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Reviews by Cathryn Conroy

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The Good Daughters: A Novel
by Joyce Maynard

Imaginative and Well-Written Novel with a Plot Secret That Will Absolutely Captivate You (4/17/2023)

This book is not a page-turner. It is not filled with suspense. There is very little literary tension. Instead, there is an undercurrent—one that is so subtle at first that it's barely discernible but eventually grows in power — so much so that when the substance and the …more

Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Isaac Woodard and the Awakening of President Harry S. Truman and Judge J. Waties Waring
by Richard Gergel

The Incredible Story of Two Men Who Changed the Course of History for All Black Americans (4/17/2023)

Sometimes history really is shaped by a single man. Or, in this case, two men. Two very different men. They both hailed from South Carolina, although they lived in different worlds. But eventually it was because of them that the Supreme Court ruled that segregated public …more schools are unconstitutional—and neither of them had anything to do with the 1954 case of Brown vs. the Board of Education.

Written by Richard Gergel, a South Carolina attorney and U.S. District Court judge, this book is an imminently readable slice of history you probably never knew.

What happened first: In February 1946, just three hours after Sgt. Isaac Woodard was discharged from the Army following heroic service in World War II, he was traveling home in uniform on a Greyhound bus to Winnsboro, South Carolina when he had a minor dispute with the driver. The driver kicked him off the bus and into the arms of a Batesburg, South Carolina cop, who proceeded to beat Woodard with his blackjack, blinding him in both eyes. There were many violent acts against Blacks occurring all over the South at that time, but Woodard was unusual in that he lived through it. His case made the national news, thanks to Orson Welles's radio show. Public opinion demanded that the police officer, Lynwood Shull, be tried.

What happened next: President Harry S Truman was appalled by what happened, and his actions—based almost solely on hearing about Isaac Woodard—changed the course of American history by beginning the civil rights movement.

What happened after that: Enter Judge J. Waties Waring, a Charleston blueblood, who was asked to serve as the judge for Shull's trial. Not surprisingly, the all-white jury found Shull not guilty. Quite surprisingly, Judge Waring was deeply affected by Woodard's story, and it dramatically changed his views on race. And then the good judge proceeded to influence equally dramatic changes in the laws of our land. The personal attacks and violence he endured were horrifying, but the support he received from unexpected sources was truly gratifying.

If you ever think that one person cannot make that much of a difference, then read this book to find out how Judge Waring daringly risked everything he held dear in his life to make life better for Black Americans. It's quite a story!

Caution: The description of the beating of Isaac Woodard is quite graphic, as it had to be to fully explain what happened. (less)

The Jesus Cow
by Michael Perry

An Amusing Story and a Fun Read—Even Though the Plot Is Totally Predictable (4/17/2023)

In a modest barn in small-town, Wisconsin, a calf is born on Christmas Eve, and instead of the usual spots, it has the unmistakable image of Jesus Christ on its flank to which the farmer said, "Well, that's trouble." Indeed.

Harley Jackson is a quiet, unassuming man living …more

The Nickel Boys
by Colson Whitehead

Read It! Gripping Plot, Vibrant Characters and an Astonishing Ending That Will Take Your Breath Away (4/17/2023)

This book made me weep. This book made me angry. This book made me frustrated. This book broke my heart. This book is also a literary masterpiece with a formidable and vital story to tell.

Expertly written by Colson Whitehead, this is the story of Elwood Curtis, a black …more

The Dry Grass of August
by Anna Jean Mayhew

Unputdownable! A Riveting Snapshot in Time of August 1954 on the Cusp of the Civil Rights Movement (4/17/2023)

There is only one way to describe this book: Unputdownable. As in, once you start reading, you really will not be able to stop.

Written by Anna Jean Mayhew, this is a snapshot of August 1954 in the deep South, three months after the Supreme Court ruled to integrated public …more

All Adults Here
by Emma Straub

Breezy, Easy Read, But It's Like Eating Cake for Dinner—Fun and Sweet, But Ultimately Not Fulfilling (4/17/2023)

This is a book about family. And friends. And lovers. It's a book about the choices we make and the choices that are seemingly thrust upon us—for better or worse. It is a book about the human condition.

Written by Emma Straub, this is the story of the Strick family who live …more

Our Souls at Night
by Kent Haruf

A Treasure of a Book, a True Gem of the Literary World (4/17/2023)

This is a treasure, a true gem of the literary world. It's short, sweet, and absolutely beautiful.

Addie Moore has been widowed for many years. So has her neighbor, Louis Waters, whom Addie knows more as an acquaintance than a friend. One day, Addie does something that some …more

Ten Thousand Saints: A Novel
by Eleanor Henderson

A Depressing Tale That Is Deeply Sorrowful. If You Can Survive the Darkness, the End Is Worth It (4/17/2023)

Oh, this is a depressing book. Melancholy. Tragic. And bleak. The story will grab some dark place of your soul and not let go. Eventually, there is hope and redemption, but it is a deeply sorrowful read to get to that point.

That said, it really is an extraordinary book.

…more

If You Leave Me
by Crystal Hana Kim

Don't Judge a Book by Its Title: It Sounds Like ChickLit, But It's a Multilayered Historical Novel (4/17/2023)

You can't judge a book by its title. This book may sound like the ultimate ChickLit, but it's not.

Yes, at its core, it is a love story, but that love story is a tightly woven, multilayered historical novel beginning in 1951 during the Korean War and continuing through …more

Red at the Bone
by Jacqueline Woodson

This Novel Is Nearly Perfect! The Lyrical Prose Transforms a Simple Story into a Masterpiece (4/17/2023)

Oh, this book! And it's all because of the writing. Exquisite. Eloquent. Exceptional. This stunningly beautiful novel is very short, but I found myself taking longer to read it than the page count would indicate simply because I reread so many (many!) passages just to savor …more

A Fatal Grace: Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, #2
by Louise Penny

A Literary Murder Mystery: Compelling Whodunit Plot That Is Perceptive and Smart (4/17/2023)

I am smitten with Louise Penny. And that's saying a lot because I am not enamored of murder mysteries. But her mysteries are another thing all together. Her books are expertly written with not only a compelling whodunit plot, but also extraordinary, entirely human …more

Squeezed: Why Our Families Can't Afford America
by Alissa Quart

This Book Is Shocking, Heartbreaking, and an Absolute Must-Read for Everyone (4/17/2023)

This book had me riveted. It's the rarest of nonfiction tomes in that I couldn't stop reading. Just a few more pages…just a few more pages.

That said, it is emotionally exhausting to read. Even if you yourself are not financially squeezed, chances are pretty good you know …more

Caleb's Crossing: A Novel
by Geraldine Brooks

An Extraordinary Book and Writing Achievement: I Loved It, But I Know It's Not for Everyone (4/17/2023)

This is a very special book. And while I absolutely loved it, I know it's not for everyone.

Written by Pulitzer Prize-winner Geraldine Brooks, the story takes place in the mid-1600s in Massachusetts in Cambridge and on what we now know as Martha's Vineyard. Bethia Mayfield …more

The Expectations
by Alexander Tilney

Lots of White Male Privilege to Wade Through, But It's Also a Tender Story About Adolescence (4/17/2023)

This is a book that is steeped in white male privilege…and the white male who has all this privilege is only 14 years old. But that is the point. Ben, the privileged white teenager, is coming into his first realization of who he is, all he has, and all he could lose.

…more

Eden Mine
by S. M. Hulse

This Book Is Genius. A Multilayered Psychological Novel That Will Leave You Reeling (4/17/2023)

This book. This book is gripping. This book is provocative. This book is haunting. This book is intense. This book is genius.

Written by S.M. Hulse, this masterpiece novel takes place in the tiny mountain town of Prospect, Montana. The two mines that once offered employment …more

The Rules of Magic
by Alice Hoffman

I Was Bewitched! A Delightful and Richly Imagined Tale with Just a Sprinkle of Magic (4/16/2023)

What a delightful and richly imaginative book! Author Alice Hoffman has perfected the genre of magical realism, telling tales that are captivating and intelligent with just a sprinkle of magic.

This is the first of a three-book series, and while it's not as strong as other …more

Gilead: A Novel
by Marilynne Robinson

Read This Book Because It's a Literary Masterpiece, But Don't Expect a Pager-Turner of a Story (4/16/2023)

This is a short novel that is eloquently written, but it's a very slow, almost abstract read. It is a deeply profound and philosophical book that tackles the big questions, such as the meaning of life, the importance of love and family, the significance of God, the impact …more

The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court
by Jeffrey Toobin

A Highly Readable (Translation: No Law Degree Needed) and Fascinating Inside Look at the Supremes (4/16/2023)

Typically, we learn a lot about and frequently see in the news Supreme Court justices only when they are nominated and subsequently confirmed by the Senate after a series of hearings, some of which can be quite confrontational and even belligerent. Then they seemingly …more

The Vanishing Half: A Novel
by Brit Bennett

A Richly Imagined Story That Is a Brilliant Reflection on Race, Racism, and the Essence of Identity (4/16/2023)

Who are you…really? And can you ever escape your past to create a completely different future? When do lies become the truth? These are the central questions that gently guide the characters and plot of this engaging book by Brit Bennett.

Desiree and Stella are identical …more

Stories from Suffragette City
by M.J. Rose, Fiona Davis

A Highly Creative and Original Short Story Collection: A Literary Celebration of Women's Suffrage (4/16/2023)

This is a highly creative and original collection of short stories celebrating the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote in the United States.

Written by a celebrity lineup of some of our country's best living writers—Paula McLain, Christina Baker Kline, Jamie Ford, …more

BookBrowse Book Club

The Jackal's Mistress
by Chris Bohjalian

From the New York Times bestselling author of Hour of the Witch, a Civil War love story of a Confederate wife and a wounded Yankee.

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A Map to Paradise
by Susan Meissner

From the USA Today bestselling author of Only the Beautiful. 1956, Malibu, California: Something is not right on Paradise Circle.

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The Husbands
by Holly Gramazio

The Husbands delights in asking: how do we navigate life, love, and choice in a world of never-ending options?

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Becoming Madam Secretary
by Stephanie Dray

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Dray returns with a captivating novel about an American heroine France Perkins—now in paperback!

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