The unassuming, unnamed hero of this book is known simply as the “vinyl detective:” he finds records for a living. When he finds an especially rare title, he flips it for a tidy profit, which allows him to pay the rent and feed his two cats. His world gets upended one day when a beautiful…
Jane Austen fans, rejoice! Here’s a modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that really works. It’s one in a series of Austen classics that have been re-written by best-selling authors: so far Val McDermid has written a 21st-century version of Northanger Abbey and Alexander McCall Smith took on Emma. But this book is the best…
I’m not feeling as young as I used to anymore. Which makes sense, since I’m smack-dab in the middle of my forties – kind of the definition of “middle-aged.” Yet lately I’ve found myself drawn more and more to young adult fantasy novels. Could this be my mid-life crisis? If so, I guess it’s better…
How many 17-year-olds could hold it together when their father is institutionalized and their mother disappears? Lucille Bennett, the heroine of this affecting young adult novel, is one tough teen because she has to do just that. Lucille suddenly finds herself having to get through her senior year while taking care of her nine-year-old sister,…
On January 30, 1945, nine thousand souls perished as the Wilhelm Gustloff sank in the Baltic Sea. It’s the deadliest disaster in maritime history, yet hardly anyone has heard of it. Most of the passengers on the ship were trying to escape to safety from the advancing Russian army as German defenses crumbled. Salt to the…
What does it feel like to be a refugee in a foreign country? What does it mean to belong? The Illegal explores these questions within the framework of a thrilling political mystery. Keita Ali is a world-class marathon runner in the fictional state of Zantoroland, which feels like it’s modeled after a troubled African nation.…
I loved this unique, unexpected novel. It starts out almost like a fairy tale, and its heroine, Veblen (don’t ask – read the book) feels just like a fairy-tale character: unconventional, gentlehearted … and she talks to squirrels. Sweet Veblen is moving through her life, working as a temp at Stanford’s School of Medicine, taking…
This is a delightful gem of a book, perfect for a cold winter's day. It’s a hopeful, sweet read that keeps faith in the power of love and the power of books. Sara Lindqvist comes from Sweden to the small town of Broken Wheel, Iowa, to spend two months with her pen pal, Amy Harris.…
It’s time once again for my fifth annual Holiday Reads blog post. This is my attempt to spread holiday cheer by recommending heartwarming books with happy endings. Who wants to read anything depressing in December? It’s Christmastime! So here we go. The Gift of a Charm by Melissa Hill Irish author Hill creates a romantic,…
I think I have a new favorite mystery heroine: Tannie Maria, from Recipes for Love and Murder. (“Tannie” is the polite way to address a woman older than you in South Africa, kind of like calling someone “auntie”). She is naïve but intelligent, vulnerable yet strong, and one of the best fictional cooks around! And…
