This is the story of Danny & Maeve, brother & sister who seem to have a privileged life. The novel revolves around their lifelong bond, which undergoes many upheavals. A major character in the book is the Dutch House itself, their childhood home, & we learn the curious history of the house & its former owners. I thoroughly loved these characters, including the house! If you like really delving into someone's personality, then this is the book for you. (Kim)
The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter entwines 2 stories 100 years apart, but both based on true events in history. 1838, Grace Darling loves living with her family at Longstone Lighthouse off the coast of northeast England. She helps keep the Light with her father and unwillingly becomes a hero when they save people from a shipwreck during a raging storm. 1938, Newport RI, curmudgeonly Harriet Flaherty is the keeper of Rose Island Lighthouse. She takes in a distant relative from Ireland, 19 year old Matilda Emmerson who is pregnant and alone. This is a beautiful story about the workings of a lighthouse, the wonders and horrors the ocean can bring, family, romance, and how the past always effects the present. A customer recommended it and I'm thankful he did. (Sue)
"Finding Chika" is an incredible moving and heartbreaking story of a little girl, who despite a cruel medical diagnosis, brought joy and happiness to everyone she met. Hoping American doctors could help this beautiful little girl, author Mitch Albom and his wonderful wife Janine, welcome Chika into their home and hearts. I have nothing but the highest admiration for this family for sharing with the world Chika's journey and her bright spirit. Filled with love, faith, inspiration and hope this may be Mitch Albom's bravest book of his career. I highly recommend this poignant celebration of life. (Lisa)
Tara's upbringing is not one for the faint of heart. The story of her life up in the Idaho mountains with her survivalist parents and siblings was absolutely unbelievable. This was my first biography and an absolute page turner! (Bonnie)
I like a little bit of the spooky in the Fall. This memoir by prolific memoirist Augusten Burroughs , is about his being a witch. Burroughs has detailed many aspects of his life in some of his previous books : Running With Scissors, Dry , Lust and Wonder and A Wolf at the Table, but has never before come out as a witch. In his colorful often whimsical style, Burroughs relates that he is from a long line of witches and then offers up a variety of personal stories often hysterically funny , sometimes creepy and occasionally poignant to back up his claim. (Candie)
The 4th book in Riley's incredible Seven Sisters series, The Pearl Sister takes you from London to Thailand and then to Australia as CeCe begins her search for her roots. The story goes back in time to the early 1900's Australia where life is difficult and the inhabitants are plagued by heat, dust, torrential rains, deadly wildlife, and the pervasive prejudice towards the Aboriginal people. Once again Riley takes you on an epic adventure and journey as she vividly brings her characters and surroundings to life. Join CeCe and her forbears with all of their ups and downs, heartaches and triumphs. You will not be able to put this one down. (Sue)
I really loved this family story about Lillian Oberon and her granddaughter Maggie who must navigate through a mixture of duty, rebellion, secrets, and betrayals as they try to find happiness and fulfillment in their lives, but often end up disillusioned. The story is set at the once lavish English estate Cloudesley that is now a crumbling mess and Maggie must find a way to preserve it and her family's legacy. (Sue)
Cara Rutledge is facing a difficult time in her life. She has lost both her mother and her husband in recent years and is now a 1st time mom to an adopted 1 year old daughter. So Cara decides to go to her happy and safe place, her beach cottage on Isles of Palms off the coast of South Carolina, which has been in her mother's family for years, but she now owns. There she is surrounded by family, friends, and the ocean all of which help her move forward and forge a new path in life. Helping the sea turtles nest and hatch their eggs is just 1 facet of this wonderful story, plus add a little romance and salt air and I couldn't put it down. (Sue)
W. Bruce Cameron has done it again! Another beautifully written, heartwarming installment in the "Dog's Purpose" series. This one finds Bailey being reborn again to fulfill a promise to his beloved human, Ethan. Helping along his journey is his soul mate, Lacey, another very special dog who plays many roles in his quest. This book touched my heart and like the others in the series left me with a sense of love and comfort. By allowing us to see the world from a dog's perspective, it's no surprise that humans could learn more about empathy, kindness and compassion from their canine companions if they just paid attention. I highly recommend it for all who have experienced the joys and sorrows of having a cherished dog. (Lisa)
Life is very hard for the people of Troublesome Creek, Kentucky in the 1930's. Poverty, starvation and dangerous work in the mines keep the spirits of the people as low as possible. The only source of comfort and happiness for many are the books, scrapbooks and periodicals brought by Cussy Mary Carter, the traveling librarian representative of the Kentucky Pack Horse Library Project. Books have always been Cussy's salvation during a life filled with hatred and persecution due to her family's blue tinted skin color. Through kindness and a shared love of reading, Cussy Mary's patrons learn to see the inner strength and beauty of this amazing young woman. From the very beginning of this book, I could tell the extensive research and dedication Kim Michele Richardson invested in one of the best books I've read all year. Although our upbringings and origins couldn't be farther apart, I felt an immediate rapport with Cussy Mary due to our shared love of books. The acute descriptions of the environment, conditions and people trying to survive every day of their hardscrabble lives put me right there beside them. I find that hours after finishing this beautifully written, moving story that I'm still missing the extraordinary characters both good and bad of Troublesome Creek. Worthy of more than five stars, I give this book one of my highest recommendations for all who love books, history and the power of reading. (Lisa)
When I finished "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" I wondered what happened to Cilka, a young girl whose beauty condemned her to being charged with collaboration with the Nazis. This book continues Cilka's story as she is sent to a Russian Gulag in Siberia for a sentence of fifteen years. "Cilka's Journey" is an amazing testament to resilience and courage in the face of unspeakable brutality and horror. The bravery and selflessness Cilka showed throughout her life was inspiring and wondrous. Heather Morris does a brilliant job of bringing Cilka and her brutal environment to life. I highly recommend this extraordinary book! (Lisa)
After much praise of this book I finally decided to pick it up and I definitely could not put it down. Abandoned at a very young age by her whole family Kya Clark survives on her own out in the marsh. With no schooling and really no social skills she is a mystery to the town. When the local football star is found dead the locals immediately blame “Marsh girl” as she’s known. The twists and turns kept me turning the pages of this novel! It is definitely a must read! (Bonnie)
Consuelo Vanderbilt, American heiress, was forced into a loveless marriage to the 9th Duke of Marlboro by her mother Alva Vanderbilt. After producing "An heir and a spare" Consuelo's marriage falls apart. She scandalously separates and forges and path of her own. Her fight for women's suffrage and medical care of children give her meaning in a world she had to make her own. This was a great story and a great character. Her story was very inspiring! (Bonnie)
Anna Princess of Kleve is engaged to the enigmatic King Henry VIII. While she is afraid from all the rumors she has heard she is also interested to learn about the man he truly is. While, as history tells we know the marriage does not last, Anna does not lose her head but becomes the sister to the queen and lives an independent life. This headstrong woman's life was both interesting and a joy to read. (Bonnie)
Naturalist Sy Montgomery takes the reader with her on her explorations into the lives of octopuses. She befriends four of them who are housed at the New England Aquarium. Each of them had different personalities. Her relationships with them form the basis of this funny, touching and often awe inspiring book. You will never look at octopuses the same again. Award winning nature writing- this should be a must read for anyone who enjoys reading about the natural world. (Candie)
Anna is a suburban housewife who loves to listen to podcasts. On the morning her life falls apart, she tunes into her favorite crime show and finds that not only is her present life crumbling, but her secret past also now needs to be dealt with. A road trip with her ex-best friend's now ex-husband to get things straightened out leads them both on a dark, dangerous yet often hysterically funny journey to solve an old crime and free Anna from her past. I could not put this "Tartan Noir " mystery down. (Candie)
Charming is the first word that comes to mind about Evvie Drake Starts Over. Characters are what draw me in to a novel and the characters in this novel are richly developed. I was cheering Evvie on during the entire novel. Set in Maine, Evvie is a small town girl who is supposed to be grieving the death of her husband. No one knows she was literally in the car leaving him when she learns of his death. Her best friend, Andy, encourages her to rent her spare apartment to his other friend , Dean, a former Yankee pitcher who has been forced to retire due to a case of the "yips" and is looking to escape the public. A witty, warm romance ensues as the two emotionally battered characters try to find themselves so they can find each other. (Candie)
With many reading no more than 140 characters it looked for for a while that the print book was an endangered species, but this book, by Harvard Book Historian Leah Price looks at the reasons for the ongoing resiliency of books. Asking what is a book and how has it changed over the years and how it keeps reinventing itself. It's a celebration and an in-depth examination of what the book has meant to us and the roles it plays in the past present and future. (Bob)
