Showing posts with label Springfield Township Library Book Club. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Springfield Township Library Book Club. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Becoming by Michelle Obama

BecomingBecoming by Michelle Obama
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A beautiful book and narration by Michelle Obama. This was supposed to be our book club's March selection for the Free Library of Springfield but since the library has been closed for the quarantine there will be no discussion of this memoir that has so many topics, issues and themes.

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Saturday, February 22, 2020

Everybody's Son by Thrity Umrigar

Everybody's SonEverybody's Son by Thrity Umrigar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to the gentleman who kept advocating that Springfield Public Library Adult Book Club read this title! I could not put this heart stopping thriller down, nor did I want to because I needed to find out what happens to Anton! Anton is the 9 year old child who has been forced to throw a chair against the painted shut window of his apartment after 7 heat filled days with no power, ac, and finally no food, waiting for Mam to come home. This sets off a series of events that change this child's life forever. Anton is biracial, his mother was hooked on crack, found 3 blocks away, where she endured her own hell trying to get back to her son. Once the authorities get involved; things move along for Anton; but are they all good and beneficial for him? He becomes a foster child to a white politically connected man (he and his wife lost their teen son) who becomes instantly besotted by Anton, driven by what he thinks is best for Anton. I loved the way Thrity Umrigar writes, her plot, her characters are beautiful, harsh in their reality, and authentic. The reader follows Anton and his family (David and Delores Coleman) as he grows up in a very privileged world with questions at first but less so with age (lies have smoothed over his discomfort) Anton's world is a must read for all. There will so many issues to discuss!

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Friday, November 15, 2019

The Black Dahlia (L.A. Quartet #1) by James Ellroy

The Black Dahlia (L.A. Quartet, #1)The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read this mystery as a part of the Springfield Township Library Book Club taking place Thursday 11/21 at 7PM. This will be my first time participating in this book club. I liked this mystery but I did not love it because the 2 main characters were not likable; Bucky and Lee were fighters and become partners investigating the gruesome murder of Betty Short, also fighting each other, and finally a bizarre spiral that destroys Bucky and Lee as they investigate the murder and find out more than they want about dirty cops, lying partners and double crosses. This book was too dark for me but I felt compelled to keep picking it back up; did I like Bucky---not by the end but I hoped he would save himself. Unlike the true story, this book has the mystery solved and boy was that very strange but almost everything in this detective mystery made me cringe.

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