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The Clutter Connection
by Cassandra Aarssen


Interesting & quick read.
 
 


Craig & Fred By Craig Grossi
by Craig Grossi


This was an endearing true story that touched my heart. I loved it!
 
 


Clock Dance
by Anne Tyler


A relatable story about being uncertain of your roles and responsibilities within your family, written rather realistically so you'll find yourself pairing the characters to individuals within your own family. Perfect for mothers who fear they do too much, do too little, or maybe should be doing something entirely different. Not a five-star book, though, due to an abrupt ending-- but I'll say no more about the ending to avoid spoilers!
 
 


Washington Black A Novel By Esi Edugyan
by Esi Edugyan


It was not fair of me to read Washington Black so close to reading The Underground Railroad. Really, other than examining the impact of slavery on the psyche, they are just so different in so many ways: writing style, scope, tone, literary elements. But next to the bravura of Colson Whitehead's novel, this seems circumspect in comparison. It deserves praise for pairing the power of individual imagination in an era of belief in possibilities of science with the limitations imposed by personal prejudice engendered by slavery, racism, class, and society in one story. Lovely, sad, hopeful, and imaginative, all in one.
 
 


The Warrior Woman
by Maxine Hong Kingston


One of the great things about this Bingo challenge is that it gets you to finally read some of those books you've been meaning to get to, but somehow never have. "The Warrior Woman" recently appeared on the NYT's list of "50 Must Read Memoirs" and frequently appears on required reading lists as both a new classic of Chinese American and feminist literature. Her work is at once highly personal to her own experience and deeply rooted in her connection to her Chinese heritage. I will not be surprised to see her retelling of the Mulan myth cited in reviews of the upcoming Disney live-action remake. So glad to have read this lyrically written memoir.
 
 


Norse Gods
by Neil Gaiman


Neil Gaiman's audio performance of his "Norse Gods" reflected his clear passion for the tales and sly wit. Though from time to time I wondered if I would recognize the names of characters, objects, and places if I ever read the print edition ("Oh, that's how you spell that?"), more often I was glad not to have to decifer them on my own. Gaiman's reading brought out the sly humor in the stories, though I think I detected a slight pro-Loki sentiment. Much of Gaiman's original work, aside from the delightful family-appropriate "Fortunately the Milk," seems too spooky for my delicate sensibilities, so I was grateful to be able to savor his writing and performance with this recording.
 
 


Chinese Cinderella By Adeline Yen Mah
by Adeline Yen Mah


Riveting story about a young chinese girl and her painful childhood. Excellent read for young readers too.
 
 


Mistaken Identity
by Don Van Ryn,Susie Van Ryn,Whitney Cerak


This was a riveting book about 2 families whose lives have been changed forever.
 
 


Another Brooklyn
by Jacqueline Woodson


As a teacher who has read a number of Woodson's middle-grades books with my students, it was exciting to find one of her books in the adult section of my library. Turns out it was released in 2016, so it took me a while to find it, LOL! The writing style of this book reminds me greatly of the writing style of her other work, Locomotion. The book was haunting and emotional; it contains a somewhat happy ending, but still leaves with me with the impression I've read something *real* as opposed to some sanitized happy ending. I love Woodson for that. As a New Jersey native, I also sad a quick nod to a town near my own in one of the chapters!
 
 


The Patron Saint Of Lost Dogs
by Nick Trout


This summer, I seem to be on a search to find a book with a sufficiently complex plot. Like many other books I've selected from the library this summer, they've all had extremely simplistic storylines that wrap up in unrealistic manners.
 
 
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