Three Sisters by Heather Morris

Rating:           8 General Rating: A World War II story about the perseverance of three sisters, whom survived Auschwitz and Birkenau. Who should read:  Those interested in touching stories about holocaust survivors. Sisters. Women who have survived similar atrocities, and certainly survivors and children of holocaust survivors. Skip factor:  8%. I skipped more than a little between 60% … Read more

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Rating:     10    Serendipitous. Heartfelt and enjoyable. A lovely warm tale about  a woman and a tentacled creature. If only life mimicked this book, rewarded truly deserving people who have weathered fate’s storms. Skip factor: I skipped nothing. 0%    Who should read? Readers who need a boost from life’s norm. Women who love serendipitous stories … Read more

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri

Rating:     9    Hard to read at times because of the clear picture this author paints. Skip factor: My normal 3-5%    Who should read? Compassionates. Anyone who would like to understand why people risk their lives and the lives of their family, leaving everything they have behind, and begin anew. This is a story of … Read more

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Rating:           8.5 General Rating: Is this book for you? It’s a hodgepodge of stories, Libby Jones’s, mostly. She’s a single girl turning twenty-five and about to inherit? What? She’s not quite sure. Break to the story of beautiful Lucy and her two children struggling to survive. Enter an odd character named Finn. The reader is certain … Read more

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Rating:           9 General Rating: Ng is an author to watch. Her writing is fabulous—the best I’ve seen recently. Favorite line: “Everything seems worse in the darkest hours of the night.” (So true!) Skip factor:  2%. I skipped little. Who should read:  While I believe this is more for women or young females, anyone who has experienced discrimination or who … Read more

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Rating:                              9 General Rating:  A thought-provoking read addressing racism, both blatant and subliminal. The author perfectly portrays a twenty-something African American and thirty-something white woman.   Skip factor:  2%. I skipped a minimal amount. There were times I couldn’t wait to see what … Read more

If You Tell by Gregg Olsen

Rating:           9 General Rating: Wow, wow, wow, this is the most enlightening non-fiction I’ve read. Reading this book was difficult but I highly recommend it.   Who should read:  Everyone. At the risk of showing my hurried, unorganized behavior, I’ll admit I did not know this was based on a true story until I had finished it. … Read more

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen

Name:                               The Truth About Forever Author:                              Sarah Dessen Rating:                              9.5 General Rating:               A perfectly sweet book to make you forget the pandemic.  It ranks as one of my favorite YA books. Skip factor:        >1% I barely skipped anything. A few times I … Read more

Books I Almost Read

Read the Pulitzer Prize winning Middlesex? Me neither. Wandering through my seventh decade, I treasure time. I used to read the classics no matter how grueling and gut-wrenching, but now? Meh. Distinctions can be deceiving. Some of the smartest people I met over the years never earned a high-school diploma. Lots more swore off college. I’ve … Read more

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

Rating:  8.5 General Rating:  Kidd amalgamates narration and dialogue to perfection in this  touching tale of a motherless girl who runs away from an abusive father. Skip factor:  1% I skipped little. The writing was just too good. Who should read: All women, all ages. Summary:  This is the story of Lily Owens who must come to terms … Read more