The Long Flight Home by Alan Hlad

 My Rating: 4.9

Inspired by fascinating, true, yet little-known events during World War II, The Long Flight Home is a testament to the power of courage in our darkest hours—a moving, masterfully written story of love and sacrifice.

Susan and her grandfather Bertie raise homing pigeons. Thousands of miles away in Maine there is a young crop duster named Ollie. Their three lives intersect in the most interesting of ways.

I love Historical Fiction. Even more, I love when I can learn something about history. This book had both of those elements. It was wholesome while still capturing the brutality and difficulties of the war. I even loved the ending. Fabulous and definite recommend.

1776 by David McCullough

 My Rating: 4.9

The intensely human story of those who marched with General George Washington in the year of the Declaration of Independence - when the whole American cause was riding on their success, without which all hope for independence would have been dashed and the noble ideals of the Declaration would have amounted to little more than words on paper. 

Based on extensive research in both American and British archives, 1776 is a powerful drama written with extraordinary narrative vitality. It is the story of Americans in the ranks, men of every shape, size, and color, farmers, schoolteachers, shoemakers, no-accounts, and mere boys turned soldiers. And it is the story of the King's men, the British commander, William Howe, an his highly disciplined redcoats who looked on their rebel foes with contempt and fought with a valor too little known.

I don't typically like non-fiction or history. I wanted a book that would interest my husband and we could listen to on our weekly commute to/from our vacation home. My husband isn't big on audio books so, I picked on that I hoped he would enjoy. It wasn't long after we pulled out of the driveway before he was asking if I was going to put on the book. What surprised me is how much I enjoyed it - and how much I learned. 

Little Princes by Conor Grennan

 My Rating: 4.8

The story of the authors fight to save the lost children of Nepal. 

I typically do not like non-fiction but, I LOVED this. I highly recommend the audio version where the author had me laughing out loud at many points during the book. So heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time. 

The Mountain Shadows by Gregory David Roberts

 My Rating: 4.4

Lin, an Australian fugitive, working as a passport forger for a branch of the Bombay mafia. Lin must find his way in a Bombay run by a different generation of mafia dons, playing by a different set of rules.

This sequel to Shantaram continues Lin's story along with Karla and several other characters from Shantaram. You don't need to have read Shantaram to enjoy this book but, it helps. I loved how it brings India and the people to life. I vacillated between wanting to immerse myself in Robert's incredibly beautiful and descriptive writing and skimming over a lot of the parts that felt trite including the time on the mountain with the spiritual philosopher. I absolutely loved Shantaram but don't know how I would feel if I re-read it. I guess Gregory David Roberts and I are both in different places than we were when he wrote the first book. This wouldn't be a "Best of" for me but I enjoyed it if for no other reason than sentimentality over how I felt for the beautiful love story of Shantaram. 

Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge

 My Rating: 3.6

Coming of age as a free-born Black girl in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, Libertie Sampson was all too aware that her purposeful mother, a practicing physician, had a vision for their future together: Libertie would go to medical school and practice alongside her. But Libertie, drawn more to music than science, feels stifled by her mother’s choices and is hungry for something else—is there really only one way to have an autonomous life? And she is constantly reminded that, unlike her mother, who can pass, Libertie has skin that is too dark.

I wanted to love this novel but, by about 60% of the way in, I was so tired of Libertie. Her character had nothing that was likable. The novel dragged and I was so happy to be done with it.