Fiction

Anne of Avonlea

Background

Published in 1909, Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery follows Anne Shirley as she begins her new role as a teacher at Avonlea’s local school while still living at Green Gables. At sixteen, Anne is determined to prove herself in her new position, facing both the challenges of instructing students and the expectations of her community. Alongside her teaching duties, Anne becomes involved in various civic efforts, including helping form the Avonlea Village Improvement Society. The story also introduces new characters, such as the mischievous twins Davy and Dora, whom Marilla adopts, and Anne’s deepening relationships with familiar figures like Gilbert Blythe and Diana Barry. As Anne navigates these new experiences, she continues to mature, learning from both triumphs and setbacks as she grows into adulthood.

Anne of Avonlea
Anne of Avonlea

My Thoughts

I didn’t like this one as much as Anne of Green Gables. Montgomery tried to keep the childlike feeling of the first, but it just didn’t quite come through. I think it may be that there were really three characters who had the same “imagination” as the original. (Anne, Paul, and Ms. Lavender.)

I was mostly bored through the book as it became a little formulaic. I doubt I will read any of the other Anne stories.

Recommendation

Not worth it. Leave off at the first book in the series.

Anne of Green Gables

Background

Published in June 1908, “Anne of Green Gables” follows Anne Shirley, an orphan mistakenly sent to siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert on Prince Edward Island. Anne’s imagination leads her into mishaps and unexpected friendships at school and in the village, where local customs and expectations challenge her. As she navigates these experiences, Anne learns to adapt to her circumstances, form bonds with neighbors, and establish a sense of belonging.

Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables

My Thoughts

Though I’ve never watched it intentionally, simply by virtue of walking past our TV growing up, I believe I’ve seen the 1985 adaptation of this book several times. (All 3 hours of it.) My mother and sisters loved this movie and it was on frequently in my home. Needless to say, I didn’t think very much of it at the time.

However, time passes and the book was available. I wanted something different than the last run of David Baldacci books and this was certainly different.

I didn’t expect that I would like it as much as I did. Perhaps it’s the fact that I’ve raised a daughter or perhaps a little sentimental in my advancing years. Or maybe it is simply that I married a red head and believe she was very similar to Anne growing up. Either way, I enjoyed the book.

The book itself reads well for almost 120 years old. There are some phrases that would likely offend people today but no malice was intended. (They are Canadian after all!) The plot holds many moral lessons and opportunities for forgiveness and redemption in several characters.

I wasn’t fond of the ending, but it was left wide open for the sequel.

Recommendation

I enjoyed it. I don’t know that I will read it again but it was a good read.

Mercy

Background

Published in 2021, Mercy by David Baldacci continues the story of FBI agent Atlee Pine as she closes in on the truth about her long-lost twin sister, Mercy, who was abducted when they were six years old. After uncovering clues in previous investigations, Atlee tracks Mercy’s possible fate to a remote town where she discovers a facility hiding disturbing secrets and a conspiracy involving a powerful family. The novel alternates between Atlee’s search and Mercy’s own experiences after years of captivity and escape, bringing both narratives together as the sisters confront the people responsible and uncover the truth about their past.

Mercy
Mercy

My Thoughts

It’s over! I’m very thankful I can now move on to other stories without the whining of Atlee Pine. I was pleasantly surprised that this book wasn’t quite as bad as the last couple in the series. While still over the top and and fairly unbelievable, the book did tie up the loose ends. I appreciate that in a series. Of course, I would expect Atlee and now Mercy to make their cameos in books going forward.

Recommendation

If you’ve read the other books in the series, this one is a must. However, if you are considering the series, skip this one.

Daylight

Background

Published in 2020, Daylight by David Baldacci continues the story of FBI agent Atlee Pine as she pursues the mystery of her twin sister’s abduction decades earlier. During her investigation, she crosses paths with John Puller, a military investigator probing a case involving drug trafficking and organized crime. Their separate missions become entangled when they discover overlapping leads tied to powerful political and criminal forces. As they delve deeper, the two confront dangerous adversaries and long-buried secrets, ultimately forcing Pine to reckon with disturbing revelations about her past and those connected to it.

Daylight
Daylight

So I had higher hopes for this book. It was full of ridiculous whining and improbable things happening. Everything in the story is motivated by Atlee’s sister’s disappearance when she was 6. She uses the story to one-up everyone she meets and as permission to do whatever she wants. Perhaps I read this too soon after that terrible book by Glennon Doyle, but I have a hard time thinking David Baldacci actually wrote this trash.

Oh well, on to the last book in the series.

Recommendation

Don’t read it. Get out while you can!

Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth

Background

Published in 2022, Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth by Joseph E. Davis examines how the idea that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance—specifically low serotonin—became widely accepted despite limited scientific evidence. The book traces the origins of the serotonin theory, its adoption by the pharmaceutical industry, and its persistence in public understanding through advertising and medical practice. Davis argues that this narrative shaped not only psychiatric treatment but also cultural perceptions of mental health and selfhood. He also explores the consequences of framing complex emotional and social problems as biological disorders, and how this framing influenced the expectations and experiences of those diagnosed and treated under this model.

Chemically Imbalanced The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth
Chemically Imbalanced: The Making and Unmaking of the Serotonin Myth

My Thoughts

We live in a capitalist system and there is so much money to be made in the pharmaceutical industry. It seems more and more people are asking tough questions and taking a closer look at the studies that our assumptions are based on. Given all that we know about the lies about the opioids that are coming out right and left, we shouldn’t be too surprised that they might have lied about mental illness being a chemical problem that could be fixed with a pill.

Honestly, I feel like most people already knew antidepressants were about as effective as placebos. That’s not a great selling point. Particularly when the logistics of a patient getting prescribed these medications involve months of changing around the dosages and moving from drug to drug trying to find something that works.

I love they updated to the DSM to include clinical judgment in 2022 rather than simply diagnosing everyone that is sad as “Depressed” even after a significant life event. It would make sense that a person would exhibit depressive symptoms following the death of their spouse or being fired from their job. What doesn’t make sense is to give them chemicals to change the functioning of their brain. But, that’s what we as a society decided to do.

In short, I’m all in for informed decisions. Let’s have a conversation about how these drugs actually work and the likelyhood of their success. I’m on the side that these drugs aren’t worth the side effects. However, that was my opinion before reading the book.

Recommendation

Not a bad read. However, the author comes off as a little defensive.

No Man’s Land

Background

Published in 2016, No Man’s Land by David Baldacci follows John Puller, a U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division special agent, as he reopens the case of his mother’s decades-old disappearance. When new evidence emerges that Puller’s father, a legendary Army general now suffering from dementia, may have been involved in her presumed death, Puller is forced to confront painful family secrets while unraveling a deeper government conspiracy. At the same time, a dangerous ex-convict begins a violent mission that eventually intersects with Puller’s investigation, leading to revelations that challenge everything he thought he knew about his past.

No Man's Land
No Man’s Land

My Thoughts

Not a bad ending to the Puller series. While Baldacci left it open for another, he still hasn’t done so as of 2025. However, Puller did show up in the Altee Pine novel Daylight which I’m reading now so who knows.

Anyway, I found myself relieved to be done with the Army side. My experience with the Army was not what was depicted in this series. Baldacci is always fun to read, because the content always seems close to life out in Virginia and around the military complex. However, there are subtle things he gets wrong that show he is an outsider looking in.

As for this novel, it was enjoyable. I particularly liked Paul’s last name being Rogers. It was appropriate.

Recommendation

Still a fun read.

The Escape

Background

Published in 2014, The Escape by David Baldacci follows John Puller, a U.S. Army investigator, as he is drawn into a high-stakes manhunt when his older brother Robert, a former Air Force officer convicted of treason, escapes from a maximum-security military prison. Tasked with capturing his brother, Puller must navigate a complex web of military secrets, political conspiracies, and personal loyalty. As he digs deeper, he begins to uncover evidence that Robert may have been framed, and that powerful forces are determined to keep the truth hidden at all costs.

The Escape
The Escape

My Thoughts

It was good to deal with the Robert issue and get it out in the open. Three books into the series seems to be appropriate. The female partner is becoming a little formulaic, but it works.

As usual, Baldacci delivers a fun book that seems to fly by.

Recommendation

It was worth the read.

The Forgotten

Background

Published in 2012, “The Forgotten” by David Baldacci follows Army Special Agent John Puller as he investigates the mysterious death of his aunt in a quiet Florida town. Though her passing was officially ruled accidental, Puller suspects foul play and uncovers a web of corruption, illegal activity, and hidden identities that reach beyond the local community. As he delves deeper, Puller confronts both dangerous adversaries and a conspiracy that threatens national security. The investigation becomes personal, testing his skills as a military investigator and his resolve as a family member seeking justice.

The Forgotten
The Forgotten

My Thoughts

Another area I have visited and have some familiarity with is the general part of Florida in the book. Baldacci mentions Desin and other areas along the panhandle. The city of Paradise was annexed into Gainesville, Florida in 2022. It is land locked and about 300 miles from where it is placed in the book. (I had to look that up.) This was the first time I saw Baldacci make that error.

Regardless, it was an engaging narrative and I enjoyed the book on the whole. There were a few times the dialogue was overblown and even a little cheesy. There were also some adult scenes that fortunately didn’t get too graphic or last very long.

Recommendation

Good enough to keep reading the series.

Zero Day

Background

Published in 2011, Zero Day by David Baldacci introduces military investigator John Puller, a former combat veteran now working for the U.S. Army’s Criminal Investigative Division. Puller is sent to a remote area in West Virginia to investigate the brutal murder of a military family, including a high-ranking officer. As he partners with local law enforcement, Puller uncovers a disturbing trail of violence and corruption that hints at a much larger conspiracy. His investigation leads him to confront not only physical dangers but also deep institutional secrets, forcing him to rely on both his investigative skills and military training.

Zero Day
Zero Day

My Thoughts

This was a fun read with a big ending. However, there was a lot of emphasis about how the Army does business that seemed a little off to me. Of course, that might be due to my bias with the Marines. Still, I enjoyed the book.

Recommendation

A solid Baldacci novel. I’m excited to get to the next books featuring Puller.

Long Shadows

Background

Published in 2022, Long Shadows by David Baldacci follows seasoned investigator Amos Decker, known as the Memory Man, as he takes on a new case in Florida involving the brutal murders of a federal judge and her bodyguard. Tasked with uncovering the motive behind this high-profile crime, Decker is paired with a new partner, Special Agent Frederica White. As they dig into the judge’s past, they uncover conflicting clues and hidden connections that raise more questions than answers.

Long Shadows
Long Shadows

My Thoughts

It had been a while since the last time I read anything from the Memory Man series and I didn’t know this one existed. Though there was some finality to the plot, Baldacci could easily add another book or two.

The book was easily taken in and digested. I was reading some heavier medical texts just before I switched to this and I still was happily reading for the next couple of hours. There really is nothing like a good novel to keep you engaged and this one didn’t disappoint.

Recommendation

Good read with a familiar character.