Matthew Clark

This is one of those Stephen King novels that would probably work better as a short story. The character Holly Gibney, who is featured in several other novels, is a great protagonist, and the supporting characters are all very colorful. What I think hurts the novel are long, drawn out scenarios, that could probably have been summarized more quickly. Also, the never ending references to the great global medical crisis of 2019 are a product of their time and didn’t age well. Stephen King fans will enjoy it.

Not Stephen King's best work, but certainly there are enough stories and characters here that will fit nicely into any Stephen King fan's library. "The Gingerbread Girl" and "Mute" really stood out to me, and this collection certainly does the job of thrilling. If you are a fan of Stephen King, especially his collection of short stories and novellas, then I would recommend "Just After Sunset."

Private meditations by a great man who could not be contained as an emperor, philosopher, noble, etc., but whom is defined by honest thoughts and passages which defined his life, and withstood the test of time. A good, quick read, with lots of gems peppered throughout.

James Monroe: A Life by Tim McGrath is the definitive, and most comprehensive, book about Founding Father and fifth president of the United States James Monroe. From his service in the Revolutionary War under George Washington, to the Monroe Doctrine, the Missouri Compromise, and a ton of other great accomplishments, this book details how importantly James Monroe shaped the United States. He also wore out-of-date clothes from his colonial days, and was the third president to pass away on July 4. This was a great, fascinating read, and I highly recommend!

A refreshing new collection of short stories by Stephen King. Some of these shorts have recurring characters in a refreshing, new setting, which works. A few of the novellas could have been a little shorter, but overall it's a solid win to add to the maestro's column. The descriptive narrative does offer up some of his best writing in years, so I would definitely recommend it for Stephen King fans.

A necessary and uncomfortable look at how traditional values and status quo are hypocritically challenged in the 21st century. Backed with a few good examples, there is a strong case here to evaluate the arbitrary nature of “cancel culture” and ask why?

A heartfelt and genuine book, Max Lucado explores Jesus's intimate and personal relationship with the reader while offering a backdrop of biblical quotes and story correlations. He writes from the perspective of Jesus as a human being on a personal level, and how to apply that relationship to your situation, whatever that is. I definitely recommend this one.

A must-read for anyone that loves US Civil War history, especially the Gettysburg Campaign. Longstreet’s military academy, and best friend, Ulysses S. Grant played an important role in Longstreet’s post-war comeback, and this book gives a vivid detail of the man who defied the South. I especially enjoyed the Reconstruction period part of the book. It paints a detailed picture of Civil War tactics, with many battles outlined within.

A fun ride with vivid descriptions of the settings, characters, and details. It throws just enough mystery at you without going overboard and overshooting the mark with excessive plot twists. Fans of John Grisham will enjoy it.

“Back to Work: Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy” by William J. Clinton isn’t quite the page-turner as some of his other titles, nor puts his vivid personality on display, but it doesn’t have to be. It does offer some timeless policy advice on economic viability while giving us sound reasons as to why. It’s a good read for anyone interested in economics and prosperity of the United States.