Category: Book Summaries

Book summaries are my own opinion and I do not receive payment for my thoughts. My intention is to always promote reading and public libraries.

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Lessons in Chemistry

  • Author: Bonnie Gramus
  • Genre: Relationship fiction
  • Pages: 400
  • Setting: 1960’s California
  • Tone/Mood: humorous, heartwarming
  • Subject headings: Women chemists, single mothers, gender roles, empowerment, sexism, television personalities 

Chemist Elizabeth Zott has never been taken seriously. Set in the 50s and 60s, we meet Elizabeth as her cooking talk show has become famous. Her audience in the sleepy time of afternoon TV, consists of housewife’s looking for an escape. Elizabeth insists on educating women of the science of cooking and includes scientific terms while cooking delicious meals. Women take notes as if Elizabeth were lecturing and the housewives would be tested. 

Being a famous talk show host of Supper at Six is not what Elizabeth imagined her career would be, she really wants to be taken seriously and continue to conduct her research. She wants the world to recognize the equality of women. Elizabeth fights back, sticks to her principals and does end up fulfilling her dreams. This is a heartwarming story of a women born into the wrong era. Book clubs will eat this up!

Great news- Brie Larson has been hired to play Chemist Elizabeth Zott in the new Apple series scheduled to run next year.

 

This book is available in your public library!

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The Violin Conspiracy

  • Author: Brendan Slocumb
  • Genre: Thriller, Mystery
  • Pages: 320
  • Setting: rural North Carolina, New York
  • Tone/Mood: Uplifting 
  • Subject headings: Racism, Violinist, African American musicians, Heirlooms 

Ray McMillian was born poor and black and according to his mother; the only thing Ray might be good at is working in the hospital cafeteria or stocking shelves in the local grocery. She is constantly picking on Ray and when he does something he loves, playing his school violin, she yells about the noise he makes and to quit wasting his time.  Ray has one ally in the family, his grandmother.  She loves him deeply and recognizes his talent. She knows there is a violin in her attic and asks Ray to go up there to retrieve it. She gives it to him and asks him to play it and go after his dream.  Ray, elated to return his rented school violin and finally have one of his own, begins to practice and practice until he is so good, he is earning money and participating in judged performances.  

I will stop there; I don’t want to give too much away.  This is a must read and one your book club will love!

Here is a wonderful video with the author, Brendan Slocumb.

This book is available in your public library!

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Next of Kin

  • Author: Kia Abdullah
  • Genre: Legal thrillers
  • Pages: 384
  • Setting: Modern day London
  • Tone/Mood: Suspenseful
  • Subject headings: death of children, manslaughter trial, family relations, successful women, siblings

Wow! This book kept me guessing till the very end. I was on page 265 when the verdict came in and I still had no idea who was guilty. 🙂 The writing and plot were that good!

At the young age of 18, Leila Syed becomes the sole care giver of her younger sister, 11-year-old Yasmin, when their parents die.  As the years pass, we find Leila very protective of Yasmin and will go to great lengths to shield her from harm…even murder. A psychological thriller with four main characters and a determined detective, Kia Abdullah has given the reader a courtroom drama full of suspense and intrigue. 

Book clubs will devour this one!

This title is available in your public library!

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Verity

  • Author: Colleen Hoover
  • Genre: Psychological fiction
  • Setting: Modern setting, New York, Virginia
  • Page: 314
  • Subject headings: Ghost writers, women authors, family secrets, child abuse, obsession

After waiting for the longest time to get a copy of this fan favorite, I finally just broke down, breaking one of my rules, and purchased the book! I don’t like to spend money on books, as I can get anything I want to read when I go to work…but this one is so popular and the waiting list was so long AND EVERYONE I know has read it; I finally caved and bought it!

So now that I have finished it…I am still wondering who wrote the final letter, still questioning if the letter was legit and still motivated to read more Colleen Hoover books! I loved this story and it kept me interested the entire time.

Book clubs will devour this one and there are plenty of reading guides to help with your discussion. 

https://libromaniacs.com/verity-book-club-questions/

https://www.julesbuono.com/verity-book-club-questions/

 

 

This title is available in your public library, but you might have to wait a very long time to get a copy.

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Counterfeit

  • Author: Kristin Chen
  • Genre: Realistic fiction
  • Setting: Modern day, California, Hong Kong, China
  • Page: 320
  • Subject headings: Chinese American Women, Handbags, Ambition, Product Counterfeiting, Asian American Women

Attorney turned housewife and mother, Ava Wong, reconnects with college friend, Winnie Fang. Winnie buys and sells counterfeit high-end designer handbags and solicits Ava to help her run her thriving business. All is fine and well until the police are alerted and start asking questions.  Suddenly Ava’s world is upended, and Winnie is on the run figuring out her next move.

Karen’s thoughts: I absolutely devoured this book! I really enjoyed the story line and thought the writing was clever and insightful. 

When we first meet Ava, she is being interrogated by the police for her participation in a counterfeit designer handbag business.  As Ava explains herself to the detective, we glean insight into her troubled marriage, her self-loathing, and her daily struggles with her young boy.  Undoubtedly, Ava was targeted by Winnie and coerced into the business, although Ava is a quick study and learns the ease of purchasing high-end bags: Prada, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton, from department stores only to replace and return them with quality replicas from China. She then sells the authentic bag on eBay at a slightly lower price than the department store charged. A money-making scheme until the police were tipped off.  The surprise ending was delightful, and I really hope this book is purchased by Reese and made into a movie. 🙂

This title is available in your public library!

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How to find love in a Bookshop

  • Author: Veronica Henry
  • Genre: Relationship fiction
  • Setting: Small vacation town, modern times
  • Page number: 352
  • Subject headings: Independent bookstores, debt, fathers, relationships, small town life, women business owners

Being called home to comfort her father who is dying, Emilia needs to find the strength to fulfill a deathbed promise.  Julius has asked Emilia to keep the bookstore open and she has promised to do so, even though she has no business experience- just fond memories of her father running Nightingale Books as a young child.  She has been away for so long and now is confronted with the reality of running an old, but well-loved bookstore in a small community.  Villagers and vacationers frequent the bookstore often in hopes of keeping the doors open. As they shop, they relay stories to Emilia of how important her father was in the community.  He not only knew how to suggest a good book, but he also listened and offered kind advise to his patrons.  Stories were weaved, problems were solved, advice was given as cups of coffee were consumed.  Emilia realizes that Nightingale Books is much more than a bookstore- it’s a respite from everyday life, but it also has it problems.  The bookstore is in huge debt, it’s falling apart and needs a major overhaul.  Can Emilia find the funds to renovate the bookstore, fill her father’s shoes as the beloved friend she has found him to be, and can Emilia find peace in her decision to stay in a small town and abandon her dreams of travel.  

Karen’s thoughts: This book came across my desk and I have to say I fell for the cover first.  I’m a sucker for a book about books, bookshop’s and finding love in a bookshop. 🙂 I knew it would be a good beach read for our planned vacation.  I was not disappointed.  Emilia is a thoughtful daughter who wants to do right by her dead father.  As she promised to care for the bookshop in his death, the bookshop cares for her. She finds a way to grieve her father’s death while embarking on a total makeover of the bookshop.  A well written novel full of colorful characters with heartwarming stories.

This title is available in your public library!