The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

My Rating: 3.4

This is the sequel to the dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale.

This had Atwood's wonderful writing but somehow was lacking. This sequel to the Gilead somehow took away from the original. IMO, it detracted from the original book and was not needed.

The Book of Polly by Kathy Hepinstall

My Rating: 4.8

Ten year old Willow is concerned that her mother will die.Her mother, Polly, was in her late 50's when Willow was born and is a cantankerous, take-no-prisoners Southern woman. She lives to shoot varmints, drink margaritas, and antagonize the neighbors--and she sticks out like a sore thumb among the young, modern mothers of their small conventional Texas town. Willow becomes obsessed with knowing more about her mother...including her secrets from before Willow was born.

This quirky book had me laughing out loud. I enjoyed Polly's no holds barred sarcasim and Willow was so sweet. Definitely recommend the audio book as the voices were very well done. It is described as "For readers of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, Joshilyn Jackson, and Fannie Flagg, with a touch of Terms of Endearment", and I would say that is a very apt description - you definitely have to be a fan of Southern cute novels to enjoy this. Delightful!

An Elephant In My Kitchen by Françoise Malby-Anthony

My Rating: 4.8

A blonde, chic Parisienne, Francoise never expected to find herself living on a South African game reserve. But when she fell in love with renowned conservationist Lawrence Anthony her life took an unexpected turn.

This recounts some of the same stories as were told in her husband's book but, she tells it from her perspective which has more heart. As the book progresses, she also covers many events that weren't covered in her husband's book. An absolutely delightful read!

The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony

My Rating: 4.9

Anthony has a wildgame preserve in African called Thula Thula. When he gets a call to take in a rogue herd, he was tempted to refuse but, if he didn't take them they would be shot. As the years unfold, he becomes part of the elephant's family and vice versa. They teach him so many heartwarming lessons.

I don't normally care for non-fiction but, when a trusted girlfriend told me I HAD to read this, I got it and didn't regret it. This was the perfect book to provide a fabulous distraction. By the end of it, I wanted to have my own elephant herd! I am off to read his wife's sequel to this book.

Lost Girls by Heather Young

My Rating: 4.6

At a remote Minnesota lake in 1935, six year old Emily disappears from her family's vacation home. Her disappearance destroys the family—her father commits suicide, and her mother and two older sisters, Sixty years later, when the last sister Lucy dies she leaves the lakehouse to.her great-niece Justine.

This is told in alternating voices - Lucy back in 1930's and current day through Justine. It was hauntingly beautiful and captured so much. I will definitely read more by this author.

Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

My Rating: 3.0

Olive struggles to understand not only herself, but the lives of those around her in her own frank and abrupt way in 13 interconnected vignettes. Olive lost her husband several years ago and she is now being wooed by retired Harvard professor, Jack Kennison, 74. Jack reflected that kissing Olive, 73, was like kissing a barnacle-covered whale. He doesn’t know why he loves Olive, but he just does.

I enjoyed this but not near as much as the first book. With Olive Kittridge her quirkiness was endearing and your heart went out to her. With Oliva, Again she was so sad and unlikeable. There were also a lot offensive stereotypes that the book would have been better off without. Rather than feeling connected with Olive, the book went on far too long and felt tedious.