by Anthony Conty (Parkville, MD): "The Netanyahus" by Joshua Cohen tells the story of a Jewish man in a prominent history department who does not study Jewish history. Instead, Ruben Blum is responsible for reviewing an application from a quirky Israeli scholar. The man is Benjamin Netanyahu’s father and teaches us how theology and history interact in Jewish politics. You wouldn’t think you could describe this type of book as funny, but here we are.
Blum has a life that seems familiar in American literature: he has achieved a high level of academia but does not impress his parents or in-laws…

“The Last of the Mohicans” by James Fenimore Cooper is a classic novel that has stood the test of time. It is the second book in Cooper’s “Leatherstocking Tales” series and was published in 1826. The book is set during the French and Indian War and follows the adventures of Natty Bumppo, a frontiersman, and […]

by Cloggie Downunder (Thirroul): 4.5?s “What’s interesting is the families that pretend to be happy, that have a carefully constructed facade, just barely propped up by secrets and lies. One breath and it all falls down.”
Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six is the twentieth novel by award-winning, best-selling American author, Lisa Unger. In today’s high-pressure world, what could be better than a weekend getaway in a secluded cabin in the woods in Georgia Hannah’s brother Mako is treating them all: Hannah and Bruce, Hannah’s best friend Cricket and her new man, Joshua, Mako and his wife Liza. What they find on the…

by Ann E Beman: In this debut supernatural thriller, a young Cree woman’s dreams lead her back home, where a wheetigo (windigo) preys on the family’s grief for her grandmother and her sister. Mackenzie has tried to run away from her family and their losses, but her nightmares have started to bleed into reality and she returns home to relearn the strength of family, community, and connection to the land. "That’s the best and worst thing about being connected to everything: you are a part of it all, but you can’t choose what gets sent out into the world. Or what…

by Anthony C.: "In Love: A Memoir of Love and Loss" by Amy Bloom tells the story of a couple who, when the husband develops Alzheimer’s Disease, seek physician-assisted suicide to end his suffering. With this topic, many people feel strongly enough about the issue to say, "No thanks," but Bloom gives us details that activate your empathy as you know Bloom’s anguish.
Bloom provides a glimpse of the human experience that has a lot in common with regular, old-fashioned grief. You try to soak in the last moments and want your loved one around for selfish reasons, even though they…