White people have so much power that it's embarrassing. Even women. But in general, women tend to think of ourselves as shotgun riders in the car of life, and for good reason--the world is set up to keep us thinking that way. Stay in your lane, ride in that seat, listen to the tunes pre-selected for you. In this book, Jenna Arnold shakes us out of our passenger complacency (or tries to) with her no-nonsense perspective. She tells us of how important we all are, as just regular folks, and that we're all just ordinary together and can get things DONE. Don't be intimidated! You are powerful! So inspiring! The truth of the matter is, though, that she not only looks like a movie star, but has done everything aside from swimming to the bottom of the Mariana Trench and establishing a colony on Mars. Everything else, though? Check, check and check. I was clicking along with her until I realized I wouldn't be qualified to take out her trash. Nevertheless, she brings a difficult topic to the table and serves it up well. White women have a ton of power that could make real change happen were it leveraged. Kudos to her for trying to do just that.

Do you like to have fun? Do you love to laugh? Allie Brosh, delivers all that and more in this, her second book. She takes stories from her past and flight-of-ideas them into cartoon form, then whisks you away on tangential whims, but somehow ends up where she started, managing to make sense. However, all of that fun and lightheartedness is definitely shielding us/her from the underbelly of the story(ies). As you travel deeper into the book, between the lines you see the pain she dealt (deals?) with to create these wacky narratives. While I love her work, part of me wishes we lived in the same town and I could have a quiet chat with her on a Sunday morning. I'm in equal parts awed by her and worried about her. Nevertheless, perhaps writing is her own form of therapy, and I will most certainly continue to support her by buying/reading/recommending anything that flows out of her pen.

No, but, I'm going to. I've never written a book, so kudos to old Phil for having the gumption to do this. But dude, proofread. How about basic spellcheck? How about a friend who's a reader? There's an error in the first sentence; there's an error on the back-cover blurb, and it just keeps plugging along that way. Mistake after mistake after mistake, and just plain cloddy writing. Honestly, I couldn't get past the first few pages. I tried making a game out of it by highlighting the errors, but even that got un-fun after about two pages. Seems like a worthwhile topic, and I appreciate that he cares. But man, stick to lecturing, maybe? Because writing is not your thing. Sorry.

This is why I read. In the past, I'd only had passing conversations of British rule in India, and the ensuing "Partition". Wow--what a bland word to describe the horrors that preceded the fracturing of a nation. In Moth, the author takes us into the streets, the houses, the schools, and the minds of people hiding from the extreme violence that took thousands upon thousands of lives. Told through the voices of one Brahmin family in Delhi, this tale is gripping and tense. There were characters I liked at times, and loathed at others, but I guess that made them all the more realistic. The author also touched on some taboo topics, but only implied, so probably that would be good book club fodder. Overall, memorable, with hope edging out tragedy as the overriding theme.

If you've ever felt uncomfortable in a room full of people, this is the book for you. Author Susan Cain somehow takes all the awkward moments, uncertainties, and excuses for ducking out and transforms them into a beautiful montage of wonderfulness. It explains a lot, from how our brains work, what drives people to seek out a quiet corner or commit a crime, and even just the best way to study. As a lifelong introvert with all that entails, I ate this up. Fascinating.

This tale has it all: 1. Successful immigrant family living the "American Dream" 2. Sibling rivalry 3. Marital strife 4. Mysterious co-worker 5. Loveable pet (as plot device) 6. Thwarted lover 7. Ominous warning from spiritual leader 8. Murder 9. Family secret(s)! Honestly, what more could you want?

This story starts out telling us how a couple met and fell in love during the 1960s--a rising star attorney and a strong young woman not afraid to flaunt convention. So far, so good. From there, though, (spoiler: beware) somehow her character devolves into a bitter and hateful mother, wife, friend. There was absolutely nothing to like about her once we got to the elder years. The book is really about how she, her husband and their three children all find something to believe in, regardless of how improbable all of those events would have been. At the end, our protagonist (in a whiplash-inducing U-turn) found the grace to somehow be likeable again. Um hmm. I suppose there's consistency in that the whole story line was completely implausible. I did finish, but won't be seeking other books by this author.

I love a teeny book. I'm not gonna lie--that's what prodded me to pick up this gem. However, the whole thing is so lovely that I metered my time with it to one chapter a day, in order to absorb it more fully. The opening page states that Mr. Hawke found this letter from an ancestor, a knight, who died in 1483. He then had it translated, and on to us it came. Or is it all fabricated? Who knows, and really, who cares? It's a little book with a big punch. Lessons for anyone to live by. The icing on the cake is that the illustrations were done by his wife. It's a keeper.

This first book by Dominique Dubois Gilliard (second was Subversive Witness) is a good and informative effort on a difficult subject, but it would have been even more powerful with some good editing. This Christian spin on systemic racism and the cancer it causes societally hit the mark, and there were some worthwhile passages and insights, but too much real estate was taken up by rehashing other books' messaging. I'm all for a reference, but I felt as if I were re-reading the originals a little too often. Aside from that, there was more than a little clean-up that needed to happen and got missed. He's a good author, though, with a powerful message. I would recommend as an overview for those who have not read a lot on this topic.

I've always thought that owls had their own mystique, and deserved their rep as full of wisdom and stature in the natural world. After reading this, though, I'm even more fascinated than before! So many fun facts to absorb, and Miriam, our author, was intrepid in her efforts to leave no stone unturned in scouring her corner of the world for owl data. The owl info was intertwined with a distressing side story through the whole book, though--as the author was putting together her research notes, her son was simultaneously undergoing a mysterious seizure disorder that was vaguely improved by the last page, but not really diagnosed. I worried about him from beginning to end. Ailing son aside, it was a lovely and informative read about our hooting friends. I might just buy some binoculars . . .

Author Steve Pemberton was an unlucky kid. Landing in foster care at a very young age, his placement was, shall we say, not ideal. He naturally always wondered about his birth parents, and kept searching despite rumors and taunting about his lineage. I won't give away any more of what that poor kid went through, because you will want to read this riveting book. It's painful, though, so get ready. Through the acts of a few kind acquaintances and several boxes of donated books, he not only survived, but raised himself into the kind of person he wanted to be. A truly remarkable story of brilliance, grit, fortitude and grace, your heart will break and then explode with joy for this boy, and the man he ultimately became.

Author Natasha tells the riveting but horrifying story of her mom's abuse, and finally, murder at the hands of her second husband. The constant stress this mom and daughter suffered under his tyranny are well-portrayed, requiring me to read another book alongside this one so I could sleep at night. I can't imagine what it was like to actually live that nightmare. Part catharsis and part homage, you find yourself crying for this giving, articulate, brilliant woman and the life she could have lived, and the daughter who would have loved to share it with her.