REVIEW True Crime Addict by James Renner

 

So, it's not a secret that I live in New Hampshire. I moved  to the area that Maura disappeared in within a few months of her disappearance - she disappeared in February of 2004 and I was living  in nearby Littleton in August of 2004. We would have been peers - I am about three years older than her, tops. I work in criminal justice and know the people that are involved in investigating this case.  I'm legit obsessed with this case because of the plethora of personal connections that I have to the case and lately I have been consuming all that I can on this case. 

This book is  the very personal memoir of James Renner as he gets involved in the unsolved case of Maura Murray, a college student who went missing in February of 2004 in the White Mountains of NH.  This was the first real true crime case of the internet era, occurring in the same month that Facebook went live. It's fair to say that James had an obsession with true crime and missing persons cases specifically when a neighborhood girl, Amy, went missing. James is open not only about his obsession with true crime but about his struggles with PTSD and the behavioral struggles that his child has in this memoir. He begins, however, to investigate Maura's disappearance. Renner's book reveals not only his own personal struggles during the time that he was investigating, but also that Maura had a lot going on in her own life at the time of h er disappearance. 

I may not agree with Mr. Renner on everything that he espouses, but his book is amazing nonetheless. The books is compulsively readable and quick. I couldn't put it down and I could hear Renner talking to me as I was reading.  He made himself particularly vulnerable by airing his own personal demons and telling us about the stuggles his family was experiencing while he was writing about this case.  Definitely recommend reading this book. 

On a serious note, if you have any information about Maura's disappearance, please contact NH's cold case unit at (603) 271-2663 or by email at coldcaseunit@dos.nh.gov. Maura is still missing. Her family misses her tremendously.  

Links I love

 

We were rowing at Head of  the Fish last weekend - I cannot take credit for the above. One of the sibs of one of the rowers in this boat took this picture - isn't it gorgeous? i visited my orthopedist about my ankle woes and I apparently have arthritis all in my ankle. I received a cortisone shot and I'm hoping that does the trick. No more running for me, but low impact like rowing and walking and swimming and biking may work.

I owe you a few reviews and will get it done soon! I hope that everyone had a great Halloween!

1. Cozy mysteries to read for Halloween.
2. John Grisham has a new mystery out.
3. I had never heard of dry begging before.
4. Stephen King quiz - how did you do?
5. 7 Famous 18th century authors that aren't Jane Austen.
6. Having fewer children and the impact on the world's economy.
7. Guess the Halloween candy by its tagline.
8. Netflix's creepiest gems.
9. An exploration of why we're attracted to gore.
10. 15 Appalachian dishes everyone should try at least once. 
11. Behind the masks of Ed Gein.
12. What does 67 even mean?
13. Ten best parks to visit in the fall.

Links I love

 

Happy Halloween week!  This week has been an interesting one! We began the week at Head of the Charles in Boston - my son was rowing!  Then I had two MRI's on Wednesday - one on my head because of ENT issues and one on my ankle! This weekend we're in Saratoga for Head of the Fish!

I loved the above picture and thought it so good for Halloween - just the right amount of spooky.  I'm considering opening an Etsy shop for photos - has anyone done this? I'd love to he ar from you if you do have an Etsy shop!

1. Why are so many rich Americans investing in British soccer teams?
2. Five Gothic Horror Novels.
3. Are plant based alternatives really healthy?
4. A must read speculative fiction collection.
5. Myster, thriller and true crime books for book clubs this year.
6. Gift ideas under $25.00 for teen girls.
7. Shortlist announced for the An Post Irish book awards.
8. Stephen King on the adaptations of his work to film.
9. I may need to start trying to do this.
10. Barnes and Noble nominations for 2025 Book of the Year. 
11. Books about the history of libraries.

I hope all have a good weekend.

REVIEW The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline

 

In this biography, Miss Marsha's trauma and her joy provide the basis for a life well lived and for revolution. Activist Tourmaline writes a wonderful and accessible biography based upon massive amounts of research:  interviews, other research (media) and personal narrative. Johnson was born in 1954 in New Jersey to a working class family. She was assigned the male sex at birth. While her neighborhood was diverse and accepting, the city of Elizabeth itself was not. It was segregated. In 1963 Miss Marsha moved to New York City where she was constantly evolving. She was an unhoused sex worker for most of her life but she cultivated deep and rewarding relationships with other  LGBTQ+ activists like Sylvia Rivera. Her life was a series of big events - she was one of the first to resist police at Stonewall in 1969 and she created STAR in the 1970's to help Trans people in NYC. In the 1980's, she became a caretaker during the AIDS epidemic, even though she had HIV herself and had been shot by a john. 

I am embarrassed to say that I did not know who Miss Marsha was before I picked up this book and so I didn't realize how much she had actually done in the short period that she was alive - she was found in the Hudson River dead in 1992. I loved this book because the whole book taught me an enormous amount about a person that had an impact on so many people as a whole but also to individual people.  She literally changed lives all the while remaining true to herself and who she was. She never lost sight of who she was and what was important to her and it seemed that everything that she did was guided by that. Even though Marsha's life was hard and her death is considered to be a cold case, this biography is a joyful and vibrant celebration of her life. It is a must read. Tourmaline's writing is lyrical and simple - it is clear that Miss Marsha has had a tremendous positive impact in Tourmaline's life. 

Highly recommend. 

links I love

 

This week has been busy even with the long weekend. I often have to smush 5 days worth of work into four, which isn't fun.  I hope that everyone else had a good week. My children were rowing on Sunday and we were there early - they were on the above river. So pretty. Head of the Charles is Sunday!  My partner also had surgery on Wednesday.  :(  I've been in a walking boot for about 2.5 weeks now. The only positive?  I'm doing a lot more strength training!

• NH has 126 cold cases. If you have any information on any of these cases, please contact the Cold Case Unit.
• Books by Russian authors.
• B12 deficiency is linked to this autoimmune disorder.
• Stephen King on the movie version of the Shining.
• Spookiest names of places in each state.
• Notable books about siblings.
• 7 graphic novels for Halloween.
• A new Southern cookbook and a new Southern memoir.
• Latine spooky reads.
• Bookish goodies for fantasy lovers. 
• Barnes and Noble has selected their best books nominations for this year. 
• What we know about the storm in Alaska.
• Stocking stuffers under $15 for adults - yes I went there.
• What functional doctors say to do when you feel a cold coming on.
• The secret life of Horus
• Why you should read Virginia Giuffre's memoir.
• 6-7 and America's schools. 

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

 

October is such a spooky, autumnal month here.  The leaves are changing colors and the weather is getting cooler. I tend towards books that are spooky and/or occur at a school because, for some reason, boarding schools and October go hand in hand in my mind.  This book checked both those boxes.

The story takes place in two different time periods - Vermont 1950 and Vermont 2014. In 1950, there's a place for girls who no one wants for whatever reason.  One of the girls, for instance, was born out of wedlock. They are placed in a school called Idlewild Hall and there are rumors that the school is haunted. Four roommates become friends and bond over this, then one mysteriously disappears. In 2014, Fiona Sheridan is obsessed with her older sister's death. Her body was found lying in the overgrown ruins near the school.  She believes that there was something nothing quite right with the case, even though there was an arrest and conviction for the death.  She then learns that it is being restored and decides to do a story about it. A shocking discovery is made during the renovations and all hell breaks loose. 

I've read books by St. James before and I haven't been disappointed yet, and this book adds to that track record. There was a lot of suspense, mystery and the paranormal, not to mention a boarding school. It literally was exactly what I was looking for. St. James does a masterful job combining all of these and Fiona is written magnificently as a grieving sister who can't let it go. I enjoyed the 1950's charact ers and scenes much more so than the "present day." I also loved the spooky and paranormal element to this story as well.  This chilling aspect was the best part of the book in my opinion. 

Definitely a must read. Especially at this time of year. 

Links I love

 

I hope that everyone had a good week. I saw the orthopedist for my ankle and he seems to think it might be a stress fracture.  I need to g et an MRI done to make sure that nothing else is going on. Today we have a crew regatta!!

• How apple cider vinegar cured everything until it didn't.
• Can oranges help with cognition?
• thThe 2025 National Book Award shortlists are here. 
• Five best literary love stories. 
• Here's what stresses you out the most, based upon the zodiac sign. 
• Th e 2025 British Academy book prize nominations.
• The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize is announced.
• It's crockpot season so here are some ideas.
• 8 facts about Salem's Lot for its 50th anniversary.
• Halloween read a thons to get you in the mood for the spooky season.
• Best new true crime reads from 2025.
• Celebrity book club picks for October.
• Overnight oats v. chia pudding - which has more protein and fiber?
• The most searched Jane Austen books.
• Diane Keaton passed away.

I hope that everyone has a good week!

REVIEW: A Flower Travelled in My Blood by Haley Cohen Gilliland

 

I remember hearing about the abuelas in my Spanish classes so when I saw this book, I requested it from my library. This  book tells the story of the women  who spent years looking for answers regarding the disappearances of their children and for the whereabouts of their grandchildren. They spent decades piecing together evidence and clues regarding their whereabouts and to date, have found approximately 140 grandchildren.

The central figure in this narrative is Rosa Rosinblitt, who died at 106 by the way, whose daughter Patricia and son in law Jose became one of the disappeared in 1978. Gen. Jorge Videla and his junta targeted them for their role in a subversive group that had been protesting his very brutal regime. Gilliland weaves many other stories of many other families into the narrative and also provides us with a history of the coups and political climate when this was all going on. She does so in  a way that breaks down the extreme complexities of the climate in which the abuelas were operating in.  

The best parts of this book were the stories of the individual players involved in investigating the disappearances. I loved learning about them and their hopes and struggles in both finding family members and then reuniting. While I understand and appreciate the historical narrative and explanation of the political climate in Argentina, those parts were less interesting to me, although I learned a lot from them.  This is, also, very much a book filled with hope and, ultimately, finding joy in reunification in spite of a terribly horrific situation.  

Definitely a must read.

Links I love

 

Last weekend was supposed to be our first regatta but the conditions were very windy and rough and the boats were either flipping or taking on too much water so it was cancelled.  The kids were upset but understanding, given that safety is of paramount importance.  I have officially started watching scary movies, with Halloween (my fav scary movie from that era!). I'm in a walking boot on my right leg. About 15 years ago, I broke my ankle and on T u esday, it blew up and began to hurt in the front.  I have to see the orthopedist this week. 

1. 8 Aldi brands that are better than the name brands.
2. Maine's food pantries are dealing with a volunteer shortage.
3. The best historical crime novels.
4. 8 Halloween reading lists based upon vibes.
5. Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl.
6. There's a new Reading Rainbow host.
7. This type of walking is helpful.
8. 25 best picture books of the last 25 years.
9. Twenty years of Capote.
10. Notable novels of Fall 2025.
11. If you like short stories, this list is for you.
12. 8 bizarre deep sea creatures.
13. Archaeologists find both a medieval dungeon and roman burial ground under a market square.
14. China has new innovative bookstores.
15. 596 books banned by defense department schools.
16. 5 must read Appalachian non fiction books.
17. The best adventure novels of 2025.
18. Who decides what goes on bookstore shelves?
19. October is breast cancer awareness month. My mom is in remission from breast cancer, as is my aunt and former sister in law.  Check your boobies! This is what a lump feels like,
20. Can you match the book to the movie it inspired?

I am very behind in reviews - I have at least two that I will be working on in the upcoming week!  

Enjoy!

REVIEW - the River is Waiting by Wally Lamb

 

When we meet Colby Ledbetter, he is not doing well.  He hasn't worked in a year and he has stopped looking for work because there doesn't seem to be any jobs out there that actually want to employ him. He is the stay at home dad to Niko and Maisie, two year old twins, and has depression that has led him to abuse alcohol and substances, often taking more pills then prescribed with alcohol (which he has started drinking in the morning). When tragedy strikes (early in the novel -first chapter actually), Colby finds himself staring down a three year prison sentence, where the vast majority of the book takes place. I read This Much is True many years ago and thought it was ok so I picked this one up. 

There were several things that were familiar in this - Dr. Patel, the plight of the Native Americans and prison systems played major roles. I was captivated by some aspects of this book - the tragedy and some parts of the prison sentence had me unable to put the book down and look away. Colby's relationship with Emily, his wife, was as much an important character as the prison system, the tragedy itself and 
Colby and Lamb did a good job in crafting the relationship in a way that was realistic given the circumstances. The book itself is a quick read, which is a good thing for me.  I don't like to feel like I'm walking in wet sand or in a swamp when I read. 

Having said that, I felt like there were a lot of predictable tropes in this novel - many of which I found myself thinking "this? you couldn't come up with something better than this?"  It was predictable in this manner. I also didn't like how it ended and also felt empty as a result, not fulfilled, which is what a good book will leave me feeling.  I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters, although that could be because I simply couldn't relate to any of the experiences that they were having.  

Generally entertaining if you don't have high expectations but don't add to your library. 

Links I love

 

Last weekend, we went up to Littleton, NH. We stayed at the Sunset Hill House and I took the above picture there.  That's Cannon Mountain in the background. This was sunrise. It looks like I ha ve a cyst in my sinus so I'm headed to an ENT and likely endoscopic surgery but hopefully I'll feel better!

1. America's best coffee cities.
2. Ten best books based on horrifying true stories. 
3. The Booker shortlist has been announced.
4. Crime novels should be set in Boston?
5. Five best historical novels set in India.
6. These recipes look interesting.
7. What science says about walking 10,000 steps a day.
8. Eight books that explore friendship.

Enjoy the week!

REVIEW First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston

 

A friend and co-worker lent me this novel and the timing was good - it was a nice break after the heaviness that I had been reading.  In this fast paced novel, we follow Evie Porter as she navigates deceit, multiple identities and a manipulative boss. When we first meet Evie, she's living in the South with a doting boyfriend, a fancy house with a white picket fence and a solid group of friends. We learn relatively quickly that her identity is a constructed facade. The novel is really about the facade falling apart and how Evie handles it.

I really enjoyed how Elston told the story with two different timelines, eventually having them come together towards the end of the novel. In doing so, we learn about Evie, her background and her future. I found myself being drawn into this world effortlessly - which is a testament to the author's deftness and abilities. She also did a masterful job in making Evie a compelling protagonist with a compelling life and story.  The book itself moves briskly and so was a good and timely palate cleanser for me after reading the much slower (but lovely) book Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo. 

Definitely a good, fast and easy read.  It's a nice break from heavy literature and well worth it. 

REVIEW The Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo

 

I've always been a fan of Russo - particularly since Empire Falls - because he writes about upstate/central NY, a place I spent some time in young adulthood.  He also has focused on the lives of blue collar workers in his books. This novel continues in that theme.

The book itself seems to focus on people that are seemingly unexceptional. They don't really stand out but their relationships with each other certainly do and that's what makes the book so good. We meet Louis Lynch (Lucy to his friends after an incident in school when they were young) when he is 60 years old and living with Sarah, his wife, in the town that he has lived in for his entire life. It's in the Mohawk valley of New York. The couple is preparing to go to Italy to visit Lou's oldest friend, who is an artist living in Venice. Lucy is writing the story of his life in the town and that narrative is the meat of the book, occasionally interspersed with modern views of both Lucy's life and his friend's life in Venice. 

The book's themes really hit home for me.  The book strove to answer the question of whether it is better to love or be loved and whether the comfort of family is better then actually leaving and heading out. The length of the book can be daunting - it's 528 pages. Every page is worth it - Russo paints an intimate and vivid portrait of the people in this novel and the town that they're in, as well as the workings of their emotions and minds.  It is completely intriguing and just lovely.

Highly recommend.

Links I love

 

I have been trying to figure out what is going on with my ear and sinuses this week and it has taken out a lot of my time. Unfortunately, it is also taking a lot of space in my mind, rent free.  Hoping to get down to the bottom of things soon.  I have two reviews upcoming this week so stay tuned!

• Why are British police officers called Bobbies?
• An author reports on gun violence and almost dies.
• 7 Hobbit themed books on Hobbit day.
• Romantasy vs. fantasy romance: is there a difference?
• 12 books NPR editors can't wait to read this fall.
• 5 ways to catch up on sleep on weekends. 
• Must read memoirs from this year. I love a good list.
• Toxic empathy is a thing.
• What happens when a cemetery runs out of space?

Enjoy your week!

Links I love

 

We've been cracking away at college visits.  The above is Syracuse University - I did my law studies there.  The photo is taken from the top of the college of engineering.

I got diagnosed this week with an ear infection which was not fun. I've eased off on running until I feel better.  My bathroom has been redone, which is exciting. 

1. What do you think of this AI generated Bible game?
2. The winning bid for Darth Vader's light saber.
3. Last Bear Brook victim has been identified.
4. Vitamin D and weightlifting.
5. Books set in the Middle East.
6. National Book Award for 2025 longlist announced. The longlist for translated literature has also been announced. 
7. Best Halloween decor on Amazon for under thirty dollars. 
8. Books that take on an epic journey.
9. Dan Brown has a new book out.
10. National book award longlist for nonfiction.
11. Pulitizer prize winning biographies.
12. This makes sense.
13. National book award list for fiction.
14. Giftable nonfiction books and must read new feminist books. 
15. A different kind of wellness retreat in the Catskills.
16. This book sounds interesting.
17. Banned! Some of the books they didn't want you to read.
18. Some easy fall recipes.
19. 8 times authors took revenge in fiction.
20. Some great fall hikes

I hope that everyone has a good week!

Links that I love

 

Another week has gone by.I am reading Richard Russo's new novel and taking another break from Outlander. I will return to it after I finish this book!  I hope to be done by the time the last season comes out.  Work on my bathroom starts on September 11. I'm hoping that it doesn't take more than the 2 days it has allotted. 

A few weeks ago, my fiancée and I hiked up Mt. Major and were afforded this view of the big Lake!

It was the second hike I've done since coming back from oral surgery.  This month, I'm doing Mt. Chocorua.  I'm excited about that too.  

My son and I are doing more college visits.  Those visits include Syracuse University, UVM and WPI. 

We did Syracuse on Friday. Here are my favorite pics:

Academic Quad - Carrier Dome on the left (with the structure that  looks like a roller coaster and Houghton Chapel straight ahead, also with a dome)

College of Arts and Sciences

You can buy this pie from a vending machine if you're in Texas!

• Fighting the urge to make everything about yourself.
• Our town library was featured on NHPR!
• In anticipation of fall, here are some witchy books to read that are being released.
• Most children, including mine, are headed back to school without their phones.
• Books with occupations in title.
• 20 vintage recipes for fall.
• Margaret Atwood's satirical response to book ban in Canada.
• Fall means apple pie spice.
• 13 quintessential Gen X books.
• New park map reveals changes at Animal Kingdom.
• Best Japanese novels of the 20th century.
• SNL has five new cast members. 
• 15 vintage casseroles that everyone ate. 
• This is a crazy mystery.
• Historical novels with strong female leads.
• Foods that people ate during the Depression.
• How did Boston Beans get their name?

Links I love

 

I'm currently reading two books - one is an Outlander novel so it's long - but I should have a review for you this week.  I'm on week three of running and am happy about it! 

• This book sounds good.
• Sipping this tea is good for your health.
• Hamnet is get4ting a movie?
• What reading diversely means today.
• How long people wait for food delivery before getting impatient.
• President Obama's 2025 summer reading list.
• Top fiction and non fiction book pairings.
• Why Swift/Kelce engagement is resonating so much.
• What books from High School shaped NPR listeners?
• This looks like it's worth a try. Maybe next weekend!
• Tarot readings are fun!
• Best state parks for hiking.

Review: King of Ashes - Sidney Cosby

 

This book has been all over the place this summer. I'm ashamed to say that I hadn't even known about this author before, but I'm glad that I finally found him - better late than never. We meet Roman Carruthers right away - he's a successful financial advisor in Atlanta, GA who gets a panicked call from his sister in rural Virginia after their father is in a car accident, which happened under suspicious circumstances. Upon receiving that call, Roman puts his life on hold and goes home to figure out what is what. The people he's returning to - sister Neveah, brother Dante and father Kevin - are people that he voluntarily estranged himself from. There is a lot of resentment, and distrust on Neveah's part and Dante is the family outcast, who can't seem to get it just right. Their mother disappeared many years before under mysterious circumstances and that ghost hangs over the family. In this novel, Roman returns to his home to solve what happened to his father and, in doing so, reveals secrets that have been in the family for years. 

It took me a while to get into this novel. My initial impression was that it read like the Twilight books and was fan faction for something else.  It did eventually grow on me though.  I did, eventually, grow to really enjoy the book.  It was fast and entertaining.  A very quick and entertaining mystery that provided me with a break from the serious stuff that I've been reading lately!

Links I love

 

I received some good news this week - my oral surgeon has cleared me to go back to regular activities! I've restarted running with a couch to 5K program and am going to the gym today to lift as well.  I'm so happy!  I hope that everyone is doing well!

• A different type of summer camp.
• Which American Girl Doll had the best clothing?
• John Grisham movie adaptations, ranked.
• The top risk factors for dementia.
• Costco's 8 best snacks to put in the airfryer.
• Is there anything else annoying about Whole Foods grocery shopping?
• Women are under muscled according to NPR.  i've been trying to increase protein and lift - I'm perimenopausal so this was timely!
• What makes a cabinet shaker style?
• Top ten scariest villains in science fiction.
• Top fantasy books for people who don't like fantasy.
• MMD's Part I of best books of summer (so far)
• NPR's publishing this week article - the Baldwin book looks good.
• 5 dark academia books that came before The Secret History.
• States with the highest and lowest literacy rates. 
• Historical novels set in Asia.
• There is a possibility that Queen Victoria had an affair.
• Interesting list.

Links I love

 

I'm sorry about being MIA - we were away last week.  We went here for the week and I didn't have my computer with me.  I like having a break but I definitely miss the routine. I also love that I cleaned my fridge -helpful when it's empty. So that's why I missed the last links I love!  I'm 

1. Will Little Free Library be impacted by online reading?
2. Celebrity book club picks for August, 2025.
3. These coffee companies grow their beans in the United States.
4. How do you know if ice cream has gone bad.
5. I may have to read this.
6. Gas stations and classical music.
7. Boston Public Library is using AI in a new way.
8. Why so many grocery store eggs are white.
9. How the new Aliens Franchise series fits into the timeline.
10. Bring It On is 25?!
11. Best coffee for longevity.
12. When was your State founded?
13. 11 most famous people of 1985.
14. Books about the American South that will change how you feel about the South
15. Interesting article on NPR book stories.

Enjoy!

REVIEW: The Barn by Wright Thompson

 

I was a history major in college, with a focus on the South.  When I travelled to Alabama (twice!) for training, I made sure to visit places, like the 16th Street Baptist Church.  So when I saw this book, I was intrigued. 

In this book, Thompson, a son of Mississippi, looks at the history of the land and the structure (which still stands) where Emmett Till was lynched. Thompson, in fact, grew up in the town where Till was killed, so this was a reckoning for him as well. I think that this gave him access that most people wouldn't have.  That being said, his research was masterful. He was able to go back in history and show how different points in history, things could have gone ever so slightly differently, which could have changed what happened to Till, a child, in th3 South of the 50's. Till's murder mattered to Thompson not only because it happened in his hometown, but because so many facts have been seemingly buried even though this artifact is in plain sight.

I learned that the barn currently is on a property owned by a dentist and it houses ornaments and the like.  The dentist had no idea what he had acquired. In 1955 the barn belonged to Leslie Milam, who took part in the slaying. No one knew that Milam played a role because the two killers protected him after their acquittal by an all white jury. The barn also signified another type of whitewashing - ludicrous allegations about the NAACP planting a corpse and claiming it was Till, disappearing transcripts of the trial, sightings of Till as a grown man (and those stories appearing in Southern history textbooks).

This powerful book is a must read for any person and will haunt you.  It's important simply because it unearths a part of the history that most of us don't know and because it keeps Till's memory and story alive. 

Links I love

 

Our trip last week was good!  This week we're in NY! I owe you a few reviews but they will have to wait until I get back!

• Millenials are changing what 40 looks like.
• Why buildings in Iceland are so colorful
• Booker Prize list is out.
• Best book club books for July.
• Going to try to make this.
• Ten most dangerous states for hikers.
• The best dystopian novels of all time.
• The best historical novels about real people.
• These look good too.
• Is there a short story that you still think about?
• This looks too pretty to eat.

Links I love

 

Last week, we (my daughter, son and I) went to see Brad Paisley up at Meadowbrook in Gilford, NH. I've seen him before and he sounded great, but he seemed to just be going through the motions. I'm not sure what was going on.  I hope that you enjoy the following links!

1. How long do you need to walk to feel better.
2. Take action regarding banned books.
3. 15 popular chocolate bars from around the world.
4. The Steamy subversive rise of the summer novel.
5. 5 books about toxic friendships.
6. I need to try these.
7. 4 abandoned places in Magic Kingdom that need some attention
8. These civil war books look good.
9. 12 novels set during weddings.
10. I love cookies.
11. 15 best storage containers from Walmart

REVIEW: Sisterhod of Ravensbruck by Lynne Olson

 

This book focuses on a group of Frenchwomen that were in the resistance during WW2 and who were imprisoned at Ravensbruck concentration camp during the same war. There were other women of other nationalities there, including a group of Polish women that were the subject of various medical experiments, but the focus was definitely on the French women. The time spent in the camp is only about half of the book with the other half being about the support that the women provided the other prisoners upon their release. What I really liked was how Olson managed to convey the community that these women created that saved their lives.  It was a tough book to read but the sense of community managed to get me through. I loved learning about this more obscure prison.  

Definitely a must read but on to something lighter. 

Links I love

 

I can't believe it's been a month since my last concert here, but t his weekend, we had another one going to see Brad Paisley, this time with my kids.  I think that they liked it, but it was a long day! On Monday, my daughter's room is being re-floored and I have gotten rid of a lot of her stuff.  Next up is the bathroom.

I hope that you enjoy the following links!

1. The Best Books on the Salem Witch Trials.
2. Does listening to an audiobook count as "reading?"
3. Here's how to tell if you have a Type B personality.
4. Top psychopaths in fiction.
5. Why is it called Pickleball?
6. Can you match the Disney Princess to their country?
7. Ten Saddest fantasy books of all time.
8. Why it's hard to read.
9.   This might be worth it.
10. Why marriage is gr eat for crime fiction.
11. 9 overlooked signs of dementia
12. Each state's most searched book genre of the summer. 
13. These are on the best of 2025 lists so far.
14. Notable new releases of summer 2025.
15. On its 100th birthday, a documentary grapples with its terrible legacy
16. 10 books on time travel that you may not have heard of.

Please check out BOTM club when you have a moment!  I do get a credit if you sign up.

REVIEW: Boys From Biloxi by John Grisham

 

My son listened to this on Audible and recommended it to me. I had just finished The Nightingale and wanted something very different and a bit lighter so it was good timing.  

This novel takes place in Mississippi and tells the story of two families on the Gulf Coast over the course of generations, from the immigrant grandparents through the third generation. In Biloxi, unlike the rest of the State, booze, gambling and girls seem to dominate the moral code, along with the Dixie Mafia, who  controls most of the underworld. The local police and politicians are customers, who tend to look the other way in enforcing the criminal law and often are the ones enabling the bad conduct. We meet the Rudy's (Jesse and his son Keith) and the Malcos (Lance and his son Hugh). The boys grow up in post ww2 America and start along very different paths even while young. Jesse, Keith's father, works during the day and goes to law school at night, eventually becoming the local DA while Lance assumes control as the head of the local crime machine, running the seedier parts of town. Keith and Hugh are following in their father's footsteps, putting the families on a collision course.

This moved fairly quickly, but you don't really get much insight into the characters. The narration feels more like reading a news story about these two families and Grisham doesn't really go into the feelings or thoughts of the characters all that much. Biloxi, Parchman prison and the environs are so richly described it's like you are transported to that area during the time period in the book. I think that the themes involved things like capital punishment, retribution and moral turpitude, but I didn't generally feel that Grisham got as deep into those themes as he had in books such as A Time to Kill. Generally, though, the book was entertaining, just don't expect too much from it.

Links I love

 

I'm a big fan of those guys up there - the NH Police Association Pipes and Drums. They're a staple at a lot of parades and functions around town.  Always fun to see!

I hope that everyone had a good week!  

1. Best K-Cups from Dunks that you should try.
2. This New England city might be the home of the Italian sub.
3. The Dalai Lama is 90.
4.  A look inside the Aulani, a Disney resort in Hawaii.
5. New tarot and oracle decks out this year. 
6. What's the best Pixar movie?
7. Why criminal profiling is a pop culture myth.
8. I love lists and these are some of the best. Which ones have you read?
9. 17 books set on a boat.
10. Leila Mottley has a new book out.
11. Why Peggy is short forMargaret.
12. 15 facts about the Jaws sequels.
13. I'm not a big fan of bookends, but if I were I would like this article.
14. Outlander prequel has a new trailer out.
15. Journaling 101
16. Fall is my favorite season, so when Bath and Body works introduces their fall line I pay attention

I've finished John Grisham's most recent novel and have started two non fiction books - one on the assassination of MLK, Jr and one on Ravensbruk prison.  Keep an eye out for the reviews upcoming!

Links I love

 

I spent a lot of time this week walking and coordinating home improvement projects - namely a bathroom remodel and re-doing my daughter's room. It's been something else and kinda stressful for me but here I am! 

I hope that everyone had a happy Fourth of July. We went to our local parade and here are some pics:

Our governor put in an appearance.

The NH Pipes and Drums did too. 

My fiancee and I are (almost) done with Handmaid's Tale - one more episode left. The penultimate episode had me crying in parts.  I'm going to miss the series.  However, coming up for me anyways, are the following in no order: watching Season 3 of The White Lotus, Yellowstone (which I just started), Alien: Earth, all before the fall when I can expect to be distracted by Outlander (which is the blood of my blood) and Stranger Things. I don't know what will take those show's places. I have re-started The Walking Dead and am hoping to get through the entire series. Maybe this will fill the void.  I anticipate having a review for you on The Nightingale and am starting The Boys From Biloxi (recommended by my son!).  

1. Romantasy numbers are up.
2. Tell tale sign you should throw away your veggies.
3. What will Wimbledon look like without the judges?
4. 14 books set in Edinburgh
5. The classic cocktail that Sylvia Plath used to indulge in.
6. Rucking is the latest walking trend.
7. July 2025 tarot reading.
8. The author who ran an ultramarathon to write a thriller.
9. 6 underrated benefits of caffeine.
10. Most popular red, white and blue foods by state.
11. 10 surprising facts about the Scopes Monkey Trial.
12. This book looks fascinating.
13. 80's makeup is making a comeback!
14. Celebrity book club picks for July, 2025. Please don't forget to check out Book of the Month!
15. Why do so many porches in the South have blue ceilings

I hope that everyone has a good week!

REVIEW The Nightingale by Kristin Hmmah

 

I am beginning a WW2 kick.  I just finished this historical novel by Kristin Hannah, and soon will be reading books about women at Ravensbruk and, of course, All the Light We Cannot See.  There's a plethora of books about this period so I'm in luck.

The two main characters in this novel are sisters -Isabelle and Viane - who cannot be more different in personality with Isabelle being very rebellious and Viane being more practical (which, given that she has a child makes sense on some level as there is more risk). The novel itself takes place mostly in France from the period of 1939through 1945, prime World War 2 years and details each woman's response to the war and German occupation. Isabelle joins the revolution while Viane remains at home, attempting to keep things as normal as possible for her child.  

The book may seem intimidating at well over 400 pages, but it is well worth the read and the hype. So. Good. Hannah really sets the place well - as a result it is as almost as if you are walking with each character in the time and location that they are in, experiencing what they are experiencing as they are experiencing it. No detail was left out. The perspective of the women who had to endure the war was a welcome perspective as it doesn't seem to be one that has been discussed all that much.  It is compelling and exciting and pretty fast paced. 

Definitely worth the read.

Links I love

 

It's been super hot this week. Last week, we did our first college tour in the heat. My AC has been working overtime! It's also been really, really hot. We have hit 100 degrees for the first time in 15 years, which is unheard of here. I have a sinus infection which has been making me miserable. :(  We started painting my daughter's room and got an estimate for new flooring.

1. Books set in the Pacific Northwest.
2. Top 5 Pixar movies, ranked by NPR listeners.
3. Can you identify the President based upon his facial hair?
4. The Boston Globe Horn awards are here.
5. Five great literay mysteries set in coastal MA.
6. 6 n ew books out this week, including one on trailblazers.
7. How to feel better after birth.
8. 6 new Disney mugs have been released on Amazon.
9. Plan fall reading with these mysteries, thrillers and true crime books coming out.
10. Books about our National Parks or which take place there. 
11. Npr staffers pick fav non fiction books of the year so far. And here  are their fav fiction ones.
12. Rick Astley covering Pink Pony Club
13. The best and worst states for road trips.
14. Book recommendations based upon your favorite scary movie.
15. Is the decline of reading causing political dysfunction?
16. The best way to drink coffee for your health (note, this isn't how I drink it).
17. Why is the nation's capital called D.C.?
18. A new short film on Jason Voorhees iscoming out for the 45th anniversary of Friday the 13.
19. 10 sci-fi books to read if you really liked Dune.
20. It's no secret that I've been thinking about college for my kid - 60 tips for when your kid goes to college.
21. The best historical fiction beach reads.
22. Why do Italian restaurants play Frank Sinatra's music?
23. Against the celebrity memoir industrial complex - I guess the article author doesn't like them.
24. Why berries get moldy so quickly.
25. 8 forgotten figures from the American Revolution.

I hope that everyone has a good week!