The Lunar Housewife – Caroline Woods

The Lunar Housewife is a delicious novel, focusing on Louise Leithauser, an aspiring writer who finds herself on the fringes of cold war activity during the McCarthy era. The novel opens at a party in 1953, filled with literary luminaries and pretty women, gathered at a Manhattan apartment to celebrate the second issue of the … Continue reading The Lunar Housewife – Caroline Woods →

The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pym – Paula Byrne [AND: Two Pym Novels: “Excellent Women” and “Crampton Hodnet”]

I recognized the name of novelist Barbara Pym and believed I had read one of her books … but I realized a few chapters into this thoughtful and entertaining biography that I had the wrong "Barbara." I stopped reading the biography, went to an online lending library and read Pym's "Excellent Women" and "Crampton Hodnet," … Continue reading The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pym – Paula Byrne [AND: Two Pym Novels: “Excellent Women” and “Crampton Hodnet”] →

Dandelion – Jamie Chai Yun Liew

Note: Because I "read" the audio version of Dandelion, I do not have a reference to the novel to get all names right, locations, etc. Lily and Bea are sisters growing up in Sparwood, British Columbia with their parents, who immigrated to Canada from Brunei before they were born. They are ethnically Chinese, which mattered … Continue reading Dandelion – Jamie Chai Yun Liew →

The Teacher of Warsaw – Mario Escobar

Janusz Korczak was well known in Poland as a children's book author, a popular radio show host of programs advocating for children and a former pediatrician who literally gave his life as the director of a Warsaw Jewish Orphanage during WWII. The Teacher of Warsaw is a first person narrative novel, cast as Korczak's diary … Continue reading The Teacher of Warsaw – Mario Escobar →

Death and Hard Cider – Barbara Hambly (Benjamin January #19)

I am a long time fan of the Benjamin January series and all of the continuing characters --who are present and very satisfying in this installment. There are a couple of well-plotted mysteries and plenty of intrigue. The setting remains set in New Orleans and surrounds, this time, with no one traveling. Henry Clay comes … Continue reading Death and Hard Cider – Barbara Hambly (Benjamin January #19) →

Big Girl -Mecca Jamilah Sullivan

NOTE: I listened to an audio version of this novel that I received via Netgalley. It does not look like this is available for the public. Big Girl is the story of Malaya, daughter of Nayala and Percy (Pro or Prah) initially at age 8 -168 pounds - living in a Brownstone in Harlem and … Continue reading Big Girl -Mecca Jamilah Sullivan →