The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion
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What are you currently reading?
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Jayme(theghostreader)
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Jan 05, 2025 07:26AM
Finished Christmas Cupcake Murder and starting The Hills Have Spies
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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
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
A Slow Fire Burning – Paula Hawkins – 3***
If you like unreliable narrators, this is the book for you. Hawkins gives us not one, not two, but a plethora of unreliable narrators to tell this twisty tale of dysfunctional families and murder. It’s not great literature, but it certainly held my attention.
LINK to my full review
Artistic License – Julie Hyzy – 3***
I came to know Hyzy through her White House Chef cozy mystery series. A challenge to read an author’s debut work had me looking back at a number of favorite author’s first works, which is how I came across this one. I got hooked on the storyline and was entertained by the entire book. It was a quick, fast read that didn’t require much thinking. Perfect for an escape from all the stuff that’s going on in real life right now.
LINK to my full review
Taste – 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
Second Chance Grill – Christine Nolfi – 2.5** rounded up
The plot is both typical and unrealistic (think Hallmark movie), but the book fit a couple of challenges. Perfect light romance to fill the time when I was laid low by COVID. Glad to get this one off the tbr.
LINK to my full review
The Tropic of Serpents – Marie Brennan – 3.5***
Book two in the “Memoirs of Lady Trent” alternate history / fantasy series. It is written as a memoir by the elderly Isabella Camherst, recalling her youth and adventures as a natural historian specializing in dragons. Isabella is a wonderful heroine – intelligent, tenacious, confident, intrepid, resilient and courageous. I also really appreciated how Brennan wove in some political issues involving colonialism, economics, the cultures of different indigenous groups, and the devastation of fragile ecological systems in the name of “progress.”
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
What Would Frida Do? – Arianna Davis – 2**
Subtitle: A Guide to Living Boldly. This is a selection for my Hispanic book club. It’s a combination biography and self-help guide. Frankly, I could do without the self-help advice, and would rather read a straight-on biography of Frida Kahlo.
LINK to my full review
The Sleepwalker – Chris Bohjalian – 3.5***
A known sleepwalker goes missing one night, leaving her husband and two daughters to search for answers. What an interesting concept for a missing-person mystery! I really liked Lianna as the main narrator. She is basically an adult, being a sophomore in college, but she is vulnerable. I could feel the continued tension of “not knowing,” and the slow realization of loss. The ending and final reveal of what happened was a stunner that I didn’t see coming.
LINK to my full review
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
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
I finished "Eye Spy" and starting "Arrow's Flight"
The Mother’s Day Murder – Lee Harris – 3.5***
This is book twelve in the cozy mystery series featuring former nun Christine Bennett. I really like this series. I like Chris’s careful approach to solving the mysteries that come her way. She’s deliberate and cautious, but she inspires confidence in those she questions. She’s also discreet, careful not to spread rumor and innuendo but wait for facts to back up any suspicions before sharing the information with authorities or others. The series is best read in order so the reader sees the various relationships evolve over time.
LINK to my full review
The Reptile Room – Lemony Snicket – 3***
This is book two in A Series of Unfortunate Events, detailing the (mis)adventures of the Baudelaire orphans. I can see the appeal for children, as it plays on their fears of abandonment while also playing up their resourcefulness and ability to get the best of the bad guy. I like how the three siblings work together, each with his/her own strengths.
LINK to my full review
Demon Copperhead – Barbara Kingsolver – 5*****
Kingsolver’s Pulitzer-prize winning novel is a re-telling of Charles Dickens’s David Copperfield set in Appalachia. Like the original, the book explores the effects of poverty, especially on children. Oh, but this was sad and tugged at my heartstrings. Certainly, there were moments, even years-long stretches of time when Demon was well cared for and seemed to have beaten the odds, but it seemed that his entire life was destined for one bad break after another. Yet, despite his faults, Demon stole my heart and I was cheering for him by the end.
LINK to my full review
Charlotte Illes Is Not a Detective – Kate Siegel – 1*
Former child detective is asked by her brother and his girlfriend to solve a missing person case. The premise sounded cute for a cozy mystery, but I just never got into this book. What should have been a fast, entertaining read, turned into a drudge that took me more than a month to read. By the time the case was solved I had ceased to care.
LINK to my full review
The Invisible Man – H G Wells – 3***
This classic of science fiction / horror begins when a man appears at a small English village and takes a room. He is intensely private, but once his secret is revealed, he goes on a rampage through multiple villages trying desperately to find a way to fix the self-imposed condition. There are a few rather humorous scenes caused by his predicament but on the whole the atmosphere is one of anger and frustration and madness.
LINK to my full review
Sand In My Bra and Other Misadventures – Jennifer L Leo (editor) – 3***
This is a collection of essays written by women about their travels. Some are hilarious and had me laughing out loud. On the whole, a very entertaining diversion while I, myself, was on a plane headed to my vacation in a national park.
LINK to my full review
Someone We Know – Shari Lapena – 4****
This was a taut mystery / thriller. Several characters revealed themselves to be unreliable. They were lying to their families, friends, neighbors, and the police. I was sure I had it figured out but was completely surprised by the actual reveal. And the ending gives the reader another mystery to ponder and wonder about.
LINK to my full review
I finished "Spy, Spy Again" and started "If I Asked You To Stay"
Something Like Home – Andrea Beatriz Arango – 4****
This is a moving novel in verse written for middle-school-age children, dealing with foster care. As the novel opens, Laura is en route to her aunt’s apartment, accompanied by a social worker from DSS. My heart broke for Laura. But she is a resilient child, clearly intelligent but confused by her situation. When she finds a neglected and abandoned puppy, however, she begins to open up to the court-appointed guardian and to her aunt and insists that they listen to her point of view when formulating a plan for her care. Brava, Laura!
LINK to my full review
The Housemaid – Freida McFadden – 4****
Wow. Millie Calloway is homeless when she arrives at the pristine, large suburban home with a gated entrance. She desperately needs the job as a live-in maid. But, Nina is completely unstable. She’s ranting and raving one minute, sweet as pie the next. Her daughter Cecelia is a spoiled brat. Her husband, Andrew, is loving and long-suffering. There were several twists and turns in this tale of intrigue. Who really is the unstable person here? This was gripping and I read it in one day.
LINK to my full review
Hello Beautiful – Ann Napolitano – 3.5***
A contemporary family saga spanning decades. Gosh, but Napolitano can craft some beautiful sentences! While there were times when I thought the plot seemed somewhat contrived, I felt drawn into the relationships of the Padovano family. I liked the way Napolitano reimagined Little Women , though I could have done without the constant reminders in the book about the classic novel.
LINK to my full review
The Expectant Detectives – Kat Ailes – 2.5**
A debut mystery featuring a group of VERY pregnant women who bond during prenatal class. Okay, there’s a reasonably cute premise here, but I thought Ailes was trying too hard. I never connected with any of the characters, and really didn’t care about their personal dramas, or, frankly, all that much about the murder. I didn’t even really warm up to Helen (the dog), despite her tendency to run off and return with an important clue.
LINK to my full review
Rocky Mountain Heat – Lori Wilde – 2**
Originally published as All of Me , this is book four in the Wedding Veil Wishes series. This is a typical enemies-to-friends-to-lovers plot with a little “magic” thrown in. It's a bit of a slow burn, but they do eventually have fantastic sex, after which they break up. But the magic of the wedding veil (and of the sweat lodge) will not be denied. It’s a pretty fast read, despite being very predictable.
LINK to my full review
Tom Lake – Ann Patchett – 5*****
This character-driven story set during the COVID pandemic is the kind of literary fiction that I love. I was completely captured by this tale about love - the reckless abandon of youth, the quiet strength of long-term relationships, the fierce protection of a parent for a child. I loved the relationships between the Nelson family members. Their solid foundation of love and respect gives them the grace to open their hearts to others, which is so beautifully shown in the ending.
LINK to my full review
Tiny Tales – Alexander McCall Smith – 3***
Subtitle: Stories of Romance, Ambition, Kindness and Happiness. This is a lovely collection of short stories and cartoons on a wide range of subjects, set in a variety of locations. I like Smith’s writing and the way he ponders philosophical questions. He doesn’t seem to take himself, or life, all that seriously, choosing to find joy and happiness in everyday life. Like all such collections, this is probably best enjoyed as one of those volumes you pick up now and again, to read one or two stories, rather than reading the entire book as one would a novel.
LINK to my full review
Lord Dashwood Missed Out – Tessa Dare – 2.5**
A typical regency romance with a devilishly handsome gentleman (who isn’t much of a gentleman), and a prim lady of impeccable reputation, forced to endure a potentially compromising situation, and then embracing the compromise wholeheartedly. Bodices heave, knees go weak, their passion overcomes any hesitancy. A fun, fast read.
LINK to my full review
Candide – Voltaire – 4****
This is perhaps Voltaire’s best-known work. The novella follows the callow Candide as he travels the world searching for his true love, Cunégonde, accompanied by his faithful servant / companion Cacambo. Voltaire managed to skewer virtually all “important” institutions of the day in this satirical fable. Among his adventures across the globe, Candide comes across Jesuits, the Inquisition, cannibals, El Dorado, pirates, an old woman, healers, merchants, etc. He frequently relies on the teachings of Pangloss to see him through, maintaining optimism in the face of adversity.
LINK to my full review
The Stonekeeper – Kazu Kibuishi – 3***
Book one in the Amulet graphic novel series for middle-school readers. There are strange creatures, secret passages, robots tasked with protecting the family, and evil forces obviously out to get them. The illustrations are very good. Not too dark for these old eyes to see clearly what is happening. This is a good thing as the speech bubbles are few and far between.
LINK to my full review
Friend of My Springtime – Willa Cather – 3***
This is a lovely little story, but not particularly memorable. A mature woman writes about the residents of their “terrace,” particularly the Professor and Jack-a-Boy, a child who moves with his parents into the complex that has few children. It's rather sweet but predictable. Not her best effort.
LINK to my full review
Esperanza Rising – Pam Muñoz Ryan – 5 stars and a ♥
A middle-school novel that explores the experiences of Mexican migrants working the fields of California at the beginning of the Great Depression. What I really love about this story is that Esperanza is a realistic 13-year-old. Esperanza does finally realize that it is up to her to change her attitude; she must learn to let go of the past and to embrace that she is rich in the love of family and friends. The author note at the end is well-worth reading for the history lesson it imparts.
LINK to my updated review
The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society – C M Waggoner – 1*
Waggoner seemed to throw every idea she had at the wall, hoping something would stick. It sounded like it might be a fun, slightly different, kind of cozy, however, the result was dreadful. The plot was thin, the character development completely lacking. I finished only because it fit a specific challenge.
LINK to my full review
The Stonekeeper’s Curse – Kazu Kibuishi – 2**
Book two in the Amulet graphic novel series for middle-school readers continues the adventure with the group making its way to the City of Kanalis in hopes of getting help. Kibuishi’s illustrations are stellar. And I also like that the dialogue bubbles are well designed, graphically speaking. However, I didn’t like the storyline as much as the first one. I guess the novelty has worn off for me.
LINK to my full review
The Invention of Hugo Cabret – Brian Selznick – 5***** & a ❤
What a treasure! This inventive, unusual novel in words and pictures won the Caldecott medal for illustration. The book is intended for children, but will delight adults as well. The story of Hugo, Isabelle and Papa Georges is enthralling, and kept me guessing. But the drawings … oh, the drawings! They are rich and subtle and complex and detailed, showing incredible depth of field and use of light and shadow.
LINK to my full review
Death of a Pumpkin Carver – Lee Hollis – 2**
Book # 8 in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series has Hayley’s ex-husband Danny back in town and suspected of murder. This is only the second book from this series that I’ve read. This one is better than the first one, but not stellar. There are several recipes, some of which I thought sounded delicious. But I thought that using pumpkin in each and every one of them was overkill. Lee Hollis is a pen name for a brother-sister writing team. Perhaps the disconnections in the book are a reflection of having more than one author contributing to the effort.
LINK to my full review
The Seasonal Reading Challenge
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