Reading in the Garden

Maggie, the Magnificent H is Majesty’s Hope by Susan Elia MacNeal.     Maggie, a member of the elite British Special Ops Executive, is sent on a mission to Nazi-controlled Berlin in 1941. Her first assignment is extremely dangerous especially for a female spy. It’s something she’s trained extensively for, but what happens when training meets reality? I found this book in a Little Free Library and I’m glad I did. This is an exciting mystery wrapped in history.   In this fast, action-packed book, I got lost in Maggie’s daring adventure while being reminded of the unthinkable horrors of the Holocaust. The author commingles fictional characters with historical figures in a way that brings history to life like no text book can.   Yes, it’s fiction, but events ring true with obviously well-researched, heart-wrenching realities. I found the book smart, informative, and exciting—hard to put down. This book is part of the Maggie Mystery series.   And while I’m not a fan of any ser

Family Matters We Have Always Lived in the Castle  by Shirley Jackson is a novella narrated by 18-year-old Mary Katherine Blackwood who tells how she, her sister, and uncle are ostracized by the townspeople because of something that happened six years ago.  That’s when most of their family members were murdered by arsenic which was added to the sugar bowl.  Constance, Mary Katherine’s older sister, was arrested, tried, and acquitted—by the courts. But the people in town don’t believe true justice was done, so they dole out their own punishments by harassing them. No surprise, the three family members isolate themselves as much as possible from their hatred. They rarely let anyone into their little world — until Cousin Charles comes around one day and turns their world upside down.  This novella quickly drew me in with with its eccentric set of characters and kept me going with the subtle suspense of where it was all leading. I really enjoyed this dip in the crazy pool.  The

Looking Back with Laughter I'm Down by Mishna Wolff is a humorous memoir about a girl growing up in a poor, black neighborhood with an unusual father.  At an early age Mishna, who is bright and scored high on proficiency exams, is sent to a school for gifted, rich students. Now Mishna must find a balance between both worlds: one filled with studying, skiing, and European vacations, the other filled with “capping,” slam charades, and Value Village.   In this book, Wolff recounts her unusual, sometimes awkward and sad childhood with hilarious, keen insight.   Weaving her wit through a net of issues, she exposes racial and social attitudes, parenting styles, and the struggles of growing up through a wildly funny narrative.   I found it highly entertaining and had a hard time putting it down. This was a book club selection and my members also really enjoyed the book.  We had a good discussion about Mishna's father who was at times  negligent, at times coldly insen