Between fighting the stubborn pharyngitis and trying to keep up with our family’s challenging schedule, the talk on Briggs on Books was hanging by a thread until almost the last moment. Moreover, at that last moment, high tech issues threatened to cancel everything. But all is well that ends well. We discussed the topics I... Continue Reading →
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“American Nightmare: The History of Jim Crow” by Jerrold M. Packard
The history of segregation in the United States of America was by far the most interesting course I took at the university while completing my degree. An American professor taught it. It was one of the courses we could choose from among the subjects that constituted the pool of additional courses we had to take... Continue Reading →
“The Secret Lives of the Doyenne of Didsbrook” by Tessa Barrie
First of all, I must confess that I have a soft spot for the English countryside as a book setting. Two decades ago, I used to live in a beautiful rural location on the Jurassic coast, and every time I read about an English village, it brings a warm wave of nostalgia. Walking along the... Continue Reading →
“Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race” by Margot Lee Shetterly
I was telling my husband about the book I was reading, and he said he saw some videos on YouTube that resembled the plot I was describing. I checked my Kindle and found out that, indeed, there was a mention of the film on the cover. The book was published, and the movie was released... Continue Reading →
“G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century” by Beverly Gage
He had served under eight presidents and eighteen Attorneys General. His tenure as a director of the FBI (formerly the Bureau of Investigation) lasted for forty-eight years. He had friends and supporters among both republicans and democrats. At times when his popularity among influential circles dwindled, he retained it among the American people. He was... Continue Reading →
“Queen of Shadows and Roses” by Helena M. Craggs
Wow, what a guilty pleasure of a book this one has turned out to be! Reading it was like eating a dark chocolate fondant, rich and sweet, with a hot, gooey filling inside and cold ice cream on top. Beware, this story will make you see seductive dreams about Greek gods with athletic figures, indefatigable... Continue Reading →
Me: Elton John Official Autobiography
I finally began ploughing through the books I have read but have not yet reviewed, and it feels good that the impressions are still vivid in my memory. It means that all my reads were worthy. It has been several months since I read Elton John’s official autobiography titled “Me,” but I still occasionally think... Continue Reading →
Dystopian, epic fantasy, time travel & paranormal romance series to start this winter
Looking back on this year in terms of reading, I must say that it has been versatile. As always, I’ve been reading across different genres, including biographical & autobiographical non-fiction. Reading a book series is a special experience. When the author puts a part of themselves into the story that spans across several books, readers... Continue Reading →
“World By Design” by Norb Aikin
Some words caress you. Others raise a wave of inspiration. Words can motivate and uplift you. They can make you sad, sending you down a memory lane. But there are also words that punch you in the gut and leave you gasping for breath. Words that cut you open and leave you to gradually heal... Continue Reading →
“Number One Fan” by Helen Aitchison
David loves books. They help him escape the reality of his not-always-sunny life. Like so many other people, he seeks refuge between the pages of imagined stories. What sets David apart from most readers is that he is also in love with someone who writes books. Since for him, fiction means so much more than... Continue Reading →
“The Impoverished Orphan” by Kelly Miller
As did each of the Austenesque variations by Kelly Miller – and I have read them all – this one provided me with a delicious escape from reality to the elegance of the Regency era. Upon opening the first page, I was transported from the bleak November to the candlelit dining rooms and rose gardens... Continue Reading →