The Calamity Club

The Calamity Club, by Kathryn Stockett

31/60 | Started 06.05.26 • Finished 06.27.26 | 4 stars

This one is not for the faint of heart. It's a story about resiliency in the face of economic instability and uncertainty. About taking matters into your own hands. About female friendship and the power of community. About double standards. About the inequalities between males and females during the 30s. Between blacks and whites.

But it's also about a brothel, sadly. Stockett's characters have a depth of development that makes them easy to picture, and easy to root for, despite what they've chosen for themselves (or had chosen for them). And (most of) the women of The Calamity Club use coarse language when referencing what goes on behind closed doors. However, I do think that everything ends with too neat of a neat bow, with no real consequences or fallout from actions taken. So I would recommend this one with a bit of trepidation, mostly because of the subject matter. Mind your personal triggers!

When the Cranes Fly South

When the Cranes Fly South, by Lisa Ridzén

30/60 | Started 05.31.26 • Finished 06.04.26 | 4 stars

This sad tale centers around Bo, who is home-bound due to his age and failing health. As Bo finds himself with ample time to ruminate about his life, he comes to various realizations about that way he's treated the ones he's loved, and the way they've treated him. Also important in the story is Bo's dog, Sixten. Bo is dedicated to the dog, but Bo's son believes he can no longer adequately care for the dog, and this becomes a point of serious contention between the two men. The conflict does, however, reveal to Bo some of the tensions in his relationship with his son over the years.

The Hounding

The Hounding, by Xenobe Purvis

29/60 | Started 05.26.26 • Finished 05.30.26 | 4 stars

This slightly creepy book has the handprint of some kind of paranormal activity as it follows the legend of five sisters who turn into ravenous dogs at will. It's really less about the sisters and more about the eighteenth-century village near where they live, and how its people believe in, perpetuate, or discount the rumors. I'm finding that it's difficult to explain what I liked about this book, or why I enjoyed it, so these small comments will just have to do. If you'd like to dabble in the scary, without going into full-on horror mode, this one's for you.