Total Books: 4   Total Pages: 1130   Longest: 366   Shortest: 193

Genres: 4 (Biography – 1, Fiction – 1, Mystery – 1, Thriller – 1)

Between the trip to Portugal (and yes, I still have additional posts coming about that trip – sorry to interrupt the flow for those of you following that topic) and other distractions (my broken wrist, college softball and baseball post-season tournaments, etc.), I only read 4 books in May, significantly down from my average, especially as none were particularly lengthy. However, this month’s reading was quite diverse, so here we go.

First up was Anthony Horowitz’s second book in the Hawthorne and Horowitz Mystery series, The Sentence is Death. I’d read the first one in February after reading his Magpie books in January.

Interesting, except Pryce didn’t drink, so what’s up with the murder weapon? Exactly how many enemies might a “celebrity-divorce” lawyer have who might kill him? Too many, it seems. The police are stumped and bring in former police detective, now PI, Hawthorne. He, of course, drags Horowitz reluctantly into the case for potential next book content. Horowitz’s voice in the novel as he attempts to work through the clues and beat Hawthorne to the answer reminds me of how I read and attempt to work it out before the author reveals the solution also. All in all, it was another satisfying read with multiple plot lines and scenarios to follow which were wrapped up nicely in the end.

Two BFFs, one a successful social media and self-help guru (Chess), the other (Emily) a struggling writer, spend the summer at an Italian villa where a murder occurred fifty years ago while a famous rock musician and his entourage had rented it. As the story of both summers is told/discovered, the betrayals and truth behind what happened in the past and is happening in the present start revealing themselves.

From the Amazon description: Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle––the birthplace of Frankenstein––The Villa welcomes you into its deadly legacy.

In the novel, Emily asks, “How is it that someone can bring out the very best and the very worst of you all at once?” and that seems to be the question driving the plot. The more I think about it, the more I think I like this particular novel as Hawkins had to create so many additional “works” within the novel to tell the story. Also, I can’t remember ever reading Shelley’s Frankenstein, so I may need to add that to my list when I’m in the mood for a “classic”.

In this magical realism novel, while in college, to appease Jessica, her roommate and best friend since, Sabrina quickly jotted down a list. Now, a decade later on her 30th birthday as she enters a restaurant to meet Jessica for their traditional dinner, she finds the people from her list also seated at the table. As it turns out, everyone in attendance, including Audrey Hepburn, have a purpose in resolving why they are all there.

Most of the time while reading I can find a character to relate to in some way, but I really couldn’t relate to anyone in this group at all. It was still interesting to read and had a couple of twists that I didn’t see coming. I did have to read the Wikipedia version of Audrey Hepburn’s life afterward and she really did belong at that dinner table! Also, I don’t know who my five people are, I’m still thinking about it! Who is on your list?

Her story is both heartbreaking and inspiring as she fights for her dreams in a country where women dare not dream of higher education, independence, or even playing music as the Taliban takes over. One of the quotes from the book that stood out to me was: Dan and I both believed music was more than just entertainment; it was a bridge between people, a universal language as well as a tool for peace.

Today, three years after the Taliban took over, Zarifa continues her dreams outside of Afghanistan, while promoting education for girls and spreading the word of the rights removed from women by the Taliban, while longing for the day the Taliban will be overthrown, and she can return to her beloved homeland. Perhaps somehow music will be that bridge to peace in the war-torn country.

Unlike The Dinner List, I could relate to Zarifa and her passion for music, learning, and independence. Unlike Zarifa, however, I did not have to put my life in danger to pursue those things. I think the only activity I was told I couldn’t do, because I was a girl, was play football (and I don’t mean soccer)! In hindsight, given what we now know about the risk of CTE, that was probably a good thing. Nonetheless, I remain adamant that I’d have been a good, little fullback! LOL!

In 2022, after learning about the restrictions that the Taliban had imposed on women and girls (limiting education and the ability to work, even for women who owned their own business and were their family’s sole provider), I was angry. I couldn’t imagine being told I could not pursue an education or a job merely because I’m female. I requested for my birthday that year on Facebook for contributions (something I’d never done before) to be made to Women for Afghan Women. After reading Zarifa’s story, I’m still angry. I’m making another contribution and if you’d like to join me, please check out the website for Women for Afghan Women here.