Review: The Girl in the Photo

The Girl in the Photo by Gaspar González
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a Kindle Single edition of a story by Gaspar González about his brother who was killed in Vietnam before Gaspar was born. Inspired by a photo of his brother from a high school dance, González searched for friends and family to give him some history of the brother he never met and to honor him for his service.

Loved this story of reconnecting with the past!

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Review: Book Club Babies

Book Club Babies by Ashton Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Cherry Cola Book Club reconvenes one final time in Ashton Lee’s Book Club Babies. It’s winter in Cherico, Mississippi and three club members are about to have babies. Led by librarian Maura Beth McShay, the club and the town come together to help out the three ladies, and particularly for Periwinkle Place who delivered prematurely. The overall message of the book is that family is sometimes the ones you surround yourself with. This short read is another cozy conundrum about small-town life in the south.

This was a cute and entertaining book and a nice respite from some of the heavy books I generally read. This is not a book of substance and is predictable and kitschy. It is worth the read if you're looking for something a bit mindless and a bit cozy. I enjoyed the series but at times the dialogue is a bit juvenile and at other times it is what is expected of the sixth edition of a series. I have seen Lee's writing progress over the series and have enjoyed the characters. I did enjoy the books enough to continue following Lee and see what he comes out with next.

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Review: A Christmas Carol: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry

A Christmas Carol: A Signature Performance by Tim Curry by Charles Dickens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the classic tale brought to life on Audibles by Tim Curry. Curry was the perfect person to read this book. He brought a bit of humor to the story with the different voices he used for each character. It was the perfect book to end our holiday season on a long ride home.

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Review: Queen of the Cookbooks

Queen of the Cookbooks by Ashton Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Cherry Cola Book Club gathers again in Ashton Lee's fifth novel Queen of the Cookbooks. Maura Beth Mayhew is the local librarian in the small southern town of Cherico, Mississippi. The new state of the art library is due to open on July 4th, during a city-wide celebration and cooking challenge on the library grounds. A couple of out of town entrants get heated during the competition causing a food fight in the middle of the celebration. Meanwhile, Maura Beth is dealing with a local church who is trying to get her fired for having unsavory books in her stacks. It seems like things never change in Cherico but one thing you can count on is the help from friends and family. The message that shines through is one of tolerance and understanding, and the love of family and friends can weather any storm.

Another enjoyable read about this little southern town. I am enjoying the series and see Lee's writing mature with each new book in the series.

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Review: Christmas: A Biography

Christmas: A Biography by Judith Flanders
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is exactly what it says it is, a biography of Christmas and all things related. The history begins from the time of Christ, analyzing the "reason for the season" and from there, progresses through time on how the holiday has progressed. It follows the religious and political aspects, as well as traditions, food, drinks, celebrations, songs, entertainment from around the world. Flanders even covers the scary side of evil elves and characters such as Krampus.

This is truly the go-to book about the holiday season and is thorough yet entertaining.

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Review: Dear Santa: Children's Christmas Letters and Wish Lists, 1870 - 1920

Dear Santa: Children's Christmas Letters and Wish Lists, 1870 - 1920 by Chronicle Books
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a sweet collection of children's letters to Santa from 1870 through 1920. A lot of the letters are from poor kids just wishing for something in their stockings or a small gift. Some even wish for Santa to give their toys to the poor kids around the world. This was especially evident during World War I years. Mostly they are just charming letters from kids all over the world.

One nice feature of this book is that the author included explanations of some now defunct toys and dolls, as well as commenting on life during each decade to give the reader a holistic view of the social situation of that era.

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Review: The Christmas Train

The Christmas Train by David Baldacci
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Christmas Train is a short cute story about Tom, a journalist, taking an Amtrak train across country to meet up with his current girlfriend to spend the Christmas holidays skiing in Tahoe. Tom is still reeling from a previous breakup and a hard life as a journalist covering wartorn countries and risking himself for an award-winning story. His idea is to take the train to write a fluff piece on his way to meet his girl. He meets a cast of strange characters, gets in the middle of a string of thefts, an impromptu marriage, a chance encounter with the woman who broke his heart and an avalanche that no one may live through.

This was a quick read that had a little of everything: mystery, romance, Christmas feel-good stories and a reminder that Christmas and life, in general, is what you make of it and that family is sometimes the people that you choose to be with.

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Review: Southern Crucible: The Making of an American Region, Combined Volume

Southern Crucible: The Making of an American Region, Combined Volume by William Link
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Southern Crucible covers the complete history of the southern US from pre-Revolution time through the early 2000s. It is fairly detailed but does gloss over some events such as the Trail of Tears. This book mostly concentrates on the racial divide that has been ongoing in the south since its founding.

This book was used as a text for my History of the Southern United States college course. I thought was the perfect book for this course. Our instructor had us read the last chapter first, to discuss where we are today, then start from the beginning to see how the South has evolved over time.

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Review: Aunt Sass: Christmas Stories

Aunt Sass: Christmas Stories by P.L. Travers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a collection of three stories by P. L. Travers, author of Mary Poppins. Although the title mentions "Christmas Stories", this was not a collection of stories about Christmas. They were written as stories that she wrote as Christmas gifts. Christmas was briefly mentioned in a couple of the stories, but that was it.

I didn't think they were outstanding stories, but I did enjoy the second one of the heathen Chinaman named Ah Wong. He was a humorous man. I can't say this is a favorite book, but the stories were cute and what you would expect of P. L. Travers.

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Review: Letters from Father Christmas

Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a charming book of letters that author J. R. R. Tolkien would send to his kids every Christmas signed by Father Christmas himself, along with his sidekick Polar Bear. These letters go from the mid-1920s to the early 1940s, in the middle of World War II. They are sweet and at times comical letters with stories about the happenings at the North Pole that year, whether it was the calamity that ensued when Polar Bear would do all kinds of crazy antics or elves that would have to fend off goblins and work to get toys done on time. Each letter came with drawings by Father Christmas depicting these scenes or just beautiful scenes of snow and lights.

It's best to read this in a physical copy (hardbound / paperbound) or on an eReader device that shows colored pictures. This is a short read that will take about an hour or so to read but it will certainly get you in a Christmas mood.

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Review: Mistletoe Murder

Mistletoe Murder by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Winter has arrived in the little town of Buttercup, Texas and once again a killer is loose. Buttercup is the home of novice farm girl Lucy Resnick who is struggling to maintain her grandmother's farm. The town is in the throes of Christmas season when the body of Randy Stone is found dead at local favorite restaurant Rositas. Everything points to a crime of passion, with his wife Isabella being implicated for offing her cheating man. Lucy, who is a former investigative reporter, goes in search for the true killer.

I generally don't read many mysteries but I thoroughly enjoy all of Karen MacInerney's cozy mystery series. I especially enjoy her Dewberry Farm Mysteries for the Texas references and setting. I am looking forward to furthering adventures in Buttercup, Texas.

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Review: Jacob T. Marley

Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Marley was dead, to begin with..." The opening line to the famous Dickens classic about Ebenezer Scrooge. This story is Marley's. He was Scrooge's partner and the first spirit to contact him on that Christmas Eve night. He had a profound impression on Scrooge that helped make him into the man everyone knew as a mean old miser. He too had his story of redemption that he hoped to pass to Scrooge before it was too late; before Ebenezer too was dead. The story begins as a pre-sequel to Dickens' famed book, giving background to Marley's life, his chance encounter with his future partner and his eventual death. The book then reflects on Scrooge and follows Marley as the spirit that visits him on that fateful Christmas Eve night. The final portion of the book reveals what happens to Scrooge after the Christmas of redemption.

This is a wonderful tale that should be a companion piece to A Christmas Carol. It could easily have been written by Dickens himself, with that same Victorian voice. I actually think I like this one better than the classic. It is still a short read but is more robust with a more powerful message.

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Review: Mr. Dickens and His Carol: A Novel

Mr. Dickens and His Carol: A Novel by Samantha Silva
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Charles Dickens, the inimitable Boz. He was a celebrity in his own right as an author in Victorian London. He was the author of over a dozen books, one of his most famous being A Christmas Carol. Samantha Silva imagines what Dickens' life was like at the time of his writing of A Christmas Carol in the weeks leading up to Christmas in 1843. He was facing some financial difficulties due to poor sales of Martin Chuzzlewit and the pressures that his family had put on him. He had a few weeks to author a book to pull him out of his situation and regain the readership he was losing. Silva pulls Dickens into his own story, full of charming characters, a ghost to show him his past, present, and future, and the chance at redemption on Christmas day.

This was a cute, short read that brings the reader into the setting of A Christmas Carol. It is very much a work of fiction with some fact sprinkled throughout. I love historical fiction but when it becomes more fiction based "very loosely" on fact, I start to get disinterested. I was hoping for a bit more facts than was provided. The beginning grabbed me, the middle bored me a bit, but the end made up for the lull. Certainly, not my favorite Christmas read but I am glad I read it, as it caused me to do a little research into the life of Charles Dickens and the story behind the famous book. I mostly enjoyed the story of Timothy "Tiny Tim" and hope that there was a sweet boy that truly inspired that character.

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Review: Still Life

Still Life by Louise Penny
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In the town of Three Pines, Quebec in Canada, cherished local spinster Jane Neal is found dead in the woods, a victim of an apparent hunting accident, or is it murder? Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called in from the Sûreté du Québec to investigate along with his protege Jean Guy Beauvoir and a small cast of characters under his tutelage. The town is small so the list of potential murders is small and just like the townspeople that Jane Neal painted on her newly discovered painting, the clues to the murder may be hidden in plain sight.

This was a charming mystery, although there were a couple of characters that could be exasperating and seemed out of place. The townspeople were fun and quirky and I can see how this book has expanded into an award-winning series. These are stories I'll read between some of the heavier subjects I tend to tackle.

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Review: Separate Pasts: Growing Up White in the Segregated South

Separate Pasts: Growing Up White in the Segregated South by Melton A. McLaurin
My rating: 0 of 5 stars

Melton McLaurin was a young white boy living in Wade, North Carolina in the 50s just prior to the Civil Rights movement. Wade is a small rural town that was very segregated during McLaurin's youth, with a specific mindset for both blacks and whites. His granddaddy ran the general store where Melton worked when he wasn't in school. McLaurin talked with everyone that came into the store and knew everyone well. It was these encounters that began to shape the impressions he had about racism. His daddy, grandaddy, and their cronies were segregationists. They were mostly kind to the blacks in town, but there were obvious racist views and separation between the two races. As young Melton grew older, though, he started questioning this ideology. Whites and blacks living in the same town, separated by color with distinctly different histories that intertwined.

In this book, Melton describes some of the stories of his youth about the people that helped shaped his ideas on the divisions between the races and the ones that helped unravel those views. He gets to know the blacks in town and forms a bond with many of them. As Melton progressed in his views, the tiny town of Wade began to change as well, slowly, but change did occur.

This is a side of the southern race story that is not often told. It is the view of a young, impressionable child who is taught to be a racist, but questions this philosophy. The book proves the point that racism is learned and passed through future generations until it is challenged and rejected. Sadly, there are many towns in the rural south that have not challenged these views but they are dwindling in numbers. This book is a reminder of how far we have come and how far we still have to go.

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Review: How Race Is Made: Slavery, Segregation, and the Senses

How Race Is Made: Slavery, Segregation, and the Senses by Mark M. Smith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mark M. Smith covers a fascinating topic of how the senses play a large part in racial stereotyping. Covering the colonial era and slavery through the mid-20th century, just after the Brown v. Board of Education decision, Smith discusses how all of the senses played a part in segregationist's views and prejudices. For many whites at the time, seeing sometimes failed to distinguish black and white, as mixed race descendants blurred the line of racial separation. Even if sight could distinguish between the races, sound and more especially smell gave the segregationist reason for continued division. They reasoned that blacks were inferior because they smelled and sounded different. Further, they believed blacks were more sexual and to be feared because of their inferiority. Smith showed how sensory racial stereotyping led to irrational fears in politics, religion, everyday life, and of course, in the fight for integration and civil rights.

Although this book covers the ideology of generations past, the theme still resonates today. How often do we use all of our senses to make snap decisions and form opinions today? If someone speaks differently than ourselves, do we make certain assumptions about that person? If we meet a stranger with sweaty body odor, do we assume they are dirty people or do we consider that they just finished some grueling physical work? Do those assumptions play into our prejudice of just that one person or on a broader scale of "people like them?"

This book really makes you think about how your own thoughts about other people, your own prejudices, as well as giving the reader new insights into the racial prejudices of a different era and how we went from slavery to civil rights and beyond. This should be required reading, especially for the student of southern history and civil rights.

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Review: On Death and Dying

On Death and Dying by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

On Death and Dying is Elizabeth Kubler-Ross' discourse on the psychological stages of grief before and after death. Ross headed a study in the 1960s where she and a team of students, doctors, and clergy interviewed patients who were suffering from various maladies with low to fair prognosis. Some of these patients knew they were in the end stages of life, others did not. Some interviewed were family members of the patients. Ross covered the various stages of death and grief and the effects on patients, family, and attending medical staff. Some were able to handle news of their prognosis better than others. Some were reluctant to talk, but all opened up once the questions began and felt better to have their stories told, their fear vocalized, and their hearts opened. It became evident that all wanted and needed to talk, even if it was just to open themselves to the inevitable.

This is a classic book written in the 60s but many of the lessons still ring true today. Everyone handles death and grief a little different but most go through the basic stages of denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Having recently lost my father and having lost my mother many years before, I realize that each died in much the same way and I now know that when it was time they were ready and were peaceful.


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Review: Worse Than Slavery

Worse Than Slavery by David M. Oshinsky
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a well researched, detailed expose on the Parchman State Penitentiary in Mississippi. The facility started out as a penal farm for black men struggling after the end of the Civil War. Most were arrested for some small or made up offense and sent to Parchman which was, at the time, a working cotton plantation. The imprisoned were worked until they died with many more coming in behind them. Over time, the facility changed to a full-on penitentiary. The cotton went away and so did the work, but not the abuse, never the abuse. Today Parchman is known as the Mississippi State Penitentiary, the only maximum security facility in the state. Many early men who were confined to the prison felt that their treatment at Parchman was worse than slavery. This book will clearly give you that feeling as well.

This was a very interesting read, albeit very sad to know the situations that put men and women there and the abuse they endured. Those who were imprisoned early on probably should have never been there. The prison was used as another way to enslave black men during the reconstruction years after the Civil War. I'm very surprised that Parchman existed and survived all those years, especially after the cotton fields were destroyed. Some men felt that the conditions were worse after the fields were gone because the cotton work at least gave them something to do to keep their mind off of prison life and kept them out of trouble with each other.

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Review: Caroline: Little House, Revisited

Caroline: Little House, Revisited by Sarah Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the wonderful reimagining of the book "Little House on the Prairie" from Laura Ingalls' mother's point of view. This is an adult version of the classic children's story. Caroline, the matriarch of the Ingalls clan holds together her family as they move from Wisconsin to the "Indian Territory" of Kansas in 1870. During that trip, Caroline is pregnant with baby Carrie, her soon to be namesake. New land is opening up to settlers and Caroline's husband Charles wants to be one of the early arrivals to get his pick of prime land. His dream is to own a large farm that would one day thrive, making a wonderful home for his family. The trip is rough, especially for a pregnant woman and is not without it's complications. More issues arise once the family stakes their claim, including visits from Indians, prairie fires, and malaria. It is a tough first year, but together with his wife Caroline, Charles and the family make the best of every situation they encounter.

I think that Caroline should be read along with or just after reading the original story. It really adds to the whole experience of this read. This book is definitely Caroline's story and it's definitely an adult retelling of the story. The classic book by Laura shows Caroline as a strong woman who is this perfect pillar of the family. This account shows the more human side of "Ma" as she deals with frustrations, fears, and concerns for her family. To her girls, and even to Charles, she still comes off as the strong, wise woman we meet in the original book, but Miller's account lets us see behind that proverbial curtain, giving the reader an understanding of how tough it was to hold together a family out on the prairie in Kansas. It was a trip she dreaded taking, but once they left Wisconsin, she was all in and resigned to making the best of this new life and adventure that "Pa" was taking them on.

This book has minor deviations here and there from the original story to be more historically accurate. The Little House collection that Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote is mostly a work of fiction. It is Laura's retelling of some of the stories of her life growing up in the late 19th century, but as with many adults, childish memories can be a bit muddled. Sarah Miller did her homework to verify the timeline and locations of the Ingalls family between 1870 and 1873-ish. So there are a few deviations and additions but I do not think it takes away from the story at all. If anything, it strengthens the story. Most of the quotes and conversations in this book are straight from the original, which made it very fun to see these "recollections" told from both Laura and Caroline's point of view, if you read the original with this book. I was a fan of the classic books growing up and I am a fan of Miller's revisited story.

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Review: Little House on the Prairie

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The classic tale of Laura Ingalls Wilder and the move her family made from Wisconsin to "Indian Territory" in Kansas. Laura's father Charles dreamed of moving to the newly opened land to settlers to build a large farm. They weather good and bad throughout the move and the first year of settlement. This is a children's story told from Laura's point of view.

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Review: The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A classic and eerie work of dystopian fiction. In a future society, the Republic of Gilead, Offred is a handmaid whose purpose in life is to procreate. The tale follows her life as a handmaid while she recalls her former life before the coup that led to the establishment of the new society. In the Republic of Gilead men and women have assigned roles. Many are left barren due to chemical warfare during the governmental overthrow. Women who can procreate are deemed handmaids and are assigned to men and their wives for the purpose of building a family. Rebels and those who do not follow their assigned tasks are executed and left for all to view. Offred tries to be the dutiful handmaid, but is constantly concerned about the friends and family she has been separated from since the establishment of the new government. It is a haunting look at what could happen when an overzealous religious and political power take control of federal government. Not so far fetched these days.

I'm not usually a fan of dystopian fiction, but this book certainly is worth reading during the crazy political climate that the US faces today. It is as relevant today, maybe more so, than at the time of the original writing in 1985.

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Review: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A classic story about a teacher, Miss Jean Brodie, who is in her prime. Brodie is not your typical teacher at a very conventional school and she mentors a specific set of girls known at the Brodie set.
Miss Jean Brodie is always introduced as being in her "prime" which loosely translates to being a young woman in love and is loose and free. Brodie just happens to be in love with someone she can't have, so she uses another man instead. The girls of the Brodie set are curious about sex and are constantly prying into Miss Brodie's personal life. In turn, she uses them to get information about the man she pines for.

Not my favorite story but it is a classic and a theme that has been re-done in many times.

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Review: The Haunting of Hill House

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A haunted house and a strange cast of characters. Eleanor, Theodora, Luke, and Dr. Montague insert themselves in to Hill House to study the haunted phenomena that lurk there. Who will stay and who will go? A perfect, classic read for the Halloween season.

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Review: The Great Famine: The History of the Irish Potato Famine during the Mid-19th Century

The Great Famine: The History of the Irish Potato Famine during the Mid-19th Century by Charles River Editors
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This quick read details Ireland's potato famine in the mid-19th century. The book follows chronologically, discussing the political climate prior to the famine, through the years of mass starvation 1845-1849, and post-famine consequences. There is a good discussion on blight, the cause of the potato crop failure, as well as the mass emigration that happened because of the famine. Many tried to leave for Canada and America but were just too sick to finish the journey.

This is not an overly in-depth review, but it is a good overview to give the reader an understanding of the devastation to Ireland, including short-term and long-term effects.

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Review: Our Spoons Came from Woolworths

Our Spoons Came from Woolworths by Barbara Comyns
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the very strange story of a young 21-year-old Sophia, living in London just after World War II. Life was hard in Europe at the time, it is the middle of a depression and many people were struggling to get by. Sophia meets Charles, who she falls in love with. Against the wishes of his family, Charles marries Sophia in a quiet ceremony. The two lived a very bohemian lifestyle as artists grasping for their next opportunity to paint or model. But times were hard and the two often found themselves without money, food, or electricity and it didn't go up from there.

What was so strange about the book is that the story is told from Sophia's eyes and she has quite a dry sense of humor. The story was mostly sad, at times extremely sad, yet there were some almost laugh out loud parts. You feel so bad for poor Sophia and the situations she would find herself in but you had to laugh at her descriptions of her surroundings and her inner thoughts. If you're not laughing, you're crying. You want to hate her and her husband at times for the stupid decisions they make. At other times you want to cheer Sophia on when things are getting better. Then things will go so horribly you just can't imagine that she'll survive. I suspect that the poverty described is quite possibly true to life in post-war London and for that reason and for the ending, it is worth the read.

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Review: To Be Where You Are

To Be Where You Are by Jan Karon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

To be where you are. Isn't that what most people want with their spouse or significant other? Or even a close friend or pet? Many people make sacrifices to be with their loved ones and to offer help when it is needed. The newest title in the Mitford series continues the story of Father Tim and his family. We met Father Tim, then a bachelor Episcopal priest, in At Home in Mitford. He had an eye for his new neighbor Cynthia, an issue with his dog, Barnabas, who only behaved when scripture was spoken, and the problem of a young orphan boy whose best behavior included cussin' and spittin'. Dooley was ornery, rough, and begging to be loved. Throughout the series, we have watched these characters grow, and in To Be Where You Are, Dooley and his wife Lace are planning a ceremony to make an official family declaration with their newly adopted son. Sacrifices have to be made to make life work, but that is what family is all about. Dooley continues to build his veterinary practice, and handle life on a farm, with a new family secret to tell.

I love coming home to Mitford. I don't know if this is going to be the last in the series. I hope not. I think there are still more stories to tell. We've seen Dooley grow up to be a wonderful man and husband. Father Tim has built a family and we have watched beloved characters come and go. Now it is time to see what stories can be told about the family of Doc Kavanagh.

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Review: Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fahrenheit 451, the temperature that book paper burns. It is post-apocalyptic times when firemen now start the fires, not put them out. They burn all books, the homes they are found in and even the owners. It is a world where people spend their time watching TV and believe what the government tells them. This is not so far from today's society, which makes this book worth reading and contemplating. Guy Montag is the central character, he is a fireman who is sent out to burn books. He happens to meet Clarisse while out on an evening walk. Their discussion makes Montag question what he does and his life in general, making him spiral out of control. Or is he spiraling in control of his destiny?

This book is a classic but still resonates today. The idea that books and our right to free speech could be taken is not so far-fetched, but hopefully not anywhere on the spectrum of possibility. This book is about independence versus control and about the courage to stand up for what is right, despite the odds.

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Review: The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter

The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the sad story of a deaf-mute set in a 1930s mill town. John Singer's best friend, another deaf-mute is taken away to an institution and he finds himself surrounded by a group of misfits at his boarding house. Mick is a young girl that dreams of being a musician. Portia is the housekeeper and cook, her father is a local doctor. Jake is a wild drunken guy who works at the local carnival. Each person and their family faces adversity that they simply can't overcome.

This book is indicative of life in depression-era mill towns in the south. Everyone is always struggling to get by and just never seem to get ahead. Everyone has a dream that never seems to be realized. Life was hard and family and friends are often what got you through each day. This is a sad book, but it gives the reader an idea of what life was like during the depression.

I do like McCullers writing. You tend to get attached to some of the characters, so their fates cause a bit of a sinking feeling toward the end of the book. I was hopeful throughout the book, but ultimately I was left heartbroken for a couple of the characters.

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Review: A View from the Fog: A Story of Grief and Loss, and Faith and Hope

A View from the Fog: A Story of Grief and Loss, and Faith and Hope by Jada D L Hodgson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short book on one woman's journey through the fog of grief after losing both of her parents in a car accident. Jada Hodgson is a lawyer and Methodist Lay Minister. She is a very family oriented person and a bit of an introvert. To suddenly lose both parents caused her to go on an emotional rollercoaster. She never wavered in her faith, but she certainly had some questions for God. Her message is simple and two-fold, lean on your faith to shine a light through your fog and allow yourself to grieve. Cry, laugh, get angry. Grief will run you through all of the emotions. It's okay. It gets better. It gets harder. It's okay. Lean on friends and family when you need. They may not know how to help unless you tell them what you need.

A dear friend loaned this book to me when my father passed away. It was one of those things that I knew would happen at any time, but when it did it seemed so sudden. This book was a great reminder that it takes time to get through the fog. Many of the emotions that Hodgson went through, I am dealing with myself. It is comforting to know that the emotional rollercoaster is a normal part of the grieving process.

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Review: All That Is Bitter and Sweet: A Memoir

All That Is Bitter and Sweet: A Memoir by Ashley Judd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Ashley Judd is not only an award-winning actress, she is an advocate for human rights and an ambassador for Population Services International (PSI). In her memoir, Judd details her involvement with PSI, traveling to Asia and Africa touring the brothels and slums while teaching the residents how to protect themselves against AIDS / HIV. Many women she encountered were trafficked into sex slavery or simply had no other choice to make money. While embarking on this humanitarian cause, Judd wrestles with her own demons. Born into a very dysfunctional and abusive home, the actress often found herself on her own, abandoned by her family while they pursued a career in music. In between tours overseas, Judd checks into rehab to help herself, so she can help others.

I have always liked Judd as an actress. I counted her as one of my favorites to watch; except for Bug, oh Lord, what was she thinking about that one? I had the opportunity to see her speak in person, about her work with PSI and a bit of her own family history. I came away from the talk conflicted and find myself feeling the same after reading this book. No doubt she is a wonderful humanitarian. You can tell that she immerses herself in the cause to help people, especially women and children in the slums of places like Rwanda and the Congo. At the same time, she has had a lot to deal with in her own personal life. At times, she comes across as angry at average people that she has come across who don't know what she's been through or that know nothing about her work. One passage in the book that took me aback was in chapter 9, "Back at the hotel, a perky tourist from Texas recognized me in the business center and asked me if I was on safari. I let her blithe obliviousness and her expensive khakis irk me, and I blurted out bitterly, "No. In fact, I am on a HIV / AIDS prevention trip and have just been to three brothels." I hoped I had ruined her evening." I would think that would be a great opportunity to educate others on the conditions of the area she was touring and her work with PSI. I know she has been in the news for being rude like this to people, so this passage reinforced the idea that she may be a bit unapproachable to fans and others she comes across in everyday life.

There was just something in her tone throughout the book that didn't settle with me. She wasn't "bragging" but yet, she had an air of "see what I've done, I'm making a difference" then would follow that up with how broken she was during this time. I don't want to diminish what she went through, obviously, her childhood was traumatic and was unfairly treated. She is also a great humanitarian, but I get the sense that she is not so humbled by it and that she still deals with some duality to her personality.

If the book does nothing else, it does bring awareness to the global issues of sex trafficking and HIV / AIDS in other countries. She is certainly passionate about helping others and has formed bonds with many of the people she has met during her tours. These issues are the sad reality that many face every day and it is not just in "third world" countries, but happens in the US as well.

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Review: The Robber Bridegroom

The Robber Bridegroom by Eudora Welty
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Robber Bridegroom is a southern inspired retelling of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Set along the Natchez trace, three shady men, Jamie Lockhart, Clement Musgrove, and Mink Fink meet along their respective trails. Enter Musgrove's beautiful daughter Rosamund and her ugly stepmother Salome. One tells lies and the other plots the daughter's demise.

This was a cute, quick story and the first time I have read Welty. I'll likely check out some of her longer novels.

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Review: Rebecca

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A great classic. Rebecca is a gothic story about a woman who falls in love with an older gentleman Maxim De Winter, the owner of Manderley estate in England. De Winter is a new widower who meets the "new Mrs. De Winter" while on holiday as a way to grieve for his departed wife. After a honeymoon in Italy, Maxim and his new wife return to Manderley where she has to learn to fit in. Once at the estate, the true origins of her predecessor's demise begins to come to light and life at Manderley is far what she had ever imagined.

This story has some twists, that were somewhat predictable, but it was a great story nonetheless. It seems a little "Hitchcock" like to me, but I enjoy that. I thought it was a page turner from the start.

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Review: Deadly Brew

Deadly Brew by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fall has arrived in the little town of Buttercup, Texas and once again a killer is loose. Buttercup is the home of novice farm girl Lucy Resnick who is struggling to maintain her grandmother's farm, now facing a water shortage. While attending the local Witches Ball at the home of Serafine Alexandre, one of the local residents turns up dead after having an argument with the evening's host. It seems as though Bug Wharton, co-owner of a new exotic game ranch had an enemy or two and Lucy is determined to figure out the mystery and keep her friend Serafine out of jail.

I generally don't read many mysteries but I thoroughly enjoy all of Karen MacInerney's cozy mystery series. I especially enjoy her Dewberry Farm Mysteries for the Texas references and setting. I am looking forward to further adventures in Buttercup, Texas.

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Review: Margaret Fuller: A New American Life

Margaret Fuller: A New American Life by Megan Marshall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is the story of Margaret Fuller who was a pioneer in the Women's Rights movement. Margaret grew up in the early 1800s in the New England area. She was the daughter of a stern man who was her source of early education. Fuller was a good friend of the likes of Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau and was heavily involved in the Transcendentalist movement. She went on to be a teacher and a journalist. She was the first woman international correspondent reporting from Italy during a tumultuous time of revolution and the establishment of a Roman Republic. It was in Italy that she met and married Giovanni Ossoli who she secretly married, a very different outcome than what even she expected of her life.

This was a well written and researched book. I thought that it began to drone on a bit in the middle but found her life in Italy to be interesting. Her life ended in a very sad way and I was hopeful for her til the end. I would have like to have seen what she might have become upon coming home to America.

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Review: Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour

Citizens of London: The Americans Who Stood with Britain in Its Darkest, Finest Hour by Lynne Olson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Citizens of London follows three men in London during WWII: Edward R. Murrow, the American Journalist and head of CBS News in Europe reporting on the war, Averell Harriman the man FDR appointed to run the Lend-Lease program, and Gil Winant, the U.S. Ambassador to Britain. These men lived the war. They were in London from the beginning and saw the destruction and the struggle that the locals faced every day. They all formed bonds with Churchill and played a part in some of the decisions made by him and by FDR. These men may have been "foreigners" living in the heart of the European fight but they were Londoners in their own right.

This book was very well researched and got to the heart of each man. Olson was able to get very personal with each man, showing flaws and all. We also see a bit of a different side of the relationship between FDR and Churchill than is often discussed. These men were often seen as close friends who worked together as allies, but the relationship had its strains. This is well worth the read for anyone that is interested in WWII, particularly from the British point of view.

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Review: The Sympathizer

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitizer Prize winning story The Sympathizer is a haunting tale of espionage at the end of the Vietnam War. The unnamed narrator of the story is a communist double agent and refugee of the war, sent to America with the General he was sent to spy on. As the story unfolds we realize the narrator is a captured man, giving his confession and detailing his time in America and the Philippines. The story touches on many themes but centers around the narrator's duality. He is half Vietnamese, half French, working as a Viet Cong spy undercover as a south Vietnamese spy. He has become a Vietnamese American not fully feeling that he belongs in American or Vietnamese society. He is a conflicted man of two minds struggling to understand his own political beliefs and his place in two worlds.

This was at times a tough read for me. I have a very good friend who is the son of a former south Vietnamese Navy Commander that was one of the last evacuated from the war. The scenes of the narrator's evacuation are very similar to what my friend has shared with me of his own experience. I can only imagine what it must feel like to come to a country as a refugee and not feeling as if you fit in any where. I have to admit that at times the spying scenes and political rhetoric were not as exciting for me, but it is a very good look at an often overlooked perspective of the impact of the Vietnam War.

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Review: Their Eyes Were Watching God

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A true southern classic, Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God is the story of a black woman in 1930s Florida who tries to find her way in the world after her mother abandons her and her grandmother dies. Janie Crawford marries a man she didn't care for, to keep peace with her grandmother, but leaves him when he begins to abuse her. She is swept off her feet by a well off man who promises to devote his life to her, but he too abuses her emotionally and physically. She eventually finds the love of her life, a man named Tea Cake. Their life together weathers many storms.

I didn't love this book, but it was worth the read as it is a classic. It is a story about the search for self and racism in the 30s that still resonate today.


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Review: Mother's Little Helper

Mother's Little Helper by Karen MacInerney
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the third installment of Karen MacInerney's mystery series centered around full-time mom and part-time private investigator Margie Peterson. Margie is a mother of two who is barely keeping it together. Her marriage is ending, her daughter pretends to be a dog, and there's a pig problem for her to deal with. In this book, Margie is hired by the PTA President to find out the source of missing funds and ends up investigating the death of a fitness trainer who is also an up and coming LifeBoost energy drink entrepreneur. The trainer had some mighty private sessions with half the PTA moms so there are a few who could have done him in. There's also a case of an anonymous streaker that bares all but a sock to the local garden club. It is never a dull moment when you're hanging out with Margie.

Karen MacInerney has a great sense of humor and it really comes out in this book. It's full of quirky characters and improbable situations. What will Margie get herself into next?

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Review: Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City is a tough but important story of poverty stricken Americans barely living in the slums of Milwaukee, WI. Pulitzer winner Matthew Desmond follows the lives of eight families renting "homes" in the slums of Milwaukee and the landlords they rent from. These people face rent fees that are often more than their income and their homes are in some of the worse conditions that anyone could imagine. When unable to come up with the needed funds for another month, many find themselves trying to decide between rent, food, or utilities. They are eventually evicted and added to eviction records that follow them to their next destination. Many times, the rent costs are the same or just below what one would find in a middle class area of town. The difference? Finding the landlord that will rent to someone with a past, with an eviction record, and without verifiable income. These landlords rarely keep up repairs and necessary work on their properties unless they know they have a decent tenant that will pay on time and consistently. It is a game that landlords and renters play. Many find themselves in holes that they can never climb out of but a few are able to persevere and beat the odds.

If nothing else, this book will bring to light an area of American life that is often ignored and make the case for affordable housing in the United States. The current programs to help the homeless and near homeless do not work well. Reform is desperately needed. Desmond does offer his idea of expanding the current voucher system that would eradicate the slums and put slum lords out of business. His idea would offer hope for many and give these people a chance to change their circumstances.

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Review: America's First Daughter

America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the fictionalized story of Martha "Patsy" Jefferson Randolph, the oldest daughter of Thomas Jefferson. Drawing on the letters of Thomas Jefferson, authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie paint a wonderful, yet tragic picture of the life of Patsy Jefferson. From an early age, Patsy was Jefferson's constant companion. She was at his side when they had to flee Monticello at the end of the American Revolution, and she accompanied him to France where he was an Ambassador on the eve of the French Revolution. After returning to the United States, Patsy followed Jefferson to Washington City to play hostess and First Lady during his two terms as President. Patsy lived through a lot as Jefferson's daughter and it wasn't all good. Enduring heartache and abuse by her husband and handling Monticello as they struggled through near poverty, Patsy always showed strength and resilience.

I enjoyed this read, as I know little about this time period and about Jefferson's personal life. It is a very engaging, yet heartbreaking story. Patsy had to be quite a woman and hers is a story that should be shared as an important character in our nation's history.

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Review: Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama: The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution

Carry Me Home: Birmingham, Alabama: The Climactic Battle of the Civil Rights Revolution by Diane McWhorter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Carry Me Home is a thorough account of the history of the fight for civil rights in Birmingham, Alabama. McWhorter gives detailed background on the politics behind segregationist groups, Dixiecrats, and the Freedom Movement. Also covered are the Freedom Rides, local marches led by Martin Luther King and Fred Shuttlesworth, and the various bombings in the area, culminating with the bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church that killed four young girls during Sunday School. McWhorter wraps up with a follow up on what happened to the major players, and the trials of the two remaining bombers that led to their convictions. Interspersed throughout the book are the author's own recollections of these years and the part her father may or may not have played in any nefarious acts.

This was a very good book and worthy of its Pulitzer Prize. It was exhaustive and is very dense but very much worth the read. It definitely takes you to that time and helps the reader to understand the climate and tense atmosphere of Birmingham, Alabama from the early 40s through the 60s and beyond.

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Review: Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy

Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy by Sheryl Sandberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a short book on handling grief, or as the author calls it "Option B". That's the plan you have to go with when life takes you off course and on a new path. Sheryl Sandberg is an executive at Facebook and was on a vacation in Mexico with her husband Dave, and their friends. Dave died on that trip while working out at the resort gym. It was completely unexpected. This started Sheryl and her two children on their path down Option B. This book covers the uncomfortable situations that she often found herself in after his death, learning to be strong for her kids but vulnerable enough to let them know it's okay to grieve. Sheryl also talks about becoming resilient and eventually moving on and finding happiness in life.

This is a great book for those who are grieving but also for those who are supporting those who have had a major loss. In particular, I was inspired the chapter on dealing with the "elephant in the room." We are often not sure what to say to someone who has just suffered a loss. Sometimes, that person just wants to talk and reflect and that was the case for Sheryl. It relieves the tension and awkwardness. In the future, I'll remember to ask and to allow the griever to talk if they would like.

Many of the topics covered can be applied to other losses as well. Loss of jobs, homes, relationships, etc. There are different types of grief and our ability to deal with loss means we have to face it head on and adapt if we are going to find joy in our lives once again.

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Review: The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy

The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing and Genetic Genealogy by Blaine T. Bettinger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a comprehensive guide to understanding the different types of DNA testing and how these tests help genealogists to solve brick wall issues. The author does very well to explain the basics (and not so basics) of DNA, and what each test covers. The book covers tests from the 3 large testing companies: 23andMe, Ancestry, and Family Tree DNA. The book also provides charts and forms that the genealogist can use to get started on a "genetic genealogy" tree.

This is well worth the read, especially if you feel overwhelmed with the different options in DNA testing, or don't know how to interpret your results. I was really impressed at how well the author explained everything without getting too technical.

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Review: Cybercrime and Digital Forensics: An Introduction

Cybercrime and Digital Forensics: An Introduction by Thomas J. Holt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I used this book this year for a Cyber Criminology class I teach. It is a good text for an overview / introduction class. The first 8 chapters cover different types of cybercrime such as hacking, cyber terror, digital piracy, and cyber stalking / bullying. Cyber sex crimes are also covered. There is one chapter on old school criminology theories / the scientific method and how they apply today to the cyber world today. The last four chapters cover digital forensics, touching on subjects like spoliation and collecting forensics in the cloud.

This is my first year teaching with this text and I will likely use it again. As with any text, it is going to be quickly outdated, so I hope they do an updated version soon. It is well laid out with a nice progression between subjects, interspersing historical information as well. Real world examples are used, but I would have like more examples that are more in depth. Another plus is that the book uses technical terms, while clearly explaining terms and concepts for beginners to understand.

I also liked the discussion questions at the end of each chapter. These are thought provoking questions that have the students thinking beyond what is discussed in that chapter. They made great essay questions for tests. If you are an instructor, the publisher has a website with extra material that can be used in the classroom, such as Powerpoint presentations and test questions.

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Review: So Big

So Big by Edna Ferber
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the story of Selina Peake DeJong and her son Dirk "SoBig" Dejong. Selina, the daughter of a prosperous Chicago gambler during the turn of the century, is forced to make her own life, when her father passes away. Her journey takes her to rural Illinois, not far from bustling Chicago to teach the children of the local farmers. Her life turns out very different than she expected, but Selina is a strong woman who sees the good in everything and everyone. She is the type of person that turns dreams into realities. These are the values she tries to instill in the children she meets and her own son. The overall theme of the book is about making the most of one's life. You can be rich without having money. It's all about what you do with what you have. "There are only two kinds of people in the world that really count. One kind's wheat and the other kind's emeralds." – Edna Ferber

I enjoyed this book. The writing is superb and draws you in from the beginning. It is obvious why this is a classic book worthy of the Pulitzer Prize. The characters are rich but not without their flaws and the themes are ones that still resonant today. I think this is an often overlooked classic that should be added to reading curriculums.

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Review: The Enchanted April

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This classic is such a cute read. The story begins in the 1920s with Mrs. Wilkins reading a newspaper advertisement for the rental of an Italian castle during the month of April. Through happenstance, she collects three other women who join her for the month to get away from it all on a quiet vacation. Each woman has come without spouse or suitor. The journey and the vacation isn't quite what any of them expected, but it does become what each of them needs. This is a fun read that is at times quite humorous.

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Review: Bomber Girls

Bomber Girls by M.J. Foreman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a short quick read about the women of the British Air Transport Auxiliary, a group formed to back up the Royal Air Force. During World War II, women took to the air as transport pilots for British bombers. They had no fire power, just simple orders to move planes from A to B. Many though, found themselves in combat or dealing with mechanical failure. These are remarkable women whose stories should be told.

This was an interesting read but a bit dry at times. There were some engaging stories but a lot of "just the facts" bits, which likely was needed being a short Kindle Single selection. This book could easily be expanded and developed much like Hidden Figures: The Untold True Story of Four African-American Women Who Helped Launch Our Nation into Space by Margot Lee Shetterly. Worth the read if you are interested in learning more about the women of ATA.

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Review: The Aviator's Wife

The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A good look at the lives of Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh from Anne's point of view. The daughter of the Ambassador to Mexico in the late 20s / early 30s, Anne Morrow was a middle child who felt like she was often overlooked, with an uneventful future ahead of her. Longing to make a mark on the world, Anne meets and later marries American hero Charles Lindbergh, not long after his epic journey from the US to Paris in The Spirit of St. Louis. At the time, she was smitten and ready for adventure. Adventure is what she got, in spades. What Anne did not anticipate was the rigid, often cold relationship with her new husband. There were good, loving times when the two would fly together, lost in the air away from the harsh realities that came with stardom. More often than not, though, life as the aviator's wife was a struggle where her fear of being overlooked was realized.

I want to think that Anne was a strong woman with gumption. Benjamin did a great job of presenting Anne as a young, naive woman who is often beaten down emotionally by a man who was overbearing. Throughout the book we see Anne transformed into her own woman with her own voice. It is a well researched book, sticking close to historical events, taking licenses on Anne's personality and character. I read this right after reading A. Scott Berg's biography on Lindbergh. It was a nice follow up to see their lives from Anne's vantage point. She had to be a remarkable person for putting up with the larger than life character that was her husband.

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Review: Lindbergh

Lindbergh by A. Scott Berg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A very well written, detailed account of the life of Charles A. Lindbergh from birth to death. Everything is covered from the famous first flight across the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. Louis to the Trial of the Century covering the kidnapping and murder of Charles' and Anne's first son to his political and aeronautical endeavors and eventual fight with lymphoma. The book not only covers his life from Lindbergh's own point of view, but from his wife Anne's as well. According to the end notes, Anne offered thousands of records and diary entries to the author as long as the story was about both Charles and Anne. The author lived up to the promise. The relationship was loving and strong at times, while distance and estranged at others.

I thought this was a wonderful biography without being so exhaustive and dry. Lindbergh was quite a character and that certainly comes through. There was a lot I did not know about Charles, from his time stationed in San Antonio in the Army (my home) to his time working with PanAm. Well worth the read if you are in any way interested in aeronautics or just curious about the man who made that first important flight across the Atlantic.

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Review: Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The story behind the movie. Hidden Figures is the true story of the black women who worked in the West Computing area of NACA / NASA's Langley Research Center starting in the 1940s. These women persevered during an age when women in the workforce were only essential due to the war effort and black women in mathematics and engineering roles were unheard of. This book is not just about these women human computers who help John Glenn reach the moon, but about Civil Rights in the Jim Crow south in the 40s-60s.

Well written and well researched, Shetterly captures the spirit of these women and the bond they developed charting unknown territory. It is a short book that I think could have been expanded, but is a nice overview of these inspirational women.

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