For everyone who likes to ask Ginger O'Malley what she's reading, this is for you. Here’s a list and quick review of what she's been reading during quarantine and it's all available on cloudLibrary.
The Yellow Bird Sings by Jennifer Rosner and Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon – both World War II historical fiction. Quite different stories, but both excellent.
In Five Years by Rebecca Serle – Thirty-something New Yorker thinks she has everything figured out until she wakes up, briefly, five years in the future to a very different life. Quick, entertaining page-turner.
The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate, author of Before We Were Yours. Based on actual advertisements, placed in newspapers after the Civil War, of freed slaves trying to locate their families. I didn’t like quite as much as Before We Were Yours, but still good.
Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane. Two NY police officer’s families’ lives intertwined through the years. Highly recommend.
The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner. Group of citizens from a small English village trying to recover from World War II and brought together through their love of Jane Austen. Very charming.
Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore. Starts off with a crime against a young Mexican girl in Texas, then delves into the stories of different people involved. I liked it, but thought some things were left unsaid and am eager to discuss with someone!
The Vineyards of Champagne by Juliet Blackwell. A young widow travels to the Champagne region in France for her job back in California. Predictable, but interesting back story of families hiding in champagne caves during World War I.
The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd. Loved this one! What if Jesus was married? Author imagines a wife for Jesus and her struggles and victories before, during and after their life together.
The Mountains Sing by Nguyen Phan Que Mai. A young Vietnamese girl living through the Vietnam War and listening to her grandmother’s story of living through many other tumultuous times in Vietnam. Heartbreaking but a beautiful story.
Happy Reading!