Show Us Your Books May 2023

May 2023, how did that happen? Wasn’t it just Halloween? Anyway, I didn’t think April was a very good reading month, but looking back it was actually okay. No five star reads, but plenty of four stars. I think my memory is just reacting to the busyness of this time of year. It’s like once Spring Break happens buckle up, because each day after that means something to do. Teacher and senior gifts, sports, end of year projects and parties, and keeping up with all of the laundry and cooking associated with all of that is exhausting.

Anyway, here’s the best of the best from my April reads.

Four Stars

Hidden Moon by James Church -- These books make very little sense, but when you read mysteries having to do with North Korean government agencies that‘s part of the charm. This is book two in the Inspector O series and I found it just as confusing and enjoyable as the first.

The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey -- I loved the characters and setting of this mystery. I‘ll definitely read more in this series.

Watergate by Garrett Graff -- Graft’s deep dive into the history of Watergate had me riveted. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

The Ransomware Hunting Team by Renee Dudley and Daniel Golden -- I enjoyed this history of ransomware, and the stories of the (sometimes) misfits who stepped in to help stop it when the government was slow to act.

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This is linked to Quick Lit on Modern Mrs. Darcy.

Show Us Your Books December 2022

November was the best reading month I had all year. I had so much going on and found so much comfort in what I read. It was one of those months that reminded me why I love to read. I talked about my non-fiction reads here. Fiction highlights are below.

Five Star Reads

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin -- I really loved this book. We don‘t talk enough about how meaningful friendships and creative partnerships can be. Don’t let the subject scare you away from this one- you don’t have to like video games.

Four Star Reads

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai -- This book broke my heart in all the best ways. It’s a dual timeline book set in Chicago during the AIDS crisis and 2015 Paris. So glad I ran across this one.

America for Beginners by Leah Franqui -- The wistfulness of these characters made it a perfect Thanksgiving week read.

A Ghost of Caribou by Alice Henderson -- I had to stay up late to finish this new book by Alice Henderson. I just love this series about wildlife biologist Alex. In this book she’s in Washington studying a caribou that has wandered down from Canada. Chaos ensues.

Three Star Reads

Once Upon A Wardrobe by Patti Callahan -- A cozy read about a brother and a sister trying to find the story behind CS Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-Garcia -- This was pretty good. It reminded me of a Patricia Highsmith book.

The Other Man by Farhad J. Dadyburjor -- I found this on my kindle when my original #FoodandLit India book wasn’t holding my attention. It was billed as a romantic comedy but I found the issues associated with being gay in India a bit deeper than the billing implied.

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On My Nightstand November 20, 2022

Good morning readers! Somehow it’s November 20th. Where do these months go?

I had a good week last week, but I never got around to posting here. Maybe this week I will get my act together.

No big Thanksgiving plans here. We’re hosting a small get together, but I don’t have to cook that much for it. I’m hoping to get a bunch of reading done, and of course the kids want to go shopping on Friday.

Here’s what I’m reading this week:

Long Life by Mary Oliver - Another book I had on my Kindle that I forgot about. I love Mary Oliver and am looking forward to this.

America for Beginners by Leah Franqui - This is for a book club. It looks like a quick and easy read, perfect for a long lazy weekend.

Green Mountain Academy by Frances Greenslade - This middle grade book is from the Library Thing Early Reviewers program. I’m hoping to finish and review it this week.

We Had A Little Real Estate Problem by Kliph Nesteroff - This was on my list to read last year. I’m finally getting to it now!

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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

On My Nightstand November 13, 2022

Good morning and happy weekend! How are you all today? It’s cold enough here to turn on the heat and I’m loving it.

I almost don’t want to say it, but if all goes well this will be the first “normal” week we’ve had since September. At least one of my kids has had a day off at least one day each week for some reason, and the lack of consistency in our schedules is kind of killing us. I’ve been having trouble concentrating recently, and I think this week of calm and routine will help a lot.

This week I wrote about what I think you should read in November.

Here’s what I’m reading this week:

Agatha Christie An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley - Never got to this last week. Hoping to dive in later this week!

The Other Man by Farhad J. Dadyburjor - This was billed as a romantic comedy, but I’m finding it deeper than the billing implied.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - I have to return this to the library by the end of the week. That shouldn’t be a problem since I’m loving it!

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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

On My Nightstand November 6, 2022

November sunsets make this dark month bearable.

I decided to participate in #NonFictionNovember this month, and I’m loving what I’ve been reading so far. My October reading was kind of blah, so I’m happy to really be enjoying my books again.

I’ve also been having fun signing up for and choosing books for all sorts of challenges next year. This week I should have some time to write about them here. I miss writing more about books!

Here’s what I’m reading this week:

Tell Me More by Kelly Corrigan - I’ve always really enjoyed Corrigan’s books, and am looking forward to starting this one. This was on my list last week too, so I’m really hoping this is the week and I don’t have to return this to the library before I get to it.

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai - I heard about this on the What Should I Read Next podcast and immediately downloaded it. I’m really enjoying it so far, and it doesn’t hurt that it fits a prompt for one of my 2022 reading challenges.

Agatha Christie An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley - I think Agatha’s books are just so so, but I am completely fascinated by her life. I can’t wait to dive into this biography.

The Other Man by Farhad J. Dadyburjor - The Food and Lit group is reading and eating from India this year. The book I originally picked was really dense and I read the first two pages three times. I decided to bail, and found this romantic comedy on my kindle instead. Sometimes life is too short, you know?

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This post is linked to The Sunday Post on Caffeinated Reviewer.

Show Us Your Books September 2020

Shamelessly stolen from Litsy

August wasn’t a stellar reading month for me. The best part has been reading a chapter a day from Pride and Prejudice with the #PemberLittens group on Litsy. But, we won’t finish that until this month.

Until then know that my reviews below may sound grumpy and halfhearted and it is all me, not them.

PS I’m hosting a giveaway in honor of the National Parks if you’re interested.

Best of the Month

Such A Fun Age by Kiley Reid — This short book covers so much territory about race and class in America. I’m still thinking about it. The part that struck me the most was how everyone was talking, but no one accurately heard what the other person was trying to say. Really, I think about that once a day at least. Despite my August mood this will probably be one of my top books from 2020.

Three From The Modern Mrs. Darcy Summer Reading Guide

Beach Read by Emily Henry - This would normally be right up my alley, but because of my August mood all I could think was, “You two better learn to communicate soon because when you’re in quarantine together you’re gonna have some real problems.”

Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner - This was a ridiculous yet fun look at the world of influencers, and when the twist happens it gets even more entertaining. Just if something sounds familiar in this book don’t google it because you will get spoiled.

The Redhead by the Side of the Road by Anne Tyler - This was my favorite of the three. A solitary man who lives by his rigid routines gets his life tossed around when a teenager shows up claiming to be his son. I’m not sure how I’ve never read a book by Anne Tyler before, and I’m excited for all that I have to catch up on.

And Three More Worth Reading

Universe of Two by Stephen P. Kiernan- I enjoyed this WWII novel, and how he tied organ music in to the making of the atomic bomb. (It works; you’ll see.) A little bit repetitive at certain points, but worth the read. (ARC from LibraryThing.)

A Torch Against The Night by Sabaa Tahir - Sometimes the second book in a series suffers a bit, but not so with this one. Tahir kept up the pace, and I can’t wait to read more.

The Aunt Who Wouldn’t Die by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay - An extended Bengali family and all of the politics and ghosts that come into that sort of thing. I enjoyed the audiobook.

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March 2017 Quick Lit

Late winter means lighting candles.

Each month I link with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit as a way to talk about the books I liked, but didn't review.

I read so many amazing books last month, which is possibly why I'm in a reading slump right now. I'm not sweating it, because these books need room to breath and percolate in my brain. If you're looking for something absorbing to read you can't go wrong with anything here.

Kindred by Octavia Butler - This is a story of Dana, a African-American woman who is sent back in time very time her distant, slave owning, white relative needed his foolish life saved. It's science-fiction mixed with historical fiction. Dana's trials had me on the edge of my seat. Before I picked it up, I was put off by the 1970's setting in this book, but really it read like it was written yesterday. Plus the main character was a time traveler, so she wasn't in the 70's much anyway.

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly - It's funny that in the 90's when I was studying physics the story I was told is that not many women had done it before. Turns out NASA had hired many, many women physicists and mathematicians in the past, but they just didn't want us to know. Even if you don't have a physics degree read this book. It's very inspiring. If you liked Hidden Figures check out Rise of the Rocket Girls too.

Cherries in Winter by Suzan Colon - This was a quick read about a woman who got laid off around 2008, and the connection it gave her to her relatives that had to struggle before her. It was a sweet story, and it had recipes. Perfect for a winter's day.

Falling Angels by Tracy Chevalier - Two friends from slightly different sides of the track hang out in the cemetery with their friend a grave digger. It's not nearly as weird as it sounds. In fact, it's great. I read this one in less than a day because I was so absorbed in it.

The Lowland by Jhumpa Lahiri - I put off reading this forever. Why? Jhumpa Lahiri is so great. This book is all about forgiveness told in only the way Lahiri can tell it. You feel like you're there.

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REVIEW: Wide-Open World by John Marshall

I have been on a travel writing kick ever since I had a square for it on my Summer Reading Bingo card last year. That must have been how I ran across Wide-Open World by John Marshall. It was a worthy addition to my current reading obsession!

This was a real life book about doing something kind of crazy that was at the same time relatable. It starts with a couple with two teenagers that is drifting apart. Their marriage isn't terrible, but it's not great, and they feel like they're about to lose their kids to facebook and adulthood. They would love to drop it all, and travel for a year, but aren't sure how to swing it. They realize that by leveraging volunteer work they might be able to swing it.

I'll cut to the chase: these are not self righteous, I'm better than you because I help people instead of traveling types. If you're afraid reading this book will make you feel bad about your next trip to the hotel swimming pool don't be. These are people who initially use volunteer work as a way to help them travel, but who end up being changed for the better by it. This book includes the good, the bad, and the ugly, and that's what makes it so likable.

Other armchair travel I've enjoyed:

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