The Road to the Country

The Road to the Country (pub. date June 4, 2024) is Chigozie Obioma’s third book and probably his most ambitious. If you want to read a superbly-written historical novel about a war that a lot of the Western world is not familiar with, I highly recommend it. His first two novels were Booker Prize finalists,Continue reading “The Road to the Country”

A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them

A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them (2023) by Timothy Egan is described as a “historical thriller” and that is true–I couldn’t stop listening to it at every opportunity, even though I knew the outcome. What is most horrifying is that itContinue reading “A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan’s Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them”

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (2020) by V.E. Schwab seems to inspire either unwavering devotion or bitter hate in what I’ve seen online. It was also a nominee for a Goodreads Choice Award for Best Fantasy in 2020 and was a nominee for the Locus Award for Best Fantasy Novel. Adeline/ Addie LaRue isContinue reading “The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue”

When Women Were Dragons

I”m a little behind, as When Women Were Dragons (2022) by Kelly Barnhill, was a nominee for a Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Fantasy that year. I loved the concept, and have come to realize that I especially enjoy historical fantasy. Told from the perspective of Alex Green, who is recalling her childhood in aContinue reading “When Women Were Dragons”

The Centre

The Centre (2023) by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi was an interesting listen, though it has some flaws and it may not be for everyone. I’d call it character-driven horror with themes of colonialism. Anisa is a Pakistan-born Londoner, supported by her parents but halfheartedly doing Urdu translations for Bollywood films, when she meets Adam at aContinue reading “The Centre”

Elsewhere

Elsewhere (2005) by Gabrielle Zevin was a delight! You wouldn’t think that a book that opens with a 15-year old girl, Liz, who dies in an accident on her bicycle would be so uplifting, but Zevin (Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow; The Storied Life of AJ Fikry) is a magician, and this is one ofContinue reading “Elsewhere”

Skye Falling

Skye Falling (2021) by Mia McKenzie was both hilarious and heartbreaking in nearly equal measure. Bad things happen, as they do in the world, but Skye’s perspective and ability to find humor made me laugh through the tears. Skye owns a Black travel agency, leading groups traveling around the world, living her best life. She’sContinue reading “Skye Falling”

Big Time

I thoroughly enjoyed many things about Big Time by Ben H. Winters (publication day March 5, 2024)! Winters brought me in to the story immediately–we learn that Allie, a teacher with a young child, has been abducted by a woman who is taking her . . . somewhere. Allie escapes in Maryland, not without doingContinue reading “Big Time”

Mad Honey

Mad Honey (2022) by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan, was the library book group’s February selection, and, as sometimes happens, I started reading with no background or expectations about the book. I’ve read other Picoult books (which I generally enjoyed), but I wasn’t familiar with the second author. I was immediately hooked! We meetContinue reading “Mad Honey”