I thought this was a very interesting book. When this book came out, I was too young for it, but I know it was a world wide phenomenon, and I always wanted to read it, so I finally got around to it. Even knowing the spoilers from hearing about them, reading about them, etc. it was still attention grabbing. I enjoyed how it told you parts of history and connected ideas you never thought of before. Even though it was fiction, it made you think about the world around you.

THE QUICK RED FOX by John D. MacDonald is from a well know series starring Travis McGee. Travis McGee is a colorful resident of a Miami marina who lives on his houseboat, the Busted Flush, and works as a private detective when the spirit, and his finances, move him. Get the picture? In this so

Very much the Golden Girls we we all know and love. However, it was very difficult to get through this one. It would have made a good episode for the show but not a book.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this biography, but it slowed significantly later on. Dani was raised in an orthodox Jewish family. As an adult, she takes a DNA test and discovers that her biological father was not Jewish. This completely alters her image of herself, and she proceeds to investigate how it is possible that her dad is not her biological father, and her parents, no longer alive, never told her. It turns out that she was conceived in the early time of artificial insemination, when little was known about it. She attempts to find family who can help her understand her history, and to find her biological father. Add a star or 2 if you or someone close to you has an unknown parent.

Women’s Fiction spanning thirty five years. The author put a good deal of thought and effort in writing this book. (Hence the two stars) It was easy to get lost and confused as names changed and time periods jumped around. For example: Bear was also Julian and Gordon. It takes place in London, Ireland, Africa, Italy, and Paris, I believe. Not sure if the author was exploring the possible opportunities for a baby boy born in 1984 or the ravages of wife abuse, or the confused experiences of a young daughter. As I started the book, iwasrecommending it to friends who have experienced wife abuse and survived. Then I had to call back and tell them not to waste their time.

Molly Jong-Fast created a “can’t look away from this vessel careening rapidly toward a cliff kind of memoir.” I would never have guessed that life with Erica Jong, the author of The Fear of Flying, and lovely celebrity of the 70’s could have been such a mess . What’s even more unbelievable is that the author and celebrity is still alive in 2025. There is so much name dropping in this Memoir of a Daughter, one might suspect that the work is actually fiction. I remember reading novels by Molly’s grandfather, Howard Fast, in the 70’s. Molly wails that she could never get enough time with her mother who is still raging alcoholic. Molly also identifies as an alcoholic and talks about her drug use in the past but says she has been sober for some 20 years. She works as a journalist and political pundit, has a wonderful husband and three terrific kids and actually acknowledges that her life is a form of normal. There is love on every page of this book or I might have simply put it down with all the sadness that also occupies almost every page.

Steven Petrow and I know each other since were were in 2nd grade. We lived in the same neighborhood and our fathers coincidentally went to college together. I have a signed copy of "Stupid Things..." but had not read it yet so I read it this month. The library also had it on display very recently. Steven is an LGBTQ+ author who also wrote "The Complete Guide to Gay and Lesbian Manners." I'm actually cited in the book. The book was different than I thought it would be. I expected it to be more comedic but it was more serious, or maybe I felt it was having known his parents. He writes about them a lot in the book. It's definitely worth the read.

This well-researched novel is based on the true story of how Vincent Van Gogh's paintings were brought into acceptance as worthy art. Vincent's brother, Theo Van Gogh, supported the artist, and was himself an art dealer. One year after Vincent’s death, Theo dies. His wife, Jo Van Gogh, struggles to fulfill Theo's dream of bringing Vincent Van Gogh's art to fame. The expected response to her husband's death was for Jo to return home to live with and be supported by her father. She fights this, and fights against societal norms by trying to instill herself into the all-male world of selling art. She is rebuffed by the men, who don’t believe a woman can possibly understand business. For the sake of her son’s future inheritance, Jo does all she can to promote Vincent’s work and gain an international following for his drawings and paintings.

This is a nice non-fiction book about Abigail and John Adams. Telling the story of their lives, getting some information from letters and journals.

Freida always delivers a plot twisting, rollar coaster ride of thriller and suspense. Her latest novel, The Tenant doesn't disappoint!