Linda S

I'm drawn to time travel books, favorites being Stephen King's 11/22/63 and Jack Finney's two-book series Time and Again; and From Time to Time. James Goodhand's new book The Day Tripper is time travel with a twist. Each day Alex Dean confronts a new place and year, but the days are not in chronological order. One day he might be 36 years old and the next he's 22. He is experiencing his life out of order, often bewildered as to what events have gotten him to a specific place and time. For the reader It would be easy to get frustrated and confused. At the beginning you have no idea what is going on nor why, but neither does Alex! It doesn't take long, however, for the story to begin to take shape and you are hooked. The format is so unique and the book is so well-written that you are swept up in the quest to find out what is happening, how it's happening and why it's happening.
My feelings about Alex Dean were all over the place. Much of his life is fueled by alcohol, laziness, and irresponsibility. However, he also has a loving kindness about him that is so endearing it moves you to tears. As you learn his background story you can't help but root for him.

About half way through the book I decided I needed a visual aid and I made a timeline, with very brief descriptions of what took place on each date. I don't typically interrupt my reading with note taking, but the time line was actually quite helpful. Prepare to put everything on hold as you delve into this beautifully written, one-of-a-kind time travel escapade.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Roaring Days of Zora Lily by Noelle Salazar. The setting is Seattle, Washington, 1924. The characters are quite likable and the abundant sections of dialogue make for easy, interesting reading. Most of the novel is focused on the goals and aspirations of the young adults, especially the narrator, Zora, who faces many challenges as she acquires skills and knowledge in her desire to become a clothing designer and business owner. We share her struggles and hard work along with the support and encouragement of her friends and family as she sets out to learn the trade. I especially enjoyed the clothing descriptions and how ladies' fashions were designed and constructed in this era. Along with some romance, life during prohibition, and society's prejudices in the 1920's, the story moves along quickly and keeps the reader's interest. The high point of the novel for me was the ending. It touched me emotionally, tied up the story beautifully, and made me happy.