Durham County Library

This seemed to be an appropriate month to read Sarah Jio’s first novel. I’ve read her later books, and there is a danger sometimes in going back to read an author’s freshman effort. It’s a story that toggles between the present and 1943 and involves family secrets that cross several generations: all elements that usually […]

A gentle story set in Kenya, East Africa. Mr. Malik and Harry Kahn, a nemesis from Mr. Malik’s school days, find themselves pitted in a birdwatching contest, the winner of which will have the chance to ask fellow birdwatcher Rose to the Nairobi Hunt Club Ball. This book has been at the bottom of my […]

A very engaging view of Islam, written in a youth-friendly format. While combining short quizzes and their answers, this book never slips into cuteness. It deals with the deep parts of this religion, explains its practices and key words, and comments on the value of getting to know friends of other faiths to build understanding […]

An interesting book, but I’m not sure who the author thinks his audience is. Atheists don’t need to be convinced that there is no god and believers won’t be swayed by logical arguments. I found his writing style to be a little off-putting, and there seemed to be a fair amount of repetition. Maybe he […]

I really wanted to like this book, but reading it for more than 10 minutes at a time is like watching too many, say, Honest Trailer videos in a row on Youtube–what should be funny and engaging becomes just something to finish because you feel obligated to feel entertained. I really enjoyed certain parts of […]