"THE STORYTELLER OF CASABLANCA" BY FIONA VALPY
I picked up this book anticipating some exotic tales but instead found myself encircled by the stories of two girl/women struggling in two different centuries to make sense of the world in a fabled city. There are some unusual plot twists and turns, some of which seem to be a bit too contrived, but it all comes out at least somewhat satisfying in the end. Well, not completely, but enough to let me put the tale to rest and get ready to pick up my next library-book-of-the-month.
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"BLACK CAKE" BY CHARMAINE WILKERSON
This is an engrossing novel that weaves through a series of generations of Caribbean ancestry, including a traditional Black Cake. Family history and the relationships that go with it make this convoluted story sing all the way. This is a debut novel but has the depth and feel of being from a seasoned author. One of the features that I found comfortable was the short chapters, often two to five pages long, that moved the story along. But don't expect an easy read - it's a puzzle worth solving.
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"THE AUTISTIC BRAIN" BY TEMPLE GRANDIN
The author of this thin volume, a well respected professor and speaker, writes from experience of the changes in thinking about autism since her birth more than sixty years ago. As a very highly functional adult living with autism, Dr. Grandin looks at the research being done today. And she introduces new ways of fostering the unique strengths of autistic children as they grow. Although the book is scholarly, the chapters are quite readable and the ongoing research is worth knowing about.
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"A LITTLE HOPE" BY ETHAN JOELLA
A little gem of a book of common life in a small community. Our book's interwoven families experience young love and death, illness and hope, memories and regrets. There is little in these stories that are exceptionally exciting or earth-shatteringly tragic, but there are enough family problems to keep us engrossed in the lives of our characters. Perhaps a little too many family problems for light summer reading, but put the book on your list, anyway.
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"THE WHITE RUSSIAN" BY VANORA BENNETT
This is a novel based on a number of true incidents in a lesser-remembered part of European history - during the 1930's period between the two World Wars. The setting is in Paris where a large number of White Russian immigrants found temporary shelter from the Bolshevik government. A young American girl travels to Paris to visit her grandmother and, while there, meets a young White Russian. Their growing romance, and its ensuing complications, keep the plot hopping.
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"THE PILGRIMAGE" BY PAULO COELHO
This small volume offers a remarkable poetic tale of the author's other-world-like pilgrimage along Spain's legendary Road to Santiago de Compostela. The book is timeless in scope, being first published in 1987. Since that time, the book has had a number of reprints, the last being in 2021. After starting to read, I soon discovered that mid-summer (when the livin' is easy) is not the best time of year to delve into such a philosophical and poetic book. So save this one for winter evenings.
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"THE STARS ARE NOT YET BELLS" BY HANNA LILLITH ASSADI
Having been married to a husband whose later years were lived with Alzheimer's disease, I marvel at the way our author has captured the fleeting thoughts and fading memories of Elle, our main character in this novel. It is not easy to follow the story line, just as it is not easy for someone with Alzheimer's to think clearly nor the caretakers to understand. I found that a second reading of this short tome to be valuable in appreciating what this young author has accomplished through this book.
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"RED THREAD OF FATE" BY LYN LIAO BUTLER
A winding tale of family bonds, both strong and shattered. Chapter One starts us out with a devastating traffic accident that sets the stage for a multiplicity of questions. All of them slowly answered by the last page. We learn about international adoption and some of its history. But we also learn much about the importance of generational identity to differing cultures - in this case, between Chinese, Taiwanese and American. A different who-dun-it with an oriental flavor.
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"THE BETRAYAL OF ANNE FRANK" BY ROSEMARY SULLIVAN
This brand-new book (copyright 2022) is the latest investigation into the persistent questions concerning the betrayal of the Frank family during World War II. Very detailed in scope, this "cold case investigation" contains more than you ever thought you wanted to know. However, it is fascinating to read about how much time and effort has gone into researching old files and records that were not available, or even known about, until recent years. If you like mysteries, and all the details, this book is for you.
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"MATRIX" BY LAUREN GROFF
The year is 1158. The country is England. Marie, our young royal-born heroine, has just been sent by Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine to be prioress of a down-on-its-heels royal abbey. So get ready for a tale of a world far from America, 2022. This is not a book with lots of action and suspense. Instead, it's a book to spend time with, to puzzle over while savoring the journey. I was fascinated with our author's writing style - the pictures she creates with her use of words and phrases. Be prepared for something different.
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