Book Review: Jeannette Walls’ The Glass Castle
An inside look at a family which is deeply dysfunctional and uniquely vibrant with a brilliant father who drinks too much and a free spirited mother too self-absorbed to notice her kids.
Genre: non-fiction
Book Review: Tish Rabe’s If I Ran the Dog Show: All About Dogs
It’s The Cat in the Hat visiting the dog show to explore how dog breeds are different in this nonfiction picture book for kids.
Book Review: Allen Say’s Grandfather’s Journey
A sweet tale of a Japanese-American extended family’s journey, bridging two cultures with the most gorgeous pictures.
Book Review: Sherley Anne Williams’ Working Cotton
A dreamy remembrance of a child’s view of the long day’s work in the cotton fields illustrated with beautiful impressionist paintings.
Mother Tongue: The Story of the English Language
A brilliant exploration of the history, eccentricities, resilience and sheer fun of the English language.
Book Review: Alison Weir’s Mistress of the Monarchy: The Life of Katherine Swynford, Duchess of Lancaster
A vivid portrait of a passionate spirit who lived one of medieval England’s greatest love stories. A woman ahead of her time–making her own choices, flouting convention, and taking control of her destiny.
Book Review: Bette Midler’s A View From a Broad
Bette relives her career through memories of rehearsals, fears, crazy schedules and wisdom she learned along with her trademark razor-blade wit.
Book Review: Renate Stoever’s Escape From Plauen
A German child caught by the terror of World War II and Hitler’s defeat at Stalingrad. Now only women, children, and the elderly are left with no place to hide.
Book Review: Anthony Russell’s Outrageous Fortune: Growing Up at Leeds Castle
Anthony Russell takes us inside his childhood growing up at Leeds Castle, with luxury and opulence few can imagine, and how he found his way in a changing society.
Book Review: Liesl Schillinger’s Wordbirds: An Irreverent Lexicon for the 21st Century
A quick nonfictional read that looks at a selection of highly irreverent, lol, words to describe our contemporary condition with definitions running the gamut from tràs practical to wild and crazy.