Fruiting Bodies: Stories
by Kathryn Harlan
Fruiting Bodies (6/5/2022)
This book of short stories is very well written. Each story is imaginative and lyrical. I just had some trouble relating to some characters. I loved how calm and relaxing most of the stories were.
The Lies I Tell: A Novel
by Julie Clark
Lies, Lies and Lies (4/4/2022)
I must have enjoyed this book as I read it in two days. It is about two women; Meg, a con artist and Kat, a journalist trying to expose her. Meg is unapologetic and tough yet empathetic. Kat is determined and strong. Both are on a mission and will do anything they can to accomplish it. Lying starts out as a necessary evil and then becomes all encompassing. It is a game of cat and mouse, but who is the cat and who is the mouse?
Take My Hand
by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Must Read (10/4/2021)
Take My Hand is a must read. It delves into the history of forced sterilization on young, poor, black women. Based on true events, the author does an amazing job of bringing this real history to life. The story is told through the eyes of Civil Townsend, a young, black nurse who becomes entwined in her two patients' lives. The two sisters become more than just patients, they become family to Civil and she takes it upon herself to help them in more ways than even she thought possible. The book is split between 1973 and 2016 as Civil tells the story to her daughter. The only criticism I would have is that the 2016 story does not have as much emotion as the 1973 story. But this could be intentional, as Civil tends to keep her feelings bottle up inside.
Blind Man's Bluff: A Memoir
by James Tate Hill
Blind Man's Bluff (8/10/2021)
I just finished this book and cannot stop thinking about it. The author told his story with such honesty that you feel as if he is truly telling his story for the first time. His story is real, raw, funny and heartbreaking. It is a quick read and worth every word.
Beasts of a Little Land: A Novel
by Juhea Kim
Beasts of a Little Land (8/10/2021)
I did like this book. However, I found myself putting it down and forgetting to pick it back up. The story was good and it had great characters, but just when I was getting interested in one character's story, the story would change to another. I liked how the story spanned fifty years of each persons' life. It was well written and once I did start reading I wanted to continue. All in all, an enjoyable read.
Piranesi
by Susanna Clarke
Piranesi (8/12/2020)
I loved this book. The characters are well written and stay with you long after you finish the book. The author's descriptions of the halls is amazing and I found that I wanted to explore more with Piranesi. The themes of loneliness and isolation are so relevant to our times today. It is the perfect read.
Ruthie Fear: A Novel
by Maxim Loskutoff
Ruthie Fear (6/11/2020)
The story of Ruthie and her place in the world is beautifully and poetically told. The world she inhabits is gritty and real and she vacillates between hating it and needing to be a part of it. I had to put the book down at times just to step away from the emotion I would start to feel, only to be drawn right back into the story a few hours later. I am blown away by the writing and storytelling and would recommend the book to anyone.
He Started It
by Samantha Downing
He Started It (2/14/2020)
This was a page turner. I could not put this down. There were so many twists and reveals. The author does a great job of building up the suspense and keeping you guessing. I did not find many of the character very likable, however, they keep you wanting to know more about them and their past circumstances. I was thinking about the ending for days after finishing.
The Big Finish
by Brooke Fossey
The Big Finish (10/10/2019)
A charming story of great characters in an assisted living. This was a quick and easy read. I found it easy to relate to the characters.
Beirut Hellfire Society
by Rawi Hage
Beirut Hellfire Society (5/20/2019)
This was a difficult book to read. The writing is beautiful with amazing descriptions of war and life in a war torn city. However, I could not connect to any of the characters in the story. They were described well, but each person in the story seemed to hold others at bay, guarded and walled off, even to the reader.
The story showed how war is sometimes secondary to the violence in families and society as a whole. War and violence loom over everyone and everything and the only option is to endure as long as possible.
