Aphrodite in Pieces
by Lauren J. A. Bear
Getting to know Aphrodite in her own words (4/26/2026)
Aphrodite tells her own story in this book, which I really enjoyed. It was emotional and funny. I thought that the writing was of a high quality. I am now interested in reading the author's other books.
The story touched on a lot of the mythology I've read about over the years. Aphrodite is an interesting character. Despite being immortal, she also does a bit of growing up herself.
I loved the character, Alexandros. He was humble and sweet. He was a good balance to Aphrodite as the listener.
Feast
by Catherine Kurtz
Enjoyable historial fiction (3/23/2026)
I really enjoyed Feast by Catherine Kurtz. The first chapter grabbed my attention and set a good tone for the rest of the book. I remained interested and really wanted to find out what would happen to Minha.
I felt that we got to know Minha well. I really enjoyed reading about her close relationship and her love for her grandfather, Armand. It was really sweet how he treats her. I found the description of food to be very vivid. I enjoyed the small details in the story, like Renard the horse.
One thing I had trouble with was the time period. I kept thinking that it was much earlier in history than about 1882-1900. It's very possible that it was just my perception of the story and that I wasn't picking up on the right cues.
This would be a fun book for a book club discussion. I think there would be a lot to talk about. I would recommend Feast to anyone who likes Historical Fiction, especially if they also appreciate freshly baked bread.
Happy Land
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Moving story about family and legacy (3/10/2026)
I really enjoyed Happy Land. I particularly enjoyed Luella’s chapters, as I always love historical fiction. Nikki was a good character who was trying to heal rifts in her family and connect with her grandmother, Mother Rita. I loved Mother Rita!
It was really interesting to learn about the intentional communities, like Happy Land. I thought the ending in the modern storyline was hopeful and highlights how what our ancestors experienced can impact us today. This book would be good for anyone who likes to read about strong women, complicated families, and interesting parts of history.
