Maybe half of you readers live in Fairyland. For those of you who do, I know you have probably had this experience - you’re speaking to someone on the phone and need to provide your address. When you say Peter Pan Road, for instance, they laugh, they say, “You must really like cartoons.”
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Anyway, back to my point ... fairytales. At least some of us are surrounded by them. But do you ever really think about them?  Probably not. Did you know there is an entire group of authors who do? The retelling of fairytales is an entire sub-genre of fictional writing - often referred to as fairytale fantasies. The retelling of classic stories that aren’t technically fairytales may also be considered a part of this genre. It can get confusing. Thanks to Disney movies, there is little distinction between the two in the minds of most people. In fact, a fairytale is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre, which typically features magic, enchantments, and mythical or fanciful beings and is part of the culture of preliterate societies.

However, stories of Peter Pan, for instance, first appeared in J.M. Barrie’s 1902 novel written for adults, “The Little White Bird.” Another example of classic literature that is often considered a fairytale or children’s story, but actually originated as a novel for adults, “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame” (originally, titled “Notre-Dame de Paris (1482)” was published by Victor Hugo in 1831. This novel is an example of French Romanticism and champions historical preservation - solidifying Notre-Dame cathedral as a national icon. 
 
I have always enjoyed a good fairytale retelling, and you can find them at any reading level. Sometimes, authors weave historical figures or social issues into their retellings. They often become the basis of their own stage and screen adaptations. You may have seen the film based on Gail Carson Levine’s 1997 “Ella Enchanted,” and everyone knows the award-winning Broadway musical, and soon to be two-part movie, “Wicked,” based on Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel by that name. While Carson Levine’s writing is considered young adult fiction, Maguire’s novels are for a more mature audience. But these are just two authors. When I googled fairytale fantasy, it resulted in a list of 75 titles ranging across all fairytales. That doesn’t include those examples of classic literature that are lumped in with fairytales and children’s literature.
If you’re interested in trying fairytale fantasies, Carson Levine’s books are a good choice. Alex Flynn is probably my favorite author for fairytale fantasies, with titles like “Beastly” and “A Kiss in Time.”  Meaghan Spooner also takes a fresh look at fairytales. Check out her novel “Hunted” for a retelling of “Beauty and the Beast.” I recently read Gregory Maguire’s “Mirror, Mirror.” The plot premise is ingenious!  Set in medieval Italy, Snow White’s evil stepmother character (the one with the poison apple) is Lucrezia Borgia. The story is highly sexualized, so this is not a book for all audiences, despite its fairytale roots. My daughter is a fan of Emily McIntire’s writing.  “Hooked” is one of her favorites. She mentioned that McIntire’s books have a “hot villain” theme. I’m going to say these also are not for all audiences, including this reader.    

There are plenty of retellings that aren’t based on fairytales. Under New Releases on the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Library’s website, I came across two that are new takes on classic literature. “Julia,” is Sandra Newman’s feminist retelling of George Orwell’s dystopian classic, “1984.” “The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennett, Witch” by Melinda Taub shares the story of the youngest Bennett sister from Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” You know, the one who ran off with Mr. Wickham. Did she bewitch him? I don’t know. We’ll have to read it.

Maybe you’ve seen the 2009 title “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” by Seth Grahame-Smith. My point is that there are a lot of retellings available for just about any reader. Right now I’m reading “March” by Geraldine Brooks, retelling Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” from the absent father’s point of view.  Look for more about that soon.

I hope you’ll give retellings, fairytale fantasies or classics, a try. Happy (ever after) reading.

After reading Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider series for two months, I thought I needed to diversify my reading. So this column is kind of all over the place. Hopefully, there will be something for everyone.

Let’s start with “Lessons in Chemistry,” by Bonnie Garmus. This was one of the hottest books of the past year: a New York Times bestseller, a GMA book club pick and the basis for an Apple TV series this fall. I’ll be honest with you. I thought this was going to be a rom-com. There is some romance, and there is some comedy. However, I was pleased to find that it took a deeper look at the roles of women in the 1960s. A Washington Post review I read sugar-coated the plot when it described the main character’s career as a research chemist taking “a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show.”  Actually, her career took a detour when she was raped by a supervising professor in her PhD program.  Sorry! That was a spoiler.

While I enjoyed the book, the level of misogyny made me cringe. Sort of like “Mad Men,” a television series I just never enjoyed. The book also takes a look at how women in business either lift up other women, or tear them down - again, very “Mad Men”-esque. I was disappointed that in the end (sorry - another spoiler), Elizabeth’s career was saved - not by her own merit - but by a benefactor. Sorry. This sounds like a negative review. It’s not. The book is thought-provoking and definitely worth reading.

Next is “A Dirt Road Life” by Lila Phelps. This first book in the series is “Family.” It’s free on Kindle and has just become available in paperback at Amazon. So, what makes this book special? Well, let me tell you.  I had a best friend in high school. I really don’t have the words to convey in this format just what she and her family meant to me. If you and I could sit down together over a cup of coffee, I could share memories and tell stories, and you would begin to understand the special place they hold in my heart. In lieu of that, my friend’s middle sister, Lila, has written a memoir in a series of books that centers around the dirt road they lived on. This one will introduce you to the family that I hold so dear. This first book is a mere 64 pages, and believe me when I tell you that the love leaked out of my eyes on every page. Obviously, it will not affect you in the same way, but I hope you will read it. Get to know these people who mean so very much to me. Get to know that dirt road that, to me, feels like HOME.

“One of Us Is Dead,” by Jeneva Rose is free on Audible. It was okay. I don’t enjoy reading about toxic people. If you enjoyed “Big Little Lies” by Liane Moriarty, you will probably like this. One thing that stands out about “One of Us Is Dead,” is that the author seems to have a real beef with the Buckhead area of Atlanta. The area is almost its own character in the book, and is not presented in a favorable light.  Basically, if you follow the author’s logic, the characters are toxic because they live in Buckhead.

“The Venice Sketchbook,” by Rhys Bowen, was exactly what you would expect. British girl meets Venetian boy, falls in love, and loses boy. Not once, but four times across the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s - when Venice believed that as a city of art and culture, it would be immune to the war in Europe. Told in a dual narrative, Juliette has kept the details of her life in Venice a secret for 60 years - until with her dying breath she sends her great-niece back to the city she loved with her sketchbooks and a set of keys. But why?
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Until next month - Happy Reading!   ​

“Most schoolboys dream of being a spy. With Alex, we have a spy who dreams of being a schoolboy.” (Alan Blunt, Head of MI6 - Point Blank.)

Last month, I told you that I planned to read the entire Alex Rider series by Anthony Horowitz, after rereading the first book, “Stormbreaker.” “Point Blank” did not disappoint, with a lot of action and daring by the reluctant 14-year-old MI6 operative. Alex is sent into the prestigious Point Blanc boarding school near Grenoble, France, in search of a possible connection between the school and the mysterious deaths of some of the students’ billionaire fathers. He learns of a plan to take over the world, and thwarts it. Or does he?

Anthony Horowitz is a master of the cliffhanger. In my opinion, he is also a master of a narrative principle known as Chekhov’s gun. Put simply, this principle states that every element in a story should be necessary, and irrelevant elements should be removed. An example would be that if there is a gun in a scene, there must be a reason for it. Someone should use the gun at some point in the story. This is why I get annoyed with writers who describe the excruciating minutiae of every scene with absolutely no relevance to the plot.  It tells me that they are probably trying to make their word count. Unless the character has some sort of relationship with Audi, the word car is sufficient. Endless references to makes, models, exterior and interior color, just to take up space on the page, make me cringe. I know that if Horowitz describes something like Alex Rider’s clothing in detail, later in the story I will need to know what he was wearing. I like a book that keeps me thinking.

I didn’t stop there. I moved right on to “Skeleton Key.” In this book, Alex Rider starts as a ball boy at Wimbledon, where he thwarts an attempt by a Chinese triad to throw the tournament. From there, he is loaned-out to the CIA for an undercover operation in Cuba, which eventually takes him to Russia, where he saves the world from a madman with a nuclear bomb. Piece of cake! Understanding that these are stories of espionage, I still feel that this book was just a little darker overall than the first two. This mission seemed to take a greater emotional toll on Alex. So, it’s no surprise that in the end we see him heading off for a vacation in the south of France. If anyone deserves it, he does!

So much for Alex’s Mediterranean vacation! His idyllic time in the sun ends suddenly in “Eagle Strike,” when he sees Yassen Gregorovich, the man who killed MI6 agent Ian Rider, Alex’s uncle. When the villa in which he is staying is destroyed, it’s obvious to Alex that this is no coincidence. He must have been Gregorovich’s target. Or was he?

As Alex’s host, British journalist Edward Pleasure, is raced to the hospital, Alex discovers the charred remains of the article on which he has been working. Then he uncovers a connection between the subject of the article and Gregorovich. Again, Alex does not believe in coincidence. However, when he takes his suspicions to MI6, he’s basically told to mind his own business - after all, he’s just a schoolboy. Feeling betrayed and used, Alex sets out on his own to prove that Gregorovich was hired to kill Edward Pleasure, and why. He’s well on his way to doing just that, but then Gregorovich finds Alex’s weakness.

I have to confess that I always expect the best - well, he is a hired killer, so maybe I expect better - from Yassen Gregorovich. Maybe it’s because despite killing Ian Rider, he did actually save Alex in “Stormbreaker.” Maybe it’s because the character was played by the incomparable Damian Lewis in that adaptation and that’s how I picture him. Either way, I’m always rooting for Yassen to do he right thing. The question is: Did Yassen do better in “Eagle Strike?” Or not? Maybe we, and Alex, will be able to answer that question in the next book, “Scorpia.”

Be sure to take Alex Rider along, whether you’re planning your own end-of-summer vacation or just doing your usual thing around town.
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Happy Reading! ​

July is always a busy month. Luckily, it’s often busy with the pool, the beach, and other fun things. I hope that’s true for you

Regardless of what you’re up to this month, you’ll need something to read. Here are some ideas:

Have you ever considered traveling to another place and time? If so, it probably wasn’t to a Maryland plantation in 1815. That would be especially true if you were a 26-year-old Black woman in 1976.  Somehow, that is exactly what happens to Dana in Octavia Butler’s “Kindred.” Inexplicably, she finds herself on the plantation where her great-grandmother was born. Which, I suppose, could be interesting as an observer. However, Dana doesn’t just observe. She becomes inextricably involved with the lives on the plantation and experiences the horrors of slavery first-hand. Written in 1979, this book does contain racial pejoratives that would be expected to be used in 1815 plantation life. Rape is also mentioned, but there are no graphic scenes.

I have been awaiting the release of Daniel Wallace’s first non-fiction book, “This Isn’t Going to End Well: The True Story of a Man I Thought I Knew.” Wallace is best known for his novel, “Big Fish.” Readers of that book will recognize Wallace’s inspiration for the character Edward Bloom, as he describes his father while recounting growing up in Birmingham, Ala. However, this book is not about his father.  “This Isn’t Going to End Well” is about Wallace’s brother-in-law, William Nealey. If that name rings a bell, it may be because he authored 10 books in which he used humorous, hand-drawn cartoons and river maps to share his “crash and learn” experiences in paddling, mountain biking, skiing, and inline skating. You may have seen his hand-drawn, poster size river maps of the Nantahala, Ocoee, Chattooga, Gawley, Youghiogheny,  Haw, and many more.  In a 2022 article in Indy Week, Nealy was described as an artist, a husband, a sportsman and an illustrator who expanded the way his fans thought about the outdoors.” He was a hippy kid at the forefront of “eco-tourism” before it was even a thing. A trail along the Haw River, several whitewater festivals, and the documentary “Riversense” are all dedicated to him. His longtime friend and publisher, Bob Sehlinger, described him as paddling’s poet laureate and “the best-known ambassador of whitewater sport.” Despite all of these accolades, to Daniel Wallace he was just William – his brother-in-law, his friend, and his idol. As so often happens though, Wallace was to learn that his idol had clay feet.  This book should appeal to an array of Mountain Mirror readers. Many will be familiar with the settings, from Birmingham to Chapel Hill. Outdoor enthusiasts may be familiar with Nealy’s work and will certainly recognize his rivers. Even readers interested in true-crime stories will find something of interest. Please note that this book includes drug use, mental health issues, suicide, and a loved one with secrets.

New books are always enjoyable, but summer is also a great time to re-read favorites. Some stories just never lose their popularity. Don’t take my word for it that “Stormbreaker,” the first book in Anthony Horowitz’s Alex Rider series, is one of them. Published in 2000, this book introduces us to adolescent MI-6 agent, Alex Rider. After his uncle/guardian dies, Alex is surprised to learn that he was an agent. He is surprised even further when MI-6 comes to recruit him. As a teenager, he’s the perfect person to infiltrate the Stormbreaker Project, which is targeting students. Since then, 12 novels have been published, and another is being released this year. There are also six graphic novels, seven short stories, a supplementary book, a movie, and a two season TV series. I really like the 2006  “Stormbreaker” movie, but it didn’t receive very favorable reviews. I watched it recently, and decided it was time to reread the novel. Now, I’m going to read the rest of the series to get ready for the new novel. Be on the lookout for more about the Alex Rider series.
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Happy Reading!   ​

Summer is here, friends! I hope you have a stack of books ready for your summer reading.

Spring has been busy, but here are a couple of books that I found time to read:

The bestselling “Daisy Jones and the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid has been in my to-be-read stack for a while. With the premiere of Reece Witherspoon’s 10-episode adaptation on Prime Video, it had to move up to the top. The story is choppy – it’s written as an interview, with easily a dozen points-of-view. Until I got into it, I was repeatedly asking myself who this new voice was. “Oh, yes. Eddy’s the guitarist. Pete’s the drummer.” Some voices had complete chapters. Others had one sentence. This format created tension in the story because few people see the same event or situation in the same way, and some don’t care. If, like me, you find privileged and talented people destroying their lives and complaining because people don’t understand them, or treat them unfairly, or whatever other tale-of-woe they’re sharing more than a little tedious, then you’re going to have to push through. Overall, the story is a little Fleetwood Mac and a little “A Star Is Born.” By the end, I enjoyed it. I still haven’t watched the series, so I’m not sure how the adaptation turned out.

Having read that, my daughter recommended another book by Taylor Jenkins Reid that is slated for an adaptation on Netflix, “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.” At this time, there are producers on board, but no script, so you have plenty of time to read it before watching it. Fans of the book are all over the internet with recommendations for the cast, including Rita Moreno, Jessica Chastain, Harry Styles and Alexander Skarsgard (is it me, or are the Skarsgards turning up everywhere?) and Ryan Gosling - just to name a few. Also written as an interview, this book has only two primary voices, those of Evelyn Hugo, bombshell and the queen of the Golden Age of Hollywood, and of her biographer, Monique Grant. Given the fact that Evelyn has had seven husbands, Monique’s very first question is who was the love of Evelyn’s life. That begins a complex tale of the scheming and sacrifice required to make it in the Studio System days of Hollywood, including the very reason that Evelyn, at 79 years of age, chose Monique, a talented but obscure magazine writer, to be her biographer. In the end you may love Evelyn, you may hate her, or you may struggle with both emotions, but you will have seen the humanity behind the films and photos that made Evelyn Hugo a household name.

Make plans now! This November, “All the Light We Cannot See” will be streaming on Netflix. If you have never read it, do yourself a favor and read it this summer. It is a BEAUTIFUL book by the incomparable Anthony Doerr.
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Happy Reading and Happy Summer!

Welcome Spring! This has been some kind of winter! Maybe we can skip that whole “April Showers” thing and all get outside with a good book! My reading has been all over the place recently. That’s okay! I enjoy reading a variety of books and sharing them with you.
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A few months ago I shared my thoughts on John Grisham’s novel “The Boys From Biloxi.” A friend recommended the nonfiction “Mississippi Mud: Southern Justice and the Dixie Mafia” by Pulitzer Prize winning author Edward Humes, which was a bestseller in its own right. If you like a crime drama or an investigative report, you will enjoy this book. Originally published in 1994, if you read it, be sure that you have the most recent 2017 edition, because there have been additions and updates. In 1987, Mississippi circuit court judge Vincent Sherry and his wife Margaret, a Biloxi city councilwoman and mayoral candidate who was intent on cleaning up the city’s crime and corruption, were murdered in their home. Their daughter fought corruption and incompetence in the Biloxi police department, as well as the sleaze and lawlessness of the Dixie Mafia for years to bring her parents’ killer to justice. Four years after the murders, four defendants were convicted of conspiracy to commit the Sherry’s murder. Despite these convictions, there were still questions that only one of these people could answer, and they weren’t talking. That is until the notorious leader of Biloxi’s prostitution and illegal gambling made a deal with prosecutors to reduce his sentence. With his new testimony, the decade-long investigation finally had answers to exactly who had plotted and carried out the Sherry murders and why, and the Sherry children had some peace.

After that engrossing and 400-plus page read, I sort of cleansed my reading palate with a short story by Don Winslow. Entitled “The Heron,” this story turned out to be a little gritty for my tastes - full of misogyny, violence, and offensive language. Think 1970’s Charles Bronson movie. Since it was short, I pushed through. It was actually a well-told story, although I had figured out the ending.

Doing a complete 180, I turned to an Audible Original entitled, “Gulf Coast Cottage” by Maggie Miller. This may seem like a stretch for me, having previously written unfavorable reviews about some of Mary Alice Monroe’s “The Beach House” series. (After two, these books were banned in our book club.)  Miller’s book is about Georgia, a 50-ish, soon-to-be divorcee who learns, just when she needs it most, that her great-aunt has left her a cottage on Blackbird Beach. It’s actually two cottages and a bed-and-breakfast, as well as a little money to get everything up and running again. Georgia is joined by her daughter, Mia, who left her fiancee after learning of his infidelity. Together, with the help of (you guessed it) the attractive handy-man, Travis, who lives in the other cottage, this duo makes a go of renewing the bed-and-breakfast and reinventing themselves. Trope-y? Yes! Deep? No! But sweet and enjoyable. AND the first book in Miller’s Blackbird Beach series. These books are best described as generally good things happening to good people, and other good people stepping up to help them when something bad does happen. If you need a feel-good story, this is it.

And remember, Audible Original audiobooks are usually free. Even better!

Whatever you’re reading, enjoy! And Happy Spring!

Happy Reading!

I didn’t set out to write an article on just one author this month, but here it is.

Until recently, I had not read a lot of Maggie O’Farrell’s writings. I previously reviewed “Hamnet” here. It was not a very favorable review. To me it seemed contrived, as though she were trying to create this big surprise where there really wasn’t one. However, I’m not one to judge a book by its cover, or to judge an author by one book. So, I gave “The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox” a try.

I report it was an engrossing book with a great ending that leaves the reader asking what just happened. If you enjoy a novel with a gothic edge to it, you will enjoy this. With that happy reading experience under my belt, I thought I would read O’Farrell’s latest historical fiction, or, as some now refer to them, nonfiction novel (oxymoron, much?), “The Marriage Portrait” next.
Telling what could have, maybe, possibly been the story of Lucrezia de’ Medici, O’Farrell does pull off a plausible - though probably not historically accurate - ending in this book. But who really knows for sure?  What is known about Lucrezia de’ Medici of Florence is that in 1559, at the age of 13, she became the Duchess of Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio upon her marriage to Alfonso d’ Este II. In 1561 she was dead.  Her official cause of death was recorded as tuberculosis, but shortly after her death, rumors circulated that her husband had killed her because she had not produced an heir. It should be noted that Alfonso II had two subsequent wives with neither marriage resulting in an heir, so ...

There is no proof that Lucrezia was murdered (and does she even die in O’Farrell’s telling of her story? you have to read it to know). However, there are letters to Alfonso II from a spy he had placed in the de’ Medici court detailing the actual murders of Lucrezia’s sister and cousin/sister-in-law who were reported to have died accidentally. There is also no known marriage portrait of Lucrezia de’ Medici D’ Este, but in 1842 poet Robert Browning published a dramatic monologue entitled “My Last Duchess,” in which the speaker is presumably the Duke Alfonso II inviting a guest to view a curtained painting of his late wife. He describes to this visitor the cheerful nature of his wife, which displeased him because “’twas not her husband’s presence only,” that made her happy. He goes on to say that at his command her smiles were stopped, so that now with her portrait hidden behind a curtain she only smiles for him. CREEPY!

Although not an official marriage portrait, there is a painting of Lucrezia de’ Medici, which was commissioned by her parents after her marriage, located in the Palatine Gallery in Florence (mere blocks from Browning’s residence,) with lesser versions of this painting in the Uffizi Gallery, as well as a version of it in the North Carolina Museum of Art. While I am not an art critic, photographs of the Palatine portrait suggest that it is stunning and seeing it has been added to my bucket list.  As a book reviewer, I say you should definitely read “The Marriage Portrait.”
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Happy reading!

​Darynda Jones’ third and final book in her Sunshine Vicram series, “A Hard Day for a Hangover” finally came out in December. It was worth the wait, although not her most engrossing novel. As you might expect with a third book, there were several references to the first two books for the reader who is new to the mayhem that can occur in tiny Del Sol, New Mexico. The entire series takes place over six months in the life of Del Sol’s new sheriff, Sunshine Vicram, as she tries to keep the town, and her own amateur-sleuth, 15-year-old daughter, safe. The crime that is the catalyst for this book is darker than those in the previous books, but in the end, everything is tied up - nice and neat.
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I had not read anything by Charles Martin since his 2006 novel, “When Crickets Cry,” and I didn’t realize that he has authored 18 books, including “The Mountain Between Us,” which was adapted into a movie starring Idris Elba and Kate Winslett in 2017. His 2015 novel, “Water From My Heart,” was a recent book club book, so I was reintroduced to his writing. It’s the fast-paced story of Will, who has been on his own since the age of 16. At the age of 40, Will has become successful and cold-hearted - a self-described bad man. When tragedy strikes the few people he holds dear, he blames himself, and sets out to do what he can to rectify the situation. Along the way, he confronts his past, and finds forgiveness and redemption.

Many years ago, a college classmate came in one day with a new hairstyle, explaining that when she told the stylist she wanted something different, she meant something different for her, not different from everyone else. I thought of that when every reader of  “The Boys from Biloxi” said that it was different. I wondered if they meant it was different for John Grisham or different in general. I had to read it to answer that question, and because the Mississippi Gulf Coast is our stomping ground.

It’s just different in general. The book is described as a legal thriller. (It is John Grisham, after all.) However, it is told in the third-person, so it feels like reading the script of an investigative TV show. There is no dialogue at all until chapter five, and then it’s just one exchange. By chapter seven there are a few more exchanges between characters, but only a few. Having said that, I enjoyed it. Like I said, I know the area.  We have a friend whose father was the FBI agent-in-charge for cleaning up the Dixie Mafia, so the subject was interesting.

Many years ago my sister had a best friend named Trina. Trina had a sister named Gwyn. Their father was an author. In 1954, Mac Hyman published “No Time for Sergeants,” a best-selling novel that was adapted into a popular Broadway play and a 1958 film starring Andy Griffith. The comedy was a major hit, and is considered largely responsible for launching the careers of Andy Griffith and Don Knotts. Griffith made his television debut in the 1955 television play of the book, which was broadcast as part of the United States Steel Hour on ABC, and went on to reprise the role on Broadway. The popular 1960’s TV series “Gomer Pyle, USMC” (a spin-off of Griffith’s “The Andy Griffith Show”) is thought to have been inspired by Griffith’s role in “Sergeants.” In other words, it was a big deal.

In 1996, Gwyn Hyman Rubio published her own book, “Icy Sparks.” Set in Appalachia, it’s the coming-of-age story of Icy Sparks. Orphaned and raised by loving grandparents in Kentucky’s coal country, Icy has to learn to deal with being different. In Icy’s own words, from her father she inherited the fear that resided in his coal-black eyes, and from that fear she gained wisdom. That fear placed books in her hands and led her to search for the answers. From her mama she grew to see the world through hope-filled eyes. Such a lovely book, which became a best-seller in 2001 when it was selected as part of Oprah Winfrey’s Book Club.

Happy Reading!

Happy New Year! I hope there were plenty of books under your tree, and plenty of time to read them.

I have previously shared my enjoyment of short stories. I am in awe of writers of short stories. I believe it is a special skill to really engage readers with a limited number of words. “Five Tuesdays in Winter” by Lily King is a great collection of short stories. Some are sweet, if a little melancholy; others are a little dark.

Speaking of dark, “The Cloisters” by Katy Hays is plenty dark. Immersed in medieval art, Tarot, and the ambience of New York City, “The Cloisters” presents several mysteries and a couple of surprises. Big surprises. It’s the sort of book that upon reaching the end, you might be inclined to reread it just so that you can put all the pieces together as you go. (Or is that just me?) It should definitely be added to your reading list heading into the new year.

Another must-read is “The Light We Carry” by Michelle Obama. In it she discusses how to find, cultivate, and share your light. Drawing from her own experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and even as first lady, she provides a frank and honest dialogue with her readers on topics such as relationships, community, and self-doubt. She encourages her readers to work through fear, find strength in community, and to live boldly, because, as she says, “When we are able to recognize our own light, we become empowered to use it.” Regardless of your political persuasion, this book is worth reading.

Another book worth reading was recommended to us by a friend in honor of our retirement. That’s right! My husband and I are of a certain age. So, our friend recommended “Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, Sexy, and Smart-Until You’re 80” and Beyond by Chris Crowley and Henry (Harry) S. Lodge, MD (and in this second edition, Allan J. Hamilton, MD). This book is written for men of retirement age or even younger. (There is also a “Younger Next Year for Women” version. I’ll have to get that next). In these books, you’ll learn how to put off 70 percent of problems normally related to aging, and to eliminate 50 percent of serious illness and injury by following “Harry’s Rules.” This edition also explains how these “rules” for diet, exercise, and staying emotionally connected directly affect brain health, thanks to Dr. Hamilton. Chris’s humor and candor, and Harry’s uncomplicated scientific explanations will provide the motivation for you to train for the next third of your life and to have a ball while doing it. So, if you are of a certain age, or hope to be one day and want to get a jump on it, start your new year with this book.
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I hope you find a lot of books with which to start your new year, and to enjoy throughout the year.  Happiest 2023 to you, and happy reading.