This book was a unique experience for me presenting a time period and events in history which I had littlle to no knowledge of. I enjoyed the book, altho I found there was some repetition of information which wasn't required, but was already gatherer when it was mentioned the first time in the book. I found the main women character to be a little bit unbelievable given that time in history. Her priorities made her a bit annoying to me and some of her behavior was foolhardy. Those comments aside, it was a good read, and factually diligent. I. would recommend it to my bookclub.

The Funeral Cryer was not a complex read but involved complex issues. It's setting is a village which practices traditions which have existed for many years. The evolution of the main character takes her towards a great self independence and satisfaction. Her continuing try to break out of the woman's role in China is a continuing theme throughout the book. While the cultural issues are very different then we now experience there is a similar theme to current issues with women. It was a quick read and I learned things about Chinese culture which I hadn't known.

Madam Secretary is a very interesting look at a different and revolutionary period in the history of the US. It's time when woman were asserting their rights to be included in the decisions in the US. Frances Perkins was the first woman who was appointed to a cabinet position under Franklin Roosevelt. Interesting to see how her growth as a person along with her elevation of appreciation for Franklin She faced many of the obstacles that woman still face today but managed to change society towards helping those less fortunate and the elderly. I learned many things I didn't know about both her and Franklin Roosevelt. Good read!

Very captivating read with vividly presented characters. This was an unusual premise which included magic but the magic was really secondary to the relationship of the characters and their evolution as woman. Two sisters with vastly different visions of what the future should be like and who should be include to fulfill life. The process that each woman experienced to reach a resolution between them was very engaging. This is a recommended read, which I didn't expect because of the magic.

A humorous tale of the adventures and misconceptions of an 84 year old women and the young girl she hires as her driver. Over a short span of time the two protagonists forge an unusual relationship and there are definitely surprises. Lots of laughs and breaking of stereotypes. Highly recommend this book and it would provide a lively book club discussion.

The Girl Code evolves throughout this intriguing novel written by Julie Clark. "The Lies I Tell" is told through two voices, Meg and Kat , whose initial intersection happens 10 years before the present day of the book. Their relationship weaves throughout the story and a realignment of intent changes for both of them as each of them grow. The clear message is that until you fully understand motives you don't really know a person. An enjoyable, intriguing read that is hard to put down. The ending is very satisfying and not expected.

I will recommend this to my book club. It has great character development and will create a lively discussion. I enjoyed the book immensely and will read other books by Julie Clark