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We looked inside some of the posts by musingsofabookworm1 and here's what we found interesting.
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April-Early May 2025 Reads
The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune
This is a book that Klune wrote before Cerulean Sea but was just released earlier this year. It reads differently than his other books. He compares it to an action movie. I agree. I don’t like action movies. However, I did like this book. Klune has a way of making you love unconventional characters that is second to none.
The book is set in 1995. Protagonist Nate has just lost his parents. Since he and his older brother have no relationship to speak of, he is, essentially, alone. He takes a trip to his family’s summer cabin in Oregon where he comes upon a man named Alex and a little girl who has named herself Artemis Darth Vader. Who is this strange little girl? You’ll find out. It’ll take awhile, but you’ll find out. And you’ll love her no matter what.
4 stars due to the taking awhile to find out, but if you’re a fan of Klune, don’t delay in picking this one up!
As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner
My mom actually bought me this historical fiction taking place in Philadelphia in the midst of the Spanish Flu. The Bright family - parents and three daughters - arrive in Philadelphia to start life fresh just as the pandemic arrives. The father works in a funeral home which makes him one of the busiest men in town. There are many subplots besides the pandemic.
The mother and daughters all narrate the events, and the voices are well done. The daughters are unique and each lovable. Things got a little slow in the middle, but overall, it was engaging.
4 stars. Well-written. Recommended for historical fiction fans who enjoy well-done multiple narrators.
I was surprised to find at the end that this was written prior to Covid. I just figured that it was inspired by our own most recent pandemic, but alas, I was wrong!
Old Habits Die Hard by Melissa Westemeier
Am I a cozy mystery fan? Not really. But when your friend starts a new series, and it piques your interest, you buy it! No questions asked! And I’m glad I did.
You won’t be able to deny an affection for the protagonist once you start reading. Sister Bernadette is a retired nun and former middle school teacher. She lives in a retirement community where the sudden death of a resident spices up the existence of all the other residents who Westemeier convincingly makes suspects. But not Sister Bernie of course. She’s helping out Detective and former student AJ Lewis (my fellow Star Wars aficionado) uncover the to the deceased.
I have to call it a win when I love a book written in a genre that’s not my typical cup of tea. Great dialog,, fast pace, and solid whodunnit I cannot wait to see what is on tap for Sister Bernie in the next installment! 5 stars.
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Best book of the year so far. If you’re a female reader in your 40s or older, read this book. You will relate to this top-notch narrator.
This book is about 250 pages. I read it in bed on the morning of Good Friday never closing it once. Rocky is on a summer vacation in Cape Cod with her husband, grown children, and her parents. They make this trip every summer. Recent events cause Rocky to remember some of the difficult times in her past.
The premise is simple, but it’s the life of a lot of women. The trials and tribulations that make up your life and how (peri)menopause hits like a ton of bricks. And how no one in your family can understand that. Rocky’s thoughts and dialog made me laugh out loud about a dozen times and cry twice.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. 5 huge stars
The Crash by Freida McFadden
This is better than McFadden’s other books that she cranks out at breakneck speed.
Protagonist Tegan is eight months pregnant, and her life is a mess. As she nears her due date (from a one-night stand she barely remembers), she decides to spend some time with her brother. The weather has other ideas. She drives straight into a blizzard. Pregnancy brain? No surprise, she crashes. She’s consequently saved by a man who brings her to his home, but the longer she’s there, she’s not sure if she is safe after all.
Like McFadden’s other books, we see the plot through the eyes of different characters, and events from the past crop up to complicate things.
If you’re a fan of thrillers, this is one is fast and satisfying. 5 stars.
Litani by Jess Lourey
Jess Lourey’s books all kind of feel the same, but they are good. If you’re a fan of her previous novels, you’ll probably enjoy this one as well.
Protagonist Frankie is 14. She’s not seen her mother in years as after her parents divorced, she lived with her father in California. But after her father passes, she returns to the small Minnesota town in the title to live with her busy mother who is the county prosecutor. Frankie learns soon after her arrival of something other children refer to as “The Game.” She can tell right away this is not a fun game. And that’s putting it mildly.
Fast pace, lovable protagonist, and a satisfying end. 4 stars
Before You Found Me by Brook Beyfuss
Another 5-star read. The end of a solid stretch of books.
Rowan leaves an abusive relationship. Her parents are long dead. She’s not spoken to her much-older sister in years, and she decides to visit her friend in New England. However, her friend isn’t there. But she does give Rowan permission to stay at her house. There she makes a shocking discovery: the neighbor, Lee, is keeping his eleven-year-old son prisoner in his basement. Rowan decides she must free Gabriel (son). They hatch a plan and set out for Oklahoma to meet up with Celia: Rowan’s estranged sister. But how long can they escape their pasts?
Another read with lovable characters and an engaging plot. And I didn’t even mind the romance that crept in as much as I usually do! 5 stars
The Third Son by S.E. Green
I bought this cheap ebook since I loved the previous book I read by this author. But this one went way off the rails at the end, and I just felt uncomfortable by the culmination.
Carter Grady is married to his best friend’s widow. He is about to adopt her sons. Life is good. Until he receives a call informing him that a one-night stand from years ago has passed and listed him as the father of her ten-year-old son, Frances.
To say Frances turns the family situation upside down in an understatement. You can’t possibly imagine the things he does.
This one was a bit much for me. 2 stars.
We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman
As soon as I finished Sandwich I put this book, its predecessor, on hold. It wasn’t as good.
In this short read, we meet Edi and Ash, friends since childhood, when Edi is in hospice for terminal cancer. The hospice is not as near to her family as Edi needs, but it is close to Ash; and Ash takes care of her friend until the end reliving the goods and bads from their nearly life-long friendship.
You know what is going to happen at the end. But that didn’t stop me from sobbing out on my deck on a Sunday afternoon upon finishing. 3 stars
First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston
I’d seen rave reviews for this one,but it was just average for me. This may have been that I started it one weekend, didn’t read much during the week, and finished the following weekend when I had a little trouble recalling some of the fine details from earlier in the plot.
Evie Porter and her boyfriend, Ryan, seem to be living a pretty goodlife. But Evie Porter is not who she says she is. Evie’s boss (whom she does not know the identify of) is paying her large sums of money to gather every bit of information she can on Ryan. But now Evie is falling for Ryan. Things take an even more unexpected turn when one of Ryan’s old friends and said friend’s girlfriend show up: a twist, if you will.
Lots of flashbacks with characters who come in and out of play throughout the course of the book. They were all needed for the plot to work, but it just wasn’t the most enjoyable. I did like the ending, but it wasn’t anything special overall. 3 stars
Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
This author wrote Take My Hand which was a five-star read. This one fell a little short, but it was still good.
Nikki has been estranged from her grandmother for many years, but her grandmother unexpectedly calls on her to visit. She’s hoping her grandmother is ready to tell her about the rift between her (grandmother) and Nikki’s mother, but she has some information for Nikki about their family that’s much longer ago than this fight. The title refers to a kingdom in the Carolinas of former slaves whose queen was Nikki’s ancestor. She has a little trouble believing this kingdom, Happy Land, was a real place.
Family secrets are divulged the more Nikki learns that lead to more present day family history.
Good writing, good characters, interesting plot. 4 stars
Three Mothers by Hannah Beckerman
At some points during this book, I liked it. Other points felt insanely cliche.
The first of the three mothers is Abby. Abby lost her husband five years ago. She has two teenaged daughters - Isla and Clio - who could not be more different. Clio feels like she’s living in Isla’s shadows. Next is Abby’s best friend: Nicole. Nicole’s husband is a workaholic. She, too, has two teenagers: sons Jack and Nathaniel. Finally is Jenna. Jenna is a single mom struggling to raise her teenaged son, Callum. Callum is Isla’s boyfriend, and Nathaniel pines after Isla.
At the beginning of the novel, Isla is killed. The plot jumps back and forth in time and between the three mothers who narrate to uncover what exactly happened with Isla’s untimely death. Everyone seems like a suspect until the end. At first, the end seemed a little drawn out, but each mother had to say her piece, so to speak, on how the events played out. And all women, even those who are fictional, deserve to share their feelings! 3 stars
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March 2025 Reads
As we close the door on the month of March, I thought I had dodged any other illness. Wrong! Covid came knocking. So my spring break was spent mainly in bed, but at least, I wasn't so sick I couldn't read.
Impossible Creatures (#1) by Katherine Rundell - 4 stars
Fantasy is not my normal genre, but a recommendation from a friend got me out of my comfort zone. This is definitely a book that I can recommend to students. And I’ll love recommending it because there is a strong, female character. Mal, on the run, teams up with Christopher upon his arrival on an island full of magical creatures. Said creatures, however, are dying. Some of them at least. And the two are on an adventure to find out why. Fast moving, some illustrations, and a glossary of mythical creatures at the end which, I imagine, is helpful to young readers.
Havoc by Christopher Bollen - 4 stars
This book was crazy! A good crazy. Protagonist Maggie is eighty-one years old. She gets her joy, or entertainment, by trying to “fix” what she views as problems in others’ lives. She has left her life in the United States, and post-Covid, is doing this at a luxury hotel on the shores of the Nile in Egypt.Things are going smoothly until she tries to fix Tess who is at the hotel with her eight-year-old son Otto. I’ll stop there because this is a short, fast read with an ending that was a bit too fast for me. But still a solid read!
Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell - 3 stars
I like Rowell’s writing. A lot. I just wasn’t a fan of this plot. Not for me. I bought this one kind of on a whim as a cheap ebook. Shiloh and Cary were friends in high school. He left after graduation and joined the Navy. She stayed in their small Nebraska town, got married, had two kids, and is now divorced when Cary returns for a mutual friend’s wedding. Then it’s a will-they-or-won’t-they story. Character driven indeed which is not my favorite. But if you like a love story, this is probably a good one for you as the writing is very good.
Darkly by Marisah Pessl - 4 stars
I absolutely loved Pessl’s book Nightfilm. This is a YA effort which I wasn’t aware of when it showed up as a cheap ebook (it hasn’t been at the library), but it was still a good read. The title is a series of games designed by Louisiana Vede in the 80s. Dia is one of the cult-like followers, and she is one of few teens around the world to get an internship at the company which has gone … dark … since Veda’s death. Secrets abound as the kids arrive on site. This is another fairly fast-moving,well-written read with a high quality ending. This one would be for a more advanced YA reader. Definitely more YA than middle grade. The games Pessl created in this book are detailed and memorable. I look forward to more releases from her in the future.
Jupiter Rising by Gary D. Schmidt - 5 stars
Speaking of young adult reads, Orbiting Jupiter is one of my favorite YA/middle grade books of all time. When I saw a student reading it a few weeks ago, I remembered I never read the sequel. So I checked it out and charged through its less-than-200 pages in an afternoon. If you like books, you should read Orbiting Jupiter and this one. Emotional. Succinct. Memorable characters. Believable narration and characters. Can’t recommend highly enough.
A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand - 4 stars
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson is a classic. This book apparently takes place at said house. But it didn’t really use much of its inspiration in its plot which was disappointing. However, taking that out of consideration, this was an enjoyable thriller. Protagonist Holly rents said house to write a play based on the story of a woman accused of witchcraft. She invites the few other involved parties to rehearse her masterpiece. But everyone has their own secrets on top of odd things happening in the house and a creepy old neighbor. Satisfying gothic horror with all the hallmarks of the genre present.
The Abolitionist’s Daughter by Diane C. McPhail - 2.5 stars
Considering the title, one would be led to believe that the abolitionist portion would play a big role in this book. It, sadly, does not. Yes, it does include some plot points regarding Southern abolitionists, but I was hoping for more of the independence of slaves and less of the story of a white woman whose father was an abolitionist. Much better books about the era than this one.
The Family by S.E. Green - 5 stars
I had this one sitting on my Kindle for awhile. It was short. Really short. 156 pages short! I’ll just disclose that it’s about a mother whose twenty-something daughter returns to her after a five-year absence. The daughter’s actions cause the mother to question even more where she’s been during this time. It’s worse than she could imagine. Too short to say more aside from I loved it: the plot, the narration, the characters.
Elphie: A Wicked Childhood by Gregory Maguire (Wicked #0) - 3 stars
Gregory Maguire…so smart! With all the hype around the release of the first film, he puts out this book. Genius! People are no doubt going to buy this. But this isn’t for the casual reader. None of Maguire’s books are. His works, though enjoyable, are difficult reads in that his language and sentence structure is advanced compared to most other novels. The book follows Elphaba through her childhood. Her trials and tribulations with her parents, brother, and sister. With the difficulties her skin color brings. And her first taste of the mistreatment of animals that sets her story in motion as she arrives at Shiz. I think my expectations were a little too high as I, too, was riding high on the Wicked movie. I do love most of the series and many of Maguire’s other books, but this one was just average for me.
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson - 2 stars
I loved Wilkerson’s novel Black Cake. If you’ve not read it, I highly recommend it. So I was excited for this one. Especially since it has such high reviews on Goodreads. But I’m in the minority. This was so slow-moving. It started off quickly with protagonist Ebby being left at the altar. Then it moves between present, past, and way past. In the past, Ebby’s brother, Baz, is killed in a home invasion. In the way past, Ebby’s enslaved ancestor creates a vase that remains in their family until the invasion. The point of view in the chapters change on a whim. I’m not opposed to multiple narrators, but things were just moving from one character to the next from one time period to the next. But in the same breath, it seemed to drag. I enjoyed Ebby as a character, however, that’s about it.
Sunrise on the Reaping (The Hunger Games #0.5) by Suzanne Collins
It’s kind of unreal that The Hunger Games debuted 17 years ago, but here we are! I forgot about this one being released, and upon remembering, it was $10 off on Amazon. Sold! This installment tells the story of Haymitch Abernathy in the second Quarter Quell. It starts with a bang and doesn’t let up. It moves quite quickly with a mix of new and recurring characters. Readers saw a transformation in Haymitch from when he first appeared in the original trilogy until its end and see a transformation in this book as well. A must for Hunger Games fans!
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February 2025 Reads
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix - 5 stars
Hendrix is now an auto read for me. I’d been waiting for this book for so long and devoured it in less than 24 hours. I usually hate when men write female characters, but Hendrix does it successfully. I loved the characters in this book set in the summer of 1970 at a home for unwed, teenage mothers.
When Crickets Cry by Charles Martin - 3 stars Per the book jacket blurb: “A man with a painful past. A child with a doubtful future.” This one was an emotional ride though it had a slow start. Loved the child character. If you liked “The Last Letter”, this one reminded me of that.
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali - 4 stars
The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars is that I didn’t think it was long enough. It left me wanting more of said women at the end! Two girls of different social classes in 1950s Tehran forge a friendship that shatters prior to adulthood. But one needs the other in the 1980s as things in the country have turned upside down.
Tangleroot by Kalela Williams - 3 stars
YA novel whose protagonist lives in the shadow of her professor mother who is trying to prove that one of their ancestors was the founder of the college she works at the The two move a home that is the former plantation where said ancestor worked. Noni, the daughter, eventually takes interest.
When She Was Me by Marlee Bush - 3.5 stars
Too long and slow-moving to be the thriller that it was billed, but the ending was quite good. Cassie and Lenora are adult sisters who have cut themselves off from the world after a fire claimed the life of their father. When a teenage girl goes missing on the camping property they call home, their lives are turned upside down as they can no longer be left alone.
Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra - 4 stars
This one WAS a fast-paced thriller in which a woman and her two young children find themselves in their house with an intruder. The end was a little too fast, but overall, this one hit me at a good time!
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Late December 2024 and January 2025 Reads
After never really recovering from walking pneumonia around Thanksgiving, January held influenza A, and February completed the trifecta with a trip to the ER ending up in a diagnosis of pneumonia. And when I'm sick, I can't read. And the fatigue that set in with both of those was lasting. But, it's time to update!
Forgive Me Not by Jennifer Baker - 3 stars
Dystopian-esque YA following the literal trial and punishment of a teen for the accidental killing of her younger sister. Was hoping for a little faster pace.
The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post - 4 stars
The title character was the heir of the Post cereal company. This novel chronicles her story from childhood. Solid read. Well written. Fun fact - she is the original owner of Mar-A-Lago…how sad she must be, as an independent business woman, to see what is unfolding there now.
We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft - 2 stars
This was my last book before the influenza diagnosis. It was not good. Too many characters to keep straight for a plot that wasn’t worthwhile. If you like vampire novels, find another.
Toto by A.J. Hackwith - 4 stars
Yes! That Toto! Best book cover ever! Toto narrates a modern-day retelling of The Wizard of Oz. Things got a bit slow in one part, but his voice makes up for it. Oz fans, read this book! Toto is a badass but also the most endearing.
Swift River by Essie J. Chambers - 2 stars
A girl with the cards stacked against her in many facets of life grows up in a small town in the late 80s. Slow moving. DIdn’t love the characters.
Model Home by Rivers Solomon - 2 stars
I was number two on the hold list for this one since October. It was a short read, but it was difficult. Different narrators written in different points of view. There are better haunted house books than this one.
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Late December 2024 Reads
I love Christmas break! I’ve read eight books so far and still have three and a half days to go!
Where Wild Peach Trees Grow by Cade Bentley
This book tells the story of two sisters who grew up in Natchez, Mississippi. One day, their mother abandons them. Julia must act as a mother to Nona. But then, on the verge of adulthood, Nona leaves Natchez and never looks back. It’s been 15 years since the sisters have spoken, but their father’s sudden death forces them back together.
This book had potential, but it fell short. The plot moved between past and present with no clear indication as the chapter changed when it was set. The emotion could have run deep but remained surface level. It did have a good mix of prose and dialog, but while some of the prose was strong, some was a bit too simple. 3 stars for this one.
The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi by Wright Thompson
Said murder is that of Emmett Till. This nonfiction is a tough read. Lots of information and lots of sadness.No spoilers there.
The first half of the book provides information about many people who got the wheels turning in Emmett Till’s murder going back many years and generations. Some people were more important than others, but all had a role. Some of this was interesting but some slow.
The second half focused on Emmett Till, his murder, and his legacy. This was easier to read, but the emotion is hard to overcome.
Hard to recommend this heavy non-fiction. 3 stars.
The Mad Women’s Ball by Victoria Mas
This novel is based on real events in 1880s Paris. It is set at an asylum. I mentioned in my last blog entry that I’m a sucker for cult books. I’m a sucker for asylum books as well.
The women in this asylum are treated like you’d expect women in an asylum to be treated. On top of the treatment, one of the doctors hypnotizes women in front of an audience. And during Lent, the title event occurs. The women get to dress up for a ball that the public is invited to watch.
The book focuses on a new patient - Eugenie. She’s from a rich, well-to-do family. A nurse, Genevieve, gets highly involved in Eugenie’s case. Maybe too involved.
I loved almost everything about this book. I loved the characters. I loved the writing. I loved the plot. The only thing I didn’t love was that it was only 210 pages. I so, so wanted more of this book. 4.5 stars
This is How We End Things by R.J. Jacobs
Mystery/thriller with simple writing and way too many characters.
The characters are mainly graduate students in psychology and their professor (save one ex-husband and one child). The book opens with an unnamed character giving an interview about a murder to an unnamed psychologist. Then we jump to the meat of the plot. The students/professor are running an experiment regarding stress. One of the subjects gets upset and attacks a student causing another student to attack him. That same night, the first student is murdered.. Who dunnit?
Everyone is a suspect in this fast-moving plot. Nothing amazing, not terrible. 3 stars.
Nightbloom by Peace Adzo Medie
This book, though only 350 pages, felt insanely long. Lots of prose, lots of details. Not my favorites.
Akofa and Selasi grew up in Ghana: cousins closer than sisters. After Selasi’s mother dies, she even moves in with Akofa’s family. The girls end up at the same high school when a number of circumstances drive them apart. Akorfa goes to college in the US while Selasi stays in Ghana.
The first half of the book is Akorfa’s point of view while the second is Selasi’s. Though they don’t see each other for many years, they are reunited near the end.
I really liked some parts of the plot. But the book covers a lot of ground in the women’s lives, and I felt like some parts got skimmed over in favor of other parts getting more time than they deserved. The parts regarding discrimination due to race and gender and how the two women persevered did make it worth reading. 3 stars
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Late November into December 2024 Reads
For two weeks (Nov. 23 - Dec 7), I was so sick, I didn’t read. Aside from when my son was born, I don’t think I’ve ever gone two weeks without reading in my entire life. Sinus-infection-turned-walking-pnemonia got me good. But I’ve bounced back and just read three books in a little more than 24 hours! And a couple before that.
Gaslight by Miles Joris-Peyafitte and Sara Shepard
This is one from before my illness. I’d heard about it on the All the Books podcast but the library didn’t have it. As soon as it showed up as a reasonably priced ebook, I bought it as I am a sucker for a book about a cult. And this one did not disappoint!
Protagonist Rebecca has distanced herself from the cult she was sucked into as a teen. She is married with a son and no ties to her former life. Until an old friend and ally from that time shows up distraught on her doorstep.
This is about all you need to know going it. This moves at an insanely fast pace. The end was a tad bit much, but highly recommended. 4 stars
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books - by Kristen Miller
Another pre-illness read. The title character is a stereotypical, conservative Republican on a mission: banning books from the local school and library. As she does this, she has a Free Little Library on her front lawn with more wholesome choices. That is until her arch enemy and school board member’s daughter gets a hold of these books and does a little switcheroo of sorts. Chaos ensues.
The reader meets some memorable characters in this quick read. There was a slow part or two, but overall this is a good one if the subject intrigues you. 4 stars.
The Memory Dress by Jade Beer
And this is the first read after my two-week “break” in which I watched a LOT of TV.
The title dress once belonged to Princess Diana and is now in possession of an elderly woman in Jayne’s building. Jayne is slowly getting to know Meredith (said neighbor), and she quickly learns that Meredith is suffering from Ahlzheimer’s. She doesn’t know how she came to possess the dress. She doesn’t even know where her husband is or when she last ate. Jayne and a few friends take on the task of finding Meredith’s beloved William and the story of the dress.
The end of this was really good. But it was a slow start and pretty slow going most of the way. 3 stars.
Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens
I got this short mystery from a coworker and sped through it last weekend. It’s set in the mid-70s which is not a setting I’ve read a lot about. Protagonist Boady is a freshman in high school at this time in a small Missouri town. His father died years ago. He is a student at a private, Catholic school where he doesn’t fit in. Therefore, he’s thrilled when a family with a son his age moves in next door. The family is black. And through their friendship, Boady realizes just how naive he’s been to how racist his town really is.
In addition to Boady’s story is the mysterious disappearance of Lida Poe. She’s the bookkeeper the town’s plastic factory which seems to employ the majority of the town in some form or another. She, too, is black and is said to have left town with a boatload of money from the company.
Secrets spill out from all corners of the small Southern town in this short read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for Goodreads.
All That is Mine I Carry with Me by William Landay
This one started off at a good clip. I was cruising through the first two of the four parts. Then, at the start of the third part - boom! No more quotation marks around the dialog. For the love of God! Why? So irritating!
The plot itself is a mix of past and present with the past being the disappearance and, likely death, of Jane Larkin. Her ten-year-old daughter returns home from school one day, and her mom is not there. This is unusual. Days go by. Weeks. Months. Years. Jane never returns. Jane was a loving mother, and at least two of her children don’t believe she just up and left.
Years later, the detective on the case as well as a friend of the family both bring Jane Larkin’s disappearance back to light, and the three children are forced to pick sides.
3-star mystery. Nothing special. And annoying lack of punctuation.
Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore
Perfect follow-up to the last mediocre read! If you are a 80s/90s music fan, there are a TON of references in here. Good ones! The Pixies! Tori Amos! Kate Bush!
The book opens on New Year’s Eve 1982. Oona is 19. Her whole life is ahead of her. She is the keyboardist in a band with her boyfriend, Dale, but also has a chance to go study economics in London. A big decision. When the clock strikes midnight and the calendar changes to 1983, it doesn’t exactly do that to Oona. She awakens thirty-two years into the future in the body of her 51-year-old self.
A stranger explains to her she is not dreaming nor on drugs and is not suffering from a medical episode. Each year, starting in 1982, when the clock strikes midnight to the next year, Oona will wake up in a different part of her life. This stranger will be there many of the years Oona visits but other years she’ll be met with notes from herself.
Very cool premise done well. 5 stars! Can’t recommend highly enough!
The Secrets of Midwives by Sally Hepworth
I started this yesterday afternoon/early evening and finished before going to bed. The writing was pretty simple which made it quick, but the plot and characters were worthwhile.
It starts off with Neva. She is a third generation midwife. On the brink of 30 and single, she is pregnant. When she announces this to her mother and grandmother at 30 weeks, they are surprised as can be as Neva does not look pregnant. Neva has kept everything a secret and continues to keep the paternity a secret. She is not and has not been in a relationship.
Neva’s mother, Grace, finds herself in some hot water with her midwifery practice. And the reader learns the history of grandmother, Floss, who came to America with Grace and nothing more than the clothes on their backs.
As aforementioned, a more simple style, but I enjoyed the characters and the plotlines. 4 stars
The Booklover’s Library by Madeline Martin
I blew through most of this one at the AT&T store while Jason and Nathan got new phones after I started it in bed this morning. Well, except for the first chapter. When I pulled this library book off of my stack, I noticed a quote from the great Kate Quinn on the cover! So I had to read just a little bit before I went to bed.
Emma is the protagonist. In the opening chapter, eight years before the events of the rest of the novel in WWII England, Emma’s father is pulling her out of the burning bookstore that they own. We learn quickly that her father has perished. Shortly thereafter, Emma becomes a wife and a mother. But soon after that, she also becomes a widow. She felt as though she had enough money, but five years after her husband’s death, money is tight, and Emma needs to get a job to support her daughter, Olivia. Jobs are few and far between for women who are mothers and don’t have husbands regardless of how they found themselves in that circumstance.
Emma’s past and love of books leads her to a premier lending library where the librarians lend specific books to Class A and B clients. The owner is kind enough to give Emma a shot as long as she does not let on that she is a widower with a child. A elderly neighbor delights in helping care for Grace while Emma is not home and Grace is not at school.
With WWII as the backdrop, there are a lot of other things that begin to factor into the plot making life difficult for all.
This one was very quick and had many, many literary allusions. Booklovers and WWII-genre-readers, put this one on your list! 4 stars
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Early November 2024 Reads
My Name Was Eden by Eleanor Barker White - I can’t remember where I stumbled upon this one. It had the makings to be good for a lot of the way through. But the ending was just ridiculous.
In the beginning of the book, teenager Eden nearly drowns. When she recovers, she believes she is her twin brother, Eli, who died in the womb. Eli died early in the pregnancy and was absorbed by Eden. Her current doctor believes this will pass, but as time goes on, it does not. And her mother begins to wonder if she truly is Eli.
Don’t waste your time on this one. 2 stars.
The Marvels by Brian Selznick - This is an older Selznick release. It actually made me wonder when he’s coming out with another. Soon is what I discovered!
The first half of this one is told only in pictures. It’s the story of generations of an acting family tracing back to 1766. This part of the story stops suddenly in 1900. Then the writing starts. In the 1990s, we meet Joseph. He’s run away from his boarding school to find his uncle whom he’s never met in hopes that he takes him in. Obviously the two stories intertwine, but it was not done so in the way I thought. It was just a tad bit disappointing, but overall, a good story. Good characters. Well written. 4 stars.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune - The sequel to The House on the Cerulean Sea! I read the first one in one sitting in the car on the way to Kansas City two summers ago. So engrossed, I noticed nothing on that part of the ride. If I hadn’t started this later last Saturday night, it’d have been a one-sitting read. But it was a three-sitting-in-24-hours read.
If you’ve not read The House on the Cerulean Sea, read it. Then read this. They will be amazing back-to-back.
I know too many of you have read the first, and I hope that, like me, you go into the second blind. You’ll love it. 4 stars.
The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin - I ordered this one long ago and didn’t realize Ruta Sepetys co-wrote it. I thought it was just her. My guess is that each author wrote one of the characters: brother and sister Jakob and Lizzie Novis. The reader follows them at the title spot. I was unaware, but this is home to codebreakers in WWII London. We meet them in the summer of 1940 when Lizzie is supposed to be going to America to live with their grandmother. Instead, she outsmarts some adults to find Jakob. She is more interested in one specific part of the war. The part that killed their mother. So others believe. Lizzie is holding out hope that she is still alive and starts to believe that some messages she and her brother are receiving are from her mother.
This one just didn’t grab me. The characters weren’t all that likable. The end was unsatisfying. 2 stars.
Looking forward to the next book Ruta Sepetys writes solo.
The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins - I was the first one in line for this at the library on its release day! It’s no Girl on the Train, but I liked it more than its two predecessors.
The book is set on Eris: an island off the coast of Scotland. Only one person lives in the one house that stands there: unreachable only 12 hours a day due to the tides. Years ago it was home to a famous artist. Now it is home to Grace.
A piece of art by said artist is on loan to a gallery in London when an expert discovers that the bone used to make it, believed to have been an animal bone, is actually a human bone. That’s when the secrets start to unravel.
This is a psychological thriller through and through. The back-in-forth in time worked for me. The diary entries by Vanessa, the artist, were the highlight. Grace is a memorable character whose interesting backstory creeps slowly into present-day as the plot moves forward.
I’m still not sure how I feel about the end. But it was quick, and I’m glad I read it. 3.5 stars (rounded to 4 on Goodreads)
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Late October/Early November 2024 Reads
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Witaker
I’d been on hold for this one since early summer. It finally came. Everyone seems to love it, but, alas, not I. Not worth the wait. Here’s the Goodreads/flap summary:
1975 is a time of change in America. The Vietnam War is ending. Mohammed Ali is fighting Joe Frazier. And in the small town of Monta Clare, Missouri, girls are disappearing.When the daughter of a wealthy family is targeted, the most unlikely hero emerges—Patch, a local boy with one eye, who saves the girl, and, in doing so, leaves heartache in his wake.Patch and those who love him soon discover that the line between triumph and tragedy has never been finer. And that their search for answers will lead them to truths that could mean losing one another. A missing person mystery, a serial killer thriller, a love story, a unique twist on each, Chris Whitaker has written a novel about what lurks in the shadows of obsession, and the blinding light of hope.
Too many characters. Too much time spent on their development. Not enough plot except the very beginning and very end. The writing itself? Good. But it was too long to keep my interest throughout. 3 stars for me. However, everyone else seems to love it.
Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty
I have enjoyed most of her books. This one, though, was another three stars for me.
The book opens on a flight where a woman is predicting the death of other passengers: the cause and their age at the time. Of course, everyone thinks she’s a nut job. Until some of the predictions start coming true.
Over the course of the 350ish pages, the reader learns about said woman in her own words interspersed between chapters following the passengers to whom she gave predictions.
This had a bit of a similar premise to The Measure which I just read and enjoyed. Maybe if I’d not read these two so close together I would’ve liked it more.
I really like Moriarty’s writing. She has a great ratio of dialog to prose which is a huge win for me. The plot for this one just wasn’t a winner for me.
The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich
May the average reads continue. *sigh* I have loved the last five of Erdrich’s releases. This one, though, didn’t do it for me. Kind of like the last, 3 stars because I love her writing. But the plot didn’t keep me interested enough.
Here’s the Goodreads/flap info:
In Argus, North Dakota, a collection of people revolve around a fraught wedding.
Gary Geist, a terrified young man set to inherit two farms, is desperate to marry Kismet Poe, an impulsive, lapsed Goth who can't read her future but seems to resolve his.
Hugo, a gentle red-haired, home-schooled giant, is also in love with Kismet. He’s determined to steal her and is eager to be a home wrecker.
Kismet's mother, Crystal, hauls sugar beets for Gary's family, and on her nightly runs, tunes into the darkness of late-night radio, sees visions of guardian angels, and worries for the future, her daughter’s and her own.
Human time, deep time, Red River time, the half-life of herbicides and pesticides, and the elegance of time represented in fracking core samples from unimaginable depths, is set against the speed of climate change, the depletion of natural resources, and the sudden economic meltdown of 2008-2009. How much does a dress cost? A used car? A package of cinnamon rolls? Can you see the shape of your soul in the everchanging clouds? Your personal salvation in the giant expanse of sky? These are the questions the people of the Red River Valley of the North wrestle with every day.
The Mighty Red is a novel of tender humor, disturbance, and hallucinatory mourning. It is about on-the-job pains and immeasurable satisfactions, a turbulent landscape, and eating the native weeds growing in your backyard. It is about ordinary people who dream, grow up, fall in love, struggle, endure tragedy, carry bitter secrets; men and women both complicated and contradictory, flawed and decent, lonely and hopeful. It is about a starkly beautiful prairie community whose members must cope with devastating consequences as powerful forces upend them. As with every book this great modern master writes, The Mighty Red is about our tattered bond with the earth, and about love in all of its absurdity and splendor.
It did start strong, and it wasn’t exceptionally long. It just didn’t keep my interest.
From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough
This one is definitely the best of this batch of reads. And a non-fiction to boot! Aside from being Elvis’ daughter and Michael Jackson’s ex-wife, I didn’t know much about Lisa Marie Presley. I think I actually know more about Riley Keough from looking up biographical information on her after watching Daisy Jones and the Six and Under the Bridge (cannot recommend the latter highly enough - Hulu, and the former is good as well - better than the book actually!).
So Lisa Marie began this book late in her life. And when she got towards the end, she asked her daughter to help her finish. And then she died. She left Riley tapes of her speaking about her own life and memories. Riley starts out the book with a note including the fact that one font is used for her mother’s writing and another for hers. I liked that she commented, minimally, throughout. She’s a strong writer.
As one would imagine, this isn’t a feelgood story. Once her father died when she was nine, Lisa Marie struggled mightily through most of her life in one way or another.
I enjoyed this one. I thought it was well organized and the writing was real; rather than having some ghost writer come in and do it for them, these women wrote themselves. Having been to Graceland, it was cool to have some real images to go with the setting that began LIsa Marie’s life and where she lies in rest today.
4 stars.
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Reads from October 2024
Only four reads to start October. But most quality!
The Measure by Nikki Erlick - The reader meets eight characters in this speculative fiction novel. One morning, the entire world wakes up to a box. This box contains a string. The string reveals how long you will live. Some open the box immediately. Some wait. Some never open it at all. What are the pros and cons of doing so? The reader finds out through this cast of characters. I sped through this one in two nights. I was afraid the ending might be disappointing, but it was quite satisfying indeed! 4 stars.
King of the Armadillos by Wendy Chin-Tanner - This is the second book I’ve read set in Carville: the only home for those diagnosed with leprosy in the US. I didn’t love the amount of prose in this book. It felt much longer than it was. It’s the story of teen Victor Chin who is sent from his home in Brooklyn to Carville when he’s diagnosed with Hansen’s Disease (leprosy). Born in China, he’s lived in the US most of his life with his father and brother. His mother remains in China, and she does not know he’s been shipped off to Louisiana for treatment.This eats away at Victor who does get to speak with his brother in small doses over the phone during his time at Carville. Overall, just average for me. 3 stars.
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly - Kelly is one of my favorite middle grade authors. And she did not disappoint with this one! I’m not going to try to do justice to a summary or divulge too much, so here’s what the official jacket summary is:
It's August 1999. For twelve-year-old Michael Rosario, life at Fox Run Apartments in Red Knot, Delaware, is as ordinary as ever—except for the looming Y2K crisis and his overwhelming crush on his fifteen-year-old babysitter, Gibby. But when a disoriented teenage boy named Ridge appears out of nowhere, Michael discovers there is more to life than stockpiling supplies and pining over Gibby.
It turns out that Ridge is carefree, confident, and bold, things Michael wishes he could be. Unlike Michael, however, Ridge isn’t where he belongs. When Ridge reveals that he’s the world’s first time traveler, Michael and Gibby are stunned but curious. As Ridge immerses himself in 1999—fascinated by microwaves, basketballs, and malls—Michael discovers that his new friend has a book that outlines the events of the next twenty years, and his curiosity morphs into something else: focused determination. Michael wants—no, needs—to get his hands on that book. How else can he prepare for the future? But how far is he willing to go to get it?
5 stars. Cannot recommend enough!
The Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung - This one was heavy. Even for me. You know you’re not getting the feel-good book of the year when you’re picking up a novel set in Community China. The daughters in the title are those of the Ang family who has only daughters so no male heir. When the Communist army closes in, the father ups and leaves his family. And due to having no male heir to punish, the Communists beat the oldest daughter to within an inch of her life. Her mother decides to take her girls and escape in hopes of finding their freedom and the husband that abandoned them. Endurance. Resilience. You name it, this mother and her daughters have it all as they live through some of the most cruel situations full of danger, sorrow, and all the negative descriptions you can think of. Not for the faint of heart, but an eye-opening, important read. 4 stars.
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