Challenge: 50 Books discussion
Finish Line 2017
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Connie F's 2017 book challenge
48.
****I enjoyed reading a book where a majority of the main characters were middle aged. This book is a character driven novel of mostly Indian immigrants and how their lives become entwined and friendships bloom. Personally, I identified with many of the issues both Ranjana & Harit were going through in this novel. I enjoyed the peek into Indian culture as well as Indian immigrant culture.
49.
***The 2017 Man Booker prize winner. This is a relatively small book (under 200pp) and the whole book takes place during a stand-up comedy act. I'm not really sure how I feel about this book. Not a favorite but the way the book was written was very interesting. The comedian is bombing and it's painful for the reader to endure. The reason he's bombing and the story he tells is compelling. There is also an underlying story of the Judge who attends the show and is a childhood friend of the comedian. While the comedian painfully tells his story on stage, the Judge also takes the reader back through his memories.
50. And every morning the road home gets longer and longer ***A slight departure from what Fredrik Backman usually writes. This is a touching novella about father/son & grandfather/grandson relationships and a family coping with the end of a life.
51.
**This is a pretty short book and I read it in a relatively short time. You follow a woman, Amanda, as she tries to figure out what has happened to her and where she is and what has happened to her daughter, which becomes a little frustrating to follow since the protagonist is only sometimes coherent. Not really a fan of this story, but I did want to finish to find out "the important thing" which left me disappointed.
52.
****Updated: I started reading this book last year and was really enjoying it but got busy with life and had to return book to the library. It's a good book, well-written character study that follows a group of college students, who, as a group, commit an immoral act, and how that affects each and every one of them on a personal level and as a group. The book gives you the back story, the act, and then the aftermath.
Right after finishing this book yesterday I wasn't sure how I felt about it - I felt like it was just a "meh" read for me - however, today I find myself missing the story and the characters - no matter how weird and unlikable they were - so I think that really says something about the book. I adjusted my rating from 3 to 4 stars because of it.
53.
***This is an adult fantasy novel about a guy who gets out of jail a little early because of a family tragedy, he meets a guy on the plane home and ends up with a job. The book follows Shadow on his journey with this new boss across small town America. I really liked the main character Shadow - I think he was pretty well fleshed out. Typical of many fantasy novels, there were times where names of people were just regurgitated -even though they weren't really characters in the story. There were parts of this novel that were just plain boring to me. I'm not sure if I just wasn't in the mood for this book or if that would've made a difference. The book was definitely longer than it needed to be. Not sure if I'll read another Gaiman novel - I'll have to do some research.
54.
****Very well written novel that follows 2 lines in a family. Half sisters in Ghana - one marries a white British slaver and moves into the castle where people being sold into slavery are held - and unbeknownst to her, her half sister (that she doesn't know even exists) is being held in the dungeons getting ready to be shipped over to the United States into slavery. This book is almost like a collection of interconnected short-stories. Each chapter follows a person from the next line in this family's lineage. It starts in the late 1700 and ends around 2000. Really well written, character driven novel. I found the historical aspects of this novel and many of the stories of slavery and racism that I never thought about very interesting. Most of which are very sad and a bit difficult to digest. However, if you are interested in historical fiction, in particular slavery or enjoy family dramas - you will probably like this book.
55.
Ethel and Ernest***Short graphic novel. Really liked the art work. I didn't get a lot of it, because I'm American and it uses a lot of British slang etc. This is the story of Ethel and Ernest, who meet in 1928 and marry in 1929. They have 1 child in their late 30s. This follows their life from 1928 to 1971. I could hear my mom and dad saying some of the things they said. Nice little graphic novel.
56.
The Death of Bees****1/2This is actually a 4 1/2 star read for me -but goodreads doesn't have 1/2 star ratings. This was an excellent book, very well written and I found it quite compelling. It's another coming of age novel, and in the same vein as The Clay Girl, Marnie & Nelly's upbringing is quite difficult. There's neglect and abuse. The book opens with the mother and father both being dead and the girls bury them in their backyard because they don't want to be put in the system, and since it wasn't unlikely for their parents to disappear for days or weeks at a time, the girls try to take care of themselves. You know immediately how the mother dies, but you aren't sure what really happened to the father. (I did figure that out relatively quickly, but that didn't take away from the novel). This story is told in a 3 point perspective. That of Marnie, the 15 year old daughter, Nelly, her 12 year old sister and Lennie, their elderly next door neighbor. An interesting perspective in this novel is Nelly, who the author never says, but may have some form of functioning autism, such as Aspergers Syndrome. Lennie is gay and has recently found himself in a little trouble with the law, but he gives the girls they family they never had. I really liked this book and if you enjoy coming of age novels - you may enjoy this book as well.
What is the title of this book. Can't make it large enough to read
sharon wrote: "What is the title of this book. Can't make it large enough to read"The Death of Bees. by Lisa O'Donnell
57.
The Essex Serpent *** 1/2This book was raved about last year and unfortunately it just didn't meet my expectations. It was still a good character driven novel, just wasn't that great read I was hoping for. It was very well written, with mixed writing styles, mostly it's told by a narrator, with letters mixed in to help tell the story. It takes place in Victorian England. One of the most interesting things I found about the novel was that it includes a young boy who may be autistic, maybe Aspergers. The author never says, because back in that time, I don't think they knew about autism. I did like Cora, Martha & Joanne in this book. Who weren't the typical women of that time. Cora, the main protagonist, is a recent widow, who is glad her abusive husband is gone. She wants people, in particular men, to see her for her mind and that she's equal to them. Martha, Cora's companion, is from a poor background and very much like Cora, in the sense that she wants to be independent and is very concerned with social injustices, in particular the horrid housing situation in London for poor people. And finally Joanne, a young girl who meets Cora and Martha when they come to Essex who from them learn that women don't have to just get married and have babies. Joanne decides she wants to go to college. Even Stella, who is sick and your typical Victorian woman, concerned with her husband, children and her looks. But when she gets sick, she insists that the doctors ask her, not her husband, what treatment she wants. If you enjoy quirky, character driven novels, in particular stories set in Victorian England, you may like this book
58.
Behind Closed Doors ****Well written mystery/thriller told by a single narrator, Grace, whose marriage seems perfect. Grace's, her sister Millie's and her husband Jack's, stories unfold through alternating chapters of present day and the near past. You figure out quite early what is going on Behind Closed Doors, but the details are revealed slowly. The beginning chapters and the final chapters are quite good, however, the middle does seem a bit muddled at times. There were moments of frustration I felt with Grace and her actions, but had to think if I was in that situation could I do anything differently? All in all it was an entertaining read.
59.
If I Fall, If I Die *** 1/2This is another coming of age novel about a boy whose mother is agoraphobic and he was kept indoors from the time he was a toddler until about the age of 11 or 12 when he starts to sneak out of the house to the "outdoors" when his mother is napping and finally telling his mom he's going to school. The pluses of this book - it deals with some mental illness and it is a diverse book taking place in Thunder Bay Ontario and several characters are Native Americans. The author does present a little about the racism that Native Americans/First Nations people are subjected to. The book starts out pretty strong, lags a little in the middle, picks up again and then is stretched out a little at the end. This could just be me, in that I'm a reader that wants the story to move, I don't need a lot of description. All-in-all, I enjoyed this book.
60.
Night Film ****This book is a page turner, with multiple twists and turns. I am truly enjoying these mixed media type books where the author takes you right there with the protagonist/narrator and you see their research, ie. journal entries, police reports, websites. I was switching between the audio book and kindle book - they do read the police reports etc., on the audio book, but obviously, you miss out on any pictures etc. The main character, Scott McGrath, is an investigative journalist, investigating the death of 24 year old Ashley Cordova, daughter of famed, cult director Stanislav Cordova. I did feel like the author lets you get to know almost every other character in the book better than you get to know Scott McGrath. Although, she does flesh him out a little more toward the last 1/3 of the book. I'm not going to lie - the ending left ALOT to be desired, it seems like some people really liked the ending, and others hated it. I do highly recommend this book, especially if you like thriller/mystery pager turners, but it is a little over 600 pp, so a bit of a tome.
61.
Beartown *****Another 5 star read for me from Fredrik Backman. This story is a bit of a departure from all his other books I’ve read. He elicits humor in otherwise non-humorous situations. This book follows a small town hockey team in a dying town. The town’s hopes and dreams are pinned on this team winning the national semi-finals as there could be some economic growth for the town if these teenagers win this game. There is pressure on these kids to win from parents and other adult patrons alike. Being on this team, gives these kids some special treatment in school and in the community at large. As a very relevant plot twist, this special treatment leads to a violent act. Fredrik Backman then takes you through the motions after this violent crime. The reactions of the players, their parents, other adults in the community and the message their actions send to the younger kids in the community. Is it o.k. to commit a crime like this if you’re an elite athlete. There is something about this author’s writing that I just find so familiar and enjoyable, even when he is tackling difficult subjects. He intersperses humor into those situations, which, at least in my family, is very realistic. Who do I recommend this book too? Well if you’ve ever played a team sport, or if you’ve ever played any sport and really wanted to win, of if you’ve ever wanted to be exceptional at something, anything and put pressure on yourself or had pressure put on you by parents. If you know what it’s like to live in a community that’s still reeling from an economic downturn. In essence, I recommend this book to just about everyone.
62. The Orphan's Tale
**WWII story about a young woman who upon finding a boxcar filled with Jewish babies bound for death at a concentration camp, grabs one and steals away in the night. She ends up being find by members of a traveling circus, who bring her in and let her stay. Such a great premise for a book, unfortunately I didn’t feel like it was executed very well. I didn’t particularly care about any of the characters and felt that most of the story was very predictable.
63.
The Sisters Chase ****I enjoyed this book and it started out as what I thought would be a 5 star read for me, but unfortunately I thought that the plot twists were a little too predictable. Nevertheless, the story was well written and compelling and kept me wanting to read more. I'll definitely read more from this author.
64.
American Street *** 1/2Strong 3.5 star rating. Fabiola comes to the United States with her mother to live with her Aunt & cousins in Detroit, but her mother isn't let into the country and she has to continue on to Detroit without her. I enjoyed this novel and the writing is good. I also listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Robin Miles, is very good. Unfortunately, I'm not a fan of magical realism and there is some elements of magical realism that play a major role in this novel. The first 1/2 of this book was believable and very good, but then the second half took some turns that were just too unbelievable for me and this is where the magical realism portion kicked in, which knocked down my rating. Although, I do still think this was an enjoyable read. In the narration though - the narrator pronounced Detroit wrong. We don't pronounce it "Dee-troit." I know, I know - a little nit-picky! Sorry!
65.
Chemistry ****I listened to the audiobook as well as followed along in the book. I enjoyed this different style of story telling by this debut author. Weike Wang told this story in a bit of a sarcastic and snarky style that made me laugh and say - yes I totally get that in several situations. We follow our protagonist who is a graduate student in chemistry. She is unhappy in her graduate studies, chemistry being a mostly male dominated field. The protagonist draws similarities with chemistry and different aspects of her life, that of her relationship with her parents, her boyfriend and her best friend. This was oddly/differently written novel - but I enjoyed the voice the author gave us.
66.
Burial Rites ****This book takes a minute to get into. It is a fictional account of Agnes Magnusdottir, the last person executed in Iceland back in the 19th century. It is told in multiple perspectives. That of Agnes, the reverend assigned to help her through the process of her execution, and finally the perspective of the family the government make take Agnes in while she awaits her execution. I think the author did a good job of giving Agnes a voice and what could've happened and creating a scenario of the complicated relationship that can develop between deathrow inmates and their jailers. I saw a review by someone who said they couldn't get a visual of what Iceland is like by the writing - but I thought the author did draw out a good visual of Iceland, maybe that's because I did lived there for a year so I already know the sometimes bleak and cold environment, especially in winter.
67.
What We Lose ****The writing style in this book reminded me of another debut author I recently read (Chemistry by Weike Wang). I enjoyed the voice the author gave her protagonist. She has to deal with an illness and subsequent death in her family and I think the author really tapped into what it's like to mourn, and the stages a person goes through. Also, what it's like to watch a loved one deal with a terminal illness and hospice care. I enjoyed the writing style of this book and could really relate to the topics at hand regarding illness and death of a loved one.
68.
Dog Run Moon: Stories ****I try to push myself out of my comfort zone with books and this one did that. It's a collection of short stories taking place mostly in Montana but one or two in Michigan. Author Callan Wink, who grew up in Michigan and now lives in Montana, put together a group of short stories with characters, I dare say, are not all that likeable. Callan Wink is a guy's author (I think), and the first 2 stories in this collection really didn't do anything for me. However, I sat down and finished the book this weekend and felt that with each story, the collection got stronger. On the periphery, this collection deals with guy things, guns, living in rural areas, hunting, fishing, but he touches on deeper issues - mainly how life/relationships just don't always work out. There are people out there who are struggling. There are women who are stalked by ex-boyfriends/husbands. There are kids who have to deal with their parents' separation/divorce and their parents dating after the fact - and how the kid handles those situations - and some times it's down right scary. I particularly enjoyed the final story. It is the longest in the collection but it follows the protagonist, Lauren, and takes you through several phases of her life. Wink shows us a woman who didn't get married until she was in her 40s and for only 2 years, never had kids and all the situations that she had to struggle with. It was a lot to tackle in such a short space but I think he did a wonderful job with that last story. If you enjoy short story collections you may like this one.
69.
The Alice Network ****WWI meets WWII. Interesting novel about an all female spy network working both in WWI and WWII. Some interesting characters that I really liked. Although the final "fight" scene was totally predictable, most of this novel was not. I also listened to the audiobook as well as reading the physical book, the narrator was really good, changing her accent and tones of voice for the different characters.
70.
Do Not Become Alarmed ***Pretty good plot, about a parent's worst nightmare - not 1 likeable character in the bunch, including the kids who I found to be rather annoying. Most of the characters epitomized the characteristics which make many people around the world hate Americans. Surprisingly though - I still liked this book. It had a good plot and a couple plot twists I wasn't expecting. I mostly listened to the audio book while driving. The author narrated this book herself and I don't think she should have. Really good narrators do a good job with changing their voices for the different characters etc. Unfortunately, the author did not do this very well. I think part of the reason I found most of the kids in this book annoying was the author's narration. She used a high pitched voice and no matter the situation - the kids always sounded happy - even in situations that would have been terrifying to a kid (or even an adult). The other thing is that the narrator has a slight lisp and I did find that a bit distracting at times. I would probably recommend just reading this book and skipping the audio version!
71.
A Land More Kind Than Home ****Wiley Cash is an incredible story teller. This book told in 3 perspectives - Jess a 9 year old boy, whose brother Christopher (Stump) is a mute, Adelaide - the town's midwife whose in her mid to late 80s, and the town's sheriff - Clem. The story alternates chapters and switches between the novels present day (some time in the mid 80s) and back earlier to give you back ground for both Clem and Adelaide. I was thoroughly impressed with how well Wiley Cash wrote these characters - I felt like the voice of Jess was the voice of a 9 year old. I kept thinking that it had to be very difficult for a man to write a woman, particularly a young man writing in the voice of an old woman - but I truly believed all of these characters. This novel discusses religion and the idea that in many rural areas the people hold on to that religion with great fervor and in doing so this can allow morally questionable people to take a leadership role in the church and convince others what they are doing is o.k. because it's in God's name. The story has a lot of little nuances that tie some of the characters together in the end. It not only deals with religion but forgiveness and how holding on to hate and refusing to forgive really only hurts you and not the other person you need to forgive. That hatred can just eat at a person's soul and essentially ruin their life. This is actually a pretty heartbreaking story but really worth the read. I'll definitely look for other books by Wiley Cash.
72.
Black Mad Wheel ***I've heard people on booktube rave about Bird Box by Josh Malerman so I thought I'd put a couple of his books on hold at the library. This book came available first. It is a very fast-paced, plot driven novel that tells the story of Phillip, who is in a Detroit based band called The Danes and The Danes served in the Army band during WWII then came home. After being home a few years, The Danes are asked by the Army to look into a sound that is coming out of the African desert that can render weapons unusable. The chapters tend to alternate between present time with Phillip in a hospital and the near past from going to Africa and what happened to him there. I did find the story compelling and wanted to continue reading to find out what happened to Phillip - however I only gave this book a 3 start rating because I didn't really connect with any of the characters in the book on a personal level. I didn't really care about Phillip as a person - I just wanted to know the mystery and what happened to him. If you enjoy fast-paced mysteries - you will probably like this book. I also enjoyed the fact that Josh Malerman is from the Detroit area and a good part of the book takes place in Detroit. I am currently reading Bird Box now.
73.
Bird Box ****There's something out there, something that if you look at it, you go mad. Mad enough to kill anyone near you and then yourself. You're pregnant and you get to a house - keeping your eyes closed for most of the trip so you don't see them/it. You get there and the people let you in. This is a very original and gripping horror story. Like the author's book Black Mad Wheel, the chapters alternate between present day with Mallory and the two kids, now 4 making there way in a rowboat down a river blindfolded - to where - you don't know, and to the near past - Mallory's time in the house with her housemates, but what happened to them? That's what you'll find out if you read this novel. I did like the characters in this novel more than the characters in Black Mad Wheel and so I gave this book a slightly higher rating. Josh Malerman writes very original horror stories that compel you to continue reading.
74.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry ****A.J. Fikry is a book shop owner. He's a little socially awkward, a little curmudgeonly & set in his ways. He is trying to deal with a loss and how, or whether, he should try to put his life back together. You follow a man going through the motions to just get up and keep going every day and then something comes into his life that turns him on his head and completely changes his life. People come into his life who draw him out of his comfort zone and make his life worth living again. I enjoyed the writing & author's story-telling style.
75.
Strange the Dreamer ***This is a YA fantasy novel about a young orphan, Lazlo Strange, a/k/a Strange the Dreamer. Lazlo grows up amongst monks, and is fascinated with a tale about a lost city (whose name becomes lost as well and is then known as Weep). While Lazlo is working as a junior librarian his life takes a turn when the Godslayer and warriors from Weep come to Lazlo's town and end up taking Lazlo on the adventure of his life to the lost city of Weep to help them solve a problem. I enjoyed the buildup of this book and Lazlo as a character. Like most fantasy novels - there is a lot of build-up (one reason I'm not a huge fantasy reader). However, once you get on the road with Lazlo, the Godslayer and the rest of the group on their way to Weep, I found I started to really enjoy the story. The author goes a bit over the deep end with the love story and I started to get bored, but then the twist at the end was pretty good. The book is left with a cliffhanger and a "To be continued." I will probably read the next book - but I'm also not a fan of really long series. Hopefully this is just a duology (no more than a trilogy).
76.
The Child ***What I like about Fiona Barton's storytelling is that she weaves together several threads of a mystery and at several points in her book - you think you know the answer and then she tells you you're wrong, which is what every good mystery writer should do, and Fiona Barton seems to do this very well. You see Kate Waters, the reporter from The Widow, as well as the inspector in this book. One thing I haven't found in Fiona Barton's books, are characters that I care about, which is why I only gave this book and her previous book, The Widow, 3 stars. The writing is good and fast paced. If you liked The Widow you will probably like this book as well.
77.
The Hate U Give ***I enjoyed this book but it was definitely overhyped. I think it was a little problematic in areas with some stereotypes etc. But it was a good book that tells a side of police brutality and shootings that we don't always get to hear. I really enjoyed Starr's family dynamic and liked Starr as a character. This was a pretty easy read, well written and the plot - not exactly fast-paced, but does move along.
78. American Fire: Love, Arson, and Life in a Vanishing Land
**This is a nonfiction account of over 60 arson fires in rural Virginia back in 2012 and the investigation leading to the arrest. The author did a pretty good job of bringing all involved to life. For a good part of the book, it reads more like a fictional novel, but there is a large chunk that was quite dry and not only dry - there was some information brought in that had absolutely nothing to do with the crime at hand - but was brought in as a comparison that I really felt didn't need to be there.
79.
Windfall **Mr. Jha sold his internet website for a good sum of money, hence the title of this book, The Windfall. Now that they have all this money - they spend the rest of the book trying to keep up with the Jones' or in this case, the Chopras. I've read a lot of books about and by Indian authors and I didn't feel this book brought anything new to the table, nor did I find it particularly funny or endearing. I will say that I did like the characters of Mrs. Jha and her friend Mrs. Rey.
80.
Goodbye, Vitamin ***This book was written in a style I've seen a couple times this year, more of a diary type style and you get some flashbacks or background stories. This book fell a little short for me. I had really high expectations, being it was a Book of the Month selection, but it fell a little flat. The main character agrees to move back home with her parents to help her mother care for her father who is at the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. The book was well written with pretty good character development, but maybe a little short on plot. I don't mind a book that doesn't have a whole lot going on, but I did find myself getting a little bored at spots with this book. There was a couple LOL moments. I also think it ended well.
81. Lalibela's Wise Man **Unfortunately, this just wasn't for me. I think there was quality writing and a good premise for a story. A little twist near the end I didn't anticipate, however - I'm not into any kind of religious or spiritual stories. This is a novella, so it is a pretty quick read. If you enjoy religious type stories - you may enjoy this short novella.
82.
Dark Matter****This is a really fast-paced science fiction novel. The story moves and there is pretty good character and plot development. I'm not a huge science fiction reader (o.k. - let's be honest - I don't read science fiction ever) and the premise of this plot did tend to make my head swim a little. Even if you don't read science fiction much - you may like this book. I did enjoy it and I switched between the audio book which I listened to on my commutes to work etc. and reading the book. I started this book yesterday morning and finished it this morning before coming into work.
83.
Slade House **I read this book for a book club, that being said - it's not a book I would've chosen myself. Slade House is like the Hotel California - you can check in, but you can never leave. The book is organized in parts. Each part concentrated on one individual who was lured to Slade House. I felt that each part just regurgitated what happened to the last victim - nothing new or different happened to anyone who entered Slade House. There also wasn't enough character development for my taste, and the plot was a bit weak. There was a bit of a twist in one of the last two parts I didn't figure out until 2 seconds before it was revealed. Basically - I didn't really find this book spooky or compelling. It was just an o.k. read.
84.
Autumn**1/2This is the first book I finished in my attempt to read most of the books on the Man Booker long list. Autumn is the first book in Ali Smith's seasonal series. There is a statement about what happened in Great Britain with the Brexit vote and much of this also echoed what is happening here in the U.S., anti-immigration sentiments and a misguided wish to "go back to the good ole days" and voting for movements or people as a statement against the status quo. This was my first Ali Smith book and I'm not sure if Ms. Smith's writing just went over my head or maybe I wasn't up on the social issues that went on in Great Britain, but there were parts of this book that I just didn't get where the author was going. I didn't really care about any of these characters and in a couple chapters she did some back story (about people who weren't central characters in the novel) that I didn't feel was important. I did like the relationship between Mr. Gluck and Elisabeth, but I felt like the character development was lacking. I suppose Autumn is about endings - obviously the end of summer, but also the end of a life and the end of a way of life in Great Britain, etc. Even though this wasn't a great read for me, I am curious what she will do with Winter that is due out this winter.
85.
History of Wolves ***I really have mixed feelings about this book. It is the 2nd book I've read of the Man Booker longlist and it was one I was really looking forward to reading. I will say that it is definitely literary fiction. This book is very character driven. Linda, our narrator, is telling the story of her younger life, from the perspective of her 37 year old self. If you read the synopsis of this book, you may think it's about a teenager who befriends some new neighbors, but that is really just a part of the story. This is really a story about extreme loneliness and what it was like to grow up as a complete outsider in her environment and how that affected what type of adult she grew up to be. Linda was very socially awkward and she had some downright creepy reactions/actions toward certain events or situations. I didn't find Linda to be a very likable character, but I did actually find myself wanting to continue with reading this novel. This is probably a book for a certain type of reader, you will probably really need to enjoy character development and atmospheric writing as opposed to a plot driven novel in order to enjoy this book.
86.
Station Eleven ****This is a dystopian novel about the world after a flu pandemic that kills 90% of the population. The writing was very good. I knew the book was about a travelling symphony after the end of the world - but I was pleasantly surprised that the author did start the book out before the pandemic. There was very good character development and the story follows the lives of several connected characters both before and after the pandemic. I did like the different story lines of all the characters. Parts of the storyline were a bit weak - mostly the story after the pandemic, especially about the profit - but the rest of the novel, I felt, made up for that. All-in-all I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
I think I have the Eleventh Plague at home - I need to pick it up I've had it for years!
87. Behold the Dreamers
****This was an excellent book and the audio book narrator did a fantastic job with his accents and pigeon English. The character development was really good and the story ended in a way I didn't expect. There were parts of the book that were frustrating - not at all because of the writing - but because of the actions of the characters and some cultural differences that I really don't agree with, but other than that - this was an excellent read and I highly recommend it!
88.
See What I Have Done ****A fictional account of the Lizzie Borden murders. The story is told in 4 part perspective. That of Lizzie Borden, Emma Borden (Lizzie's older sister), Bridget (the maid), and Benjamin. What I got from this novel was that every last one of the Bordens was batshit crazy. There were very few redeeming qualities for the lot of them. The story is very well written, and moves quickly. I also listened to the audio book. The narrators really read both Lizzie & Emma with very stilted and harsh qualities - I'm not sure if I had just read the book I would have read them quite like that - but I wondered if that's how the author intended them to be. All in all - I recommend this book.
89.
Prayers the Devil Answers ***This book seemed to take a bit to pick up with the story. It probably could've been a little shorter. It was a decent character study. Some of the characters, the protagonist Ellie, was pretty well fleshed out but others the author only seemed to touch the surface. This may have been intentional by the author, as all the characters were Tennessee mountain folk who were notorious for keeping to themselves and not letting others in. This isn't a book I would have picked up had it not been a pick for my book club in October.
90.
Night of Cake & Puppets **This book just wasn't for me. I think it was a little too young for me. I saw a BookTuber recommend it as a cute story - it was cute - but a little too cute. Laini Taylor's writing isn't bad - I did like Strange the Dreamer. This is definitely a book for a younger audience.
91.
The Heart's Invisible Furies *****Another 5 star book this year. I don't give this rating out lightly. I loved this book! This story follows Cyril Avery from his birth through 70+ years. Cyril is a gay man born in 1945 and the book details his difficulties with his somewhat distant adoptive parents, navigating the extremely conservative anti-gay Irish society, and his obsessive love for his childhood friend. Cyril's life takes many turns - some times I loved him and some times he frustrated me. This novel was not written in a linear fashion. Several times, John Boyne would end a chapter with a cliffhanger and you think the next chapter would pick right up where you left off and instead it's ten years later. However, he got back to answering any questions you may have. His characters were quirky and at times hilarious. This book made me laugh at times and cry a couple times. I both read and listened to the audio book and I have to say the narrator was fabulous. I highly recommend this book
92.
My Absolute Darling ****I'm still digesting my feelings for this book. I will post a short review in a few days once I've processed everything!
***UPDATE*** This was a pretty compelling, in-your-face book about child/sexual abuse. The author did not mince words or try to gloss over the abuse. Although at times I found myself frustrated with the main character, Turtle, because of the feelings she still had for her father and her confusion about hating him and loving him - it's probably a very real confusion that children of abuse go through. If they are raised being abused, they may not realize it's wrong. Children also look to their parents for love and protection so I'm sure there would be a real confusion there with the child's feelings. This book took me out of my comfortable life and made me look at the type of people in this world and the fact that abuse like this can and does happen, and that you may come across someone who may not be very likable - but maybe that person was dealing with this type of situation to make them that way.
93.
Lincoln in the Bardo ****I originally didn't think this was a book I wanted to read. Then it was listed on the longlist for the Man Booker prize and I still didn't think it would be one I would read until others started reading it and giving it really good reviews. I'm glad I read this book. It is almost a fictional non-fiction book. Several chapters are quotes from biographies written about President Lincoln and that time and then you have the chapters that are told through the "dead" who still wonder around the cemetery that Willie Lincoln is interred. There were parts of this book I laughed out loud at. I highly recommend the audio book as it is read by a full cast, including David Sedaris, the author George Saunders, Lena Dunham, Don Cheadle and Bradley Whitford to name a few. Although I did have to look back and forth through the physical book to see who was talking at times.
Challenge: 50 Books
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I love Wally Lamb, and I loved Wishn' & Hopin. This isn't my favorite Wally Lamb novel, but I did still enjoy it. Like usual, I didn't read the..."
Glad for your review. I love Wally, too, but saw that this wasn't getting very good reviews.