Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson

 Black Cake is a dense, rum soaked, fruit filled cake - a part of every Caribbean celebration in spite of its colonial roots - a favorite treat for Eleanor Bennet to bake.  It is a mystery then why Eleanor leaves a note to her children, who travel to Southern California for her funeral, that there is just such a cake for them to share when "the time is right".  But first they are asked to listen to a long audio recording Eleanor left behind.  Daughter Benny and son Byron are not expecting surprises. They have always known they were children of Jamaican immigrants who faced the discrimination rampant in American society together as a family.  But there are secrets that go back to the time when Eleanor was named Covey, a fierce swimmer who fought against the constraints in her traditional upbringing in Jamaica.  And their father - well that's another story.  So back and forth between times and many places the truth is shared, the definition of home and family is challenged and connections between things like black cake and identity are explored.  It's a rich, complicated journey.

Fast Girls by Elise Hooper

 In the 1928 Olympics, Betty Robinson won a gold medal in the 100m race. It was the first time women could compete and there were many who thought this was a fluke and women should not be competing in such a demanding sport.  Inspired by her win, women continued to find ways to race.  This is the story of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. While the light shone brightest on Jesse Owens that Olympic year and on the rise of Nazi Germany for many years after, there were women who also felt they had something to prove.  This story focuses on three of the women.  Helen Stephens, a farm girl from Iowa; Louise Stokes, a young Black woman from the Boston area; and Betty.  Through their stories we learn about the racism, sexism and homophobia these women had to struggle against to compete and how the power of team work helped them overcome the obstacles in their paths and lead to a golden moment.  Enlightening and inspiring, it is not a surprising that we didn't know about these women - just sad that it took so long.

The Book Woman's Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson

 Honey Lovett is the daughter of the blue skinned pack horse librarian we met in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek.  It is the 1950's in these hollers of Kentucky but not much has changed from the poverty, lack of education and prejudice that Honey's mother so bravely overcame. Now it is Honey's turn. Even though some real libraries have been established in the small towns, they are still not accessible to the people in the hills. Although only 17, circumstances make it necessary for Holly to take up her mother's old route. It turns out that she has much more to contribute to the people on her route than books.  This is feel good historical fiction.

Happiness by Aminatta Forna

 I found the two main characters interesting but I think this novel was just trying too hard.  Attila Asare is a noted psychiatrist from Ghana who specializes in trauma due to conflict.  As an expert he has travelled to many of the war torn areas of the world.  In fact many of his former patients turn up in this London based story.  Jean is an American urban biologist studying the fox population in the city.  They bump into each other on the Waterloo Bridge (symbolic? over-thought?) and the connection is made. Back and forth through time and place, we are offered multiple thoughts about war, family, environment, death, love and even happiness.  There is trouble with immigration officers, a lover with Alzheimer's, estranged family members, conflict between nature lovers and city dwellers, a lost niece - just to name a few.  In spite of all of this, it made for a great book group discussion.

This is Happiness by Niall Williams

 I am too A.D.D. to focus on an audio book but I would love to hear a voice with a real Irish lilt reading this. Noa at age 17 has abandoned his priesthood preparation and returned to his grandparents home in the Irish village of Faha.  It is the 20th century everywhere else in the world but Faha is rich with old traditions and eternal characters.  Also staying with Noa's grandparents is Christy.  In his 60's, he is in Faha to get everything ready for the arrival of electricity - not a change welcomed by everyone.  He is also hoping to correct an "error of the heart".  The story is actually a simple coming of age story which is secondary to the exquisite writing.  Rich - maybe a little too rich - with detail,  The place, the people, so very present.  Every page has some observation or insight that makes you stop and ponder and want to discuss - love, faith, tradition, family, rain...  It is sure to frustrate anyone looking for a quick read.

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

 Tova Sullivan lives simply in a small town on Puget Sound.  Her husband has died and her son disappeared years ago in a strange boating accident.  She meets weekly with the Knit Wits  and works in the evenings at the Sowell Bay aquarium tidying and cleaning.  The other narrator in our story is Marcellus McSquiddles, resident octopus.  The two form a special bond during their shared hours at the aquarium and although there is a remarkable level of communication between them, it turns out that Marcellus still has something very important to share with Tova.  Their lives become complicated when Cameron enters the scene. Thirty years old having lived a life determined by bad luck and bad choices, he arrives in a broken down van from California in search of a father he has never known.  Three characters looking for some kind of connection, some kind of family and a secret that connects them all.  Heart-warming, almost believable, the book is a good alternative to the difficult reality we are all too aware of in the world.

 

A Place called Freedom by Ken Folliett

 Our story begins in Scotland in 1767.  Malachi McAsh (Mack) and his sister both work long and treacherous hours in the mines owned by Sir George Jamisson.  Mack's soul mate is Lizzie Hallim, daughter of the titled but impoverished Lady Hallim.  As  was so often the case, Lizzie is forced to marry Jay Jamisson to save her mother and the estate.  Both Mack and Lizzie are far too independent for that to be the way of the story.  Events find them all on a ship to the colony of Virginia - Mack as an indentured servant out of Newgate prison and Lizzie and Jay on the way to run their tobacco plantation.  It takes a different kind of person to succeed in this New World and a host of interesting characters change the course of all their lives.  Along with some real historical figures we meet Peg - abandoned as a child, she is a talented thief and hustler and an unlikely hero.  As the title suggests, all the adventure, in well researched Ken Folliett style,  is a way of moving west toward a place called freedom.