Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:

All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny (Length: 443 pages).   If I had to choose only one author to read for the rest of my life (God forbid!), it would be Louise Penny.  I adore all of her work, and her as a person (her Facebook page is a delight).  This novel is #16 in her Three Pines/Inspector Gamache series, and be still my heart, it’s set in Paris!!  Having had the good fortune to visit Paris for 2 weeks over 20 years ago, this novel’s depictions of the beautiful sights in Paris made it seem like I was there yesterday.  The setting is the best part of this novel, as the mystery and the plot aren’t the strongest in Penny’s canon, in my opinion.  There are some technical and continuity issues in this mystery centered around corporate espionage.  (For example, what happened to the second security guard in the apartment in the final standoff??)  There are many plot holes which require the reader to suspend disbelief, and given Penny’s typically intelligent narratives, this is a bit disappointing.  In terms of character development, the reader is finally able to learn why Armand and his son Daniel have been estranged for so long, and quite simply, the reason is LAME.  However, given all of the above, I LOVED the fast pacing of the plot (ridiculous as it is), the incredible setting and the quality of Penny’s writing.  I am still a fan, and will always be a fan of her work.   

Book #2:

Chris Beat Cancer by Chris Wark (Length: 296 pages).  This is a very specific book choice which (hopefully) doesn’t apply to you.  The author is a stage 3 colon cancer survivor of 15 years, who advocates against adjuvant (clean up) chemotherapy to prevent a recurrence of cancer, and instead promotes a diet and lifestyle change. While his tips are obviously specific to cancer prevention, I found this to contain excellent information for anyone who wishes to lead a healthier lifestyle.  Main point:  animal products are one of the biggest drivers of disease in our bodies.  The author does include a ton of scientific studies to back up his main points (which is great on the Kindle because you can just click on the link immediately).  I am not a fan of the more radical alternative therapies as I believe science plays a huge role in medicine, and we can’t discount all that scientists have discovered.  However, given how much we are brainwashed by the meat and dairy industries, I think the author has some excellent points here that would benefit even the average reader who isn’t fighting or seeking to prevent cancer or other diseases.  

Book #3:

Too Late by Colleen Hoover (Length: 395 pages).  Ugh.  Just NO.  This is awful.  This is the third novel by this author that I’ve read, and picked it up because it was recommended as a “read next” choice.  The plot here is trite, centered around a college student who lives with an extremely abusive boyfriend who is also a drug dealer.  Yet she falls in love with an undercover cop who inexplicably falls in love with her as well.  The protagonist is clearly brainwashed, which typically would be understandable given that she’s an abuse victim, however her actions don’t make sense even within this emotional framework.  The abuse scenes (sexual and physical) are very exploitative and don’t advance the plot in a way that the reader can forgive the exploitation.  There’s enough forward momentum that I wanted to keep reading to see how it ends, but I felt gross the whole time.  Only true Colleen Hoover fans will enjoy this book, and after this one, I’m not ever going to be one of them.  

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:    

The Scent Keeper by Erica Bauermeister (Length: 316 pages).   This was my book club’s selection for October, and I really enjoyed (most of) it. I was reminded quite a bit of the book Where the Crawdads Sing in terms of the (island) setting. I thought the author here nailed the trifecta–setting, plot and character development. But here the setting is the most effective, especially for the first 2/3 of the book. My least favorite parts of the book occur on the mainland, or in the “city”. I found the subplot on scents and how they affect us to be fascination. The plot or central mystery is good here, and the character development is excellent (whether or not you love the main characters is another thing). Definitely would recommend this book. 

Book #2:

A Happy Catastrophe by Maddie Dawson (Length: 378 pages).  This is the sequel to the author’s novel Matchmaking for Beginners (which I reviewed in January of this year), and follows up on the characters of Marnie and Patrick. I enjoyed the first novel much more than this continuation, mainly because the middle, or the meat of the novel dragged on for way too long, thanks to Patrick’s depression. As a reader, I was initially sympathetic to his plight, but once the point is made, do we need to belabor it at the expense of the plot? This was not what I was looking for in a novel in this genre. Having said that, I still believe that Matchmaking is one of the best “romance” novels I’ve ever read. Read that one instead.

Book #3:

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (Length: 272 pages).   I have had this book on my TBR list for ages, and when I was loaned a copy of it by a good friend, I was excited to finally read it, given all of its hype (that it’s a very polarizing read). Written by the award-winning author of The Remains of the Day, this is a short novel initially set in an English boarding school. The central mystery is alluded to immediately, but it takes almost the entire novel to be entirely fleshed out. This is very well-written, with a plot that is a tad bit too drawn out. The character development is excellent (but don’t expect likeable people), and the plot will give you a LOT of food for thought. This is a fantastic book club pick because it will generate interesting and very thought-provoking discussions on medical ethics and morals in our society.

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:    

Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center (Length: 358 pages).   This was my second Katherine Center novel, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first. This is an easy, light-hearted, quick read. A romance with a bit more substance, and it focuses on a female firefighter who is a total badass (one-armed pull-ups?!). The central romance is cute, but the dark backstory of the protagonist is a bit too drawn-out. I found this to be a very interesting and enlightening take on sexism in the firefighting world. I would absolutely recommend, perhaps even for a book club that is looking for a romance novel.

Book #2:

At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon (Length: 736 pages!).  I LOVED this book! I’ve owned this first novel in a series (of 14) for ages, but hadn’t been drawn to pick it up until now. This is a charming novel about small town life in the (fictional) town of Mitford, North Carolina. The protagonist is Father Timothy, the 60 year-old rector of the Episcopalian Church, with a fantastically different dog named Barnabas. This is very witty, extremely well-written, uplifting and has lots of depth. There are a lot of Biblical quotes throughout, but I found this novel to be more spiritual rather than religious, and they actually add to the plot. There are several different plot lines that run through the novel, with each chapter building upon the next, yet each chapter seems to have its own mini-plot. This is a fantastic beach or travel read given it’s length (twice as long as my average Kindle read). I found I was always thinking about it even when I wasn’t reading it, which is high praise, indeed.

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:    

Living with a Seal by Jesse Itzler (Length: 262 pages).   This is such a fun book! This is the first-hand account of Itzler’s month being trained by a Navy Seal (David Goggins), who actually moved into the apartment Itzler shares with his wife (the founder of Spanx) and his young son. I was surprised by how well-written and how GOOD it is. It’s laugh-out loud funny in many places. I would definitely recommend reading this after you read Goggins’ “Can’t Hurt me” which I reviewed in August. I was fascinated to read a third person account of Goggins and how his mind works after reading Goggins’ book. While Itzler initially kept the Seal’s identity sealed when this was first published, a subsequent edition revealed that the Seal is actually Goggins. This would make an excellent gift for a fitness buff, or for someone who needs motivation to get into shape.

Book #2:

Beach Read by Emily Henry (Length: 380 pages). This novel was on “must read” book lists everywhere so I finally picked up a copy. First, I have to say that there are a few VERY annoying errors–more than typos (for example, breaks for car brakes) as well as some continuity issues (for example, protagonist is driving the car and then magically is the passenger). I also found the female protagonist to be a bit too whiny/mopey . . . of the does he like me, or does he not variety? This made the narrative too “angsty” for me, but that may be my middle aged outlook. I did enjoy the setting (a lake house, and a small-town, complete with charming bookstore), and I think the writer’s novels will improve as she gains experience. But overall, I think this is a “No Dawg” from me. (Now am I hip?!)

Book #3:

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (Length: 289 pages).   This spiritual novel is another one that is often on lists of “best novel ever written” so I was excited to finally read it. I will say that the unorthodox format (the entire novel is a letter from a father to his son) didn’t bother me like it does to some. The father is an elderly reverend writing to his very young (8 years old) son about the reverend’s entire life, shortly before he dies. I will say this is a novel that is difficult to read quickly because it is very deep, spiritually as well as about life. The writing itself is excellent, with lyrical language and lots of wisdom throughout. There isn’t much plot to speak of, but I’m glad I read this, if only to experience this author’s incredible writing. There are more books based in this town of Gilead, focusing on other characters mentioned here. I’m not sure that I’ll race to read them as I have way too many other books on my TBR list, but someday when I’m in the mood for a more soul-nourishing novel, I’m sure will be reaching for them.

Book #4:

The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi (Length: 303 pages).   This was a novel my book club didn’t pick, but a friend read it anyway and raved about it so I picked it up and I am SO glad I did. I adore this book, and I’m blown away that this is the author’s first published novel! Set in Jaipur, India, this is one of those immersive, beautifully-written novels that immediately sweeps you up into the narrative. (In fact, I picked it up to glance through it, and 50 pages later I looked up.) There is a gorgeous sense of place, a fast-moving plot and wonderful character development–the trifecta! The beautiful details of henna artistry (and the fascinating art of herbal remedies) are an interesting backdrop as well as counterpoint to the more-serious issues of the caste system, the place of women in India and unwanted pregnancies. This is an excellent book club pick, with much to discuss. I can’t wait to read anything else written by this author, and I will be recommending this to people for years.

Book #5:

Eat a Peach by David Change (Length: 294 pages).  I have a “thing” for food-based/chef memoirs, which is interesting because I don’t enjoy cooking in the slightest. This memoir by the chef/owner of Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York City (as well as the creator of a few Netflix food related series) is absolutely fascinating. Chang has recently revealed he suffers from manic depression, and this is a very honest look at his mental health as well as his well-known (in the restaurant industry at least) anger issues. The first half of this book is a chronological memoir of his experiences growing up as a Korean American in Virginia, as well as his restaurant career. The second half are essays on a variety of topics. I found this book to be well-written (thanks to a ghost writer of course), as well as very compelling thanks to Chang’s very interesting personal and professional life thus far. I found it hard to put down, which is always a good thing for me.

Thank you for joining me here!   (Reminder: the page numbers I list here reflect the number of Kindle pages, not paper pages.)  I hope you enjoy this series and I’d love to hear from you about what you are reading these days.

Book #1:    

Untamed by Glennon Doyle (Length: 302 pages).   I really enjoyed this collection of autobiographical essays after all was said and done.  Glennon Doyle is married to the former soccer player Abby Wambaugh, who she started dating after Doyle and her husband divorced.  I feel like I’ve read the essays in the first third of the book somewhere on social media before, so I wasn’t very impressed when I first began reading.  However the second half of the book the content and the quality of the writing began to pick up quite a bit.  Doyle is a very thoughtful and talented writer.  Her political and theological essays are my favorite in this collection.  I do think every reader will learn something from her, for sure.  

 

 

 

Book #2:

Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok (Length: 304 pages).  This is a fascinating (fictionalized) account of the Chinese immigrant experience in New York City, told from the perspective of a young daughter of a widow.  This is very plot-driven as the reader is carried along on the pair’s journey from Hong Kong to New York, and then as the protagonist daughter navigates elementary through high school, all while working for pennies in a garment factory.   The writing is just okay here, in fact I think it’s almost juvenile, but I couldn’t put it down because I “had” to find out what happened to Kimberly Chang.  This might be an interesting book club pick, especially post the American Dirt fad.  

 

 

 

Book #3:

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (Length: 350 pages).   This is my book club’s September pick, and I was immediately intrigued with the premise of the novel.  Black twins separated from one another on the cusp of true adulthood, both with vastly different adult experiences.  The interesting twist here is that due to their skin color, the twins both can “pass” as Caucasian women, and one does.  So the one twin passing as white is literally eavesdropping on the racist attitudes of her community, and even acts racist herself to fit in.  The writing here is excellent, especially the character development of the twins.  Obviously the novel is also very plot-driven because the reader wants to find out if the twins are ever reunited.  This is a fantastic book club pick because it will generate interesting and very thought-provoking discussions on race in America.