The Lies I Tell: A Novel
by Julie Clark
Meg and Kat (4/6/2022)
The Lies I Tell is a brilliant, twisted thriller that grabs you from the beginning. Meg, or is it Maggy or Melody, is a con artist trying to right the wrong she experienced as a young woman. She develops a devious plan to right that wrong. Kat, the other woman, a writer, has been following Meg for years, trying to prove the story behind Meg's activities. She suspects Meg is a con artist but needs proof. I enjoyed the refreshing premise behind the novel. If you relished Clark's other books, you would love The Lies I Tell.
Flesh & Blood: Reflections on Infertility, Family, and Creating a Bountiful Life: A Memoir
by N. West Moss
A Bountiful Life (8/14/2021)
Flesh & Blood is a memoir written by N. West Moss with a subtitle of Reflections on Infertility, Family, and Creating a Bountiful Life. The title suggests her life is difficult with blood and flesh. Moss has a wonderful, straightforward way of telling us her story, the trials and distress of her problem, and her successful recovery. At first, I found the book unusual, and then picked up her sensitivity to what was happening. I ended enjoying the last half, where she and her mother make peace with their knotty lives. A young, mature reader would recognize Flesh & Blood, while an older reader would embrace her solution.
The Widow Queen: The Bold #1
by Elzbieta Cherezinska
Swietostawa (11/14/2020)
The Widow Queen is a captivating read of the years 960 to 995 where the Vikings conquer and steal the wealth of neighboring Scandinavian countries and England. During this time, various Kings introduce Christianity to their subjects, although reluctant kings allow their patrons to continue their Viking practices. The author left us with a cliffhanger. The widowed queen, Swietostawa, wonders if she can go after her heart's throb, another King, or is it too late. Next year the series continues with The Last Crown, and I cannot wait to read it.
The Voyage of the Morning Light: A Novel
by Marina Endicott
Playful Dolphins (6/4/2020)
The Voyage of the Morning Light richly details life aboard the merchant vessel Morning Light from Nova Scotia to the islands in the South Pacific in 1912. Not only did I feel like I was right beside young Kay, Aren, and Mr. Brimmer, but I experienced their excitement at seeing the schools of dolphins, sharks, sunrises, and storms. Marina Endicott delved into the struggles of Kay and Aren, both displaced in their youth. A separate trip to the South Pacific brought clarity to the dawn of their adulthood. The Voyage of the Morning Light is a first-rate read, one you will thoroughly enjoy.
Mighty Justice: My Life in Civil Rights
by Dovey Johnson Roundtree , Katie McCabe
My Life in Civil Rights (9/12/2019)
Mighty Justice recounts the life of lawyer Dovey Johnson Roundtree in her battle with Civil Rights. I cannot recommend this book enough as my outlook towards Civil Rights movement has matured. The writing style is exquisite because I found myself reading throughout the night to see if the Supreme Court found for Dovey Johnson Rountree or stayed caught up in the "separate but equal" falsehood that governed the country in the 1950s and 1960s. The writing makes you think and realize how newspapers exaggerate news. Yes, this compelling book will open your eyes to the lack of parenting styles that may be contributing to our troubles today.
Women Rowing North: Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing As We Age
by Mary Pipher
Women Rowing North (5/16/2019)
"Time can take the sting out of life and make it sweeter", says Mary Pipher in her book WOMEN ROWING NORTH; Navigating Life's Currents and Flourishing as We Age. I experienced much joy reading and understanding the bends, curves and the current a woman goes through as she ages. Pipher offers suggestions on how to cope with life's little nuances and major hurdles. She also tells us our perception of events changes over time, and life has not been bad after all. As we age, we can remember having been there and done that, and we survived. Pipher clears the debris in the river and suggests women take time and better care of themselves while enjoying the beauty of life. I agree.
Pipher's writing is succinct. I highly recommend reading WOMEN ROWING NORTH because you may find solutions and clearer understanding of currents in the river of life.
A Ladder to the Sky: A Novel
by John Boyne
To The Top (9/11/2018)
The title "A Ladder to the Sky" caught my eye as someone's climb to the top of his/her career. The novel did not disappoint me. With great ambition, Maurice Swift, protagonist, labors to be the best writer. However, his problem is how he reaches the top early in his climb and then has a dry period. Ambition is not his problem, finding ideas are. John Boyne keeps his readers hooked with the clarity of his language and structure of his novel. Now that I have read Boyne's excellent writing, I am going to read "The Heart's Invisible Furies".
Sometimes I Lie
by Alice Feeney
Sometimes I Lie, Alice Feeney (11/19/2017)
This novel begins with a bang. "My name is Amber Reynolds. There are three things you should know about me: 1. I'm in a coma.
2. My husband doesn't love me anymore.
3. Sometimes I lie."
What a dynamic opening that moves this story right along! Why is Amber in a coma? She neither speaks, nor opens her eyes, although she can hear. She doesn't remember the event that put her in a coma, just the events from her 1991 diaries. Her chapters switch from "Before", "Then", and "Now". I enjoyed the novelty of this unusual set-up.
Alice Feeney cleverly weaves the events from 1991 into the events happening now, 2016. She ties all events together and makes this novel a very pleasant read. At the conclusion, we learn three different things about Amber. I highly recommend Sometimes I Lie. It is an excellent read and would make an ideal choice for a book club
Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After
by Heather Harpham
Happiness (6/10/2017)
Heather Harpham's memoir, Happiness, The Crooked Little Road to Semi-ever After, is a delightful read. Full of loving ways and heartbreak scenes with fear as it happens, Heather brings the reader right into her memoir. I felt as if I was experiencing her feelings alongside her during her good times and the bad times. The pace of the memoir was relaxed, anxious and happy, and at times sad. Heather has a talent for great prose and description that made her memoir real. Happiness, The Crooked Little Road to Semi-ever After is a great read and one I highly recommend.
Rise: How a House Built a Family
by Cara Brookins
How a House Built a Family (10/11/2016)
RISE by Cara Brookins is a captivating read about how Cara is determined to protect herself and her four children from relentless scary attacks her ex-husband plays on them. No longer will she live in fear. After a spur of the moment vacation with her children, she discusses her fears and concerns for their safety and listens to their concerns. They had a wonderful time off the grid designing their new home and became a family for the first time. Cara said they were going to build the home stick by stick with everyone helping. Cara proved to the banker that she could complete all the conditions on a construction loan timely and under budget. The children found new pride where hard work can lead to other opportunities. Cara is proud and passionate about her new skills. I hope more books will come from the wonderful writer she is. RISE is a genuinely uplifting story.
Ashes of Fiery Weather
by Kathleen Donohoe
Ashes of Fiery Weather (3/15/2016)
"Ashes of Fiery Weather" captures the rich history of the lives of six Irish-American women—the wives, widows, daughters, nieces and cousins of Brooklyn, New York, firefighters at Glory Devlins station. When the firefighters rush to a fire, the women and children stand at their front windows with prayers and hope that all will come back. The book is more than just history; it is the stories of their lives over the generations, their relationships, their feelings and reactions to the lives of their love-ones lost to the events in New York.
I enjoyed reading about these heroic, strong women who stand steadfast as their love-ones risk their lives daily. Enjoyable reading and I would read Donohoe's next book.
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