Ghost Season: A Novel
by Fatin Abbas
Ghost season (12/21/2022)
One is drawn into the intense situation of the South Sudanese translator, the American film maker and the locals. This is a true to life story involving the plight of the people in this explosive territory. The false sense of being safe in the NGO compound is confronted by a mysterious find at the start of this book. Then confusion, love, fear, compassion takes you to an unexpected place.
The friendships, individual personalities, rescue and terror was very real to me as a reader.
Flesh & Blood: Reflections on Infertility, Family, and Creating a Bountiful Life: A Memoir
by N. West Moss
Being a woman (9/15/2021)
Direct and to the point. I loved the snippets of what was going on in her life. Married late in life. A caring, terrific Mother came to her rescue. The emotional and physical challenges that she experienced. I felt like I was with her throughout the book. I felt that I knew these people were part of my life.
Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After
by Heather Harpham
A fly on the wall (7/5/2017)
I loved this book. I felt like I was right there with all of the interesting family & friends. Life took Heather in many directions through every emotion that one can imagine. Support of family & friends was amazing. Most of all her, then their faithful risks kept me in suspense. Terrific writing Heather thanks for sharing.
The Drowning Guard: A Novel of the Ottoman Empire
by Linda Lafferty
The Drowning Guard (8/29/2013)
The Ottoman Empire is not a time that I have much knowledge of. Reading this brought me back to a trip to Istanbul 15 years ago. Topkapi Palace was one of the tourist stops brimming with opulence.
The description of how the Sultans were raised as children gives clues of what they become as adults. In this place where one must become a Muslim the majority of the slaves, soldiers, eunuchs and others who serve the Sultan's family were raised as Christians. Can a person truly rid themselves of their past?
What could Esma, a very early feminist and sister to the Sultan, and Ahmed the Drowning Guard have in common? By killing her Christian lovers is she as evil as the Sultan?
I was delighted by the authors weaving together of pride, history, love, religion, pain and respect that emerged into a story that will be with me for a long time.
Peking to Paris: Life and Love on a Short Drive Around Half the World
by Dina Bennett
A saggy trunk (4/24/2013)
Dina sets forth in an adventure that changed her life in ways that she never would have expected. The first challenge was Roxanne, the car that would take them from Peking to Paris. Dina initially sat back & let husband Bernard take charge of getting Roxanne road ready.
Dina was the navigator that couldn't mean much. The story was more about Dina's opening up and seeing the world, fast lanes, letting loose & new friendships like never before.
This isn't what I would call a Travel Guide it is about weather, car repairs (or not). Maybe a Rally Guide for the new navigator. An O.K. read.