The Day Tripper by James Goodhand is a novel showing how events in the main character's life are responsible for other future events, and how these events can be altered by time travel. Most of us at some point have thought "What if I had done something differently." This story shows how cause and effect in our daily life influences us to be a better person.
I really enjoyed this book and plan to re-read it. I liked the fast pace and little jewels of thought such as "The worse our enemies can do is to turn us into them."
Fans of Quantum Leap and The Twilight Zone would be impressed with this story. I recommend this book for group discussions for others who think about free will, change, and commitment to making a difference.

Part of this book is about the rescue of Alfie, a baby owl and the relationship with the author. Unfortunately, the main theme is about the ills of humanity caused by Western philosophy & religion. How our minds and values have been negatively influenced was discussed ad nauseam, leaving little room for the story of Alfie.
Although, I agree with the author on the fragility of human existence, I was not expecting a story on an orphaned owl to include everything from Schrödinger Cat to John Coltrane. I should have guessed 16 pages of references and a bibliography could not all be about owls.
This book was not for me. I only finished it because I agreed to write a review.

When I finished this book, I immediately wanted to start it over again. Just as the characters, I too wanted to stay on Apple Island. Paul Harding's telling of a tragic tale with such beauty that I re-read sections to savor. The interaction of an older man and young boy cutting down a white pine to build a home was my favorite passage.

What happens to this very home and the people of Apple Island is based on MalagaI Island in Maine of 1912. I knew nothing of this shameful and ignored history. Therefore, this book was a catalyst for me to research the setting.

I highly recommend this book. It's small in number of pages but large in imparting emotions of grief, empathy, and love.

This is a story of a clever charade between a journalist seeking revenge by exposing a con artist. I found my loyalty alternating between characters as my perspective shifted. Is a partial truth a lie?

What I enjoyed most was the insight into what makes a con work. How studying her marks thoroughly she drew them in by building trust. Using manipulation and deception a seemingly smart person can be tricked.

I recommend this suspenseful thriller that will hold your interest to the surprised ending. It will make you question, is doing the wrong thing for the "right" reason, OK? The Lies I Tell is sure to be a great beach read this summer.

This novel traces the lives of nine women from 1866 to present day. It shows their struggles to survive under difficult circumstances. Due to the short length of this novel, I felt the characters were not fully developed. I wanted to know each one a little more. The interwoven storylines of various characters reveals the complex perspective of immigration status in America. Some came as political asylum seekers, others because of social upheaval. An important message in this story is how political and social conditions determine the fate of powerless people. Because this story calls our attention to current issues of immigration, I recommend reading Enrique's Journey the non-fiction by Sonia Nazario.

Remembrance by Rita Woods, the historical fiction exposing the human conditions of slavery in America, tells the story of four women. Set over the course of time from 1791 to current day, from Haiti and New Orleans to Cleveland, the characters learn the Art of listening to the spirits of their ancestors. Each one has an ancient spiritual gift that gives value to her life and the destiny of her people. The lives of these characters are woven together like a tight cornrow braid, starting at the roots with Abigail a Haitian slave brought to America. But, can a series of events in the Mystical Sanctuary of Remembrance unravel this inviolable weave?

The strong points of this story are the portrayal of the humanity of enslaved people. A story of hope, faith and redemption. Compared to the works of Toni Morrison, I felt the lack of rhythm in the narrative made the flow, of a very important message, difficult to become fully immersed in.

I am currently reading The Water Dancer by Ta Nehisi Coates, so I would definitely add Remembrance to your list of books with this theme of a world between worlds where magical forces overcome a reality of inhumanity and brutality.

A 70 year old anthropologist takes her family on a quest to dig thru her past by reenacting an event that changed her life. Will finding the truth be for the better or worse? "Perhaps it's better not to know."
I found the idea of the story interesting; the overall theme of finding or not finding the truth to bring closure. But, I would not recommend this book.
The number of characters were confusing, giving the main character two names, and the flash back characters were not fully developed.
I found the ending disappointing. Did we really know the truth? Or, "She believes the imagination is the truth."

This moving tale about the inter connectedness of familial bonds and how one's life can be altered by the decisions of those closest to us, is an excellent choice for book clubs. Use of multiple narratives revealed the characters qualities of devotion, fear, aspiration, and betrayal, allowing me to develop a relationship with each one. Details of their everyday life transported me into their world of rural Trinidad, a setting that directly impacted the story. I recommend this intense story that will stay in your head long after the book is done.

Willa Drake's ordinary life is challenged when she responds to a frantic call from a stranger demanding that she fly cross country to care for a nine-year old girl whoes mother is the victim of a gun shot wound. Not having ever met the mother or child, Willa moves into a community not at all like her own. I found the eclectic neighbors interesting as Willa is transformed by her ordeal. Although, at times Willa's co-dependency and need to please others is overwrought , I enjoyed the dynamics of the characters relationships with one another . Their acts of kindness and trust as well as jealousy and betrayal answered the big question, "What do you live for Willa?"

Clock Dance is a story of "family" and a woman yearning for something more as she gives her all to others.