The Wave by Morton Rhue (aka Todd Strasser)

I can't remember now where I first learned about The Wave by Morton Rhue (aka Todd Strasser). Maybe from another book blogger?? Anyway, I've had The Wave on my reading wishlist for quite a while and decided that this month was going to be the one for reading this novel.

The Wave is a young adult novel based on real life events that take place at a high school in Palo Alto, California back in 1969. The fact that this novel is based on real life event and the captivating synopsis are what initially captured my attention enough to want to read The Wave.

Since I'm currently having a complex regional pain syndrome (crps) flare up, I used Google Gemini to help me flush out some of the finer points of this book as follows below:

A Chilling Study in Groupthink: Review of The Wave by Morton Rhue

Morton Rhue’s 1981 novel The Wave (a pen name for Todd Strasser) remains one of the most stark, accessible explorations of how totalitarianism develops within a society. Based on Ron Jones’s real-life 1967 "Third Wave" classroom experiment at a California high school, the story serves as a haunting answer to a timeless question: How could ordinary people allow something like Nazi Germany to happen?

Premise & Plot

When history teacher Ben Ross shows his high school class documentary footage of Holocaust concentration camps, his students react with disbelief. They insist that the average German citizen could not possibly have stood by while millions were murdered. Intrigued and slightly frustrated by their skepticism, Ross decides to launch an unannounced classroom experiment.

He introduces strict discipline, snappy salutes, and unifying slogans: "Strength Through Discipline, Strength Through Community, Strength Through Action." He dubs the movement "The Wave."

What begins as an engaging pedagogical tool quickly spirals out of control:

• Instant Belonging: Outsiders and victims of bullying, like student Robert Billings, suddenly find status and equality within the group.

• Enforced Conformity: The movement rapidly spreads beyond the history classroom. Dissenters—most notably Laurie Saunders, the student newspaper editor—are ostracized, threatened, and labeled as traitors.

• Loss of Control: Ben Ross himself becomes intoxicated by the absolute authority and order he commands, delaying the end of the experiment even as violence begins to leak into the school hallways.

Key Themes

Theme	How It Manifests in the Book
Conformity vs. Individuality	Students willingly trade personal critical thinking for the security and comfort of belonging to a collective.
The Appeal of Fascism	Rhue demonstrates that authoritarian systems do not begin with obvious cruelty; they begin with order, pride, and shared purpose.
Power Dynamics	Ben Ross highlights how authority easily corrupts even well-meaning leaders who believe they remain in control.

Strengths & Weaknesses

• Strengths: The pacing is rapid and taut. At under 150 pages, it reads with the urgency of a thriller. The psychological shift of the students feels disturbingly believable, demonstrating how quickly human beings succumb to tribalism when offered structure and inclusion.

• Weaknesses: Written primarily as young adult literature, the prose is straightforward and occasionally sparse. Character development takes a back seat to the central psychological experiment, making some interactions feel somewhat functional rather than deeply nuanced.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Wave by Morton Rhue (aka Todd Strasser) I found on Amazon's website:

The Wave is based on a true incident that occurred in a high school history class in Palo Alto, California, in 1969.

The powerful forces of group pressure that pervaded many historic movements such as Nazism are recreated in the classroom when history teacher Ben Ross introduces a "new" system to his students. And before long "The Wave", with its rules of "strength through discipline, community, and action," sweeps from the classroom through the entire school. And as most of the students join the movement, Laurie Saunders and David Collins recognize the frightening momentum of "The Wave" and realize they must stop it before it's too late.

I am giving The Wave by Morton Rhue (aka Todd Strasser) a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

 

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher

I listened to the unabridged audio version of What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, which is well narrated by Avi Roque. I'd had this horror/fantasy novella on my reading wishlist for a while. I'm glad I finally listened to What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher as it was really good. 

What Moves the Dead is a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's, The Fall of the House of Usher. What Moves the Dead is also the first novella in the 'Sworn Soldier' series. If you enjoy reading books and novellas that fall into the horror and fantasy genres and are also into a retelling of a classic story, then this book may be for you. The storyline, plot, and characters are fun! This book is most definitely worth the hype.

Below is the publisher's summary for What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher found on the Goodreads website:

From the award-winning author of The Twisted Ones comes a gripping and atmospheric retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's classic "The Fall of the House of Usher."

When Alex Easton, a retired soldier, receives word that their childhood friend Madeline Usher is dying, they race to the ancestral home of the Ushers in the remote countryside of Ruritania.

What they find there is a nightmare of fungal growths and possessed wildlife, surrounding a dark, pulsing lake. Madeline sleepwalks and speaks in strange voices at night, and her brother Roderick is consumed with a mysterious malady of the nerves.

Aided by a redoubtable British mycologist and a baffled American doctor, Alex must unravel the secret of the House of Usher before it consumes them all.

I'm giving What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars. 

Until my next post, happy reading!

Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates, which was nicely narrated by Lauren Ezzo. I you enjoy suspenseful novellas, then you will enjoy Cardiff, by the Sea as all four novellas were very good and very different from each other. 

Cardiff, by the Sea is the second book I've read by Joyce Carol Oates this year. Interestingly enough, both books I've read by Joyce Carol Oates this year have been buddy reads. This time around, I read Cardiff, by the Sea with Marianne @ Let's Read. Marianne is a fan of Joyce Carol Oates's writing too! Marianne made a perfect reading buddy as we had lots to discuss. Checkout Marianne's blog by clicking on the link above.

I want to break down my review of Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates by reviewing each novella. Each novella contains a female protagonist who is threatened, manipulated, or traumatized by predatory, abusive, or toxically controlling male figures. 

Additionally, most of these novellas has an ambiguous ending to them. The final novella has a resolution of sorts, but not everything is entirely wrapped up so neatly at the end. Joyce Carol Oates is notorious for writing ambitious endings! But then again perhaps that's the appeal... Perhaps, JCO wants you, the reader, to draw your own conclusions.

1. Cardiff, by the Sea

This is the titular first novella in the collection and happens to be my personal favorite. JCO's writing here is superb. The basic premise follows an academic in Pennsylvania who discovers a terrifying trauma from her past after inheriting a house in Cardiff, Maine, from a relative she never knew existed.

The protagonist, Clare, was given up for adoption as a baby and never spent much time dwelling on her origins—until she inherits property from her biological paternal grandmother. Summoned by the estate lawyer, Clare travels to Maine and meets her eccentric great-aunts and paternal uncle. That’s where things begin to go awry. Strange, unsettling things start happening to Clare—or so she believes.

Clare learns that both of her biological parents died tragically, but no one—not even the estate lawyer—will explicitly tell her how. Instead, Clare is directed to the local library to uncover the truth herself, and the answers she finds are horrific. Obsessed with uncovering what really happened, Clare sets out to interview anyone who might know the real story behind her parents' dark past.

2. Miao Dao

"Miao Dao" refers to a traditional Chinese two-handed saber, but it doubles as a clever wordplay on JCO's part, as cats ("meow") play a central role in the narrative. In this story, an eleven-year-old girl named Mia is struggling through her parents' tense divorce while navigating the uncomfortable, predatory attention of older neighborhood boys and men. Overwhelmed by loneliness and anxiety, Mia adopts a fierce feral cat. The bond between them turns dark and protective as the cat becomes a silent guardian against the increasingly aggressive males in her life. It’s an unsettling look at how young girls are forced to navigate terrifying environments far too early.

3. Phantomwise: 1972

Set in the title year of 1972, this story centers on Alyce, a brilliant but deeply insecure and shy college sophomore who finds herself in a terrifying dilemma when she becomes pregnant. The setting of 1972 is crucial here: it takes place immediately before the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973. At this time, abortion was still largely illegal across most of the United States, leaving young, isolated women with virtually no safe or legal options.

Terrified and lacking institutional support, Alyce becomes completely dependent on the men around her. Enter an older, charismatic poetry professor who steps in to "take her under his wing," though his motives are far from innocent. JCO brilliantly highlights the legal traps and social taboos of the pre-Roe era, showing how restrictive healthcare laws weaponized control over women's bodies and left them uniquely vulnerable to predatory, manipulative authority figures. The tension in this piece is suffocating as Alyce struggles to find agency in a world designed to strip it away.

4. The Surviving Child

This was probably my least favorite of the four novellas, but it was still a gripping, eerie read. The story functions as a subtle roman à clef inspired by the tragic lives of poets Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. It follows Elisabeth, a woman who marries a charismatic, domineering widower whose famous poet ex-wife died by suicide, taking one of their children with her.

JCO leans heavily into the classic, dark "wicked stepmother" trope here—though with a psychological twist. Elisabeth steps into the household trying to care for the surviving child, but she is quickly consumed by the toxic family dynamic. Instead of being the villain, Elisabeth becomes a victim of the domestic haunting, finding herself tormented by the late wife's lingering voice, an inexplicably befouled well, and an unsettling, hypnotic attraction to the garage where the horrific tragedy took place. While it felt a bit slower than the rest, it paints a haunting picture of inherited grief and psychological decline.

Here's the publisher's summary for Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates, which I discovered on Hoopla:

An academic in Pennsylvania discovers a terrifying trauma from her past after inheriting a house in Cardiff, Maine, from someone she has never heard of. A pubescent girl, overcome with loneliness, befriends a feral cat that becomes her protector from the increasingly aggressive males that surround her. A brilliant but shy college sophomore is distraught to discover that she's pregnant, and the professor who takes her under his wing may not have innocent intentions. And a woman who marries into a family shattered by tragedy finds herself haunted by her predecessor's voice, an inexplicably befouled well, and a compulsive attraction to a garage that took two lives.

In these psychologically daring, chillingly suspenseful pieces, the author of We Were the Mulvaneys and Blonde writes about women facing threats past and present, once again cementing her reputation for "great intelligence and dead-on imaginative powers" (Los Angeles Times Book Review).

I am giving Cardiff, by the Sea by Joyce Carol Oates a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

P. S. I did have Google Gemini help me rewrite my summaries for each of the novellas to make them sound/flow better. The rest of this post is solely written by me without Google Gemini's assistance.

Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi

 

Last year, I read and reviewed Chicano Frankenstein by Daniel A Olivas. Another blogger, CyberKitten, read my review of Chicano Frankenstein and recommended I read Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi. Since I enjoyed reading Chicano Frankenstein so much, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of  Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi, which is well narrated by Edoardo Ballerini and Kaleo Griffith.

Thank you, CyberKitten, I enjoyed listening to Frankenstein in Baghdad. It is a unique read with a setting in Iraq. It's filled with colorful characters and an engaging storyline. The narration is phenomenal as well. If you are interested in reading retellings of Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, then Frankenstein in Baghdad may be right up your alley.

Below is the publisher's summary for Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi, which I discovered on Chirp's website:

From the rubble-strewn streets of U.S.-occupied Baghdad, Hadi—a scavenger and an oddball fixture at a local café—collects human body parts and stitches them together to create a corpse. His goal, he claims, is for the government to recognize the parts as people and to give them proper burial. But when the corpse goes missing, a wave of eerie murders sweeps the city, and reports stream in of a horrendous-looking criminal who, though shot, cannot be killed. Hadi soon realizes he’s created a monster, one that needs human flesh to survive—first from the guilty, and then from anyone in its path. A prizewinning novel by “Baghdad’s new literary star” (The New York Times), Frankenstein in Baghdad captures with white-knuckle horror and black humor the surreal reality of contemporary Iraq.

I am giving  Frankenstein in Baghdad by Ahmed Saadawi a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle

I've noticed that I've been on an unconscious mission to read new to me authors this year... That is until now! I think the main reason I am reading more books by new to me authors this year may be due to borrowing more books from the public library via Hoopla. Additionally, I've been given books by other readers and also book recommendations. Many of these books are written by new to me authors.  I'm also discovering new to me authors from a book club I've been participating in at my public library.

Victor Lavalle is a new to me author. I chose to listen to the unabridged audio version of The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle, which is narrated by Kevin R. Free via Hoopla. I primarily chose this novella because it's short and also because it was "one of NPR's Best Books of 2016, winner of the Shirley Jackson Award, the British Fantasy Award, the This is Horror Award for Novella of the Year, and a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, World Fantasy, and Bram Stoker Awards."

I enjoyed the writing and storyline for The Ballad of Black Tom. But I wasn't overly impressed with it. Sure, I enjoyed listening to The Ballad of Black Tom as it is well narrated, but I didn't find this novella stellar enough to be worthy of its hype by NPR and the awards and award nominations.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle, which I discovered on Amazon's website:

One of NPR's Best Books of 2016, winner of the Shirley Jackson Award, the British Fantasy Award, the This is Horror Award for Novella of the Year, and a finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, World Fantasy, and Bram Stoker Awards

People move to New York looking for magic and nothing will convince them it isn't there.

Charles Thomas Tester hustles to put food on the table, keep the roof over his father's head, from Harlem to Flushing Meadows to Red Hook. He knows what magic a suit can cast, the invisibility a guitar case can provide, and the curse written on his skin that attracts the eye of wealthy white folks and their cops. But when he delivers an occult tome to a reclusive sorceress in the heart of Queens, Tom opens a door to a deeper realm of magic, and earns the attention of things best left sleeping.

A storm that might swallow the world is building in Brooklyn. Will Black Tom live to see it break?

I am giving The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor Lavalle a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

 

I listened to the dramatized audio version of The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury. This chidlren's novela has been on my reading wishlist for quite awhile. Wow, what a great way to listen to this!! I really enjoyed this audio edition as it was like listening to an old time radio production. The entire audio experience was amazing! Needless to say this novel would make a great read around Halloween time for children (and adults too!!).

I liked the storyline and character development. The writing is excellent... It's Ray Bradbury, would you expect any less than great writing?

Below is the publisher's summary for The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury via GoodsReads:

Make storytime a little spookier with fantasy master Ray Bradbury as he takes readers on a riveting trip though space and time to discover the true origins of Halloween.

Join the shadowy Carapace Clavicle Moundshroud as he takes eight trick-or-treaters on an unforgettable journey to find their missing friend, Pip. Travel through space and time, from the tombs of ancient Egypt to the gargoyles of Notre-Dame Cathedral, all the way to the cemeteries of Mexico on el Día de Los Muertos, the Day of the Dead. Is Pip still alive? And if so, can his friends save him from a ghastly fate before it’s too late?

"If you want to know what Halloween is, or if you simply want an eerie adventure, take this mystery history trip. You couldn't ask for better than master fantasizer Ray Bradbury." --The Boston Globe

I am giving The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Resist by Tom Palmer

 

After reading and reviewing Over The Line by Tom Palmer earlier this month, I decided to listen to the unabridged audio version of Resist by Tom Palmer. Resist by Tom Palmer is well narrated by Anna Gilthorpe.

I loved listening to Resist! It's a well written novel set in Nazi occupied Netherlands during World War II. The story is inspired by the real life events of Audrey Hepburn as a teenager. Audrey Hepburn lived in the Netherlands during WWII with her family. She took part in helping with the Dutch Resistance in an effort to thwart the Nazi occupation of The Netherlands. 

I truly enjoyed reading about Audrey Hepburn's life during this time and how it affected her life and the life of others. Resist is a middle schooler read. It's an excellent historical fiction novel. 

Below is a short video of Tom Palmer discussing his novel, Resist.

Below is the publisher's summary for Resist by Tom Palmer, which I found on Chirp's website:

Multi-award-winning author Tom Palmer shines a light on life under wartime occupation, in a beautifully told story inspired by the childhood of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn.

As the brutal Second World War stretches on with no end in sight, life for ordinary Dutch people in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands is fraught with peril and hardship. There is very little to eat and the population lives under the constant threat of arrest and enslavement.

After the murder of her beloved uncle and the capture of her brother by the Germans, Edda is determined to do anything she can to help the resistance fight back against their oppressors. But what can a teenage girl do and how much risk is she willing to take?

Award-winning author Tom Palmer shines a light on the incredible work of the WWll Dutch resistance, in a story inspired by the childhood of Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn.

I am giving Resist by Tom Palmer a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Over the Line by Tom Palmer

Earlier this month, I made a list of books that covered the topic of 'soccer' in some way as a way to tie it in with the 2026 FIFA World Cup games.

I am not a soccer fan, nor did I watch any of the 2026 FIFA World Cup games. With the 2026 FIFA World Cup happening, I decided to search for books that discuss soccer in some way. My hope is to inspire readers who are also soccer fans to read more books on a topic they like.

One of the books I discovered was Over the Line by Tom Palmer. Tom Palmer is a new to me author. Initially what attracted me to Over the Line by Tom Palmer was the fact that it features a large chunk of its subject matter to soccer. I soon learned that this children's/middle school novel is a work of historical fiction set in Europe during World War I. The events are inspired by real life events, which makes for good reading.

So, within a few minutes after learning about Over the Line by Tom Palmer, I downloaded and began listening to the unabridged audio version. Essentially, I finished listening to this book 2 hour, 10 minutes in one sitting.

The writing is good and so is the storyline for Over the Line. I was impressed with how much I enjoyed Over the Line. Perhaps, I'll have to give another one of Tom Palmer's novels a try in the future.

Tom Palmer has a YouTube page. I watched the following short video of Mr. Palmer reading a section from his novel, Over The Line.

Below is the publisher's summary for Over the Line by Tom Palmer found on the Goodreads website:

Based on a true story of a sporting hero's experience in the trenches. Jack is to make his debut as a professional footballer, but it's 1914 and the world is at war. Talk of sportsmen's cowardice leads to the formation of a Footballers' Battalion and Jack has little choice but to join up. Jack and his team-mates will have to survive a waking nightmare if they are ever to play again.

I am giving Over the Line by Tom Palmer a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff, which is nicely narrated by January LaVoy. The Vaster Wilds is the second novel I've read by Lauren Groff. I read Lauren Groff's novel, Matrix, back in 2021 and thoroughly enjoyed it. I've been meaning to read more of Lauren Groff's novels since then. This month I made it happen by finishing The Vaster Wilds.

I enjoyed aspects of The Vaster Wilds, like the fact that it is a very descriptive novel in almost every way as only Lauren Groff can do. This novel touches upon religion, the circle of life, nature itself, and more. I found the section on naming of things to be an interesting discussion. Also, the brutality and beauty of nature is described in much detail in this novel as well. But, overall, I wasn't in love with this novel as I'd hoped I'd be.

The Vaster Wilds is a work of historical fiction set in America during the time of early colonialism. The protagonist is a young servant girl, whom flees a colonial settlement suffering from the plague. It's the dead of winter and the climate is cold and harsh. She must go it alone and try to survive the vast wilderness on her own. As she journeys on her own, we learn more about her life and how she came to the American Colonies. Essentially, we learn of the world solely through the servant girl's eyes and it's the only perspective we have. I would have liked to see her interacting with others throughout this novel to give it more depth.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff:

A servant girl escapes from a colonial settlement in the wilderness. She carries nothing with her but her wits, a few possessions, and the spark of god that burns hot within her. What she finds in this terra incognita is beyond the limits of her imagination and will bend her belief in everything that her own civilization has taught her.

Lauren Groff’s new novel is at once a thrilling adventure story and a penetrating fable about trying to find a new way of living in a world succumbing to the churn of colonialism. The Vaster Wilds is a work of raw and prophetic power that tells the story of America in miniature, through one girl at a hinge point in history, to ask how—and if—we can adapt quickly enough to save ourselves.

I am giving The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones

 

I read The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones back in 2022. This was the first book I read by Stephen Graham Jones and I wasn't that impressed despite all the rave reviews I'd heard about his writing.

I decided to give Stephen Graham Jones's writing another try after hearing glowing reviews for Night of the Mannequins.

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones, which is splendidly narrated by Gary Tiedemann. This is a super quick listen at 2 hours, 59 miunutes.

Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones is a horror/coming of age novella. Additionally, if you enjoy books with unreliable main characters, then this is the read for you as Sawyer is definitely an unreliable narrator and main character. Also worth noting, I don't think this novella is actually classified as a young adult read, but it felt like one to me.

This Night of the Mannequins is a fun read for sure. It is short and quick. I enjoyed it as it is a different take than I thought it would be on the topic. The real horror isn't what you think it'll be.

Below is the publisher's summary for Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones:

WE THOUGHT WE'D PLAY A FUN PRANK ON HER, AND NOW MOST OF US ARE DEAD.

One last laugh for the summer as it winds down. One last prank just to scare a friend. Bringing a mannequin into a theater is just some harmless fun, right? Until it wakes up. Until it starts killing.

Luckily, Sawyer has a plan. He'll be a hero. He'll save everyone to the best of his ability. He'll kill as many people as he needs to so he can save the day. That's the thing about heroes - sometimes you have to become a monster first.

I am giving Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

Pageboy by Elliot Page

 

With June being Pride Month, I wanted to make sure and read a book that falls into the LGBTQIA+ category this month.

I chose to listen. to the unabridged audio version of Pageboy by Elliot Page, which is narrated by the author. I've had Pageboy on my reading wishlist for a while, so I'm pleased to have finally read it.

Elliot Page is a transgender, male actor. I first became aware of Elliot Page when he was female actress, Ellen Page. I remember watching Ellen Page in the movie, 'Hard Candy', with my husband and we enjoyed this movie. I know that Elliot Page has acted in several movies, but I've only watched two of them. 

I'm always curious about the lives of other people and as a cis gender, heterosexual woman, I definitely am up for learning more about the LGBTQIA+ community.

I found it interesting to learn about Elliot Page's background and how he determined he was transgender. What did his journey to becoming a transgender man look like? Gender dysphoria, self-harm, and an eating disorder were all discussed by Elliot Page in his memoir. Also, home life split between divorced parents wasn't easy for Elliot Page growing up either. His dad and step-mother weren't ideal parents as described by the author. Elliot Page also talks about his acting career and romantic relationships too.

Below is the publisher's summary for Pageboy by Elliot Page found on the Goodreads website:

Pageboy is a groundbreaking coming-of-age memoir from the Academy Award-nominated actor Elliot Page. A generation-defining actor and one of the most famous trans advocates of our time, Elliot will now be known as an uncommon literary talent, as he shares never-before-heard details and intimate interrogations on gender, love, mental health, relationships, and Hollywood.

I am giving Pageboy by Elliot Page a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

Delta Lady by Rita Coolidge

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Delta Lady by Rita Coolidge, which is narrated by the author herself.

I had Delta Lady on my reading wishlist for quite a while before listening to it during a recent trip to Las Vegas. I'm happy I finally listened to this memoir as I learned a lot about Rita Coolidge's life. I never realized she was married to Kris Kristofferson, who was the love of her life. They had a daughter together before their marriage dissolved. 

I also learned that Rita Coolidge's older sister, Priscilla, was married to journalist, Ed Bradley! Sadly, Priscilla was later killed by her third husband in a murder/suicide back in 2014. 

Of course, I learned a lot about about Rita Coolidge's music career, which is interesting if you liked her music.

Below is the publisher's summary for Delta Lady by Rita Coolidge discovered on the Chirp website:

The two-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter bares her heart and soul in this intimate memoir, a story of music, stardom, love, family, heritage, and resilience.

She inspired songs—Leon Russell wrote “A Song for You” and “Delta Lady” for her, Stephen Stills wrote “Cherokee.” She co-wrote songs—“Superstar” and the piano coda to “Layla,” uncredited. She sang backup for Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, and Stills, before finding fame as a solo artist with such hits as “We're All Alone” and “(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher.” Following her story from Lafayette, Tennessee to becoming one of the most sought after rock vocalists in LA in the 1970s, Delta Lady chronicles Rita Coolidge’s fascinating journey throughout the ’60s-’70s pop/rock universe.

A muse to some of the twentieth century’s most influential rock musicians, she broke hearts, and broke up bands. Her relationship with drummer Jim Gordon took a violent turn during the legendary 1970 Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour; David Crosby maintained that her triangle with Stills and Graham Nash was the last straw for the group. Her volatile six-year marriage to Kris Kristofferson yielded two Grammys, a daughter, and one of the Baby Boom generation’s epic love stories. Throughout it all, her strength, resilience, and inner and outer beauty—along with her strong sense of heritage and devotion to her family—helped her to not only survive, but thrive. Co-written with best-selling author Michael Walker, Delta Lady is a rich, deeply personal memoir that offers a front row seat to an iconic era, and illuminates the life of an artist whose career has helped shape modern American culture.

I am giving Delta Lady by Rita Coolidge a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

Lilith by Eric Rickstad

 

Lilith by Eric Rickstad was my first read for the month of June 2026. Eric Rickstad is a new to me author this year. I was drawn to this novel due to the plot summary provided by the publisher.

Lilith is a work of contemporary fiction and is a triller/suspense novel! This novel sucks you in from the very start. I loved the action/suspense/tension building by the author. Elisabeth Ross is the protagonist in Lilth. She is a single mother and elementary school teacher by profession.

Lilith by Eric Rickstad focuses its topic on gun violence and school shootings. Elisabeth is required as a teacher to perform monthly drills with her students on what to do during an emergency lockdown. 

Little does Elisabeth know that something bad will happen on the day she and the rest of the teaching staff are to perform an emergency lockdown drill with their students. A real life shooting occurs and it is horrific! Elisabeth saves her students by breaking protocol from the required instructions specified by the school district. 

Additionally, Elisabeth's son, Lydan, also attends the same school where she teaches. Elisabeth somehow manages to save Lydan's life as well even though he isn't a student in her class. We read and feel the angst and terror that only a mother can feel about her child's near death experience and long term recovery from their traumatic injuries.

Jumping forward in Lilith, Elisabeth grows angry with the lack of gun control efforts and school shootings that she takes matters into her own hands vigilante style.

Although, I enjoyed Lilith by Eric Rickstad quite a bit. It wasn't perfect by any means. There were interactions between Elisabeth and her son, Lydan, that seemed unrealistic. Plus, some of the plot details were lacking in parts or unrealistic at least in my opinion. For instance, I found the scene where Elisabeth's son saves the day to be unrealistic based on the scope of his injuries. Additionally, Lydan has a few bizarre paranormal type of experiences that didn't seem to fit well with the storyline. Otherwise, Lilth is a good read.

P. S. I listened to the unabridged audio version of Lilith. This book is well narrated by Brittany Pressley.

Below is the publisher's summary for Lilith by Eric Rickstad I found on Amazon's website:

Mother. Hero. Villain. Killer.

After her son, Lydan, suffers traumatic injuries in a school shooting, single mom Elisabeth Ross grows enraged at men in power. If they won’t do anything to help end this epidemic of violence, she will. Believing it’s her destiny, she sets out to awaken the world to the cowards these men are and commits her own shocking act of violence.

Going by the name Lilith—the first wife of Adam who fled Eden rather than serve a man—she posts a video of her crime that reverberates throughout society.

Praised by some, demonized by others, and hunted by the FBI and vigilantes alike, Elisabeth must keep her identity a secret as she tries to care for her son.

As events take startling twists, Elisabeth begins to question her act of violence and the very roots and mythology of violence itself. Was her act justified, or has she become the monster that the original Lilith was accused of being?

As the FBI draws closer and Lydan starts to display odd, terrifying behavior, Elisabeth plots to avoid capture and keep her son safe at all costs, fearing she’ll never escape what she’s done without losing her son forever.

Written with Rickstad’s singular command of language, human insight, and unnerving suspense, Lilith is a tale of our times. Tragic and profound, it echoes in the mind and lingers in the blood.

I am giving Lilith by Eric Rickstad a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews, which was well narrated by Reena Dutt.

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews is the Online Rainbow Book Club selection for May 2026.We will be discussing this novel on Thursday May 28th via Zoom. I'm looking forward to discussing this novel with the group.

Honestly, I wasn't sure if I was going to like All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews when I first started listening to it. In fact, I almost gave up on it altogether early on. But, I'm glad I persisted with this novel. It has a lot of layers and depth to it that makes it a worthwhile read. 

All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews is a contemporary work of fiction. It falls into the lgbtqia+, coming of age, and immigration genres. Let's just say there is a lot going on in this novel. It's divided into four sections. The writing is good overall and the author manages to wrap up all topics/issues nicely. 

Even thought I enjoyed All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews, I wouldn't rush to recommend it to other readers.

Below is the publisher's summary for All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews from Chirp's website:

Graduating into the long maw of an American recession, Sneha is one of the fortunate ones. She’s moved to Milwaukee for an entry-level corporate job that, grueling as it may be, is the key that unlocks every door: she can pick up the tab at dinner with her new friend Tig, get her college buddy Thom hired alongside her, and send money to her parents back in India. She begins dating women—soon developing a burning crush on Marina, a beguiling and beautiful dancer who always seems just out of reach.

But before long, trouble arrives. Painful secrets rear their heads; jobs go off the rails; evictions loom. Sneha struggles to be truly close and open with anybody, even as her friendships deepen, even as she throws herself headlong into a dizzying romance with Marina. It’s then that Tig begins to draw up a radical solution to their problems, hoping to save them all.

A beautiful and capacious novel rendered in singular, unforgettable prose, All This Could Be Different is a wise, tender, and riveting group portrait of young people forging love and community amidst struggle, and a moving story of one immigrant’s journey to make her home in the world.

I am giving All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke

 

Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke has been on my radar for awhile. I hadn't added this horror novella to my reading wishlist or anything and didn't have any plans to read actually.

However, I was looking for a quick read and had stumbled upon Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke while scrolling around on Hoopla. After reading the publisher's summary and discovering that the audio edition of Sour Candy was 2 hours, 36 minutes in length, I figured why not make this my next read? After all, Sour Candy sounded like an interesting read.

Well, Sour Candy is definitely an interesting read. It's a work of contemporary fiction with a focus on horror and suspense. The author is good at building suspense and creating a slow, but steady pace for this novella. I found myself hooked immediately while reading the first chapter and wanted to see where this book lead me.

For the full storyline, read the publisher's summary below. For me, Sour Candy is all about whether the main character, Phil Pendleton, is sane or mental ill. Did he really have an otherworldly/paranormal experience that lead to his demise or was he dealing with mental health issues? The ending makes it look like the events that occurred weren't all in Phil's head, but really did happen.

If you've read Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke, I'd be curious to read your thoughts about this novella.

Lastly, it's worth noting that I listened to the unabridged audio version of Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke, which was wonderfully narrated by Andrew Gibson.

Below id the publisher's summary for Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke:

At first glance, Phil Pendleton and his son Adam are just an ordinary father and son, no different from any other. They take walks in the park together, visit county fairs, museums, and zoos, and eat together overlooking the lake. Some might say the father is a little too accommodating given the lack of discipline when the child loses his temper in public. Some might say he spoils his son by allowing him to eat candy whenever he wants and set his own bedtimes. Some might say that such leniency is starting to take its toll on the father, given how his health has declined.

What no one knows is that Phil is a prisoner, and that up until a few weeks ago and a chance encounter at a grocery store, he had never seen the child before in his life.

I am giving Sour Candy by Kealan Patrick Burke a rating of 3 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death by Caitlin Doughty

 

I listened to Caitlin Doughty's nonfiction book titled, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory back in 2023. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Smoke Gets in Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory as Caitlin Doughty recounts her journey as a mortician. I also enjoyed the fact that Caitlin Doughty narrated her book as well.

With that said, I wanted to read, or rather listen to in this case, another work of nonfiction written by Caitlin Doughty. So, I couldn't resist listening to Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death, which is also narrated by the author.

I don't know how Caitlin Doughty does it, but she makes learning unique facts about death fun! I learned a lot of new things about death that I didn't know before by listening to Caitlin Doughty answer 35 questions posed to her by youngsters. Each of the questions were for the most part unique and so were the answers given.

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death by Caitlin Doughty is a quick read, which was right up my alley. I liked the bite sized chunks of information that were presented by the author. It made learning about death feel less morbid if that's possible.

Below is the publisher's summary for Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death by Caitlin Doughty from the Goodreads website:

Every day, funeral director Caitlin Doughty receives dozens of questions about death. What would happen to an astronaut’s body if it were pushed out of a space shuttle? Do people poop when they die? Can Grandma have a Viking funeral?

In the tradition of Randall Munroe’s What If ?, Doughty’s new book, Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?, blends her scientific understanding of the body and the intriguing history behind common misconceptions about corpses to offer factual, hilarious, and candid answers to thirty-five urgent questions posed by her youngest fans. Readers will learn what happens if you die on an airplane, the best soil for mummifying your dog, and whether or not you can preserve your friend’s skull as a keepsake.

I am giving Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: Big Questions from Tiny Mortals About Death by Caitlin Doughty a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Woodworking by Emily St. James

 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Woodworking by Emily St. James and is very well narrated by several narrators.

Woodworking by Emily St. James is the April book selection for the Online Rainbow Book Club hosted by my public library. 

Woodworking by Emily St. James is an excellent novel and is my favorite book club selection for the Online Rainbow Book Club to date. 

Woodworking is a novel set in South Dakota in the year 2016. This novel touches upon so much - trans identity, friendship, politics, finding oneself, and coming of age are just a few of the topics that all come together in this novel. Also, as a back drop for Woodworking, the 2016 election is looming and we read how potential policies being proposed in this novel could effect the lives of trans people. Woodworking isn't really a political novel at all, but the topic of politics does come up in the novel as part of the storyline.

The primary focus of Woodworking is on the lives of three different trans women at different stages in their transition journey. All three women are at different stages in their journey and are different ages.

I really enjoyed all of the characters in Woodworking, especially Abigail Hawkes, a trans teen with a wicked sense of humor. The writing for Woodworking is excellent. There are so many layers to this novel that it is difficult to describe all of the nuances to give readers a sense of how wonderful written this novel really is. 

Plus, I don't want to give away too many details about the storyline/plot to spoil it for those whom want to read Woodworking. Suffice it to say, I truly enjoyed reading Woodworking!

At the end of the audiobook, Emily St. James mentions the website, Assigned Media, as a resource for transgender news. Click on the link to learn more about the latest transgender news.

Below is the publisher's summary for Woodworking by Emily St. James, which I discovered through the Goodreads website:

An unforgettable and heartwarming debut following a trans high school teacher from a small town in South Dakota who befriends the only other trans woman she knows: one of her students.

Erica Skyberg is thirty-five years old, recently divorced—and trans. Not that she's told anyone yet. Mitchell, South Dakota, isn't exactly bursting with other trans women. Instead, she keeps to herself, teaching by day and directing community theater by night. That is, until Abigail Hawkes enters her orbit.

Abigail is seventeen, Mitchell High’s resident political dissident and Only Trans Girl. It’s a role she plays faultlessly, albeit a little reluctantly. She's also annoyed by the idea of spending her senior year secretly guiding her English teacher through her transition. But Abigail remembers the uncertainty—and loneliness—that comes with it. Besides, Erica isn’t the only one struggling to shed the weight of others’ expectations.

As their unlikely friendship evolves under the increasing scrutiny of their community, both women—and those closest to them—will come to realize that sometimes there is nothing more radical than letting the world see who you really are.

Detransition Baby meets Fleishman is in Trouble in this remarkable debut novel from an incisive contemporary voice. A story about the awkwardness of growing up and the greatest love story of all, that between us and our friends, Woodworking is a tonic for the moment and a celebration of womanhood in all its multifaceted joy.

I am giving Woodworking by Emily St. James a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

The Beautiful No by Sheri Salata

 

During the height of the pandemic, there were a lot of online/virtual events. The University of Iowa hosted a virtual event titled, Virtual Book Club with Sheri Salata, in November of 2020. I am an alumna of the University of Iowa and also an avid read (of course), so I attended this 45-minute virtual event and enjoyed watching it immensely at the time.

Sheri Salata is a University of Iowa alumna (80BBA) and she also worked as an executive producer for the Oprah Winfrey Show for a number of years. Before attending the Virtual Book Club with Sheri Salata, I'd never heard of Sheri Salata, but after the event I knew I wanted to read her nonfiction book, The Beautiful No.

Despite having The Beautiful No by Sheri Salata on my reading wishlist for almost 6 years, it wasn't until this year that I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Beautiful No, which is nicely narrated by the author. In fact, I finished listening to this book yesterday.

The Beautiful No by Sheri Salata is a work of nonfiction... In fact, it's a memoir. I remember being excited to read The Beautiful No after watching the Virtual Book Club with Sheri Salata. It seemed like Salata's book was the right combination of memoir and also inspirational and self-help book. Yes, The Beautiful No is a memoir. Each chapter is a vignette pertaining to an aspect of Sheri Salata's life, which is well done. 

Yes, Sheri Salata's life story is inspirational, especially her transformation after the Oprah Winfrey Show ended and how she went about transforming her life. BUT, I wouldn't classify The Beautiful No as both a self-help book and memoir like I had envisioned it would be. There are many gems that Sheri Salata shares throughout her book one could use as a guidepost in transforming one's own life. BUT again this books isn't a self-help book, only a memoir. It is an inspirational book though and also gives food for thought on how to improve one's life.

Below is a 45 second book trailer for The Beautiful No by Sheri Salata, which I discovered on YouTube. I'm sharing the book trailer instead of quoting the publisher's written summary of this book.

I am giving The Beautiful No by Sheri Salata a rating of 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!!

The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King

 

I listened to The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King, which is well narrated by Mare Winningham. This book has been on my reading wishlist for a number of years and I am glad to have finally read it at last!!

I haven't read many books written by Stephen King. I think The Gingerbread Girl may be the 4th thing I've read by Stephen King and I'd say The Gingerbread Girl is my favorite work written by Stephen King to date. 

The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King has a good storyline and is very engaging! Stephen King writes very well and draws the reader in and doesn't let go. I couldn't wait to discover how the story ended. The suspense was killing me as to what would happen... 

Essentially, Em, the main character, is staying at her father's old conch shack in Vermillion Key, Florida as she decides on the next step in her life after the tragic loss of her baby and the fallout of her marriage with her husband after the loss of their baby. Em turns to running after the loss of their baby, which her husband doesn't understand. So, Em decides to separate from her husband and reflect on the next step to take while in Vermillion Key. 

Em learns about a man named, Pickering, from the guard while staying in Varmillion Key. The guard warns Em to stay away from Pickering as he is a man with very sketchy behavior. Unfortunately, Em has a run in with Pickering and this is where the suspense begins. 

It's touch and go as to whether Em will escape from Pickering or not! Stephen King plays a good game of cat and mouse with the reader.

Below is the publisher's summary for The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King , which I discovered on Goodreads:

In the emotional aftermath of her baby's sudden death, Em starts running. Soon she runs from her husband, to the airport, down to the Florida Gulf, and out to the loneliest stretch of Vermillion Key, where her father has offered the use of a conch shack he has kept there for years. Em keeps up her running - barefoot on the beach, sneakers on the road - and sees virtually no one.

This is doing her all kinds of good, until one day she makes the mistake of looking into the driveway of a man named Pickering. Pickering also enjoys the privacy of Vermillion Key, but the young women he brings there suffer the consequences. Will Em be next?

I am giving The Gingerbread Girl by Stephen King a rating of 4 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

Knots in My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli

 

I've been a big fan of Jerry Spinelli's novels since 2010 when a former college professor of mine had given me a copy of Stargirl written by Jerry Spinelli. After reading Stargirl, I fell in love with Spinelli's writing and have continued reading his novels ever since 2010.

I listened to the unabridged audio version of Knots in My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli, which is decently narrated by Matt Weisgerber. This is a short listen at 3 hours, 41 minutes.

Knots in My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli is his memoir/autobiography, but a different kind of memoir than I'm use to reading. It's told through a series of vignettes (some more interesting than others) about Spinelli's childhood growing up. 

This book falls into the children's genre. I am assuming Jerry Spinelli intentionally wrote his memoir/autobiography for children as the novels he writes are geared for this audience. This way, Knots in My Yo-Yo String is catered to the young fans of his works. I like that this book is written for children that are fans of Spinelli's novels.

I read Knots in My Yo-Yo String solely because I am a fan of Jerry Spinelli's works and wanted to know more about his life. Although, I enjoyed Knots in My Yo-Yo String and learning more about Spinelli's childhood. I also wanted to learn more about his adult life too.

I am giving Knots in My Yo-Yo String by Jerry Spinelli 3.5 stars out of 5 stars. I think it is a great read for children who are fans of his books. Not so much for adult readers though.

Until my next post, happy reading!