"THE STRANGER IN THE LIFEBOAT" by MITCH ALBOM
If you've never heard of this author, you must be from another part of the country. Detroit native Mitch Albom is well known as an author, journalist, broadcaster and more, with "Tuesdays with Morrie" only one of his bestsellers. In this small, very readable novel we find survivors in a lifeboat sharing space with "the Lord" while looking back on their own fragile lives. Along the way, you may find yourself asking some of those same questions.
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"THE NIGHT CIRCUS" by ERIN MORGENSTERN
This is a circus like no other, so be prepared. There is magic, plus illusion, plus fortune-telling, spells and charms. But if you're looking for laughing clowns and lumbering elephants - or even a straight-out murder mystery or torrid love story - this book will not fill the bill. So allow yourself to suspend belief. Be prepared for a different sort of science fiction that teases the mind. Not a book for the literal-minded, but you may find it to your liking.
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"THE BOOK OF LOST NAMES" by KRISTEN HARMEL
Historical fiction with an engrossing story from France during World War II. Although the characters are fictional, they are based on a variety of true tales of men and women who created false identity documents for Jewish children fleeing the Nazis. It is easy to get caught up in the fascinating story and marvel at the self-sacrifice and dedication of French citizens in sheltering the orphaned children and accompanying them to safety in Switzerland.
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"THE 1619 PROJECT" by NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES and the NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE
This volume is a potpourri of articles, stories, poems and essays that depict the long history of slavery in America and how it continues to shape life - from the first slaves brought to America from Africa in 1619 to our continued grappling with prejudice today. Four hundred years of history. It is a formidable book, written by accomplished authors, poets, historians, journalists and concerned citizens. Not intended to be read in one sitting, but absorbed over time.
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"BEASTS OF A LITTLE LAND" by JUHEA KIM
Everything that happens influences something else, and life is made up of small happenings - that is the premise of this intriguing first novel. Taking place in the country of Korea over a century, from just after World War I through World War II and again after the restructuring, we follow three young girls as they are trained as courtesans and make their way through life. It is not an easy story, but neither was life during those times. Read it with an open mind.
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"THE LAST CHANCE LIBRARY" by FREYA SAMPSON
Ahh! A book to sit back with and just enjoy the ride. After a couple of books that demanded (and deserved) attention to detail, this novel gave me a chance to relax. With its down-home story of a small, local library in the throes of being closed, any book lover will sympathize and hope for a happy ending - which, you know will happen by the end. So pick up the book, enjoy the journey and the quirky characters. And don't forget to keep patronizing our own Bluffton Library!
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"BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY" by QIAN JULIE WANG
It takes a lot of grit, plus insight and talent, to write so openly of a childhood such as the one lived by this author. Brought at age seven to New York from China by her educator-parents, she sees them struggle in low-end menial jobs as they risk detection as undocumented immigrants. Although we learn, from the fly-leaf, that our author is now a highly educated and successful lawyer, we also marvel at the inner strength and resiliency that brought her through that fraught childhood to this point in life. An amazing read.
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