My first ladies: twenty-five years as the White House chief floral designer, by Nancy Clarke

 

After reading the last book about first ladies, I pulled this book from my shelves. I received it at a Book Expo back in 2011, and it's signed by the author. Sadly, the author passed away not long after, a fact I learned when I tried to find more information about her. Nancy Clarke worked for the White House from the Carter through the early months of the Obama administrations. She shares her experiences first as a volunteer, and later as the chief floral designer, as she prepares displays for everyday and special occasions. She relates the differences between the first ladies, their color and flower preferences, and much more. Without telling tales, she gives an impression of each of the first ladies and what it was like working with them. It's a fun and pleasant book about a slice of life in the White House.

First Ladies: Women who called the White House home, by Beatrice Gormley

 

This is a good introduction to the women who served as First Ladies, although my edition ends with Hilary Clinton. Lots of images and photos of them, the presidents, and their family members. Written for the elementary school-age crowd, it gives just enough information on each person to make the reader want a little more.

The night tiger, by Yangsze Choo

This is a fast-paced story set in 1930s Malaysia about several characters whose fates are intertwined. Ren is a young orphan whose twin brother calls to him from beyond the grave. Ji Lin is a young woman trying to make it on her own after being denied the possibility of college. She works for a dressmaker by day, and moonlights as a dancing instructor. Shin is her stepbrother, who is off at medical school. Ren is on a mission to find a mysterious object, which Ji Lin has coincidentally found. The novel follows both characters as they eventually find each other and carry out a mission to return the object to its owner. The plot has lots of twists and turns, and they don't know whom to trust.

The red lotus, by Chris Bohjalian

 

This is a compelling thriller about a woman who is on a bike trip to Vietnam when her boyfriend unexpectedly disappears and later turns up dead. As she investigates his disappearance, working with investigators in Vietnam, the U.S. consulate, and later, a private investigator back home in New York, it becomes clear that his death was part of a much larger story involving sensitive medical research, espionage, and biological threats. The writing is very good, and the plot moves along at a fast pace.

Murder in the Marais, by Cara Black

 

I swore off Cara Black after the last Aimee Leduc mystery that I read, but I made the mistake of picking this one up and giving it a shot. I finished it, but not without complaining to myself about it throughout. The writing is not the best, and the plots are unbelievably implausible.

The Marsh King's daughter, by Karen Dionne

 

I loved this novel about a young woman who was raised in seclusion by her kidnapped mother and the man who abducted her. Years after her father was arrested, he escapes prison, and the main character decides that she's the only one who can track him down. It's very well-written and is impossible to put down.

Emirati women: Generations of change, by Jane Bristol Rhys

This is a fascinating look at the role women play in Emirati society and the many ways their lives have changed since the country was formed and became fabulously wealthy from their oil revenues. Author Bristol-Rhys has taught for many years in the UAE, and has come to know many of the family members of the women that she teaches. She shares her insights about women's lives in this very readable book, and also provides suggestions for further research throughout.
 

King Alfred: Burnt Cakes and Other Legends, by David Horspool

 

This is a very well-written and scholarly look at the legends that surround King Alfred the Great. The author, David Horspool, breaks down the source of the many legends, analyzing the credibility of each one. Many of the legends seemed to serve a purpose in that they create a picture of Alfred that he, himself, may have wanted to portray. I especially like the chapter on further reading, and the quality illustrations throughout the book.