Books Set in North America, California, USA

Porcupines, by Fran Fabriczki (2026)

Porcupines is a very funny novel about Sonia, young illegal immigrant from Hungary living in California, and her young daughter, Mila.  Sonia left Hungary as an 18-year-old to visit her sister and overstayed her visa.  In Hungary, her family led a very secular life, but her sister has become very Orthodox in the United States.  After she becomes pregnant, Sonia cuts herself off from her family.

New to America and new to motherhood, Sonia navigates live in California, while concealing her past.

This was a quick and funny novel.

Read: June 24, 2026

4 Stars

Books Set in North America, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

My Sunshine Away, by M.O. Walsh (2015)

My Sunshine Away is a coming-of-age novel that is set in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  The title is a reference to the song You Are My Sunshine, the state song of Louisiana that was written by Jimmie Davis, the 47th Governor of Louisiana.  

As a resident of Baton Rouge, I can attest to the fact that the author perfectly captures the heat and flavor of the city.  He also captures the difference between Baton Rouge and its better known Louisiana city of New Orleans.

The novel opens up in the care-free summer of 1989 before there were cell phones.  We also know in the first chapter that fifteen-year-old Lindy Simpson was brutally raped.  Twenty-plus years later, the narrator looks back at this summer when he was just a thirteen-year-old boy.  He was just a naive child, who didn't fully understand the meaning of rape.  He had an enormous crush on Lindy.  At the time, there were four suspects to the crime, including the narrator because he had pictures and drawings of Lindy.

The narrator describes his neighborhood and its neighbors.  He perfectly describes his impressions of the events and the people around him.  In the years following the summer, he is awakening to his own sexuality and continuing his obsession with Lindy.

This book as beautifully written.

4 Stars

Read:  June 22, 2026

Books Set in North America: Kentucky

Horse, by Geraldine Brooks (2022)

Read:  June 14, 2026

3.5 stars

Books Set in North America, Washington State

Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt (2022)

Read: June 12, 2026

4 Stars

Books Set in North America, Golden Georgia

Theo of Golden, by Allen Levi (2025)

Read: June 11, 2026

5 Stars

Books Set in Australia

In a Sunburned Country, by Bill Bryson (2000)

Although a bit dated, (it was published in 2000), In a Sunburned Country is a humorous travelogue about Australia.   In addition to hearing about Bryson's travels throughout the country, he also provides a general history of the country,

Read: June 5, 2026

5 Stars

Books Set in North America; Georgia, United States

Pretty Girls, by Karin Slaughter (2025)

This novel was billed as a psychological thriller.  It's a horrible story.  The premise revolves around snuff porn and a disfunctional family.  Twenty-plus years earlier, Julia Carroll went missing and was never found.  Fast forward to present day, and Julia's younger sister, Claire, who seemingly has a perfect marriage, watches her husband murdered before her eyes.  When Paul dies, Claire reaches out to her estranged sister, Lydia, who is a former drug addict.  They are suddenly found in the midst of a snuff-porn scheme.  Is there a connection to their dead sister?

None of the characters were likeable and the premise was horrific.

I will not be reading other books by this author.

Read: May 20, 2025

2 Stars