The Lineup

A debut novel with polarizing characters and drama. The story is set in Brooklyn, New York and hits on a lot of social issues. 

This is a true memoir. This book shows how the criminal justice system works. It covers many of the issues facing the system and its people. I appreciated the honesty and candidness of the entire book as well as the author sharing her vulnerabilities. Great read. 

It is a controversial book, primarily because of the content. But Bukowski was a great writer. Not. One. Word. Wasted. A short and quick read. It definitely deals with the “underbelly” of society. 

Wow. I’m mindblown. This book is all about feelings. I felt like Rooney developed the characters from my thoughts and feelings—so intense and so complicated—the beauty of being human.

This memoir was an excellent read. While it is a story about surviving the Holocaust, it is also a remarkable study of how someone thrived after the Holocaust. Her vulnerability, fears, and story made this such a powerful memoir.

This was not something I would normally pick up and read, but I am glad I did. It is historical fiction, and while not true, it could easily have happened or been based on the truth—at least that is my thought.There is a lot about the government, in this case, Mexico, and how it tried to subvert the people.

It is a well-written book, and I enjoyed it. It is not harsh or brutal to read. It is a good story about life, aging, and the human condition. A gentle reminder that our time on this Earth/reality/plane/life is minimal. This book just felt good to read and finish.

I didn’t know what to expect when I read this, but it is a good story about redemption and second chances. I also learned much about the power of good people in your life and how that can transform a person. As an aside, I enjoyed it even more because the main character runs a bookstore, and that is all aces in my book.

I saw the movie in elementary school and read the novella in college. I loved its rich character redemption storyline and the protagonist’s clever plot line. King is a master writer, and the characters in this story are so real that you just want to interview them and hang out with them (at least Red and Andy). After I read it, I looked up Zihuatanejo and still blame it for my deep-rooted love of the Pacific Ocean.

Wow. The writing is phenomenal—direct and to the point—no fluff. The story is also really entertaining. I am still trying to grasp the ending and want to discuss it with someone who has read it. I have been scouring the Internet trying to get different takes and perspectives on several of the complex characters in the novel.

This one came in my Book of the Month membership. It reads well and has a good storyline. For me, it affirmed many beliefs about how rich people live entirely differently than the regular person. 

This is one of my new favorite writers. I know this is fiction, but I would even call it a bit of historical fiction. I’m not a historian, so I couldn’t tell you how much is historically accurate, but Diaz did a fantastic job with this one. It makes me want to read his other novel, Trust. The character really resonates with me on a personal level. 

This one had a lot of historical fiction. I liked how it had a real-life story about a murder intertwined within the plot. 

As a former criminal defense attorney, I nerded out on the actual courtroom scenes and the legal language in the story. If I had not been a former criminal defense attorney, I think the motion work and the courtroom scenes would not have made as much sense. 

This novel makes so much sense. Sometimes feelings and emotions can be so overwhelming that people do not know what to do with them. This novel explores that concept and what life would be like without feelings or emotions—a young adult (and adult) classic.

Given the current political climate (2025), it makes a lot of sense. Sometimes, people get so drunk with power that they forget to realize the people they are condemning, hating, or treating as less than are also people, too. Dehumanizing people has consequences for everyone involved. This story does an excellent job of reminding us of the dangers of dehumanization.

This writer reminds me a bit of Don Carpenter. It deals with the more seedy or darker side of life. Fante explores poverty, religion, and the writer’s lifestyle in this story. Of course, in the process, he brings in relationships and everyday interactions. Ask The Dust is a good story and a quick read.