In this fascinating book about Henry Every, notorious pirate of the 17th century, you will bounce back and forth between his championing of egalitarianism (to a point) and root for the legal team who strove to string him up. As Every outran and outsmarted his pursuers, you are drawn into the excitement, but there were some encounters that will make you shudder, for sure--he was the ultimate antihero. It was interesting to read about the interconnecting web of piracy's effect on the East India Company, capitalism, the government of England, and even a courtroom scene that would be riveting on Netflix today. Serious swashbuckling drama, and relief that we don't have pirates raiding our towns today.

If you think you know what prison is like, think again. If you think you know what prisoners are like, think again. If you think you might know why prisoners get the sentences they do, think again, long and hard. Prisoners of all stripes were interviewed for their perspective on topics from sentencing practices to family, to making life tolerable while incarcerated. This book of first-hand stories guided by Nigel Poor, from the Prison University Project, and Earlonne Woods, prisoner of San Quentin (at the time of the project) sprung from a podcast they created from spit and imagination. They figured out how to do it, figured out an angle, got a sound guy, and then went on to win Radiotopia's Podquest prize in 2016. You'll find that you have lots more in common with these people than you may have thought, and maybe rethink your position on some of the laws that put people behind bars. Not only did the authors (and podcasters) give us un unprecedented look into these lives, but they developed a deep respect and friendship for each other in the process. Made me wonder what I'm doing with my days that really makes a difference . . . and helps me set my sights on what I'd like to do to change that.

Another teeny book by Helene Tursten about the unlikely heroine, Maud, aged 88. Had I known better, I would have read this one first. Chronologically, I think it would have flowed nicely into the second book, which interestingly, was published after this one. I didn't care, because it was fun nevertheless. Again, loved it and loved her. I'll read more from this author--she's a little surprising.

Maud is 88 years old, but very capable and astute, taking care of problems that arise in her own unique way. This adorable little book of short stories is interconnected in that it's her life told in patchwork style, but it all still flows. It's very darkly comedic and a very quick read--it's half-size and would fit in a pocket! 100% recommend, if you have that side to you. If you want a Hallmark experience, you should probably move along.

Three adult brothers, about as comfortable together as shards of glass, reunite after their mother's death. In back and forth passages, we learn what set this dysfunctional family on an even more precarious path, and the real punch isn't delivered until the very end. Oldsters who were dedicated to M*A*S*H will remember the episode in the bus, and that's all I'll say. Tragic family drama well written.

If a book could make getting old and moving to a retirement community sound fun, this is it. The folks in this story are not doddering old people put out to pasture, they're bad-asses who still got it. This foursome follows along with the police duo assigned to a murder but are, in fact, a step or two ahead of the law the whole way. Funny, warm and very well written, it was a delight.

If we're honest, most of us feel we fell far short of the "ideal parent" mark and wish we'd done things better, differently, been more sensitive or savvy. But most of us don't leave. The author and her two brothers find themselves mom-less when she takes off in her blue car to assume a cameo role in her kids' lives forevermore. It's a tale as old as time, but it doesn't mean kids don't feel it. I felt sorry for everyone in this book: the kids, obviously, the long-suffering father, trying to make ends meet while keeping his kids on a path of some sort, and even the mom, who clearly seems to have some undiagnosed mental illness. Melissa's story is heartbreaking and brittle, but there is redemption and forgiveness in there, too.

This book, written by one of the only people to have such access to the inside dirt, is a telling expose of an extremely dysfunctional family that was supremely successful at creating 45, a person without a conscience. Although it was enlightening, and I felt sympathy for the children they created and then pretty much destroyed, I don't want their first to be absolved of his responsibility to decent in even the most basic way. Sad, maddening and frustrating. Definitely read another book at the same time so you go on and enjoy the day.

Holy cow--this one will keep Alzheimer's away, at least for a while. What a twisty, turny concept, only to be turned on its head yet again at the end. The premise is that four strangers overhear a scream while they're at the library, forge friendships based on that experience, then begin to look askance at each other as the story progresses for predictable reasons. But, there's more to the story, and it's definitely not predictable at all.

It's the 1920s and the social constructs of middle America are going strong. A sheriff murders a young man under questionable circumstances, a woman seems to be drifting toward mental illness, a pastor pushes snake-handling onto his congregation and a judge wrestles with how he came to be a judge in the first place. There seems to be some palm-greasing going on and how far back it goes is anybody's guess, and there seems to be danger in trying to find out. At the core of the story is a love story, fragile at times yet lasting.

I know we're not supposed to judge the past by present morals, but it seems that back in the day, (and in this day too?) people were awfully nonchalant when it came to snuffing the life out of another individual. Funny thing, most of those individuals were people of color. Hmm. Imagine that. As the descendent of a KKK member (I was always told, "it was just a men's club"), I was curious about this topic. As it turns out, the only lynching attributable to the KKK on the West Coast was, in fact, in my home town. What do you know. It's shocking to learn how vile people could be, and the lengths to which we've gone (Stand Your Ground people, I'm talking to you) to keep that behavioral cesspool alive and well.

There are many facets to this issue, so this book will touch many. It can also serve as a caution to those hoping to hone their parenting skills. Sometimes knowing what not to do is as valuable (or more so) as striving to do all the right things. Highly recommended.