It is cold. It is rainy. This morning someone had the audacity to mention snow…… It is time to get serious about reading. Because really. Nature is to be avoided when it is cold outside.
| No one does mystery with a heavy dose of beautiful writing like Louise Penny. This wasn’t one of her strongest as I actually guessed the ending about 3/4 of the way through; however, I was still there for the melancholy atmosphere and the family ties. This is the fifteenth in the series and it is still going strong! |
| As a historical novel, this will stand proudly by most of the adult versions of today. It was refreshing to see an intelligent young woman struggling against the strictures of her time without a completely dark, bleak atmosphere. Also, the relationship between the couple was more of a true romance built first on respect and friendship instead of just biology. |
| An adventure with strong, young protagonists who learn families don’t have to be perfect to be ok but things do need to be real. Excellent story. |
A dragon, a bookshop, and true friendship. What else could you possibly need? Beautiful illustrations? Check. Great story? Check. It is sure to please.
The survivors are from different regions and different backgrounds. Ages varied at the time of the violent acts. Some of them watched family and friends die. Others heard the shots and lived through the harrowing moments without ever actually laying eyes on the shooter. Each of them dealt with the aftermath in their own way. Some learned to forgive. Others not. Some became activists in gun control and/or school safety. This is definitely not an easy read but it does feel like a necessary one. My only quibble with this book are the editing mishaps scattered throughout which distract the reader from the essays.