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The Satisfaction Cafe

September 25, 2025

satisfaction

Joan is a Taiwanese woman in America in The Satisfaction Café. Her first marriage, through no fault of her own goes horribly wrong, leaving her destitute and living hand to mouth. She then meets and marries a wealthy, older man. They have their own children before he dies, leaving her very wealthy, but insecure, as the adult children from her husband’s first marriage vigorously ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, cultural

Call Her Freedom

July 24, 2025

call her

A small village in the Himalayan foothills is the setting for Tara Dorabji’s debut novel, Call Her Freedom. Aisha’s mother is a midwife and teaches Aisha all about childbirth and herbal remedies when Aisha is not in school. An outstanding student it’s been her mother’s dream to see her go to university in the city.  But when her mother falls ill the only way to save their ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: cultural, family saga, historical, India, war

This Motherless Land

January 27, 2025

motherless

A loving, happy, Nigerian family is torn apart when a daughter survives a horrific car crash that leaves her mother and brother dead and her father’s grief makes him hate her for surviving. This is This Motherless Land and Funke is the daughter, who at eight finds herself on a plane to England to live with her mother’s white family, people she’s never met and knows almost ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, childhood, cultural, family

The Lion Women of Tehran

July 12, 2024

lion women

When Ellie’s father unexpectedly dies, she and her mother find their circumstances dramatically changed for the worse. There is so little money left they have to sell their beautiful home and move to a tiny apartment in downtown Tehran. It is her mother’s worst nightmare, but for 7-year-old Ellie it means meeting Homa, the girl who will be her best friend throughout their ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: cultural, friendship, historical, Iran, women

May Reading Recap

May 31, 2024

may reading

May was a lovely month for books and for spring in Seattle. We had a great mix of rain and sunshine—kind of like my reading. Of the books I read the majority were successful and either reviewed or will be reviewed. Sadly, this means all I have left for this recap are the books that I didn’t like as much.  But I do love the gorgeous lilacs in this graphic so there's ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Feature Tagged: cultural, literary, mystery, suspense

A Great Country

April 9, 2024

great country

In every way but culture the Shahs consider themselves to be an embodiment of the American Dream. They’ve lived in California for over 20 years, their three children were all born here, and Ashok has gone from freelance work to owning his own company. In the latest example of their achievement, they’ve just purchased a beautiful new home in an Orange County gated community. ... Read More...

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, contemporary, cultural

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