I was so excited to read another Jill McCorkle book. "Life After Life" was one of my favorite reads. I loved the storyline and enjoyed characters so much and recommended it to everyone. Not so much her new book "Hieroglyphics."
Lil and her husband Frank are seniors the have retired to NC and Shelley lives with her son Harvey in the house that Frank grew up in. There is really not much more of connection to these characters than that.

The novel peels back the layers of each of their lives and the story travels back and forth revealing their past. It felt a bit disjointed and confusing at first but the real problem was that even after learning their stories, I didn't feel an emotional connection or empathy for anyone except the young boy Harvey. As usual, the writing was excellent but I just couldn't connect with this one.

I'm thrilled that Julia Alvarez has finally written another adult novel. "Afterlife" is the story of Antonia Vega and her life after unexpectedly becoming a widow. It's about four sisters, Mona, Antonia, Tilly and Izzy and life after upheaval and intervention within the family. It's also life after a young pregnant undocumented Estela arrives to join Mario, also without papers.
The novel is ultimately a story of love - spousal love, sisterly love, young love and love of our fellow human being.
I love her prose and the moments of humor actually provided a physical release in some of the more tense moments between the sisters.
I think the story would make an excellent book club selection with much to discuss. So glad to have read this.

Jamie Ford is a favorite author and I was excited to preview "Love & Other Consolation Prizes." I'm always interested in his historical and personal stories of the Asian immigrant community in the U.S. This third novel is the account of a young Chinese boy Ernest who becomes the prize in a raffle at Seattle's worlds fair in 1909.

The story begins in1962 with Ernest's reminiscences from early childhood in China to his life in Seattle, before and after the fair, and the two girls he came to love. I especially liked that the reader doesn't know the identity of "Gracie" until the last. Great ploy!

Ernest is told that "the threads of happiness and sadness, joy and grief" are intertwined. And so it was.

As always, Jamie Ford told a heartfelt story.

I'm sure most of us have read "Rebecca" when a teenager. Having remembered how much I enjoyed it, I read it a second time when it was a book selection for my book group last year. What we then learned about Daphne Du Maurier's life tweaked my interest, so when I saw this bio written by a favorite novelist, I was excited to read it. I was not disappointed.
De Rosnay's extensive research was impressive and I believe only another novelist could get into Du Maurier's creative spirit and psyche in order to write the biography.
She gave a vivid picture of the homes, landscape and, of course, Daphne herself. I was transported to her world, I feel like I know her, and look forward to reading some of her other works....and, yes, "Rebecca" for a third time.

My stroll with Lillian Boxfish was enjoyable. She was a spunky older woman who's life experiences were interesting to read. I laughed right through her encounter at Penn Station. The map was most helpful and a thoughtful addition to the novel.
I like books that make me turn to google and expand my knowledge about a person or place. I certainly looked for Margaret Fishback and played "Rappers Delight."
My one criticism was that the walk was a bit too long. I was ready for Lillian to get home. I was exhausted.

There's a period in Shakespeare's life that's a mystery. From 1585 until 1592, when he is an established playwright and actor, it's not known how or where he made a living or how he got started in the theater. This has lent much historical speculation and several novels that attempt to recreate his "story."

I find Mary Sharratt's solution to his whereabouts and life one of the most creative and best that I've read. Her extensive knowledge of the 'Bard of Avon' and her historical research has made Aemilia a fascinating collaborator and muse for Shakespeare.

Aemilia Bassano's own life as a woman during the Renaissance in itself was fascinating. The similarities of some characters in the novel to those of Shakespeare's plays made this novel filled with comedy and tragedy. I loved it!

Melanie Benjamin has done an excellent job of characterization, especially Truman Capote and Babe Paley.
Truman's collection of New York socialites, his "swans," these women of wealth and privilege appear to have it all. We are given a glimpse into their beautiful lives and the not so beautiful in their lives. When I should not care about these self-centered celebrities, I found myself sympathetic and wanting to know more about each of them. That's good writing!

I have to say that I loved "Thirteenth Tale" but only liked this book.
Setterfield's writing is excellent and I enjoyed the first half of the novel. The rest of the book dragged for me. I found it rather contrived that William Bellman should pay such a steep price for the incident from his childhood. The punishment doesn't fit the crime.

Having read and enjoyed "The Lace Reader" I was looking forward to reading "The Map of True Places" and hoping for twists, turns and surprises once again and was not disappointed. Though I felt the story moved a bit slow in the beginning, I couldn't read fast enough for the suspenseful conclusion.

The characters are well developed and I feel like I want to know what's next for them. Well done.

The Good Thief includes a cast of characters that you might find in a fairy tale. There are orphaned children, a hustler, an orge, and a dwarf among others. I loved them all..This is a rollicking adventure that is reminiscent of Mark Twain or Charles Dickens.

I couldn't read fast enough to discover how Ren and his family of friends would survive their next ordeal or if Ren would find his true parentage.