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2025 Reads and Reviews - Anything Goes
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tThe Haunted House Diaries: The True Story of a Quiet Connecticut Town in the Center of a Paranormal Mystery
William J. Hall
4/5 stars
The title actually gives away the story line. This is the true story of a haunted house in Connecticut. I thought it was very well written. Horror
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The Third Reich of Dreams: The Nightmares of a Nation 1933-1939
Charlotte Beradt
3/5 stars
Interesting book about the people who were exposed to the horrors of the Third Reich. The author started collecting these internalized dreams of the people who were exposed to Nazi regime, both Jews and non-Jews. Non-Fiction
The Berry Pickers – Amanda Peters – 5***** and a ❤
In 1962, an indigenous family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer; a month into the season their youngest child disappears. This was a wonderful book. The characters come alive on the page. Their hurts, joys, struggles, connections, love, tenderness, anger, frustration and pain are shown through their actions and reactions.
LINK to my full review
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The Berry Pickers
– Amanda Peters – 5***** and a ❤
In 1962, an indigenous family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer; a..."
I read that and enjoyed it!
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Beyond the Board: The Untold Story of the World's Most Daring Big Wave Surfer
This is the true autobiography of Maya Gaberia, who is the most daring big wave surfer. She traveled all over the world surfing. I thought this was a great read. Highly recommended!
Sports
Graceland – Nancy Crochiere – 3***
This was a fun read with over-the-top characters dealing with drama mostly of their own making. I liked the road trip aspect the best, though their various antics once they all arrive in Memphis also kept the plot moving along nicely. (Loved the scenes with the Elvis impersonators!)
LINK to my full review
Maynard's House by Herman Raucher5 stars!
Do not miss this one! Beautifully written, hard to put down, and wonderfully eerie. This was sold to me as a horror novel but it's not that clear-cut. I am immediately going to seek out other books by this author
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The Gas and Flame Men: Baseball and the Chemical Warfare Service during World War I
Jim Leeke
4/5 stars
This is the true story of the men who went to WWI to work in the Chemical Warfare Service and who were baseball players. Some of them lost their lives in the service. Sports
Whalefall by Daniel Kraus
4 stars
This is simply the most terrifying, suspenseful book I have ever read. I had to put it aside for more than a week because it was such incredibly rough going. But I finally went back to it and I'm not sorry I did.
The Night We Lost Him – Laura Dave – 3***
This mystery opens with Liam Noone, a hotel magnate with three ex-wives, three adult children and a long-term lover, being pushed off a cliff to his death. Two of his children, Nora and Sam, join forces to discover what happened to their dad, and why. I am Soooo over the dual time-line device and this one isn’t done all that well. By the time the kids determined that he was pushed, I’d lost interest in who did the pushing. It’s okay, at best.
LINK to my full review
The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers by Michael Newton just came in at the library for me. I have no idea why I sent for it because I was pretty sure it was just going to be two of the author's other books combined into a single volume. It isn't. But it's sending me down a rabbit hole of rechecking every fact I'm finding in here. Have I heard of this case before? Is this victim's name in my Book of the Dead? I was up so freaking late last night leafing through this one.
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Stupid TV, Be More Funny: How the Golden Era of The Simpsons Changed Television—and America—Forever
Alan Siegel
4/5 stars
I thought this book was so interesting and the author did get a great job writing this book. Highly Recommended! Film and Entertainment
The Story Collector – Evie Woods – 3***
This is a charming fable of love lost and love found, of superstition and faith, of family and community, of grief and recovery. Sarah was at times infuriating, but I came to understand her need to grieve and to face her demons. And I really liked the way her relationship with Oran developed. I liked the historical timeline as well, but I had a hard time believing Anna, a village girl, would have written her diary in this way.
LINK to my full review
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The Peepshow
Kate Summerscale
4/5 stars
This is fascinating true-life story of the deaths of three women who were killed in London and found in a wall and another woman who was under the floorboards in a house in 1953. Reg Christie was looked into as a main suspect but nothing came of it. Harry Procter, reporter looked into it to see if he could solve the mystery of the murders. Non-Fiction
Driving Miss Norma – Tim Bauerschmidt & Ramie Liddle – 4****
When his mother was diagnosed with uterine cancer at age 90, she decided to forego medical treatment in favor of “hitting the road,” with her son and daughter-in-law. This memoir of their time travelling throughout the USA is a result of that decision. They let go of their fears and “what ifs,” and embraced the adventure of saying “yes” to living.
LINK to my full review
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Waxing On: The Karate Kid and Me
Ralph Macchio
4/5 stars
This book is on Ralph Macchio who has played Daniel LaRusso in the film series, The Karate Kid and in the TV series Cobra Kai. He talks about his life and his film career. I highly enjoyed it. Books On Film and Entertainment
The Door-to-Door Bookstore – Carsten Henn – 3***
A small-town German bookseller has delivered books to his customers each evening after the store is closed. This is a lovely story of friendship, purpose, kindness and found family. It’s also about dealing with loss and grief, and about having the courage to make changes in one’s life.
LINK to my full review
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Tricks
by Ellen Hopkins
3/5 stars
This is a collection of stories of five teenagers and their search to connect with their families or friends. Banned Book
Reading The Three-Body Problem and re-reading Christine. I already know the latter is a 4-star read but the former is just not grabbing me. There is a lot left but at this point it's straining upwards towards 3 stars.
The Dog Who Followed the Moon – James Norbury – 3.5***
In the deepest part of winter, a small pup, Amaya, gets separated from her parents. Wandering alone in the woods she comes upon a pack of wolves. And this begins the latest fable by James Norbury. Once again, he reminds us that life is about the journey, not the destination, and that all experiences are ones we can learn from. And I really love his illustrations.
LINK to my full review
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Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live
Susan Morrison
4/5 stars
Wonderful look at Lorne Michael's and his tenure at Saturday Night Live. I thoroughly enjoyed this book but it is a little long.
TV and Entertainment
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This Is Your Mother: A Memoir
Erika J. Simpson
4/5 stars
Interesting true story about a mother (who grew up with her parents as sharecroppers and her daughter and the lives they lived together and apart. Non-Fiction/Biography
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – V E Schwab – 4****
In 1714, a young woman flees from the planned / arranged marriage and begs the gods for her freedom. Luc grants her wish but … What a wonderful, engaging story. I was completely captivated. And while I’ve grown to hate the ubiquitous dual timeline, in this case it was necessary, for how else to tell the story of “invisible” Addie LaRue, and her Faustian bargain? What a cunning, clever woman!
LINK to my full review
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The Dark Library
Mary Anna Evans
4/5 stars
Estella Ecker has returned to her home despite running away from her now dead father years ago. She is here now to look for her missing mother and the secrets in his library. Very interesting! Books Off My Reading List
Kept – Y. Euny Hong – 3***
Judith Lee is descended from a Korean royal family and is used to the privileges of her status. But when her family cuts her off after she graduates, she is at a loss for how to pay off her many debts. Then she’s introduced to the madame of a house of high-society girls who are in-demand courtesans. Social satire is not my favorite genre, but there were some episodes I found quite entertaining. Not sure Jude learned anything from the experience; she still relied on men to save her from troubles of her own making.
LINK to my full review
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Hick: The trailblazing journalist who captured Eleanor Roosevelt's heart
Sarah Miller
5/5 stars
What an interesting book about Eleanor Roosevelt and the female journalist, known as Hick who became enamored with Eleanor. Hick corresponded back and forth with her through 3,500 letters along with meeting Eleanor on occasion. Highly recommended! Biography
A Perilous Undertaking – Deanna Raybourn – 4****
Book two in the Veronica Speedwell series has our heroine taking on a case at the behest of Lady Sundridge, who begs Veronica to save a man from execution. I really like this series. Veronica is quite the strong heroine. She is a naturalist, studying butterflies, but she is also an astute observer and not prone to sit idly by when there is an injustice that needs correction. Her spats with Stoker are priceless, and I love the sexual tension between them. Veronica is NOT your typical Victorian lady! She knows what she likes and is not shy about seeking her own pleasure.
LINK to my full review
Book Concierge wrote: " A Perilous Undertaking
– Deanna Raybourn – 4****
Book two in the Veronica Speedwell series has our heroine taking on a case at the behest of Lady Su..."
By any chance, is Stoker's first name Abraham?
While You Were Out – Meg Kissinger – 5*****
Subtitle: An Intimate Family Portrait of Mental Illness in an Era of Silence. Growing up in the 1960s in the suburbs of Chicago, Meg Kissinger was one of eight children of loving parents. To all around them, the Kissingers seemed a happy, boisterous, pleasant family. But behind closed doors their mother was medicated and suffered from anxiety and depression. Their father was manic and prone to violent outbursts. And two of Meg’s siblings succumbed to untreated mental illness, committing suicide. This is a brutally honest look at the cost of silence.
LINK to my full review
Fishface wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: " A Perilous Undertaking
– Deanna Raybourn – 4****
Book two in the Veronica Speedwell series has our heroine taking on a case at..."
Sorry ... can't remember. He's always refered to as just Stoker, though I'm certain that his full name is given at the beginning. Book is back at the library, so I can't look it up for you.
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One Stop West of Hinsdale: Love Derailed in a Sixties Suburb
Valerie Kuhn Reid
Interesting true story of a family in the 60's who lived in the suburbs of Illinois and fell apart. Non-Fiction/Biography
Book Concierge wrote: "Fishface wrote: "Book Concierge wrote: " A Perilous Undertaking
– Deanna Raybourn – 4****
Book two in the Veronica Speedwell series has our heroine ta..."
Google says it's not the same guy. Alas!
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Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films
Nina Nesseth
3/5 stars
This is an interesting book on the science of horror films which includes different topics like a brief history of horror, why some scares stick to you, violence and mayhem and the appeal of horror. I enjoyed it.
Horror
The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu – Michael Stanley – 3***
Book two in the mystery series featuring Detective David “Kubu” Bengu of Botswana begins when a Zimbabwean teacher, Goodluck Tinubu, is found murdered at the wilderness resort camp where he was vacationing. Things quickly get complicated, but Kubu is up to the task. I really like this series. It’s a hard-hitting police procedural, but there is some room for enjoying life, especially Kubu’s love of food.
LINK to my full review
Library Lovers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Idaho Four: An American Tragedy (other topics)Blood in the Water: A True Story of Revenge in the Maritimes (other topics)
Lust Killer (other topics)
The Second Death Of Goodluck Tinubu (other topics)
Nightmare Fuel: The Science of Horror Films (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Nina Nesseth (other topics)Valerie Kuhn Reid (other topics)
Sarah Miller (other topics)
Mary Anna Evans (other topics)
Erika J. Simpson (other topics)
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People of Darkness – Tony Hillerman – 3.5***
Book number four in the Leaphorn & Chee mystery series focuses Navajo Tribal Police Sergeant Jim Chee, as he tries to unravel a 30-year-old mystery in pursuit of a missing box of “trinkets and mementos” that has been stolen from a very wealthy man. Hillerman does a marvelous job of weaving Native American (particularly Navajo) traditions, culture, and myths into his mysteries. I came late to the Tony Hillerman fan club, but I’m glad I got here and I’m enjoying the series.
LINK to my full review