The story centers on Violet, a young woman who, against her own plans of leading a quiet life
among books, is thrust into the brutal and elite world of dragon riding, battling for survival in a
deadly war college. Despite facing numerous challenges, including her inexperience and a chronic
illness, Violet's journey is one of growth, resilience, and determination. The narrative also delves into
the dynamics of non-romantic and romantic relationships, presenting a tapestry of connections that
are central to Violet's development and the story's depth.While some may find aspects of the plot
and character development lacking, others celebrate the novel's ability to immerse readers in its
magical world and engage them with Violet's compelling journey. Yarros's foray into fantasy romance
with "Fourth Wing" seems to have delivered a polarizing yet captivating read, promising an intriguing
series for fans of the genre.
James McBride's "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store" is a testament to his storytelling prowess, exploring the intertwined
lives of characters in the Chicken Hill neighborhood of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Set against the backdrop of the 1920s
and '30s, this historical fiction weaves a rich narrative around Black, Jewish, and Italian communities, highlighting themes
of community, survival, and justice amidst racial and religious tensions. McBride's ability to capture the essence of societal
Issues, coupled with a mix of humor and compassion, makes this novel a compelling read. It has been lauded for its vivid
characterizations, historical context, and the seamless integration of multiple storylines into a cohesive narrative.
McBride's narrative style, characterized by jumping around to tell his stories, might take a moment to get used to, but it
richly rewards the effort with its humor, love, and life-affirming qualities. This novel is recommended for those who
appreciate literary fiction that addresses complex societal issues through a historical lens.
David Grann's "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder" dives into the harrowing story of the HMS Wager,
its disastrous shipwreck in 1741, and the subsequent mutiny among its survivors. Grann, known for his meticulously
researched and vividly written nonfiction, delivers a narrative that not only recounts the thrilling survival tale but also
explores the broader themes of European imperialism and the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity. The book,
published on April 18, 2023, has been well-received, with critics highlighting Grann's ability to weave a gripping tale from
historical events, supported by detailed research and primary sources.
"The Wager" has not only climbed the ranks to become a bestseller but also captured the attention of Hollywood, with
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio acquiring the screen rights, indicating its broad appeal and the compelling
nature of the story Grann has told. For those interested in a blend of history, adventure, and true crime, "The Wager"
promises an unforgettable journey into one of the sea's most remarkable tales of survival and human endurance.
David Grann's "The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder" dives into the harrowing story of the HMS Wager,
its disastrous shipwreck in 1741, and the subsequent mutiny among its survivors. Grann, known for his meticulously
researched and vividly written nonfiction, delivers a narrative that not only recounts the thrilling survival tale but also
explores the broader themes of European imperialism and the human spirit's resilience in the face of adversity. The book,
published on April 18, 2023, has been well-received, with critics highlighting Grann's ability to weave a gripping tale from
historical events, supported by detailed research and primary sources.
"The Wager" has not only climbed the ranks to become a bestseller but also captured the attention of Hollywood, with
Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio acquiring the screen rights, indicating its broad appeal and the compelling
nature of the story Grann has told. For those interested in a blend of history, adventure, and true crime, "The Wager"
promises an unforgettable journey into one of the sea's most remarkable tales of survival and human endurance.
James McBride's "The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store" is a testament to his storytelling prowess,
exploring the intertwined lives of characters in the Chicken Hill neighborhood of Pottstown,
Pennsylvania. Set against the backdrop of the 1920s and '30s, this historical fiction weaves a rich
narrative around Black, Jewish, and Italian communities, highlighting themes of community, survival,
and justice amidst racial and religious tensions. McBride's ability to capture the essence of societal
Issues, coupled with a mix of humor and compassion, makes this novel a compelling read. It has
been lauded for its vivid characterizations, historical context, and the seamless integration of
multiple storylines into a cohesive narrative.McBride's narrative style, characterized by jumping
around to tell his stories, might take a moment to get used to, but it richly rewards the effort with
its humor, love, and life-affirming qualities. This novel is recommended for those who appreciate
literary fiction that addresses complex societal issues through a historical lens.
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life
among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons
mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of
Navarre: dragon riders.But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death
is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.
With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances
of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the
most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.
She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective
wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect
leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was
supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a
quiet life among books and history. Now, the
commanding general—also known as her tough
-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the
hundreds of candidates striving to become the
elite of Navarre: dragon riders.But when you’re
smaller than everyone else and your body is
brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because
dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They
incinerate them. With fewer dragons willing to
bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to
better their own chances of success. The rest
would kill her just for being her mother’s
daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most
powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders
Quadrant.She’ll need every edge her wits can
give her just to see the next sunrise.Yet, with
every day that passes, the war outside grows
more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards
are failing, and the death toll continues to rise.
Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership
is hiding a terrible secret.
Buy or Rent Now Here!
In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing
they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the
long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African
Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived
when Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state came looking
for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, it was Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and the unofficial
leader of the Black community on Chicken Hill, who worked together to keep the boy safe.
As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white,
Christian America struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on
Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love
and community—heaven and earth—that sustain us.
In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new
development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the
skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of
Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side
by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived
when Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store.
When the state came looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, it was Chona and Nate Timblin,
the Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and the unofficial leader of the Black community on Chicken Hill,
who worked together to keep the boy safe.As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it
becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white, Christian America struggle
and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on
Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in
dark times, it is love and community—heaven and earth—that sustain us.
On January 28, 1742, a ramshackle vessel of
patched-together wood and cloth washed up
on the coast of Brazil. Inside were thirty e
maciated men, barely alive, and they had an
extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of
His Majesty’s Ship the Wager, a British vessel
that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission
during an imperial war with Spain. While the
Wager had been chasing a Spanish treasure-
filled galleon known as “the prize of all the
oceans,” it had wrecked on a desolate island off
the coast of Patagonia. The men, after being
marooned for months and facing starvation, built
the flimsy craft and sailed for more than a
hundred days, traversing nearly 3,000 miles of
storm-wracked seas. They were greeted as
heroes.But then ... six months later, another,
even more decrepit craft landed on the coast
of Chile. This boat contained just three
castaways, and they told a very different story.
The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not
heroes – they were mutineers. The first group
responded with countercharges of their own, of
a tyrannical and murderous senior officer and
his henchmen. It became clear that while
stranded on the island the crew had fallen into
anarchy, with warring factions fighting for
dominion over the barren wilderness. As
accusations of treachery and murder flew, the
Admiralty convened a court martial to determine
who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-
and-death—for whomever the court found
guilty could hang.
On January 28, 1742, a ramshackle vessel of patched-together wood and cloth washed up on the coast of Brazil. Inside
were thirty emaciated men, barely alive, and they had an extraordinary tale to tell. They were survivors of His Majesty’s
Ship the Wager, a British vessel that had left England in 1740 on a secret mission during an imperial war with Spain. While
the Wager had been chasing a Spanish treasure-filled galleon known as “the prize of all the oceans,” it had wrecked on a
desolate island off the coast of Patagonia. The men, after being marooned for months and facing starvation, built the
flimsy craft and sailed for more than a hundred days, traversing nearly 3,000 miles of storm-wracked seas. They were
greeted as heroes.
But then ... six months later, another, even more decrepit craft landed on the coast of Chile. This boat contained just three
castaways, and they told a very different story. The thirty sailors who landed in Brazil were not heroes – they were
mutineers. The first group responded with countercharges of their own, of a tyrannical and murderous senior officer and
his henchmen. It became clear that while stranded on the island the crew had fallen into anarchy, with warring factions
fighting for dominion over the barren wilderness. As accusations of treachery and murder flew, the Admiralty convened
a court martial to determine who was telling the truth. The stakes were life-and-death—for whomever the court found
guilty could hang.
In 1972, when workers in Pottstown,
Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for
a new development, the last thing they
expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom
of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got
there were two of the long-held secrets kept by
the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated
neighborhood where immigrant Jews and
African Americans lived side by side and shared
ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where
Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Moshe
integrated his theater and where Chona ran the
Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state
came looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize
him, it was Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black
janitor at Moshe’s theater and the unofficial
leader of the Black community on Chicken Hill,
who worked together to keep the boy safe. As
these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it
becomes clear how much the people who live on
the margins of white, Christian America struggle
and what they must do to survive. When the
truth is finally revealed about what happened on
Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white
establishment played in it, McBride shows us
that even in dark times, it is love and community
—heaven and earth—that sustain us.
Buy or Rent Now Here!
Buy or Rent Now Here!
Buy or Rent Now Here!
Our Review-
Buy or Rent Now Here!
Buy or Rent Now Here!
Our Review-
Our Review-
Fourth Wing
Rebecca Yarros
Romance
Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros
Historical Fiction
Non-Fiction
Romance
Thriller
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store - James McBride - Historical Fiction
The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store - James McBride
The Wager
David Grann
Non-Fiction
The Wager - David Grann - Non-Fiction
The Wager - David Grann
The Heaven and Earth
Grocery Store
James McBride
Historical Fiction
The #1 Lawyer - James Patterson - Thriller
The #1 Lawyer - James Patterson
The #1 Lawyer
James Patterson
Thriller
Our Review-
Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros - Romance
Our Review-
Buy or Rent Now Here!
Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history.
Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of
candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.
But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons
don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.
With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest
would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the
Riders Quadrant.
She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.
Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the
death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.
The story centers on Violet, a young woman who, against her own plans of leading a quiet life among books, is thrust into
the brutal and elite world of dragon riding, battling for survival in a deadly war college. Despite facing numerous challenges,
including her inexperience and a chronic illness, Violet's journey is one of growth, resilience, and determination. The
narrative also delves into the dynamics of non-romantic and romantic relationships, presenting a tapestry of connections
that are central to Violet's development and the story's depth.
While some may find aspects of the plot and character development lacking, others celebrate the novel's ability to immerse
readers in its magical world and engage them with Violet's compelling journey. Yarros's foray into fantasy romance with
"Fourth Wing" seems to have delivered a polarizing yet captivating read, promising an intriguing series for fans of the genre.
Our Favorite Books This Week!
Our Favorite Books
This Week!
Buy or Rent Now Here!
Biloxi’s best criminal defense attorney has never lost a case. Then his client’s beautiful wife is murdered, and America’s
#1 lawyer suddenly becomes its #1 suspect.
Stafford Lee Penney is a small-town lawyer with a big-time reputation for winning every case he tries. In his sharp suits
and polished Oxford shoes, Penney is Biloxi, Mississippi’s #1 Lawyer and top local celebrity.
Just as Penney notches his latest courtroom victory, his wife is scandalously killed. He spirals into a legal and personal
losing streak, damaging his reputation and ruining his career.
That’s when Penney makes a bold decision. He stops trading on his power-lawyer identity and creates a new one: lawyer
lifeguard. Moonlighting at the beach, showing up to court in flip-flops, mentoring a law student, the new Penney is at first
unrecognizable.
It’s said that a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. But when Penney is accused of murder, the #1 Lawyer
will find a way to triumph.
Biloxi’s best criminal defense attorney has
never lost a case. Then his client’s beautiful
wife is murdered, and America’s
#1 lawyer suddenly becomes its #1 suspect.
Stafford Lee Penney is a small-town lawyer
with a big-time reputation for winning every
case he tries. In his sharp suits and polished
Oxford shoes, Penney is Biloxi, Mississippi’s
#1 Lawyer and top local celebrity. Just as
Penney notches his latest courtroom victory,
his wife is scandalously killed. He spirals into a
legal and personal losing streak, damaging his
reputation and ruining his career.
That’s when Penney makes a bold decision.
e stops trading on his power-lawyer identity
and creates a new one: lawyer
lifeguard. Moonlighting at the beach, showing
up to court in flip-flops, mentoring a law
student, the new Penney is at first
unrecognizable. It’s said that a lawyer who
represents himself has a fool for a client. But
when Penney is accused of murder, the #1
Lawyer will find a way to triumph.
James Patterson's "The #1 Lawyer," co-written with Nancy Allen, unfolds in the steamy milieu of Biloxi, Mississippi,
centering on Stafford Lee Penney—a defense attorney who never loses, until a personal tragedy strikes, making him the
prime suspect in his wife's murder. This book masterfully combines the elements of a legal thriller with a deeply personal
story of downfall and redemption, as Penney transforms from a celebrated lawyer to a man grappling with the possibility
of his own guilt and the destruction of his career.
The narrative is rich with suspense and intricately plotted, keeping readers engaged through its twists and turns.
Patterson and Allen create a vivid setting that adds depth to the story, making Biloxi more than just a backdrop but a
character in its own right. "The #1 Lawyer" is not just a story about legal battles; it's a journey of self-discovery and
transformation that challenges the protagonist to redefine success and justice.
