Book #74:
The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon (339 pages). I am a big fan of this author as I’ve followed her on Instagram beginning during the pandemic. A former government teacher, the author here has several vignettes on lesser-known historical figures. For example, while most of us are familiar with Rosa Parks, the civil rights icon who refused to give up her seat on a city bus, many of us aren’t aware of her 15-year-old predecessor, Claudette Colvin, who also refused to vacate her bus seat for a white person. These stories are simply fascinating to read, and I especially loved Sharon’s tone of voice here, modern and so familiar to those of us who follow her online. I’m so glad I learned about these (often forgotten) people in our nation’s history. 4 stars.
Book #75:
Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain (Length: 411 pages). This was this month’s book club pick for my local club, and while most attendees didn’t care for this historical novel, I enjoyed it. I listened to this on audio and the narrator does a great job. The author alternates between two female protagonists, Anna, a young muralist in 1940 North Carolina and Morgan, a young woman in modern day, who was convicted of a DUI collision which resulted in a paralyzed victim. Morgan wasn’t driving but took the rap for her boyfriend who was heading off to law school. Morgan is paroled early, with the agreement that she is to restore a mural, originally painted by Anna (who won a contest run by the federal government). Anna mysteriously disappears and the mural she left behind seems to have been strangely altered from its original plan. There are indeed some unbelievable coincidences that occur in this novel (which is why many of my book club members disliked this novel) but I found it to be well-written, and very easy to listen too. The author ties the two protagonists together very skillfully and I kept wanting to turn the audiobook back on, always a good sign. 3 stars.
Book #76:
I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai (Length: 448 pages). This novel has been on my TBR for a few years so I finally picked it up. This is a contemporary mystery featuring Bodie Kane, a podcaster who is looking back at her time at Granby, a boarding school where Bodie’s roommate was brutally murdered. Told in the form of letters (or emails) to someone who was at Granby at the same time the murder occurred, the author slowly reveals to the reader what likely happened that day. I found this to be very well-written, sufficiently literary, with a propulsive plot that I couldn’t stop reading. I did enjoy the flashback scenes much more than I did present-day, but I am so glad I finally gave this one a go. 4 stars from me.
Book #77:
The Wave by Susan Casey(Length: 434 pages). I don’t recall where I first heard about this non-fiction account, but I put a hold on it with my local library and after a month or so, I was able to read it. The author’s initial focus here is on Laird Hamilton, the world-class surfer who is known for his big wave surfing but very quickly she pans further outward and discusses the history of big waves, the science behind them as well as how climate change may be causing even more of these behemoths. This is a bit stressful to read as the author breathlessly details how large and how destructive these waves are. One almost 1,800-foot wave in Alaska is one that will appear in my nightmares. Definitely read this in print or on a Kindle as the author includes photographs mid-way through. 4.5 stars from me!
