Louise Kennedy’s second novel begins in 1982 and ends in 2007. It takes place, for the most part, in London and Ireland. Roisin McCaffrey always feels like an outsider until she meet Redmond(Red) Camelin. Red is bright and charismatic but unhappy living at home. Stations follows Roisin for 25 years as Red goes in and out of her life.

This is not a book for everyone. Stations describes the seamy side of London-the poverty, the squalor, the sex, the alcohol and the drugs. Despite feeling a bit uncomfortable some of the time, I found it a marvelous read. Most of the characters are flawed, yet I still cared about them. I also admire Louise Kennedy’s writing style. She has a knack of saying a lot in just a few words.

Grace O’Malley was a 16th century Irish sea captain. Ariel Lawhon’s historical novel covers most of her life. Grace was a defiant, independent woman who loved the sea, despised her first husband, adored her second, was the mother of three sons and a daughter and wouldn’t hesitate slitting a man’s throat if she felt she had been wronged.

The headings of the many chapters in The Pirate Queen are Maiden, Matriarch and Mother, and none of the chapters are in chronological order. Readers who prefer a linear novel will not enjoy The Pirate Queen. Also, warning, parts of The Pirate Queen are violent-lots of blood. Finally, I found it difficult to empathize with Grace until she got together with her second husband which was more than halfway through the book.

This novel is difficult to summarize. Ruth at the age of 16 is pregnant. Her mother, Edith, tries to keep her in her bedroom so no one knows of this, but Ruth escapes. She gives birth to a daughter, Ori. Ruth has always been captivated by an island her neighbors visit every summer. One day when Ori is young they go visit the island, and that is the last time Ori sees her mother.

Long Wave is a powerful novel. Daisy Johnson describes the demanding and difficult job of being a single mother. Long Wave is not an easy read-assorted characters head different chapters describing different eras and events. However, I would recommend it to anyone who wants a wonderfully written book that many readers will continue to think about long after finishing it.

A hagwon is a Korean invention. It is a private after school center where students go to get extra help with all courses as well ass college applications and ACT and SAT tests. American Hagwon takes place for the most part in Sydney, Australia, Los Angeles and Seoul. It follows the Koh family, parents Helen and John and their children, Bo, DH and Mido, describing their successes, failures, loves, disappointments and friendships.

This is a book I didn’t want to finish. It felt so good to read a novel where most of the characters are honest, hard working and intelligent with a sound moral base. Min Jin Lee’s third work on the Korean diaspora is fabulous. Read it!!!

Like Harbach’s first novel, The Art of Fielding, part of The Brightness takes place on a college campus in Wisconsin. The title refers to a feminist publication and one of the main themes of the novel is women getting revenge for rapes on campuses. The two main characters are Pella, a 28 year old college graduate who is engaged but uncertain about what she wants to do with her life and Irma, a brilliant undergraduate who becomes involved in the women’s movement.

Timing is important, and The Brightness couldn’t be more timely what with all the headlines about Cornell. This is a very good read with interesting characters, but it could have used some editing. About halfway through the novel, I needed a break from Pella and Irma’s problems.

Dava and Barr are married with two sons. They are both English professors at a university in the midwest. When Dava is in the throes of dementia, Barr discovers a novel his wife has secretly spent years writing. It is excellent and Barr passes if off as his own. The rough draft also alerts Barr that his wife has been having an affair with a female colleague. The title refers to a one eared, badly scarred, abandoned dog who enhances the lives of the main characters.

I understand this sounds like a cop out, but I am really unsure why I so thoroughly enjoyed Luna, Phoenix, Queen. I only know you don’t have to be gay, a dog lover or an English professor to appreciate Julie Orringer’s latest novel.

The murder rate in the United States is three times higher than Canada and five times higher than The United Kingdom and most of Western Europe. As I am typing this, I just learned that nine people were killed today including two children in Erie, Pennsylvania. In his eighth book of nonfiction, Gladwell discusses what is wrong with many Americans interpretation of the 2nd amendment, how to improve policing and other examples of what is causing this escalation in our homicide rate and how it can be lowered.

Malcolm Gladwell is the master of examples. He theorizes and then uses statistical and citizen’s personal examples to support it. The American Way of Killing is a must read for those who have the power to change our violent society.

Evan Gershkovich is the Wall Street journalist who was accused of being a spy. He spent 17 months in several Russian prisons. This Cursed Beautiful Land is his rendering of his life before, during and after his imprisonment.

Gershkovich is a fine writer and his description of his life especially before and during the time he spent in prisons are clear, concise and vivid. If you are interested in prison stories and Russian politics, and I am, I encourage you to read This Cursed Beautiful Land.

Livia Cable, the narrator of Partita, is from rural Tennessee. She has a cold, punitive mother, a nice, quiet father and a brother who walks in front of a moving train when she is 11 and he is 17. She is a musical prodigy who plays the piano and receives a scholarship to Indiana University. There she falls in love with Sigurd, and then her life quickly goes from one crisis to another.

Partita is told in alternating chapters of past and present. Like the main character in Demon Copperhead, Livia’s life goes from one catastrophe to another. It’s a bit much! Also, Partita has a lot of descriptions of specific pieces of classical music. Not being knowledgeable, I found these passages tedious.

It is 1951. Harry Flynn has returned to London after being released from a horrific POW camp in the Far East. He takes a job helping to set up rooms for The Festival of Britain. When a French woman he had a drink with disappears the next day, Harry’s hum drum life becomes anything but boring.

Part historical fiction, part who done it and part a cast of eccentric characters, Our Noble Selves is a fun, clever, informative read. If you’re a Kate Atkinson fan, and I am, you will want to read Our Noble Selves.