Author: Sheila Parker
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Meet the Newmans
Niven creates a behind the scenes look at a family that has spent most of their time in front of the cameras. Inspired by the Nelson family, Niven pulls curtain to give us a look at the not so idyllic life. From adhering to the moral codes of Hollywood during the 60s to paying off…
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The First Time I saw Him
Laura Dave continues the story of Hannah Hall in this sequel. In the first book, Owen turns state evidence and has to leave his wife and daughter for their own safety from the organization that he turned against. As Dave unfolds the story, we learn more about the situation that landed Hannah, Bailey, and Owen…
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Book Apps
I have been tracking my reading for the past 20 years. Before the apps, I have a notebook that I would write down the book, a summary, and a rating system. I, for one, like to be able to look back at my reading history, whether it is to weigh in on a book or…
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My Other Heart by Emma Nanami Strenner
Strenner writes a heartbreaking story of a mother who loses her child in the Philadelphia airport, but is unable to communicate with the authorities due to language difficulties. Ignoring her pleas for help, she is sedated and deported. The story is intertwined with a coming of age story of two young girls who befriend each…
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Buckeye by Patrick Ryan
Buckeye is the story of two families as their lives intertwine through the generations from WWII until the seventies. Set in Ohio, Ryan uses Midwest tendencies brilliantly as this book convey relatable circumstances and characters that echo sentiments that have long been held by this region (I can say this as I live in the…
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Sister in the Wind by Angeline Boulley
Boulley has an innate way of spiraling her story to provide her audiences with the most unexpected twist. This story is told with a series of flashbacks that work to explain the current timeline of the story. Lucy loses everything she knew in life when her father dies at a very young age. Although he…
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The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O’Neill
O’Neill creates a believably complex family that would rather ignore a situation rather than deal with the implications of honesty and directness. This should resonate with many readers today as it seems to be a growing pattern of dealing with conflict. The book is told from alternating perspectives of the three Ryan sisters. Each sister…
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Goodreads Challenges
One of the elements that Goodreads has added is the seasonal challenges. They started adding challenges last year, but I feel they just were testing them out and how to introduce the concept to their users. I have fallen for them hook, line, and sinker. I will admit that I’m a competitive sort of person,…
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Favorite Books to Teach
September is around the corner, so I am diligently preparing for the upcoming school year. While I have always had a fair amount of autonomy in my classroom, I don’t get to chose the books that I want to. I know shocking. English majors jump into the profession thinking they will get teach their favorite…
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5 Star Reads
We are all familiar with 5 stars as the goal for every book, especially if you are on Goodreads. I know there are people who will say that I’m a book snob, or I’m stingy with my 5 stars. However, I really don’t feel that is the case. I read almost every genre, and I…
bound and noted 