THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett

THE VANISHING HALF by Brit Bennett Unsettling is the only word I can use to describe this book. Can a person vanish? To themselves? To their family? Can men vanish from society? the world? Can a person vanish and still be physically present? Can a town vanish? Can a person make themselves vanish – even to their own self? What are the repercussions to vanishing? Can a vanished person reappear? And the last question – not are Blacks racist, but what form does it take? At first, I thought this book was vaguely boring, then a third of the way in, I found it compelling. When I read the last page, I was disappointed. Few of my questions had been answered. And those answers simply produced other questions. Books groups will either love or hate this book, but a lively discussion will certainly result. My one complaint is the book doesn’t have a conclusion; it just ends. 4 of 5 stars

THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE by Abi Dare

THE GIRL WITH THE LOUDING VOICE by Abe Dare` This was a wonderful book – after I got past the dialect the main character and narrator speaks. Adunni, the young Nigerian girl with the “louding” voice, is fourteen as the novel begins. From an extremely poor family, she is sold into marriage with an older man who stops her schooling although she is a good student with the promise of a scholarship to continue her education. The rest of the books deals with the vastitudes of her life. The dialect improves as the novel proceeds and by the end I no longer noticed the dialect. In fact, the use of dialect enhanced the impact of Adunni’s story. Adunni’s story, unfortunately, is not unusual in Nigeria or many parts of the world. AN excellent read that would be a great choice for a mother/daughter book group or a group made up of mostly educators. 5 of stars

THE ONLY PLANE IN THE SKY -- Garrett m Graff

The Only Plane in the Sky – Garrett M Graff Subtitled AN Oral History Of 9/11, this is a collection of memories and statements that portray in timeline fashion what happened in the US on September 11, 2001. This was difficult to read. I could only read a bit before I had to put it down. Perhaps those who did not live through that day will have a different reaction. It brought back all the confusion and horror of that day for me. Photographs of the destruction and incidents of the day are included. There is a lengthy section of notes, acknowledgements and indexes. 5 of 5 stars

WE ARE NOT FROM HERE -- Jenny Torres Sanchez

WE ARE NOT FROM HERE – Jenny Torres Sanchez Three young teenagers are forced to flee their Guatemala home when they are targeted by the local drug dealer. They travel through Mexico to the United States where they hope to find safety with relatives. This novel is a searing look at the hardships and dangers of all those who travel illegally from Central America to reach the “Promised Land” and relative safety of the US. Honest and heart wrenching. If you refused – for whatever reason – to read AMERICAN DIRT, this book gives the same point of view from the pen of a Latinx writer. 5 of 5 stars

MOONFLOWER MURDERS -- Anthony Horowitz

MOONFLOWER MURDERS -- Anthony Horowitz A story within a story makes for a challenging memory device. Once I got used to the two stories (one completely inside the other) and got the competing characters and story lines straight, this was a compelling although challenging read. Horowitz is a master of the plot and he has come with two for this book. The main question is: can the second book prove the innocence of the convicted murderer in the first book? An enjoyable and challenging read. Keep a notebook handy to keep all the characters and plot devices straight! 5 of 5 stars

A TIME FOR MERCY --John Grisham

A TIME FOR MERCY -- John Grisham Grisham returns to Clanton, Mississippi and Jake Brigance for a riveting mystery. This is not just a legal thriller, but a full featured character study of a town embroiled in racism and hate. Grisham tells a tale for our time although the setting is 1990. A 16 year old is charged with murder of a deputy and the town is eager to hang him – and his lawyer along with him! Jake is charged with defending the boy and encounters small town wrath with Southern vengeance. 5 of 5 stars

The Thursday Murder Club

THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB – Richard Osman A foursome of retired folk in a senior home get together to take a look at unsolved crimes. Much to their surprise they find themselves embroiled in a real present day murder. A delightful cozy with fully realized characters -- and they are characters! Deftly plotted with sensitivity to older citizens and great humor, this may be the start of a series starring the Murder Club members. A cleverly plotted romp. 5 of 5 stars