Tag Archives: Laura Nawrot

On the shelf: ‘Lost and Found’ by Carolyn Parkhurst

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

Carolyn Parkhurst takes us behind the scenes in the filming of reality television show “Lost and Found” in her book of the same title. The object of the show is to successfully complete a worldwide scavenger hunt in a two-person team to win a million-dollar prize. I was skeptical about the plot since I am not a fan of reality television and didn’t think it would work well as the setting of a book, but I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised. I identified completely with the members of the various teams as they struggled with personal issues that arose as the competition’s heat increased. Parkhurst also raises several questions in this story that force the reader to do some self-reflection without taking away from the story itself, which I think helps the reader feel more involved.

 

Parkhurst tells her story from multiple perspectives by writing in the voices of the various characters. The drama produced by several points of view heightened the tension. If you’re in the market for a different kind of plot, you may want to consider Lost and Found.

On the shelf: Good books for grand kids by various authors

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

What library would be complete without Kevin Henkes’s wonderful picture book, Chrysanthemum? This book tells the story of a young mouse’s first experience at school and the confusion she feels over having a unique name. The story touches on teasing and self-confidence in a gentle and humorous way. Although targeted at pre-school and kindergarten readers, it appeals to slightly older children as well through the universal experiences of Chrysanthemum. A nice family read with a fun twist at the end.

 

 

Shug by Jenny Han, follows Annemarie “Shug” Wilcox through the perils of seventh grade: new friends, first crushes and a new school. Han appeals to a wide audience through a main character who is not your average girl. Shug is believable—a real person with real problems, normal family issues and less than perfect solutions. While some of the situations seem more likely to happen to a slightly older girl, Jenny Han is right on with the details, and readers will empathize with Shig’s experiences.

 

 

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar uses humor through the viewpoint of a geeky kid named Scott who approaches high school with a very different perspective than his older brother Bobby. Scott sets out to win a classmate’s heart by joining the school newspaper, running for student council and auditioning for a play. Although Bobby is popular with the girls, Scott becomes invisible. Many of Scott’s difficulties appear as hilarious lists dedicated to helping his unborn sibling make it safely through high school. The situations Scott encounters are realistic, and Lubar has a superb comic sense.

 

 

Bass Ackward and Belly Up by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain looks at four girls embarking on their first year of college. Written in chapters that feature each of the characters (similar to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books by Ann Brashares), the story covers four months of their lives as they follow their various dreams. At first, this book appears to be somewhat predictable, but the authors stay true to the characters Harper, Kate, Sophie and Becca in developing the story and keeping it real.

On the shelf: ‘The Hot Flash Club’ by Nancy Thayer

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Ottawa Hills Branch

 

When I picked up this book, I was looking for something light to read that involved characters that I could relate to—and I was not disappointed. In The Hot Flash Club, Nancy Thayer introduces the reader to four very diverse women ranging in age from fifty-two to sixty-two. The only things they have in common are a mutual acquaintance and the process of menopause. I found my self quickly drawn into the world of Faye, Alice, Shirley and Marilyn, characters who give the term “aging gracefully” a whole new meaning.

 

As the four women plunge into an unexpected relationship with each other, they explore many current women’s issues with gentle humor, honesty, and nerve. Rather than viewing menopause as the end of childbearing years, Thayer suggests it is the launching point into late middle-age. Her characters are far too busy living their lives and following their dreams to focus on things that might hold them back, like arthritis, divorce, retirement and widowhood. Those topics are simply a part of their lives, not the main focus, and this positive approach works well within the framework of the story.

 

While the story holds a lighter tone than works by authors such as Elizabeth Berg, it is an entertaining and positive look at women and aging, as well as being a gentle reminder that life is a journey, not a destination, and our perception of the process is vital to how much we enjoy the ride.

On the shelf: ‘The Last Summer (of You and Me)’ by Ann Brashares

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

In her first novel written for adults, Ann Brashares chose the beach town of Waterby, on Fire Island as her setting. I have to admit, I was expecting a book more along the line of Brashares’s Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants young adult novel, but found something totally different. After reading this book, I found many mixed reviews of the story, probably because of the same expectations I had.

 

Unlike the Traveling Pants with its fast pace and emotional roller coaster rocketing between the main characters, The Last Summer (of You and Me) seemed to start much more slowly and deliberately. I found out, however, that the roller coaster was simply disguised as a ferryboat from the mainland. Alice, the main character, paints a picture of the summers she spent on the island that she shared with her sister, Riley and neighbor, Paul. She tells her story through a blend of memories and current events, and it doesn’t take much for the reader to figure out who the star-crossed lovers are.

 

Although it was apparent to me immediately that something needed to happen between Alice and Paul, it took an awfully long time for the author to bring them to that point. In fact, I found myself getting angry at the main characters, which is usually a good indicator to me of my own emotional involvement in the story.

 

I found myself thinking about the characters and the story long after I had finished the book. Certain parts kept returning to my mind, almost bothering me, kind of like the way sand does when it gets in your shoe; a memory of the day that was.

On the shelf: ‘Eleven on Top’ by Janet Evanovich

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

Although her novels are classified as mysteries, Janet Evanovich really deserves a category of her own. Her stories fall somewhere between soap opera and a cheesy whodunit by combining over-the-top drama with a healthy dose of humor and a Nancy Drew twist or two.

 

The beauty of this series is that readers don’t need to read each book in succession to get a sense of the characters. Stephanie Plum is a moderately successful bounty hunter with a little too much spunk and not quite enough common sense who can’t seem to commit to a permanent relationship. The difficulties between Stephanie and the men in her life, Joe Morrelli and Ranger, pale in comparison to the difficulties she encounters in her job, all of which brings her to a life changing decision: time for a career move.

 

In Eleven on Top, Stephanie convinces herself that life in the law enforcement field is over for her, so she attempts to start a new career. While this is great in concept, she just can’t seem to adapt to the mundane and finds herself doing office work for Ranger instead. The tension escalates as Stephanie walks the line between Ranger and Joe and tries to maintain her balance while seeking the identity of the stalker who is trying to kill her.

 

On the shelf: ‘Capital Crimes’ and ‘Short Straw’

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

I was feeling rather sluggish and thought a good mystery would get my blood moving, so I decided to try something by an author I hadn’t previously read. I turned to bestselling authors to help with my selection.

 

Short Straw by Stuart Woods seemed to fit my criteria; Woods is a bestselling author and the synopsis promised an intriguing, fast-paced mystery, and I looked forward to diving into my first Stuart Woods novel. Unfortunately, this will also be my last Stuart Woods novel. While there were a couple of interesting twists in the plot, overall I found it to be very dull and predictable. The characters were flat and lifeless, and I found myself not caring what happened to any of them. In fact, I felt like they got what they deserved for the most part.

 

Apparently, a familiar character from an earlier book, Ed Eagle, resurfaces in Short Straw only to be taken to the cleaners by his soon-to-be-ex-wife. A pair of incompetent men, hired by Eagle, follow Barbara all over Mexico to prevent her from getting her hands on all of Ed’s money. If this is typical of his work, I certainly don’t plan to read any further.

 

On the other hand, I found Capital Crimes by Jonathan and Faye Kellerman to be just what the book jacket promised: “…a gripping pair of original crime thrillers…” This was my first experience with Jonathan and Faye Kellerman, also bestselling authors, and I wasn’t sure what to expect, but this time I wasn’t disappointed.

 

Although I didn’t initially realize that Capital Crimes was actually two novellas combined under one cover, both stories stood well on their own, and I will definitely read more of their work. The characters were far more colorful than those in Short Straw, and the pace moved much quicker. I felt more involved with the stories and interested in the outcomes.

 

The only criticism I have is that the language in Capital Crimes was a little rough. While the usage of rough language was well within the boundaries of keeping in the voice of the character, I sometimes find it distracts from the story when the dialogue is spotted with conversational swearing. I didn’t find it distracting enough, however, to put this book down and recommend it for a taste of both Jonathan and Faye Kellerman.

On the shelf: Good books for grand kids by various authors

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No back-to-school season would be complete without Kevin Henkes’ wonderful picture book, Chrysanthemum. This book tells the story of a young mouse’s first experience at school and the confusion she feels over having a unique name. The story touches on teasing and self-confidence in a gentle and humorous way. Although targeted at pre-school and kindergarten readers, it appeals to slightly older children as well through the universal experiences of Chrysanthemum. A nice family read with a fun twist at the end.

 

Shug by Jenny Han, follows Annemarie “Shug” Wilcox through the perils of seventh grade: new friends, first crushes and a new school. Han appeals to a wide audience through a main character who is not your average girl. Shug is believable—a real person with real problems, normal family issues and less than perfect solutions. While some of the situations seem more likely to happen to a slightly older girl, Jenny Han is right on with the details, and readers will empathize with Shig’s experiences.

 

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar uses humor through the viewpoint of a geeky kid named Scott who approaches high school with a very different perspective than his older brother Bobby. Scott sets out to win a classmate’s heart by joining the school newspaper, running for student council and auditioning for a play. Although Bobby is popular with the girls, Scott becomes invisible. Many of Scott’s difficulties appear as hilarious lists dedicated to helping his unborn sibling make it safely through high school. The situations Scott encounters are realistic, and Lubar has a superb comic sense.

 

Bass Ackward and Belly Up by Elizabeth Craft and Sarah Fain looks at four girls embarking on their first year of college. Written in chapters that feature each of the characters (similar to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books by Ann Brashares), the story covers four months of their lives as they follow their various dreams. At first, this book appears to be somewhat predictable, but the authors stay true to the characters Harper, Kate, Sophie and Becca in developing the story and keeping it real.

By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

Grand Rapids—Community and Industry
by Thomas R. Dilley

A second book by Tom Dilley, one of Grand Rapids premiere postcard collectors, has just been released by Arcadia Publishing in their Postcard History Series. This volume covers aspects of Grand Rapids History between 1900 and 1960. Intended to supplement the themes developed in Dilley’s first book, Grand Rapids in Vintage Postcards 1890-1940, the book features 116 postcards, most from the author’s personal collection.

 

Dilley gives us glimpses of life in Grand Rapids in the first half of the 20th Century. Postcards portray street scenes, scenic views, recreation and local events, such as the flood of 1907 and John F. Kennedy’s visit to the city in 1960. The book features businesses of Grand Rapids, including formerly prominent establishments such as Herpolsheimers, the Pantlind Hotel and Joppe’s Dairy Company.

 

The earliest postcard views of neighborhoods portray Heritage Hill streets and homes. As the city grew outward, neighborhoods such as Madison Square, Eastown and Ottawa Hills are shown. Ramona Park and Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids became favorite amusement spots, as evidenced by many postcards.

 

Different types of postcards are reproduced in the book, including rare leather cards and double or panoramic postcards. Dilley also included two collectible series of cards: the Mr. Rover cards and the 1910 Homecoming postcards. Dilley’s book will interest postcard collectors, historians, researchers and anyone who might enjoy taking a stroll down memory lane.

 

Tom Dilley will be a presenter at the Grand Rapids Public Library’s annual Celebration of the Book on Wednesday, October 18 at 7:00 pm in the Ryerson Auditorium, Main Library.

 

By M. Christine Byron, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

On the shelf: ‘The Hot Flash Club’ by Nancy Thayer

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Ottawa Hills Branch

 

When I picked up this book, I was looking for something light to read that involved characters that I could relate to—and I was not disappointed. In The Hot Flash Club, Nancy Thayer introduces the reader to four very diverse women ranging in age from fifty-two to sixty-two. The only things they have in common are a mutual acquaintance and the process of menopause.

 

I found my self quickly drawn into the world of Faye, Alice, Shirley and Marilyn, characters who give the term “aging gracefully” a whole new meaning.

 

As the four women plunge into an unexpected relationship with each other, they explore many current women’s issues with gentle humor, honesty, and nerve. Rather than viewing menopause as the end of childbearing years, Thayer suggests it is the launching point into late middle-age. Her characters are far too busy living their lives and following their dreams to focus on things that might hold them back, like arthritis, divorce, retirement and widowhood. Those topics are simply a part of their lives, not the main focus, and this positive approach works well within the framework of the story.

 

While the story holds a lighter tone than works by authors such as Elizabeth Berg, it is an entertaining and positive look at women and aging, as well as being a gentle reminder that life is a journey, not a destination, and our perception of the process is vital to how much we enjoy the ride.

On the shelf: ‘High Energy Living’ by Robert K. Cooper, Ph.D.

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library

 

Upon opening this book, I expected to find the typical chapters challenging the reader to identify personal shortcomings when it comes to diet, how to foster changes in behavior, and a slew of recipes containing specialty ingredients that are impossible to find in most grocery stores. There are a few recipes and the occasional multiple-choice test, but somehow it seemed to be less abrasive than other books I’ve read that promote this type of self-improvement.

 

What I actually found was a fairly practical approach to achieving balance in daily life. According to this book, like others of its kind, if you change your lifestyle good things will happen. While this is pretty much common sense, Dr. Cooper offers suggestions and explanations for changes that take the reader into consideration with his overall theme appearing to be based upon reaching a balanced state in daily life. He makes several recommendations in each chapter which are centered on research and practicality with an emphasis on improving the reader’s overall outlook and attitude toward life.

 

Instead of feeling like a failure before I began, High Energy Living offered me enough incentive to actually read beyond the first chapter and consider taking some of the recommendations to heart. I also had most of the ingredients for the recipes already in my cupboard… including those found in the recipe for Chocolate-Chocolate Chip Biscotti.

On the shelf: ‘I Feel Bad About My Neck’ by Nora Ephron

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

 

While there were some chapters I could relate to more than others, overall I found this collection of short essays to be quite funny and very enjoyable. I especially liked the chapter entitled, I Hate My Purse. Nora could have been describing my purse and me and we haven’t even met! Yes, I hate my purse, too, because I can never find anything in it either. Even things I know for a fact I just used, like my chap stick. I returned it to the small zippered compartment in the front of my purse, but somehow it got sucked into a black hole in the universe somewhere between my house and my job. Fortunately, I now feel assured that I’m not alone in this experience, thanks to Nora.

 

I think what appealed to me the most about this book is Nora’s courage in pointing out the obvious quirks in everyday life that we tend to overlook. Aside from observations about the state of her purse and those of her friends, Nora covers other topics equally as well with humor and honesty. She’s not afraid to point out the effects of gravity on certain body parts and at the precise age to expect those changes to occur. In addition, she offers insight on hair, skin, nails, and exercise, (or the dangers of), in her chapter on maintenance.

 

Although this book was written specifically for women, I think men would appreciate Nora’s humor and insight as well, or at least maybe gain some understanding of the inner workings of the female mind.

On the shelf: ‘The Patron Saint of Liars’ by Ann Patchett

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By  Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main Branch

 

This story, told from three different perspectives through the voices of Rose, Son, and Sissy, asks as many questions of the reader as it answers. Is Rose running from her destiny, or to it? If you were in Sissy’s shoes, (or Rose’s or Son’s), would you make the same choices? Is there a path that each individual is designed to follow? Do we forge our life’s path through free will alone or by the choices we make? Or is it some combination of both?

 

Rose, a devout Catholic girl, believes that her two life choices in the mid-sixties are to become a wife or a nun, and that God will provide her with a sign at the appropriate time. It is immediately apparent that Rose believes she misunderstood the sign, for the story opens with Rose driving across the country, alone, three years into a marriage she entered at age nineteen. The narrative quickly unfolds, and the questions rise through Ann Patchett’s wonderful writing. She paints her characters with such depth and compassion that they become a part of the reader, and the reader truly shares their world. Patchett’s portraits and her vivid description work together to make this a book to read more than once.

 

The Patron Saint of Liars is Ann Patchett’s first novel and was made into a television movie in 1998. She has since written several more novels and most recently a work of non-fiction, Truth & Beauty, about women and friendships that endure beyond a lifetime.

 

On the shelf: ‘The Floor of the Sky’ by Pamela Carter Joern

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By Laura Nawrot, GRPL Main

 

I had no idea how much I would enjoy this book when I first picked it up. The cover is a black and white photo of a farmhouse and barn huddling under what appear to be storm clouds. Pretty simple at first glance, kind of how I thought the story would play out, but I was happily surprised.

 

The story begins with Toby, a widow in her early 70s who is hosting her sixteen-year-old granddaughter, Lila, at her Nebraska farm for the summer. Toby seems to be a typical caregiver kind of person because her older sister, Gertie, lives with her and Lila is pregnant and unwed. The reader quickly learns, however, that there is much more to these characters than meets the eye as the story twists deeper with each turn of the page.

 

Carter Joern narrates the novel in third person and alternates the point of view between Toby, Lila, Gertie and George. While this method of storytelling can sometimes be confusing, the author makes it very clear to the reader who is doing the telling as each voice changes by naming the character instead of numbering chapters.

 

One thing I really liked about this book is the pace set by each of the characters. At times I felt like I couldn’t turn the pages quickly enough, and other times it felt like I could savor the words on the page. The funny thing about this book was that none of the characters appeared to be remarkable in an obvious way, yet I felt very drawn into the telling of their lives, especially as more and more about each of them was revealed.

 

If you’re looking for something a little bit different, I suggest you give The Floor of the Sky a try.

 

 

On the shelf: ‘Jury Rigged’ by Laurie Moore

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

 

If you have not discovered mystery writer Laurie Moore, you are seriously missing out. Jury Rigged is the first (but certainly not the last) of her books that I’ve read. A typical mystery, this story contains a murder or several, numerous twists, and characters quirky enough to rival Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum and friends.

 

The story begins with the engagement of main character, C’ezanne Martin, to Johnson County Sheriff, Bobby Noah, on Christmas day. The pair are semi-colleagues in Texas law enforcement; C’ezanne was a homicide detective in Fort Worth and bordered Johnson County where Bobby is assigned. C’ezanne has just taken a leave of absence from her detective position to launch a new career as a lawyer. The sheriff is called away on duty shortly after his marriage proposal is accepted, and C’ezanne is immediately sucked back into danger from a recently escaped felon that she helped convict.

 

From there, the story becomes a roller coaster ride of mishaps and intrigue, with each new character and event adding to the confusion of C’ezanne’s life. If you think Stephanie Plum has a strange family and finds herself in some tight spots, you must get to know C’ezanne Martin. Similar to Stephanie Plum, C’ezanne seems to have a talent for drawing danger into her life while just managing to squeak though the toughest situations.

 

Even though I hadn’t read anything by Laurie Moore prior to this book, I thought she did a good job of keeping the reader up to date on important events and characters from past encounters without sounding stilted. The pacing within the story was good. Moore delivered enough details without overwhelming reader with unnecessary facts. Moore’s writing is a little darker and more edgy that that of Janet Evanovich, but I think would definitely appeal to Evanovich’s faithful readers who may be looking for something new.

 

 

On the shelf: ‘The Day I Ate Whatever I Wanted…’ by Elizabeth Berg

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library

As far as I’m concerned, you can’t go wrong with Elizabeth Berg. Her latest release is a collection of short stories that celebrates women and moments in their lives. Most of these moments start with a spark of discontent and blossom into something wonderful.

As a lifetime member of Weight Watchers (currently over my goal weight) the title story celebrated food and health and what we go through to maintain ourselves in order to live longer in a manner that I related to. Berg successfully takes the everyday events of our lives and somehow makes them more. Each character in this collection becomes you, someone you know, or someone you’d like to know. For new readers and regular fans, this book won’t disappoint.

 

On the shelf: ‘The Secret Between Us’ by Barbara Delinsky

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By Laura Nawrot, GRPL-Main

Secrets. We all have them. Do we share them? Should we keep them? It was this concept that I found so I intriguing in Barbara Delinsky’s latest book, The Secret Between Us.

Deborah, a recently divorced family physician in a small New England town, and her daughter, Grace, are the principle characters in this deception. The story opens with a car accident during a torrential downpour on an unlit street, and spirals from there. Deborah went out in the rain to pick up Grace from a friend’s house and allowed Grace to drive home with her learner’s permit. The two are arguing when suddenly there is a flash of movement, a hideous thump, and events unravel from there.

While I could totally relate to the maternal instinct to protect your child at all costs, I don’t think this story could have worked without its setting. Everybody in a small town knows, or knows of, everyone else, which is what makes the keeping of secrets so tenuous. They all know each other’s business and each character naturally has something to hide. I found parts of the story to be somewhat contrived, but I was still interested enough to finish the book.

If you’re looking for an opportunity to sort through some small town family dynamics, this is the book for you.

On the shelf: ‘Died in the Wool’ by Rett MacPherson

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Main Library

The latest in a sequence of mysteries involving Torie O’Shea, Died in the Wool was the first of Rett MacPherson’s novels for me, but it certainly won’t be the last. I just happened to pick up MacPherson’s 2007 release, but now plan to start reading about Torie from the beginning of the series. I enjoy following a familiar figure through several books, like Janet Evanovich’s character, Stephanie Plum, and I think it won’t take long for Torie to become another one of my favorites. I found MacPherson to use humor in her story in much the same way that Evanovich does, but Died in the Wool lacked the slightly steamy scenes found in Janet’s stories about Stephanie Plum’s life.

Torie (short for Victory) O’Shea is a genealogist and president of the New Kassel, Missouri historical society and the main character in a series of short mysteries featuring a genealogical twist. She is a happily married, 40ish mother who also seems to have her hand in just about everything possible in her small town.

This story begins with an unusual introduction of characters in strong disagreement over the production of the town’s first annual rose show. Torie plunges through a tangle of interwoven events that are set in motion with the planning of the show: solve a mystery surrounding a ‘haunted’ house, investigate the apparent suicides of a prominent local family in the 1920s, and discover that all is not what is appears to be simply because of her interest in quilting.

Sound confusing? Not really. MacPherson does a good job of keeping the pace quick and the details from becoming overpowering. Though it all, she brings the reader into the world of discovering how the past reaches into the present by sharing secrets of successful genealogical researching. Died in the Wool is a very quick read at less than 300 pages, but with several more books featuring Torie O’Shea, it’s sure not to disappoint.

 

On the shelf: ‘Water for Elephants’ by Sara Gruen

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

 

The unique setting makes Water for Elephants a delightful read. The novel starts out in a present-day nursing home as a narrative of one of the residents, Jacob Jankowski. Although Jacob has some difficulty remembering whether he’s ninety or ninety-three years old, he can easily recall the time he spent as the veterinarian for a mid-sized traveling circus during the Depression. The story alternates between the past and the present, reflecting Jacob’s mind.

 

Jacob is a strong character, and author Sara Gruen maintains the integrity of his personality throughout the story, even when portraying Jacob at different ages. She also develops believable supporting characters in Jacob’s love interest, Marlena, and his nemesis, August. In addition, I liked the tension that was created as the story wove its way back and forth between the decades. The description was solid without being intrusive, although I would have enjoyed a little more texture through the inclusion of the various smells of a circus. Gruen explains in an extensive, but interesting author’s note how she came to write this story.

 

I recommend this book to multi-generational readers. It has wide appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction, drama, and romance, and touches on issues that cross generations: love and loss, following your dreams while earning a living, and the traumas of youth and aging.

On the shelf: ‘Dead Ex’ by Harley Jane Kozak

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By Laura Nawrot, Grand Rapids Public Library, Main

 

Sometimes it’s too difficult to select a single book to review. Dead Ex, Firefly Lane, and The Red Queen’s Daughter have nothing in common except for the fact that they’re my most recent reads and well worth recommending.

 

Dead Ex

I really enjoyed author Harley Jane Kozak’s pace and intrigue in Dead Ex, a mystery that could come from the script of a daytime soap opera and actually involves a cast of characters that are part of a fictitious soap whose producer turns up murdered. Set in California, the story takes the reader back and forth between locations while the bodies pile up and the main character, Wollie Shelley, tries to protect her best friend, Joey who only happens to be the main suspect.

 

Readers are introduced to Wollie as she muses over her living arrangements; she is currently between homes and living from a suitcase parked in the immaculate closet of her FBI boyfriend, Simon. Wollie’s state of disarray, the quirky humor and the numerous plot twists were just some of the things I really liked about the novel. I was only disappointed by the fact that it took me until page 145 to find out what “Wollie” was short for, something I should have figured out on my own.

 

Firefly Lane

It’s been a really long time since a book has brought me to tears, but I found Firefly Lane to be worth several tissues. This novel, by Kristin Hannah, follows the relationship of two girls who grow into that once-in-a-lifetime bond that makes them closer than sisters. Set in the Seattle area beginning in the 1970’s and moving to the present, the reader is drawn into the lives of Kate and Tully as they fumble along trying to grow into their respective places in the world. While the story line sounds kind of cliché, I could really feel the connection between two very different women, and that in itself is what made the book so successful for me. If you’re in the mood for a relationship story, Firefly Lane is a must read.

 

The Red Queen’s Daughter

And now for something completely different; The Red Queen’s Daughter, a historical novel by Jacqueline Kolosov, exploring what could have been the life of Mary Seymour, the daughter of Katherine Parr who was King Henry the Eighth’s 6th wife. The author makes it clear in her notes that the story is merely speculation, but is historically accurate in capturing the era of Elizabeth, the Virgin Queen of England. The reader gets a sense of what it must have been like to live in a time when social custom dictated the course of a young woman’s life typically directly into marriage and motherhood at about age sixteen. Even the sounds and smells of life at court are described well enough to give a sense of presence to the reader. The Red Queen’s Daughter is categorized as young adult fiction, but I think it could easily be placed in adult fiction as well. This novel is well written and successfully conveys the essence and mysticism of England during a period of religious upheaval and healing.