Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman
This is a fabulous, engrossing novel, described as five years in the writing, and worth every bit of the wait. It takes place in the Judean desert beginning in 70 B.C. and weaves together the stories of four women who take care of the dovecote at the fortress at Masada tell their stories. There is Yael, the daughter and sister of Sicarii, professional assassins, and Revka, who with her two mute grandsons has just witnessed the horrific murder of the boys' mother in the desert. Shirah and her warrior daughter Aziza. Shirah, a healer and a witch, worships the ancient goddess Ashtoreth while her daughter disguises herself as a boy in order to use her warrior skills, providing a contrast to her brother who shrinks from those same skills. The women's ability to survive, and just as importantly, to carve lives which fraught with danger also have deep meaning make this story hard to put down. For all who have had to face life with resilience, this book honors that and much more.
The library book club will be reading Dovekeepers and discussing it at our regular meeting on February 23 at 7:00pm. Join us - everyone is welcome.This next book is new this week:
A Grown Up Kind of Pretty by Joshilyn Jackson
Jackson takes you on an interesting journey as she builds the story in A Grown Up Kind of Pretty. It is multi-generational, though Ginny, the oldest is only 45, and bases the narrative on the fact that every 15 years some kind of trouble up ends her life. One story line is about her daughter Liza, and her daughter Mosey, whose blood connection comes into question when a grave with an infant's skeleton is found in Ginny's back yard. Another is about Ginny's relationship in the past with the love of her life, who was married (but separated!) at the beginning of their relationship and is now divorced. A third story line is about Liza, and who fathered her child, and who now is recovering from a stroke. Each story line is well thought out, holds hidden information that gets revealed with excellent timing and weaves in with the other story lines pretty seamlessly. You get attached to the characters immediately and can't wait to see how everything works out.
Don't miss the following upcoming events - all free and open to the public at the Worthington Library.
Genealogy Club: Thursday, February 2 at 7:00pm
Movie Night: Friday, February 10 at 7:00pm We'll view The Help this month.
