Gail's Oct 2023 Reads

[GailW]

Headed out again this month and figured I would not get anything else finished before the 1st:

☀ Roseanna by Maj Sjöwall -4
read this for 4 different challenges this month. This is the first book in the series, I had started with the fourth. Really like this series based on those two books. Martin Beck (whose full name is used throughout the book, while everyone else is named by their surname) is quirky.
☀ One by One by Ruth Ware -5
Ware's books are a hit or miss for me, and this one was definitely a hit.
☀ The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson -4
Can't believe I made it this late in life and never read this book but there you go. Wasn't really as "horror" as I had expected (thank heavens), but the psychological drama was well worth the ride.
☀ Dewey Decimated by Charles A. Goodrum -2
Okay. This book had a GREAT storyline - terrible execution by the author. The treatment of the young, educated woman by her male colleagues was sending me through the roof. I was starting my career not long after he wrote this book. I didn't need reminders. So I just gave away a signed first edition.
☀ This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone -not rated
And then after coming off the one before it, I read this one that I may as well have read in Greek. I had to admit to my nephew who recommended it that I understood about 5% of what I read. Could not relate one bit. Hey, at least I tried.
☀ Playing with Myself by Randy Rainbow -5
Memoir of a performer in NYC who helped keep many of us sane throughout the pandemic. Listened to it in audio with the author doing the reading. I am a big fan of his. I don't think anyone would be wishy washy about him - you'll either love 'im or hate 'im.
☀ Norwegian by Night by Derek B. Miller -5
Absolutely loved this book. I could somewhat relate to this aged Marine, Korean war vet. My Dad is one. The relationship between the old man and the young boy was very special. I hated the ending though.
☀ A Maigret Christmas And Other Stories by Georges Simenon -5
If I had to choose between Jules Maigret or Martin Beck I would (reluctantly) pick Maigret. His character is flushed out in the series just a bit more than is Beck's. There were three stories in the book, each a different length, all occurring on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day in Paris in the early 1950's. Ironically, Simenon wrote this one while living in the US. They were suspenseful and enjoyable.

[Ann]

Looks like a very nice month Gail; you’ve listed several I may try to get to. (Except the Dewey Decimal book, most wise of you to abandon it - life is too short to suffer those memories again. )

[Sherry]

nice month, gail. i'm a fan of randy rainbow, too. saw him in person a few years ago and he's a hoot.
loved your description of this is how you lose the time war. definitely not adding that one to my list. lol

[Mary Jo]

Hi Gail, What an interesting book journey. I too am a fan of Simenon and Maj Sjöwall/Per Wahlöö. I've listened to them on tape many times. I think I support Audible singlehandedly. Feel the same way you do about Ruth Ware. Shirley Jackson astounded me. Many thanks for walking me down memory lane. I indulged in ten Ruth Rendell books and am feasting on them. Have you read the one that informs you from the first sentence that the cook who can't read will kill everyone? It's fabulous but not for the faint hearted. Many thanks, Mary Jo