by Billie Jean King Overall: I listened to this as an audiobook, and it was amazing to hear Billie Jean King reading her own words. You could hear her emotion at different points in the narrative, which added so much to the book. All In is a straight-up autobiography by pioneering tennis player and activistContinue reading “All In: An Autobiography”
Author Archives: Liz Helfrich
Nightbitch
by Rachel Yoder Overall: This is a book about a woman who may, or may not, be transforming into a dog. Not a cute lapdog: something wild, large, and terrifying. It’s not a joke, though parts of this book are very funny. If I’ve lost you already, this book isn’t for you. But if you’reContinue reading “Nightbitch”
A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons
by Kate Khavari Overall: Full disclosure: 1920s mysteries combine my all-time favorite genre with my all-time favorite era. I’m a huge fan of Gold Age Detective Fiction like Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. So I was predisposed to like A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons, and it did not disappoint! Saffron Everleigh works atContinue reading “A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons”
Mary Jane
by Jessica Anya Blau Overall: a sweet coming-of-age novel narrated by 14-year-old Mary Jane in mid-1970s Baltimore. This would be a great beach read, as it takes place over the summer. Mary Jane’s stiflingly conservative religious upbringing has prepared her to be an ideal summer nanny – I seriously wished multiple times reading this thatContinue reading “Mary Jane”
Nights When Nothing Happened
by Simon Han Overall: a quiet, beautiful novel about a family of four living in suburban America. Patty and Liang met in China; she was a physics student, and he was a struggling photographer. After their son Jack was born, Patty moved to Houston to pursue her studies, with Liang moving to join her laterContinue reading “Nights When Nothing Happened”
Five Tuesdays in Winter
by Lily King Lily King is one of my favorite writers. I discovered her during the pandemic thanks to my friend Heather, who loaned me several of her books. Five Tuesdays in winter is her new short story collection, and I listened to it as an audiobook. I loved that there were five different narrators!Continue reading “Five Tuesdays in Winter”
Atomic Anna
by Rachel Barenbaum Overall: A multi-generational family story focused on mothers and daughters, Atomic Anna stretches across much of the 20th century. The Anna of the title is Anna Berkova, a Soviet nuclear scientist living in Pripyat (the city supporting Chernobyl) at the time of the accident in 1986. When she discovers that the accidentContinue reading “Atomic Anna”
Gallant
by V. E. Schwab Overall: This is a quick YA fantasy/horror story – more like a long fable or very dark fairytale than a full, complex novel. Olivia, a mute orphan who can see ghosts (ghouls in the book), was abandoned by her mother as a child at an orphanage called Merilance with only herContinue reading “Gallant”
Lessons in Chemistry
by Bonnie Garmus Overall: I loved this book! Elizabeth Zott is determined to work in her chosen field of chemistry in the 1950s despite the opposition of nearly everyone she encounters. She has no interest in falling in love or having a family, but when she and famous scientist Calvin Evans end up in theContinue reading “Lessons in Chemistry”
Hamnet
by Maggie O’Farrell Overall: I was late to the Hamnet party. To be honest, this book sat by my bedside for months. I have a hard time reading stories about dying children and Hamnet’s age (11) put him squarely between by two girls. I wish I had not put it off! This novel deserves everyContinue reading “Hamnet”
Liz Helfrich 