Janet Flaugher

1/19/2026 The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl This charming little book follows Stella St. Vincent, self-proclaimed frugal recluse, who inherits an $80,000 trip to Paris after her estranged socialite mother’s death. Against her better judgement, Stella travels to France. While browsing in a bookstore, she becomes involved with a group of aspiring young writers and …

1/5/2026 Native Speaker, by Chang-rae Lee Henry Park has spent his entire life trying to become a “true American” – a native speaker – in his adopted country.  His harsh Korean upbringing inhibits his quest.  He cannot break out of his Korean world of hiding emotions but remembering everything.  He becomes alienated – a “stranger …

12/8/2025 A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote  I think during the holiday season it’s a comfort to the spirit to read something tender and uplifting.  If you haven’t already read it, A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote fits the bill.  If you’ve already read it, it’s worth a reread.  Best friends come in different shapes …

11/17/2025 The Women by Kristen Hannah I was disappointed in this story about the women who served as Army nurses in Viet Nam.  It is definitely a tale worth telling, but I was hoping for a deeper dive into the politics, more about PTSD and the psychological impact, more about the aftermath.  The book is …

11/10/2025 Miss Benson’s Beetle by Rachel Joyce If you haven’t yet read Miss Benson’s Beetle, drop everything and get it.  The unlikely heroine, Margery Benson, strikes out to pursue her outrageous dream of discovering the “golden beetle”, after getting sacked from her teaching position for stealing a co-worker’s boots!  On the run from the police, …

The Bear in the Chair  (a new children’s book by Janet Flaugher) THE BEAR IN THE CHAIR by Janet Flaugher  On a Saturday morning, that was coolish, but fair, I was reading a book by the living-room stair.  Then I heard a great snorfling and grumbling somewhere, And I saw something move in the overstuffed …

10/31/3035 Bless Me, Ultima by Adolfo Anaya Bless Me, Ultima, takes place on the llano (plains) of New Mexico after the end of World War II, and is a coming-of-age story. The story of Antonio (Tony) develops through the perspective of the adult Tony, who reflects on his childhood beginning when he is seven and …

10/27/2025 The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver I love Barbara Kingsolver’s books. Her ability to draw you into a story is unmatched. Her narrative is beautifully crafted. Her vivid characters practically jump off the page. Here, the main character, Harrison Shepherd, born in the US and raised in Mexico, draws us in to a tale of …

10/7/2025 THEBOOKREPORT The Color Purple by Alice Walker The Color Purple is a profoundly moving novel that explores the heartbreaking story of a poor, Black, woman living in the South who is deprived of an education and the simple pleasures of childhood by her vicious and predatory stepfather. The story is told through a series …

October 7, 2025 I had so much fun doing THEBOOKREPORT for Banned Books Week, I decided to continue.  My intent is to post a “REPORT” every other week or so to introduce you to books I have been reading or have read to give you a little insight into they are about and whether I …