This is the premise of Abbi Waxman's "One Death at a Time". A young, by the book AA member (Natasha) accepts the challenge of being a temporary sponsor of an aging, cranky, famous and former actor (Julia) who does not feel she needs her help. But she needs someone's help.

Someone (her ex business associate) was killed at her house and she knows/remembers nothing since she was in an alcoholic blackout.
Julia's past history complicated matters further as she was convicted of murdering her ex husband and served a prison sentence for that. Once she was released, she quit acting and got her law degree.
When Natasha shows up at Julia's house for her first sponsor meeting she is offered a job as her personal assistant/investigator. Her's had just quit.
Let the games begin!
This was a fun, rollicking read. The characters, even with their flaws, were likable and add to the story arc.
If it has to be put in a genre I would say a cozy mystery with an edge. It has a fair amount of F-bombs, lots of sarcasm and unscrupulous activities going on. And to top it off, this 'edge' is skillfully interwoven with trying to find out who killed Tony so Julia won't have to go to prison again. This does not give the reader a chance to settle down and get all comfortable and cozy in their chair.

After a year of reading some fairly serious topics, this was a refreshing and entertaining read.

Thank you BookBrowse!

The title piqued my interest as I've never heard of a funeral cryer and I'm always interested in different cultures. While the conditions of the people's lives in the village (constant struggles to earn enough money for present and future needs, ever present concerns of what neighbors/family think of their actions/decisions and all of the superstitions that govern their thoughts and actions) were depressing, I kept waiting for the main character's circumstances to improve. Some of the book reviews spoke of changes she would make that improve her situation. I kept waiting for some big event that would change everything. It was much more subtle than that.
The author's use of first person gives an ongoing monologue of her (the main character's) thoughts and feelings and ambitions. She also agonizes over what others will think of her actions.

I thought her writing style was an asset to the story telling. By giving her these small incremental inner dialogues, the author lets the reader see her inner changes and how that affects how she sees her world and herself.

I could see a book club learning much from a discussion on this book.

This is a novel about a young boy (Victor) with Hanson's disease (leprosy), who's life actually improves (both physically, emotionally, and educationally ) once he begins receiving medical treatment at Carville (the government run hospital for people with this disease).
The author's father had been a patient at one time, although I'm not sure to what extent (if any) the rest of the story is based on him.
The family dynamics affecting Victor's experiences all play significant roles in his actions. The first started with his hard working, Chinese immigrant father (who had been sold in childhood so his biological family would not starve) who left his arranged marriage wife in China when he brought his two sons to New York. Then to the woman, Ruth,who became his father's mistress and a surrogate mother to the sons and helped get Victor's diagnosis confirmed and was instrumental in his going to Carville. Next was Henry, Victor's brother who always resented his father's relationship with Ruth and eventually Victor's desire to follow his heart and make a new life for himself. Lastly was the boys mother who remained in China with her mother-in-law . Her pull on the boys was a strong emotional one. It had Henry not wanting to tell her about Victor's illness (to keep her from worrying since she couldn't be there to help him) and Victor always feeling guilty for lying to her and denying there was anything wrong with him.
In spite of all that, this book gives much encouragement with all of the healing, physical and emotional that Victor undergoes.
The resolutions that the other characters work out to solve their dilemmas would make excellent fodder for book clubs.
This is definitely a book not soon forgotten.

I love a book where the character(s) evolve: overcome/work through issues and grow as a result. Then, it's icing on the cake if the main characters (an elderly woman recovering from broken pelvis and a barely 20 something struggling with forced life changes) are like oil and water (but are in a symbiotic relationship!), hiding their own secrets, fighting their own demons and then embark on a forced road trip under the threat of legal repercussions.
It was definitely a quick read, mainly because it was hard to put down.
Humor was sprinkled throughout: the conversations between the children of the elderly character and the FBI, reminded me of a Greek chorus. When explaining her type of emotional support to the 20 something (who felt it was lacking), her response was, "Watch Oprah if you want inspiring, I just tell the truth!" (p.269)
It would be a good book for discussion in a book club.

I'm always impressed with a book that keeps me reading while imparting knowledge about a totally new topic (to me). A particular battle during WWI, Two Storm Wood, in this case, is highlighted.
While trying to find her fiancee, (reported as missing in action) and bring his body home, a woman discovers stonewalling, subterfuge and possible evidence of a war crime.
The characters are defined enough that the reader can feel some connection and care about them.
When I read a historical novel I'm always to eager to delve deeper into it's accuracy. Many authors will address this at the end of the book but not this one. I repeatedly googled Two Storm Wood and was always given this book. Now, since this is an ARC, I suppose it could be added before publication. For people like me I think it would be very helpful.
I also couldn't find anything (in my rudimentary research) about any Chinese workers during WWI. It's interesting to note that even during wartime, when it is obvious that everyone's blood is red, racism seems to be always lurking, waiting for a chance to emerge.

This is my first Thrity Umrigar book although I have had The Space Between Us in my TBR pile for ages. I feel her talent (at least in this book) lies in delving into and describing the atrocity of India's traditional actions of misogyny, sexism, and all of these inequalities while not pushing the reader away in the process. It's very much as if she wants the reader to see what is going on, and understand why it's happening. "The reason for Abdul's death was simple, really:
It was a failure of imagination. Bearing no malice or prejudice himself, he couldn't imagine the contempt or hatred that his brothers-in-law felt for his kind, couldn't have foreseen how they seethed under the scandal and dishonor that Meena had wrought." Pg 96 Then, there is Meena's explanation for her brothers' anger at the 2 sisters working outside the home: "...the most dangerous animal in the world is a man with wounded pride." Pg 131

This is a book and author not to be forgotten, both for subject matter and for her skill in drawing the reader into a place that's not easy to be in.

The Patron Saint of Pregnant Girls is an excellent book for a book club discussion. When I have conflicting feelings with a book, it helps hearing others opinions, maybe even receiving a little validation in the process!

I thought the depiction of the home for the pregnant girls was so life affirming and nurturing. I kept thinking how different it was from the home in the movie Philomena (punitive and harsh). At St. Margaret's the nuns felt so strongly that art be a part of the curriculum and that it could actually change the girls. One particular nun felt she should inspire her students "to a vision of her own". This part of the book was sandwiched between extreme sadness and an ending that I was not sure if it was going to cling to reality or end up going on some fantastical journey. I did not feel the sections meshed smoothly together. And there were times I could not tell who was actually talking.

The writing borders on being poetry. One of many examples is when a character, after a major tragedy and experiences the longing for a different outcome. There are "two sides to longing, the hope and the danger of letting the hope devour you".

Since I am not sure what would constitute a spoiler, I feel the need to speak in generalities. There is unspeakable sadness in what happens and how the main characters react to it and all of the following ramifications (like a game of dominoes). Yes, the characters do evolve and work through their experiences. But if the reader is in anyway empathetic, it is depressing.

First of all, I'm like several reviewers who thought the title was a little misleading. (Maybe I skimmed the description a little too lightly!!) But I had imagined a more militant book with arm raising, slogans and righteous anger over the inequities of race. I was in high school when civil rights issues were looming everywhere, but was not actively involved other than watching from the sidelines.

Regardless of what I expected, it is exactly what it was advertised as: A memoir. I feel she tied all of the different strands of her past and present life together, illuminating where she gets her strong feelings from and then putting them into action. I also think she lays a good groundwork for others who might be thinking about adopting.

When I realized I was not going to be criticized for not contributing to past/current racial inequities, I settled into enjoying her writing and having my horizons broadened.

Rose's book definitely puts the individual efforts of the resistance up close and personal. The reader can't help but be impressed with the amount of research done and the skill it took to make it extremely readable (even humorous at times).
She presents a good combination of the womens' background, training and actual "boots on the ground" work.
While I didn't find this an absolute page turner of a book, it was definitely engrossing enough to keep me reading to see how each woman fared.