Book Review: "The Book of Lost Friends"

"The Book of Lost Friends"

by Lisa Wingate

I wished I had found this book while I was still teaching...Lisa Wright added another layer to history that I hadn’t really considered. Reconstruction for freed slaves meant trying to reconnect with their families. Wingate uses two voices; Hannie Gosset, a freed slave (1879), finds newspaper ads where one can “advertise” their histories looking for lost loved ones. Bennie Silva, a teacher (1987), used a living history project to connect her students to their ancestors. As the chapters alternate between 1879 and 1987 the story builds until the past meets the present. Along with the hope that the ends justify the means, Wingate shows us the brutality of the South during Reconstruction. She also shows us that even after desegregation, education was still not on equal footing. Hannie and Bennie are tough, driven, sensitive, caring women. I especially enjoyed the rich descriptive language.

Book Review: "The Beekeepers Apprentice"

The Beekeeper’s Apprentice
By Laurie R. King 

All the players are present in Laurie R. King’s reimagined Sherlock Holmes adventure. King even threw in Conan Doyle and Moriarty...but I’m not sure she hit the mark. Yes, a female lead, with skills that rivaled Holmes was intriguing. The mystery to be solved kept me on my toes. Unfortunately, as this is the first in a series, I’m not sure this is a storyline I would pursue. I can’t envision a romance between the apprentice, Mary Russel, and Holmes, which is hinted at throughout the novel. In my mind it just doesn’t fit.

Book Review: "The Call of the Wild" by Jack London

"Call of the Wild"
Jack London

I’m pretty sure that I started Jack London’s book years ago...but I don’t remember ever finishing it. Now I know why I didn’t stay the course. The book is violent. Violence was a way of life during the Alaskan gold rush, and Buck is right in the middle of it. However, London shows his extraordinary knowledge of how dogs think and act. I’m caught wondering if all dogs given the same opportunity as Buck would work their way back to their primeval selves? (of course they would have to survive first) The novel left me without a “happily-ever-after” nor a satisfying conclusion at all. Buck just lopes off into the sunset.

Compared to the 2020 film… Hollywood took A LOT of license with the story. Since dogs don’t talk, it makes sense that someone would need to narrate the story. Unfortunately, the movie falls short in that Buck’s character was completely computer generated, falling short in the believability department. On the plus side, there was not as much violence as in the book.

On a side note: As a child I went on a field trip to Jack London’s home near Sonoma, CA. The Wolf House haunted my childhood with images of the fire that burnt London’s dream home to the ground. There remains a cabin on the site which is a state park...time to revisit.

Book Review: "Savage Girl" by Jean Zimmerman

"Savage Girl"
Jean Zimmerman

A historical novel that bounces between Virginia City, Nevada and New York City in the 1870s. The storyline hinges on the theory of nature vs. nurture and the work of Charles Darwin. Could Jean Zimmerman’s “Savage Girl” be nurtured into high society? Could the wild child that she was in Virginia City be denied her DNA, as it were? The characters face many hardships during this human experiment ending in a twist that was worth the wait. Great nod to history...Teddy Roosevelt, future U.S. president, Henry James, author, and William James, doctor, who studied the burgeoning science of psychology at Harvard. As the nation struggles with the aftermath of the Civil War, industrialization and the greed that comes with monopolizing the markets, the “Savage Girl” is navigating the salons of Manhattan. Great juxtaposition of good and evil throughout the novel.

Book Review: "Stayin' Alive" by Julie Mulhern

"Stayin’ Alive"

Julie Mulhern 

This is #10 in this series of 1970’s murder mysteries. I LOVE this series by Julie Mulhern. Not only does the murder and mayhem keep my eyes glued to the pages - but Mulhern adds enough historical provenance to keep her writing grounded. I liked the nod to HItchcock’s “Strangers on a Train.” (now I’m gonna have to rent the movie) I also got caught up in the powerful, self-sufficient, independent women willing to upset the balance of the sexes in the ‘70s. AND of course - Ellison and Anarchy in Italy!!! Looking forward to the next installment!

Book Review: "The Second Mrs. Hockaday" by Susan Rivers

"The Second Mrs. Hockaday"
by Susan Rivers

I thought I knew a lot about the Civil War...but I don’t know if I ever really thought about it from the viewpoint of women. This historical novel by Susan Rivers, is set in South Carolina during and after the war between the states. The story is written using a series of letters and documents. This unusual format does not detract from the storyline.The letters grapple with power struggles, slavery, incarceration, children, and love. We know what role men played in the institution of slavery - women played a role as well, and not always as the empty headed Scarlett O’Hara of “Gone With the Wind.” I spent most of my time reading with my mouth hanging open in shock and awe.

Book Review: Playing Catch-Up

Rom-Com Reviews 

Time to catch up on my reviews

I challenged myself to read a handful of Christmas themed Rom-Coms, of which, I’ve written four reviews. Although I continued to read through the Christmas holiday, I neglected to write the reviews. So...in order to expedite the process I’m going to review the last four books in one organized piece. Enjoy!


Rom-Com #5
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

Of all the Rom-Coms I read, this one was, by far, my favorite. David Baldacci combines memorable characters, a train, Mark Twain (in a good way), an avalanche and a surprising plot twist. Lost love found, an undercover train agent and a “heavenly” thief keep the action going. This is one of those books where I wished I could read faster. I don’t re-read books, but this is one I would.


Rom-Com #6
Catching Christmas”
by Terri Blackstock

The premise for Terri Blackstock’s storyline was well thought out. A good samaritan doing a good deed gets sucked into a romance by accident. I enjoyed the book until the very end, where Blackstock got behind the pulpit and added a religious monologue to the story. I suppose since the plot centered around Christmas, this makes sense, however, it felt forced - almost like an afterthought.


Rom-Com #7
Don’t Stop Me Now
by Colleen Coleman

Rom-Com #8
I’m Still Standing
by Colleen Coleman

Both of Colleen Coleman’s books have a happily-ever-after ending. The first is set in England and the latter in Ireland. Both have strong female leads trying to find their way in the world after a personal setback. This is an author I would return to when I need a little sunshine in my life.