Lauren Hough: Monster of a Land: On the Road in Search of Modern America, Pantheon, Penguin Random House Usa

Lauren Hough embarks on a road trip thru modern America with her pitbull Husky mix Woody,  inspired by Steinbecks Travels with Charlie which happens to be one of my favourite books but this is were all similarities stop. Lauren is a gay, 6 foot tall former airforce woman, barkeeper, cable guy and now bestseller author. Her trip from Austin/ Texas around the US in her old rebuilt 2001 Dodge van is a sobering analysis of a very broken country, told in her witty, sarcastic, honest writing,  mixed with her own colorful story. No sugar coating there. 

  What really got to me was the hopelessness and poverty she encounters in previous thriving little communities but also the help she receives from unlikely strangers when stranded. It's a great social study, mixed with personal life experiences which makes "Monster of a Land" a great read. Loved this very different road trip. 

 Laura Sheperd-Robinson: The Art of a Lie, Mantle, paperback 

 "The Art of Lie" is one of the best historical crime novels I have read as of late. Great story, learned a lot about London in the mid 18th century, how society functioned, how many women were independent shopkeepers but yet had virtually  no rights once married and how easy it was to trap windowed women into parting with their money. Loved the main protagonists, widow Hannah Cole who owns a confectionery shop  with her husband who is found murdered.  Hannah discovers that he had 

 secret dealings as the case is being investigated by no one less than Henry Fielding who makes an appearance as the investigating magistrate. Such a twisty wonderful historical crime novel,  where we early know who is the killer which makes it that much more interesting. Highly recommend. Sadly not out in German yet.

 Bokyeong Sunim: One day a cat came to me, Timeless Zen Wisdom from a Cat & Its Monk, Profile books, 

If you are a cat lover and interested in Buddhist wisdom and philosophy,  this is the book for you.

 When a cat shows up near the temple in the mountains where Korean monk Boyyeong Sunim has moved to from the city, he is first intriged by this creature but slowly starts to grow fond of the cat. Of course if you have or had a cat, all whar follows sounds very familiar. Reflecting on

his developing relationship and their growing closeness, incorporating Buddhist teachings, makes this a wonderfully wise and soothing little gem of a book. 

 Deesha Philyaw: The True Confession of First Lady Freeman, Doubleday, Jan 2027, i read a proof

I am clearly not the target group for this novel but had some fun with the bad ass attitude of First Lady Scharisse Freeman, heroine of the book,  wife of a pastor in one of the Black megachurches in the US who call themselves First Ladies. How much is based on how these churches  work and how rich they are is probably not so far from reality. 

Lots of gossipy female bitchiness, sex, back stabbing,  religous falsehood and competition amongst the wives of these pastors and the churches male domiance provide the base for this often funny novel.  I skipped thru the book, as I said, not really my reading taste, too predictable,  but i can see the appeal to younger female readers.