Reviews

Fantasy, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Fantasy – The Wild West of the Book World

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This post in my catching-up-on-reviews series was supposed to be called “Five Star Fantasy Reads.” Great title, right? Short, sweet, to the point. If only. As it turns out, the fantasy genre is *a bit trickier* than that. If you care to read on, I will explain. {Or you can scroll down to the reviews…no judgment from me!}

The Preamble

Let’s visit a bookstore, shall we? When you walk into a bookstore today, up front you will see three main displays.

The first display will have cover upon cover showing women walking away or gazing into the distance. Or possibly there will just be a seascape on the cover. This is the historical fiction display, a medium-ish table of books.

The second display will all have stickers with celebrities’ names on them who have claimed these titles for their book clubs. It’s like The Voice for books. Team Reese or Team Oprah! Team Jenna is having a good season. This is a fairly narrow selection of literary fiction for people who buy books they intend to read someday, perhaps on a flight or on vacation.

But the biggest display at the front of the bookstore will have covers showing all manner of silver swords and flowers, swirling fonts, maybe a gorgeous dress, and definitely some sort of feather – a wing, a quill, something like that. The edges of the display table will be adorned with special edition board games and impractical mugs. This is the fantasy genre. And it is a having a moment. Gone are the days when The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia were the only widely popular series in fantasy (though inarguably still the best, the-end-and-thank-you). Gone also are the days when small but scarily thick fantasy paperbacks with questionable cover art took up a small back corner of bookstores where only the nerdiest and bravest readers dared to go. The success of Harry Potter and The Game of Thrones has gradually but undeniably exploded the fantasy genre from obscurity to the front window display.

And why not? Castles, capes, magical abilities, fantastic beings, heroes and conflicts and spells…it is all highly imaginative, whimsical, captivating…everything a book lover reading for escapism or pleasure could hope for. In theory, I am all for it. The fantasy genre takes readers back to what reading was like when we were kids, when suspending belief in favor of a new world and a good story was easy and all-consuming.

And the potential this genre has for allegory or story telling that ultimately has a bedrock in truth and goodness? The sky is not even the limit.

And yet.

There are few fantasy books I can get in and out of cover-to-cover without finding at least one or two facets that don’t sit well with me. Often, darkness hovers in the pages of many of these fantasy books marketed to teens and adults. As my teenagers and I have delved into the genre lately, we’ve been faced with badly skewed versions of healthy reality, especially when romance is involved, and a mixed up sense of good and evil. So, as I bring some book reviews to you today, I’d also like to give a caveat: when it comes to fantasy, gentle readers, proceed with caution. It’s wild, and there are no rules– authors can put whatever the heck they want into their worlds…so. Yeah. Caution. As a reader who is most at home in books written between 1900-1950, there are very few fantasy books that don’t cause me some discomfort. But I won’t give up on it as a whole, because when it is good, it is very, very good.

[Side note: I am happy to say the children’s fantasy genre still produces gem after gem. We discovered some great ones in 2025-26 that will be featured in the next post!]

To the books!

Book Reviews – Adult and Y.A. Fantasy Books

{For my very favorite, top of the list, 5 star fantasy reads of the last year, check out this New Favorite Authors post and read Elizabeth Lowham and Elisabeth Aimee Brown}

Tress of the Emerald Sea – Don’t try to read a blurb describing this book, just dive in! The humor and world building in this stand-alone novel by fantasy legend Brandon Sanderson is next level. There’s barely a character you can truly root against. Tress is a new favorite in my book world. 4.25 stars. Content caution: Recommend for high school and up due to language and some gore.

Once a Queen – This book was gentle and beautiful, with tones of George Macdonald’s The Princess and the Goblin but in a more modern setting. It is a light read, possibly a little disappointingly light for a reader deeply committed to fantasy books with lots of world building and plot twists, but it was lovely and I will definitely read the second and third books. 4 stars. Content caution: I would hand this to anyone middle school and up, and would easily call it “wholesome.”

The Seven-and-a-half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle – I listened to the audiobook of this one, got really lost in the middle, and by 75% wanted to know the end but mainly just wanted it to all be over. It was the worst kind of Groundhog Day story BUT I still ended up enjoying the novelty of it and the setting of an early 1900s crumbling mansion and houseful of guests. I appreciated the talent of the narrator in doing so many different voices and giving them all weight in the story. The whole plot idea was super original; I did not guess the end at all. However, I would have gotten through it a lot faster and a lot less scathed if I could’ve skimmed over some of the many, many violent parts by reading the hard copy instead. 3.75 stars. Content caution: heavy violence and the typical mature themes of murder mysteries.

What the River Knows – Technically a Y.A. book with teen main characters, but fun for anyone who thinks ancient Egyptian artifacts and double crossing treasure seekers with family mysteries to solve sounds intriguing. It has an Indiana Jones vibe, for sure. There is a sequel I haven’t gotten into yet, but I would like to know what happens to the characters, so I probably will sometime. Perhaps the author describes the characters’ emotions a little too often and too fully, and there is a juvenile, headstrong and impulsive quality to the main characters that is overblown, but it is still a fairly riveting story. I love the title…3.25 stars. Content caution: language.

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries – This very popular book has a bit of a forced feel to some of the elements, but I really liked others. The creativity of the faerie world and the complexity of the two main characters kept me reading when it lagged at parts. What I didn’t like was the moral ambiguity between types of creatures. What is okay and what isn’t? Who is deciding? Who wants to do what is right and what isn’t and what are their reasons? As this is the first in the series, I’ll probably read the second book before giving up on the moral code of this particular world as a whole, but so far 3 stars. (Content caution: includes closed door romance, mild violence, some language – PG-13ish).

A Miss and An Almost

The Teller of Small Fortunes and The Spellshop both have beautiful covers and potentially refreshing settings and stories, but fell a bit flat for me. That being said, I think I will try the sequel to The Spellshop because there were several elements I liked, especially the setting. The slew of new creatures to keep track of and people groups and the flatness of a couple of the characters are what made it more of a “meh” for me, but I have to add that several of my friends really liked it, so maybe don’t just take my word for it! Content caution: Pretty mild overall for both of these, overall. Due to some romantic elements, high school and up, but I would also say there are some better options out there!

And that wraps up this catch-up post for fantasy reads of 2025-26! Come back for some much more wholehearted recommendations next time in the Children’s Fantasy department. Until then, happy reading!

Quick Lit, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Five Star Books (and a Few Others), Part 1

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Hi friends! Last week I launched back into book reviews with a post about new favorite authors. Today, I bring you some quick reviews of books I read last year that are in the contemporary literary fiction and historical fiction categories. As I looked back on my 2025 reading, I was surprised to see so many in the fantasy or magic genre…so stay tuned for a round up of those next time!

Contemporary Fiction

The Correspondent – Listen, I know rave reviews of this book are everywhere, and you don’t need another one, but I have to say it: this book is everything. I loved it. It’s the most delightful modern book I’ve read in a long time. Fans of Fredrik Backman, Anne Tyler, or Ann Patchett should definitely try this book, but also anyone who likes reading fiction at all (and maybe even some of you who don’t). I read it way too fast the first time and am already looking forward to reading it again. 5 stars.

Theo of Golden – Rave reviews of this book are everywhere, too. And I get why so many readers adore it; the aura around the main character and everyone else is, well, golden. Still, I had a hard time getting into it, and an even harder time believing Mr. Theo and the characters could exist in any world, but especially not ours. However, with so many five star reviews, you probably shouldn’t take my word for it but read it yourself! (If you have already read it, we need to talk about the ending…) 3.5 stars.

The Unmaking of June Farrow – I loved this book. It was like a mail-order bride plot mixed with a mystery of disappearing/reappearing memories. It’s set in the present day in mountainous North Carolina, and though it does have some magical realism elements, it’s going here with the contemporary fiction. The writing was amazing – I felt like I was right there alongside the main character. 5 stars. (Content warning for mature language)

Broken Country – DNF – I have plenty DNF’s throughout a reading year. It’s important to remember we aren’t required to read much of anything as adults, but get to be our own guides and filters! For this one, the writing was good, but I found that the plot included two themes I try to avoid for the most part.

Historical Fiction

Born of the Gilded Mountains – I have been meaning to read something by Amanda Dykes for years. Last fall, I got this on audio book and listened to it through a painting project. It kept me in great company! I found the plot and setting to be absolutely involving and the characters thoroughly likable. Though Dykes doesn’t shy away from some heavy themes, over all it is a lighthearted, gentle book, perfect for either literary fiction or historical fiction fans. 4.5 stars.

Isola – This fictional account of a real person was potent and striking. About a third of the way through, I thought I wouldn’t end up liking it with all its painful realities for the main character in that day and age, but by the end, I gave it 5 stars. As far as tone goes, I would liken it to a book like Kristin Lavransdatter, though shorter and not quite as dark. Isola has plenty of tragedy, but the resilience of the main character and themes of religion and friendship were really well done. I couldn’t stop thinking about The Count of Monte Cristo. It was also so neat to pick up this book right when we were studying the discovery and development of the islands off the coast of Canada in our homeschool history lessons (we were in Volume 2 of The Story of the World at the time). 5 stars.

The Hired Girl – I would really have loved this book as a teenager girl! And even as an adult, I still loved the setting and the surrounding characters. 4 stars.

The Frozen River – I don’t like to give hot takes but…I did not love this book. I do like Ariel Lawhon’s other books I’ve read, especially Code Name Helene, and I was prepared for some graphic subjects or descriptions. The darkness of human nature shows up very starkly in her books. Still! Still. The story arc of this book is…a lot. It was just too gruesome, right down to the ending (what in the world…if you have read this, could you actually believe that ending?). I did some research on the main character’s history, and yes, it was great to see such an amazing woman dramatized in a novel. I enjoyed learning about Martha Ballard (though I thought her husband was too perfect to be believable for that time period). Overall, this book was just not for me.

I hope you’ll find a great read for you in this list today, and that you’ll let me know if you’ve found an amazing book lately (or in the past, or just whenever). Come back next week for a venture into the fantastical!

Happy reading!

Nonfiction, Reading, Reviews, Young Adult

Measuring a Year – New Fave Author Reviews

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“Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes.
How do you measure- measure a year?” -Rent

The answer is, of course, in books read!

I was sorry to have paused on sharing books here in 2025, but I have changed my mind! As I look back on the whole year, I can see themes of authors and series emerge in a way I wouldn’t have if I were reviewing book-by-book every few weeks/months. Turns out, in 2025 I discovered some top-notch new-to-me or actually new authors. These are the kind of authors who write books I want to hug when I’m done reading. Here’s a rundown of who kept me company last year; I’ll start with the new current authors I loved and round out the list with some vintage authors that have won my reading heart.

New and Current Authors

Kristen Perrin – Perrin writes The Castle Knoll Files, and I cannot think of a more sparkling, witty, charming, and perfectly paced present-day mystery series than this one. The third book comes out in April and I cannot wait.

Elizabeth Lowham – I listened to the audio books of the Casters and Crowns series and I loved it. The first book was especially good on audio! I really appreciated the fully developed characters and the way Lowham put together a completely believable and realistic fantasy world that did not take much effort to feel at home in as a reader.

Elisabeth Aimee Brown – What Comes of Attending the Commoners Ball was one of my favorite books of 2025. I adored the main characters, the setting, the twisty plot, all of it. It isn’t mind blowing and it isn’t going to make it onto a classics-everyone-should-read list, but it is a just-right, slightly fantastical novel to keep you company and in good spirits. You might have gathered that I like a gentle fantasy novel, but don’t want to commit to 500 years of reading a series OR get drug through a lot of gore or “spice,” AND if I have to memorize a complicated family tree, I am probably out. This book read more like a Dickensian setting novel with some magic thrown in. I am putting Brown on this favorite author list even though I only read one of her books because she was just that good and I am eagerly awaiting Brown’s second book coming out in April.

Gabrielle Meyer – The Timeless series by Gabrielle Meyer was surprisingly absorbing from page one. Honestly, I was not expecting a five star read when I picked up When the Day Comes last January, but that is what I got! Books 2-4 were more like 3.5-4 star reads, but I still enjoyed them and was pleased with the depth of historical detail; the time periods involved came alive to me. I haven’t been so fully immersed in history since I read Meet Molly at age ten.

Joy Marie Clarkson – I gained a great deal of solid perspective from Aggressively Happy, and went on to enjoy the thoughtfulness of You are a Tree. Joy Marie Clarkson’s writing style makes her the friend I didn’t know I needed. It’s amazing how she can write about what she has learned in a conversational way, without sounding like she is trying to teach you something. I loved both her books.

New-to-me Vintage Authors

O. Douglas – Since I adore D.E. Stevenson, I am not sure how I ignored this writer who was her contemporary and close friend for so long, but what a delight that I am just now beginning to enjoy her books. I started with Penny Plain which was wonderful, but when I found The Proper Place and the other Rutherford Novels, I became a die-hard fan. They are full of the kind of bright and steady, Scottish (or border-country English), midcentury characters that I love, and the focus on home as the center of the world speaks to me.

Susan Scarlett – Try as I might, I always end up despising winter by the end of January, but last winter was one of the coziest, happiest I can remember and I credit Susan Scarlett and this puzzle for much of that. Together, they taught me I can almost enjoy winter. I now own three of these literary world puzzles and they are the best puzzles ever. But I digress! Susan Scarlett is actually a pen name for Noel Streatfeild of The Shoe Books fame (and many other books). Under the Rainbow hooked me as a fan forever, and though Scarlett’s books can be a tad formulaic, and you might know what you expect to occur by the last page, how the stories unfold is always entertaining and enjoyable. The characters and settings are so likable.

Margot Benary-Isbert – How to put into words the loveliness I found in Benary-Isbert’s accounts of the Lechow family in post-WWII Germany? Germany was a grim place at that time, and that is clear in The Ark and Rowan Farm, but these are gentle books full of kindness and courage. The tone and content gives The Sound of Music vibes. I liked how these books gave me a sense of what life was like for a middle-class German family. The shift in Germany to communism is just starting to make its effects felt in the form of laws and new government, and it’s not a huge part of the story, but those details stood out to me and stuck with me. There are two more books in the series I need to get my hands on!

Honorable mention goes to Molly Clavering – I liked Susan Settles Down and Touch Not the Nettle pretty well, and would definitely recommend if you are a D.E. Stevenson fan, but I will admit Clavering’s books are slower-paced and the dialogue a bit dated so possibly hard to connect to for modern readers. Still, I will read more of her works! Even if the titles seem like odd choices to me…

That rounds out the new favorite author discoveries of 2025. If you’ve read any of these or are adding them to your TBR, let me know! For authors whose works I just read one of last year, look for a post next week. Also upcoming will be a review of middle-grade novels, some I read to myself and some I did for read-alouds.

Happy reading!

Children's Books, Homeschooling, Parenting, Reviews, Summer Reading

Read-Alouds for The Rest of Summer

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Reading aloud with my kids is one of my favorite parts of parenting. Ever since they were small, we have made it part of our days. We read aloud during the school year most days at 10:00 a.m. That also happens to be snack time, ensuring at least a little bit of quiet from the toddler. Exploring books together is magical, like walking into the Narnian wardrobe together; it creates a connection and family culture that is invaluable to us. During the summer, reading aloud gets more sporadic, but we’re still drawn to it during the hottest days when everyone is at loose ends in the late afternoon, or the grumps from not enough structure and a lot of free time together set in.

The best read-alouds for us have been the ones I’ve read by myself and loved so much, I immediately read them again to my kids. If a book is good enough to read twice in a row, it’s a winner! Sarah Weeks’s Pie was one of those books, and I can’t recommend more that you read it in the summer. It is so good. We found that treasure two summers ago. This summer, the gem has been Howl’s Moving Castle. I read it in June, adored it so much I went on and read the whole series (which didn’t live up to the first book but was still pretty fun!), then started reading it aloud to my kids last week. I would rank it well below the Narnia and Harry Potter books as far as deep themes and fully developed fantasy worlds go, but Howl’s Moving Castle is a light-hearted and perfectly wonderful with very original characters. Though published as a children’s book, it is absolutely captivating and fun for all ages.

Another discovery we made was Winter Cottage by Carol Ryrie Brink, author of Caddie Woodlawn. In this historical novel, an eccentric father and his two daughters, one very practical and one an adventurer, find themselves lost in the woods during the Great Depression as they are traveling to live with a dreaded aunt in Chicago after not being able to make ends meet in their own home town. They find an abandoned cottage, and a nice, long adventure ensues. It’s a fun book for all, a nice imaginary trip away from the sweltering summer we’re having, and especially good if you like to explore historical eras with your kids through fiction. For us, there has to be an even mix of girl characters and boy characters to appeal to all my kids, and this book checks that box, too, after a couple of chapters. Note: this book is out of print, but can easily be checked out for free on Internet Archive, one of my favorite websites ever.

Honorable Read-Aloud Mentions from this spring go to The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt and 100 Cupboards by N.D. Wilson. Both of these books are geared toward older kids, I’d say ideally ages 10 and up.

The Wednesday Wars is another 5 star read from Gary. Schmidt. It is set in the 1960s and will help readers understand that time period during the Vietnam War and even maybe develop an interest in Shakespeare. But I need to warn you, Schmidt knows how to throw deep emotion and tear jerking scenes into books that mostly seem written for 11-year-old boys. It’s kind of miraculous. My oldest son especially liked it (and also loved Pay Attention, Carter Jones, my personal Schmidt favorite). I really appreciate how Schmidt breaks down age barriers in the friendships his characters develop and how the tween boy protagonists learn to see life through others’ eyes. Particularly powerful in this book is the friendship between a teacher and student (it’s completely appropriate, rest assured). I deeply appreciate the noble character qualities included such as the courage it takes to stand up to peer pressure and bullying, and what heroism is in every day life…I could go on and on. I hope you read some Schmidt for yourself!

100 Cupboards is another fantasy novel we just finished that was almost an enjoyable page-turner, but falls short at creating a secondary world that makes sense in the first book of the series. Also, I was surprised by the amount of blood and gore and scary characters. I read it aloud without previewing it first on Sarah Mackenzie‘s recommendation, and while it was still good, I wouldn’t choose it as a read aloud for families with young kids. Did it leave me wanting to read the next book in the series to fully understand what’s going on? No, not really. My oldest son might explore the series further on his own, though, and I know lots of readers who love the books, so don’t go on my opinion alone!

During the spring in the school year we also read aloud The Secret Garden. This was a re-read for my oldest two, now ages 14 and 12. It’s still a favorite of my 14-year-old daughter, but my 12-year-old son complained it was boring (he secretly enjoyed it, I could tell); he liked it a lot when he was 6 and all my girls (currently ages 14, 8, and 6) thought it was “the best.” When my oldest two were ages 7 and 5 we read-aloud Heidi, and that’s another classic that is a beautiful and meaningful piece of literature I’d like to pick up and read again for the benefit of my younger girls.

And for the bonus review section, here are some other “kids” books that I read on my own recently.

The Star That Always Stays – 5 Stars! Loved it, and so did my 14-year-old daughter. See review here.

Treasures in the Snow – This book was beautiful. If you like Heidi, you will love this book. I am now realizing that I am a big fan of books set in the Alps and Nordic countries!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas – As a piece of literature for a class, this book could be very useful in its symbolism, character contrasts, points of view, etc. Also, it has obvious value in discussion of the time period and awful history of Auschwitz. But, dear publishers, classified as a children’s book? With the alcohol misuse, extramarital affair, and decidedly tragic and grim themes throughout? No. Teens and up. I absolutely hated the ending, but I know it is the point of the whole book, so I will try to reconcile my dislike with the message of the author.

That wraps up the read aloud list from us for now! As always, share your read-aloud wins in the comments if you’d like!

{All of these are Amazon links, but full disclosure we get 99% of the books we read from the library. These are not affiliate links, please support whatever bookstore you love!}

Reading, Reviews, Summer Reading

Books for Summer 2023

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I am so grateful for June. The ribbons that must make up my soul and mind get wrapped together tighter and tighter through the gloomy winter and busy spring months. And then comes June. In the fresh, hot, school-less days, I can feel the tangled ribbons loosen and iron out, straightening my thoughts and feelings. For the past two years, I have physical proof that I am healthier by June 30th. My resting heart rate is down, my insomnia is so much less, I am exercising for the joy of it. And! I remember that I have a blog and actually could think straight enough to write something!

Well, this little reading update won’t be a literary gem. But I do want to share some ideas for books you might enjoy when you find yourself with time to sink into a good read. Today, I’ll be running through some quick reviews of newer releases I have read in the last six months. In the next few days, I hope to publish another post recapping some older titles I have read (and loved because old books have my heart), and I’ve got some nonfiction titles and family reads to post about, too, so be optimistic with me and stay tuned!

New(ish) Release Recs for Your Summer TBR

Remarkably Bright Creatures – Raise your hand if you are wary of overhyped books! That’s me, too. I’m always torn between the urge to ignore overhyped books and the fear I will miss a really great one if I don’t give it a chance. I’m happy to say this one is actually worth some of the hype it received last summer. The unique narrative is what really sells it. Have you ever read a book narrated in part by a wise, old octopus? No, me neither. But it is wonderful. I also loved Tova, a no-nonsense, Scandinavian woman who is one of the main characters in the book. She gave it an A Man Call Ove vibe. I didn’t love all the main characters, mind you, and there is some adult content and language to be aware of, but overall this new release is a rare gem. 4 stars.

The Star That Always Stays – This is a lovely coming of age story, and not just because it has a most excellent title. The best way I can describe it is Eldrich’s The Birchbark House combined with Anne of Green Gables or one of the Betsy-Tacy books when Betsy is older. It’s a comfortable read but with deep questions and answers from the characters. I enjoyed it from start to finish, and gave it to my 14-year-old daughter to read when I was done. 4.5 stars.

Homecoming – If you’ve liked Kate Morton’s books up to this point, you’ll like this one, too! Morton always has a bit of a disturbing mystery centered in her plots, so fair warning on this one as well, but the rich storytelling and masterful weaving together of timelines is on point here and I always love her Australian settings. 4 stars. (Psst – my favorite Morton is still The Secret Keeper!)

Fellowship Point – Beautiful writing, and as grim as they come! The Maine setting is entrancing, and the relationship between two life-long friends so intricate and developed, but, man, is the stark New England vibe strong here. I couldn’t stop thinking about the historical Puritans and their fear of any pleasure being a set up for certain tragedy to follow as I read this book. It’s definitely worth a read if you like the style of Anne Tyler or Ann Patchett. 3 stars.

Small Things Like These – Maybe not a beach read, but add this Christmas novella to your winter read list. Set in Ireland in 1985, it is thoughtful and aching, one of those looks into the souls of humanity through the lens of a small village. 4 stars.

Beth Brower books – I got into The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion series by Beth Brower thanks to a Goodreads friend’s rave reviews and have loved it so much (thanks Dianna!). This series and Brower’s book The Q, which I also enjoyed, are included in a Kindle Unlimited Membership you can get for free for 3 months right now as a Prime member!). Emma M. Lion is perfect for fans of historical fiction with a Jane Austen vibe, and The Q is also great historical fiction in a Dickensian England. (Side note for anyone who cares, they are also very clean books, too). 4-5 stars.

And that wraps up the new release reviews from me from the last few months. I hope you are having a full summer of fun and wonderful books and that you’ll share some recommendations with me, too!

[Bonus DNF Section]

Here are two popular books that I chose not to finish and why I am okay with abandoning them after putting some time and energy to them.

First up, a Did-Not-Finish Manifesto – I fully believe that if you are reading fiction for enjoyment and/or personal edification, you must reserve the right to quit a book at any point when you’re non-negotiables arise. Those are different for every reader, but I have seen over and over again that when people go into reading with the mindset that they have to finish every book they start, they end up watching TV instead. To expect yourself to finish every book is a heavy contract between you and the book, a promise that you will let whatever the book holds in to your mind and soul. Yes, I firmly believe that, too, that we guard our souls by guarding our minds. Start a book to try it out, but quit if it doesn’t meet your criteria, no matter who recommended it to you (even me! haha). Again, everyone has different non-negotiables, and that is fully up to you, but let me encourage you to approach fiction with respect for yourself and what you want to allow in your life, because this is the power of stories – they become alive in you. That’s a truth we have to take seriously. Okay, heartfelt plea over.

A World of Curiosities – It saddens me to tell you I did not finish this Inspector Gamache book. I adore the characters in this series; I want to believe they are actually living in this world in Three Pines right this minute (but I have to tell everyone that the series isn’t all that great til book three or four and you have to stick with book one til about a third of the one in to really like it (and the audiobooks are so good)). The content in the latest installment, about child abuse and pornography, was too much for me this time. I believe Louise Penney included these topics in her series to take a stand against them, but the book was not for me.

Demon Copperhead – I read several of Kingsolver’s books for college classes and learned then she is a brilliant writer. This book won the Pulitzer prize for Fiction in 2023, but I have to admit, I quit about halfway through. The child abuse, drug abuse, treatment of women in conversation and in subject matter, and generally much of the content left me feeling icky every time I picked it up. There are important ideas raised on Appalachian poverty and the foster care system and oxycontin, among other huge and hard themes, but I prefer Hillbilly Elegy or All the Pretty Things for similar subject matter.