Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley - This is in the "found family" genre of stories and I am all here for this. I love sweet, heartwarming books where people step out of their regular lives and create magical found family communities. (Other books in this genre include The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot...)
Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Torzs - A readable and engaging story about a particular kind of magic. A little slow in places, but I was compelled to read to the end.
The Postcard by Anne Berest - A novel based on the author's family story. The various narrative styles were a little confusing to read (perhaps this was a function of reading on the kindle) and I felt that the "mystery" wasn't as compelling as the story itself. Overall, however, I think this was a good addition to the story of French Jews during the Holocaust, especially as it traced the modern survivors.
The Change by Kirsten Miller - Oof, this was a powerful and gut-punching one. I love magical realism (if you don't, you may hate this one) and it packed a strong message about how the world views women of all ages. Many reviews said it was too long, but I didn't notice.
Candle, Feather, Wooden Spoon: New Jewish Stories by Rabbi Zoe Klein - such a fun set of original Jewish stories. A few didn't quite work for me, but overall I really love the way they felt new and also ancient. (And I bookmarked a few to work out a telling...)
Meet Me at the Lake by Carley Fortune - I liked her first book better, but this was a solid romance read that I enjoyed!
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano - Wow, this is definitely going to make it into the top 10 for the year. A gorgeous story with just the right mix of joy and sorrow. I couldn't put it down and didn't want it to end, although I found the ending to be just right.
Kantika by Elizabeth Graver - I really appreciated this family saga of a Sephardic clan, and the paths they took throughout history. Based on the author's family, it had real family photos even though the story was fictionalized, which I appreciated.
What are you reading?
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