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Good Dirt, by Charmaine Wilkerson***** | Seattle Book Mama
Charmaine Wilkerson is the author of the massively successful Black Cake. Her sophomore effort, Good Dirt, carries some of the same components—an impending marriage, a family heirloom, secrets and betrayals—but is nevertheless a very different story, and it’s an even better one. My thanks go to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the invitation to…
The Briar Club, by Kate Quinn***** | Seattle Book Mama
I had never read a novel by Kate Quinn, but my friends on Goodreads raved about it and I was overcome by the fear of missing out. Happily, I was not too late to get a review copy; my thanks go to NetGalley and William Morrow, along with my apologies for lateness. From the get…
The Great Divide, by Cristina Henriquez***** | Seattle Book Mama
I found The Great Divide, by Cristina Henriquez, on a short list of most anticipated novels of 2024. I don’t like to get shut out when a book gets this much buzz; then there’s the added draw of an unusual setting. The U.S. doesn’t see a lot of fiction published that’s set primarily in Panama…
The Wind Knows My Name, by Isabel Allende**** | Seattle Book Mama
Isabel Allende is a living legend, a literary genius and fierce defender of human rights, foremost of women and immigrants. The Wind Knows My Name is a novel that features the struggle of two generations of immigrants, those that came to the U.S. during the Holocaust, and those that are coming here now from Latin…
The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece, by Tom Hanks***** | Seattle Book Mama
Tom Hanks has more than one talent, that’s for sure; or perhaps he is an artist that’s ridiculously talented at telling stories, whether they be on the page or screen. One thing I’ll tell you now: I am completely convinced that he did indeed write this book himself, and it’s damn good, too. My thanks…
Hang the Moon, by Jeanette Walls***** | Seattle Book Mama
Jeanette Walls is the author of outstanding memoirs, most notably The Glass Castle. Her new novel, Hang the Moon, is brilliant, and you should read it. My thanks go to Net Galley and Scribner for the review copy. This book is for sale now. Sallie Kinkaid is born and raised near the turn of the…
Favorites From the First Half | Seattle Book Mama
From January to June, here are the ones I love best. Two Nights in Lisbon, by Chris Pavone***** Black Cloud Rising, by David Wright Falade***** Violeta, by Isabel Allende***** Ten Steps to Nanette, by Hannah Gadsby***** Did Ye Hear Mammy Died, by Seamas O’Reilly***** Funny Farm, by Laurie Zaleski*****
A Ballad of Love and Glory, by Reyna Grande**** | Seattle Book Mama
"We Irish know what 'tis like to be oppressed by an aggressive neighbor." Reyna Grande can really write. This is the first of her novels I have read, but it surely won’t be the last. My thanks go to Net Galley and Atria Books for the review copy; this book is for sale now. A…
Memphis, by Tara M. Stringfellow**** | Seattle Book Mama
Stringfellow’s debut novel, Memphis, has drawn accolades far and near. This is a family saga that features three generations of women, a story told with warmth and subtlety. My thanks go to Net Galley and Random House for the review copy. This book is for sale now. The story commences with Miriam planning to leave…
When the Summer Was Ours, by Roxanne Veletzos***-**** | Seattle Book Mama
3.5 stars, rounded upward. I had proclaimed myself to be over and done with World War II fiction; there’s been a glut of it in the publishing world, and I have well and truly had my fill. My soft spot, however, is for any book written by an author whose work I have read and…
Back to the Garden, by Laurie R. King***** | Seattle Book Mama
Laurie R. King is best known for her Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes historical detective novels, but I have long preferred her contemporary mysteries. Back to the Garden is her latest of these, and it is excellent. My thanks go to Net Galley and Random House Ballantine for the review copy. This book is for…
Every Cloak Rolled in Blood, by James Lee Burke***-**** | Seattle Book Mama
James Lee Burke is an icon, a Grand Master who’s written mystery novels, along with the occasional work of historical fiction, since the 1960s. Now he is 85 years old, and he recently lost his beloved daughter, Pamala. This novel is a tribute to her. My thanks to go Net Galley and Simon and Schuster…
The Wedding Dress Sewing Circle, by Jennifer Ryan*** | Seattle Book Mama
Jennifer Ryan has created a niche for herself as a novelist that writes stories for and about women during World War II, set in England. In this one, a group of villagers form a club for the purpose of recycling and reusing wedding gowns, which are otherwise impossible to procure due to war rationing. We…
The Book Woman’s Daughter, by Kim Michele Richardson**** | Seattle Book Mama
Kim Michele Richardson broke new ground in 2019 with her blockbuster novel, The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek, which features an oppressed minority in Appalachia. In the early years of the 1900s, and possibly before, tucked into the hills and hollers of rural Kentucky were a small number of people that had blue skin. This…
Joan, by Katherine J. Chen**** | Seattle Book Mama
“Once you lift a sword, it is hard to put down again.” I’ve been curious about Joan of Arc for a long time. I love military history, and as a feminist, I also love that Joan was responsible for leading French victories centuries before women were permitted to serve in the military of any major…
The Matchmaker’s Gift, by Lynda Cohen Loigman***** | Seattle Book Mama
“The heart is big enough to hold both grief and love.” I read Loigman’s debut novel, The Two-Family House, followed by The Wartime Sisters, and I loved them both, so when Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press invited me to read and review The Matchmaker’s Gift, I leapt. Once again, Loigman has me at hello.…