The subjects of loss, grief and secrets are central themes in the novel, Hieroglyphics. Each of the characters spent a lot of time "digging and searching' into the lives of those that they had lost. They were a group of people who were crying out for help and no one was paying attention. They were left to flounder in their own way. It made for an unsettling read. I kept expecting something monumental to be revealed but it wasn't for me. Melancholy is what I walked away with when I was done.

When I saw that Erik Larson was writing a book about Winston Churchill and his first year as Prime Minister, I was thrilled. This past fall I was in London and visited the Churchill War Rooms so it was an opportunity to revisit what I had seen and learned in the museum. The book is dense with details of strategies and every day life as the Brits prepared for war and beyond. There is a lot to admire about Churchill and for some, a lot to criticize but the book reflects the loyalty to its leadership and the resilience of its citizens. There are tons of tidbits from personal diaries, which can make it gossipy at times, but for me, that's what gives history its liveliness. Its what makes Erik Larson a good writer of history. He also includes in this timeline what was happening with the leaders in Germany and the United States. It's a well researched snapshot of a particular period of time in WWII.

I have really come to love Joshilyn Jackson's writing. She has evolved into quite the storyteller. Her latest, Never Have I Ever did not disappoint me. Since I read a lot, rarely does an author surprise me. This book was full of twists and turns and this is what I love in my reading life, the unexpected. It also makes a good choice for a book club discussion. There are issues in the novel that are relevant to what is in the news today. Should things in your past rise up to take you down despite a life that has made up for a shameful act? Or do you "let it sink"?

This is a book that honors family. Family is who we love the most but we also have the ability to hurt the most, where passions roar and sorrows are deep. This is shown often throughout the story of the De La Cruz family. My favorite part is the love story between Perla and Big Angel, a lifetime together, of shared love. Big Angel is at the end of a battle with cancer. Most of the novel, he is reflecting on his life and saying goodbye to those he loves. We also see Big Angel through the eyes of those that have a complicated relationship with him. This is also an immigrant's tale but what I think is a central theme throughout is love. Here is my favorite quote; it is Big Angel talking to his daughter, Minnie, "All we do, mija, he said, is love. Love is the answer. Nothing stops it. Not borders. Not death." (p.235), it's an important message to remember.

Never Coming Back is the perfect title for this book. If you have ever had Alzheimer's touch your life, you will know exactly what I mean by that. Clara Winter in losing her mother to the disease. She goes on a journey to know her mother and her self. Since I am a lover of words and writing, I love that Clara is too. Her mother had called her "Word Girl". The game show Jeopardy plays a big part of the story and it made me laugh at times how the author used it to point out some of the absurdities of life.

Spending time with the family over the holidays is what most of us do. In Seven Days of Us, it's a bit different; they are under quarantine because one family member has been on an aid mission where a deadly disease has broken out. In the days leading up to Christmas, we see all the typical behavior and feelings we go through when being with the ones we are supposed to care about most. The characters are very self-absorbed for a variety of reasons. What Francesca Hornak does is show us how these individuals move from that self-absorption to showing the depth for which they care for each other. It's quite moving. One of the blurbs on the back of the book says the book is "hilariously funny", another "laugh out loud funny". I was quite surprised by this. I think the writer and her writing need to be taken more seriously. It gives the impression that the book is trivial and while humor is used, nothing is marginalized. I liked the book and I look forward to more from Francesca Hornak.

At first glance, you would think this novel is a snapshot of domestic life in the 1940s. As you travel deeper into the novel, it becomes the tale of a complicated marriage, both partners unsatisfied with the life they have. Then literally all hell breaks loose. The author uses The Great Maine Fire of 1947 as a catalyst for courage and the will to do what's best for the main character and her children. While this is not as good as some of Anita Shreve's previous novels, it did keep me up until 3am reading. You can sympathize with its characters and you do get a small piece of Maine history