I think one of my goals for 2019 should be to start writing again. I miss it, and I feel terrible that I only check in here when it’s time for Show Us Your Books. I mean, it could be worse. Like, there’s no SUYB at all and then I never write or talk about books or catch up with all the awesome people who participate. That would be awful. I don’t want to think about that. So I won’t.

What I do want to think about is books. Because that’s why we’re all here today. Books. I read 7 of them since the last SUYB, with 2 put on my “let’s try this again later because it’s too much for me right now” list. Most of the books I read were enjoyable enough. Some I really, really liked but didn’t necessarily give high star ratings to (if you pay attention to that sort of thing) for whatever reason. I genuinely have no idea why I rated some a 3.5 when they should have been higher. Anyway. It’s arbitrary and doesn’t really matter.

Here’s what I actually thought about them. Some of the reviews are copied from Litsy while others are pulled from my memory because I just can’t do another social media right now.

…And then You Die of Dysentery: Lessons in Adulting from the Oregon Trail by Lauren Reeves. If you know me, you know my obsession with the Oregon Trail. I found this very short, very entertaining book that I read in 20 minutes at Barnes and Noble where I parked my ass in a chair and read it from start to finish. Guys, this book is freaking hysterical and I can’t recommend enough that you somehow find a way to read it. It actually would make a great stocking stuffer gift.

Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me this book because holy fucking shit was it good. I think I liked it better than Evelyn, and if any of her books is made into a movie, it needs to be this one and the fact that SHE WROTE SONGS…WHAT?! She’s amazing. I don’t want to say too much but the narrative of this book is creative and incredibly well-written, and the little twist at the end (well, one of the two. I kind of figured out one) I did not see coming. Also, if you’ve read it, did you completely picture Daisy as a Stevie Nicks-type person? OH! If you have Spotify, you can find the playlist that inspired the book, too.

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren. This book is everything I hate in a book but yet, I found myself reading it in one day. Despite this book’s many, many flaws, it was exactly what I needed to read at the moment I read it and didn’t not hate it at all. It is light and fun and stupidly annoying and I don’t know that I want to ever read it or anything like it again but here we are, with me actually enjoying a rom-com book. Someone send help.

Heartland by Sarah Smarsh. Another NetGalley book for me but this one was nonfiction, and one I’d been meaning to get around to for a couple of months before I did. Like Hillbilly Elegy, this should be read as a memoir rather than a representation of Appalachia or those who voted for that guy. Unlike Hillbilly Elegy, she is upfront about that and also, the writing is excellent. Her story of escaping poverty and teenage pregnancy is definitely the bootstrap-type story we embrace but it’s so much more than that. It’s her family’s history and its impact on her and her choices. It did leave me with some questions, and the fact that that it’s written as a letter to the baby she never had (she’s consciously never been pregnant) was weird at times, but if you liked Educated, I actually think this was marginally better.

Sadie by Courtney Summers. A disturbing, chilling, violent YA thriller. It’s also terribly sad. It happened to be an excellent book if you like that sort of thing. There’s also a podcast element to it, both as transcripts in the book to help tell the story, and as an actual podcast you can listen to (the transcripts are what the actual podcast is based on). Probably one of my favorite books of the year.

Presidio by Randy Kennedy. Meh. It’s an okay book that underdelivered on plot and overdelivered on writing. I feel like I was kind of mislead about the point of the book, which is fine, but it left me feeling empty and pissed at the end. He’s a great writer, and descriptions are his strength, but developing a plot is not. I wanted more telling instead of showing, and I wanted more of the letters to the police written by the main character than I did some of the other stuff. I do love the cover, though.

Limetown by Cote Smith. If you like the podcast, or plan to listen to the podcast, this book is a must-read. It is outstanding in that context and both explains and sets up so much. I actually plan to listen to the whole thing from the beginning, knowing what I know now. The only thing that kept it from being a 5-star review for me was I couldn’t keep everyone and everything straight. It made me dizzy at times. However, as a stand-alone book, this book makes almost no sense. It’s still a fascinating story and well written but it’s just better with the podcast (which came first. Sort of like what they did with Welcome to Night Vale and Alice Isn’t Dead and Homecoming).

Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver and Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak were the two that I started but had to stop because they are just too much for me right now. I’m not calling them DNF because I will read them at some point.

Currently reading The Punch by Noah Hawley and The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman.

TL; DR: All the books I read this month were excellent, except for Presidio. If you need to prioritize, go with Sadie and Daisy Jones. 

A couple of housekeeping things: Don’t forget to visit my co-host, Steph, and some other participating bloggers. Also, we’re having a bonus linkup on December 26 where we discuss our favorite books of the year so make sure to join us then. And finally, now it’s your turn! Link up and show us your books!

Well, it looks like I can write some words after all. I probably should make this more regular. I feel good when I write even if no one is really reading except a few. You know who you are. I see you. And I thank you.

Anyway, after last month’s marathon 13 books, the pace slowed to my standard 6. Which is fine because at least Goodreads is leaving me alone. And, to be honest, I’m not really even sure I like that app anymore. I’ll keep it because there’s no way I’m redoing my TBR but meh. I’m kind of over the whole Goodreads thing.

Also, is NetGalley being a gigantic asshole for anyone else? I’ve requested several books and feel like they’ve ghosted me. I haven’t gotten a yes OR a no but I see people reading books I asked for months ago and…nothing. Not a word from them. I’m started to feel like I should just return to my old-school way of reading books.

Finally, if you follow me on IG, you know that my old man dog, Barkley, is obsessed with my books (in case you haven’t, I’ve included some pictures in this post). I’m thinking about starting an account for him but I’m not sure. Thoughts?

While you’re thinking about that, have a look at what I read since we last got together:

Florida by Lauren Groff Meh. A fine book of short stories. A couple were excellent but the rest were take them or leave them. I didn’t really like Fates and Furies but wanted to give another one of her books a chance. I don’t think she’s for me and don’t see myself reading another one of her books. I think I found this one from Instagram.

A Terrible Country by Keith Gessen I don’t know how I feel about this book. On the one hand, it was a crash course on Russia and Russian culture in the context of the 2008 financial crisis and a magnificent story but on the other hand, it was a tedious, boring, overwritten plot with terrible, annoying bro culture characters. I guess they’re not mutually exclusive but it doesn’t help me figure out my feelings and whether or not I loved or hated it. Can’t remember where I heard about it. 

So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know by Retta Funny, smart, honest, and I felt like I was listening to a her tell stories rather than reading a book. Which is exactly what would have happened had I listened to the audiobook, I guess. I love how she is 100% herself and stays true to that, even in the writing, and regardless of how it makes her look. I want her as my new BFF. My favorite chapters were the ones on body image and her childhood and I want her on all the shows. Found this through her IG.

Sunburn by Laura Lippman I liked this book a lot. It was a mess, but an organized, mind-twisting mess. Lots to keep track but it actually made sense in the context of the plot because…well, I can’t say because then it gives too much away. AND. It takes place in Delaware. Which is where I live and books are infrequently set here. I did struggle with the inaccurate geography but that’s just being nitpicky and doesn’t mean anything to the actual goodness of the book. I also liked the 1995 setting. Making it modern would have ruined some stuff. Learned about this one either through SUYB or a Buzzfeed list.  

Vox by Christina Dalcher I loved this maddening, all-to-plausible dystopian novel. I wanted to scream after every page because this shit could actually happen. For real. And in some subcultures, it’s already happening. But the end. Yuck. It was super satisfying but also kind of a predictable cop-out and that made me sad. It didn’t detract from me liking the book, even with the confusing science, but I wanted something different. Something that made a stronger point, I think. Learned about this one through either SUYB or some must-read list. 

The Book of Essie by Meghan Maclean Weir I read this book in 24 hours. I could not put it down. I know it’s fiction but given some of the…scandals in the fundamental Christian world, it felt like a ripped-from-the-headlines type book. So well done, so well written, filled with morally flawed characters in terrible situations and she handled some of the religious stuff without being preachy or disrespectful. It was an interesting choice after Vox and I’m not sure that I recommend that, though. Thanks to SUYB for this one.

TL; DR: Florida and A Terrible Country are meh and wouldn’t rush to them at all, if ever. Definitely recommend the other 4. Like, a lot. For different reasons but yeah. Read them. 

Currently reading Less by Andrew Sean Greer

Next linkup is October 9th and it’s our FOUR YEAR anniversary and you can bet we have some shit planned so definitely mark that down on your calendars.

For now, remember to visit my co-host, Steph, and some other book nerds joining us and Show Us Your Books!

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