The Four Winds

 The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah 454 pages (read a galley - book will be published 2/2021)  

Summary from Goodreads: Texas, 1934. Millions are out of work and a drought has broken the Great Plains. Farmers are fighting to keep their land and their livelihoods as the crops are failing, the water is drying up, and dust threatens to bury them all. One of the darkest periods of the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl era, has arrived with a vengeance.

In this uncertain and dangerous time, Elsa Martinelli—like so many of her neighbors—must make an agonizing choice: fight for the land she loves or go west, to California, in search of a better life. The Four Winds is an indelible portrait of America and the American Dream, as seen through the eyes of one indomitable woman whose courage and sacrifice will come to define a generation.

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Hannah does an absolutely fantastic job of bringing to life the human experience of the Dust Bowl. You can read books about it (Timothy Egan's is the best one I've read) and you can watch films, but I think the human experience is what really makes this disaster very, very real. Hannah brings together accurate historic details about not only what life was like for families on the plain before the Dust Bowl, but what it was like for people who tried to tough it out, and also for those who left. Leaving your home and trying to find work in places like California was a huge risk that often didn't pay off. It's easy to remember that fellow Americans not only took advantage of the "Okies," people fleeing the Dust Bowl, but also didn't let them have access to basic things like housing, medical care, etc.  I appreciated that Hannah didn't flinch from some of these very ugly details (and also appreciated that there is hope here for the characters). This was an absolutely horrendous time in American history that had a long-lasting impact not only in the affected areas of the Dust Bowl, but beyond into our economy and labor practices. 

If you are interested in more about The Dust Bowl, I recommend Timothy Egan's book The Worst Hard Time and there is also a film about The Dust Bowl which is quite good. Another historical fiction book tied into the Dust Bowl is Mary Coin, which imagines the life of the woman depicted in the famous photo Migrant Mother by Dorothea Lange.

Middlegame

 Middlegame by Seanan McGuire  528 pages  

Summary from Goodreads: Meet Roger. Skilled with words, languages come easily to him. He instinctively understands how the world works through the power of story. 
Meet Dodger, his twin. Numbers are her world, her obsession, her everything. All she understands, she does so through the power of math.

Roger and Dodger aren’t exactly human, though they don’t realise it. They aren’t exactly gods, either. Not entirely. Not yet.

Meet Reed, skilled in the alchemical arts like his progenitor before him. Reed created Dodger and her brother. He’s not their father. Not quite. But he has a plan: to raise the twins to the highest power, to ascend with them and claim their authority as his own. Godhood is attainable. Pray it isn’t attained.

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This was my second time through this book and I read it for a book group discussion. I'm mentioning that because I read this book when it first came out, then read Over the Woodward Wall, and then re-read this.  While I still enjoyed this book, I did find that this second time through, I approached it a little differently.  Over the Woodward Wall, in case you're wondering why I'm mentioning that, is quoted in this book. It's written by A. Deborah Baker (a/k/a Seanan McGuire), who is referenced in Middlegame as a character.  So, it's one of those stories-inside-a-story books.

There is a lot of time travel and re-setting of events in this story, which can make it really confusing if you're not reading the print edition and paying attention to the chapter information. Roger and Dodger are connected, which means that they have the ability to do some pretty powerful things. However, they don't always get it right  . . . but they can re-set things and try again. So, if you're not careful, it can get confusing and feel like things are being repeated.

Are the characters likeable? Not always, but they are interesting. I think some readers will especially identify with both of them, though, and maybe Dodger the most. Both are gifted as children, which means there can be pressure from adults and loneliness around other children.  Reed and the main alchemist are pretty flat characters, which is disappointing --- but they aren't the focus of the story, so does it matter that much? What I found interesting is that there are characters in both this book and Over the Woodward Wall that are difficult to get a good hold on. Meaning, it's hard to tell if they are good or bad. Maybe they are amoral, which means they can help other characters, but they can be deceitful. I like stories like that, where you can't always trust that nothing bad will happen to the characters and the story has some twists to it.

The Woman in the Mirror

 The Woman in the Mirror by Rebecca James  351 pages   

Summary from Goodreads: In 1947, Londoner Alice Miller accepts a post as governess at Winterbourne, looking after Captain Jonathan de Grey’s twin children. Falling under the de Greys’ spell, Alice believes the family will heal her own past sorrows. But then the twins’ adoration becomes deceitful and taunting. Their father, ever distant, turns spiteful and cruel. The manor itself seems to lash out. Alice finds her surroundings subtly altered, her air slightly chilled. Something malicious resents her presence, something clouding her senses and threatening her very sanity.

In present day New York, art gallery curator Rachel Wright has learned she is a descendant of the de Greys and heir to Winterbourne. Adopted as an infant, she never knew her birth parents or her lineage. At long last, Rachel will find answers to questions about her identity that have haunted her entire life. But what she finds in Cornwall is a devastating tragic legacy that has afflicted generations of de Greys. A legacy borne from greed and deceit, twisted by madness, and suffused with unrequited love and unequivocal rage. 

And here's what I thought:  I usually don't pick up this type of Gothic-suspense-haunted kind of story, but I got this book on Christmas Eve (our annual tradition) and actually, really liked it. I found the back-and-forth narrative between the past (Alice in first person) and the present (Rachel) to be really interesting. Alice is a little frustrating as a character -- I often was muttering "Don't open the door!" or "You're getting obsessive and weird!" at her when I was reading.  But, I was really curious to know what was going to happen and what was actually going on. A haunted object? A haunted house? Sociopathic children?  I will admit that when a supposed cursed object is handled, and then something is discovered later --- I had a Supernatural moment and was saying "Salt and burn it, dumbass!!!"   Overall, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this and how easy it was to get caught up in the story.  Definitely a thumbs-up!

A Star Is Bored

A Star Is Bored: A Novel by Byron Lane      352 pages 

Great story!  If you have ever wondered what it would be like to be a celebrity assistant this is the book for you.   Film star, Kathi Kannon is a mess.  When she hires as her assistant, Charlie Beeson, who has worshipped her from afar all his life so much so that he wanted to be her, he is ecstatic.   He can't believe his luck.  She is his hero and now here he is in her home in her world.  But just like the old adage, "Be careful what you wish for, you might get it."  Comes oh so true for Charlie.   For every fun adventure, every exciting celebrity contact, every shopping trip, every acting gig there are the down sides to be dealt with, like Kathi's drug addiction and Charlie's not wanting to be an enabler.  A fun wacky ride during the good times but a sad reality check during her bizarre drugge out episodes.   An excellently told story coming from an author who was formerly Carrie Fisher's celebrity assistant though he swears the character is not based on her.    A good read from cover to cover.   I recommend it to teenagers on up due to the drug use mentioned, but, a fun book nonetheless. 

- Shirley J.

The Last Story of Mina Lee

The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim 384 pages

First-time novelist Nancy Jooyoum Kim tackles some tough subjects in this novel: the power of language, immigration, death and the meanings of family and home.

Margot Lee has lived in Portland, Oregon, for the last few years while her mother, Mina, lives in Los Angeles. Her friend, Miguel, is moving to LA and Margot offers to drive him.  She plans to surprise her mother, but in reality, she is going to check up on her. Mina hasn’t answered the phone in two weeks.  Upon their arrival, Margot and Miguel find Mina dead in her Koreantown apartment.

Margot feel guilty that she didn’t follow up sooner, but the two weren’t close, yet they weren’t estranged. Margot hated talking to her mother as her mother spoke mostly Korean, but Margot barely speaks that language so phone communication is strained at best. Although Mina appears to have died from natural causes and the police do not suspect foul play, Margot has an intuition that murder is more likely and begins to look into her mother’s life.

The story alternates between 1987, when Mina came into the United States as an illegal immigrant, and 2014, the time of Mina’s death.  The 1987 version is told from Mina’s point of view, while the 2014 is from Margot’s.

The plot is rather slow-moving, but I enjoyed it. As Margot digs, she learns Mina’s secrets, rather shocking secrets that were the highlights of the novel.  I believe that Author Kim did this on purpose---while the secrets are nothing that hasn’t happened to others before, the slowness of the plot makes them stand out.

There were lots of mentions of Korean food and other words that I could never really figure out what exactly Author Kim meant. That also slowed the plot a bit. Every time I thought this would be a 3-star book, a secret was revealed elevating it to a 5-star read.  Therefore, The Last Story of Mina Lee receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

Something New: Tales From A Makeshift Bride

 Something New: Tales From A Makeshift Bride by Lucy Knisley  291 pages

"New York Times-bestselling graphic memoirist Lucy Knisley (Relish) writes about her adorable DIY wedding!" Lucy had broken up with her long-term boyfriend, but three years later, got back together --- and while this isn't that story, it plays a part in this story. Both fascinated and horrified by American wedding culture, Knisley set out to plan and execute the most "adorable DIY wedding to end all adorable DIY weddings. And she succeeded."

This was a fun book that I discovered on the library's shelves. I like this artist, so I expected I would find her book to be enjoyable and it was -- a nice, light read.

Becoming

Becoming by Michelle Obama  720 pages   

Michelle Obama tells the story of her life from growing up on Chicago's Southside in a blue collar family to pursuing her goal  to become a lawyer, to her other successful career choices and especially to meeting and marrying Barack Obama yet maintaining her own personhood that of a strong black woman amid the political life she never wanted.   Throughout her life she trusted her own instincts, she was supported by loving parents always encouraging her to pursue her dreams and goals.  She never defined herself as the wife of...Michelle had achieved her own career merits and did not choose to ride on Baracks laurels.  As First Lady she initiated many programs to help women and girls, a program to help get more nutritious food in the schools and fun activities and exercise programs to help our nation's youth to become mindful and desirous of keeping body mass (fat/overweight/high blood pressure and diabetes) down.  She worked hard to make the White House a more accessible place to all people regardless of race, creedd, gender, age, etc.  She and Barack weren't afraid to show their fun sides on t.v. with James Cordon, Oprah, Ellen Degeneris and the ladies from the View.  THe Obamas dealt with national tragedies with the same grace they did in all things.  Michelle opens up about her frustrations, her embarrasing moment and brings the reader in like a close confidant over tea.   A good book.  I recommend it to every age.. Daughter, wife, mother and a savvy woman in her own right.  

 - Shirley J.     

The Fat Man: A Tale of North Pole Noir

The Fat Man: A Tale of North Pole Noir by Ken Harmon    288 pages 

When Santa's elf, Gumdrop Coal of the coal patrol, who delivers coal to the naughty children on Santa's list becomes disillusioned with the increasing number of naughty kids he becomes a one elf vigilante and goes after the naughty kids parents for raising such vile little monsters.  Unfortunately the first parent he goes after a former naughty list alumni and what was a road house beat down turns into a case of murder with Gumdrop going on the lam to prove he wasn't the murderer just the hooligan who beat the sugar plums out of the guy.   It is a fun story with lots of Christmas characters and references throughout.   A joyful read with lots of laughs and a wonderfully 1940s noir take on the story of Santa being misused and abandoned while Gumdrop does everything in his power to restore the fat man to his former beloved state.   A great story I recommend for all ages.   A dark twist on Santa's story but a brilliant one.   A new holiday classic perhaps.

 - Shirley J.

When Harry Met Minnie

When Harry Met Minnie: A true story of love and friendship by Martha Teichner 256 pages

Get ready to fall in love with this true, heartbreaking and heartwarming story of two women and their bull terriers. It won’t be a bad idea to have a box of tissues handy either.

 “CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent and multi-Emmy Award winner Martha Teichner tells the story of her enchantment with the bull terrier breed. In the past she has been best friends with Piggy, Goose, and now, Minnie. Martha and Minnie loved to walk around New York City, especially the Chelsea Piers and the Union Square Farmer’s Market. All the vendors at the market knew Minnie and had a treat waiting for her. Her favorite? Mangos!

It was at the market, on July 23, 2016, that Martha and Minnie ran into an old acquaintance, quite by chance. It had been a couple of years since she had seen him and his dog, but there they were. Weirdly, Martha didn’t know much about him, not even his name, but they bonded over their dogs. When Martha’s old friend learned that Goose had died six months earlier, he had an idea.

He had another friend, Carol, who was looking for a new home for her bull terrier, Harry. Carol had developed cancer from the 9/11 toxins as her apartment building was near Ground Zero. After thinking about, Martha agreed to let Harry and Minnie meet. This started a nearly two year adventure of slowly introducing the dogs as bull terriers can be quite territorial and aggressive.

Harry and Minnie immediately hit it off! There were multiple dates, overnights and walks around the city. Readers will get to know their individual idiosyncrasies and their breed’s stubbornness and watch them bond. Harry had several medical issues also; quite a few as Martha soon learned. But that wasn’t an issue---Minnie loved Harry, and Harry loved Minnie.

A deep friendship also formed between Martha, Carol, and Martha’s acquaintance, who was named Stephen. What fun it was to be a voyeuristic part of their group! Martha still had not committed to taking Harry as late as Fall 2017. However, as Carol deteriorated, it became a matter of fact that Martha would take Harry and love him all the rest of his days.

This story reminded me a bit of Elizabeth Berg’s novel, “Talk Before Sleep.” I was attracted to the cover---Harry and Minnie’s adorable faces staring at me. I feel now as if I knew them.  

When Harry Met Minnie: A true story of love and friendship receive 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

 

Zoey & Sassafras: Bips and Roses

Zoey & Sassafras: Bips and Roses (Book 8 in the series) by Asia Citro; illustrations by Marion Lindsay  96 Pages

My step-granddaughters, especially the five-year-old, love this series about a girl who loves science!  That alone makes my heart sing.

Zoey and her cat, Sassafras, eagerly await the next time the doorbell rings in the barn because that means that a magical creature that lives in the woods behind their home needs help!  Today was their lucky day---the doorbell rang. Well, they hate that there is a problem, but they love to solve problems. When they open the door, there stands Pip, a talking frog whom Zoey’s mother first befriended years and years ago.

Pip tells them that the hippogriff babies are in danger! Magical grasshopper have swarmed through the forest and eaten almost all the roses.  The hippogriff babies need the magical roses. On the roses leaves, bips, or tiny bugs that are as cute as a button, become the hippogriff babies’ first food, which helps them grow their wings.

Pip, Zoey and Sassafras must come up with a way to restore the rosebushes so that the hippogriff doesn’t become extinct.

I was a little disappointed in this book. It didn’t seem to have many experiments at the end of the story as in the previous stories, and the story seemed rushed---not as fleshed out as the previous books. Still, it was filled with magical creatures, science and animals. Therefore, Zoey & Sassafras: Bips and Roses receive 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

The Lost Apothecary

 The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner  320 Pages

 I am so glad (Y-A-W-N) that I didn’t start this spellbinding novel (Y-A-W-N) on a work night; I could not turn the pages fast enough. Author Penner uses dueling timelines and three heroines in the novel of poisons, potions, revenge, intrigue, betrayal and discovery.

The first timeline is London, February 3-11, 1791.  Nella continues her mother’s work in a hidden back alley apothecary shop. Her business is strictly word of mouth; the shop is hidden for one reason… to help women get rid of the men in their lives who have abused and/or betrayed them. As the novel opens, Nella is awaiting a new customer, the second heroine, Eliza to arrive. Eliza is on a mission of mercy from her employer. Eliza is captivated by Nella’s work and becomes her unwanted assistance.

The second timeline is London, present day. Caroline Parcewell has arrived in the city on her 10^th anniversary trip, sans husband James. She is devastated by James’s infidelity and must decide what course her marriage will now take.  The worst part is that Caroline and James had decided to try for a baby a few months earlier. Unwilling maintain the itinerary she had planned with James, she stumbles upon a group of mudlarkers about to embark on a new adventure. This group scours the muddy bank of the Thames, looking for items from long ago. A waylaid historian, Caroline joins the group and discovers a light blue vial with a single logo---that of a bear on all fours. The historian in Caroline’s heart bubbles to the surface and sends her on a journey that will lead her to her true self.

I highly recommend The Lost Apothecary, which receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

The Jet Sex: Airline Stewardesses and the Making of an American Icon

 The Jet Sex: Airline Stewardesses and the Making of an American Icon by Victoria Vantoch  287 pages

Summary from Goodreads: In The Jet Sex, Victoria Vantoch explores in rich detail how multiple forces--business strategy, advertising, race, sexuality, and Cold War politics--cultivated an image of the stewardess that reflected America's vision of itself, from the wholesome girl-next-door of the 1940s to the cosmopolitan glamour girl of the Jet Age to the sexy playmate of the 1960s. Though airlines marketed her as the consummate hostess--an expert at pampering her mostly male passengers, while mixing martinis and allaying their fears of flying--she bridged the gap between the idealized 1950s housewife and the emerging "working woman." On the international stage, this select cadre of women served as ambassadors of their nation in the propaganda clashes of the Cold War. The stylish Pucci-clad American stewardess represented the United States as middle class and consumer oriented--hallmarks of capitalism's success and a stark contrast to her counterpart at Aeroflot, the Soviet national airline. As the apotheosis of feminine charm and American careerism, the stewardess subtly bucked traditional gender roles and paved the way for the women's movement. Drawing on industry archives and hundreds of interviews, this vibrant cultural history offers a fresh perspective on the sweeping changes in twentieth-century American life. 

What I thought:  I saw this book at the library when I was looking for something else and thought it looked interesting. I didn't know anything about the subject, and it was actually a pretty interesting read. The author did a huge amount of research on the subject, so there are a lot of details here --- but it's not dry at all. I found it really interesting to read about how this job was created for women and became an opportunity for women who really wanted to be pilots (a job out of their reach completely), who then found a way to fly. It was also really interesting to read about how structured these jobs were -- it wasn't just all about image, although that was a huge part of it.  Stewardesses often spoke several languages and had degrees. Which means if you wanted to get this job, you not only had to fit an extremely specific body size/type, specific body measurements, hair color, hair style, etc. -- you had to be educated.  And of course, for a long time, you had to be White. Reading about the first Black stewardess was very interesting -- and as you'd expect, she had to show she was always perfect at work because the standards for her were even higher than for anyone else.  Definitely a book to read if you're interested in women's history, especially women in the working world.  This was an unexpected good read.

Pretending

 Pretending by Holly Bourne  412 pages 

April is pretty, and relatively normal (all things considered) but she can't seem to get past date five with any man. And every time she thinks she's found someone she can trust, they break her heart . . . and also leave her angry.  If only April could be more like Gretel, a woman she has made up in her own mind. Gretel is what all men want -- a Cool Girl, a regular girl, a bit of a Manic Pixie Dream Girl With No Problems. When April decides to try being Gretel on her next dates, dating becomes much more fun, especially when she meets Joshua. Now, April is in control and there's no way Joshua can really get too close to her, which means he can't break her heart. Question is: how long can April keep pretending to be in control of her feelings?

Interesting story. Admittedly, I often found I got impatient with April although I found some of her points about the opposite sex, dating and relationships to be thought-provoking (and sometimes very funny). There are some pretty sensitive issues here, though -- April works for a place that handles calls from women who have been raped or abused, or are in unhealthy relationships. So, that definitely colors April's view of men (which makes sense). I thought this book was okay --- it was worth finishing and I liked parts of it, but I didn't find much of it really resonated with me.  Which is fine --- I know other readers really enjoyed this book and like this author. It's just a case of "not my book."

A Memory Called Empire

 A Memory Called Empire (Teixcalaan #1) by Arkady Martine 462 pages 

Summary from Goodreads: Ambassador Mahit Dzmare arrives in the center of the multi-system Teixcalaanli Empire only to discover that her predecessor, the previous ambassador from their small but fiercely independent mining Station, has died. But no one will admit that his death wasn't an accident—or that Mahit might be next to die, during a time of political instability in the highest echelons of the imperial court.

Now, Mahit must discover who is behind the murder, rescue herself, and save her Station from Teixcalaan's unceasing expansion—all while navigating an alien culture that is all too seductive, engaging in intrigues of her own, and hiding a deadly technological secret—one that might spell the end of her Station and her way of life—or rescue it from annihilation.

What I thought:  A few people in my book group had mentioned that they really liked this book, and since I haven't read much science fiction lately, I figured I would give it a try. I really enjoyed the ideas in this book and how as a reader you learn about a place and people through the eyes of the main character -- as they learn, so do you. I also liked a lot of the concepts in this book, especially that Mahit has a brain implant that gives her access to previous ambassadors. And of course, something goes wrong, leaving Mahit mostly alone to navigate the treacherous waters of her duties.  This story is extremely detailed, which makes it relatively easy to become immersed in the world of the Teixcalaanli Empire. I felt at times, the story slowed down a little too much for my liking, but appreciated that this gave me the opportunity to really think about what was happening in the story. If you like multi-layered political intrigue stories mixed with "stranger in a strange land" type of stories, this may be a good book to try.

Disappearing Acts

Disappearing Acts by Terry McMillan   474 pages

The love story of Zora and Franklin.   Brilliantly passionate and good when it is good but all bright stars that burn too hot can burn themselves out.  The story takes you through all the stages of their joys and angry encounters.  How can two people who love each other so much hurt each other so much?   A good story, another winner from Terry Mc McMillan.  I highly recommend it to all ages.

 - Shirley J.

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

A Day Late and a Dollar Short by Terry McMillan   480 pages

Another excellent book by Terry McMillan.   Viola Price has gotten to the point she is done with her husband Cecil.   Their four adult children and their grand children are going through their own trials and tribulations but are all floored when they hear their parents have decided to separate.   Such well developed characters and plot lines   You will not want to put the story down until you finish it.  I highly recommend this one.

 - Shirley J.

The House of Kennedy

The House of Kennedy by James Patterson and Cynthia Agen    432 pages

Excellent book on the Kennedy family sharing stories from relatives, friends, political colleagues and more.   Lots of information shared here from their Irish beginnings to the Kennedy cousins.  If you are a fan of the Camelot days of Jackie, John, Caroline and John-John, you will really love this book.   Lots of info never told before.   I highly recommend this one.

 - Shirley J.

The Book of Two Ways

The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult   432 pages   

Three storylines are wound together all with Dawn Edelstein in the center.  Dawn Edelstein Grad Student on a dig in Egypt with her competitor come paramour, Wyatt,  Dawn Edelstein, death dulah easing her clients into their final journey, and Dawn Edelstein wife to Brian and mother to their troubled daughter.    Good story,  I recommend it highly even though I was not entirely pleased with the ending.

 - Shirley J.

No Time Like the Future

No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality by Michael J. Fox      256 pages 

Fans of Michael J.  Fox will really enjoy this deeply personal look at his life,  how Parkinsons disease effects every aspect of his being and the roles he portrays as he continues in his acting career.   M.J. shares hurtful moments he has experienced and the effects on his day to day life,  how Parkinsons causes hallucinations, the extreme care required for him the older he gets (58 years old now)  also the wonderful times he can still experience with his family (vacations to Martha's Vineyard, an African Safari, etc.)   I highly recommend this auto-biography

 - Shirley J.

Invisible Girl: a Novel

Invisible Girl: a Novel by Lisa Jewell    368 pages

When Saffyre Maddox attends sessions with her psychologist Roan, she feels he has only scratched the surface of her problems.   She has never told him what is at the core of her problems, what happened when she was 10 years old when he tells her one day after three years that he feels she is cured.   She knows better but says nothing.   She becomes fixated on Roan and stalks him.   Strange people, strange behaviors come into play and when Saffyre comes up missing the bigger mystery is who has been molesting women when there are so many obvious candidates?    Good story.   I highly recommend this one to teens on up.

 - Shirley J.

The Goddesses

The Goddesses: A Novel by Swan Huntley   320 pages 

Nancy meets Ana after she moves to Kona, Hawaii and to break out of her MOM routine, she tries a yoga class which Ana is instructing.   Ana is a free spirit, exciting and Nancy is captivated by her Buddhist philosophy and seemingly peaceful and loving nature.  Their friendship/hero worship grows until it biomes all consuming.  The lava flow taking out the town of Pahoa isn't the only volcano in this story of friendship gone bad.   A very good story that is gripping from beginning to end.   I recommend it to all ages.  It is a lesson in toxic friendships and how easily the willing can be manipulated.

 - Shirley J.

Adjustment Day

Adjustment Day by Chuck Palahniuk     336 pages

This wa the longest 336 pages I have read in a long time.    All the way through it was like the author is screaming at the reader.   the long and the short of it is   Suppose one day that everyone in the world picks a group to identify with and takes it so far as to reestablish borders and countries pertaining solely to their particular group identities and while the ideal is to establish utopian societies, instead all the groups repeat the same historical mistakes and redo the things that have over time separated and segregated.   As are all of Chuck Palahniuk's books there is much sexual and violent content so like the parental warnings = I'm just saying = but with that caveat, I think teenagers could get the gist of the heart of the story.   It is often cruel and unkind and Palahniuk makes many sensical deductions on how the human race gets way off kelter very easily.   Mind numbing at times.  It is Mein Kampf perhaps for Millennials.

 - Shirley J.

The Whole Art of Detection

The Whole Art of Detection: Lost Mysteries of Sherlock Holmes by Lyndsay Faye  352 pages

Great new Sherlock Holmes and his pal Dr. John Watson adventures.  lindsay Faye became a fan of Holmes when she was ten and began writing her own Holmes and Watson adventures.   She does an excellent job.   The stories are interesting and capture the flavor of the times they are set in and an excellent nod to Sir Arthur Coan Doyle and his iconic Sherlock Holmes character.   Well done Lyndsay Faye.   Holmes fans will love it.  I highly recommend this book for mystery loves and Holmes fans. 

Garden Spells

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen   320 pages

The Waverly women of Bascom, North Carolina have peopleall been born with special skills.   Each is particular and not similar to the others.   Claire is a local caterer and can whip up dishes made with flowers from her garden that can affect the moods of people and the outcomes they receive.  Her ister Sydney can transform personalities with the way she styles their hair.  Evanelle always gives people things that turn out to be just what they need when they need it,  Bay organizes things because she always know just where things and people belong.   The apple tree in the Waverly's backyard has a skill set all its own and is more alive than folks realize.   A most excellent story of magic and family that I loved,   I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a little magic in their lives or vicariously through these characters.   Great book.

 - Shirley J.

The Meaning of Life

 The Meaning of Life: A Very Short Introduction by Terry Eagleton, 109 pages

This slim book covers a lot in a relatively few amount of pages. From the beginning, Eagleton tackles the subject with some levity. He starts by asking if 'What is the meaning of life?' is a genuine question. He concludes that it is. He continues by looking at the uses of the word meaning. He briefly looks at times when meaning wasn't very much of a concern for people or when it was decided there was no meaning. He considers multiple answers to the question such as happiness, power, love, honor, etc. At the end, he provides his argument of what he thinks is the answer.

I appreciated Eagleton's take on the meaning of life. While he did spent a lot of time considering if it is a valid question and what the definition of meaning is I thought it was fruitful. I liked his humor as well. I would recommend this to those considered the question. 

Tissot

Tissot: The Life and Work of Jacques Joseph Tissot 1836-1902 by Christopher Wood, 155 pages

Tissot was a very financially successful painter in his own lifetime - first as a portraitist and painter of society life in London, later as a religious painter in Paris - and yet even then he was always something of an outsider - in exile he was a bit too French for the English and upon his return a little too Anglicized for the French.  Critically, too, he is slighted as a minor painter who borrowed everything interesting about his work, or remembered fondly but passingly for his depictions of Victorian elegance. 

Wood does little to dispel any of these views - in fact, he reinforces them.  He moves rapidly through his subject's life and work, pausing only briefly to consider a particular piece or moment in time.  Certainly, he never tries the patience of his readers, and he is quite candid about what he sees as Tissot's artistic shortcomings.  Less attractively, he is also rather determined about how we, as more-modern-than-moderns, ought to see Tissot's life and work.  It is no doubt for all these reasons that the chapter considering Tissot's famous illustrations of the Bible is quite abbreviated, and none of the relevant works are reproduced in color, a rather glaring contrast to the rest of the book.

I'm Staying Here

 I’m Staying Here by Marco Balzano (translated from the Italian by Jill Foulston)  224 Pages

If you like suspense, I think you’ll enjoy “I’m Staying Here.” The book has a quiet suspense that builds with every sentence. This also caused some weird feelings as I read it because a mother, Trina, is narrating this story to her long-lost daughter, Marcia. I knew that Trina would address Marcia as “you,” but it always unnerved me.

The story opens in 1923 as the flames of Fascism begin to rise. Seventeen-year-old Trina lives in the small community of Curon in South Tyrol, in the annexed Austrian territory. She has qualified to teach, but Mussolini has outlawed German, Trina’s native language, as a teaching language. She goes underground, teaching wherever she can.

In 1939, as Hitler and his Nazism expand, Germany offers the people of Curon a choice. They can participate in the “Great Option,” ---leave Italy and join the Reich. The town is divided and afraid. Trina and her family decide to stay, that is their home. At one point they try to escape, but climbing the mountains to reach Switzerland is treacherous. Not only the physical strength required but also by the emotional and psychological strength to hide from the Russians and the Nazis. What is home and what makes a place a home is at the heart of this novel. It is something that Trina and her family wrestle with as the novel progresses.

I’m Staying Here receives 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

Anabasis

 The Anabasis by Xenophon, from Xenophon (vols 2 and 3), translated by Carleton L Brownson, 316 pages

As the year 400 BC approached, a Persian prince named Cyrus hired ten thousand Greek mercenaries to help him seize the throne from his brother, Artaxerxes.  Recruited under false pretenses from across Greece, the decisive battle of the campaign ended with the Greeks holding the field but Cyrus dead and their Persian allies inclined to appease the king. Isolated in the midst of a hostile empire, the Ten Thousand managed to fight their way back to Greece. How they did so is the subject of Xenophon's Anabasis, which is not only a historical record but also an eyewitness account, Xenophon himself having been caught up in the Persian adventure and playing a significant role after the death of Cyrus.

Not that long ago, Xenophon's classic was a standard school text.  It is not difficult to understand why.  The book provides an immersion into the lives and culture (and, if one chooses to read it in the original, the language) of the ancient Greeks, packaged within a story of military adventure, manly virtue, and heroic speeches.

The Quest of the Fair Unknown

 

 

The Quest of the Fair Unknown by Gerald Morris, 264 pages

This is the eighth book of The Squire's Tales series. I've been rereading them just for the enjoyment of great writing and fun stories and this book is no different. Beaufils has lived an extremely sheltered life: the only human he has ever known in his isolated home is his mother. Following her death, he wants to search for his father, having learned from his mother that his father was a knight at Camelot. Because Beaufils is very much an innocent, his interactions with the first humans he meets are amusing but also enlightening to the reader: it turns out that Beaufils himself is a very good-looking fellow, but he isn't aware of this and he really doesn't grasp the concept of physical beauty or ugliness in others. He also experiences right away examples of good and evil in the human race. 

Beaufils joins up with the Lady Ellyn, Galahad, Gawain, and others as he embarks on a quest to find the Holy Grail, which interests him much less than finding his father and helping his companions with their quests.

There's so much to love in these stories. It's true of all his books, but it struck me again in this book how many interesting female characters Morris adds to or embellishes using the stories of King Arthur and other popular stories of the Middle Ages. Lady Ellyn in this story is one of my favorite of Morris' female characters: she's funny, introspective, courageous, and kind. These books are great for middle readers interested in fantasy, knights, adventures, magic, and good story telling. I'll be sad when this series ends for me, but it's been fun to reread these books and I'll probably pick up the whole series sometime again soon and start over!

The Subtle Knife

 The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman, 370 pages

Another great re-read! I read through this very quickly, but still managed to discover new things in this reading. This is the second of the "His Dark Materials" trilogy and introduces a new and very important character, Will, who lives in the world the reader knows. He must escape to a different world because he's being pursued and in this world, he meets Lyra and her daemon Pantalaimon of the first book of the trilogy, "The Golden Compass". 

Lyra and Will are mistrustful of each other at first, but soon join forces to help each other on their individual quests: Will is searching for his father, who has been lost all of his life. He fears that the men who are pursuing Will and his mother are also searching for his father. Lyra's goal is to right a terrible wrong and she will travel to new worlds to do so. 

Just like in the first book, we are introduced to shadowy and nefarious adult characters, but also adults and witches who are fighting on the side of right. In particular, we once again meet Serafina Pekkala, a witch who has vowed to help and protect Lyra, and Lee Scoresby, an aeronaut who sees Lyra as the daughter he never had. Just like the first book, there are some violent and difficult scenes. The themes of this book are for mature readers, but the writing is complex enough that young readers who aren't ready would also not be able to tackle the reading.

It's interesting to me that some reviewers really dislike Lyra. I find her to be a flawed character, yes, but the mistakes she makes she does because she is young, not because she is mean or unintelligent. I don't know what's not to like about her passion and drive to do the right thing. I can't wait to dive into the third book and was very excited to know that the second prequel to these books (another trilogy, this one titled "The Book of Dust") has been published! While it will be a lot of reading before I can get there, it's worth it to me!

Echo Mountain

 

Echo Mountain by Lauren Wolk, 356 pages

A page turner! I picked this up because I had started a book that I couldn't finish. It wasn't the book's fault; I think I'm just currently in a place where the action and events of a juvenile book are easier to focus on than anything that is too dense. This was right up my alley and it kept my interest!

Ellie's family moves from town to a cabin on a mountain after The Great Depression upends their lives. When Ellie's father is terribly injured in an accident that she witnessed, Ellie feels that her family hold her somewhat at fault for causing the accident. As her father's condition does not change, she begins to search for ways to cure him by using the resources of the natural world and by befriending some of the people who have always lived on the mountain and are not sure they want to welcome newcomers. 

There was a lot of action in this book as well as things a young reader would find alluring: a puppy born to the family dog who Ellie hopes to keep as her own pet, a mysterious "hag" living in a remote cabin further up the mountain, beautiful wood carvings left as gifts by someone Ellie never sees, and so on. The writing and the characters are beautifully done and the descriptions of life on the mountain and the wildlife that share space with the people were great. This book would be a great choice for any young reader.

Unity of Plato's Thought

 The Unity of Plato's Thought by Paul Shorey, 88 pages

There is a popular school of interpretation of Plato's works which insists that the philosopher profoundly changed his views on a variety of important topics over the course of his career.  In this book, Paul Shorey attempts to demonstrate that most of the evidence these critics rely upon is the product of Plato's rhetorical method (especially his tendency not to recapitulate discussions present in a fuller form elsewhere in the dialogues) and their own attempts to construct out of Plato's works a theoretical system more comprehensive than the one upheld by the actual Plato.

The Unity of Plato's Thought is somewhat deceptive.  The introduction is flashy, witty, and argumentative, while the main text is sober and methodical - in addition, it demands a certain knowledge of Greek.  This is a substantive book on an important subject, but quite technical.

I'll Be Seeing You

 

I’ll Be Seeing You by Elizabeth Berg  224 Pages

I read Elizabeth Berg books. I usually don’t care what they are about. With the exception of two or three (out of 30), I’ve always loved her books.  I did not even notice “A Memoir,” on this book’s cover.  And she has never written a book that has hit so close to home as this one did: aging parents.

In my case, it’s Momma. Until the Coronavirus pandemic hit, my 88-year-old mother was living alone, taking care of herself, and still driving (only to the beauty parlor and the grocery store). But as the weeks and months started to drag by, I could tell that something was wrong---even 500 miles away and over the phone.  Long story short…in the last month she has had to go into a nursing home…and that has almost shattered me. But on the positive side, I can at least call her five or six times a day as I have since Daddy passed twelve years ago.

Reading this book, I would swear that Berg looked into my mind and my heart, as we have been going through some of the same things: guilt that we out of state, trying to get used to a new home, dementia, and the aches and pains of growing old.

Once I started this book, I was afraid that I would be devastating to read.  And it is, in some ways. But as humans live longer, more and more people will have to live the realities that Berg describes.  She comes across as handling is rather nobly; I cannot say the same. But I’m sure that she has spent as much time crying as I have.

Thanks, Ms. Berg! This really helped!

I’ll Be Seeing You receives 6 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

 

The Girl from the Channel Islands

The Girl from the Channel Islands by Jenny Lecoat  304 Pages

This debut novel will make a great movie. Cinematically, yes. The scenery is breathtaking. But I doubt the acting will be able to match the authenticity of the people, place, and plot that author Lecoat puts into it.

In 1938, Hedy Bercu fled Vienna to avoid the Nazis; she had no doubts as to what will happen to her if she is ever outed as a Jew. This story begins place two years later on the island of Jersey, one of the archipelago of Channel Islands in the English Channel off the French coast of Normandy. 

I fell in love with the opening paragraph…so beautifully written that I read it three times to savor the imagery. It sets the beauty of the island front and center.  I love many mentions of the sea, the beaches and the waves throughout the novel.

But back to Hedy’s dilemma. Since her arrival she has been a nanny for the Mitchell family, but they have left the island with no plans to return. They leave behind everything they cannot carry and their cat, Hemingway.

Needing employment, Hedy registers with the Aliens Office.  Since Hedy speaks both German and English, she applies for a job as a German translator.  The Germans, desperate for her skills, ignore the large J on her registration card and put her to work. She keeps her head down and makes little contact with the other workers on the German base.

I found it a little hard to swallow that Hedy was not recognized.  It’s an island; I would think most of the residents know each, by sight if nothing else. 

Hedy has a few friends on the island, most notably the island doctor and her BFF, Anton. She meets the German Lieutenant who seems sympathetic to the Islanders’ plight.  But all through the story, Hedy doesn’t seem to know any of the other Islanders, which I found odd.

As the Germans and the Islanders settle into a wary co-existence that hovers over each page. Hedy decides to fight back. Her choice of resistance is extremely dangerous, but good for the island. When a large portion of the German Army lands on the island, Hedy is forced into hiding. Author Lecoat does a wonderful job with describing how Hedy manages this….as well as the rationing, the Islanders’ fear and the other sanctions of life on an occupied land.

Lecoat spent years researching and writing this little gem of a novel.  The fact that it is based on a true story makes it extra meaningful.

And somehow, through all this, Hedy finds love. I was most impressed with the beauty of the Island. I hope that it is still as beautiful.  The Girl from the Channel Islands receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

 

 

Polyeuctus

Polyeuctus, from Polyeuctus/The Liar/Nicomedes by Pierre Corneille, translated by John Cairncross, 100 pages

Paulina, the daughter of Felix, the Roman governor of Armenia, was quite in love with the gallant Severus, but his lack of distinction prevented her father from consenting to their becoming wed.  Severus having been reported dead in battle after great feats of heroism, Paulina married instead her father's choice, Polyeuctus, a noble Armenian youth.  As it transpired, however, Severus survived, the Persian foe having honored his valor by nursing him back to health and returning him to the Romans with offers of lasting peace.  So Severus, now high in the esteem of the emperor, returns to Armenia to renew his suit, not knowing that the woman he loves is already married to another.  Polyeuctus, meanwhile, has secretly converted to Christianity, and his newfound faith will inevitably bring him into conflict with pagan Rome, ultimately costing him everything he loves in this world.

The conventional view on Polyeuctus, as represented by Cairncross' introduction, is that the drama of the thwarted romance of Paulina and Severus is far more interesting than that of Polyeuctus' zeal for his newfound faith.  This is sadly to be expected of conventional critics for whom such zeal is alien and frightening, of course, but even the summary above reflects it.  Although it is Polyeuctus with whom the play begins and it is his decisions which drive the main conflict, his character is not where our attention naturally rests.  The tale of Paulina and Severus is one of passion barely subjected to reason, that of Polyeuctus a story of the straightforward martyrdom of a fanatic.  Yet it is Polyeuctus' supreme devotion to the highest Good that demonstrates the goal to which the pagan virtues of the other characters aspire, a truth that is beautifully consummated at the conclusion of the play.