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Happy New Year! This is the thread for discussions of what you're reading right now. And based on prior years' experience, it will likely include lists of the favorite books read in 2024 for members who like to share them.

I will be closing the November/December thread soon, so please continue any of those discussions here.

Happy New Year! Long time member but rarely post. Currently reading (about to finish) All the Colors of the Dark. It has been a slog and I went in knowing it was an epic (long!) mystery/thriller (not my ususal cup of tea), however I thought tens of thousands positive GR reviews would not lead me astray…and boy, was I wrong! On the upside, my 2025 reading journey can only get better from here. My next read needs (1) to be well-written; (2) a compelling story; (3) contain strong female characters with agency and (4) be enjoyable!

You've got more patience than I have, Wendy. Based on your description, I would have ditched that book long before the end. Hope you find that next life-interrupter soon!

I read The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons.
I delightful book about the unlikely friendship between an 85-year-old woman and a precocious 10-year-old girl.
My review: /review/show...

In Winter I Get Up at Night by Jane Urquhart - 4* - My Review

This is a beautifully written character-driven novel set in 20th century Saskatchewan that explores colonialism, scientific advancements, and prejudices from the perspective of a woman who had been injured in a tornado when she was a child. I love the writing style and will be seeking out more books by Jane Urquhart.

It's great to see reviews here that inspire me to read the novels. Thank you. I'll be posting some reviews here in future.

This Lovely City �� Louise Hare �� 4****
Hare’s debut work captured me from beginning to end. There are several twists in the story as we learn a bit about these young people’s background and history, and watch their relationship mature. London shortly after the war is still experiencing rationing. And while the Jamaicans who have come to London were invited to come (and are British subjects), they are not necessarily welcomed by all the residents. Prejudice and discrimination are the rule rather than the exception, and things get ugly. But these two face the future with hope.
LINK to my full review

Behold the Dreamers �� Imbolo Mbue �� 4****
Mbue explores the “American Dream�� through an immigrant family’s experiences. What a powerful and insightful look at the immigrant experience. Mbue gives us complex characters, fully realized, with all their gifts and faults. At times I sympathized even with the “villains�� of the story. Mbue made me think about the complexity of immigration policy. In the end, though, my money is on the Jonga family. They are more than dreamers. They are winners.
LINK to my full review

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water �� Angie Cruz �� 3.5****
What an interesting way to tell this story! The reader comes to know Cara through her monologues, interspersed with copies of job notices, psychological and interest assessments, and forms she has completed. There are times when I wanted to laugh at her antics and her odd logic. Yet, I could not help but empathize with her and her situation.
LINK to my full review

I read The Gathering by Anne Enright, the winner of the 2007 Man Booker Prize. It is told from the first-person point of view of a woman trying to come to terms with her brother's suicide. The technique is stream of consciousness.
This is the third book I've read by Enright and have enjoyed them all. There is a haunting quality about her writing that I find appealing.

My review: /review/show...

The Measure �� Nikki Erlick �� 5
It begins with a surprise delivery. All over the world, adults receive a box. A seemingly plain wooden box with an inscription: The measure of your life lies within. Will knowing your relative fate help you live your best life? Will it hinder you? This is a remarkable debut work of literary fiction. I don’t remember the last time a work of literature made me think so long and hard about my life, my goals, my experiences, my dreams.
LINK to my full review

The Frozen River �� Ariel Lawhon �� 4****
This novel came to my attention because it was a selection for my F2F book club. It took me a while to really get into the story but once I did, I was completely captured by it.
The murder “mystery�� is less important really than the characters in this book. Martha Ballard is one strong, opinionated, intelligent, empathetic and courageous woman! I loved the way in which she stood up for herself and for others.
LINK to my full review

I'm currently reading Mont-Saint-Michel and Chartres, by Henry Adams. (Rather slow going, but Adams' wit and insight make it worthwhile.) It renewed my interest in the time period (11th and 12th century), so I reached for Sharon Kay Penman's Here Be Dragons. Haven't read it in years, and forgot how easy Penman makes it to become immersed in the world she creates. She weaves quite the literary tapestry!

Catching up on this thread, I just added The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett and In Winter I Get Up at Night to my towering TBR list I've read something by Jane Urquhart before and liked it, plus I tend to like the writing of Canadian authors. Annie Lyons' writing is new to me but the topic is compelling.

I also read and really liked The Gathering but I tend to like everything by Ann Enright.

I was able to get Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidder at the library today, and couldn't resist opening it. I know I am going to deeply appreciate the book and getting to know Dr. Jim O'Connell. But I will tear myself away so that I am reading it a bit closer to our February discussion; I'm looking forward to it!

I read Heat Wave by Penelope Lively. Another great novel by this author. I love the way she writes. She packs a powerful punch but she does it with such subtlety. The narrative unfolds in dual time frames and is about a mother and daughter and their adulterous husbands.
My review: /review/show...

Taste: My Life Through Food �� Stanley Tucci �� 4****
This a delightful memoir of Tucci’s life, told through his relationship with food. At times irreverent, even downright profane, Tucci does not hold back in expressing his love of certain dishes, restaurants and traditions. He writing is warm, inviting, informative, funny, and charming.
LINK to my full review

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women �� Lisa See �� 4****
See based this work of historical fiction on a real woman physician in 15th century China, Tan Yunxian. What a fascinating woman, and a marvelous story! I learned much about the lives of the wealthier, highly educated class in this era of Chinese history, in particular the secluded lives of the women in this class. See gave us glimpses of the world outside the compound’s walls through the experiences of a midwife who lived in the town and was free to travel.
LINK to my full review

I read Betty Boo by Claudia Piñeiro; translated by Miranda France.
It's more than just a crime novel. Fast-paced, entertaining, and with great characterization.
My review: /review/show...

Finished The Mirror & the Light. Feel kind of relieved to be mentally out of those times where people were slightly more savage than today.

World of Wonders �� Aimee Nezhukumatathil �� 5
Subtitle: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments. I loved this collection of essays about the natural world. Nezhukumatathil’s writing transported me to various scenes �� from tropical jungles to Arctic oceans to urban parks and my own backyard. I got this book from the library to read for my book club, but I’m going to buy a copy to keep (and maybe a few more to give as gifts). And I look forward to reading more of her writing.
LINK to my full review

Orbiting Jupiter �� Gary D Schmidt �� 4****
When Jack Hurd is in sixth grade, his parents agree to take in a foster child, Joseph Brook, on their Maine farm. Joseph is in eighth grade, has been in juvenile detention (convicted of attacking a teacher), and has a daughter, Jupiter, out there, somewhere. What a wonderful coming-of-age story this is! Though the circumstances are sad and tug at the heartstrings, there are moments of hope and even joy for Joseph and for Jack, who narrates the story.
LINK to my full review

I had heard so much about it that I finally got to read A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. It was an enjoyable read that reminded me a lot of The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett.
My review: /review/show...

Tamara wrote: "I had heard so much about it that I finally got to read A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman. It was an enjoyable read that reminded me a lot of [book:The Brilliant ..."

I am such a fan of his stories! Initially, I could not get into A Man Called Ove and it was only after reading Anxious People, which is clever, funny and poignant (without being saccharine), together with the urging from a good friend, that I gave it another chance. So worth it! Since you enjoyed this one, I *think* you’d really like Anxious People (if you haven’t already read it ;)

I just finished The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab after it sat on my TBR shelf for a couple of years. While I liked it enough, I don’t think it lived up to the hype. I really
enjoyed parts of the story while other parts made me want to skip ahead. Overall, Addie’s arc is flat especially given the length and richness of her life, which lends her a youthfulness that seems immature and reckless at times. I also wasn’t a big fan of her love interest and while the author conveyed his sadness, he was not a compelling character. (�� �� ��)

I am currently reading Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors for a book club.

Thanks for the tip, Wendy. I've put Anxious People on my TBR.

Thanks from me too, Wendy. I liked A Man Called Ove so this is a good recommendation for me.

Barbara wrote: "Thanks from me too, Wendy. I liked A Man Called Ove so this is a good recommendation for me."

Oh the pressure! 🫣 I do think you’ll enjoy it - yes, it is a bit quirky but Backman writes so well and his characters are SO full. Do share either way!

I can add my recommendation for Anxious People, Barb and Tamara. I have actually read it twice - once on my own then again for a book club at my Wisconsin library - and enjoyed it both times. In addition to the humor and interesting personal stories, it has some great elements of mystery that I didn't figure out until close to the end.

Black Cake �� Charmaine Wilkerson �� 4****
I really liked this debut work. It was engaging and interesting. The dual timeline was done well and helped give a sense of how unsettling and unmoored B & B felt as they struggled to understand the new information their mother’s final instructions forced them to confront. In addition to moving from the past to the present, the action takes us from the Caribbean to the UK to California. And always, the connection is Black Cake.
LINK to my full review

Reading The Language of Bees, a Sherlock Holmes/Mary Russell novel.

Tamara/Wendy/Barbara - have you read Backman's My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry? I absolutely loved it, and its characters and message have stayed with me since I read it years ago. I enjoyed it better than his Beartown series - which I also found time well spent. I will have to check out these other titles you have recommended of his!

Molly, on to my TBR it goes. Thanks!

I've read (and enjoyed) "My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry" too, Molly. I also enjoyed the audiobook of Britt-Marie Was Here. Part of my enjoyment came from the great personification of Britt-Marie by the narrator - it really added to my image of her. I'm sure I would have enjoyed reading a hard copy, but the audio took it up a level in this case.

Molly wrote: "Tamara/Wendy/Barbara - have you read Backman's My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry? I absolutely loved it, and its characters and message have stayed with me since I rea..."

I have not and will add it to my growing TBR…Thank you, Molly and Lynn! I think beyond his writing it is the humanity he brings to his characters that makes them so special.

Just finished Undue Burden: Life and Death Decisions in Post-Roe America, which was excellent. I know there aren’t a lot of nonfiction readers around here, but if you’re one of them, I recommend it. A well researched, well organized, well written piece of very-recent history, focusing on the before-and-after of the Dobbs decision.

I love non-fiction. Thanks for the recommendation.

spoko wrote: "Just finished Undue Burden: Life and Death Decisions in Post-Roe America, which was excellent. I know there aren’t a lot of nonfiction readers around here, but if you’re one of the..."

Adding this one as well. I want to get back to reading more non-fiction and this is a timely and important topic. Thanks for the rec!

I'm about 2/3 of the way through Rough Sleepers for our Reading List discussion later this month. I'm not normally a nonfiction reader, but this one has my attention. I'm fascinated by the stories about the problems faced by the various homeless people and the program staff who provide services to them, especially Dr. Jim, who is at the heart of it all.

Lynn wrote: “I’m about 2/3 of the way through Rough Sleepers for our Reading List discussion later this month. I’m not normally a nonfiction reader, but this one has my attention. I’m fascinated...��

I’m about halfway through, and also finding it pretty engaging. I was a bit suspicious, maybe for a trivial reason: the subtitle (“Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People��) made me afraid it would be a feel-good/proselytizing tract. Glad I pushed past that, though, because it’s actually quite down-to-earth, and I’m enjoying it.

If anyone is in the mood for a 600+ page fantasy/magical realism novel about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, I can recommend The Bright Sword by Lev Grossman. Grossman focuses on the lesser known knights. He delivers a fresh look at a popular myth.
My review: /review/show...

I came across a book named Sarah’s Locket by Randall Gregg, has anyone read this yet?

The struggles and raw emotion this book brings, grabbed me immediately.

Brief summary - a civil war veteran comes home as a broken man, the only thing consistent was a locket he found of a woman named Sarah. Fate finds a way into his life and a turn of events during that time period starts to unravel. Story of unimaginable loss and events that grab you to the core. You may shed a tear or two as the characters portrayed become a part of your soul. Book is worth a read and discussion. Not to mention there is a lot of history lessons with included links that bring awareness of that time period��.things they don’t teach you In school. This is a great read!


Great book for discussion for sure :) 🫶🏻

I read Checkout 19 by Claire-Louise Bennett.
It won't appeal to readers who like structure, plot, and chronology. It is a rambling, recursive, stream-of-consciousness, first-person narrative of a working-class woman who is an avid reader and writer. I found the character fascinating and her interiority captivating.

My review: /review/show...

Rachel wrote: "I came across a book named Sarah’s Locket by Randall Gregg, has anyone read this yet?

The struggles and raw emotion this book brings, grabbed me immediately.

Brief summary - a civil war veteran..."

I just ordered this - right now, this moment, it's free on Kindle.

I am attempting to read "banned books" this year. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison is reviewed here:

/review/show...

Day: A Novel by Michael Cunningham is worth a slow read.
Here is my review:./review/show...

Sounds good, Mary Anne. Just scored a used hardback for $6 and change.

I read The Orphanage by Serhiy Zhadan; translated from the Ukrainian by Reilly Costigan-Humes and Isaac Stackhouse Wheeler.

It takes place over a period of three days during the first phase of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A man has to trek through areas captured by Russian-backed separatists to retrieve his thirteen-year-old nephew from an orphanage. It's not an easy read but an important one, especially in light of the current situation.

My review: /review/show...

I’ve had this on my list of books to read for awhile. I’ll get to it tout suite

Ann wrote: "I’ve had this on my list of books to read for awhile. I’ll get to it tout suite"

It's not exactly fun reading, but it is really well done and captures the current plight of Ukrainians in immersive detail.