Book Reviews

When the Wind Blows by James Patterson

Reviewed by B. Ullsvik, November 2021

Frannie O’Neill is a veterinarian working in Colorado. Many years ago, her husband mysteriously died, haunting her to this day. Out of the blue, another murder happens, under the radar of the local people. This leads to FBI agent Kit Harrington on her doorstep. They stay out of each other’s way, even though Frannie is starting to like him.  One day, Frannie hears what she thinks is a hurt animal, out alone in the woods. She runs into the woods, searching for this animal. But what she finds, will change her life forever.

 

Obasan by Joy Kogawa

Reviewed by A. Klink, September 2021

Naomi Nakane has just learned about her uncle’s death. She travels home to check on her grandmother; the woman who practically raised her. While at her aunt’s cottage she finds memories in the attic, which cause her to reminisce about the full life she had lived with Obasan: the life as a Japanese Canadian during World War II. The Nakane family went through many hardships during this time, and Kogawa details them all. 

The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Reviewed by A. Klink, September 2021

This thriller is a work of nonfiction which transports the reader to the World's Fair in Chicago, 1893. Larson throws the reader between two storylines: architect Daniel Burnham, and serial killer HH Holmes. Burnham is frantically attempting to manage the fair’s construction amidst worker strikes and budget struggles, while Holmes is busy creating a successful facade to lure in new victims. Their two paths could not be more different, but the paths intertwine during the World’s Fair. 

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Reviewed by A. Klink, September 2021

The novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God, written by Zora Neale Hurston is a work about the African American population in the early 20th century. The book follows Janie around southern Florida as she moves from husband to husband. Searching for true love and escaping commanding husbands, Janie searches for one thing: herself. When faced with a decision, Janie must decide whether it is best to stay and suffer, or leave and fulfill her dream of finding happiness.