75 Books...More or Less! discussion
Archive (2017 GR Challenge)
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Jan's 2017 Challenge
24. Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens3 stars
Three main characters: Lindsay, her ex-husband, Andrew, who was just released from prison, and their teen daughter Sophie. Lindsay is now being stalked and feels her life is in danger. She suspects her ex but there were so many red herrings I suspected just about everyone at one time or another, including Lindsay herself.
This was highly readable although there were a few plot holes I didn't buy. The 3 stars are because I detest teen culture and drama, and this book had both. It's a hot button issue for me and if I had known that before starting the book I wouldn't have read it.
25. My Not So Perfect Life by Sophie Kinsella4 stars
This was my first Sophie Kinsella and I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook and the fabulous narrator who enhanced the experience.
Katie's life as a young career woman living the good life in London is a far cry from reality. When things implode and she loses her job she goes back home to the countryside to help her dad and stepmother with their new business venture, "glamping". Shortly thereafter, the boss from hell (who fired her) arrives with her "perfect" family for a getaway and doesn't even recognize Katie. It's the perfect opportunity to exact a little good-natured revenge.
But no one's life is as it seems, especially as depicted on social media. Everyone's life can be perfect on Instagram - and its as easy to judge people negatively as it is to assume their life is as perfect as their posts, without really knowing anything about them. I thoroughly enjoyed taking this road to self-discovery wth Katie and finished the book with a smile on my face.
I especially appreciated the fact that this wasn't a "typical" chick-lit book. A fun book with a good message.
Mod
4 stars
This was my first Sophie Kinsella and I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook and the fabulous narrator who enhanced the experience.
Katie's life..."
I have this from NetGalley. Haven't read any Kinsella yet and just recently found out 'Sophie Kinsella' is a pseudonym!
Elyse, no I didn't know it was a pseudonym. I'll have to look it up. I hope you enjoy the book!
26. Beartown by Fredrik Backman3 stars
I recommend this one only to fans of sports and teen drama. Not a favorite of mine only because I detest those subjects
27. The Language of Dying by Sarah Pinborough4 stars
t was 5 stars until the magical realism ending that I still don't get. Otherwise it's a realistic telling of the death watch when a parent is in his last days and the family dysfunction that often accompanies it.
28. Letters to a Young Writer: Some Practical and Philosophical Advice by Colum McCann5 stars
Beautifully written (I love this author) with practical advice not just to writers but wisdom that can be applies to life. I read this as an avid reader, one who loves the written word, and it offered me a peek into the world of writing. It's often hard for me to articulate why some books speak to me and others don't...that indefinable (to me) quality...and this book helped me to see just what those qualities are.
29. Anything is Possible by Elizabeth Strout5+ stars!
In this book of short stories, Strout delves into the lives of the people from Amgash, IL. We first met them through the stories Lucy's mother told as she sat at Lucy's bedside in My Name Is Lucy Barton.
Strout examines these character's rich inner lives...the emotions, sadness, and pain underlying the face they present to the world. Can anyone really truly know another person? In this book we are given a peek into what make them who they are. The traumas in their past follows them into adulthood, and there are stories that will break your heart.
If this sounds unrelentingly depressing, know that amid the sadness there are moments of hope, grace, kindness, compassion, and human connection. Anything is possible.
I love that Strout assumes her readers are intelligent enough to draw conclusions, fill in the blanks, and find meaning in what she doesn't say, as well in what she does say.
It's difficult not to race through this book but I suggest slowing down if you can and savoring each thought-provoking story. It's not necessary to read My Name is Lucy Barton before this one, but you will surely want to read it afterward.
30. Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica3.5 stars
Clara has just given birth to her second child when her husband Nick dies in an accident. (This is not a spoiler, it's how the book opens.) Their daughter Maisie has nightmares and terrors that leads Clara to suspect Nick's death was not an accident.
Told in alternating chapters with the POV of both Clara and Nick (before the accident) the pieces of the puzzle that led up to the accident are revealed. Clara's suspicions leads her to conduct an investigation of sorts, all while she's navigating new parenthood, financial problems, grief, and her mother's worsening dementia.
Clara is overwhelmed with grief and obsessed with finding the truth, and finds plausible reasons and evidence for a number of different scenarios. There's a feverish quality to her narrative and I felt her pain, confusion, and grief. Painful secrets her husband kept from her are uncovered and she begins to suspect different people with each revelation. The characters, including Nick, aren't always the most likable people.
I found this a credible narrative of grief, as well as those crazed sleepless first days/weeks with a newborn and the exhaustion that comes with it. The suspense was more of a slow burn since Nick was already dead, but along with Clara I wasn't sure who or what was responsible for the accident and was invested in discovering the truth. This wasn't my favorite but it was a solid read for fans of the author.
31. The Refugees by Viet Thanh Nguyen2stars
I picked up this collection of short stories based on some stellar reviews of a few GR friends. Unfortunately, I only liked one of the stories, the first one. The others left no impression on me other than boredom. Meh. Luckily it's a small book and 200 short pages.
32. If You Only Knew by Kristin Higgins4 stars
It’s a novel about relationships: husband/wife, sisters, mother/daughter, all delivered with a lot of heart and wit. I liked that the ending was heartwarming without being predictable. There were alternating POV between two sisters and though they are very different, I enjoyed both sister’s perspectives.
The audiobook was very good with excellent narrators. A good choice for when you want to be entertained with well-written lighter fiction.
33. Cork Dork: A Wine-Fueled Adventure Among the Obsessive Sommeliers, Big Bottle Hunters, and Rogue Scientists Who Taught Me to Live for Taste by Bianca Bosker
I won this book on a blog giveaway and thoroughly enjoyed it. The author documents the 1 1/2 years she spent studying and learning to become a sommelier. She tells of the experiences she had honing her tasting skills while also dishing out some juicy bits about swanky NYC restaurants and the service industry. She also uncovers, often humorously, secrets to the elusive descriptions of the flavors in wine.
34. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
4 stars
I was completely captivated by Li-yan and her story. I also learned a lot about the strict, often brutal, customs and traditions of the Akha tribe from rural China, whose primary occupation is the growing and harvesting of ancient tea leaves. Telling the story through Li-yan’s eyes was brilliant and made the story come alive. I really loved the theme of the strong mother-daughter bond.
We follow Li-yan for several decades as she grows up and eventually leaves her village for the modern world. She has a hard life and must deal with a lot. But she’s tough and resilient and bears her burdens with grace.
We also follow a Chinese baby girl who was abandoned at birth. She is adopted by an American couple from California, and is now named Haley. She, along with other Chinese girls adopted by parents of a different ethnicity, struggles with identity and discrimination. The only link she has to her past is a tea cake that was found in her swaddling clothes when she was dropped off at the orphanage.
How these two lives are connected make up the basic theme of the book.
Unfortunately in the midst of these stories of Li-yan and Haley, the author felt compelled to include all of her exhaustive research on tea, which felt like an info dump in the middle of the book, but these parts can be easily skimmed of there's little interest. The human stories more than made up for the weak parts.
35. All Things Cease to Appear by Elizabeth Brundage
4 stars
This atmospheric well-written book opens with a horrific murder and alternates the past and present detailing the family who lived there, and the events leading up to the murder, as well as a family who lived in the same house some years earlier until the parents of 3 boys committed a double suicide.
Some patience is required in the first half of the book as it can appear to be slow-moving, but the payoff is worth it in the last half.
36. Ghachar Ghochar by Vivek Shanbhag
I finished this novella 10 days ago and looking back, I'm conflicted. I'm not sure what the take away message was supposed to be. The love of money is the root of all evil? Nothing new about that. I was also disturbed by how women were depicted. Perhaps that's just the way it is but I would have hoped to read solemn commentary about it. It was actually offensive at times.
Well-written with a surprise ending but ultimately forgettable.
37. Fractured by Catherine McKenzie4 stars
An author and her husband move across the country to evade a stalker who has been making their lives miserable ever since the publication of the author's book, The Murder Game.
The reader knows from the start that a devastating event occurs although we don’t know who, what, or how. From there the story is told in alternating chapters by Julie and John, switching from one year in the past to the present. The story unfolds with subtle hints and twists and turns leading up to the mysterious incident, keeping the reader guessing until all is revealed in the last few chapters.
I found this a fun, addictive read full of unlikable characters. I wasn't sure who to trust or believe, which always makes for a page-turning read. The multiple narrators of the audio version added to my enjoyment.
38. The Breakdown by B.A. Paris4 stars
I could not put this suspenseful addictive read down! I liked it far better than her first book. I thought I had it all figured out, and pretty quickly. But kudos to the author for surprising me with a twist!
Cass driving home one night sees a car stranded on the side of the road with a woman at the wheel. She pulls over but doesn't get out. When Cass doesn't get any signal of distresses she leaves and goes home, only to find out in the morning the woman was found murdered in her car. Cass is understandable riddled with guilt for not offering help or calling police to report the incident.
Soon, Cass begins to receive nearly daily phone calls with no one speaking on the other end. She becomes convinced it's the murderer who thinks she is a witness, and she will be his next victim. When she begins to find indications that someone has been in her house when she’s not home she starts to unravel.
In a twist on the title, in addition to her paranoia and anxiety, she also begins to exhibit signs of a mental breakdown –or perhaps, like her mother, early onset dementia. Is she going crazy or is something else afoot?
A fun summer read!
39. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch4 stars
Sci-fi isn't my genre of choice but the science in this one isn't overly complicated and it reads more like a fast-paced thriller. I knew nothing about the plot when I went into it so it was fun for me to discover what was happening right along with the character.
The audiobook's narrator was excellent!
Mod
4 stars
Sci-fi isn't my genre of choice but the science in this one isn't overly complicated and it reads more like a fast-paced thriller. I knew nothing about the ..."
It was so intriguing!!
Elyse wrote: "JanB wrote: "39. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch4 stars
Sci-fi isn't my genre of choice but the science in this one isn't overly complicated and it reads more like a fast-paced thriller. I knew nothi..."
Elyse, yes, such a fun read!
40. The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz3.5 stars
This one didn't earn 4 stars because the story was bogged down by wordy descriptive writing. It wasn't until I reached 65% that the non-stop action started.
This is the start of a new series by Dean Koontz, featuring Jane Hawk, a badass woman with a heart who is on a mission to discover why there's been an increase in unexpected suicides, including her husband's. She soon becomes the hunted by the people who are behind it all. She goes underground, living life off the grid, barely staying one step ahead of the bad guys.
Hopefully book 2 will have more action, less description.
** I received my e-copy from Netgalley
41. I Liked My Life by Abby Fabiaschi4 stars
Kudos to the author, a human rights advocate, who gives 20% of her profits to charities uplifting women and children around the world.
Even better I found the book entertaining with an unexpected surprise ending.
42. On Second Thought by Kristan Higgins3.5 stars
I didn't like this as much as the one other book I've read by this author (If You Only Knew), but still it was a nice change of pace and made for an easy summer listen.
43. Five Days at Memorial: Life and Death in a Storm-Ravaged Hospital by Shari Fink4 stars
This was a fascinating look into a horrible situation where a doctor and 2 nurses were accused of euthanizing patients post-Katrina. The author was, in my view, biased, and so I included links to rebuttals in my review:
http://www.drannapou.com
http://www.memorialhospitaltruth.com
Still, the book is worthwhile reading that brings up important questions and dilemmas in disaster preparedness. After seeing what happened in one hospital, it's frightening to think about what would happen during a national disaster.
44. The Summer House by Hannah McKinnon4 stars
This book has everything I love in a summer "beach" read: a fantastic location, relatable characters, and enough drama to keep things interesting. I loved the descriptions of the beach, the house, the meals, and the long lazy days at the beach house. The few serious topics are dealt with a light hand so the summery vibe wasn’t lost.
45. Before The Wind by Jim Lynch3 stars
An ok read about a dysfunctional family and their obsession with sailing. Unfortunately the boating/sailing references dominated the book, and I have little interest in either.
46. Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny5 stars!
A laugh-out-loud funny read, that is also heartwarming and quirky. Told completely from the POV of Graham, a fifty-something introvert married to his outgoing, bubbly wife who is missing a filter when she talks. They have a 10 year old son who has Asperger's. Graham's observations about people and life are spot-on and hilarious.
It's not only funny but quirky and heartwarming. I adored everything about this family.
I highly, highly recommend!
47. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
4.5 stars
Excellent book about a social misfit with a past that left her damaged, who finds hope and change through a special friendship. Funny, sad, but ultimately uplifting. Amazing for a debut author.
48. Born A Crime by Trevor Noah5 stars
I was both entertained and educated. It doesn't get better than that. Highly recommended, especially the audiobook - to hear Noah tell the story of his childhood in his own words, with comedic timing and the inflections and accents used for different people, is priceless.
He was literally "born a crime", by being the son of a black woman and a white man. His tales of growing up under apartheid, in extreme poverty, and his difficulty fitting in even after it ended are tragic yet Trevor's roots in comedy save them from being depressing. Highly recommended!
Mod
5 stars
I was both entertained and educated. It doesn't get better than that. Highly recommended, especially the audiobook - to hear Noah tell the story of his chil..."
I have this audiobook and need to get to it soon! So many rave reviews!
Elyse, the great reviews are well deserved! And audio is definitely the way to go with this book. It adds so much
49. Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett4 stars
I fell in love with the narrator, 10 year old Elvis, and her weird and quirky family. The mother accidentally drowned while sleepwalking and the family must try to find their new normal. The humor and quirkiness saves it from being a depressing read.
50. The Rules Do Not Apply by Ariel Levy2 stars
2 stars sounds harsh for a memoir but I couldn't get beyond the fact that she's a privileged white girl who, until she was in her 30's and suffered a miscarriage, didn't quite get that bad stuff can happen to you. The rule that didn't apply was the rule that she was wrote the rules. She blames feminism but most of us learn that lesson in childhood.
51. White Fur by Jardine Libaire1.5 stars
Flowery prose, nonsensical metaphors, and a stupid "love affair", between a wealthy Yale educated young man and a girl from the other side of the tracks.
Their relationship wasn't developed beyond the bedroom and I'm no prude, but most of it was raw and gritty, making me feel like I needed a shower afterwards. There was no sweetness, no romance, no growth.
The ending was strange and made no sense. I kept reading because it was a Book of the Month selection so I kept waiting for the story to redeem itself, but it didn't.
52. Two Nights by Kathy Reichs (Netgalley)3 stars
This is the start of a new series by Ms Reichs, featuring Sunday Night (yes, that's really her name 🙄). She's a kick-ass heroine with skills, but the story failed to hold my interest and - no spoilers - but I didn't like where she took the convoluted story regarding motive. I won't be reading the next installment.
53. Good-Bye Vitamin by Rachel Khong (Netgalley)4 stars
A sweet, sad, yet funny book, told in journal format by Ruth, who, after suffering a break-up with her long time boyfriend, moves back home to help her mother take care of her dad, who is suffering from Alzheimer's.
There's enough comic relief to keep the book from becoming sad or maudlin. I really liked Ruth and her family and as I turned the last page I wasn't ready to say good-bye to these characters.
54. The Best of Us by Joyce Maynard (Netgalley)5 stars!
Memoir. Part love story, part navigating terminal illness, this sounds terribly depressing. Yet, it's also a book about living life with abandon and joy. While it's unbearably sad that Joyce lost her soul-mate, this portrait of the marriage between two imperfect people is well worth your time - highly recommended.
55. Crossing To Safety by Wallace StegnerIt's Stegner so you know its well-written but I'll delay rating it until after my book club discussion.
55. Crossing To Safety by Wallace Stegner (audio)It's Stegner so you know its well-written but I'll delay rating it until after my book club discussion.
56. American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land by Monica Hesse
4.5 stars
Non-Fiction - over 80 fires were set by arsonists over a 5 month period. This is a mixture of true crime/courtroom drama, an unlikely love affair, and a Virginia county struggling through economic decline.
Well-written and compelling
57. The Child by Fiona Barton4 stars
The book is told from four POV and I had a little trouble keeping all the characters straight in the beginning, but the twists and turns kept things interesting and I ended up enjoying it quite a bit.
58. The Ballroom by Anna Hope4 stars, maybe even a 4.5
A wonderful and emotional read about life in a hospital for the mentally ill in 1911. Told from the POV of 2 patients and a doctor at the facility. The title refers to the ballroom where weekly dances were held for the patients, the one bright spot in their week.
Eugenics and the treatment and stigma of mental illness in 1911 is the main focus of the novel but there's also a sweet love story.
Well-written and deeply atmospheric, the setting and the characters will stay with me a long time.
JanB wrote: "3. Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson4 stars
A really lovely short book with a poetic, non-linear narrative of an adult woman who returns to NYC to bury her father, causing memories of her ch..."
I LOVED this book; I read it in one sitting. Such a beautiful book and so lyrical. One of my best reads this year.
JanB wrote: "6. Necessary Lies 4 stars
Historical fiction that delves into the federally funded Eugenics Program in the U.S that persisted into the 1970s. Although it sounds like a program in Hitler's Nazi Ge..."
Added - this sounds fascinating.
JanB wrote: "27. The Language of Dying by Sarah Pinborough4 stars
t was 5 stars until the magical realism ending that I still don't get. Otherwise it's a realistic telling of the death watch when a parent is i..."
This one had me blubbering like a baby. OMGOSH.
Dawn Michele, I think you're going to like Necessary Lies...such a good book about an important topic.The Language of Dying was heartbreaking...brought back memories of my dad when he passed away in hospice but I loved the book.
Another Brooklyn was a quick read, such beautiful language. The narration was perfect.
Mod
I just for the heck of it tried my library and they had it available!!
59. Missing Pieces by Heather Gudenkauf2 stars
I couldn't suspend disbelief enough to enjoy this one. I understand this is the weakest book of hers so I may try another of her books one day.
60. Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker3 stars
I loved her first book, All is Not Forgotten. This one has an interesting premise - a girl and her sister go missing 3 years ago, one sister returns with a shocking story of their abduction and her escape. She insists they find the island they were taken to and rescue her sister.
The story is actually a clever one and the descriptions of narcissism (in the girls' mother) were excellent, making this a good summer read. My only issue with the book was the style: first person narrative from a girl who did nothing but talk in excruciating detail for days on end. For someone who constantly insisted they needed to find her sister Emma, she didn't seem in much of a hurry to tell her story. By the end, I understood why the author chose this method of storytelling, but as a reader it left me detached and somewhat bored throughout most of the book. I prefer more action, less telling.
** I received a copy of the book from Netgalley
75 Books...More or Less!
Books mentioned in this topic
The Last American Man (other topics)Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore (other topics)
5 stars
The author, who is a sociologist, lived among the people he writes about (wish I'd known that all along) and he acknowledges they aren't always easy to love but it's hard to not feel sad and often angry. This is what poverty looks like and instead of judging, we as a society need to look at the reasons behind poverty and work towards a real solution.
There are no heroes, neither the poor or the landlords. It opened my eyes and my heart and that's why it gets 5 stars from me. The epilogue is outstanding.