The Tie That Binds by Kent Haruf

The Tie That Binds My Rating: 4.9

Colorado, January 1977. Eighty-year-old Edith Goodnough lies in a hospital bed, IV taped to the back of her hand, police officer at her door. She is charged with murder. The clues: a sack of chicken feed slit with a knife, a milky-eyed dog tied outdoors one cold afternoon. The motives: the brutal business of farming and a family code of ethics as unforgiving as the winter prairie itself. Here, Kent Haruf delivers the sweeping tale of a woman of the American High Plains, as told by her neighbor, Sanders Roscoe. As Roscoe shares what he knows, Edith's tragedies unfold: a childhood of pre-dawn chores, a mother's death, a violence that leaves a father dependent on his children, forever enraged. Here is the story of a woman who sacrifices her happiness in the name of family--and then, in one gesture, reclaims her freedom.

Kent Haruf has a gift for writing that completely draws you into the lives of his characters. His prose is quiet and understated, yet so immersive that I felt as though I was living alongside them, experiencing every hardship and triumph.

From the very beginning, I loved Sandy's voice as he recounted the story of Edith, her family, and the events that shaped their lives. As the layers of the story unfolded, I found myself completely captivated. Haruf is a master storyteller, creating deeply human characters and an unforgettable sense of place without ever resorting to unnecessary drama.

His books continue to be among my favorites, and this one was no exception. I highly recommend it.

The Color of Water by James McBride

My Rating: 3.0

The Color of Water blends James McBride's own story with the life of his mother, Ruth McBride, born Rachel Shilsky. Through alternating chapters, readers learn about Ruth's difficult childhood as the daughter of an abusive Orthodox rabbi, her escape from a painful home in Virginia, her marriages, and her determination to raise twelve children despite poverty, racism, and hardship.

McBride weaves his own coming-of-age story throughout the book, sharing his experiences growing up as a mixed-race child, his struggles with identity, and the path that eventually led him to a successful life.

If you enjoy nonfiction and memoirs, you'll probably appreciate this book more than I did. While Ruth's story certainly contained its share of hardship and perseverance, I found myself much more interested in James McBride's chapters about his own childhood and his siblings than in Ruth's earlier life. The book explores themes of family, identity, race, and resilience, but overall it just wasn't a favorite for me.

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Theo of Golden My Rating: 10 out of 5

One spring morning, a stranger named Theo arrives in the small Southern town of Golden. He offers little explanation of where he came from or why he's there. But when he visits the local coffeehouse, where pencil portraits of the town's residents line the walls, he begins purchasing them one by one and giving each portrait to the person it depicts. In return, he asks for only one thing: their story.

Portrait by portrait and person by person, secrets are revealed, regrets are shared, and ordinary lives are quietly transformed.

A story about giving and receiving, seeing and being seen, Theo of Golden is an unforgettable novel about the power of generosity, the importance of human connection, and the quiet miracles that happen when we choose kindness.

This was a touching, wholesome, and absolutely wonderful book. Tears were shed.

This is the kind of book I want to recommend to everyone—even complete strangers. Don't read reviews or look up the plot. Just pick it up and read it.

I wish I would have read it last month when my book club discussed it but, better late than never. Though it's a short, gentle novel, its impact is lasting. It stays with you long after you've turned the final page and leaves you wanting to treat others with the same kindness, compassion, and quiet grace that Theo showed everyone he met.

We Are The Brennans by Tracey Lange

We Are The Brennans My Rating: 4.5

When twenty-nine-year-old Sunday Brennan wakes up in a Los Angeles hospital, bruised and battered after a drunk driving accident she caused, she swallows her pride and goes home to her family in New York. But it’s not easy. She deserted them all—and her high school sweetheart—five years before with little explanation, and they've got questions.

Sunday is determined to rebuild her life back on the east coast, even if it does mean tiptoeing around resentful brothers and an ex-fiancé. The longer she stays, however, the more she realizes they need her just as much as she needs them. When a dangerous man from her past brings her family’s pub business to the brink of financial ruin, the only way to protect them is to upend all their secrets—secrets that have damaged the family for generations and will threaten everything they know about their lives. In the aftermath, the Brennan family is forced to confront painful mistakes—and ultimately find a way forward, together.

This was an entertaining audio book of an Irish family and their relationship and drama. A lot of secrets that unraveled throughout the book but brought the family closer together. If you like a good Irish Catholic family story, this is for you.

The Reckoning by Sharon Kay Penman

The Reckoning  My Rating: 4.9

"Never forget, Llewelyn, that the world's greatest fool is a Welshman who trusts an English king."

His father's words haunt Llewelyn ap Gruffydd, Prince of Wales, who has been ruling uneasily over his fractious countrymen. Above all else, Llewelyn fears that his life and his own dream—of an independent, united Wales—might be lost to Edward I's desire to expand his English empire.

Alive from the pages of history, this is the hauntingly beautiful and compelling tale of a game poised to play itself out to its bloody finale as English and Welsh cross swords in a reckoning that must mean disaster for one side or the other.

For anyone who has ever wanted to experience the rich tapestry of British history and lore, this bold and romantic adventure must be read.

This is the third and final book in the *Prince of Wales* trilogy, and I'm genuinely sad it's over. It was an incredibly immersive journey through history, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Not only did I learn so much about this fascinating period of Welsh and English history, but I also fell completely in love with many of the characters—both Llewelyns, Simon, Nell, Ellen, and so many others. Sharon Kay Penman has an extraordinary gift for bringing historical figures to life, making them feel like people you truly know and care about.

On the other hand, I was appalled by the weakness of King Henry II and the ruthless, autocratic rule of King Edward I. Penman portrays both the triumphs and tragedies of history with remarkable depth, making the emotional impact even more powerful.

One warning: don't Google any of the historical characters until you've finished the trilogy. Even a quick search can reveal major spoilers about the real historical events and the fates of the characters, which is much more rewarding to discover through Penman's storytelling.

This trilogy has become one of my favorite historical fiction series, and I can't wait to read more of Sharon Kay Penman's books.