Isaac Dahl was a witness to many of the major events of the 20th century. During his long life he experienced natural disasters, wrote about wars and nursed loved ones through devastating illnesses. Yet despite the backdrop of violence, tragedy and loss, Isaac and his family persevered with determination and love for one another. The family saga is chronicled in twelve chapters with each describing one day in Isaac's life from age 8 to 96. When his sister suggests this format to him she says "this will allow you to explore the scattershot richness of your past, without getting bogged down in the minutiae." (pg. 218) And indeed that is the beauty of this book. It invites you to know a man well loved and to appreciate a life that was filled with adventure, service and success.

Against a backdrop of war, political upheaval and human displacement, readers are introduced to Meilin and her young son Renshu. The story begins in 1938 when the family is forced to flee their home in Hunan Province and begin a long and perilous journey which ultimately ends in Taiwan. Faced with the violence of war, extreme poverty, betrayal and a country in chaos, one marvels at the courage and resiliency of Meilin and the talent and dedication of Renshu. Historical fiction is at its best when the author is able to create parallel narratives for the characters and for the specific time and place in which the novel unfolds. Melissa Fu excels at both of these tasks which makes reading Peach Blossom Spring an engaging and memorable experience.

Author Freya Sampson introduces the reader to a wide variety of interesting townspeople whose stories are compelling and together create a colorful and vibrant backdrop for the drama that unfolds in the English village of Chalcot. It is the local library, however, that takes center stage and captures our imagination and respect as it faces closure due to upcoming budget cuts. Through detailed, description, flashbacks to previous times and patrons' memories of the many ways the library has served them, one is transported to a setting that is familiar to all who have grown up with a library near-by. Efforts to petition, protest and convince the village council of the value of the library are enthusiastic and heartfelt even when not effective. This will be an enjoyable read for anyone who has fought to save a beloved institution and for anyone who can smell, feel and savor the ambience of a library. In remarks to the council, the assistant librarian says, "Libraries are places where everyone, rich or poor, wherever they come from in the world can feel safe. Where they can access information that will empower them...A mobile library might still provide books, but it can never be the heart of the community." Amen!

Author Carol Smith writes in the introduction to her memoir CROSSING THE RIVER that after the death of her young son, Christopher, "I couldn't read the map to find my way out of the vast, harsh landscape of my grief." It was not until she returned to work as a reporter for a major Seattle newspaper that she began to understand her loss and begin to heal. Her prose reflects her skill as a journalist through accurate and objective reporting of seven situations where families and individuals confronted unique and difficult challenges related to illness and death. Through he relationships with these people she came to see her own situation through a new lens. She realized that by refusing to talk about Christopher's death, she was denying herself the opportunity to talk about his life which truly had meaning that endures. She learned to embrace hope and joy and reclaim her identity as a loving mother of a happy child. Although the book is the story of one woman's journey, it offers valuable insights about the grieving process and would be helpful to anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one.

From the very first chapters of Hieroglyphics I was engaged. Good character development is always important to fiction but especially during this time of quarantine when our social interactions are limited, the opportunity to "interact" with others was appreciated. All four of the people to whom we are introduced are memorable and interesting, but I fell in love with Lil and consider her to be my new best literary friend. She alone speaks in the first person as she tries to make sense of the "bits and pieces" or "hieroglyphics" of her life. In a type of journal she is writing for her daughter she reflects on the tragedies and joys of a life well lived. She tells her story with humility and a sense of humor which were reminiscent of the musings of "Olive Kitteridge". This is a book about families, challenges and the power of love and kindness. I highly recommend it.

As a child, Esther Safran knew that her parents had been the only members of their immediate families to escape the reach of Nazi Germany during World War II. Natives of small villages in the Ukraine, they had survived due to their courage, some luck and the support of strangers and friends. She yearned to know more but her parents were reluctant to talk about their experiences and share the stories of loss those years represented. In an attempt to solve some of the mysteries surrounding her family and to unveil the many secrets kept from her, she has devoted most of her adult life to researching her family history. Not only did she study archival records and historical documents, she traveled to Brazil and the Ukraine to meet with survivors who could help her tell her story. This book is the account of her efforts. The first half of the book is devoted to telling how her parents escaped, spent time in displaced persons camps and ultimately emigrated to the United States. The second portion focuses on her research and discoveries. This too reveals heartwarming detail and allows the reader to understand how important it is to embrace and honor family histories.

Although the narrative would benefit from additional editing during parts dealing with the research, the book is an important addition to the genre of Holocaust literature. It could even be considered an essential read for those wanting to better understand the impact of the attempted extermination of the Jews not only on actual survivors but on their extended families for generations.