It’s the summer of 1953 in Iran and political turmoil reaches a boiling point as the Prime Minister Mossadegh faces a coup. Despite police brutality and violent demonstrations, two seventeen year olds, Roya and Bahman, fall in love in a beautiful poetry shop filled with Persian poetry, pens, and paper, with a little help from the […]
Book review: “Tiny Beautiful Things” by Cheryl Strayed
This is a collection of advice columns Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild, wrote when she took on the role of “Sugar” on TheRumpus.com. Here, people pour out the hearts in letters that being “Dear Sugar”, begging advice on how to navigate life and relationships of every kind: parents, lovers, spouses, siblings, children, and friends. These represent […]
Book review: “Castle on the Rise” by Kristy Cambron
A fictionalized view of Irish rebellion told across three time periods: the late 18th century, the 1916 Easter Rising, and present day. From fiery Maeve who fights to maintain peace on her family’s Irish estate, to photographer Issy who records history during the Easter Rising, and finally to Laine who uncovers the trails Maeve and […]
Book review: “The Library Book” by Susan Orlean
Part history, party mystery, part memoir – this is a rather jumbled, if endearing, love letter to libraries. Here, we cover the general history of the Los Angeles Public Central Library both before the devastating fire of 1986 and beyond. From its pioneering of women leaders, to its years through the Depression and World Wars, […]
My Top 6 All-Time Favorite Reads
All readers have books that leave imprints on us long after we’ve turned the final page. So here are six books I have loved – some for decades – in no particular order. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. There are so many reasons I love this one, and probably not for the reasons you think of […]
Book review: “Rebecca’s Children” by Kate Dunn
It’s the early 19th century in Carmarthenshire, Wales, and Mary and William are left to fend for themselves after a barn fire and their father’s untimely death leaves them with a farm they cannot manage and few prospects. Mary takes work at a law firm and as a day companion to one of the lawyer’s […]
Book review: “Truly, Madly, Guilty” by Liane Moriarty
Several friends and neighbors, all with underlying secrets of their own, come together for a run-of-the-mill barbecue until all those secrets, revelations, deep-seated fears, and convictions come crashing down when a horrifying accident unfolds. The aftermath of the accident has far reaching consequences for all the players involved. I really wanted to like this one […]
Book review: “A Dangerous Collaboration” by Deanna Raybourn
Veronica and Stoker unite with Stoker’s older brother Tiberius to visit a castle on a Cornish island in Book 4 of the Veronica Speedwell mystery series. Tiberius tempts Veronica to join him on a trip to visit an old friend with promises of rare glasswing butterfly larvae for her vivarium. Veronica and Stoker, still wary […]
Book review: A Well Behaved Woman by T.A. Fowler
Alva Smith Vanderbilt sets her sights on William Kissam Vanderbilt out of pure necessity. With her father gone and little beyond her looks and an old family name to recommend her, Alva has to marry very well or else see her sisters starve. Initially shunned by the Astors and the rest of the Knickerbocker set, Alva […]
My Top Reads for 2018
My favorite part of every year – my top picks for the best books I read over the past year. To me, the only good thing about winter weather is the excuse to stay by the fire and read more! If you have read or do read some of these, please jump in and share […]
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