I'm not much of a fantasy fan, but this book sounded like fun and I thought I'd give it a try. I was not disappointed. As others have said, it was a roller coaster of a ride that included dementia, family dynamics, friendship and real life challenges. Libby, who is an author struggling with dementia, establishes a relationship with an eleven year old fan, Peanut, who helps her navigate and come to terms with her inability to write. Together they create a path forward that is full of twists and turns and keeps the reader entertained until the end. A good summer read and escape.

In Aaron Hamburger's book Hotel Cuba about the struggles of Russian Jews trying to make their way to the US after World War I, he has told a compelling story about the struggles of Jewish immigrants after the First World War. I found Hamburger's descriptions of Turya, Havana, New York City and Detroit, the immigration process and the immigrant community's never ending struggles pulled me right in, but his character development left me cold. Pearl in particular was a challenge. Although her world and circumstances changed dramatically, her outlook and character never seemed to grow or fluctuate. I kept hoping there was more to her than the monochromatic character present by the author. But it never happened. Just when I thought she might loosen up and I would get to know her a little better, she shut down, and eventually so did I.

I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary retelling of the story of one of Greek Mythology's most brutal female Gods and had a hard time putting the book down. The author looks at Clytemnestra as a mother and sister and how that affected her role as a queen and leader of her people. The story seemed real and believable, and I felt vested in her life and happiness. I was angry and appalled, and thoroughly engaged and entertained until the very end. I highly recommend this book for book groups. Lots of possibilities for great discussions.

Andrea Yaryura Clark has written a compelling and informative novel about Argentina's Dirty War and its continuing aftermath. The story caught my attention from the beginning, and I had a hard time putting it down, although I found myself less and less interested in Paloma"s plight and more and more interested in the history behind the stories. I felt the author was at her best when explaining the climate during this period and not nearly as compelling when pursuing the various love stories. But I would still highly recommend the book to anyone interested in Argentina and its tumultuous history. The book is also, perhaps, a cautionary tale of our need to pay attention to and protect our freedoms and rights lest we lose them.

The story of Belle da Costa Greene, the personal librarian for JP Morgan, is more than an account of the gilded era and the extraordinary Pierpont Morgan Library, which she and Mr. Morgan created together. It is the story of a woman who had to hide her true identity as a "colored" woman (Belle Marion Greener) to succeed and excel in the segregated and very prejudiced early 20th Century.

Set against the racial racial reckoning of this past year, the Personal Librarian is a timely story that not only shows us how far we have come in our struggle against racial inequality and injustice, but also reminds us how much more is left to be done.

I will definitely be recommending The Personal Librarian to my book group. It's a great story and the discussion possibilities are endless.

I loved this book. Couldn't put it down. Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, it took another turn. The main characters were likeable and sympathetic, and I cared what happened to them, which to me always means a good read. It was most interesting to see how Caroline and Nella each dealt with unfaithful partners 200 years apart, and how their lives and those around them were changed by their decisions. And Caroline's search to uncover Nella's secrets pulled the two story lines together easily and kept me reading when I should have been doing other things. A great book group candidate.

This book spoke to me and I loved it. From the loss of a spouse and her identity, to the complexities of family dynamics, and the question of how to deal and engage with a world run amok, the author explored my reality and concerns with kindness and humor. I didn't want it to end, but I couldn't put it down. I will definitely be recommending this book to my book group — a lot to chew on. Oh, and did I mention I also live in Vermont.

Sarah-Jane Stratford's book, Red Letter Days, gives the reader an interesting and scary look into the real everyday consequences of the red scare era both in the United States and England. It was a time in our history I knew little about and the book was an easy way to learn more about HUAC, the McCarthy Era, and the new feminism that was emerging after World War II. Red Letter Days was a quick and easy read that kept my attention right up to the end, even though the plot was a bit predictable and formulaic, as when Phoebe rescues Nigel in the beginning of the book and the inevitable romance with Reg. For those who love historical fiction, this book is a keeper.

I loved this book, but it isn't for everyone. I also love words and language, and so does Mary Norris. In her new book, Greek To Me, she loves everything Greek and shares her extensive knowledge along with her own story in an entertaining and engaging way. But her knowledge is so deep that it's often overwhelming to absorb even a portion of what she offers. She made me dig deep, and I probably won't retain most of what I learned, but that doesn't matter. The book was fascinating and challenging, and I particularly enjoyed learning about her own family and personal history. She is such a good writer and it's always a pleasure to read anything she writes. As you may have guessed, I also loved her first book, Between You and Me.

I wish I had known that this book was the middle book of a trilogy before I started reading. The first book would have fleshed out the characters so that I had a better understanding of who they were. And the anticipation of a third installment would have given me hope that some of the loose ends would be tied together -- such as what happened to Daniel's child with Samadara. It all felt disjointed and rambling to me, and I kept waiting for something to tie everything together. However, DeBernieres writes beautifully and his work is a joy to read. For that reason alone I would recommend this book to anyone who loves words and their ability, when well crafted, to carry you away.