The Good Reader RSS Feed

Book Review: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 by Beth Brower (The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion #1)

2026-09-11T15:51:00.000-04:00

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 by Beth Brower
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(4 ½ stars) Set in 1883 London, a young Emma M. Lion has moved into her family’s house in the St. Crispian’s neighborhood. We gradually meet the quirky characters: her spiteful cousin Archibald who banishes Emma to the 5th floor garret, cousin and good friend Arabella, aunt Eugenia Spencer, housekeeper and cook Agnes, and evil Aunt Matilde. Lapis Lazuli is the house previously owned by her father, which he left to Archibald until Emma turns 21 years old. Archibald has taken advantage of the situation and has frittered away the entire fortune, leaving Emma penniless.

Mysteries abound – who exactly is Maxwell, why does Cousin Archibald hate Emma, what is the scandal of the Incident which lead to the Scar, and more!

I raced through this charming book but kept telling myself to slow down so I could savor the descriptions of the time, the place, and Emma’s perspective on the world. She has a perpetually cheerful outlook despite everything, and appreciates the humor in every situation. To be expected, there is a lot of tea drinking in her journal, and she adores books and reading – a woman after my own heart! It’s a very quick read – only 107 pages. I will definitely be reading more of this 8-volume set!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Necessary as Blood by Deborah Crombie (Gemma James and Duncan Kincaid #13)

2026-09-05T15:07:00.000-04:00

Necessary as Blood by Deborah Crombie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gemma Janes is a Scotland Yard detective who is extremely stressed and overworked. She worries about her job family, a sick mother, supporting her friends, all the while trying to plan a wedding. Once again she teams up with her husband, Duncan Kincaid to investigate the murder in the East End of London.

In the end, clues were revealed, and guilty parties were identified and arrest in the last two chapters. I felt it was a little too much of a rushed and tidy ending. I wasn’t fond of the storyline in this book, but what really stood out for me were the detective teams of Gemma James/ Melody Tabot and Duncan Kincaid / Doug Cullen. Each team worked together quite well and I enjoyed reading about their partnerships. And who doesn’t appreciate a map included on the end pages which identifies all the relevant streets and buildings discussed in the book!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Too Old for This by Samantha Downing

2026-08-30T14:46:00.000-04:00

Too Old for This by Samantha Downing
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(3 1/2 stars) Lottie Jones is a 75-year old “retired serial killer” who leads a “quiet life” in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. Earlier in her life, she changed her name and moved to escape possible arrest and imprisonment for killing several people. She only kills when she gets very angry and when opportunity presents itself. She stopped killing once she moved, but circumstances changed and she realized that her backstory was about to catch up with her.

This book is humorously narrated in the first person by Lottie and is almost a “how-to” book on murder. Suspend your disbelief when you read about an elderly woman killing a visitor by hitting her over the head with an umbrella. It’s definitely got a cozy feel, but it’s more violent than that. It’s fairly fast-paced but has a lot of different characters to keep track of. I read this for my mystery book club, and virtually everyone in the group loved it.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Slough House by Mick Herron (Slow Horses #7)

2026-08-26T16:36:00.000-04:00

Slough House by Mick Herron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Slow Horses gang is back at it pretty quickly after the finish of book #6 - Joe Country. But it turns out that someone is trying to kill the entire Slow Horse squad. Rodney Ho (Rodster, Rodman, Rodinator, or Dyno-Rod as he refers to himself) is more of a hindrance than a help as usual, but he considers himself the star of the team. Jackson Lamb is even more offensive, if that's possible, but that is certainly part of the humor. Peter Judd and Diana Taverner take on large roles in this book, all focusing on the secret funding of "The Park." The entire cast is back, along with a surprise appearance by a previous Slow Horse.

The upcoming season 6 of Slow Horses on Apple TV + is due to start this month (September 16, 2026) and will be based on books #6 and #7. I'll be interested to see how they combine the storylines, especially since there is no sign of the huge snowstorm in Wales which figured prominently in book #6.

I love reading the books, but also love to see how they translate to the screen. The characters, the humor, the drama are all so enjoyable! I see that they have been renewed for seasons 7 and 8! And you know that I'll keep reading these wonderful books.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout

2026-08-21T15:55:00.000-04:00

The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Artie is a middle-aged high school history teacher. He and his wife Evie seem to be at odds with one another, and he doesn’t see or talk to his grown son Rob nearly as much as he’d like to. He wonders why people make small talk but don’t tend to talk about important subjects and speculates frequently about free will. He realizes that people keep secrets from one another. He is suffering from depression and isolation, and it’s starting to affect his teaching and his relationships with others.

This is a very character-driven novel which takes us through a year in Artie’s life – 2024-2025. The reader gets more than a peak into Artie’s mind and thought processes, interspersing vignettes with his wife, his son, his students, friends and neighbors. And it shows the impact that Artie had on all of them. I absolutely loved the relationship that Artie had with his son, and how it developed throughout the book. This is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth Strout and it certainly won’t be the last. Content warnings.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead (Harlem Trilogy #1)

2026-08-17T16:26:00.000-04:00

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ray Carney is the owner of an up-and-coming furniture store in Harlem, married to Elizabeth, with their second child on the way. His in-laws live on Strivers Row in Harlem where he aspires to live, and his father-in-law is a member of the Dumas Club, a club he would like to join. His life vacillates between running his furniture store and fencing the stolen goods that his cousin and friends bring to him.

Whitehead’s writing gives the reader a true sense of place – the Harlem neighborhood of 125^th Street in 1959-1964 – by including real places such as the Apollo Theater and Morningside Park, and real events such as the riots. There is an overall theme of race, class structure, and how the law can be applied.

I’m anxious to read the second in the series, Crook Manifesto, which covers the 1970’s, and the third and final book in the series, Cool Machine, which covers the 1980’s.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny (Chief Inspector Armand Gamache #12)

2026-08-12T15:12:00.000-04:00

A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Armand Gamache is back in #12 of the Inspector Gamache / Three Pines series. He has come out of retirement and accepted a new position as the Commander of the Surete Academy, the training course for the cadets who will become detectives. He and Reine-Marie are still living in Three Pines, and an ancient map is discovered in the walls of the Bistro.

Working at the Academy, Gamache is dealing with former best friends, foes, and enemies, along with all of the cadets. He meets regularly with two third year cadets and two first year cadets, giving them advice and assignments to help them develop their detective skills. He encounters murder, corruption, and deceit within the Academy, and discovers the importance of the newly uncovered map.

Many of the characters that we know and love from previous books make appearances: Clara, Myrna, Ruth, Olivier, and Gabri in Three Pines, and Jean-Guy, Isabelle, and Michel Brébeuf in the Surete du Quebec. It is character-driven rather than action packed, but it is still quite a page-turner. It would have been even better if a drawing of the map was included in the book. I kept imaging what it looked like with all the important Three Pines sketches.

Do yourself a favor and start reading Louise Penny’s books at the beginning, and you will be immersed in these wonderful characters and better understand the series. I’m looking forward to reading #13!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe

2026-08-10T14:54:00.000-04:00

London Falling: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth by Patrick Radden Keefe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(4 ½ stars) Zac Brettler is a 19-year-old living in London, and in 2019 he plunged to his death off a luxury high rise apartment into the Thames River below. His family was shocked by his suicide, but even more surprised when they discovered that he was leading a secret double life. He claimed to be Zac Ismailov whose father was a Russian oligarch worth billions. He became friends and was doing business with various wheelers and dealers in the London business scene, a world financial hub.

Zac’s parents questioned whether it was suicide or murder, potentially caused by the gangsters and criminal underworld of London that he was associating with. Despite his parents pressuring Scotland Yard to investigate their son’s death, nothing seemed to be getting done. At times Scotland Yard seemed like the Keystone Cops.

Once again Patrick Radden Keefe has written a fascinating narrative non-fiction account of Zac’s actions and his parents’ attempt to uncover the truth. He is at the top of his game with incredibly well-research investigative reporting. This book was a tense account of Zac’s downfall, along with his parents’ repeated attempts to make those guilty accountable for their actions. I was immediately drawn into this family tragedy which told the emotional story of Zac’s death and its impact on his parents and older brother. It’s a tough book to read, but incredibly compelling.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Around the Table: Tables and Traditions for Gathering by Shea McGee

2026-08-04T16:51:00.000-04:00

Around the Table: Tables and Traditions for Gathering by Shea McGee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an absolutely beautifully photographed book of menus and tablescapes, arranged by season and holiday. The recipes are included for each of the dinners and celebrations. They all look so elegant but what really stood out for me was the innovative combination of ingredients and the use of what I probably already have in my kitchen, freezer or pantry. No need to scout out and buy obscure items that I will never use again. With just a few exceptions, the recipes and instructions don't take an inordinate amount of time and many can be made ahead of time.

This book is an inspiration for those wanting to entertain more - whether it's complex holiday meals or just a simple pizza party or burger slider gathering in the back yard. Shea McGee is such a wonderful hostess -- please invite me to your next dinner party of any occasion!

I first heard Shea interviewed on Katie Lee Biegel's podcast All On The Table a couple of months ago -
https://overcast.fm/+ABJ62W71YsE

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

2026-08-01T12:08:00.000-04:00

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Set in the Pacific Northwest and Puget Sound, Tova is a 70-something woman who works the night shift at the local aquarium. One of the famous aquarium exhibits is Marcellus, a giant aging octopus with whom Tova develops a friendship. Cameron is an immature 30-year old who recently relocated to the same small town searching for his long-lost father as well as meaning for his life.

The story unfolds from three different points of view – Tova, Cameron and Marcellus. Tova and Cameron find each other and slowly realize their connection with help from Marcellus.

It’s always a delight when I discover a five star book after reading too many three star fair to middling books recently. Bonus points because it’s a debut novel!

Suspend your disbelief and immerse yourself in the lives of Tova, Cameron and Marcellus the octopus, along with the other quirky characters in Sowell Bay. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, but you certainly won’t regret it! Such a unique magical realism five star read!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorodooc (Marlow Murder Club #1)

2026-07-27T14:21:00.000-04:00

The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Set in small town Marlow on the Thames outside of London, three murders occur in a short period of time. Details indicate that the same person killed all three individuals. Judith is 77 years old and more than a little bit nosy. She intrudes on the scene of the first murder, then takes it upon herself to investigate further. She is joined by two other local women, hence the Marlow Murder Club.

I was expecting something along the lines of the Thursday Murder Club, which I thoroughly enjoyed. However, the mystery is lame, the dialog is uninspired, the characters leave a lot to be desired, and I'm just not motivated to read any of the other books in this series. Such a disappointment!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Joe Country by Mick Herron (Slough House #6)

2026-07-24T17:48:00.000-04:00

Joe Country by Mick Herron
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(4 1/2 stars!) The Slow Horse gang is trying to recover from their latest case with Roddy Ho's "girlfriend" and the attempts made on his life. River Cartwright's grandfather has passed away, and who should show up at the funeral but his father. Jackson Lamb and Catherine Standish are bickering as usual. There's a new Slow Horse who doesn't seem to fit in with the group (big surprise). And Diana Taverner is now working as First Desk, but Peter Judd is back in the private sector, and making her life a living hell as usual.

Thus begins the action packed escapade, set in Wales during the midst of a huge snowstorm. I read the book during our summer's heat wave, yet I felt like I was there shivering with the Slow Horses team. Be prepared for some violence and gruesome deaths, more than usual for this series of books. Luckily, there's always the dark humor to balance our the violence.

The Slough House building is the primary character that appears in each of the books in this series with absolutely moody descriptions by Mick Herron. It's downtrodden, forgotten, falling apart and shabby, just like the Slow Horses that work there. Each of his books definitely have literary fiction overtones, and I just want to read slowly so I'm immersed in the language.

This is the 6th in the Slow Horses series, and in my opinion they just keep getting better! I've watched the previous five seasons on Apple TV+ and am anxiously awaiting the 6th season which is scheduled to premier on 9/16/2026 (based on this book).

"If Spook Street is where spies live, Joe Country is where they go to die."

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Fair Warning by Michael Connelly (Jack McEvoy #3)

2026-07-16T15:57:00.000-04:00

Fair Warning by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jack McEvoy is an investigative journalist working for a non-profit independent news website in California - Fair Warning. He uncovers a situation where women are submitting their DNA to a low-cost genetic analysis company and their profiles are subsequently sold for unsavory purposes. After further investigation he discovers that there are a series of murders across the country which are all related to the genetic analysis company.

It's interesting to see how Jack as a journalist approaches a story, which is much the same way as Harry Bosch, a detective, would approach a murder case. Those individuals familiar with the Harry Bosch series will be pleased to find out that Rachel Walling figures prominently in this book, teaming up with Jack on the investigation.

Fair Warning as a news website, and its editor, Myron Levin (Jack's boss in the novel) actually exist in real life, reporting consumer issues. However, when looking into it I discovered that it was no longer in existence. Their archives are available on the Wayback Archive - https://wayback.archive-it.org/16877/20210929142827/https://www.fairwarning.org/

This is the third in the Jack McEvoy series and I am very hopeful that Michael Connelly continues to write about Jack in the future. The first two books are The Poet (1996) and The Scarecrow (2009); this book was published in 2020. The book ends with a new project for Jack which I foresee as being a great concept for the fourth book in this series!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: View from the East Wing: A Memoir by Jill Biden

2026-07-11T10:38:39.548-04:00

View from the East Wing: A Memoir by Jill Biden
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(3 1/2 stars) This is Jill Biden's memoir primarily covering the time that her husband was President and she was First Lady. It was a challenging time which included the pandemic, the January 6th insurrection, her husband's campaign for re-election, and his ultimate withdrawal from the race. Soon after their time in the White House, President Biden was diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer and was subsequently treated.

In spite of all of these challenges, I found that her story was just superficial without much depth or insight into these stories. In addition, this book was just random vignettes, not at all linear but rather jumping around during Biden's presidency. It does give the reader a peek inside the incredibly busy life of a First Lady. And kudos to Dr. Biden for being the only First Lady who continued to work while her husband was in office. She was a college English professor at Northern Virginia Community College. I was a little disappointed in this book, especially having read her first memoir - "Where the Light Enters: Building a Family and Discovering Myself."

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

2026-07-08T08:42:00.000-04:00

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sybil Van Antwerp is a septuagenarian who writes letters every day. To the casual observer she has had a very fulfilling life -- a career in law working for a judge, two successful adult children, grandchildren, a wonderful home on the water in Maryland, her expansive garden, and friends and pen pals. However through the letters she writes and receives, we discover more about her -- missed opportunities, loneliness, medical issues, grief, regretted decisions, and much more.

This epistolary debut novel is told entirely through letters from 2012-2022, revealing Sybil's life to the reader little by little. It was a delight to read, one of the best fiction books I've read this year, plus one of the most unique in structure. I am anxiously looking forward to another book by this ingenious author!

July 2026 Update: I read this book again for a summer book club, and enjoyed it even more the second time around! The six of us had such a lively discussion, and this book give us so much to talk about. I have been recommending this book to all my friends, and very highly recommended for book clubs!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews

2026-07-03T09:52:00.000-04:00

The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clare Gast is a stay-at-home young mother living on the Upper East Side of NYC with a PhD in art history (all but dissertation). Her husband is a lawyer, and her in-laws are affluent and very connected in New York City society. She meets the owner of an art gallery and makes the first in a series of very bad decisions when she starts having an affair with him.

We are immersed in the world of expensive art, wealth and privilege, along with deceit, theft and murder. Clare and her husband become suspects in the murder, and much of the last portion of the book delves into how this is resolved. This is another fast-paced, page-turner mystery, although the resolution is rather convoluted. Although many of the characters are very unlikable, I just loved reading about the art scene, art galleries, rich people gatherings, and entitlement.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest (Heart Beach #1)

2026-06-30T12:34:00.000-04:00

The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Set primarily in the fictional New Jersey Heart Beach, Noelle and Jeremiah are 'fake dating.' Noelle has been laid off from one of her jobs and needs to save money for her fall tuition. Jeremiah is avoiding his family and their summer beach house by saying he's spending time with his new girlfriend. Noelle and Jeremiah meet cute and he asks if she would stand in as a his girlfriend in exchange for tuition money. It's no surprise that they start falling for each other throughout the summer.

This is the perfect summer beach read -- after all it's set at a beautiful summer beach house on the Jersey shore and involves three generations of Jeremiah's wonderful family. There's the boardwalk, the beach, hang gliding, boating, pools, summer food, books, desserts, and more! This was on the 2026 Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide under the category of Seaside Stories. Take my advice and read it this summer; you won't regret immersing yourself in Noelle and Jeremiah's summer romance!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Astral Library by Kate Quinn

2026-06-25T11:43:00.000-04:00

The Astral Library by Kate Quinn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alexandria Watson - Alix - is down on her luck. She was fired from one of her three part-time jobs, her debit card was declined at the grocery store, and her roommate gave her one week to move out and find somewhere else to live. She visits her manager at the Boston Public Library to see if she can get more hours to work, but was unsuccessful. Frustrated, she goes through one of the BPL Reading Room doors only to discover that she has been transported to the Astral Library and her life is about to change!

This book is a fantastic immersion for the reader into the magical world of books! If you are in love with books, reading, book worlds, libraries, and librarians, then this book is for you! It's full of magical realism; set aside your real world expectations and get transported into various books.

What I loved about this book: the descriptions of the book worlds, the various period costumes, the elegant vocabulary (I wished I was reading the ebook instead so I could easily look up many of those unfamiliar words), the patterned edges of the book, the book's end pages. The author also mentions Henry Ford Centennial Library (in Dearborn, not Detroit as mentioned in the book); I worked at this library as one of my first library jobs!

What I didn't like about this book: the heavy handed overtones of The Library Board and many of the library detractors; it often felt like I was being lectured to. The middle section of the book got bogged down with going back and forth to many other books without any real destination or goal. Also, I have not read many fantasy novels so was not able to fully appreciate all the characters, locations, and authors mentioned.

"Have you ever wanted to live inside a book?" If so, then you will definitely enjoy reading this book!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Ironwood by Michael Connelly (Catalina #2)

2026-06-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

Ironwood by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sheriff Stilwell is back in the second book of the new Michael Connelly series, once again set on Catalina Island. It's a small substation, with just six deputies and an office manager. But he has a lot on his plate including a small plane landing dark late at night from Mexico with a drug drop-off, evidence from a 4-year old cold case murder, stolen vehicles, sabotage to a local vineyard, and graffiti on two local landmarks.

The best surprise in the book was the involvement of Renee Ballard's cold case unit! Stilwell and Ballard team up to investigate and eventually arrest the individual responsible for the murder of five women over the past several years. Even Harry Bosch has a small role in this book!

I flew through this book in just two days. It's a quick read and very fast-paced, switching from one incident to another. And according to his website, Michael Connelly is working on the third book in this series, to be published in May 2027!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Scarecrow (Jack McEvoy #2)

2026-06-17T11:19:00.000-04:00

The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jack McEvoy has just been laid off from his job as crime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, and has been given two weeks' salary to train his replacement. He decides to investigate and write the story of a 16-year old drug dealer who has been falsely accused of murder. He soon realizes that the police obtained a false confession, which leads him to similar cases of "trunk murder."

Thus begins the second (of three) in the Jack McEvoy book series written by Michael Connelly. Written in 2009, it reflects the beginning of the print newspaper demise across the country. It's a tense page-turner, delving deep into the extensive investigative research that journalists used to do. I'm looking forward to reading the third (and apparently final) book in this wonderful series - The Final Warning. Luckily, Connelly continues to write other series because he is definitely one of my favorite writers!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz (The Book Series #1)

2026-06-12T16:06:00.000-04:00

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Jake is a young novelist whose first novel was an astounding success. Since then he's published another novel which was not as well received. He is working part-time in Vermont teaching writing to students in an MFA program, where he meets Evan, a smug and pretentious student who claims to have an idea for a book sure to be a huge success.

Fast forward three years. Jake is still struggling to write and has started working as a freelance editor for other writers. He remembers Evan's boasts, looks for his published book only to discover that he died soon after the MFA program. Predictably Jake takes the broad story line, writes the book, and publishes it to huge success. (I don't think this is too much of a spoiler -- it's included in the book blurb.)

What follows is an incredible ride for the reader, following Jake in his successes and failures, including the haunting emails and letters from the supposed real author. This is a fast-paced, page-turning thriller, with plot twists and turns throughout. We get a look inside at both the publishing industry and the life of an author. It's also a 'book within a book' because chapters of the book written by Jake are interspersed throughout.

This is the second time that I've read this book; this time it was for one of my book clubs (discussion tonight!). Once again I'm giving it five stars and highly recommend it to anyone interested in books, authors, publishing, and wonderful suspenseful thrillers! It will keep you glued to the pages until the very end!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Walk With Me: New York: Photographic Stroll Through New York Streets Capturing Serendipitous, Everyday Urban Poetry, by Susan Kaufman

2026-06-07T22:18:00.000-04:00

Walk With Me: New York: Photographic stroll through New York streets capturing serendipitous, everyday urban poetry. by Susan Kaufman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book is a collection of incredible photographs of many of the Manhattan (and Brooklyn) neighborhoods. Susan Kaufman has a background in magazine publishing and fashion, and has a wonderful eye for architecture, decor, and history. Her photographs immerse the reader in each of the city's wonderful areas. Her captions describe the location of each photo, and she includes a map at the end of each neighborhood chapter which identifies her favorite streets and locations.

I discovered this book at the shop in the main branch of the New York Public Library a couple of years ago. I glanced through it and realized that I *had* to have it! Since we regularly visit our son and soon-to-be-daughter-in-law in NYC, I have reviewed her book and compiled a list of her favorite streets and points of interest. During our NYC visits we try to explore two or three new areas, using her book as our guide. We have found so many interesting sites that we wouldn't have discovered otherwise! Pro Tip -- follow her on Instagram @skaufman4050 to get her wonderful photos in your IG stream daily!

Please note that the author has compiled another book focusing on the Hamptons!
Walk With Me: Hamptons: Elegant photography tour through Hamptons estates, beaches, and the cultivated ease of summer living.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The Love Haters by Katherine Center

2026-06-05T16:13:00.000-04:00

The Love Haters by Katherine Center
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(3 1/2 stars) Katie is a video producer working at a commercial video company, and she gets the opportunity to film a promotional video for the Coast Guard in the Florida Keys. The video focuses on rescue swimmer Tom "Hutch" Hutcheson, who happens to be her boss's brother and they are not speaking to one another. The bad news is that she doesn't know how to swim, and of course this assignment involves a lot of swimming.

I usually really like Katherine Center's novels, but I almost gave up on this one. The main character has a horrible self-image and just wallows in it. The first 25% of the book was very difficult to read because of all of her self-hate. A "Note from the Author" at the beginning of the book warns the reader about this.

I started reading this book on the flight for my vacation, and finished it the next day. It was a perfect book to keep my mind occupied but not too deep that I would lose track of the story line. The characters were all very interesting, and the light romance kept things moving along. I'm glad I persisted in reading it because it ended up being a lot of fun, even if it was very predictable.

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: The House by the Side of the Road: The Selma Civil Rights Movement by Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson

2026-06-02T23:03:00.000-04:00

The House by the Side of the Road: The Selma Civil Rights Movement by Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an autobiography / memoir told by Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson, the wife of the dentist Dr. Sullivan Jackson. It was their home in Selma, Alabama, "The Jackson Home," that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used as his headquarters to rally supporters for the Voting Rights Act and the Selma Civil Rights Movement. Their daughter, Jawana, was just five years old at the time, and loved when 'Uncle Martin' came to visit.

Greenfield Village in Dearborn (part of The Henry Ford) recently acquired The Jackson Home and had it moved from Selma to Dearborn, Michigan. It is opening to the public this weekend (June 12-14, 2026) with a festive Block Party. We had the good fortune of touring the house last month and the experience was quite moving. The house is preserved just as it was in 1965 with as many original furnishings and accessories as possible. The Henry Ford staff worked tirelessly to find additional items which needed to be added to those original items.

Here is a 48-minute documentary, created by our local NBC affiliate WDIV, which was broadcast earlier this year. The Jackson daughter, Jawana Jackson, is now 65 years old and is featured in the video talking about Dr. King and the role that her house played in making history. One of the fascinating things in this video is how they had to cut the house in two in order to transport it from Selma to Dearborn on two different trucks, and then reassemble it once it arrived in Greenfield Village!
https://www.clickondetroit.com/video/news/2026/02/26/backstory-the-jackson-home/

This is an incredible book telling the story of the Selma Civil Rights Movement. Richie Jean Sherrod Jackson is a wonderful storyteller, and reading the book I felt like she was my grandmother, sitting in a rocking chair with me at her feet on the carpet while she was telling me the tales of her life and all the important people who came to The House by the Side of the Road. A very compelling memoir; very highly recommended!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

2026-05-30T16:47:00.000-04:00

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(4 1/2 stars) June Hayward and Athena Liu are both young novelists who meet at Yale. They both end up in Washington, D.C. and become the kind of friends who do things together but are not very close. I don't think it's a spoiler to indicate that Athena dies in a freak accident and June steals the manuscript that she has just completed (this all happens in the first chapter and is included in the book blurb). June researches and re-writes much of the manuscript, publishing it as her own without attribution to Athena. The book is wildly successful, prompting fame, fortune and book tours for June.

This book gives the reader an inside peek at the publishing industry: agents, editors, marketing, and the role of social media. It is incredibly fast paced and quite a page turner. There are twists and turns in June's life after the publication of this book and it shows the life of an author in the spotlight. There are themes of plagiarism, racism, and competition, as well as comparing yourself to others when you are lacking the success you think you deserve. None of the characters are very likable, but that didn't stop me from devouring the book. R.F. Kuang indicated that the book is meant to be read in one sitting, which I agree with. This book is highly recommended!!

It's very interesting that I read this book for one of my book clubs, and read The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz for another one of my book clubs - both book clubs meeting this week! While both discuss plagiarism, one is the theft of an idea (The Plot) and the other is a stolen manuscript (Yellowface). For more information and analysis of Yellowface, read the reviews on Goodreads - they are the most extensive and informative reviews I have ever seen!

Read more of my reviews at https://thegoodreader13.blogspot.com/.

View all my reviews