Historical fiction, with a healthy dose of romance, “The Queen’s Lover” by Vanora Bennett is a story of 15th-century France and England, set during the Hundred Years War. It follows the life of Catherine de Valois, who became Queen of England and then Queen Mother of Henry VI. Although most readers will already be familiar…
We became fans of Julie Buxbaum after reading her first novel, “The Opposite of Love,” and reinforced our status with “After You.” Both of her books deal with grief in one form or another but they’re so funny and warm, they become uplifting stories of beginnings rather than endings. I recently caught up with Julie to find out…
Even if you’re staying home this summer, Midge Raymond’s Forgetting English will make you feel like you’ve been on an amazing journey around the world while, miraculously, keeping you grounded on familiar emotional terrain. These universal stories are so beautifully written, you’ll want to read them slowly and savor every word. Here’s my conversation with Midge,…
I have to admit: What drew me to Rhoda Janzen’s memoir, Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, were my own memories of Quaker boarding school and the day that our Mennonite classmate, Romy Flichenbacher*, showed up for the first day of class. Romy came riding up the long country driveway, sitting upright and facing backward…
Full disclosure: World War II is my era. I have a natural affinity for it. My daughter is certain she was born in the wrong time, having missed out on the Summer of Love in the ’60s and soaks up everything she can about the time when the times they were a changin’. My fascination…
