Appraisals: A Novel
by Claire Boyles
Enlightening Look at Multigenerational Farming and Family Dynamics (6/21/2026)
Beautiful debut novel. I enjoyed this book and found it very readable and well paced. The author tackled several relevant topics and blended them together to paint an inside look at farming in the current times. Good character development. Although I didn't necessarily like all the characters, I was able to see them clearly. Presenting the storyline from three different perspectives was well done and tied together successfully. A good potential book club read - lots to discuss.
Everything Lost Returns: A Novel
by Sarah Domet
Everything Lost Returns: An Interesting Alignment of Time and Things (1/4/2026)
A novel about things that come back again, often in different ways. About women and their lives and similarities across the decades. Well written with many quotable passages. Dual timelines linked by the return of Halley's Comet, first in 1910 and again in 1986. Also linked by the Earthshine Soap Company, how it was in 1910 and then again in 1986. A diverse novel with a broad scope: women's worker rights, working conditions, product liability, spiritualism, friendships, love, guilt, redemption and the power to change things. The main characters, Opal Doucet and Nora Dixon live years apart but one discovers they are tied together in various ways as the book progresses,
Would make a good book club book with so many potential topics for discussion.
The Silent Period: A Novel
by Francesca Manfredi
Challenging Read with Nuggets of (12/4/2025)
Not one of my favorite reads. Overall it was a difficult read for me and I found it hard to keep with reading. Some of the writing is excellent, Some great observations of human behavior and some quotable text, The premise of a "silent period" was interesting, but I did not like the main character Cristina so often had trouble with her choices and modes of fulfilling those choices, I tended to lean towards her as having a mental decline rather than a choice for choosing silence. My favorite quote, "I'm beginning to think that the problem with humanity is that stupid people are full of words, while intelligent people are full of doubt." is a sample of when the writing was insightful and brilliant. This could be a good book for a book club as it has lots for discussion. I suspect this is one of those books that could reveal more upon a second or third read at a later date.
When They Burned the Butterfly
by Wen-yi Lee
Not for the Faint of Heart (9/15/2025)
An amazing, challenging, violent, addicting read. At times I slogged through what seemed like never ending pages only to then fly through pages on the winds. Wen-Yi Lee has constructed a world of realism and fantasy all within 1972 Singapore. Gangs and gods. Vengeance and alliance. Traditional and futuristic. Bloody and burning. At times I wanted to just not continue but then another hook would appear to keep me reading. I don't think I really liked the main character, Adeline, and I often forgot she was just a 16 year old girl. She is tough, angry, and a loose cannon. But she was the perfect character to put in this novel along with all the others. Not one character in this book is nice. A novel definitely not for the faint of heart and can be disturbing on many levels. All in all, I am glad I stuck it out to the end, No pretty bow, but an ending befitting the novel.
Awake in the Floating City: A Novel
by Susanna Kwan
A Beautiful Devastation Story (5/8/2025)
I didn't expect a book about a futuristic, devastated, flooded San Francisco to be beautiful, but this one certainly is that along with its other positive qualities. Amidst what could be perceived as awful living conditions, this author created a world of beauty, art, love, and family values. It is a book full of contradictions - young versus old, nature versus man made, beauty versus devastation. I was taken on a journey through interwoven plots, amazing characters, a look at the creative process alongside the caring for the dying, and the wonder of the natural world even in its ability for destruction. A book that keeps the reader compelled to stay in this futuristic world in the same way that the characters stay in their flooded city. Well worth the time to read and would generate discussion within a book club.
The Dream Hotel: A Novel
by Laila Lalami
Engaging and Disturbing (1/3/2025)
Truly engaging, yet so potentially realistic that it is disturbing enough to make me want to disconnect from all the tech that monitors our lives. The main character, Sara, returns home from abroad and is detained at the airport by the Risk Assessment Administration (RAA) whose algorithm has determined that she is at imminent risk of harming someone. For her safety and that of others, she is sent off to be "kept under observation" at a detention facility for "twenty-one days." From that point on, Sara endures a much longer detainment and the novel details it all.
As the author describes the methods used to provide information for the algorithm, details the RAA and it's creation based on "preventative crime management" and the entanglement of big business and profits, the reader is shown a potential dark side of our increasing reliance on technologies and what is sacrificed, unthinkingly, for the sake of convenience. I found myself relating to Sara, her thoughts, dreams, weaknesses and totally human responses that are tangled and used against her.
Well worth the read. Potentially a good book for book clubs - lots to generate discussion.
The Bog Wife
by Kay Chronister
The Bog Wife - A Great Read (8/12/2024)
One of the best books I have had a chance to read recently. Well written. Engaging storyline. Borderlines reality and mystical. Pacing is good. I didn't want to put it down once I started. The relationships among the five siblings was well done. Each character had a unique personality. I liked the rotating method of chapters focusing on a different sibling. Storyline had a few surprise turns towards the end of the book. Well worth reading. Now I want to read other offerings by this author. Would recommend this for book clubs. Would generate discussions.
Smothermoss
by Alisa Alering
The Otherworldly World of Smothermoss (5/6/2024)
This was one of the oddest, well written, lyrical, mystical, and mysterious books I have read in a long time. I found myself constantly questioning is this real or is this one big dream. Whichever, I was continually compelled to keep reading. Both Sheila and Angie were unique characters and added their own dimensions to the entire story. Supporting characters were developed enough to make them worthwhile. Lots of layers of things to think on long after I was finished reading. I loved the way bits and pieces were constantly inserted into the storyline, leading me to think I had it figured out, just to discover I really didn't know exactly what was real. Highly recommend for those who like some mystery and mystical elements to their books.
The Flower Sisters
by Michelle Collins Anderson
Small Town Historical Fiction (3/3/2024)
A wonderful, easy read. Storyline based on a factual tragedy in a small town in 1928. Well written. Multiple angles and characters provide a 360 view of the event and of the town and its "survivors" 50 years later in 1978. Characters were well defined and provided a wide-range of personalities. Liked the back and forth structure of the novel between 1928 and 1978, and the focus on personal responses to a tragic event. Touches on post traumatic stress and different ways individuals coped. Recommend.
The Waters: A Novel
by Bonnie Jo Campbell
Intense Lyrical Read (11/7/2023)
Well worth the read. The cover art depicts a lush, natural, overwhelming feel and truly represents how I feel about this book. A deep wander into a unique place. Strong female characters who also have their weaknesses. Male characters who swing from strong to weak and from evil to good. Add in snakes and you almost have a modern garden of Eden. Beautifully written. Tough subject matter at times on various fronts countered by strong emotional ties, community and family values from various perspectives. Small town, rural life enhanced by natural remedy medicine and mystery. At times a mashup of so may subjects the reader may need to pause and reflect before continuing. Not always an easy read but the blend of reality and fantasy are addictive. Would make a good book club read as there would be lots of discussion points.
Above the Salt: A Novel
by Katherine Vaz
Slow Start to a Beautiful Read (9/8/2023)
Overall, I enjoyed this book. The beginning was a bit tough for me and didn't catch me into the storyline, however, that soon changed. This is an epic book with a long and winding story that is beautifully written. Sometimes confusing due to the construction of the novel with bounding around between characters and time, I did find myself paging back to catch a detail that I missed. It is an ode to love in the purest forms and focuses on the powers that kind of love can hold. Well worth reading. Recommended for book clubs as there is a lot of potential for discussion points throughout.
Dinosaurs: A Novel
by Lydia Millet
Simple Yet Elegant (9/8/2022)
A small, quiet book with beautiful writing. The simple storyline - all about one very rich yet simple man and his interactions with life, money, people and animals is full of deep pockets of insight. A book that reads easy yet makes the reader pause and think about it even after finishing it. Well worth reading. Probably a good book for book clubs as it will foster discussion of several topics. Highly recommend.
Fencing with the King: A Novel
by Diana Abu-Jaber
Family Saga with Mystery and Intrigue (12/9/2021)
Rich prose, diverse characters and a story-line with lots of twists and turns. A little bit mystery, some political intrigue and a look inside Jordan, a country I knew little about. Lots of family sagas and how one's family impacts their life, even when divided between countries.
I liked how the author began the book in Jordan and then provided the backstory of the main character, Amani, and her father Gabe who are visiting from America. Amani is using this trip to learn about her heritage and members of her family that she either hasn't seen in a long time or never knew. Following clues she finds, she discovers more about her family and about herself than she expects.
A good read, with beautiful writing and a pulling sense of mystery that keeps the reader engaged.
Flesh & Blood: Reflections on Infertility, Family, and Creating a Bountiful Life: A Memoir
by N. West Moss
Amazing Little Book with Big Impact (8/9/2021)
This was an amazing little book. The title, Flesh & Blood, carries dual meaning - not only the literal flesh and blood of the author's illness but also the "flesh and blood" of her family connections, and the discussions on family legacy. Beautifully written. Serious yet witty and humorous at times. Highly recommended for all women, not just those who live with infertility and loss. There are lessons to be learned by all.
The format was perfect for taking in small bits a little at a time and for going back and re-reading sections. The writing flowed and read like a novel (and not just a memoir) while being more like a collection of short stories. It was remarkable. I felt more connected to this book than I expected to and completely encased in the story of the journey through the illness and recovery of the author.
Well worth reading and sharing. Could be a great book for book clubs.
Appleseed
by Matt Bell
Appleseed - An Amazing Read (3/8/2021)
I thought I would like this book. Then, after starting it, I thought I was wrong. After more reading, I knew I was wrong. I loved this book. Extraordinary and original.
An amazing read that compelled me to keep reading and experiencing the awesomeness. Thought provoking. Frightening. Hopeful. Hopeless. Futuristic yet bound strongly to the past. A bit of magic, a bit of mysticism, a bit of reality. Linking everything to man's (or woman's) interventions in nature (and the earth) and exposing the bad with the intended good.
I highly recommend reading the back cover book description to help place the storylines and then read away. Probably not for everyone, but for those with inquiring minds who love good writing, this is a great read.
Of Women and Salt
by Gabriela Garcia
Women: Who are we? Weakness. No, we are force. (12/21/2020)
Struggled with my rating for "Of Women and Salt" by Gabriela Garcia. Leaned towards a 5, but not quite there for me.
This is a strong book of mother/daughter relationships and also a story of choices made in moments of desperation and their impacts, often for generations to come.
I truly enjoyed Maria Isabel's story, the matriarch of the one group of women, at the beginning of the book. It was well written and engaging. It provided an interesting historical view of Cuba that was enlightening and educational, yet tragic and brutal.
I struggled a bit with the storyline of Jannette throughout the rest of the book (great granddaughter of Maria Isabel) which was a challenge since she is the major thread throughout the intertwined stories of her family and of the entire book. At time it just didn't hold together for me. It was also sometimes difficult to follow with the constant switching of time and narrator from chapter to chapter.
The second storyline - that of Gloria and Ana was linked to the first storyline, but I'm not sure it was necessary and lead away from the Cuban focus of the first storyline. Except to highlight a different treatment of immigrants (they were from El Salvador) it didn't feel necessary to me for this book, although it was intertwined.
Overall, the book touches on so many challenging subjects of today - immigration, addiction, violence, abuse, women's subservience. At times it almost felt like too much in such a short book. I also felt there were some parts of the storyline that were not really necessary and detracted from the story, but probably a good book for discussion.
Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke
An Amazing Read (8/11/2020)
So thrilled that I was able to read an advance copy of this book. Although a bit of a struggle at the beginning, I soon got into the rhythm of the writing and then found I didn't want to put it down. I was compelled to keep reading. The descriptive details were at first overwhelming, but became more easily digested as the story continued. I advise readers to just keep reading if they find themselves burdened at the beginning.
Seeing the "world" from Piranesi's perspective was a wonderful experience. His recording of everything in his journals and the use of the journals to tell the story was unique. It provided a platform for the entire storyline to play out. The interjection of the "real world" into Piranesi's "world", his eventual interjection back into the "real world" and then the melding of all experiences bends the mind just enough to challenge everything. At the same time, it make the reader want to experience Piranesi's "house of many rooms" for a long time.
Ms. Clarke has done an awesome job delivering a unique, compelling book. I am still contemplating the multiple levels of this book and absorbing the twists and turns. Is it another world? Is it real? Is it madness? Is is something else altogether? Each reader will gather their own conclusions.
With or Without You: A Novel
by Caroline Leavitt
With or Without You Left Me More Without than With (5/3/2020)
I struggled a bit with reading this book. I had a difficult time relating to the characters and found them a bit weak. I had trouble liking any of them.
The tragedy of Stella's coma could have been more intensely written about. I just didn't feel real compassion for the event. I did like the twist that people that recover from comas can often end up being different, have different talents and different likes and unlikes. It allowed Stella to move off in another direction and experience life in new ways.
Stella, Simon and Libby each struggled with what they perceived as challenging childhoods and how those thoughts followed them into adulthood. I found this novel to be a coming of age for 40 somethings. I just had trouble relating to their issues.
Overall, a relatively easy read and kept me interested enough to finish but not a stellar read. The writing was clean and moved the storyline along at a decent pace. Might be a good discussion book for a book club.
The Mountains Sing
by Nguyen Phan Que Mai
Vietnam: A View from Inside (1/16/2020)
A sweeping novel covering most of the 20th century in the tiny country of Vietnam and its people who have endured a multitude of challenges. From the perspective of one family, a shared story from a Grandmother to her granddaughter brings to light the significant impact of the wars and other elements that targeted the country and its people.
As an American, I found this novel to be eye opening about a country and people beyond just the "Vietnam War" I knew about. A full bodied picture was presented, providing a depth of knowledge and emotion that was lacking in my previous thoughts of Vietnam. I highly recommend this novel.
The Affairs of the Falcóns
by Melissa Rivero
The Affairs of the Falcons Challenges (12/5/2018)
An easy read about a difficult subject in today’s world. Focusing on an undocumented family from Peru living in New York City, the circumstances of their lives both enlightened and challenged. It was not easy to like the main character, Ana, as she went to extremes to ensure her family maintain their existence, but most of the time she could be understood for her actions. The constant reminder that their existence in the US was illegal was pitched against viewing their challenges with sympathy. Many of the characters were totally unlikable (cousin Valeria for one) and pitched the emotional challenges even further. Although many of the characters were family and friends in similar circumstances, there was an element of lonesomeness for Ana as she faced her struggles. Much of this lonesomeness was of her own making while some of it was fostered by others “saving themselves” before helping others. I finished reading with strongly conflicted thoughts about this book. It would make a good book club read since it has the potential to raise diverse views and provide a lively discussion.
