Radio Girls Sarah-Jane Stratford New American Library (2016) Every now and then when I was a teacher, I’d get a box of books donated to my classroom library. Maybe from a parent or another teacher or a community member. I have to admit I found this title in one such delivery, and I’m glad I …
The Pearl That Broke Its Shell Nadia Hashimi William Morrow Be honest. How much do you really know about Afghanistan? That it’s the site of one of the United States’ longest foreign wars. That it was the seat of Osama bin Laden and el Qaeda. Maybe you read The Kite Runner, so you have at least a better-than-average …
That’s actually not entirely true–while I do have many books on my TBR pile, I also have a lot of time now that I’m retired! But instead of reading and blogging in an orderly manner–posts planned and scheduled as good bloggers are wont to do–I launched myself into a frenzy of reading on June first. It must …
Anyone can write a book. Just tell yourself a story a pebble at a time. Stephen Mack Jones In most circles of friends there’s that One. You know, the one who tells great stories–and acts out all the parts. That friend who is self-effacing, no matter how successful they might be. The one who has a …
Ordinary Grace William Kent Krueger Atria/Simon & Schuster A born and raised Midwesterner, I am drawn to novels set in my part of the world. Ohio. Michigan. Wisconsin. Minnesota. There is something magical about stepping into a world you know, of finding a story that captures the ethos of a place you love. When I …
When Breath Becomes Air Paul Kalanithi Random House So much has been written about Paul Kalanithi’s meditation on living and dying When Breath Becomes Air–reviews in every newspaper and magazine, a Super Soul short by Oprah, NPR interviews, a TED talk. What more could I possibly add? Not much. Kalanithi does with words what he …
Paris By the Book Liam Callanan Dutton Paris By the Book is a love story, plain and simple. About a girl and her guy. A reader and the author. A bookseller and her shop. A mother and her children. An artist and Paris. Leah was trying to finish her masters thesis on Albert Lamorisse’s 1956 movie …
August SnowStephen Mack JonesSoho Press This one was a can-I-read-all-day Saturday followed by a maybe-I-should-skip-church Sunday kinda book. Good thing I finished before the workweek started or it might have been a I-have-a-little-cough-cough-cold Monday. Stephen Mack Jones’ first novel August Snow is that good. August Snow is a former Detroit police detective who blew the whistle …
I Was AnastasiaAriel LawhonDoubledayrelease date: March 27, 2018 I read Robert K. Massie’s Nicholas and Alexandra in high school when I measured books by length–the longer the better–and by heft. At nearly 700 pages (Amazon tells me the hardcover weighs just shy of two pounds) the book kept me captivated for at least a few days. …
The Bad Daughter Joy Fielding Ballantine Books Every year I read at least one mystery just to keep myself open to the idea of reading whodunits and thrillers and all books mysterious. This year’s is Joy Fielding’s The Bad Daughter. (Of course I might also have chosen the book because of the title, so there’s that. Years …
This is my symphony 