The Return

Review: Lullaby Road: A Novel James Anderson Crown 2018 I’d read The Never-Open Desert Diner from this author, and when I found this book I knew I had to read it too.   This author has a way of constructing his stories that really works for me.   Easy reading narrative, simple narrative, belies its power.   I have not read any other I like better in quite a while.   He can weave so many colors and patterns without losing a thread or the reader along the way.    Ben, a single, amiable, independent trucker with a bit of a past who lives in a Utah desert town, lets himself be talked into babysitting for a neighbor girl who is OK with him taking the baby with him while he makes his deliveries.   She was desperate, and Ben couldn’t say no.   Sounds a bit unusual, but they have the history that makes it work.   Within a few minutes he also has gained two more passengers for the run, an abandoned child and a dog. ...

Review: The Heart’s Invisible Furies John Boyne Hogarth 2017 All the fabulous reviews already out there combined with the endorsements on the back cover had my hopes set really high for this book.   I picked it up and began reading.   Only problem it wasn’t long before I realized this book was not for me.   The characters didn’t interest me, and in fact I found them boring.   A clueless kid in an odd adoptive home meets a precocious seven-year-old kid and they compare their anatomical attributes.   OK, kids do that.   I’ll read on and sure enough as time goes on the book became more saturated with other exploits of equal interest.   Still I give it one more try and now everyone, everywhere converses only and ever in terms of sexual practices.   I’m done with the book at that point.   One last look and I read the last few pages.   A shame the rest of the book wasn’t written as well as those few pages.   I could...

Review: The Little French Bistro Nina George Crown 2017 I have to admit that I'm not a fan of romance novels, but I think this one goes beyond the boy meets girl idea.   By a bunch.   If adults had coming of age stories this one would fit there.   Marianne travels a road many people I know would love to, but fear taking the steps needed. And that is the basis of this book.   Taking the steps.   Joy, sorrow, whatever comes and keep on taking the steps.    I agree with many of the comments already made about George's ability to build wonderful characters, paint scenes that vibrate with energy, and tell a story too.   Her writing touches the heart and not in some sappy, maudlin way.   A place of real emotions and desire.   Speaking of desire---her intimate scenes are just that, intimate.   In body and mind.   And not for just spicing things up a bit.   She captures the true nature of intimacy...