The Haunting of Hill House
by Shirley Jackson

Reading this book is such an unnerving experience. I see why it's a classic, and yet it's very unlike what I consider a typical ghost/horror story. Jackson mines the domestic environment and especially the experiences of women for disturbing psychological insights and traumas. I couldn't really escape from the book back into my daily life because that's where so much of the menace of this book comes from. I understand if other folks don't like this book, but I think it's exceptional and shows that horror can be psychologically true, not escapist or fantastical at all.
 
 

Born To Fly The First Women's Air Race Across America
by Steve Sheinkin

I like this book because it shows how Womens sacrifice there lives for flying, and shows how Womens can do anything boys can do like flying
 
 

The Secret History of Wonder Woman
by Jill Lepore

Really interesting mix of history of women's suffrage, birth control, popular culture, and several very unusual people. Wonder Woman only comes into the last third of the book, but I think the author justifies her broader focus and pulls an interesting story out of a variety of sources and viewpoints, even when many of the players involved were trying to cover up or lie about their part in it.
 
 

Maybe Not By Colleen Hoover
by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Not is about college students Warren and Bridget. Bridget has just become one of Warren's roommates. Warren and Bridget do not get along. In fact it is almost hate a fist sight. Yet Warren cannot seem to stay out of Bridget's orbit. In fact he is determined to have her fall in love with him, because he thinks he loves her. Will they become a couple? Read Maybe Not By: Colleen Hoover and find out for yourself.
 
 

Broken Places and Outer Spaces
by Nnedi Okorafor

Brief but absorbing memoir. Made me want to watch her TED talk.
 
 

Dancing to Almendra
by Mayra Montero

A translation, so not sure what to think of the sometimes awkward language, but I'd never read about the mob in Havana before. I liked the descriptions of the city, the time, journalism, and young adulthood. Parts were very affecting. Sort of odd attitudes about women, Black people, and Chinese people.
 
 

Unsheltered: A Novel
by Barbara Kingsolver

Mixed bag for me. I always admire Kingsolver's ambition in terms of subject, and she casts a wide net here-- from 19th-century to 21st century social, economic, and intellectual questions. Unsheltered certainly taught me things. But the book feels overlong and lecturing in parts, and sometimes characters feel more like animated talking points than human beings. I bet I agree with almost everything Kingsolver has to say, but I think her arguments fit better in nonfiction that novels these days.
 
 

extremely pale rose: a very french adventure
by james ivey

Wonderful adventure in search of French rose wines! And culture, food, sightseeing, and humor along the way! Learned many new French and English words, and wine terminology.
 
 

City Of Heavenly Fire
by Cassandra Clare

A good end to the series!
 
 

Finding Chika
by Mitch Albom

Moving memoir about a Haitian girl who came to live with Mitch Albom and his wife