Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: This is the second in the Record Shop Series and it's well crafted, well plotted, has a well developed sense of placeThanks to Netgalley for the ARC: This is the second in the Record Shop Series and it's well crafted, well plotted, has a well developed sense of place, and well drawn characters. The story drew me in immediately. Excellent cozy mystery and no sophomore slump here....more
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC: 4.5 stars, rounded up: Lara Love Hardin is a terrific writer and she has a very important stThanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC: 4.5 stars, rounded up: Lara Love Hardin is a terrific writer and she has a very important story that she tells so well. Love Hardin was jailed for 32 felonies and spent way too long having to pay back the system for her crimes. She writes beautifully--she ghost wrote many books by social justice luminaries that I've read and enjoyed. Probation was created to rehabilitate but it's just petty punishment as she describes and it creates insurmountable barriers. The author is truthful and compelling. Her insight and the power of her story make her a social justice warrior and this book is highly recommended. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: This was a fascinating mystery--a story of multiple deceptions that occurred in Korea. The main protagonist, Sae, is Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: This was a fascinating mystery--a story of multiple deceptions that occurred in Korea. The main protagonist, Sae, is a young mother, a former journalist and her husband goes missing after the collapse of a large building. As she searches for him, a complex history slowly reveals itself. The extent of the mystery and the connections finally become clear in the final chapters. The characters are well drawn, but at times a bit hollow. The madame who is connected to Sae was one of the most compelling characters. Overall, a well written mystery, a history of Korea and political upheaval. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC: This is a beautifully written book, but it's not linear. The NYT review calls it a "kaleidoscope"--and I found that acThanks to Netgalley for an ARC: This is a beautifully written book, but it's not linear. The NYT review calls it a "kaleidoscope"--and I found that accurate. The author, a psychology professor who has written about her bipolar illness wrote: "I set out to write about healing and wrote about healers." Jamison wrote a long introduction which to help readers understand the book. She explores healers--psychiatrists and physicians who exemplify the best of medicine, and the things that allow her to heal--literature, music, people. It isn't a straightforward exploration, but all of the various chapters are well researched and fascinating. I understand other reviewers' frustrations. I consider this book a resource, a reference and a wonderful historical exploration. Healthcare is struggling right now--psychiatrists aren't even taught psychological counseling in training and the more easily studied and shorter types of therapy are in vogue--not that they're better. Jamison starts with a quote from Paul Farmer about walking with a patient for a long time. What an ideal. The book does require some patience, but it's well rewarded. I would use it in medical education....more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: A well written debut novel. Historical fiction about a couple caught in Nazi Germany: Bettina, a German artist and MaThanks to Netgalley for the ARC: A well written debut novel. Historical fiction about a couple caught in Nazi Germany: Bettina, a German artist and Max, her Jewish, Austrian, architect boyfriend. The characters are well developed and the plot moves quickly. They don't leave Germany in time and are separated. They reconnect in a porcelain factory in Dachau. A no point was it unbelievable that a Nazi's wife and a German concentration camp prisoner are able to work together. Simultaneously, the book contains a second plot line about Bettina's daughter and granddaughter who start to research the porcelain and their true origins in the 1990's. The two plot lines were clear and each was compelling. A solid debut....more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: This is a brilliant book. The author chronicles the crack epidemic with a winning combination of personal stories, inThanks to Netgalley for the ARC: This is a brilliant book. The author chronicles the crack epidemic with a winning combination of personal stories, interspersed with important history, politics, and policies that resulted in mass incarceration and a failed "war on drugs". I was vaguely aware of the crack epidemic, but we all should be acutely aware of it. It rose and fell, but now half a million mostly Black Americans are incarcerated and countless more lives have been ruined. Punishing the way out of a substance abuse epidemic did not resolve it. The author wrote that writing this book, having lived through the crack epidemic, nearly killed him. Thankfully he prevailed and created this masterpiece of critically important history....more
Ward is a masterful writer and this is a masterpiece. It was an honor and privilege to read this book. It is so powerful, masterful, complex. Ward's Ward is a masterful writer and this is a masterpiece. It was an honor and privilege to read this book. It is so powerful, masterful, complex. Ward's previous books were so powerful and I found this book even more so. She created a fully realized, evocative, and heartbreaking complex reality. The magical realism enhances the book: spirit guides are duplicitous. I really can't praise it enough. I think Ward has created a masterpiece that should be read by everyone. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: This is a fun read, but lightly covers and addresses important topics. Prudence is facing a midlife crisis, as is her Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: This is a fun read, but lightly covers and addresses important topics. Prudence is facing a midlife crisis, as is her husband, Stuart. She’s abandoned her piano playing. She enters a television piano competition and her competition, is having his own crisis of faith and questioning his life goals. It’s a quick read. All the characters are engaging. The author is a musician and it shows in her descriptions of how music impacts the musician and the audience. Deceptively light, it’s a sweet book that punches above its weight....more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: I've been a fan of Walls from her previous books. This is well written historical fiction about a young woman in ruraThanks to Netgalley for the ARC: I've been a fan of Walls from her previous books. This is well written historical fiction about a young woman in rural Virginia during Prohibition. As other reviewers have mentioned, Walls packs a lot of drama into this book--and it did somewhat detract from character development, but she tells a compelling story. There's a tangled web of family connections, inheritance, illness, accidents and fights. But Walls does create a sense of place and the protagonist is well developed. Not her best, but good, readable, compelling historical fiction. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: Lucky Girl chronicles the coming of age of Soila who is raised by a hard working but emotionally rigid single mother Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: Lucky Girl chronicles the coming of age of Soila who is raised by a hard working but emotionally rigid single mother in Nairobi. Soila's extended family of grandmother and aunts provide the affection she craves. Soila is privileged and is able to come to the US for college. The book chronicles her struggles with pursuing her artistic dreams vs. the business training her mother desires. She befriends and becomes romantically involved with Black Americans and struggles with the differences between African attitudes towards racism compared to American Blacks. Ultimately her family ties create a pivotal moment. Although the book covers a lot of topics and Soila's coming of age in detail, at times the characters felt barely realized--especially towards the latter portion of the book. Overall, this is a promising debut. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book: I am a fan of Desmond, having read his powerful, award winning book "Evicted". "Poverty" isThanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book: I am a fan of Desmond, having read his powerful, award winning book "Evicted". "Poverty" is also powerful. Desmond clearly and powerfully describes the problem and the policies that have codified poverty and not addressed the ongoing issue. The book is carefully researched and compelling as Desmond spells out the scope of the issue and the misguided policy decisions that have created intractable poverty. While "Evicted" utilized stories of individuals impacted by housing insecurity, Desmond doesn't use personal stories to anchor this book and I missed them. Desmond suggests solutions to poverty, but these solutions did not have the power and scope of the portion of the book that showed how entrenched poverty was created in the US. Still, this is a minor quibble. This is a book that clearly documents how the US created poverty and has no current solutions. It's a call to action and a resource. It reads more like a text than "Evicted", and essentially it's a book that should be utilized in education and policy. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC: What a wonderful collection of stories from such a talented writer. I found myself laughing ouThanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC: What a wonderful collection of stories from such a talented writer. I found myself laughing out loud, but behind the humor there is an honesty and a willingness to look deeply at relationships and people. All the stories are wonderful, it's hard to pick a favorite. The observations are keen and insightful. What a great writer, I hope this collection finds wide readership. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and opportunity to read this wonderful book. Oza has written a powerful debut novel: she chronicles four generations oThanks to Netgalley for the ARC and opportunity to read this wonderful book. Oza has written a powerful debut novel: she chronicles four generations of an Indian family as they move--often not intentionally--from India to East Africa and then around the world. Throughout almost unfathomable challenges, their love for each other and gentle humor is a constant. The writing is exquisite and I read that Oza won an award for documenting Diaspora and I kept thinking of diaspora as I read about the generations in their journeys. I tremendous book--compelling and so well written. I don't think this review does it justice: I hope it finds wide readership. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: An enjoyable and well-crafted book. Blacke employs subtle humor and a great sense of place in this first of a series Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: An enjoyable and well-crafted book. Blacke employs subtle humor and a great sense of place in this first of a series of cozy mysteries set near Austin. The protagonist--youngest of three sisters-- has returned to her home town from a failed tech company and opened a vinyl record shop with her sisters and investigates a murder. The story moved quickly, was engaging and interesting. A solid start to what will be a series. Very enjoyable read. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: What a solid debut novel! Brammer chronicles the isolated Clover who works as a death doula while experiencing a protThanks to Netgalley for the ARC: What a solid debut novel! Brammer chronicles the isolated Clover who works as a death doula while experiencing a protracted grief of her own. At mid-life, she's in the heart of NYC but so alone. The character was beautifully described and Clover is empathetic and rings true. In the course of caring for a patient, Clover begins to make some connections--both to other people and to understanding her own life. She has chronicled the regrets and advice of her dying patients, but has been unable to act on the collected wisdom. Ultimately, she is able to become "cautiously reckless". A pleasure to read and I look forward to further works from this author. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: 3.5 rounded up, The Fake is a fast-moving story about a manipulative woman who upends the lives of two well meaning pThanks to Netgalley for the ARC: 3.5 rounded up, The Fake is a fast-moving story about a manipulative woman who upends the lives of two well meaning people: a woman who is grieving the death of her wife and a man who is recently divorced. Reading the author's comments, this book is based on an experience that she had in 2007. The author is an accomplished screen writer and I think that explains this book: it was a very fast read, the characters are well explored but it almost felt too fast. She did describe a sociopath very well, and the ending is appropriately complex. It almost felt like a novella to me--read it in one sitting. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: An excellent debut novel! It seems odd to describe a book about a lost daughter/sister as delightful, but that's how Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: An excellent debut novel! It seems odd to describe a book about a lost daughter/sister as delightful, but that's how I found Jimenez's novel. Ruthy Ramirez disappeared at 13, and years later, her sisters believe they've found her on a particularly sordid reality show. The novel explores the lives of the surviving Ramirez family: Dolores--mother, Jessica--older sister and Nina--youngest sister as they search for Ruthy with resourceful zeal. They're originally from Puerto Rico and have taken different paths in life but remain closely bonded. Nina attended a prestigious college, but is suffering in a demeaning retail job, Jessica has a daughter, lives with her boyfriend and works at a patient care attendant, Dolores is widowed. All of the women have suffered but the tone is overall engaging, humorous and adventuresome, although their very real and pervasive suffering is not discounted: it is explored with depth, power and concern. Jimenez has crafted a lovely novel, with unforgettable characters and a family that feels very real. A pleasure to read and an impressive debut. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC: A lovely, lyrical novella that completes the trilogy. Maureen's journey is an exploration of grief, Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC: A lovely, lyrical novella that completes the trilogy. Maureen's journey is an exploration of grief, aging, marriage, family, friendship and the ability to grow and change at any age. A longer review to come closer to publication. The entire trilogy is wonderful. ...more
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: A beautiful book about families, sisters and love despite it all. A pleasure to read. Will post full review at time oThanks to Netgalley for the ARC: A beautiful book about families, sisters and love despite it all. A pleasure to read. Will post full review at time of publication. Highly recommended. What a lovely book! I enjoyed reading about the sisters who continued to love each other and their mother despite character flaws, painful experiences, failed relationships. The enduring nature of their bonds rang true and was inspiring. An excellent book....more
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