Kudos to Kay Chronister for crafting a storyline that is truly unlike any other I have read! Her writing style provided descriptive chapters focusing on each of the five Haddesley siblings helping this confused reader follow along with pursued interest. My senses were heightened by each account of the bog area to the point of imagining the intense smells that emanated from the damp Appalachian homestead. Truth be told, I considered giving up on the story multiple times; the family dynamics were too dysfunctional for my taste. The father of this isolated family was delusional, abusive, and deceptive creating a legacy of under-educated, dirty, misguided young adults reminiscent of a survivalist mentality. The generational storyline was just too bizarre for my liking! The manor house would easily be condemned and yet family members continued to cling to the decaying structure as their only lifeline; readers will shake their heads in disbelief. The author finally explains the mother's disappearance in the final chapters, but by then this reader was only finishing the book to be polite.

As a reader I enjoy exploring various cultures and historical themes through fictional tales that explain what individuals experienced and endured as world events happened away from my own circumstances. Having never traveled to India, I find stories about the caste systems disheartening, but am encouraged when I read about those who rise above specific limitations. Ruthvika Rao creates interesting scenarios for the main characters in "The Fertile Earth" and unwinds a difficult period of time for her homeland with a personable touch. The story provides readers with multiple strong personalities faced with incredible challenges. The way their lives intertwine illuminates the talent of the author's writing skills. While the timeline tends to jump periodically, the chapter titles help to recenter the plot. Readers will debate choices made and wonder what life would have been like with less emphasis on traditional society expectations and more humanity toward one another. In particular, sisters Vijaya & Sree, as well as brothers Ranga & Krishna, provide much of the angst detailed from beginning to end, but my favorite character was Katya. In an emotional moment Katya explains why she often felt the most comfortable sleeping among the animal sheds, "...only the animals in his house have any humanity. Not the people." Heartbreaking! From the exterior, villagers imagine that anything desirable or imaginable can be found within the walls of their Irumi zamindar, yet the truth of that household is toxic for all who live or work within those boundaries. Trigger warnings of intense violence should accompany this novel.
Unfamiliar with Indian culture and language, readers might benefit from a short glossary of common terms and vocabulary. Regarding the cover art and choice of colors, this reader is perplexed; still not certain what the artwork symbolizes... a temple among clouds or perhaps the tiger claw pendant that plays a pivotal role in the family hertiage? I would pass on this novel if the cover art was the deciding factor. Fortunately though, receiving an advanced copy from Bookbrowse introduced me to this debut selection and I enjoyed learning about a pivotal time in India's tumultuous history.

My apologizes to Bookbrowse for a delayed review while being so appreciative of receiving an advanced copy! With all the "feel-good" emotions surrounding my Thanksgiving and December holidays this reader found the storyline of trying to rekindle a "lost love" while shattering a marriage rather depressing. The author was at her best in the first and last third of the book weaving together characters whose lives were intertwined then pulled apart, only to find each other decades later in unexpected circumstances. Choices are made that create ripple effects for every character involved.

Readers will be divided as to whether Sarah or Warren has the more mature perspective. Roxana Robinson cleverly weaves opera into the storyline; understanding this artistic genre leads readers to the shocking conclusion with a more refined acceptance of the turmoil emotions play while balancing moral responsibilities. The author has skillfully written dialogue filled with vitriol in multiple confrontations between parent and child creating a situation where readers are left wondering how any level of resolution will be achieved. "Leaving" presents many interesting points of discussion for book clubs, but the story overall made me sad, particularly the manipulation of parental obligation from the daughter's perspective.

Connecting with the characters, whether it be a love or hate dynamic, earns my rating for this all too common theme of marital strife and consequences.

Finnmark, Norway - Autumn 1677
Readers will quickly be enchanted by the story of two sisters who experience the devastating childhood trauma of tragically losing both parents, only to be taken away to the safety of an isolated forest where they are taught by their loving grandmother to embrace and hone their witchcraft skills. Eventually Kaija and Minna find themselves alone and at odds with how each wants to live their adult years. Memories of village life draw Kaija away from the woods and begin a series of complications trying to balance life with strict cultural boundaries while hiding the powers that literally itch to come forward daily. Minna feels alone and abandoned by her only blood relative. Both sisters must accept the repercussions of decisions made during fits of anger. Each must also recognize that their corner of the world is not accepting of those who come from different backgrounds. Suspicions will lead to threatening behavior that bring terrible consequences in this interesting debut novel by Chelsea Iversen. The pace of the story accelerates using alternating chapters between the sisters; readers might benefit from a short, but helpful glossary of Nordic terminology to better understand the incantations and rituals utilized by both sisters as they struggle to find acceptance and healing. Overall a unique and captivating read!

Thank you BookBrowse for the opportunity to review this spectacular upcoming debut publication by Thao Thai. From the beginning chapters I found myself immediately wanting to share the storyline with both my book clubs. Definitely want to engage my bookish friends in discussion over the choices made by Minh, Huang, and Ann; three generations of strong women connected by family culture and secrets that bind each to the other despite fierce independent spirits. Will time bring a sense of understanding and redemption once secrets are revealed? One can only hope. Minh reflects "there is freedom in imperfection. To know and love another's flaws," but is Ann capable of resisting the resentment of not being told the whole truth during her beloved grandmother's lifetime? The symbolism of the banyan is integral to the familial plot as this species of tree is venerated in Hinduism for its ability to live for centuries and is considered safe shelter as roots grow down from branches to anchor the tree strongly to the earth. Can Ann create the foundation needed to lead an independent, resilient life and provide for the next generation while still honoring her Vietnamese ancestral heritage? Perhaps the author will revisit this family for our reading benefit in time as she is clearly talented at writing a concise and meaningful tale that will resonate with families despite various cultural backgrounds. My only suggestion is a pronunciation guide for the many beautiful Vietnamese names and words throughout the text.

Tanya Frank willingly adapted a mother's warrior spirit when her nineteen-year-old son Zach experienced a psychotic episode. Searching for answers through the health care systems of 2 separate countries only confirmed that mental illness is an incredibly complex genre of disease processes which are still largely misunderstood, often misdiagnosed, and commonly treated in so many varying ways that the journey becomes almost impossible to endure. Yet our author points out that many impaired individuals have no choice but to accept treatment as experimental regimens, searching to find a neutral zone where daily life can be maintained without the constant interference of combative symptoms. There is no one-size-fits-all cure. The battle of mental illness is horrific for the individual and just as harrowing for their loved ones watching and wanting to intervene, to shelter, and care for the vulnerable souls searching for a peaceful existence. Tanya Frank admits to being "weary with an uppercase W" and readers will feel much the same angst following along as her brutally honest words describe the challenges faced by Zach, the family members who strive to help him, and the medical professionals who are doing their best given the ever-evolving research and development of new protocols to provide relief for tortured minds. Describing Zach she writes, "it is no wonder that he is often unable to put one foot in front of the other, that he lies down on the spot wherever he is, because being human and upright is unbearable." A powerfully written visual that many readers will find difficult to digest and yet this slim volume is filled with many such heartbreaking scenes. The material might be triggering for the unprepared reader, but for others seeking validation of their own journeys, this memoir is full of honesty and "sadness—so strangely comforting" which indeed is one of the author's intentions.

Books arrive to my reading pile from various sources and often must match the right "timing" for me to read and absorb the storyline in order to make a lasting impact. I hold great admiration for all authors who find their creativity put into publication; that same emotion stands for Francesca Manfredi and her novel "The Empire of Dirt" although I cannot say I fully understood her rather poetic style of writing. I spent time dog-earring pages for reference and re-reading passages to make connections between characters and events, but still just did not embrace the story. I wanted to get off the "struggle bus" of reading the novel several times, but pushed through distractions in my personal life to give the book it's justice. I still cannot say I recommend this selection to others. In the chapter titled "Boys" Valentina is searching for guidance, but must be content with only observations as her mother remains aloof and a bit mysterious: "As I grew older, I learned to discern every trick and every mechanism behind something that appeared to be entirely instinctive." Poor young soul craved attention and was desperate to learn from someone who seems to be so persuasive, yet disinterested in sharing. Several passages were difficult to accept; in chapter 8 Valentina overhears her mother talking with Stefano and readers learn the truth about her mother's outlook to maternal parenting, "Two things: bringing us into the world and nursing us on guilt. Makers, manufacturers of guilt. That's what I call them. It's how they keep us bound to them." Ugh! Depressing at best and terribly discouraging for a young girl trying to figure out her place in the world. And maybe that is the crux of the problem; I felt empathy for Valentina and just did not like any of the other characters in the novel nor did I understand the significance of the multiple plague-like events or the naming of the chapters. Perhaps this selection was the wrong book for me at the time, but I do not feel compelled to try again.

One of my greatest challenges writing this review is how to convey the gratitude I feel for the skillful bravery author Ava Homa must have felt bringing the brutally tragic, yet hopeful story of the Saman family to print. The ability to dissect and explain the history of the Kurdish people through decades of violence and oppression was a tremendously complex task. Here we also get a fictional, yet realistic portrayal of physical, emotional, cultural, and spiritual abuse at the hands of people who deem themselves superior to an entire race simply because of geographic boundaries. The entire book should be flagged with trigger warnings for readers who cannot tolerate despondency, war tactics, suicidal thoughts and actions, and/or explicit descriptions of physical violence.
However, readers should also be prepared to fully connect with characters who show a tremendous will to survive finding ways to create lives filled with integrity, cultural pride and a belief in attaining happiness without denying heritage.

A decade ago I read "Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See" written by Robert Kurson about Mike May, blinded at age three, who defied expectations by breaking world records in downhill speed skiing, joining the CIA, and becoming a successful inventor, entrepreneur, and family man. He had never yearned for vision. I found his life story so enthralling that I contacted my local Blind Association to volunteer in the community for others who were vision impaired. I did not have the same emotional reaction to "Blind Man's Bluff" by James Tate Hill. In fact I found this memoir rather unemotional and dry of details. Yes, we learn of the author's diagnosis and his desire to navigate life, undetected by others, with the challenges his diminishing abilities present, but the chapters seemed to provide journal-entry details with true feelings unattached. As a reader I wanted more inspiration from his efforts to achieve. I wanted a clearer picture of the devastation that often presents when life does not easily accommodate a person with disabilities. I wanted to be inspired by the author's spirit to succeed. I wanted to know more about how he discovered the internal will to reinvent daily life to suit a person with vision deficiencies. Clearly the author is now a published writer, but I found myself more interested in the heroics of his parents, Jim and Belinda, who believed in his abilities all along giving him independence long before he had proven the maturity to handle such challenges. I do find his life accomplishments admirable and for that his story has earned 3 stars, but I was left wanting so much more...a clearer understanding of how to succeed without the advantages of full sight.

This talented journalist writes with fondness and great appreciation for those who allowed their stories to intertwine with her own in this remarkably heartfelt account of loss, but also of finding "...balance, how to move forward, how to make peace with what we don't control" and "...that sadness does not mean the end of joy." Valuable lessons for those who have experienced grief certainly, but I wonder if the richness of these personal accounts are even more of a gift for readers who have yet to face such supreme life challenges? The author describes her seven years of parenting as "...a borrowed gift, but truly it is the reader who receives the greater gift of shared knowledge, a beautifully written book and encouragement to face whatever life may bring forth. Thank you Carol Smith for your brutal honesty and for honoring those who helped you find the strength to share with readers the often deceptive path toward acceptance and joy.

Even well-written books fail to catch the interest of readers for various reasons: busy daily schedules, the wrong season for the setting, complicated dialogue, or the distraction of a worldwide pandemic! The latter seemed to overwhelm my ability to stay attentive to this otherwise interesting premise of a novel by respected author Marie Benedict. Despite years of consistent reading and participation in multiple book clubs, I've only recently read my first Agatha Christie novel: "And Then There Were None". Having enjoyed that selection and learned more information about the author herself, I was especially appreciative to receive an advanced copy of "The Mystery of Mrs. Christie" from BookBrowse for review. Kudos to Mrs. Benedict for crafting a believable tale to explain a truly mysterious episode from the life of such a famous fixture in literary circles. The formal English dialogue of the time period unfortunately dragged my interest away and I found myself skimming along to find the plot points more quickly than my reading eyes allowed. The alternating chapters did provide relief from the oft presented unhappiness of the Christie's marriage raising the obvious suspicion of possible malicious behavior by the central characters. My attention just did not stay focused enough on the carefully designed narrative. I honestly believe if I had found this book at a different time in my personal schedule, my opinion would have improved as I have thoroughly enjoyed other selections by this talented novelist, so I'll still recommend this creative telling to readers, especially if they are Agatha Christie fans. I dare say Dame Christie herself would approve!

The storyline of this highly anticipated novel by respected writer Ursula Hegi is filled with mystical situations, poetic language, rich characterizations, and heartbreaking details about family relationships presenting readers with a truly emotional experience. The exquisite writing style is best savored in a quiet reading corner to appreciate the complex emotions of grief, unconditional love, and parenting that are unveiled slowly throughout a series of flashbacks as well as real-time dramatic moments. Losses are profound, but treated with beautifully detailed language that places words where only emotions generally live. Overall the storyline is often confusing. The timeline weaves a fairly complicated plot swirling around multiple characters and a sometimes choppy paragraph alignment moving too quickly between situations, but Lotte's belief in miracles will guide readers forward with hope that happiness will win over her crushing self-imposed guilt in the end.

First book in a long time I felt comfortable writing the review BEFORE finishing the story; why? Kevin Wilson has created an imaginative, original, humorous, macabre, yet tender-hearted journey of one misguided young woman's ability to recognize an unexpected purpose for her life. Lillian is a flawed character that readers will want to embrace for her honesty and sincere compassion toward others regardless of consequences. One criticism of the writing is the unnecessary and extensive use of the "f" word, thus 4 stars... sensitive readers be warned.

After leading a local book club for 20 years and learning to appreciate the creative work of various authors and styles of writing, I consider it a treat to discover new-to-me authors. Our club is scheduled to read "The Almost Sisters" in the fall, so I thought the opportunity to read Joshilyn Jackson's latest novel a wonderful sneak-peek into her writing personality. I found myself sorely disappointed; first by the ridiculous portrayal of book club membership (and a terrible choice of names using "The Brain-Dead Mommies Book Club") and then by the stereotypical characterizations of the women in the neighborhood. I immediately felt like I was reading a script for a made-for-television housewives drama instead of the build-up for a suspenseful novel. The secrets kept from past experiences were intriguing enough, but the chain of events that unraveled following the introduction of Angelica Roux to the storyline seemed unrealistic and stretched behind the likelihood of events happening so dramatically. To the author's credit, I kept reading to figure out where all these nonsensical details were leading, but found the confrontations toward the end of the novel completely unbelievable particularly where Amy Whey's actions were concerned. Disappointing for a first impression toward this well received author, but not every offering is as strong as previous novels. Will consider this a light read for future recommendations.