I’m fascinated by people, particularly historical characters, who are passionate and driven to follow their dreams against all odds.
Belle da Costa Greene was not only a middle-class woman who managed the affairs of a world presided over by some of the world’s wealthiest men, but she was also compelled to hide the fact that she was black. I listened to the audiobook while running on my treadmill during winter and can honestly say I’ve never been as eager to lace up my running shoes as I was during that time.
The Instant New York Times Bestseller! A Good Morning America* Book Club Pick!
Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR! Named a Notable Book of the Year by the Washington Post!
“Historical fiction at its best!”*
A remarkable novel about J. P. Morgan’s personal librarian, Belle da Costa Greene, the Black American woman who was forced to hide her true identity and pass as white in order to leave a lasting legacy that enriched our nation, from New York Times bestselling authors Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray.
In her twenties, Belle da Costa Greene is hired by…
Marian Graves is one of the bravest, most determined, adventurous and independent characters I’ve come across. She’s the kind of woman I’d like to befriend.
She falls in love with flight at a young age and defies all manner of obstacles to live the life of a tearaway aviator in the early 1900s. Although it’s fiction, Great Circle taught me a lot about early aviation, which I hadn’t anticipated could be so interesting. I am outdoorsy. You’ll find me in the mountains with my dogs every day. As such, I loved reading about Marian’s home in mountainous Montana.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A TODAY SHOW #ReadWithJenna BOOK CLUB PICK • The unforgettable story of a daredevil female aviator determined to chart her own course in life, at any cost: an “epic trip—through Prohibition and World War II, from Montana to London to present-day Hollywood—and you’ll relish every minute” (People).
After being rescued as infants from a sinking ocean liner in 1914, Marian and Jamie Graves are raised by their dissolute uncle in Missoula, Montana. There--after encountering a pair of barnstorming pilots passing through town in beat-up biplanes--Marian commences her lifelong love affair with flight. At fourteen she…
I was entirely entertained by this book from the first to the last page. Isn’t that what we want from books?
I loved the themes of feminism, women in science, unlikely friendships, dogs as best friends, and characters who boogie to the beat of their own drums. Elizabeth Zott reminded me of my grandmother. She’s fabulously headstrong, resourceful, and utterly true to herself in all circumstances. I’m inspired by how she turned trials into triumphs. The world needs more Elizabeth Zotts!
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • Meet Elizabeth Zott: a “formidable, unapologetic and inspiring” (PARADE) scientist in 1960s California whose career takes a detour when she becomes the unlikely star of a beloved TV cooking show in this novel that is “irresistible, satisfying and full of fuel. It reminds you that change takes time and always requires heat” (The New York Times Book Review).
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: The New York Times, Washington Post, NPR, Oprah Daily, Newsweek, GoodReads
"A unique heroine ... you'll find yourself wishing she wasn’t fictional." —Seattle Times…
Must-read historical fiction, based on the real-life of Britain's first woman veterinary surgeon.
Aleen Cust has big dreams. And no one—not her family, society, or the law—will stop her.
Born in Ireland in 1868 to an aristocratic English family, Aleen knows she is destined to work with animals, even if her family is appalled by the idea of a woman pursuing a veterinary career. Going against their wishes but with the encouragement of the guardian assigned to her upon her father's death, Aleen attends the New Veterinary College in Edinburgh, enrolling as A. I. Custance to spare her family the humiliation they fear. At last, she is on her way to becoming a veterinary surgeon! Little does she know her biggest obstacles lie ahead.
The Invincible Miss Cust is based on the real-life of Aleen Isabel Cust, who defied her family and society to become Britain and Ireland's first woman veterinary surgeon. Through Penny Haw's meticulous research, riveting storytelling, and elegant prose, Aleen's story of ambition, determination, family, friendship, and passion comes to life. It is a story that, even today, women will recognize, of battling patriarchy and unequal society to realize one's dreams and pave the way for other women in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
