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11 year old John Reddy Heart and his glamorous and mysterious mom arrive in a small New York town in the 60's. John Reddy is the stuff of dreams for all the girls and the envy of all the boys until a murder happens at the Heart home and John is the only suspect. He is charged and suddenly his attraction is seen as dangerous. The book feels like a beauty salon/barbershop conversation that runs over several decades. The writing style is poetic or exhausting. An ode to high school full of yearning, confusion and loneliness. 3 stars 
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Many single women found themselves on the doorstep of hotels like the Biedermeier in the 60's New York. Safe, somewhat affordable and respectable they allowed many women their first taste of being on their own in a room to call their own. Welcome to The Biedermeier where a diverse group of women gather, each trying to live up to high expectations of what the modern independent woman looks like with a few who just want a rich husband! The montage of characters from the woman who tries to keep the hotel financially afloat , to the floor managers who try to keep half an eye on all the little chicks to the residents themselves - are all funny, tragic and tough as nails. This slim novel packs a lot of history of the hotels and the changing society of 60's New York written in a slice of life approach that will charm and delight. Readers of Fiona Davis THE DOLLHOUSE or fans of MAD MEN will find much to love. 4 stars  Xishi comes from a small village that is overrun by a warlord and the army who killed her sister before her eyes. She meets someone who recruits her to use her beauty to seduce and infiltrate the king's household . Fanli trains Xishi to become a cunning spy and courtesan but her heart remains with Fanli who is forbidden. Once inside the palace she finds herself in even more danger and palace intrigue than she imagined. She finds herself second guessing if the king is really evil or what will happen if she is discovered a traitor. A taste of historical Asian culture, a forbidden romance mixed with a spy thriller makes this an interesting and clever tale that will appeal to both young adult and adult audiences. The audiobook narration was perfect and a wonderful way to enjoy the story. 4 stars  Some bonds are forged by blood and some by circumstance but the bond between these siblings is one that is unbreakable. Pearly and her family live deep in the Canadian woods near a logging camp where her dad works as a cook. The night that Pearly is born her dad comes home with an orphaned bear cub and to everyone's surprise Pearly's mom accepts it as her own child nursing and raising them both as siblings. Pearly and Bruno become inseparable but when tragedy strikes that acceptance at the camp is tested and they run. The journey is long and nothing short of miraculous until Bruno is injured and they are forced to take refuge in a small town. Pearly's courage and unshakable devotion to Bruno speaks to the townspeople who lend their support. There is also someone else searching to bring them home. This story takes place during the Depression where people with so little have so much taken from them and they still manage to help. A tale based in truth this coming of age story of a girl and her brother the bear will restore your faith in humanity. The language is spot on and the author paints the wonder of the north woods beautifully. Anyone who enjoys historical fiction of pioneers, adventure seekers at odds with the land or strong bonds between human and animal will fall hard for this. 4 1/2 stars  Richard Powers has crafted an epic tale of friendship, ambition, activism, marriage and community while slyly teaching us about the wonders of the oceans and a multitude of other subjects. Trying to put this book into a tidy little genre is like crabbing blindfolded as you are constantly enraptured by early oceanographer's explorations, the beginnings of A.I. , the ancient game of Go and warnings of climate change. A wide range of characters, each with a unique voice, grace the pages with the main story being about two childhood friends who take different paths and an oceanographer who felt more at ease under the water than above it. They and others will meet again on a the little resilient island nation of Makatea who once again face foreigners trying to use the island to "make life better" only to see their way of life and island paradise stripped. The cover is stunning but not as much as the picture Richard Powers paints of the ocean and its inhabitants. It is a subtle call to activism, a love letter to oceans and to the people with the smallest voice who thrive within them. For anyone who lives for National Geographic documentaries, happily looks for life on every watery horizon and also enjoys a variety of well developed characters. 5 stars  A satisfying gothic mystery centered around science, myth and religion in Eighteenth century Wales. A disgraced doctor in London is forced to take the position of village doctor in remote Wales. The villagers don't trust him and the gentry don't like his interference but he does find a kindred spirit in Linette, his boss's niece. Linette takes care of the village families and the miner's against her Uncle's wishes. Dr. Talbot and Linette are also trying to solve the mysterious disease that keeps her mother a madwoman. The more Dr. Talbot looks into suspicious deaths, strange symbols, unsafe conditions at the mines and the drugged mistress of the house the more danger he finds himself in. A classic story of the wealthy class taking advantage and the zero tolerance for assertive women who don't fit the social norm mixed with a spooky story of demonic clubs and myth vs. science. Gothic readers who choose mystery over romance will find this to be a good choice. 4 stars  Tere is stuck in a rut. She left teaching at the university when her husband died and hasn't found the will to go back. She just needs a push which comes the day she begins to levitate. She feels the need to travel to Spain and discover the secret of her levitating ancestor Saint Teresa of Avila and find answers. What she finds are more questions, new friends and reconnections with family roots. All "women of a certain age" will enjoy and understand this touching story of being untethered - both emotionally and physically and the joy of second chances. Tere with the help of Avila will find the strength to fly. A story that will appeal to many readers who find themselves adrift or not but enjoy cross cultural exploration. 4 stars  An outstanding depiction of women writers in two timelines not being given their due simply because of their gender. Emilia, trained as a courtesan at an early age, is under the protection (read gifted) to a Lord in Queen Elizabeth's court. Thankfully, he is kind and allows her freedom so she can quietly develop her poetry. Years pass and she makes friends with Kit Marlowe who sees her great talent and helps devise a plan to sell her writing to those less talented men like Will Shakespeare under a false name. When Emilia falls in love with someone she shouldn't and the unthinkable happens she is cast out yet picks herself back up to continue to market her writing. Generations later, Melina a young female playwright has the same sexist pushback her ancestor Emilia did in trying to break thought the all male barrier of Broadway. This story rings true because it is based on Emilia Bassano thought to be the first female published poet and the author's note at the end is well worth checking out. Jodi Picoult has done it again with rich vibrant characters (I loved Kit Marlowe) and perfectly researched storyline connected to current day that showcases a resilient woman who overcame abuse, great loss and obscurity to follow her dreams. Anyone who enjoys stories of Queen Elizabeth's court, and the retellings of Shakespeare's famous plays will enjoy this feminist historical fiction. 4 1/2 stars  A momentous adventure story based in truth full of uncharted territory and danger in untested waters. An enthusiastic steamship inventor and his family undertake the voyage of a lifetime as they embark on the maiden voyage of their steamship on the mighty Mississippi the full length ending in New Orleans in 1811. Lydia Roosevelt is very pregnant and along with their toddler daughter make this journey with unwavering faith that her husband's ship will make the voyage showing the world what is possible and wowing investors and travelers along the way. This journey would have been arduous for anyone but they weathered hostile people, waterfalls, earthquakes and countless other dangers while Lydia remained at her husband's side. This is an adventure story with a rugged determined woman at its center. Diane C. McPhail does an admirable job balancing the extreme danger with the joy of discovering what was just around the bend and experiencing it with the ones you love at your side. If Mark Twain were a woman this is the story they would have penned. 4 stars  A fever dream of a story about an adventurous husband who drags his wife off to a remote island in search of an illusive spider whose silk holds magical powers. The women of the island embrace Sophia but her husband steals the spiders bringing them back to England which sets a curse into motion. A generation later the factory spinning the spider silk is in full operation employing the whole town - men, women and even young children. Henry is a grieving audiologist who is hired to help cure the owner's deaf daughter. While he is unable to improve her hearing he becomes obsessed with the silence provided by the spider silk and sets about marketing it. Caught in the seductive web of recognition and the lavish attention of the lord of the manor/factory owner, Henry tries to prove his worth while looking the other way at the plight of the young workers whose health is failing. It is a classic story of the class divide, unrequited love , the horrible working conditions of young factory workers and the allure of magical creatures without a thought to how they might exact their revenge. Atmospheric writing that will attract readers of Lydia Millet and Adrienne Young. 4 stars  |
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