This week, Nevermore started off with How to
Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less by Sarah Glidden. In this
graphic memoir, Glidden recounts her “Birthright Israel” tour. Over
several weeks, Glidden explored Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Golan Heights, Masada, and
other locations throughout Israel, learning about the local culture and
shattering her preconceived beliefs about the country she thought she
knew. Our reader said How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or
Less was an excellent graphic novel, noting it was the first one
she’d ever read in her life. She said she became so involved with
Glidden’s journey, and she found herself drawn in by the author’s
realizations. “It’s worth reading,” our reader concluded, saying she
believed it was worth reading for the insight it provided on Israel.
Next, Nevermore checked out A Force of Nature by
Jane Harper, a suspenseful novel about a missing hiker—and the betrayal that
led to her disappearance. Federal agent Aaron Falk is tasked with finding
the hiker, who went missing on a corporate retreat; however, as he travels
deeper into the forest, he uncovers a tangled web of personal and professional
friendship, competition, and suspicion. Our reader said A Force
of Nature was a very good book, a real page turner. It often
flipped between alternate perspectives, providing a very surprising twist at
the end. She highly recommended it to her fellow mystery lovers.
Nevermore also looked at Lilith’s Brood by
Octavia E. Butler, a science fiction compendium featuring Dawn, Adulthood
Rites, and Imago. Lilith Iyapo was in the Andes when
the world ended. Centuries later, she is reawakened by extraterrestrial
beings known as the Oankali. Drawn to humanity and their dying planet,
the Oankali are set on saving the Earth—but at what cost to humankind?
Our reader originally picked up the trilogy to read Dawn, but she
quickly became engulfed by the story and devoured the remaining novels.
She said she was addicted to Lilith’s Brood, and she praised
Butler for her wonderful writing and her incredible stories.
Next, Nevermore visited the Elizabethan era with Alison
Weir’s novel, The Lady Elizabeth. Following the life of
Queen Elizabeth from her toddling years to her eventual transformation into the
Virgin Queen, The Lady Elizabeth is a detailed and riveting
novel that draws together real historical detail and a dramatic, engaging
story. Our reader was thrilled with Weir’s novel, calling it a wonderful
book that offered glimpses into the complex political and social dynamics of the
era. She also called the author’s note excellent, saying it was lovely to
see Weir’s insight into Elizabeth’s life and her dedication to getting the
history right.
Skipping closer to the present, Nevermore took a look
at Fascism: A Warning by Madeline Albright.
Albright’s latest book scrutinizes the twentieth century, offering terrifying
insight into the fascists of the early twentieth century—Hitler, Mussolini, and
others—and their impact on contemporary leaders, like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un.
Our reader said Fascism: A Warning was an interesting
book. Although the chapters were not incredibly detailed, they offered an
interesting argument that fascism certainly did not die at the end of World War
II. Overall, she rated the book very highly and recommended it to her
fellow readers for its intriguing study of past rulers and modern leaders.
Last, but certainly not least, Nevermore presented Winter
Sisters by Robin Oliviera. When two little girls go missing
after a snow storm decimates the city of Albany, Dr. Mary Sutter, a former
Civil War surgeon, sets out to find them. They are the daughters of close
friends who were killed during the storm, and she refuses to let them simply
disappear without a fight. However, when the little girls’ fates are
finally revealed, their recovery has the potential to tear apart the city,
exposing dark secrets and destroying reputations. Our reader, who is a
fan of Robin Oliviera’s novels, said Winter Sisters was an
excellent book. Although she noted it was a bit of a complex story, she
said it was riveting and kept her tied to the pages from the first chapter.
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