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Arlo is a devout Jehovah's Witness deafblind with little new experiences in his life thanks to his controlling uncle and longtime caregiver. When a new interpreter joins the team who happens to be gay and thinks Arlo should lead a more full life - the real fun begins. As Arlo starts taking a writing class at the community college memories of a boarding school for the deafblind and the love of his life that got away have him questioning if he really has been sinful and where the girl is today. With the help of Cyril and his best friend Arlo will find out that there is more to life than baloney sandwiches and bullies. Warm hearted and full of quirky characters that will melt your heart this will do the trick for fans of NOTHING TO SEE HERE and HOW LUCKY. 3 1/2 stars 
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Written in a style equally brilliant and confusing THE CANDY HOUSE picks up with some of the characters found in A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD. I did not read the first novel so that may account for some of my confusion. Simply put, this is a free flowing multi-character story with multiple timelines written in various narrative styles. The invention of "Own Your Own Unconscious" allows people to buy a cube that captures all of their memories from their unconscious that can be accessed at any time. The good is that you can now settle family squabbles about who won the family football pool at a Thanksgiving 15 years ago. The bad is that when you give free access to your unconscious that data is collected and you become a guinea pig for others to track. Depending on your perspective this can be a very useful tool or the end of all creative thought. Some of the chapters are presented in unusual ways - free flowing thought and text messages as well as one character who must be on the spectrum and every thought feels like a mathematical equation. One thing becomes clear - taking a bite from a candy house never comes without a price and you may end up as a witch's dinner. 3 stars  The story of generations of a proud, tough Black Southern women. From the 1920's to the early 2000's the North women lived, loved and fought for simple dignity in a white world that threatened to take everything from them at every turn. A stunning debut of family - good, bad and ugly but one thing is certain about the North women - you can always come home and they will always set you right. It is also a love story of Memphis itself. Filled with wonderful warm characters whose voices ring true, this is reminiscent of THE COLOR PURPLE and books about strong families by Jacqueline Woodson and Toni Morrison. Tara M. Stringfellow writes with a deep soul and I can't wait for her next book. 4 stars  Wendy Wise is considered one of the top advice column authors out there for women except to her own daughters. Older daughter Barb still is resentful that she was left to pretty much raise her younger sister Clementine and still feels like she is the one Clementine turns to and this crisis is no different. Clementine's husband has sunk all their money (and I do mean all of it) into starting his vegetable water business and is now missing on top of everything. She and their son will have to leave their home unless Clementine can come up with some money and a job quick. Wendy swoops in to save the day but not everyone is happy about it. A wonderful warm and honest look at the treacherous waters of mother/daughter relationships and moms that have a hard time following their own advice. 4 stars  Caribbean island mythology and culture is pit against the reality of real life violence in the city. Jobs are scarce and his mom's health isn't getting better so Emmanuel knows that cutting off his dreads and taking a gravedigger's job in the city is the only way he can help her. His mother cannot abide by his decision to give up his Rasta roots and taking a job with the dead. Once Emmanuel is in the city he begins to understand the ebb and flow of the giant old cemetery and his role in it. He begins to see ghosts real and imagined as he understands what he has been forced to participate in and the grave he has dug for himself. Yejide comes to understand the old stories shared by the women in the family and her legacy in carrying out those same traditions now that her mom has passed. When she meets Emmanuel at the cemetery their lives will change despite the past and the future others have chosen for them. Colorful verse as vibrant as the islands it represents, this is a love story to the culture and people. 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  A young reporter takes on more than she bargained for when she agrees to go undercover to find a priceless painting stolen by the Nazis. Woman on Fire means everything to the wealthy shoe designer who as a boy watched as his mother, the subject of the painting, was killed in front of him and the painting stolen. Now that he is dying he asks for help from his journalist friend and his grandson to find the painting no matter the cost. He is not the only one looking for it and this is a dangerous game. The underground art world, shadowy art acquisitions, art detectives and the chance for redemption all take top billing. A historical mystery that reads like true crime with a hint of romance, this is perfect for fans of art heists, MONUMENTS MEN, THE POSTMISTRESS OF PARIS, THE WOMAN IN GOLD and art lovers everywhere. 4 stars  A book about books and the imagination to create stories. While it is clear this author has a clear understanding of how reading has influenced her and her ability to tell stories ,this book reads like a travel log of journeys through reading and interesting destinations. From her school days where she begins to write and leave stories for a beloved teacher we get the message that everything you see, hear and experience is fodder for stories. Those readers who are looking for books and authors to add to their own personal reading lists will appreciate the mecca of books that are mentioned. 3 stars  The seven Shaw siblings have all grown up with a strong Midwestern farmer's work ethic. You work hard, don't ask anyone for a handout, don't show emotions and don't expect life to be easy. Written in alternating timelines and narrators from their youth in the late 1920's to adulthood in the 1950's this is a microscopic look at a proud family that never really recovered from their mother's depression and suicide at a young age. While only a couple of the kids stay or come back to the farm for good, they seem to always feel the pull back home in times of stress. All of the siblings are broken and scarred but are fiercely loyal to each other. A very quiet yet powerful novel of family and home reminiscent of books by Elizabeth Strout and Anne Tyler. 4 1/2 stars  Katy is grieving the recent loss of her mother and is at a loss over the state of her marriage as well as the lost path of her life plan. She decides to take the dream trip she and her mom were planning to take to Positano to feel closer to her mom and re-evaluate. Once there the sea, the incredible food and wine and the easy going people start to work their magic. Because Positano is a magical place, she spies and befriends a younger version of her mom. While it is fantastic to have the time with her at the age when she first fell in love with Positano, there are more questions than answers. Katy's attraction to a handsome American businessman isn't helping her miss home either. A clever storyline that includes a little romance, deep family relationships, and time travel lite. This is a must for daughters whose moms are their best friend as well as those of us who feel Positano is heaven on earth. Pour yourself a generous glass of Italian wine, find a sunny spot and escape to the Italian coast. 4 sunny stars  |
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