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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Heartwood by Amity Gaige

    February 11, 2026
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    This novel was my choice for my book club for 2026. We each chose one book and this was mine. I chose it because it’s a book that would appeal to a wide range of readers. Here is my book review Heartwood by Amity Gaige.

    Appalachian Trail, Maine

    The setting for this book is beautiful Maine, one of my favorite places in the USA. Gaige beautifully describes the nature of the Appalachian Trail, as we get to know details about missing hiker, 42 year old Valerie Gillis. The search and rescue team looking for Valerie is headed by Game Warden Beverly, who has the auspicious title of the first women to hold this post in Maine.

    Female Leads

    Through out this suspenseful novel the author blends perspectives and story-lines back and forth of three unique women; Valerie the missing hiker and her personal struggles with self, Beverly the Game Warden and her own challenges in her career and personal life, and Lena an elderly women using her computer “friend” to combat loneliness.

    These three women will become connected in a surprising suspenseful thriller in the Maine woods.

    Pieces of the Puzzle

    Without giving too much away, I recommend this novel for it’s interesting setting and character development. Themes of survival, self-confidence, mother/daughter relationships, marriage, career, emotional depth, midlife and the will to live. This is the first novel I have read by Amity Gaige and I found her writing engaging and easy to read.

    Book Review Heartwood by Amity Gaige

    Thank you for reading my book review Heartwood by Amity Gaige. ****+Four and a half stars. See last week’s book review Audition by Katie Kitamura.

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Audition by Katie Kitamura

    February 4, 2026
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    Family dynamics and the truth lead the plot in this uniquely written Booker Short List novel by Katie Kitamura. Here is my Book Review Audition by Katie Kitamura.

    A Puzzle

    Kitamura tells this story in multiple narratives between two characters who drive the plot. It opens in a coffee shop where a well respected actress is dining with a much younger attractive man. The reader is left to ponder what exactly is going on here? When the women’s husband comes into the restaurant, but apparently doesn’t see her, she is left to wonder who is hiding what from who.

    Family Dynamics

    The plot leaves you hanging but eventually it becomes clear that the actress is hiding a secret from her past. Keeping that secret from her husband as well. The young man is possibly her son…but the narrative flips between chapters and the reader is left to figure out what is the truth in this women’s story.

    Book Review Audition Katie Kitamura

    This short novel (only 197 pages) left me flat, but it’s a quick read and some people might enjoy Kitamura’s work. As I mentioned in an earlier review, I am less than enamored by the 2025 Booker Award and shortlisted novels.

    ***Three stars for Audition by Katie Kitamura. See last week’s book review Confessions of a Problem Seeker by Howard Steinberg.

    Thank you for reading my book review Audition by Katie Kitamura. We are so grateful when you comment, pin and share our book reviews.

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Confessions of a Problem Seeker by Howard Steinberg

    January 28, 2026
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    This book was gifted to me by Coriolis Company Publicists in exchange for my honest review.

    Memoir

    I have been reading a lot of memoirs lately, after taking a memoir class last fall. I’m intrigued by those who find their story and share it through memoir writing. And this is what Howard Steinberg, a New York based entrepreneur has done with his own story. Here is my book review Confessions of a Problem Seeker by Howard Steinberg.

    Diabetes and Family Trauma

    Steinberg’s story revolves around his personal health issues living with and hiding his childhood diabetes for most of his life. Additionally he finds himself trying to compensate for his parents own childhood trauma as Holocaust survivors – needing to keep their happiness ahead of his own.

    Steinberg’s need to succeed beyond the trauma he lives an illusion of success as an entrepreneur and a family man. But he knows inside he is operating on survival instincts which he has done since he was a child.

    Search for Peace

    Call it a mid-life crisis or whatever you want, Steinberg begins to search for happiness. His spiritual awakening will help him through a divorce and business failings before opening his eyes to claiming joy in the second half of life.

    Book Review Confessions of a Problem Seeker

    The memoir is a bit dense and may not be for everyone, but if you find yourself searching for answers or navigating an unhappy mid-life, Steinberg honest story is moving and adaptable to many people’s situations.

    ***Three stars for Confessions of a Problem Seeker by Howard Steinberg

    Thank you for reading my book review Confessions of a Problem Seeker by Howard Steinberg.

    See last week’s book review Water Lies by Amy Meyerson

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Water Lies by Amy Meyerson

    January 21, 2026
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    Amy Meyerson is a new to me author, but she has three other highly acclaimed novels. Water Lies was a fast paced and easy read. Here is my book review Water Lies by Amy Meyerson.

    This novel was gifted to me by MB Communications in return for my honest review.

    Motherhood

    At its essence, this book is about Motherhood. But cleverly disguised as a murder-mystery. Set in the Venice Canals area of Los Angeles, with its posh homes and wealthy families, we meet Tessa. A young, pregnant mother navigating late stage pregnancy with a toddler in tow. One morning Tessa and her little boy are in a coffee shop. Tessa is feeling vulnerable in late stage pregnancy, and living in the Canal area doesn’t help. It’s like a fishbowl, where everyone knows what everyone else is doing…and they are judging. Or so Tessa thinks.

    While in the coffee shop Tessa’s son Jasper has a tantrum, when he sees and calls out to a young women he seems to know. Gigi. Geee Geee! He calls over and over. Tessa has never seen this women and does not understand her son’s reaction. Tessa leaves the coffee shop with a visceral feeling that something is strange.

    Murder?

    Just 24 hours later, the same women in the coffee shop, is found dead in the canals. Despite the police and Tessa’s husband Gabe insisting it was just an accident, Tessa instincts are strong. The woman’s name is Regina, and Regina’s mother Barb also does not believe it was an accident. Barb flies to LA to begin her own investigation. Tessa and Barb will become an unlikely pair as they begin to unravel a strange and frightening scenario around Regina’s death.

    Book Review Water Lies by Amy Meyerson

    This thriller is fast paced and kept my attention, even though there were a few too obvious clues that I knew immediately would come back later in the story. That said, this murder plot is an interesting storyline that looks at all aspects of motherhood including infertility, pregnancy, birth, maternal instincts and mothering of adults. Additionally there are themes of family secrets, infidelity and friendship. The story includes introspection on IVF and the fertility as business, in the United States and the stigma around it.

    ****Four stars for Water Lies by Amy Meyerson, released on January 1, 2026

    See last week’s book review Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

    January 14, 2026
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    I was in a reading slump at the end of 2025, uninspired by nearly everything I tried to read. And then there was Theo. The feel good book of the year. Here is my Book Review Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.

    Heartfelt

    The word heartfelt, though a bit cliché, is the best word to describe this beautiful story. I listened to this book and seriously found myself smiling through it…except for when I was sobbing. I have not read anything by Levi before, and this character driven novel is such a beautiful story.

    Who is Theo?

    An old man shows up in the small Southern USA town of Golden. With no other name he is willing to share than Theo, this quiet, compassionate, generous gentleman begins to sew a tapestry of goodwill and benevolence through the community. Each person he encounters questions why a perfect stranger would be so kind-hearted.

    Characters

    The plot revolves around Theo bestowing portraits to a wide range of characters within the community. As each bestowal occurs, Levi creates a magical connectin for the reader to an eclectic group of people in Golden. We meet a intelligent homeless woman, a local musical busker, a single sad father, a little girl suffering from a tragedy, a bookseller running from his past, a music virtuoso and a remarkable artist trying to make ends meet. These are the people that Theo of Golden is about, and how one old man can touch so many lives.

    Book Review Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

    I loved listening to this book, but I’m sure it is just as touching as a hand held. Definitely one of my favorite books I’ve read this year, and if you haven’t read it yet, you should. I’m smiling as I am writing this, because that’s what happens when you get to know Theo.

    *****Five stars for Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.

    Thank you for reading my Book Review Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. A true work of art.

    See my last book review Dream State by Eric Puchner.

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review Flesh by David Szalay

    December 24, 2025
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    Szalay is a new to me author. He recently won the coveted Booker Award for 2025, otherwise I probably would never have read his work. But since my husband and I follow the Booker Prize closely, we immediately got a hold of Flesh. Here is my book review Flesh by David Szalay.

    Sex

    I’ll be right up front about this. There is A LOT of explicit sex in this book. If that bothers you, this book is not for you.

    Sparse

    Sparse is the word I have chosen to describe this novel. The dialogue is sparse, and the story itself is pretty bare bones. I found the narrative style a bit difficult, dialogue of one and two word sentences for much of the book. Szalay is known for this kind of writing, but it’s not my favorite.

    Story

    The story follows Hungarian born Istevan through out his life, starting when he is 15 years old. Istevan encounters multiple circumstances through out his life that will take him from rags to riches. He does not always make the best choices, although he is not an unlikable character. He is however an unfortunate character, whose own actions thrust him from problem to problem throughout his life.

    It’s a fairly short, and unhappy book of one man’s life. From humble beginnings to incredible wealth and back to simple life.

    Book Review Flesh by David Szalay

    I did not love this book. But you might. It’s an interesting choice for such an important award. I have read a lot of Booker Prize winning books, but recently I have not been a fan of the choices. That said, Szalay is definitely talented, and this book certainly has people talking.

    **Two stars for Flesh by David Szalay.

    Thank you for reading my book review Flesh by David Szalay.

    See last week’s book review Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. We love it when you pin, share and comment on our book reviews. Thank you.

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    Reading Wednesday

    Book Review The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

    December 10, 2025
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    A sad but sometimes funny story of people trying to survive on the margins of life, in a broken down post industrial town in Connecticut. Here is my book review The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong.

    The Emperor of Gladness

    The title made me think this book was about a person…I imagined someone with a positive attitude living a positive life. Well, that is not what this book is. Very much the opposite. The Emperor of Gladness is not a person but more of a state of mind. Throughout the novel we follow a cast of characters who become the most unlikely friends. Each one dealing in their own way with the suffering of the world.

    Hai

    When we meet Hai, he is standing on a bridge in the dark about to end his life. Addiction has plagued him and he has lied so egregiously to his mother to make her happy he sees no way to come clean. But then he hears someone calling to him and he meets an old woman living in a dilapidated house on the edge of the bridge. Hai and Grazina, who suffers from dementia, will form an improbably bond as he becomes her caretaker.

    The HomeMarket

    Hai goes to the local HomeMarket, a kind of slow food grocery, to find his cousin Sony and try to get a job. Sony introduces Hai to BJ the manager and she hires him. Over the next month Hai will befriend the quirky collection of addicts, veterans, dreamers and a civil war history enthusiast to form a sort of family, as he continues to care for Grazina and lie to his mother.

    Suffering

    As Grazina’s dementia spirals, her son realizes Hai is not a trained nurse and calls the cops. At the same time BJ is forced by the corporate office to let Sony go and in his despair he runs away. Hai wants so much to save them both, save everyone, and elemenate all their suffering. The ragtag group of friends with Grazina in tow go on one last adventure, in an effort to help Sony.

    Witty and Moving

    This is not a happy story, but you feel such empathy for these odd characters. This book is a moving look at those in our midst living on the edge of sanity, those in our society on the margins who have so little and only want to be loved. The ending is ambiguous, apparently by design. What will happen to Hai? Can he find peace in this harsh world of suffering?

    Thank you for reading my book review The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong.

    ****Four stars for The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong. See last week’s book review Buckeye by Patrick Ryan.

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