Book Shorts. Reviews in a Nutshell.
FEATURED REVIEW
I Heard the Owl Call My Name
by Margaret Craven
The story takes place deep in the Pacific Northwest, in an isolated village called Kingcome where salmon runs and totems are still a part of everyday life. Into this world comes Mark Brian, a young priest who doesn’t know he is dying, sent by his Bishop who does. Mark is on a journey, without knowing it, where he will learn much about life, death, and the transforming power of love.
This beautiful, powerful story lingers in the mind once the book is finished, in ways that are difficult to describe. I finish reading it with a smile, and a deep sigh - and because it is a small book, I reread it often.
In my original copy (which I have kept) over many years, the pages became brown with age, and the book kept falling apart. I recently bought a new copy. The first copy was 95 cents, the current one $9.95 - just to give you an idea of how long I have been reading it. And it moves me every single time, it warms my heart whenever the world is too dark - which lately is more often than not.
Review by Lynda Bernard
February 20, 2026
So many books, so little time. Right, right - we’ve all heard it many times. Hummingbird's BOOK SHORTS will present book reviews you can read in a minute and capture the essence of the story, thumbnail reviews that hopefully will entice you into your next read. I read constantly. My tastes vary, so I’ll review books that I love, not necessarily current books. Other HB contributors will review books that follow their interests, both newly published and past. All in all, we’ll review books we think are captivating, compelling, unputdownable. If you’re looking for a good book to take to the beach, make that long commute shorter, or curl up with, hopefully our reviews will help you find it. Lynda Bernard
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