Book Review: The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

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The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is a historical fiction novel that spans many years and tells of the friendship between former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt and civil rights activist Mary McLeod Bethune. I don't know if I would have picked up this book if it hadn't been the August selection for one of the book clubs I belong to in my area because I don't read a lot of historical fiction. However, I am so glad that I read it and was able to learn many things I hadn't learned about in any of my history classes.  I don't recall learning anything about Mary McLeod Bethune, and she is an important part of American history. The things she helped spearhead to provide African American people equal rights is quite impressive. One of the things I was horrified to learn about is Franklin D. Roosevelt's resistance to stop lynchings because he was afraid of losing the Southern Democrats backing for his New Deal Bill. Another thing that I fo...
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Book Review: Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

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Book Club Book Review of Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman opens with the people at an apartment viewing being taken hostage after a bank robber fails at trying to rob a bank. 

I was extremely excited to read Anxious People and got the ebook on sale. However, I never got around to reading the book until one of my book clubs decided to discuss it for the month of June. I am saddened to say that I was extremely disappointed in the story as it wasn't what I was expecting.

First and foremost, I found the book to be too long and thought it could have easily been shortened without it affecting the story. Additionally, I struggled with finishing it because it was painfully slow and boring. I found myself wondering if the author was ever going to get to the big reveal. It seriously felt like required reading for school, and if I wasn't reading Anxious People for book club, I wouldn't have finished the book.

There was so much hype about this novel, and I'm not quite sure why. It just wasn't for me, and I don't foresee myself reading any other of the author's books. With that being said, you may absolutely love it, so give it a whirl, and let me know what you think.

I rated Anxious People by Fredrik Backman three out of five stars. The author redeemed himself a bit with the ending because I was originally going to give it two stars. 

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