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The Bohemians: A Novel by Jasmin Darznik

April 5, 2021

bohemians

I was interested in Jasmin Darznik’s new novel The Bohemians for its premise about a woman in history I knew nothing about. Dorothea ‘Dorrie’ Lange is an American photographer. If, like me, you don’t recognize the name, this should help:   Migrant Mother was taken at the height of the Depression and is considered an iconic depiction of Dust Bowl reality. The ... Read More...

4 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: historical fiction, San Francisco, women

Betty: A Novel by Tiffany McDaniel

March 29, 2021

Betty

A biracial little girl is the main character and the namesake in Tiffany McDaniel’s shattering novel, Betty. Born in 1954 and raised in Appalachian Ohio, the novel follows her and her five siblings, a Cherokee father, and White mother as their lives are acid-etched with racism from the outside  and tragedy from within. The South of the 1950s and 1960s was not known for its ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: childhood, historical fiction, literary, Southern life

Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi

March 12, 2021

sparks

When Sitara is 10 years old her life is flipped upside down. She goes from being the beloved only daughter of a high-ranking Afghan advisor to the country’s president to an orphan on the run. It’s 1982 and Communist backed forces stage a military coup in Nadia Hashimi’s new novel, Sparks Like Stars. Sitara’s family is killed in front of her, but she manages to hide from the ... Read More...

3 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: cultural, Middle East, war

Zorrie by Laird Hunt

February 15, 2021

underrated

Towards the end of last year, the only reading that worked for me was fast paced thrillers. More plot, more action, less literary. This year is taking a turn (or a return) to the fiction that’s always drawn me in, the kind where the words matter more than anything else. Laird Hunt’s latest, Zorrie, epitomizes this style; the power of simplicity. Zorrie is a young girl in ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, historical fiction, literary

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

February 12, 2021

four

I’m wrapping up what has been an odd reviewing week for me. One Monday I wrote about a book I loved, but which I read so long ago I had trouble sharing my thoughts. On Wednesday, my experience was a very good novel that would probably have been great if I could relate to the subject. Finally, here I am with a popular author who I’ve decided is not for me: Kristin Hannah. I ... Read More...

6 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: historical fiction

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

November 9, 2020

invisible

Last week I wished for a big, immersive book to keep my mind far away from reality. Thanks to a recommendation from my friend, Susie, I got it. And, once again, in the way of the bookish universe, it was about making a wish. Or, at the very least: Be careful what you wish for. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue  is a novel that spans 300 years in a mere 400 pages and makes the ... Read More...

2 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: contemporary life, fantasy, historical fiction, literary

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