Book Review
The Fallen Woman's Daughter
by Karen Rigby
Consequences and forgiveness interweave in Michelle Cox’s enthralling historical novel The Fallen Woman’s Daughter, about a young heartland bride whose unfortunate choices create hardship for her children across decades. In the...
Book Review
The Lady with the Dark Hair
by Karen Rigby
Dual storylines connect across time in Erin Bartels’s historical novel "The Lady with the Dark Hair", about women who expand their visions of themselves through art. In midlife, Esther cares for her schizophrenic mother, a reclusive...
Book Review
Prairie, Dresses, Art, Other
by Karen Rigby
Writing ignites “a politics of attention” in Danielle Dutton’s literary, unconventional essay collection "Prairie, Dresses, Art, Other", whose entries are bound by energy, sharp awareness of the world’s dangers, family...
Book Review
Magnificent Mess
by Karen Rigby
A reluctant law student muddles her way through love and work in "Magnificent Mess", a romance novel that doubles as a realistic exploration of navigating one’s twenties. In Elizabeth Standish’s romance novel "Magnificent Mess", a...
Book Review
The States
by Karen Rigby
Eloquent and alluring, "The States" is a novel in which dreams crash into lived realities. A woman undergoes a dream experiment and confronts her future choices in Norah Woodsey’s contemplative novel "The States". Tildy is an isolated...
Book Review
The Divine Proverb of Streusel
by Karen Rigby
A heartbroken woman who’s estranged from her father confronts her relationship fears while exploring German cooking in Sara Brunsvold’s homespun Christian novel "The Divine Proverb of Streusel". Though her boyfriend, Isaac, is eager...
Book Review
Sophia and Cassius
by Karen Rigby
Yearning spans centuries in Anna Canić’s bold feminist novel "Sophia and Cassius", about a Lilith-inspired woman who is reborn to love a warrior. Sophia was created together with the first man and later hated by Eve. In this...
Book Review
Why the Sparrow Cries
by Karen Rigby
In Hope Bolinger’s captivating time travel novel "Why the Sparrow Cries", an American teenager meets a Palikarian from the Dark Ages, prompting a culture clash, a mystery, and ethical dilemmas. Harper is troubled and wary when it comes...