You know those books that have such great characters that they crawl into your heart and settle there? The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline is one of them. Spanning years and distance and set against the backdrop of British colonization, it tells the stories of three women on the receiving end of that brutality.Evangeline, Hazel, and Mathinna are memorable for their stories, … [Read more...]
Denfeld’s ‘The Child Finder’ a Work of Subtle and Lyrical Beauty
Rene Denfeld, a #30Authors contributor whose novel The Enchanted, was an award-winning lyrical masterpiece, is back. This time, she explores what it means for a child to go missing, the stories they tell themselves to survive, and how the threads of despair can weave their way into everything we do in The Child Finder.At the age of 5, Madison Culver went missing. Three … [Read more...]
‘The Hate U Give’ by Angie Thomas Worth Every Piece of Praise
I often hear that we live in a post-racial America, that we have come a long way, and that progress has been made. For years we lived in a country where it was easier to sweep everyday racism and micro aggressions under the rug, giving the glossy veneer of a more accepting society.But those of us who pay attention know the truth: we live in a country where white … [Read more...]
Nickolas Butler Strikes Again in ‘The Hearts of Men’
Few authors are able to strike at the hearts of a reader quite like Nickolas Butler. His first novel, Shotgun Lovesongs, was brilliant and put its finger on the pulse of a vein of American life in a way that neither glorified nor condemned life in a small town. In his latest, The Hearts of Men, Butler pours some of his own experiences into a novel about boy scouting, a lifetime … [Read more...]
Megyn Kelly’s Memoir, Settle for More, Challenges Everything You Think You Know About Her
Megyn Kelly - how much do you know about her? If you're like me, the answer is not much except for the fact that she hosts her own show on Fox News and that Donald Trump released his rage on her during the presidential election. The attacks she was subjected to leaves many of us extending our sympathies to her, but before you feel too bad for her, know that she doesn't play the … [Read more...]