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📖✨ Monthly Reading Wrap-Up

November 2024 Edition

📕 The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich Historical Fiction | ★★★★★ (5/5) An intimate and powerful novel inspired by Erdrich’s own grandfather, blending the personal and political struggles of Native American communities. Review: Excellent storytelling with characters I didn't want to leave.

📗 Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie Sci-Fi | ★★★★☆ (3.75/5) A unique tale of revenge, artificial intelligence, and fragmented identity, set in an expansive universe. Review: Some parts dragged, but I did like the story and overall plot.

📓 My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones Horror | ★★★★☆ (4/5) A slasher-fanatic teen uncovers real horror in her small town in this love letter to the genre. Review: You don't need to be a slasher fan to enjoy this book, but be wary of the emotional fallout. 📌 Click "keep reading" for StoryGraph links.

📘 The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison Fantasy | ★★★★☆ (4/5) An exiled half-goblin ascends the throne, navigating court politics and intrigue with unexpected grace. Review: The world-building was wonderful, but Maia's inner world captivated me the most.

📕 Malas by Marcela Fuentes Fiction | ★★★★¼ (4.25/5) A sharp, darkly funny exploration of identity, family, and societal expectations in a richly textured narrative. Review: The deep sense of nostalgia resonated with me, especially as a Mexican American growing up on the border in California.

📙 Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari Nonfiction | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) A sweeping history of our species, from hunter-gatherers to the modern age. Review: Some sections felt reductive, though the big-picture insights were interesting.

📗 Don’t Fear the Reaper by Stephen Graham Jones Horror | ★★★★☆ (4/5) The final girl returns to face a fresh wave of terror in this gripping sequel to My Heart is a Chainsaw. Review: This book was savage on multiple levels, especially reading the chapter from Jennifer's mother's perspective--prepare your heart for this one.

📒 We Solve Murders by Richard Osman Mystery | ★★★★☆ (3.75/5) Quirky retirees team up once more to crack a murder case in this cozy, clever mystery. Review: Witty and charming, though some plot twists felt predictable.

📕 The Dutch House by Ann Patchett Fiction | ★★★★★ (5/5) A luminous tale of family, loss, and the power of memory, centered around a richly symbolic house. Review: Not my typical read but I fell in love with the characters and enjoyed seeing them grow and change.

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Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie

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Malas by Marcela Fuentes

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The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

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The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison

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"I drank my tea and finished by scone and acknowledged that I did not know how to solve any of my problems."

- Katherine Addison, The Witness for the Dead

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“But being essentially a dumpster fire herself, she was familiar with flames.”

- Louise Penny, A World of Curiosities

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"It was easier to believe she was lying than that lightning loves a scarred tree."

- Rebecca Makkai, I Have Some Questions For You

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sometimes a family is an indigenous lesbian professor who beat up an informant at stonewall, an anxious indian math whiz who occasionally breaks the law(s of physics), a guy with a twenty in charisma and skeletons in the closet, a local politician who nukes a bajillion interdimensional spiders with some sick bars, and the embodiment of the full city of new york

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“We get so used to twenty-four-year-old actors playing high school students, and we seem so mature in our own memories, that we forget actual teenagers have limited vocabularies, have bad posture and questionable hygiene, laugh too loud, don’t know how to dress for their body types, want chicken nuggets and macaroni for lunch. It’s easier to see the twelve-year-olds they just were than the twenty-year-olds they’ll soon be.”

- Rebecca Makkai, I Have Some Questions For You

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“She suspected if they looked in Gamache’s bedside table, they’d find all sorts of lost souls he put there for safekeeping. And maybe a baguette.”

- Louise Penny, A Great Reckoning

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“When you sell a man a book you don’t sell him just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue—you sell him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humor and ships at sea by night—there’s all heaven and earth in a book."

- Brianna Labuskes, The Librarian of Burned Books

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📖✨ Monthly Reading Wrap-Up

October 2024 Edition

📗 I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai Mystery/Thriller | ★★★★☆ (4/5) A true-crime podcaster returns to her alma mater to revisit an old murder case, stirring up buried memories and unexpected revelations. Review: Makkai delivers a gripping and layered narrative that tackles both suspense and self-reflection.

📕 A World of Curiosities by Louise Penny Mystery | ★★★★☆ (3.75/5) In the heart of Three Pines, a hidden attic leads to secrets buried in Gamache’s past, as a new generation wrestles with unresolved mysteries. Review: Intricate and compelling, but I felt like the characters made bad decisions purely to advance the plot and elevate the stakes.

📙 The Librarian of Burned Books by Brianna Labuskes Historical Fiction | ★★★★½ (4.5/5) A captivating read that will resonate deeply with fans of historical fiction, particularly those who appreciate stories about the power of literature to overcome adversity, the resilience of women in the face of oppression, and the beauty of love and hope in the darkest of times Review: A beautiful, moving tribute to the power of books that (surprisingly!) centers queer characters.

Click 'keep reading' for the full list and StoryGraph links.

📘 At First Spite by Olivia Dade Romantic Comedy | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) After a broken engagement, Athena moves into the tiny Spite House she bought for her ex-fiancé, only to discover that his infuriating older brother, the man who convinced him to leave her, lives next door. Review: This story does a decent job depicting depression, but unbelievable scenes and cringe banter pulled me out of the story several times.

📗 The Witness for the Dead by Katherine Addison Fantasy | ★★★★☆ (4/5) Thara Celehar, a Witness for the Dead, uses his gift to bring closure to lost souls while facing dark mysteries in the city of Amalo. Review: A quietly powerful story with heart and compassion at its core, full of political intrigue and mystery.

📕 The Grief Stones by Katherine Addison Fantasy | ★★★★☆ (3.75/5) Thara Celehar, a Witness for the Dead, uses his gift to investigate a noblewoman’s murder, uncovering disturbing secrets within a girls' school and confronting painful truths in the shadows of Amalo. Review: While I enjoyed this book, the pacing was off, and some plot lines were rushed.

📙 A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny Mystery | ★★★★¾ (4.75/5) Gamache takes on the role of commander at the police academy, uncovering corruption and a map that could solve a decades-old mystery. Review: One of my favorites in the series; a beautifully layered narrative with suspense and emotional depth.

📘 Glass Houses by Louise Penny Mystery | ★★★★☆ (4/5) When a mysterious figure appears in Three Pines, it sets off a chain of events that forces Gamache to confront his past decisions and their deadly repercussions. Review: A thought-provoking mystery with masterful tension and a gripping storyline.

📗 Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny Mystery | ★★★★☆ (4/5) Chief Inspector Armand Gamache finds himself named as one of the executors of a stranger’s will, leading to an intricate mystery rooted in secrets and lies. Review: Penny's storytelling shines with rich character depth and an intricately woven mystery.

📕 The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin Fantasy/Sci-Fi | ★★★★☆ (3.75/5) In a vividly imagined New York City, five people embodying the boroughs must come together to defend it from an otherworldly threat. Review: I enjoyed the premise, but sometimes the messages felt hamfisted.

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Lirael by Tommy Arnold

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"The eyes, open, glassy, glaring, seemed to be inviting her closer. Trying to create an intimacy, into which he could place all the horrors of the world. She did not back away. She did not blink. Isabelle Lacoste did the one thing she knew was a defense against this monster. Not prayer. Not singing. Isabelle Lacoste smiled."

- Louise Penny, A World of Curiosities

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“The men who sought violence didn't understand that while swords could destroy bodies, a pen could destroy a nation.”

- Brianna Labuskes, The Librarian of Burned Books

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I wish there was a way to sync my StoryGraph TBR list with the Libby app, so it could automatically check if the e-books or audiobooks are available in my connected library.