The writing in this debut novel is astonishingly beautiful. There are poetic sentences that amazed me with their power and insight. There are no wasted words in this book. There is humor, insight and memorable characters.

This book may initially turn off some readers because the writing is deceptively dry and understated and the subject matter SEEMS depressing. Power on as it is a story of empowerment and hidden strength, and that is the genius of the author and her story telling.

The Funeral Cryer is an unnamed woman whose job is to sing and cry at funerals in order to encourage mourners to express their grief. The job is essential and yet it carries the stigma of death and causes her to be ostracized in her small, drab impoverished village. No names are used in this novel, reinforcing her sense of alienation. Characters are identified by their role in her life. The Wife, our funeral crier, has a cell phone and a television, but every other aspect of her life is seemingly lived according to ancient customs. Her life is one of drudgery and hopelessness. She is subservient to her lazy, verbally abusive husband, and lives according to the whims of her mother, her distant brother, sister-in-law and her disappointing daughter. She is self-deprecating, tentative and introspective. Her existence seems to be to be in service to others. Her only solace are her visits to the barber, a newcomer who washes her hair and treats her as an adored equal.

It all seems miserable, and yet The Wife is a much more layered and complicated character. She evolves, and we see her become self-aware, a woman who has longings, desires, and finds her way to getting what she needs. There is a sly humor to this novel and this character. She is a woman who will no longer be a doormat, but she is clever enough to let them all think she is, all in order for her to live on her own terms. The ending is ambiguous, and yet I felt sure she was on her way to a much better future, one that she alone will determine.
This novel, these characters and the stunning writing will stay with me for a long time!

I love Michael Crummy, He is one of my favourite authors. That being said he does not write sunny, shiny novels, he writes about hardship, strife, conflict and darkness. His characters live in remote communities in Newfoundland usually reliant on the fishing industry. The lifestyle is rough and danger is everywhere, from the elements, the work, and most importantly the people. Tough times means tough people, add in religion, superstition, lack of true law and order, lack of education and you are going to have danger, suspicion, fear and trauma.

This novel revolves around two wealthy siblings Abe Strapp and his sister, the Widow Caines, both of whom are truly horrible people. Abe is a true bully, a bully with power who answers to no one. His sister is more cunning and controlled. Their evil manifests itself very differently and the havoc they wreck upon one another as well as the rest of the community seems endless. The one person who could restore some sense of order, the Anglican Beadle Clinch, is as, if not more corrupt than anyone else. That leaves the rest of the townspeople at their mercy.

The story is compelling, I struggled to put down this book! I was usually reading with a sense of dread, so this is not a relaxing beach book! The writing is, as always, poetic and evocative. Crummy manages to make the reader feel as if they are truly in this small village, experiencing the cold, the sea, the hunger and the fear. No one will protect the helpless villagers, they must try to keep their heads down and avoid the wrath of Strapp or the machinations of the Widow. On top of the horrors of the humans are the natural elements; neither the sea nor the weather show any mercy. Outsiders are also a danger. It is a wonder anyone survives.

It all sounds very grim, but it is a most impressive, unforgettable novel, as are all of the offerings by Michael Crummy.

Miss Perkins was a woman who defied societal norms to fight for change in American society. Raised in modest circumstances she became friends with a group of New York elite women who shared her passions and helped her achieve many outstanding achievements that changed the lives of every American. If you thought child labor barbaric, she fought and succeeded in having it outlawed. Safer workplaces, Social Security & many other programs that protect workers, children and the elderly were ideas she proposed to leaders, including President Roosevelt.
The author has availed herself of much existing research and brought this admirable woman and her work to life. At times her characters felt rather flat, and the tone seemed superficial. Miss Perkins' life was not an easy one, but she was resilient and committed to social change. She deserves to be well-known, her story shared and taught in schools. The novel was a bit long, but there was so much territory to cover. This was an easy read, interesting and informative.

This book tells the fictionalized story of the Jane Collective, which was a real grassroots collective of women and doctors who worked to facilitate abortions for women in Chicago. They existed between 1969 and 1973. As demand skyrocketed and the doctors could not keep up, several of the lay-people were taught to carry out the procedure. Their safety rate was almost 100 percent.

The book shows how dangerous, demeaning and expensive an experience abortions were, and how these people made it a safe, supportive, informed process. They worked in secret as they were very much breaking the law. Eventually some were arrested, but Roe vs Wade was resolved before they went to trial.

Prior to the 2016 election this book would have felt like a quaint retelling of an historic moment, now it feels urgent and as if we will be seeing Jane Collectives again. That is why this book is important and relevant. Through her characters and their relationships the author explores how different women held very different views on the issue. She also shows how the women who needed this service the most were low-income women and women of color. The most harrowing part was when they talked about women seeking illegal abortions being forced to perform sex acts (as well as pay a lot of money) for their procedures. It illustrated how vulnerable and desperate these women were before Jane was formed.

This book should be read by everyone, but especially by all the male politicians making laws controlling women's health care and their bodies!

This novel grabbed me at the beginning - a smart, crotchety senior is pressured to allow a troubled girl into her life as an aide, driving her about and living in her home. For the most part it was a light, easy read, if somewhat predictable. However, the last few chapters took the story in all kinds of "topical" surprising directions, and they all felt forced and jarring to me. The "real story" could have been any one of the secrets revealed but the author threw in so many twists and turns that none of them landed.

I am generally not a fan of books where there are multiple stories taking place in different time periods. I find that although the storylines eventually merge the journey is too disjointed and jumpy for my liking. This novel uses this format, and although I did not love that aspect, the writing and the stories made it worth the effort. This is a novel for lovers of books and libraries. It celebrates stories and the power of books to educate, comfort and transport us.
The author gifts us with characters we rarely read about - my favourite being Omeir, a boy who farms with his team of massive oxen and who is forced to work, driving his team for the Sultan who is intent on invading Constantinople. In each story the attention to detail is astounding - I truly felt I understood the lives each character led - from minute personal details to larger issues of politics, religion, war, safety etc. The novel made me really think about our world and what we are creating and destroying. For me, when a story leaves me thinking for days about such issues it is worth reading!

This is a novel about characters, and as a reader I loved watching them evolve and grow. Del is not the most lovable woman, she is aimless, drifting from one menial job to another, self-sabotaging and miserable. A few crucial events occur that force her to grow up and take responsibility for herself and her life. How she chooses to do so was a bit wacky, but she finds the strength and backbone she needs.. While working towards her goal, one fueled by both memories and anger, she begins to drop her defenses (a bit) and accept and be a friend.
The actual circumstances she puts herself in sometimes were somewhat unbelievable, the characters were sometimes over the top, but all in a warmhearted way. This is an easy and engaging novel.

The author writes beautiful descriptions of Korea, it's people, clothing etc. Sadly I was disappointed with this novel. The story was very disjointed, with too many peripheral characters. Pacing was erratic, with some portions being long and drawn out, and then suddenly it is eight years later. There were times when modern phrasing/dialogue popped up. I found most of the characters unlikable and flat with the exception of Jade and JungHo. Most were not needed, others were missing - other courtesans in the homes, Silver etc. Characters suddenly had traits (yearning for motherhood) that came out of nowhere and/or they disappeared and only were mentioned again at the end, as if to wrap up the story. Long scenes would be introduced, only to come to nothing. Important historical elements were not really explored; the horrors of the comfort women, the actual war/fighting, the introduction of the courtesans to the realities of their job. It seemed that the author had elements personal to her that had to be included, whether they fit the story or not. The final chapter felt like it came from a totally different book, trying to circle back to the beginning but not realistic. For me the novel felt very disjointed and choppy.

An intriguing novel based on the life of the personal; librarian to J.P.Morgan. Bella da Costa Greene was a light skinned Black woman who, along with the rest of her family passed as White in order to escape the horrors of prejudice after Reformation. On the recommendation of his son Morgan hires her to add to his then private collections. The novel takes us with her into the highest of American society as Bella must learn to navigate the world of the rich and powerful who accumulate art. We see how she overcomes being the only female in this field, avoids having her heritage discovered and manages to have a personal life. We learn that she became quite famous and respected and invaluable to J.P Morgan and his now public library (she was the one who pushed him to open the collection to the public).
The day-to-day choices Bella had to make were often heartbreaking and yet she was never timid or cautious. I loved how the author used her extensive research to deliver a novel that is both fascinating and hard to put down. I recommend Googling Bella da Costa Greene after reading the novel for photos and more details about this ground breaking woman. The issues raised in this novel are very timely and for that reason this novel would be an excellent choice for Book Clubs!

I love a novel that defies my expectations and takes me on a journey. Migrations has so many layers and explores so many themes, and yet the author masterfully ties everything together in a hauntingly beautiful tale. Franny is a character unlike any other, she is a "wanderer", unable to settle herself anywhere. She is searching for answers and for closure. She craves family but cannot stay, she has obsessions, she is hopeful and she despairs. The ending was a surprise and left me with hope. There are many characters and they are all well developed. This is a very thought provoking, unique novel with many important themes and much sub-context. It is perfect for book clubs!

This book really grabbed me by the throat! It is part road trip, part family drama, part mystery, and part psychological thriller! The writing is very fast paced, never lags at any point, and the story kept me up well past my bedtime!
The author slowly lets the reader get to know the characters, their past, and the present scenario that is unfolding. The sibling are all very secretive and their recreation of a childhood road-trip brings all their baggage to the forefront - not fun when you are all stuck in the same car. There are multiple twists and turns, all leading to a crazy "what just happened?" ending. Really fun and well crafted!

I am a big fan of Historical Fiction and love learning about the past. This book deals with slavery, an uprising in Haiti, the recent earthquake in Haiti, the slave trade, the underground railroad and much more. There are also strong elements of magical realism.

I enjoyed this book, despite some real issues. i found the book very repetitive, and rather choppy. Some scenes took forever - how many times can a character pause, stand alone, faint, etc? It took a full chapter for two characters to agree to pick up and carry another. I felt the threads that were supposed to tie the characters together were quite thin. There were times when I really didn't know what exactly happened (Margot & Josiah) and I really did not like the entire Gaelle storyline. There is a great novel here, and the writing is beautiful, but some tighter editing would have benefited the story.

I have to admit - I was not sold on this book right away. It is written with alternating narrators from different eras, something that is becoming very common and, for me, boring. The mystery seemed like it would unfold predictably and I was sure I knew within the first chapter who did what to whom. Happily I was wrong! The characters were fairly well developed even though their motivations were not entirely believable. Background details were sketchy and relationships were not well explored. Some characters could have been fleshed out more, yet In spite of that, I was very engaged - it was a hard book to put down! Being accustomed to books showcasing the differences between the way women were treated in the past compared to now, it was refreshing to read a book that showed the strides women have made even since the 1980's. Halfway through I had figured out the mystery, however that really didn't take away from my enjoyment of the novel. On a minor note -
I am hoping that the cover art is changed - the book repeatedly mentions a blue sign - on the cover it is red, and the fact that the motel has 2 stories while the cover shows a single story motel - rather careless....
A fun, fast easy read!

I really loved this story of a Korean family who emigrates to the U.S, leaving one child behind. The author does an excellent job of showing us the struggles each family endures; the Korea family faces war, displacement, famine and more. The new Americans deal with assimilation, guilt and regret. Eventually Inja, the daughter who was left behind, is sent for- at age 16 - and the family must learn to be whole again. Inja must assimilate to both American culture and her nuclear family, Miran must learn to be a sister. He parents must move beyond their guilt and belatedly become parents to Inja.

The author, Eugenia Kim, paints a very realistic picture of how each family member copes, first with the separation, then within the newly re-formed family. The emotions of anger, hurt, resentment, fear, guilt and love are all explored and feel true. The background of life in Korea vs life in the USA - where the Korean war was not in the headlines- is also interesting - I always love when I learn stuff!

My favorite parts were reading about Miran and her mother sending care-packages to Korea and what they send provides a snapshot of American culture and also shows how the gifts are sometimes little luxuries, sometimes the means of survival.

The novel is based on Kim's family's true story (modified) and Kim describes how later in life she asked her sister what the experience had been like for her and she used this as the basis of the story. The author provides some background on the history of Korea that was relevant to the novel - very much appreciated!

Mothers of Sparta is a series of essays that form a memoir. Dawn Davies offers glimpses into her life at various crucial moments. Some funny incidents are included, but overall the tone is of despair, anger, loneliness and frustration. Davies writes in both the first and second person, and for me this was a problem. Many times while reading I felt like I was listening to a very long "voice-over", the type offered on T.V shows such as Grey's Anatomy – and it became tiresome. Often Davies went off on tangents, some so long that I forgot what she had originally been writing about.

Some of the essays, most specifically the title story were brilliant; sharp, pointed and searing. Others seem to be composed of meandering thoughts going nowhere. I wish I had read them in intervals, reading more than one or two at a sitting diluted the whole. I also found that the cover blurb misrepresented the content – quotes like "Davies…couldn't care less about anyone's potty-training programs…" made it sound like a non-fiction version of "Where Did You Go Bernadette" or some other snarky mom writing – and it most definitely is not! Davies has dealt with many hardships while raising her children and none of it sounded like fun. Powerful essays, but best taken in small doses and with forewarning!

At once reminiscent and referencing of the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal, Young Jane Young is the story of an intern who has an affair with a Congressman and what happens when the affair becomes public knowledge. The story is told from differing viewpoints, most hilariously that of Jane's mother Rachel. The narratives are from differing points in time– before, during and after the affair, and they are not linear, and yet this telling works surprisingly well.

The tone of the novel is fairly light, reminiscent of "Bridget's Jones' Diary" and "The Rosie Effect", and the fourth wall is breached when the reader is asked "What Would You Do"- type questions, with multiple answers provided. The answer that is the one that the characters choose is, of course, never the correct one, the one that we, the all-knowing reader would have chosen. Choices are a big theme in this novel, and some readers may find themselves exasperated by the poor choices made in the story, but without poor choices/mistakes, there would be no learning, no consequences and definitely, no story! So if you have always made the right choice, never led with your heart instead of your head, never taken a risk, well this novel may frustrate and annoy you. For the rest of us, this is a fun, easy, read with memorable characters, a few surprises, some insights and many laughs.

Cara Brookins grew up in poverty, had some brutal experiences in school (bullying directed at both herself and her brother) and went on to marry 3 times, twice to men who for very different reasons, abused her. Once free of these men she took stock of her situation, saw how shell-shocked her children were, assessed her finances and decided to build her own "Dream Home" with the help of YouTube and her kids!

The book alternates chapters from the past and the near past -the build. We get glimpses of her life with her abusers, and descriptions of how she was inspired to build her own home, and then, the actual building of the house. Along the way we meet her wonderful parents and watch her children change from frightened victims to strong, resilient individuals.

For me the chapters that dealt with the abuse were the most effective. She does a great job conveying the fear and hopelessness she felt. She tries to explain why she "stayed" with her abusers, and how she attempted to protect her children from the abuse, if not the damage of what they witnessed. Others can judge her choices, but not unless they have walked in her shoes.

The chapters that deal with the building of the house start well, with the source of her inspiration for the house. After that I found myself frustrated/bored by the details. She was in over her head. This caused her to waste so much time and money, not to mention incur serious injury, and still she did not seem to learn her lesson. On the other hand, the amount of actual work they completed, guided by YouTube videos, is impressive.

There are descriptions of how Brookins used a personal form of meditation to calm herself, and although I found her "visions" odd, but if they helped her survive and move forward then good for her! I would have loved some pictures but understand how she would want to guard her privacy. There were also times when she was so clear on details I could only assume she had been keeping a journal. Many details were unnecessary.

All in all this was an interesting read. I found some portions dragged and felt that Brookins left out a great deal of info, her choice, but it made my sense of her experience feel incomplete.

Army Captain J.K. Kidd is a man in the waning years of his life. Having joined the Army at age 16, he fought in 2 wars, and later lost everything; his home, his wife and his beloved printing press. Now, in 1870, he travels the northern towns of Texas, holding "Readings" where he shares news of the world with those who do not have access to newspapers or the ability to read.

Kidd is approached to deliver a rescued orphan to her remaining family. The young girl was abducted by a Kiowa tribe after they killed the rest of her family. Raised by a Kiowa family, she has forgotten her past life, speaks no English and only wants to escape. The trip is treacherous as Texas is now a lawless domain. Kidd must use his skills and knowledge to keep his charge safe. Along the the way he starts to teach her English and some "civilized ways". A touching, trusting relationship builds.

This is a beautiful and spare novel. The landscape comes alive, as does the almost constant sense of danger and the desperation of being on the road in during such dangerous times. The author has a true gift for description, we see, smell and feel the conditions the pair experience.

What really shines is the characters and their relationships. With few words, none superfluous, Jiles manages to capture the full essence of each person the pair meet on their journey. Some are nasty, some are surprisingly good hearted. None are stereotypical. Captain Kidd himself, is that reserved, moral, loving character we all need in our lives.

This is a rather short novel. I could not put it down so it was a quick read as well. I was sorry when it ended and look forward to delving into Paulette Jiles' past works. This is well researched historical fiction at it's best!

I have mixed feelings about this book; the descriptions in the novel, of places, art, personalities, etc were compelling. I felt, like Lucy, like a newcomer, frightened, thrilled and in awe of the portrayal of the city. The mood and tone were perfectly conveyed, this author can write! On the other hand, the actual characters did not feel fully realized. The novel introduces us to characters, telling (vs showing) us that they are handsome, gawky, breathtakingly beautiful etc, but often she gives us the behavior way before the explanation. Why does a man-whore fall head over heels in love with THIS woman, I did not see what made her so special, so irresistible, until some tiny hints were dropped much later in the novel. Some events were so "coincidental" as to be unbelievable (how Lucy finds an apartment etc).

We meet interesting characters who drop out of the story and I found that frustrating.
It took me a while to get into this book, I never felt that I couldn't put it down, but it was still interesting as it brought me into the art world in NYC in the 1980s, an era I am a bit obsessed with. I see a lot of potential here, just wish the editor had addressed some issues.
Still well worth reading!

Two orphaned teens and a noble horse flee bounty hunters, renegades, the desperate, the displaced, the hungry, and a terrible prophecy. I love historical fiction, especially when I learn something new. This is a time/era/story I knew very little about, told in such a totally engrossing novel. Brilliant writing, not a single wasted word. The writing is reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy, and yet in many ways this is a more powerful read. The writing is more poetic and the characters are more engaging, fleshed out. It was very hard to put this book down as I fell in love with the three (yes, 3 - I loved Reiver!) characters on the run.

In the bleak landscape of this war ravished part country there is danger and horror at every stop and yet there is kindness and dignity as well. It is the first time I have read such a moving and devastating accounting of what this part of the South was like during this brutal war. It was hard not to imagine and cast the amazing movie this could be - but definitely read the book first!