We meet Hank in 1860 when he is twelve. “Born in 1848,” he tells the pilot of the steamboat, who had just saved him from being crushed by paddle wheels. In that moment, little did Hank know what a life full of adventure was waiting for him. Just like he had no clue that the... Continue Reading →
“The Packard Salesman” by Will Tinkham
Ike Savich wanted to play baseball for the soul and carve the US presidents from stone for money. He never wanted the words he’d scribbled to pour out his tremendous guilt to see the light of day. And he certainly never cared about meeting real gangsters, whose names everyone knew from papers. Yet, since this... Continue Reading →
“Tortilla Flat” by John Steinbeck
After reading “Tortilla Flat” by John Steinbeck for the first time a while ago, I was unsure of how I felt about it. I did not like the characters; that much I could say. My attitude towards people who choose life without obligations and, consequently, common comforts, is conflicted. The reason isn’t the lack of... Continue Reading →
“Finding Arthur Whittle” by Helen Aitchison
Just like other books by this author, this one gave me plenty of food for thought. From the very first book that I read – “The Dinner Club” is among my all-time favourite reads – I appreciated Helen Aitchison’s talent for depicting her characters’ everyday lives in a way that makes me feel a part... Continue Reading →
“River Reflects Earth” by Anne M. Smith-Nochasak
“I am Flo. I will never submit.” Oh, how these words made my heart beat faster! I felt the surge of adrenaline that members of the resistance in the Taggak Journey trilogy must have felt. The motivation they sorely needed to keep moving towards their goal, despite the cold and the hunger and the despair... Continue Reading →
“Falling Down Umbrella Man” by Will Tinkham
It is seldom that I can enjoy a story whose main character doesn’t have a single redeemable quality. When this is the case, only a writer of the highest calibre can make me interested in the book. Will Tinkham, undoubtedly, is such a writer. While he didn’t make me like Danny Coover/Slaughter, his eloquent narrative,... Continue Reading →
“The Girl Who Loved Cayo Bradley” by Nina Romano
It is a special kind of pleasure when, while reading, I become torn between sense and emotions. When logic and experience tell me one thing about what’s best for the main characters, while the heart yearns for them to make an irrational but beautiful choice. That’s exactly how I felt reading “The Girl Who Loved... Continue Reading →
“The Cary Grant Sanatorium and Playhouse” by Will Tinkham
Will Tinkham did it again. Swept me off my feet and into yet another totally immersive story, where the characters feel real rather than fictional and America becomes intimately familiar rather than a faraway continent across the ocean. “The Cary Grant Sanatorium and Playhouse” is the ninth book in Will Tinkham’s Americana series that I’ve... Continue Reading →
“Genuine Deceit” by Joy York
From the intriguing title until the very last page, this book is guaranteed to keep you totally invested in the story and on the edge of your seat. That’s how it was for me. “Genuine Deceit” by Joy York is the kind of book that keeps readers awake way past their bedtime hour. It is... Continue Reading →
“Every Time She Shouted Fire” by Will Tinkham
I cannot get enough of Will Tinkham's Americana series. Having read eight books, I plan to read the remaining five over the course of the upcoming summer. And then, I’ll be waiting – impatiently! – for him to release new ones. The Americana series is a sweeping saga at its best. It pulls you into... Continue Reading →