The King of Lies by John Hart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A lawyer's father, who is also a lawyer has been missing for over a year. His body is found and an investigation ensues to find his killer.

I am not a great fan of books written in the first person, however, this was an entertaining story.

Skipping Christmas by John Grisham
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

What a lovely, entertaining story. Since their only child has left for Peru to work with the Peace Corps, mom and dad decide that they will skip Christmas and take themselves on a lovely cruise instead.

Hmmm, great idea. Until their daughter decides to fly home and surprise her parents with not only herself, but her new fiance, a Peruvian doctor.

We can probably see ourselves in this lovely, madcap, adventure.

The Water is Wide by Pat Conroy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After graduating from the Citadel in the late 1960's and before becoming a beloved bestselling Southern author Pat Conroy spent a pretty exasperating but inspiring year teaching a group of impoverished and undereducated black children on Yamacraw Island off the South Carolina coast. Put in charge of 18 supposedly higher level kids who could neither read or write and didn't even know that they lived in America, he takes on the challenge with unconventional methods such as movies, music, and even field trips away from the island from which they'd never strayed. To say he didn't receive much support from school board authorities is putting it mildly, in fact it's pretty much an endless dispute, but surely those children lucky enough to have been in his class that year had lives forever changed.
This memoir was written during times when school desegregation and other issues were at play but it must be pretty embarrassing time in history for education administration.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Danny and Maeve are siblings who can’t overcome their past. Abandoned by their mother at an early age, Maeve, the oldest, assumes the mother role. Everything changes further when their emotionally distant father marries the evil stepmother and the children are cut out of their inheritance. The pain, bitterness, and anger shapes their personalities and their future. How do they move past such a childhood?

My questions: What does forgiveness look like? Does forgiveness mean you allow toxic people back into your life? Is that healthy? What is required of the person(s) who did you wrong? I have my own thoughts about these issues but you’ll have to read the book and decide for yourself.

The first 75% was riveting reading. But the story took a turn that I found unrealistic and ridiculous. I can’t say more without spoilers. I’ve tried to discern the author’s purpose in writing this book and it either escapes me or it’s one I can’t buy into.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I would like to give this book a fair review. The two stars I gave are for character development. I just tried and tried to read and enjoy this book but found it just not possible.

I do love most of the books that I have read by this author and I am sure that this is just not my personal cup of tea. Others might thoroughly enjoy this read.

Very disappointing.

We Are All Welcome Here by Elizabeth Berg
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An excellent read. Based on a true story of a woman who contacted polio when she was expecting a baby. She lived for years in an iron lung but is determined to still raise her family and be as productive as possible under the circumstances.

As I was reading this story I became very emotional near the end. It is a very powerful story.