Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

This somewhat sentimental and ultimately tense novel follows the interwoven lives of two married couples in the fictional town of Bonhomie, Ohio. One half of the first of these couples is Cal Jenkins, the sweet-tempered son of a gruff and traumatized first world war veteran, born in the spring of 1920 with one leg shorter than the other. This is a pivotal problem for Cal--he is marginalized because of it, is challenged romantically by it, and it keeps him out of WWII so he is home while others are away. He instead ends up spending his days in drudgery at the local concrete factory. As luck would have it, a chance meeting with Becky Hanover, a young woman with a dark bob and a loveably whimsical way about her, sees Cal and they are soon married. The second couple are the Salts--Margaret and Felix. Margaret grew up an orphan, never feeling safe or loved, so she can be forgiven for not understanding what was going on with Felix, but while he was away on a battleship in the Pacific, she begins an affair with Cal. That is how the couples become entangled with each other, and the rest of the story would be quite comfortable in a Faulkner novel--overdone a bit, but engrossing none the less. The book also takes us through racism, classism, and homophobia in mid-century America.

Nippori Fabric Town, Tokyo, Japan

Tokyo has neighborhoods and Nippori Fabric Town lies in a quiet part of Nippori, just east of the Yamanote Line station and makes for just as exciting of an adventure for fabric aficionados, as it does for most of us non-connoisseurs. There are dozens of shops selling anything from fabrics, leather, buttons, zippers, beads - you name it - Nippori Fabric Town has established itself as a hotspot for Tokyo’s textile lovers over the past century and is an ideal place to get some inspiration for your next creative endeavor. Start your journey through Nippori Fabric Town by making your way up the central street (Chuo-dori) that runs towards the east of Nippori Station and you’ll soon notice the yellow signs that mark the beginning of textile heaven. Tomato is perhaps the neighbourhood’s most famous and easily most recognizable establishment, boasting several shops along the main street and a main building that stretches over a whopping five floors. Each of Tomato’s stores is dedicated to slightly different types of fabrics including textiles for interiors, a shop dedicated to sewing kits and even an outlet where can have your very own fabric designs printed. There is a lot of high quality Japanese fabric for very good prices, but if you are looking for kasuri or shibori, you need to go to a used kimono store to find that.

Looking For Smoke by K.A. Cobell

I read this for a Goodreads challenge and to celebrate Native American Heritage month. It is a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick as well--and mirrors another one of her picks, a YA book called The Firekeeper's Daughter. It is also a novel where a teen girl has to figure out what is happening in her community. Mara Racette is a high school student who recently moved to the Blackfeet Rez in Browning, Montana. The book is told from a number of different viewpoints, and includes Loren Arnoux, whose older sister Rayanne went missing three months earlier, Brody Clark, who has a crush on Loren and the joker of their friend group, and Eli First Kill, whose biggest concern is his younger sister. During Indian Days weekend, Loren’s family honors the memory of her grandfather by doing a giveaway, and soon afterward Samantha White Tail, Loren’s best friend, is found murdered. The FBI gets involved because unlike with Rayanne’s disappearance, there is a body and a chance for the agent on the case to pretend like he cares. As happens all too frequently in real life, the tribal police are under-resourced, and the killing of native women goes un solved and unpunished.

A Paris Christmas Waltz (2023)

This movie should only be watched when you are doing a string of Xmas movies. It is Hallmark Christmas movie material (even though it is not, strictly speaking). It will be very satidfying if that is the urge you are looking to itch and the streeet scenes of Paris are an added bonus. Emma is enraptured watching classical dancing, and she finds Leo, a professional dance competitor, to be divine to watch. He is so inspiring that when friend gives her dance lessons, she takes a deep dive and gets pretty good for a beginner. Most importantly, she loves how it makes her feel and you can tell by looking at her. So when Leo, recovering from a broken heart and trying to recapture his love of dancing decides to enter a por-am competition--in Paris--he picks Emma and she accepts. Leo's old partner doesn't at all like the look of Emma or how Leo looks at her, and goes about spooking her AND getting in her head, which works up to the point that it doesn't and it ends exactly as you expect it will, which is okay, because that is what Christmas movies are supposed to deliver. Happy Holidays!!

History Lessons by Zoe Wallbrook

This is part murder mystery and part romance novel--I picked it out for a Goodreads challenge fulfillment and enjoyed it. Daphne is a Black woman in academia mobilizes her research skills to investigate the murder of an unlikable collogue who she is on the verge of accusing of plagiarism. She is a brainy junior professor at illustrious Harrison University, Daphne studies the history of Black families under French imperialism and has some very enjoyable best friends who keep her spirits up. When a fellow professor in the anthropology department, Sam, is killed, a last-minute text message from him subjects her to the perpetrator’s continued threats. With the encouragement of Rowan—a local bookseller, former police officer, and Daphne’s crush—and for self-preservation she investigates Sam’s death while uncovering the misogyny, racism, and lies of her college’s new dean. This is by no means ground breaking work, but it was an enjoyable read that ticked a lot of boxes for me.