The Golden State by Lydia Kiesling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My very first thought, only a few pages in, was, “Where in the heck is this going?” That was also my thought about midway through, as well. Yet, I was compelled to continue reading because, well, I wanted to figure out where it was going! Before I finished I finally realized it was less about the destination and more about the journey. Cliché, but it fits. Really, though, it makes sense, because when does life ever come to one conclusive climax? Obviously, our lives, in the grand scheme of things, are a bunch of tiny zeniths in the timeline of the universe, and our own timelines replicate that in the span of our lifetime. However, I’m not here to get all existential.

Daphne is a relatable main character, generally happy but with her own set of troubles. Married, working mom, trying to figure out what she’s doing in any given space or time. Is she making an impact? Is it a good impact, or bad? Is she ruining her child’s life, her husband’s, her own? From the very beginning you see her semi-life crisis begin as she ditches work, grabs her kid, and heads for the hills, literally.

There begins the journey, one that carefully and successfully balances the banal yet passionate duties and love of a (relatively new) mother, the necessary and claustrophobic tasks of a stay-at-home housewife (even for a short time), and the inner turmoil of a woman who is dealing with the loss of family, coworkers, friends, and the looming and consistent nightmare of her husband being stuck overseas because his green card has been illegally confiscated.

On a personal level, I was sucked in so much that I was tempted to up my Zoloft dosage. At some point in my own life I had felt the loss and conflict that plagued Daphne throughout the entire story. Being a mother of five, I could relate with the little successes of an on-the-fly healthy lunch, long naptime, embarrassment beyond belief at the behavior or actions of your own small child.

The relationships presented were real life, nothing fake or hokey. Real-time interactions in believable ways with stuff that people actually say, as opposed to carefully crafted or overly thought-out sentences that oft times plague novel characters. I had met Alice, the old crone and I knew Cindy, the malcontent neighbor. I rooted for Daphne’s marriage, celebrated the highs, dreaded the lows, encouraged her to try something new or stretch out of her comfort zone.

Sadly, the story ends, as they all do, and without a hard conclusion, I was left wanting more. It needed to continue because I was now invested in Daphne, and win or lose, succeed or fail, I wanted to be there to cheer her on. This story is not a traditional page-turner, you’re not anxiously reading at the edge of your seat. Instead, you’re turning the pages because you want to, out of sheer curiosity, because you want to follow Daphne through her every day moments, because she is your friend and you care.

I look forward to reading more from Lydia Kiesling, her writing was inspirational and a delight to absorb.

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No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Incredibly written, one of the best books I've read all year. It's the kind of book that provokes thought and encourages growth. I have so many more questions that I would love to ask and answers I am curious to hear. You will experience anxiety, disgust, and disbelief when reading this book. Only disbelief that people can act this way, not that it doesn't happen. I know it happens. Nothing encompasses the turmoil and unrest of our current social climate like this book.

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The Witch's Kind by Louisa Morgan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This novel was not at all what I was expecting based on the title, but it was a pleasant surprise. Anticipating black magic and cauldrons, I instead got a love story of accidental loss and perseverance despite recurring tragedies.

Barrie Anne was raised by her aunt after her parents die in an accident when she is a young girl. Just as she was reaching adulthood, World War II begins and she puts college on hold to marry her sweetheart before he heads to war. However, her handsome husband has a dark side and a hidden past, disappears soon after he ships off in the Navy, and Barrie Anne, left with more questions than answers, continues on with her life at home with her Aunt Charlotte. One day her husband mysteriously reappears with little explanation and buys an old farmhouse off the beaten path near the Hood Canal in Washington State. They attempt to start over as farmers but soon her husband's reconciliatory attitude turns sour and she leaves him to stay with her aunt once more. This time, though, she's pregnant with his child. When the Navy shows up at her aunt's door looking for her husband, she shows them to her house where he is no longer staying and instead of letting them take her back, she decides to stay in her farmhouse and make it on her own.

Filled with grit and determination, maternal instinct and a little something else, Barrie Anne is an inspirational character and The Witch's Kind is a story that will leave you feeling warm all over.

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Harvest Home by Thomas Tryon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Timeless and creepy.

I checked this out from the library as an ebook and had no idea when it was written. The only thing that alerted me that it might be written awhile back was a lack of personal electronics, but otherwise, this book could have taken place at any time, anywhere.

It has all the earmarks of a creepy “moving to a small town in the country” story, but it maintained an originality that kept me steadily turning pages. You can see where many modern horror movies could have received inspiration.

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Chaos by Patricia Cornwell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Probably the worst of the entire series. Moved slowly but still managed to lack depth. The narrative was choppy with no flow. I miss the early days of the series, there was a villain and a chase, a mystery solved, the psychology of a demented mind, the forensic anomalies. I’m tired of hearing about the angst of each individual character; it no longer gives them life but instead makes the story drag and bores the reader with extraneous drama.

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The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Haunting and horrifying. A mystery that soon turns into a nightmare when the main characters try their best to do the right thing.

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Little Voices by Vanessa Lillie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting and twisted but the “little voice” throughout the story is annoying. It was a quick read that still managed to surprise me.

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Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An enlightening period piece that details the struggles of women trying to break free of domestic roles during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Unconventional love stories and perpetual tribulations move the story along while recurring characters endear the reader and have them rooting for the underdog.

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The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The twists and turns is this book will surprise even the most skeptical and prolific readers. Superb character development and perpetual events propel you through the pages. Mysterious and macabre yet spiritually fulfilling in a unique way that doesn’t stifle. With just a touch of gruff romance to round out the loneliness felt by the main character.

I was pleasantly surprised by this tale.

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The Transparency Tonic by Frank L. Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great middle-grade read! Humorous and exciting, Cole accurately captures the awkwardness of eighth grade with a magical twist. You can't help but be hooked by Gordy's adventures as he meticulously balances his life between his normal middle school life and his not-so-normal life of potions and dark villains.

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Circe by Madeline Miller
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Few books in the literary fiction genre succeed in transporting you to a world that is not your own. I felt like a kid again reading about gods and goddesses, witches and monsters. Miller’s prose brings this otherworld to life so vividly that you can taste, feel, and smell all that is described. Despite being full of well-known mythology, the original storyline kept me guessing and I never knew what was happening from one event to the next. This story is transformative and unforgettable, and I wanted to read it forever.





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Transcription by Kate Atkinson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book was “meh”. Just enough in the characters and plot to keep me reading, but it suffered from an extreme case of dysthymia. There was no hope, no charm, no spark. Just doldrums until a lame climax and an ambiguous resolution. For a WWII fiction, you really need to go above and beyond to set yourself apart, and this book fell flat.

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