GLAMOUR GIRLS – Marty Wingate

My “women at war” reading list has continued into 2021, finding me in England during WWII with Marty Wingate’s Glamour Girls (January 12, 2021, Alcove Press).  Wingate, a cozy mystery writer, slid quite easily into the historical genre, and Glamour Girls is a quick and easy read with much of the violence of war (andContinue reading “GLAMOUR GIRLS – Marty Wingate”

YELLOW WIFE – Sadeqa Johnson

I love a good historical novel, particularly a well-researched novel that stands out both for its writing style and for a unique story that doesn’t feel regurgitated.  While I admittedly gravitate more toward historical fiction with hints of magical realism (Remembrance and Conjure Women from last year being excellent examples), Sadeqa Johnson’s Yellow Wife (1/12/2021)Continue reading “YELLOW WIFE – Sadeqa Johnson”

THE MERMAID FROM JEJU – Sumi Hahn

From the battle torn France of World War II, to the women warriors of Ethiopia during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, and now to the haenyeo in post-WWII Korea, I’ve been on a bit of a “women at war” kick.  The Nightingale, The Shadow King, and The Mermaid from Jeju are all three written by women andContinue reading “THE MERMAID FROM JEJU – Sumi Hahn”

THE SHADOW KING – Maaza Mengiste

“But tell me who you are, she says.  Tell me slowly and repeat it three times, and I will make sure you are known. I will make a remembrance worthy of this fall. Say your name to me now. Say your name as you are photographed. Say it as you leap into the air andContinue reading “THE SHADOW KING – Maaza Mengiste”

THE NIGHTINGALE – Kristin Hannah

It always surprises people that I’ve never read anything by attorney-turned-author Kristin Hannah before now.  It’s even more surprising that she only seriously crossed my radar when I read a blurb for her 2021 release, The Four Winds.  I decided I needed to read something by her before this anticipated  release, and here we are. Continue reading “THE NIGHTINGALE – Kristin Hannah”

PEONY IN LOVE – Lisa See

  “Ghosts, like women, are creatures of yin – cold, dark, earthy, and feminine.” I’d never read Lisa See before, but a friend consistently sings her praises.  When I saw Peony in Love (Random House, 2007), I snatched it up, and it’s sat patiently in my TBR pile for ages.  Until now. I knew nothingContinue reading “PEONY IN LOVE – Lisa See”

CONJURE WOMEN – Afia Atakora

One of my more recent goals has been to read more “new” releases, particularly from debut authors and authors of color.  I ordered Conjure Women because it ticked off several of my boxes.  It is a debut novel by an author of color, but more importantly, it’s the type of book my shelves crave: magicalContinue reading “CONJURE WOMEN – Afia Atakora”

OUTLANDER – Diana Gabaldon

Unpopular opinion – I’ve tried watching Outlander since Netflix picked it up, but it just doesn’t hold my attention.  Maybe I’ll try again.  I don’t know. But my attempts to watch it did result in me snagging a used copy of Outlander, the first in the series, during the times I could venture into aContinue reading “OUTLANDER – Diana Gabaldon”

CALEB’S CROSSING – Geraldine Brooks

I don’t know who Juliette is, but she left her autographed copy of CALEB’S CROSSING by Pulitzer Prize winning author Geraldine Brooks to be purchased at a used book sale.  ($5 a box – any sized box!!)  I’ve heard of Geraldine Brooks, but only through her husband, Tony Horwitz, who wrote CONFEDERATES IN THE ATTIC. Continue reading “CALEB’S CROSSING – Geraldine Brooks”

The Conquest – Yxta Maya Murray

The Conquest was published in 2002.  Despite a love of multi-cultural literature developing in earnest about that time, I had never heard of the novel or its author, Yxta Maya Murray, until I picked the work up at a used bookstore over a year ago.  (Have I mentioned that my TBR pile could easily claimContinue reading “The Conquest – Yxta Maya Murray”