A book about nuns? This is one of my favorite books of late, and I loved what Maureen Corrigan of The Washington Post wrote in her review:
Nuns have greatly diminished in number since the 60’s, and when they do make an appearance on screen, they are usually grim. The implication is that there must be something off about a woman who would choose that life.
Claire Luchette's debut novel, Agatha of Little Neon, offers a counter-narrative to these portrayals. 
Agatha tells her story in … [Read more...] about Agatha of Little Neon

It was a chance encounter with a high-level Smithsonian Institution official at a luncheon held in Massachusetts that led the Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks to the 147-year old skeleton of America’s greatest stud sire and champion thoroughbred.
The life of that distinguished stallion, named Lexington in homage to his city of birth, provides both the imagined and true subject of Brooks’ newest historical novel, fittingly titled Horse.
Horse transports readers to the racially … [Read more...] about Horse

I became interested in Princess Margaret, Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister, after watching the Netflix series The Crown. 
So when I discovered Lady Anne Glenconner’s book Lady in Waiting:My Life in the Shadow of the Crown, I was delighted.
One morning at the beginning of 2019, Lady Anne Glenconner’s phone rang.
Hello?
“Lady Genconner? It’s Helena Bonham Carter.”
The actress asked if she could visit Lady Anne who’d been lady in waiting to Princess Margaret for 30 years to get some insights … [Read more...] about Lady In Waiting

I adored this book. Caroline Paul was recovering from a bad accident and thought things couldn't get worse. But then her beloved cat Tibia disappeared. She and her partner, illustrator Wendy MacNaughton, mourned his loss. Yet weeks later, Tibia waltzed back into their lives. His owners were overjoyed. But they were also...jealous? Betrayed? Where had their sweet anxious cat disappeared to? Had he become a swashbuckling cat adventurer? Did he love someone else more? His owners were determined to … [Read more...] about Lost Cat

Billie Jean King, No. 1 tennis player in the world and tireless advocate for women’s equality, would earn 39 Grandslam tennis titles, triumph over Bobby Riggs at the Battle of the Sexes, be voted one of the 25 most influential people of 1981, earn the medal of freedom from Obama at the White House in 2009, and champion inclusivity for all.

Even so, there was one battle that was harder to win and would almost destroy her in the process. If she could win it though, it would give her the … [Read more...] about All In: An Autobiography

Remember Sister Jean, the then 98-year-old Chicago nun who gained international fame during Loyola University’s men's basketball team’s journey to the N.C.A.A. Final Four in 2018? She’s got a new book out. 
Yep, at the age of 103 that sister is still captivating the world with her infectious smile, love of basketball, and approach to life. 
Reading her book feels akin to having her sit in your living room reminiscing about her life. What’s her secret to living such a long and fulfilling … [Read more...] about Wake Up with Purpose: What I’ve Learned in My First 100 Years

For historical fiction lovers, this one is a winner! One night in 1928, a whale washes up on the shores of the English Channel. By law, it belongs to the King, but twelve-year-old orphan Cristabel Seagrave builds a theater from the whale’s skeletal rib cage. Within the Whalebone Theatre, Cristabel escapes her stepparents and governess, and her imagination comes to life.

When World War II starts, Cristabel and her beloved younger step-brother Digby become British secret agents on separate … [Read more...] about The Whalebone Theatre

A little masterpiece is how I’m referring to this gem of a book. The protagonist, the other characters, the writing—all so unexpectedly WONDERFUL. I wish you could see me holding it next to my heart. … [Read more...] about Dinosaurs: A Novel

Reading these treasures that Marilyn wrote on scraps of paper, or typed out without censoring herself, or jotted down on  sundry items gives new insight into this cultural icon. More importantly, reading her words reminds us that she was much more than a "ditzy blonde" as she was often portrayed. In fact, she was well-read and thought deeply about life, love, and death. Utterly fascinating. … [Read more...] about Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes by Marilyn Monroe