This was a really interesting novel about a real-life serial killer in Scotland in the 1950’s. I say interesting because it wasn’t quite like anything else I’ve read. It’s not a mystery or a thriller, or a true crime novel. It’s a little closer to Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, although I hesitate to compare … Continue reading
Both of these books were on this year’s Bailey’s Prize for Women longlist, although neither made it to the shortlist (in addition to Hag-Seed). The winner of the Bailey’s Prize will be announced June 7. Though quite different, these two books had several things in common. Both are historical fiction, both have a main character who … Continue reading
Warm weather means outdoor reading, and if you’re looking to pick up some new science fiction or fantasy, these links will help. If you’re looking to diversify or change up your science fiction and fantasy reading, here are two links with recommendations. SFF Book Reviews has a two-part list of favorite diverse science fiction and … Continue reading
This was a difficult book to review, because it’s 1) about slavery, which is hard to talk about; and 2) it won the Pulitzer Prize. So I’m a bit intimidated, but I’ll give you my thoughts. The novel begins on a slave plantation in Georgia, in the early 1800’s. Cora is a young woman whose … Continue reading
This is a really thoughtful, moving novel about a Chinese family that is torn apart in the United States. Peilan grows up in China in a small village but dreams of exploring the world, so she travels to New York for factory work at better wages. She has Deming while still very young herself, and … Continue reading
For some reason I started this book several times; it didn’t quite grab me at first. I suppose a story about a theater director seemed like it might be pretentious. I should have realized that Margaret Atwood wouldn’t write a pretentious book. Once I gave this book a couple of chapters, I was hooked. And … Continue reading
Like many of you, to say I was surprised by the results of the November election is a profound understatement. What kept echoing through my mind the next day was this: why did so many people vote for a man whose policies will not benefit them? I thought women wouldn’t vote for Trump because of … Continue reading
I’m not sure how I managed to read so much in April, although two long flights including a three-hour delay certainly helped. We visited Seattle for a lovely weekend with my in-laws, where we tasted wine, enjoyed science fiction and fantasy exhibits in the Museum of Pop Culture, took a boat tour, and of course … Continue reading
Part of my Reading All Around the World Challenge, this is a book written by a chef in the U.S. who was born in Iran. Café Leila tells the story of an Iranian family that experiences terrifying changes in the country after the revolution and establishment of the Islamic Republic in the early 1980’s. The … Continue reading
With the current news about deportations and ICE arrests, it felt important to me to read a book from the perspective of someone who has experienced it firsthand. Guerrero is not an immigrant herself, but her parents and older brother were born in Columbia. Guerrero’s parents were deported when she was only fourteen years old, … Continue reading
This year, I’m focusing on reading more diverse books, which includes reading books about other countries. And so far this year I’ve made a good effort. Of the 30 books I’ve read this year, 8 are by authors of color. That may not sound like a great percentage but it’s a big increase for me. For … Continue reading
Kostova’s new novel is reminiscent of The Historian, in that it’s a big, sweeping tale that will take the reader all over modern-day Eastern Europe. It’s quite different, however, in that there are no vampires. But there’s still horror. The weakest part of this book is the beginning, because the story seems implausible at first, … Continue reading
