This is a repackaging of good advice to control what you can control. It‘s a good recentering, though I‘d like a little more information about parenting and this theory. The best part I thought was the section of adult friendships: why it‘s hard, what to do and what it takes to meet new friends and preserve old friendships. Overall, good reminder of how to not get engaged in the drama.

It takes a creative and well written story to turn an unlikable character with questionable moral character to be likable.

This is a creative, well written, 1/2 fiction, 1/2 sci-fi novel. I wanted more Wind, more Msizi chapters, less angry family, which shows the strengths of this evolving story telling strategy. With a novel inside a novel, this one jumps between two stories, and adds to the reader‘s understanding of the main character. Good read!

This isn‘t an easy read and it pairs well with “Everyone who is Gone is Here”. Following the human smugglers who are the guides or coyotes for people who are leaving Central America and migrating to Mexico or the US. It‘s intense, complicated, and told with humanity. Excellent!

Good family drama book. I just felt that the love triangle was over dramatized. Lots of characters and back stories to keep the plot moving, but some parts didn‘t hit perfectly for me. Loved the setting, vibrancy of Kolkata.

Creative and artsy way of chronicling stories of survivors of the Jeju Island Massacre.

There‘s a lot to like in this fast paced thriller- Handmaids Tale, Lord of the Flies, Hunger Games rolled into one dystopia. It‘s engaging and great beach read. I felt the middle romance was not needed and forced, but did like the ending. Flawed characters with hidden agendas make this one a good page turner.

This is the best book I‘ve read this year. It‘s imperfect, heartbreaking, challenging and cutting of every hypocrisy the West has in reference to the war in Gaza. The topic is the killing of innocent people in Gaza, but his points are far ranging and covers more ground than this one war. It‘s superb- as is leaves very few innocent other than the Gaza children.

I might be biased, but I read this the week I visited NASA with students. Whereas most of the ISS books I‘ve read focused on the science and engineering, this told the emotional and mental side of orbiting the earth- seeing it from afar- the beauty, your family continuing, its fragility, your “home”, while doing a job only a few can understand. The writing is exquisite- I simply loved it.

I feel like these books are superhero books written for women

The ego is the source a lot of anger, heartache and anxiety for many of us. Definitely a new age, philosophy take on how to let things go so that your ego doesn‘t consume your life. Some good parenting tips, but it was repetitive in its advice and anecdotes.

This reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant and I loved it. Predictable, yes, but still lovely.

Good WWII novel about a family in Poland. The book follows the parents and children in their quest for survival and staying together. Truly heartbreaking, and they were very lucky, most of the situations were believable (except for a few). Overall, the book showcases what one does for the family they love and to survive.

Good overview of the data bias of gender. It covers many areas of life that women‘s data has been overlooked. This book was definitely preaching to the choir, and I was curious about some more science and explanation of why women are so different. I fear that this problem will extrapolate in the next few years.

Well, my 17 year old daughter suggested this one to me as “a crazy book that you have to read!!!!” So, it does fit crazy, and with my life experiences I saw a number of things coming that I‘m not sure my daughter did. I might use this one as a teachable moment and go through the meaning, again, of what constitutes a red flag.

Good dystopian book and I‘m curious about book #2. Lots of connections, innuendos, and main characters were believable and engaging. Good twists and turns, some felt overdone. Overall, good quick read.

Though this book is centered on Brooks‘s processing the death of her husband, the aftermath and trying to grieve, she really gives the reader a guide of how to enjoy and savor the moments that one has now as we really don‘t know how long we all have to enjoy our relationships which make our lives worth living. I loved this.

The time period, Midwest farm culture references and growing up poor were spot on. I felt as if I was in a teenage brain who lived in a highly dysfunctional family.

I just didn‘t always like being in a teenage brain in a dysfunctional family.

I was hesitant about this one- i assumed it would be riddled with accounts of physical abuse. It‘s not. In fact, I finished with really liking and respecting Navalny as the positive, intelligent, curious, leader with integrity that he was. It was a life story and a love letter to the Russian people and his hope for a better world for his family. I loved it. Highly recommend!

This book was both some of the best writing I‘ve read in a very long time and a let down in the final few chapters. Characters were interesting, well developed and wonderful turns of phrase were rampant. The final few plot twists took away from the themes and development of this story. Overall, very good, just on the precipice of exceptional.

A well done, investigative reporting in Appalachia of a community before and after a white nationalist march in Pikeville, KY. Interviews with residents give shape to the frustrations of loss, shame, and poverty though they work hard yet can‘t get ahead. It‘s a great book, but it didn‘t make me feel better.

I loved this book. Moss interviews a wide range of artists: directors, painters, sculptors, writers, directors, crossword puzzle makers, chefs, fashion, etc to delve into how they create something unique and beautiful from nothing. There are themes of tenacity, editing, and pure dedication yet each interview shows a different way of creating a different art form. Enjoyable!

Such beautiful writing about Ireland, life, and love. I read this slow as to savor exquisite sentences embedded in a slow telling of a story. Worth every minute.

This book is fun escapism. The banter is more enjoyable and the characters likeable and the plot moves quickly. Some obvious plot events and other twists keep the pages turning. I may not be a better person after reading it, but it‘s a great way to unwind and lose yourself in the Night Court for a few hours.

I read 1/2 of this. It‘s good writing, but I didn‘t like the characters and I stopped wanting to read- which is uncommon for me. I anticipate that the second half is better, but life is short and my books to read pile is tall. Moving on.

I loved this free flowing, daily observations about a couple‘s life after college- the mundane, the social life, apartment search, and trying to envision the life ahead. It‘s not plot driven, but I enjoyed every minute.

This was on Obama‘s picks of the year, and while these short stories are well written, they are odd, off kilter enough that I couldn‘t truly get into them. If you like the eerie, this might be a good choice for you.

There is a lot to unpack in this one. I really liked the biography being told in two voices- Lisa Marie and Riley (her daughter). It‘s really hard to look away from the trauma, addictions, love, permission = love, celebrities, wealth, familial drama. If you want engaging, this is it, and it is a perfect book club book, as there is quite a bit to talk about!

Finishing his account of his childhood in Plains on the day of his funeral, it is clear that Carter had an unique understanding of work, race, land and humility that impacted his values. We lost a great one.

There‘s some really wonderful moments, lines and writing in Haig‘s novel. It‘s enjoyable and has some fun twists and turns. It has flaws, some rambling and, even with magical realism its genre, a few too many leaps to make this one perfection. It would be a perfect beach book!

Told be a comedian, this book tells Kasher‘s addiction at 13, his life as a middle school dropout and “right turn”. I‘d like about 50 less pages of his debauchery (we got it) and 50 more pages of his evolution to recovery. Entertaining, and funny at times.

oved this! Honest, vulnerable, funny and exposing her hard work ethic, it was both inspiring and entertaining. Loved reading about her approach to good food and living. Her genuine authenticity was clear through this quick book!

This little dystopian novel was the best kind of dystopia- just a little bit beyond normal, so you can envision the plot occurring but with other jumps that makes it feel “not yet”. Flawed characters, weird interactions make it quick and engaging.

Beautiful manifesto

I do love a good time traveler book, and this had a slight spy/military edge. It was good, but the ending was a bit forced for me. The second part had a quicker pace, which it did need. Overall, good but not great.

Harari consistently writes thought provoking, historical, interesting books about our species, intelligence and information. This doesn‘t disappoint and gives perspective about information now is different than other advances in technology. It‘s fantastic and terrifying.

This book that chronicles the siege of Leningrad through the work of the Plant Institute is fascinating. Not only does it depict life in Leningrad during the siege, WWII military strategy, how the body succumbs to starvation, how to preserve seeds, but also the dedication to the future that the scientists who worked to preserve and cultivate seeds to bring back life to Leningrad and beyond. Fascinating.

This well written history of how fringe right became mainstream was exceptional and engaging. Connecting political movements and events, Ganz effectively strings together an explanation of how where we are have been a long time coming and predictable. Great read!

A simply wonderful way to spend a few hours of your life. I love Elizabeth Strout.

Three main characters who each are struggling through grief and other issues tell this character driven story. I liked Ivan and Margaret so much- though the plot is subtle, the pages are turned quickly with general curiosity of how all of this will end. Great read!

Interesting book about American Jewish culture and life. It‘s too painful to read about what happened during Trump‘s first presidency right now. Good analysis of migration, various views inside the religion and how it assimilates into American culture.

There‘s so much to really like about this book- a walk through the Grand Canyon that showcases the geology, extreme conditions, wildlife, geology and physical exertion. Funny in parts, nostalgic in others, this is an enjoyable read for anyone who loves the Grand, backcountry hiking, survival stories and learning about the indigenous peoples who live(d) there.

This 500 page book is engaging, encompassing, and complex. Spanning 40 years, multiple countries, people, policies, methods of torture, and hope, this follows a few people living through immigration, deportation and escape. It‘s an incredible read- and expertly gives context to a complex multi-national issue. Exceptional.

This memoir is well written and processes her life and policies that she is willing to discuss. I have profound respect for her and liked her more after reading her book. I found her to be intelligent, vulnerable, and a hard ass. Since I agree with her on many topics, I love her lines in the sand of things she won‘t compromise.

This is more of a showcase of the major events and legislation that Pelosi has lived and worked for. Her strategy is preparation, steadfast values, and knowing what can win and what won‘t. I wanted more about her life and she‘s not a writer, but she commands so much respect from me that I can only give her 5 stars.

This is a mix of ethics, US History, Ukraine independence and sovereignty, philosophy, civics and personal anecdotes. It‘s thought provoking, and since I agree with his claims, especially education and social mobility topics, I loved it. He made some points that I hadn‘t connected, somewhat loosely, but excellent book club discussion fodder. I continue to love everything he writes-excellent.

This book is so different and creative that the synopsis actually works against what this one is. A woman unravels, ravels back in her own way, and I have no idea what it means. So, that makes it intriguing enough to suggest it.

Oddly, though this book was about the emancipation of the mind and the philosophy shift America had to do to embrace (or not) anti-slavery ideals, it made me think about a lot of philosophies around capital, property and economics today. And, it showed how Lincoln might even be underrated as a president, if possible.

While creative, I had a hard time liking the main storyteller. This would have been incredible if the sisters took turns telling this one. Fairy tale of sorts that has potential, but as the sister who does most things, I had a hard time feeling empathetic for Sam.

This was poetry written as prose. The fight of the underdog, the awe of Lebron, and just exquisite writing about mundane life makes this one of the best of the year.