NOTE: I assume in writing this that many readers are generally familiar with the lives of the Milford family l and of the period covered by this novel in particular. For those who have not heard much about them, this review has some spoilers. The Milfords of the 20th century, an aristocratic British family with … Continue reading The Mitford Affair – Marie Benedict
Author: Emily Leader
I have been an avid reader since Dick and Jane met Sally. At age 7, I read my parents' first edition of "To Kill a Mockingbird." I am a retired lawyer and so read almost only fiction for pleasure. I'm adding in nonfiction these days, largely on social justice matters but also history, biography, and weird topics that catch my imagination. I used to read only serially, one book at a time. Presently, I read paperbacks, hardcovers, listen to audible, listen to CDs and read online through Net Galley. Covid-19 has caused me to read a lot so I have re-upped my Goodreads challenge for 2021 and am starting to review at least my favorite finds annd, perhaps, some stinkers.
Moonrise Over New Jessup – Jamilla Minnicks
It is 1957. Alice grew up in rural Alabama, working the land with her family. Her mother died when she was young. Her sister Rosie took off for Chicago. Alice hasn't heard from Rosie for years. And now, with her father's death, she has to leave. The landlord got the worst of his effort to … Continue reading Moonrise Over New Jessup – Jamilla Minnicks
Winterland -Rae Meadows
Winterland takes place at first in the 1970s in a small Siberian community in the Soviet Union. Norilsk is way in the north, past the Artic Circle, 3000 kilometers (1900 miles - ish) from Moscow, where Yuri, a devoted Communist Party member met Katerina, a successful ballerina with a very promising future. They married, moved … Continue reading Winterland -Rae Meadows
The Making of Her – Bernadette Jiwa
Joan Egan grew up poor, living in a house on the Cranmore Housing Estate in Dublin. She was the eldest child, the "mistake" that led to her parent's hasty marriage. Her mother died when she was thirteen. Her father, always a heavy drinker never did well after that . The youngest four children are parceled … Continue reading The Making of Her – Bernadette Jiwa
Gilded Mountain- Kate Manning
Gilded Mountain is a masterpiece of historical fiction, bringing alive the very early labor movement in the United Staes even featuring a cameo appearance by Mother Jones. Sylvie Pelletier, child of French Canadien immigrants, travels with her mother and siblings from Vermont, to a company town in Colorado. Her father works for Padgett Fuel and … Continue reading Gilded Mountain- Kate Manning
Bookish People — Susan Coll
.Fifty-four year old Sophie Bernstein (Mrs. Bernstein to us) owns an independent bookstore in Northern Virginia. She is struggling with her grief from her lawyer husband's sudden death. She finds herself being less and less involved with the day to day life of the bookstore that she usually micromanages. It doesn't feel fun anymore.. In … Continue reading Bookish People — Susan Coll
Dark Objects – Simon Toyne
Laughton Rees (her first name is explained late in the book) has been estranged from her police commissioner father since her mother was murdered when she was fifteen. The murderer was McVey a man whose alleged crimes involved rape and murder of little girls. Rees was head of the investigation that led to McVey's arrest … Continue reading Dark Objects – Simon Toyne
Blackwater Falls – Ausma Zehanat Khan
Blackwater Falls is the first in a new series featuring Inaya Rahman, a police detective, and her boss, Lt. Waqas "Qas" Seif. They officers from the Denver Police Department's Community Response Unit, assigned to take over a murder investigation in Blackwater Falls, Colorado. This is the first time they have worked closely together. The CSU … Continue reading Blackwater Falls – Ausma Zehanat Khan
Harry Sylvester Bird -Chinelo Okparenta
In 2006, at 14, Harry travels with his parents, Wayne and Chevrolet, to Tanzania. Already acutely aware that his parents are neglectful and not much his cup of tea, Harry calls them by their first names. Wayne is selfish, racist, boorish, politically a member of a third party, the "Purists," who just won the presidential … Continue reading Harry Sylvester Bird -Chinelo Okparenta
Little Rumours – Bryony Pearce
Little Rumours is about a small town in the County of Devon told from the point of view of Kelly, a woman in an identity protection program related to her ex-husband's infamous and sociopathic crimes. She has a son, Joe, who is eleven. Naomi is native to the town and don't you forget it! Her … Continue reading Little Rumours – Bryony Pearce
They Called me Bookworm 