The Almost Moon by Alice Sebold

Clair and Helen Knightly have a complex mother/daughter relationship. Frustrated with looking after her mother, she ends up crossing a line she never thought possible. She kills her mother. She didn’t plan it but it takes care of an unconscious desire to be free of her. Over the next twenty-four hours, she must confront the freedom she never thought possible.

Ms. Sebold can write such haunting fiction. Her characters want freedom and do whatever it takes to obtain it. There is such power and emotion in each character. Ms. Sebold brings it out in a way that compels you to read on.

Helen had a rough life. She was doing her best to stay afloat. Reaching her limit, she didn’t know what to expect but she wanted change. Clair Knightly hated going outside. Worst of all was losing her husband. She did things to comfort herself while slowly losing her mind.

This book while well written had me questioning the character’s motives. I didn’t agree with all that Helen did but then I’ve never been in her situation. She just stopped thinking and reacted. This book did upset me but then life is never as simple as I would like it to be. This book does make you think. I found the ending too abrupt.


Alice Sebold/Adult Fiction/ Relationships/ 291 pages/ 3 out of 5

Back to a couple of review books and then hopefully get a few of my own. :)

Tough Cookie by Diane Mott Davidson

Goldy is trying to keep herself a float while her kitchen is being redone again. The sinks did not meet the standard so now she is left scrambling. Hosting a TV cooking show was not on her list but she finds herself enjoying it. Until it all seems to go downhill, and now she is being asked a lot of questions. She does not want to look bad but her curiosity still gets her. She needs to know what is going on or so she thinks. She has so much to do that she wonders if she will come out unscathed.


Ms. Davidson does it again! I love this series. I feel so at home with Goldy and her friends and family. I also love reading the recipes that she creates. I know I could never do much with food but Goldy is a whiz and a half!

Goldy is so sweet with her son Arch. I really like the relationship that they share. It is a good one but even Arch acts like a teenager now and then, which is to be expected. Marla was back and I was so happy to see her again! She has me in stitches the entire time she is there. Other people surfaced in the book, which made me very happy. The characters are so real and the ideas that they have are fun. The criminal in this book surprised me. I did not see it coming though I rarely do anyways.

This is one series I hope to finish this year. If I keep this up I should have it done by June if I keep reading one a month. I hate to see it end but I have enjoyed it thoroughly and who knows maybe she comes out with another one this year.

Diane Mott Davidson/ 291 pages/ Cooking/ Mystery/ 5 out of 5

This is the last one of the month. Tomorrow I start TheManning Sisters by Debbie Macomber. I will also post a review for a book I read while ago as well as my books for this month and stats!