Don't we all feel overwhelmed at times by obligations? The push/pull of family expectations? Extra tasks at work? Friends who just want that bit more of you than you're comfortable giving? I was given this book by my daughter-in-law, who said she'd really enjoyed it. Since it was a gift, I had to read it, right? Truth be told, it's probably not one I would have picked up at a bookstore, despite it's diminutive silhouette. (I'm a sucker for any extreme in book construction, be it a pocket cutie or something more suited to be carted around by wheelbarrow.) Anyway, its cute little size and whimsical cover suggest a lighthearted finger-wag at people who can't set boundaries, and honestly, at first, I kind of thought that's what it would be. All it would be. But as the book progressed, I began to see the author's wisdom and "no"-nonsense (!) way of prodding the reader to learn to decline almost any invitation, directive, suggestion, etc. in an honest, kind, and unapologetic manner. She holds firm that recipients of said declinations usually rise to the occasion and act like mature adults, and if they don't, well, is that really an issue for which you are responsible? Nope. Although this book absolutely gave me permission to quit reading at any point, I found myself enjoying every little bit of it.

An antihero from China--looked down upon by kin as hailing from a bad branch of the family tree--makes his way to the U.S. with a loan from his father's boss and the security of a rich uncle awaiting his arrival. Nothing quite turned out the way he'd been informed, and Shelley has to find his own way, counting on the "Chinese Groove" to help him along. There are many bumps in the road, happy surprises and disappointments, too, but Shelley turns out to be someone very much deserving of happiness and admiration. Some humor, some drama--an easy read.

This is the first book I've read by Mr. Janetti, but it most certainly will not be the last. A combination of acerbic wit and soul-baring confession, we can all relate to the vignettes of his life--he just says it all better than most of us ever could. I tore through it, knowing I'd be mad at myself for not making it last longer, but what could I do? I couldn't wait.

Susan Orlean, who could write about just anything and make it interesting (and has), turns her attention to her love of animals in this delightful book. Each chapter has its own focus and you'll find yourself wanting a furry (or feathered) friend of each ilk. Whether you are inspired to go all in and start adopting, or just find a new appreciation for our earthly companions, this book is guaranteed to make you smile.

Amid the chaos following a massive earthquake and tsunami, a dog appears to a man with a nefarious employment history. Despite his other bad choices, he has a soft spot for the dog and takes him along, realizing soon that this dog is smarter than the average mutt and seems to have a goal in mind, always seeming to aim his nose in one direction. The dog, whose tag says his name is Tamon, gradually makes his way from one foster owner to another in his quest, always seeking, while being everything each caretaker seems to need during his stay. A lovely book of the love and profound loyalty of dogs, and the healing power that love can bring to anyone, no matter how broken.

First of all, I love Rinker Buck, or at least I think I do. His respect for all of humanity is admirable, and he exemplifies his bonhomie as he traverses hill and dale (or in this case, wave and wake) during his adventures. While I ate up the Oregon Trail experience, for some reason, this odyssey down the Mississippi in a flatboat just fell a little, well, flat for me. It felt like he had to have a certain number of pages and was fulfilling that quota with lots of nautical jargon--not my forte and I'm guessing I'm not alone there--and at times I was scanning forward to see where the thread would end. As a result, the culmination of his trip felt a little anticlimactic, in that I'd wanted him to hurry up and get there for a while. I'll read his next book, for sure, as I would for any "friend", but I won't beat myself up if I skip some pages.

Protagonist Astrid returns to the seaside getaway of her youth, even though she's vowed to stay away, since her little sister died there as a toddler. Her aging but admirable aunt has summoned Astrid to discuss a letter which will reveal information about the drowning accident so many years ago. The poor aunt, however, has met with some violence, and is in the hospital, unresponsive. Once Astrid sets herself up there to get her aunt squared away, suspicious things start happening, creating more questions than answers. Astrid starts to dig a little, to try and find out the exact circumstances of her sister's drowning accident, to determine if she was, in fact, responsible, and to uncover her parents', and the neighbors' pasts.

Told in two times and places, stories intertwine as this captivating book progresses. Janani, born and raised in Madurai, India, is a skilled seamstress, and traditional woman, trying to be a "good" wife, daughter-in-law and mother. Unfortunately, being a model woman hinges on producing a son. This, in 1992, when you'd think science had cleared all of that ridiculousness up. Nila, a young woman finding her way in Sydney in 2019, has her own struggles, and also wants to make everyone happy around her. What if making everyone else happy means heartbreak for her? Both women reach a crisis of decision and a turning point which will change their lives forever. Sadness, systemic prejudice, happiness and joy all intermingle in this well-written tale.

I'm not a huge graphic book fan, but on the recommendation of a friend, picked this one up. Author Thien Pham tells, in his bouncy, cartoony way, of his family's journey from Vietnam to the United States, and their trials once they arrive. From the depths of horror to the lofty ingenuity of a family who always finds a way, his pages are packed with layers of nuance. It can be a quick read, or one you read over and over, seeing things in a different way with each view. Very thought-provoking.

Part history lesson, love story, tragedy, and victory, this story pulls you in and holds you close throughout. It is surprisingly direct and harsh, but also beautifully meandering at times, yet there are no wasted words. The heroine is a teenager when we meet her, and she grows up in every way as the story pages by. Poignant, deep, sad and sweet.

I thought reading this book by a hospice nurse about caring for those in their final days would be painful to read and just kind of depressing. Nothing could be further from the truth. From lessons imparted by those who wish they'd done things a little differently to mind-bending revelations from those with one foot in each world, each page softens the perceptions of what we tend to fear--the unknown. Hadley was clearly destined to do this work, and her stories give us an inkling of how we can do ours, up to and during our own finale.

Amy Schneider! This book is a kaffeeklatsch in printed form. Amy's journey to Jeapordy stardom, becoming a woman and incidental things along the way are touched upon in a chatty, unpretentious style that makes you kinda wish you worked the cubicle one over from her. I could have done without (and did--skimmed over it) the longish chapter on tarot, which is an obvious interest. Overall a light, easy read from someone who seems to have truly found herself.