Dreams of Joy, Lisa See

This novel picks up the story of two sisters living in Shanghai during the WW2. In this book, Pearl goes back to China to find their daughter Joy, who has gone to find her father, and to work in a communist commune. It is an unflinching account of life in China and of Chairman Mao's Great Leap Forward, when government mandates created a severe, devastating famine. It is a story of the love of the mother and daughter, the triumph of the human spirit, and what I can only assume is an accurate picture of life in China at the end of the 1950's. This is a hard to put down book.

The Education of Mrs. Bemis, John Sedgewick

Bought at Michael's garage sale; really nice to have a real book in my hands. Nice story. I think Michael said he read it because someone was considering making a movie of it, but they changed their minds. I liked the inter-generational interest and respect.

Something Borrowed, Emily Griffin

Not sure how I got this one on my Kindel, but interesting summer reading; contemporary romance which actually works out well in the end. Or maybe they all do.

Worth Dying For Lee Child

This is the 15th 'Reacher' thriller, but it is the first one for me. On his way to meet a woman in Virginia, Reacher solves the disappearance of Margaret, stops the Asian child smuggling ring, and ends the total domination of the small town by the Duncan family. Lots of ruthless butt kicking and survival skills.

Sing You Home Jodi Picoult

This one deals with lesbian marriage, and frozen sperm, and who has the right to it; the biological birth mother/donor, or the now divorced birth father/donor. Certainly timely, as usual, and the usual enjoyably written story.