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The Book of Fire

February 14, 2024

book of fire

A forest fire, set by a developer to clear land for a hotel, ends up decimating a small Greek village, leaving the remaining residents awash in the ashes of loss and grief in The Book of Fire. For Irini, Tasso, and their young daughter, Chara, the pain is even greater as it comes with the loss of a loved one and Tasso’s career as an artist. With consummate grace, author Christy ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: contemporary life, literary

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

January 25, 2024

quiet life

We live so much of our lives without telling anyone. Apparently, this is going to be an emotion drenched week of reviews. When A Quiet Life opens, a Pennsylvania suburb is locked in the throes of winter, while three of its residents are just as frozen in their grief. Chuck is a man in his early 70s whose beloved wife died suddenly from cancer, Ella’s young daughter is missing, ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, contemporary life, grief

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir

January 9, 2024

rage

Salahudin and Noor have been best friends since the first grade when Sal was the only person who could communicate with Noor, newly arrived from Pakistan. This friendship, set in a small California town, is the cornerstone of All My Rage, a powerful novel about coming-of-age in a place where you’re always the outsider. When the novel begins the two 16-year-old friends aren’t ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, coming-of-age, contemporary life, cultural, young adult

Holly by Stephen King

December 18, 2023

holly

I know many people have moved towards cozy holiday reading in the last month, but my reading has remained varied and a little bit dark. So, I have a compromise today: a book with a Christmas-y title, but written by the master of suspense and horror. It’s Stephen King’s Holly and while it won’t warm your heart it does involve hearts and is no more terrifying than the news these ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: contemporary life, horror, mystery, suspense

Check & Mate

December 8, 2023

check

Mallory is only 18 but she already has an unwanted reputation. She’s the only person to have beaten Nolan Sawyer, the 20-year-old World Chess Champion who hasn’t lost in over three years. Some would be thrilled, but Mallory hates chess and hasn’t played since that infamous game. This is the board upon which Ali Hazelwood arranges her players in Check & Mate, a young adult ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: contemporary life, rom-com, young adult

The Flatshare: A Novel

November 29, 2023

flatshare

In the same way I’m always up for a well done rom-com movie I sometimes need the same thing in my reading. The end of this year has found me unable to commit to anything with too much darkness or character study. Thankfully, a friend recommended The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary. This light story takes the unusual premise of two strangers ‘sharing’ an apartment without ever seeing ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: contemporary life, London, rom-com, vacation reading

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