Mark Daley takes us through a courageous, heartbreaking journey in Safe: A Memoir of Fatherhood, Foster Care, and the Risks We Take for Family. This book serves as an indictment of the foster care system in California. Mark, a foster parent himself, covers the obstacles created, and sheer incompetence exhibited, by people (and judges) who should be looking out for the welfare of our most vulnerable children and the emotional toll it takes on foster parents and children alike. It leaves foster parents distraught and foster children in peril. One would hope this book could serve as a template on how to begin to correct the system.
In addition, it is beautifully written. Daley clearly has a great capacity for empathy and love. You must read this book. It’s a compelling, emotional read, and good for the soul.
Lacey and Edith, ages seventy and seventy-one respectively, have been estranged for forty-four years. It’s now 1990, and Edith decides to travel across the country to visit her one-time best friend.
Lacey, born in Prague, now lives as a recluse in a Los Angeles hotel . The staff acknowledges that she seldom leaves her suite, and she sees no one. Keeping that in mind, she doesn’t acknowledge Edith’s arrival. The tension builds as Edith waits for hours in the hotel lobby, prompting readers to ponder the mysteries surrounding their fractured friendship. So, what happened between them and why is it so important that Edith sees Lacey now?
As the narrative unfolds, we are transported back in time to the origins of Lacey and Edith’s relationship, tracing their bond from their adolescent years at summer camp through the tumultuous era of World War II to the present day. Through author Maria Hummel’s masterful storytelling, we gain insight into the dynamics of their friendship, shaped by their divergent backgrounds and family histories. We also learn how each of them see their past relationship differently.
One of the novel’s strengths is that it acknowledges the complexity of human relationships. This includes looking at socio-economic class in a unique way. Another is the portrayal of the supporting characters, who are intricately woven into the fabric of the story and the development of Lacey and Edith’s relationship. This adds depth and richness to the narrative.
Make sure you read the “Afterword” to learn what motivated the author to write this story. The additional layer adds depth to an already captivating tale.
Goldenseal is one of the standout novels of recent years. I highly recommend it to anyone who appreciates a beautifully crafted story that delves into the complexities of human connections.
“If Satan is successful, the family’s history will end with the blue baby girl.”
It is currently 2008, and Blue (referenced above) is grieving the murder of her daughter. She questions God’s existence, which leads her to travel from her home in Houston south to The Ranch, a retreat run by a Catholic order that was exiled from Rome over one hundred years ago. She feels that she’s been here before, though she’s sure she hasn’t. In any event, she is seeking answers to her life.
1848 at a party in New Orleans, one attendee, Palmer is seeking revenge for the man who sold his father into slavery. Another guest, Amanda, challenges the hostess, Ismay, to a social experiment which will affect generations. Ismay, who is a daughter of a slave and an aristocrat, cannot understand why slaves and free men cannot escape their dire circumstances of bondage and poverty. Will her beliefs eventually change?
Amanda is aware of a curse that will plague her family for generations. Can she break it? Her magical abilities as a shapeshifter and puzzle maker help her through this journey to change the seemingly inevitable.
Throughout this novel, we meet famous nineteenth century people, such as Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, anthropologist Johann Kant, and French Catholic priest Eugène de Mazenod.
You may question how these two stories over a century apart relate to one another, but they will all come together as we travel between the two time periods and in between throughout the book.
Though I am not generally a fan of this genre of magical realism, this book is an exception. The elements of folklore and mysticism enhance the storyline. We learn about the role of class within race in the pre-Civil War South. More importantly, we are reminded of the effects of slavery throughout later generations, as well as the intolerance of those who maintain that everyone can pull themselves up no matter what their circumstances. This is one I just couldn’t put down.
NYC assistant district attorney Joel Marcus has made a lot of enemies as a prosecutor. Add to that, he is unhappily married, but stays because he loves his young son. To get through all this, he’s in a love affair with a fellow prosecutor, Karen, whom he often works cases with.
One day, he intervenes in a mugging involving an elderly Haitian woman, Sophie. In repayment, she performs a voodoo ceremony on him, whereby if he dies before the next full moon, his soul will pass into the body of the one physically closest to him at the time of death.
Her prophesy comes to pass, as Joel is soon killed by a hitman, Frank Davis. As in Sophie’s prediction, Joel takes over Frank’s body and Frank ceases to exist. He also takes on his speech pattern but not his history or point of view.
Karen, who was a witness to the murder, positively identifies Frank, so how does “Joel/Frank” hide from the law, and live Frank’s criminal and personal life? How does he convince Karen and others that he is actually Joel? How does he try to protect the innocent while finding out who ordered the hit?
While the premise might echo familiar themes, My Killer distinguishes itself through its well-crafted storytelling. The author weaves a compelling narrative that goes beyond the typical crime thriller. Joel’s quest to uncover the truth behind his murder leads him to confront the harsh realities some individuals face, simply to survive. He also discovers how some black men fall victim to police prejudice.
This well-written and structured novel provides more than thrills to crime novel enthusiasts. The author successfully delivers a fresh take on a familiar genre,
I’ll admit that I have never been into short stories – or collections of them, but Mathieu Cailler’s Forest For The Trees, changed my mind.
The writing here is fresh and poetic, the stories as varied as they come. Like many great writers, Callier knows how to tap deep into human emotions and foibles. Most importantly, many of the stories have surprise endings that I did not see coming.
A great read, and one that I certainly recommend.
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1933-Havana Cuba: Irishman Marcus Riley’s objective is to kidnap the visiting Winston Churchill and hold him hostage in exchange for IRA members serving time in London prisons. However former Detective Inspector Walter Thompson, now serving as Churchill’s bodyguard, thwarts his plans.
Fast forward to 1940. London is under siege by Nazis bombers. Prime Minister Churchill refuses to sign a treaty with Hitler, even after massive public and political pressure. Thompson finds himself constantly on guard to protect Churchill against possible Nazi agents, domestic and foreign.
Meanwhile Riley is alive and well in London, and has become obsessed with Churchill, seeking to kill him as retribution for the Irish people and his own family.
From pacifists to Nazi sympathizers to IRA fighters, Thompson soon realizes that Churchill is in danger on so many fronts, even to the point that maybe the MI5 and security branches could be involved.
Though Mission Churchill features Thompson as its protagonist, Riley and his deteriorated emotional state play a key role in this fast-paced thriller. The supporting characters are just as fascinating, some playing into Riley’s scheme and even become collateral damage. I also enjoyed the portrayal of Churchill himself, exposing his numerous idiosyncrasies.
This story was inspired by and serves as the prequel to the novel Target Churchill, written by the late Warren Adler and James C. Humes. If it’s as good as this one, I think I’ll pick it up.
The Shining, a collection of over thirty poems, takes us to places similar to those that the Overlook Hotel made famous through Stephen King’s novel and Stanley Kubrick’s film of the same name. Though just as haunting, this journey is different.
These eerie tales take a feminist perspective, as the protagonist grapples with societal expectations and strives to simply take control over her own life. The poems unravel the intricate layers of her identity, along with her need for validation as an artist, mother, and woman. The exploration of trauma and the impact of destructive relationships adds a poignant depth to the poems, making it a gripping and emotionally charged collection.
What sets these poems apart is the nuanced portrayal of the protagonist. She doesn’t always play the victim; in fact, she occasionally takes on the role of the perpetrator. These contradictions challenge readers to admit that life isn’t just black and white, it’s complicated.
Whether the poem’s story takes place in a single room, the ballroom, a banquet room or even a hallway, it leaves you constantly looking over your shoulder. The Shining is a powerful and thought-provoking collection that lingers in the mind long after the last poem is read. It is a testament to the author’s ability to weave together complex themes with skillful prose that is intense and deeply unsettling.
“I was an inconsequential being who had suddenly become deathly afraid of life.”
Our present-day narrator suffers from mental/psychological disorders: frequent panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, substance abuse, and changing levels of agoraphobia. Eventually she breaks off all social contact and won’t even leave the house.
Her most bizarre belief though, is that she feels a kinship to the point of obsession with Ukrainian social and political activist Viacheslav Lypynsky (1882 – 1931), who came to prominence just after WWI.
The chapters change between her perspective and that of Lypynsky’s. We peek into her life and thoughts and how by her studying him, she hopes to discover herself.
However, the true allure lies in the portrayal of Lypynsky and his idiosyncrasies, along with the story’s approach to Ukrainian history. Forgottenness transforms what could have been a dry historical account into a riveting tale. In fact, I found myself researching not only Lypynsky, but also his contemporaries in the book, such as Yevhen Cykalenko, Ivan Franko, and Mykhailo Drahomanov.
This dual narrative works well with no confusion and serves multiple purposes. Readers with an interest in the human condition will find themselves engaged with the protagonist’s struggles. Simultaneously, Forgottenness serves as a fascinating window into Ukraine’s past, shedding light on the nation’s history and its possible relevance to its present-day struggles.
For those of you who have thought about maintaining an indoor plant but don’t know where to start, How Not to Kill Your Plant is the book for you.
This guide is comprehensive and will provide everything you will need, as well as choosing the right houseplant. This includes what to look for when you are buying a houseplant, even from the most reputable garden shop. The encyclopedia of houseplants will detail particular demands and care.
What about fertilizing, watering, transplanting, and propagating? What tools will you need? How do you choose the right pot? What about soil composition? What about pests? How is location important? There’s even a section on troubleshooting problems with your plant.
The authors convinced me to try a houseplant to add some serenity to my bedroom. Since I am a complete novice, I needed the Glossary of terms, which answered my questions on terminology.
Though the illustrations may gear towards younger readers, I felt that the instructions were at my adult level…maybe because this is totally new to me?
In any event, How Not to Kill Your Plant will inspire you to start growing plants to enhance the beauty and tranquility of your home.
“The game of espionage, at its essence, is observation, seduction, patience. And a fluid relationship with your sense of self. To commit espionage at the highest levels you have to be willing to forget who you are in order to inhabit someone else.”
Our protagonist, a young and single British woman leading a mundane life in London, followed the same unexciting routine every day. She even felt she was boring, wishing that she was not averse to risks. So, why would this make her the perfect asset for covert agencies, like the American CIA, Israeli Mossad and The British M16, to close an assignment that was several years in the making?
She realizes that her life is about to change when she meets a wealthy, attentive American man, thirty-three years her senior. When they marry just shy of her twenty-first birthday, he asks for her help. She is to assume another identity and merely “listen” to certain individuals and report back to a man named Raja.
What ensues is a series of methodically plotted encounters she is involved in, the details of which she is not privy to. What keeps us in suspense is not only the unfolding events and their potential repercussions, but also the uncertainty of how this new lifestyle will be resolved for our protagonist.
Amidst the captivating plot, the supporting characters are expertly developed and seamlessly integrated into the narrative. The reader gains a deep understanding of their personalities and motivations.
Author Lea Carpenter’s intent to infuse a personal dimension into the espionage tale is masterfully achieved. She emphasizes that events and characters on both sides are not simply black and white. The story proves to be utterly mesmerizing, making it a challenge to put the book down. I’m looking forward to reading more from this talented author.
