The Dressmaker of Khair Khana - Gayle Tzemach Lemmon

Sub-title: Five Sisters, One Remarkable Family, and the Woman Who Risked Everything to Keep Them Safe

This was a good read for the perspective it provided on life in Afghanistan for women during the reign of the Taliban.  I enjoy history and getting an understanding of countries I've never been to and cultures I know little about. 

The writing was rather trite, not even good journalistic style, which is the author's background.

As the title and sub-title explain, a woman (one of the 5 sisters) supports her family as a dressmaker.  She creates an entire business, producing clothes in their home, employing other women in the community while the Taliban's rule forbade them from any freedom.  The woman, about 17 at the time, went on to become an official in Afghanistan's post-Taliban government working on business development. 

Published: 2011  Read: July 2019  Genre: Non-fiction

Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens

This was recommended to me as a good read.  It's the story of a 6 year old child deserted by her parents in the marshes of North Carolina bordering the Atlantic who grows up alone in a shack, shunned by the community.  She survives with the friendship of a a kind young man who teaches her to read and a kindly gas station attendant where she refuels her boat.  She begins documenting the world of birds, feathers, shells and plants that surrounds her and becomes a published naturalist.  When a local gigolo she dated is found dead, she becomes the chief suspect.

If that sounds a little far-fetched that was where I settled.  I don't usually read mysteries because as I figure out the mystery, I rip through the ending.  The writing was well done, the picture painted of the marsh and the author's knowledge of the biology evident.  In the end I was unsatisfied.

Published: August 2018  Read: July 2019  Genre: Fiction

Contents May Have Shifted - Pam Houston

Isn't that a catchy title?  That and the recommendations made me take this off the check-in shelf at a campground.  A very adventurous young woman is constantly traveling the world while trying to find and keep a meaningful relationship.  Roughly based on the author's life, it was a good read.  She used a technique called fractured narrative where she tells brief snippets of the story that your mind stitches together as your reading.  I liked learning about new places to visit and explore.


Published:  2012   Read: July 2019  Genre: Memoir

The Book of Air and Shadows - Michael Gruber

"A New York Times bestseller" the cover proclaimed so I picked this up from a used bookstore.
A young man working in a bookstore rescues a set of old books from a fire in the basement and with the store's mysterious female assistant discovers letters hidden in the covers.  The letters are from the time of Shakespeare and reveal previously unknown details of his life and a unknown new play.

The value of these items sets off a murderous pursuit for the play with double crosses and intersecting characters.  There are many literary references casually dropped throughout. 

I'm not a fan of mysteries but if you like them, it has many clever twists and turns and was an enjoyable read.


Published: 2007   Read: June 2019  Genre: Fiction

July's People - Nadine Gordimer

I'm catching up on my summer reading posts after having travelled a bit from May through July.

I picked this book up at Liard Hot Springs in Canada on our return trip from Alaska this year.
It's the story of a white family, mother, father, son and daughter, who are sheltered in the bush home of their former servant in South Africa.  It's a terrifying look at the stark differences in living and family relationships between the haves and have nots.  The central character, Maureen Smales, lived a life of middle class anywhere, with her husband a two children.  The uprisings in South Africa force them to flee to safety and they are taken in by July, their long time house servant.  Their life changes dramatically living in his village of mud huts without running water or the other accoutrements they've taken for granted.  The shift in authority between them reveals the assumptions and expectations burned into their interactions.  An interesting read.

Published: 1982   Read: July 2019  Genre: Fiction