|
An intense story that circles around family, guilt and the real disappearances of young native women on the reservation. Middle Sister is hanging onto the hope that Older Sister will still come home. She disappeared after an argument with Middle Sister and the guilt and uncertainty is slowly destroying her. Rumors of Older Sister dating a white man and the arrival of John, a white man who is showing a creepy interest in Middle Sister may be connected or it is Middle Sister's way of trying to connect and understand Older Sister's state of mind. It is a dangerous game she is playing digging up information while trying to keep the strong connection to her people and customs. A beautiful debut that goes from tender family moments to complete chaos in a heartbeat as well as speaking to the very real problem of native women going missing and the authorities don't seem to care. Fans of Stephen Graham Jones and Chris Whittaker will find much to love here. 5 stars 
0 Comments
Batter has wanted to be a poet since he was a boy. When he lands a job at the most prestigious poetry journal in New York you would think he has won the lottery. But not all is what it seems at Peck & Peck as Batter discovers. Batter is a soft hearted ,gentle soul who gets tossed into the lion pit. He is on the lowest rung of the ladder making endless copies but that will change. Take one unsung hero, some cantankerous twin editors and a cast of eccentric characters and you have one clever, unique and delightful study of life and work. A work of perfect chemistry as only Bonnie Garmus could craft- this will be on many TBR lists. 4 1/2 stars  Claire is a librarian in the little town where she grew up. The library has been a place of finding oneself and losing oneself for many in the town but now the board has decided it is irrelevant as developers have come in waving money in their face. Anxious about the library's fate and sleepless she discovers a secret door that leads her to books about patron's forgotten memories. As she begins to piece together a mystery involving a broken friendship she will also rediscover her own forgotten memories that the library has kept safe. An ode to how much libraries mean to those who need them as well as how we often tap down feelings and bad memories instead of asking for help. A bit of whimsy in a very compassionate storyline, this will appeal to library lovers as well as readers of deeply emotional stories. 4 stars  We meet Livia as a farm wife in a long marriage to a quiet and kind man and a loyal dog. They live down the road from where Livia grew up in a small farm community. Then came the call out of the blue from her other life and now the feelings of "what could have been" are shaking her to the core. Barbara Kingsolver takes a deep cut into the inner workings of a woman who took a path and now wonders if she made a mistake. Would she have been a concert pianist with the love of her life by her side? We begin at the present and work our way back to the beginning without judgement or knowing what she will choose. It is a heartfelt story of making the most out of hand life has dealt you with a bit of anger and resentment until the song that starts out softly leads to a thunderous crescendo. This will resonate with her many fans along with those of Ann Patchett and Elizabeth Strout. 4 1/2 stars  An irreverent look at church royalty - the good, the bad and the ugly. Scharisse is the wife of a mega church pastor making her First Lady. What she really has her sights set for is competing with the other First Ladies in the First Lady USA pageant and she has finally been nominated this year. To get past the first hurdle (the petty jealousy and side eyed looks of some of the congregation) is one thing but a scandal rocks her future, her chances of competing and her husband's future in the eyes of the church. Deesha Philyaw pulls no punches about the politics behind the scenes but she does so with a chuckle. Scharisse lives life to the fullest and it is a fun read. 4 stars  Sophie is going through a tough time after her husband abruptly dumped her . She works organizing literary events and loves being in the world of books as long as it is behind the scenes and away from the spotlight. To deal with her loneliness and grief she forms an imaginary relationship that borders on obsession with an author she loves. This author through voices in her head offers friendship, advice giving Sophie a way to work through her depression. Quiet and lonely story but one that will resonate with those of us who find solace in books and at times feel a powerful connection to the author. 4 stars  A marine biologist gets in on the project of a lifetime returning to the remote location her parents had done research at years before. Bell Island, off the coast of Boston, is mysterious and very closed in but this handful of researchers are hoping to find evidence of an elusive octopus. Things go wrong from the beginning and it seems the only islanders welcoming them are the island's many cats. Storms rage, accidents happen and earthquakes shake as the team hunkers down and Harper gets to know more about the reclusive Lady Bell and the pull of the island. Moody, mysterious ,mystical island gothic- this is just the vacation book for lovers of Adrienne Young or THE JELLYFISH PROBLEM. 4 1/2 stars  Kai and Juniper are young actors in their first big movie. Both are unprepared for studio shenanigans, social media as they work to better themselves at their craft. They learn to trust and depend on one another even as the world around them proves difficult. But it is difficult to trust your feelings when everyone has an opinion and your whole life is suddenly staged. I enjoyed this study in the never ending Hollywood anxiety and the toll it takes on celebrities but I didn't mesh with the characters as quickly as I have in other John Green books. His writing is wonderful and thoughtful nevertheless. 4 stars  I enjoy Jodi Picoult because her stories are emotional and educational at the same time. Molly has lost her mother in 9/11 and now is head of emergency preparedness for her state. This is a job she takes very seriously. She and her husband are getting ready to have their first child. We then meet Eloise, Molly's mom and get to know her backstory and why she ran away from harming her baby. Eloise was suffering from postpartum psychosis and changed her name to Georgia. Years later Georgia is an OB nurse and meets Molly. They share a special connection. Jodi Picoult takes on serious subjects and handles them with grace and compassion. Be advised that there are many things that won't be for some readers - postpartum psychosis , mental illness, and 9/11 to name a few. It is a powerful story for mothers, daughters and those who love them. 5 stars  What happens to a family when the eldest son confesses to a horrible crime? Noah is a teen who seemed to have it all but when he confesses to molesting a couple of young girls while he was their swim coach everything shatters. Mom defends him, dad shuns him and his younger sister is confused. After Noah comes home from rehab the family splits into two homes as they try to adjust to the new reality. This is a rough one to read as it brings up so many issues and big feelings. There is a twist at the end that adds to the complexity of the topic but there is plenty to discuss for book clubs. Morality, society, parental love and guilt all come into play. There are no happy endings and it is a powerful read but it will not be for every reader. 3 1/2 - 4 stars  |
I love to read good books and share the new books that are available and those that are coming soon
Adult Genres
General Fiction Historical Fiction Thriller / Mystery Fantasy / Sci-Fi Non-Fiction All Adult Genres Other Genres Young Adult Genre Kids Books Genre Follow Kim
Review Archives
October 2026
|
RSS Feed