A Room Of Books

 It is the Nineteenth Century. The key words heard are enslavement and freedom. Probably, 'freedom' is spoken in a lower voice or whispered. A name well known to us now, Anthony Burns, will gain his freedom in a very strange way. Frankly, I am surprised he did not lose his wits.The battle lines are drawn in halls like Faneuil Hall. It is a rambunctious cry for slavery while others cry out for freedom. Surely, the slave and the freedman are the ones deserving justice. It is a precarious position.

 Hattie and her sister, Elsie, own the Poppin' Corn shop. Hattie delights in thinking positive thoughts. She wishes every person in Paradise Valley loved thinking positive. For example, there is Christian Beachy. He always frowns. People cannot remember the last time he smiled. Hannah sets out to make him her project. She would love to see him happier. The town gets involved with Katie Hawkins Day. It is Elsie's idea. Then, it comes down to Hattie inviting Christian to the Whoopin' Pie event. It is not a date. It is a friend inviting another friend out to have fun.  All donations will go to Barbie Troyer. She is in the hospital after experiencing a Heart Attack.  Although, Christian does not smile, he is a nice man. You can not judge a book by its cover. He is just a busy man. The characters are interesting. Each one has their way of viewing the world. Therefore, misunderstandings can occur. This is not hard for the Amish. Their middle names are patience and understanding.

Death also known as Mot is surrounded by the most beautiful roses. He meets a woman and names her Cloth. Later, Death will give her a dangerous assignment. Daniel T. Dodaro's description of roses took my heart. Still, I did not feel that special moment when you know this is the book for you. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books for a complimentary copy.

Old ancestors call out to him. He answers the call by tugging out his mother's old black trunk. What is inside the trunk will lead him first to Baltimore and then, to New Bedford, Massachusetts. Yes, this is a true story.It is hard to remember that it is not a tale like Treasure Island or Kidnapped. In his mind, he is back in time watching the ladies and gents and others walk down a board walk smeared with every type of fish you can name. I can not help but recall truth is stranger than fiction. I swoon at the name "Uriah Bunker." Again, it is a step back in time. During the American Revolution, the British destroyed many ships. I suppose you must weep and say all is fair in love and war.

"Diva" is not a biography. It is fiction. I know of this woman by name,  Maria Callas, but I had never heard her sing. So, I couldn't resist listening to one of the operas listed in the book. Beautiful and very emotional is what I would call it. This story is proof that music touches every soul. The language does not matter.  The same is true of this story. Ethnicity is not a barrier. What touches you touches me. It is shocking and exciting to know she once had a romance with Aristotle Onassis. her temper will make you gape too. She is definitely true to herself and independent. Therefore, "Diva" is never boring.

  Lisa is about to head off for her freshman year in college. She can go home from college each evening but she prefers staying in a dorm on campus. Her father is worried about paying the bills. She only has a partial scholarship. Lisa and her Dad are not communicating well. It is just one big yelling match. Dana, her friend, has her troubles too. Her Mom is not handling life well. She is a single mom. Lisa also is dating a boy who could get her in a load of trouble. We are talking police trouble. There are many problems on Halsey Street. Both girls need someone bigger than them to help. Lisa thinks life will become better if they go to church and pray to Jesus. There are few famous people within the pages of ""The Light on Halsey Street.." by Vanessa Miller: Michael Jordan, Elsie Richardson, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.,Eddie Murphy and Shirley Chisholm. As usual, Thomas Nelson makes room for the name of Jesus in the story. Every time you stop reading for a while, you can n

 It is fascinating to read the facts about the great auk. From many to nearly none the auk has disappeared. What happened to them? Who savaged their lives leaving only one to display itself at the British Museum? Sherlock Holmes is visiting the world of Ornithology. So, with the the Great Auk it is necessary to visit the delightful penguins. The flightless birds in their black and white suits, in paintings, line the walls in the British Museum Sherlock Holmes is not on vacation. He is investigating another murder. One of the lovers of birds, Professor Richard Owen, is dead. He is murdered in the museum. Now, Sherlock Holmes explores the life of a devoted mother's son. Professor Owen thinks the bird under the glass is fake. He had a way to sell his truth to those important men standing around the display. Who knew the Great Auk could cost such a ruckus? Now, I know. Linda Stratmann in "The Legend of the Great Auk" gives us back that intelligent and some might say sexy gent

 Having a schoolmate become a movie star doesn't happen every day. When it happens, stardom in your hometown, you feel proud. In this instance, it speaks well for Paterson, New Jersey. By the way, that is Mamie on the cover of this book. She's a poodle. The setting for "Flip Flop Gorgeous" is interesting : Paterson, New Jersey and Passaic County Also, small objects are significant. Like two coffee cups at a table and only one person is in the house. Does David Rosenfelt wish for his audience to given credence to the Paranormal. Is there a ghost wandering from Hollywood to New Jersey to New York? "Flip Flop Gorgeous" is not a dreary murder mystery. Once the body is discovered everything is okay. After all, Jenny Nichols is gardening and baking cookies. She made bail. Andy Carpenter is always there with a light hand. He will figure it all out. I am plum out of ideas.  

  Gracie Lynn is very concerned about her grandfather and mother. She wishes the "worm" would go away. The worm arrives at any time of the day or night. Gracie sees the misery it causes the two people she loves.  The worm is what causes the brains of the elderly and stressed to slow down. Putting on a pair of socks can become problematic. It is hard not to sympathize with the family. Gracie's father, Dan,  is involved too. Although he no longer lives with LeeAnn and Gracie and grandfather any longer, he feels the wigglesome worm too. Whether near or far each person has some involvement with what happens to grandfather.  Poor Gracie feels she must help grandfather with his "worm." I suppose that is why "Harriet The Spy" made such a hit in her life. I can see ever more clearly that relationships do not become easier as we grow older. Instead, life becomes more complicated. You begin to live like you are walking through a dark alley. I must write that all

 Homeward by Angela Jackson-Brown is a family story. Like the waves of an ocean, good times come and go. What always remains is love for one another. When Rose faces trouble in her marriage,she goes back home to  Parson, Georgia. I am glad she goes back home. No one can say what you need to hear more than your parents, grandparents, siblings and friends. There are so many ways to use the word home. Angela Jackson-Brown's words led me to think about Jasper, Rose's husband. After he leaves the Air Force,  Jasper .is looking forward to coming back home to Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He knows Rose and his mother will welcome home. There, he will love Rose again and their new baby too. So often it is easy to take these places for granted. Each location leads to our learning how to love and to forgive ourselves as we grow toward a new self.

Cicely is experiencing a difficult time.  Think of the word accusations and follow it with stress.  Accusations can ruin your reputation. They can also cause shame and guilt. There is the possibility of losing your job.  A whole career could go down the drain. It relieves my mind knowing Cicely can talk to her Uncle Tom. She is very, very close to him. He understands her. She understands him.  She loves Santosh so much. They seem perfect for one another. Stephen McCauley writes about Santosh and Cicely's relationship in such a sweet and intimate way.  An investigation is what Cicely has to look forward to in future days. Really, there is so much going on in her life and in her mother and uncle's life too. Life is brutal. You can only put up your dukes and fight your pillow. By the way, Cicely has been told not to come on campus until the investigation ends. Cicely is drawing her head back in a shell. Lonely? Yes.  Thank you to Henry Holt & Company for a complementary copy.

It is summer. It is the perfect time to have fun at the beach. Summer also gives people time to think about the successes and failures of their life. It is a perfect time to make new friends and rediscover the old friendships. Some times  in the summer riots occur in cities. There are injuries, lootings and fires.  Comraderie between the neighborhood police department and the community becomes severed. for a while.  It is a time of questions with no available answers. The story unfolds without a snag until the rollcalling of and avenues . For a while I felt as though a city map was in front of me instead of  a novel.  I did not need street names.The explanation for the East Side  and  the West Side seemed more than enough information. In "No Lifeguard On Duty," Paul C. Bomba is describing the beginning and end of a full blown riot. There are policemen, barricades, confusion and the state troopers. Life all of a sudden seems unreal and out of control. It is summer.Yet, there i

Sonya has reached bottom. On her wedding day, the most miserable situation occurs. Sad, she might never never forget what her eyes have seen. It is not a nightmare. It is real life gone crazy. Not long after she will experience another once in a lifetime moment. In other words, "happy days are here again.   Nora Roberts is a faithful author. She always gives what you need at just the right time. When better days arrived, I wanted to live in Sonya's shoes. Thinking of a theme, forgiveness and love immediately comes to mind. Would you like to have a Fainting couch? Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a complimentarycopy

It is easy to fall immediately in love with the characters in Abigail Johnson's "Every Time You Go Away." Each word spoken by Rebecca and Ethan swims with meaning. I can only think of the word love as I read about their strategic tactics. Dealing with life's challenges causes an outflow of honesty. Friendship makes us strong enough to jump over obstacles like pedigreed horses. There is a big chance we are more strong and graceful than we ever thought possible.  

  Lara is fifteen years old. After leaving her work site, she disappeared. Years later she has never been found. This Mystery is interesting because it happens in such a distant place. The missing girl lived in Reykjavik. No one would expect something\ like this to happen in such an isolated area. Katrin Jakobsdottir writes very quietly. Still, your emotions are very sensitive to this crime. The title "Reykjavik" is an alert that location is very significant to what happens.  In "The Golden Gate" by Amy Chua, a granddaughter is charged with murder. Reading a grandmother's testimony about three granddaughters left me cold with shock. Who has the strength to speak unemotionally about the ones you love so much? It is the nineteen thirties. If you do not mind feeling frightened, this one might cause you to bite your fingernails. It is a good whodunnit. There is also a few pages of History. Both of these mysteries are treasures  There are four more puzzles to solve.

My stomach drops. That's my first thought after reading a few lines of "Memories Of You" by Brooke Harris. Perhaps, she will help me pick it up again and slow my heartbeat. Through her characters, Brooke Harris shares how to not comfort the grieving. Some times we try very hard to end their emotional suffering. All the bereaved long for is a chance just to cry and remember. I want to learn how not to take this necessary time from them. Thank you to Storm publishing for this complimentary copy.

 Cornelius is old. Elderly but alive he has his memories and his present moments. He has a definite way he likes things done. Some times he still feels crowded by the world. People reach out to help him not knowing anything about where, when and how he has lived his life. They don't know where he likes his post it notes.  His recollections of his brother are worth reading. He misses him. The problem is he can't remember his name,  It's refreshing reading about Cornelius's passion for clocks. Philosophically, he is saying something about time. Thank you for a complimentary copy from Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage and Anchor.

There is a unique way multicultural writers write. This is no different for the Black writers or authors.  thirty-one essays written by different authors who are willing to share how culture can ring loud and true. Some of the authors you will recognize: Daniel Black , Jewell Parker Rhodes and Jacqueline Woodson. Each author writes about what has been important to get across to their reader. I like "How We Do It" because it is the writings of silent voices The ones we really need to search for in the bookstore. I also like how each author Jericho Brown chose shares the names of other authors in their essays. William Faulkner's name pops up and so does Edward Jones name show up. It is like your getting more for your buck. You might find yourself taking notes. I am pretty sure this book is a keeper. If you are not an author, the book is still a good one to buy. There is the chance to read the secrets about how you like writers to write,  how they achieve  their goals and ho

Evie has a few problems. Evie wants to have a baby to complete she and Ollie's family.  She wants one so very badly. Sadly, she is having trouble conceiving. Her every thought and act is about a baby. Then, she unexpectedly sees her best friend. It has been twenty years since Evie has seen this woman. Oddly, she does not run through the crowd to throw her arms around her. She is definitely not ready to lunch with her. I can understand her feelings. After so many years, I would not want to run up to her like a screaming banshee. Preferable is cool, calm and enthusiastic.  Evie is the narrator.  I feel sure her words are totally truthful. She thinks and rethinks what is happening in her life. She wants to do everything correctly. Since the two women were best friends as girls, they may have similar personalities. Her friend might not want to revisit the past. It is an exploration of human nature. Are Evie's reasons for wanting a baby good ones? A feeling comes over me that she co

Shell is preparing with the community for a play given by the Foxhound Players. Her mother is tending business in L.A. It is about the play. Rumors are going around that she is returning with  a famous director. Steven Spielberg has been mentioned. There is a little excitement going around. There is no time to rest because life goes on. A lost cat has been found. Shell is striving to take care of it until someone claims the kitten. Then, there is the man with an attitude. No one likes him, He begins by complaining about the playhouse. There are always people around who can get on your last nerve. I think T.C. Lotempio in "Death Steals The Spotlight" is going to show us how not to react to this type of situation. Maybe the cats with Shell will also cause us to have more patience and understanding.  

Her father is Public Prosecutor. Yet she has the audacity to dress as a male to escape the guillotine. Women are not in need of an education and not able to work outside the home. Without a husband a woman is dead in the water. It boggles the mind that so long after the French Revolution women are still fighting for their rights. Thank goodness there is no guillotine in any courtyard in Twenty-First Century America.  The titles and names of those who are condemned to death becomes confusing: Sans culotte against the noble. The royalist hating the citizen. The world has gone daft. Maybe it is better to say France has become drunk on blood. The idea of equality has driven the people mad. It is mayhem. Children are murdered because of their noble blood.Debra Borchert causes a choking sensation and a faint. You are the one they will decapitate. Save us, Oh God, from ourselves. But look up! There are always ones willing to sacrifice their lives to save you.  

Discipleship is the theme of this Bible Study book.  Father Higganbotham calls it a four step program. It is easy to study because the Father translates the words and explains the many meanings for a foreign word. What is most important according to the author is to stay with Jesus through thick and thin. Always believing He, Jesus, has not left you. He will empower you and send the Holy Spirit to comfort you. Although Remaining with Jesus is a Catholic book  any one searching for truth can read it. However, one of the steps is to witness to other people when your faith is strong enough.

The past is always with us whether we remember it or not. Amaya is Jamaican with no knowledge of her ancestors. She has only one family photo of herself with her grandmother. While her future husband's family have many family photographs and ancestor stories. It is very interesting to read about the Chinese connection with his family. The Chinese origins make the Jamaican and black experience richer than any wedding cake. In the beginning, we are in Fairfax, Virginia.   From the Caribbean to the United States is not an easy jump for Amaya. Where we begin our lives is always with us. No matter how many miles are put behind us. We are never far from our birthplace.

It begins with the awful Korean War. Like all wars the heroism and the physical and emotional pain is insurmountable. At home,  Tennessee and North Carolina, Jacob's wife is waiting for the birth of their baby. It is ironic to read about the caretaker of a cemetery while still remembering the war and bringing a new baby into the world."The Caretaker" has a cozy feeling about it. A doctor everyone knows, the caretaker at the cemetery and the mention of Erle Stanley Gardner, personalized writing items and a soda shop. It is sad to read that Naomi is judged by the community. It is because she is expecting a baby at sixteen years old. Perhaps, it would have been better for the neighbors to have drawn  closer to Naomi by trying to answer her questions, giving her an idea what to expect in future months.  It is a traditional community.  Dr. Egan's secretary, Ruthie, has never called him by his first name and she has worked for him for thirty-nine years.  I'm not sure ou

Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson makes the world seem small. All of us in summers past have loved dancing, friends and just walking. Picking up so much through our five senses: Smells, tastes, seeing, hearing and touching are grabbing us. The desire is to feel all of what summer has to give. The end result is that the world does not seem so big. We are alike in so many ways. We chuckle when finding the differences in ourselves. In Jamaica there are Sun Bonnets. These are two to two and a half inches. Sun Bonnets are peppers. They are green, yellow, red like peppers in the United States. Only our peppers do not look like hats or bonnets. This book is a winner for showing us how to walk through our memories again. Those times and places are us, ourselves. I must make meat pies. Just imagine sharing summer memories with a parent. What a moment! The puppy love between your mother and father or... Giving all your thoughts to a movie. It is all so emotion. Are you tearing up? You will whi

 At first glance, Ceres seems like a one of a kind lady. While having a recuperating child, one who can not speak, Ceres is able to look with kindness and respect on others who have fully healthy families. I am already captured by the struggles of Ceres and Phoebe, also the doctor, Mr. Stewart. It is a beautiful story. It is a reminder that we are flesh. No matter our plans we must leave our loved ones. Thinking of death by reading literary remarks only brings other thoughts and questions to mind. We are hypnotized by life's fragility.

Buzz Books of 2023 will excite you. There are four parts: Fiction,  Debuts, Nonfiction and Young Adult books. When a bad day is following you, pull out Buzz Books 2023 Fall/Winter and read an excerpt of a genre you like. Here are a few author names that will appear inside Buzz Books. There is Tia Williams, Lauren Groff, Yangsze Choo, Raymond Arsenault, Jason June and the list goes on. Jesmyn Ward, Bryan Washington and Zadie Smith. Buzz books is an appetizer before the heavier meal. You are sure to love it.

 Not long after entering the first chapters a feeling of discomfort takes over the mind and the body. Certain sounds add to those uneasy emotions.At Penryth Hall there are bells. It's interesting the sounds of bells can cause pleasant or unpleasant thoughts to enter the mind.  The real me feels a bit tipped off because so many references lead  back to Edgar Allen Poe. I did not know what to think about his spirit gliding through the pages. So close I could sniff him.  In other words, I did not feel Jess Armstrong's presence. It's like Edgar Allen Poe had taken over her body. I am interested in learning did she feel like a ghostwriter? Was she fighting the bells and ravens hoping they would go away? Whoever is writing or not writing,  Mr. Poe or Jess Armstrong, the book is great. All five senses spin freely and beg for company while the stories are told. Maybe we are in a dream. My one hope is that I don't see a ghost in my sleep tonight. Here is a shivering 'good ni