Run Away With Me

Run Away With Me (publication day April 1, 2025) is my first book by author Brian Selznick, though I understand that his The Invention of Hugo Cabret is beloved by many. Set in 1986, 16-year old Danny is living in a small apartment at a museum in Rome with his mother, an expert in ancientContinue reading “Run Away With Me”

The River We Remember

I loved The River We Remember (2023) by William Kent Krueger, which was a selection for my library book group. I didn’t have any previous knowledge of the book or the author, but I devoured it after the last line of the prologue, which describes the story as how the channel catfish in the riverContinue reading “The River We Remember”

West With Giraffes

West With Giraffes (2021) by Lynda Rutledge was a book club pick, and I’m so glad that it was. It’s based on the true story of two giraffes that arrived in New York City in 1939 after a hurricane, and were driven by truck across the United States, before interstate highways, to the San DiegoContinue reading “West With Giraffes”

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke

Don’t let the fact that A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke (publication date February 4, 2025) by Adrianna Herrera is the third in a trilogy stop you from reading it! Herrera has written a nearly perfect historical romance, featuring Afro-Latinx characters, set in Paris in 1889, with a female doctor who runs underground women’s healthContinue reading “A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke”

Call Her Freedom

Call Her Freedom (publication day January 21, 2025) by Tara Dorabji is an intense and powerful multi-generational story of a family in the village of Poshkarbal in Kashmir, starting when Aisha is sent to school by her mother, Noorhajan, though few girls attend school. Her mother is the village midwife and herbalist, and is raisingContinue reading “Call Her Freedom”

Death in the Spires

Death in the Spires (2024) by K.J. Charles is the third book of hers that I’ve read, and the first mystery. I really enjoyed it! Set primarily at Oxford in 1895/ 1905, the lead character is Jeremy “Jem” Kite, a clerk who never finished his course of study after one of his group of friendsContinue reading “Death in the Spires”

The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store

I was thrilled to finally get to read The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store (2023) by James McBride, as I’ve loved his writing since reading his memoir The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother and the brilliant pre-civil war historical fiction The Good Lord Bird. In The Heaven and EarthContinue reading “The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store”

Not For the Faint of Heart

I absolutely loved Not For the Faint of Heart (US publication day 11/26/2024) by Lex Croucher! With the granddaughter of Robin Hood, Mariel, leading a group of Merry Men and the sturdy healer using actual science, Clem, it’s a delightful romp with some serious moments. Croucher starts us off with Clemence being kidnapped by Mariel’sContinue reading “Not For the Faint of Heart”

The Bird Hotel

The Bird Hotel (2023) is my first Joyce Maynard book, so I was pleasantly surprised to find that she has written a lot of books, and has been a regular columnist and reporter as well. The Bird Hotel follows Irene, starting with her unusual childhood as the daughter of an itinerant singer in the lateContinue reading “The Bird Hotel”

Lucky Red

Lucky Red (2023) by Claudia Cravens caught my eye when I read this review, but it took a year for me to finally listen to it. I was completely blown away by the voice of the main character, Bridget. We recently read the classic western True Grit, by Charles Portis, for my book club, andContinue reading “Lucky Red”