The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

I did not know anything about Bletchley Park or what the site was used for during World War 2, prior to reading this book. I found it completely fascinating. I loved how the author used a combination of real people and fictional characters to tell this story. A couple of the fictional characters were, for the most part, based on a blend of two real-life people. Mab and her husbands were truly fictional, but Mab represented the women "worker bees" of Bletchley Park.

Bletchley Park was a top-secret decryption facility during World War 2. The codebreakers of BP were so incredibly intelligent it's astounding. I think that Beth would fall on the Autism Spectrum, if that sort of thing was diagnosed back then. The way her mind worked - and her tunnel vision and lack of awareness about her surroundings/environment and other people - seems proof of that diagnosis. (Beth was actually a combination of two real-life people).

The three main characters, Osla, Mab and Beth, came from very different backgrounds. They never would have met each other, much less been best friends, if they hadn't all been sent to work at Bletchley Park. It was a "defining moment" in each of their lives. Many of us don't think of the codebreakers who helped end the war in the same way we think of the men and women involved in the actual conflicts. They were an integral part of the war effort however. I think it would be super hard to have such an important job and then not be able to talk about it. Ever. They talk about codebreakers having nervous breakdowns and some ending up in an asylum. The stress would have been incredible. It's a different kind of "combat fatigue".

The author included Prince Phillip (of Greece) in the narrative, and eventually his marriage to Queen Elizabeth in 1947. Osla (the real-life Osla) was Prince Phillip's long-term girlfriend before he marriage Elizabeth. I was happy to read that they remained good friends after his marriage and throughout their lives.

The explanations of how the codebreakers actually worked - and the machines and equipment they used to break the codes were complex. I don't really understand how they did what they did. They used an Enigma machine and a British bombe machine. The men and women who used these machines - and their minds - to break the numerous codes in numerous languages were absolutely amazing.

I loved this book! It was very informative, well researched and well written. I highly recommend it!

Wendy's Rating: *****

Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko

Sometimes the titles of books put me off from reading them. This is one of those books. Even though it is a Newberry Honor Book, I have next to no interest in Al Capone. But, I like to read what my son is reading, so I decided to give it a try. Well, you can't judge a book by its cover. I really liked it. 

First of all, it's not about Al Capone, even though he is peripherally "involved" in the story. This is a story about the families who lived on Alcatraz Island when it was a functioning prison. Specifically, it's about the Flanagan family who move to Alcatraz after Mr. Flanagan takes a job there as a prison guard. The main character is Moose Flanagan, who is a twelve year old boy. Moose has an older sister, Natalie who is 15, but his mother tells everyone she is 10 years old. Natalie is on the autism spectrum, but since no one knew about autism in the 1930s, she is just "special" or "different". Mrs. Flanagan's mission in life is to get help for Natalie so that she is more "normal". Her latest plan is to get Natalie into the Esther P. Marinoff School in San Francisco, which is a special school for young children. The school doesn't take children older than 12, so that's why Moose's mother lies about Natalie's age.

What I loved most about this book is the relationship between Moose & Natalie. This is a true coming of age story for Moose as he develops a deep bond with his sister after being forced (by his mother) to be her primary "caregiver" after school every day. Natalie's "growth" into her own self & her being able to express (through words) some of her feelings, needs and wants is accomplished by Moose treating her "like a normal sister" and taking her everywhere he goes. Moose's friends become her friends. Even though Natalie initially starts school at the Esther P. Marinoff School when they first move to Alcatraz, she gets kicked out after 36 hours. Mrs. Flanagan is told about a woman, Mrs. Kelly, who can help Natalie by working one-on-one with Natalie until she is "ready" to give the school a try again. Mrs. Kelly's methods of working with Natalie and Moose's caring for Natalie every day brings about the change in Natalie. It's really heartwarming.

Moose also develops a crush on the Warden's daughter, Piper, after telling her again and again throughout the book that he doesn't want anything to do with her. She IS a troublemaker for sure! Anyway, for someone who works in social services with people who have disabilities, I really loved Moose's love for his sister and I loved watching their relationship develop. I also loved how Moose's friends, including Piper, accepted Natalie for who she is.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

This book is categorized as a fiction novel, but it's the true story of Lale Eisenberg and Gita Furman, who met in 1942 at the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland. Since Lale knew several languages (Russian, Czech, German, French, Hungarian, Polish), he was assigned to be the Tatowierer (tatooist) for all people brought to the Auschwitz and Birkenau camps. As the Tatowierer, he was given more leeway than the other prisoners, and he was able to help many of the suffering. He was good at watching people in power (guards, etc) and testing them out to see if they would be willing to overlook some of what he was doing to help others. He was also just incredibly kind and non-judgmental of all people, which always helps. Lale personified the phrase "kindness matters" - if we are allowed to personify a phrase!

Lale was able to make a connection with two men (father & son) who worked at Auschwitz but lived in town. These two men were able to get Lale food, medicine and other supplies, which Lale then distributed secretly to the prisoners within the camps. He paid the men with gems & money that were taken from the prisoners by the Nazi Germans. Gita (who Lale fell in love with at first sight after seeing her at Auschwitz) and her friends worked in the Canada bunker, sorting through the person items of the prisoners. Gita and the other women would sneak gems into their pockets and would pass them along to Lale. Lale would bribe the female guard watching over them with chocolate to get some alone time with Gita in the Canada. 

It's Lale's kindness and bravery and intelligence that saves his life - and Gita's life as well - more than once. Some of the kind things he does to assist other prisoners and guards builds up a level of loyalty toward him. It's pretty remarkable that Lale and Gita were still living after Auschwitz is "freed" by the Russian Army. I use that term ("freed") lightly. They both could have easily been killed at that point, and for months after that, were it not for some fast-thinking, risk-taking and down right luck on each of their parts. They were separated at Auschwitz when the Russians arrived, so they each made their own way to safety - and eventually back to each other.

I love reading about the incredibly brave men and women who put themselves out there to help others in the most horrific moments in history. This is an incredible true story of two survivors whose love for each other trumps all else. I really loved it.

Wendy's Rating: *****

Northern Spy by Flynn Berry

I will be the first to admit that I have limited knowledge about Ireland and the IRA. Other British colonies have been in the news lately, which made this a timely read for me. I don't know what it's like to be governed by another country. This is a fast-paced novel about living in Northern Ireland and the dangers associated with living there.

The main character is Tessa, who is recently divorced and has an infant son. She works for the BBC. Tessa's sister, Marian, is accused of being a member of the IRA. Tessa initially rejects this idea completely, since the IRA is associated with bombings, murder and robberies to drive home their agenda. Tessa soon discovers however that Marian has been involved with the IRA for a number of years. She had been recruited seven years previously. Tessa also realizes that Marian thinks of her fellow IRA members as "family". She genuinely cares about them.

This new information puts Tessa and her mother in a tight spot. Tessa is especially concerned about the safety of her son. Things get even more complicated when Marian reveals that she is an informer (against the IRA) - and that she wants Tessa to be one too.

Tessa wants to pack up her son and leave immediately to keep him safe. But that would mean leaving a country that she loves, her mother & sister, her son's father and her job. Also, she wonders if running away from Ireland's political issues is something that she could live with. Marian keeps telling her that a cease-fire is close at hand, so Tessa is torn about what to do. What to stand for.

As Tessa gets deeper into her involvement with the IRA and informing on the IRA, she is certainly putting her life at risk. She also starts to have romantic feelings for her handler. I honestly cannot imagine living a life where you don't know who you can trust. These people that she started associating with (ALL of them on both sides) are going to do whatever it takes to further their agenda, no matter how much they might "like" a person. If someone dies for the cause, then so be it. It's for the "greater good".

This was an interesting read - and a fast one. I really enjoyed it, in an eye-opening kind of way. It was well written. I would definitely read this author again.

Wendy's Rating: ****

Overcoming The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

This is a Field Guide to The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. It provides the practical tools to help implement the concepts presented in the book. To review, the five dysfunctions of a team are: Absence of Trust, Fear of Conflict, Lack of Commitment, Avoidance of Accountability, Inattention to Results.

A team is a small group of people that share a common goal and the rewards and responsibilities for achieving the goal. Each team member sets aside their individual needs for the greater good of the group. If the above statements are not true, then you really don't have a team.

Trust on a team is the most important quality of a team. It takes courage to develop trust. We each have a strong desire for self-preservation and it's difficult to put ourselves at "risk" by being vulnerable to others. Each team member has to be comfortable with the "exposure" that they made a mistake or don't know what they are doing. Each person has to be able to ask for help when they need it. This Field Guide recommends starting with a Personal Histories Exercise, which is simply have each person share where they grew up, how many kids are in their family, and what was the most challenging thing about being a kid. This helps team members become more comfortable with being vulnerable. Then it suggests Behavioral Profiling by using a profiling tool like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). This will allow everyone to see their strengths and weaknesses.

To master conflict on a team, the field guide suggests using the MBTI profile since this includes a specific analysis of how each type deals with conflict. When people can publicly state their outlook on conflict, they are more open to adjusting to the established team norms surrounding conflict. A team needs to be comfortable having passionate debates around issues.

Achieving commitment, or buy-in, is being able to defy a lack of consensus on a team. It's about the team coming up with every possible idea, opinion and perspective, and then the team leader having the courage to make a decision. The team needs to establish a Thematic Goal. The goal should be a general achievement (not a quantitative goal). This creates clarity within the team.

Embracing accountability involves peer-to-peer accountability. In order for this to become part of a team's culture, it has to be modeled by the leader. The field guide recommends using the Team Effectiveness Exercise (TEE). It involves two questions: "What is the single most important behavioral characteristic or quality demonstrated by this person that contributes to the strength of our team" and "What is the single most important behavioral characteristic or quality demonstrated by this person that can sometimes derail the team?" Each team member reads their answers to the group. This exercise needs to be reviewed at future meetings so that people answer for their progress on the identified areas.

Focusing on results. This can be achieved by using a "scoreboard". Using a visible scoreboard is a good way to focus attention. The two primary components of the scoreboard should be the ongoing metrics of the team (revenue, expenses, etc) and the supporting objectives, which form the team's thematic goal.

"The true measure of a great team is that it accomplishes the results it sets out to achieve."

Wendy's Rating: ****

Epitaph Road by David Patneaude

I have read many, many dystopian/utopian novels. I am always fascinated by what different authors come up with as a way to solve our world's issues. How do we make our world a better place? In this particular novel, one drastic change is to eliminate the male population. (Well, the majority of the male population. Some males are still needed to procreate the next generation of females, after all!)

Kellen is a 14 year old boy. His parents received authorization to have a child, although his father "was surgically implanted with a hormone-excreting gadget to drastically reduce the changes of him producing a male infant". Those efforts failed, and Kellen was born. (This novel is set in 2097 - with the first wave of Elisha's Bear - the plague that nearly wiped out the male population - occurring 30 years earlier in 2067. So using medical gadgets to allow only female babies doesn't seem that far-fetched to me. Some people already choose the gender of their children today.)

With the near elimination of men, the world becomes a safer, better world. Crimes against women and children are reduced dramatically. Wars come to a halt and are not re-instigated. Illegal drug use, prostitution and pornography are eliminated. Prisons are emptied. The money spent on all of the above are reallocated to health care, the environment, medical research, etc. Sounds pretty wonderful, right?

All is not what it seems. First of all, women have all the control and all of the power. The surviving men are forced to live under that control, be sterilized, work only in a handful of jobs that do not involve positions of authority, or live as an outcast. Kellen's dad, Charlie, chooses the latter. When Kellen is 5 years old, Charlie leaves to live in a community of men - or really near a community of men, since he chooses to be a "loner" living on his boat in a marina. Charlie lost his own father in the original wave of Elisha's Bear, so he knew what it was like before the plague. Charlie was only one person in a growing number of people - both men and women - who rejected the new world.

What I love about these books is the reminder that there is no such thing as a "perfect world" - that elusive utopian society that some strive for. As long as there is a person, or group of people, in power, there will never be true happiness and security for all. There is a "twist" in this story towards the end, which cements that even more fully. The end of this book isn't really an ending. It's more of a beginning of a new chapter of a new world.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

This is a good example of why you should always read an entire book, and not just the first couple of chapters! At the beginning of the book, a married woman (who we know nothing about yet) leaves her husband, children, mother and friends visiting inside her home while she goes outside to have sex with a childhood friend (who we know nothing about yet). It's shocking and made me cringe. Right away I envisioned this "rendezvous" as something distasteful and so incredibly wrong.

The farther I got into the book, the more I connected with the characters and their individual feelings and histories. It sucked me right in. The main character, Elle, spent her summers at "The Paper Palace", which included a main house and a cluster of cabins in Cape Cod. The buildings are in rough shape after generations of weathering and apparently limited maintenance or upkeep. But this is where Elle's heart is, despite the tragic things that have happened to her over the years.

Elle's grandparents and parents seemed to all be "searching for love in all the wrong places". They each married a few times, but none of their marriages lasted. Elle married Peter, who was by all accounts deeply in love with Elle. He was a wonderful, trusting, supportive husband and an awesome dad. All around good guy. Even Elle's crabby & critical mother loved him. Elle and Peter have three children, who are well-loved. So, what's the problem, right?

The problem is Jonas. Jonas was Elle's childhood friend. Jonas was younger than Elle, but they connected on a deep level. Jonas was the only person in Elle's life that knew Elle's "good, bad and ugly". Elle protected herself and others through lies of omission. Jonas was the only person in Elle's life that she never lied to. They spent their summers together. After a tragedy happens one summer day, when Elle, Jonas and Elle's step-brother (Conrad) are out sailing, Jonas' mother sends Jonas away and he doesn't come back to the Cape for a few years.

Elle & Peter eventually reconnect with Jonas and his wife, Gina, and they become "couple friends". The problem is, Elle and Jonas love each other. The novel is split into sections. We read about the present day (which is only 24 hours in length); we read about Elle & Peter's relationship; we read about Elle & Jonas' relationship. After delving deeply into Elle and her feelings for both men, and understanding what exactly happened in each person's life that guided them to make the decisions they each made, the opening chapters make a lot more sense. Therefore Elle is faced with a true dilemma. Does she choose safety & security & love with Peter - or does she choose the love of her life, Jonas?

The ending is ambiguous on a surface level. I read the last couple of paragraphs several times. But if you really know the characters and you understand the significance of the final words & gestures (by Elle & Peter) - and the foreshadowing of the ending in the opening chapter of the book - then the ending is clearer. I won't give it away here though. ;)

I really enjoyed this story. This novel is a first for Heller. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Paris Bookseller by Kerri Maher

I think I am supposed to love this book. After all, it's about a real American living in Paris during the early 1900s who sells American literature to Americans living in France. She meets, and is friends with, several classic authors. Some of these authors I studied intensely in college, like Ernest Hemingway and James Joyce. (Alas, I have never read Ulysses, which is odd in and of itself. I guess I will have to rectify that omission.)

Although I admire Sylvia Beach and her passion and strength, I found the book a little slow to read. I had to force myself to pick it up and continue reading. It just didn't hold my interest like I thought it would. Usually I love to read books about books.

It wasn't terribly surprising that many of these well-known "classic" authors were self-centered, eccentric and unstable in their mental health. True artists often have these qualities, whether they are painters, singers, writers, actors or mathematical geniuses. A couple of them really annoyed me though, like James Joyce!

The fight to have Ulysses published was an important part of this novel of course. Sylvia Beach published it herself because no one else would touch it at that time. Then she illegally sent copies of the book into America. The book explains all the people involved in trying to get the book published, trying to keep the book banned, trying to stop others from publishing it since it wasn't properly copywrited. I couldn't keep all of the people straight - quite honestly because I didn't really care! 

I am against the banning of books, and Ulysses was definitely a banned book at the time. So I appreciate the fight that was waged to get it published. Other than that, it was difficult for me to sustain my interest.

Wendy's Rating: ***1/2

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I read this book many years ago - and saw the movie - but this was the book choice for our "family book club" since the main character is nearly the same age as my son. Since my (youngest) son isn't a big reader - and neither is my husband - I decided that the three of us would listen to the audio book together. We also watched the movie together before listening to the book. Anyway....yikes! I had apparently forgotten how boldly written the book is! At times it was downright uncomfortable listening to it with my son. Illegal drugs, underage drinking, suicide, sex, masturbation, homosexuality, physical abuse, sexual abuse by family members. You name it, it's in this book. It's actually quite shocking - especially listening to it with a 14 year old. So, would I have chosen a different book to discuss if I had remembered it better? Yes.

But, with that being said, the book is well-written and explores a lot of puberty-related issues that teenagers often struggle with. I certainly hope that most teenagers don't experience all the things that Charlie experienced though (best friend dies by suicide; sexual abuse; being hospitalized; not having a peer group). My childhood and adolescence was idyllic in comparison to Charlie's. I felt sad for Charlie and his struggles. Even though it was wonderful that Patrick and Sam befriended him with no judgement, they probably were not the best role models! They did encourage him to "participate" in his life more though, which was good. I also loved Charlie's English teacher, Bill, who took an interest in him and gave him extra books to read & writing assignments about the books. They say it only takes one adult in a child's life to make a remarkable difference in that child's life. Bill was that adult for Charlie. Bill saw something in Charlie and he valued that something, which had a positive influence over Charlie.

Both classic literature and music are prevalent in this book, and to Charlie specifically. Charlie uses music as a form of expression as to what and how he is feeling. The books that Bill gives Charlie are so meaningful to him that he splits them up and gives them all to the two people he values most in his life: Patrick & Sam. (Charlie's family is super important to him too and they provide a solid support system for Charlie when he needs it most.)

By-the-way, the book is MUCH more detailed than the movie. That is usually the case however, so anyone who reads regularly won't be surprised by that.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

I really enjoyed this fast-paced novel. The two main characters are Hannah and her 16-year old step-daughter, Bailey. Hannah's husband/Bailey's father, Owen, disappears suddenly one day, leaving Hannah a very short note ("Protect her") and leaving Bailey with a note and a bag full of money. Owen's boss is found to be corrupt and has been taken into custody by the FBI. Then there is the U.S. Marshal (Grady) from the Austin, TX branch showing up at Hannah & Bailey's home (a houseboat docked in Sausalito), in addition to some FBI agents. Pretty much no one knows what's going on, where Owen is - or who Owen really is.

Hannah & Owen have not know each other very long (two plus years) and they have only been married a year or so. I liked how the author shared their short history in flashback chapters. Both the reader and Hannah gets some insight into Owen and what's important to him in the flashbacks. His number one priority is Bailey, who lost her mother when she was really young. That's how Hannah knows that Owen's note refers to Bailey. Hannah knows she needs to protect Bailey, but she doesn't know from what. She also doesn't know who to trust.

Fortunately Hannah has a trusted friend, Jules, that assists her along the way. Hannah also turns to her ex-fiancé, Jake, who is a lawyer. In the end though, Hannah trusts her own instincts and does her own thing to discover who Owen really is and what he wants her to do. There is not necessarily a happy ending to this story, but there is an ending which makes sense. Sometimes in life we need to sacrifice one thing for another.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones

This was an entertaining beach read. The relationships between the six main characters were definitely complicated. Even though Rachel is married to Jack (and they have a teenage son) and Noah is married to Paige, Rachel and Noah used to be best friends. Now Rachel and Paige are best friends, even though there still seems to be some residual feelings between Rachel and Noah that appears to make Paige jealous. Then you bring in Jack's brother, Will, who is getting married to Ali, who is younger and beautiful and used to work with Jack. Jack doesn't seem to like Ali (and actually got her fired from his company), but Ali is always seeking out "alone time" with Jack, which makes Rachel jealous - and worried.

So these three couples fly to Portugal together for Will & Ali's wedding. Will, by the way, is a super nice guy and is liked by everyone. He is also the only one that seems ignorant of all the undercurrents flowing underneath the relationships of the other five people. Lucky him!

The four days spent in Portugal are filled with secret conversations, secret meetings, insecurities, fears of affairs, questions regarding paternity, unexpressed feelings, hurt feelings and erroneous suspicions. Personally, although the author sets things up to lead the reader in one direction, she leaves enough doubt and throws out some hints that things are not what they appear, which sent me in a different direction. I was correct about what was really happening (which I will let you find out for yourself!) and so I wasn't surprised at the "unveiling" of the truth. With that being said, I was surprised at the ending. It was a "just and fair" ending, in my opinion, therefore satisfying. ;)

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

This book is another masterpiece by Kristin Hannah. I have been reading this author for years (starting with The Things We Do For Love, which left me bawling at the kitchen table at 2am!) and her writing style and subject matters keep getting better and better. She certainly has an effective, engaging and passionate way of telling a story.

Although this novel is very well-written, it is not a happy story. It's not easy to read about someone who suffers one hardship after another. The main character is Elsa Wolcott, who is treated as an "underdog" in her own birth family. She had suffered an illness as a child, so she is treated as an invalid far after she should have been. She is not as pretty as her sister, so she considers herself ugly and unlovable. Her family does nothing to change this opinion of herself, which is a tragedy in itself. They all believe she is "unmarriable", which means a grim "spinster" future for women in the 1920s.

Elsa takes matters into her own hand (kudos to her!) when she meets and falls in love with an Italian by the name of Rafe Martinelli. This is a turning point in her life since her birth family disowns her for sleeping with and getting pregnant by an Italian. (This is in Texas is the 1920s, when the farmers were wealthy and life was good - but immigrants were discriminated against. Which isn't so different from the 2020s, sadly.) Anyway, Elsa & Rafe are forced to marry and Elsa moves into Rafe's family home with his parents, Tony & Rose. Tony & Rose become the parents that Elsa never had - and the ones she deserves. They are wonderful, hardworking and loving parents/grandparents.

The story jumps to the 1930's, the decade of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Elsa & Rafe have two children and their once lucrative wheat farm has dried up. Dust storms arrive unexpectedly, quickly, and often, covering everything with a thick layer of dust. There is limited food & water, so both people and their animals are starving. Many people give up trying to farm and head west to California to start a new life. The Martinelli's stay put on their dried up farm, praying for rain. As immigrants, the Martinelli's believe that owning land in America is what makes them "Americans" and they refuse to give that up.

Eventually, Rafe leaves his family in the middle of the night, presumably to head to California. This is a devastating blow to the entire family. A number of months later, Elsa is forced to leave Texas as well, in order to save the life of her young son. The story continues as Elsa and her children move to California. Once there, they face poverty and intense discrimination. They all have to work in the fields picking cotton just to barely survive. It's a painful existence. Elsa's daughter, Loreda (pre-teen age) connects up with a communist labor group. This is another turning point in their lives. 

I'm not crazy about the ending, but it is an realistic ending. This is not a story for the weak of heart. It's really difficult for me to read about other people suffering for years and years - even though they have people to love and support. Elsa was one hardworking, brave and resilient woman.

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Quiet Room by Lori Schiller & Amanda Bennett

This is a fascinating and insightful revelation of what it's like to have schizophrenia. Having worked with people who struggle with mental health issues for nearly three decades, this was an eye-opening account of what someone who hears voices, as a symptom of her illness, actually goes through. Some of the people I have worked with personally who have schizophrenia also hear negative thoughts like Lori, but some hear informational/positive voices. One woman in particular simply lives in two different "worlds" and prefers it that way. We just have to ask her if she is talking about her birth family members or her "internal communication family members" if we get confused by what she is talking about.

Anyway, what I loved about this book is how honest and descriptive Lori is when sharing her journey. I can't even imagine how difficult it would be to "silence" the voices in my head, especially such negative ones, while continuing to live daily life. In my field we talk a lot about using a combination of medications and therapy for best results, but so many people with mental health issues don't like being on medications because it can slow down their thinking processes or numb their creativity. Other people just want to be fully medicated and are reluctant to work through their mental illness using talk therapy. What's impressive about Lori's drive to learn to manage her symptoms is that she was willing to try so many medications and combinations of medications and different doses of medications; that she continued to have a strong bond with each of her parents throughout the long process; that she was willing to stop using cocaine, when confronted about her use, a few different times; that she asked to be put on an experimental, un-approved medication to relieve her mental anguish; that she persevered for years until she found a way she could live with her mental illness. It's an amazing story of strength.

I first started working with a man diagnosed with schizophrenia, who took Clozapine to manage his symptoms, back in 2003. At the time I didn't know much about this medication except that it was his "miracle med" when nothing else had worked for him. I worked with him for the next decade, taking him to his psych appointments where each appointment was a discussion of his medications and how to decrease or discontinue the number of meds he was taking for his symptoms, or relief from the side effects from his medication regimen. The psychiatrist was able to lower his dose of Clozapine to 400mg daily eventually and he is still on this same dose living a satisfying, productive life. I loved finding out about the "history" of Clozapine in this book. It truly is a "miracle med" for some people who are thought of as "hopeless cases".

This is a "must read" for anyone who has a friend or family member diagnosed with schizophrenia or another significant mental illness. It's extremely informative.

Wendy's Rating: *****

Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

This is the third book I have read by this author and I really loved it. My favorite by Backman is A Man Called Ove, but this is right up there too. This book is not only quirky with honest and original characters, but it is laugh-out-loud funny at times. While the book is entertaining, it also shows how suicide affects those that are left behind. Even people who are not directly related to the person who decides to end their life can be affected by this action, which is something I had not thought about before.

The setting of the story is an apartment showing. A group of people interested in buying the apartment (or not), the realtor and a bank robber are thrown together into an unplanned "hostage" situation. We get to know each character - and the two policemen handling the hostage situation - through the interviews after the hostages are released. It would probably be even funnier if I read it again knowing the ending. I couldn't figure out whether everyone involved was simply ornery or naïve or just enjoyed being difficult. The interviews were quite interesting. The characters bond with each other while they are being detained by the bank robber as well, so we find out a lot about their personal histories and their relationship challenges.

There are a couple of surprises along the way. The author is very good at revealing connections between this group throughout the book. We are also introduced to one of the main character's (Zara's) therapist (Nadia). Nadia learns things about herself as she tries to help Zara figure out how she wants to live her life.

I love books where the characters are all "flawed" humans who make mistakes and try to learn from them. We are all just trying to make our way in this world and we all have "baggage" that we carry around. Some people are more successful at love & forgiveness than others, but most of us just do the best we can.

Wendy's Rating: *****

Messenger by Lois Lowry

This is the third book in The Giver quartet. This is the book where characters from The Giver and Gathering Blue converge. We finally discover what happened to Jonas and Gabe from The Giver and the story continues for Matt (now Matty), and Kira from Gathering Blue.

Jonas' true name ends up being "Leader" and he leads the village that welcomes all people, especially those that are "imperfect" or disabled in some way, like Kira with her twisted leg. Kira does not live in this village yet however. She stayed behind at the end of Gathering Blue to make positive changes in the awful village she was born in. Kira's father, "Seer" lives in Leader's village and he has taken Matty in like his own son.

Leader's village becomes corrupt due to the Trade Market when people start trading their "inner selves" (kindness, patience, compassion, love) for changes in their outside appearance or character, like "fixing" their disability or imperfection. As the people in the village turn "ugly" on the inside, the forest around them turns dangerous and fatal for those that dare enter it. The village people vote to "close" the village, no longer accepting any mistreated, disabled travelers coming from other villages.

Matty is one of the only people in the village who can travel throughout the forest without the forest harming him. Because of this, he is the town's messenger when Leader wants to send messages to other villages. Matty also discovers that he has a special power, which was hinted at in Gathering Blue. Matty can "heal" himself and others, although it takes a lot of energy out of him, even if it's just saving a frog or puppy.

When the town votes to close its borders, Seer asks Matty to travel to his old village and persuade Kira to come back with him so that Seer can be near his daughter again. Once the village closes, he would potentially never see her again. Leader agrees to this plan, but since Leader has the ability to "see beyond", he knows that this will be an extremely dangerous mission for Matty. The forest was growing more and more dangerous by the hour.

This mission ends up being very dangerous indeed and the three characters with "special powers" (Matty, Leader and Kira) have to pool their powers in order for at least some of them to survive. The imagery of the angry forest is very powerful, as well as the descriptions of the severe injuries the forest caused Matty, Leader and Kira. I can't say that I love the ending of this book. I can say that the writing is excellent though.

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

This is an amazing story. I can't express how much I loved it, despite the tragic circumstances and overwhelming sense of hopelessness and helplessness. I did not want to put it down until I knew the ending.

What's interesting is that I read No Country for Old Men years ago and I did not like it. I even refused to watch the movie when it came out. Considering how much I loved the writing and storytelling in The Road, I may have to give No County... another read.

This is an example of, in the truest definition of the word, a dystopian novel. America has been destroyed. There are few survivors and those are few and far between. We don't really know how many years it's been since the apocalypse, but the two main characters are a man and his son. The son was born two weeks after the apocalypse and he seems to be between 6-8 years old. The country is cold and desolate. The air is filled with gray ash. There is limited food resources (for those that are lucky) and no way to settle down in one place. Staying in one place too long would mean sure death. Other survivors are eating each other. When is snows, the snow is gray. They have to strain ash out of their water supply before drinking it.

The man and his son live on "the road". This is their life, such as it is. The son knows no other life. The only thing that keeps them going is each other. There isn't any "light at the end of the tunnel" in this story. The man and his son simply survive one more day. One day after another. They are starving and deeply cold. It is a profoundly moving story.

As depressing as this story is, I absolutely loved it. A must read.

Wendy's Rating: *****

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

After re-reading The Giver recently I decided to research online to see if Lois Lowry ever explained the ending since it could be interpreted a couple of different ways. It didn't take long to figure out that Lois Lowry had written not one, but three additional "companion novels" to The Giver! I had no idea! Anyway, Gathering Blue is the first companion novel. This book does not explain what happened to Jonas & Gabe. The story is set in a different village or community with a more dystopian feel to it (while The Giver is more utopian).

The main character is a young girl, Kira, whose mother recently died due to illness. Kira has a bad leg (from birth) and normally babies born with a deformity are pretty much sent to the forest, or in other words, killed. Kira's mother, Katrina, insisted on keeping Kira though, and since Katrina had an important family member in the community, she was allowed to. Katrina also had a special skill. She knew how to color threads and sew/weave. Katrina was responsible for repairing Singer's beautiful robe each year after The Gathering. The Gathering was an annual event for the whole community. Singer's robe illustrated the history of the village and Singer pointed to the various sections of the robe while singing a very long song that reviewed the history of the village.

Anyway, after Katrina died, Kira was an orphan - or really a crippled orphan. Her father had died years ago on a village hunt. Kira's life was spared again by a member (Jamison) of the Council of Guardians. She was saved because she was even more talented than her mother at weaving threads. She was sent to live in a building with an indoor bathroom, hot meals and all the supplies she needed to restore Singer's robe. The village Kira lived in was grounded in poverty. The people were harsh, dirty, hungry and mean to each other and their children. The village had an underlying feeling of despair (hence my dystopian comment in the first paragraph.)

As in The Giver, Kira soon learns that all is not what it seems. Kira has two companions. Matt is a young, mischievous troublemaker and Thomas is the Carver, who lives in the same building as Kira. Thomas' job is to restore (and finish) Singer's staff/cane, which also illustrates the village's history. In this book you know the character's age range from their names. A one syllable name (like Matt) indicates the child is young. A two syllable name (like Kira & Thomas) indicates they are at least a young teen through early adulthood, I would guess. There is no one mentioned in the book that has more than a four syllable name. Kira makes a different decision than Jonas did in The Giver, and I can't wait to see how this story unfolds.

Gathering Blue was written seven years after The Giver. I really enjoy Lois Lowry's stories and look forward to reading the last two.

Wendy's Rating: *****

A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor

Wow. I am struggling to know what to say about this collection of short stories. Apparently, this is the book that "established Flannery O'Connor as a master of the short story and one of the most original and provocative writers to emerge from the South." There is no doubt that she is a talented writer. Her character descriptions are painfully vivid. There are no beautiful people in her stories for sure! Most are unhappy, dissatisfied, negative and ugly, inside and out.

I don't think I have read a book of short stories since I left college. I'm not sure I will be jumping at the chance to do it again either. There are 10 stories in this book and most of them end in death. Not happy, peaceful deaths either. They were pretty dang depressing. There is not one single character in this collection that I could even remotely identify with or would ever want to meet. 

If I had to choose my "favorite" story, I guess I would choose The Displaced Person. This story was made into a TV movie in 1977. It is the story of a once-widowed, twice divorced woman, Mrs. McIntyre, trying to keep her farm afloat on her own. She has slaves as well as white (lower class) people working for her. The rhythm of the farm is upset when she takes in a "displaced family" from Poland, who escaped the horrors of World War II. The father of the displaced family, Mr. Guizac, is a hard worker and knows how to operate all of the farm machinery. He is a huge asset to the farm, but his presence puts the white "caretakers" and slaves' employment statuses at risk. Mrs. McIntyre can't afford to pay Mr. Guizac more money without letting someone else go. This would be a legitimate concern for any Southern woman trying to make it on her own in the deep south in the 1940's, especially when she discovers that Mr. Guizac wants one of her young slaves to marry his (white) cousin. Alas, the story ends tragically, as they all do, but at least I understood the message.

My least favorite would probably be the title story, A Good Man is Hard to Find, but not by much! All I can say about it is that it was tragic, depressing and I am not sure what the intent of the story was.  Don't stray off the beaten path? Beware of strangers? Don't listen to your mother? Or, maybe, listen to your mother and go to East Tennessee rather than Florida! Ha!

Sorry, this just wasn't my cup of tea, no matter how talented the author is.

Wendy's Rating: ***

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

I am always looking for ways to change the culture at my work and build a more effective leadership team. This book was recommended by the authors of another book our leadership team read (Heart, Hope & Honesty by Craig De Fasselle and Scott De Fasselle). This book is actually "a leadership fable", so it's reader-friendly.

Basically, it talks about the "five natural but dangerous pitfalls" that organizations get caught in, which doesn't allow them to create a strong team. These pitfalls are referred to as the five dysfunctions of a team. The five dysfunctions are not separate issues, but are interrelated.

The first dysfunction is an absence of trust among team members. The solution to this dysfunction comes down to team members being vulnerable with each other. Each team member should be able to admit their mistakes and weaknesses without fear of reprisal or being seen as weak. A trusting team will ask each other for help; accept feedback; give people the benefit of the doubt before jumping to a negative conclusion; focus on the important issues and not politics. There has to be an understanding and acknowledgement of what talent(s) each team member brings to the team. One way to start learning to be more vulnerable is to share personal histories. (Nothing private, just personal experiences, interests, hobbies.) They also recommend using a profiling tool like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. I have done this in the past and it's quite interesting to see what personality types are on your leadership team.

The second dysfunction is a fear of conflict. If you think about it, all long-term, meaningful relationships in our personal lives have productive conflict from time to time. At work however, conflict, or "passionate debates" are seen as negative. The book mentions that it's "important to distinguish productive ideological conflict from destructive fighting and interpersonal politics." The result of productive conflict is finding the best solution to an issue in the shortest period of time without people holding grudges against each other. When teams don't discuss or debate issues openly and honestly, nothing ever gets resolved and there are behind-the-scenes conversations between individuals which are harmful to the team. The book suggests that a team member assume the role of  "miner of conflict". The miner is "someone who extracts buried disagreements within the team and sheds the light of day on them." When team members get uncomfortable discussing a conflict, the miner needs to interrupt the discussion (conflict) simply to remind those that are uncomfortable that this is necessary.

The third dysfunction is lack of commitment. Commitment means clarity and buy-in from every single team member, whether they agree with the decision or not. Everyone wants to be "heard". They want their ideas discussed and considered. After being heard, people are more willing to commit themselves to a unified goal of the team, even if they don't 100% agree with it. Great teams realize that it's better to boldly make a decision and be wrong than to waffle. Waffling causes ambiguity, a lack of confidence and a fear of failure. One of the best tools for ensuring commitment is setting deadlines and fulfilling those deadlines with discipline and rigidity. The leader must push the team for closure around issues and stick to the team schedules/deadlines.

The fourth dysfunction is avoidance of accountability. This was an interesting one for me because the book talks about the necessity of team members willingly calling out their peers on performance or behaviors that hurt the team, instead of a leader holding each team member accountable. The "most effective and efficient means of maintaining high standards of performance on a team is peer pressure." Who knew? This will ensure that poor performers feel pressure to improve and it establishes respect among team members who are held to the same high standards. In order for this to happen however, each team member needs to know exactly what needs to be achieved, who needs to deliver what, and how everyone must behave in order to succeed. Clarity.

The fifth dysfunction is inattention to results. There is a tendency of team members to care about something other than the collective goal(s) of the group as a whole. A team that focuses on collective results will retain achievement-oriented employees and minimize individualistic behavior. Teams must be willing to publicly commit to specific results. This will promote team members to passionately and even desperately try to achieve the publicly-stated goals. "Teams that say, 'We'll do our best,' are subtly, if not purposefully, preparing themselves for failure." Rewards and recognition must be reserved for the team members who make real contributions to the achievement of the group goals.

This book is an important tool to use if you are trying, like me, to provoke positive change in how our company is run and to promote a sense of teamwork. I also bought Overcoming The Five Dysfunctions of a Team; A Field Guide, which I also plan to read!

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz

I pretty much like any book I have read about books, writers and/or the writing process. I also like books that are fast-paced mysteries. This book includes all of those elements. I also love how the definition of "Plot (Noun)" is included on the book jacket of the hard copy edition of the book I have:

• 1. a sequence of events in a narrative, as in a novel, for example
• 2. an immoral or illegal plan
• 3. a designated section of land for a gravesite

This book's plot also includes all definitions of the word "plot", which makes it all the more intriguing.

The main character, Jacob Finch Bonner, is a struggling author teaching writing classes at a second-rate school. His first published novel achieved moderate success, but his 2nd, 3rd and 4th attempts were each a bust. One of his uninterested (in Jake's feedback) and seemingly uninvested students, Evan Parker, shows some promise as an upcoming author in the few pages he submits to Jake for review, but Jake remains skeptical until Evan verbally shares his future novel's plot with him. By all accounts, it's a best-selling novel plot.

Jake doesn't see or hear anything again from Evan after the end of the writing class. Occasionally he thinks of Evan and his "plot" and wonders why the book has not been published yet. After three years, Jake finds out that Evan never wrote the book because he died not long after the writing class. It's at this point that Jake has a decision to make. Knowing that Evan's parents and sister had died even before Evan, and there doesn't appear to be any other family member, and realizing that this wonderful plot has never been published, Jake decides to write his own novel - in his own words and not using any of the words Evan submitted to him in class - using Evan's "best-selling plot".

So, are Jake's actions plagiarism? No. How could they be? Jake doesn't copy any of the words from Evan's writing sample. So is it unethical to use someone's else's plot after they have died? Each writer has their own voice, so how can it be unethical to use a dead person's idea if it hasn't actually been used previously? And really, aren't all TV shows, movies and books just variations of the same plots/ideas?

These questions haunt Jake after someone starts accusing him via social media outlets of stealing the story. Since Jake's book (Crib) becomes the best-selling, Oprah-promoting novel that Evan predicted it would be, these online taunts threaten Jake's reputation as a writer.

Whether you are a writer, a want-to-be writer, or simply enjoy reading, I would recommend this book!

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Giver by Lois Lowry

I am a huge fan of dystopian novels, my favorite being the Hunger Games Trilogy, but The Giver is an early favorite. The last time I read this book was probably 25 years ago. I enjoyed it as much this time as I did the last time. The only thing that is concerning is the end of course! It's much too ambiguous in my opinion!

Jonas lives in a community that is stable and predictable. Each family unit consists of a mother, a father, a son and a daughter. Each person has a well-defined role in the community. Feelings are share with family members each day. Dreams are shared at every breakfast time. The children are identified in age groups dependent on the year they were born, not their birth date. The goal is "sameness". There is no pain, but no other emotions or feelings either. What they see as "anger", is merely disappointment or irritation. They know no deeper feelings than that. No one lies. No one questions. Everyone is secure and content and well-fed. A true "utopia".

Except that it's not. Not only do they not experience true emotions, they don't see color; they don't hear music; they don't have memories. Not having memories spares them from making wrong decisions. It spares them from pain. It also prevents them from feeling "love" and "sadness" and true "happiness".

The only person in the community that has memories of past events is The Receiver. There is only one Receiver for the community and when he grows old, the community must find another Receiver to take on the responsibility of remembering the past. Jonas is chosen (at age 12) to become the new Receiver since he appears to have the "Capacity to See Beyond". The last chosen Receiver (10 years previously) was a failure, so a lot is riding on the selection of Jonas being the new Receiver. As Jonas accepts his fate, the current Receiver becomes the Giver, since he proceeds to give Jonas all of his memories, good, bad and otherwise.

Jonas learns within a year that he doesn't want to live a life of sameness. He becomes devastated at some of the things happening in the community, which no one is affected by. The Giver, when talking about Jonas' friend Fiona, says, "She's very efficient at her work, your red-haired friend. Feelings are not part of the life she has learned."

This is a must read, despite the ending, which can be interpreted a couple of ways. 

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

I really loved this book! I am most definitely not a physicist, but quantum physics fascinates me. This book is similar to the show Quantum Leap (which I hear is being re-made from the original series staring Scott Bakula). Interestingly enough, I have never been particularly interested in philosophy, but I love the philosophical comments spread throughout the book. Finally, I loved the ending, because it's the only true & valid ending.

The book is about a young woman who is intelligent, musically talented, athletic (swimmer) and has a strong interest in philosophy, saving the environment and animals. So, lots of promise, right? In fact, however, Nora Seed is a depressed, jobless, broke, pathetic woman on the verge of suicide. She had so many opportunities to "make something of herself" - from an Olympic swimmer, to a lead singer in a rock band, to a professor at a college, to a geologist studying global warming in the Arctic. Instead, she gets fired from a dead-end job at a music store, her best friend moves to Australia, she is estranged from her brother, her parents are dead and her cat recently died.

Nora gets a second chance at life in the Midnight Library. She gets to visit the lives she could have lived had she made a different decision at specific times of her life. The options are limitless. We each make hundreds of decisions every single day, which affects the decisions made after that. So, in "Quantum Leap-style", Nora pops into her own lives had she made different choices. As soon as she feels truly happy with no regrets in a specific "life", she will stay there forever.

Nora's "guide" is Mrs. Elm, her grade school librarian. Mrs. Elm helps Nora whenever she gets "stuck", but it's really Nora who eventually figures out which life she is to lead. There are many philosophical quotes/ideas that hit home with me while reading, but a couple of my favorite are at the end: "It was interesting, she mused to herself, how life sometimes simply gave you a whole new perspective by waiting around long enough for you to see it." And then the anti-philosophy: "You don't have to understand life. You just have to live it."

So many people feel "mired" in their lives, unhappy with something in their lives (like their job!) or simply unhappy & negative about life in general. They stew in their regrets. This book is a good reminder that people do not have to live that way. You can make a different choice than the one you did yesterday, and you can do that every single day.

Wendy's Rating: *****

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Ann Patchett is a talented writer. Her stories are character-driven and certainly don't have a lot of "action", but the writing absorbs the reader from the start. This is the third novel I have read by Ann Patchett and I loved them all.

The Dutch House is a beautiful, expensive mansion with the front & back walls made of glass so that you can see through the house from the street. This is a house that you either hate or love. The family who built the house (the VanHoebeeks) lived there their whole lives. Once Mrs. VanHoebeek died, Cyril Conroy buys the house for his wife, Elna (at the end of World War II). Elna hates the house. We don't understand why until we find out Cyril found her at a convent. She wanted to be a nun and help the poor. Cyril and Elna knew each other during their childhood and they seemed to really love each other, but it doesn't really explain why Elna left the convent to marry Cyril. They were happy, though, when they were poor. It was after Cyril "surprised" Elna with the purchase of the Dutch House that things started to unravel. Elna was not comfortable with their newfound wealth and eventually she leaves her family to travel to India to help the poor.

Then comes Andrea and her two young girls, Norma and Bright. Andrea loves the Dutch House, and she loves Cyril and she loves Cyril's money. She tolerates Cyril & Elna's two children, Maeve and Danny. This story is told by Danny, who is quite a bit younger than Maeve. Maeve is more like a mother to Danny than a sister, since she takes over his care after their mother leaves them. After Cyril dies unexpectedly, Andrea kicks Danny out of the house (Maeve had already left it) so Danny moves in with Maeve in her tiny apartment.

The Dutch House continues to have a hold over Maeve and Danny, even though they are no longer welcome there. They sit in their car on the street in front of the house year after year. They both move on with their lives. Danny becomes a doctor (against his will, but it's the only way Maeve can use up their father's inheritance since the money can only be used for education purposes). Danny doesn't want to be a doctor though, so he turns to real estate as soon as he finishes his residency and that's how he makes his money, just like his father had done.

Everything must come full circle of course. So most of this blended family ends up at the Dutch House decades later. I won't explain who finds comfort there and who does not at the end, other than say it's ironic. ;)

Wendy's Rating: *****

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

Although I had a few eye-rolling moments while reading this book, I did like the overall message. I have a problem with books that come across as "too gushy", meaning a character goes on and on about their feelings (good or bad) in a silly way. I am a sensitive, compassionate person who encourages people to express their feelings, so I am not against people showing their feelings! I think it's just the way those feelings are expressed at times in writing (especially if there is a lot of cliches and repetition) that makes me roll my eyes.

For example:

Cassie (the main character who is a firefighter): "I told you....I don't fall in love."

Diana (Cassie's estranged mother): "Surely you do, a little bit."

Cassie: "Nope....Love is for girls."

Diana: "You are a girl."

Cassie: "That doesn't mean I have to be girly."

Cassie goes on to say that "love is overrated" and that "love is for the weak". This goes on for the first 69 pages of the book. THEN, on page 70, Cassie sees the rookie FOR THE FIRST TIME at her new firehouse and Cassie refers to "His stunning, heartbreakingly appealing face", and diagnoses herself with a "possible myocardial infarction". She finds herself having a "romantic reaction", which is "A full-body reaction....Like someone had lit a Fourth of July sparkler inside my chest. It was so terrible. So humiliating. So...girly." Good grief. Honestly. It's just too much, in my opinion.

But, if you can get beyond all of that, the message is great. Since the day that Cassie turned 16 years old (10 years previously), she has clung to self-pity and anger against her mother, as well as other people that I won't mention right now since her mother is the central character. Her mother left Cassie and her father on Cassie's 16th birthday. Yes, this is a rotten thing to do. So a strength of this book is watching Cassie learn to forgive. Not only does Cassie learn to forgive, she also encourages others with anger issues to forgive as well. Central themes then are "love" and "forgiveness".

So if you love heartwarming stories, and don't mind "flowery language", then this is the book for you! The only other thing that annoyed me is how often we had to hear about how talented, intelligent, strong and brave Cassie is. Got it.

Wendy's Rating: ***1/2

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain

This is a story of two women set in two different times. Morgan Christopher is a young woman who is asked to spend time in Edenton, North Carolina to restore a mural that was painted in 1940. Anna Dale is the artist who painted the mural in 1940. The chapters alternate between Morgan and Anna as their stories unfold.

Anna was a very young woman in 1940 when she was selected to paint a mural for the Edenton Post Office. She moved to Edenton on a temporary basis to get to know the town and to actually paint the mural. Edenton was a town with a significant racial divide, like all southern states in the 1940s. Anna needed help and asked for a couple of art students to volunteer their time as she prepared to paint the large mural. She ended up discovering a third "student" on her own named Jesse who is an extremely talented young man but who is black. Eventually the two art students (who are white) are no longer able to volunteer their time with her (for very different reasons), so that leaves Anna & Jesse. Anna is only a few years older than Jesse and rumors start swirling about them having an inappropriate relationship, which is very dangerous for Jesse of course. Black men used to get hung in the south for less.

When Morgan is asked to restore the mural, she agrees to do it even though she has no experience in restoration. She was in art school, but one of her professors told her she would never be good enough. She seemed to accept that feedback (which is sad), but her instruction in art is interrupted anyway because of a drunk driving arrest that ended up with her being sent her to prison. After serving one year in prison, she is approached about restoring the mural. Since this will get her out of prison, she accepts the offer.

What makes this story so intriging is that the original mural was never installed in the Edenton Post Office in the 1940s. In fact, both the mural and Anna Dale went missing before it could be installed. When Morgan is shown the mural, it is in incredibly poor condition. As she starts the cleaning process she realizes that the mural has been changed (in gruesome ways) since Anna's original vision of it. Morgan tries to discover what she can about Anna Dale and what happened to her. Another mystery is why Morgan is chosen to restore the mural when she has zero experience in art restoration.

I really enjoyed this story. These women were both young, strong women who had some terrible things thrown into their lives to derail them. In the end, we find out what happened to Anna Dale in 1940. Jesse is a key factor in all of it. ;)

Wendy's Rating: ****