Okay, this caught my eye, peeking out of a little free library window. What else could I do but take it home with me? This little mystery about a murder on the cusp of a wedding is like chips for the mind. Sometimes that's just what you want. Great for a plane ride, beach getaway, or rainy weekend. Guilty pleasure for sure, but quick and fun.
As a girl, Jagdish ("Jackie") learns of the United States and makes a promise to herself that someday she will live there. This slim volume tells that tale, but it wasn't all sunshine and roses. Sacrifices were made, and times were hard. But she and her family persisted. Read this happy woman's story and be inspired.
I didn't want to read this. Didn't wanna, didn't wanna, didn't wanna. But it was a gift, so . . .
Suffice it to say that this book, reporter Lizzie Johnson's first, pulls you in with a jerk. Although I hated the topic, (I would literally smell smoke every time I read), the writing is so seamless and perfectly executed that you somehow make it through, wanting to read more. The people, the scenery, the facts all come alive in Lizzie's capable keystrokes, and their tragedy becomes your own. She deftly handles the juggling act of good news vs. bad news, and good decisions vs. deadly ones. Just when you think you might have to take a break, the narrative changes gears and you're in safe(r) territory again. She's a masterful writer who dared to tackle the most difficult of topics. From now on I'll read anything she writes. Highly recommended.
