This is a very intense novel focusing on generational trauma and another example of suppressing history and erasing horror. As DEI is being dismantled in modern times in the USA this author has given me hope that truth will always prevail. Truth comes from family stories, and oral history because people refuse to be silenced.

I don‘t usually reread books but I will reread this book as I know I missed so much in this writing.

This is mostly a story of mothers and daughters. Three women and their life with their mothers and daughters come to life while searching for one of the women lost in the woods.

I‘m a big fan of Marcie Rendon and Cash Blackbear is a favorite protagonist. Cash is a hard but caring person and oh so smart and intuitive. I can‘t wait until she finishes college and becomes Wheaton‘s full fledged deputy. 😉

I‘m not having luck with the last few “feel good” fantasy books.

The tale of one woman‘s life starting from birth. Set in Florida where hurricanes have reclaimed so much, not just the land but the lives of loved ones. This is an incredible believable look at climate change.
I will anticipate more from this author as Good Morning, Midnight was also great.

This was a fun fantasy, heartwarming, and charming albeit a bit hokey for my tastes. Kindness should be the way of the world and we should all have a friend like Caz.

This was a pleasant fantasy. The world building was fun and imaginative. I even made it through the romance.

Octavia Butler is an excellent author but I doubt I will read more in this series. Too many biblical references for my liking.

Although, what an insight into history from more than 20 years ago, what a terrifying reality this could be.

As far as mystery and suspense go, this is a good one.

What a house! What a story!

This is a collection of excellent short stories focusing on stories from long ago history, the ugly years of residential schools, and current issues of today.

Such beautiful writing in honor of a sister. This was sad, angry, and so full of truth to lives that many women are faced with.

Incredible storytelling, and that dedication, WOW.

Life, love, tragedy in a small farming community. Great story.

Contemporary Cree teenagers come to life in this book focusing and bringing attention to missing and murdered Indigenous women.

Such a lovely tribute to a mother and grandmother. Strength and perseverance at its best.

The first two thirds were a bit slow but the final third made it worth finishing. A Cree family is falling apart, the father and daughter take a journey into the wilderness and family history takes them to where they need to be both physically and spiritually.

A feel good book but predictable. A good story to relax to.

I always love a book that tells the truth of American History. I loved the humanity, and goodness of many characters in this story.

Excellent and vivid storytelling.

I love a good mystery, this was perfect.

Friendship at its finest. Homa is a women after my own heart and so admirable. The author touched lightly on the history of Iran but mainly focused on the struggle of women.

Marcie Rendon is a go to author for me.
A very good novel focusing on Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and women who are fierce, strong, and brave.

Not sure how I felt about this book. I think I missed the message.

I was glad to read a fantasy inspired by Pre-Colombian Americas. I was also very satisfied with the ending.

Is this book about the want of erasure of history in books, authoritarian government, or is it a look at dementia and old age?

Fun! I will certainly continue with the series.

Cried my eyes out! I love books about generations.

The tragedies of life! A woman finds herself in a magical place and tells of the people both good and bad that pass through the her world of healing.
As for appropriation, I‘m not a fan and I will not read an author that does so. This author in my opinion, writes from the perspective of an outsider. I don‘t care to argue or even discuss the latter, I am not in the mood.

Dementia, alcoholism, loneliness, guilt, longing, grief, family, and heritage makes for this excellent story of Charles and the Penobscot people.

What an exceptional take on this classic!

This is a heartbreaking story of an Indigenous Mi‘kmaq child being stolen from her family as happened too many times throughout history.

This YA fantasy was okay but not good enough to want to pursue the series.

Crooked families, drugs, land theft and mostly a story of missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIWG2S) come together to make this outstanding twisty mystery set in NE Oklahoma written by a Citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

I know death and mental health issues are not funny subjects. But, this book! Being in Gilda‘s mind made me laugh for so many reasons. I so enjoyed her. Death and mental illness is a reality and we all see it so differently. I loved Gilda and I cherished being a part of her reality.

“Tell me a story” Julia Alvarez certainly gave us a few stories in this wonderful book. It is filled with history, aging, family, and culture, some told with heartache, and of course heartwarming magical realism.

This is a story of a survivor of the Sand Creek Massacre and continues on with his descendants. It is about finding oneself, it is about healing. I loved it. “You are from a people who survived by making their surviving mean more than surviving, who did their best to stay together”. Tommy Orange.

This novel was entertaining, fun, mysterious, heartfelt, and filled with friendship.

This is a very good YA novel touching on MMIWG2S and NAGPRA. The teens represent great positive role modeling.

A very imaginative novel. Kindness, friendship, hope, and the love of books all come together in this heartwarming and a bit sad story.

An awesome novel that looks at the struggles, hardships, joys, and triumphs of a Cherokee/Kiowa/Latino family.

This book is about grief and how hopefully, you learn to live with it. From the author “For me, the Wind Phone is mainly this: a metaphor that suggests how precious it is to hold on tight to joy as well as pain.”

What a story. This was an awesome and unexpected mixture of genre‘s. I loved it. A little bit magical realism, a little bit of a mystery, a little bit of a love story, a little bit science fiction.

The first book in this series by this Anishinaabe author was great but this one is outstanding. I would recommend audio so that you can have the language. The books are set in a near future “after the light have gone out.”

What a charming, fun, endearing, comical, and smart bunch of characters.

As in all short stories, they vary in quality at least for me. This group offers up history, lessons to be learned, revenge, shape shifting, social commentary, the presence of ghosts, and of course horror. Horror not being my favorite genre but still excellent writing from all authors.

I read that police procedural is not so accurate in this book but being that I don‘t know police procedural I won‘t complain. In fact it is a timely tale of white supremacy and crooked cops (maybe).

Khan never disappoints.

Hula, a spiritual, deep, emotional way of life. Not the touristy dance we all think of. What a wonderful novel focused on women, mothers, and family. This novel that spans years and generations gives you a glimpse into the true history, politics, and culture of Hawaii. The colonization, the crooked annexation and a way of life of a people fighting and struggling to keep what is theirs.

2023 in books. I missed my goal to read 50 books but alas, life happens. 37 books in all.

2023 in books, page 2