I graduated from a midwestern high school in 1977. The events that are discussed in this book were familiar to me, but as an American getting my information from local and national new stations. Ms Bjursten took me inside Iran and through a time of turmoil as it happened inside a conflicted and war torn society. I appreciate the nods to every day life and comforts, the display of love through food cooked in the home that is so different from the food cooked my home, and the overriding nuances of self-worth and worthiness. This story shows us our differences as a culture, but also shows us our very personal similarities. It is a story of family, political unrest and the cost of activism.

Ms Wells has delivered us a novel with a unique approach to her characters. I found this book to be a vehicle to self-exploration of my own attitudes, and a study on "don't judge too quickly." There were times I found the characters sympathetic and other times they were atrocious. This book explores the world of the people who support us in unseen realms.

In all my years of working in offices, I have to admit I put very little thought into who emptied my trash and dusted my desk while I was at home with my family and sleeping securely in my home, and it makes me wonder if I had a nickname or caused undue hardship to them in their job. And on the larger scale, what do they see and uncover that no one else sees while they are focusing on themselves and getting ahead in their daily job - and how far will someone go to make what is wrong, right. I enjoyed this book and the reflection it stirred.

Maeve is a part of us all - our obsessions, our frustrations, our insecurities and our desires. Ms Braunstein takes us on a journey, sometimes feeling like a quest, as we visit the areas of Maeve's life that overwhelm and drive her. We get glimpses of who she is, along with who she was and who she could possibly be in the future. This book is a beautiful study of our own circumstance and brings reflection of how might we react if given the opportunities or temptations. It also takes us on an exploration of control for how we want other to see us or what we might hide from those who know us well; but most interestingly it takes us on a journey of preconceived notions and misunderstood intentions. This book will keep you thinking and feeling from beginning to end.

The Stone Home takes us into a world that few of us could imagine. We are introduced to a relationship between mother and daughter that feels familiar and familial, and then we are taken to a place that brings our their best and worst selves. We know of concentration camps with warring nations, but to see a place like The Stone Home being administered by their own government is maddening and frightening. The stories introduces to two main voices, but so many more personalities, with twists and turns - some foreseeable and the most important one and unfolding surprise. This is a perfect book club read that will stimulate a great amount of discussion.

First to say what this book is not: It is not an easy, happy, feel-good read. It is an exploration of one young woman's journey. We meet her as she visits her father in New York, where is surprises her with a new girlfriend and life she didn't know he had, and we watch her struggle with her loyalties to her mother and to find a place in her father's world. We know of the financial and physical struggles of growing up in Zimbabwe in a time of turmoil, wishing for escape and rescue to the life she viewed with her father, to have that suddenly and tragically taken from her. And we see her as an adult in a prestigious graduate program, trying to cope with her stresses and the damage of her past. All along the way, we, as the reader, have the opportunity to reflect and see ourselves in this brilliant woman and to visit our own histories - have we built a fantasy or do we see reality as it relates to our parents and our lives. We see people accepting or struggling with or against the social challenges of the day. I became aware of the micro-aggressions that are so prevalent in our society and the surprised by how easily even the person who is experiencing it can be accepting of it - such as how it seems to be OK to change someone's name in Western culture because their indigenous names does not easily toll off the tongue. This book will walk with me for a long while.

In his historical note, the author stated that this book "may seem a little theatrical at times; pirates always do." And it is, and they are - and it all comes together in a fast-paced story of danger overcome and adventure. As the third book in the Thomas Grey series, I had no problem getting to know the characters and following the well written story, even though I had not read the first two novels.

I found Mr. Gelernter's storytelling beautiful and descriptive - from the description of Beethoven's symphony to the island filled with exotic plants and snakes. I enjoyed the elements of the British spy and the American spy working together on separate and common goals. These part of the novel led me to think of how quickly American went from being revolutionaries to being allies to the British people - if not the Crown - and how closely they had relatives from either side of the war on either side of the "pond." This is something I think we rarely think of so many generations later. In short, "The Montevideo Brief" is a beautifully written, thoroughly enjoyable romp through secret missions and pirate infested islands.

I had looked forward to this book since first seeing it in an ad for books to be published in 2023. As an avid reader of Historic Fiction revolving around WWII, and occasionally delving into the world of non-fiction of the same time period, this was a book that made my "must read" list with no hesitation - and I was not disappointed. The authors took us on a journey though the war with specific attention paid to the Allied leaders and their personal relationships. In my arrogance, I did not expect to be surprised with facts surrounding the attitude of the nation and original tolerance toward Naziism, when, who and how war was declared, the multiple layers of international agencies working independently but toward the same goal, and so much more. We are taken into meetings of planning and layers of deception among friends and allies that made perfect sense and left me hopeful and cautious toward our international future. There is so much more here than just an assassination plot or just another WWII story. I wish all of history could be presented and reviewed in the way this book is constructed - then we might not be so certain to repeat mistakes of the past.

This is not an easy read. The Critic's Daughter lets us know right away, and continually, that she is carrying the baggage of her eccentric father and her emotionally distant mother, and we will be joining her on her journey of recovery. At times it reads like a journal and at other times it seems to be an academic study her father's writing. We were able to accompany the author through her childhood in New York around her parents well-placed and famous friends. There seemed to be a lot of name-dropping - some of the names I knew and others I did not - and I was at times lost as to how impressed I was supposed to be; but on a kinder note, it was her childhood. Much of the book felt overly intellectualized and academic, but much of their life seemed overly intellectualized and academic. I hope the author has found the healing she seemed to be seeking through sharing and exploring her life and relationships in this way. If you grew up in New York or are actively involved academically in theatre and/or literature, or you are familiar with Richard Gilman's work, you will enjoy this look into their private world. If you are not already familiar with Richard Gilman, you may not enjoy the book.

This book will linger with me for a long time. The issues that this books touches are timely and heartbreaking. Anna struggles with who she is, where she is from and who she will become - while trying to understand who others want her to be. Then she is thrown into an alarming and frightening situation in an environment where she should have been safe. The situations in this book mirror life so closely that it is an addictive read at the same time that it makes us uncomfortable and aware of dangers and attitudes in the world we live in. The author's notes read like a continuation of the story and a call for advocacy. I will recommend this book for book clubs and all women.

It is not often that you find a book that wraps so many varied personalities and motivations into a compelling mystery of discovery and self-discovery. I had a difficult time getting into this book because I felt the frustrations of the characters in a very real way - the sign of a gifted writer who can pull us into relationship with characters that do not appear to have anything likable about them. By the end of the book I understood them and I liked them for who they were. This is a beautiful and frightening, personal look into the birth of Communism and the history of a nation that is a mystery to most Americans - many of which who have fallen for the propaganda. It shows us the lives of the people and how they suffered, and how they loved, and how they triumphed.

I was drawn to this book because the idea of Jackie reminded me of my mother, who was enamored by all things Jackie - and this book did not disappoint in giving us a glimpse into her world as a young woman attempting to find her place. Knowing how the public parts of her life played out, and seen through the eyes of Lem in those early years, gave the book a melancholy feeling. I don't feel that it is a spoiler to say that none of this ends well - from a dynamic young woman marrying into family of power, scandal and moral ambiguity, to Lem spending his life in the secret and in the shadow of larger than life friends. This is a good read, skillfully developed and masterfully woven - but I would not advise anyone to pick it up as a story of Jackie. It is the story of Lem as he facilitates the pursuit of a future first-lady on behalf of his idol.

Nan Fischer did an excellent job of introducing every character and pulling me into their story. Sometimes I loved them, and sometimes I wanted to shake them senseless - but the point is, through the entire book, I was engaged. I picked the book up and didn't want to put it down; as I went through my day, I was continually plotting how and when I could get back to it.

Let me say what this book is not: It is not light reading for the beach or plane. It is a well thought out narrative of often eccentric characters living and expressing and muddling through. Though happening on both the West and East coasts, there is definitely a New York rhythm and cadence to the book. You may begin wondering how it all fits together, and then you appreciate the art of choosing and living and caring and care giving.

I have to admit, it took me a while to pick up this book. I chose it but then I became anxious about what I might read. it is not my usual genre and I was afraid I could not relate or would be overwhelmed with sadness. Instead it felt as though I was on a weekend retreat with a friend I had lost touched with years before, where I can be encouraged and uplifted by her self-awareness, confidence and vulnerabilities as she leisurely tells me of her experiences while we share a cocktail. Ms. West has given us a beautiful insight into her life, loves and experiences, and has gifted us with a relatable memoir regardless of our own experience - and the last pages felt like the good-bye hug that says, "Even if our paths don't cross again, you've got this, and I will miss you."

I had never heard of Belle de Costa Greene. I knew of the JP Morgan Library, but I had no idea of the woman behind library or her fascinating story. It is so appropriately a book for our time - spanning the time from the Civil War to the 1940's, as they enveloped the story of Belle's parents and how she came to live the secret life she chose. I enjoyed this book and recommend to everyone who loves art and literature, as well as social challenges and changes.

I found myself engaged with the characters and drawn into this family's story immediately. Each of the four main characters has a life and perspective of their own, and draws you in to care about how they feel and how they grow. it is a story of siblings at the core, but it gives the reader the opportunity reflect on their own family history and perhaps how they would respond or react in the same situation. This is an excellent Book Club choice, providing great opportunity for discussion.

Susan Meisner has introduced us to a family, and most specifically, a young woman, to whom we can relate and empathize with her desires to find a true friend, fit in and be her real self. Along the way we are introduced to atrocities that have gone wholly unrecognized by our society and authors of hundreds of other books dealing with WWII. Thank you, Ms Meisner, for giving us a fresh voice and new understanding of what it was like to be a German American during this dark time in our world.

I found this to be a very enjoyable and thought provoking historic fiction. I was unaware of the happenings and social conditions in the early 1900's in New York/New Jersey. The book was informative and the characters were engaging and interesting. I have recommended this book to others and they, too, are enjoying it.

From the prologue to the last page, this book takes us on an enjoyable yet thought provoking ride through a not so very distant England. We have the opportunity to explores the nobles, the royals and the not so honorable that keep the system working. I enjoyed the characters developing as the story unfolded - this added to the twists and surprises we found along the way. If you enjoy historic fiction, particularly within the backdrop of old England, this is an honest look at human nature, from its highest noble intents to its seediest nature - at times wrapped within the same fragile shell.

The villains of the 21st Century novels have become the hidden in plain sight community, replacing Nazis and Russians. The Canadian setting added an additional element. I don't believe I have read a novel set in Canada before. I found the characters to be one dimensional and predictable: the persecuted, conflicted and lonely hero, the misunderstood heroine, and the handsome charismatic villain. Overall it is a thought provoking book and an introduction to a culture that is currently much discussed.