Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

An impressive story about two French sisters, their experiences and activities during WW2. Both work against Nazi evil, just very differently. Details convey the horrors of the German occupation in France. Totally engaging to read despite subject matter.

Small Wonder by Barbara Kingsolver

Some really thoughtful, insightful, and heartfelt essays about our crazy world which is both beautiful and endangered. A very poignant essay about 9/11.

Black River by S.M. Hulse

This is a well written book about a man struggling with some serious physical and emotional pain. A former prison guard who suffered horrific torture during a prison riot returns to the prison to appear at a parole hearing for the inmate who tortured him. His anguish and pain is palpable. This is a debut novel from a wonderful young writer.

Wow, I didn't realize how long it has been since I last posted. I have been reading a lot, just not commenting. I just finished reading several books I really liked. Our Souls at Night was very good. It is written by Kent Haruf. Two older widowed neighbors spend their nights together talking about their lives. Short novel but well written. Then I read another short novel called All the Old Knives by Olen Steinhauer about two CIA agents, one former, one still active. They both participated in a disastrous event, and now meet to discuss it. Just finished reading Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye by Marie Mutsuki Mockett. She is a Japanese-American who returns to visit family just after the devastating 2011 Fukushima event. Her family runs a Buddhist temple in the most affected area. Over several years, she visits other temples, explores Buddhist beliefs, and focuses on how the Japanese deal with grief. Very interesting exploration.