Time for another Book Report already??

Illuminations by Mary Sharratt – I am officially in awe of Mary Sharratt. The other day, I was making a list of my favorite novelists, and I realized that for many of the novelists on the list, I didn’t love each and every one of their books. But with Sharratt – she has yet to write a dud. I’ve devoured each of her novels, and I think each one gets better. “Illuminations” is about Hildegard von Bingen. She was a 12th century mystic, abbess, and visionary. When she was 8, something terrible happens to her, and finding out how she can get out of that situation makes this book a gripping thriller. She is to become an "anchorite" - a nun who will be literally sealed inside two tiny rooms, in order to live out her life in prayer and reflection. Her only companion will be another nun, one who is a fanatic. As always, Sharratt has strong female characters combined with imaginative settings and strong plots. Grade: A

Transitions of the Heart edited by Rachel Pepper – As far as I can tell, this anthology didn’t set out to be an “awwww” warm and fuzzy kind of book, but it ended up being so, in the best possible way. It’s a collection of essays by moms who have transgender kids. I loved reading each person’s story. Their family was given a challenge that they didn’t expect, and in most cases, they dealt with it well. Not every contributor fully understands the situation and none is a perfect parent, but their journeys in that direction were all excellent to read about. Also, I loved that the editor assembled a diverse collection of writers. Grade: B+

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