To say that The Secret History of the Rape Kit, A True Crime Story is captivating is to say the least. It is a revelation of how things were, and likely still are in some locations, and the importance of truly observing, listening, and taking action. Martha "Marty" Goddard suffered severely in her early years and the impact was deep, painful, with long lasting effects. She was heroic in her attempts to seek solutions and establish fair, reliable systems to identify offenders and help victims. It was a monumental effort to infiltrate the male establishment, rectify the lack of relevant public education, acquire resources, and achieve understanding of the trauma victims feel. The path was not only challenging, it reminded her on a daily basis of her own past experiences. Part 2 of the book traces Marty Goddard's lifelong struggle and her passion to expose the situation and save whomever she could with the effort. It also strikingly reveals the author, Pagan Kennedy's passion and purpose for this story being written. I highly applaud her for writing this valuable book, and for bringing this history to light. It was a real page turner and well worth the read.

Roots – family roots; Stories – family stories; Heritage, family heritage – the substance and glue of perpetuation of family tradition. How deep and how valid are those ties that bind? The Haddesley family were about to experience the shock and awe of discovery. Their homesite was in a West Virginia blueberry bog, secluded and distanced from the rest of society. They were the "guardians" of the bog. Their time was consumed with its nurturing, preservation, and their own self-tended survival. The bog had a mysterious and supernatural influence of its own. For centuries the Haddessley family, as bog custodians, ensured bog health and continuity to perpetuate the arrangement that the bog evolved a wife for the generation's eldest male. The Patriarch of the Haddessley family was Charles; the siblings were Charles (the eldest), Eda, Wenna, Percy and Nora. All, except Wenna, were dedicated to honoring the family custodial pact. Bereft after her mother's death, Wenna ventured out to discover the real world. When the father gets increasingly ill, the family calls Wenna back to be a part of their required ritual. Numerous demands and odysseys are immediately encountered. The siblings become aware of their individual differences. They discover secrets and discrepancies in what and who they thought they were. Chaos ensues. It is a page turner and hard to put down. From the curious beginning to the mystical end, you are totally captivated.

The stages I experienced in reading this book went from "resistance" to the verbiage, to "peaked interest", to "can't put this book down". The Naming Song is a tumultuous, imaginative ride through a different time, place, and meaning. Jedediah Berry's creative use of descriptive language transforms the words to a visual experience. Imagine a world where some things are named, others are not. Why? Why not? How are the names generated? Who discerns, who delivers, them? Then what? The words are truly "music" to the listeners' ears. I encourage you to immerse yourself in the experience. Totally captivating.

"The Gifts" by Liz Hyder is a mystical, tense, captivating glimpse into the lives of four women whose diverse paths or stories fatefully cross. The events occur in19th century England when women had few rights and male status and competition was supreme. "The Gifts" explores prejudices, the influence of religious beliefs when distorted, and the impact of manic greed and ego. The unfolding story is beautifully and sensitively presented - a page turner from start to end. Excellent read!

A determined mom with three very different children, two teens and a gifted younger child, decides to totally re-invent their family after a catastrophe takes her husband. From the time they make the big, poorly planned move to their Hawaiian island paradise to the blustery conclusion, you will feel compelled to turn the page, chapter to chapter. Laugh out loud instances, intrigue, mystery, and descriptive language brings it all to life. A highly enjoyable read. Kudos to Holly Goldberg Sloan on her debut novel for adults. Highly recommended.

"Moonrise Over New Jesssup " by Jamila Minnicks is an awakening to the many mindsets around the complexities of desegregation. She presents the nuances of the movement that history books fail to capture. There is drama, tension, and joy in the telling. The events gently unfold frequently with humor and poetic nuances. One tense moment was descriptively preceded with "The sky vacuumed up the air like it did before a storm". Jamila Minnicks' style and phraseology makes one feel that they are right there, present, in the heart of this family, as their lives and challenges unfold. This is a wonderful read that I highly recommend.

This book is more than just a "coming" of age story; it is also a "becoming" of who I am, or was, story (if there is such a thing), or a rebirth. When Tanner, an unsettled college drop-out, has repeated issues with her parents, she is told to leave and find her way. They help her along by connecting her with a senior who needs a caretaker. Tanner reluctantly agrees to take on the job. When Louise, a senior with issues, interviews her and somewhat reluctantly agrees to hire her. Tanner shows up for work, the sparks fly, aggravation mounts, and discovery happens. All of this leads to mystery, an adventurous get-away, pursuit by the FBI, guns, flight, and yes, even some romance along the way.

What I found most intriguing is that the main protagonist is an elderly, mobility challenged woman. It is not often that you see a senior in that role. She is the mystery, and it makes for a great read. I was reluctant to put the book down. This is the first Colleen Oakley novel that I read and I see that I may have missed some excellent opportunities that I will now seek.

“River Sing Me Home” brings to life and awareness the depth of emotions and the true impact of slavery on victims. It is a close-up experience of the despair, desperation, and, in this case, the determination of a mother to locate and retrieve her taken children, wherever they may be. Rarely is the effect of slavery on the person relayed so comprehensibly, providing the reader with a heart-wrenching dose of reality. The author, Eleanor Shearer, has provided a masterpiece that I was hard pressed to put down before completing my read. Excellent!

What a delight it was to read this book! It has it all. Jean Thompson's characters, each distinct from one another, provide an understanding of poets, poetry, the lives of artists in general. One gets a front row seat and view of the life styles, emotions, competitiveness, and quirks of this unique group of individuals. This book will motivate some readers to pursue a greater exposure to, or understanding of, poetry in general. It is all presented in the story, enmeshed in a tale of complex relationships, and laugh out loud humor. This is a read that I have truly appreciated and will recommend to as many groups and people as possible. It prompted me to read more of Jean Thompson's novels and to "follow" her.

Activities of Daily Living is a recounting of everyday experiences of a freelance writer as she pursues what she regards as projects. One of these projects is to trace the unusual and challenging career of performance artist, Tehching Hsieh, whose works are performed in segments of 12 continuous months. Simultaneously, her parent's journey through Dementia into Alzheimers becomes a concurrent project; sometimes painful and difficult to read, as she attempts to cope with the progression. This was a riveting novel about art and life, and the impact of choices and circumstance. The meticulously descriptive accounting of these ongoing events affirms the importance of one's view and use of time. A project has a beginning and an end; lives and relationships have beginnings and endings. This novel is a reminder that life is a Project, and one cannot change the past or the future, nor repeatedly ruminate over them. The reader is refocused on the importance of the present moment – all that we can truly affect. I found the book difficult to put down.

In her new book, Heartbreak, Florence Williams turns her personal heartbreak from a divorce into a pilgrimage in pursuit of discovery and healing. This remarkable journey is propelled by her desire to understand the nature of heartbreak itself. Why is her body reacting as it is? What, if any, are the tools one can use to fortify and move forward? Where and who does she need to turn to, if anyone or any place, to find the solutions? Will she ever feel pre-divorce normal again? Her path takes her on a route into the study of the science of heartbreak…yes, there is such a thing. This journey required inquisitiveness, openness, flexibility, durability, courage, and determination. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found the science behind heartbreak interesting and valuable. Heartbreak is an eye-opener, and the telling, coupled with the research information provided, can benefit a broad range of people for a wide variety of reasons.

I confess that I could only get through 200 pages of this book. I was interested in it and am in agreement with its statement on climate change and industrial abuse, but the timing for reading it is not good, at least not for me. It is a very "heavy" read and these times are "heavy" times, so perhaps that is the reason I had to stop. In the 200 pages I read, there was no joy, no comfort, no good feelings derived from the reading. I gravitated to C432 until I read of his destruction and regeneration. I almost stopped at the almost 4 pages of extinct species, but kept going because I was actually interested in the story. I applaud the author's passion around these issues, and I share some of that passion, but, at some point, everyone needs a light at the end of the tunnel. When I got to page 200 I just assessed that I'd put the book on the side and perhaps, in better social times and conditions, I might go back to it.

Curious about the name, Piranesi, I looked it up and discovered an Italian artist, Giovanni Barista Piranesi (1720-1778) whose etching were said to depict "cavernous imaginary prisons" (The Free Dictionary - Piranesi). This definition so well defined the houses that Susanna Clarke's character, Piranesi, occupies in this captivating novel. Her mastery of descriptive language brings true emotion into the consoling relationship between Piranesi and the statues. It somewhat reminded me of the relationship between Tom Hanks and the basketball in the movie, Cast Away. Within the first few chapters one can well visualize the expansiveness of the chambers of this massive labyrinth, and could be pained by the Other's control over Piranesi. Each chapter thereafter was an enlightenment regarding the ingenuity, persistence and emotional impact derived from deprivation and the struggle for survival. Piranesi is a page-turner that unwinds with a crescendo as powerful as the flood tides depicted in the book. Susanna Clarke has produced an extraordinary experience and I thank her for an enthralling read.

If you need a light, easy read, an uplift in spirit, or just a good laugh, then this book is the thing for you. It is a fast-paced unweaving of one mom's stories as her life seemingly unravels through the year, conveniently knit across seasons and the calendar. You certainly may see some of your own family's quirks and situations as her year unravels. Each short chapter is fast paced and presents a modern-day story with many references to events, names, and the like that will likely jog some memories from your own life story. From quirky relatives, to rebelling teens, to society in general, The Madwoman and the Roomba reads as if it were a stand-up comedy routine. A welcomed reprieve from the challenges or routine of everyday life. SandraTsing Loh has provided a book that is a truly fun read and, while it can be enjoyed by any aged adult reader, it would likely appeal more to those who are in their 30's or 40's who would relate in a current experiential timing sense.

I lost a lot of sleep due to this book and loved every minute of it. I read at night and my reading sessions were up to 2 a.m. I couldn't put the book down.

The Paris Hours is not only captivating, it is so beautifully written. Vivid and visual depiction of various scenarios, be they tender or rough, are presented in a wonderful flow of poetic prose, painting a distinct image for the reader.

Some novels that introduce characters in separate chapters drag on in length before you become acquainted or engrossed with any of them. These characters are introduced independently, in short chapters, but by the end of each one of those chapters, from the very first introduction on , you are totally engrossed. It was like that with every chapter, from the novel's beginning to end.

Alex George weaves through each character's separate, distinct story with a capacity to capture their emotions, fears, motivations, and history in such a precise way, with minimal words, that is hard to define. Each character's situation and story are totally different from the others. Then, through creative mastery, the last chapters bring together the full picture – with a mind-boggling conclusion.

The Paris Hours touches on the beauty and mystery of the city, the implications and impact of war, the power of love, determination, and the struggle for survival in challenging circumstances.

I've already discussed this book with my book club members; they are waiting for its release. It will definitely be on the next reading list.

If you liked The Handmaid's Tales, you will speed through Testaments. The chapters are short and pass the story back and forth between Aunt Lydia and the girls. Some of the description is more painful than Handmaid's Tales if you can imagine that. Atwood has such a remarkable capacity for forming a picture with words. In this case, many words, but I was up until 2 a.m. a few nights because I couldn't resist going to the next chapter.