When her mom dies, Jo Jones finds herself the new owner of an estate in England. Everything in her life is changing--newly single, jobless, orphaned, and an immigrant. Further complications arise when there is a murder on her property . . . is she in danger herself? Or is she a suspect? As a neurodivergent person, she doesn't always give the signals people expect. Twists and turns make this an interesting read, and Jo herself is very likeable.

Born in 1776 in Iceland, Thuridur Einarsdottir bucked traditional mores, expectations, and even clothing to pursue her dreams and follow her moral code, unfazed by enemies she might make along the way. She lived out a real-life adventure story, becoming a respected fishing boat captain, trekking across the Icelandic snowdrifts as a guide, and advocating for those less fortunate than most. She was a character, a hero and an inspiration. I was fascinated!

Wayne, the third boy of four, grew up in "the Goulds", a Newfoundland neighborhood many aspired to leave. With parents who were intelligent but flawed and perpetually short on funds, the family was always struggling to stay afloat. Factor in Wayne's mysterious ailment(s)--coughing uncontrollably, unable to keep food down, stunted growth, weakness--and life was even more challenging, especially for him. His quirky grandma, Lucy, was his primary companion, guide and all-around resource for much of his childhood. Funny at times but often frustrating, you keep having to remind yourself that he does, in fact, survive his parents' questionable choices and the childhood that gave him.

Smarty-pants writer Jackie Higgins researches the dickens out of this topic of animal senses and how they can shine a light on our own functions. There's so much research that it began to feel like I was reading a master's thesis. She's delivered a book jam-packed with data, but I was looking for something more akin to fun facts. If you LOVE information, dig in. If you like it more on the light side, this might be a bit overloaded for you too. I got through it, but sometimes this many details thrown at me makes me forget, well, almost everything. Hopefully I'll remember this one point: her books are too meaty for me.

Madeline is a bookshop owner who carries the weight of being the witness to her friend's murder many years back. The murderer was Evan Handy, a handsome new arrival in her town and school. He was convicted, and she began rebuilding her life in the cozy routine of book selling. That is, until other young women began to disappear, stirring up questions asked by a snooping podcaster and resurrecting her own horrible memories. It had the makings of a good holiday whodunit, but in the early stages of the tale, I'd figured it out. Bah humbug.

This multi-layered book makes every page count. Using the Christmas season as a backdrop, the author shines a light on what drives the characters' little town--the Church and its supposed good works. Protagonist Bill Furlong, an admirable husband, dad, employee and all-around good guy, has a past of his own which is intertwined with the questionable assumptions of the general citizenry. When he makes an unexpected discovery, he has a decision to make. This book, delivering a very different Christmas message than the usual "holly jolly" was a quick read but will stay in my mind for a long time.

The title of this book was, I'll admit, more than a little titillating. I'd always wondered about that guy. Well, I'll wonder no more, because this book held absolutely no interest for me, and I read all 216 pages, hoping against hope. It slogged along, outlining every book dealer known to man (okay, a slight exaggeration, but it felt that way) and all the ways that they have cheated to one-up the next guy over. In the end, it felt like it was really a very detailed, extremely dry book about unscrupulousness in the literary world. I didn't detect any "curse", unless I was somehow able to continue reading after I'd dozed off (which wouldn't surprise me.) What I learned about the marquis himself was that he was a giant brat, pretty much all his life. There you go. I'll save you the time and money.

I wasn't sure how I felt about this book at first, but it shaped up and coalesced as it went along. Under the current circumstances (culture? regime?) it may behoove many of us to read and consider. For others living a little closer to the protagonist's demographic, it might be a little too difficult to read before bedtime. A university professor is stalked and ultimately taken by, shall we say, a dissenter to her views (or color). I'll let you read it to figure out the rest, but it's a bit chilling.

This pithy little book should be required reading for everyone in the country. Every student, every elected official, every medical professional, every athlete--well, I could go on and on, but won't. She says what she needs to say with solid research behind her statements, and a snappy style. I've already given two copies as gifts, and won't stop there. Highly recommend.

I loved reading Roald Dahl's books to our kids as they were growing up. They had just enough pathos, kookiness, and some pretty great morals along the way, all served up with his signature unique style. This book of short stories definitely has the kook angle, but also a hefty dose of darkness. He apparently had a gloomier (or even macabre?) side. The tales move along, and are very readable, but it's just a different version of him than I remember.

The fact that this book was published at all in 1844 is dumbfounding. Set on the island of Reunion in 1833, it tells the story of a slave, a mixed-race relationship, an escape and subsequent chase by the powers that be. There are victorious moments, as well as devastating ones, and the poignancy of family lost and found. It's a short little book, and packed with action. I found it quite compelling and thought provoking. And yes, discouraging that so many battles need to be fought.

When Jeannette Walls puts pen to paper (or fingers to keys, or voice to mic--not sure what her process is), magic happens. This book is no exception. If you like drama, it's here. If mystery is more your thing, look no further. Romance? Check. History? Got it. Humor? It's in there too. Very Fried Green Tomatoes-esque. I was smitten, and couldn't stop reading, but when I finished, I was sad. It's that kind of book. Great character development, impeccable story line, twists, and yep, some family secrets. Loved it.