A young woman living in the city becomes fixated on the famous actress in her neighborhood to the point of obsession. As her own marriage is unraveling, the woman imagines the perfect life of the actress as compared to her own which is falling apart. Her job as a college writing professor is in danger and she ignores the messages of her soon to be ex-husband to return his cat although she never liked him in the first place. With rising horror, we watch as she disintegrates into stalking the famous woman and dreaming she will become friends with her at the upcoming block party knowing at the same time she will commit some unforgiving act to humiliate herself. At just under 200 pages, Looker is a thriller, character-driven suspense novel you can’t turn away from.
Month: January 2019
2019 Book Awards!
I’m not saying that I can predict the future – but can I just say that I was so right about the book awards this year! The winner of the Michael L. Printz award was none other than The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo (which was in my top five list to win). Another one of my picks, A Heart in A Body in the World by Deb Caletti, got honorable mention. ALSO Sadie by Courtney Summers won for best Audiobook (I didn’t listen to the audio I read it but this book reads like an audio book so I’d give it a listen). In any case: click on the photo below to place a hold on a copy of this MUST READ!
Juror #3
Ruby Bozarth is about to try her first murder case as an attorney in Rosedale, Mississippi. Darrien Summers is on trial for his life, a young black man charged with the murder of a local socialite, and faces the death penalty if he’s convicted. Ruby, under the guidance of her ex-boyfriend’s aunt Suzanne, a local seasoned attorney, manages to successfully defend her client. Thanks in part to Juror # 3, of course. And now Ruby’s ex is on trial for murder, and she is once again under the gun as she attempts to clear him. This is another quick read by James Patterson (and Nancy Allen), and superbly well-done.
The Sapphire Widow
Galle,a small town in Ceylon, in 1935, is the setting for Dinah Jeffries’s latest historical novel. Louisa Reeve is married to a handsome merchant in the gem trade and her only sadness comes having lost a daughter, a baby who was born dead, as well as having had several miscarriages. When a sudden loss occurs, she must deal with yet more grief as she tries to come to terms with this huge hole in her life. Louisa finds out several secrets about this loss and must adjust her life to adapt to yet more changes in her lifestyle, especially one involving a child. It’s a bit slow moving, but a good read.
Island War
The latest title from reliable author Patricia Reilly Giff, is historical fiction and takes place on an Alaskan Island during World War II. 11 year-old Izzy and 14 year-old Matt both relocate to a remote Alaskan island as each of their families undergo change and transition. Moving from Connecticut, the two meet on a ferry travelling over to Attu off the coast. Taking an immediate dislike to each other, they are thrown together by desperate circumstances as they each struggle to survive after being abandoned. At a spare 208 pages, Giff’s novel is descriptive of the unforgiving environment which threatens their survival. As the war’s intensity mounts, even the small island is thrust into the changes war forces upon it. Though brief in length, Island War offers a unique snapshot of a forgotten part of history combining man’s struggle with nature and being forced to make serious choices at a young age.
Palisades Free Library Blog 