Monday Mini-Reviews

The past two weeks have been hard on my reading.  Too many after school commitments and scheduled weekend activities are really making finding reading time difficult.  I've managed to get a few things read, and am thankful that all have been good.

So I've got three titles this week to pass on to you:

The Distance Home by Paula Sanders - set in the 50s or 60s, this novel tells the story of siblings, Leon and Rene and their mother as they navigate life in South Dakota during this period in time.  A few awful things happen to Leon in his childhood that impact all of them, but the way things are dealt with is an accurate depiction of life during this time period.  

Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors and The Drug Company That Addicted America by Beth Macy - fantastic non-fiction look at the opiod addiction and how it started.  Plenty of anecdotes and personal stories makes this non-fiction interesting and easy to read, but there are also plenty of facts and figures to show the impact that this drug has had on our country, especially the poor, rural areas.

A Cloud in the Shape of a Girl by Jean Thompson - I love Thompson's writing and the way she is able to capture everyday life.  This is a story of three generations of women.  We get to meet them all and see similarities in their stories as sometimes happen in families.  I'm still not sure what to think about the twist Thompson throws in at the end, but it didn't diminish my enjoyment of her latest book.

If you've got titles to share, feel free to comment.  I'm always looking for something great to read, even though my TBR piles are already too large.