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Published on 1 Comment on Demon Copperhead
Demon Copperhead Book Cover Demon Copperhead
Barbara Kingsolver
Fiction
Harper
October 18, 2022
Hardcover
560
Purchased

Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, this is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father's good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. In a plot that never pauses for breath, relayed in his own unsparing voice, he braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.

Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens' anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can't imagine leaving behind.

My review:

The Poisonwood Bible was such a memorable book by this author, I was anxious to see how this newest novel would resonate. Despite having never read David Copperfield, on which this book is based, I really enjoyed the story, and particularly the eloquent writing. Perhaps enjoy is not the right word since this is a very depressing story of poverty (and all that results from it) in Appalachia. The story is told from Demon, and he is a character you will fall in love with, and find yourself rooting for, hoping for some way that he can escape all the pitfalls life throws at him. Despite the length of the story, it never felt slow or laboring in plot, and the characters were so well done. As was mentioned, this author has a way of telling a story that sucks you in and never lets go until the very last page. I did get my usual angst over the page count, but that's more of a me thing, and certainly no reflection on the quality of the story and writing. This really makes you think about the effects that extreme poverty has not only on individuals, but entire communities. Demon was such a survivor, but sadly the vast majority are not!

While not a happy story, the resilience of Demon shines through on each and every page. The story and writing are transcendent, and the message shines bright. If you can tolerate the length, this is well worth your time invested.

Published on Leave a comment on Anywhere You Run
Anywhere You Run Book Cover Anywhere You Run
Wanda M. Morris
Fiction
William Morrow Paperbacks
October 25, 2022
Advance reader copy
384
Free from publisher

It's the summer of 1964 and three innocent men are brutally murdered for trying to help Black Mississippians secure the right to vote. Against this backdrop, twenty-two year old Violet Richards finds herself in more trouble than she's ever been in her life. Suffering a brutal attack of her own, she kills the man responsible. But with the color of Violet's skin, there is no way she can escape Jim Crow justice in Jackson, Mississippi. Before anyone can find the body or finger her as the killer, she decides to run. With the help of her white beau, Violet escapes. But desperation and fear leads her to hide out in the small rural town of Chillicothe, Georgia, unaware that danger may be closer than she thinks.

Back in Jackson, Marigold, Violet's older sister, has dreams of attending law school. Working for the Mississippi Summer Project, she has been trying to use her smarts to further the cause of the Black vote. But Marigold is in a different kind of trouble: she's pregnant and unmarried. After news of the murder brings the police to her door, Marigold sees no choice but to flee Jackson too. She heads North seeking the promise of a better life and no more segregation. But has she made a terrible choice that threatens her life and that of her unborn child?

Two sisters on the run--one from the law, the other from social shame. What they don't realize is that there's a man hot on their trail. This man has his own brand of dark secrets and a disturbing motive for finding the sisters that is unknown to everyone but him . . .

My review:

I had read a copy of this author's last novel and enjoyed it, so was anxious to check out another book from her. I went into this without knowing much about it, and was surprised to find that it is quite different from her previous work. That's not a bad thing (especially since I think I liked this one even more), I appreciate it when an author can vary their stories to not always follow the same formula. This was definitely more historical fiction with suspense, not something I would categorize as a thriller (as her other work clearly was). In this book you get a feel for how despite new laws, it really didn't make any difference with regards to how blacks were treated in the south. Our main protagonists (sisters) have different reasons to escape the oppressive regime, but both are in danger, before and after they finally reunite. This is a well done narrative, and the suspense keeps you turning pages to root for Violet and Marigold and hope for their happy ending. I love when a book can shine a light on historical aspects, but also have a fast moving plot. Definite trigger warnings for physical and emotional abuse.

With this second book which showcased how this author can write very different material yet keep that suspenseful element, I have decided that I will definitely keep my eye out for what she puts out next. This one is a great combo of historical fiction and suspense that I think lots of readers will be pulled into.

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Published on 2 Comments on Mad Honey
Mad Honey Book Cover Mad Honey
Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Finney Boylan
Fiction
Ballantine
October 4, 2022
Hardcover
464
Purchased

Olivia McAfee knows what it feels like to start over. Her picture-perfect life—living in Boston, married to a brilliant cardiothoracic surgeon, raising a beautiful son, Asher—was upended when her husband revealed a darker side. She never imagined she would end up back in her sleepy New Hampshire hometown, living in the house she grew up in, and taking over her father's beekeeping business.

Lily Campanello is familiar with do-overs, too. When she and her mom relocate to Adams, New Hampshire, for her final year of high school, they both hope it will be a fresh start.

And for just a short while, these new beginnings are exactly what Olivia and Lily need. Their paths cross when Asher falls for the new girl in school, and Lily can’t help but fall for him, too. With Ash, she feels happy for the first time. Yet at times, she wonders if she can she trust him completely . . .

Then one day, Olivia receives a phone call: Lily is dead, and Asher is being questioned by the police. Olivia is adamant that her son is innocent. But she would be lying if she didn’t acknowledge the flashes of his father’s temper in him, and as the case against him unfolds, she realizes he’s hidden more than he’s shared with her.

Mad Honey is a riveting novel of suspense, an unforgettable love story, and a moving and powerful exploration of the secrets we keep and the risks we take in order to become ourselves.

My review:

She's back! I haven't really enjoyed the format of the last couple books by this author because they veered away from her more typical drama with a trial involved. Of course I always enjoy the characters she writes, they are always so well constructed and make you feel really connected to the story. Such was the case with this book. Written with a co-author (who I was not familiar with), this has the usual current hot button topics included. The main one I'm not going to discuss since that would be a huge spoiler (that did indeed make me gasp). The education about beekeeping was wonderful, and one I've read about in other books and have always had a fascination for. I didn't make the connection (until I read another review) that the lawyer who represents the young man is the same lawyer from my favorite Picoult book Nineteen Minutes! It was interesting that while Asher's story is told in chronological order, Lilly's is told in a backward fashion. This was how A Spark of Light was told and I really did not like it in that book, I'm still not sure that I think it totally worked in this one, but I was much more tolerant of it here. The main thing I always come away from in a book by this author is an education on something that I may not know much about. I love reading fiction that immerses you in a story, but still has you learning while reading. I thought the writing was seamless, I really could not tell which author wrote which parts of the story, and if there were not two names on the cover I would have thought it was written by one person. My only other small criticism (other than the backward storytelling) was that I thought the ending was a bit too convenient. Not a big deal, but I would have appreciated a bit more ambiguity.

As always, this author has a way with characters and hot topics that will keep me coming back for more! The story of mothers and their relationship with their children was definitely the overarching theme, but the added educational aspects and trial were the main highlights for me. I'm happy to be back on the Picoult hype train!

Published on Leave a comment on Our Missing Hearts
Our Missing Hearts Book Cover Our Missing Hearts
Celeste Ng
Fiction
Penguin Press
October 4, 2022
Advance reader copy
352
Free from publisher via BookBrowse

Twelve-year-old Bird Gardner lives a quiet existence with his loving but broken father, a former linguist who now shelves books in Harvard University’s library. Bird knows to not ask too many questions, stand out too much, or stray too far. For a decade, their lives have been governed by laws written to preserve “American culture” in the wake of years of economic instability and violence. To keep the peace and restore prosperity, the authorities are now allowed to relocate children of dissidents, especially those of Asian origin, and libraries have been forced to remove books seen as unpatriotic—including the work of Bird’s mother, Margaret, a Chinese American poet who left the family when he was nine years old.

Bird has grown up disavowing his mother and her poems; he doesn’t know her work or what happened to her, and he knows he shouldn’t wonder. But when he receives a mysterious letter containing only a cryptic drawing, he is drawn into a quest to find her. His journey will take him back to the many folktales she poured into his head as a child, through the ranks of an underground network of librarians, into the lives of the children who have been taken, and finally to New York City, where a new act of defiance may be the beginning of much-needed change.

Our Missing Hearts is an old story made new, of the ways supposedly civilized communities can ignore the most searing injustice. It’s a story about the power—and limitations—of art to create change, the lessons and legacies we pass on to our children, and how any of us can survive a broken world with our hearts intact.

My review:

I feel like this book doesn't need anything said except:

JUST READ IT

However for those who may need a bit more proof (or prodding), I offer my thoughts. This book is set in a dystopian world that is scarily comparable to where we may be heading. Many of the themes are ones that have already occurred, are presently happening, and could happen if we continue down the path some people in power want us to follow. This is a dark look at what happens when the government institutes a new policy, and you either follow along or suffer the devastating consequences. The characters in this book are ones that I will remember (and worry about) for a long time to come. The writing is beautiful, and the protagonists are so well developed. The ending is devastating, yet somehow also manages to convey a sense of hope for the future. I absolutely loved the role of the librarians, major kudos to all of you! Such an impactful novel about family bonds, and trying to change a broken system.

I'm keeping this review vague on purpose because I don't want to give any kind of spoilers (or start on a political rant). Suffice it to say that this book should make you very fearful of the future. An amazing book that I hope everyone gets their hands on.

Published on Leave a comment on The Winners
The Winners Book Cover The Winners
Beartown #3
Fredrik Backman
Fiction
Atria
September 27, 2022
Advance reader copy
688
Free from publisher

Two years have passed since the events that no one wants to think about. Everyone has tried to move on, but there’s something about this place that prevents it. The residents continue to grapple with life’s big questions: What is a family? What is a community? And what, if anything, are we willing to sacrifice in order to protect them?

As the locals of Beartown struggle to overcome the past, great change is on the horizon. Someone is coming home after a long time away. Someone will be laid to rest. Someone will fall in love, someone will try to fix their marriage, and someone will do anything to save their children. Someone will submit to hate, someone will fight, and someone will grab a gun and walk towards the ice rink.

So what are the residents of Beartown willing to sacrifice for their home?

Everything.

My review:

I'll admit I was nervous going into this one. Not because I thought I wouldn't love it (this author never lets me down!), but because I wasn't willing to invest the time to reread the first two books in the series (I'm not a repeat reader), and I might not remember enough. I needn't have worried, and I should not have doubted the fact that Backman gives enough information that you could read this as a standalone novel and still love it. Would I recommend doing that? No. First, you'd be missing out on two fantastic previous books, and second, I definitely think I felt more immersed in the setting and characters having spent so much time with them in the past (which did come back to me very quickly). While this book has a lot going on with regards to plot, I definitely feel that it's the characters that make it shine! Also the writing, which is so eloquent that I found myself stopping to reread passages (that kind of rereading I will do) several times per chapter! Some may be put off by this series when they hear it's about a hockey town, but please do not be! It's about so much more! It's about community, loyalty, found family, the angst of youth, and some of the most memorable characters you'll ever read about (and yes, Benji still has my heart!). If I had any complaint to make it would be that it is just really long. As much as I loved it, any book that is over 600 pages is probably going to get that criticism from me.

While I'm super sad to be leaving this town, I felt this was the perfect concluding saga. Enjoy the gorgeous wring, relish the plot, but be mesmerized by the characters. Well done Mr. Backman, you have my heart (still).

Published on Leave a comment on Daisy Darker
Daisy Darker Book Cover Daisy Darker
Alice Feeney
Fiction
Flatiron Books
August 30, 2022
Hardcover
352
Purchased

After years of avoiding each other, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. Finally back together one last time, when the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours. The family arrives, each of them harboring secrets. Then at the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follows… Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must reckon with their present mystery as well as their past secrets, before the tide comes in and all is revealed. With a wicked wink to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, Daisy Darker’s unforgettable twists will leave readers reeling.

My review:

This is one of those books that started out so promising, but lost me toward the end. It states in the synopsis that its a nod to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, but I have not read that book to know how accurate that is. If that one ends the same way this one does, I think I'll pass! I will say that the reason I disliked the ending is much more of a "me thing" than anything against the book itself. I can't really explain what I didn't like without giving away one of the huge twists, but suffice it to say it just isn't a plot point that ever works for me. Other than my issue with that, this was a completely engaging novel about a dysfunctional family (which IS my favorite trope) who are on a deserted island (where you can't drive off when the tide is in) for the family matriarch's 80th birthday. As is true in most thrillers like this, there are secrets and grudges galore. I'm not sure that it was all totally believable, but I was along for the ride for most of it. It was fast paced, well written, and had many twists throughout (not just the one I mentioned).

A fast and compelling read. As long as the major twist doesn't annoy you, I think it's well worth it. Also, if you haven't read Rock Paper Scissors by this author, that one was a 5 star for me! Maybe that is another reason I felt a bit let down by this one, I was maybe going in with my expectations too high.

Published on Leave a comment on Marple: Twelve New Mysteries
Marple: Twelve New Mysteries Book Cover Marple: Twelve New Mysteries
Agatha Christie, Naomi Alderman, Leigh Bardugo, Alyssa Cole, Lucy Foley, Elly Griffiths, Natalie Haynes, Jean Kwok, Val McDermid, Karen M. McManus, Dreda Say Mitchell, Kate Mosse, Ruth Ware,
Fiction
William Morrow
September 13, 2022
Hardcover
384
Free from publisher

A brand-new collection of short stories featuring the Queen of Mystery’s legendary detective Jane Marple, penned by twelve remarkable bestselling and acclaimed authors.

This collection of a dozen original short stories, all featuring Jane Marple, will introduce the character to a whole new generation. Each author reimagines Agatha Christie’s Marple through their own unique perspective while staying true to the hallmarks of a traditional mystery.

Naomi Alderman
Leigh Bardugo
Alyssa Cole
Lucy Foley
Elly Griffiths
Natalie Haynes
Jean Kwok
Val McDermid
Karen M. McManus
Dreda Say Mitchell
Kate Mosse
Ruth Ware

Miss Marple was first introduced to readers in a story Agatha Christie wrote for The Royal Magazine in 1927 and made her first appearance in a full-length novel in 1930’s The Murder at the Vicarage. It has been 45 years since Agatha Christie’s last Marple novel, Sleeping Murder, was published posthumously in 1976, and this collection of ingenious new stories by twelve Christie devotees will be a timely reminder why Jane Marple remains the most famous fictional female detective of all time.

My review:

Two things you should know about me prior to reading this book are that I've NEVER (gasp) read an Agatha Christie novel, and that I've never met a short story collection (with rare exception) that I've liked. I decided to try this book because it had many stories from authors I've read from before, and I thought it was a good chance to get my first dose of Agatha Christie's beloved Miss Marple. This book was really fun, and I flew through its pages, sectioning off 2 to 3 stories a day. I absolutely fell in love with Jane Marple! I do love a book with an older character, and she fit the bill perfectly. This was a perfect stepping off place to Christie's longer mysteries, in that there were not a ton of characters to keep track of due to the shortness of each story. I have a feeling it gets much harder when reading the full length novels. Between all of the collective stories, you definitely got a glimpse into the places and people Miss Marple interacts with, and the crossover from one author to the next, while not chronological in time, gave a more thorough understanding of our main character and her idiosyncrasies and habits.

A very well curated selection of mysteries by some present day authors, this book has me hooked on going back and reading some of the original works and having more fun with the excellent character of Miss Marple. A great job done by these authors, I hope Agatha (and Miss Marple) would agree.

Published on Leave a comment on The Godmothers
The Godmothers Book Cover The Godmothers
Monica McInerney
Fiction
Welbeck Publishing
September 6, 2022
Paperback
464
Free from publisher (Bookish First)

Eliza Miller grew up in Australia as the only daughter of a troubled young mother, but with the constant support of two watchful godmothers, Olivia and Maxie. Despite her tricky childhood, she always felt loved and secure. Until, just before her eighteenth birthday, a tragic event changed her life.

Thirteen years on, Eliza is deliberately living as safely as possible, avoiding close relationships and devoting herself to her job. Out of the blue, an enticing invitation from one of her godmothers prompts a leap into the unknown.

Within a fortnight, Eliza finds herself in the middle of a complicated family in Edinburgh. There’s no such thing as an ordinary day any more. Yet, amidst the chaos, Eliza begins to blossom. She finds herself not only hopeful about the future, but ready to explore her past, including the biggest mystery of all – who is her father?

Set in Australia, Scotland, Ireland and England, THE GODMOTHERS is a great big hug of a book that will fill your heart to bursting. It is a moving and perceptive story about love, lies, hope and sorrow, about the families we are born into and the families we make for ourselves.

My review:

3.5 stars

I had read a previous book by this author (Hello From The Gillespies) and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to pick up another. I was also completely enthralled by the characters in this one! I loved the godmothers, and their willingness to take on the bereft 17 year old daughter of their best friend. Learning the backstories of not only their friendship, but that of their troubled friend (Eliza's mother) added so much to the characterization of the book. The secrets that Eliza's godmothers hold about her mother, and who her father may be, keep the plot moving and and engaging. The addition of a pint size dynamo named Sullivan made me smile every time he was present! The everyday tasks of living give the story a realness, like you are walking along in their shoes. There are some anxiety issues discussed, as well as an LGBTQ aspect, both of which I always love to see represented in a book. 

Overall an immersive and interesting story about found family with a very satisfying conclusion. I'm excited to read more from this author as I've now had two winners!

Published on Leave a comment on I’ll Be You
I'll Be You Book Cover I'll Be You
Janelle Brown
Fiction
Random House
April 26, 2022
Hardcover
368
Purchased

As children, Sam and Elli were two halves of a perfect whole: gorgeous identical twins whose parents sometimes couldn’t even tell them apart. They fell asleep to the sound of each other’s breath at night, holding hands in the dark. And once Hollywood discovered them, they became B-list child TV stars, often inhabiting the same role.

But as adults, their lives have splintered. After leaving acting, Elli reinvented herself as the perfect homemaker: married to a real estate lawyer, living in a house just blocks from the beach. Meanwhile, Sam has never recovered from her failed Hollywood career, or from her addiction to the pills and booze that have propped her up for the last fifteen years.

Sam hasn't spoken to her sister since her destructive behavior finally drove a wedge between them. So when her father calls out of the blue, Sam is shocked to learn that Elli’s life has been in turmoil: her husband moved out, and Elli just adopted a two-year-old girl. Now she’s stopped answering her phone and checked in to a mysterious spa in Ojai. Is her sister just decompressing, or is she in trouble? Could she have possibly joined a cult? As Sam works to connect the dots left by Elli’s baffling disappearance, she realizes that the bond between her and her sister is more complicated than she ever knew.

My review:

This was a fresh take on the oft written trope of changing identities. In this case, the two parties involved happen to be identical twins, who have changed places many times since they were childhood actresses playing one character (think Mary Kate and Ashley Olson). Much as we know from reading the tabloids, being a star when one is a child can sometimes come with all sorts of hiccups later in life. Some of those are explored with these two sisters and their varying paths. What is interesting though, is that we discover that these manifestations may not always be as they seem. The character who appears to have it all together can really be hiding lots of trauma that sends them on a path you could never see coming, while the twin who appears to be a hot mess may just have to provide the way out. I thought the plot was very propulsive in this book, and I'm always interested in the study of identical twins, especially when they appear to be very different than what is seen on the surface. The cult aspect is also a fascinating sub plot, and I was actually invested in the very real lead up to the conclusion. Sometimes my interest can wane with these types of stories if I feel that characters are doing things so out on a limb as to not be believable. That was not the case here. The addition of the twins parents was also a very interesting character study in and of itself.

An engaging character study of identical child actors whose lives don't go according to plan once they are out of the Hollywood spotlight. Lots to unpack in this interesting novel.

Published on Leave a comment on Sugar and Salt
Sugar and Salt Book Cover Sugar and Salt
Bella Vista Chronicles #4
Susan Wiggs
William Morrow
July 26, 2022
Hardcover
384
Free from publisher

Jerome "Sugar" Barnes learned the art of baking in his grandma's bakery, also called Sugar, on historic Perdita Street in San Francisco. He supplies baked goods to the Lost and Found Bookshop across the street.

When the restaurant that shares his commercial kitchen loses its longtime tenant, a newcomer moves in: Margot Salton, a barbecue master from Texas.

Margot isn't exactly on the run, but she needs a fresh start. She's taken care of herself her whole life, pulling herself up by her fingernails to recover from trauma, and her dream has been to open a restaurant somewhere far, far from Texas. The shared kitchen with Jerome Sugar's bakery is the perfect setup: a state-of-the-art kitchen and a vibrant neighborhood popular with tourists and locals.

Margot instantly takes to Jerome's grandmother, the lively, opinionated Ida, and the older woman proves to be a good mentor. Margot thinks Jerome is gorgeous, and despite their different backgrounds their attraction is powerful--even though Jerome worries that Margot will simply move on from him once she's found some peace and stability. But just as she starts to relax into a happy new future, Margot's past in Texas comes back to haunt her...

My review:

A couple of observations before getting into my thoughts on the story. 1. I would have sought this book out for the cover alone. Give me a book that is going to be about baked goods, and I'm all in! 2. You do not have to read the other books in this series (I have not) to enjoy this one. Now onto the review......

This book was not at all what I was expecting going in. I thought based on the blurb and cover that it was going to be about two restaurant owners falling for each other. That was just a very small part of the story. This had a really dark story about Margot's past that took up a generous portion of the book. I honestly think it enhanced the read for me, I'm not the best consumer of fluffy predictable romance, and this added much more that I appreciated. I will say though, that it is not a light portion of the book, so you may want to check out other reviews to compare their thoughts to mine. Aside from Margot and Jerome's stories, we also get the story of Jerome's mother Ida and her long lost love Frank. We learn why they were kept apart, and while I found the reason interesting, their story did not resonate with me as much as Margot's. I was rooting hard for her to succeed in life!

While this book does have romance elements within, do not expect it to be as light and fluffy as the cake frosting on the gorgeous cover. I'm interested in now going back to read the previous books in this series, I'm hopeful they will be as interesting as this one.