This trio of reviews celebrates the power of storytelling across generations, genres, and emotional landscapes. From Bernard Schlink’s poignant tale of legacy and ideological transformation in The Granddaughter, to Kristen Harmel’s gripping historical mystery The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau, and Matthew McConaughey’s soulful musings in Poems & Prayers, each work invites readers into a deeply personal journey. Whether through fiction or memoir, these stories explore love, loss, identity, and the redemptive force of truth.

 A Beautiful Story of Love and Acceptance

The narrative of The Granddaughter by Bernard Schlink revolves around the legacy of a dead woman, Birgit. Birgit grew up in East Germany after the war and died in her 70s in unified Berlin. Her husband Kaspar finds her body drowned in their bathtub and can’t tell if the overdose was intentional or accidental.

Bereft, he receives a postmortem query from a publisher about the manuscript that Birgit was writing, which she never showed him. He finds and reads her notes, which appear to be an autobiography of her thoroughly embittered life, much of which she kept secret from him, including a young love affair with an older Communist Party officer that left her pregnant and alone.

Kaspar discovers new purpose in deciding to find Birget’s daughter. His search leads him to a rural community of neo-Nazis, intent on reclaiming ancestral lands to the East. Among them, Kaspar meets Svenja, a woman whose eyes, hair and even voice remind him of Birgit. Beside her is a red-haired, slouching, fifteen-year-old girl. His granddaughter? .

Her name is Sigrun and her parents allow her to visit Kaspar in exchange for the inheritance Kaspar says Birgit provided for her. During these visits, Kaspar tries to dispel her of neo-Nazi beliefs by giving her books and articles debunking them, and introducing her to culture – literature, music, and Berlin’s art scene. They discuss ideology and politics, forming a bond despite their differences.

This is a beautiful story of grandfatherly love and acceptance, of a young girl who is discovering new dimensions of herself, and of an elderly man’s devotion to his wife’s legacy.   GET THE LINK

A Masterpiece in Story Telling

Kristen Harmel’s novel, The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau, is a terrific and emotionally rich tale that spans generations, continents, and moral boundaries.  This is a dual timeline between 1942 and 2018.  I also want to mention the beautiful cover of this book, not to be missed.  This is historical fiction at its very best.

Annabel Marceau has taught her daughter, Colette to be a successful thief in order to fund the French resistance during World War II.  But one horrible and untimely night, Annabel is caught by the Germans, thrown in jail and never released.  Colette’s four-year-old sister, Liliane has disappeared from the family home with half of a diamond bracelet sewn into her nightgown.  Colette is told her sister’s body was floating in the Seine.  It has been a family tradition for Annabel, as it was for her mother and grandmother to steal.  It is their thought of taking from cruel and evil and giving it to those in need.

Fast-forward seventy years to 2018 Boston where Colette now is almost ninety years old.  She has quietly redistributed over $30 million dollars-worth of stolen jewels to worthy causes.  Her life is about to be turned upside down when the missing bracelet from all those years ago appears in a museum exhibit in Boston.  Colette has to face her past while also trying to figure out exactly what happened to her sister, Liliane.

This story is a complex and beautifully written novel that will grab your attention from the very first page and not let go until the last page.  Harmel has once again written a masterpiece in my opinion.  I loved this five-star read.  I highly recommend it.  Congratulations Kristin on another fabulous book. GET THE BOOK.

A Fireside Chat with an Old Friend

I am a huge Matthew McConaughey fan, and his latest book, Poems & Prayers is on my must-read list. It’s a soulful, if uneven, blend of whimsical verse and heartfelt reflection that invites readers into the actor’s inner world.The book, released in September 2025, follows the success of his memoir Greenlights and continues his exploration of life’s deeper meanings through a more lyrical lens.

The collection oscillates between playful musings and earnest spiritual introspection. The poetry is often lighthearted and unfiltered, with McConaughey embracing rhyme and rhythm in a way that feels both fearless and, at times, unpolished. Lines like “Oops, took a quick peek at the sky before I got my glasses, / now I can’t see shit, sure hope this passes” showcase his willingness to lean into humor and vulnerability.

Kirkus reviews writes, “The “prayers” in the collection are where McConaughey’s voice shines brightest. These meditative passages are steeped in faith, gratitude, and a yearning for clarity in a chaotic world. He reflects on pivotal life moments—like confronting a stalker or giving up marijuana—with a raw honesty that grounds the more abstract musings in lived experience.

Critics have been divided. Kirkus Reviews notes that while the book isn’t high poetry, it’s buoyed by McConaughey’s charm and earnestness, calling it “a soufflé in verse” that’s “not Shakespeare, not by a long shot. But at least it’s not James Franco” Kirkus Reviews. On the other hand, Book Referees offers a glowing take, praising the book as “an open window into his soul” and a reminder that “poetry is prayer and prayer is poetry” bookreferees.org.

And hey, it’s Matthew McConaughey…what’s not to love? GET THE BOOK.