September

A Watershed Year by Susan Schoenberger

Lucy’s best friend thirty-three year old Harlan dies from cancer and she is devastated. Like any 30-some woman would do — she decides to adopt a baby from Russia. And as she goes forward with her plan e-mails start arriving from Harlan that he arranged to be sent after he died. Lucy travels to Russia where she has the usual struggles and finally takes four year old Mat to America. Not really a watershed book for me but a nice easy feel-good book, and no, I don’t understand how I selected so many Schoenburger books the past few months.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

The same author wrote The Husband’s Secret, which i really enjoyed, and this book was right on par. Start with a strong group of women with secrets, add some humor and stir with a crazy spoon. Set in and around Pirriwee Public's school, the book revolves around Madeline, Celeste, and Jane and the famous annual Trivia Night where this year, one parent ends up dead. Touches on just about everything — parenting, ex-wives, ex-husbands, second wives, bullying, domestic abuse, violence, politics, and dysfunctional families. Makes you feel normal compared to these looney tunes. Recommended!!

The Glassblower by Petra Durst-Benning

Set in the village of Lauscha, Germany, a story of how things have been done for centuries and how change sneeks in when you least expect it. In Lauscha the men blow the glass, and the women decorate and pack it. But Joost Steinmann’s three daughters are left with difficult decisions when he dies suddenly leaving them alone. An interesting book with a few nice twists and turns.

Last Night at the Blue Angel by Rebecca Rotert

This is a great book and I highly recommend it. Set in 1965, it's Naomi’s last night at the Blue Angel, the once iconic jazz club in the hub of Chicago. Awesome characters including: Ten-year-old Sophia who idolizes her mom —even though it’s obvious Naomi would rather sing than be a Mom. Jim is a photographer wanna-be boyfriend and a father figure to Sophia. Jim was inspired by noted photographer Richard Nickel—a talented photographer on a mission to capture the essence of the many iconic landmarks of Chicago before they met their fateful destruction in the1960’s. This is an exquisite account of the 1960’s jazz scene in downtown Chicago, and wonderful historical details.