Short and Compelling

The women of Love Stories in This Town are complex and compelling. The stories vary in mood and setting but ring true always. My personal favorite (for obvious reasons) is "Butte as in Beautiful" and begins with the sentence, "It's a crappy coincidence that on the day James asks for my hand in marriage, there is a __________ loose in the library." I'm not telling you specifics--you'll have to read it for yourself.

Collective History

Several years ago I visited the National Archives in Washington D.C. I was awestruck by the sheer volume of items there and loved how history sprang to life through them. Records of Our National Life allows you to bring the Archives home and cozy up to them. I love seeing the Top Secret documents, and all the photographs and handwritten letters. A very cool look into the lives of Americans past, both famous and unknown.

Not Alone

Penny Lane's parents are huge Beatle fans--can't you tell? She's had bad luck with boys and decides to focus on school and friends without the distraction of romance. Thus begins The Lonely Hearts Club. This sweet story will bring back the thrill and dread that accompanies high school relationships vividly. There are enough twists to keep you interested and rooting for Penny to the last page.

All Thumbs

'Tis the season for thinking about putting in gardens and watching things grow. I've had middling success in years past, so this year I've been reading and researching before I plant a thing. Grow Great Grub has ideas for small-space gardening and the pictures alone will motivate you. Raised-bed Vegetable Gardening Made Simple isn't as flashy but has more information and diagrams than you could digest in a single season. I've implemented suggestions from both titles already--time will tell if they produce results.

Those Remaining

Somehow I ended up watching "The Bridge" in the same week I finished Hold Still. Both works thoughtfully portray the family and friends of those who take their own lives. You get a feel for the depths of sadness that might drive someone to do such a thing through the words of the survivors and the grief that remains in their wake.