REVIEW The Killer and Frank Lloyd Wright by Casey Sherman

 

I saw this book and was intrigued - the famous architect and a killer?  This was a true crime book that I could get behind. However, I was kind of disappointed because the killer part of Wright's life was only a little slice of the book - instead of taking a deep dive into it, it was a small part of the book.  The book, however, was still completely fascinating.

The book starts with biographical history - Sherman writes about Wright's childhood  and the time that he spent on a family farm in Wisconsin (which was had a large impact on him - he hated it and ran away!). During his college years, he realizes that he infinitely preferred the urbanity of Chicago and knew that he wanted to be an architect. While in Chicago, he is able to charm himself into the orbits of wealthy, influential people and also marry a woman that was significantly younger then him - Kitty was, if I remember correctly, 17 at the time of her marriage to Wright. Kitty and Frank have four children in short order and she is responsible for raising them, while Wright earns money (except that he spends more than he makes). Ultimately, Frank meets Mamah Cheney - who, even though she is married to another man and has children of her own with him - is Frank's soul mate and they end up carrying on a not very well concealed affair. During a trip to Europe, the tabloid press picks up the story since Frank is quite famous at this time, and Kitty, who refuses to consent to a divorce, uses the press to her favor. 

Upon the couple's return to the States, Frank and Mamah go to Wisconsin to live at Taliesin in Wisconsin, where the couple's severely mentally ill cook, Carlton, kills a number of people at the ranch (including Mamah and her children) and burns it down.   This is the crux of the book,

I enjoyed learning about Frank Lloyd Wright even though I had initially picked up the book expecting a true crime read.  His architecture changed the landscape of American homes and landscape, so it was good to learn more about him.  However, I felt like the title was a bit misleading as that part of the book was only a small slice of things.  Sherman clearly researched the book thoroughly and the book itself doesn't get bogged down in dry prose.  

Definitely pick it up - worth the read. 

REVIEW: Self-Hep for Serial Killers by Asia MacKay

 This is actually the second book in the series, which began with A Serial Killer's Guide to Marriage, although I somehow didn't know this at the time that I selected the book from the library.  The first book introduced readers to the marriage of Hazel and Fox, and this book continues with their story. It is split into five parts: Mindfulness, Self-Sacrifice, Boundaries, Resilience, and Positivity, all of which are meant to be ironic.  Each section opens with a quote by a famous mommy blogger that is intended to be inspirational - she's an influencer after all - and the second quote is from Hazel, which demonstrates the starkness of parenting. 

Foxand Hazel really are in no position to give parenting advice as they bring their four month old to dispose of a body. We learn quickly that Fox is experiencing performance anxiety because he recently botched a kill and is seeing a therapist. Hazel also doesn't feel like she fits in with the other moms at her school so she is going through something very similar emotionally. In the course of their killing and living their lives, they have somehow managed to draw the attention of a dangerous and lethal group to their doorstep so the couple needs to get their poop in a group and FAST as it's not just about surviving in suburbia but it's about fighting for their lives.

What I loved about this book is that it is a tongue in cheek, very witty and satirical look at serial killer teams. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times in this novel, much to the chagrin of my teenage daughter (as I would read in public and would embarrass her). It was a quick, easy and intriguing read, that kept my attention and was a really nice break from the serious stuff I had been reading (about a mass killing!). This novel is definitely worth the read.

Links I love

 

I have had a very tough week.  I have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  We are still in the staging phase although the testing that I have had shows some positive signs.  It is very slow growing and signs point to it being responsive to hormone suppression therapy. I learned on Friday that I'm a clinical stage 1, which is the best place that I can be with this diagnosis.  Of course, it could change once pathology has the chance to do their thing after surgery.  It has been quite a ride so far.   I found the concerning part myself during a self exam. Please, please, please do your self-exams and encourage the women in your life to do theirs because it literally could have just saved my life.

I'm thinking of starting a blog about my journey. I'm also creating a cancer fighting playlist.  If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Cancer has chosen the wrong girl!

• Literature program gets funding!
• 60 years later, Star Trek lives long and prospers.
• How literature has wrestled with 9/11.
• There is a new Carrie adaptation coming up.
• My mind has been on fighting lately so here are some books about global protest movements.
• Best non fiction books of the century so far.
• I'm looking forward to this.
• Pulitzer prize winning biographies and autobiographies.
• NPR has some suggestions for fall tv viewing.
• I didn't even know they were together.
• Oprah's book club turns 30,
• Some movies coming out this fall.
• The most anticipated crime and thriller releases coming out in the fall.
• Celine Dion is back in action.
• The Legend of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

I am currently reading Sisters of the Midnight Sun and listening to Wayward Girls,

REVIEW The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri

 

This book is certainly long but it didn't feel long to read at all.  It is an epic novel about three enigmatic sisters and a young man's relationship relative to them. It is specifically about the Mikkola sisters - Ina, Evelyn and Anastasia - and a young man named Jonas (the author perhaps) who has lived his life being completely obsessed and enthralled by them, living in their orbit but hoping eventually to live in their world. It spans decades of time - it starts at one year and then the time covered goes down. It also spans a multitude of places - Sweden, Tunisia and New York to name a few. 

I absolutely loved the characters and couldn't get enough of them. They were so real and the narrator (Jonas) was subtly placed as the observer.  It simply added to the story in a way that was not heavy handed and was absolutely subtle. What I additionally enjoyed was how it absolutely captured the messiness of marriage. One of the sisters visiting their mother as an adult was absolutely haunting and stays with me even now. 

Definitely worth the commitment!

Links I love

 

This has been quite a week here. My son started his first day of classes at college this week and my daughter is doing driver's ed! I owe you at least two reviews - they should be out next week.

• If you like memoirs, here are some to try.'
• Scots, historical fiction and more.
• The books that shaped you in high school.
• 14 new books that will help you ease your way into fall.
• Your guide to Dolly Parton's crime movies.
• What is true crime literature?
• 28 pictures of people posing at the WTC prior to 9/11.
• The significance of dogs in literature.
• The trailer for East of Eden is here.
• Gothic Horror set across the Globe.
• Gloria Steinem has passed away. Later in life, she found herself free from gender constraints.
• What the heck?
• The benefit of reading over coffee can sharpen your focus all day.
• Where to start if you are interested in reading books by Emily St. John Mandel.

I hope everyone has a good week.

Links I Love

 

This was a big week in our house. School started, my son moved into college and my daughter started driver's education!  CRAZY I tell you. In memory of Tim Cruise, I rewatched Clue - which I LOVED as a child.  

• Five page turning crime books involving nature.
• What can the ghost of Sylvia Plath teach us about grief?
• The Kirkus short list prize finalists are out.
• The book club picks this month.
• Some fantasy/sci fi mystery books.
• 5 mysteries that blend cozy, horror and romance.
• We lost Tim Curry too. An Ode to Tim Curry's Pennywise..
• 6 common pets in medieval times. 
• The most popular album in the year you graduated from high school.
• Some books that explore women's horror fiction.
• 7 great horror novels set in the American South.
• How Dolly was mourned. 
• 15 books that the folks at Electric Literature loved from this summer,
• I would also break into fisticuffs over Anne PAtchett
• 15 novels featuring dogs.
• Finalists from the 2026 Kirkus award have been announced. 
• Check out these supplements if you're like me and over 40 trying to build muscle. 

Have a great week!

Rest in peace, Dolly.

 

Dolly Parton, a national treasure, has passed away at the age of 80. The world has lost a phenomenal force - I admired her for her brains, class, talent, and her fight to increase literacy among children.  

Dolly, thank you for all that you have done for us and for trying to make this world a better, kinder place.  I hope that  you find peace in heaven.  Godspeed.

REVIEW: Whistler by Ann Patchett

 Ann Patchett is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine. I loved The Dutch House and Whistler is also a new favorite of mine.  In the nature of full disclosure, I love literary fiction about families and this is most assuredly what this novel is.  

This novel focuses on the relationship between Daphne Fuller and Eddie Triplett, who are a daughter and stepfather with a love that transcends trauma, a divorce and a weird twist. They reunite after a span of 45 years at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in what is one of the most serendipitous moments that I can remember. The precipitating event was a car accident on a snowy road that left both Eddie and Daphne trapped inside and a divorce very shortly thereafter which Daphne believes is her fault (I mean, Eddie crashed the car with her inside and they could have died, so it's a reasonable assumption). We learn about Eddie and Daphne during dialogue between the characters that contain vague references and flashbacks to the actual accident.  I LOVED this - it was perfect in keeping me interested and wanting to know more, the pacing was on point and, as usual, Patchett's writing is just lovely.

I felt like the characters were very real and relatable characters.  They were well developed and I found myself often nodding along with them and their statements. The whole book also felt just very...KIND and it shown in how the characters interacted with each other. I loved the themes of love within families and how that can look differently to different people within different relationships or even within the same relationship.  It is also about second chances.

I cherished this lovely book and I hope that you will too.  

Links I love

 

This weekend we spent time in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire and just relaxed.  I have a lot of stuff going on in my mind right now so it was a welcome relief.  I've been doing a lot of reading too. 

• Lindsey Clancy's trial highlights the gaps in treating post-partum psychosis.
• The best crime fiction of 2026. 
• The new ACOTAR book covers are out!
• Mass. passed a right to read law.
• Dark Academia reads for the book club for fall.
• Did smartphones really kill reading?
• Tom Hanks may star in a movie adaptation of Theo of Golden.
• The LT Governor in Texas is coming for the books.
• 60 of the most anticipated books of the upcoming fall.

I hope that everyone has a great week!

REVIEW: Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker

 

This was  the first book by Kylie Lee Baker that I've ever read and I can't wait to read her other books. When I think of Gothic horror, I think of fever dream, death, unhappiness, hallucinations and all the things. This book had EVERYTHING. 

First and foremost - the setting. Absolutely spooky - it's a Japanese cottage in the middle of the woods - near an ocean or maybe not.  I wasn't ever entirely clear. And the characters?!  To die for (literally and figuratively). They were absolutely fascinating and I was drawn into them. They were beautifully written, as was the storytelling.  Ms. Baker uses a dual timeline narrative to tell the story, which was very effective in keeping my head spinning and me on my toes. However, when the two timelines finally collide, you better watch out!  

The themes that were explored also very much hit hard for me. The novel dives deeply into themes surrounding perception, regret, mistakes and the role that the land/property plays in holding onto the atrocities that are committed upon them. It points out the consequences of our choices and how the place bears witness, often holding onto it. The writing itself is beautiful. It's lucid, flowing and super easy to get lost in.  I found that chapters would go by before I remembered that I had to get ready for work. 

This is a novel that will warrant a second reading for me so that I can pretend to maybe understand more the novel and I look very much forward to her other novels. 

REVIEW American Fantasy by Emma Straub

 

In this novel, we follow Annie, who is a 50-something recent divorcee who is going on her first ever celebrity cruise featuring the bank Boy Talk (which reminded me of NKOTB). Her sister, Katherine, was the real superfan and Annie intended to go with her, but Katherine broke her leg so couldn't attend. Annie is, therefore, on her own. She's paired with a roommate named Maira, who is a veteran Boy Talk cruiser and helps Annie learn the ways of the cruise. The members of Boy Talk also play a role, and are seriously stock characters. Keith Fiore is the one that we get to know the best. 

I just couldn't get into this book.  I appreciated that Straub was exploring themes related to aging, fandom and life changes, but the whole thing felt very superficial, flat and rushed. I didn't feel like Annie had an arc at all and was kind of just there, exploring things without having any agency or learning anything. At all. Nothing big or cathartic happened in this book. At all. I kept expecting something to happen that would inspire change and introspection on the parts of the characters but there wasn't really anything like that. It wasn't even a romance.  

Skip this one.  Not worth your time. 

Links I love

 

The first week back from vacation is always a little bit rough.  I have a couple of big deadlines coming up. I did my first spin class in a while as well.  Tired me out.  I am getting better at getting strength workouts in.  I'd like to get more walks in though.

• NPR staffers recommend their favorite non fiction books of the year so far. 
• What Ancient Romans watched at the Colosseum in addition to Gladiator fights.
• Barack Obama is hosting a new book podcast.
• New BIPOC memoirs to read this summer. 
• 7 things every 90's bookstores had.
• Ancient myths, historical retellings and retellings from around the world.
• The biggest reading clubs are reading these books. 
• 7 novels that explore the dark side of Academia.
• 7 common misconceptions about the Manson family murders.
• Novels that use the ocean as their setting.
• Books that inspired Bruce Springsteen.
• Where to start with Marisa de los Santos.
• Taxi drivers rarely die of Alzheimer's related stuff.
• Some of the best photos from this year's total solar eclipse.
• Books that will make you feel things.
• The Harlem Trilogy is being made into films. 
• 14 books to read if you're going to South Korea.
• The best books set in the publishing world.

I'm currently listening to The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives and reading David Copperfield and  Japanese Gothic

I hope that everyone has a great week.

REVIEW: Ironwood by Michael Connolly (Book 2 of the Catalina books)

 

I have enjoyed Michael Connelly - I need to catch up on the Bosch books, but I'm up to date on Sergeant Stillwell and the Catalina books! From the first page, Sergeant Stillwell is in it.  He's at an airstrip scene where two of his deputies are jeopardized and it goes full throttle from there. 

As background or explanation, an Ironwood tree has a single root that spawns often multiple, beautiful trees. And somehow, it manages to encapsulate Stillwell, who is exiling in Catalina. He still loves the island, its people and the people that he works with - he would never have thought that he was going to be into community policing but here he is. So when the particular tragedy at the center of this book happens it's as close to devastating for him as anything he has experienced to date. As a result of that tragedy, Stil is relegated to the substation but really? Do you think he's actually going to listen? HECK NO. When he starts cleaning out the lost and found, he locates a backpack that belonged to a girl that went missing while hiking on the island many years prior.  Once he reports that to the mainland, the Cold Case unit becomes involved including fan favorite Renee Ballard (who is a badass in her own right). He gets invovled in that investigation AND manages to deal with run of the mill stuff on the island as well as get to the bottom of the tragic events that landed him, supposedly, on the bench to begin. 

I LOVED  this book. I brought it to the beach with me when I went on vacation and finished it the same day that I started it. It is VERY fast paced  and readable - it kept me hanging on wanting to know more and of course, the characters are AMAZING and memorable. Stil is one of my favorites because he wants to do the right thing and nothing is going to stop him.  Be prepared, there is a lot going on with three major cases (an story lines) going on at the same time. I had a chart to help me keep track so it didn't bother me, but if you get easily thrown by that then it might not be the book for you. 

I am certainly looking forward to the next installment. Keep it coming!

REVIEW: The Strength of the Few by James Islington

 

This novel is the second book in The Hierarchy Trilogy by James Islington and picks up where The Will of the Many left off. Vis is still reeling from what happened in the last book and the government is barely hanging on. The novel immediately splits into three separate narratives and introduces two new storylines populated by a completely new set of characters. The three storylines take place in three worlds that look completely different from each other but all starring Vis (in different situations of course). The first storyline is the one we read about in the first book, the second involves Vis waking up in a rural area that is very quiet and the third involves Vis waking up in a third world that literally burns his lungs as he breathes. Vis clearly is meant to explore different facets of his personality in each world and by the end, he is somewhat successful, I guess. 

I did not like this book as much as I liked the first one.  The fragmentation was disconcerting and not cohesive (although if that was the author's goal then it worked brilliantly). The pace and momentum were not as compelling as in the first novel so the narrative seemed to lag in parts. I attribute the lack of momentum to the choppiness of moving in between three distinct storylines - I wanted to learn more about the original Vis, instead of the one in the country or hell. And I didn't get that so I was majorly disappointed. I enjoy Islington's writing style, but even that seemed to get lost in the transitions between the three storylines. 

Having said that I'm hoping that the last book in the trilogy will be better.  I'm committed to finishing out this series, and if you are and haven't read this book yet, please make sure your expectations are in the right place. I don't know that I would have finished this book if I didn't want to finish what I started. 

Links I Love

 

This week, we were visiting with family in Sag Harbor. I even took a surfing lesson!  That has been on my bucket list so it was so great. As a 47 year old I never thought I would be able to do that but here we are. I finished one book and am halfway through David Copperfield.  I promise reviews are upcoming. 

• The August 2026 BOTM selections are out.
• Some Egyptian mythology books.  I can't wait to read the Odyssey, which I know is Greek but is still mythology.
• Why an 85 year old has spent her last years reading the Ancient Classics.
• The Defense Department wants to ban hundreds of books.
• A man used a civil war artifact as a paperweight - but it could have exploded.
• 13 new books to get you through the end of summer.
• How the Miss America pageant ignited a discussion over beauty, race and power.
• NPR staffers and their favorite books of the year so far.
• 7 memoirs about finding close relatives later in life.
• Why am i not shocked by this?
• Ten best new books to read in August.
• This man survived both Hiroshima AND Nagasaki.
• The best US Colleges for long term career success. 
• 7 movies that you may not know were Stephen King adaptations.

Have a great week!

Links I Love

 

Happy Sunday everyone!  This upcoming week, I'm visiting family in NY so I likely won't be blogging all that much until we return. I sorely needed this vacation.

• ADHD looks different in women and poses unique health risks. 
• The lessons learned from Twin Peaks.
• The best Heist and con artist books.
• The time Johnny Cash started a prison riot at San Quentin.
• LA Public Library unveils the largest pop up book.
• The best books about understanding American politics. 
• Dr. Fauci's diary entries from the pandemic are released. Guys, that was six years ago already.
• Leila Slimani's interview with Fresh Air.
• Why you wake up earlier as you get older.
• Dolly Parton's favorite books.
• Booker Prize longlist is here. 
• 5 great books inspired by Greek mythology.
• What is weird girl fiction?
• How the rise of Mystery podcasts has fueled the True Crime memoir genre. 
• FIFA couldn't get more sketchy, but apparently it has. And then it was scrapped.
• How do you get out of a reading slump?
• This vitamin deficiency may be why you lose muscle with age. 
• 7 novels set on islands. 
• 6 narrative non-fiction reads that are like fiction.
• The best new cozy fantasy books. 
• The tragedy of loving Sylvia Plath. 
• 8 things every living room had in the 1980's.
• President Obama releases his summer reading list. He always has great selections. 
• Meet the woman stunt performer who doubled Matt Damon in the Odyssey. 
• The 7 most charming Main Streets in the US.
• Books with unreliable narrators. 
• 7 phrases that come from Greek mythology.
• 7 books that imagine what happens after singularity.
• How reading became sexy.
• OMG.
• Another tragic historical event is being resurrected by the Shoshone to educate us. 
• Kirkus' 20 best books to read in August.

I am listening to Judy Blume: a Life and I am LOVING it.  I grew up reading Judy Blume (Are You There God, it's Me, Margaret, and the Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing books - which cracked me up and Blubber).  My only wish is that she had written a book about Margaret going through perimenopause and menopause cause Lord knows her readers need it right now.  I'm finishing up The Strength of the Few by James Islington (book 2 of the Hierarch Trilogy) and plan on reading David Copperfield and Demon Copperhead while on vacay.

Please visit my Pangobooks store. I even have a code you can use.

REVIEW American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed by Isaac Fitzgerald

 

This book has been all over the place and seemed interesting, so I grabbed it. I hadn't read Fitzgerald's earlier book, Dirtbag, Massachusetts (although it's on hold for me at the library!). Fitzgerald is obsessed with Johnny Appleseed (whose legal name was John Chapman) and I guess this makes sense since both hail from Leominster, MA. In the process of searching for an American hero, Fitzgerald found himself.

Fitzgerald, I think, was naturally drawn to this hero.  His parents were hikers and storytellers (the best kind of parents I think) and Fitzgerald was also, I suspect, drawn to the roaming of Appleseed given that Fitzgerald himself was unhoused for quite some time. Life was complicated by his mother's mental illness, and his parents' stormy relationship. That being said, I loved this writer's search for himself in his search for the true story of a legend.  He didn't actually WALK it though, buying a better of a car to make it through and catching a ride home when he was in Massachusetts, having been unable to hack the weather. 

The book often digressed, which I enjoyed, but if that would annoy you, I would stay away. I love digressions because I think they show insight into people, but most people don't understandably. I loved reading about the history of the areas, the time periods and the things that Fitzgerald encountered but my absolute FAVORITE parts were the parts where Fitzgerald described meeting and interacting with some good, solid and authentic people along the way. In these interactions, it becomes quickly clear that he's learning about himself and that is beautiful. I enjoyed seeing and experiencing Fitzgerald be pushed beyond his comfort zone. Fitzgerald also has a sense of humor that makes you snort or chuckle so loudly that the people around you look, openly, at you in a funny manner (not even the side eye!!). 

This book is one for the ages and I can't wait to read his first as well as see what he's got coming. 

REVIEW The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

 

I have heard so many good things about this epistolary novel and all of it was well deserved.  The person corresponding is Sybil Van Antwerp, a septuagenarian that has lived a very full and dramatic life. She is a divorcee, sister, mother, friend, lawyer (retired)-and I felt like, initially, I had met a ton of women like her. She came across as privileged with an opinion on EVERYTHING that she would share bluntly no matter whether you asked for it or not. However, I grew to be really fond of her because she was just so....human?  Flawed?  Trying her best and yet failing?  Relatable for sure.  Sybil literally word vomits everything about her life, all of her opinions and her observations, and secrets to whoever she comes across (friends, famous authors, customer service reps - everyone is fair game). 

We learn that she is slowly going blind - which is scary and devastating for her - and she's also getting anonymous letters that are threatening and stalker-ish. Sybil, as a result, is forced to reflect upon a very, very tough and shameful part of her past.  At the same time, she's dealing with a rift with her daughter that is threatening to become permanent. 

There were a lot of things that I adored about this book, but the thing I adored the most was Sybil's (and her friends) ending letters with discussion about what they're reading.  Made me add things to my TBR list to be frank. I loved that this book seemed to excel in conveying that life and all of its calamities are in shades of grey. There is very little that is black and white.  I also really enjoyed the subtleties in how things unfolded. Evans was masterful in this.  I, as a reader, had to really pay attention to figure out what was going on and I am fully intending to read it a second time because I'm fairly certain that I missed stuff the first go around (and I'll do it gladly, this book was that good). It was absolutely delightful to see Sybil begin to open up and confront the painful memories of her past.  She became courageous over the course of the novel, confronting not only past painful issues but current ones too. 

Please, drop what you're doing and go get this novel.  It was wonderful. 

Links I love

 

I'm very glad it's Friday. It's been a week.  I have some work stress and am not sleeping well in part due to the stress but also because my shoulder has been hurting me when I'm lying down flat. :(  I wonder if it's inflammation from rowing.  

1. So distressed that you can't think straight? Use these skills.
2. Romance books recommended by NPR staff.
3. This book sounds interesting.
4. Literary Fiction to read with your book club.
5. Why we need more women centric re-telling's of The Odyssey. 
6. 6 must read books that will strengthen your character. 
7. The 2026 First Novel Prize long list has been released!
8. Jimothy is now in Dungeons and Dragons. Here's the story about Jimothy.  Do yourself a favor and Google "jimothy the racoon."  You won't regret it. 
9. The lives of princesses in Egypt. 
10. Inside the campaign that acquitted Karen Read. 
11. Set your crime novels in this city.
12. Rebecca Solnit on the Western Tradition of silencing women. 
13. How the USWMNT staff get their athletes ready for the World Cup.
14. 7 household items every Greek household owned. 

I hope that everyone has a good week.  Please don't forget to visit my Pangobooks store.

REVIEW: The Will of the Many by James Islington

 

If I had to classify this book, I'd classify it as dark academia - it reminded me a lot of Lord of the Flies that meets The Secret Stranger with a bit of Harry Potter thrown in for good measure.  The main character is Vis, a teenage ousted prince whose kingdom has "civilized" (aka invaded and taken over) by The Hierarchy, a Roman/Greek type of society where its members engage in a pyramid structure of "will ceding." The lower classes are at the bottom of the pyramid and they cede their wills to those that occupy the higher levels, with the few at the top getting will from the thousands of people below them. The ones who receive the will receive tremendous physical benefits, but the ones that cede their will suffer terribly in the process.  It's an awful caste system that is reminiscent of apartheid or slavery. Vis, an orphan on top of being ousted, is adopted by a prestigious family and sent to "The Academy" by his adoptive father in order to investigate his adoptive uncle's death.

This lengthy novel is VERY ambitious. There are themes of colonialism and capitalism, nepotism, definitions of family and friends (i.e. how do you define them?), loyalty and revenge.  In spite of taking these own in a heavy handed manner, Islington is subtle in how he presents these, and the book is action packed, making it both exciting and interesting.  I didn't lose interest, that's for sure. Vis, and many of the other characters, are very complex.  Vis especially has to struggle with anger, scars and a strong moral compass that compels him to do the right thing in spite of the odds and pressures being put on him.  I often forgot that he was only 17 in the book (he turns 18 at one point).

There are a lot of training montages in this novel and the vast majority of the book occurs in an academic setting so if that's not your favorite, then stay away. Otherwise, pick this up! I couldn't put it down. 

REVIEW: Marilyn and Her Books: The Literary Life of Marilyn Monroe by Gail Crowther

 

Who knew that Marilyn had approximately 400 books in her personal library that she religiously moved with her to home after home? I certainly didn't know that the perhaps most famous icon of our time was such an avid reader.  And her association with writers certainly didn't stop with the written word - not only did she marry Arthur Miller, but through him and independently she met and interacted with numerous other writers of her time. Gail Crowther in this book delves deeply into Marilyn's personal collection and her impressive program to educate and cultivate her mind after dropping out of high school. She was hungry for knowledge and stopped at nothing to read and she read everything that she could get her hands on. 

Dr. Crowther did an immaculate, well researched deep dive into this topic.  She clearly thoroughly researched her subject and, apparently, had the support of the estate in researching and writing this book.  It contains not only information about her books, but tidbits about her life in the hopes of illuminating readers about who Marilyn was beyond the image that the studios forced her to portray.  Marilyn Monroe was clearly highly intelligent, intellectually curious and, sadly, particularly troubled.  The book itself is a fast and interesting read - it took me 2 to 3 days to read and moved quickly.  

I LOVE reading about and learning about what people read because I believe it offers us insight into them and their personality, interests and values. This book gave me insight into the person behind the facade, making the book a well worth read.  

Links I love

 

This week has been HOT here and we're experiencing yellow skies as a result of the Canadian wildfires.  From an exercise perspective, things are so much better.  I've been getting in regularly to lift 3-4 times a week (for a woman at my age, re-starting to lift helps my bones and making sure I have enough muscle and am not losing any). I've also been rowing on my erg 3-4 times a week and walking with my weighted vest.  I have always been active and being sidelined for a while has been really difficult for my mental health so i'm happy to be back.  I'm hoping to get up North for a few days to do a short hike. 

• Ten Japanese books to read this summer.
• A literary tour through the streets of Prague.
• 6 new novels that re-imagine the Indian family.
• Books if you are a language lover. 
• The best books on Stonehenge.
• Books about people just living. 
• Non Fiction books being loved by NPR staffers right now. 
• How to keep reading if you have a long summer TBR list.
• Are we living through the end of reading?
• Why making friends is so hard as an adult.
• What people are saying about Christopher Nolan's Odyssey. My copy is coming in the mail - I want to read it before I see it.
• What are the Emma Lion books and why are they having a moment?
• Three must read non fiction books for disability awareness month.
• 20 speculative fiction books to get you through 2026.
• 42% of women don't know that they're in peri menopause.
• There's a new Fourth Wing book coming out!
• Marriage and the maiden name. 
• Rhode Island codifies a right to read.
• Cozy horror is a thing.
• The small press books you don't want to miss this summer. 
• The best of modern true crime. 

Please don't forget to visit my Pangobooks store!

REVIEW The Children by Melissa Albert

 

This book has been all over the place recently and for good reason. In this novel, we follow Guinevere Sharpe, whose mother, Edith, is the author of a hit children's series of books known as the Ninth City series. This series of books has brought so much inspiration and joy to other children but Guin and her brother Ennis have different memories of the time period in which Edith was writing these books. Guin is preparing to release a memoir, however, that portrays her childhood as bohemian and blissful, filled with love an laughter.  This release occurs during a period when Guin is estranged from Ennis and her parents are long dead, having died in a fire that destroyed their home in Vermont (the same home that the Ninth City Series was written in). At the same time that Guin's memoir is being released, Ennis, a renowned artist, has released his new immersive art show entitled simply "Mother." This has caused Guin to begin her journey towards her past and reconnecting with her brother. 

This book got under my skin.  It was beautifully written and included a world that was seemingly peaceful and beautiful, but really was inhabited by dark magic and ghosts. The family was most assuredly a toxic and dysfunctional one, with passive aggressive snarking, probable alcohol abuse, dishonesty and infidelity, as well as neglect of the children. There were ghosts and supernatural occurrences and accidents that caused deaths. I simply couldn't put this book down and looked forward to each new reveal, wondering what would be around the next corner.

This tale about grief and family is one that I will never forget.  Read this one immediately.

REVIEW Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution by Nathaniel Philbrick

 

I've always liked Nathaniel Philbrick's books on American History - and I picked this book up because of the recent celebration of the 250th birthday of the United States. This one didn't disappoint. Philbrick generally paints a picture of pre-revolutionary Boston and is focused on the siege and battle of the area in Boston that occurred until the British left about a year later. 

For a history book, this is a very quick read.  Philbrick obviously did a tremendous amount of research on this area of US history and relies heavily on primary sources (letters, journals etc), as he should.  I distinctly remember learning about and loving learning about the Revolutionary period in American History (superseded only by the Civil War and Reconstruction era - I know, I'm weird), but never in as much detail as Philbrick gives us.  Simply because it is chock full of details doesn't mean, however, that it is bogged down or slow - Philbrick has the unique ability to create a non-fiction history book that reads almost like a novel. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the actors - it was as if they came to life and I was experiencing their bombastic personalities in real time. I learned a lot about people like Phyllis Wheatly and Dr. Joseph Warren (who was one of THE leaders at Bunker Hill) that I never knew before. This, in and of itself, made the book worth it and I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in history.

Links I love

 

It has been a really hot week here. I finally was able to use the pool in our condo complex for the first time this summer and it was delightful.  I hope that everyone is staying cool!

• How we celebrated the Fourth!
• The best books on the United States. 
• From Lead Belly to Tupac: How Prison has shaped American music. 
• Here's how quickly the heat can dehydrate you.
• 8 microhabits that can help you lead a happier life. 
• 10 facts about Frieda Kahlo and Diego Rivera's relationship.
• The Founding Father that refused to celebrate Independence Day.
• This was good news, but with a cloud over it.
• Why small domestic details make historical fiction feel more real.
• Books that explore power dynamics in relationships with a large age gap.
• 6 things that people do differently in Finland, the happiest country in the world.
• 5 works of classical music that were written (relatively) quickly. 
• 7 Blockbusters from the 80's that still hold up. 
• The Disney animatronics heist of 2018.
• Mysteries set in grand residences.
• The best new books to read this summer, according to the millions. 
• The 2026 Harvey awards have been announced. 
• Best historical fiction books of the year (so far). And the best mystery, thriller and true crime books of the year so far. 
• Were officials biased in Argentina's win against Egypt at the World Cup?
• I'm looking forward to some of these books.
• The Saudi woman who is reimagining filmmaking.
• Is the end of reading here?
• I love that our governor did this.
• The true story of Laura Ingalls is WILD.
• How and why to cull your book collection.
• Celebrity book club picks for July, 2026. 
• 2026 Australian Jewish writers Award Shortlist.

I hope that everyone has a good week. I'm currently reading Marilyn and Her Books by Gail Crowther and listening to We Are All Guilty Here by Karen Slaughter, both of which are so good.

Please be sure to visit my PangoBooks store and to add me on Goodreads!

REVIEW Ours is a Tale of Murder by Nora Murphy

 

I picked up this book after reading a memoir - I wanted something quick, fresh and intriguing and I wasn't disappointed.  This novel takes place in a quiet suburban town in Maryland. It's a town that feels familiar with all of us, but there's an undercurrent of tension that raises the hair on the back of your neck but you're not sure why. In one home is Klara and Troy.  There's something off about Troy and Klara never wanted the white picket fence that she has.  Mary lives across the street and is preparing her home to be sold as she can't stand to live in the home that has bad memories of her son and mistakes. Henry lives with his parents and watches people way too closely for comfort.

What I really enjoyed was the unique way that Murphy structures her novel. I didn't expect it to circle back on itself the way that it did but I ended up really loving it. The novel explores relationships, it's true, but specifically it focuses on mothers and motherhood. It asks the question: what influence do mothers have on the people that their boys eventually become? Can they truly change or significantly influence them? The mothers in this novel are constantly present, some would say overbearing or enabling, while the fathers are absent either physically or emotionally. The pacing of the novel is brilliant and is best described as a slow burn.  It is anything but boring, however. I also really enjoyed how things eventually came together - it was a satisfying conclusion. 

Definitely worth the read. 

REVIEW Truce Crime, a Memoir by Patricia Cornwell

 

Patricia Cornwell is best known, perhaps, for her mystery series featuring Kay Scarpetta, a gritty, forensic medical examiner who also solves crimes. This is a candid and forthright memoir about the author of those novels, starting with her seemingly Southern Gothic childhood and moving through childhood, college and her eventual success as an author.

I was very surprised about how much trauma she had suffered.  Her childhood involved trauma related to, among other things, her parents' acrimonious divorce (including a kidnapping by her father), sexual abuse at the hands of a local police officer and her mother's mental health.  In her adolescence, she suffered from depression and a severe eating disorder.  In detailing these events, Cornwell's prose is sparse and unsentimental. Her sentences seemed particularly short and detached (although I imagine it was because she was writing about and consciously bringing up some awful, awful things). Cornwell was tremendously and remarkably resilient and had a big supporter in, of all people, Ruth Graham (the wife of evangelist Billy Graham). 

Cornwell details her writing process, which involves a tremendous about of hands on research (such as going to a morgue or learning how to shoot a particular gun).  I enjoyed gaining insight into this author, but the writing and detail were no where like Margaret Atwood's memoir, Book of Lives.  

Links I love

 

Last week (the week before this one) was particularly rough for me. I was admitted to the hospital overnight for observation and all this other stuff due to a severe allergic reaction to the pneumonia vaccine. NEVER AGAIN will I get that vaccine.

This is a big holiday for our country!  Happy Fourth!

• I used to walk this easement all the time. 
• The most anticipated books by women of color being released this fall. 
• The New Yorker has an email newsletter: What We're Reading. 
• Archaeologists discover a wooden model of Stonehenge that seems to line up with the summer solstice.
• The must read biographies and memoirs of summer 2026. I'm always down for a good memoir. 
• Some Australian memoirs that look good.
• 5 classics that are also good beach reads. 
• The Star Wars movies, ranked. 
• Why does the country Turkey have a different spelling at the World Cup?
• The best American novels according to Barnes and Noble.
• The shortlist for the Ursula K. LeGuin Prize
• Inside the wild world of Roman Romance Novels. 
• 5 things that Princess Diana loved that might surprise you (may she rest in peace).
• 7 books that blur the line between reality and fiction.
• Margaret Atwood novels in order. 
• A new study shows that your brain prefers to read on paper.  Mine certainly does. 
• The US ghost town that occasionally rises out of a lake.
• 20 great US History books.
• The missing piece of the menopause discussion. 
• 7 common misconceptions about the Fourth of July. And some misconceptions about the Founding Fathers. 
• The Star Spangled Banner had four verses, actually.

Please do not forget to visit my Pangobooks store! I hope everyone has a good week!

REVIEW This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman

 

I had listened to Isola, which was also by this author, and when I read the description of this novel, I thought I would give it a try.  I'm always drawn to stories about families and relationships and this book falls squarely in that genre.

This is the story of an extended Jewish-American family, headed by three matriarchs that are sisters.  The book begins with the death of the youngest of the three sisters. The remaining two sisters become split not only by her death but also by a feud about, of all things, a cake (hence the cover) and which threatens to extend until the both of them die. Goodman tells the story from different viewpoints as each chapter focuses on a member of the extended family as they are navigating their own personal dramas. The power in this novel is in the small moments - the conversations between the characters, the setup - as opposed to the overarching novel (which I guess is what makes it literary fiction). She did a magnificent job of getting us into the weeds in their relationships and made her characters believable, although not always likeable. 

I DID, however, find myself often trying to remember who was who and what their intricate relationships were.  It was often confusing and disjointed in transitions, but once I got a page or so into each chapter it quickly smoothed out.  There were so many characters it was almost too hard to keep track. In spite of this, Goodman does a masterful job in capturing messy and intricate relationships. Definitely worth the read~!

REVIEW London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

 

Go out and get this book. Now.  This book is a meticulously researched non-fiction book that reads like a novel. It is, in a nutshell, about the grim, seedy, scary Russian oligarch world of London and the 19 year old that gets sucked into it, ultimately perishing. 

Zac Brettler was 19 when he died. His parents were grieving and didn't understand why or how he died - he wasn't suicidal although everyone chalked this up to a suicide.  But then they learned that he was posing as the son of a Russian oligarch who meets these really sketchy guys that now want something from him (but what, question his parents) and why haven't the police truly, deeply and carefully investigated his death?  This book is Keefe's attempt to assist the parents try to figure all this out.

I loved this book. It's obviously meticulous in its research and the pacing is perfect, especially given the scope of what it is trying to cover. It drew me in so quickly that I read it at any moment that I could - waiting to pick my kid up, at lunch, waiting at the doctor's office - because I simply had to know what happened. A lot of the book has us in the seedy underbelly of London's financial world, and yet, I didn't shy away from it.  This made the book and the story all the more compelling to me. I had no idea such a world existed. And of course there is Zac's parents, who are absolutely, and rightfully, devastated by the loss of their son. It was hard to not feel terribly for them. They carried themselves with dignity and were treated the same way by the author.  

Such a good read. I look forward to reading Say Nothing.

Links I love

 

Things have been interesting around here.  Two Mondays ago, I got the pneumonia vaccine and it's been wreaking havoc on me ever since. In addition to the normal side effects where I felt achy for about 36 hours,  I have been dealing with a nasty site injection reaction that will not quit.  I actually was admitted to the hospital Wednesday into Thursday and was diagnosed as having a severe allergic reaction that has resulted in neuropathy in the arm that I got the shot in. Lucky me. I now will likely have to do PT to make sure that I don't lose all my strength and be sure to get to an ER if I can't use  my arms, or have severe pain or severe tingling or numbness. 

• Smells that defined summers in the 90's.
• Four family fueds that rival the Targaryens.
• Are elder millennial women ok?
• The non-fiction books that NPR staffers have enjoyed this year, so far.  And their favorite fiction books.
• The books that colleges are choosing for common reads in 2026.
• Gaslighting and self doubt - books that cause us to question the ones closest to us.
• How the Manson murders and Dominique Dunne changed LA True Crime.
• 40 Great new books you may have missed. 
• 15 great lakes for your summer getaway.
• Songs that were written by Prince that you didn't know about.