Once again Marie Benedict demonstrates her considerable writing skills in her latest novel, “Carnegie’s Maid.” As in her previous book, “The Other Einstein,” she develops her characters so as to make them come alive. more

In “Fly Girl,” the most recent book by local author Ann Hood, she chronicles her eight years spent as a flight attendant for TWA (Trans World Airways). Escaping her “small, depressed mill town” of Warwick, R.I.” to see the world was her primary goal. She just knew that whatever exciting was happening, it was “far from West Warwick.” more

A lot of rainy weather lately has had me reading instead of gardening. So, enjoy! “Just Last Night” (2021) by Mhairi McFarlane is a story of friendship, love and grief. Eve is in … more

‘Sold on a Monday’ By Kristina McMorris It all started with a picture. Set during the hardship years of the Depression, young reporter Ellis Reed is looking for an interesting story … more

I’ve been bingeing books lately. As the weather warms and the yard and garden call, reading will take a backseat for a month or two, so I’m trying to catch up on my reading list. Here … more

A few more books for winter reading (although it’s not very wintry lately). “A Lesson in Dying” (1990) and “Murder in My Backyard” (1991), the first two books in the … more

Two huge books this time. But, I like big books (and I cannot lie) if the story is compelling and both of these are very compelling. And, a few fun reads (a murder mystery and a thriller). … more

“Beautiful Country” is the English translation of the Chinese word for America, “Mai Guo,” and it is what Qian’s family believed when they first immigrated to the U.S. Her professor father, “BaBa,” arrived first after losing his teaching position during the 1996 Cultural Revolution for saying something about the government. more

‘Claude & Camille: A Novel of Monet’ By Stephanie Cowell If you favor Impressionist art and a good love story, you will like this book about French painter Claude Monet and the … more

PORTSMOUTH — Finished all your beach reads and looking for more? The staff at the Portsmouth Free Public Library has some ideas for you. more