This book drew me into two lives: an aspiring high school journalist and an elderly woman who rarely talked. It takes place in upstate New York with a cross country adventure as the years unfold. Adele sets out to complete a journalusm class assignment at the local Nursing home. She meets Grace, a reluctant to talk resident with no known past. As their visits continue Adele unlocks Grave’s story. It was difficult to put the book down. I wanted to know what happened next.

Wilkerson's follow-up to "Black Cake" centers on a wealthy Black family, the Freemans, who live on the Connecticut coast. The family's prized possession is a 20 gallon stoneware pot they call "Old Mo" made by an enslaved ancestor. This jar was broken by masked intruders during a horrible home invasion which resulted in 15- year old Baz being shot to death in the presence of his 10-year old sister Ebony (Ebby). As we meet Ebby she has suffered a second trauma : In 2018, her rich White husband- to -be,ditched her on their wedding day for reasons that take a while to emerge.

The novel is about Hana, present day librarian in Minnesota and past teenager during the Bonsai war in 1995. Her friend Amina’s mysterious death in the beginning of the book, keeps you eagerly reading to figure out the reason. The book educate me about the Bosnia war and the Srebrenica massacre. It made me understand more about the horrors of that war and the impact it has on individuals and communities that were involved.

Hidden in the depths of 18th century London, a secret apothecary shop caters to an unusual kind of clientele. Women around the city whisper of a mysterious figure named Nell who sells well-disguised poisons to women to use against the oppressive men in their lives. But the apothecary's fate is jeopardized when her newest patron, a precocious 12 year old, makes a fatal mistake , sparking a string of consequences that echo through the centuries. Meanwhile in present day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, running from her own demons. When she stumbles upon a clue to the unsolved apothecary murders that haunted London 200 years ago, her life collides with the apothecary's in a twist of fate and not everyone will survive.

This is the sequel to The Woman in Cabin 10. It starts out with you thinking you made a mistake and are reading the same book again. Then it goes on with some twists and turns but it takes forever to get to those. Very slow and by the time you get to the end, you don't even really care anymore. Disappointing.

Interesting book about a southern women who helps save the life of a Northern soldier during the Civil War

I chose this book because I saw it in the East Meadow Newsletter and It was last months Book Club pick.

A book out of my typical Genre. An Allegory. Lessons of Life taught by the sun and the moon to a young boy, through storytelling. There is also an overall plot. Very short book. Interesting. Sort of like Aesop’s Fables. Well written, made me emotional at times. Felt that the author was in some way reflecting on the times we are living through. Glad I read it, not sure if it is for everybody.

A cute romance - nice beach read

Still Life by Louise Penny Really appreciated this sophisticated Mystery. Well written, well thought out, exciting, and engrossing. A different type of Mystery then many of the popular fiction I have read. Intricate plot planning, good character development, multi-dimensional characters, and a good mystery as well. I was very involved in trying to solve it. Also loved Armand Gamache, an introspective, honorable, diligent detective, interested in the people as well as the crime. I delighted in his manner of investigation, his desire to listen, to learn, to admit when he is stuck. Jane is dead, and many are suspected. As it is with small towns, everyone knows everyone and there are secretes, but there is also a marvelous feeling of community. The town itself becomes a character. A “Who done it”, of the highest caliber.