The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave

 

To be available on Tuesday, THE FIRST TIME I SAW HIM by Laura Dave is the sequel to The Last Thing He Told Me and once again (it is five years later) Hannah and Bailey are forced to run to stay safe. This is a very quick read … I had finished thirty percent in just one sitting … and the suspense and plot twists will keep readers engaged. Owen (Hannah’s husband and Bailey’s father) and Nicholas (Bailey’s grandfather) play prominent roles with multiple timelines and perspectives adding to the tension and feeling of trepidation. Another excellent thriller from Laura Dave which will appeal to those who enjoyed Alias Emma, Going Zero, and First Lie Wins.

The Last Man by Thomas Goodman

Selected this month for our local book group, THE LAST MAN by Thomas Goodman has won the 2024 Will Rogers Medallion Award and the 2024 Western Writers of America Spur Award. While fictional, this is based on real events surrounding the Santa Claus Bank Robbery of 1927 in Cisco, Texas. As the publisher says, “One bandit dies in the getaway. One is executed in the electric chair. One swings from a rope in a mob lynching. The last man finds a life he always hoped for … if only he can keep it.” This is a fascinating look at attitudes towards crime and prisoners in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. In fact, during the 1920s, “an average of four banks were hit each day in Texas.” That resulted in massive awards ($5000 which is $85,000 today) for dead bank robbers and “not a penny” for the capture of a live one. And when the attempted robbery goes violently wrong, with the death of lawmen and kidnapping, emotions run high. Library Journal says, "A captivating and creatively told true-crime novel, perfect for patrons who enjoy stories where truth is stranger than fiction." I especially liked Goodman’s reflection on the individuals and factors that impact our life and on second chances. He writes about the role of our fathers (or father figures) and about how we can each be there for someone else, concluding “All their joys and sorrows were precious scenes woven together in a tapestry far larger than any one solitary life.”

Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

YEAR OF YES by Shonda Rhimes (whose credits include Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and How to Get Away with Murder) was originally published a decade ago and the new 10th anniversary edition offers extra chapters and insight from an extremely talented writer. Rhimes was challenges by her sister about her tendency to say “no” and she chose to battle her introvert tendencies (“This is who I am. Silent. Quiet. Interior. More comfortable with books than new situations. Content to live within my imagination.”) and to begin to say “yes.” That meant she found a way to combat her fear and go on Jimmy Kimmel’s show as one example.  In addition, she gave a commencement speech at Dartmouth which is an amazing chapter – well worth the time to read. Rhimes is inspirational and informative (e.g., sharing studies about standing like Wonder Woman).  This is a book to which readers can return again and again. It’s exciting to think of the transformation which she achieved: “I do often say no. I can't do everything. But I am no longer saying no out of fear. The reflexive, knee-jerk, panic-induced ‘absolutely not’ that used to be my default setting has been rewired.”