A Lady in the Smoke by Karen Odden

Judging by the cover and price, the publisher has a low opinion of this book. That's a shame because it was really good. Interesting history, decent characters, etc. I liked this.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Fowl Language by Brian Gordon

Fun and funny.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Only Ever You by Rebecca Drake

So you have an otherwise decent book marred by unnecessary tension and implausible coincidences.

Review copy provided by publisher.

At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier

I loved this book. It was really, really well done. Recommended.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Jesus Before the Gospels by Bart Ehrman

This is an important book. I like his treatment of the problems of eyewitnesses especially.

Behave by Andromeda Romano-Lax

This was fabulous. Watson was a real piece of work, and this novel was great fun.

The Power of Parable by John Dominic Crossan

This is a solid book. I like how he approaches parables and shows the development across the gospels.

The Two-Family House by Linda Cohen Loigman

 I enjoyed this. There was a lot more character development--for a lot more characters--than one might expect.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

I read this for Truman's book group (which I lead). It was pretty good.

The Widow by Fiona Barton

This was very enjoyable; she generated a great deal of suspense.

Review copy provided by publisher.

All the Winters After by Sere Prince Halverson

This started out strong but then got windy.

Review copy provided by publisher.

Red Land, Black Land by Barbara Mertz

I listened to this with Truman. I liked it.

Black Rabbit Hall by Eve Chase

Poor characterization, improbable plot, cheap tricks . . . and yet somehow engaging. So it is one of those that I am embarrassed that I kept reading.

Review copy provided by publisher.

The Story of the Lost Child by Elena Ferrante

meh

(So I loved the first two books and didn't like the second two.)

Narrative Space and Mythic Meaning by Elizabeth Malbon

This is a solid book.

Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay by Elena Ferrante

So I didn't love this as much as the first two, but I still raced through it and am eager to read the fourth.

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

I listened to this for Truman's book group. I really liked it.

The Man from St. Petersburg by Ken Follett

I'm embarrassed to admit that I enjoyed this.

The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo

This was INSANE. I cannot for the life of me understand why this was so popular. This is the craziest thing I have ever heard.

The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante

Once again, I was entranced, perhaps even more than with the first book, although I'm not sure exactly why this book was so compelling.