Tripp
This spare, luminous novel takes us inside the mind of Jacqueline Kennedy – tracing her life from the time she met Jack, through their courtship and marriage, his political career, his assassination and its aftermath. Tripp is a masterful storyteller, and the narrative voice sings. Absolutely stunning. (I also loved Georgia, Tripp’s novel of Georgia O’Keeffe.) To review for Shelf Awareness (out June 18).

Blessed are the Rest of Us: How Limits and Longing Make Us Whole, Micha Boyett
Full disclosure: Micha is a friend. But even if she wasn’t, I’d have loved this gorgeous, wise, powerful book about how the Beatitudes have informed her experience of raising a child with Down syndrome (and vice versa). A truly lovely, remarkable look at the upside-down way Jesus conceives of blessing, and an honest account of parenting through difficulties. (30% off at the publisher’s website above – not an affiliate link.)

Olivetti, Allie Millington
Olivetti – a green typewriter with lots of opinions – loves living with the Brindle family, especially Beatrice, mother of four, who used to pour her memories into him. But one day, Beatrice takes Olivetti to a pawn shop and then disappears. Breaking the cardinal rule of typewriters – typing back to humans – Olivetti helps 12-year-old Ernest embark on a search for Beatrice. I loved this quirky, sweet middle-grade novel (and so did Tom Hanks!).

Table for Two, Amor Towles
I enjoy Towles’ elegantly written novels, though Rules of Civility is my favorite. This new collection includes six short stories and a novella starring Evelyn Ross from RoC. I’m not a huge short story reader, but I liked these (especially “The Bootlegger”) and the novella was great – film noir meets clever leading lady. A lot of fun for Towles fans.

The Last Note of Warning, Katharine Schellman
Schellman’s third Vivian Kelly mystery finds Viv accused of murdering a wealthy man, and scrambling to clear her name before she lands in jail. The jazzy 1920s setting is fun, but I also liked seeing the complicated layers of Vivian’s relationships with her sister and other returning characters. Well plotted and satisfying. To review for Shelf Awareness (out June 4).

The New Tourist: Waking Up to the Power and Perils of Travel, Paige McClanahan
As an avid traveler, I appreciated this thoughtful look at the impacts of tourism (cultural and environmental). Full of vivid anecdotes and good questions for travelers to consider, especially as travel explodes post-pandemic. Clear, interesting and insightful. To review for Shelf Awareness (out June 18).

My Roman History, Alizah Holstein
Since she was a high school student reading Dante, Holstein has felt drawn to Rome. This memoir explores her long relationship with the city, including her time researching her dissertation; Holstein also examines her complicated (and short) academic career. I wasn’t all that interested in medieval Rome, but loved Holstein’s account of returning to Rome again and again, finding community there, trying to define what it means to her. (So similar to how I feel about Oxford.) To review for Shelf Awareness (out June 25).

The Expectant Detectives, Kat Ailes
I flew through the sequel to this fun British mystery recently, so picked up the first installment. Alice and her partner, Joe, are adjusting to village life when a man is murdered during their prenatal class. Alice and her new (almost) mum friends begin investigating, to the chagrin of Joe and the local police inspector. Wacky, witty and so much fun.

Divine Rivals, Rebecca Ross
This hit YA novel follows Iris and Roman, two young journalists who both end up reporting on the war their country’s caught in. I should have loved this (enchanted typewriters!), but found it…predictable? I did enjoy Iris’ friends Attie and Marisol; I wanted more of their stories. Worthwhile, but not amazing (or just not for me).

Most links (not affiliate links) are to my local faves Trident and Brookline Booksmith. Shop indie!

What are you reading?

Read Full Post »

April reading roundup #2

April is flying – helped along by a weekend in New York, an up-and-down mix of spring weather, and several great books. Here’s what I have been reading (alongside a lot of wonderful nonfiction, which is slower going):

Farewell to Manzanar, Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston & James D. Houston
My girl Allison and I were discussing this book in San Diego, and then I found it for $4 at Verbatim. (A sign!) It’s a fascinating account of Jeanne Wakatsuki’s experience at Manzanar, one of 10 internment camps for Japanese-Americans during WWII, and the profound effect it had on Jeanne and her family. Simply told, but vivid and insightful; a slice of history I know too little about.

Dead Tired, Kat Ailes
After solving a murder, Alice and her best friends are hoping for a quiet end to their respective maternity leaves. But when they join a climate protest and a young woman ends up dead, the friends – with babies in tow – start investigating. A fun, witty, very British mystery featuring new mums; second in a series. To review for Shelf Awareness (out June 4).

Summer Romance, Annabel Monaghan
Professional organizer Ali Morris is reeling from her mom’s death when her husband tells her he wants a divorce. Soon after, she stumbles into a summer romance with her best friend’s brother – but both of them start wanting more. A super sweet second-chance romance with real adults; I found Ali frustrating but endearing, and I adored her kids and her one-sided conversations with her mom. To review for Shelf Awareness (out June 4).

The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties, Jesse Q. Sutanto
Meddy Chan and her new husband are off to Jakarta for Chinese New Year, along with Meddy’s mother and her three overbearing aunties. Once there, of course, they get mixed up with several local mafia bosses who are rivals – and one of them is Second Aunt’s long-lost love. I adore this zany series and this third book was fast-paced, hilarious and sweet.

The Last Twelve Miles, Erika Robuck
I flew through this whip-smart, fascinating dual-narrative novel set during Prohibition, following the real-life struggle between rum-running queen Marie Waite and cryptanalyst Elizebeth Smith Friedman. Robuck alternates between their two perspectives, capturing each woman’s drive and ambition, and the complexities of both their home lives. Fast-paced, vividly detailed and so good. To review for Shelf Awareness (out June 4).

The Paris Secret, Natasha Lester
Fashion conservator Kat Jourdan stumbles upon a collection of Dior dresses in her grandmother’s cottage in Cornwall. Digging into the dresses’ legacy, Kat unearths a complicated story of female pilots, clashing sisters, espionage in WWII, and great suffering. Lester writes wonderful narratives – rich and compelling, with characters I love. Heads up for multiple concentration-camp scenes.

Most links (not affiliate links) are to my local faves Trident and Brookline Booksmith. Shop indie!

What are you reading?

Read Full Post »

April reading roundup #1

April has come in like a lion (is that a thing?) with rain, wind, sleet and general turbulence. Plus an eclipse – no big deal. Meanwhile, here’s what I have been reading:

The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal, ed. James Crews
I’ve been slowly reading this anthology (arranged roughly by season) of brief, lovely poems about small everyday joys. Crews has now edited three of these anthologies, and they are a pleasure.

Anne of Manhattan, Brina Starler
In this thoroughly modern adaptation, Anne Shirley and Gil Blythe are former high school nemeses who are now grad students in NYC. Sparks fly, especially when they’re paired on a thesis project. Mostly smart and funny, with entertaining twists (as Anne B. said) – but too steamy for me. Found at Meet Cute in San Diego.

Relentless: My Story of the Latino Spirit That Is Transforming America, Luis A. Miranda Jr.
Luis Miranda is Lin-Manuel’s dad, yes. But he has his own story, and it’s a tremendous one. This book – part memoir, part political analysis/handbook – shares his journey from Puerto Rico to the U.S., his varied career, and his perspective on connecting with Latino voters. Sharp, thoughtful and so interesting. To review for Shelf Awareness (out May 7).

A Grave Robbery, Deanna Raybourn
Veronica Speedwell and her partner, Stoker, acquire what they think is a waxwork – until they discover it’s the body of a young woman, perfectly preserved. As they hunt for her killer (and whoever preserved her), they encounter a web of secrets and (as always) find themselves on some wild adventures. A highly entertaining entry in a fun series.

The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County, Claire Swinarski
Esther Larson has spent decades feeding the mourners for every funeral in her small Wisconsin town. When she falls prey to an Internet scammer, her friends publish a community cookbook to help out. At the same time, a celebrity chef and his ill-assorted family come to town. I loved most of this sweet Midwestern novel about baking and community – but heads up for an intense plotline about PTSD.

Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice, Elle Cosimano
These books just get zanier, but they’re so much fun that I’m here for it. Finlay and her nanny/accountant/partner in crime, Vero, head to Atlantic City to find a stolen car and Vero’s kidnapped love interest, Javi. But (of course) they end up towing along Finlay’s mother, her young kids, her ex-husband and a few interested cops, including Finlay’s boyfriend. Craziness – of multiple kinds – ensues. I laughed out loud several times. So much fun.

The Hurricane Girls, Kimberly Willis Holt
Kiki, Greer and Joya Mia were all born in 2005, the same year Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Now, as middle schoolers, they’re all struggling with different issues – body image, money troubles, grades, Greer’s guilt over a family tragedy – and sign up for a triathlon together. I loved this sweet, funny, moving middle-grade novel with plenty of heart.

Scandalous Women, Gill Paul
I’ve never read Jackie Collins or Jacqueline Susann, though I knew both of them faced big-time (sexist) criticism for writing sexy books where women triumph. Gill’s novel weaves their stories together via Nancy White, a fictional editor who ends up working with both women. Smart, entertaining and a little racy. To review for Shelf Awareness (out Aug. 13).

Most links (not affiliate links) are to my local faves Trident and Brookline Booksmith. Shop indie!

What are you reading?

Read Full Post »

On reading an author “out of order”

I recently finished The Gilded Hour, Sara Donati’s wonderful doorstop of a novel following two female physicians (who are cousins) working and living in 1880s Manhattan. It’s 700-plus pages, so I lingered in “the middle” for a week or more, happily following narrative threads about medicine and orphans and finding love in a New York I both recognize and don’t.

I first read Donati’s work several years ago, when I reviewed Where the Light Enters for Shelf Awareness. It’s the sequel to The Gilded Hour, though it stands on its own. I loved meeting Anna and Sophie, the main characters, plus their aunt, Anna’s husband Jack, and all the people who make up their world.

I didn’t seek out The Gilded Hour then, but about a month ago, I read and reviewed Donati’s latest, The Sweet Blue Distance, which is set just before the Civil War and follows Carrie Ballentyne, a relative of Anna and Sophie, as she makes her way out west to work as a midwife in Santa Fe.

The book reminded me of two things: how much I enjoy Donati’s big, juicy historical narratives, and how I’d been curious about her sprawling family of characters. So I checked The Gilded Hour out from the library, and happily dove into doing medical rounds with Anna, sitting in the garden with her and Sophie, and following the plight of several orphaned Italian children who end up joining their family on Waverly Place.

It’s the second time lately I’ve read an author all “out of order.”

This winter, I read Natalie Jenner’s latest novel, Every Time We Say Goodbye, a story of love, cinema and betrayal in post-World War II Italy. I missed Jenner’s debut, The Jane Austen Society, when it came out in 2020, but last year I picked up (and devoured) Bloomsbury Girls, her second novel set in a London bookshop. Those books aren’t a series, but they do all bear certain connections to one another. Reading the third one first gave me a few (mild) spoilers when I finally got around to reading The Jane Austen Society, but it (fortunately) wasn’t a big deal, plot-wise.

Similarly, having read Where the Light Enters, I had an inkling or two about certain plot points in The Gilded Hour, but that didn’t preclude me from enjoying the narrative: the rich historical detail, the familiar NYC streets, the characters’ sharp intellectual sparring and deep compassion for the poor. And The Sweet Blue Distance gave me a bit more context about Sophie and Anna’s extended family, though now I’m wondering if I should eventually go back and read Donati’s earlier six-book series following the lives and fortunes of the Bonners and Ballentynes.

This is different than reading a proper series, of course: I’d prefer not to read Maisie Dobbs or Mary Russell or Armand Gamache out of order. (In the non-mystery realm, series like The Lord of the Rings or Anne of Green Gables or even Mrs. Tim are more enjoyable in the proper succession.) Especially in the early books, every installment reveals important aspects of the main characters, and the plots often build on previous books, making it clearer and more satisfying to read them one after the other.

My natural instinct, as a straight-A people-pleasing rule-follower, is to read an author “in order” and experience the books in the way the author wrote and/or intended them. But I’m finding sometimes that it’s okay to relax the “rules” and read an author a little out of order. It can spoil a few plot points, sure, but also simply underscore the enjoyment of spending time in the world another writer has created. 

What do you think? Do you read authors out of order, or would you never dream of it?

Read Full Post »

March reading roundup #2

March is still chilly, but flying by. After a fabulous trip to the West Coast, and in between yoga classes, here’s what I have been reading:

It Wasn’t Roaring, It Was Weeping: Interpreting the Language of Our Fathers Without Repeating Their Stories, Lisa-Jo Baker
I flew through this absorbing memoir about apartheid, anger, faith, and rewriting the stories we get stuck in. Baker grew up White in 1980s South Africa, and she shares her journey toward seeing and understanding racial injustice, and her complicated relationship with her beloved doctor father. Powerfully vulnerable and vividly described. To review for Shelf Awareness (out May 7).

The Goldie Standard, Simi Monheit
Stuck in an assisted-living facility, Goldie Mandell is determined to find her PhD-pursuing granddaughter, Maxie, a nice boy – Jewish, of course, preferably a doctor. But Goldie’s meddling, plus her intrusive memories, have unforeseen consequences. I raced through this warmhearted novel – a rom-com, but also a much deeper story about family, complicated histories, faith and identity, and different forms of love. To review for Shelf Awareness (out May 7).

A Nest of Vipers, Harini Nagendra
As Bangalore prepares for Prince Edward’s visit in 1922, amateur detective Kaveri Murthy and her doctor husband Ramu stumble onto a mystery at the circus. A magician goes missing; his son enlists Kaveri’s help to find his father, but both men are hiding multiple secrets. I loved this third installment in Kaveri’s adventures; well-plotted and packed with fascinating historical detail and mouthwatering food descriptions. To review for Shelf Awareness (out May 2).

Ban This Book, Alan Gratz
Amy Anne Ollinger is horrified when she finds out her favorite book, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, has been removed from her school library. She starts a secret “banned books” library in her locker and even speaks up publicly about book bans. I loved this middle-grade novel about the freedom to read, and finding your voice. Fun and (sadly) timely. Found at Bookmans in Tucson.

Eleven Huskies, Philipp Schott
Veterinarian Peter Bannerman is called in on a potential poisoning case (involving several huskies) at a Canadian lodge. A small plane is shot down nearby, and Peter’s amateur detective brain starts ticking. Then, on a backcountry camping trip, Peter and his dog, Pippin, run into trouble – an out-of-control wildfire, and several suspects. A twisty, thoughtful mystery; Peter (who has mild autism) is an engaging protagonist. To review for Shelf Awareness (out May 14).

Queen Bee, Amalie Howard
Three years ago, Lady Ela Dalvi’s reputation and life were ruined by a friend who betrayed her. She heads to London for a glittering social season, hell-bent on revenge – but a familiar boy, and her better nature, complicate her plans. I loved this smart, witty YA romance featuring a wildly diverse cast of characters. Found at the darling Meet Cute in San Diego.

Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees, Aimee Nezhukumatathil
I savored every page of this glorious essay collection, wherein Nezhukumatathil pays tribute to her favorite foods (blackberries, halo-halo, crawfish, waffles) and shares memories related to them. Vivid, mouthwatering, insightful, funny and delicious. To review for Shelf Awareness (out April 30).

Most links (not affiliate links) are to my local faves Trident and Brookline Booksmith. Shop indie!

What are you reading?

Read Full Post »

March reading roundup #1

March is suddenly almost half over – and as I return from a trip out west, to see friends and soak up the spring sunshine, here’s what I have been reading:

Murder by Invitation Only, Colleen Cambridge
I enjoyed this third mystery featuring Phyllida Bright, Agatha Christie’s (fictional) housekeeper, as an amateur sleuth. She’s smart, though I sometimes find her irritating – and I did guess the killer this time, but the mystery was well plotted. Fun for Anglophiles.

Amazed by Jesus, Simon Ponsonby
Simon is a longtime minister at St Aldates Church Oxford – and also my friend. I saw him briefly last fall and he gave me a copy of his latest book, which explores the person of Jesus through the Scriptures. I enjoyed the chance to look at Jesus anew, and I love Simon’s anecdotes (many drawn from his sermons). We don’t always agree theologically, but there’s much to mull over here. Warm, thoughtful and thought-provoking.

The Berlin Letters, Katherine Reay
I hadn’t read Reay since her earlier novels—mostly gentle, bookish stories inspired by Austen and the Brontes. This is a sharper, more propulsive Cold War story, told in dual narrative by Luisa Voekler, a German-American CIA analyst, and her father, Haris, a journalist in East Berlin. After her Opa’s death, Luisa finds a cache of coded letters from Haris, and flies to Berlin to get him out of the Stasi’s clutches. Compelling, at times heartbreaking, and a fascinating glimpse into late-stage communism and German punk culture. (I received a free copy from the publisher.)

The Secret Life of the American Musical: How Broadway Shows are Built, Jack Viertel
I adore a Broadway musical – and I loved this smart, funny, insightful book about how they’re put together. Viertel takes us through the last century (or so) of Broadway shows, number by number, exploring the musical, psychological and plot significance of all the standard beats in a show. It had me humming (and listening to) Broadway tunes even more than usual; booking my next theater seats in NYC; and marveling at the sheer amount of creativity, human insight and joy contained in two and a half hours. Brava! Found at the fabulous Drama Book Shop in midtown Manhattan.

The Lion Women of Tehran, Marjan Kamali
Kamali’s third novel follows a friendship between two Iranian girls, Ellie and Homa, who meet at school when Ellie and her widowed mother move to a new neighborhood. Ellie’s mother disapproves, but their friendship flourishes – and falters – through their lives, and during (and beyond) Iran’s Cultural Revolution and the strictures placed on women. Years later, the women reconnect and Ellie has a chance to help Homa’s daughter. I adore Kamali’s writing; this is a powerful, lushly described, heart-tugging depiction of female friendship, cultural shifts and second chances. Fabulous. To review for Shelf Awareness (out July 2).

The Gilded Hour, Sara Donati
I loved Donati’s Where the Light Enters, and enjoyed her upcoming The Sweet Blue Distance – so I finally picked up this novel, which involves some of the same characters. It follows Anna and Sophie Savard, cousins who are both physicians, in 1880s Manhattan. Its multiple storylines deal with the plight of four orphaned Italian siblings; the legalities of birth control at the time; the romantic lives of the cousins and the happenings in their family’s unconventional household; and the beauty and grit of my favorite NYC neighborhood in an era long before I knew it. Sweeping, incisive and totally absorbing.

Death Sets Sail, Robin Stevens
I’ve loved this British middle-grade mystery series, following the adventure of two schoolgirls-turned-detectives, since I stumbled on it in Oxford nearly 10 years ago. This final novel follows Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong on a cruise down the Nile, which takes a dark turn when a fellow passenger (who’s convinced she’s the reincarnation of Hatshepsut) is murdered. I have loved watching Hazel, the narrator, come into her own, and I enjoyed the way Stevens drew many of the series’ threads together here. So much fun.

The Lantern’s Dance, Laurie R. King
When Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell arrive in a small French village to visit Holmes’ son, they find evidence of a recent intrusion, plus a magic lantern and a coded journal that may hold family secrets. A stellar entry in one of my favorite series, taking us from Paris to London to India and back again. Sharp, thoughtful and brilliantly plotted, as always.

Most links (not affiliate links) are to my local faves Trident and Brookline Booksmith. Shop indie!

What are you reading?

Read Full Post »

February reading roundup #3

And just like that, it’s March. Hope you enjoyed your leap day, friends. As this month whirls in like a lion, here’s what I have been reading:

The Wedding People, Alison Espach
After her marriage implodes, adjunct professor Phoebe flees to a posh hotel in Newport, R.I., intending to die by suicide. To her surprise, the entire hotel is rented out for a wedding, and the bride, Lila, tells Phoebe she can’t ruin the wedding weekend – then proceeds to rope her into the wedding. A smart, often sad, laugh-so-you-don’t-cry novel about marriage, the pandemic, the ways people change, and the truths and lies we tell ourselves. To review for Shelf Awareness (out July 30).

The Art of Running: Learning to Run Like a Greek, Andrea Marcolongo
Marcolongo (an Italian, and a classicist by training) delves into the origins of the marathon and the ancient Greeks’ philosophical take on running, as she prepares to run her first marathon (in Athens!). Slim, erudite, sometimes academic and often wry, the main text is interspersed with lyrical accounts of Marcolongo’s running life (mostly in Paris, where she lives). This is admittedly niche territory, even for runners, but I enjoyed it. Very smart. To review for Shelf Awareness (out April 2).

The Traitor, Ava Glass
I flew through this second novel featuring British spy Emma Makepeace, in which she goes undercover on a Russian oligarch’s yacht. Smart, pulse-pounding and tightly plotted – a solid thriller, and I really like Emma and her boss, Ripley. (I interviewed the author about Emma’s first adventure.)

My Black Country: A Journey Through Country Music’s Black Past, Present, and Future, Alice Randall
Songwriter, author and historian Randall weaves together her own story with the Black history (and present) of country music in this engaging memoir. I was fascinated, and astonished at how much I didn’t know. (I’m a lifelong country fan, but had no idea Randall co-wrote “XXX’s and OOO’s” – and that’s just the beginning.) Urgent, well-written and important. To review for Shelf Awareness (out April 9).

A Tale for the Time Being, Ruth Ozeki
A teenage Japanese girl writes a diary about her struggles (including suicidal thoughts – her own and her dad’s). A novelist on an island in the Pacific Northwest finds the diary after the 2011 tsunami. This brain-bending novel (I agree with Anne) alternates between their perspectives; it also touches on Buddhism, philosophy, love, cats, multiple realities and more. Super strange and also thought-provoking.

Mrs. Tim Gets a Job, D.E. Stevenson
I found Mrs. Tim’s third and fourth adventures last fall, and have loved rereading this book, in which she takes a job managing a Scottish house-turned-hotel. Gentle, witty, insightful and often hilarious.

Talk Bookish To Me, Kate Bromley
I loved (and reviewed) Bromley’s second and third witty, sweet rom-coms. This, her debut, features a romance novelist with writer’s block who is dismayed when her ex turns up as part of a friend’s wedding party. Sparks fly, of course, but there’s still a lot of healing to be done. I did not like the central twist here, though I loved the banter; hence, this one was so-so for me.

Loose of Earth, Kathleen Dorothy Blackburn
Raised in Lubbock by an evangelical family, Blackburn (the oldest of five children) chronicles her father’s cancer diagnosis and suffering, and explores the probable connection between his illness and the presence of PFAS chemicals. In tight, vivid prose, she renders her mother’s increasingly desperate attempts to save her husband by faith and control; probes the origins of her own doubt and faith story; and renders 1990s West Texas (my homeland) perfectly. To review for Shelf Awareness (out April 16).

Most links (not affiliate links) are to my local faves Trident and Brookline Booksmith. Shop indie!

What are you reading?

Read Full Post »

February reading roundup #2

February is (thank goodness, and so far) sunnier than January. Between work, yoga classes and allllll the citrus, here’s what I have been reading:

The Evolution of Annabel Craig, Lisa Grunwald
Dayton, Tennessee, 1925: Schoolteacher John Scopes agrees to go on trial as a test case for a new law prohibiting the teaching of evolution. Annabel Craig, married to a lawyer who ends up on Scopes’ defense team, watches as the case unfolds and brings excitement, drama and upheaval to her hometown. I loved Annabel: such a thoughtful narrator, wrestling with questions about faith, tradition and science, as well as her husband’s role in the case and the strain it puts on their marriage. (I was born 80 years after Annabel, but the novel’s debate felt contemporary – as did the story of what can happen when two people in a relationship change in different ways.) To review for Shelf Awareness (out April 2).

Every Day the River Changes: Four Weeks Down the Magdalena, Jordan Salama
I read, reviewed and enjoyed Salama’s second book, Stranger in the Desert. This, his debut, traces the month he spent traversing Colombia’s Magdalena River. Salama gives lots of background – political, cultural, historical – about the Magdalena’s ecosystem, the effects of Colombia’s decades of violence, the challenges faced by its communities. Dragged a bit at times but mostly very informative and interesting.

An Irish Hostage, Charles Todd
Bess Crawford, still at a loose end after WWI, travels to Ireland for the wedding of a fellow nurse. But she arrives to find the groom has disappeared and the bride’s family is on edge – not to mention the villagers are suspicious of English citizens. When a local artist is murdered, Bess finds a couple of unlikely allies to help her solve the case and get out alive. A wonderfully tense and atmospheric mystery, though it feels like the series itself is hanging in limbo right now.

The Getaway List, Emma Lord
After graduating high school and a fight with her mom, Riley hightails it to NYC to spend the summer with her best friend, Tom, who’s been increasingly distant lately. Both of them are struggling to figure out their next steps, and it’ll take some wacky adventures and honest conversations before they do. I usually love Lord’s sweet YA novels, and I adored the NYC moments in this one, but thought Riley was a bit spoiled and Tom a bit enigmatic. Fun, but not my fave of hers.

The Sweet Blue Distance, Sara Donati
Nurse and midwife Carrie Ballentyne relishes an adventure. But traveling from Manhattan to Santa Fe in the 1850s – by train, stagecoach, then horseback – is no joke. Once Carrie arrives in Santa Fe, there are new challenges, including a difficult employer, new languages (Spanish and various Indigenous dialects), and tense racial dynamics. I loved Donati’s Where the Light Enters and this sequel-of-sorts is fantastic: compelling, rich, layered (if long). To review for Shelf Awareness (out April 2).

The Twilight Garden, Sara Nisha Adams
I loved Adams’ debut, The Reading List. This, her sweet second novel, follows a communal garden in Stoke Newington (London) and two sets of neighbors who care for it together. I loved both timelines (in the 1980s and in 2018) and the neighbors – first Alma and Maya, then Winston and Bernice – who bond with each other and gradually open up their lives through the garden. Very sad at first, but beautiful. To review for Shelf Awareness (out April 9).

The Mystery Guest, Nita Prose
I flew through this smart sequel to Prose’s The Maid, which again features Molly Gray (a crackerjack maid, and a keen observer, though not always socially aware). We get a look into Molly’s past, and how it connects to the death of a celebrated mystery author. Funny and sharp, though a little sad.

Death in the Spotlight, Robin Stevens
Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong are back from Hong Kong, and end up acting in a production of Romeo and Juliet – where, of course, there’s a murder. This was a fiendish case, as their inspector friend says, and I liked following all the threads, though several plot points were highly improbable. Still – a fun installment in a middle-grade series I adore.

Most links (not affiliate links) are to my local faves Trident and Brookline Booksmith. Shop indie!

What are you reading?

Read Full Post »

February reading roundup #1

February is chugging along – we’ve had some blessed sunshine, though more snow is in the forecast. Between work and yoga classes (with endless cups of tea), here’s what I have been reading:

One Hundred Saturdays: Stella Levi and the Search for a Lost World, Michael Frank
This biography is drawn from Frank’s conversations (on dozens of Saturdays) with Stella Levi: an immigrant from Rhodes, a Holocaust survivor, and a brilliant, sharp mind. She paints a vivid picture of her Jewish community in Rhodes and the ways modernity and the war affected her family; details her experience in concentration camps; and reflects on her long life after the war. Absolutely stunning. Found at the wonderful Three Lives in NYC.

Mother-Daughter Murder Night, Nina Simon
I raced through this hilarious, well-written mystery set on the California coast. Real estate mogul Lana Rubicon isn’t happy about moving in with her daughter and granddaughter while receiving cancer treatment. But when she sees suspicious movement in the nearby slough, and then her granddaughter becomes a suspect in a murder, Lana goes to work. I loved the fraught family dynamics and the hilarious situations; all three women are smart, compassionate and ingenious. So good.

The Vanishing Half, Brit Bennett
I missed this novel when it came out, but snagged it at my library book sale. It follows light-skinned twin sisters Desiree and Stella Vignes, who grow up inseparable, but whose lives diverge after they move to New Orleans and Stella decides to pass as white, then disappears. Bennett tells their stories as well as those of both their daughters. A stunning narrative; gorgeous prose, complex family dynamics and a fascinating meditation on the complexities of Black identity.

Nosy Neighbors, Freya Sampson
Sampson’s charming third novel focuses on a dilapidated historic building and its tenants, who band together to stop their landlord evicting them. Elderly Dorothy, who watches her neighbors like a hawk, and pink-haired Kat (who’s running from her past) become unlikely allies after their neighbor Joseph is attacked. Funny and poignant – a sweet story of community and healing. (I also enjoyed Sampson’s previous two novels.) To review for Shelf Awareness (out April 2).

Haven Jacobs Saves the Planet, Barbara Dee
Seventh-grader Haven Jacobs worries about everything – especially climate change. When her class starts studying their local river and finds evidence of pollution, Haven finds herself mounting a campaign to save the river, while navigating complex middle-school friendship dynamics. A sensitive middle-grade novel with the ring of truth (though didactic in spots). Spotted at Little Shop of Stories last fall.

A Clue in the Crumbs, Lucy Burdette
I love Burdette’s zesty, entertaining Key West Food Critic series. This 13th entry finds Hayley and Miss Gloria hosting two Scottish sisters for a taping of a bake-off show, but things go sour after a fire and a suspicious death. Of course, Hayley and her (elderly but sprightly) friends do a bit of sleuthing, while dodging tourists and promising her cop husband they’ll stay out of trouble. A fun installment, though a couple of plot threads confused me.

How to Read a Book, Monica Wood
I loved this sensitive, beautiful novel about three people whose lives intertwine in unlikely ways. Violet gets out of prison early after serving 22 months for accidental manslaughter; Harriet, a retired teacher who knows Violet from the prison book club, helps her find her feet on the Outside. Meanwhile, Frank Daigle, retired machinist and bookstore handyman, is struggling with not only his wife’s death (she’s the person Violet killed) but the difficult parts of their marriage. I loved the ways Wood brought these characters (and some talking parrots) together. To review for Shelf Awareness (out May 7).

Most links (not affiliate links) are to my local faves Trident and Brookline Booksmith. Shop indie!

What are you reading?

Read Full Post »