The Fairbanks Four: Murder, Injustice, and the Birth of a Movement
by Brian Patrick O’Donoghue
Important story to tell (4/27/2025)
I didn't really like the author's writing style, but this was an important story that needed to be told. Not just the author and his students, but so many others worked to free four young men wrongfully convicted of murder. The process and the years that it took to free them provided an interesting look at how our legal system works or doesn't. It is also a story of racial bias. I also felt that Fairbanks, AK seems to be an area where at least at the point the story started, there was a lot of drug abuse, alcoholism and violence among young people in the area. This book has lessons to be learned for all of us.
River Sing Me Home
by Eleanor Shearer
Worthwhile read (9/6/2022)
I thought the pace of the story was a bit slow at times, but it is a story that tears at your heart. It takes place as slavery is ending in the Caribbean, and slaves are being moved into an apprenticeship system. The main character, Rachel, runs from her plantation, and goes on a journey to find the children that were taken from her over the years, and in the process learns some things about herself. I really wanted Rachel and her children to have a happy ending. I also learned some things and feel this is a story that needs to be told. The author's note at the end of the book was very informative and her connections to the story are also interesting to read about. I would recommend this book to others.
Heartbreak: A Personal and Scientific Journey
by Florence Williams
A journey through divorce and beyond (12/26/2021)
As someone who has been through a divorce, I found the book interesting and could relate to some of what the author said. On the other hand, I expected it to talk more generally about the health issues and scientific research related to all forms of heartbreak and grief. I also felt that even though the author made the science understandable for the most part, there were times I thought it kind of bogged down the story. If someone is on this journey, the book is probably worth their time as they might gain some insights of their own. But I don't think it is for the average reader.
How to Find Your Way Home
by Katy Regan
A family finding it's way back to each other (10/13/2021)
This is a story about a brother and sister, one who is homeless, the other who appears to have everything. The story is told in pieces, as we learn about Emily, about Stephen, and about their past. The ending was appropriate in my opinion. I did feel the story was a little slow at times. I also had some issues with the language as the author is British and used terms unfamiliar to me, that made the book a little harder to read at times. I enjoyed the book, but can't say it was so interesting that I couldn't put it down for days and then come back to it. I did enjoy learning the information about birds, however, and think it might make for an interesting read for anyone that understands birding.
The Woman Before Wallis: A Novel of Windsors, Vanderbilts, and Royal Scandal
by Bryn Turnbull
Interesting piece of history (8/21/2020)
This book made me want to read more about the people that it contained. We all know the story about Edward and Wallis Simpson. And I knew a little bit about the fight for the Vanderbilt heiress. But I had never heard of Thelma Morgan before, so it was interesting to learn her story. And to think about the choices she made, particularly when she choose to support her sister over the man she thought she loved. I also found it interesting that she is the one that brought Wallis Simpson into Prince Edward's circle of friends. This book is definitely worth your time to read it.
Happiness: The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After
by Heather Harpham
Great book, even more so because it actually happened (7/15/2017)
It seems strange to say you loved a book that shares such painful memories, but I did. The book goes beyond the author's story as she was also able to share the stories of other parents who had children in the same hospital ward where her daughter was. I think that adds to the story. My favorite part is the section of the book where Harpham shares her notes day by day. From the beginning you want to know how the story is going to end, but especially as she draws in you in to a day to day look at the events as they happened. I kept wanting to skip forward, but did not. This is a book that I would recommend to all readers, but especially to parents as it shows you what it truly means to parent and how different people can deal with the same set of circumstances differently.
Karolina's Twins
by Ronald H. Balson
Karolina's Twins--Fiction from History (7/17/2016)
Engrossing is the proper word to describe this book. I found the story of Lena and Karolina to be interesting, read it in just a weekend. I liked the fact that Lena told the story in the first person--her story, her words. I did figure out Lena's dark secret before it was revealed in the book, but still wanted to know how it would come out.
The events discussed in this story need to be remembered so they never happen again. The historical elements were part of what made it so interesting to me. Because of my love of history, I was definitely grabbed by the little blurb on the back of the book that said "inspired by true events." And as a cover to cover reader, I did read the afterward to see who was the inspiration for the story told in the book. I even went so far as to google Fay and David and found that Fay died at age 89, the same age as Lena's character in the book.
Even though some of the items in the story are fiction, I think Balson did a good job of telling Lena's/Fay's story and would recommend this book. I also plan to read other books by this author.
The Well
by Catherine Chanter
The Well (4/9/2015)
On the bad side, I thought the pace of the book was too slow. It didn't really pull me in and want me to finish it in a single sitting. On the good side, there are many twists in the plot. Every time you think you have things figured out, there is a new twist in the story. I have to admit that although I found the setting somewhat unrealistic, I did find the relationships among the characters to be very believable. So overall, even though I didn't think it was a great book, it was an okay read.
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