Have you ever read a book and didn't like it much the whole way through until you finish and realize you liked it after all?? This is what happened with this book that contains a mind-bending twist at the finish. With only 162 pages, Julian Barnes' The Sense of an Ending a featherweight in terms of pages but don't let this novel fool you. The novel packs a big punch even after you've turned the last page.

“Maps were love letters written to times and places their makers had explored.”

“I don‘t have time for this. I have an alien thingy to catch.”

What a fun read: The Council of Animals by Nick McDonell. Entertaining. Witty. Clever. Cheeky dialogue. Subtle commentary that makes you think twice. In fact, as soon as I finished this short read, I wanted to read it again in case I missed anything. Read on Kindle but definitely want to buy hard copy to add to my overfilled bookshelf.

The cat shook her head, knowing as she did that it was useless to argue with this baboon.
“It is better,” said the cat, “to accept what cannot be changed, and pee on it….”

“We do not become different people as we age; we just add layers of experience onto who we already are.”

“As I reread it for a final time, it occurred to me that we are all unreliable narrators of our own lives, crafting stories about ourselves that omit unsavory truths and highlight our invented identities.”

What she said next she said so quiet I almost missed it. “Home‘s not the place you‘re from, Woody. Home‘s the place you want to be.”

I loved this gritty historical fiction. A Newbery Honor Book for readers of all ages. Well written and deftly told through the eyes of a young, unassuming heroine.

A tale spanning over three hundred years in the Life of Addie LaRue. The premise, making a deal with the devil, is an old one but the author does a great job of bringing the consequences into focus. A big, good read.

The Accidentals by Minrose Gwin is a beautifully written novel spanning over half a century. For older readers, Ms. Gwin transports us into past decades (1950s-Early 2010s) with visceral imagery and timely references.
For younger readers, it a wonderful romp through time.
This is not a story for the fainthearted. However, it is a very GOOD story.
Strong female voices carried the story into my heart.

This book was a compelling and difficult read. Not recommended if you want to feel safe and secure! A description online will tell you this book is about “the complexities of parenthood, race, and class“ but I don't agree. This book is about being human in a difficult moment. Flush with minutiae, you may need few pages to adjust to his style. The book is written in third person omniscient. Be wary of inexplicable head hopping.

This is a short read by an award winning author. I would only recommend this book if you enjoy character study because there isn‘t much actually happening in terms of plot. A older man who has had a series of failed relationships gets a surprise visit from a former girlfriend‘s son. The intrusion of strangers and disruption in his daily routine causes him to briefly ponder his choices in life.

“The trees wore gowns of starlight.”

If you enjoyed Clan of the Cave Bear, you will enjoy this novel set in the Aleutian Islands in 7056 BC, the end of the Ice Age. The character development was great and the story moved along at a steady pace. The author had a good handle on connecting with her reading audience through all the twists and turns of being human, even during the Ice Age. Strap on your earmuffs and settle in by the fire to follow a young girl in peril.

I gave this book a So-So rating because of the unreliable narrator, something I don‘t care for when reading a novel. The long title fits with the authors style of long sentences. The quirky nature of the story and splashes of humor in unexpected moments kept me reading until the end.

This book starts with an interesting premise...a new drug discovered by a small pharma group gives them the ability to live forever. They have become Immortal, then murder and mayhem begins. The rest of the book is full of intrigue and espionage, including some violence I winced through. A page turning plot yet the lack of a strong likable character forces me to give it a So-So rating.

I have visited the wonderful Rose Reading Room at the NYPL which could be the only reason I trudged through this dry account of the library‘s latest problems. Loved the title, but that‘s about all of this book. If you are a reader in NYC, this book may interest you.

A well educated couple grapple with the consequences of the husband being wrongfully accused and convicted of a crime just a year and a-half into their young marriage. Facing a 12-year separation, the novel gives voice to the strain placed on the relationship and the weight of waiting. The author chose to tell the story through a variety of voices giving the reader the opportunity to know both sides (and more) to the story.

An enticing title with a surprisingly intriguing true story of a road trip gone terribly wrong for two Ivy League graduates traveling in China in the 1980s. The author bares it all in this compelling read.

Looking for a Western with lots of heart? This frontier tale has everything from sensitive gunslingers to poet ranchers to a sharp-shooting former slave who just happens to be female. Interspersed with landscapes of desert trails that leave dust in your eye, you may find yourself cheering for a reluctant murderer or perhaps, a gentleman academic turned bounty-hunter. Good writing keeps this plot building to a unexpected end.