American Princess: A Novel of First Daughter Alice Roosevelt
by Stephanie Marie Thornton
Little Girl Lost (12/7/2018)
This was a solid read about a historic figure who I find fascinating. Alice was an outsider to some degree in her family because of the unfortunate deaths of her mother and her grandmother at the time of her birth. Her relationship with her beloved father suffered from these difficult losses and the rest of her life seemed to be an attempt to get her father's attention and to make a new, more accepting family circle for herself. This was a well researched and written novel that brings Alice to life once again.
A Place for Us
by Fatima Farheen Mirza
A profoundly moving story of family (3/19/2018)
I loved this book. At first I was afraid the cultural gap was so big that I wouldn't be able to relate but it quickly became clear that the story related the joys and sorrows of family in a way that crossed all societal, religious, and cultural boundaries. Truly a beautifully written book that was a pleasure to read. Highly recommended.
Sometimes I Lie
by Alice Feeney
I wanted to love it but... (11/20/2017)
I wanted to love this book but I didn't. The premise of the plot was intriguing. A woman finds herself in a coma and can't remember what happened. She tells you three things about herself, including "Sometimes I lie". I was hooked, which is what a plot line should do. Unfortunately, the characters and the story didn't live up to their early promise. Every one of the characters was unlikable, except perhaps the grandmother who was already dead when the story began. I find it difficult to read books where there isn't a single relatable character. The other major problem is that the plot requires far too many suspensions of belief. One or two moments in a book that require the reader to abandon logic and common sense are doable. Three or four such moments in every chapter is a bit much.
Mothers of Sparta: A Memoir in Pieces
by Dawn Davies
Thoroughly Enjoyable Read (9/20/2017)
I love everything about this book. The subjects, the language, the humor, and the tears. Dawn's writing is gritty and relatable and highly entertaining. I adore women who can look at their lives with clear eyes and a sense of humor even in the darkest moments and convey that sense of "me too, I get it, you're not alone" to their readers. Dawn did that to perfection.
Rise: How a House Built a Family
by Cara Brookins
Rise is uplifting (11/2/2016)
It's hard to believe this is a true story but it is. Following along as this mom and her resilient kids rebuild their lives as they build their own home is a fascinating experience. My only criticism and it's a mild one, is the flashback scenes to her marriages sometimes interrupted the flow of the narrative and made it feel choppy. Otherwise, this was an uplifting and highly enjoyable read.
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