Best of 2021

Doing it differently this year with some creative categories, instead of the boring genres - hope you enjoy this LAST blog of Laurie’s Lit Picks. If you want to continue getting my reviews, feel free to follow me on Instagram @bookaddictpnw and/or to message me if you want a curate list of books to read or gift. Thank you all so much for being part of my book odyssey these last nine years!

Grittiest Book of the Year: Razorblade Tears  by S.A. Cosby - a story of a friendship between a Black man and a white man, a story of regret and loss, and a whole lot of criminal activity to keep you turning pages.

Most Enraging Book of the Year: The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear by Kate Moore - a true story of a woman in 19th century America who fought for her freedom, and earned a place in history.

Most Perfect Book: We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker - a family drama, a mystery, a character tour de force, this book was simply the BEST book I read all year.

Most Heart Happy: The Guncle by Steven Rowley - a story of a single gay man (GUP, Gay Uncle Pat), who has his niece and nephew dumped on his doorstep when their dad goes to rehab and their mother has died. It is heartfelt, pee-you-pants funny, and one of my favorite books of the year.

Most Mysterious: When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McClain - a story of a kidnapping and a badass female detective who is authentic and gritty and smart and flawed. 

Most Beautiful Writing: The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles - the story of a road trip, a pair of brothers, and some questionable friends, I savored every word, every sentence, every page.

Most Evocative Family: The Northern Reach by W.S. Winslow - the threads of this family, as told through a collection of stories that take us into the lives of a family in Maine, it is gorgeously written and unforgettable.

Best Mix of Pathos and Humor: Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood - a breathtaking story of a young Pakistan-American man and an Iraqi young girl, this story made me both laugh and cry, and learn so much.

Most Searing Historical Fiction: The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr. - the closest book I have seen to Toni Morrison’s writing, this story of two young slaves who fall in love with each other on an American plantation is brilliant.

Wittiest Satire: It’s a tie between The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris and Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour; both these books put a spotlight on race relations in the American workplace in a creative, painful, humorous, enlightening fashion that is unforgettable.

Tear Worthy Book: Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Kline - a story of what death might actually be like (‘cause really, who knows for sure?!), this book made my heart grow three times its size.

Most Unsettling Book: Bewilderment by Richard Powers - the story of a father and his autistic son, trying to find a new home for both themselves and humanity through scientific experimentation with memory. I still think about this one.

Most Visceral Look at Race in America: Hell of a Book by Jason Mott - a story of a Black author traveling the country to promote his book, it is searing in its insightful ness and profound in what it says about being a Black boy or man in America today.

Most Badass Women: Arctic Fury by Greer McAllister - a story of a 19th century female-only expedition to the Arctic, these women define the word ‘badass.’

Most Necessary Book for Teens to Read: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and Aristotle and Dante Dive Into the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz - best coming of age stories I have ever read.

Favorite Author Who Never Disappoints: Elizabeth Sprout - her latest book, Oh William, the finale of her Amgash series, is just simply breaktaking in its simplicity.

Best Audio Books: American Wolf by Nate Blakeslee, The Brilliantn Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons, Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King, Finley Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano, Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keene, There is Nothing for You Here by Fiona Hill

November 2.0

Having switched my a laptop to an IPad, I still haven’t figured out an easy way to embed pictures so, this blog is image free. Be aware - this blog will be ending in December of this year. It’s had a good run, but the time of blogs seem to have run its course. If you want to see continuing reviews, you can find pictures and book reviews on my Instagram account @bookaddictpnw

The Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki

“Loco, Loony, Mental, Midget, Jap, Retard, Freak…Maybe you’ve seen this kind of cruelty emerging and even helped it along, or maybe you’ve just been complicit and watched as the bigotry spread, or maybe you’ve been targeted, too.” Weird. Unique. Verbose. Heart wrenching. Eerie. Utterly Cool. This book is so hard to explain as Ozeki is such a unique writer; seriously, I’ve never read another author quite like her. She’s too wordy for my taste, and yet I can’t stop reading her. She digs into my brain, sets up house, and won’t leave. If you’ve read her, you know what I mean. And if you haven’t, give her a try if you like weird and cool. Gist of this book: Kenji, a musician,  dies when he passes out in the alley and is run over by a chicken truck. Yes, you read that correctly ( I told you - weird) The entire book is the aftermath of this death for Annabelle, his wife who turns into a hoarder, and his teenage son Benjamin, who hears voices of the objects around him, most particularly the book who is telling his story. It’s not a perfect tale. Admittedly, I skim read some pages with a character who drove me nuts, and yet it was impossible to put this looooong, heavy, utterly fascinating book down. I suspect this is a book readers will either love or hate, not a lot of grey area. But oh my, if you love it, you won’t forget it.

Swimming Back to Trout River by Linda Rui Feng

A long list nominee for the Aspen book award, which focuses on works of fiction with a social impact, this is not a book I would normally have picked up. And as much as I disliked the ending, I was fascinated by the book itself. It begins when the Cultural Revolution is implemented in China in the 1960’s, and focuses on three main characters: Dawn, a free-spirited violinist and composer, Momo, a student of engineering yet fascinated with the world of music, and Cassia, a nurse with a deeply held secret that impacts her future. When Momo and Cassia marry, and their first-born daughter is born without lower legs, they return to the family village of Trout River and leave Junie there to be raised by her grandparents while Momo and Cassia emigrate to America. The author swings back and forth in time, moving amongst the characters, showing the difficulties of both life in China, as an immigrant in America, and how Junie sees the world. The writing is beautiful, the story is unique and multi-faceted, and yet I found myself wanting more. I rarely say “This book needed to be longer,” but in this case, that’s my position. The ending was beyond frustrating, though it will provide a book club with some extremely provocative conversation. (If you want an ending wrapped with a pretty lil bow, this one isn’t it)

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Yes, you have seen this book advertised as a new movie coming out, and yes it is a rom-com, and yes, I normally hate these kind of books. Buuuuut…this one was funny, light-hearted, fiery hot, and highly entertaining. The two main leads both want the promotion at their book publishing house, and they’ve been playing hilarious games of one-up-manship for months so why not continue? The one problem is…they’ve got some hot chemistry. I loved the ambitious female lead, the complex and thoughtful male lead, and the final resolution was beyond satisfying. Looking for some light entertainment? This one will do it!

Thunder Bay (Cork O’Connor, #7) by William Kent Krueger

I am slowly working my way through this series, and I don’t write them all up since it’s not necessary after the first one and yet…this one deserves a review. If you liked This Tender Land by WKK a couple years ago, this seventh book in his mystery series gave me many of the same vibes. This time the mystery is around the elderly Mide (sage, oracle, wise man, and my favorite character in the series) of Cork O’Connor’s Native tribe, the Anishinaabe of Iron Lake, MN. It is Cork’s job to find Henry’s long lost son, and in this quest, we read of Henry’s youth and his lost love of long ago. Of course, there is a mystery and a few murders, but it is the story of Henry, of his time in the government run boarding school, of the prejudice and violence perpetrated against him, that makes this book stand out. Highly recommend (and yes, it can absolutely be read as a stand-alone)

Dial A For Aunties by Jessie Q. Sutanto

Think Weekend at Bernies, but with a gaggle of Asian aunties, one mama, and a twenty-something daughter who has secrets, big ones. I mean, what family members do you have who would hide a dead body for you if you asked them to, right in the middle of the biggest wedding your family business has ever put on? Oh, and at the hotel where your ex-college boyfriend is the owner/manager? Okay, not real plausible, I know, but the audio gave me some seriously big guffaws and chuckles, which was worth all the silliness of the story. 

A Study in Scarlet Women (Lady Sherlock #1) by Sherry Thomas

If you like feminist mystery stories, you’re gonna love this one, because in Thomas’ version of Sherlock Holmes, the famous detective is a woman. Set in Victorian times, Charlotte Holmes struggles with making an independent life for herself; it’s not easy, as neither her parents nor society will allow it. Luckily, she meets an independently wealthy woman who also doesn’t quite fit in the Victorian box of society, and this female Holmes now has her Watson. All she needs is a murder to solve, and then the plot takes off. It is a bit of a slow start, as the scene must be set and the characters introduced, but the second half of the book is a fast-paced, fun little mystery. I can’t wait to pick up book two!

November Reading

 The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

“For only when you have seen that you are truly forsaken will you embrace the fact that what happens next rests in your hands, and your hands alone.” This book is a piece of writing to savor. An odyssey - a story of two brothers who dream of a new life, of a professor who writes of heroes yet never has an adventure, of a boy who can’t fit in anywhere, of a girl whose life is determined by her father and wants something more, of a Black man who goes to war and loses his wife and child, of a boy unloved and unwanted. It tells the tale of how our interactions with others matter, that when our lives collide sometimes explosions occur and sometimes miracles happen. If felt like a throwback tale to me, of nostalgia - of heroes and villains, of adventures and travails, of hopes and dreams and failures. Oh, I adored this odyssey. PS Sally saves this book from being too male-centric. I mean, this quote… “The Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty are big. The Mississippi River and the Grand Canyon are big. The skies over the prairie are big. But there’s nothing bigger than a man’s opinion of himself.”

He Started It by Samantha Downing

This book had all the ingredients to be a potato chip book extraordinaire: Grown up siblings recreating their childhood road trip with Grandpa, in order to earn their inheritance / Snarky mean hilarious  narrator/Seriously dysfunctional family/Lies upon lies upon lies. I turned pages deliciously fast, enjoying every word/line/chip until…I reached the bottom of the bag/end of the book. Then I wanted to SCREAM. Come on - give me some crumbs please. Yep. Total buzzkill yet entertained me for a day!

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Anyone else remember this short-story-turned-into-book-and-movie from decades ago? I remembered It breaking my heart, but not all the topical nuances for today's world. Since Richard Powers used it as a motif threaded through his latest Booker-nominated novel Bewilderment, I knew I was in for a re-read. The premise, if you remember, is that a mentally handicapped young man named Charley agrees to a brain experiment where a surgery will slowly make him brilliant, as in smarter than most normal people. We see the progression of Charley through his journals, where his spelling and grammar are phonetic and his thinking is child-like. As Charley's brain cells increase, so do his negative interactions with society and other humans. It is a tale of disappointment, tragedy, sorrow, and ultimate failure as Charley, and his mouse friend Algernon, slowly devolve back to their original abilities. Profound in its observations of humanity, it is a fantastic companion read with Bewilderment and proves that literature can stand the test of time.

As Good as Dead (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #3) by Holly Jackson

Did you love the first in this series, A Good Girl's Guide to Murder? I sure did. And the second book, Good Girl Bad Blood, was equally as good. Therefore, starting into book three held so many wonderful possibilities. Cue the big saw labeled BUZZKILL. Don't get me wrong - the first half of the book was quite good, tho it did require googling the summary of the last two books as it had been awhile. But solid mystery, looking at how was currently stalking Pip and how can they free an innocent young man imprisoned for being the DT Killer? But that second half??? Where the author takes a smart, tenacious, awesome lead character and turns her into someone I seriously cannot get behind, someone who breaks laws, covers up, frames others, and is all about viglante justice?? Nope. Just nope. I understand Pip had serious PTSD from previous incidences, but to totally flip not only Pip but sidekick Ravi into fundamentally different human beings? I wanted to throw this book across the room after I turned the last page. 

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova

This is just a cool, weird, crazy book. If you like magical realism, this is your jam; if not, I would avoid it. I mean, Grandma Orquidea is a tree as she's dying (she coughs up mud!), and all the grandkids have roses, thorns, etc. growing out of them. Yeah...weird but cool. It tells of a young Orquidea growing up in Equador and her life adventures that brings her to America. For me, it was entertaining and a wonderfully narrated audio, but a bit too much death in odd places and a bit too out there. 

Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Romance...not my normal go-to, but this one was different. Instead of the "weak, stupid woman falling for big strong male" trope that seems to be rather typical in this genre, this book uses two very imperfect leads to make a case for love. Eva and Shane spent a week together in June fifteen years ago; they were drunk, stoned, messed up kids running from the realities of their lives. Yet the memories lingered. Fast forward and they are both successful novelists, yet both deal with so much more than their past. Shane is a recovering addict and Eva has debilitating migraines and an only child to raise. I loved the messiness of their love story, the topical themes this book addressed, and the perfect amount of steam for me. Need a break from sad, cerebral reads - this one will do it:) Extra bonus: it in written by a woman of color and has a diverse cast of characters.

Final October Reading

 Bewilderment by Richard Powers

“𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘔𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘮. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.” This book is unsettling in the best possible way. It left me with more questions, more perplexities, more wonderment than it did answers. Not because of plot holes because for me, it was perfection, but because it examines ideas that have no answers…What does a special child need from a parent, from a school, from society? Can the veil of death be pushed aside? Why do we accept the poisoning of our planet? Where in space does other life exist? Is outrage truly impotent against shamelessness?Can humanity and Earth survive? This one slapped me in the face, then shook me upside down, and still resonates inside my brain - one of the best books of the year for me.

There is Nothing For You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century by Fiona Hill

You might know the author's name from her famously insightful testimony at Trump's first impeachment trial. Yet this book is so much more than a political-junkie book; in fact, very little existed about Trump's impeachment, relying on the fact that most of us already know her role in it. Instead, this is a memoir of a girl raised in the working poor of northern England, faced with social class prejudices and biases that worked against her at every step. It is about the helping hands she had from other humans as well as governments, and how Fiona Hill got to sit in the White House as a top adviser to three presidents. In the end, she gives us a historical perspective on how the democracies in both America and the UK have been crippled through income inequality and lack of opportunity. It is fascinating in every way. I highly recommend the audio because Hill's voice is simply sublime.

The Hidden Palace (The Golem and the Jinni #2) by Helene Wecker

This is a classic example of "Was a sequel needed?' I adored the first book, The Golem and the Jinni; it was highly creative, gorgeously written, and had a gripping plot with an evil villain who had to be vanquished. This time around, it still has the gorgeous writing and the two fantastic lead characters who are so complexly developed and compelling, yet it was missing a plot for me. It hinted at one, but did not really pick up until the final quarter of the book, and even then, meh. I did adore the setting in turn-of-the-century NYC but sadly, I think I could have been satisfied with a one-and-done. Rats.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Fun, silly, implausible, brain candy - and we all need that some time, right?! A college-age witchy couple have a mad summer affair, and when the young man spills that he's actually engaged to someone back in England, the young female witch says bye-bye. She also gets super drunk and hexes him. Fast forward eight years and these two hot witches are together again, trying to get rid of the curse that is causing some interesting issues around town. Like I said, silly but fun!

State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Rodham Clinton

This is the best political thriller I have read in a looooong time - as in, I could not put it down and finished it in just 24 hours. And not just because Louise Penny is one of my favorite mystery writers. And not just because Hillary Rodham Clinton is a human being I admire immensely. It’s just a damn good book! These two writers have created a Secretary of State we all want in our lives - smart, loyal, sassy, tenacious. And her bestie, Betsy, could be my favorite sidekick ever (I mean, this quote “Those who underestimated teachers did so at their peril!”) - their word plays to check their identifies is just sheer genius. In the space of 400 pages, we see how a former incompetent president set the world up for total destruction - yeah, it could happen. And yeah, shades of #45. Admittedly, some of this was too close to home and made the hair on my neck stand to attention. I also chuckled out loud more than once. And the piece de resistance were the cameos by beloved figures from Penny’s fictional village of Three Pines. I anxiously await a sequel. 

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

This is a case where the sequel is even better than the first in the series! Each book revolves around four senior citizens who all live in the same retirement community in the English countryside; each one of them is delightfully wonderful, in their singularly unique way. My personal favorite is Elizabeth, the former MI5 secret agent who is pretty much a badass boss. This time around they've got a former husband, some stolen diamonds, a mugging, and of course a few murders all mixed in together that must not only be solved, but vengeance must be had. I laughed out loud more than once and turned pages voraciously. Can't wait for book three!

October 2.0

 Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout

“But who really knows the experience of another?” As a teacher, I spent decades trying to figure out students - what baggage they carried with them into my classroom, how their past influenced their present, how their prejudices, biases, passion impacted their behavior and interests. Elizabeth Strout has that same curiosity and has spent three books exploring these ideas through the character of Lucy Barton and the peripheral people in her life. In this finale of her Amgash series, we meet Lucy’s husband William in all his complexities and sorrows embedded in his past. We see how this relationship, both when they are married and once they are divorced, affects both their lives. This is not a plot driven book so if you’re looking for a hard driving thriller, this isn’t it. For me, it is a gorgeous study of humanity in all its messiness. It is authentic and real, and it struck me deep into my core. Do you need to read all three books in the series? IMO, yes, you do. Without My Name is Lucy Barton, I would not have understood the depth of poverty from which Lucy rose. Without Anything is Possible, I would not have seen the broad connections in Amgash, of the friends and family that tie Lucy to her past. Both of these books shine the light of brilliance even brighter on Oh William!

Voices From the Pandemic A Year of Crisis and Courage in the Time of Covid-19 by Eli Zaslow

I believe, to the bottom of my heart, that all adults in America should read this book. For the same reasons we visit the Anne Frank house, or the Holocaust museum, or the Vietnam War Memorial - to honor the dead, to honor the suffering, to honor the heroes. This book contains forty interviews from Americans who experienced 2020; it is an amalgam of society, pulling people from every walk of life, to see how they experienced this modern day pandemic. At just 200 pages, I read it in less than 24 hours, my heart and emotions gripped relentlessly. If you thought you knew Covid, think again - I was shocked, enlightened, horrified, saddened, inspired. The whole "It's too soon" just doesn't work - I believe we must listen, learn, and yes, HONOR, what we have all experienced. 

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam

Written in verse, this audio is not to be missed. It is the story of a young black man, falsely accused of assault, found guilty in a juvenile court, and sent to a facility for teenage boys. Amal is an artist so his story is told through poetry, through his painting, through his interactions with his teachers, his friends, his foes. It is the story of so many young Black men, as evidenced by the co-writer, Yusef Salaam, who spent seven years falsely imprisoned as one of the Central Park Five. This book broke my heart, yet also inspired me. It is the perfect companion book to many of the powerful YA books used in classrooms today - do not miss it.

The Corpse Flower by Anne Mette Hancock

Do you like a dark Scandinavian tale? If so, you might want to check this book out but be prepared - it was a bit stomach churning for me. The premise got me from the start: Heloise, a Danish reporter, is contacted by a young woman who was video-taped leaving a murder victim's apartment and yes, she looked a tad guilty (covered in blood, taunting the camera). So what is this murderer's story? Did she do it? If so, why? And what the heck does Heloise and her own past have to do with it? I found this mystery to be well-plotted / a secondary plot of government corruption was extraneous and unnecessary for me. Be aware tho - there is child abuse, child pornography, and other truly vile crimes committed. So yeah, it is DARK.

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

Brain Candy - sometimes we just need to be entertained. I did not need a cerebral read, one that made my brain hurt, just a book to thoroughly enjoy. Lisa Jewell always fits the bill and her latest book was perfection for my mood. She strings together two time lines flawlessly: a cozy mystery writer comes to live at a school with her head-teacher boyfriend and discovers a real-life mystery / a year ago, two teen parents disappear, leaving behind their one year old son and a grieving parent. Tons of different rabbit holes to go down, some twists and turns (not always plausible but I could've cared less), and a thoroughly satisfying finale. Solid thriller that yes, actually thrilled me. 

The Five Wounds by Kirsten Valdez Quade

A pregnant fifteen year old granddaughter, a thirty-something year old alcoholic unemployed son, and a mother dying of brain cancer - this Hispanic family, living in a small New Mexico town, is in crisis. Yet it has been for generations so how does one dig out of a hole when the shit just keeps piling in? This was an engrossing story that really shines a spotlight on at-risk teens, and why they are at-risk. As a former teacher, I found it mesmerizing to be the fly on the wall, watching bad decisions by the characters, and then realizing how judge-y I was being. This book doesn't give you any pat answers, but it sure makes you mull over what is wrong in our country and to wonder how the heck we got here. (I also could not helping thinking what the pandemic did to families already teetering on the edge - catastrophe, is my guess). Provocative story line and compelling characters all wrapped up in beautiful writing - highly recommend. 

My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson

A collection of short stories plus the titular novella, this is one of the best audio books I have listened to in a long while. It begins with a bravura performance by Levar Burton; if I hadn't been in my car, I would have given him a standing ovation. Each story revolves around the idea of belonging and the questions inherent in that idea, particularly in American for people of color. The finale, My Monticello, is just jaw-dropping in its intensity as a small group of people finding refuge from violent white supremacists in Jefferson's famous home. I felt at times like I was listening to Amanda Gorman read me a poetically written tale. What a stunning debut - highly recommend the audio.

October Reading

The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers

“For the original transgression of this land was not slavery. It was greed, and it could not be contained.” Let’s be real - 790 pages is darn intimidating. It might stop some people (honestly, a lot of people) from picking up this book. Don’t let the fear dissuade you - it is worth every single solitary page. This is an EPIC family saga that covers over 400 years of history. It is the history of Georgia, of slavery, of Jim Crow, of connections amongst Black and Native people, of sexual abuse, identify, and passion, of dreams deferred and dreams fought for, of one family whose threads spread through the fabric of one community for generations. It is breathtaking in its scope, gorgeous in its lyrical writing, and truly impossible to put down until that very last page. This book will live in my head and my heart for a very long time.

Aristotle and Dante Dive in the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I fell madly in love with Aristotle and Dante when they explored the universe in their first book. So I was worried…would I love them as much the second time around? Let me put your worries at ease - these two young men, their love and their lives, will once again wrap tightly around your heart.  Ari and Dante have so much life to navigate in this new book: a new sibling, attending different high schools, expanding and understanding their love for each other, incorporating other friends into their circle, experiencing unimaginable grief, and confronting their past. And lest we forget, this all takes place in the 80’s, where hatred and prejudice toward gay people is real and ugly and oh so sad. Be aware - it’s a slow start, wrapped up in stunningly beautiful writing. Yet at the very essence of this tale, it is a love story and the author slowly brings us back into the boys’ lives. But damn, the journey is so worth it. Some laughs, some tears, some anger, some hope, some inspiration - this book has it ALL! Please put this book into every kid’s hands who struggles with who they are, or who has been bullied or made to feel less than, who has struggled with connections or depression, or a person who has been indoctrinated into a life filled with hatred of the ‘other.’ Let Ari and Dante show everyone their hearts and their journey through rough waters - it will forever change each reader in profound and beautiful ways.

The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I mean what’s not to love about this extraordinary sequel to 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴…It’s got family secrets that involve billions of dollars, some death threats, and hormonal teenagers that will sneak into your heart, plus a wonderfully sassy voice that made me smile as I turned pages. And I literally couldn’t eat (I mean read) this bag of chips (I mean book) fast enough!!!!! Deeeee-licious! Need a big kick in the hiney out of your reading slump??!! This series will do it, trust me!

Fifty-Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

Eddie Flynn, the smartass conman-turned-lawyer, is baaaaack in book number 5. This time around he's defending a young woman accused of viciously killing her father (be prepared - the perpetrator likes her knives). The twist? Another newly independent lawyer with her own intriguing back story, is defending the other sister. Yep, they've pointed the finger at each other and let the chips fall where they may. Looking for some brain candy? This book will keep you turning pages - extremely entertaining.

A Spindle Splintered by Alix Harrow

Who doesn't love a re-telling of a fairy tale, but with a feminist twist, some dark humor, and a super-sassy voice?! Bonus - it is told by one of my favorite new fantasy writers who knows how to write strong, smart, independent female characters. I might have squealed in delight when I received this book from the publisher and it did NOT disappoint. Harrow takes the tale of Sleeping Beauty (and it is a seriously messed up, super misogynistic tale that kinda gave me the creeps anyways) and spins it on its head. Zinnia, a young woman who is not supposed to reach her 21st birthday due to an undisclosed disease, is taken through a portal to a fantasy world where Sleeping Beauty is trying to avoid a few things - her unwanted fiance, that stinking spindle, and pretty much the entire life laid out for her by her parents. This story is creative and funny and enraging and completely amazing. Highly recommend:)

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

My brain hurts. So do my ears, after listening to the audio (excellent narrator for 90% of book, narrator for the myth was…discordant). Five narrators tell the tale of a lost Greek myth and how this myth connects them all, attempting to illuminate the place storytelling has in our history and our current world. My hat is off to Doerr for his creativity and his beautiful writing. Yet if you asked if me I enjoyed this book, the answer would be a soft “No.” Not resounding, just No. It felt overly verbose to me, redundant at times (did it really need FIVE narrators?), and it skips around so much which is what hurt my brain. Each time I became invested in a particular story line - boom, it shifted. And then I had to listen to the harsh voice of the myth-teller. Ugh. I am sure Doerr had a wonderful time writing this - it is very cool. Just not my cup of tea. (And Yes, I read All the Light You Cannot See and loved it - this is very very different)

Women of Troy by Pat Barker

Cassandra: “I’ve learnt not to be too attached to my own prophecies. They’ve only ever been believed when I could get a man to deliver them.” …said every woman EVER. I do love these reimaginings of Greek mythology. You know, the ones where women are given a voice, a role, some authority, some gumption, some “F-U isms” to the so- called Greek heroes. You know, the muscly guys who, in the original tellings, “save” everyone by being cruel,selfish, arrogant jerks?! Geez, I wish I’d had all these books when I was busily teaching the Odyssey every year to high schoolers - I definitely would have done things VERY differently! So, read this book if you loved Silence of the Women (I did!), if you’re super into Greek mythology, if you kinda like to see the men taken down a few pegs in realistic fashion. It is legit Greek mythology tho so skip it if you’re not a bit of a nerd as I am about that stuff. 

The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne

Anyone else like to read the book before the movie comes out?! And YES, this thriller is filming now in Canada with Daisy Ridley (aka Ren of Stars Wars fame) as the lead! This book was a huge hit a few years ago and I see why - I turned pages ferociously fast. It’s a mix of Room, Dear Child, My Absolute Darling, and true-life stories of kidnap victims held for years. In this case, it is the story of Helena, born of rape, kept in captivity with her kidnapped mother for a dozen years, and now married with children of her own. When her father escapes from prison, it’s time for Helena to go on her own hunt, this time for dear ole dad. Fair warning, this story is dark, with so many conflicting emotions around this father/daughter ‘relationship.’ I can understand with Daisy Ridley jumped on this role - Helena is a badass and owns every part of this tale. I can’t wait to see it on the big screen!

September 2.0

 Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

For everyone who wonders about the Great Unknown, who questions, who fears, who grieves, whose heart needs healing after a terrible year of loss for so many people around the world, this book is just the salve the doctor ordered. I’ve already preordered my hard copy for the Sept. 21 pub date. In Klune's latest book following up his huge hit 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘢, his main character Wallace 'wakes' to find himself...dead. And let's be real, Wallace was an ass - a hateful, selfish, greedy ass in his former living self. The characters we meet help Wallace onto his next journey, and I suspect you’ll fall as madly in love with Nelson, Hugo, and Mei as I did. (And the dog, Apollo, broke me in beautiful wonderful ways.) I haven't wept over the final pages of a book like this since Dumbledore died (HP) and the Thirteen crashed into the mountain (ToG). I mean, seriously. My heart grew three sizes in the 24 hours it took to read this book and I want to buy a copy to shove in everyone's hands. I loved this book a ridiculous amount. "𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦." "𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥?" "𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵'𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦."

The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons

Don’t compare this one to Ove - seriously. Eudora deserves her own credit, not to be shared with anyone, trust me. This book brought me SNAP out of my reading slump! It is the story of an 85 year old woman who is tired of life, who wants to go out on her own terms, so she contacts a Swiss company about assisted suicide. Thus begins the story of Eudora Honeysett, a woman who never married or had children, who lived through the Blitz, who had complicated relationships with family members, who is unfailingly polite, kind, intelligent, and thoughtful. I fell madly in love with Eudora and I think you will as well! Highly recommend the audio as the British accent is perfection and the voices for the delightful characters are just that…Dee-Lightful.

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead

Honest review ahead, as always…I hoped this one would save my September but alas, it joined the other disappointing reads of the month. The one victory for me was that I did not DNF it, as much as I wanted to. Yes, the writing is beautiful but…there was too much of it for me. Long paragraphs of verbose description comprised the majority of the story. The characters were plentiful…as in, I needed a cast list to keep track of everyone. And with all the descriptive writing, I could never really find the depth of each man in order to care about them. And yes, they were all men. The few women in the story were mostly bystanders, never fully fleshed out. Admittedly, I love strong female leads (ie Toni Morrison, Brit Bennett, Alice Walker, etc) so this book with its male-centric focus was less enjoyable for me. The neighborhood of Harlem is truly the main character and Whitehead fully develops Harlem so that we hear the pulse, we see the heart, we sense the anger and frustration from the long arms of historic racism; that is the genius of his writing.

The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny

“It’s about what happens when gullibility and fear meet greed and power…People will believe anything. Doesn’t make them stupid, just desperate.” I was so excited to pick up the latest LP book after reading all 16 books in the series since January 2020 - I was sure it would lift me out of my reading slump. It was…fine. Things I Loved: The characters - it was like being back with family. The themes of compassion, strength, love - LP is always powerful weaving those into a mystery and she uses those well in the trauma of the pandemic. Things I Did Not Love: use of pandemic being magically over due to vaccines (cause that didn’t  happen thanks to anti-vaxxers) - just seemed off to me (I also suspect she thought it WOULD be over when book went to print!) Also, mystery was intriguing but honestly, took too long for the big reveal - got a bit repetitious for the first time for me. Was it worth it? Hell yeah - I mean, I adore Armand and his gang. And maybe I’m being too picky? Or maybe much of it was too close to home? Ultimately, this one was good, but not great for me. 

No One Will Miss Her by Kat Rosenfield

A dead body, the town pariah, a nasty privileged woman, a nosy policeman…a good mix of characters to pull me into this thriller. Let’s be honest - most thrillers these days I find fairly unthrilling, but this one had me from page one. First - the victim is quite compelling. Raised in the town junkyard by a single, alcoholic father, bullied by other children, vilified by the townspeople as she grew up, Lizzie is a complicated woman. And the rich woman, Adrienne, who rents Lizzie’s lake house? Wow. Just wow. She is the poster child for White-Rich-Privileged-Entitled. After her husband bilks millions from innocent investors, the couple is cut off from society but heck, who cares as long as they still have their own money?! This book has some jaw dropping twists, some implausibilities that I could easily ignore in the name of entertainment, and some compelling characters. 

Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter

Yikes…I can do dark but this book takes the concept of “dark” to a new galaxy, at least for me. I really liked the concept: missing sister from twenty years ago, while story follows the two other sisters and the fall out in their lives. It IS a page turner with crazy plot twists buuuuut the violence and sexual deviancy was just too much for me. Literally gave me nightmares. Yes, I finished it but felt like I needed a really long excruciatingly hot shower to cleanse my soul. 

All Your Twisted Secrets by Diana Urban

You know those books that have a really cool sounding plot, but don’t have the most stellar reviews? And then you pick it up thinking “Nah, I’m sure some readers are just too picky!” Well… I’m hear to say you all were right about this one. Good grief, what a waste of time. And I love YA - mysteries, romance, fantasy. A good YA gives kids hope as well as solid entertainment. In the case of this book, it gives teens sexist stereotypes (“Boys, you save the girls - they’re too weak and stupid to do anything!”), implausible plot twists (everyone’s gonna believe the “pick someone to die or you all die” scholarship dinner?), and poorly handles online bullying and suicide (I found it lacking in authentic information and solutions). So yeah, in this case, the reviews were accurate. 

The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe

This book had me at “Titanic;” Yes, I loved the movie years ago and I do love a good historical fiction book. If you like romance, a story people with Uber rich, Uber privileged Gilded Era characters, and some small bits of history thrown in, this book may satisfy you. For me, I wanted more…more details on the wild crush of press surrounding the second Mrs. Astor, more on who this woman was, more on the Astors themselves, and definitely more on the Titanic itself (that was just the final 40% of the book)Lots of description of parties, of clothing, of fancy food - I think my taste just ruins to more character depth and history. But it was a nice palate cleanser after a dark and gritty thriller:)

September

 Beautiful World, Where Are You? by Sally Rooney

I fell in love with Rooney when I read Normal People; she has a gift for making ordinary young lives compelling, frustrating, passionate, sorrowful, aggravating, and thoroughly authentic. She does the same for me in her latest book, which focuses on two college friends, stepping into a world not of their making, trying to muddle their way through it. As a young millennial in my life once told me, "Your generation pretty much F-ed up the world and left it for my generation to clean up - you broke the economy, you denied us healthcare, you overcharged us for college, and you destroyed the environment." It's tough to argue with that. And Rooney takes that all on in the lives of Eileen and Alice, in their work lives, their love lives, and their correspondence with one another. At times, I was annoyed with the stream of consciousness emails, yet as I finished the book, I realized it was their way to process out how to find their way to beauty in the world in which they lived, to clean up the muck they, and we,  had created. Sometimes these two women are whiny, needy, all together irritating; occasionally I wanted heroics from them. But is that real? Probably not. And in the end, this book is thoroughly genuine, down into its bones, at least it was for me. The audio is solid gold, with a lovely Irish lilt telling the story - highly recommend.

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

A new book from the author of Girl on a Train (yes, that's the only one of her's I have read and yes, I did love it), this one left me...meh. It starts with a murder, of course. A young man is found in a narrowboat in a town in England and three women connected to him tell the tale. First, there is Laura, the young woman who slept with him the night before his death; disabled from a childhood accident, Laura has so many issues and such a complex history that it was hard to keep straight. Next is Miriam, the neighbor who finds him, who has some secrets and history of her own to deal with. And then there's Carla, his aunt, with an author for an ex-husband and a dead child. While I loved the British accent and the narration by Rosamund Pike, the voices got confusing as it was just Pike's voice so if I wasn't paying close attention, I lost the plot line. Perhaps I would have enjoyed this more in physical form? Yet at times the plot line just felt very jumbled. So ultimately, I felt like this thriller was less than thrilling.

Rock, Paper, Scissors by Alice Feeney

The first two Feeney books I read were a Hit (Sometimes I Lie) and a Miss (His & Hers), so I skipped her third book. Yet her fourth book has pulled me back a bit into the Feeney fan club. Her latest is a twisty tale of a married couple, with each spouse getting to tell his/her side of the life of their marriage. Adam is a writer, dreaming of his own screen play Rock, Paper, Scissors getting produced while adapting other writer's books into huge hits. Amelia works at an animal shelter, has few friends, and comes across a bit whiny and needy. Both are completely unreliable. Or are they? Feeney has some great twists and turns in this one, leaving my jar hanging down a few times, and other times wondering about plausibility and coincidence? But I was thoroughly entertained thus making this thriller a "Win" for me.

56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard

Hype is REAL…Intriguing to read pandemic-setting stories lately - I wonder how many of those we will get???? But this one, involving two people who decide to spend lockdown together, definitely delivered. Throw in a a dead body and a ton of secrets in their pasts, some plausible twists, some well planned rabbit holes, and solid writing, and I suspect it will keep you up as late at night as it did me. For once, a thriller that thrilled me.

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason

This is such a unique, intriguing, creative book, with a compelling main character named Martha. Martha is...different. Some people label her weird, or crazy, or quirky, or bitchy, or all the other negative terminology one can come up with when a person doesn't fit into the prescribed set of behaviors. And when we first meet her, she's laugh out loud funny, also cringe-worthy, also maybe a bit mean. But Martha's life has gone sidways ever since her teen years when she was struck with debilitating mental illness. The author never names it; instead, Mason gives us details of how her illness manifests, never allowing us to label Martha as everyone else in her life has. We see Martha's past and all her struggles, as well as her 'now', as her marriage falls apart. As much as I enjoyed this character study and unique plot line, it was a sad read for me, filled with small bits of humor and tiny victories.

For Your Own Good by Samantha Downing

This is the most despicable, detestable, abhorrent,  yet like able, cast of characters - I know, bit of a conundrum. Yet I could not put this book down. It combined all my favorites - a school setting, an English Lit teacher, murder, and mayhem. What more could one ask for?! At times, it all hit too close to home. I mean, what teacher hasn’t had issues with entitled parents who think Johnny is the best thing since sliced bread? Or the spoiled student who seems ‘above’ doing the homework in your class as it’s beneath them. Or the headmaster who doesn’t give two shits about his staff members but sure knows how to schmooze the important people with far wallets. Yet…we don’t murder them, right? Well, in this book, all bets are off. It’s fabulous - pick it up and I dare you to be able to put it down!

The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris

Another depressing, yet beautifully written, Oprah book choice. Does she ever pick a book that isn't riddled with pain, death, life-challenging struggles? Don't get me wrong - I enjoy juicy books of characters arm-wrestling life, but I was just not in the right head space for this one. Set in 1865, right as the Civil War is ending and slaves are finding their freedom, Harris writes a gorgeous tale of white couple who takes in two brothers and pays them to work. What a concept back then, thus serious backlash ensues. The writing is gorgeous, yet not my particularly favorite style (verbose, descriptive, long paragraphs), and the characters are fully fleshed out and incredibly compelling. I suspect I would have liked it more if I was able to give it more attention.