The Editor by Steven Rowley

 My Rating: 4.7

James Smale finally sells his novel to an editor at a major publishing house: none other than Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Jackie--or Mrs. Onassis, as she's known in the office--has fallen in love with James's candidly autobiographical novel, one that exposes his own dysfunctional family. But when the book's forthcoming publication threatens to unravel already fragile relationships, both within his family and with his partner, James finds that he can't bring himself to finish the manuscript. Jackie and James develop an unexpected friendship, and she pushes him to write an authentic ending, encouraging him to head home to confront the truth about his relationship with his mother. Then a long-held family secret is revealed, and he realizes his editor may have had a larger plan that goes beyond the page...

All of the characters sprang to life off of the pages. I loved Jackie and James friendship as well as James and his dysfunctional family. This was thoroughly enjoyable. 

The Winners by Fredrik Backman

My Rating: 4.6

Two years have passed since the events that everyone wants to forget. Maya's parents, Peter and Kira, are caught up in an investigation of the hockey club's, tensions simmer between the two towns and a 14 year old boy wants revenge for his sister's death.

I loved Beartown and this brought Peter, Maya, Benji and a few more characters back along with some new ones. The rivalry between Beartown and Hed's hockey teams continues along with understanding many behind the scenes influencers.

The only two negative things I have to say about this book are:

1. The translation didn't make it an 'easy' read. It felt choppy and you had to get into the flow of it which took a while. It did capture the humor and once I got in to it, it was easier but never got to where it was a 'fast' read.

2. The foreboding got old and went on for so long that I wanted the event reveal to happen just to get it over with. Then, once the 'reveal' happened it was very anti-climactic. 

Other than those two things, this was a very enjoyable read.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

My Rating: 4.8

On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast. And then someone turns up dead.

This definitely invoked feelings of Agatha Christie - LOVED it! I always enjoy multiple point of views and this one had each character coming to life. The 'reveals' kept me on my toes throughout the book.  A great murder mystery.

The Good Sister

 My Rating: 2.5

Fern works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week. Fern avoids crowds, bright lights and loud noises as much as possible. Fern has a carefully structured life and disrupting her routine can be...dangerous. When Rose discovers that she cannot get pregnant, Fern sees her chance to pay her sister back for everything Rose has done for her. Fern can have a baby for Rose. She just needs to find a father. 

This premise of this book sounded cute and in the beginning, it was enjoyable. As it progressed, it fell far from anything enjoyable. The author told you EVERY nuance of every thing. Nothing at all left to chance that you could possibly figure anything out for yourself. It was very annoying and made it so I was very glad when I finished this. UGH.

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

My Rating: 4.8

Fifteen-year-old Kambili and her older brother Jaja lead a privileged life in Enugu, Nigeria. They live in a beautiful house, with a caring family, and attend an exclusive missionary school. They're completely shielded from the troubles of the world. Yet, as Kambili reveals in her tender-voiced account, things are less perfect than they appear. Although her Papa is generous and well respected, he is fanatically religious and tyrannical at home—a home that is silent and suffocating. As the country begins to fall apart under a military coup, Kambili and Jaja are sent to their aunt, a university professor outside the city, where they discover a life beyond the confines of their father’s authority. Books cram the shelves, curry and nutmeg permeate the air, and their cousins’ laughter rings throughout the house. 

The tension in the house is so palpable it comes off of the pages of the book.This is a very uncomfortable read but so well written. It makes you understand life in Nigeria, growing up with physical abuse and family. So many beautiful layers are captured.

The Daughter of Auschwitz by Tova Friedman

My Rating: 4.7

One of the youngest ever survivors, Tova grew up in the ghetto, a Nazi labor camp and then in Auschwitz. This captures the atrocities she witnessed, her near death experiences and most of all, the story of survival.

The audio book is told in a very calm factual way. I think this is good as I couldn't imagine such horrific circumstances being told with a lot of emotion. This was a difficult read but I think so important for us to never forget.

American Kingpin by Nick Bilton

  My Rating: 4.5

Ross Ulbricht, a 26 year old Libertarian programmer launched the ultimate free market: the Silk Road. A clandestine Web site hosted on the Dark Web where anyone could trade anything—drugs, hacking software, forged passports, counterfeit cash, poisons—free of the government’s watchful eye using untraceable bitcoin. After the media started sharing stories on this illegal unmonitored website, the 
Federal Government launched a manhunt for the site's owner who went by the moniker The Dread Pirate Roberts.

While this book went in to a LOT of detail, it helped you understand all the of the Government agents involved and their frustration in trying to capture someone that only existed online. It was a crime unlike any other, both in it's caliber and anonymity. I definitely recommend listening to the audio version to keep you engaged.

West With Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

 My Rating: 4.9

Woodrow Nickel is 105 years old and flashing back to when he was young. It was 1938 in the Great Depression. Woody finds himself driving two giraffes across country from New York to the San Diego zoo.  Inspired by true events, the tale weaves real-life figures with fictional ones, including the world’s first female zoo director, a crusty old man with a past, a young female photographer with a secret, and assorted reprobates as spotty as the giraffes. 

This was a beautiful book. It is part adventure, historical sage, coming of age, love story and most of all, about people and animals. An absolutely delightful read. 

Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General by Bill O'Reilly

 My Rating: 4.6

General George S. Patton, Jr. died under mysterious circumstances in the months following the end of World War II. For almost seventy years, there has been suspicion that his death was not an accident--and may very well have been an act of assassination. Killing Patton takes readers inside the final year of the war and recounts the events surrounding Patton's tragic demise, naming names of the many powerful individuals who wanted him silenced.

This was fascinating learning about Patton's career and the many battles. This is very detailed but, about his career. The actual 'killing Patton' part was one brief chapter. If you go in to this with appropriate expectations, I think you would enjoy it. The audio book narrated by O'Reilly was excellent.

Four Treasures of the Sky by Jenny Tingjui Zhang

My Rating: 4.7

In the late 1800's, Daiyu is born in China but, at the age of 13 is kidnapped and smuggled to America. As anti-Chinese sentiment sweeps across the country in a wave of unimaginable violence, Daiyu must draw on each of the selves she has been—including the ones she most wants to leave behind—in order to finally claim her own name and story.

This was an uncomfortable read. Daiyu has to reinvent herself many times with so many horrific circumstances but, she survives and overcomes. The audio version was a bit difficult to get in to but once I got in to it, I think it helped me with the various accents.

Yellow Wife by Sadeqa Johnson

My Rating: 4.8

In the 1850's, Pheby is born on a plantation in Virginia and has led a relatively sheltered life. Shielded by her mother’s position as the estate’s medicine woman and cherished by the Master’s sister, she is set apart from the others on the plantation, belonging to neither world. The Master has promised freedom on her 18th birthday but, instead, she ends up sold into the infamous Devil's Half Acre, a jail in Richmond.

This was very loosely based off of the real story of Mary at the Lumpkin Jail. It was so vivid and graphic that it was an extremely uncomfortable read at time but, so worth it. Such a horrific period of history that we all need to know about.

The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

My Rating: 4.5

An 1850 novel that was considered a masterpiece for it's time. Set in 17th century Massachusetts, Hester has a daughter through an affair. She is condemned as a sinner by the town and forced to wear a scarlet letter A. As her daughter grows she feels the stigma put upon her mother. Her mother, tries to live within the community that will not have her while trying to repent for her sins.

This wasn't a great read but, in hindsight, it grew on me. I couldn't figure out how Hester had no resentment - towards the town or the man who fathered the child. Towards the end of the novel, you discover who the father is (although there were clues along the way) and you see reason she never said anything - she loved him.

The Warsaw Orphan by Kelly Rimmer

My Rating: 4.9

In 1942, young Elizbieta/Emelia befriends her neighbor Sara. Elzbieta makes a discovery that propels her into a dangerous world of deception and heroism. Inspired by the real-life heroine who saved thousands of Jewish children during WWII.

I love historical fiction and this was amazing. This covers a lot of time. I found it fascinating not only how Sara and Emelia could make trips to/from the ghetto and how, for Roman, the war continued after the Nazi's were gone. So incredibly sad the things that unfolded and yet so heroic the things that people did to survive and help others to survive.

Control Girl by Shannon Popkin

My Rating: 5.0

"Control Girl" is a penetrating look at how selfishness and self-protectiveness wreck lives--and why surrender and trust are God's life-giving pathways to true freedom and joy."

This book was so good. It takes 7 different women from the Bible and shows how they were controlling (or in some cases, being controlled). Shannon also inserts a lot of personal antidotes that were so helpful. It was uncomfortable to realize how we are all living out Eve's curse but, the awareness was so beneficial. EXCELLENT book that everyone in my Christian women's book club raved about.

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki

 My Rating: 4.9

This book starts with Marjorie Post's father very ill and seeking treatment. The treatment center feeds him vegetables and he proceeds to deteriorate but, at the home near the center where his wife and daughter Marjorie are staying, the hostess believes in good old fashioned American cooking. Soon, C.W. Post starts to heal and understands the power of food. He also sees how much time women spend in the kitchen and decides to invent a convenience food for breakfast - which was the beginning of Post Cereal Company.

Marjorie's live definitely feels like many "lives" or chapters and they are all equally fascinating! I learned so much about her including that she built Mara-Lago. Allison Pataki unfolds Marjorie's life so beautifully that I couldn't wait to listen to more. This book was thoroughly delightful and got me to buy a box of grapenuts! I will definitely be reading more by this author.