It is the mystery of the magic that makes The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova such a unique, intriguing fantasy. This mixture of fairytale creatures, protective bonding with flora and fauna, spirits, and wishes-come-true draws readers in, entertains, and keeps them wanting more. The story ironically starts with the expected death of the protagonist, Orquídea, who…
"To cherish what remains of the Earth and to foster its renewal is our only legitimate hope of survival.'' Wendall Berry I've read several books this year with strong environmental themes. The latest is Pastoral Song by James Rebanks, an eloquent recount of a British farmer's attempt to turn his family farm into an environmentally friendly…
Generally speaking, I like three things in my crime fiction: a twisty puzzle, an engaging protagonist, and a distinctive style. It's the trifecta of crime writing, and I was delighted to discover that Rachel Howzell Hall’s latest thriller, THESE TOXIC THINGS succeeds on all counts. Known for her lauded Detective Lou Norton mysteries, Hall's…
It’s October, the perfect time for everything supernatural, and also Hispanic Heritage month. What better choice could there be for a book blog than a paranormal novel with vampires in Mexico City? Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s book, Certain Dark Things has just been released in paperback format. This reader enjoyed the audio book @libro.fm. If you relished Moreno- Garcia’s Mexican Gothic, you…
Cloud Cuckoo Land. It is literary fiction. It is historical fiction. It is contemporary fiction. It is science fiction. It is a masterpiece. Anthony Doerr, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 2014 for his great World War II novel All the Light We Cannot See, has returned with an even better, more inventive creation. This genre-bending…
I now have read all three of Amor Towles’ novels, each published five years apart. The stories are as different as they can be, but all are gems in their own right. Towles’ newest, The Lincoln Highway, confirms to me that he is of one of the great novelists of our time. This road-trip…
This extraordinary novel (which has nothing to do with mixed martial arts or the UFC) tells the story of three generations of women in Toronto. Swiv, the nine-year-old narrator, has a voice unlike any other I've read. Precocious and funny, parroting her relatives, she is writing a letter to her father, who has left her…
I am a firm believer that pets enrich our lives by providing comfort, companionship, purpose, and a whole host of other intangible, but still very real, benefits. If you are lucky enough to be on the receiving end of an animal’s love, then you don’t need me to tell you what’s what because you already…
Attention all trekkies! Do you remember the episode “Mirror, Mirror” with the darkside Kirk and Spock (aggressive, mistrustful and opportunistic) from a parallel universe? Trivia time: that parallel universe is used in 8 episodes of various Star Trek series. It seems that the concept of a multiverse has appeal to many sci-fi fans, including this one. In…
Naomi Hirahara’s new historical thriller tells a riveting story about the Japanese community that settled in Chicago from the World War II internment camps. Hirahara is an award-winning mystery author and a former editor for the largest Japanese American newspaper in the United States. She drew on these talents to create Clark and Division, about…
