FOLLOW THE STARS HOME is the fictional rendition of real events in 1811-1812. Lydia and Ben Roosevelt embark on an historical journey in the first steamboat to travel the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers from Pittsburgh to New Orleans. Lydia is a woman before her time, beginning this journey with her husband and young daughter and 8 months pregnant. The journey is riddled with dangers and potential catastrophes that could end the journey and their lives. I enjoyed the description of the steamboat and how it worked, the scenery, and potential dangers related to finding food, fuel, navigating dangerous or low waters. The politics and family issues were brought into the story much too often. I found the description of the earthquake a bit overdone. It almost seemed unbelievable and maybe it it would be if I were on a steamboat and had no idea what was happening. I suppose it would feel surreal. I knew nothing about this New Madrid Earthquake and found that very interesting. I especially enjoyed the historical aspects of this book.

Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical before I started reading. I don't enjoy fantasy and no doubt this book has some of that! However, I am a lover of animals, especially horses, and I was rooting for Pony to be reunited with Penny. While on the surface Pony Confidential appears to be a simple book, there are serious issues. I had a beloved dog as a child and without going into it, the dog died tragically and I was heart-broken. I still think about that dog to this day. Some people under-estimate the bonds children can develop with pets. I believe it goes both ways. Read this book, enjoy your pets, and treat people and animals with care.

I wanted to quit reading this book after a chapter or two because I couldn't understand most of the story. The desolate setting of Mockbeggar, Newfoundland, as well as the numerous characters with odd names, and archaic language, made this a difficult book to read. Eventually the true (evil) character of dysfunctional siblings, Abe Strap and Window Caines, unfolds as the townspeople became collateral damage in their ongoing competition to control the commerce of the area. Anglican Beadle, the third main character, aligned himself with Abe but I hoped he would take the high road and save the village from imploding. It turns out he is perhaps the most cunning and powerful person in the village. While the book is a dark and violent, I found myself rooting for the powerless village inhabitants. The many unusual characters, disastrous weather, hunger, disease, and barbaric medical care, and a good dose of sexual innuendo kept me reading.

I am not sure I would recommend to my book club as the violence, difficult language, and large and complex cast of characters would be off putting to many. I, however, intend to read more of Michael Crummey!

I found this book shocking and horrifying, mostly because this happened in 1980's S. Korea. It is yet another instance of institutionalized human cruelty brought to light. Kim created a fictionalized account of government-established reformatories that were created to keep homeless and indigent people off the streets. These people were taken against their will and placed in institutions, in this case, "The Stone Home."

The "inmates" were mostly treated brutally, often by others like themselves who had been imprisoned for a longer term and promoted to "Keepers." Inmates were required to work in assembly lines with impossible deadlines and production quantities

Kim writes the story through the lives of a mother-daughter and a pair of brothers. A young Korean girl strives to learn the truth through Eunju years later.

This book has stuck with me after reading. It is incredible how certain people find the will and strength to survive in the face of long-term brutality, watching those who have the responsibility for oversight fail to protect them time and again.

The Korean words used throughout the book made it difficult to follow at times, and to completely understand the story. I highly recommend for books clubs, as there are endless topics for discussion. I think that many readers would find it difficult to read due to the cruelty described.

Wendy Chin-Tanner takes us on a historical journey set in the 1950s. The main character, 15-yr-old Victor, a Chinese immigrant living in the Bronx with his father and brother, contracts Hanson's Disease (leprosy). This disease carried so much shame and stigma and ultimately Victor is sent to Carville, a leprosy treatment facility in Louisiana. In the two years Victor spent in treatment at Carville, he makes friends, feels discrimination not only because of the disease, but also because of his ethnicity, and finds a new family as he undergoes treatment. He finds his talent and passion in music with support from caring adults. He feels confusion as he examines and interacts with his messy and unusual biological family from a distance through letters and phone calls.

There are so many layers in this book and much to discuss. Discussion topics could include the historical aspect of a dreaded, shameful disease, discrimination, cultural characteristics, family - both biological and and found, the angst of adolescence, and emerging stronger than you were. This would make a great book club read!

I loved this book although it was not an easy read. The story unfolds with visits to the past as we learn more about the cast of characters, family history, conflicts, and clues concerning the rumored inheritance. The descriptions of the scenery, animals, and touches of mysticism were so beautiful that I made myself slow down and imagine being there. I was particularly intrigued as I tried to visualize the remote family compound in the Colorado wilderness. Character development of siblings Bowman and Summer was revealed bit by bit with flashbacks and side stories as they learned the details, potential dangers, and emotional conflicts associated with the financial legacy left to them. Now I have to read "Bearskin." I hope there is a sequel...

When Alice landed in New Jessup, Alabama, early in the civil rights movement, it was the result of circumstance, rather than intention. In New Jessup, Alice found an all black community, which separated itself from white Jessup. This was a view of segregation I was not familiar with and didn't know existed. However, after falling in love with Raymond Campbell, she came to understand the undercurrent of segregation that existed in white/black New Jessup. The book describes the personal struggles involved in choosing a future for the black community. Was "separate but equal" a possibility or was it best to demand change and equality? I found Alice's quest for her missing sister a rather awkward distraction from the story. I kept expecting something terrible or a happy ending for her sister. But perhaps that is another story? I think this book would make a great book club discussion as this aspect of segregation has not been widely discussed.

There is so much I learned from this multi-generational story but mostly it portrays resilience during periods of war, poverty, betrayal and loss for the Dao family as they are forced to start over numerous times. Meilin is the main character and mother to Renshu (Henry, his American name). It is a story of immigrants and the enormous loyalties to family and history. I learned so much about the displacement of Chinese to Taiwan and other places and the struggles of these immigrants to adjust and belong in a new culture. This would make a great book club discussion and help us all understand what it means to be an immigrant and suffer the loss of one's cultural identity.

Emily has struggled with finding inner peace in her life because her brother, Stephen, is homeless since his release from prison 15 years ago. When she finally finds him and invites him to her home, the past is slowly revealed. They once shared a happy, supportive family but due to choices made by their mother, the family gradually erodes. Stephen has had a lifelong affection for birds and wildlife and the story culminates in a journey Stephen and Emily take together to realize a dream they had as children. This trip becomes the impetus to reveal the painful secret no one has dared talk about. Life comes full circle as Emily, Stephen, and mom and dad struggle with real and honest conversations that reveal why Stephen went to prison. Excellent topics for book clubs and anyone trying to heal broken relationships.

This book had me from the start as I wasn't sure if the disappearance of Rae's mother was the result of a crime or something else entirely...I was hoping Rae wasn't responsible. The details are revealed through Rae's interactions with Lettie, the odd neighbor living next door, and her daily excursions with Splinter, her dog, and constant companion. Thank goodness for the devotion of our beloved pets and the concern of neighbors, to dig at the truth. It is also a lesson in knowing when to intervene when something just doesn't seem right.

I was expecting a classic story about a family dealing with the harsh diagnosis of Alzheimer's. While Spence's early diagnosis of this terrible disease is the focus, we also learn that this outwardly successful family has lots of dysfunction. They struggle to find a place in their family for Arlo, Spence's son from a prior marriage. I found myself wanting Arlo to finally find his place in their family. We get snippets of ways in which the entire family is affected by the loss of Spence's distinguished teaching career, and how caregiving can be so challenging and depleting. The book held my attention from the beginning. I think it would make a great book club discussion.

I found myself drawn in to the mystery of the Faberge-designed Romanov tiara found in the walls of a New York apartment. The story is told in alternating chapters by mother, Sophia, and her daughter, Isobelle. This technique was effective in filling in the backstory of Sophia's life in Russia during WWII and her subsequent move to New York City with her daughter, Isobelle. Both are actually strong women, but I felt Isobelle's character was portrayed as reluctant and hesitant, despite the fact she worked as an architect (a man's occupation at the time). All-in-all, this is a good read and held my interest as the story unfolds to reveal the details.

Everyone has a story, even those nameless homeless people we like to pretend we don't see. I was drawn in to this book and Maddy's story. Her path to homelessness is probably similar to most and includes parenting failures, poverty, drug abuse and lack of a support system. I found myself wondering why anyone living on the street would not accept help or a path out. I really wanted Maddy to find her voice. This book will stick with me for a long time to come. Most of all, I want to know where Maddy is now...I wanted her to find her way out.