Lora Terrill

Thank you for joining me here!   I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

A Blizzard of Polar Bears by Alice Henderson (Length: 347 pages) This is the second novel in a series featuring the “nature detective” Alice Carter, who in this book is researching polar bears in Churchill, Canada. This is VERY action-packed ( a few helicopter crashes, lots of murder, a ship sinking, etc). I enjoyed learning about how climate change is affecting the polar bear population too. This novel is entirely unbelievable, but the writing is decent and overall, this is a really fun ride, IF You suspend all disbelief. This would be a great read on vacation especially an Alaskan cruise.

Book #2:

Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Length: 363 pages). I am a TJR fan and I was very excited to finally get my hands on a copy of this one. This is definitely more for tennis fans as TJR gets into the nitty gritty of tennis games, AND for those readers who don’t feel a need to like or even empathize with the main character. The main character here, the eponymous Carrie Soto, is definitely not likeable but I didn’t care and I loved picking this up each time. I really enjoyed the author’s exploration of the ins and outs of professional tennis, and I really enjoyed the character of her dad, Javier Soto. I would love to see this as a movie as I could picture this in my head the entire time I was reading. Definitely two thumbs up from me!

Book #3:

Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M. Valente (Length: 95 pages).  This creepy novella was recommended by a bookish podcast and the podcaster described this one as fairytale horror, but I’d add, with a twist. This novella won the Shirley Jackson prize which should give the reader a clue as to what this book is about. I figured out the twist fairly early on (thanks to some cleverly placed clues) but I still really enjoyed the ride here. Definitely get someone else to read it so you can discuss afterwards . . . it’s hard to describe anything more without giving away spoilers. This is worth a library checkout solely due to its short length.

Book #4:

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena (Length: 302 pages)  I listened to this one on my commute. I would not recommend this narrator or this book, unfortunately. I found the narrator to be a bit too annoying (as I thought she took too much artistic license in voicing some of the emotions such as sarcasm). This is a locked room/remote snowbound hotel type mystery, which I typically enjoy, thanks to Agatha Christie. Characters get knocked off, one by one, and the author clearly is trying to channel the great Agatha here, but it’s a miss, by a few miles. There is zero way for the reader to figure out whodunit it (because the reveal depends on hidden backstories of the characters) so you are just along for the ride, which is is fine but the big reveal here is a big stretch, and not clever at all. Skip this one. 😦

Thank you for joining me here!   I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

Curfew by Jayne Cowie (Length: 318 pages)  I first learned about this interesting novel through one of the bookish podcasts I listen to and I checked it out from my library–it was instantly available so I don’t think many know about this one. This is a mystery set in the near-future where all males over the age of 10 are fitted with a tracking device on their ankle by the government, and are not allowed to be outdoors between the hours of 7 pm and 7 am (thus, the title). Cohabitation certificates are also required for all couples who want to live together, necessitating counseling to ensure it’s a healthy relationship. If a partner needs to leave, the government helps with child care, etc. The penalty for breaking curfew is prison so it’s very rare that any males are found outdoors once this policy is instituted and the rates of domestic violence and stranger rape/violence are almost non-existent. Then a woman is found murdered after curfew, which means if the perpetrator is a man, the whole system is flawed. The premise here is very interesting, and the plot propels the reader forward. However, the execution isn’t optimal . . . the writing is a bit amateurish, and the characters aren’t sufficiently fleshed out to where the reader cares about what happens to them. If you lower your expectations about those things, it’s worth it . . . it would be a great pick for a book club discussion for sure.

Book #2:

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger (Length: 461 pages). I ADORE this book. This is in my top 3 for the year, if not in the top spot (I still have a month of reading left to go). I told a friend that this reminds me of a cross between the novels The Lincoln Highway (by Amor Towles) and Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. The set-up here is four orphans escape their tragic circumstances in Minnesota in 1932 by canoeing down to the Mississippi River, and we get to tag along on their various mishaps and adventures. There are some tough subjects broached but many are seen from afar (ie, the author isn’t delving into the details) but the writing is simply gorgeous. The plot absolutely keeps you turning the pages; in fact, this is my favorite type of novel . . . where you think about it when you’re not reading it, and you can’t wait to get back to it. The characters are ones you won’t forget, and I thought the ending was perfect. Please read this one!

Book #3:

Cheaper by the Dozen by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey (Length: 178 pages).  I’ve had this short non-fiction book on my Kindle for years and decided to dip into it when I was in the mood for something lighter. I’ve seen the few movies based on this book (series–this is the first of two) so I was aware of the basic premise . . . it’s the true story of a dozen kids in a family growing up in the early 1900s. The father was an efficiency expert and this career carried over into the kids’ household chores (the father would time the kids and figure out how to make teeth brushing more efficient, for example). The mother was a bit unusual for the time period as she’d assist the father with his career, editing his papers, etc. This is a very fast read, and super interesting. I did chuckle out loud a few times. But keep in mind the time period in which this was written (by 2 of the adult children) as it’s a bit archaic in tone, but ultimately, it’s very kind-hearted and I’m glad I finally got around to reading it. Good for all ages too!

Thank you for joining me here!   I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Length: 354 pages.)  I ADORE this author, and when I read that this novel is often cited by TJR fans as their favorite novel of hers, I knew I had to check it out. I chose to listen to this one, and bonus: it’s narrated by Julia Whelan, one of the best audiobook narrators in the business. The book starts with Emma Blair eating dinner with her fiance Sam and her parents, when Emma gets a phone call from her husband Jesse who was presumed dead in a plane crash a few years earlier. The “tone” of this novel is perfect, the character development is fantastic and the plot is definitely propulsive . . . who will Emma end up picking? While I figured that part pretty early on, I thoroughly enjoyed the entire ride to get there. Now I’ve joined the legions of fans who have declared this book to be their favorite. (My second favorite is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.)

Book #2:

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy (Length: 319 pages). What a name for a memoir–but for this one, it’s absolutely apropos. Narrated by the author herself, who was a famous child actress (on the TV show iCarly), I recommend listening to this one for sure. There is a reason this is a runaway best seller. The author is very honest and vulnerable throughout, and I was fascinated by her account of being a child actor in Hollywood, especially with a very abusive stage mom (a modern Mommie Dearest if you will). Her love for her mom also shines through, which makes her account very poignant. This is a fantastic read and I definitely recommend!

Book #3:

Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro (Length: 241 pages).  This short novel is all the rage in the Bookstagram arena and I am glad I finally got a chance to see what the fuss is all about. I’ve never read this author’s non-fiction works, but I really enjoyed this one. If you like a family “saga” type novel, this is for you as the author follows a few families who live on one street over the time period of a few decades. The timeline does jump around quite a bit so this isn’t a novel you’re going to want to pick up here and there–just read it straight through in an afternoon if you are able to do so. The author’s writing style here reminds me of Fredrik Backman, so I really dug it! The writing is beautiful, it’s a very quick read with truly memorable characters and I give it a thumbs up.

Book #4:

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman (Length: 412 pages).  I’ve never gotten around to reading the Practical Magic series that is so beloved, so when this “prequel” was recently released I decided to start the (now four book) series by reading this one. This novel illustrates the start of the Owens’ women’s lineage, and how witches were treated in the early 1600s in Salem. This novel contains lots of references to the earlier novels which went over my head but that didn’t deter from my enjoyment of this book. The writing style is lyrical, the plot moves along and the character development is substantial, which is great as this series is so beloved by so many readers. I’ll absolutely continue reading along in the series based on what I’ve read here.

Book #5:

Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing  by Matthew Perry (Length: 260 pages).  UGH. I listened to this audiobook and I’m just glad I got it free from my library instead of wasting money on it. I was a fan of Friends back in the day and was so excited to read this memoir. While I will say that overall it’s an interesting look at severe addiction and there’s some fun information about the TV show (and the Keanu Reeves comment is a nothingburger), I’m not a fan of this man after reading this book. Way too much navel-gazing, and while he sort of recognizes his privilege in being able to spend north of 7 million (!) dollars trying to fight his addiction, his defensiveness and his passive-aggressive comments toward so many people are pretty infuriating. Matthew tries to be funny but comes off as just plain mean. Don’t waste your time on this one. 😦

Thank you for joining me here!   I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

Excuse Me While I Disappear by Laurie Notaro (Length: 246 pages.)  I have been a fan of this author’s writing since she was a columnist in our local newspaper. Her writing style is straightforward, not whiny and absolutely witty. This book contains Erma Bombeck-style humorous essays that are fun and easy to read. With this type of book I find it better to sample the essays here and there, rather than sitting down and reading it straight through. This would be the perfect book to read during a lunch hour. The target audience for this one is definitely women ages 40 and older. Any younger wouldn’t think it’s as funny as the rest of us do!

Book #2:

The Art of Hearing Heartbeats by Jan-Philipps Sendker (Length: 337 pages).  My mom recommended this novel on audio so of course I checked it out via the Libby app via my local library. I loved it! (It is pretty slow-going in the beginning so be patient and just push through). This is the story of the protagonist’s father’s childhood in Burma. Blind as a young boy, he falls in love with a girl who is unable to walk due to legs and feet that didn’t fully form before birth. He carries her everywhere around their village while she is the boy’s “eyes” and narrates to him over his shoulder. This is a love story, pure and simple, and it’s beautifully written. I made the mistake of finishing this while on a long hike and found myself sobbing openly, scaring a few fellow hikers. So perhaps read or listen to the ending of this one in private? This is an excellent novel! After I finished, I discovered it’s the first in a trilogy so if you’re a fan too, there’s more where this came from.

Book #3:

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (Length: 510 pages).  I’m not a fan of historical fiction, but I’m definitely a Kate Quinn fan so I was excited to finally pick this one up. Quinn bases all of her historical novels on female war heroines and this one is my favorite of hers that I’ve read thus far. Here, the focus is a trio of female spies in World War I (and II). The character development is top-notch (as always with Kate Quinn), the plot is propulsive . . . even with 500 pages it never lags for a minute which is incredible. I read this one in a day and a half and I was sad when it was over. It’s the type of book that you’ll think about when you’re not reading it, and those are my favorite.

Book #4:

True Biz by Sara Novic (Length: 388 pages).  This novel is one that will educate you AND entertain you, which is always a bonus. The author bases this novel in a deaf boarding school, featuring 3 major protagonists: February, the school’s headmistress, Charlie, a CI (cochlear implant) kid who is new to ASL (American Sign Language) and Austin, a fully deaf ASL kid from a legacy deaf family. I was fascinated to learn about the current deaf culture, as well as how deaf children have historically been educated and treated in schools. The plot goes a bit off the rails toward the end, but I found the ultimate resolution of the various plot points to be believable and satisfying. I absolutely recommend this gem!

Book #5:

The Unsinkable Greta James by Jennifer E Smith (Length: 292 pages).  I grabbed this book on a whim during a bookstore sale and I’m so glad I did! Think Daisy Jones and the Six plus The Floating Feldmans and you’ve got a fun read. Greta James is a legit rockstar who accompanies her father and 4 of his friends on an Alaskan cruise, taking the place of her mom who recently passed before the cruise. The novel takes place over the 8 days of the cruise and it’s really fun to read, but the depth of the characters (especially the father/daughter relationship) is what made it better than average. Having said that, this is a perfect vacation/travel read.

Thank you for joining me here!   I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

Part of Your World by Abby Jiminez (Length: 401 pages).  I am a forever-Abby Jiminez fan and her latest release is officially one of my favorite books she has written. A wealthy surgeon from a legacy family and a famous hospital in Minnesota (think Mayo) stops in a small town 2 hours away from home and meets a hot carpenter who is babysitting a baby goal, and she’s a goner. But they are from two entirely different worlds and neither can move to where the other one lives, for a multitude of (believable) reasons. Can they possibly make it work? Abby Jiminez’s standard snappy repartee, believable chemistry between the two protagonists and great writing make this one a MUST READ. A fantastic rom-com that will break you out of any reading rut . . . I promise!

Book #2:

The Winners by Fredrik Backman (Length: 684 pages).  Since this author’s Beartown is in my top 3 novels EVER, I was equal parts excited and sad to read this one, the last in the Beartown trilogy. I’m not sure how Backman is able to make almost 700 pages fly by, but he does. This novel is my favorite of the three as it features most of the same characters we have come to know (and love) as well as ties up all of the storylines. I will say that Backman is a bit manipulative with the reader’s emotions but if you’re willing to hang on, it’s worth the ride. I do appreciate that he tells you in the very beginning who will die, so it’s not a shock, but you can then see exactly why it happens because he is there with you every step of the way. This is definitely a book where you must read the first two in the series–it’s not as effective as a stand-alone novel, but even if it’s been a minute since you’ve read the first two, you’ll immediately remember who each of the major characters are and where they’ve been. I adored this novel!

Book #3:

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (Length: 394 pages).  This thinking person’s “rom com” was my book club’s pick for September. It reads more like a novel though . . . there is a bit of romance and a few funny lines, but this book is really an ode to feminism and female scientists in the 1960s. There are many lines which I highlighted during reading. This is one of my favorites: “[religion] lets us off the hook . . . it teaches us that nothing is really our fault; that something or someone else is pulling the strings, that ultimately we are not to blame for the way things are; that to improve things we should pray. But the truth is, we are very much responsible for the badness in the world. And we have the power to fix it.” If this also rings true to you, and you believe in science, you will also adore this book. Excellent character development, and the plot moves forward at a sufficiently entertaining pace. A must read in my opinion!

Book #4:

The Soulmate Equation by Christina Lauren (Length: 395 pages).  I literally hugged this book when I was finished. Written by a duo, this rom com features single mom Jessica who meets hot scientist River Pena, who has just happened to have invented a DNA-match dating service. Jessica’s 7 year old daughter Juno is a precocious, yet not annoying, character and the snappy dialogue in most of the book is from her, as well as Jessica’s BFF, Fizzy, a romance author. I love the depth of all of the characters, and unlike the previously-reviewed novel Lessons in Chemistry, they are all likeable here (if that’s important to you). The writing quality is strong and this novel has the best ending EVER. I’m immediately passing it on to my best friend. 🙂