Happy book birthday to SHOOT THE MOON by Isa Arsen
Annie Fisk was born to travel to the stars or at least help others at NASA find their way. An exceptionally bright mathematician who was not content to sit back if the numbers didn't look right her tenacious attitude helped her meet her husband and get the attention of the powers at NASA. This is a look at the struggles for women at NASA, the race for space, a woman who loved a man and a woman deeply and a special anomaly that unlocks a path to travel in time. Chapters leap back and forth from Annie's youth to her time in Houston and after in Marfa Texas. It is a bit HIDDEN FIGURES as much as it is THE TIME TRAVELERS WIFE and readers who enjoy learning about the struggle of smart women in traditionally men's jobs will enjoy this as much as the romance. 3 1/2 stars
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Cam is grieving the loss of his lover Kai and dealing with it in a haze of drugs, booze and random hook ups with strangers back home in Houston. When he is reunited with his childhood best friend and the family who took him into their home and bakery growing up he wonders if it will be enough to extinguish Kai's ghost. Returning home is hard when the leaving was painful and it will take love and considerable patience to get back to the closeness they shared. Bryan Washington's writing is beautiful and while painful to read there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. It is an intimate look at connections - family, friends and lovers. Who we bare our soul to, make food for, trust and keep secrets for. 4 stars
Happy book birthday to THE LIST by Yomi Adegoke
How do we gauge the truth of what we see on social media? What would you do if you saw someone you loved on a list of wrongdoers? This is what Ola must decide and the timing couldn't be worse. She is a journalist at a feminist magazine and used to being a champion of women's rights but now it is personal. Just weeks before she is getting married her fiancé's name comes up on a list of men accused of sexual misconduct on social media. The accusers are not named but the accused are publicly vilified. Now her job, friendships, her social event of the season wedding and her relationship with Michael all come under public scrutiny. Is it true or is someone playing a vindictive and destructive game? Twists and turns will have you moving players from hero to villain back and forth. The scary part of the story is how easily this could happen in a world where social media dominates our lives. Justice needs to be served, victims need to speak out but we should all being careful of being both judge, jury and executioner. 4 stars A novel that feels like a true crime documentary script. Told by a journalist that is taking another look at a horrible crime ten years later to dissect testimony and interview the convicted and those in the small coastal town in Yorkshire. It is essentially mean girls on steroids - bullying and acting out their fear of being the ones not noticed or fitting in. In the end it would involve the torture and setting an outcast girl on fire. When we go back to the beginnings of those involved it is easy to see the powder keg that could ignite at any moment. Their teen years saw trouble at home and trouble at school with not knowing who to trust as well as a fascination with the dark, suicide and murder. This story didn't happen or did it? It is full of teen angst but does offer a complete picture of a small town full of hidden violence. 3 stars
(pub date: Sept. 26) From meeting in Chicago in the 90's through their history together well into the 2000's, Elizabeth and Jack have led a life much like most people. They are happy? with their life, their son and their jobs mostly. They have invested their entire savings in the construction of their "forever house" but are wondering if it will ever get built. As each of them dissects the marriage and their parent's marriages the search begins to find wellness in their lives whatever that means. This is a deep look at a marriage as well as a satire about a period of time in America when everyone was obsessed to look better, feel better, be better through whatever method, device or training that some crackpot on tv or the internet was hawking. Dry humor, great insight and many heavy sighs that will delight fans of his first book. I will be eagerly waiting for more. 4 stars (pub date Sept. 19)
Amelia derails her career, ends her relationship with her ex and runs from her best friend's wedding to flee to Europe on a non-refundable vacation. She needs the three months to regroup and is finishing it off on a tiny island in Greece. While there she and the only other hotel guest James drink too much, get married and inherit the hotel where they are staying. It is either a gift from the Gods or a huge mistake but they agree to finish off the season before making a decision. The beauty of Greece and its colorful and vibrant inhabitants are on full display along with a "Mama Mia" and UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN kind of expat crumbling hotel owner story. Light romance and all about following your heart instead of your guilt to find happiness. Fans of Emily Henry romances and those of us who dream of living every day in a vacation spot will enjoy this. 4 end of summer stars
Yara is a Palestinian American. She is an educated professor who teaches art as well as caring for her two young daughters, husband and the mountain of housework. Her life is not perfect but much better than her mother and grandmother's life was. Yara is swimming in guilt because she wants more out of life than a few classes, raising her children alone and a few words shared with her husband over the tv at night. She is on a mental tightrope that is about to snap and throw her off and then she loses her job and her family and husband are blaming her for their dissatisfaction and it isn't getting any better. A friend and a therapist slowly help her to see the life she wants and deserves is within reach. Childhood trauma, cultural divides , demands from family and the guilt over not being able to do it all are central themes here. Once again we have a personal, deep story of a woman being pulled in several directions trying to honor the traditional roles while forging ahead searching for a bit of independence and self worth. Yara's journey into her past to understand where she is going is a universal story that will resonate with many readers as well as her fans from her first book, A WOMAN IS NO MAN.
4 stars Grace is having a really bad day -a total meltdown after a bad year. Looking back on her life at 45 she feels loss - of her career, of her daughter and of her marriage. She used to be amazing but has felt lately like she is failing at everything. As she makes her way to her teenage daughter's birthday party with her gift of an amazing cake and an apology we see the day start to go as sideways as the icing on the cake. Every mother with a teenage daughter, every woman of a certain age who is looking back wanting the world to see them as they used to and every woman dealing with hormone swings and body changes will see something of themselves in this book. There are some very serious issues that are addressed here as well concerning her daughter's secret boyfriend and the loss of a young child and mental health issues. We are all in Grace's corner even when you can't possibly think her day can get any worse. I listened to the audiobook of this and the tension is spot on. 3 1/2 stars
Stephanie has a gift or a curse- she can control space. She has been able to do this for as long as she can remember but once others learn of her ability it either amazes or frightens them. It is not easy for her to trust people but she makes a work friend and helps them by creating a hidden terrace that only is there when she comes over to visit. This gives the couple and their baby a wonderful escape from their tiny apartment but do they love Stephanie for her friendship or the terrace? Stephanie's story is told in four vignettes and I enjoyed all of them but have to admit I was a bit lost in the last one. All of the stories explore love, loss, longing for family and connectivity. It also makes us keenly aware of how much or little space we take up in life. A slim novel that asks a lot of heavy questions. 3 1/2 stars
A Korean-American family must deal with something no one wants to face - dad didn't come home from the park and his disabled son did emotionally overwrought. To make matters worse Eugene is autistic and also has a rare disorder that doesn't allow him to communicate at all. 20 year old twins Mia and John begin to unravel their dad's papers and computer to try to figure out what happened only to discover he was working on a secret project "The Happiness Quotient" trying to define happiness. Within the coded notes may be the truth but the truth may not be what they expect nor want. The police have damaging video from the park and Eugene's outburst tirade may be used to charge him with hurting his dad. The family must now work to clear Eugene and shine a light on this hidden side of their dad. A family drama caught up mystery as well as a look at the importance and variety of communication. I was fascinated by Eugene, both his condition and interactions with the family and was less interested in the side line project on happiness. Angie Kim shares much information on the Angelman Syndrome, autism and new ways of communicating that will interest a wide variety of readers. 4 1/2 stars |
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