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Showing posts from April, 2026

Posts

TRANSLATE

The Erich Problem.When Fiction Feels to Real

on April 25, 2026

A Cry in the Night Mary Higgins Clark

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The Outsider Ann H. Gabhart

on April 25, 2026

Ann H. Gabhart The Outsider

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Hidden History of Toledo by Lou Hebert

on April 25, 2026

Hidden History of Toledo Ohio Lou Hebert The Glass City

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Kirsty Mitchell Wonderland and The Spellbound Spirit

on April 19, 2026

The Spellbound Spirit by Kirsty Mitchell Wonderland by Kirsty Mitchell

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LET'S TALK BOOKS

lorisbookloft@gmail.com

Hi, I'm Lori

I’m a lifelong reader, a Midwestener, book lover and the person behind Lori’s Book Loft. Here you’ll find book reviews, author conversations, bookstores worth visiting, books being adapted for film, and the occasional story about how a particular book found its way into my hands.

CURRENTLY READING

POPULAR THIS WEEK

Birdbrains: A Book That Reminded Me to Look Closer

Earlier this year, I received a copy of Birdbrains: A Lyrical Guide to Washington State Birds from Raven Chronicles Press via Shannon O’Grady. I have to admit, I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I first opened it. I love books that bring together different pieces of a story, and this one immediately caught my attention because it isn't simply a book about birds. It is a collection of poetry, stories, observations, artwork, and facts that encourages you to look a little closer at the birds we so often take for granted. Birdbrains is a 314-page anthology featuring 107 species of birds from Washington State, along with other species from across the United States and around the world. It was edited by Washington State poet Susan Rich, with original pen-and-ink sumi-e paintings by artist Hiroko Seki and bird facts and notes from Stephanie Delaney. But what really makes this book interesting is the collection of voices inside it. Ninety-eight poets and writers contributed thei...

When Stillness Brings Clarity: What the River Knows by Ashya Khan

I recently finished What the River Knows by Ashya Khan, a beautiful book that stayed with me in a quiet way. The writing drew me in through its conversations between a seeker and a river and the questions we carry quietly within ourselves. It speaks to the importance of finding clarity by returning to our own nature and taking the time to truly listen to what is within us. But it was the watercolor illustrations that gave me another feeling altogether. There was such softness and peace in them. As I moved through the pages, I found myself wanting to slow down, be still, and sink myself into the illustrations. They seemed to create a little space where I could breathe, feel more at ease, and simply let go. I think that is what I appreciated most about this book. The writing gives you something to think about, while the illustrations give you permission to pause. Together, they create a feeling of stillness that can be hard to find in everyday life. Sometimes we need that reminder—that...

A Sentence That Made Me Stop in Straw Shoes

One of the things I love about communicating with authors through email is that you just never know what might land in your inbox. Sometimes an email leads to a conversation, and sometimes it leads to a book you might never have discovered otherwise. That is how Straw Shoes found its way to me. I received an email from Mathias B Freese asking if I would like to read his book and reminding me that he is not getting any younger. Mathias is 86. Of course, I told him I would love to read it. I also told him that I had just heard about a 91-year-old man who had finished the Appalachian Trail, so I was hopeful that perhaps Mathias still had another book in him. He sent me a PDF of Straw Shoes , and I opened it. I even emailed him back to tell him I was beginning the book. There is something I really enjoy about that little connection between an author and a reader. A book can begin as an email and, a few minutes later, you are holding someone's words in your hands. I started readin...

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