Body in the Books By: Heather Huffman

This was a really sweet story and quite packed with info and emotions for such a short mystery.  It was utterly delightful.  More than a few typos pulled me out of the story, but I managed to get back into the flow.

True Crime British Killers By: Jason Neal

I read a lot of true crime, and it's rare that I come across a compilation of histories where I don't know any of the subjects-this is one of those times.  A quick, yet fascinating look at 6 (with a bonus 7th) killers form the annals of British crime.

The Mystery of the Missing Crystal Golf Ball By: Jesse Archer

Being able to write an interesting, well plotted mystery short is not an easy accomplishment, yet Jessa Archer has accomplished it.  This is basically a locked room mystery that is exquisitely plotted with great humor.

Thatcher's Mate By: Dawn Wilder

A really great novella.  The action sequences are well drawn and you'll fly through this interesting gay werewolf fantastia!

 

The Omega's Physician By: Kenna Grace

This prequel to the full novel of the the same name is the perfect teaser!  It sets up the characters and situation beautifully and leaves the reader wanting more.

Club Brando By: Tom Caval

A cute short about a very bizarre night for our protagonist, Lee.  Things go from bad to worse to odd when Lee is stood up by his dating app date. This could totally be expanded to make a full length novel!

 

Playing for Pizza By: John Grisham

What a sweet little book.  I was wary at first, because I'm not a football fan, but I was totally engrossed in this story.  Wonderful descriptions, heart pounding action and the food-eat before reading it.

Improper Bostonians: Lesbian and Gay History from the Puritans to Playland By: The History Project

I don't know why I didn't already have this book marked as read, since I read it 24 years ago when it was first published!  This book sprang from the exhibition at the Boston Public Library on 350 years of Gay & Lesbian History in Boston.  As LGBTQI+ Rights are , yet again, under attack, re-reading this book is a sad reminder that no matter how much things may change, things stay the same!  I do remember reading it the first time and thinking it would be fun to visit all the sites in Boston mentioned in the map in the book-now looking at the map I realize that I've spent the last 17 years working in and around all of the mentioned sites!

 

Radio Golf By: August Wilson

Radio Golf concludes Wilson's 10 play cycle of the African American life in the 20th Century.  Written shortly before his death, Radio Golf is set in the late 90's and as far as African's have come, this piece still shows how far there is still to go.  The through line of the Hill District and Aunt Esther that is present through most of the cycle are on prominent display and are used to illustrate how the question of how we move forward without forgetting/disregarding the past.  The Harmon's epiphany in Radio Golf, is beautiful, yet the reader is left with a sadness because we know he did right but the world around him just doesn't care.

I highly recommend any of these plays, but really recommend you read them in historical order to get the full depth and breadth of August Wilson's brilliance!

King Hedley II By: August Wilson

I re-read Fences (50's), Two Trains Running (60's) and Jitney (70's) in September and October, so I moved from Seven Guitars straight to King Hedley II.  Which turns out to be a good thing-as several characters form Guitars are present and the focus in King Hedley II.  Set in 1985 in the backyard of the same building from Guitars we focus on the next generation of the folks from Guitars.  We see in stark contrast what has changed over the intervening 40 years, and what has not.  Wilson has lost none of the impact in his writing as he goes through his cycle. 

Seven Guitars By: August Wilson

This was gripping-I felt dirty reading it! Set in the backyard of a rooming house in the 40's, I felt like I was peeping over the back fence and eaves dropping on the characters. Somehow August Wilson has managed to write of the plight of African Americans (which let's face it has always been horrific), and still imbue his characters with hope-even in the direst of circumstances. This was definitely a gut punch.

The Piano Lesson By: August Wilson

We've moved into the 30's with this 4th play in Wilson's cycle.  The Piano Lesson, to me is about family and family history.  What do we hold dear and why and what effect does it have on you, your life and the lives of those around you.  This complex subject is deftly handled by Wilson as he centers it on a family piano.  Absolute brilliance! 

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom By: August Wilson

 

 

The anger is palpable on the page in the 3rd installment of the Wilson cycle.  Set in the 20's in a recording studio in Chicago, the music is key to holding on: on to culture; on to pride; and on to self.  With a twist ending that floored me-Mar Raine's Back Bottom is musically heartbreaking.

Joe Turner's Come and Gone By: August Wilson

WOW!  A boarding house in 1911 is the setting for this eerie, moving and gut wrenching piece. Examining the ties that bind us together and the hope and/or despair those binds can bring, Wilson stuns with this beautiful play.

 

Gem of the Ocean By: August Wilson

 

I'm now going to read the 20th century cycle by August Wilson in order, and Gem of the Ocean is a gorgeous way to start this journey. 1904 is where we start and we meet the denizens of Wylie Street, including Aunt Ester (who we will meet later in other plays of the cycle). Sad, hopeful and moving, this piece examines life not so far removed from slavery and how people struggle through the newness while holding on to their history, themselves and their culture.

The Kaiser's Web By: Steve Berry

Damn, Steve Berry can tell a story!  A lot less action sequences in this one, but's lots of fantastic and creative story that leads to a truly jaw dropping twist at the end!  Brilliant!

 

A Friend's Screenplay

The screenplay for this short film is wickedly twisted and funny, but also very sweet. I'm so lucky I have friends who trust me with their writing! 

Less By: Andrew Sean Greer

As a gay man, who turned 50 not too long ago, this hit very close to home...thankfully, however, I'm not as much of a mess as Arthur Less.  And he's not really a mess-he just thinks he is.  This is a quick read, humorous (sometimes in a sad sort of way), and surprisingly quite lovely.

The Wise Man's Fear By: Patrick Rothfuss

The Wise Man's Fear pick's up exactly where Book One leaves off.  Te continuation of Kvothe's story is like no other in the fantasy genre. Rothfuss' storytelling is quite astonishing, and there is no sophomore slump with this one.  It's just such a shame that he has left his readers hanging for 11 (and who knows how many more), years without completing this fascinating a beautiful told story.

 

New Manuscript: By: A Friend

I'm so lucky that I have friends who trust me with their book babies!  This one is a departure for this particular author-branching into a different genre-and it's gonna be good!! Fun, sweet, people will eat it up!