Posts
Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
Jim Gaffigan, in the book, Dad is Fat (2013) expounds on the challenges of having his hands full with 5 children. His fertile wife gets pregnant just looking at babies, while Jim wonders if he will be a good father. To his astonishment he rises to the challenge and finds that having children can be a rewarding experience. He muses on people who sit around all day and j
A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan
Many people associate the Ku Klux Klan with the South. But in Timothy Egan’s compelling and infuriating history, you’ll learn about the rise of the Klan in the 1920s Midwest, particularly Indiana.
The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki
Ruth Ozeki's latest novel, The Book of Form and Emptiness (2021), is a big book in terms of length. It's a big book, too, in terms of the ideas and issues with which it deals, including Zen Buddhism, mental illness and the systems that surround its treatment, the nature of reality, and the pressures of the marketplace and capitalism.
A League of Nobleman
A League of Nobleman (2023) is a Chinese historical mystery TV series. It follows Zhang Ping, a poor orphan from the countryside who is making his living as a noodle seller in the capital while studying for the exam to become a government official. His dream is to someday join the Ministry of Justice and solve crimes. In the meantime, he has earned the nickname “Noodle Detective” through his efforts to solve minor everyday mysteries for his neighbors.
Burns and Allen: Muddling Through by George Burns
Burns and Allen, a radio program from the golden age of radio, were vaudeville acts performed by George Burns and Gracie Allen, his wife. Gracie is the not-so-smart but charming wife who gets George into trouble, i.e.
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
I really enjoyed listening to the newest book by Sally Hepworth, The Soulmate (2023), because it had many elements of a great audiobook.
Ocean's Echo by Everina Maxwell
Ocean’s Echo (2022), a sci-fi/romance by Everina Maxwell, puts a military sci-fi spin on the classic fake dating trope. In this novel, scientific experiments have created Readers, who can read other people’s minds, and Architects, who can influence thoughts.
I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai
I've now read the book and also listened to the audio book of I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai. I scarcely had a break between my reading of, and listening to, this novel. When it became available, I seized the day, as it had been on hold for some time and, I knew, would probably go back on hold again.
And Finally by Henry Marsh
Dr. Henry Marsh, in his book And Finally (2023), addresses issues of life and death as he faces the end of his life due to prostate cancer. Dr.
The Drift by C.J. Tudor
The Drift (2023) by C.J. Tudor is an engaging multiple perspectives thriller, following 3 different groups of survivors in a compelling apocalyptic race to save their own lives in 3 deadly situations that may have something in common. The Drift is fast-paced, plot-driven and may be of interest to readers okay with violence, plague, and apocalyptic themes.
Daughters of Nantucket by Julie Gerstenblatt
Fans of "queen of the beach read" author Elin Hilderbrand or historical fiction lovers in general will want to read Daughters of Nantucket (2023) by Julie Gerstenblatt, set during the Great Fire of 1846. Much like Chicago during the time o