The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening by Ari Shapiro

 

The Best Strangers in the World: Stories from a Life Spent Listening by Ari Shapiro is the memoir of the acclaimed NPR host. Ari discusses his childhood and coming out to his friends and family, along with his personal and professional life experiences. He shares behind-the-scenes stories of some of his popular pieces and the people he has met along the way. Ari also reflects on his time working in the White House press pool and his interactions with President Obama during travels on Air Force One, detailing how he got started.

Before reading his memoir, I wasn’t familiar with Ari Shapiro. However, I found the stories he shared about his life experiences to be engaging, even though most were unrelatable to me. I do wish he had included more fascinating stories about other people. I particularly enjoyed the last part of the book, when he discussed the individuals and their stories that had a significant impact on him. If you are a fan of Ari, you will enjoy this book, as it primarily focuses on his experiences.

Book Review - When We Had Summer by Jennifer Castle

 

When We Had Summer by Jennifer Castle is about a group of friends dealing with the death of their friend.  Every summer, four friends, Danielle, her cousin Carly, and their friends Penny and Lainie, spend their summer together at the Jersey Shore in Ocean Park Heights. They call themselves “The Summer Sisters,” and together, they complete a bucket list each summer. Carly creates the list, and they all complete the fun and sometimes silly items together, and it’s the highlight of their summer.

However, this summer, everything is going to be different because last winter, unexpectedly, Carly passed away. The remaining Summer Sisters try to come to terms with her sudden passing and the Carly-shaped hole that she left in their lives. As they try to cope, life keeps throwing more unexpected obstacles their way that might threaten to split them up for good.

Danielle has been accepted into a prestigious summer music academy in New York City. She is excited to go but feels torn when she realizes that she will be living with Carly’s parents and sister for the summer. Penny feels that her family is coming undone at home, so she decides to get a new job to distract herself. She also meets a new guy, Dex, who seems to understand her and makes her feel less alone.  Lainie’s family is selling their family bakery and moving out of Ocean Park Heights. Ocean Park Heights was the only place she knew as home, and the plan was for her to inherit the bakery when she grew older.

As the Summer Sisters are each spending the summer apart, Danielle discovers a bucket list Carly had started to create for the summer. She decides to reach out to Penny and Lainie so they can work on it together. Danielle feels that this would be the lifeline that holds them together, even if it’s just for one final summer together.

The novel was an okay read. It felt longer than it needed to be at times, and reminded me of “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants,” but this book wasn’t as fun. It took a bit of time for me to like the characters. While the book is geared towards young adults, I felt like the characters were a lot younger as they were acting very childish at times. Towards the end of the book, I did enjoy the characters a bit more, but not enough to read another sequel if there is one.

Book Review - Thorns, Lust, and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn by Estelle Paranque

 

Thorns, Lust, and Glory: The Betrayal of Anne Boleyn by Estelle Paranque is about the rise and fall of Anne Boleyn. Anne Boleyn is known to be the second wife of Henry XVIII who met an unfortunate ending.  Most of her writing has been destroyed so her side of the story was rarely told, and she was often vilified. The only thing that was known for certain is that Anne was tragically executed at the Tower of London on May 19, 1536.

The book was an okay read. I thought the book would have included more details from Anne’s point of view but at times, it seems like she barely played a role in the story. It was like she was a side character. It feels like most of the focus was on Henry and Francis. I feel disappointed by this because the book seems to be billed as a book about Anne. At times, the book seemed boring, and it was very dense with details and speculation on what Anne might have said. I understand that Anne’s works were destroyed but maybe it would have been better to write this as a fictional story instead.

Book Review - Bird of a Thousand Stories by Kiyash Monsef

 

Bird of a Thousand Stories by Kiyash Monsef follows a young woman named Marjan Dastani, who is a veterinarian for magical creatures. Many of Marjan’s friends are unaware that she leads a secret double life. Only a few of her closest friends know that when she isn’t in school, she serves as a veterinarian to magical beasts and is employed by a mysterious shadow organization known as The Fells. 

During one of her recent expeditions, she encounters a mythical creature connected to the legendary Bird of a Thousand Stories. Marjan is tasked with finding and protecting this mythical being, as someone is hunting it. As she embarks on this journey, she realizes that keeping her life a secret may cost her the closeness of those she cares about.

The novel is the second book in the series, but this wasn’t evident to me until I began reading it. I was able to follow along with the story, though there were character nuances that I feel I would have grasped better with more context. I found it difficult to immerse myself in the book, as I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and the novel felt somewhat dull. However, I appreciated the sections that discussed the mythology behind the “Bird of a Thousand Stories.” I don’t think I would be inclined to read more from this author unless it were another book unrelated to this series.

Book Review - Nemesis: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz

 

Nemesis: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz is about Evan Smoak getting revenge after he finds out his best friend, Tommy Stojack, has betrayed him. Evan was a highly trained government assassin but now he lives on the fringes of society and offers his services to anyone who has been wronged. He tries to keep to himself, and only talks to a few trusted individuals. He has a strict code he calls “The Ten Commandments”, to keep him and others in line.

After a recent mission, Evan finds himself at odds with Tommy. Tommy had betrayed Evan and had broken one of the Commandments. Evan is torn on whether or not he should confront Tommy and let him face the consequences, or if Evan should let it go.

Tommy is a gifted gunsmith and has created all of Evan’s weapons and combat gear. Tommy is well known for his sniper skills. As Tommy had broken one of Evan’s rules, their friendship is torn apart, and it might lead to one of them not leaving alive. 

The novel is a part of a series. I have read one other book in the series, and I was able to read this one and follow along well. I do recommend reading the books in order as it helps with character nuances. I was a bit torn on this book. I was a fan of Evan’s in the previous book, but I didn’t like all of his choices in this novel. I felt like he tries to be a “good person” but he came off as callous and wasn’t open to giving people a second chance at redemption especially when he himself was given a second chance.  The novel was packed with action but no unexpected twists and turns. My favorite parts were Evan’s interaction with his closest friends, Tommy and Joey. I would be interested in reading more books in the series.

Book Review - The Six -- Young Readers Edition: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush

 

The Six -- Young Readers Edition: The Untold Story of America's First Women Astronauts by Loren Grush is about the accomplishments of the first female astronauts. When NASA first sent astronauts to the moon in the 1960s and 1970s, the agency didn’t allow women to participate. NASA claimed that only military test pilots had the skill set necessary. Women were not allowed to become test pilots either.

In the 1980s, there was a new push for women to travel into the space frontier as Russia sent the first female into space. NASA decided to make space travel more inclusive and opened its application process to women and people of color. During the application and selection process, six women scientists were picked - Sally Ride, Judith Resnik, Anna Lee Fisher, Kathy Sullivan, Shannon Lucid, and Rhea Seddon. They wanted to prove that they belonged in space and had all the necessary skills to become astronauts.

The book is written by journalist Loren Grush who depicts the struggles and journey the women went through to become the first female astronauts. The book was an interesting read, and it had a lot of information and tidbits about the astronauts that I never knew before. I knew that Sally Ride was the first female, but I knew very little about the other talented women. I also like that it included interviews from people who knew them. I liked that the book contained additional resources if readers wanted to read more about the astronauts.

Book Review - Let's Make Things Better: A Holocaust Survivor’s Message of Hope and Celebration of Life by Gidon Lev and Julie Gray

 

Let's Make Things Better: A Holocaust Survivor’s Message of Hope and Celebration of Life by Gidon Lev and Julie Gray is a biography about a child holocaust survivor and the life lessons he has learned along the way. On May 8, 1945, Gidon Lev was ten years old when he was liberated from a Nazi concentration after spending four years there with his mother. Gidon had lost twenty six family members including his beloved father and grandparents. He and his mother were the sole survivors.

Gidon was able to rise from depths of hell and despair, and was determined to build a life filled with joy, adventure, and love. He was cheerful and tried to find joy in what he believed in. Gidon also spent his time teaching youth about the Holocaust and sharing his horrifying experience with others. 

I thought the book was an okay read. I was not familiar with Gidon prior to reading the book. The book doesn’t focus a ton on Gidon’s experience at the concentration camp, instead he focuses on his experiences and life story and how he chose to imbue joy. At first I thought it was going to be too happy and go-lucky, but while I didn’t glean tons of “advice” on how to be happy and find joy, I did find some of his stories interesting and entertaining. 

Gidon had spoken about having cancer a few times and how that made him question being happy and finding joy. He spoke about his decision to have his first born child live with his ex-wife. In both situations he spoke with candor about it and didn’t make it seem that he had to be happy about a “bad” situation. He mentioned he had regrets and then spoke on how he moved forward. Sometimes, it is okay if bad things happen. 

I also like the part where he spoke about if you are not happy where you are in your life currently, to figure out where you want to be and then decide on the steps that would help accomplish your goals. I think readers who are familiar with Gidon would enjoy this book a lot more than me, but I do think if someone is interested in living a more joyous life, that they might like this book also.

Book Review - Sweet Pea Summer by Alys Murray

 

Sweet Pea Summer by Alys Murray is about high school sweethearts reconnecting later in life. Eight years ago, May Anderson made the biggest mistake of her life. She broke up with her high school boyfriend, Tom Riley, and watched him leave their hometown, Hillsboro, California, without her. She felt that moment has changed the entire trajectory of her life and it has been one of her greatest regrets. May is unprepared when she finds out that Tom is back home.

Tom would rather spend his time alone but his family’s vineyard is failing. He joins forces with May to organize the prestigious Northwest Food and Wine Festival. He hopes that the festival can help bring business to the winery. However, Tom is having a hard time putting the past behind him and working side by side with May, especially since she broke his heart years ago. May finds Tom even more irresistible than before and she can’t seem to move on. Will the pair be able to work out their differences to make the festival successful?

The book wasn’t for me.  I didn’t really care for any of the characters. I found May to be annoying. She complained that she wanted to leave Hillsboro because her entire time there she only made one friend. And then she left that one friend because of what other people (not friends) have told her. She claims that that was her biggest mistake but then she continues to make the same mistake. She doesn’t trust her friend, Annie, or even her sisters to be open with her feelings or trust them with the truth about her breakup.

I also don’t see why May is hesitant to leave the small town or how she was considered the “town’s sweetheart”, as she just seemed selfish and mostly kept to herself. I haven’t seen any examples of the town being supportive. May’s father said to her that the town was suffocating her creativity and spirit. May’s sisters seemed bland and one-dimensional. I felt like they were barely present in the story and didn’t really add much to it.

I don’t understand why Tom kept May’s secret when she seems to be betraying his trust and choosing her needs over his all the time. He kept saying it’s not his place to tell the secret but, the secret did involve him so, why wouldn’t it involve him? He also said he wanted to tell people the truth and told his grandmother but was very selective later on telling people the truth or even defending himself. 

I also didn’t understand why the two of them were pining over each other for years. I understand that they were friends and were in love but we got no glimpses of that love and tenderness since May was continuously letting Tom be used as a punching bag by the town. The novel mostly focused on their boring romance and the planning of the festival mostly happened in the back end. I felt that the story was repetitive and kept saying the same thing over and over without much happening. I had started reading another book by the author years ago and had stopped reading it because it was boring. I feel like I should have trusted my previous judgment and just skipped this one as well.

Book Review - Storm Singer by Sarwat Chadda

 

Storm Singer by Sarwat Chadda follows a young disabled girl named Nargis, who helps a stranger find his family. Twelve-year-old Nargis is a poor human living in a world ruled by fierce winged warriors known as garudas. The eagle garudas are considered royalty, and their word is law. Nargis dislikes the garudas because she knows they killed her parent, despite everyone else claiming it was bandits.

Nargis is left disabled after a childhood attempt to fly like one of the garudas. She walks with a crutch after the accident. While she appears powerless, Nargis is a spirit singer, capable of controlling the elements through song.

Nargis is persuaded to participate in a kite fight with the son of the ruler village. She attempts to use her powers to win the battle but loses control and is subsequently exiled. As she walks to her new home in the desert, she encounters an injured person. After helping him to safety, she realizes the injured boy, Mistral, is an eagle garuda.

Mistral is on a mission to return home and reclaim the throne from the usurpers. However, he needs allies and the means to get back home. Unwillingly, he enlists Nargis's help for his mission. Both Nargis and Mistral would rather not work together and would prefer to be anywhere else; however, they must join forces if they want to protect those they love.

The novel is an entertaining read, though it lacks twists or turns. I enjoyed the author’s writing style. The world-building was vibrant, and I felt as if I were there. I liked the characters and their interactions. I was curious about what would happen between Nargis and Mistral. I appreciated that this wasn’t a love story, but more about two people becoming unlikely friends in a difficult situation. I would love to read more adventures from the author!

Book Review - The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud

 

The Cartoonists Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud is about a group of kids bonding over their love for comics. Makayla has tons of great ideas, but she struggles to put her ideas into a story. Howard loves drawing but he struggles to come up with ideas. His dad also thinks that comics are a waste of time and wants him to focus on other things.  Lynda loves drawing but she focuses on her mistakes and spends a lot of her time making sure everything is perfect. Art loves being creative and trying new things. The four students come together to learn how to make comics, using their imagination and create their comic adventures.

The graphic novel was a quick and fun read. I liked that it was both educational and fun. It was interesting learning details about comics like different drawing styles, how they are made, and other fun facts while reading about the students’ experiences with creating their masterpieces. I liked that the back of the book goes into more detail about the inspiration for the characters and educational tips. I also liked the personal stories from the authors and thought those added a bit of a heartwarming aspect to this lovely comic about friendships.

Book Review - All That Is Hidden by Rhys Bowen

 

All That Is Hidden by Rhys Bowen is about a husband and wife who try to solve the murder of a man who is accused of being corrupted. In 1907, New York, Molly Murphy Sullivan used to be a private detective. She is now content being married to her husband, Daniel, who is a police captain. They live in a small but beautiful home in Patchin Place in the West Village, which is close to her beloved friends. She is also the mother to a happy and energetic toddler, Liam, and adopted daughter, Bridie. Molly feels that she has a good life and her marriage to Daniel works well because they have a partnership where they trust and believe in each other.

On a family walk one day, Daniel surprises Molly by telling her that they will be moving into one of the fancy homes on Fifth Avenue. He also said that he is leaving his police captain job and running to be sheriff of New York. Molly is flabbergasted because she never knew of such a position, and the political party that Daniel is running for is filled with corruption and members taking kickbacks. She knows Daniel is against corruption and has fought tooth and nail to make people accountable. Daniel tells her to trust him, but Molly is unsure of how to feel with their new change of circumstances.

The novel is part of a series, but I was able to follow along and read it. There were some character nuances that I might have missed but it didn’t take away from the story. The book is a cozy mystery read. There would be pages where we would learn about Molly running her household instead of learning more about the mystery. I felt like she didn’t do much, but instead things fell into her lap. I also felt that the series is named after Molly, but she seemed to take a backseat approach to the investigation. The book felt boring to me and I thought that the book didn’t need to be as long as it was. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed and could have been more intricate and had more flair. While I did finish the book, I don’t think I would continue reading the series as there are a lot more interesting murder mysteries out there.

Book Review - The Hellion and the Hero by Emily Sullivan

 

The Hellion and the Hero by Emily Sullivan is about two lovers who cross paths again. Lady Georgiana “Georgie” Arlington always puts the needs of her family before hers. She married a man that she didn’t love so she could save her family from financial ruin. After her husband’s death, Georgie feels stronger and bolder and decides to live her life as she really wants. She decides to run her family’s factory in a way which benefits the workers instead of the owners. Because of her bold plans, Georgie finds herself a target.  Georgie doesn’t want to bend to the threats but she starts to fear for her life when the threats escalate. Her family is desperate to find the culprit behind the threats. They reach out to the one man who left Georgie heartbroken years ago.

Captain Henry Harris met Georgie years ago when she was courting during her season. She was looking to find someone to help her family, and Henry was looking for someone who had money. After their brief encounter fizzled, Henry left the season and went on to become a decorated naval hero. He has no problem finding someone to marry but he still feels a pull and an attraction to Georgie. When Henry gets hired by Georgie’s family, he is torn by wanting to be a professional or following his heart.

The novel is a straightforward romantic read with some spicy parts. The book mostly focuses on their romance, and the mystery behind the threats is on the back burner. There were parts where the story moved very slowly and the pair was going back and forth following their desires. I thought the book was an okay read and I would be open to read more books by the author as I do find the book title to be fun.

Book Review - Punished by Ann-Helén Laestadius

 

Punished by Ann-Helén Laestadius is about five Sami indigenous children being forced to attend a government-run boarding school. In the 1950s in Sweden, there was a mandate that all the children of Sami reindeer hunters had to attend these re-education nomads boarding schools. Seven-year-olds Jon-Ante, Else-Maj, Nilsa, Marge, and Anne-Risten are attending the school together for the first time.

The children are forbidden to speak their native language and encouraged to learn Swedish norms and culture. They can only visit their families occasionally for some holidays. Their parents are not aware of the abuse the children face. The ones that do speak up, face repercussions that leave scars that are not just skin deep and they have lasting effects.

Thirty years later, the children have chosen different paths after spending their youth at the nomad school. Else-Maj is proud of her Sami heritage but she seeks solace in religion. Anne-Risten prefers to go by Anne to hide that she is Sami. Nilsa is a reindeer herder like his father and has a lot of anger issues like his grandfather. Jon-Ante struggles with a deformity he had received in school. Marge has an adopted daughter from Colombia, and she struggles to know if she made the right choice of taking her from her homeland.

While the five adults are still struggling with the past, they come across the housemother, Rita, from the nomad school. They had once feared her as children and she made their lives miserable. However, she is now a frail old woman who believes that God is on her side. She thinks that she didn’t do anything wrong when she was the housemother. They have never forgotten or forgiven her and now, they will need to decide how they act now that the roles have been reversed.

The novel is told from alternating narrators and time periods. The novel started off interesting but then it felt boring. It was interesting to see how the children were treated and how that affected them as adults. However, the re-emergence of Rita in their lives was a very small part of the story. I thought some of the characters would have more interaction or there would be dialogue/story about them coping with their feelings of seeing Rita again after thirty years.

I think I would have enjoyed the book if there were fewer characters. It was hard focusing on the many different characters along with their past, and present, and how they were connected. I felt like if there were fewer characters we could have connected more to the characters and their struggles. I would be open to reading more stories about Sami culture and people but I would be hesitant to pick up another book by the author.

Book Review - Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune

 

 

 

Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune is about two past lovers who cross paths with each other in the future. Fern Brookbanks had spent twenty-four hours with Will Baxter in her early twenties. He was an attractive and idealistic artist. Their chance encounter ended up spiraling into spending the entire day together in the city. The pair found themselves attracted to each other and spent every moment of the day sharing their inner thoughts. The timing at that point wasn’t the best, so they decided that they would meet up with each other one year later. Fern was excited and was counting down the days and couldn’t wait to see Will after a year of being apart. Unfortunately, Will never showed up.

Fern is now thirty-two and she is tired of wasting her time thinking of Will and what could have happened if he had shown up years earlier for their fated meeting. Fern’s life didn’t turn out as she thought it would. She was hoping to be living in the city, but instead she is running her mother’s lakeside resort. It was the one thing she never wanted to do. As she takes the helm, she realizes the entire place is in chaos.  Adding to her stress, her ex-boyfriend is the manager of the resort. Fern has no idea where she should begin.

Fern needs help getting the resort and her life sorted. However, she is surprised when Will shows up to the resort one day with a plan to help her. Fern is annoyed and wants nothing to do with Will as he is nine years too late for reconciliation.  Will Fern and Will be able to work through their past to save Fern’s resort?

The book was an okay read. It didn’t have any unexpected twists, and it was a straightforward read. The book is a cute romantic read even though I found it to be mushy at times. It plays to readers who are  into the love torn lovers trope.  I was not a big fan of the characters and thought the storyline was a bit unbelievable:Fern and Will spent one night together, and even though it was the best they ever had, it seems that they both never moved on even after all those years apart without any communication. It doesn’t even seem like they wanted to be together until they were thrown together. I am on the fence about if I would read another one of this author’s books.

 

Book Review - Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith

Fat Talk: Parenting in the Age of Diet Culture by Virginia Sole-Smith is about parenting young children at an age when the word “fat” is considered a sinful trait and an insult. In the current landscape, kids and adults learned that being thin is in. They have learned to equate body size with value. Parents worry about the size of their children and the consequences of them being fat. 

The multibillion-dollar industry thrives on our fear of being fat. There have been countless wars on obesity for the past forty years, but research has shown that Americans haven’t gotten any thinner or happier with their bodies. Perhaps what needs to change is our biases.

I thought the book was an okay read. It addresses the biases that people have about being fat. I will admit it was hard coming to terms with a few things as an obese person myself. I found some of the information helpful and the author does provide parenting strategies to start a dialogue with their children about weight, health, and self-worth. I was conflicted on some parts of the book, as while the book is quick to point out biases and fatphobia, I feel like I was just as stuck on what to do as when I first started reading the book. I feel like at times the author was discouraging eating in moderation, being active, and other “healthy” behaviors. It was almost like I had permission to continue eating unhealthily and not exercising, and that the world should rather change its view of physical size. Personally, as a person who struggles with their weight, I do like the “body positivity” or not tying my worth with my size but continuing to have unhealthy eating habits and patterns doesn’t seem like a wise way to go either.

Book Review - Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True Stories from a Career in Hollywood by Barry Sonnenfeld

 

Best Possible Place, Worst Possible Time: True Stories from a Career in Hollywood by Barry Sonnenfeld is a biography about the famous and celebrated director, producer, and cinematographer.  Barry has worked in the industry for over four decades. He has worked on the Men in Black franchise, The Addams Family franchise, Pushing Daises, and RV. He talks about his experiences and projects that he has won and lost.

I have seen Barry’s name, and I am familiar with some of his works. However, I can’t say that I am a fan of his or read his other book, “Barry Sonnenfeld, Call Your Mother”.  So, this book was a new experience for me. I thought the book was an okay read. The first half of the book was overly technical. It might be interesting to those who are interested in learning more about cinematography or the movie process, but for the average person like me, it went over my head.

I liked reading his stories with other celebrities. I found those bits to be entertaining. I also liked reading about his triumphs and failures.  He also talked about the inner workings of the movie industry like how some movies get made before a script is even finalized! There were some parts of the book that I felt were fluff, and didn’t understand why Barry included them and what he was trying to get at. While I thought the book was a good read, I wish the book had come out earlier when some of the movies and TV shows were more recent. Sometimes, I would try to remember a scene that he was referencing, and I couldn’t.

Book Review - Homemade Love by J. California Cooper

 

Homemade Love by J. California Cooper is a collection of fictional short stories. The stories showcase different aspects of love in various relationships and center around the lives of black people.

The book was an entertaining read. It had 13 short stories and could be finished in a day. The stories are written in a conversational style, almost like your best friend is telling you a juicy bit of gossip. The stories are relatable even though the book was written in 1986. It does talk about adult themes, but I do like that it celebrates love, loyalty, and friendship in many various and entertaining forms. I would be open to reading other books by the author.

Book Review - The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave

 

The Guilt Pill by Saumya Dave is about a new mom, Maya Patel, who struggles with the demands of motherhood, being a wife, and also in the work force.  Maya seems to be having it all. She is the CEO of a thriving start-up, she has a doting husband, and a beautiful newborn. Unfortunately, behind closed doors, her world is falling apart. She had a falling out with her best friend, her company is barely staying afloat, her son isn’t eating enough and it’s all taking a toll on her marriage. Maya feels that she is the reason everything is going wrong. She feels that if she were a better wife, mother, daughter, and boss, everything wouldn’t go wrong. She is struggling to manage feeling guilty all the time.

After a recent TV interview, one of Maya’s idols, Liz Anderson, reaches out to connect. Liz introduces Maya to a new experimental supplement that her company is working on that helps reduce the amount of guilt women feel. Maya is hesitant to try it at first but, after noticing how well the pill works for her self-blame and imposter syndrome, she is hooked. Maya feels that she can finally be the person she always wanted to be.  As Maya starts to feel more empowered, she realizes that she can’t have it all unless she is willing to risk everything she has built for herself.

I was a bit torn on the novel. It was a fast-paced and interesting book, but I thought the ending was a bit weird.  As a person who identifies as a melanated person of color, I thought the author throwing that twist in the ending was a bit odd. I feel like there could have been more to the ending. I did enjoy the book and liked reading how Maya was balancing her life and dealing with the struggles she was facing. I think it’s a relevant book that a lot of working mothers can find themselves relating to. I would be open to reading more books by the author. 

Book Review - Looking at Women Looking at War: A War and Justice Diary by Victoria Amelina

 

Looking at Women Looking at War: A War and Justice Diary by Victoria Amelina is a diary of the author’s experience during the war in Ukraine. When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Victoria was a published author and an active member of the country’s literary scene. She was in the process of writing a new novel.  After the invasion, Victoria spent her time documenting and researching war crimes and extraordinary women who joined the resistance.

The book was published posthumously after the author had died during the invasion. Hence, there were parts of the books that weren’t finished, and it felt a bit fragmented, understandably so. Unfortunately, we need a book like this, to show the horrors that occur during war. While the book is an important read, I didn’t connect to it. Some of the parts felt like it was jumping around. Some sentences, thoughts, paragraphs, and even chapters were not completed. It was hard for me to understand where Victoria was going with a half-finished thought. It was hard to understand what the point of the book was. It felt like a diary but then a book showcasing other women. I feel like Victoria had started the book planned one way and then switched directions but unfortunately, wasn’t able to complete it.  I stopped reading the book around the halfway point. I believe readers who have more cultural or emotional connection to Ukraine might appreciate the book more than me.

Book Review - The Swindler's Daughter by Stephenia H. McGee

 

The Swindler's Daughter by Stephenia H. McGee is about a young woman, Lillian Doyle, who finds out her father, Lloyd, leaves her a windfall inheritance that can change her life. Lillian has been surrounded by high society with her widowed mother. She believed her father had died years ago. However, when she receives a letter, she finds out that her father had only recently passed away in jail and he left her a business and all his earthly possessions. Lillian is heartbroken by the news and disappointed that her mother lied to her. .

Lillian travels to a small Georgia town to sort out her inheritance. She is dismayed to discover the house she inherited desperately needs repair. When she tries to open the door to her new home, she comes face to face with another woman, Melanie, who claims the house was already promised to her son, Jonah.

Lillian is desperate to sort through the mess so she can go back home to Atlanta. However, while she is sorting out her father’s affairs, she meets a family that she never knew existed. And to add to her troubles, the business that Lloyd left her seems to be dabbling in illegal affairs.  Will Lillian be able to sort through her father’s troubles before it’s too late?

The book was a straightforward and okay read. It didn’t have many twists or turns. It was easy to guess who the main villain(s) were. I thought the book would have a bit more of a mystery aspect to it. Even the title gives away one major spoiler. I have read the author’s other book, “The Secrets of Emberwild”, and I liked this book better. I would be open to reading more books by the author.