I took a break in December so this is actually a list of 4 and 5 star reads for November and December. Although December was not a great reading month for me so this was mostly great reads from my non-fiction November reads, which was amazing. I’m happy to say January has started stronger than December.
So here they are, the best of the best from November and December 2024 (not including re-reads.)
Five Star Reads
Coming Home by Brittney Griner - This book was something. Russian prison is something I haven’t thought a lot about, but now I will never forget it. And I will always empty my bags before I travel.
Mother, Nature by Jedidiah Jenkins - I loved this memoir. Jedidiah and his mom drive from Louisiana to Oregon to retrace the route she walked in the 70’s. They have fundamentally different beliefs but their love for each other and their willingness to keep talking is inspirational and hopeful, especially at this particular moment in time.
Janesville by Amy Goldstein - This book was excellent. It was about Janesville, Wisconsin and what happened in the 5 years after the GM plant in town closed. I‘m glad I got to this one finally.
The Break by Katherena Vermette - This book was sad and covered some hard topics, but an incredibly good read. I didn’t want the story of these women to end
Four Star Reads
Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn - This was a tough read, especially now, but I wasn’t going to extend my hold after waiting for it since July. The whole book was interesting, but I preferred the parts that pertained to more modern medicine. I wish there was something about how to advocate for myself, my daughter, and my mother
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen - I loved that there was a character that had books just appear when she needed them, and the winter setting let me pretend it wasn’t 80 degrees in November.
The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny - The story lines in these later books are kind of off the wall, but I still love every minute of them. This one didn‘t have as much Three Pines action as I like, but I did love revisiting some of the monks from A Beautiful Mystery. Sounds like a new one is already in the works.
Moon of the Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice - I’m so happy Rice wrote this follow up to Moon of the Crusted Snow. This one wasn’t as good as the first, but it was a satisfying follow up. The audiobook had the same excellent narrator as well.
The Healer by Antti Tuomainen - I enjoyed this dystopian crime novel about a man searching for his wife in Helsinki. In the days before Christmas the world is falling apart, climate change is a done deal, and the police don’t have the resources to look for a missing woman. A quick read, perfect for holiday reading when you don‘t want to think too hard.
Happy reading everyone!
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