April Reading - Plans for May

 

April passed in a bit of a blur -- lots of doctor's appointments for both of us but, some fun stuff as well.  There was Easter and we all were able to get together (this year my SIL hosted) and she did a beautiful job.  It was my middle granddaughter's birthday on Easter (L - in pic below). She was just recovering from the flu so she kept her mask on most of the time --poor kiddo.  We did and Easter egg hunt and celebrated her sister's birthday (R) as it's a few days after. The cousins all got new Crocs as part of the gift as well as books and several other things.

It was also school vacation week so we all went to an art and book store and they all worked on a jellyfish project.

I also had my book group meeting. Some of us met for lunch beforehand and then (10) of us gathered to discuss Anxious People by Fredrik Backman. I actually read this when it first released and loved it. ALL of our group members loved this one (something new).  Has anyone seen the miniseries on Netflix?  I just watched the first episode so far - kinda fun. Next month's read is The Lost Apothecary; Sarah Penner which is suppose to be quite good. Have you read it?

April Reads

1. Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Memoir; Natasha Trethewey - 5/5 stars (April)
2. Hat Cat; Troy Wilson - 4/5 stars
3. The View From the Very Best House in Town; Meena Trehan - 4/5 stars
4. Margreete's Harbor; Eleanor Morse - 4/5 stars
5. The Diamond Eye; Kate Quinn - 4/5 stars
6. Lessons in Chemistry; Bonnie Garmus - 5/5 stars
7. Oceanarium; Loveday Trinick - 5/5 stars
8. Unraveling Oliver; Liz Nugent - 4.5/5 stars (unintentional reread - it sounded familiar but I liked it!)
9. Kids Fight Climate Change: Act Now to Be a #2minutesuperhero; Martin Dorey - 4/5 stars
10. My Big Book of Outdoors; Tim Hopgood - 5/5 stars
11. Two Nights in Lisbon; Chris Parvone - 4/5 stars
12. The Mad Girls of New York; Maya Rodale - 4/5 stars
13. The Dolphin House; Audrey Schulman - 4.5/5 stars
14. Unlikely Animals; Annie Hartnett - 4.5/5 stars
15. Bittersweet:: How Sorrow & Longing Make Us Whole; Susan Cain - 3.5/5 stars

I read (15 books in April) - (5) were children's books - of the others:  (2)NF and (8) Fiction.  I only downloaded (2) audiobooks from the library in April. All of my other reads were from my physical or virtual shelves.

Favorite Books for April

May Reading Plans

1. (Finish) Remarkably Bright Creatures; Shelby Van Pelt
2. Project Hail Mary; Andy Weir
3. The Lioness; Chris Bohjalian
4. The Lost Apothecary; Sarah Benner (book group read)
5. Metropolis; B.A. Shapiro
6. Unmasked: My Life Solving America's Cold Cases; Paul Holes
7. The Book Woman's Daughter; Kim Richardson
8. Summer Love; Nancy Thayer
9. Little Souls; Sandra Dallas
10. All the Lovers of the Night; Mieko Kawakami
11. The Orchard; Kristina Gorcheva-Newberry
12. The Fields; Erin Young

How was your month? Any plans for May.

Book Review - The Dolphin House; Audrey Schulman

 

The Dolphin House; Audrey Schulman

Europa Editions - 2022

Set in the mid-1960s twenty-something Cora is a hearing-impaired cocktail waitress in Florida. One day tired of being man-handled while forced to wear a tight bunny suit, she buys a one-way ticket to Saint Thomas and her life is changed in a way she hadn't expected.

Dr. Blum is a Harvard research scientist and professor trying to learn more about dolphins but, his methods are rather cruel.  Cora, discovers she has a gift of being able to hear these mammals and as she swims she slowly gains their trust.  Dr. Blum sees something in Cora's way with the dolphins and offers her a job to study the dolphins with a goal of teaching them English.  She is excited about the opportunity but insists that the cruel experimentation stop while she focuses on one particular dolphin named Junior. She even has a homearium built for her and Junior to share as they work together. Her progress and results are fascinating but, not everyone is thrilled.  The other all male researchers see her as unqualified. As the only female and a slim, attractive one at that who has to spend 6-days a week in her swimsuit she is forced to put up with a lot in the days when sexual harassment wasn't taken seriously.

Based in part on a true story about dolphin research conducted by John Lilly, I really loved this story. This is a story that held me captive and had my emotions all over the place. It was so moving to see the progress Cora was able to make as she gained Junior's trust.  There is a touching scene when Cora becomes frustrated but, she soon after discovers that her hard work pays off.  At times I was angry about some of had happened but, the author's talent and involved research made this a very rewarding read.

Rating - 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: Thanks go to Europa Editions and Edelweiss for allowing me access to the satisfying book.

Book Review - Unlikely Animals; Annie Hartnett

Unlikely Animals; Annie Hartnett

Ballantine Books - April 2022

Set in the small fictional town of Everton, New Hampshire, Unlikely Animals was a unique, almost whimsical kind of story, where even the dearly departed buried at the Maple Street Cemetery get to have their say about the residents still living in their town. It is a story of a family in crisis and it is also a story about how the opioid crisis has impacted small town life.

Emma Starling was believed to be born with the gift of healing.  At 22 she drops out of medical school (at least that's her version of the story) to return home to help care for her dying father, Clive.  Clive was forced into retirement as a result of a rare brain disorder that resulted in hallucinations.  Clive sees animals that only he seems to see.  He has even made friends with the ghost of a NH naturalist, Ernest Harold Baynes, a man known for his love and compassion to the gentle creatures who called the woods surrounding his property home.  Clive is also all consumed with helping to find Emma's former best friend, Crystal Nash.

In this story the characters are flawed and animals play a significant part in this novel.  The story is a bit slow moving but, trust me, it is slow and deliberate in the best kind of way. Emma was a well-crafted character and my heart went out to her at times. Her life wasn't turning out anything like she had thought. She'd gone from medical school to a caregiver and long term substitute teacher for fifth graders in town. Clive was also a character I grew to care about even when I didn't expect to as I learned about his past. There were some touching moments in this story and I loved the ending and learning about the author's inspiration for this story as well.  Very enjoyable.  If you are in the mood for something totally different, this just may be the book for you.

RATING - 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: Thanks go to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me access to an eGalley download.

Brief Book Review - The Mad Girls of New York; Maya Rodale

The Mad Girls of New York; Maya Rodale

Berkley - 2022

Set in 1887 New York City, The Mad Girls of New York is a work of fiction. It is based in part on Americas most famous 19th century female reporter - Nellie Bly.  She was just in her early 20s when she left he job at the Pittsburg Dispatch and headed for New York City determined to make a name for herself as a reporter.  Nellie met with many obstacles in this male dominated field but, she wasn't about to give up without a fight. After speaking with several other professional females she comes up with an idea that only a female would be able to handle. Her stunt is to go under cover at an insane asylum on Blackwell Island but, first she had to get herself committed.  

This is the first book of a new series and I thought it was pretty good but, it took a while to get going.  The other women she meets along the way were interesting, the conditions at the asylum horrific.  Many of the reasons other women found themselves there were tragic but not surprising. Some were committed by spouses because they were inconvenient to have around. Other women did not fit into what men expected of them, a conformist kind of behavior of no personal desires outside of marriage and motherhood.  This book wasn't perfect but, I would still be interested enough to see what book #2 in the series has to offer.

Rating - 4/5 stars

NOTE: I received an eGalley download of this book from the Berkley Publishing and Edelweiss in exchange for my unbiased review.

Book Review Two Nights in Lisbon; Chris Parvone

 

Two Nights in Lisbon; Chris Parvone

Macmillan Audio - 2022 

(14 hrs. 30 min - narrated by January Lavoy - very good)

Ariel Pryce accompanies her new and much younger husband, John Wright, on a business trip to Lisbon, Portugal.  After a wonderful night, Ariel wakes up to find John gone - no note and he isn't answering his phone.  No one at the hotel has seen him so she gets the local police and the American Embassy involved.

Later we learn that John is being held for ransom (3 million euros) and there are only (2) days to come up with the money.

This is a book were the characters have something to hide, Ariel doesn't know much about John's line of work and both of them have changed their names in the past.  Ariel's past was interesting and I liked her back story. I thought that the details about John, his past, and his business a bit sketchy at times but, perhaps deliberate on the author's part as well. There were quite a few secondary characters and some felt  bit under developed.

I was in the mood for an international thriller and this one fit the bill. The Portugal setting was a bonus and even though this thriller was longer than it needed to be in IMO, I liked the high stakes aspect to the story and found that it really held my interest. Its unexpected twists and turns added to my enjoyment. I also thought that the author did a good job with the big reveal. Readers who enjoy international thriller with a political bend should give this one a try.

RATING - 4/5 stars

NOTE:  The audiobook download was provided by the publisher Macmillan Audio and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Remarkably Bright Creatures; Shelby Van Pelt

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book we are reading or plan to read soon.  After reading and loving The Dolphin House by Audrey Schulman (no review yet), I thought this debut seemed like a good follow-up choice for me.

Remarkably Bright Creatures; Shelby Van Pelt

Ecco - May 2022

Day 1,299 of My Captivity

Darkness suits me.

Each evening, I await the click of the overhead lights, leaving only the glow from the main tank. Not perfect, but close enough.

Almost-darkness, like the middle-bottom of the sea. I lived there before I was captured and imprisoned. I cannot remember, yet I can still taste the untamed currents of the cold open water. Darkness runs through my blood.

What do you think --read more or pass?

Book Review - My Big Book of Outdoors; Tim Hopgood

My Big Book of Outdoors; Tim Hopgood

Candlewick Studio - 2022

( Ages 7-9 )

My Big Book of Outdoors is a great book to introduce young children to the magic of nature and all that the outdoors has to offer all year round.  The book is divided by seasons and not only do children learn what happens each season but there are also lovely poems peppered among the excellent watercolor illustrations.  The designs are so well done, they are vivid and just lovely to look at and discuss.  A section on birds shows not only the names but the different types of eggs and feathers associated with the birds as well.   The spring flower bulb section also shows the names with each picture as does the section on bees, butterflies and other insects. The same is true for summer fruits and veggies.  Fall leaves are identified as are winter animal tracks. I loved that there were also some easy projects for children and adults to do together: making a bird feeder, making a bug hotel, creating a leaf mobile and making paper snowflakes.  

This is truly a gorgeous resource book and one that is sure to get young ones excited about nature and the great outdoors.  Highly recommended for personal collections and school and public libraries as well.

NOTE: This book was sent to me by the publisher at no cost in exchange for my unbiased review.

Book Reviews - Kids Fight Climate Change: Act Now to be a #2minutesuperhero; Martin Dorey

Kids Fight Climate Change: Act Now to be a #2minutesuperhero

 Martin Dorey  (Illustrator: Tim Wesson)

Walker Books - 2021 - Candlewick Press 2022

(ages 7-12)

This book takes a very serious subject and makes it fun for young children to learn, understand and to do some small things to help save our planet.  The book gives a brief overview of climate change and why it is so important for everyone including the very young to get involved. Children get an opportunity to become a superhero activist.

Children learn why the fight matters, they also get to learn about wind turbines, solar power, renewable versus non renewable energy, about not wasting water.  There are some 60 different types of small actions and changes to become help in a small way.  Although this book is a good introduction for young children to do their part, I thought the information provided about climate change seemed overly simplistic and incomplete - even for the targeted age group here.  The illustrations  by Tim Wesson are really fun and well done.

RATING - 4/5 stars

NOTE: This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Unlikely Animals; Annie Hartnett

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book we are reading or plan to read soon. 

Unlikely Animals; Annie Hartnett

Random House Audio and Ballantine Books - 2022

Maple Street Cemetery, Everton, NH 

Years later, when people in Everton would tell the story, they would say it was Clive Starling who called the reporter, the way that man loved attention.

But we remember it the way it happened:  it was the midwife who slid down the hall to the payphone to get The Upper Valley New Hampshire News on the horn.  It was a slow news day, so the reporter have zipped right over to the hospital, and let the midwife go on and on into the tape recorder about a condition called charismata iamaton, which translates, in Greek, to "gifts of healing."  She insisted that the hands of this newborn baby, tiny hands still coated in the awful gunk of birth, had cured her sciatica.  She said most people with natural healing talents are unaware of their gifts, but this baby had the strongest natural talent she's ever seen.

BABY WITH MIRACLE HEALING POTENTIAL BORN, the next morning's headline read.  Town of Everton, N.H., REJOICES.

What do you think -- read more or pass?

I started this one last night and am am enjoying it so far.  

Book Review - Lessons in Chemistry ; Bonnie Garmus

 

Lessons in Chemistry ; Bonnie Garmus

Doubleday - 2022 - Random House Audio

Narrators - Miranda Ralson and Pandora Sykes  (very good)

(Combo - read/listen)

Set in CA in the early 1960s Elizabeth Zott is brilliant research chemist working at the Hastings Institute.  As the only female scientist in her work group, she has to fight harder to prove herself and to be taken seriously.  Why should be expected to make copies and fetch coffee for the men she works with? The only male who seems to recognize her brilliance is her fellow coworker - Calvin Evans, who has been nominated for the Nobel prize for his work. Together there is "chemistry" beyond the lab.  

When several years later Elizabeth finds herself unemployed and a single mother of a daughter, her friends Harriet and Walter help her out.  She finds herself in a new job, a cooking show called Supper at Six, with a live audience  - because cooking is chemistry.  While her wing-it style infuriates the producer and sponsors, the show becomes an instant success, not just because of her cooking tips but, because she also challenges her female viewers to question the way things have always been done and the importance of taking time for themselves and the things that they want out of life.

This book spoke to me in many ways, I loved the time period. Elizabeth was a wonderful, strong, quirky heroine and a champion for women.  Her no nonsense style and her matter-of-fact way made the men who hoped she would fail step back and take notice. Thanks to her mother, her daughter Mad (Madeline) was wise beyond her years and not afraid to question adults when things don't seem quite right.  There was also a stray dog named Six-Thirty who joined the family, the dog, a keen observer of character  understood hundreds of words despite having flunked out of his bomb sniffing training.  The story is heartwarming and infused with much dry wit. Readers who enjoy strong women characters will likely enjoy the debut gem. I can't wait to see what this talented new author will write next. DON'T MISS IT!

Rating - 5/5 stars

Book Review - The Diamond Eye; Kate Quinn

 

The Diamond Eye; Kate Quinn

William Morrow and Harper Collins Audio - 2022

(combo - read/listen)

I don't read a lot of historical fiction but, I always seem to enjoy it when I do.  I was drawn to this recent release mostly because it was inspired by a true story about a female Russian sniper in WWII. Lydia Mila Mikhailovna, Pavlichenko known as "Lady Death", (Mila) in this story, was credited with killing some 300 Nazis in WWII.  She was just 16 years old when her son was born, subsequently divorced and a student of history at a Ukrainian University when she enlisted in the Russian Army and was given a rifle to fight.

This story was a nice blend of fact and fiction and the chilling winter setting in Kiev seemed ideal as well. The storyline gave much insight to what war is like on the frontline.  It made it impossible for me not to relate some of what happened in this story to the current ongoing crisis in Ukraine today.  I liked how former President Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor were written into The Diamond Eye. Mila came to the US on a goodwill tour and these two strong women were able to forge a lasting friendship.  A story featuring strong women is always a bonus for me. Although the storyline felt a bit heavy at times, war never being an easy topic to balance in fiction, this novel did have some lighter moments and even a bit of romance as well. The characters, Mila, her former husband Alexei and her partner Kostia were well crafted as well.

This was a combo read/listen for me. The eGalley was sent to my by the publisher at no cost and the audiobook was downloaded by me from the public library. I thought the audio reader - Saskia Maarleveld did a very good job.  I now look forward to trying Quinn's book, The Rose Code soon as well.

Rating - 4/5 stars

Book Review - A Great Earth Day Choice - Oceanarium: Welcome to the Museum; Loveday Trinick

Oceanarium: Welcome to the Museum; Loveday Trinick

Teagan White (Illustrator)

Big Picture Press - April 2022

A new addition to the Welcome to the Museum series , Oceanarium is a timely offering for Earth Day 2022.  This oversized book like the others in the series offers so much information (112 pages) for curious middle grade students (grades 3-7) and adults alike.  The book is filled with detail facts about every aspect of ocean life. The book is written by a marine biologist from England and more than 200 sea creatures are covered in considerable depth.  The illustrations are fabulous and appropriate and they generated a lot of discussion with my 10 year old granddaughter.  One of our favorite sections was was entitled, One Ocean which generated much discussion on humans and the ocean.  I loved that the index and references also included great information for future readings.  This book would make a perfect gift for the curious oceanic explorer in your life. It would also be a wonderful addition to  personal, public and school library collections.

Rating - 5/5 stars

NOTE:  This book was sent to me at no cost in exchange for my unbiased review by Candlewick Press.)

Book Reviews - Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Story; Natasha Trethewey and Margreete's Harbor; Eleanor Morse

 

Memorial Drive: A Daughter's Story; Natasha Trethewey

Ecco - 2021

I love a good memoir and and this one was recommended by Ti@BookChatter.  It also made the cut as one of our former President Obama's favorite books in 2020.

In 1985 when the author was a college student her mother Gwen was murdered by her former stepfather. For years she buried her memories of her beautiful mother and their life together. Now 30+ later she tells her story, her mother's story and the story of an unpredictable, possessive and hot headed former Vietnam Vet who killed her mother in her own home.

This was much more than an ordinary memoir, the author is a former US poet laureate and her talent shows through the beautiful passages throughout this book. A richly observed story of race, love, obsession and family.  Highly Recommended.

Quotes

• “Mommy," you say quietly, so as not to be overheard. "Do you know how, when you love someone and you know they are hurting, it hurts you, too?” 
• “What matters is the transformative power of metaphor and the stories we tell ourselves about the arc and meaning of our lives.” 

Rating - 5/5 stars (purchased)

Margreete's Harbor; Eleanor Morse

St. Martin's Press - 2021

Burnt Harbor, Maine is the beautiful small town setting for this multigenerational saga.  The novel takes place in the years (1955-1968).  Life in some respects was much simpler back then but families still faced some of the same life changing issues as we experience today such as caring for elderly loved ones. Life was tumultuous for other reasons as well: war (Vietnam),  race relations as well as the assassination of President Kennedy. his brother Bobby as well as Dr. Martin Luther King.

The story begins with Margreete, an elderly woman with dementia who lives alone and starts a fire in her home.  Her daughter Liddie, her husband Harry and their two children Bernie and Eva upend their lives in Chicago and move to Maine to live with Margreete as she is unwilling to leave her home or consider other options posed to her.  Over the course of the novel a third, unplanned child is born as well and, as life marches on the reader experiences both big and small moments in the lives of this family.

Margreete was an interesting character, married and widowed 3x, with 3 children, it was sad to see her once full life slip away by the loss of her memory. There are a lot of themes covered in this story: marriage, family, parenting, fidelity, homosexuality and more. I found the story to be quiet in nature yet rich in detail. This novel took my longer than I expected to read but, I did enjoy it.  I probably appreciated the story more having grown up during this time period when my own grandfather also lived in the same house with us. It was a time when family often care for family under the same roof.  Readers who enjoy multigenerational, small town stories might want to add this one to their list.

Thanks to JoAnn@ Gulfside Musing for reminding me I had this one on my Kindle (sent to me by publisher and NetGalley).

Rating - 4/5 stars

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Mad Girls of New York; Maya Rodale

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book we are reading or plan to read soon. Hoping to start this one soon.

The Mad Girls of New York;  Maya Rodale

Berkley - April 2022

Chapter One

Welcome to New York

I'm off for New York. Look out for me. 

               ----Nelly Bly

NEWSPAPER ROW

NEW YORK CITY, 1887

Nellie did not take New York by storm.  Not at first, not as she planned.  She had arrived in spring, when the city was bursting into bloom and the air full of promise, with a hundred dollars in her purse along with her clips from her days at the Pittsburg Dispatch and ambition to burn.  Of course she would get a job as a reporter for one of the big city papers (even though it was hardly done for a woman).  Of course she would become a sensation (even though it was wisely agreed that a woman should do no such thing).  Nellie was good at two things: asking questions and believing in herself.

Brief Children's Book Reviews - Hat Cat; Troy Wilson and The View From the Very Best House in Town; Meena Trehan

Hat Cat; Troy Wilson (Eve Coy-Illustrator)

Candlewick Press - 2022

(ages 4 - 8)

This is a touching story about growing old and caring for other living things both human and animals.

We meet a lonely, elderly man who lives alone. He enjoys the simple pleasures like leaving peanuts for the squirrels and watching them feast from his front porch.  One day the man realizes that he forgot to bring his hat inside and he finds a small kitten nestled underneath.  The old man begins feeding the kitten and even names him Hat. The cat named Hat becomes an indoor cat but misses its outdoor life.  When the man goes away for a bit and Hat seems to have been left alone.  I feared this story was moving to a dark place, perhaps too dark for young children but, it did not. While the man is away the neighbors step in to care for the cat until the man eventually returns home.

The colorful illustrations are well done and quite sweet, I liked the story about companionship and helping others in need.

 

Rating - 4/5 stars

The View From the Very Best House in Town; Meena Trehan

Walker Books - 2022

(Ages - 8 - 12)

Part thriller, part friendship story, this is a book that will make the reader think about what constitutes a "real friend and a real home."  The story features two good friends, Sam and Asha, who are on the autism spectrum.  Sam has just been accepted into a private school, Castleton Academy. It's his mother that wants to change things up for him and things get off to a rocky start for him when he is publicly referred to as the Miracle Boy.  Sam is faced with new classmates who may pretend to want to be his friend but their actions show something quite different. 

Sam and Asha's characters come across as both unique, complex and quite genuine.  I thought it was quite creative that a third character -- a mansion known as Donnybrook added a mystery element to the story as well as the girl named Prestyn, who lives at Donnybrook. She pretends to want to be a friend  to Sam but is anything but.

This is the type of story that should generate questions and conversation form the children who read this book.  I thought this debut story was well done and the ending satisfying as well.

Rating - 4/5 stars

NOTE: (Both of these books were sent to me at no cost in exchange for my unbiased reviews.)

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Lessons in Chemistry; Bonnie Garmus

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book we are reading or plan to read soon. Today's pick is a book that's been on my Kindle for about a year. 

Lessons in Chemistry; Bonnie Garmus

Doubleday - 2022

Chapter 1

November 1961

Back in 1961, when women wore shirtwaist dresses and joined garden clubs and drove legions of children around in seatbeltless cars without giving it a second thought; back before anyone knew there'd even be a sixties movement, much less one that its participants would spend the next sixty years chronicling; back when the big wars was over and the secret wars had just begun and people were starting to think fresh and believe everything was possible, the thirty-year-old mother of Madeline Zott rose before dawn every morning and felt certain of just one thing: her life was over.

Despite that certainty, she made her way to the lab to pack her daughter's lunch.

What do you think -- read more or pass?

March Reading Wrap Up - April Reading Plans

March was a month where books were truly a welcomed escape and escape I did. It was my best month in 2022 with (18) books read. (2) were children's books, and (5) were books with 200 pages or less and (6) were NF. This month it was mostly the NF and children's books that I enjoyed the most.  

March Reads

1. The Paris Apartment; Lucy Foley - 3.5/5 stars (March)
2. French Braid; Anne Tyler - 4.5/5 stars
3. Very Cold People; Sarah Manguso -4/5 stars
4. Taste: My Life Though Food; Stanley Tucci - 4.5/5 stars (NF)
5. One Italian Summer; Rebecca Serle - 4/5 stars
6. Talking to the Dead; Helen Dunmore - 4/5 stars
7. In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss; Amy Bloom - 4/5 stars (NF)
8. Greenwich Park; Katherine Faulkner - 3.5/5 stars
9. Recitatif; Toni Morrison - 4/5 (short story)
10. The Other Dr. Gilmer: Two Men, a Murder & an Unlikely Fight for Justice; Benjamin Gilmer - 4.5/5 stars (NF)
11. The Invisible Life of Addie Larue; V.E. Schwab - 4/5 (book group read)
12. Sanctuary, Kip Tiernan & Rosie's Place: The Nation's First Shelter for Women; Christine McDonnell - 5/5 stars (NF)
13. Funny Farm: My Unexpected Life with 600 Rescue Animals; Laurie Zaleski - 5/5 stars (NF)
14. The Book of Cold Cases; Simone St. James - 4/5 stars
15. Nine Lives; Peter Swanson - 4/5 stars
16. Fearless: The Story of Daphne Caruana Galizia Defender of Free Speech; Gattaldo - 5/5 stars (NF)
17. Notes on an Execution; Danya Kukafka - 4.5/5 stars
18. The Days of Afrekete; Asali Solomon - 3/5 stars

Tentative April Plans

1. Anxious People - Fredrik Backman - book group read  for April (read in 2020 but, need refresher on characters) (audio)
2. Dolphin House; Audrey Schulman (eGalley) - 4.5/5 stars
3. Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole;  Susan Cain (NF) (eGalley)
4. A Sister's Story; Donatella DiPetrantonio (eGalley) - sequel to A Girl Returned
5. Mad Girls of New York; Maya Rodale (eGalley) - 4/5 stars
6. Unlikely Animals; Annie Hartnett (eGalley) - 4.5/5 stars
7. Lessons in Chemistry; Bonnie Garmus (audio) - 5/5 stars
8. Children on the Hill; Jennifer McMahon (audio)
9. The Diamond Eye; Kate Quinn (audio/eGalley - combo) - 4/5 stars
10. The Long Weekend; Gilly Macmillan (eGalley)
11. Memorial Drive; Natasha Trethewey (NF) (my shelves - 5/5 stars)
12. Margreete's Harbor; Eleanor Morse - (eGalley - in progress) - 4/5 stars
13. Quartet in Autumn; Barbara Pym (my shelves)

(PLUS - a few children's books as well)

Happy April All!