"NOMADLAND" by Jessica Bruder
Travel trailers, vans, RV's - all ways of vacationing with your own sleeping and eating accommodations. They are also a way of life for people on the move for reasons other than a vacation. In this book, we get to know some of the latter RVers - those who call themselves "workampers." For three years, our author shadowed several campers as they moved from place to place, doing seasonal work for Amazon, hosting campgrounds, farm harvest work, always dreaming of better days ahead. Eye-opening.
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"ALL MANNER OF THINGS" by Susie Finkbeiner
A bitter-sweet American family saga from the Korean War to the Vietnam years. From the beginning, you will be caught up in the story with its easily-identifiable characters. Although this book is a novel, the heartaches feel real as we follow the Jacobson family and their friends - all Michigan-small-town characters - as they cope with a mixture of memories and real-life/death situations.
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"THE AGITATOR'S DAUGHTER" by Sheryll Cashin
Our author follows her family's four-generation history of political activism - champions of their fellow black voters right to vote and serve their country. The story is a detailed telling of, first, her great-grandfather's championing of social justice during the Reconstruction to, eventually, her father's civil rights work of the '70s and beyond. If you're interested in history of voting rights in the South, this book will tell you more than you ever wanted to know.
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"AN UNEXPECTED PERIL" by Deanna Raybourn
This book is one in a series of delightful mysteries featuring English royal/socialite/adventuress Veronica Speedwell and her equally-adventurous beau Stoker. Set in the late 1800's, this mystery includes the disappearance of a princess of Alpenwald, a tiny European principality, following the death of a distinguished mountain climber. Have fun trying to trace the ups and downs of super sleuthing. Of course, our heroine gets all the problems solved by the end of the book!
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"THEY CALLED US ENEMY" by George Takei
(with co-writers Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott with art by Harmony Becker)
How many ways are there to tell a story? George Takei, "Star Trek's" character Sulu, tells his story via cartoons - although the tale is not of the Sunday comic section variety. Takei collaborates with three artists who, together, narrate the tale of his childhood years living in an American Japanese internment camp during WWII. It is a harrowing tale, but important in facing some of our country's less honorable moments of history. A cartoon story for all ages.
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"MONSOON SUMMER" by Julia Gregson
At the beginning of this sprawling novel set in the years immediately following WWII, our heroine Kit is finishing her training as a nurse-midwife when she falls in love with Anto, a medical student from India just finishing his training. They marry and set sail for Anto's home country. But Kit discovers that she is unprepared for entering the traditional, upper-crust Indian culture. And therein lies the tale. After plenty of misunderstandings, secrets are revealed and the saga unwinds on a positive note.
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"TINY TALES" by Alexander McCall Smith
After reading an extended novel (see above), this little gem from the pen of Alexander McCall Smith is a breath of fresh air. Small and light in the hand (as well as in content), this mini-book will bring out the chuckles and smiles. In addition to stories, you will find cartoons by Iain McIntosh gracing the pages. So sit back and enjoy!
(P.S. If you have been in outer space for the past umpteen years and have never met our author, here's your introduction!)
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"WARLORD" by Bernard Cornwell
Reading about ancient England's wars us not my cup of tea, but I soldiered through the first two chapters of this saga to get a feel for what's in store for those of you who want to check out the book. The author is well-versed in this type of tale, with many before-what-we-know-as-England novels to his credit. He has done a lot of homework as a basis for his books, but the story is his take on what happened. Cornwell's books are well worth your while if you are into those early warring days.
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"DESTINATION WELLNESS" by Annie Daly
Travel with our author to six different countries of the world to discover those country's secrets as to leading a better life. Whether it is hiking up mountains in Norway, eating well in Jamaica, relaxing in Hawaii, exploring the quiet forests of Japan, bringing your life into balance in India, or learning to "socially connect" in Brazil, you'll get some new insights on how citizens in other countries cope with the stresses of life. The subtitle tells it all - "Global Secrets for Better Living Wherever You are."
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"SUNFLOWER SISTERS" by Martha Hall Kelly
Give yourself plenty of time to read this novel - one page shy of 500 pages, regular print. It's a story filled with historical happenings and is evidence of formidable research. Taking place during the Civil War, with women as the main characters throughout, the plot centers on two basic settings - a Southern plantation and New York City. Although featuring female characters, our author does not sugar-coat the atrocities of war and the cruelty of slavery.
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"FINDING CHIKA" by Mitch Albom
For those of you who have already teared up reading Mitch Albom's "Tuesdays with Morrie," here's another goodie for you. In this tender, heart-warming true story, the popular Michigan-based author and columnist re-lives the few short years he and his wife Janine cared for Chika, a Haiti-born orphan girl. Although a rare illness eventually takes Chika's life, Albom tells (in his simple but creative style) of the lessons of love and parenting that continue to live with them every day.
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"TIDELANDS" by Philippa Gregory
A master of English historical fiction, Gregory gives us one more example of her writing expertise in "Tidelands." Although many of her novels center on London and royalty, this book takes us away from the cities to the bleak marshlands along England's southern coast and the superstitious farmers and villagers who live there. And, as always, she touts the strength of women in a culture that denigrates their worth. If you've never read a Philippa Gregory historical novel, here's your invitation.
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