How We Became Human / New and Selected Poems: 1975 - 2001 --by Joy Harjo

Poetry

272 pages

5 Stars

I've read several of her poems in various magazines; this is the first collection I've read. I will read more. 

Her poetry is beautiful, honest, accessible, and will blow your socks off!  Her poetry will open insights into a world just enough different from what we're used to and become mind expanding. I found it a great introduction to a poet I knew more about than knew her poetry.

We are so fortunate, as a country, to have her as our Poet Laureate.

Poems in a Foreign Language --by Thomas Hubbard

Poetry

40 pages

5 Stars

This is a small, hand-stitched book by a gentle man. Mr. Hubbard is of mixed blood, and identifies as Native. His poems are from a Native perspective and deserve to be ranked up there with other, more well-known Native poets such as Joy Harjo and N. Scott Momaday. 

The Only Language I Speak is Foreign really spoke to me. And answered some of my childhood questions.  But my favorite one, at least for now, that will change as I reread the book, is Raining again (A Seattle Poem).

This book is available through Foothill Publishing at: http://foothillspublishing.com/2014/id95.htm and is truly worth the cost in money and more importantly in the time to read and reread. It belongs on the shelf of every lover of honest poetry.

When We Believed in Mermaids: A Novel --by Barbara O'Neal

fiction / literary

348 pages / 1612 KB

4 Stars

I read this book a couple of weeks ago, and couldn't put it down. She gets 5 stars for the story, 3 stars for the editing. Had it been edited, 5 stars would have been awarded. So, the bad news first: I was totally tossed out of the story half a dozen or so times with the phrase, "Me and Josie..., me and...." Perhaps Ms. O'Neal is from the UK? I understand that is common grammar there, but not here. At least it's common in their tv shows.

Second, the good news: As I said above, I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the story (when not being thrown out), I could relate to the people involved, I maybe didn't like them all, but I could see them. They were human. I very much enjoyed O'Neal's writing style, or voice. It's what I would call relaxed and accessible. Hence my frustration at being tossed out now and then.

If you want a thriller, or a bodice ripper, this isn't your cup of tea. Kit and her mother have lived for 15 years with the knowledge that Josie, Kit's older sister, is dead. And then they see her on a news clip from New Zealand. Anyone can look like her sister, but no one else would have the scar in exactly the same place, with the same shape. 

Much of this story is told in memory of happier days from the POVs of both sisters. And the mystery of why Kit became an MD, and Josie a drug addict. I found the ending quite satisfactory and on that, I'll say no more.

Do I recommend the book? Yes.

Drowning with Others --by Linda Keir

fiction / literary

379 pages / 3758 KB

3 Star

I wasn't going to review this book, because I didn't read all of it. The 3 star rating is the best I could do as "neutral"

I found the premise of the book fascinating, but about the time I was at the 40% mark, I realized there wasn't a single character in the book I cared about. I didn't relate to any, I didn't like any, and I didn't dislike any. I put the book down. Then I kind of wondered if the guy had been killed, and if so, by whom or in fact had died by suicide or accident, so I picked it up again, and did something I so seldom do I can't remember the last time I did it—I skipped to the end, read it, and answered my question. 

I found out how the guy died. 

In all honesty, I tend to read more genre books than literary, so perhaps if you are an aficionado of literary books, please, discount this review. But if you are more fond of genre books then give it a tad more weight.

The Vine Witch --by Luanne G. Smith

Fiction / Fairy Tale

263 pages / 4051 KB

5+ Stars

How would you like to be suddenly turned into a toad and spend the next seven years of your life eating things that fly while avoiding the local swamp fox? Uh, not. Elena didn't particularly like it, either, and when she managed to break the curse, only because she was able to maintain a wee part of her training during the transformation, she wants to know who did it to her, and seek her revenge.

A vine witch, she is adept at producing good wines. Being gone for so long, her "grandmother" could not keep the vinyard producing the proper wines, and sold it, but was allowed to remain as chief cook and bottle washer. When Elena returns, a man who believes in science, not magic, own the winery and she must convince him there is a place for both, or he will lose his investment.

This book is fun, from page one to page last. Hard to believe it's a debut novel. Her world is marvelous, and believable. I suggest starting it early and reading it straight through. If you have young children who demand attention and food now and then—send them to Grandma's for the day. This is a one sit read, and it's awful when it must be put down for any reason at all.

The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South –by Michael W. Twitty

Nonfiction / Memoir

464 pages 

5 Stars

I have long followed Mr. Twitty on his blog, Afroculinaria, and when his book came out, I ordered it. Alas, I thought I'd ordered a hard copy, and that it was a recipe book with stories. I ordered a Kindle version and it's stories with a few recipes. Now, I have to order the hard copy ;-)

This book is an honest story about Twitty's search for family. He is one of the fortunate ones-- he could actually trace his back. So many descendants of the enslaved can only go back so far, because their identity was stolen, as well as their freedom. But they still cooked, and using the tools available, the foods available, they kept and passed down their heritage.

This book is also an excellent history about the enslaved in our country. And there are a few recipes. It is honest, accessible, and a terrific read. 

Inheriting Edith: A Novel --by Zoe Fishman

Fiction

299 pages / 880 KB

5 Stars

I read this book while in the throes of a move half a continent away. I both wanted, and needed, escape with laughs. This book delivered. Yes, there were areas where it was a tad difficult to suspend my disbelief, but not enough to really quibble over. 

For me, one of the greatest messages in this book was Hope. Hope that, as I age, there will be a Maggie for me. I think most of us fear dementia, especially those of us who live alone. 

I heartily recommend this book to anyone who wants a fun read and enjoyable characters to read about before turning the light off at night.