Literature & Writing   

The Great Gatsby is a very well-known classic and can be enjoyed with a straight read. What makes the book even more enjoyable is to put it in perspective—looking briefly at the time period of both the book and the author and what Americans (and Fitzgerald) had been experiencing in society for the previous twenty years. Also, taking a look at the roles both Fitzgerald and his wife played in society and on the front pages of major newspapers and comparing that information to the characters and the characters' actions in the book adds another dimension and some insight into the Lost Generation.

Code Name Helene is told in interweaving timelines organized around the four names used during WWII by a female uncover agent. It’s a spellbinding and moving story of enduring love, remarkable sacrifice, and unfaltering resolve that chronicles the true exploits of a woman who deserves to be a household name. Ariel Lawhon also wrote Frozen River, a recent book club favorite.