Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows by Balli Kaur Jaswal
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As much a story of immigrants as it is about erotic stories. I loved it. The characters come alive and you can almost hear them talking. There is so much here and it is presented so beautifully. The delight in their own culture and at the same time their desire to change things.
The desire of these women to share their fantasies and desires helps them to realize that they are not alone, their desires are a normal part of life and loss.
I felt that I got to know the characters and what made them do the things they did. Said another way, the plot was remarkably clear and the story unfolds beautifully.
Bravo, I read this for book club and my opinion went from "Why am I bothering with this book?" to "Wow, that was quite a read!"

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The Many Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Does the past haunt our present personality and actions? In this multi-century family story we see that many of the same emotions and feelings exist across the generations. It is a beautiful story with intriguing characters and plot lines. Enjoyable to read and filled with a lot of things one might think about.
I'm not sure that there is that genetic disposition but certainly we remind ourselves where and who we come from and that might shape who we are and who we become. Either way, the situations we find ourselves living in has a great deal to do with how we behave and think.

Loved the book.

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The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A work of genius. First one should note that Marie Benedict wrote this with Victoria Christopher Murray. The book is a masterpiece of historical fiction. It is beautifully written and manages to tell a complex story from multiple viewpoints through clever narration.
The plight of women in the early 1900's is clearly defined but overlaying it is the racism that people of color experienced then and now. Lets see, if being a woman was not enough, our heroine was also colored, her words, passing for white. She sees, and the author shows us, the personal cost of racism and bigotry to the society and individuals.
Humanity has lost too much already by keeping some people in poverty and ignorance and subjugating whole groups of people to specific jobs or status.
The scientist who can cure cancer might be sweeping floors because (s)he was not given the opportunity to expand his education and use his whole potential. It is our loss.
When will we see that people need to be allowed to grow and be educated to their highest potential regardless of race or religion.
This book also shows that the cesspool of hate that we find ourselves in today isn't new, or the result of anyone person but is the consequences of centuries of hate perpetrated and encouraged by the highest and most respected members of our society.
Wake up America.

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No Plan B by Lee Child
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jack Reacher has become an old friend. This was a good story with nice plot twists and unsavory crooks. Jack to the rescue... This time the pacing seemed off. I wondered how they got from point a to point b so quickly. A little like the Muppets traveling by map.
This is still one of my favorite series and I look forward to what Jack will be up to next,

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The Boys from Biloxi by John Grisham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great book. Strong characters, interesting plot and great writing. Quite a saga but it represents a large swath of American history. Most people are content to let criminals run roughshod over the law for the pleasure of some of the citizens. No care about the harm caused or the injuries inflicted. This is a feel-good story about a families growing and changing some for the better and others for the worse.
I could not put it down

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The Black Swan of Paris by Karen Robards
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is the story of a Parisian singer who uses her alliance with the Resistance to rescue her mother from the Nazis. As the darling of Paris’s music scene, she helps her manager, an SOE operative working with the British, posing as a Frenchman. The discovery that the Germans have killed her father and taken her mother prisoner, move the story to a cat and mouse game of trying to rescue her mother.
The story is delightful complex and often unbelievable. The action at the end saves the book.
Except for too many pages and far too much after the climax, it was an enjoyable WWII fantasy.

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This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant book. Time travel is a vehicle here to talk about time, memory and love. The use of language and the subtle shift in tone of time to time is incredible.
The story is really about the depth of parental/child love. Deeper than time and resistant to change.
At first the idea of a vacation to the past seemed light and frivolous. It turns out that it was a chance to try and correct her life. Each subtle correction was unsatisfactory in some ways but interesting. When the main character resigns herself to the future oops, no spoilers here. Enjoy the book.

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Black Dog by Stuart Woods
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alas, our boy is done. Stuart Woods passed away. I'm sure the Stone Barrington series will be picked up but it will not be the same. The wit, cleverness and skill of this author will live on. He will always be a favorite of mine. Some call it mindless drivel but I think its just plain fun!

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The Half Life of Valery K by Natasha Pulley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved it. An interesting story that would seem pure fantasy if we didn't name the country or the era. It is the behavior of people in that society that so intrigued me. Their lives, their value to themselves and the state kept me daydreaming about this as possible reality. Then of course I found it was a true story.
The author presents just enough and at the perfect pace to keep you reading and imagining life in this place.

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One Two Three by Laurie Frankel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fascinating book. much deeper and more relevant than at first glance. Its got it all mystery, love, hate and most of the stuff in between. Mostly I was fascinated by the author's style and the way she presented the story. Three young girls, so different yet so in tune with each other. I don't want to spoil it so no more details.
I would add that it is a severely sad book, like a bunch of days without sun sad.

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Portrait of an Unknown Woman by Daniel Silva
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Daniel Silva never fails to satisfy. This is a departure from previous books in the series and it was a delight. Complex, interesting with a lot of technical art stuff to make it feel like a true story. The same old and not yet worn out characters. Gabriel now seems to have a new career away from the terror of politics and international intrigue and into more family centered life. I can live with that. He is getting older too.

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