"FRENCH BRAID" BY ANNE TYLER
If you are already familiar with the stories of this Pulitzer Prize winner, you know that you're in for a laid-back treat of mostly-ordinary people living mostly-ordinary lives. If you're new to Anne Tyler's style, don't expect hair-raising adventure, mad love scenes, or overly-tragic happenings. Instead, relax into life with its daily routine. This time we experience the lives of several generations of the Garrett family - living out their lives, for the most part, in Baltimore. A good refresher on a summer day.
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"THE DIAMOND EYE" BY KATE QUINN
This book was a surprise. I'm really not into shoot-em-up war stories but this one was a winner. The historical novel is based on the true story of a young (only 24 years old) Russian female soldier who gained international fame for her sharpshooting abilities during WWII in the Soviet Union's Ukraine. After her expertise was noticed, "Lady Death" was sent to the U.S. on a good-will tour. There, she was befriended by Eleanor Roosevelt who remained her advocate for many years.
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"THE GOOD LEFT UNDONE" BY ADRIANA TRIGIANI
If you have ever read earlier books by Trigiani, you already know that she excels at catching the importance of "family" - whether that family is generational or just neighbors. Here, we have several generations of an Italian family as they scatter during World War II and then find themselves reuniting in the present time. Of course, there are family secrets and long-held differences that complicate things, but the strong ties of church and family win out in the end.
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"THE LAST CONFESSIONS OF SYLVIA PLATH" BY LEE KRAVETZ
Inspired by true events and real people, this is basically a narrative written about the noted poet Sylvia Plath's novel "The Bell Jar." However, this tale is also a mystery story as narrated by three women: a psychiatrist, a fellow poet, and the seasoned curator at an auction house. The story traces the decline into madness that ended Plath's life in suicide. A work of fiction, it was inspired by true events and real people. Be aware that this is a small book, but not an easy read.
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"THE NEXT SHIP HOME" BY HEATHER WEBB
The setting of this novel of historical fiction is Ellis Island. The time is the very early 1900s when there was a great influx of immigrants clamoring to enter the United States, particularly from Europe. Although the book's plot seems a bit contrived, the story carries its weight in helping us understand the plight of the immigrant at that time in history, as well as realize that our immigration system continues to present problems in today's world. The bitter/sweet ending is, in its way, satisfying.
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"TRUE BIZ" BY SARA NOVIC
This is an amazing book on a little-regarded subject - life in a Deaf culture. The novel's plot centers on students at a school for the deaf, plus the headmistress at that school. We become immersed in life for those who are growing up without the privilege of hearing. This is a contemporary book, with some language and sexually explicit scenes that may offend readers, so be forewarned. However, there is also much to learn about the world of the deaf, both at home and in their schooling, in today's culture.
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"PORTRAIT OF A THIEF" BY GRACE D. LI
It's an action-packed tale of museum thievery, but much more than that, this novel is a complex look at personalities and national identity. Five college-age Chinese-American students take on the world of fine art while planning a series of thefts of ancient Chinese artifacts from several museums. Of course, there are complications to their plans, which keep the plot moving. But equally important to the story (or perhaps even more so) are the interactions of the characters. Worth your while.
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"WHAT THE FIREFLIES KNEW" BY KAI HARRIS
A delightful coming-of-age story, told by a promising young black writer who makes me feel that she has been writing from experience. KB and her older sister find themselves living with their grandfather in Lansing, Michigan for the summer while their mother is recuperating after a breakdown following the death of their drug-addicted father. Family dynamics, teenage dramatics and (ultimately) love make the story come alive.
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"THE BERLIN EXCHANGE" BY JOSEPH KANON
A spy thriller, taking place in East Berlin during the Cold War of the 1960's. Although books like this are not my favorite genre, the story line and the keen character developments kept me engrossed to the very end. And, of course, things do get wrapped up by the final page but not without a few extra twists and turns, car chases and unexpected deaths before it's all over. If you like fast action with more than enough psychological twists, this book is for you.
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"THE LAST SLAVE SHIP' BY BEN RAINES
A very interesting narrative detailing the history of the last sailing ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean carrying enslaved people from Africa to America. The ship "Clotilda" was purposely burned and sunk in the coastal Alabama swampland and discovered 160 years later, in 2019. Ben Raines, a journalist and the author of this book, was the man who made the discovery. Raines tells the story through interviews with earlier residents of Africatown, the once-thriving community of slaves and their families near Mobile.
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