Icy Sparks

Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio is a wonderful novel about ten year old Icy growing up in rural Kentucky in the 50's with her grandparents. Icy starts exhibiting signs of Tourette's Syndrome after her tenth birthday, but this goes undiagnosed until she is an adult.

What follows is a beautifully written story of how Icy deals with this. At turns sad, funny, honest; Icy is one of the best characters I've come across in a long time. A great read.

The Woman in the Photograph

The Woman in the Photograph by Dana Gynther is historical fiction about Lee Miller, the woman who was Man Ray's muse in Paris in the 20's. This was a very creative time and place full of artists, musicians, new ideas etc.

I usually love historical fiction, but found this book left me feeling empty, like I hadn't really connected to or learned much about the characters or the period. An interesting subject matter, yet not very well realized. Disappointing.

Two Sisters

Two Sisters by Mary Hogan is a sad story of a family that has been split apart and only at the end come together when one sister is dying of cancer. The mother never finds out until it is too late. Younger sister Muriel was mistreated her whole life by her mother and older sister and wants nothing much to do with her family, her brother already escaped years earlier to New Mexico.

There is some redemption when the sisters find compassion and forgiveness at the end, but overall I found it a rather depressing story with a handful of good moments.

Queen of the Tearling

Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen is book one in a trilogy. I had no idea when this was supposed to be set until I looked it up online. It is a sad picture of a post apocalyptic future in which slavery is back, along with most other horrors of our past, yet books and medicine and knowledge seem to have disappeared.

Nineteen year old Kelsea who has just become queen is a formidable and educated young woman meant to change all this. The story was somewhat interesting, although most of the characters were not well enough developed to understand or care about. A mildly entertaining read that falls flat when compared to others in this genre.

You and Your Teennager

You and Your Teenager, Understanding the Journey by Jeanne Meijis is a book that will help anyone raising a teen. Meijis is a family therapist whose work is informed by Rudolf Steiner. I found this to be one of most useful parenting books I've ever read.

Meijis invites the reader to reflect on their own teenage years, helps the reader understand teenage excess, difficult behavior, boredom, passivity, life in the digital age and more. A worthwhile read.

The Blessings of the Animals

The Blessings of the Animals by Katrina Kittle is a novel about a woman whose husband has just left her and she finds healing and solace through her animals. She lives on a farm and is a vet; she takes in many animals that she fosters, from horses and donkeys to goats, dogs and three legged cats.

I think it's a terrible title, but a lovely book. If you have animals in your life then you will be able to relate to this story, if not, it might just make you want to get a pet.

The Circle

The Circle by Dave Eggers is a chilling novel about life in the digital age that was recently made into a movie. When Mae gets a job at the world's most powerful internet company in Silicone Valley she couldn't be happier. It quickly becomes apparent that the company is growing into one large monopoly and every person is expected to participate with total transparency.

The book reads less like science fiction and more a terrifying portrait of life in the modern world where technology and social media have taken over everything and there is no such thing as privacy anymore. I was hoping for a better ending, but still found this a worthwhile, if disturbing, read.