Happy New Year, everyone!
Have you ever seen those reading lists “52 Categories of Books to Read this Year”? They are populated with categories like “Read a book that takes place in China” and “Read a book published in the 1800s”, and then the idea is to tick one category off each week of the year. They are fun to look at, but maybe a little too restrictive to follow. And a book a week is an ambitious pace. Continue reading
There is a lot to like about The Library Book. Author Susan Orlean chronicles the 1986 fire that devastated the Los Angeles Central Library, at the same time using it as a vehicle to explore the history of the library, the mission and future of libraries in general, and share her own poignant history and relationship with libraries. Continue reading
In Then She Was Gone, Laurel Mack is a woman who is trying to put her life back together ten years after her teenage daughter, Ellie, disappeared. But just when things finally start to look up, clues from the past begin to surface. Continue reading
The title of this book says it all. This is a fact based look at the world, and the facts show that, on the whole, the world is improving in most key areas, including education, income and life expectancy. Written by a gifted storyteller and accomplished scientist, Factfulness is a powerful antidote to people’s tendency to think that the sky is perpetually falling. Continue reading
Rules of Civility is a beautifully written novel set in post-depression New York City. It tells the story of Kate, a wise and well-read working girl, who suddenly finds herself maneuvering through the sparkling upper echelons of high society. This is a coming of age tale for people in their twenties, as it explores aspirations, relationships and finding a place in life that makes you mentally and morally ok with yourself. Continue reading
Finding gifts for book lovers is easier than ever. There are a ton of products on the market – clever, beautiful, practical, whimsical – something for everyone. I have tried giving people books as gifts, but that has met with mixed results. For example, when Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson was published several years ago, I bought it for my husband for Christmas. My husband has a business degree, used to make a living as a techie and is a voracious nonfiction reader. I thought that gift was a slam dunk! But when he opened it I could tell he didn’t like it. Turns out he hated Steve Jobs. Ugh! Continue reading
In The Tuscan Child, Joanna Langley is distraught when her estranged father dies. Regretting that she didn’t know him better, she travels to the Tuscany region of Italy to find out more about what happened to him when he was shot down in the area during World War II. But someone wants the secrets of the past to stay buried. Continue reading
“Things Fall Apart”, by Chinua Achebe, was on the syllabus for my daughters’ (yes, plural) world literature class. As I like to do sometimes, I read it with them. First published in 1958, it tells the story Okonkwo, a respected warrior, and his village in Nigeria as they both struggle to adapt to colonization. I’m not going to review it because I feel silly reviewing classics. I’ll just say I’m glad I read it and I encourage you to read it, too. It’s a short book and written in simple, but meaningful, language. It doesn’t require a big time investment and you’re likely to learn some interesting things. Continue reading
In Something in the Water, Erin and Mark are honeymooning in Bora Bora when they discover something completely unexpected floating in the water. It could be the answer to their prayers or it could rip apart their fledgling marriage. Will they do the right thing? Continue reading
Sometimes books stay with you long after you finish them. Where the Crawdads Sing is that kind of book. Part coming of age story, part romance, part murder mystery, part court room drama, this beautifully written novel will squeeze a lot of different emotions out of you. Continue reading
