The Peach Seed is a loving story of family, of life-defining choices, personal failure and redemption all tied together by little carved peach "seed" monkeys. It's kind of a a coming of age in old age story. It is around 2015. Fletcher Dukes, widowed father of three adult daughters, grew up in Albany, Georgia. In … Continue reading The Peach Seed -Anita Gail Jones
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.
Flags on the Bayou – James Lee Burke
James Lee Burke is a fabulous writer. It happens I never read any of his Civil War Novels. It was right up my alley. Because it took me awhile to get to this feedback, I don't remember the names of the many characters, so will focus on the story and their roles. First, I'm not … Continue reading Flags on the Bayou – James Lee Burke
Those We Thought We Knew – David Joy
Those we Thought We Knew is a conversation on race. It is sort of a mystery, although the name pretty much gives away the solution. Toya is a fiercely individual black artist from Atlanta, working on her thesis. She's staying with her grandmother Vess in a rural town in North Carolina for the summer, using … Continue reading Those We Thought We Knew – David Joy
The Puzzle of Blackstone Lodge – Martin Edwards
This was a really fun Golden Age Mystery and I didn't even understand that if I were a puzzle freak, some of the clues that were there will be "well duh" to some readers. Blackstone Lodge is in a village in Yorkshire that no one has heard of. Among other things, it houses a well … Continue reading The Puzzle of Blackstone Lodge – Martin Edwards
Night Angels – Weina Dai Randel
I read a lot of Holocaust related books and at times take long breaks, partly because it's a hard topic, of course. But partly because some writers just tell the same story over and over again. Like they are exploiting the topic rather than exploring the topic. I just finished Night Angels, a beautifully written … Continue reading Night Angels – Weina Dai Randel
Hamnet – Maggie O’Farrell (Audible)
After listening to the audible version of Maggie O'Farrell's The Marriage Portrait and raving about that, people urged me to read more O'Farrell. Being a former English major and a lifelong fan of Shakespeare, Hamnet, the story of Shakespeare's son who died at eleven, was a no brainer choice. What I like about O'Farrell's historical … Continue reading Hamnet – Maggie O’Farrell (Audible)
Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver (Audible)
As a long time Kingsolver fan, I've learned she can take us on journeys wildly unlike the last novel and always move me. I chose to listen to the audio book of Demon Copperhead due to having a lot of driving to do over the last few months. That doubled the blessing with a narrator … Continue reading Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver (Audible)
Prom Girl – Laura Lippman
Laura Lippman is a favorite writer of mine, ever since the Tess Monaghan series was first published. I've read most of her other novels along the way and this is one of my favorites. I promise that you do not have to be familiar with Baltimore to appreciate it as a character all its own … Continue reading Prom Girl – Laura Lippman
The Last Ranger – Peter Heller
One of my favorite things about reading The Last Ranger is that it is coming out at at time we are seeing one video after another of "Tourons," Tourist/Morons, many at Yellowstone National Park, interacting inappropriately with the wildlife or sticking their hands in dangerously hot springs and generally creating havoc. Because this novel introduces … Continue reading The Last Ranger – Peter Heller
The Carnivale of Curiosities – Amiee Gibbs
The Carnivale of Curiosities has a strong gothic novel feel. Set in 1880s London, this is a story with many themes. Aurelius Ashe is a magician, imbued with powers that go beyond illusion, yet also involve his subjects' illusions. Together with a masterful carpenter, inventor of machinery and careful craftsman, Mr. Pretorius, Ashe is responsible … Continue reading The Carnivale of Curiosities – Amiee Gibbs
They Called me Bookworm 