Book Review: The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In addition to being a prolific author, Amy Tan is also an accomplished artist, and this book is quite a testimonial to that!  Her pencil and ink sketches, along with her handwritten notes, make up almost as much of this book as her bird watching diary.  

She started watching birds in September 2017 and the book finishes in December 2022, taking her through the pandemic.  She has been interested in bird watching since she was a young child, thanks to her ornithologist father.  Starting at age three, she also wanted to be an artist.  These two loves dovetail in this fantastic book!  She definitely has an eye for detail and color, which helps distinguish all the varieties of birds that she sees.  

I started reading this wonderful book right before Christmas.  What a joy it was to take some time every afternoon, make a pot of tea, and read about Amy Tan's birds!  I took this book in little bits and pieces at a time so I could stretch out my enjoyment of it, and it has taken me through winter, spring and now summer.  

Barnes & Noble was nominated this book as their Book of the Year 2024, and I can see why!  Do yourself a favor and buy this book - you won't regret it!

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Book Review: The Ford Homes: Assembling a Neighborhood by L. Glenn O'Kray

The Ford Homes: Assembling a Neighborhood by L. Glenn O’Kray
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Between 1919-1921, Henry Ford commissioned the architect Albert Wood to develop plans for homes to be built in West Dearborn.  The majority of these houses were sold to Ford Motor employees upon their completion.

Wood was the original architect for both Henry Ford Hospital and Masonic Temple prior to Ford's project.  Eventually, 250 homes were built in West Dearborn using 6 different plans (A-F), and sold for $7,000-$10,000 each.  Each house contained a living room, dining room, kitchen, three bedrooms and one bathroom.  The Ford Homes Historic District was created in 1979.  

This is a wonderful "coffee table book" covering the Historic Ford Homes in Dearborn.  There are pictures of each of the 250 original houses, along with articles and information about many of the current residents.  It is obvious that this is a close-knit community neighborhood, with block parties, Halloween celebrations, Christmas lights and more.  As someone who has spent much of my life in Dearborn, it was wonderful to read about this neighborhood community.  I have frequently walked through this neighborhood, spent time at their local businesses, and most importantly, spent my student teaching in the 4th grade at the local Duvall Elementary School.  Such a wonderful tribute to a fantastic neighborhood!

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Book Review: Bowls: Vibrant Recipes with Endless Possibilities by America's Test Kitchen

Bowls: Vibrant Recipes with Endless Possibilities by America's Test Kitchen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a beautifully photographed book with extensive recipes for various "bowl" dishes.  The chapters include:  Salad Bowls, Grain & Bean Bowls, Noodle Bowls, and Soup Bowls.  There's also a final chapter with recipes categorized as "Bowl Basics."  All-in-all a very comprehensive book with many incredible recipes.

Most of the recipes serve 2.  And each recipe includes "Why This Recipe Works" and "Customize It" which has additional ingredients or substitutions.  We have been trying to increase the amount of grains in our diet, and also eat a healthier lunch, so this was the perfect book for us.  As the sub-title indicates, there are "endless possibilities."

My only quibble was the fact that I got the Kindle version of the book from my library.  The page formatting was a little skewed for much of the book.  Rather than having the color photo after the recipe, it was usually included at the bottom of the previous recipe.  However, that didn't stop my enjoyment in finding wonderful recipes!

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Book Review: The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama

The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times by Michelle Obama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book for Christmas right after it was published.  I started it several times, but it has taken me this long to set aside time to devote to reading it exclusively and immersing myself in the wonderful words created by Michelle Obama.

I absolutely loved her first book, Becoming.  This is slightly different, incorporating stories of her life, together with the challenges she encountered along the way.  She wrote this during the pandemic which of course gives it a different outlook than her first book.  She gives the reader plenty of suggestions and ideas for coping with various challenges and situations.

I really enjoyed the chapter on making friends as an adult, "My Kitchen Table."  The chapter about her mother also rang true to me, "Meet My Mom."  Her mother was a no-nonsense woman with an overabundance of commonsense and suggestions for parenting.

I read the print book, switched to the Kindle version, and also listened to a good portion of it on audio, just to hear her read the words she had written.  All in all, highly recommended and I'm sorry that I waited so long to appreciate her words of wisdom.  

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Book Review: Hunting Time by Jeffery Deaver (Colter Shaw / Tracker #4)

Hunting Time by Jeffery Deaver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Colter Shaw (Tracker) is hired by the president of a small nuclear power company to find and protect his key engineer and her 16-year-old daughter.  They are on the run from her ex-husband who was just released from prison early after serving time for her attempted murder.  

This is a thrilling, page-turning cat and mouse game with plenty of twists and turns --just what I expected from Jeffery Deaver and Colter Shaw!  The mother/daughter team is initially effective at evading capture, but the book really clicks when they are teamed up with Colter Shaw.  He works best when he setting up traps for the individuals trying to catch them and making his way through the woods.  The reader also gets additional backstory about his parents and siblings when they were living on the compound in California.  All in all, a very exciting and escapist book - a fantastic summer read!!

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Book Review: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story is told from the point of view of Demon Copperhead, a 10-year old boy living in rural Lee County, Virginia.  His father died before he was born, and he lives with his mother in a rented trailer.  Luckily Demon has some very positive influences in his life, which counterbalance all of the negative individuals that he encounters.  

It is the story of Demon's resilience and self-sufficiency despite terrible situations and incredible loss.  It is grim and difficult to read; at times I could only read a chapter or two before having to set it aside.  However, I'm still thinking about this book days after I have finished it, which shows the impact that it had on me.  Multiple content warnings abound!

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Book Review: Grow Low Maintenance: Essential Know-how And Expert Advice For Gardening Success

Grow Low Maintenance: Essential Know-how And Expert Advice For Gardening Success by D.K. Publishing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful gardening book which is great for the beginner gardener, but also has relevant information for the long-term gardener.  I checked it out from the library because I wanted to update my perennial garden bed - hostas and daisies had become quite overgrown and I wanted to add some other colors and sizes of perennials.  This was the perfect book for me to peruse during the early spring months until Michigan's chance of frost was over!

The book is divided into short, very helpful chapters -- low-maintenance planting, container gardening, water features, lawns and patios, and overall maintenance.  It also contains a wonderful table of contents and index.

Who doesn't love books published by DK?  I first became aware of them when my kids were little -- they published the best photographs along with text perfect for children.  I bought so many of their books and even hosted a couple of DK book parties (can you say free books??).  

My only quibble is that the photos tend to be smaller than I would prefer.  Unfortunately, I found quite a few plants and flowers that I was interested in, only to be disappointed because I couldn't find them in my local nurseries and garden stores.  Overall, I would highly recommend this as a basic gardening book for all.

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Book Review: Th1rt3en by Steve Cavanagh (Eddie Flynn #4)

Th1rt3en by Steve Cavanagh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4 1/2 stars!  Eddie Flynn is a defense attorney. Bobby Solomon is a famous actor accused of killing his wife and head of security.  Joshua Kane is a psychopathic serial killer who plots to be on the jury of this "case of the century." 

A page-turning, heart-pounding legal thriller!  The suspense is built through multiple points of view -- both Eddie Flynn and Joshua Kane tell their portion of the story.  There are twists, turns and surprises right up until the end.  I thoroughly enjoyed the courtroom scenes along with the behind-the-scenes trial prep and interplay between the characters.  There is a large cast of characters but they are all important to the progression of the court case.  

This is the first book I've read by Steve Cavanagh, but you can be sure that it won't be the last!  I read this one for book club, but will go back and start at the beginning of the series.  

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Book Review: The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez

The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is an historical fiction novel about the individuals involved with the building of the Panama Canal from 1907-1913.  We meet Francisco who is a fisherman, his son Omar who decides to work on the canal, young Ada who travels from Barbados to earn money for her sister's needed operation, and many more individuals who form this cast of characters.  It may be helpful to keep an ongoing list of the cast of characters and how they relate to one another. 

This was a book club selection, and I was eager to find out more about the actual history and building of the canal.  However, the book focused instead on quite a few individuals involved with the canal, both working directly on the building of it as well as peripherally.  I liked the fact that the author included a map of the area involved.  I certainly didn't realize that the Pacific Ocean is actually east of the Atlantic Ocean at the isthmus of Panama.  

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Book Review: Book Lovers by Emily Henry

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A page-turner romance set in the publishing industry.  Nora Stephens, a NYC book agent, is convinced by her sister to spend a month of her summer vacation in a rural North Carolina town.  Almost immediately she runs into a NYC book editor, with whom she has not has not gotten along with in the past.  You can predict what happens next.  The relationship with the two sisters very special and makes the book worth reading.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, you will turn the pages quickly to reach the end.  Of course, since it was dealing with the book industry, it had my name written all over it.  I loved every minute of it!

Update from May 2025 - I re-read this book for book club and elevated it to 5 stars.  Once I loved the bookish themes throughout, especially how she incorporates real-life authors and NYC bookstores!  And the things that can happen in the study room of a public library!

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Book Review: Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alice Scott is a journalist, aspiring to write memoirs.  Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer prize winning journalist who has written one of the most inspiring and well-known memoirs in recent years.  They are both on Little Crescent Island off Georgia in order to interview Margaret Grace Ives, the tabloid princess and media empire heiress who has at last decided to tell her story since she is in her 80s.  They each get to spend a month interviewing her and at the end she will decide who will write the book.

In typical Emily Henry fashion, the work enemies/friends/lovers trope is the strong point of this book.  She is known for her witty dialog and romance scenes, and she doesn't disappoint.  Alice is the eternal optimist while Hayden is brooding and aloof.  They keep running into each other on the small island, a friendship develops which soon turns to romance.  Although I think that the pacing of their romance seemed rather rushed, probably because she focused so much on the memoir writing story line.  

The larger part of the story revolves around Margaret's telling of her family story, starting in 1830, overshadowing the delightful Alice / Hayden story.  Margaret's messy family drama was too far-reaching and had too many characters to keep track of.  At some point, I just lost interest in this story line.  A family tree at the beginning of the book would have been helpful.  

Based on the overall book, I would have given it only 3 stars.  However, because it's Emily Henry and the Alice / Hayden story is so wonderful and full of her incredibly witty dialog and romance, I'm elevating it to 4 stars.  Don't call it a mystery, Emily.  The only mystery is why you chose to take a left turn with this book when you should have stuck with what has worked for you in the past five books!

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Book Review: Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill

Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Come join our protagonists Joe and Meredith Penvale on the journey of a lifetime - The Orient Express from Paris to Venice.  It's a celebratory trip after the conclusion of Joe's 18 months of medical treatments.  They are looking forward to a luxurious and relaxing trip, but everything changes when the cabin adjacent to theirs is found covered with blood, but the body is missing.  Considering the title of the book, it's no surprise that this isn't the only dead body found on the train.

For readers familiar with Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, you'll find a lot of similarities in this modern day re-telling.  It starts with the classic locked room mystery and proceeds from there to involve other train employees and passengers.  Reader, be aware that there is a large cast of characters; it might be helpful to start taking notes at the beginning of the book in order to keep them all straight.  I really enjoyed everything about this book -- the murder mysteries, the passengers and employees coming together to help solve them, The Orient Express, the luxury train travel, the food, and more!  Highly recommended.  

Thank you very much to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book.  It is scheduled to be published on August 19, 2025.

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Book Review: The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris by Evie Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Edith Lane (Edie) leaves her father and life in Dublin on a whim to accept a position as the assistant manager of a bakery that she thinks is in Paris. Once she arrives, she discovers that it's actually in a very small town outside of Paris -- Compiègne. This family-run bakery turns out to be a magical place with an incredible history dating back to World War II. Chapters alternate between Edie in present day and the historical back story about the bakery. There's even magical chocolate which is a secret ingredient in the long-lost hot chocolate recipe.

I was initially drawn to this book because of the title - who doesn't love a story about bakeries and Paris? It has so much more to offer the reader though -- historical fiction (WWII France), romance, discovering a new country and a new beginning, recovering from grief, travel, French music, magical realism, French scenery, plus the bakery, baking and French food -- all rolled into one delightful novel! Grab a cup of hot chocolate, a French pastry and dig into this delightfully charming book. The only thing that would have improved this book is the inclusion of some of the bakery recipes.

Thank you very much to Harper Collins and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of this book.  It was recently published on April 8, 2025.  FULL DISCLOSURE -- After reading several other Goodreads reviews of this book, I discovered that it is not a new book; it was originally published ten years ago in 2014!  Apparently, Harper Collins is republishing it with a new cover and under a new pseudonym (Evie Woods).  

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Book Review: The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose (Molly the Maid #3)

The Maid's Secret by Nita Prose
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Molly Gray, the maid, is back in the third book of this series.  We see Molly's role at the Regency Grand Hotel expand to include the Special Events Manager.  Her marriage to Juan is fast approaching, but first is an upcoming event at the hotel - hosting the famous antique appraisal team of Brown and Beagle.  She takes several of her Gran's items for appraisal and encounters quite a surprise.

The story is told in dual timelines - alternating chapters between Molly in the present day and her Gran's diary which gives us the extensive back story of her grandmother's childhood and adulthood.

This book is just as charming as the first two (and the Christmas novella).  Don't worry, Gran's favorite sayings continue to be included.  The big bonus is finding out about Gran's and Molly's mother's experiences.  It is a quick yet delightful read, giving me a warm feeling about Molly and the other characters.  Looking forward to Nita Prose's next Molly Gray adventure.

Thank you very much to Ballantine Books and NetGally for an advance reader copy of this book.  It was recently published on April 8, 2025.

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Book Review: The Women by Kristin Hannah

The Women by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Frances (Frankie) McGrath is a young socialite living on Coronado Island near San Diego. She led a sheltered life of wealth, country clubs, an all-girls Catholic high school and a small nearby college for her nursing degree. The year is 1966 and her older brother is following the family expectations to join the Army and go to Viet Nam. Shortly after his departure, his family receives word that he was killed in action.

Frankie immediately decides to join the Army as a nurse and go to Viet Nam. Her life is changed there in many ways: the horrors of war that she sees, the nursing / medical skills she acquires, and the close friendships she develops. This is not only the story of Frankie's time in Viet Nam, but more importantly her time after returning to her home and family.

She carries a lot of baggage with her when she returns stateside after two tours of duty -- horrible nightmares, inadequate coping skills, bad decisions, PTSD, and more. We share Frankie’s successes, her loves, losses, struggles and finally when she finds herself and can surge ahead in life. This is a tough book to read, but incredibly moving and poignant.

Wow! What an amazing book! The author does a fantastic job at transporting the reader into the 1960s – the music, the description of the clothing, the political unrest and protests, etc. This is definitely going to be one of my favorite books of the year. Kristin Hannah is a relatively new author to me; I've only read The Great Alone but you can be sure that I'll be reading many more of her books. Lots to choose from!

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Book Review: Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon (Commissario Guide Brunetti #1)

Death at La Fenice by Donna Leon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Helmut Wellauer, the famous operatic conductor, dies under mysterious circumstances at La Fenice in Venice.  Commissario Guido Brunetti is assigned to the case, and we follow as he conducts interviews, meets with the conductor's family and friends, attends parties to get the local gossip, and follows many other leads.  He uncovers many unsavory things about the man and carefully arrives as the answer to who killed him and what their motivation was. 

This is the first book that I've read in the Guido Brunetti mystery.  I keep seeing this Donna Leon series recommended to those who love Louise Penny and Tana French books - both of which I devour.  It certainly gives the reader a sense of place - Venice!! - with all the food, wine, architecture, history, and water travel.  Bonus points for the maps that are included in the Kindle version!  I am definitely looking forward to the second book in this series!

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Book Review: Grains for Every Season: Rethinking Our Way with Grains by Joshua McFadden

Grains for Every Season: Rethinking Our Way with Grains by Joshua McFadden
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An excellent cookbook and reference book for cooking virtually every kind of grain.  There are recipes, but the most important information is contained on the first page of each section:  Why he loves it, what it tastes like; common forms; favorite ways to prepare it; how it's good for you; the uncooked weight of 1 cup; how much 1 cup is cooked; the ratio for cooking, and the method of cooking.  Wonderful color photographs, along with fold-out charts - grain bowls, stir fry, pilaf dishes.

I checked this book out of the library because I wanted to add more grains to our diet.  This is truly a go-to book with everything I need to know!  Highly recommended!

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Book Review: The Poet by Michael Connelly (Jack McEvoy #1)

The Poet by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jack McEvoy is a Denver newspaper crime reporter.  His twin brother Sean was a police detective who apparently commited suicide.  Jack investigates and discovers some inconsistencies, which leads him to research the suicides of other police officers across the country.  This brings him to the FBI and he ends up getting embedded in their nationwide search for a serial killer. 

I am a long-time fan of Michael Connelly's and have read all of his Harry Bosch and Renee Ballard series.  This is the first book in his Jack McEvoy series and was written in 1996.  The reader is taken back to experience pay phones, dial-up modems, and fax machines as methods of communication.  The reader has a peak at his life as a crime reporter prior to starting to write novels.   I was fascinated by his description of research methods and questioning involved in a story.  This book is long (about 600 pages) and very detailed, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.  However, the story grabbed me on the first page and didn't get go until I finished the final paragraph -- what a roller coaster ride!

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Book Review: Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray

Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jessie Redmon Fauset moves to Harlem from Washington D.C. in 1919 to take a position as the first literary editor of The Crisis, the NAACP magazine.  She works with W.E.B. DuBois in a position that he created for her.  Over the next six years she becomes "the midwife of the literary side of the New Negro Movement and the Harlem Renaissance" through her work at the magazine and the young authors and poets she mentors -- Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen and more.  She is also in a longstanding relationship with W.E.B. DuBois, much to the chagrin of her family members. 

This was a fascinating account of a time and place I was not very familiar with.  The reader is immersed in the setting of Harlem and New York City from 1919-1925 -- restaurants, music, jazz clubs, literature, poetry and more.  Jessie's role in the development of these authors was profound; she was an inspirational Black author, editor and business woman, paving the way for others to follow.  

Once again, I loved Victoria Christopher Murray's writing and her ability to bring historical figures to life through her well-researched fiction.  I first became aware of her writing with The Personal Librarian, another historical fiction book that she wrote with Marie Benedict about Belle da Costa Greene, the personal librarian to J. P. Morgan.

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Book Review: The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb

The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Curtis Wilson, his father Zippy, and surrogate mother Larissa live in the Washington DC projects.  Curtis receives a cello through a charitable organization when he is 5 years old, and it changes his life.  He immerses himself into practicing his cello, attends Julliard, and his goal is to become a cello soloist with major orchestras.  He is so close to achieving his goal when his family's life comes crashing down due to his father's drug dealing.  His life is forever changed and his family is on the run. 

I have read both of Brendan Slocumb's other books and love how they are  infused with classical music and musicians, a theme which is continued in this book.  In addition, this novel brings in superheros, comics and animated videos, juxtaposing them with both classical music and rap.  The chapters alternate between the three main characters - Curtis, Zippy and Larissa - each bringing their own point of view and enhancing the development of each character.  The themes of class struggle, the importance of family, commitment, haves and have-nots, goals and success are all addressed.  Overall, quite a page-turner!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday for an advanced reader copy to review in exchange for an honest opinion.  This book will be published May 13, 2025.  

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Book Review: The Long Way Home by Louise Penney (Armand Gamache #10)

The Long Way Home by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache have both recently retired and moved to the small village of Three Pines.  They have successfully created a slower and more peaceful lifestyle, spending time with long-time friends.  Clara approaches Armand with a problem - Peter has not returned after their one-year trial separation, and she wants to find him.  Armand, Jean-Guy, Clara and Myrna set out to follow his tracks, hoping to discover his whereabouts.  This search takes them to Toronto, Montreal, calls and emails to Scotland, and finally to the northern artists' community in Tabaquen.

The pacing of this book is very different from the previous nine in the series - much slower.  There's a mystery, and there's a murder.  However, Armand is no longer the Chief Inspector Gamache leading the team, although he does use his contacts in the Sûreté du Québec to help answer some questions and track Peter's travels over the past year.  The book focuses on Peter's art, along with his reaction to Clara's artistic success.  It will be interesting to see where Louise Penny takes Armand Gamache from here.  

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Book Review: Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn (Killers of a Certain Age #1)

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Billie, Mary Alice, Natalie and Helen have worked together as assassins for "The Museum" for the past 40 years.  Having retired at age 60, they are offered an all-expenses paid cruise by their employer.  Soon after boarding, they realize that they have been targeted by one of their colleagues.  False rumors about them have been spread to The Museum powers-that-be, resulting in the hit on their lives.

We follow the four in their attempts to stave off being killed, while figuring out who started the rumors and who in The Museum is actually involved.  The book combines light hearted, humorous passages with serious plotting and assassinations.  There are flashbacks to early 'jobs', and it's obvious that these four ladies have a long-standing friendship, willing to do anything for others in their group.  

This was a quick and fun read.  I loved reading how these ladies were continually underestimated and dismissed due to their age and the fact that they were women!  I also enjoyed finding out more about their backstories and their jobs together.  I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series, and can definitely envision this being made into a streaming series.  

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Book Review: Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations by Alton Brown

Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations by Alton Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is part memoir, part essay, and I enjoyed every page of it!  We get an inside peak into his life -- a young Alton growing up, his food inspirations, how he got started with Good Eats, Ma Mae's famous biscuits, behind-the-scenes at Iron Chef America, his thoughts on the martini, and MUCH more!

My husband and I have been watching Alton Brown since the early days of Food Network when he was doing Good Eats.  Those episodes were a magical combination of cooking, eating, food, science and entertainment, and we learned so much from them.  Unfortunately, I agree with Alton that the Food Network has now become the Food Game Show Network.  Shows that actually teach cooking skills are few and far between.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who has watched and appreciated Alton Brown's sense of humor and love for cooking and food.  Five stars!!

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Book Review: Spook Street by Mick Herron (Slough House #4)

Spook Street by Mick Herron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

River Cartwright, Jackson Lamb and the rest of the Slow Horses are back in this fourth installment of Mick Herron's Slough House series, including two new faces in the group.  River's grandfather is a retired MI-5 operative, but River has been concerned about his grip on reality recently and has started visiting him more often.  In another story line, there has been a bombing in a London shopping center which killed more than 40 people.

The action is fast-paced and there are multiple locations around London, Kent and even into France.   Chapter sections switch back and forth between all of the players, keeping the reader in suspense.  Bits of humor are interspersed throughout, usually involving Jackson Lamb's personal hygiene and political incorrectness.  Personally, I have been loving the Apple TV+ streaming version of the novels, and look forward to more books in the series and more seasons of the show.  

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Book Review: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An unlikely trio of individuals meet under unlikely circumstances and discover things about themselves and the others. 

Harriet is a retired school teacher who volunteers at the local women's prison by running a book club for the women inmates.  Violet is a young woman serving time in the prison because of bad decisions resulting in the death of a woman in a traffic accident.  Frank is the widower of the woman killed in the accident who also carries a secret with him.  

As you probably know, I'll read any fiction books about books, reading, libraries, and book clubs.  This book shows the power of books and reading, and how it can draw people together from vastly different backgrounds and bring them to a common place to discuss books.  Each chapter is written from a different point of view by each of the three characters.  It deals with loss, loneliness, second chances, starting over, emotional growth, friendship, the importance of books and reading, and forgiveness.  That's a lot to cover in just about 300 pages, but Monica Wood does an incredible job of packing this novel full of emotion along with humor.  Highly recommended!

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Book Review: The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins

The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eris is a tidal island located in the Irish Sea off the west coast of Scotland.  It can only be reached via the causeway twice each day when the tide is out.  There is only one house on this tiny island, once inhabited by the artist Vanessa Chapman.  The story is told by three people -- Vanessa (through her diary entries and newspaper/magazine articles about her art), Grace (her companion and caregiver), and Becker (the art expert who is curating Vanessa's works after her death). 

There are mysterious disappearances, unsolved mysteries, unreliable narrators, red herrings, and other events which leave the reader guessing until the very last page.  The non-linear time frame, along with the multiple points of view only contribute to this heart-thumping, page-turning thriller.  I found myself holding my breath as I read this book, unable to put it down.

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Book Review: The Color of Air by Gail Tsukyama

The Color of Air by Gail Tsukiyama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The setting is the small coastal town of Hilu on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1935.  The Mauna Loa volcano has just started erupting again, slowing spreading lava towards the town 40 miles away.  The book focuses on the very close-knit Japanese American community in Hilu and in the neighboring sugar plantation -- shop keepers, fishermen, and cutters or workers on the sugar plantation.  They treat each other like family because they are one very large supportive family group. 

The story is told from multiple points of view:  Koji is a former cutter and now runs the sugar train on the plantation, Daniel is the young doctor who has just returned from medical school and residency in Chicago, and Mariko is Daniel's single mother who worked very hard to send him to medical school.  The story takes place over a six-week period from November 1935 through January 1936, but also includes flashbacks by various individuals to the early 1900s.  

This is the second book that I've read by Gail Tsukiyama.  I fell in love with her writing in Samurai's Garden, and it happened again when reading this book.  Once again I became immersed in her story, experiencing the place and time of the book, learning about the sugar plantation, the food and customs of the Japanese Americans living in Hawaii, and feeling the heat and humidity of Hilu.  Highly recommended!

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Book Review: The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center

The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Emma experiences a family trauma right after high school graduation which forever alters her career plans.  Ten years later, she is a work-from-home romantic comedy screenwriter and has the chance of a lifetime to go to LA and work with her idol.  Charlie is an incredibly talented and famous screenwriter of blockbusters, but doesn't know she's coming, doesn't want to work with a partner, and doesn't think his screenplay needs re-writing.  In spite of everything, they start writing together.  They experience roadblocks and left turns along the way, until romance finally blossoms and love wins out.

This was a quick and fun read, and came just in time for Valentine's Day.  I had to wait for MONTHS to get it on Kindle from my library, but it was worth the wait.  This is the second book I've read by Katherine Center, and really enjoy her writing.  Sure, there's romance, comedy, the 'will-they-or-won't-they?' moments, some bumps along the way, and the moment they finally realize they are destined to be together.  But she also provides depth of character and moments of drama as well.  I'm looking forward to reading more of her books, and hopefully also seeing this book make it to streaming service near me.

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Book Review: The King Arthur Baking School: Lessons and Recipes for Every Baker by King Arthur Baking Company

The King Arthur Baking School: Lessons and Recipes for Every Baker by King Arthur Baking Company
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wanted some basic background information on bread making techniques.  This is a beautifully comprehensive book written by the folks who make King Arthur products and teach classes at the King Arthur Baking School. 

The basic bread recipe is the first one in the book, and covers quite a few pages.  I knew I was in trouble when there was more than one page devoted to the various mathematical formulas you need in order to calculate the temperature of the water that you add to your bread mixture!  This book was not for me -- much too complex and over-the-top for this person who just wants to make an occasional loaf of bread.  Back to the library it goes.   I'll look for something much more simplistic and leave this book to the home cook chef wannabees.   

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Book Review: Martha: The Cookbook—100 Favorite Recipes, with Lessons and Stories from My Kitchen by Martha Stewart

Martha: The Cookbook—100 Favorite Recipes, with Lessons and Stories from My Kitchen by Martha Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is Martha Stewart's 100th (!!) cookbook - quite an accomplishment!  In addition to her 100 favorite recipes, it contains various memories plus historical photos, all wrapped up in a gorgeous coffee table book.  There are full color photos of each of the recipes, plus step-by-step instructions.  Some of the recipes are quite complex and intricate (puff pastry from scratch!), while some are quite straight-forward, using just a few quality ingredients.  I learned the secret to creating the beautiful ice shards on the top of a martini - using crushed ice instead of ice cubes in the shaker!  Of course she calls her recipe Martha-tinis. 

This book is an excellent overview of her career through her recipes.  Highly recommended.

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Book Review: I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel

I'd Rather Be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life by Anne Bogel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am a huge fan of Anne Bogel -- her blog, her podcast, and her book club.  I bought this book when it was first published and read it quickly at the time.  Now that I'm retired, a member in four book clubs, and spend an inordinate amount of time each day reading, I wanted to re-visit the book and savor it again.  It was even better the second time around! 

She has such insight about all aspects of reading, and she reads an incredible amount of books each year.  This enables her to give "what should I read next" recommendations to her podcast guests, make such spot-on suggestions in her annual winter, spring, summer, and fall reading guides, and also to select such wonderful books each month for her book club.  She writes about her reading life when she was growing up, as a recently married young woman living right next door to her public library (envious!!), and her life now being fully immersed in everything bookish.  I would highly recommend anyone who loves reading and is NOT familiar with her work to read this book, but also to go to her website and explore -- you won't be disappointed!  https://modernmrsdarcy.com/

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Book Review: Sandwich by Catherine Newman

Sandwich by Catherine Newman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A very honest look at life through the lens of a peri-menopausal mid-50s wife/mother/daughter.  She is spending the week in a cottage rental on Cape Cod with her husband, her two adult children (plus one significant other) and her parents.  Welcome to the sandwich generation.  We discover family secrets, backstories, opinions, loves, hates, and more. 

Her internal monologues often actually get spoken out loud.  She is very opinionated, and the book deals very frankly with sexuality and menopause.  I laughed...I cried...often on the same page of the book.  It was a very poignant read and brought back a lot of memories from my life.  It's also a very quick read (226 pages) and I polished it off in two days.  It could have easily been read in just one day, but life intruded on reading.

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Book Review: Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo (Kate Burkholder #1)

Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kate Burkholder is the chief of police in the small town of Painters Mill, Ohio, in Holmes County which has the largest population of Amish in the U.S. There have been three brutal murders of young women, which bring back memories of similar murders from 16 years ago.  Chief Burkholder has a small but committed group of officers and dispatchers, but they are not equipped to handle a serial killer of this extent.  State FBI and local sheriff personnel are called in to help catch the killer.

This book is intense, the violence towards women is graphic and gory, and I really didn't want to read it before bed.  That being said, I was on the edge of my seat turning pages, wanting to find out exactly 'who dunnit.'  There's a large cast of law enforcement characters, so once again I made my trusty list to keep track of them.  

Kate Burkholder is an incredibly strong female character and her intelligence, strength and commitment to her job help her solve these crimes.  This is the first book in the Kate Burkholder series, and I am definitely going to be following this author and reading more of Chief Kate in the future!  I'm not sure that I would have picked up this book to read on my own, which is the joy of so many of the book club selections -- reading books not necessarily in my wheelhouse!

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Book Review: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The setting is a very upscale mansion and the summer camp that the Van Laar family owns in the Adirondack Mountains.  The story takes place between the mid-1950s and 1975, and is told from multiple points of view.  An 8-year old boy has gone missing in 1961, never to be found, and then a 13-year old girl goes missing in 1975.  The book is an incredible family drama, and has multiple mysteries, secrets and red herrings before you reach the end. 

The structure of this book is very unique, but works quite well in the telling of the story.  There is a very large cast of characters, both main and peripheral characters.  The chapters are short and the point of view changes with each chapter.  On top of this, the timeline of the book is not at all linear.  I ended up keeping a running list of the characters in order to keep them all straight in my mind.  In addition, I kept flipping back and forth to keep the timeline clear.  All this to say, reader, pay attention when you are reading!  And I'm not sure how it would work if you are listening to the audio book.  Bonus feature is the map of the compound, the summer camp, and the surrounding area.  It's always helpful when an author includes a map so that the reader can get the lay of the land.

This was quite a page turner, and I raced through the 476 pages in three days.  I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by Liz Moore.  And I can certainly see why it was chosen as Jimmy Fallon's Summer Book Club Pick for 2024!

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Book Review: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (Neapolitan Novels #1)

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the story of two best friends - Elena and Lila - living in the slums of Naples, Italy during the 1950s.  It is the first in a series of four books - The Neapolitan Novels.  The girls both live in the same run-down area of Naples and the book begins when they are in 1st grade and continues until they are 16 years old.  Lila is the strong-willed troublemaker and Elena is the studious and introspective follower.

Reader, be prepared!  There is a Index of Characters at the beginning of the book, however I found it very difficult to keep all the characters and their families straight.  There are nine different families with a total of 47 characters listed, and this doesn't even include other children in each of the families and additional peripheral characters.  

I love the ambiguity of the title - My Brilliant Friend.   Through the majority of the book, we assume that it refers specifically to one of the girls.  However, towards the end of the book , it’s actually the other girl who says it to her friend - “Not for you,” Lila replies ardently, “you’re my brilliant friend, you have to be the best of all, boys and girls.”  Looking at the book as a whole, this phrase can be used to describe each of the girls.

This author and book series kept popping up as recommended, and I had to wait months for the Kindle version from my library.  I started reading it as soon as I downloaded it, but it took me at least 30-40% of the book before I got into the story and the characters.  I was ready to abandon the book several times.  I plugged away at it and finally got caught up with the story, and I'm giving it a strong three stars.  However, I'm not sure whether I'll be reading the three other books in the series.  Time will tell.

Content warning for violence. 

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