One of three children born to interracial parents, Lydia was clearly the favorite. She was obedient, disciplined, talented, and never caused her parents to worry. When she goes missing and is subsequently found dead, it goes without saying that her parents were truly shocked. It is upon her disappearance that Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng begins, and what follows is … [Read more...]
‘Ruin Falls’ Will Make Your Heart Race
Imagine you woke up in a hotel room and your children were missing. Now imagine that the person who took your kids was someone you trusted. Now, imagine that you know why they took them and you still have idea how to get them back. What would you do? Would you go to the police? Would you seek vigilante justice? If you're Liz Daniels, the answer might surprise you - what … [Read more...]
‘The Prodigal” Demonstrates the Power of Redemption
What do an alcoholic priest, a towboat operator, a disgraced lawyer, and a mysterious woman have in common? In The Prodigal by Michael Hurley, the answer is Ocracoke Island. Telling the story of four people trying to come to terms with their inner demons, The Prodigal offers a stunning portrait of human vulnerabilities.This book is two really two stories in one, though they … [Read more...]
‘For Today I Am A Boy’ is For Everyone
When I was in college, I took a human sexuality course and sat next to a beautiful woman who had, as it turned out, been born a male. And so was her girlfriend. To top it off, one had reassignment surgery and the other had not (but was planning to). Naturally, the class was abuzz with whispering about whether they were heterosexual (due to body parts), homosexual (due to birth … [Read more...]