Horse

 I have always though Geraldine Brooks' best book was The Year of Wonder, a story about the plague .  I found that book fascinating and learned quite a bit of history from that novel. This time she has completely outdone herself with this new novel, Horse.

Horse is a novel whose plot seems to be the story of a racehorse who holds an iconic place in history.  On he surface that is an interesting story in itself.  But this book is so much more.  It is a love story, between a trainer and his horse.  It is the history of horse racing in this country at the turn of a century.

It is a history of slavery in the south and the beginning rumblings of the Civil War. It is the story of men dared to who stand up for what they believed in.  This book also ties the past to the present.  It brings the past to meet the present and show the race relations in this country are not solved..  maybe even more dangerous, because they are not as clear. 

There is also a large element of the art of painting a horse and the restoration of its skeleton.  All these added facets are so interesting.  This is a novel to savor and enjoy as you read each page.

Justice For All

Justice For All written by Phyllis Greenbach was a book recommended to me.  It was compelling and kept me engaged til the end.  She definitely outlined a very hard, dangerous and frustrating situation that people trying to change their lives for the better face when coming to this country.

An interesting novel that tells the immigrant experience, escaping from danger in El Salvador and risking life to come through Mexico and immigrant to the US. Greenbach describes in real depth the trip by bus to Mexico and the border crossing. Then life is still difficult as an undocumented worker trying to learn the language, find work and pay for food and housing. Greenbach builds an interesting storyline of a small family and each of their experiences adapting to their new life.

We meet Rosa and her two sons starting showing them with their father trying to live a normal happy life in El Salvador.  Finally the horrors of the military catch up with their family and when her husband is killed Rosa realizes that she needs to leave to save her sons' lives.  This story follows her and her sons' as they travel and try to establish themselves in the US.  

Interesting story and I hope this is a realistic version of what happens when people do come to this country because it is really emotionally impactful.

Trapped in My Sports Bra and Other Harrowing Tales

 Wonderful short entertaining book of essays that tell the story of the author's trials and activities that consume our everyday lives.   Trapped in My Sports Bra and Other Harrowing Tales  talks about author, Marlene Fischer's relationships and her life including her children, her parents and the people she encounters through out her day.  Sweet short vignettes that are easy to read on the beach or when you just have a few minutes.

The vignettes in this book are ones that so many of us can relate to.  As I was reading I felt like I had a similar story that if the author, Marlene was sitting with me I would have shared right back to her. Sometimes I missed having her there to discuss each essay with.  They are so relatable that they bring back memories of incidents you may have forgotten.  Or you may even have advice that you could share about how to handle an experience differently.

It is comforting to know sometimes when things are difficult or even just embarrassing that we all are  going through similar life experiences.

Gained a Daughter But Nearly Lost My Mind

 Marlene Fischer writes her first short book about the wedding she planned, executed and held in her backyard during the pandemic for her son and future daughter-in-law...  Gained a Daughter But Nearly Lost My Mind

What a fun entertaining account of how Marlene executed and held a backyard wedding for her son and future daughter during the pandemic. So many crazy experiences have happened during Covid. this book records for posterity how even the world in crisis could not stand in the way of true love and a wedding. Altering dresses and plans the families pivoted and made the best of a crazy situation creating lasting memories in their backyard and in the house stuffed with family members leading up to the eventful day.

Short and very sweet, Marlene is talking to all the women today who are marrying off their sons.  These days we do not need to be the maligned mother in law, butt of jokes and evil representation from the movies and stories... we can be a second mother.  We are winning a lovely daughter and the she is gaining another loving mother figure.

Beautiful Little Fools

 Beautiful Little Fools ...sure fooled me... I was reading along thinking how interesting that author Jillian Cantor has written this great historic novel based on the real lives of Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan and the deaths that resulted from that steamy love affair... when I realized that the story she was interpreting was originally a novel... not real life.

I have loved all the books I have read by this author.  Her imagination is prolific.  She has wowed me with books about the Rosenbergs and their neighbors.  She has imagined a story where Margot, Anne Frank's sister lives and comes to America to find her sister after the war.  So when she steps in and explores the world of the infamous Jay Gatsby and his relationship with Daisy it is very creative.

Daisy Fay tells the story of meeting Jay, falling in love and the heartbreak of him  leaving for war and her sister and father dying.  Jordan Baker, Daisy's best friend follows the same story line and adds her perspective and personal facts about her life as a professional golfer to fill out the storyline.  We also hear from Catherine McCoy a woman suffragette, who becomes involved with Gatsby and her sister, Myrtle Wilson, whose own unhappy marriage leads her to get involved with the lives of the main characters here by meeting Tom Buchanan at the request of Jay Gatsby.   We hear from each of these women as their lives intertwine in an increasingly dangerous whirlwind that will end in tragedy.

Moral of the story; money cannot make you happy...

Are You There GD? It's Me Margaret

 I guess I was already too old to read this when it was first published.  Reading it now for a book group and it is well written and I can see myself at that age again so clearly.  Interesting to read it as an adult.

Are You There GD? It's Me Margaret by Judy  Blume is a perfect coming of age novel.  It address so many topics that girls of 12 are curious about.  It is a way for the reader to get answers to questions if they cannot discuss it with a parent.

It was fun to read now as aa banned book and see what people object to.  The idea of discussing religion, sex, and menstruation.  Everything that girls in sixth grade are interested in.  It is also fun to read that she is in New Jersey, where I grew up.  

I think the serious issues are also presented simply, and without judgement.  It is interesting to think about GD outside of a religious context. You do not need to be apart of a religious group to talk to GD.

This book was on the cutting edge of its time, but is still so relevant to girls today.

Marion Lane and the Deadly Rose

 Marion Lane and the Deadly Rose is the newest novel in the Marion Lane series written by author, T.A. Willberg.  I am not sure why I keep reading this series, but I am interested in what happens but not really  enjoying the writing style of Willberg.

There are some characters that keep appearing in the underground society of special detectives that assist London police and MI5 with cases they cannot figure out.  

This time as Marion is working to solve a murder that happened on the streets of London, there is unrest below the streets.  Marion and her friends are trying to resist the pressure to join with others in forming a union of detectives who want to change the procedures and change how the secret society works.

Something seems wrong to Marion and she is also getting secret letters telling to watch out for the new recruits.  As the novel progresses Marion gets to know the people she is working with better and the  reader is learning characters back stories.  

So though the mysteries are interesting and the concept is little different, but similar to other books. There is a lab where they work on special items to assist in their work, like a cape that makes you invisible, an exploding orb, special glasses to through things.   The writing and character development are not compelling .  I will probably read the next book in the series, but I am not exactly sure why.