A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci

A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely Narrated byDavid Baldacci, MacLeod Andrews, Sisi Aisha Johnson, Kiiri Sandy, Cary Hite, I loved the lawyer team of Desiree DuBos & Jack Lee as the band together to represent a black man in 1968 in Virginia. Each of these characters were compelling and their odds in a southern town of getting an innocent man free had me listening all the time. I would love to see this continue as a series, highly recommended!

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If I Loved You in Another Life by David Arnold

I Loved You in Another Life by David Arnold
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Teens will love this time travel and romance of Evan and Shosh. As teens, they have lost ones they love and while Evan has panic attacks, Shosh is drinking in her grief. The stories captivated me, I could not stop turning the pages as I learned more about Evan & Shosh, even better the many periods and the people falling in love with each other. A must read, another great book by David Arnold

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The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this with my Albright College Zoom Book Club. Narrated by Dominic Hoffman, this historical fiction has everything; racism, social class distinctions, family, friendship, sorrow, humor, and hope. But it is the way McBride tells this story of Jews & Blacks living in the Chicken Hill area of Pottstown, PA in the 1920s. I went to Albright College in Reading so I loved reading landmarks, cities, & hospitals in this compulsively readable book. I could not stop listening! The characters Chona, Dodo, Nate & his wife, Bernice, and Monkey Pants were my favorites but all characters were authentic. I rooted for the many subplots & McBride did not disappoint! This is a stellar must read; I highly recommend it!

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The Museum of Failures by Thrity Umrigar

The Museum of Failures: A Novel by Thrity Umrigar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another awesome Thrity Umrigar novel; this audiobook narrated by Vikas Adam was addictive; Remy was such a likable character & as his life implodes on a visit to India to adopt a child & visit an ailing mother. What happens in this novel is so sad with decisions made and lived with; will Remy be able to forgive? A must read!!!

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The Henna Artist (The Jaipur Trilogy, #1) by Alka Joshi

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Tara Smith and Pam Smith for this awesome book! The saga of Laksimi living in Jaipur in the 1950s, a single woman who is an amazing henna artist saving for her own home. All that is upended when her past collides with her present. I cana't wait to read the next book in this series.

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Fever by Mary Beth Keane

Fever by Mary Beth Keane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this very very sad book for November Albright College Zoom Book Club. Mary's life as an immigrant was far from easy and when Mary becomes the 1st known healthy carrier of Typhoid, her life is irreparably changed. I ached for Mary as she was judged, shunned, and imprisoned on North Brother for 3 years but really her whole life because she was hunted by Dr. Soper who was not a dr. but a medical engineer. A must read, but Mary was tough but she had a rough life.

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Crook Manifesto (Ray Carney, #2) by Colson Whitehead

Crook Manifesto by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This 2nd in the Ray Carney series is a historical panorama of the 70s in Harlem with Ray who has been on the straight and narrow but soon circumstances turn Ray back to his crooked ways. I loved this look through Carney's eyes (with narrator Deon Graham doing such an awesome job) as lawlessness, murder, mayhem, and seediness happen in Harlem.

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The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Cara McBrien for giving me this book to read! I really enjoyed all the daughters & Afong Moy as I read about their lives, romances, hardships and issues dealing with trauma, bias, and secrets. The theory of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance was so new to me and I will certainly be reading more- especially the book in the afterward that Jamie Ford has listed 1st in recommended reading. I have a copy of that book and I purchased it (The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk, M.D.) based on Tara Smith's recommendation! This is a fierce read, this Chinese family and their daughters is explored as well as anti-Chinese bias in America, resulting in a must read!

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As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Narrated by: Cassandra Morris, Tavia Gilbert, Jorjeana Marie, Abigail Revasch, this historical fiction novel takes place in Philadelphia 1918 as the Great War rages but Spanish flu pandemic also adds to the deaths. A family moves from Quakertown PA to take over the uncle's funeral parlor and reeling from the death of their 6 month old, the Bright family tries to adjust to this new life/new home as the flu hits. I loved the Bright girls and the way they matured in the story, growing stronger in their beliefs, love life and the family undertaking business. This is one of the Albright College Book Club read recommended by Deb Tarrant! I loved this story!

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Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong

Last Violent Call by Chloe Gong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved these two novellas with the reappearance of Roma and Juliette and tying Foul Lady Fortune with the original Chloe Gong books, The Violent Delights & Our Violent Ends! I can't wait to read the next book, Foul Heart Huntsman because the suspense is killing me about this dangerous chemical weapon that Orion's mother created---and how it manipulates people to follow commands, even killing themselves! I love the romance, horror, and sinister evil these characters fight! You will too!

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Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks

Caleb's Crossing by Geraldine Brooks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as I loved all of Geraldine Brooks' books, I never got to read this while being a high school/YA librarian and this novel of Bethia (her father is a minister to the Native American tribe of the Wampanoag) and Caleb, who meet and form a lifelong friendship that is secret until Caleb becomes a member of their family after his family dies. I was gripped by Bethia, her restricted life as a woman, pioneer and Puritan, her thirst for knowledge, and her special friendship with Caleb. So awful were the conditions and privations Caleb and other natives suffered (horrible assumptions, calling them savages & comparing them to animals). Thoroughly researched with authentic characters, the many settings were historically accurate with the beauty of the island and acrid smells of big cities. Highly recommended!

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The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Rose

The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin by Kip Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as I loved Kip Wilson's first book, White Rose, so also did I enjoy Hilde's journey from orphan to friend with Rosa and the family at the queer club where they waitress and sing to earn money as the Hitler regime closes in. This novel in verse was gripping and thoroughly researched (see Notes at the end) with Hilde becoming more and more strengthened by her circumstances and friendships with those at the club. Loved the cover, too. Highly recommended!

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Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Horse by Geraldine Brooks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read this for my Albright College zoom book club and the back and forth history of the characters & horses was intense and so enlightening! My heart broke a lot reading this book---especially for the character Jarret, a slave who lives with Lexington his whole life and Theo and Jess who live in the present and discover a shared passion in their jobs---horse bones & art history & a dog. This book encompassed the racism that was present in the past & still in the present---I did not like the horse racing either because of the toll it took on the horses from obsessed owners. I loved learning Lexington's history as a race horse & stud and the bond with Jarret was beautiful. Highly recommended!

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Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Many thanks to Casey Ciocca for lending me this book! It is also going to be our Albright College Zoom Book Club for April. This debut is a must read! The book starts with a huge mystery that is uncovered very slowly, rocking Bennie & Byron's world and everything they knew and believed. This book awesomely covers many years, many different characters, and many different plots yet Wilkerson weaves them seamlessly. The mysteries and betrayals as they are uncovered are mind altering---what will happen to Benny & Byron plus all the other characters that will be affected by the truth----too long in coming. Will Byron & Benny survive the audiotape their mother dictated before her death. A must read!


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All My Rage by Sabaa

All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a haunting must read! I could not stop listening to narrators Deepti Gupta, Kamran R. Khan, and Kausar Mohammed as the tale of 2 teens who have grown up together and life comes crashing down when Misbah, Sal's mother dies, his father is drinking, and secrets Sal is keeping from Noor break them apart. The racism, the abuse, and secrecy were so profound and sinister, that the regret the characters suffer is just so sad. A must read for all!

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Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this story of a family that was once happy and with a father who loves them and leaves them, a mother who descended into alcoholism, and two brothers and two sisters who love surfing and use it to get through their life. As the book rises to a crescendo we see how each family member deals with their lives and loves. A great book that kept me turning the pages!

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Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Awesomely Narrated by: Jorjeana Marie, I loved this historical fiction middle grade novel! Crow was found as a baby in a boat and has been raised by Osh and Miss Maggie and though she loves her spare life with them on the Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts, she has many questions about her identity, her family, and where she is from. This was a moving book that was steadfast in what family truly means and how Crow resolves who she really is. A must read and the author's notes are important as well.

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Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong

Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Once again Chloe Gong has penned an absorbing part of history---1931 in Shanghai, and interwoven the story of 2 spies of the Nationalists (while also keeping relatives and friends of her first duology in the plot as well) who are tasked with posing as a married couple and to expose who is murdering people with a syringe to the elbow and WHY? But Rosalind and Orion have many secrets that they keep, but as they draw closer to each other and what is really happening, they find so many lies, conspiracies, and mystery upon mystery. I have many questions for the second book- Oliver? Phoebe? Dao Feng? Rosalind? The Hong Family?!? Spies? SuperHuman Chemical? Jiemin? Alisa? Silas?

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Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

this is the gut wrenching story of a time in history when an evil woman, Georgia Tann stole children from struggling parents, put them in locations until they were adopted ---while there life was a nightmare as the Foss children realize their beloved life on the Arcadia boat on the Mississippi River, is forever changed. Told in two voices, the present day is Avery---a county prosecutor who works with her politically appointed father and is very close to her grandmother who has dementia. When an older woman at a nursing home, stares her down and "takes" her dragonfly bracelet---life changing events begin as Avery and a young man whose grandfather used to "find" people. All of this mystery throws light onto the abuses of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society orphanage and Avery's life and future is about to change! Based on the true story of Georgia Tann's iron hold on stealing children in the 1930s from poor parents with lies, this story is riveting and heart breaking, a must read!

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The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander

The Door of No Return by Kwame Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An amazing novel in verse about a young Asante boy in 1860 who does not understand the many things his parents and grandparents will not explain---you are too young to understand. How will Kofi get answers, deal with his evil cousin, goofy best friend and long for the girl, Ama? I was gutted as I read every page of this must read book---a journey about a boy, a village, history, and the truth.

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