March/April 2018: The Wonder by Emma Donoghue, c2017
The Wonder
old Irish village
observes fasting miracle
faith, trust, & the truth
unsettling look at ethics
and perils of assumptions
MM
February 2018: Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka, c2017
Girl in Snow
by Danya Kukafka
c2017
circling teen’s murder
beats the heart of voyeurism
loving from afar
where sight is not always true
powerful, lovely, gritty
MM
January 2018: The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti, c2017
The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley
by Hannah Tinti
c2017
while coming of age
criminal past told through scars
father-daughter bonds
compelling action surrounds
study of parental love
MM
March/April 2017: The Girl Before by JP Delaney, c2017
The Girl Before
ultra modern house
of deadly duplicity
looking for order
imposed minimalism adds
to multi-layered deceit
MM
February 2017: Lily’s House by Cassandra Parkin, c2017
Lily’s House
finely layered depths
after her grandmother’s death
secrets still remain
gorgeously descriptive with
an edge that flirts with darkness
MM
January 2017: The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden, c2016
The Bear and the Nightingale
deepest old Russia
delightfully wild and strong
standing up to fears
transcending limits: lovely,
enchanting, mesmerizing
MM
December 2016: Fields Where They Lay by Timothy Hallinan, c2016
Fields Where They Lay
days before Christmas
dodging shopping and bullets
mobsters, murder, scams
hard-boiled crime novel with tons
of cynicism and quick wit
MM
October/November 2016: The Ice Twins by S.K. Tremayne, c2015
The Ice Twins
pure isolation
sees one child through the other
flawed, distorted views
slowly the truth emerges
in ghostly revelations
MM
September 2016: We Could Be Beautiful by Swan Huntley, c2016
We Could Be Beautiful
among the richest
she’s blinded by privilege
feeling incomplete
strange, cruel twists punctuate
a wickedly smart debut
MM
August 2016: The Tumbling Turner Sisters by Juliette Fay, c2016
The Tumbling Turner Sisters
1919 set
a double bildungsroman
growing up in vaudeville
whimsical seriousness
with pure authentic feeling
MM
July 2016: Touch by Alexi Zentner, c2011
Touch
painful wonderment
waiting in the winter woods
with faith to reclaim
wonderful story whirled in
lovely prose of tender loss
MM
June 2016: Before the Fall by Noah Hawley, c2016
Before the Fall
unchecked media
the rich and down-on-his-luck
plane crash aftermath
brilliant use of deep suspense
deftly unfolds their secrets
MM
May 2016: Child of My Heart by Alice McDermott, c2002
Child of My Heart
‘sixties’ East Hampton
precocious, complex, adored
one crucial summer
passage from girl to woman
poignantly told with sharp grace
MM
April 2016: The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood, c2016
The One-in-a-Million Boy
after young boy’s death
the restless and senescent
world records to set
spotlights the brilliance of life
like morning birdsong ~ Stirring.
MM
March 2016: The Memory Painter by Gwendolyn Womack, c2015
The Memory Painter
enemy’s watching
recovering their past lives
sweeping across time
suspense & romance spanning
ten thousand years flawlessly
MM
February 2016: The Memory Weaver by Jane Kirkpatrick, c2015
The Memory Weaver
hostage at age ten
determined young lady with
pioneer spirit
aftermath of Cayuse raid
transcends the well-researched facts
MM
January 2016: Ashley Bell by Dean Koontz, c2015
Ashley Bell
daring young woman
keeping secrets from herself
dimensions hidden
captivating storylines
help unfurl the repressed truth
MM
December 2015: The Visitant by Megan Chance, c2015
The Visitant
1884
aged, crumbling palazzo filled
with vengeful spirits
gothic Venice ghost story
brimmed with sensuality
MM
November 2015: The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova, c2010
The Swan Thieves
painter's universe
mind of a troubled genius
art & obsession
century-old mystery
masterfully brought to light
MM
October 2015: The Expats by Chris Pavone, c2012
The Expats
suspicions surmount
she is former CIA
to trust or deceive
twist after twist after twist
brilliant, complex spy novel
MM
September 2015: Among Others by Jo Walton, c2010
Among Others
fairies & magic
flees from her half-mad mother
to rebuild a life
subtle story of grief; a
love letter to sci-fi greats
MM
August 2015: The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler, c2015
The Book of Speculation
carnivals & sea
certain serendipity
leads to you & me
sneaky writing builds a strange
dark mood to unveil a curse
MM
July 2015: The Last Runaway by Tracy Chevalier, c2013
The Last Runaway
far from Quaker home
stitching her life together
in a new country
gorgeous in simplicity
immersed in vivid details
MM
June 2015: The Sound of Glass by Karen White, c2015
The Sound of Glass
South Carolina
she's unraveling their past
shattering secrets
multilayered mystery
enveloped in southern charm
MM
May 2015: The Color Master by Aimee Bender, c2013
The Color Master
our world & others
normal to strange to hidden
life transcending life
sublime, dreamy short stories
with fresh wisps of myth. Wondrous.
MM
April 2015: The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins, c2015
The Girl on the Train
a missing woman
wanting what someone else has
control & deceit
emotionally intense
modern-day Hitchcock thriller
MM
March 2015: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, c2014
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
island bookstore home
crotchety owner finds child
giving life meaning
sweet tale of transformations
with twists connecting through books
MM
February 2015: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, c2013
The Rosie Project
love via survey
smart yet socially challenged
human connections
sweet, quirky, funny romance
definitely fun to read
MM
January 2015: Vanessa and Her Sister by Priya Parmar, c2015
Vanessa and Her Sister
by Priya Parmar
c2015
Virginia Woolf's world:
arty thinkers drifting in
kinships & friendships
captivating, insightful --
Did not want story to end!
MM
December 2014: The Wolves of Midwinter by Anne Rice, c2013
The Wolves of Midwinter
shimmering estate
werewolves entwined with yuletide
renewal of souls
uncommon Christmas story
venture into abundance
MM
November 2014: Still Life With Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen, c2014
Still Life With Bread Crumbs
city-to-rural
photographer once famous
new chapters in life
mature ladies' tender tale
feel-good ending ties things up
MM
October 2014: Someone by Alice McDermott, c2013
Someone
'forties and forward
ordinary life yet more
to be loved, treasured
masterful storytelling
poetically detailed
MM
September 2014: Boy, Snow, Bird by Helen Oyeyemi, c2014
Boy, Snow, Bird
'fifties and 'sixties
they're not what they seem to be
passing relations
totally unexpected
modern issues, Snow White twist
MM
August 2014: Dear Life: Stories by Alice Munro, c2012
Dear Life
Landscape of longing
Inside all our beating hearts
Vestiges of change
Essential ~ wistful ~ timeless
Storytelling elegance
MM
July 2014: The City by Dean Koontz, c2014
The City
turbulent 'sixties
must see the world as it is
mayhem, trust, goodness
wonderful storytelling
music to make life sparkle
MM
June 2014: All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr, c2014
All the Light We Cannot See
Saint-Malo, French Coast
young lives caught up in a war
connected by sound
a stunning story told through
absolutely gorgeous prose
MM
May 2014: The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker, c2013
The Golem and the Jinni
1899
immigrants to a new world
unlikely friendships
study of human nature
through unique eyes. Spellbinding!
MM
April 2014: Before I Go To Sleep by S.J. Watson, c2011
Before I Go To Sleep
life unrecognized
each morning she's a stranger . . .
Who indeed is he?
a riveting mystery
with a chilling conclusion
MM
March 2014: The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, c1980
The Clan of the Cave Bear
the dawn of mankind
remarkable survivor
beautiful, harsh life
get swept away in scenic
details . . . a stunning saga
MM
February 2014: The Cove by Ron Rash, c2012
The Cove
the back of beyond
waiting for life to begin
fate overshadows
haunting German novella
lyrical, dark, and tragic
MM
January 2014: City of Thieves by David Benioff, c2008
City of Thieves
a starving country
hunt for the impossible
boys becoming men
with a unique perspective
journey through enemy lines
MM
December 2013: The Painted Kiss by Elizabeth Hickey, c2005
The Painted Kiss
Vienna's lushness
beguiling and passionate
unbreakable bonds
two historical figures
brought to life beautifully
MM
November 2013: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, c1995
Practical Magic
town entwined with charms
leaving witchery whispers
tied to sisterhood
ups and downs of true love told
through clever imaginings
MM
October 2013: The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova, c2005
The Historian
time and borders crossed
on the true Dracula's trail
confronting evil
richly atmospheric and
steeped in history. Haunting.
MM
September 2013: The Man in My Basement by Walter Mosley, c2004
The Man in My Basement
race relationships
trapped in their own helplessness
seeking redemption
philosophy exploring
power and identity
MM
August 2013: Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple, c2012
Where'd You Go, Bernadette
all lonely yet loved
Antarctica catalyst
a mom disappears
cleverly told in snippets
fresh, funny, fantastic fun
MM
July 2013: The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton, c2012
The Secret Keeper
being someone else
seized by the past, chasing ghosts
untangling the web
perfectly smooth prose infused
with twist after pleasing twist
MM
June 2013: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender, c2010
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
wistful family
taste of hidden emotions
unwanted insight
boldness of everyday life
utterly strange, bittersweet
MM
May 2013: The Lantern by Deborah Lawrenson, c2011
The Lantern
Provence lavender
obsessed with finding answers
turn enchanted days
full of mystery and scents
lush and dark -- modern gothic
MM
April 2013: The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman, c2012
The Light Between Oceans
thrashing waves rising
consequences and choices
undefended hearts
tangled moral dilemmas
moving, heart-rending debut
MM