Carolyn Harper

This was a well-written historical fiction book set during the McCarthy Red Scare/Korean War era in America. The characters are well-developed and quite believable, embracing the breadth and depth of various aspects of humanity. There are a few triggers: sex, language, LGBTQ, violence; there is also a lot of humanity, warmth, created family, and grace.

This book is hard to read. Not because the language is incomprehensible but because the subject matter is difficult. Desmond spent years of his life among people experiencing poverty and came to know individuals who were part of the eviction cycle personally, which is what this book is about. Eye-opening, educational, disturbing—this book is all of these and more.

Honestly, I struggled with this book. I see the potential value for a fledgling writer, as it gives well-documented advice as to how to proceed through the writing process. Since I am more of an editor than a writer, I couldn’t relate to much of the angst and issues portrayed. Her methodology is also at odds with the way I tend to work. Still, I see the value of this book. Chapters are short, making the chunks of info absorbable.

The fourth book in The Thursday Murder Club series was another delight. In addition to the murder investigation, Osman writes a beautiful insight into the mind of someone living with dementia. This book didn’t have as much humor as the previous ones, though it certainly didn’t lack some. This book had some beautifully written poignant moments. There were also some surprising twists, which is one of the reasons this series is so delightful. I am looking forward to the next book which is supposed to be released sometime in 2025. Once again, I highly recommend.

The Thursday Murder Club series gets better and better. I enjoy the cagey senior citizens who combine their skills and simultaneously pull others into their shenanigans. The humor is such fun and there are places that are so tender that I choke up a little. This one deals with murder and cryptocurrency; there are also some sweet reunions with old acquaintances. As always, this series is best read in order. Highly recommend.

This series only gets better. Each main character is developed further, the sleuthing becomes more involved, and I become more attached. I love that the ending manages to surprise me, and I applaud Osman’s ability to evoke genuine emotion from the reader. Although this book functions as a stand-alone novel, it’s best read after the previous book. Highly recommend if a person enjoys British mysteries.

Despite the fact that I truly dislike stories that jump back and forth in time and are written from different people’s viewpoints, I loved this book. From the beginning, it drew me in, so much so that when I got close to the end, I had to finish it before going to bed. The plot has some twists and turns that are intriguing, but there’s always a sense of what’s coming, as well. The path to happy endings isn’t always straight, but for some, the magick works. Fun read!

This is an in depth look at the birth of the March for Our Lives organization, from the day of the shooting through the midterm elections. Through interviews with some of the key students, professionals in different areas, and parents and students from Douglas HS, Cullen brings the threads together and helps the reader understand the impetus, the tactics, the goals, and the strategies of this organization birthed as a result of the horrific shooting at Douglas High School that resulted in the deaths of 17 of their classmates and a change in the trajectory of their lives from that point on. What could have been a devastating and depressing read was actually a hopeful one that left me with great confidence in our future leaders.

This is Comey territory—NY state courts, federal courts, and the FBI. I appreciate that, even when loose ends are tied up, they really aren’t. That seems more realistic than everything being cut and dried. The storyline seems believable to someone with no knowledge of criminal procedures beyond what I’ve seen on TV. It’s well-told but not as gripping as I expected.

Although the timeframe for this book is 1949-1950, it is rightfully WW2 fiction because it’s about survivors of the war. The characters—both adults and children—grow and mature as the book progresses in both heartwarming and devastating ways. The beginning of the book drags a bit, but the end of the book is wonderful. This is the first in a series of eight books about this particular children’s home.

Based on a true story from 1973 about a 12-year-old girl and her 14-year-old sister in Montgomery, Alabama who were involuntarily sterilized. This novel tells the story from the perspective of a nurse who was involved in their care and her feelings about the girls, their family, and their medical and later legal cases; it shows how her life intersects with theirs on multiple levels. Although the subject matter is horrific, this is an excellent, moving novel which challenges the reader to think. Highly recommend

This book is both difficult to read and eye-opening. The text of the book is very reader-friendly; it’s the content that is challenging. This book is well-documented and gave me a better perspective on the causes of homelessness and how life is experienced by people who are homeless. While some of the solutions suggested are probably unrealistic, there are a lot of things that individuals can do to help end homelessness. Definitely recommend.

This novel, based on the life of midwife Martha Ballard, grabs the reader from the very beginning and doesn’t let loose until the last page is turned (including the author’s notes at the end). Ariel Lawhon’s writing is captivating. Well-written and based on real events in Ballard’s life (though condensed into one season of the river’s freezing), this book is a delightful read. Set shortly after the Constitution of the US was written. Highly recommend.

Liz Cheney’s memoir/warning (her words) is a methodical examination of the events of January 6, 2021. As a well-known conservative Republican, she makes it clear that her oath to the Constitution and her faith supersede and partisan loyalties. Her legal background shines forth as she walks through the events of January 6th and the actions of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol in their research. She backs up her statements with documented evidence. This is a compelling work.

Brendan Slocumb has shown that he’s the real deal with his second novel; “The Violin Conspiracy” wasn’t a one-hit wonder. Slocumb weaves his intricate knowledge of music into a compelling tale of the ouvre of a famous (fictitious) composer’s origin and development. Written from the perspective of a Black musician, which Slocumb is, the tale is told with great pathos. Slocumb’s passion for music and the Black community resonate throughout this book. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

This book was given to me and I’m glad I read it. The true audience for this book is primarily people 20-50 years of age and it’s definitely geared more towards women than men. Having said that, Walters has valuable insights into life and living well. I feel that much of what she said didn’t apply to me, but o can see how invaluable her insights could be to women who are in younger stages of life than I am. It is definitely an inspirational read.

This dystopian novel is, in many ways, more depressing than others I’ve read. Although there’s some continuity of life—in a very odd way—there’s little hope. It’s saving grace is the writing. Although I despise jumping around from character to character, David Arnold’s writing was enough to compel me to finish. It’s not the kind of book I normally would read, and I can’t say I enjoyed it. Yet the writing is excellent and I can see how people who like this type of novel would enjoy it.

This is an excellent post-Civil War story about a woman who’d been enslaved as a child and then learned the trade of embalming from a Northern soldier. Back in New Orleans, she comes to grip with her past and learns a lot about herself and others. In some ways, it’s a tough read but in others, it’s a celebration of a coming into herself. There’s not a lot of sugar-coating of the Reconstruction South.