This book started out slow for me but in the end I really liked it. It's the 1950s and we meet Ruby and Eleanor. The chapters alternate between them as we learn theirs stories and their aspirations. Although they lead different lives, there are similarities too and, as expected, their stories become entangled.

A big thank you to the librarian who put this book out on display! I started reading it one afternoon, and finished it the following evening. Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, narrates her story from birth through after her death. Her point of view is, naturally, very different from that of Odysseus. Additionally, every few chapters are instead told by the 12 (slave) maids who Odysseus ordered killed when he returned home after his 20 years away. The book makes striking comparisons between life in Ancient Greece and life today. Despite not having read The Odyssey since I was in school, I had no problem following the story line. Atwood explains details very well when it might be necessary as a reminder for the reader. I read many enjoyable books this summer, but this one is probably my favorite.

Homefront by Kristin Hannah. Jolene and Michael’s marriage is pulled to its limits when Jolene is asked to serve as a pilot Michael at the home front, must step up and take care of their two daughters, and finally understand that he’s in a military family.

I really wanted to fall in love with the 'magic' of this book but unfortunately I was not swept away. I did find the second half better than the first.

Very intriguing and at times humorous story of a small town in Pennsylvania that still survives with only a handful of Jewish and black families remaining there. This is a story of how their survival revolved around each others cooperation and help in critical circumstances.It is about how one entire town comes together to save each others' lives and souls. The story is told from the perspective of discovering the identity of a skeleton found at the bottom of an old abandoned well found 25 years in the future. Somehow everything that happened in the past eventually reveals its identity.

An amazing read this summer. Read carefully and keep track of the changing perspectives and timeline, but it is written so well.

I decided to read this novel after I had heard the author speak at a meeting . He was an enjoyable speaker. This is a love story told by the characters as events occur. It was hard to follow as each entry was not always in sequential order. I thought I knew what would happen, but I was completely wrong. The ending was much better than the beginning. There were some novel twists. Light reading. mostly fun.

There are four major witch families in Thistle Grove, three members of those families got jilted by Gareth Blackmore. Emmy actually left her hometown to move to Chicago to get away from her heartache. When a long tradition of a spell casting tournament comes up, Emmy returns to be arbitrator. Emmy reunites with her best friend Linden Thorn and falls in love with the sultry Thalia Avramov. All three women want Gareth and his snooty family to lose the competition so they join forces along with Linden’s brother to win. Can Emmy return to Thistle Grove and be happy again? Will Gareth be put in his place? Will Emmy and Thalia get together?

The Wager, by David Gann is about shipwreck, mutiny, and murder. Taking place in the 18th century when England and Spain (think Spanish Armada) ruled the sea, The Wager is a very well researched nonfiction account of the survivors and those who didn't survive a trip to South America and beyond ... The book almost reads like fiction and does hold one's interest, but is a bit slow going. The story ends when the few survivors arrive back in England in two different ships with wildly different stories about what occurred and who was to blame. Interesting on many different levels ...

This is a very good book, and I do like this author. I've liked her past things so I was excites to read this one. This one follows her usual formula of multiple timelines and interconnected characters. It definitely requires your full attention so be sure to committed time and focus in case you need to re-read a page or two. Still a very compelling story.