A sweeping historical saga of a woman's long life (112) born in freedom in Africa, then a slave and ending as a free woman again. Little Bird is stolen from her village and taken far from her home. She is both abused for the color of her skin and treasured for her skills at healing as well as being prized by a pirate for her language skills which he uses her as an interpreter. She is then sold and shipped to the Americas where her skills as a midwife are in great demand. Maryam takes care of both slaves and master and finds love and family only to have them sold away from her. Based on the author's own family history this is an incredible and heartbreaking story of survival, love and fierce strength. A must read for those who inhaled ROOTS or THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. 4 stars
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WWII historical fiction with a twist. Yes, you do begin the story in bombed London but then the adventure really begins with travels to Australia. Rose is going through a tough time after she lost the baby and her fiancé seems to be more remote than ever. She has her beloved Uncle for family in London and her fighter pilot brother but it seems obvious to the reader that she could use a fresh start. Enter the answer, a very young mixed race child that has just lost his mom and needs someone to accompany him to his relatives who live on a remote ranch in Australia. Rose blends into the temporary situation in London and soon falls not only for Walter but also his ailing grandmother and her staff. The things she thinks she will be losing leaving London until Walter gets settled might not be what she is ready to return to. A fantastic armchair adventure by train, ship and plane as well as a brilliant love story and characters who worm their way into your heart. Jenny Ashcroft shares the incredible landscape and people of Australia just as she did with India in her last book.
An insiders look at Eastern Europe and Russia in the 50's and 60's seen through the eyes of American reporters living in Yugoslavia. Katherine and Ed Clark lived out of a suitcase traveling the world reporting to their respective papers. It was when the couple lived in Belgrade that they became friends with Milovan Dijilas and his wife Steffie. Milovan had recently been ousted from Tito's government due to his unpopular ideas. He was quickly becoming disillusioned and felt that Yugoslavians were edging away from the basic ideals of Communism which put a target on his back by the Russians. Katherine Clark saw a bigger story than her husband and fought to smuggle Milovan's articles and a book out of the country. This put the target on her and her husband's backs. Another shining example of a previously unnoticed woman doing the right thing and taking great risks without the rewards. For those who follow American journalists abroad, spy stories involving Europe after the war and women behind the scenes.
4 stars When elite hotel creator Ned Groom opens up another fabulous resort called Island Home all the A-listers vie for a spot to attend the grand opening. The first round of invites goes to a select group of members who have been with Ned for years none of whom realize how their lives will change after the party if over. Don't get me wrong - there will be headlines but not the ones that Ned and staff were hoping for. Sneaky plot with a handful of unreliable characters all with their own agenda and motive all stuck on an island with a killer. As the body count adds up and Island Home falls into chaos which just proves "you can't always come home ". Easy to see why this is a Reese Book Club pick. 4 stars
A married couple comes to Avery, an unconventional therapist, to save their marriage. Marissa has had a one night affair and will do anything to redeem herself in Matthew's eyes. Avery takes them on as clients and schedules eight sessions all the while digging deep in their personal lives. The biggest secret that Marissa hasn't shared is that her one night stand won't let her go and is constantly texting, leaving gifts etc. Each of the three have secrets. Each of the three knows the cost of keeping them and each of the three wants them to go away. You want to feel sorry for one of them but as you learn more you are thrown off balance. We all want a happy ending and these seasoned authors are very good at misdirection and giving you that happy ending but it might not be the one you expected.
Well paced and expertly delivered this writing team knows that first impressions can be deceiving. 4 stars Another go at a great crime fighting duo - Nola and Zig. This starts at the funeral for another military hero and Zig has done his best with mortician magic. He sees something that hits him the wrong way and then sees the woman who saved his life but lives under the grid. On the hunt to find Nola and digging deeper means more trouble for everyone involved. Military wrong doing, secrets, tons of action and near misses- this is one more example of a bone chilling adventure that will have you thinking long after the last page. For fans of Lee Child, Tom Clancy and Brad Meltzer's other novels. 3 1/2 stars
Few families in American history have been both beloved and hated as much as the Booths. It takes a skilled historical storyteller to present a clear picture of the complicated Booth family before John Wilkes Booth became the most wanted man in America. Karen Joy Fowler does this and more as we get to know mother, famous father and all those children and what led up to that fateful night in Ford's Theater. A few of the sons were hailed as great actors trained under the guidance of their illustrious father whose antics on and off the stage leave little doubt as to the madness that ran in the family. Theirs is a colorful history and a complicated family environment from the father's bigamy to their financial troubles with farming to life as living theater in cities on the East Coast. It is evident that the author did extensive research and what she filled in for the fictional parts is in perfect sync with the storyline. Snippets of Abraham Lincoln's life echo what the Booths and the rest of the country were experiencing and are an illuminating addition. Even though this book is historical fiction it reads like a well paced biography. For readers interested in Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War and historical fiction that draws you in from the first page. 4 stars
A slim collection of stories told from a female point of view of Indian immigrants and their families back home. We glimpse life from the people left in India whose children have left for someplace better sending home empty promises of returning or visiting. There are visions of a better life in the new country but it is not without the disconnect of leaving your comfortable surroundings and culture. Every story is based on a journey - wished for or undertaken and now unable to make the trip home. These stories do serve as connective thread proving that people are people no matter where they are from and there is something for every reader to relate to.
3 1/2 stars This allegory is the perfect way to understand political dictatorship and corruption in small nations. An original approach to sharing what happened in 1917 Zimbabwe when President Mugabe was thrown out of office told in an ANIMAL HOUSE setting. Picture the dictator upon his throne droning on about his greatness until he falls asleep - an old horse, his henchmen snarling dogs and his terrified audience made up of a variety of animals and birds. While the language and cadence of Bulawayo's voice is not an easy read, the wit and novelty of the animal characters make it worthwhile.
If you are looking for an imaginative story of impossible dictators, corrupt government and the search for freedom you will find much to love here. 4 stars A very secret society invites a very select few recent grad students from the New York University of Magical Arts. Six are selected, six accept but none of them have any idea of what they are getting into. Once initiated they will have access to the Library of Alexandria where all their questions will be answered, their magical skills honed and the power of the ancients at their disposal. For medians of their skill level to be included in such a society would be worth murdering someone for. Each candidate is the top of their class, each has very different personalities and one of them won't make it. It is hard to believe that this first book in a trilogy was first self-published and you will be pulled into the story from the first page. With just the right mix of magic, jealousy, attraction, politics and danger as well as the perfect mix of character personalities you will feel like I do that I hope book two is well under way. Fans of Lev Grossman's THE MAGICIANS, Donna Tartt's SECRET HISTORY or those who wonder how Harry Potter would have turned out if he went to grad school for the dark arts. 4 1/2 stars |
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