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In 2009 “Precious”, the movie that is based on Push, was highly acclaimed and received multiple Academy Awards. I wanted to know what all the hype was about, but I wouldn’t watch the movie because I was afraid it would be unsettling. So, I decided to read the book. The book is intense. I was not prepared for its graphic nature. Both the language and subject matter are very disturbing, albeit authentic to the author’s traumatic experience.

If you have read and enjoyed John Grisham’s first novel A Time to Kill, I believe you will enjoy Sycamore Row as well.

Like many others, I enjoy reading some of the latest titles from prolific author John Grisham. During this time of quarantine, I thought I would go back and start with the book that launched his writing career, A Time to Kill.

In The Unhoneymooners, perpetually unlucky Olive Torres somehow manages to be one of the only two people at her twin sister Ami’s wedding who does not come down with violent food poisoning, the other being Ethan Thomas, brother of the groom and Olive’s personal nemesis. The honeymoon—an all-expenses-paid trip to Hawaii that Ami won in a contest—can’t be rescheduled, so the newlyweds urge Olive and Ethan to go in their place.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is written in letter form, which, admittedly, was a little confusing at first, but once I had a firm grasp of the main characters, I was hooked. The story takes place right after World War II. The letters span from January to September 1946. The characters reside in the UK (mostly London) and St. Peter Port. St. Peter Port is part of Guernsey, a Channel Island, located in the English Channel between the UK and France.

Rookie Move is the first in a series of romance novels centering on the Brooklyn Bruisers, a fictional NHL team. The central couple of the book, Leo Trevi and Georgia Worthington, were high school sweethearts. Six years after their painful breakup, Leo has just signed a contract to play for the Bruisers when he discovers that not only is Georgia the team’s publicist, but Georgia’s father—who can’t stand him—is the new head coach.

Ayesha At Last is a Pride-and-Prejudice-inspired romantic comedy set in Toronto’s Muslim community. Ayesha, a high school teacher and aspiring poet, believes in marrying for love—in stark contrast to her younger, prettier cousin, who enjoys the attention she gets from the suitors her family arranges for her. When Ayesha meets Khalid, they clash instantly: she thinks he’s too rigid and conservative, and he thinks she is not traditional enough.

Reading The Henna Artist, first novel by Alka Joshi , transported me to 1956, post independence India. Main character, Lakshmi, after fleeing from her arranged marriage to an abusive husband, makes her way to rural India, learning to be a henna artist on the way , serving the wealthy who believe henna artistry has magical powers.

Blinded by the Light, based on the memoir of Sarfraz Manzoor, tells the story of Javed, a young man growing up with his traditional Pakistani Muslim family in 1980s-era Luton, England.

Micah Mortimer is a self-contained man who repairs computers for a living and is maintenance man for his apartment building. Amused and annoyed simultaneously by his family of sisters, he is unnerved by any changes to his schedule. Suddenly confronted with his past, he is forced to look at his present and future.

In The Bromance Book Club, Gavin, a professional baseball player, is having marriage troubles: his wife, Thea, wants a divorce and has asked him to move out. He wants to save their relationship but only succeeds in making it worse… until one of his teammates invites him into a secret book club.

Elizabeth Berg is one of my favorite authors.