dckathleen's reviews
263 reviews

I read this with my 11 year old. It tells the story of a boy who is new, trying to navigate new friends (with some regrets), a first crush, and trying to find an identity.

A collection of short stories about a murderous old lady. It was a lot more than I bargained for based on the cute cross stitch cover. You do not want this neighbor. 

In post WW 1 London a young woman learns of a huge inheritance from an unknown relative, including a title and a house with a staff...and a mysterious library. The staff seems controlling and disapproving. Then she meets a handsome young Lord who is very interested in her new library. Meanwhile things are getting strange in the house. Why can't she remember conversations? And what about the strange headaches? 

This is a short story (especially by King standards) about a man experiencing a very weird physical phenomenon while also trying to figure out who to feel about his new neighbors. The new neighbors are a lesbian couple who just opened a vegetarian Mexican restaurant in his small town, and their dogs are pooping on his lawn, it's all a bit much for him, but he really wants to be nice. It almost doesn't read like King, but there are clues. 

Non fiction account of an Everest expedition to try to find the camera left behind by Mallory and Irvine in their 1924 summit attempt (possibly a success). A bit reminiscent of Into Thin Air as a critique of modern Everest expeditions plus the story of that first summit attempt. 

I grew up in Germany in the 70s and early 80s and then came to the US, and a lots Nora Krug's conflicts about patriotism and history and questions resonated with me. She returned to Germany to work through her family history and explore those feelings. The book is beautifully illustrated.

Two best friends live on a cul-de-sac and camp out one night. In the morning one boy is gone. Decades later the other boy returns to the house where it happened and feels like he is being haunted. Is his friend sending him signs from the other side? 

This is a heartbreaking story of a kid doing something brave that forever changes the course of his life, and also the lives of others around him. There is also so much here about love and loss and chosen family. There's also a mystery. Really great. 

This was a short story. It was fine, but I'm not even sure what to rate it.

A middle aged mom with newly grown kids reflects on being a middle aged mom with newly grown kids while on a beach vacation with her family, including those kids and her parents. She's a part of the sandwich generation making sandwiches for her family in Sandwich, MA. It was sweet and poignant and talked about challenges and how our lives and roles shift over time.