Links I love

 

Happy holidays!  This week is a big one and I hope that everyone enjoys! I've been slogging through The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and it's been more challenging then I thought it would be!

• The most popular Christmas cookies in all 50 states.
• The best nonfiction of 2024.
• NH Librarians recommend their favorite books of 2024.
• Dirty Dancing and Wrath of Khan added to the National Film Registry.
• Is walking exercise?
• A woman centered retelling of the Troy story.
• Best crime movies of 2024 and the best speculative crime fiction of 2024.
• Stephen King books in order!
• Ricky Henderson has passed away
• Best Trader Joe's food of 2024.
• Is the Godfather II the perfect sequel

I hope that you have a wonderful holiday!

Links I love

 

Christmas is coming up! I'm nearly done with my shopping and now I'm busy wrapping. We are going to see A Christmas Carol next weekend!

• Upcoming sequels, prequels and series continuations.
• Comfort of retelling stories.
• Gift guide for female lifters.
• Is this state's reading curriculum deceptive?  T here's a lawsuit.
• Prize winning Crime novels of 2024.
• 6 things to do at night that makes morning easier.
• How the Karen Read case turned a local bar into a landmark for tourists.
• Manchester Public library nixes late fees.
• Nikki Giovanni has passed away.
• Best crime reads of 2024.
• Maureen Corrigan's favorite books of 2024.
• The healthiest way to have coffee?
• Best comics and graphic novels of 2024.
• Best nonfiction books of the year according to NYT and NPR.
• 10 award winning non fiction books from this year.
• Best international crime fiction of 2024 and the best historical fiction for the same year.
• Best journals and apps for readers.
• Winter list for self care.

REVIEW: Bastard Out of Carolina

 

I re-read this book recently after learning that Dorothy Allison had recently passed away - it was her debut and most famous novel. The book is set in the 1950's Deep South and Bone, the narrator, is what the society called a bastard - her mother bore her out of wedlock.  It details the lives of the Boatwright family and the abuse that Bone suffers at the hands of her stepfather - Daddy Glen. It explores themes of family, classism and yes, sometimes explicit abuse. 

Bone is definitely a complex character.  I think that we all know someone like her, whether we are aware of it or not, and Dorothy Allison does a masterful job writing from her perspective. Parts of the story were very hard to read, particularly where she was describing acts of abuse but I think that this sort of novel is important. It allows us to open up discussion about issues that are still taboo.

Definitely worth the re-read.

Links I love

 

I hope that everyone had a pretty good week!

• Five best pieces of fiction from 2024.
• The ultimate Christmas trivia list.
• 11 best British detective shows on Prime.
• Elton John has apparently lost his eyesight.
• The 2024 word of 2024.
• Most Costco locations will stop carrying books soon. 
• 8 books about women keeping secrets.
• The Oxford word of the year (more like phrase) is "brain rot."
• The GMA full book selection list.
• The Starbucks sign you are based upon your zodiac sign.
• 27 fun gifts for food people.
• Crimereads 2024 gift guide.
• Best biographies of 20th century leaders.
• Copyright infringement amongst influencers.
• The difference between an elf and a gnome.

Please use the code found here to get $5.00 off your first order at Pangobooks!

REVIEW: My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante

 

This is the first book in Ferrante's Neapolitan Quartet, a series of books that explores female rivalry and friendship.  This novel is set in Naples in the 50's and introduces us to the friendship between Lila and Elena, two girls that live in a poorer neighborhood of the city. 

I read the novel in English, although I have the Italian version that I will try to read at some point.  The translation is phenomenal. While I enjoyed the story about the friendship between the two characters, the political climate at the time and the neighborhood itself also were big players in this novel. This is Italy post WW-II.  Mussolini is barely out of office and the country is trying to figure out who it is post-fascism. There is a lot of normalized violence against all people and there is a crime syndicate that clearly runs things in the neighborhood, which people often fear. The neighborhood itself and its characters were colorful and entertaining.  You can't help but adore them.

Lila and Elena were also well done.  Lila is somehow particularly self aware and independent, regardless of her age.  She is true to herself and that trueness exposes her to greater danger at the hands of people in the neighborhood. Elena was not nearly as self aware or confident. She lives in a state where she is constantly comparing herself to Lila and seeking gratification in her abilities relative to Lila.  She consistently misreads most emotional situations, including those in her friendship with Lila, which places her at a marked disadvantage regardless of her book intelligence. 

I look forward to re-reading the next three novels in the series and highly encourage you to as well. 

REVIEW: Patriot by Alex Navalny

 

Alexei Navalny was an opposition leader in Russia under Putin's government.  He was poisoned (and survived!) but then imprisoned, and died in a Siberian prison in 2024 under what some say are mysterious circumstances.  This memoir was published posthumously. 

It's a memoir that begins very well with an engaging account of his childhood under USSR rule, but towards the end is an accumulation of his prison diaries and social media posts. It begins powerfully with his almost death by poisoning and his lengthy recovery in Germany. During his recovery, he finished the first two sections of this memoir. During the three years that follow, we learn of his increasing trials and transfers to increasingly strict prisons, which eventually end in his incarceration in Siberia. We learn of his health struggles and his 24 day (yes over three week long) hunger strike.

I think that this book is a powerful must read in the current political climate. In fact, I purchased it after the recent election here in the United States.  Even in its "mish mashed" state, it is a powerful testament as to the strength of one man.  I found it to be inspirational - he stuck to his belief system and led in spite of facing perhaps the most terrible thing that people could think of - a Siberian prison and a Russian dictator. He speaks in what I would describe as typical Eastern European tones - very direct, very to the point and somewhat rushed, so please don't expect flowery language.  Sometimes it took a little bit for me to get through that because it's not my most favorite form of writing but it was still really effective.  

Definitely a must read. 

Links I love

 

I hope that everyone celebrating had a wonderful Thanksgiving. This week I am looking to have two reviews up!

1. NPR's 2024 books they love.
2. English teacher gift ideas under $25.00.
3. NY Times announces its 100 notable books of 2024.
4. Notre Dame Church ready to re open five years after fire.
5. You're always at risk in winter.
6. Time's 100 must read books of 2024.
7. 11 holiday items that are dangerous for your pets.
8. A list of every exclusive souvenir you can get during Epcot's festival of the holidays.

Don't forget to use this code found at that link for $5.00 off your first order at Pangobooks!

Links I love

 

Things are beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here. I started my shopping fairly early so I'm hoping it will be less stressful.  I'm a little over halfway through this book - check back for a review soon!

1. Barnes and Noble has announced its Book of the Year. The complete list of National Book Award Winners is here.
2. There has been an increase in walking pneumonia cases this year.
3. On coming of age in the era of serial killers.
4. Little Women gift list.
5. Best tabasco sauces ranked.
6. I want to make this soup this weekend.
7. The only  two states without chik-fil-a.
8. The best books of 2024 according to BookRiot.
9. Notable self help books of 2024.
10. Gladiator II is out.
11. Gilmore Girls gift guide.
12. How to motivate yourself to read more.
13. Some true crime memoirs for you.
14. Stocking stuffers for readers that are under $25.00.
15. Histories and non fiction books for everyone.
16. Gift ideas for writers. And for librarians.
17. What kind of power did a medieval monarch actually have?

Just a reminder that if you use the code found here on your first order at Pangobooks, you get $5.00 off your first order.  

REVIEW: The Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

 

This is Ms. Mellors second novel and boy was it a doozy (in a good way!). We meet four sisters that are now three - Avery, Bonnie, Nicky and Lucky. The three remaining sisters - Avery, Bonnie and Lucky - are trying to come to terms with Nicky's death by overdose. When we meet them, it is the one year anniversary of her death.  Their mother is threatening to sell the apartment that they grew up in and the same apartment that Nicky was living and died in one year previously. Since Nicky's death, things have seemed to change since the glue that kept them together - Nicky - is now gone. 

Avery is the oldest and in some ways, very much a stereotype. She's Type A and a lawyer, having gotten there after getting sober. She is serious and a perfectionist - she feels compelled in a way to keep all the sisters well and care for them, as well as her mother. Avery, however, is a kleptomaniac. Bonnie, the second oldest, is a boxer. She had a professional boxing career that ended abruptly with a loss right around the time that Nicky died and she harbors a romantic love to her trainer, Pavel. Lucky is the youngest. She's a model that struggles with drugs and alcohol and partying.  The three return to NYC in an effort to stop the sale of the apartment and to pack Nicky's things. 

I loved this book.  The characters are amazingly deep and the book deals with the theme of generational trauma, including how it impacts different people differently even though they were all raised in the same environment. I loved how it also addressed how substance misuse and addiction can appear in different forms. Definitely a heavy book but well worth it in the end.  

Links I love

 I hope that everyone had a good week! Thank you to the Veterans!  I  am finishing up the Blue Sisters and will have a review out this week. I'm looking forward to starting Patriot after that.  

• Disney's new land is up.
• Some Disney gifts under $20.00.
• Notable  non fiction for this fall.
• What is with the current obsession with the Mormons?
• Richard Allen, the Delphi Murder case and how he was found.
• Orbital wins the 2024 Booker Prize.
• Time's 100 must read books of 2024.
• What is contagious anxiety and how to deal with it.
• Full menus released for Epcot Festival of holidays.

I have also decided to participate in the Mount TBR challenge in the hopes that I can chip away at my TBR piles.  My level is Mt Vancouver (36 books).  Wish me luck!

Links I love

 

Two weekends ago, the weekend before Halloween, we were at Head of the Fish and that picture was taken from the launch site.  This weekend we went to see Duran Duran. I hope that everyone had a good week! I ha ve started training for this half marathon.  I might do this one though.

• Lord of the Rings books in order. 
• Store bought  coffee beans that are of the highest quality.
• Quincy Jones passed away. I didn't realize he had done Captain EO.
• Tips for all three Holiday Parties at Disney.
• Reports on banned book numbers in schools.
• The appeal of the female sleuth.
• 15 stress free reads.
• What does having a new DA mean for the Menendez brothers?
• Since it's almost Hot Chocolate season - spices to elevate your hot chocolate! I love Peppermint!
• Australia proposes social media ban for children under the age of 16.
• Therapy llamas at an airport!
• Amazon has a 3D shop.
• Dorothy Allison, author of Bastard out of Carolina, has died.
• Can a fictional character change real world perceptions?

The holidays are coming up.  Pangobooks makes buying books for your reader more affordable.  Follow this link and use the code to get $5.00 off your first order.

REVIEW: Verity by Colleen Hoover

 

I'm a little late to the game here, but at least I made it right? This is a psychological thriller in which we meet Lowen Ashley, a struggling writer who is asked to ghost write Verity Crawford's books after she has suffered seemingly extensive injuries in a car accident. Things take a very, very dark turn when she discovers an unpublished autobiographical manuscript written by Verity herself, which includes shocking confessions and an insight into Crawford's mind. Lowen reads the manuscript and finds herself moving through an increasingly confusing world in which she has a difficult time discerning truth and fiction.  

I really, really enjoyed this book.  I think I read it in about 3 days so it moves very, very quickly.  The plot itself keeps you on your toes. I was caught by surprise a lot.  I really enjoyed the characters themselves, even the ones that were arguably less than morally stellar. The themes were wonderful also.  The main theme appears to be the line between truth and deception and what is the definition of either.  Hoover shows us that the line is constantly shifting and in doing so, keeps us uncomfortably unbalanced. Hoover also looks at love versus obsession. We are constantly made to question how far the characters will go in order to maintain connection with or control over the people or things that they are obsessed with. 

I really enjoyed this novel and would highly recommend it. 

Links I love

 It has been a crazy week. I hope that everyone else's week has been a lot more easy and relaxing than mine.

• Some must read books on Native Americans
• Yikes about this costume?
• Some stocking stuffers for the guy in your life.
• A Daily routine that makes stress management enjoyable.
• The Oregon Trail game is being made into a movie!
• 9 books celebrating or written by Navajo authors.
• Starbucks has revealed their new cups.
• How does Anesthesia work?
• Most overpriced tourist attraction in each state, by map.
• Finalists for Barnes and Noble Book of the Year.
• Tarot inspired bookish gifts.
• Recent celebrity book club picks.
• Why you need noise to fall asleep.
• How do they measure the heat of hot peppers.

Don't forget Pangobooks, where you can buy and sell used books!  Use the code found here for $5.00 off your first order!

REVIEW: By the Fire We Carry Rebecca Naigle

 

For those of you that, like me, are Gen X, we sadly didn't learn much about Native American history in our country while we are in school. I've been trying to educate myself and this was one of the books that I picked up. I was glad that I did as Nagle weaves together history of her tribe and the narrative of a homicide that occurs in Oklahoma. This case - popularly known as the Murphy case - asked the question of whether the government had dis-established the Muskogee reservation. This was an important question because it would determine whether the state had the authority to prosecute Murphy and sentence him to the death penalty or not.

This book is  both amazingly researched and also intensely personal. Nagle tells the history of the Muskogee tribe and its relationship with the Federal Government, its travails on the Trail of Tears and the establishment of reservations, as well as their disestablishment. She alternates these chapters with her own personal story about the case and her experiences as a Muskogee tribal member.  I loved this book and would highly recommend reading it.  

Nagle also hosts the Podcast, This Land that I would also highly recommend.

**********************

Please don't forget about Pangobooks where you can buy and sell used books! Use this link or code Melissa32264 at checkout for $5.00 off your first order.

Links I love

 

I hope everyone had a good week.  I am plugging away at a book about Alex Murdaugh and a novel about WW2 that I hope to have reviews for shortly!  We're in Saratoga for Head of the Fish this weekend. My son is  a junior in High School so we're going to visit Skidmore while we're there.

• 12 frozen lasagnas ranked 
• Why we say cats have nine lives.
• Barnes and Noble has the first best of list.
• Epistolary novels.
• The most popular Halloween candy by state.
• Netflix Christmas movie schedule.
• Boys and reading the Babysitter's Club

Please don't forget to check out Pangobooks and get $5.00 off your order using this link!

REVIEW: The Devil at at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty by Valerie Bauerlein

 

This is one true crime case that I knew of. It was always on the fringes of my true crime consciousness but wasn't one that I had ever taken a deep dive into so when I came across reviews for this book, I thought I would give it a try because it looked pretty good. 

The Murdaugh Family had the corner on power in their part of the low country of South Carolina for generations.  They dominated law enforcement and politics and their law firm made millions of dollars for the family and their clients. However, on June 8, 2021, Maggie and Paul, the wife and son of Alex Murdaugh, were murdered in cold blood on the property of their estate named Moselle. Paul was 22 and had his own controversy - he was a known abuser, alcoholic and was embroiled in controversy surrounding a drunken boat crash that resulted in the death of a friend (the boat was the Murdaugh family boat). Alex himself was known to put pressure on people to clean up controversy, including attempting to cover up the boat crash involving Paul. 

I really enjoyed Bauerlein's book.  It stretches for 400 pages or so, but doesn't feel like a bear or a bore at all. She gives a detailed and easy to follow timeline leading up to the crimes, including Alex's addiction to painkillers and embezzlement of client funds, as well as connections to the mysterious death of his housekeeper, Gloria. She is very detailed in her report and it is obvious that her research was thorough. She interviewed attorneys, officers and others involved in the case. As a result, her book is comprehensive. this is a good place to start if you're looking to find out more about this horrific murder and the man who has no soul.

Links I love

 

I hope that everyone is having a good week.  The above picture was taken by my daughter on a school trip to Mt. Cardigan. They backpack for an eighth grade trip instead of going to D.C. My son is rowing in Head of the Charles on Sunday!

1. Some great Harry Potter stocking stuffers for adults.
2. Ten most popular Christmas books.
3. Taylor Swift is publishing a book.
4. 5 reasons online yoga is good for moms.
5. Why cats chirp at birds.
6. Disney reveals new parade float.
7. best horror books about Halloween.,
8. Archeologists discovery skeletons in Petra- that is the Indiana Jones tomb!
9. Disney announces a $99.00 vacation package.
10. The 2024 winners of the Kirkus prize.
11. Bookish autumnal things!
12. Coastal reads that are great for the fall.
13. J. Courtney Sullivan is a fav of mine.  Here is a tour of her home.
14. 15 small press books you should be reading this fall.
15. Warning stroke symptoms and what to look for.
16. The best states for fall road trips. I would lie if I said that I wasn't surprised New Hampshire wasn't on the list.

Just a reminder that you can earn $5.00 off your first order at Pangobooks by clicking on this link!

Links I love

 

As you know from last Sunday's links post, we went to King Richard's Faire last weekend. It's always a blast and this time was no different! We didn't get to see our favorite performer, who is apparently in Paris according to his father. Ihaven't been feeling well this week.  It wasn't covid, strep or an ear infection or even the flu.  I think I'm on the  mend though.

• Margaret Atwood on the advice she was given.
• Quiz: Would you have been accused of witchcraft in the 17th century?
• It's never too early for Christmas ornaments.
• Do Starbucks gift card work internationally?
• Ask these five questions to help with determining a Halloween costume.
• The best and most cynical fixers in crime fiction.
• Selling PB and J kits during a hurricane. Yay or nea?
• If you have surplus Halloween candy, please consider this program.
• The most haunted hotels.
• Han Kang wins the Nobel Prize for Literature.
• First significant snowfall on Mt. Washington. 
• Station 11 ten years later. this is one I need to re-read.
• 25 best Harry Potter stocking stuffers.

On another note, I've been selected as a Pangobooks ambassador.  PB is a wonderful resource that lets you buy used books. I love it. If you use my code, you'll get $5.00 off your first offer, which is a steal!

Links I love

 

I hope that everyone had a good week.  It's taking me longer to finish a book than I thought it would but I'm likely to have a few reviews up in the next few weeks. Last week, we were in Wolfoboro for the Winni Chase Regatta.  It was a blast!  I'm looking forward to the upcoming ones! See the pics!  

This weekend, we're headed to an Erg-a-thon, a soccer game and King Richard's Faire.

1. The best books on the lessons of history.
2. Why Minnesota is a great setting for crime fiction.
3. Book recommendations for Hispanic heritage month.
4. What staple Aldi, Costco and Trader Joe's have in common.
5. Three non-negotiable tips for cold and flu season.
6. We lost Maggie Smith.
7. Great actors read great books.
8. 8 mysteries set in the book world.
9. 6 haunted libraries.
10. Was Jekyll/Hyde inspired by a real murder case?
11. Nintendo museum opens in Japan.
12. Three must read memoirs on working class. 
13. Lego landscapes which are amazing
14. The loss of self worth in the digital age.
15. This looks good.

REVIEW A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah Maas

 

I see this book everywhere -notably Target - and my daughter was asking about it recently so I thought that I would get it out of the library to read it. Feyre (pronounced Fay-Ruh) is a teenage human who has a very difficult life - she is the main support of her family and when she kills a wolf, she is dragged into a world that she literally didn't ask to join by the other main protagonist - Tamlin. Maas takes it from there and gives us a re-telling of the Beauty and the Beast story, complete with toxic and abusive relationships and gory battle scenes.  

I'm not a fan of this series and I certainly wouldn't let my almost 14 year old daughter read this book.  I think it provides a really unhealthy view of relationships and love that could be dangerous for young adults.  It wasn't very creative in its re-telling of the story that we all know, simply adding sex and gore in the hopes that we wouldn't notice the lack of creativity and lack of character development. I struggled to maintain interest in the story, the characters and, ultimately, the ending of the novel was the best part for me.  I likely won't be reading the rest of the series and I certainly won't encourage my daughter or son to read these books.

As a warning, if you have experienced abuse at the hands of a loved one or intimate partner, I would really think hard about whether this book is one you should read as there is a lot of things that occur in this novel that are very triggering. 

Links I love

 

I hope that everyone had a good week! This weekend is shaping up to be busy so I hope that you enjoy these links!

1. Unfortunately we're headed into flu season.  Here's a guide for the upcoming season!
2. Cat lost in Yellowstone is home after traveling almost 900 miles.
3. The top banned books of 2023.
4. Gladiator 2 everyone!
5. 8 of the worst Science Fiction worlds to live in.
6. Readers' top books in the last 60 y ears.
7. Will bananas become more scarce?
8. Brett Favre announced that he has Parkinson's. What are the warning signs?
9. 12 character driven novels.
10. Journaling prompts to use in the fall.

Links I love

 

It went from fall back to summer this week. I guess Mother Nature has to have her say!  This weekend, I'm recharging by hiking at Wildcat and staying at the hut! I hope all have a good week!

1. FDA approves some Apple Earbuds as hearing aids.
2. 8 signs your  pet is trying to get your attention.
3. Marcie Rendon on writing about murdered indigenous women.
4. Some of t he best books set on Charleston, SC.
5. 5 best campus books.
6. One man's journey from prison to baking.
7. David Bowie and the digital age.
8. I've always liked fantasy books - and now I have a new list!
9. Classic novels of the Civil War.
10. Mysterious horseman may have been identified.
11. Disney advent calendars!

REVIEW All Fours by Miranda July

 

There has been a lot of buzz about this novel and that buzz is well deserved!  I'm glad that I picked this novel up. The unnamed narrator is in her mid 40's and is a multimedia artist in Los Angeles. When we meet her, she's planning a road trip from LA to NY and has told her husband and son that this is what she wants to do. Instead of completing the journey, she pulls over in nearby Monrovia and spends $20K to revamp a cheap hotel room with the goal of spending two weeks there instead. She loves them, but feels stifled by them. While in Monrovia she meets an attractive younger man named Danny and his wife, who she hires to redecorate the motel room that she is staying in. She and Danny are tremendously attracted to each other but struggle against that attraction. 

This book reframes the concept of a mid-life crisis - traditionally, it has seemed that only men have been acknowledged as having these, but what about women who are going through a massive hormonal shift at the same time (hello menopause!). I love how this novel explored menopause, and midlife shifts for women.  In that way, it is a novel that is revolutionary - I don't remember ever reading or hearing about a novel that took on that particular topic head on (which is mind boggling when you think that half the population deals with it). I enjoyed the narrator even in her unreliable narration - she's quirky but seemingly real.  She is what she is and I liked that. The book itself is deceptively readable and hard to put down!

Definitely worth it to add to your library. 

Links I love

 

I hope that everyone had a good weekend. We enjoyed our last weekend watching football and running this 5K.  It is making me itch for a half marathon again! I hope you enjoy these links!

1. Four gothic and neo gothic novels about mothers.
2. 52 doorstopper books for the long fall (and winter) evenings.
3. I just started watching this on Netflix and I'm hooked so far. Spoiler and a second season?
4. five books set in historical Italy.
5. Why you feel terrible after a flu shot.
6. RIP James Earl Jones.
7. All th e finalists for the National Book Award
8. This blogger read every Elin H. book and ranked them.
9. Signs of a legit medium reading.
10. Probably No Goonies sequel thankfully.

Links I love

 

I hope that everyone had a great week and long weekend!

1. Christa McAuliffe has a statue now!
2. Sweet Valley High's spiritual successors - recs for teen girls for books.
3. Shower at night or day?
4. 20 most fun states in the United States.
5. Best new fall books according to Bustle.
6. Some movies that are turning 50 this year and where to watch.
7. Not so nice origins of the term "bookworm."
8. September's read with Jenna list.
9. The countries that swear the most.
10. The oldest universities in all 50 states.
11. Horror as social commentary.
12. History of the Bronx with Ian Frazier.
13. 10 signs that the workplace is toxic.

REVIEW: The Guest by Emma Cline

 

In Emma Cline's newest novel, we follow an anxious, millennial grifter as she struggles to stay afloat in a barely concealed Hamptons location over the course of one summer. I had read  The Girls, also by Cline, and remembered enjoying it (I read it a long time ago) so I got this out of the library. The basic premise is that the protagonist struggles to maintain an outward aura of coolness while inwardly, they move closer and closer to a psychological break. This is the cause in The Guest, which also uses wealth to make the wounds and progression towards break all that much more quick.

Alex, the protagonist, is a sex worker from NYC and when we meet her, has no money, no friends and no home. She is addicted to drugs and stealing. She's pissed off her roommates and her ex-boyfriend, who is an ominous presence during the entire novel. Things look up when she meets Simon, a wealthy man who defines Alex's job as only being beautiful. If she does that, he'll take care of everything else. She makes an embarrassing misstep at a dinner party, resulting in Simon getting her a one-way train ticket back to Manhattan, but Alex is nothing but dogged (or delusional) so she won't give up that easily, instead electing to remain and try to win Simon back at his Labor Day party a week after her expulsion.  The book follows Alex during the week that she tries to survive until the Labor Day party. 

I had a really hard time reading this novel. The novel itself moved very quickly and I appreciated the themes very much.  It's an interesting and important premise.  However, I did not like Alex at all and found her to be pithy. Maybe I'm not supposed to like her and that's the point, but I found her to be tiresome.  I did appreciate the sense of dread and stress that I found myself unwittingly feeling as the result of Cline's writing. I still wouldn't re-read this or even recommending reading this book for the first time.  There are too many other books out there that are way more interesting.  

Links I love

 

That photo from above is when I went to Montgomery, AL. It was very random but the Fitzgeralds had their home there. I hope all had a good week. :) I owe you at least two reviews coming up so keep checking back.

1. Novels to read with your book club this summer.
2. Books about Pompeii.
3. My son gave me this link and the recipes are easy and good. And quick!
4. A literary road trip across America.
5. Yay for drinking coffee!
6. Adding rucking to your workout routine.
7. How hurricane names are picked.

REVIEW: The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan

 

I have always been a fan of J. Courtney Sullivan. I've read all of her books and I was excited when she had a new one out - it's also a part of Reese's book club.

The main character of this novel is an old Victorian home on a cliff on Maine's coast and it serves as a repository of stories but also as a guide to a woman's story of self-discovery. It was built for a sea captain in 1846 for he and his wife, Hannah, to live in but turns hands many times - it ends up as an artist retreat and also as a home for a Boston power couple. The story itself takes place in the present, with detours to the past, including chapters that take place in the 1800's and 1960's. Jane, the protagonist, grew up hanging out in the abandoned home and as an adult is looking into its history after her life has seemingly fallen apart in one fell swoop. There are definitely times that ghosts are considered seriously throughout the novel (but are not the central part of the story - this is definitely not a ghost story - it's a story about women's history and lives that ghosts just happen to appear in occasionally). The ghosts, and an encounter with a medium, help Jane to explore different avenues and topics of research, including the Shakers and Indigenous stories. 

I loved this novel. I honestly couldn't put it down and couldn't wait to get back to reading about Jane, her life and the people and places she was researching.  The transitions between time periods was seamlessly smooth and the characters were wonderfully engaging. Her descriptions of the scenery and places that Jane and the rest of the characters encounter are amazing. The themes of loss and self discovery were also very well developed and touching. Sullivan handles it delicately and with sensitivity, although she certainly doesn't shy away from the topics.  The only thing that I wish that there was more of was more explanation of the theft of Indigenous art and its reclamation, which is a topic that needs to be discussed more but is often simply put by the wayside.

Definitely grab this book at your earliest convenienc. 

Links I love

 

I hope that everyone had a good week. We made!

1. Appalachian authors on JD Vance.
2. A history of leaf peeping.
3. This looks good.
4. Japan's new Nintendo museum
5. These ten villains are top contenders for Disney's villain land

REVIEW Dear Sister by Michelle Horton

 

I was told about this book by a friend of mine and I'm glad that she told me about it.  Wow. Just wow. Michelle's sister is Nikki Addimando - I had heard about her case on Women and Crime but hadn't heard of the book that Michelle wrote about it. 

Michelle was a newly single mom, who was getting ready to go to her job, when the police knocked on her door to tell her that Nikki had been arrested for the murder of Chris Grover, Nikki's partner and the father of her children. Michelle's novel focuses on the past, Nikki's case,  how she manages in caring for two new children unexpectedly (including how to explain what happened to their parents) as well as her massive, heavy amounts of guilt for failing to see what was happening to her sister. Her novel also tries to introduce us to how women that are the victims of intimate partner violence and other abuses are further abused by the criminal justice system, and the penal system in particular.  Many of these victims don't have any resources, let alone the resources that Michelle was able to gather for her sister (which included money, childcare and legal representation, as well as publicity when appropriate). 

We learn of Nikki's abuse incrementally, as Horton learns of it. It is often very difficult to read and learn about, so if it will trigger you I would not recommend reading this book. It's very brutal at times. I liked how Michelle wrote this book. She often grounded the present experiences in Nikki's trials with stories about the generations of women in her family, as well as her own experiences growing up. 

This is a massively important and eye opening book that everyone should read and it was wonderfully written and bravely too. 

Links I love

 

I can't wait for fall and winter, which may make me unpopular but ok. I said it!  I hope that everyone had a good week!  I'm looking forward to heading to Lincoln for the upcoming long weekend.

1. Since Halloween is in a few months, a witch reading list seemed appropriate.
2. 20 Albums turning 50 in 2024.
3. DIY Anne of Green Gables for adults. 
4. Gabby Petito's parents and BTK's daughter? Together? On tour?
5. Seagull insurance!
6. How Sesame Street puppeteers control their puppets.
7. 8 cities library people shouldn't miss.
8. Halloween costumes for adults that are bookish.
9. What was it like to be a gladiator in Ancient Rome?

Links I love

 

I have been struggling with a slight summer cold, nothing like I had about two months ago but enough to make itself known.  I hope everyone else is feeling better.  Here are these week's stories:

1. The history of the cat lady.
2. Francine Pascal, of Sweet ValleyHigh Fame, has died.
3. Halloween treats are coming back soon.
4. The longlist for the Booker Prize is here.
5. Is candlepin bowling a dying art?

Links I love

 

This week has been HOT!  i hope that all have been keeping cool.

1. 16 facts about Glee.
2. Yikes.
3. What was it like to be a lighthouse keeper?
4. Guide to My Brilliant Friend.
5. Scary books set at summer camps.
6. Here is why most tornadoes occur in the US.
7. The worst things about Disney.
8. What makes a good karaoke song?
9. Fraudulent votes are disqualified.
10. Inside the high risk prosecution of a school shooter's parents.

Hope you have a good week!

REVIEW A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

 

It's been a while since my last review and I'm sorry about that. Things have been very busy lately. But here I am so please bear with me. 

While going through ancient texts in a library in Oxford, historian and witch Diana Bishop finds an ancient book that she refers to as Ashmole 782. Since she has wanted to distance herself from her magic and witch history so that she can continue to pass as human, she seeks to distance herself from that book as well by returning the book to the stacks. Unbeknownst to her, the book has been missing for centuries so her discovery and her ability to crack the code of the book has attracted the attention of vampires, demons and other witches. One of those vampires, Matthew Clairmont, has also been searching for that book and becomes drawn to Diana because he thinks she can lead him to it. He, however, soon finds himself drawn to her for reasons other than the book.

Harkness' writing style is intriguing, descriptive and lushly captivating. I felt immersed in the characters and their world. The characters are so developed that they are multifaceted and multilayered. They are complex, with intricate backstories, and yes, even flaws. They are far from perfect, which is refreshing.

I enjoyed it for sure.

Links I love

 

I hope that everyone had a great week! I'm sorry that I haven't been around - things h ave been very busy and I'm sick this weekend with a nasty cold and infected ear piercings.  I am begging forgiveness! I hope that everyone had a good Fourth.  I have a few reviews coming up.

1. Books that NPR editors are looking forward to being released this summer.
2. Most popular netflix shows are adaptations from books.
3. Which are the bestbest fictional bands?
4. 11 best pizza placesbest pizza places near Times Square.
5. Mortal KombatMortal Kombat controversy
6. Are you an introvert?
7. On SecretSocieties.
8. Ten best books set in Italy.
9. These look good too.