The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - I put off reading this book for a long time, I think it is because I got an ARC of All These Things I've Done ten years ago, and it didn't leave me wanting to read by the author. But my loss, because I really enjoyed this book. But it must be as the author herself states:

“Sometimes books don't find us until the right time.”

I loved the way the book was laid out. Each chapter begins with a short blurb about a book, which we later see is a note to his daughter who wishes to be a writer. The chapters are short (about 20 pages), the story moves forward quickly, there are a few mysteries, it is about books, and the characters are for the most part, likeable. Excellent book!

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The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman

The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - This book grabbed and held my attention. It had so many components that ticked boxes, a book about librarians and a library, a mystery, literary references, an alternate universe. While I enjoyed this book very much, I couldn't rate it a 5 star because it did not compel me to run out and read the rest of the series.

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A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5.0/5.0 - Wonderful play by young playwright Lorraine Hansberry, who died five years later. The play takes place in the southside of Chicago, set between World War II and 1959. It was ground breaking, written by an African American writer about an African American family, at a time when both of these things were almost unheard of. Sadly, sixty-some years later, the storyline is as fresh today, as when it was written.


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Killer Research by Jenn McKinlay

Killer Research by Jenn McKinlay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded to 4 stars - Of the cozy mystery series that I read, this is probably my favorite one. Of course, I appreciate the library setting, the strong woman characters - especially library director, Lindsay Norris-Sullivan, the recipes and book club questions, as well as a themed craft that the author provides in each book. This offering was the best one yet, because in this one, Lindsay's new husband, Sully is her partner in solving crime, and he is much more likeable than the Robbie character was, in that role. Also a plus, is the character development for Ms. Cole, who began the series as a sour-pussed, spinster librarian, and comes into her own as a person with an interesting life's story and a good deal to offer.
Book 311 of 2021

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The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 rounded to 4.0 - I have loved the previous 4 books, but this one didn't hold the same appeal. Perhaps it was the feeling I got throughout that the author was telling the same story, just in different centuries - the high-born lady in love with the common man, the brilliant builder, the cruel lord, the bishops who are evil, the lowly but good monk. It was interesting to see the very beginning of Kingsbridge and to finally put the series to bed after almost 4000 pages!

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The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - Very enjoyable story, taken from Norse mythology, that gives life to Angrboda, known only as Loki's wife and the mother of his three children. I read Neil Gaiman's book, Norse Mythology, earlier this year which provided great background for this. In fact, this feels like a companion piece, in that it enlarges individual parts of his story. It explains how Loki and Angrboda met, fell in love, the birth of their children and their parts in the end of the world.
Highly recommend.

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The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

4.0/5.0 - This ticks several boxes for me: historical fiction, food, England, and strong women characters, to name a few. The setting is England during World War II, food rationing is in place, and the BBC is holding a contest to find a woman who can be the radio commentator for the program, The Kitchen Front, to help families make the most of some unusual foods (think whale and sardines) and search healthy and tasty meals. The four women start out as competitors, but as the war throws them together, they become friends, to the extent that they end up living together by the end of the book.
There are period recipes scattered throughout (but none that tempted me), and interesting historical notes at the end. If you enjoy tv shows like Downton Abbey or books featuring food, this would probably be your cup of tea!

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Seeing Ghosts: A Memoir by Kat Chow

Seeing Ghosts: A Memoir by Kat Chow
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

2.5 rounded to 3 stars - Memoir by a young Chinese American woman as she tries to come to terms to the early loss of her mother. The book covers approximately 15 years, and much of it is written as if she was talking to her mother. This book really didn't touch me emotionally, and considering I lost my own mother in December, that's saying something. The book was fine, it just wasn't special.


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The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

3.5/5.0 - This series could be described as a guilty pleasure for me. Some of the books are better than others, and this was one of the better ones. The plot usually follows the formula of one of the Bridgertons seeking (or not) a spouse, and the (mis)adventures that follow. In this case it was Anthony, the heir, who at 29 feels like he must settle down and produce his own heir, because he fears he will die young like his father and uncle before him. He doesn't want to marry for love and leave his spouse to fend for themselves when he dies, but he doesn't count on meeting his match in Kate. (view spoiler)[Kate has no great love for him, either, as his reputation is that of a rake. He is initially pursuing her beautiful, younger sister, and she's having none of that - she loves her sister and doesn't want her hurt by him. But as it turns out, her sister, Edwina, doesn't really find Anthony to her liking. So, of course it ends with Anthony and Kate falling in love with each other and living happily ever after. (hide spoiler)]

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Better, Not Bitter by Yusef Salaam

Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice by Yusef Salaam
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is written by one of the Exonerated Five, young men who were falsely accused and imprisoned for seven years for the rape of a jogger in Central Park, in 1989. Yusef was only 15 at the time. He was released on parole in 1996, and when the actual rapist confessed in 2001, the convictions were vacated.
The title of the book refers to the author’s belief that all things happen for a reason, and not to let the bad things define you. He was rescued in prison by a Muslim brotherhood, who protected him and gave him spiritual guidance. It changed his life. His mother, sister and brother all provided strength to keep him going during the difficult years inside. Once he was released, he pursued his education, eventually ending up with a doctorate, and is currently a motivation speaker. It amazes me that someone could endure these things and end up better, not bitter.
I ask myself how can all this be true? How can we treat fellow human beings like this?


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