Next Time Will Be Our Turn
by Jesse Q. Sutanto
A family story, a story of self-sacrifice...are they often the same? (9/18/2025)
A moving, lovely tale of IndoChinese sisters making their way in California college life, learning about the culture, about themselves and about relationships of all kinds. Both girls return to Indonesia but face career stagnation that lands them back in California. Significant complications arise and one of the characters makes some tough self-sacrificing choices. The voice in this novel is one of our main characters, telling her story to a granddaugher who is struggling with "fitting in". A very smooth read, emotional, not contrived....an underlying theme of self sacrifice for the good of others. Very much recommended
The Botanist's Assistant
by Peggy Townsend
A who-dun-it with memorable characters and a University setting (7/3/2025)
An old fashioned "who-dun-it" with the intrigues and petty foibles of a University lab setting. Most enjoyable were the characters, all of them troubled and eccentric with the exception of the handsome, brilliant, charismatic botany professor. I found myself drawn to these characters and desiring to return to the book as I went about my day. I think we all know someone who is a little like Margaret. I think there is room to continue with these characters in subsequent books, perhaps in minor roles. I would love to know what becomes of them
