Using humor blended with compassion Julieta Henderson has created three unique characters. A single mother, helped by an elderly man,enables her young son to complete an improbable journey. Although the death of Jax, the boy's best friend, is a pivotal event in the novel a light optimistic tone pervades. When obstacles seem to overwhelm the plans made a phase "One just never knows" appears often.

Having lived through the fearful years of the Cold War it was interesting to read of Doom Town and the after effects of being trained to survive a nuclear attack. The disparity of income status of the two men influenced their friendships and the future of their families. The next generation of these families continue with the conflicts. Both families experience problems with children. Wealth appears to be no guarantee of happiness.

This is a riveting,compassionate, eye-opening account of immigrants on their journey to the U.S. These fictional people, coming from various countries in Central America,become very real and put faces on the many statistics we have read about immigrants. Each is coming north for different reasons, but as the horrors of their pilgrimage are faced, it becomes obvious that not one of them chooses this route to "el Norte" without being desperate. In many instances the evil they encounter is tempered with goodness by people encountered who have the courage to help.

The improbable life of Evie on the mythical Winter Island was recounted with compassion and wry humor. Nature and marine life are beautifully described making island life appear wonderfully desirable. Evie's life from her alcoholic father, her absentee mother, her unreliable best friend and her unfaithful husband would appear tragic. However her resilience and ability to forgive rescues her and the novel.

War is described in Shadow King as "an outpouring of evil." The photographer, Ettore Navarro, is "an archivist of obscenities." Despite these truths and a personal aversion to war I still found this book to be a riveting account of a time in Ethiopia and the role women could play even though they might also be abused. One value of a book is that it stimulates an interest in knowing more. I'll be looking into Ethiopian history in the future.

As the participants in WWII are aging and dying,it is imperative that their narratives are told. This book is a well researched account of a part of that war that I knew little about, the recruitment of female spies who spoke fluent French. Since this an overview of five years of the history of espionage in France there was little in depth character development . However I was astonished and appreciative of the recounting of the deeds of these brave women (and men) that helped D-Day be a success.

Adam has written a sensitive, yet disturbing novel of different lives in Trinidad. I could easily identify with the problems involved in raising two children of very different abilities. The insights into Paul's thinking as being labeled retarded were touching. Clyde, the father, is presented as a strong character with difficult choices. Having the suspense introduced by a criminal element kept me riveted to the end. I did find the format of part one being the present, part two the past, and returning to the present in part three somewhat confusing until rereading a little.

As I read each short, seemingly disjointed chapter the novel came together with a beautifully written emotional conclusion. We are shown many different points of view from that of a native girl, a brother who has given up, the children, a confused elderly woman, a píus yet selfish wife,and a father in a loveless marriage. In all the tragedy there is humor and sensitivity. The awareness of the historical time leading up to and including WW 2 is well done.
The title accurately is played out in many ways where decisions have to be made that there is more in life that has to be done.

Dara Horn asks the reader to accept the premise that a vow to God can both save a life and give another eternal life. At first glance this may sound like a good bargain, but when generation after generation die before you it seems more like a curse.

The reader gets to know several of Rachel's offspring. The first generation son gives us a glimpse of life 2000 years ago. Many aspects of the Jewish faith are also explored. The granddaughter Hannah of modern times gets the reader to some thinking about DNA research, her specialty.

The continuing relationship between Rachel and Elazar holds many twists and turns.

Horn's writing is expressive and memorable. For example. "The hardest part isn't living forever, it is making life worth living".

This well written memoir gives a glimpse into the hard decisions parents of medically fragile children must make. The effects of such adversities on the parental relationships was depicted with humor and pathos. How fortunate that this family had such support from their family and friends and medical, financial means to provide their child the very best treatment.