Uplift by Jessica Mann

UPLIFT by Jessica Mann is an absolutely charming debut novel whose main characters are birds and insects. Psychology Today said, “Mann's book is a must-read for appreciating how birds sense their world, and what they can teach us about the value of family and friendship.” Readers will not soon forget Columbina, a Clark’s Nutcracker, and her family, including siblings Donius and Limber. She is an adventurous, somewhat rebellious soul who makes friends with a hummingbird named Calliope and with Halcyon, a belted Kingfisher. The story spans three winters and I learned a great deal about the birds’ habitat and scavenging for food. There is also a touch of magical realism as some of their creation myths are shared. And, the author stresses the challenges to the environment in a number of ways which will leave readers contemplating the impact of humans and what actions they might make in the future. UPLIFT has won numerous awards, including a silver medal from the Independent Book Publishers Association and being a National Indie Excellence Award Winner. Don’t miss this wonderful, surprising tale!

A Ferry Merry Christmas by Debbie Macomber

A FERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS by Debbie Macomber is a wonderful addition to her collection of gentle romance and holiday stories. In this newly published novel, she introduces Avery and Harrison who meet on a ferry in the middle of Puget Sound. Instead of a quick ride, however, they are stranded for hours due to mechanical issues with the boat. Readers meet other passengers like James, an expectant father anxious to get to his very pregnant wife, and Virginia, an older women estranged from her twin sister. There’s also Beth and Olivia, a mother/young daughter on their way to see Santa Claus. It’s not really a spoiler alert to say that Macomber seems to sprinkle the ferry riders (and even some relatives waiting on land) with romantic pixie dust amidst a delightful holiday spirit. Short (272 pages) and sweet, A FERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS is a perfect holiday read, especially for Macomber’s many fans (over 200 million copies of her books are in print worldwide).

Wreck by Catherine Newman

WRECK by Catherine Newman continues the story of the wonderful characters readers met in Newman’s bestseller Sandwich. Once again, middle-aged Rocky is dealing with all that life imparts for her family, including husband Nicky, grown children Willa and Jaime, and her newly widowed father who is temporarily living in the in-law apartment in her backyard. As Newman says in her author notes, it is that father who gets “all the funniest lines,” but every character, especially Rocky, contributes to the humor and wisdom that Newman’s story conveys. I love, for example, how Rocky contrasts herself with her husband: “His personality is very cross that bridge when you come to it. Mine is very apply to engineering school in case there's a bridge that might need crossing but it hasn't been designed yet.” By including daily events and an underlying sense of anxiety about mental and physical health as well as some ethical employment issues, Rocky and her family touch all of us in a memorable, relatable way. WRECK is a LibraryReads selection for October and received starred reviews from Kirkus (‘’Newman excels at showing how sorrow and joy coexist in everyday life.”) and Library Journal (“A welcome return …. Here’s hoping for more …”). Highly recommended.

The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly

THE PROVING GROUND by Michael Connelly is the latest Lincoln Lawyer novel although main character Mickey Haller is now representing clients in civil court cases instead of criminal ones. This mystery will feel as though it is literally ripped from the headlines as Haller’s client is a grieving Mom (Brenda Randolph) whose only child, a high school junior, was killed by a high school classmate, her former boyfriend. The key question is the extent to which an AI avatar (Clair/Wren) influenced the killer and whether the parent company, Tidalwaiv, is responsible. THE PROVING GROUND was full of suspense and a quick read, bolstered by my ability to readily picture the characters from the TV series. Often willing to take risks and push the envelope, Haller freely muses about his strategy and readers are subtly educated (or reminded) about related scholarship like Asimov’s three laws off robotics or Kurzweil’s The Singularity is Nearer. Connelly acknowledges the case Megan Garcia v. Character Technologies in his final notes and readers do not have to look far for other similar examples, such as this recent Wall Street Journal article on a suit filed against OpenAI. An excellent, highly relevant story, THE PROVING GROUND received a starred review from Booklist (“one of the best yet”) – and interested readers can join a Book Group discussion with the author on November 18.

Some recent mysteries ...

I have been reading quite a few mysteries lately and wanted to briefly share reactions to some that I had started, put down for various reasons, and picked up again. I may have originally chosen a title because of the favorable professional reviews, setting and description, availability as an audiobook, or author (one I knew or one who gave me a chance to experiment with a debut). None of these will make my favorites list, but other readers may feel differently, and these titles are worth a look.

THE LIBRARIANS by Sherry Thomas was a LibraryReads selection for September and received starred reviews from Booklist (“enhanced with several subplots”) and Kirkus (“crime-solving librarians solve double murder mysteries while guarding their own secrets”). Yes, the plot is quite intricate (possible kidnapping, missing heirs, fraudulent activities) with jumps in time and multiple romances, plus several deaths after a Game Night at a local public library… Whew! More than one member of the staff comes under suspicion and they all (somewhat improbably) band together to try to find the real killer. Readers will need patience to appreciate the complexity. THE LIBRARIANS is set in Austin and it is fun to see a local reviewer’s perspective: Kim’s Bookstack post. 4 stars. 

A MATTER OF PEDIGREE by Leslie Meier is a light and very fluffy whodunit from the author of the Lucy Stone series. This is the start of the Carole and Poopsie series in which Carole’s somewhat uncouth husband is indicted for murder. She sets out to investigate and clear his name. Overall, I thought this was a little “too” cute and the dog, Poopsie, is obnoxious but an obvious shtick which will be back in future series entries. An entertaining, undemanding beach read. 3.5 stars 

A KILLER WEDDING is a debut mystery written by Joan O'Leary, with an audiobook narrated by Amanda Dolan. The over-the-top society wedding between Jane Murphy and Dr. Graham Ripton (grandson and heir to a beauty company CEO, Gloria Beaufort) is about to take place in a lavish Irish setting. The glitzy celebration is to be chronicled by journalist Christine Russo who works for Bespoke Weddings magazine and is excited about this big career boost. Sadly, I found the story to be VERY slow to start, with almost a fourth of the book devoted to background and character introductions before someone dies. Also, there are numerous family members, spanning several generations, and since they all acted in a selfish and privileged manner, it was difficult to keep track of their relationships or care about them. Christine is relatively young and naïve so she is surprised when the family chooses to not report the death and instead go ahead with the wedding. Library Journal called this “a fast-paced, funny whodunit” and Publishers Weekly praised O’Leary’s ability to “juggle perspectives and timelines.” I simply could not get interested and clearly missed some of the subtleties - maybe reading the text would have worked better than listening to the story? 3 stars

I felt similarly about THE DEAD COME TO STAY by Brandy Schillace which offers a mystery set in Yorkshire and is the second one to feature Jo Jones, an American on the autism spectrum. There are numerous references to the earlier tale in this series and once again Jones pairs up with a local police officer to find a murderer. This time their sleuthing involves missing teens as well. I found the audiobook which is narrated by Imogen Church (she also narrates Ruth Ware titles) unenjoyable. Church attempts several strange voices and accents, particularly for detective James MacAdams, but sadly, the voices are both difficult to understand and quite distracting from the story. I did try reading an ebook preview, but the story did not keep me interested. Maybe my attention span was too short? Kirkus called THE DEAD COME TO STAY “a superior puzzle” and Booklist said, “engaging and full of twists.” 3.5 stars  Do give these titles a try and decide for yourself. 

The Killing Stones by Ann Cleeves

THE KILLING STONES by Ann Cleeves is described as a stand-alone Detective Jimmy Perez novel and although I have read and enjoyed multiple titles (mostly about Vera Stanhope) by Cleeves, I think this was the first Jimmy Perez novel for me. He has settled into life on Orkney, accompanied by pregnant partner Willow, their young son, and step-daughter. Archie Stout, a childhood friend of Perez, is killed and Jimmy and Willow get involved in the investigation and comforting the family during the lead-up to Christmas. Cleeves offers a twisty set of clues with numerous motives for both villagers and tourists; even Perez muses, “so many stories could be told around these killings, and he was no longer confident that he knew which was true.” There’s a great deal of focus on the ancient history of the islands (like the Ring of Brodgar) and on several modern-day researchers, especially as more people are killed. Misdirection abounds and although I found the end to be a bit abrupt, it was certainly unexpected. Cleeves has provided an excellent mystery in an almost Gothic setting. For interested readers, The Black Raven is first in the Shetland/Perez series. 

Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin

ELSEWHERE by Gabrielle Zevin is a young adult novel which I read - and loved – about twenty years ago when it was first published. At the time, it received starred reviews from Booklist and Horn Book and was a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year. Now it is being re-released with a new cover, following the popularity of Zevin’s Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow. In ELSEWHERE, Liz, a fifteen-year-old, is killed in a car accident and travels to an afterlife where she meets her already dead Grandma Betty. It may sound macabre, but instead Zevin infuses the book with hope, personal growth and adventure where Liz’s advisor, for example, suggests, “That dying is just another part of living... In time, you may even come to see your death as a birth.” And Liz does need to mourn the loss of her family and friends, but she meets new people while experiencing the impact of aging backwards as all the afterlife residents do. The new edition contains an interview with the author where she quotes J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan: “To die will be an awfully big adventure,” saying it “feels like an optimistic way of looking at things.” Somehow, I found Zevin’s work more comforting a couple of decades ago when death was a more abstract concept, but I am still grateful for Zevin’s positivity and would certainly recommend this title. The New York Times’ 2005 review references titles like Tuck Everlasting and A Wrinkle in Time concluding, “Its message is how thrilling it is to be alive, here or in Elsewhere.”

The Flipside by Michelle Curran

THE FLIPSIDE by Michelle "MACE" Curran explains “How to Invert Your Perspective and Turn Fear into Your Superpower.” As the publisher says, this former Air Force fighter pilot “channels her unique perspective into relatable storytelling to empower others to make bold choices and find their inner courage.” Curran describes her decision to become a pilot and discusses silencing one’s inner critic, noting that she “eventually saw that avoiding discomfort came at a higher cost than facing it head-on because it forces us back into our comfort zones, which stunts our growth and keeps us emotionally, spiritually, and personally small.” Another section looks at the differences between reacting and responding and her stories about relying on her training to land safely are memorable. Overall, Curran combines her personal experiences with research and the varied perspectives of others; slightly less than ten percent of the book is devoted to endnotes. While readers may not agree with all of her suggestions (e.g., the timeframes seem too short in one minute to pause, one hour to analyze; and one month to transform), THE FLIPSIDE will encourage readers to reflect on their habits and mindsets. This made me think of other related texts like Be Fearless by Case or Resilient by Hanson.

Epic Disruptions by Scott D. Anthony

EPIC DISRUPTIONS by Scott D. Anthony (Eat, Sleep, Innovate) highlights “11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World” and I think it would have been fascinating to be in the discussions of which 11 to choose. Anthony, a Clinical Professor of Strategy at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, studies the adaptive challenges of disruptive change while clearly recognizing the contributions of his mentor, Clay Christensen. In his latest book, Anthony looks at technologies like the printing press, the Model T, and Apple iPhone. He argues that “Disruption is an engine of progress. By making the complicated simple and the expensive affordable, it transforms how we work, play, live, and communicate.” A few examples he chose may not come readily to mind: Julia Child, disposable diapers, steel minimills; but he uses his case studies to answer basic questions (Who does it? Is it random? Is it accelerating? Is it a universal good?).  I liked his graphs and many corporate examples (e.g., Eastman Kodak, Sears, and McDonald’s) to further support his points (e.g., “innovation magic happens at intersections”). The conclusion section is especially thought-provoking as he looks briefly at newer technologies (additive technology, artificial intelligence, robotics) whose story is not yet complete. There, Anthony again weaves facts and examples while asking probing questions. Approximately fifteen percent of the text is devoted to Notes and a detailed Index. For stories of some innovations particular to Texas, see the recent Texas Monthly feature that appeared on PBS.

Move for Life by Damien A. Joyner

MOVE FOR LIFE by Damien A. Joyner offers “A Practical Guide to Building Everyday Strength, Balance, and Confidence for Thriving after 65.” Joyner is a certified personal trainer and also a health coach at UC San Diego’s WorkStrong Program.  I think that he does give practical, relatable examples and plenty of encouragement.  One statement which really stayed with me was: “Even if you can do everything you want now, what steps are you taking to ensure this remains true as you age?” I made the choice, however, to look at this preview in the Kindle app and unfortunately, it did not display particularly well (the text seemed quite dense). There is a better sample of the presentation on amazon for interested readers. The pictures (concentrated in a chapter titled Photo Intermission) seemed to work quite well since they often included older people with everyday props (e.g., bag of groceries). Some, though, had large weights and other devices which would mainly be found at a gym. Great concepts and information (e.g., “Untreated hearing loss can raise your risk of falls”), but the preview was hard to read and retain. I would have appreciated more of a summary so as to have a quick “workout guide;” instead, the chapters just ran together. MOVE FOR LIFE does have an extensive Resources section which is also available online, but not all of the links are functional (e.g., the YMCA page on yoga and tai-chi said access denied, although I did some searching and found a YouTube Channel with some of YMCA “mindset” videos).  By using a caring, conversational tone in this book, Joyner reinforced the need for movement and encouraged me to look for relevant videos and other tools.

Saltcrop by Yume Kitasei

SALTCROP by Yume Kitasei (The Deep Sky and The Stardust Grail ) has a beautiful cover. The story centers on three sisters living in a dystopian world. I listed to the audiobook which is narrated by Eunice Wong and she did an excellent job of relating the story. Unfortunately, it just seemed really slow and rather sad. Two of the sisters, Carmen and Skipper travel around the coast in search of their missing sister Nora. No one has heard from her in a long time and their only clues point to extending the dangerous voyage with little hope of success. Instead, they will potentially be sacrificing access to much needed medical help and a steady job for Carmen. The publisher describes this text as “an epic journey spanning oceans and continents and a wistful rumination on sisterhood, friendship, and ecological disaster.” It is all that – just too slow and potentially heartbreaking for me. Kirkus (“the sisters’ world is one full of both darkness and hope”), Library Journal ([about] “family bonds and ordinary people fighting corporate greed, sure to appeal to fans of Carrie Vaughn's Bannerless and Cory Doctorow's Walkaway”) and Publishers Weekly (“moving portrayal of sibling dynamics set in a disturbing near future”) all gave SALTCROP starred reviews so have a look (or a listen) and decide for yourself.

Snow Kissed by RaeAnne Thayne

SNOW KISSED by best-selling author RaeAnne Thayne is a sweet romance filled with the spirit of the Christmas season. Hard-working proprietor of a flower shop, Holly(!) is a single Mom to five-year-old Lydia who has special needs. Shortly before the holidays she meets Ryan, a military helicopter pilot and brother to one of her employees. As they say, “sparks fly” and their mutual attraction grows quickly even though he will have to return to his base in San Diego. There’s drama with an ex-husband and extended family, but the real focus of the story is how Holly and Ryan come to care for and respect each other. This is a terrific holiday tale (set in small town Idaho so plenty of seasonal snow) and will certainly appeal to Thayne’s many fans as well as readers of authors like Debbie Macomber, Susan Mallery, Fern Michaels, Nora Roberts, and Susan Wiggs.

The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden

THE SECRET OF ORANGE BLOSSOM CAKE by Rachel Linden is a novel about family and community and caring. To save her online cooking show featuring vintage recipes, thirty-year-old Jules Costa heads (with her fifteen-year-old estranged half-sister, Alex) to her grandmother’s home in Italy. There, Nonna Bruna has a magical cookbook with pages that only show recipes that can help the person doing the cooking or baking. Many have benefited from the cookbook over the years, but Jules can’t seem to see anything. That is true in many ways – she is blind to the loneliness and needs of her sister; to the attraction felt by Nicolo, a neighbor and Jules’ first love; and to her own best interest and family obligation. Poor Jules struggles to “come of age” even though she is an adult and Linden shares with readers all of Jules’ confusion, insecurity, and fear in a repetitive manner. The Italian setting is described beautifully as are the mouth-watering recipes. The characters, however, seem stiff and uncomfortable as they come to grips with the idea that “Fear can rob you of the life you are meant to live. It does not keep you safe, it keeps you small.” Discussion questions are included for this cozy mix of secrets, romance and magic.  

The Gales of November by John U. Bacon

THE GALES OF NOVEMBER by John U. Bacon delivers “The Untold Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald” as well as numerous facts about piloting ships on the Great Lakes. I found it fascinating to learn how much more dangerous it was to navigate the lakes and their weather as opposed to sailing on the open oceans. Bacon has written multiple best sellers on a variety of fields (e.g., sports, business, health, and history). In this case, he has spent numerous hours interviewing and researching events regarding the 1975 loss of the Edmund Fitzgerald, a long, narrow ship (729 feet long and 75 feet wide) designed to navigate locks while simultaneously being able to carry tons of ore around the industrial Midwest. In addition to information and personal details about crew members and their families, Bacon also provides plenty of background about the famous ballad which Gordon Lightfoot wrote and performed. THE GALES OF NOVEMBER received a starred review from Kirkus (“superb education in geography, seamanship, and history.... A gripping account of a maritime disaster.”) and the Wall Street Journal review said of this story “never has it been told better.”

The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman

THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTUNE by Richard Osman is the latest Thursday Murder Club Mystery, the first of which is already a movie. Once again, readers are united with four pensioners: Elizabeth (former spy), Joyce (former nurse), Ron (union activist) and Ibrahim (psychiatrist), beginning at the wedding of Joyce’s daughter. It is there that a friend of the groom asks Elizabeth for help because he is scared someone is trying to kill him. Well, someone does die soon after and the foursome are off to find a murderer and a missing person while some criminal elements are planning a big heist, and Ron’s children are threatened due to a domestic abuse situation. With so many details and coy observations (“it was probably nothing. But everything was nothing until it was something.”), Osman keep readers guessing and laughing. He's also working on a new We Solve Murders story. THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTUNE received starred reviews from Booklist, Kirkus, and Library Journal as well as appearing on The Washington's Post's extensive Fall Preview list.

Crochet a Quiet Book by Ariana Wimsett

CROCHET A QUIET BOOK by Ariana Wimsett is designed to “Create a Soft Book Full of Playful Pages.” Wimsett is a crochet designer and blogger who runs the Crafting Happiness website and YouTube channel. What a variety of cute projects! I especially like the 3 in 1 baby blankets on her site – my great-grandmother crocheted a baby blanket for me decades ago! Wimsett’s recent book is just 48 pages, but it is filled with pictures, charts, and helpful instructions to crochet a book/toy for a favorite baby. In addition to turning pages to look at the animals, the baby will have some wonderful tactile experiences – feeling a horse’s mane, moving a duck up and down, or flying some “busy” bees. The creation does not appear to be too difficult, and the colorful book could make a memorable family keepsake, too.

My Beloved by Jan Karon

MY BELOVED by best-selling author Jan Karon is book fifteen in the Mitford series featuring Father Tim Kavanaugh and his many parishioners in a small town in North Carolina. It was refreshing to return to Father Tim’s simple truths (I understand. Thank you. I'm sorry. Love you.) and the endearing cast of characters who make up his friends and extended family. They always seem ready for a challenge – whether it is running a bookstore or rehabbing a derelict building. I especially enjoyed the scenes with (former mayor) Esther and Ray Cunningham as they get ready to celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary. And then there is the mystery of the disappearing love letter – will it be found/returned in time for Christmas? In between, Karon sprinkles observations (“They say you fall because you're old. You do no such thing. You fall because you're not payin’ attention.”) and mini-homilies (“That's one of the things friends are for - to listen to our repeat stories.”). Jan Karon puts her heart into these books and of MY BELOVED, written after her daughter’s death, she says, “The characters are essentially the same, but the author is different. In MY BELOVED, I opened up like I hadn't done since Candace's diagnosis. Opening up can be scary but I didn't run - I surrendered. … I was laughing, hard. And crying, hard. And I knew I was home.”