★★★★★ — I have either read it more than once, or it shaped and influenced my thinking, or I find myself thinking about it long after I finished reading it.

★★★★ — Well-worth the time spent reading, may read it again, but haven’t yet.

★★★ — Passed the time satisfactorily, but would not read again nor urge you to read.

★★ — Had a few redeeming moments, but for the most part, a poor use of time.

★ — Deeply regret that I read this. The time would have been better spent staring vacantly out the window.

“Behind the Scenes at the Museum” by Kate Atkinson
fiction, ★★★★★ Suzanne Chandler fiction, ★★★★★ Suzanne Chandler

“Behind the Scenes at the Museum” by Kate Atkinson

Behind the Scenes at the Museum opens in 1951 with the conception of the Ruby Lennox, narrated by Ruby herself (from an insider's perspective, of course). The wee little one-celled, oopps, two-celled person, oopps, four-celled now, has all the vocabulary and literary references of a grown-up. It is a quirky and highly engaging narrative voice and I loved it.

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“Life at the Bottom: The Worldview That Makes the Underclass” by Theodore Dalrymple
non-fiction, ★★★★★ Suzanne Chandler non-fiction, ★★★★★ Suzanne Chandler

“Life at the Bottom: The Worldview That Makes the Underclass” by Theodore Dalrymple

Life in the underclass and why it persists as it does.

“Dalrymple's key insight in Life at the Bottom is that long-term poverty is caused not by economics but by a dysfunctional set of values, one that is continually reinforced by an elite culture searching for victims. This culture persuades those at the bottom that they have no responsibility for their actions and are not the molders of their own lives. “ GoodReads

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“Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier
fiction, ★★★★★ Suzanne Chandler fiction, ★★★★★ Suzanne Chandler

“Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier

Young love. Old love. A beach cottage with its own village idiot (or is he?). A beautiful, beloved, deceased first wife (or is she?). The intimidating Mrs. Danvers, house-keeper with an agenda. And our own dear heroine, penniless and without prospects or a name. Literally, we never do learn her name.

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