Digging Stars: A Novel
by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma
Confusion in the Stars (7/24/2023)
I've tried writing this review several times and have struggled because I struggled a bit with the book. The author is talented and I would pay attention to future books of hers. The book is well written and for the most part flows. I didn't particularly like any of the characters or at least wasn't necessarily interested in getting to know them better, and probably because they were brilliant and interested in subjects that aren't interesting to me, The book would be more meaningful, I think, to someone interested in quantum mechanics, biology, stars and virtual worlds. Would I recommend, probably not but will pass on to friends to get their reaction.
The Sunset Route: Freight Trains, Forgiveness, and Freedom on the Rails in the American West
by Carrot Quinn
Survival and hope (7/19/2021)
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and comment on this memoir. It is well written, moves along smoothly and kept me engaged. The back and forth between timelines worked perfectly. After all Carrot has experienced it's amazing that she has survived and has a positive, move forward attitude. She openly shares her life of abuse, neglect, loneliness, hunger, and rejection while giving us a picture of life on the rails and her ability to forgive and move forward. It is inspiring and I absolutely recommend it.
Mighty Justice: My Life in Civil Rights
by Dovey Johnson Roundtree , Katie McCabe
A Life With Purpose (10/3/2019)
Mighty Justice is a well written, well researched and powerful book about the life of Dovey Johnson Roundtree, a major force in the civil rights movement. She had the courage to take on the white establishment in a life long struggle for justice for the common Black man. Her strength and perseverance give us all a lesson in what it means to believe in something so strongly that we never give up no matter how many times we are pushed down. I don't understand why she does not have a prominent role in American history. I absolutely enjoyed the book, would recommend to book clubs for the conversation it will stimulate, particularly in this time when the old Jim Crow South seems to be gaining strength. It's a book about empowerment and should be read by all who want justice and equality to be the norm, not something that must be fought for.
Beirut Hellfire Society
by Rawi Hage
War in Beirut (5/15/2019)
Worn torn Beirut during the civil war of the 1970s is the setting for the book and the author makes very clear that is was a vicious place to live. People were deprived, depraved, humanity got lost, those that lived on the fringes were frightened, abused and murdered. The book is dark with a warped sense of humor. It's a disturbing book but the prose kept me reading. I felt it was an important book to read because it made the impact of war very real and given the state of the world, I think we all need to understand what war does to lives. This description of a young woman wondering aimlessly provides good insight into the life of this book. "She sat on the ground, covered in blood. She had lost her entire family, she told him. She screamed then laughed and then she lost her mind". The prose and the author's style make me want to read more books by Rami Hage.
The Milk Lady of Bangalore: An Unexpected Adventure
by Shoba Narayan
Pleasant surprise (12/12/2017)
This book had much more depth than I expected, it's a memoir, not a fluff book. I could taste and smell the milk, see the people, see the cows faces and look into their eyes. The author's descriptions were so vivid. Who would have thought there were so many kinds of cows, that their milk tastes different based on what they eat, where they live, how they are treated. And I definitely have a new respect for those that tend and milk the cows. The cows are members of their family - life in India made real. Thank you.