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Joyride
by Ellen Meister
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This is the fourth novel by Ellen Meister that I have read and I enjoyed it very much! Joybird Martin, our protagonist, is an optimistic, idealistic 31 year old woman who tries to see the best in everyone and brighten everyone's day. She drives an UBER but would like to be a life coach. One day she drives Devon, a Wall St. equity analyst, who gives her the idea to become a mobile life coach, naming her Honda and business :Joyride. We also meet her dad, Sid Marcus, who loses his job as a TV comedy writer and is now living with Joybird. She has to negotiate her relationship with both her dad and Devon, who she resists but to whom she is attracted.

Abscond
by Abraham Verghese
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An amazing short story by a great author. Ravi unexpectedly looses his father. His mother falls apart which forces Ravi to enter adulthood all too soon. Ravi with the help of a neighbor and a friend begins to realize that grief is missing a person in many different ways. He develops an understanding of himself and the others around him. A very emotional read which gave me goosebumps. Wish it were longer.

Keep The Doctor Away
by James Caine
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I felt this psychological thriller was just average. It was a different type of story taking place on a secluded island for wealthy people. They hire a new doctor for the rich patrons. Him and his wife, Lily move to the island and Lily feels something is not right. Immediately a woman commits suicide. Well, Lily’s intuition is spot on.

The Novel Life Of Jane Austen
by Janine Barchas
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Very well researched and illustrated graphic novel about Jane Austen which is full of fun facts, lesser known facts, a unique viewpoint, and with some embellishments. I enjoyed this book because it was a different way of learning and reading about someone through comic book format.

The River Is Waiting (oprah's Book Club)
by Wally Lamb
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This book was very difficult to get through. Wally Lamb is one of my favorite authors. This one is very well written and realistic, however it is extremely sad. Corby Ledbetter is the father of twins, , a boy and a girl. They are 2 years old. He is depressed because he has lost his job as an artist and can't seem to find another. His wife Emily is a teacher, and he stays home with the children. He is very depressed, and ends up drinking too much and taking to much of the medication the doctor has prescribed. One day while getting them in the car to go to his mom's house, something terrible happens. He forgets Niko, is not in his car seat but behind the car.

This Is How It Always Is
by Laurie Frankel
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Read this book!!! Penn is an author who is a stay-at-home dad; Rosie is emergency room doctor who eventually changes her preferred specialty to accommodate her youngest child. The couple has 5 sons, but at 3 years old the youngest tells them that when he grows up, he wants to be a girl. This book does an incredible job of showing what it’s like when a member of the family was born with the wrong genitalia. The author tells how different family members and community members react, and the impact this has on the child, the parents, the siblings, the grandmother, and friends. It’s also a novel about parenthood in general. I did not want to put this book down. It's insightful, heartfelt, full of quotes that I highlighted, and a must read.

Welcome To Pawnee
by Jim O'Heir
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Absolutely outstanding book! I am a huge fan of the show and this book brought back so many great memories of watching the show and made me feel more connected to it. This book is full of interesting behind the scenes stories. It makes me want to re watch the show (again), and I will have a deeper appreciation for the stories. Jim O'Heir is a class act.

All Fours
by Miranda July
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A woman embarks on a cross country drive from California to New York under the guise of a work trip. She ends up staying at a motel that is thirty minutes from her house and family. She redecorates the motel room to replicate a room where she once stayed in Paris. During this stay she becomes sexually awakened by a younger married man. She upends her marriage by making an arrangement with her husband to have an open marriage. She wants her sexual freedom however it is short lived and she is still not happy. I found this book slightly off putting. I found the main character selfish and not fully mature. I just felt sorry for the husband. I do not recommend this book.

The Lotus Shoes
by Jane Yang
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This story is set in China during the 1800s. The fate of girls and women were tied to male society. During that time mothers bound their daughters feet. Generally, the feet of girls born in the country were not bound. This story is about two young girls: Little Flower and Lingjing. Little Flower’s mother bound her feet to give her a good chance of marriage. Lingjing’s father interceded in the binding of his daughter’s feet so she was released from the process. When Little Flower’s father dies, her mother needs to make a deal for her daughter’s future. The fate of both girls is sealed. The look at Chinese culture as well as twists and turns in the life of the two girls was fascinating. I could not put this book down. I was engaged in all the twists and turns in little Flowers’ life.

Eleanore Of Avignon
by Elizabeth DeLozier
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This wonderful novel describes a rarely seen time in history. It is the 1300’s, and the plague comes to Avignon. Eleanore’s mother was a locally famous healer, and Eleanore has taken over her healing duties after her mother’s death. Women who healed were considered to be witches, but a famous physician takes Eleanore under his wing. Together they try to heal those afflicted with the plague. Several characters in the book are real historical people, including this physician. Very highly recommended!
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