Amy’s Picks and Pans, Issue 25

Stop the Press! Winter’s chill is setting in, and if you’re anything like me, now’s the perfect moment to bulk up your “want to read” list. This edition brings you a diverse array of genres, from historical fiction and feminism to Christian thriller, time travel, and contemporary fiction. Join me on a literary journey spanning Russia, California, Wyoming, Alabama, England, France, Iran, and the Philippines. I should be jet-lagged with all that traveling through my eyeballs! Among these pages, you’ll find some real gems (and, in my humble opinion, a couple of duds). Here’s hoping you discover something delightful to while away the chilly hours. Extra! Extra! Read All About […]

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Zuleikha

Zuleikha takes readers on a journey through a lesser-known chapter of history. The story is set during Vladimir Lenin’s dekulakization campaign in 1930, a time when millions of kulaks found themselves in the crosshairs of political repression. The tale opens in a Tatar village near Kazan. Zuleikha, a strong peasant woman, sees her husband murdered by communists. Her life takes a harrowing turn as she’s forced into exile, enduring a grueling train journey to a remote Siberian outpost. The camp’s conditions are brutal, claiming the lives of many during the unforgiving winter. As Zuleikha gradually adapts to her new reality, she forms a motley crew of companions, including her husband’s […]

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