DNF at 50% I had high hopes for Ribbons of Scarlet, an ambitious novel about seven women pivotal to the French Revolution. With six celebrated authors contributing, I expected a richly layered tale of courage, sacrifice, and upheaval. Unfortunately, it didn’t meet my expectations. This historical novel unites seven real women from all walks of life, including aristocratic Sophie de Grouchy, fruit-seller Louise Audu, pious Princess Élisabeth, and determined Charlotte Corday. Each one fights for her beliefs—Sophie educates peasants, Louise storms Versailles, and Charlotte seeks to rid the Republic of bloodshed. Their stories intersect in intriguing ways as the revolution intensifies, from gilded salons to the crowded streets. While the […]
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Amy’s Picks and Pans, Issue 34
Welcome back, book lovers! This month, I traveled through time, solved mysteries, and even peeked into other people’s lives—all from the comfort of my favorite reading nook. From gripping thrillers that kept me up past my bedtime to heartwarming children’s tales that brought a smile to my face, I covered a wide terrain. I dove into some Christian fiction that stirred my soul, wandered through the rich tapestries of historical settings, and pondered over profound literary works. Not all books hit the mark this month, but each brought a unique flavor to my ever-expanding library. So, whether you’re in the mood for a tale that tingles your spine, a […]
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A Haunting Tale of Friendship and Betrayal in the McCarthy Era
The Briar Club is a haunting historical mystery set in an all-female boardinghouse in Washington, D.C., during the turbulent McCarthy era. The novel opens in November 1954 with a shocking act of violence at Briarwood House, leaving a dead body and a community in turmoil. As the police arrive and the residents await questioning, the narrative rewinds to explore the years leading up to the tragedy. In 1950, Briarwood House residents keep to themselves until the mysterious widow Grace March moves into the attic room. Her arrival sparks unlikely friendships among them: Fliss, a harried new mother; Nora, a police officer’s daughter entangled with a gangster; Bea, a former pro […]
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The Phoenix Crown Falls Flat Despite High Expectations
2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I have long been a fan of Kate Quinn, with several of her books earning 5-star ratings. Because of that, I eagerly anticipated The Phoenix Crown, co-written with Janie Chang. I was so disappointed that I almost didn’t finish it. Here’s why. In 1906, opera singer Gemma Garland moves to San Francisco to join the New York Metropolitan Opera’s traveling company, hoping to room with her old friend Nellie Doyle. Instead, she meets and falls for railroad magnate Henry Thornton. Meanwhile, 19-year-old Feng Suling, disguised as a boy to avoid an arranged marriage, is trying to forget her missing lesbian lover, Reggie. When a […]
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February 2023 Picks and Pans
This month was surprising. I normally don’t have as many 3-star ratings, but that’s just the way the cookie crumbles or the ball bounces. Each of these books was good in its own way, some just weren’t great. Have fun adding to your TBR list! A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny “Happiness as an act of defiance. A revolutionary act.” ― Louise Penny, A World of Curiosities Louise Penny’s latest installment in the bestselling Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series marks a triumphant return for the beloved detective. In this eighteenth book, Three Pines emerges from a harsh winter, setting the stage for a special celebration. However, the return of siblings […]
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Signal Moon
Lily Baines,a young debutante, wearies under the weight of wartime Britain. Swapping her elegant white gloves for a radio, she embarks on a daring journey as part of the Women’s Royal Naval Service in 1943. Assigned to intercept enemy naval communications and forward them to Bletchley Park for decryption, she stumbles upon an unexpected transmission. Matt Jackson is a spirited young American naval officer in 2023. His ship is taking heavy fire in the treacherous North Atlantic when he radios for help. Could he be communicating with a woman in the middle of WWII? Living on opposite sides of an eighty-year chasm, Lily and Matt must find a way to […]
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My Favorite Reads of 2022
I read 106 books in 2022, so narrowing it down to my very favorites was a challenge. The list below comprises my crème de la crème in a great year of reading. You’ll find a variety of genres set in the United States, Mexico, Ghana, Ukraine, China, England, Poland, Austria, Germany, France, Czechoslovakia, and Vietnam. Most of these were 5-star reads for me, but one was a 4.5 rounded up to 5. I hope you find something you love! Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid “We live in a world where exceptional women have to sit around waiting for mediocre men.”—Taylor Jenkins Reid, Carrie Soto is Back. […]
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July 2022 Reads and Reviews
We Norwegian Americans love to say “Uff da.” The phrase is used to express many emotions: exasperation, annoyance, surprise, anger, exhaustion, enthusiasm, dismay, and even joy. It also works as an uber-mild curse. So what does this have to do with my July book reviews? Well, today I am expressing my frustration for posting this in September rather than July. UFF DA! I was on a road trip for much of the month and only eked out seven books, but a few of them were amazing. Here goes. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi “We believe the one who has power. He is the one who gets to write the story. So when […]
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The Diamond Eye Book Review
“Snipers must make themselves calm in order to succeed, and that is why women are good at sharpshooting. Because there is not a woman alive who has not learned how to eat rage in order to appear calm,” Kate Quinn, The Diamond Eye. With each of her historical novels, Kate Quinn gets better. After her 2021 book, The Rose Code, I didn’t think that was possible, but The Diamond Eye is a stellar achievement. In the snowbound city of Kiev, history student Lyudmila “Mila” Pavlichenko’s life revolves around her job as a library researcher and caring for her five-year-old son, Slavka. But when Hitler invades Russia, she forges a different […]
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Five-Star Reads of 2021
These were my five-star reads in 2021. I’m stingy with my stars, so these books really stood out for me among the 115+ books I read last year. I enjoyed them for a variety of reasons: Some inspired me, some taught me forgotten history, some were funny, some were creative, but one stands alone for extraordinary writing. Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner Angle of Repose may be the best book I have ever read. Wallace Stegner’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel traces the fortunes of four generations of one family as they attempt to build a life for themselves in the American West. Confined to a wheelchair, retired historian Lyman […]
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