The Reimagining of Thornwood House

THE REIMAGINING OF THORNWOOD HOUSE by Jaleigh Johnson is an absolutely delightful fantasy debut. The author says that “this book turned out to be a strange alchemy of things I needed to write to comfort myself during hard times, and gifts I wanted to give to other people.” The gentle story about a young witch, Evie, and her adopted daughter (also with magical abilities), Ruby, is indeed a gift. The two stake their future together on a new posting to a sentient house in a rural area, only to find upon their arrival that the house has run away. Together with their neighbor, Gil, and many of the other villagers, Evie and Ruby gradually repair the house and slowly gain its trust. “You nurture it, allow it to grieve, and, when it's ready, help it to reimagine itself and what it's going to be moving forward. It won't be the same as it was, but it can still be something amazing.” Nature – there is a lovely Mood Garden and Star Oak tree – plays a key role. But there is danger about and a mystery to solve before the house can be fully restored. This is a hopeful story and is highly recommended, especially for readers who enjoyed the cozy fantasy titled The Teller of Small Fortunes. Another gentle story involving “found families” is Loon Point, although it has a contemporary setting without magic. I am also going to look for the author's middle grade series (published about a decade ago) about The Mark of the Dragonfly. 

Grandma Joy and Me by Brad Ryan

GRANDMA JOY AND ME by Brad Ryan is subtitled “A Journey of Healing, One National Park at a Time” and it shares the story of his reconciliation with his grandmother and their subsequent adventures to visit each of the 63 National Parks.  Sadly, the text of this book feels rather self-centered; Ryan is working through their past decade long estrangement and the trauma of coming out to his judgmental father. The book needed even more of Grandma Joy’s effervescence and positive attitude. I loved the idea of their journeys together and had bookmarked this news video (from 2025 about a current goal) long before I knew there was going to be a book:

Noticing by Richard Louv

NOTICING by Richard Louv (Last Child in the Woods, Vitamin N and more) is subtitled “Intimate Encounters with the Natural World” and once again Louv, a journalist and nature advocate, offers insight regarding our relationship with wildlife and the environment. He includes over two dozen chapters, loosely grouped into categories like the Neuroscience of Noticing or the Art and Music of Nature or Our Human-Nature Spirit. NOTICING is full of gentle observations, it feels almost cleansing, and frequently prompts images of one’s own childhood. There are many comments about children as when Louv writes, “Being new to the world and closer to the ground, children notice such details and create stories about them, or they paint or draw them.” He shares perspective from others, too, (like a soon to be forest therapy guide or a PhD student in marine biology) and intersperses some of his own photos of animals and trees. Several final pages list Suggested Readings and numerous Notes are also included. Overall, there is a sense of curiosity and awe.

A Cyclist’s Guide To Poppies & Predicaments

A CYCLIST’S GUIDE TO POPPIES & PREDICAMENTS by Ann Claire is the third book in the Oui Cycle series after A Cyclist's Guide to Crime & Croissants and A Cyclist's Guide to Villains & Vines. In this cozy mystery, a cycling adventure is disrupted by murder as the Velo Vixens, a group on a bachelorette party trip, become suspects. The proprietor of Oui Cycle, Sadie Greene, is caught (again and again) between keeping her clients happy and occupied and making safer choices. Honestly, that gets a bit wearisome, especially when she says, “‘I don't ascribe to ye olde toxic saying that the customer (or bride) is always right.’” Not sure that is accurate; she seems like too much of a pushover, but thankfully Laurent (her boyfriend and police officer) is friends with the best man and so is available as a support in the face of murder and all. “And all, in this case, would include murder, stalking, extortion, punching, arrest, lies, omissions, temporary van theft, and phone confiscation.” With all of that happening and despite plenty of clues, the ending was still a surprise. A CYCLIST’S GUIDE TO POPPIES & PREDICAMENTS is a cute story and provides some interesting facts (who knew that the phrase déjà vu originated as late as 1870?) and touristy info about Provence, its charming towns, and beautiful vistas.

Whisper Creek by Allison Brennan

WHISPER CREEK by Allison Brennan (North of Nowhere) is a thriller whose relentless pace will keep readers enthralled. Set in rural Texas during a dangerous rainstorm, this novel relates the story of Ellie McKenna and her four children (high schoolers Jake and Avery, plus tween Lyla and eight-year-old Bobby) who are trying to hold onto the family farm after the recent death of Ellie’s husband, John. It is a daunting task made much more difficult by threats and sabotage from a corporate entity intent on taking over the farm. Mother Nature’s hailstorms and rain add even more obstacles like washed out or flooded roadways, disrupted communications, and power outages. Adding to Ellie’s worries are a heavily pregnant neighbor, her elderly grandmother, and a series of local robberies, one of which resulted in the serious wounding of a neighbor. Danger increases hourly as the storm continues and those criminals threaten both Ellie’s ranch and her family. This stand-alone mystery is full of twists and highly recommended for its action-packed adventure.

Whistler by Ann Patchett

It was just announced that Ann Patchett won the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, to be officially awarded at the National Book Festival in Washington on Aug. 22. Her latest novel is titled WHISTLER and Booklist (“tale of complicated marriages, secret love, fear, fury, courage, and reconciliation”), Kirkus (“evocative and moving”), and Publishers Weekly (“one of her best”) all gave WHISTLER starred reviews. This book tells the story of Daphne, now 53, meeting her former stepfather, Eddie Triplett (now 76), by chance at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Eddie and Daphne had both wanted to be writers – he edited books for years and years and she teaches literature at a girl’s school. It takes a while for Patchett to explain the background to their surprisingly deep and affectionate relationship that was suddenly severed by Daphne’s mother after Eddie and Daphne were in a serious car accident when she was nine years old. Daphne’s Mom remarried for a third time long ago and Daphne and her sister, Leda (a psychiatrist), have two adult half-brothers. Patchett herself had an “abundance” of fathers (also three) as she wrote several years ago in The New Yorker and her collection of essays, These Precious Days.

Book groups will adore WHISTLER, filled as it is with reflections, “There is so much randomness to youth. The person assigned to share your room becomes your friend, the girl you pass on your way out the door becomes your wife, and from these random encounters our entire lives are built, four beautiful children come into the world, and they, in turn, found the people they were meant to spend their lives with.” 

Or, contemplating death: “‘It's okay,’ her father said. ‘You'll be back later.’ ‘We'll still be here,’ Jeffrey said. ‘You won't believe how fast it goes. Might as well be a minute.’ ‘You'll look after everyone?’ she asked her son. ‘No,’ he said. ‘We'll look after you.’”  And Robert Frost’s Wild Grapes: “And the life I live now’s an extra life / I can waste as I please on whom I please.”

Or, simply Patchett’s wry wit: “We write each other notes, back and forth, back and forth. It's like texting for people with large collections of stationery.” Ann Patchett is the narrator for the audio book version of WHISTLER and she does an excellent job, gently evoking the characters and their complex emotions.

A Murder in Springtime by Martin Walker

A MURDER IN SPRINGTIME by Martin Walker is the latest (19th) in the Inspector Bruno mystery series set in rural, southwestern France. Walker excels at conveying the village life, particularly as Bruno is working on a project to revitalize the market at St. Denis. He also once again shares numerous details of meal preparation and ingredients, including a huge lamb roast to celebrate Easter. The mystery, involving the death of a relatively unknown outsider, is almost secondary to the sense of community and celebration through food. Due to a possible conflict in the case for Bruno, a young inspector (Fabien) associated with the Police Judiciaire arrives to lead the investigation and the two become fast friends. As always, I look forward to more in this rather cozy, but thoroughly entertaining, series. A MURDER IN SPRINGTIME received a starred review from Booklist (“If, by some magic, you could live within any book (or series), you would do well to choose Martin Walker’s Bruno, Chief of Police mysteries...”).

A Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon

A ZOOM WITH A VIEW by Jess Cannon is an entertaining debut mystery set in small town Blue Oak, Texas and features numerous residents including the local cops (steadfast Jake, a bumbling sheriff, and a couple of other deputies), plus Leonora “Leo” Holloway (who has returned after a long absence), her mother (ditzy hairdresser Karina), and Leo’s long ago boyfriend, Mack Garner. The cast of characters also includes some local influencers and wannabe real estate moguls, Chaz Nickolson and Kymber Owens. Chaz is found murdered, and a rival real estate professional (best friend of Leo’s Mom) is arrested. Suddenly, Leo and her friend Emily, who have been covertly mocking Chaz online for years are local experts and guiding the police towards potential clues. The clever, humorous text is sprinkled with text messages, police memos, blog posts, and Reddit or Facebook entries. Complicating matters are hints of a romantic triangle as well as some long-hidden family secrets. Library Journal sums up A ZOOM WITH A VIEW well: “Readers who enjoy epistolary novels and quirky characters may enjoy this mystery from first-time novelist Cannon.”

An Artful Dodge by Karen Odden

AN ARTFUL DODGE by Karen Odden is an historical fiction mystery story set in 1879 London. The main character is Kit Jimeson, a twenty-year-old orphan who has been responsible for raising her younger sister, Sarah. Kit does so by acting as a thief (like her mother before her) in an all-female gang that is managed by Amelia. In fact, Odden introduces roughly three dozen characters (even providing a helpful list) and the relationships, spanning multiple generations, are a bit complex. Trouble really begins, though, when Maggie (whose mother used to run the gang) returns after being sent as a criminal to Australia and wants to replace Amelia and take things over. Kit then needs to balance Maggie’s demands (especially related to an expensive necklace) with safety for herself and Sarah. She relies on a small trusted group with surprising ties to Fleet Street and Scotland Yard, and the dangerous heist is on. The pace picks up in the last third of the book and while the ending is a bit abrupt, it looks like there will be more adventures to come. Publishers Weekly gave AN ARTFUL DODGE a starred review (“Odden matches vivid details of the hard-knock life in Victorian London with complex backstories for her large cast. Readers will be rapt.”). An entertaining, twisty and suspenseful tale from an award-winning author.

Dyslexia Unlocked by Natalie Brooks

DYSLEXIA UNLOCKED by Natalie Brooks is written for adults and is intended to provide guidance on “How to be successful in work and life.” Brooks is the Founder of Dyslexia in Adults and she herself has dyslexia and ADHD; she shares numerous personal stories of the frustrations she has experienced, particularly in the workplace. I liked that she points out that dyslexia can really be different for each person and that she has made a great effort to provide information clearly, often summarizing and then restating her points in more detail. For example, she writes about “The three areas that every dyslexic needs to focus on in order to achieve success. These are 1) unlocking dyslexic confidence, 2) unlocking dyslexic strategies and 3) unlocking dyslexic strengths.”  The book is organized around those three needs, but I found the initial section on confidence to be a bit disheartening since it documents so many potential negatives. Granted, this seems to be a well-intentioned attempt to convey that millions of people (other dyslexics) are all in this together and therefore some of the examples (push vs pull on a door) may seem familiar to readers. However, she also points out “You need to spend time valuing and focusing on your strengths” and it may have been more helpful to start there. She does suggest a few useful resources (e.g., Grammarly) and provides sample wording to talk about dyslexia at work.

Other excellent resources for people who wish to learn about dyslexia are Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shawitz (a classic) and The Dyslexic Advantage by Brock L. Eide and Fernette F. Eide. Both seem to be much more research and science based than Brooks’ work; also, the Eides generally take a very positive, encouraging approach. Younger students will appreciate titles like Meet the Dyslexia Club by Margaret Rooke. Check them out.

Dad Brain by Darby Saxbe

DAD BRAIN by Darby Saxbe describes “The New Science of Fatherhood and How It Shapes Men's Lives.” Saxbe, a clinical psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, splits her book into two sections: the Science of Fatherhood and the Practice of Fatherhood. It’s truly interesting to realize that Saxbe is “one of the only researchers in the world to have collected longitudinal neuroimaging research on men as they become fathers,” due in large part to the limited research on men as parents. Still, she points out how fatherhood can benefit society, partners, children, and the men themselves, thanks especially to greater social connection and opportunities for improved mental health. Frequently showcasing a collection of related facts, Saxbe points, for example, to research that shows younger-looking brains for both fathers and mothers and describes some theories as to why this greater cognitive functioning occurs. She offers suggestions for several areas of additional research, and I look forward to seeing more from her. An Appendix with suggested resources, plus an Index and Notes comprise close to twenty percent of the text. 

Read an excellent overview of Saxbe’s thinking in her recent opinion piece at The New York Times: “Ultimately, the traits of a good dad are also the traits of a good man: strength coupled with a willingness to look out for the young and vulnerable, to teach but also listen, to lead by example, to tackle daunting challenges and to persevere with grit.” Happy Father's Day to all!!

Mom Needs A Moment by Cassidy Freitas

MOM NEEDS A MOMENT by Cassidy Freitas explores “How to Stop Your Reaction Before It Starts... and Become a Calmer, Happier, More Connected Parent.” Dr. Freitas is a licensed family and marriage counselor and host of the weekly Holding Space podcast. In chapters titled Traumas and Triggers, All the Feelings, Being in the Moment, etc., she writes here about emotions related to being a parent, especially a Mom. Freitas is excellent at describing the range of reactions: “A hypervigilant part trying to anticipate every need before it exploded into chaos; A perfectionist part desperate to keep it all together; A wounded part still aching from past moments when asking for help led to disappointment or shame. ... All I knew was that I felt broken. And alone.” Admitting her own concerns and needs regarding motherhood, she writes about magic in the margins: “These are the spaces where your body can exhale and you can come back to yourself, where you can remember that you don't have to live in constant reaction mode, that you have choices. … They allow me to slow down, to notice, to be present.” In a calm and helpful way, she offers insights regarding the difficulty of changing patterns based on generational cycles that show up in everyday parenting. Understanding her audience, she provides notes at the end of each chapter, with “major themes, tools, and actionable next steps described.” Reading MOM NEEDS A MOMENT will benefit Moms, caregivers, and grandparents alike. 

Everything Changes Everything by Lauren Kessler

EVERYTHING CHANGES EVERYTHING by Lauren Kessler is a memoir which covers “Love, Loss, and a Really Long Walk.” Kessler, an award-winning author and teacher, shares the emotional story of the assisted suicide death of her husband and the overdose of her daughter a few months later. These heavy topics are treated reverently and insights conveyed poignantly through beautiful writing:

“I can, ever so hesitantly, every once in a while, sit across from a friend and let them in on a sliver of my life. But I can't turn my head on the pillow at night and talk to the person who knows me as much as I have ever let anyone know me.”

“WIDOW. WINDOW. I am not trying to be clever. I'm saying that widowhood is a window. Looking through it, you can view, assess, learn from, cry over, laugh about, regret, celebrate - everything - a marriage that was, the relationship that helped define you for decades. Falling in love is easy. A long marriage is hard.”

Referring to her husband and their children: “I have a past that does not include him. They do not.”

“…so much a part of who I am, and who I will ever be. I am walking through the world with them and without them. There is no denouement. The story continues.”

Kessler intersperses flashbacks about her family and feelings with the story of her walk along the Camino Francés, an ancient 500-mile pilgrimage route between Spain and France. At times a physically challenging route, this endeavor (requiring about a month to complete) allowed her to spend time alone, to observe nature, visit picturesque villages, and meet new people – essentially an opportunity to reflect on her life before and in the future. Kessler writes about “a lesson of the Camino that translates directly to life: that occasionally and gloriously, there are true aha moments, but mostly there is the long slog toward making sense of who you are.”  Along the way, she quotes Mary Oliver (“When Death Comes…”) and comedian George Carlin (“I want to live my life backwards…”).

I would also highly recommend The Salt Path by Raynor Winn and Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks; these, too, deal with time spent in nature and self-reflection while facing the loss of a spouse.

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY is the latest novel by award-winning author Elizabeth Strout (Olive Kitteridge, My Name is Lucy Barton, and more). Once again, Strout offers readers insight into the thoughts and feelings of a “regular” person: in this case, fifty-seven-year-old Artie Dam who is married to Evie with one son, Rob and teaches high school history classes where he impacts the lives of students like Danny Marino and Rhonda Lazarre. Strout writes, “all of us live with a huge blind spot before our eyes, meaning that no matter what we think we know we can never fully understand how we appear to others.” This is a bittersweet story which explores themes of loneliness, sadness, compassion, perspective, inter-connectedness, and, overall, the secrets we keep. There are several upheavals in Artie’s life and one in particular leaves him feeling “as though he had lived these many years looking at things from one angle, and now it was as though someone had turned him partly in a different direction and everything - everything - looked different.” Both melancholy and hopeful (“it was a private thing to be alive”), THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY received a starred review from Booklist.

The Queen's Coronation by Jennifer Ryan

THE QUEEN'S CORONATION by Jennifer Ryan (The Kitchen Front and more) is a work of historical fiction set in early 1950’s Britain. Based in large part on reminiscences from her grandmother, Ryan has written numerous books set during WWII and I would recommend those over this latest. Here, readers will again find women building a community and supporting each other, but this book seemed to focus more on their problems and to be more repetitive than Ryan’s other novels. THE QUEEN'S CORONATION is still a good story involving Caroline, an assistant dresser to the Queen; Lucy, a beautiful aspiring singer who is taken advantage of; and Miranda, a self-centered, independent newspaper woman. Because of events in their pasts (an out of wedlock pregnancy, potential for stepparent abuse; and widowhood), each of these women struggles with her own feelings of inadequacy. Whereas Ryan’s books are often more about a group of women actively encouraging each other, this one seems to focus on the individual plights and the unhappiness and abandonment faced by Caroline, Lucy, and Miranda. Earlier works are more uplifting; this one compensates with some “inside” details on the coronation and the young queen as she, too, copes with 1950s gender stereotypes and expectations.

The Crooked Places Made Straight by Raphael G. Warnock

THE CROOKED PLACES MADE STRAIGHT by Raphael G. Warnock is definitely informed by his position as a “pastor who serves in the Senate.” He invites readers to take a spiritual journey with him, writing “Our country needs moral leadership and a renewed vision like Isaiah’s, one that invites us to reach out to one another, to pray for one another rather than prey on one another, and to reach toward our highest and noblest ideas rather than sink in our basest fears.” Warnock explores six issues to offer “Reflections on the Moral Meaning of America.” He devotes a lengthy chapter each to voter suppression, influence of dark money, poverty, incarceration, gun violence and the climate. He quotes the Bible frequently and notes, for example, that there are “some two thousand verses in the Old and New Testaments about the poor and how to treat them.”  Warnock is not afraid to point out hypocrisy and that “the harshest and meanest voices against poor people in our country are often Christian voices.” He notes the efforts to cut or restrict programs like Head Start, Upward Bound and Pell grants, all of which he had personally participated in. Saying “we suffer from a poverty not of resources but of moral imagination and from a deficit of courage and vision,” Warnock outlines three goals for his thought-provoking book, paraphrased here: (1) to inspire readers to renew a common sense of purpose and to talk to people outside their comfort zone; (2) to urge politicians to look beyond election cycles and to take action to help the people they serve rather than their own ambitions; and (3) to reengage, especially for all of our children, to “when you pray, move your feet.” Publishers Weekly called this “a clarion call for a fairer America” – have a look. 

The Hardest, Longest Race by Eric Moskowitz

THE HARDEST, LONGEST RACE by Eric Moskowitz takes place in 1909 and describes “Henry Ford and the Cross-Country Contest That Changed America.” Through daily accounts of the Ocean-to-Ocean Automobile Endurance Contest, Moskowitz transports readers back to time when automobile was a novelty and paved roads and signage did not exist widely. It was amazing to imagine having to traverse the continental US (a daunting three week and 4,106-mile trek from New York to Seattle) while needing local human guides because maps and directions were so incomplete. Ford entered two cars in the race and had an obvious advantage (how was that fair?) due to his nationwide network of dealers and his company further flaunts the rules, resulting in a scandal. The other three contestants were the Shawmut Roundabout, Acme, and Itala, names we no longer associate with automobiles. At that time, there were roughly 250 companies vying for car sales to early adopters. For perspective, about one in 500 Americans owned a car; in 1909, over 18,000 Model Ts had been registered and the $850 cost (compared to $4000 for some luxury brands) was equivalent to about $30,000 today. Moskowitz, a former columnist at The Boston Globe, does his best to intersperse personal details about the drivers and navigators in this story, using primary sources like their letters and contemporary newspaper accounts (an extensive list is acknowledged in Notes). Still, I found it helpful to read THE HARDEST, LONGEST RACE in parts as it is difficult to maintain excitement and interest in a literal “slog” (oh, the mud!) from point A to point B. There were many, many people involved, and Moskowitz includes an Epilogue to explain what happened to them. A helpful Index is also provided.

Healthy Living High-Protein Cookbook by Toby Amidor

HEALTHY LIVING HIGH-PROTEIN COOKBOOK by Toby Amidor really has appeal for its “Easy Low-Carb Recipes for Strength, Energy, and Metabolic Health.” Amidor, a leading dietitian and recipe developer, follows through on the promise of easy – most recipes have relatively few ingredients, almost all readily found in your pantry (and sample shopping lists are included), and many recipes are freezer friendly or made in one pot. The cookbook is divided into two parts with the first covering Why Protein Matters, Building a Protein Rich Life, and then Cooking and Planning for Protein Success. The second, longer, part contains recipes which are grouped into fairly classic categories like Breakfasts, Fish and Seafood Mains or Poultry and Meat Mains, but they all have a High Protein focus including the ones on Smoothies and Shakes or Snacks and Sweets. Amidor’s biography says that she “believes that healthy and wholesome can also be appetizing and delicious” and recipes like Chicken, Pepper, and Mushroom Scramble or Salmon Salad Stuffed Pita reflect that thinking. With an eye towards improving their diets, readers will be genuinely excited to try many of her suggestions, including a Broccoli, Cauliflower, and Farro Casserole, Rotisserie Chicken Wrap, and Wild Blueberry Power Smoothie. All recipes have nutrition and calorie information included; plus, meal prep storage suggestions and times are listed. Although, each one does not have an accompanying picture, many photos are interspersed and are close-up, tempting, and colorful.

For those interested in more recipes, you may also wish to have a look at Well-Plated by Erin.

What I Wish I Knew about Luck by Seelig

WHAT I WISH I KNEW ABOUT LUCK by Tina Seelig (What I Wish I Knew When I Was 20) has three main parts: Construct Your Ship; Recruit Your Crew; And Hoist Your Sail, reflecting Seelig’s propensity to give direction and guidance to young readers especially. She draws on her teaching experience of more than twenty-five years at Stanford and encourages readers to begin by changing their mindsets and behavior to more actively take calculated risks. Her main argument is that rather than being apparently brought in by chance, luck is the result of deliberate actions. She writes, “Luck is like the wind, often unpredictable, and always in motion.” One’s prepared mind (core values, skills, risk profile, goals) is essential along with the support of mentors, friends, family, collaborators and a willingness to do the hard work (the afore-mentioned risk taking, plus stretching beyond your comfort zone, showing up, and recovering from inevitable failures). Seelig’s tone is conversational but buoyed by both research and personal stories. WHAT I WISH I KNEW ABOUT LUCK is a practical, action oriented guide. Each chapter has a saying at the beginning to help readers reflect as they read and “A few questions that are designed to help you assess how you can now - or could in the future - increase your luck by applying the ideas in that chapter.”  Notes and Index comprise about ten percent of the book. 

For more on Seelig’s perspective, here is her TEDTalk from a few years ago: 

 

The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden

THE UNICORN HUNTERS by Katherine Arden is a work of historical fiction, based in part on a real person, Anne, Duchess of Brittany. The story occurs in 1491 and centers around her attempts to keep Brittany separate from France, despite the efforts to have her wed the French King. Initially, the unicorn hunt is conceived as a delaying tactic, but it opens connections to The Lost Lands and the magic – sorcery and enchantments – still practiced there. As a result, Anne, her sister, and her kingdom are in great peril. In its starred review, Booklist says, “The lush historical details, descriptive language, and intriguing relationships will draw readers into this world of mystery, deception, danger, and fantasy.” THE UNICORN HUNTERS blends romance (including some bedroom scenes), folklore (with a legendary missing city and sea dragons), pageantry, and political intrigue for a memorable reading experience.

The Book of Birds by Macfarlane and Morris

I requested a preview of THE BOOK OF BIRDS by Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris for several reasons: it was the notable nonfiction LibraryReads selection in June 2026; Macfarlane also wrote Is a River Alive? (New York Times bestseller and on my TBR list due to being highly recommended by a voracious reader friend); and the general interest in birds by our book group members. However, this “Field Guide to Wonder and Loss” was actually somewhat disappointing to me because it did not include sections on common birds like robins and cardinals. I think this is because the authors chose to focus on endangered species and, understandably, seem to have included birds more likely to be found in the UK. They crafted 49 amazing essays along with colorful illustrations of species such as kestrel, puffin, and woodcocks. The clever essays are sometimes written in first person and the illustrations are gorgeous. Saying, “bird lovers will be delighted,” Publishers Weekly gave THE BOOK OF BIRDS a starred review (“The ordinary becomes extraordinary in this ode to the wonders of the natural world”) and Booklist described it as a “radiant, exhilarating, and invaluable creation.”   

I found myself being especially grateful for this introduction to the beautiful artwork of Jackie Morris (how did I miss his voluminous work for young children?) and the previous Macfarlane-Morris collaborations, The Lost Words (voted the most beautiful book of 2016 by UK booksellers) and The Lost Spells, both of which seem truly magical. I want to spend more time with them and their accompanying resources, like the Spring Edition Explorer’s Guide. 

Here, to offer a sense of their talent, is a short video on The Red Fox:

The Big Unlock by Laura L. Rubin

THE BIG UNLOCK by Laura L. Rubin is subtitled “Liberate Your Creativity Through Mindful Journaling.” Rubin, creative coach and founder of mindful writing company AllSwell Creative, provides tons of prompts and encouragement. She divides her book into four (increasingly deeper) sections: Living Unlocked; Make Yourself Comfortable; Having a Blast; and Digging In; within these sections, “each chapter can stand on its own.” Examples of specific prompts include: “Make a list of songs on your life soundtrack. What's on your personal playlist? What memories do you associate with each song? Why did you choose them?” OR “When was the time you didn't follow the rules … and the outcome was beneficial?” OR “Try writing a letter from your loved one to you. Use your imagination to tune into their voice. What do you think they’d like to communicate?” Throughout she advocates for personalizing each suggestion like her 4x4x4 plan (write for four minutes a day for four days a week for four weeks) which can adjust to 6x6x6 or 5x3x5 or 9x3x8, and so forth.  Rubin says, “Essentially, write into any resistance. … All of this is an experiment, an exploration. Just bring your attention back to the page and keep going.” That is wonderful advice, and I would echo her call to “let yourself be curious. … “dog-ear, underline, annotate. But, most of all, enjoy.”

Death at King's Cross by Rosanne Limoncelli

DEATH AT KING’S CROSS by Rosanne Limoncelli (The Four Queens of Crime) is the second in the series to feature four famous mystery writers (Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham) and pioneering policewoman Detective Chief Inspector Lilian Wyles as they all work together to solve a puzzling crime in 1941 London. A young woman is found stabbed at King’s Cross Station and the case is given to MI5 where the higher-ups seem reluctant to share information. The writers and Wyles are increasingly convinced that several more women’s lives may be at stake; it is only combining their findings (regarding stolen medicines, missing relatives, and blackmail threats) that they are able to concoct a plan and act upon it. Although the plot rests a bit too heavily on coincidences, it is still suspenseful and entertaining, especially the reflections on the role for women in the police force at that time. Look for this title when it becomes available in July 2026.

The Parisian Chapter by Janet Skeslien Charles

THE PARISIAN CHAPTER by Janet Skeslien Charles (Miss Morgan’s Book Brigade and The Paris Library) is another work of historical fiction closely tied to her other books. I have read and recommended those, but the latest (centered on Lily and her friend Mary Louise in 1995 Paris) was my least favorite mostly because it referenced the earlier work without sufficiently reprising the story for readers. Perhaps if I had read these titles more closely together than the five years between their publication, I would have felt differently. That said, I made my way through all of THE PARISIAN CHAPTER, enjoying the “found family” at the American Library in Paris and empathizing with the struggles of life as an expat (especially when one cranks Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves). Library Journal summed up the positives nicely, “A colorful tapestry shot through with themes of friendship, the power of books, the importance of history, and the joys and trials of an artist’s life. It’s told with charm and flair and filled with genuine joie de vivre.”

Big Time by Laura Vanderkam

BIG TIME by Laura Vanderkam is subtitled “A Simple Path to Time Abundance” and compliments the other texts (e.g., Tranquility by Tuesday or Juliet's School of Possibilities) that she has written regarding time management. In this case, Vanderkam asks readers to take more of a big picture approach and to think in terms of 8,760 hours (an entire year).  Her first chapter discusses the benefits of time tracking – learning about patterns of how one’s time is spent. From there, she advocates for readers to “become the ringmaster,” balancing career, relationships, and self. For example, she describes the Better Workday Challenge where she advocates for people to pursue three strategies: find meaning by spending an extra hour per week on the work you like best; increase belonging by giving fifteen more minutes to deepening a work friendship; and reinforce a feeling of autonomy by taking two, short intentional breaks per day. Subsequent chapters are labeled “Embrace Your Golden Hours” and “Be Open to Serendipity” and contain ideas for evening hours, weekends and vacations. Throughout, Vanderkam points to examples from her own life or the survey research which has conducted with others who tracked their time. The text is written in an accessible manner and concludes with a brief case study. Publishers Weekly describes BIG TIME as an “upbeat guide” that “will resonate most with readers juggling family and career demands.”

Inside the Box by David Epstein

INSIDE THE BOX by David Epstein (Range) presents his arguments on “How Constraints Make Us Better.” Epstein uses multiple stories and anecdotes to illustrate his point that too much choice can actually impede creativity. He discusses the benefits of ruthlessly prioritizing, “stop starting and start finishing,” and one page press releases (based on advice from Tony Fadell). In a recent New York Times piece, Epstein references Nobel Laureate Herbert Simon and contrasts Maximizers with Satisficers, claiming “that the path to the best outcome runs directly through the willingness to stop searching long before you’ve exhausted the options” (think about trying to choose a streaming service and video to watch). INSIDE THE BOX received a starred review from Publishers Weekly (“Through captivating case studies, Epstein reveals the transformative power of obstacles. It’s a game changer.”) and positive “blurbs” from Angela Duckworth, Seth Godin, Adam Grant, and Daniel Pink. Notes and references comprise roughly twenty-five percent of the text. A favorite story for me was referenced in The Wall Street Journal review: “Mr. Epstein used to make long lists that compelled multitasking and induced anxiety. Now, he writes, ‘at the top of each list is one single thing that, if accomplished, will mean it was a good day.’ This forced prioritizing means that he chooses something worth doing, does it and moves forward.” 

10-Minute Chair Yoga Exercises for Seniors

10-MINUTE CHAIR YOGA EXERCISES FOR SENIORS by April Hattori offers “40 Poses to Build Strength and Flexibility for Fall Prevention.” It is filled with colorful drawings (similar to the figure on the cover) and helpful direction. I recently attended my first chair yoga session in person at the local library and was happily surprised at the “workout” I received. This book is split into three sections. A short first part provides background and discusses the importance of building strength and flexibility. Part two introduces forty individual poses, including, per the author “targeted areas (the muscle groups engaged during the pose,) reminders and things to keep in mind to help your form, modifications to make the pose easier or more challenging, and illustrations showing how to do each step.” The third part outlines twenty-five ten-minute sequences of those poses, along with warm-up and cool-down exercises. Hattori also includes a list of references (although some are rather dated) and an index. 10-MINUTE CHAIR YOGA EXERCISES FOR SENIORS seems user-friendly and could encourage readers to try chair yoga, although a video (see below) or other group activity could also be a helpful, social motivator. 

For some more ideas, please see the video on chair yoga from Yoga with Adrienne:

Additional resources: Harvard Health (2025) offers advice on “Chair Exercises for Seniors”and Healthline (2025) provides direction on “7 Chair Yoga Poses for Older Adults.” Like Hattori, they stress numerous benefits including increased strength, emotional well-being, and fall prevention.