The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Most of us have books that we've been meaning to read for a while, and never quite get around to. For me, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis was one of those books.

A family member had mentioned the book - actually, the whole set of Narnia books - for years, to the point that it became a running joke for us. But finally, I decided to give it a go.

The book takes place in an almost magical wardrobe during World War II, when four siblings are sent to stay elsewhere. As the children explore the house, the youngest child, Lucy, discovers a wardrobe that, when one goes deep enough, turns into another reality. When she comes back out, her siblings figure she has imagined it. They soon realize the truth.

Once inside Narnia, the siblings meet many characters and are drawn into a battle of right-vs.-wrong, and are subtly changed in the process.

C.S. Lewis's classic book is a quick read, and definitely worth reading. After finishing The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, I will be going on to finish the rest of the series, as well as recommending it to others.

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Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers, by Anne Lamott

Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Like many people, I have favorite writers. So when I rediscovered Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott where I'd placed it on one of my bookshelves (years ago), I figured it was past time to read it.

Like many of Lamott's other nonfiction books, Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers deals with her liberal Christianity, her ways of praying, and her favorite prayers, which, as one can guess, include "Help, Thanks, (and) Wow."

This short book is filled with Anne's quirky humor, how she relates to others, and how she prays for both herself and others.

Is you're a fan of Anne Lamott and are looking for a quick, satisfying read, Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers should fit the bill nicely.

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Before Women Had Wings, by Connie May Fowler

Before Women Had Wings by Connie May Fowler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Before Women Had Wings by Connie May Fowler is an intense novel dealing with poverty, generational abuse, and hope of escape. Avocet Jackson, nicknamed Bird, is the younger of two sisters (with an older half-brother) living in Florida with their mother, Glory Marie.

After their father's death, the family moves to Tampa. While they had been poor before the move, they slid further into povery, as Glory Marie began drinking heavily, and becoming more and more abusive.

This book, a quick read, is based loosely on Fowler's early life. making it a slightly harder read. But in the end, when Glory Marie lets an elderly friend, Miss Zora, take the sisters into her care, one sees that life might be getting a little better.

While the book might be difficult to read in spots, Connie May Fowler's Before Women Had Wings is well worth the read.

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Rise and Shine, by Anna Quindlen

Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Some books are enjoyale enough that it's easy for one to reread. For me, Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen is one of those books.

Bridget Fitzmaurice is a social worker who lives in her sister Meghan's shadow. Meghan is the popular host of Rise and Shine, "the country’s highest-rated morning talk show," until the Monday morning when she says several forbidden words into an open mic.

Within days, Meghan is off the air, has had her marriage implode, and finds her life falling apart.

Bridget's life gets difficult, too. She becomes pregnant by her much older boyfriend, who doesn't want kids. She also helps Meghan's son, Leo, get a summer job, where he is shot and left paralyzed. The book then ties all these loose ends together in a realistic way.

The characters in Rise and Shine are believable, quirks, warts and all, making it a satisfying read.

If you're looking for a good read, Anna Quindlen's Rise and Shine is one to check out.

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On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, by Stephen King

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

There are many books about writing, some describing "how to" (with step-by-step rules), others more along the line of "how I did it," and some that fall somewhere in-between. If one were to choose which of these books to buy, whether for inspiration, as a guide, or simply to enjoy, which would be the best to buy?

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King is one of the two best books about writing that I have found. (The other is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott.) On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is part memoir (obviously), part guide to writing, and fully enjoyable, with useful information.

The first section deals with Stephen King's journey into writing. It is interesting reading, especially for anyone who wants to delve into this master story-teller's background. At one point, he mentions being totally frustrated with writing, throwing out what he had written for his first book. Thank goodness, his wife found the pages, read them, and encouraged King to continue writing. (Thanks, Tabitha!) He goes on to tell selling Carrie, including the advance for the paperback sale, which allowed him to leave his job (teaching), and writing full-time.

The second part of the book is a guide to writing. Whether one is planning to write full-time or not, it is definitely worth reading. There is no frilliness, nothing to distract, just simply great advice, skillfully written.

For anyone looking for a book about writing, or simply looking for the next good read, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King is well worth the time.

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Overboard, by Sara Paretsky

Overboard by Sara Paretsky
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It seems that Sara Paretsky gets better with each V.I. Warshawski book, and her book Overboard is no exception.

Written during the first year of the COVID pandemic, Overboard starts off with Vic chasing after Mitch (one of the two dogs she shares with her neighbor, Mr. Contreras), who has discovered a badly hurt teen. Vic alerts the police, who get the girl to the hospital.

Of course, things go haywire from there. The girl disappears, a crooked cop tries to kill Vic, Vic has to hide several people...In the end, everything works out. Well worth the read.

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Sometimes I Dream in Italian: A Novel, by Rita Ciresi

Sometimes I Dream in Italian: A Novel by Rita Ciresi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are some books that I reread on a regular basis, whether yearly, biyearly, or...

It had been several years since I last read Sometimes I Dream in Italian: A Novel by Rita Ciresi, and figured it was time for a reread. I had forgotten how pleasantly quirky the book is.

Angel Lupo tells the story of growing up in an Italian household, a household that she and her sister Lina would discuss, even as they tried to outrun some of their memories. What was the most hideous thing in their Catholic household? The seashell-studded crucifix? The strange things that their parents brought on a trip to see the Statue of Liberty? Questionable relatives?

Once they've moved out, things really get interesting, with Lina on the verge of divorce, while Angel debates marrying the wrong man. It ends with a hospital stay, and questions of how the sisters cope.

Is Rita Ciresi's book Sometimes I Dream in Italian: A Novel worth reading? Most definitely.

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