The Book of Thorns, by Hester Fox
The Battle of Waterloo is the centerpiece, bringing two orphaned sisters together, their shared unnatural abilities with flowers, and the soldiers of the opposing forces, whom they love.
Read MoreDon't Cry For Me, by Daniel Black
Deceptively simple story, told as letters from a dying father to his estranged son. Feels like a modern classic, father-son relationships, relatable to all.
Read MoreLong Island, and Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin
Read Brooklyn and Long Island as a pair, the story of emigrant Eilis Lacey, and her life in Ireland and the United States, from the Fifties to the Seventies.
Read MoreLady Macbeth, by Ava Reid
A retelling of Shakespeare's Macbeth, from the feminist viewpoint of Lady Macbeth.
Read MoreThe Glass Maker, by Tracy Chevalier
A magical story of the glass making Rosso family of Murano, and a love song to Venice.
Read MoreThis Other Eden, by Paul Harding
A 2023 National Book Award finalist, this richly layered novel is a worthwhile literary read. Read my review for a cautionary note, however.
Read MoreRecent Reads: Brief Mentions
A grab bag of my recent reads that might make for good additions to your summer reading list.
Read MoreJames, by Percival Everett
Everett successfully takes Twain’s character of the runaway slave Jim, making him a surreptitious reader and writer, on a dangerous journey of freedom for himself and his family.
Read MoreThe Great Divide, by Cristina Henriquez
Learn about the building of the Panama Canal from the viewpoint of indigenous peoples in this historical fiction novel.
Read MoreMurder By Degrees, by Ritu Mukerji
A female medical doctor in 1875 Philadelphia is drawn into a murder investigation, her patient the victim. An ambitious first novel, with some weaknesses, but a worthwhile read.
Read MoreKristin Lavransdatter, by Sigrid Undset
Enjoy this classic trilogy, published just over one hundred years ago, but whose characters feel as genuine and real as anyone you know.
Read MoreThe Women, by Kristin Hannah
This is a must-read novel, the story of a woman serving in Vietnam. It is also Hannah’s best book yet.
Read MoreDiva, by Daisy Goodwin
Brava! Delight in this dramatic story of opera soprano legend Maria Callas, told as a novel.
Read MoreHomecoming, by Kate Morton
A terrible family tragedy and mystery, set in the lush setting of the tropical bush of southern Australia, this is a novel of a search for meaning, identity, and the value of family and homecoming.
Read MoreThe Trackers, by Charles Frazier
Author of Cold Mountain, Charles Frazier writes a captivating mystery set in Depression-era Wyoming that seems destined for the theater. Recommended.
Read MoreHang the Moon, by Jeanette Walls
Meet Sallie Kincaid, a Prohibition-era young woman coming of age in hillbilly rural Virginia, learning her families’ legacy, and what her own path will be. Recommended for your summer reading list.
Read MoreThe Marriage Portrait, by Maggie O'Farrell
One of the best novels of 2022, you will enjoy this dive into the intrigues and dangers of sixteenth century Italian court life for women.
Read MoreLessons in Chemistry, by Bonnie Garmus
Meet Elizabeth Zott, uncompromising scientist with a heart of gold and steel in her spine. Enjoy author Garmus’s witty banter in this novel of 1950’s workplace sexual relations. Very funny!
Read MoreThe Final Revival of Opal & Nev, by Dawnie Walton
Take a trip back to the seventies, for an excellent fictional story of Opal & Nev, afro-punk duo, and learn more about the intersection of rock, race, and gender equality. Highly recommend.
Read MoreCrossroads, by Jonathan Franzen
Crossroads, a study of a family during the Vietnam era of 1971, is the first of a trilogy by Jonathan Franzen. Check it out!
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