Algeria's violent and bloody 8-year war for independence from France began in 1954. Native Algerians were just as much French citizens as people born in France, and, as such, were allowed to choose to live in France. Algerians who did so, called pieds noirs, were ultimately welcome in neither country after the war.

In This Strange Eventful History, Gaston and Lucienne Cassar struggle to find a place that they can call home and raise their children in the aftermath of Algerian independence. Claire Messud follows three generations of Cassar descendents over 70 years and to places as far flung as Argentina and Australia. Messud's rich, in-depth descriptions of the struggles, successes and failures of family members makes this not a quick read but is testament to her extraordinary talent. The theme of home and what it means to have no place to truly call home should be of interest to book clubs who members are prepared for the extra effort this 400 page saga may require.

Alex Dean experiences atemporal consciousness, "detethered from the ordinary passage of time," also known as time traveling. But so frequent are the time switches in The Day Tripper that early on I found myself quite frustrated, confused and wondering if I would even make it to the end of the book. The premise is interesting and the story actually well written save for the dizzying time switches throughout. The last 50 pages or so is like coming out of a dense forest into the light, answers a lot of questions and provides some welcome redemption to Alex Dean, an unlikeable, self-destructive character through most of the book. The Day Tripper is a complicated story that requires much patience to finish. I am happy I stuck with it but I can only recommend it to true fans of the genre.

Carl Safina's rescue and rehab of a tiny injured screech owl near his Long Island home is a heart-warming story of dedication, perseverance and ultimate success. My enjoyment of Alfie's story, however, was diminished by the author's "philosophical musings" (Publishers Weekly) which are many, often lengthy and clearly reflect Safina's extensive knowledge of the deep historical and philosophical connections between man and nature. But the very frequent switching from Alfie's story to these musings was distracting to the continuity of the story, so much so that this reader sometimes skipped over them. I recommend this book to readers who are interested in a beautiful story as well as a seriously deep dive into the myriad aspects of natural history.

Victor Chin is a child when his father takes him and his older brother from China to live in the Bronx in the fifties in search of a better life. But the discrimination Victor suffers because of his nationality pales in comparison to the ostracism and stigma he and his father fear when Victor is diagnosed with the little understood Hansen's disease. When Victor is sent as a teenager to the Carville National Leprosarium in Louisiana for treatment, he discovers that Hansen's is no longer a secret to be kept since everyone there has or had the disease. The author goes into great detail about the treatments available at the time and the suffering and setbacks endured by the patients, some of whom are cured, some not.

Although fiction, this coming-of-age novel sheds light on the reality of dealing with a rare, debilitating and feared disease. It is dedicated to the author's father, who was a patient at Carville, where there is today a museum of artifacts on the grounds of the now closed leprosarium near New Orleans. I highly recommend this very well-written story to book clubs as well as YA readers. A worthy nonfiction companion read is the memoir, In the Sanctuary of Outcasts by Neil White (2010).

Although a major theme of The Gifts is storytelling, to me the story actually gets off to a slow, even confusing start. But the reader who sticks with it will not be disappointed! Four talented, determined, intelligent women, way ahead of their time, eventually team up in 1840s London to right a terrible wrong being perpetrated by a surgeon blinded by greed and fame. He discovers a woman with huge wings on her shoulders (a "fallen angel" perhaps) and sees only the acclaim and fortune that he will enjoy when he reveals her to the world. Character development is rich and the descriptions of nature throughout add much to the story. The ending is brilliantly constructed and immensely satisfying. The Gifts should be a big hit with book clubs. I absolutely loved it. Just have a little patience at the beginning!

When Margot Thornsen "slips the leash" and goes off to college, she is on a mission to make up for the independence she has been denied all her life by her constantly critical, overbearing, meddlesome, alcoholic mother who has no goal for her daughter other than that she marry well and soon. But without a solid foundation and with extremely low self esteem, Margot makes bad even disastrous decisions and choices at every turn. Although Margot attends Radcliffe during the free-wheeling 1960s, the many descriptions of drug use and casual sex are excessive in my opinion and detract from the story. The long description of Margot's early life among her dysfunctional family makes the first third of the book a slow go. Character development is adequate but I hoped Margot would eventually learn from her many missteps and her new environment, giving reason to be optimistic about her future. I found the ending disappointing, although as a previous reviewer has suggested, perhaps the author is considering a sequel.

The narrator of The God of Endings is a vampire whose immortality is bestowed on her at age 10 by her grandfather. Anna is never comfortable in the role and uses her superhuman powers only reluctantly and to benefit the humans who befriend and help her. To the author's credit, gory description of vampiring is kept to a minimum and nothing is lost there. (At times I almost forgot that Anna is a vampire.) More important and beautifully described are Anna's agonizing interactions with humans of all ages, over centuries, whom she longs to love and connect with but will not allow herself to.

Jacqueline Holland's debut novel is 464 pages of beautiful prose, a compelling story of longing for the unattainable, and a shocking but satisfying ending. Throughout the story, the author demonstrates a deep knowledge of art and uses it to great effect with Anna and especially with her 6 year old student Leo, a gifted but troubled child who changes the course of Anna's existence. I will look forward to Holland's future work as her talents are remarkable.

Although a very quick read, even at 307 pages, Flesh & Blood leaves the reader with much to ponder beyond the last page. After three miscarriages and a hysterectomy followed by a relapse, N. West Moss struggles to adjust to the reality of infertility. The descriptions of what she suffers physically along the way are very graphic, not to sensationalize but to shine a light on what actually happens to many women but is seldom discussed. Her healing and eventual acceptance take many forms and lead Moss to uncover much about her mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, even as she contemplates being the end of their lineage. Moss' self-deprecating humor, droll wit and positive attitude make this ultimately an uplifting memoir. On a personal note, I had to have a hysterectomy years ago, three years before I married. Moss' journey, so honestly and poignantly shared, is unlike anything I've ever read before on the subject. I believe it will resonate with many other women as well.

At the Chinese Table is an amazingly detailed and enlightening romp of a memoir. Carolyn Phillips takes the reader through her first few very rocky years in Taiwan and mainland China as she struggles to decide whether her pursuit of linguistic fluency there is even worth the effort. Clearly it is (helped along by her "ever-hungry" Chinese boyfriend, now husband) and in fact she eventually becomes a world renowned expert on Chinese cuisine. Phillips' descriptions of dishes and meals are incredibly detailed and specific and she has an amazing culinary vocabulary with which to educate the reader. I found the 22 recipes, appropriately interspersed throughout the book, actually tempting to try, thanks to Phillips' suggestions of ingredient substitutions for American cooks who lack access to an authentic Chinese grocery. The Glossary and Basic Recipes section at the end is also very useful. At the Chinese Table is probably the best memoir I have ever read. Plus, this book arrived right after I had just finished reading Edward Rutherfurd's incredible 750 page China. A perfect pairing of new releases! Book clubs should enjoy reading At the Chinese Table and then sampling some of the authentic, accessible recipes. The author's own illustrations throughout the book are also quite good. All told, an excellent effort. Much more than just a memoir. I highly recommend this book.

Comedy and grief are perhaps surprising dual themes in a novel, but Julietta Henderson uses the two to weave a riotously delightful read in her debut novel, The Funny Thing about Norman Foreman. Twelve year old Norman and his single-mom, Sadie, are narrators who take the reader along on a car trip through Scotland, with their 80 year old friend, Leonard, a trip that has disaster written all over it from the outset. The twin goals of the trip are to find Norman's biological father, one of four former acquaintances of Sadie, and to allow Norman, an aspiring but not funny comedian, to fulfill his dream of performing his comedy routine at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to honor his recently deceased best friend, Jax, who indeed had real comedic talent. The author's insanely creative imagination (The Caramel Suite at the Soft Fudge Inn?!) and the cast of oddball, sometimes scary but lovable characters the trio meet along the way combine to provide an unforgettable and heartwarming ending. I laughed, I cried and I felt as if I were right there through all the zigs and zags of this amazing adventure. This is an uplifting and optimistic read for the times we are in. Book clubs and everyone else should enjoy it.

The Fortunate Ones could be summed up with several platitudes. "Be careful what you wish for. All that glitters is not gold. The grass is always greener on the other side." But Ed Tarkington's tale of the haves and the have nots of Nashville is a deep dive into the sobering reality of wanting and trying to be what one is not. Teenager Charlie Boykin walks that tightrope in an elite private school where his admission is thanks to the generosity of wealthy donors. Charlie's assigned big brother, Arch Creigh, football standout, opens all the doors into Charlie's new world. But even as Charlie learns the ropes of his new privileged life, the secrets and flaws of his new friends emerge, including of his mentor, Arch. Disillusioned and torn between going along and distancing himself from the pull of what he knows is wrong, Charlie struggles with the moral choices he faces. Tarkington, with Charlie as narrator, paints a remarkably touching and realistic picture of the angst experienced by someone suddenly pulled from poor to privileged, while trying not to lose oneself in the process. Tarkington writes a cautionary and thoughtful tale for anyone who has wondered what it would be like to live the high life. The Fortunate Ones has huge book club potential.

For lovers of historical fiction and avid followers of British royalty (yes, me on both counts), The Woman before Wallis does not disappoint. With some similarities to the recent courtship of American divorcée Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, the story of Thelma Morgan's marriage into British aristocracy and the often difficult adjustments expected of her is a page turner that is hard to put down. Add to that the very public, tabloid worthy problems of her famous twin sister, Gloria Vanderbilt, and The Woman before Wallis is a fascinating romp in high society, British and American, in the 1920s and 30s. While most people know the love story of Wallis Warfield Simpson and Edward, Prince of Wales, many readers, myself included, may have little prior knowledge of the very influential woman in Edward's life before Wallis. This novel is beautifully written, superbly researched, an immensely satisfying 400 pages and should be a big hit with book clubs. And for what's it's worth, the cover art is just beautiful and perfect for this story!

Unfathomable loss, regret, remorse and longing have left indelible marks on Camille, Jean-Paul, Guillaume and Souren but in 1927 Paris, they strive ceaselessly to find what eludes them and will seemingly make them whole. Cameos by Ernest Hemingway, Marcel Proust, Gertrude Stein and other luminaries of postwar Paris add authenticity to the story and time. In the masterfully conceived penultimate and longest chapter, the paths of the four main characters come crashing together in shocking fashion, so shocking and unexpected that I reread the chapter. The Paris Hours is a gripping tale of four immensely sympathetic characters and their harrowing stories that I won't soon forget. I don't reread fiction but I may well reread this. I highly recommend this book and I also think it would make an excellent book club selection.