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cstucky2
"Ina Garten: A Memoir, Be Ready when the Luck Comes" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
If you’re like me you have some of her cookbooks, which include down-to-earth recipes for everyday meals. There’s not a hint of fussy in...
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Welcome to my favorites list — a continuation of “Novel Ideas,” a book review column I wrote for 18 years.
I’ll regularly suggest new books here, presented in a snappy new format.
These are the stories I’ll share when you ask, “read anything good lately?”
These are the books that have captivated me with well-drawn characters and plots that move like runaway trains.
Each favorite has a place of honor on my bookshelf, cherished friends I’m happy to suggest.
Page On! Enjoy!
cstucky2
Nov 72 min read
"Intermezzo" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Beautifully written, “Intermezzo,” by Sally Rooney, opens with Peter, age 32, a Dublin lawyer, and his brother Ivan, age 22, a chess...
9 views
cstucky2
Oct 172 min read
"The Mesmerist" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Caroline Woods takes a page from history, combining fact with fiction, to create “The Mesmerist” an absorbing historical fiction novel...
12 views
cstucky2
Oct 93 min read
"The Sequel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
It takes quite an imagination to conjure up and carry through the complicated plot line and wicked surprises in “The Sequel,” by Jean...
5 views
cstucky2
Sep 112 min read
"Here One Moment" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
I had a good cry after I finished “Here One Moment,” so touched by the wisdom and wonderfulness of Liane Moriarty’s new novel. I loved...
145 views
cstucky2
Sep 32 min read
"Madwoman" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Domestic abuse is center stage in “Madwoman” a gripping mystery/thriller by Chelsea Bieker. Though this subject is frequently written...
23 views
cstucky2
Aug 302 min read
"Five-Star Stranger: A Novel"| Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Imagine renting yourself out—acting a part and when the gig’s over checking your reviews on the Five-Star Stranger App. As a seasoned...
15 views
cstucky2
Aug 222 min read
"Peggy" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Art collector and socialite Peggy Guggenheim makes a fascinating subject for the page turner “Peggy: A Novel.” This marvelous, intimate...
17 views
cstucky2
Aug 62 min read
"Hum: A Novel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
A mother makes a supreme sacrifice that changes her life in “Hum” by Helen Phillips, a dystopian novel that grabs you by the throat and...
18 views
cstucky2
Jul 282 min read
"The Lion Women of Tehran" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
It’s magical to pick up a book and become one with the story. I knew I had a goodie in my hands with “The Lion Women of Tehran,” by...
33 views
cstucky2
Jul 93 min read
"The God of the Woods," | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
As soon as I started “The God of the Woods,” I was mystified and held captive. Author Liz Moore was immediately in control of my psyche,...
241 views
cstucky2
Jul 32 min read
"The Bear" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Twenty-something sisters Elena and Sam live with their ailing mother on San Juan Island in the “The Bear,” by Julia Phillips, a novel...
23 views
cstucky2
Jun 253 min read
"All the Colors of the Dark"| Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
I finished “All the Colors of the Dark” with a sigh knowing I’d been immersed in an upcoming classic, a novel that would be one of my...
218 views
cstucky2
Jun 182 min read
"Same as It Ever Was" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Domestic bliss is something Julia Ames doesn’t have in “Same as it Ever Was,” a thought-provoking novel about love, marriage, parenthood...
26 views
cstucky2
Jun 42 min read
"When We Were Silent" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
“When We Were Silent” is an addictive novel by Fiona McPhillips about a subject that’s all too common, appearing in headlines we discuss...
46 views
cstucky2
May 213 min read
"Daughters of Shandong" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
A heartfelt family story set in China in the 1940s, when the Communists and Nationalists vehemently vied for power in the country. In a...
25 views
cstucky2
May 72 min read
"The Return of Ellie Black" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Hikers in Washington State find her—the teenager who goes missing from her home in Coldwell, Washington. The girl was supposed to be...
21 views
cstucky2
May 13 min read
"Real Americans" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
This week marks the publication of a certain bestseller—“Real Americans,” by Rachel Khong. It’s a beautifully written novel with rich...
33 views
cstucky2
Apr 233 min read
"Safe and Sound" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Missouri author Laura McHugh returns with her newest thriller “Safe and Sound,” a page turner set in the Show Me State. Local readers...
29 views
cstucky2
Apr 173 min read
"Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Salman Rushdie’s just-released memoir “Knife” details the horrific assault and subsequent recovery from a near-fatal stabbing two years...
10 views
cstucky2
Apr 52 min read
"What Happend to Nina?" Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Promoted as a thriller, “What Happened to Nina?, by Dervla McTiernan, is a compelling read, but unlike other books in this genre it...
20 views
cstucky2
Mar 272 min read
"Here After" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Somber, personal, heart-wrenching and wise describes Amy Lin’s gripping memoir, “Here After.” The Canadian author was widowed at 31,...
28 views
cstucky2
Mar 182 min read
"James" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The ingenuity, heart and craftsmanship of “James” left me aghast in amazement. Author Percival Everett, a Pulitzer Prize Finalist, will...
77 views
cstucky2
Mar 142 min read
"Annie Bot" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
“Get outside your box,” I told myself, picking up a copy of “Annie Bot,” by Sierra Greer, a contemporary novel about A.I., featuring a...
27 views
cstucky2
Mar 63 min read
"The Great Divide" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
In “The Great Divide,” a historical fiction must-read by Cristina Henríquez, readers are treated to an immersive story about the building...
109 views
cstucky2
Feb 272 min read
"After Annie" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
We all have favorite authors we follow, waiting for another of their treasures to feed us as we sit transfixed, amazed at their craft....
37 views
cstucky2
Feb 132 min read
"The Teacher" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
“The Teacher,” by Freida McFadden, is a read-it-in-one-sitting thriller that I totally raced through. While I thought a couple of times...
48 views
cstucky2
Feb 62 min read
"The Women" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Popular, prolific author Kristin Hannah has made a name for herself with a long list of bestsellers over the years, including “The...
85 views
cstucky2
Jan 262 min read
"Small Town Sins" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
News about "Small Town Sins" just reappeared because it’s been nominated for a Mystery Writers Edgar Award, in the debut category....
22 views
cstucky2
Jan 162 min read
"The Fury" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The narrator alone is reason enough to dig into “The Fury,” by Alex Michaelides, a bestselling author known for his psychological...
102 views
cstucky2
Jan 92 min read
"We Must not Think of Ourselves" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
In the gripping historical novel “We Must Not Think of Ourselves,” set in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, the main character, an...
42 views
cstucky2
Jan 22 min read
"The Storm We Made" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Kick off the New Year with a stunning book from novelist Vanessa Chan. Her debut, “The Storm We Made,” is an absolute gem, historical...
52 views
cstucky2
Dec 11, 20232 min read
"The Mystery Guest" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
She’s back—Molly Gray, the endearing main character who debuted in “The Maid," published in 2021, a marvelous, fun mystery by Nita Prose....
25 views
cstucky2
Dec 3, 20232 min read
"The Berry Pickers: A Novel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Indigenous people from Nova Scotia, who annually journeyed to Maine to pick blueberries, are center stage in the page turner, “The Berry...
31 views
cstucky2
Nov 24, 20232 min read
"The Little Liar" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The cover of Mitch Albom’s newest book, “The Little Liar,” foreshadows its compelling narrative. Autumnal light fades into the sunset as...
40 views
cstucky2
Nov 12, 20233 min read
"Absolution: A Novel" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Alice McDermott offers readers a beautiful literary experience with her new novel “Absolution” a thought-provoking, nostalgic story set...
51 views
cstucky2
Nov 7, 20232 min read
"All the Light We Cannot See" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Memorable and literary, I had double the pleasure with “All the Light We Cannot See,” which I read and listened to when it was first...
16 views
cstucky2
Nov 3, 20233 min read
"The Woman In Me" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Shocked. That’s the reaction I got when I told my daughter I was listening to the new book by Britney Spears. Though this autobiography...
44 views
cstucky2
Oct 3, 20232 min read
"Night Watch" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
It’s 1874, a buckboard makes its way to an insane asylum in Weston, West Virginia. A Civil War veteran drives the wagon. Beside him is...
165 views
cstucky2
Sep 25, 20232 min read
"Bright Young Women" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
An engrossing blend of true crime and fiction makes “Bright Young Women,” by Jessica Knoll, a page turner that pulls you in as soon as...
42 views
cstucky2
Sep 19, 20232 min read
"Chenneville" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
I’ve been a Paulette Jiles fan since “Enemy Women” was published in 2002. Since then, Jiles has never disappointed, securing an abundant...
48 views
cstucky2
Sep 12, 20232 min read
"The Vaster Wilds" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
It begins with a daring, frigid escape in the wilds—a girl flees for her life, from those who would kill her on the spot or return her to...
37 views
cstucky2
Sep 6, 20232 min read
"Small Town Sins" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Locksburg, Pennsylvania is the setting for “Small Town Sins,” a gritty novel with an addictive storyline by Ken Jaworowski. The book...
30 views
cstucky2
Aug 28, 20232 min read
"Happiness Falls" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
The impetus behind Angie Kim’s new novel, “Happiness Falls,” can be traced to the difficulties she had adapting to a foreign culture when...
22 views
cstucky2
Aug 20, 20232 min read
"The English Experience"| Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
It’s been a while since I read a book that made me laugh out loud, but that’s what happened as I walked the Brit walk with Jason Fitger,...
43 views
cstucky2
Aug 7, 20232 min read
“The Connellys of County Down| Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
For over a year, Tara Connelly has been in Taconic Correctional, a medium security facility where she’s been a model prisoner. The day...
36 views
cstucky2
Jul 20, 20232 min read
"The Last Ranger" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Any reader who’s been to Yellowstone will revel in “The Last Ranger.” Author Peter Heller entices once again, adding another exciting...
38 views
cstucky2
Jul 13, 20232 min read
"The Art Thief" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
While fiction is my preferred genre, I do enjoy narrative non-fiction too— “Behind the Beautiful Forevers,” “Hidden Valley Road,” “Devil...
17 views
cstucky2
Jun 29, 20232 min read
"The Quiet Tenant" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
She’s been kept prisoner in the garden shed for five years, this woman he renames Rachel. He brings her food and water daily and uses her...
84 views
cstucky2
Jun 26, 20232 min read
"Banyan Moon" | Reviewed by Chris Stuckenschneider
Three generations of women narrate “Banyan Moon,” an immersive, heartfelt novel by Thao Thai. The matriarch of the story, Minh, is...
30 views
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