BookMark / Weekly Book Reviews

Becky Aikman’s memoir, Saturday Night Widows, is about how she pursued healing after her husband’s death. Aikman, originally from Brookville, PA, is a featured author at this year’s BookFest. Reviewer MIschelle Marie (also known as KC O’Day) is a morning radio host at WALY 103.9.

Sarah May Clarkson reviews Charles Todd’s An Unmarked Grave, a novel that piqued her interest because it’s been likened to PBS series Downton Abbey. Charles Todd is one of the featured authors of this year’s BookFest, PA.

Former Penn State professor Josip Novakovich is a finalist for the Man Booker International Prize, which is awarded every two years to a writer for his or her body of work. Jessica Matzko reviews Navokovich’s book, Infidelities: Stories of War and Lust.

Jennier Haigh’s latest book, News from Heaven: The Bakerton Stories, is about the residents of a fictional coal mining town in Pennsylvania. Reviewer Kirk Weixel has long been an admirer of Haigh’s work. He’s known the author since she attended high school with his children.

This year’s pick for One Book Bradford is Garth Stein’s The Art of Racing in the Rain. It’s a novel about family, aging, and death--told through a Golden Retriever. Reviewer Cheryl Bazzoui lives in Bradford. She is a pet owner, registered nurse, and author.

Since 2010, Penn State's Center for American Literary Studies has paired with Centre County Reads to present a program in which the entire community--on and off campus- -is encouraged to read a single novel. This year, the selection is Sandra Cisneros’ Caramelo. Reviewer Shannon Brace is a student intern at the Center for American Literary Studies.

First-grade teacher Sue Shaffner has read thousands of children’s books. She reviews a new personal favorite: Jon Klassen’s This is Not My Hat, this year’s Caldecott Medal winner.

For Black History Month, Eric Ian Farmer reviews The Amistad Rebellion, an account of the slave rebellion at sea that proved pivotal to our country’s notions of freedom.