Spring Into Good Reads
Book Reviews by Linda Stephen, Reviewer
Wanderers: A History of Women Walking by Kerri Andrews – My sister gave me this book for Christmas. She knows that I enjoy exploring new paths. This book highlights the voices of 10 women writer-walkers over the past 300 years including Dorothy Wordsworth, Virginia Woolf, Anais Nin, and Cheryl Strayed. More importantly, Wanderers shows the role of walking in writing and creativity, seeing and being. For many reasons, women have had restrictions on the freedom to walk alone and think – household duties, childcare, limitations of clothes, and safety. I highly recommend Wanderers for anyone who walks regularly, enjoys outdoor time, or appreciates thoughtful writing. Reaktion Books Limited, 2021, 304 pages (paperback).
A Fatal Fleece: A Seaside Knitters Mystery by Sally Goldenbaum – I discovered this cozy mystery series last summer and have read at least eight of the series, not in order. The murder mysteries take place in a small seaside town in Massachusetts that has no chain stores. The main character Nell is retired from running a big nonprofit in Boston.
The books are as much about community and enjoying food as they are about solving murders. Every Friday, Nell and her husband host an open house meal for four to 20 of their friends. The mystery unravellers are four women best friends: Nell, her niece who runs the yarn studio, a young lobsterwoman, and an octogenarian, who eat and talk and knit together at the yarn studio every Thursday night. I do not knit and still enjoy knitting projects. I highly recommend any of the Seaside Knitters mysteries (Penguin Books) for anyone who loves cozy mysteries, stories celebrating friendships, or examples of active retirement. Find at Lincoln City Libraries.
One Brilliant Flame: A Novel by Joy Castro – This fascinating historical novel primarily takes place in 1886 in Key West in the cigar factories, wealthy houses, slums, and coffee shops of the most prosperous city in Florida. The city was the base for Cuban rebels fighting a 30-year war against Spain for independence and the end of slavery. Did you know that cigar factory workers hired a lecturo to read newspapers or books for hours to entertain them while they rolled tobacco leaves into cigars? The story is told from the view of six young friends, female and male, working class and rich. I appreciate the different viewpoints and voices – showing how even people from the same place and time have different life experiences. Highly recommend to readers who enjoy the feeling of living history. Lake Union Publishing, 2023, 334 pages. Castro is currently the Willa Cather Professor of English and Ethnic Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Find signed books at Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th Street in Lincoln.
Linda Stephen is an author, editor, and origami artist. Contact her at Linda@UnfoldingCommunications.com. Art events and classes at LindaStephen.com or Facebook.com/LindaStephenOrigamiArt.