Review: Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love from Little House's Ma

Bright Lights, Prairie Dust: Reflections on Life, Loss, and Love from Little House's Ma by Karen Grassle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: As Bright as Heaven

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: The Lindbergh Nanny

The Lindbergh Nanny by Mariah Fredericks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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August book pick

My August book pick is late because I have been at work, I apologize for that.  Still, this book is worth waiting for.  I have always been a big fan of Jamie Ford, always.  I read his first book (On the Corner of Bitter and Sweet) because it was the local "meet the author" event at our local community college.  The book was spectacular!! Jamie sent out a digital book on one of the characters from that book and with those two books, I knew I was going to read anything he would write from now on.   Fast forward to November 2021, this book was scheduled to be published in early 2022 and I got ahold of an advanced reader's copy.  I just adored it!!! The book got delayed and I read it again because I loved it so much.  I decided that when it was published, it would be my monthly book pick.  The day has finally come, and before I could tell you how much I loved it, Jenna Bush Hager picked it for her monthly book.  I am telling you, it is spectacular!!!!!  Here is what I wrote on Goodreads:  First of all, this was a complete departure from anything I have ever read. Secondly, once I started reading I did not stop until I finished the book, it just sucked me right into its grasp. I was a bit wary of keeping all the women straight, but I worried for nothing because the book was written so that you didn't get lost in the characters, you got lost in the story. Dorothy is our main character and she struggles with life, mentally. Dorothy is a former poet laureate and married to a man that she really doesn't love (maybe doesn't realize it), and absolutely adores her little girl. Her problems arise when her husband tries to make her feel she is inadequate and she feels haunted by the past (enter all the other characters). The book takes you on. the journey of how Dorothy seeks therapy and experimental treatment that is supposed to help her connect these bridges to her past (and the other characters).

Review: A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland

A Man of Iron: The Turbulent Life and Improbable Presidency of Grover Cleveland by Troy Senik
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



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Review: Big Red

Big Red by Jerome Charyn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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July book pick

For this month, I chose a book that was spectacular, but I have never featured it as a monthly book pick.  

This book is based on the true story of Belle da Costa Greene, the first curator of the Morgan Library. Belle's father was the first black student and graduate of Harvard and he championed civil rights.  Belle's father and mother split up and the mother raised the children as white.  When Belle got hired as the curator of the Morgan Library, she knew that her boss was a racist, but also knew she deserved this job.  Belle did a wonderful job in collecting the materials and continued on as the main librarian even after JP Morgan's death. 

Marie Benedict always selects strong women for her books and this one is no exception.