Different Class by Joanne Harris FIC Har

I have loved all of Harris' books and this one was no exception. It is not a fast read but that was okay with me since I was enjoying it.

Roy Straitley had truly come up through the ranks at St. Oswald's School.  He began as a student and eventually became the Latin master.  He has been teaching there for thirty years and has no intention of retiring because the school and his students are his life.  The book skips around in time.  We learn a bit about Straitley's childhood but most of it is between the present and twenty years ago.

Straitley is eager to start the new year and to find out what the new Head is going to do to save the school which has fallen on hard times.  To his horror the new Head is a former student - one who was involved in a scandal at the school decades ago.  Things are not going to go well.

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The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel 974.1 Fin

I love non-fiction because truth is always more fascinating than fiction.  Do you ever crave solitude? Do you ever want to disappear for a while and hide from the news, the social media, and maybe even some people in your life?  This is the story of a man, Christopher Knight, who did disappear into the woods of Maine.  And he did it for 27 years.  During that time he only had two brief encounters with other humans.  He walked away from his life when he was twenty years old.  He had never spent a night in a tent yet he was able to survive in the woods for decades.

He survived by stealing food and supplies during the times of the year when there was no snow on the ground (to avoid leaving footprints).  Eventually he is caught and arrested.

Michael Finkel lived across the country but he read about the capture of "the hermit".  Intrigued he wrote to Christopher and eventually flew to Maine several times and talked with him.  He didn't get all the answers he wanted but it is a fascinating story.

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The Stars Are Fire by Anita Shreve FIC Shr

In 1947 there was a serious drought in Maine which led to wildfires and a village was mostly destroyed.  This historic fact is the jumping off point for a great novel.   Grace is unhappily married to Gene.  They have been married two years and she has two children.  And now she is pregnant with another child.

Gene leaves to fight the fires leaving Grace to deal with things on her own.  As the fire suddenly reaches her part of town, Grace bravely runs to the ocean in an effort to save her children along with her best friend Rosie and her children.

She loses her unborn child and it appears that her husband has most likely died also.  She is relieved to find that her mother is alive but her house is also gone.  Grace has to do whatever is necessary to find a way to survive.  With her survival comes the freedom that her husband had denied her during her marriage.

Some clouds do have a silver lining.  As always I enjoyed Ms. Shreve's writing.

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The Girl Before by JP Delaney

I loved this great psychological novel!   Finding affordable housing can be a challenge in cities.   Emma has been traumatized by a break-in at her old apartment and she is desperate for a safe place.  The real estate agent suggest a place at One Folgate Street. The good price comes with a lot of rules. The owner and architect of this jewel insists that it be an oasis of minimalism.  Therefore there isn't much room for 'stuff' and the occupant has to promise to have zero clutter, no books left out, no throw pillows, etc.  But Emma is willing to live that way in order to be safe.

Jane has suffered the loss of a baby and she is emotionally raw. She needs to find a place to heal. So she endures an interview with the owner and fills out a long questionnaire filled with questions that require her to answer "what would she do?".    Jane finds out that the woman who lived at One Folgate Street before her had died there.  Jane becomes obsessed about what happened to 'the girl before'.

I think you will not only be fascinated with the stories of these two women but also with the description of this house.  Maybe it is a look into the future of what is to come when it comes to smart homes.

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New Life, No Instructions: A Memoir by Gail Caldwell 070.92 Cal

This was a wonderful read.  Ms. Caldwell is a bestselling author and has also won a Pulitzer Prize - so you know she is a great writer.  She had a successful career but as is normal there were ups and downs.  She fills in with some stories from her younger years but most of it is focused on the part of life when lots of bad things start happening.  She begins losing family members and a best friend.  Emotionally that is tough but she also is dealing with physical losses.  She had polio as a baby and later in life was diagnosed with physical problems that often happen to polio victims decades later.  The pain is affecting every aspect of her life.

Her story is one of loss, adversity, and found wisdom.  Throughout her life she is always supported by her beloved dogs.  It is a touching memoir.

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Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens FIC Ste

I have read all of Ms. Stevens' books and enjoyed every one of them.  This book begins over a decade ago when Lindsey Nash takes a terrible chance.  In fear of her abusive husband, Andrew, she takes Sophie, her young daughter, and flees. Andrew ends up in prison.  Lindsey begins a new life and after starting her own cleaning business she is able to take care of the two of them.

But eleven years later the fear begins to return because Andrew is released from prison.  She tries to convince herself that they are safe.  But are they?  She begins to think that someone is stalking her. Meanwhile she has no idea that Sophie has made contact with her dad.

It's a fast-paced book filled with suspense and that 'who can you trust' vibe.

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Almost Home by Pam Jenoff FIC Jen

Jordan Weiss left America to pursue a graduate degree at Cambridge in England.  She was also a member of the rowing team.  And that is how she met and fell in love with Jared who was on the men's rowing team.  The school year was coming to an end.  There was one more big race for Jared the next night.  During a party on the eve of that race, Jared disappeared.  His body was later found in the river.  It was listed as a drowning - even though he was an excellent swimmer.

Jordan leaves England and never wants to return.  She gets a job in the State Department and for the next ten years she travels the world and has some dangerous assignments.

After avoiding the memories in England for 10 years she suddenly asks to be transferred there when she receives a plea from Sarah, a dear friend.  Sarah has ALS and would love to see Jordan again before it is too late.  Soon after her transfer to London Jordan is contacted by an old college classmate (and close friend of Jared's).  He is certain that Jared's death was no accident.  Together they delve into a cover-up and try to find justice.

I really liked the book.  It kept my interest from beginning to end.  I'm checking out other books by Ms. Jenoff!

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