Helen_Pilotte

If you love animals, living creatures, or nature, this book has that emotional gratification one receives with a "connection" to a pet, wildlife, or interest in backyard life. Scott Simon speaks of his family and their life with animals that enriches his family's lives. You will get to know how they feel with the duty and privilege when allowing a pet in your home or enjoying backyard critters. One of the quotes that hooked me at the beginning of the book was " but the animals we love take the guard rails off our hearts.." If you have had a pet that brought support, peace, and comfort to you, you will "GET" the feelings expressed in the stories. Do we take care of these animals, or do they take care of us?

Anna has obsessive feelings for an older man, Peter, that makes the reader partly angry and partly sympathetic to what love should be. As a reader, I had to find out if Anna had the strength to see the unfaithful man for whom he was. Five years later, she then falls in love with Karim, of Muslim faith, devotes herself to Islam, and its teachings. The author does a wonderful job of capturing this intense relationship to the point, again, of Anna's intense feelings sacrificing her past beliefs, family, and love of her dog. It's admirable that Mary Costello respectfully taught the reader about the Muslim religion and rituals while having the character sway her true feelings about living a simple life. Ms, Costello is showing the deep thoughts of a sensitive, uncertain, yet inquiring life. Her writing gripped me in a way that I keep thinking about and wondering about falling in love with someone who is dogmatic and not willing to consider her feelings.

THIS HERE IS LOVE will captivate you from the first page as you follow slaves and indentured servants seeking a path to freedom. The characters are authentic and SO earnest in their plan to seek their freedom as their selfish plantation owners think only of revenue while breeding and treating their captives as property for profit. Every character draws you into their story with dignity, hope, and acceptance to their plight.
At times this book is difficult to read and know what they endured by their masters. Realizing how their capture cemented them to this life in
1692 and beyond. was upsetting. As I read this novel, I was struck was by the masters'' perceptions that they were not bright, how the workers had to subjugate their needs and fawn over their owners who thought so little of them. This book is written with respect for each character and offers insight into the courage of these slaves as they coped with the owners lack of humanity.

I am amazed that this was Joy Perry's debut novel. This book seemed very important to her to share this shameful history with the reader. I look forward to her next project.

I am astounded that this is Joy Perry's first novel. Beautifully written with this history. I look forward to her next project.

I am interested in other cultures and this novel does not disappoint. This story with the Deshmukhs in Irumi, Telangana speaks of the landlords to the fertile earth after India's post independence. There are Indian words that were not familiar to me so I would have appreciated a glossary to guide me. Vijaya is a daughter of the aristocratic Deshmukhs who meets Krishna a son of a servant. They have a deep bond. Caste differences play a part in how they see political peasant uprisings, traditions, and love. The writing draws you in and along the way you learn about the intricacies among the well developed characters and the deep connection to the fertile earth.

This is a pleasant book about immigrants seeking opportunity for their child by coming to America. Tony, Kim, and Tammy struggle economically and culturally. Tony is a doorman for The Rosewood where we meet Oliver. This neighbor generously offers to teach Tammy piano, and a friendship develops. We learn about the parents' engineering and physician jobs in China but now they have low-paying jobs. We are given a peek at Tony's temper but we don't SEE it again until much later. Characters are written in a way that mirror perceived stereotypes; persuading readers to the morally correct way. There is a surprising incident at the end that still leaves me wondering about Oliver and Tammy. Interesting read that would be great to discuss.

This book is not my usual genre; I found it fun but implausible. This is a cozy mystery involving a young woman, Tanner, who needs a job and an older lady, Louise Wilts, who needs some help. The repartee between these woman, who can barely tolerate each other, grows into a friendship as they make a road trip. There is clever dialogue bringing in pop culture that will make you chuckle; however; for me, it didn't have depth. If you enjoy feel-good stories that debunk preconceived notions, how words can build or destroy a person, this light mystery may be for you.

This book's likeable characters, story, and great writing drew me in; however, the Asian discrimination and government interference disturbed me. The title, OUR MISSING HEARTS, captures how society could allow removing children from parents... and yet, that happens in this novel. Bird, the son, lives with his loving Dad but his mother is somewhere else. She wrote a book that was censored by the government. It wasn't "in line" with the pro American PACT passage. Bird sets out to find his mother. So many themes that resonated while reading such as divisions politically, economically, culturally, religiously; how government interference can frame restrictions over freedoms. As I keep thinking about this book, I will recommend to my book club. I welcome discussing differing perspectives on these themes.

Upon opening the book there lies a newspaper headline, "HINDU WOMAN SUES BROTHERS WHO KILLED HER MUSLIM HUSBAND." HONOR is an absorbing, captivating book I could not stop reading. You will be transported to India where you will learn about the American journalist who tells the story of Meena and Abdul. As the novel unfolds, you will meet other characters that allow us to comprehend Indian culture and traditions. These pages are written with reality, tenderness and give insight into how we are more alike than different. HONOR allows the reader to truly experience the angst of these characters through their ordeals. The book has much discussion for book clubs: oppression, opportunity, hope, religious differences, familial devotion, misogyny, friendship, betrayal, love, and HONOR. I LOVED this book and I will recommend it to my book club.

This namesake author, with his father, searches for the truth of his Mafia grandfather. From the early 1900's, you will learn immigrant history and the connection to the expectation and search for a better life. This nostalgic, heart rendering truth of this Mafia family shows what most of us realize in our families. The universal traits we all can appreciate, minus the gritty Mafia life, demonstrates love, betrayal, loyalty, forgiveness, and diametrically opposing values. Well written, engaging, and thought provoking about grandparents and parents who impact us simply by learning our family history. SMALL TIME Will draw you in!