I have always been intrigued by Haitian history and had the usual stereotypical knowledge of the country and its people. But after reading Devil Makes Three, by Ben Fountain I felt I had been transported into the cultural and political mecca of this complex country during the 1990's. Everything from Coup d'etat, Vodou beliefs and political and violent power plays set in a very poor nation were undercurrent for many story lines. I found the characters very diverse and authentic. While the story slowed at times, I felt like it paralleled the Haitians lives during this time period. Told through the eyes of Matt, an American who really just wants to exist and make a clean living with a Dive shop but he gets lured in over his head with treasure hunts and the political evils of the time. I also enjoyed the authors development of Misha, a well educated Haitian who is a member of the upperclass Variel family that goes from a book smart historian to immersed in the dark helpless side of life in Haiti. Long but well worth the read.

Paper Names is an apt title for the story where the characters identities and relationships were ever changing. Two families, the Zhangs who immigrated from China and the Agos a wealthy family with generational wealth, both did anything for their families to succeed. The characters are very well developed and the plot moves quickly through time drawing the reader into the intertwining of the families. I appreciated the ongoing struggle each character had to move away from their heritage while yearning to know more about their secret past. I would recommend Paper Names to readers that like cultural stories and family dramas.

The Lost English Girl is a beautifully written story set in Liverpool around the time of WWII. The author, Julia Kelly did a wonderful job developing the characters, their complicated relationships and unfortunate family dynamics. While the story's focus was on one mother's attempt to protect her child, themes of affluence, antisemitism, and the horrors of war are woven throughout. But Vic's love for her daughter Maggie was what really drove the story. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down.

Ghost Season is the story of five characters that live at an NGO compound in South Sudan in 2001, including several Sudanese, an American map maker, and a Sudanese American filmmaker. As a civil war is coming closer to their small village of Saraaya, the native Sudanese are being moved from their small shacks while trying to survive and make some sort of living. The characters are very well developed, their relationships become entwined while they try to sort out what is going on around them. I was truly drawn into this story.

Millet's new novel, Dinosaurs, is the story of a man named Gil who initially appeared as a rather eccentric person who walks for almost five months from New York to Arizona in search of a fresh new start. After losing his parents at an early age and being raised as an orphan, he spends much of his life responding to being wealthy seeking out opportunities to give back and connect to others in the most innocent and heartfelt ways. The story, while rather simple, was rich with material to discuss and ponder. The allegory of the castle next to the glass house, the birds of the desert evolved from dinosaurs, friendships, life and death are all woven into this lovely story.

While the story, Jackie and Me, presents itself as a fictional work, I kept wanting to know more about the real lives of JFK, Jackie and Lem. The author did a fantastic job developing their individual worlds, their relationships and the planned out paths they took. It made me appreciate the very lonely life Jackie had at that time and the very special friendship she and Lem had. I would recommend Jackie and Me and look forward to reading more works by Louis Bayard.

Metropolis is a fun and moving story with many characters that rent space at a storage warehouse. The author does a good job developing each character and weaving their stories together. From an Immigration lawyer with a soft spot for everyone's problems to a high society woman who is trying to escape an abusive husband, there are all types trying to hide from something in the warehouse. I thought it was vary well done how the author kept moving and eventually brought to some resolution all the varied story lines. Recommend for a fun read.

I cannot say that I enjoyed reading Hieroglyphics but I was intrigued by how well the author, Jill McCorkle was able to communicate the characters raw emotions and fears. The writing switching back in time to childhood memories and back to current while meaningful was choppy and disjointed much like I felt their lives were. I did find her description transported the reader back in time as the character's memories shared events that were still affected their lives. The book deals with loss, pain, helplessness and each characters attempt to manage. The memories, secrets and struggles woven throughout will transport the reader to a not so pleasant world.

I found The Big Finish to be a delightful read with a cast of humorous characters and fun story line. The story, which takes place in an assisted living facility, interweaves the realistic challenges of aging, friendship and family with a not so realistic story of the community coming to the rescue of Carl's granddaughter Josie. The author managed to develop both loving and loyal characters who go to any length to help Josie, all the while remaining true to their cantankerous selves. I will enjoy reading more from this author.

Nefertiti's story of Motherhood through the eyes of an African American single woman was heartfelt and eye opening. I developed a deep respect for her and her commitment to working against a difficult system in an ever increasing racist world. I can only imagine the goodness her story and her life will bring to her adoptive children and her surrounding community. Her work will go a long way to fill the void helping others to have more knowledge and also break down negative stereotypes that are so prevalent . I look forward to hearing more from Ms. Austin.

I delayed writing my review on Mary Pipher's new book, Women Rowing North as I did not want to finish reading it. It felt like a new friend that I could connect with on so many topics. Pipher's outlook on positive aging was just what I needed at this phase in my life. Even though the focus is targeted toward women advancing later years, I think all women can benefit from this special read and look forward to sharing it with my daughters and mother.

I really liked how the author structured this book alternating between the two main voices and found the succinct chapters like a metaphor for their lives. While the darkness and betrayal are an undercurrent, the story is told with with focus on the complexities and more human side of the CIA's secret world. The juxtaposition of Anna's life next to the story of her father's secret life in the CIA brings the reader into a tale of duplicity, loyalty and betrayal. It left me wanting to know more.

The author, Jessica Keener, did a wonderful job weaving in the culture and history of Budapest with multiple story lines of dealing with loss of their loved ones. The main character, Annie, struggles to find truth with no so black and white events. The characters are well developed and make their time in Budapest very real.

I really enjoyed reading Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge. It was a captivating story about two very different people who were castaways after the small plane they were on crashed. I appreciated how the author developed the story of one focused on survival to much more…. I look forward to more by this author.

Mercies in Disguise, by Gina Kolata, is a story that weaves medicine and scientific discoveries with realistic issues that families face when confronted with a genetic life changing disease. The book starts slowly almost metaphorically like medical research, as the scientists work to identify the underlying causes of the disease,while families over multiple generations try to piece together the debilitating effects on extended family members. Ultimately the reader is drawn into the world of a very loving family, dealing with daily struggles to the ethical decisions that they must confront to stop the genetic transmission onto future family members. Overall, I found Mercies in Disguise to be an emotional, thought provoking and realistic story.