My reading slowed to almost a halt this past month. I don’t know what’s going on except that I’m insanely distracted. I also tried to force myself to read a book that was not doing it for me because I kept hearing good things about it and that killed my reading motivation. Spoiler: I quit on it because I truly didn’t find the book worth it and now when I see it on all these best of lists I’m all WHAT THE FUCK THAT BOOK IS NOT GOOD AND YOU ALL ARE VERY MISLEADING! I don’t think I’m cut out for artsy-type books and that’s what this one was. The book? We’ll get to that in a minute.
As always, don’t forget to visit Steph and some of the other bloggers linking up. And also don’t forget that we’re having a second, special year end edition on 12/26 where we’ll all get together and talk about our favorite reads of the year.
Here’s what I read:
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. This was the DNF. It’s not that it’s a bad book with a bad plot. It’s just that stylistically, this book is a humongous pain in the ass to read and I didn’t care enough to keep trying. Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever read a more annoying book except for maybe A Prayer for Owen Meany. And I quit that one, too. (No link because fuck this book)
X by Chuck Klosterman. Of his 10 books, I’ve read 8. I quit on one and skipped another for some reason so needless to say, I’m a fan of Chuck Klosterman (we also share the same birthday so that’s fun for me). He’s smart and so good at pop culture commentary and making connections where you might not see them with just the right bit of sarcasm and wit. This book, which is really just a collection of essays he’s written elsewhere, reminded me of why I like him so much but it also wasn’t my favorite. Fortunately none of the essays built on each other so it was easy to skip around.
One of Us Is Lying by Karen McManus So this book is like The Breakfast Club gone wrong meets 13 Reasons Why with a mystery/thriller twist that’s actually pretty easy to figure out even if you might question yourself at times (don’t. Once you’ve figured it out, that’s what it is). It’s fast paced and engaging enough that I read it in a day (I tend to read YA books quickly) and knowing the “whodunit” part didn’t ruin it and you wind up caring about and rooting for the kids. The ending was rushed and a little too neatly tied up for me but overall, it was a solid read and a good way to spend a day.
Ghettoside by Jill Leovy A painful, important in-depth look at homicide among black men in LA, centered around one case while not neglecting others, this book will make you angry and make you think. From the lack of resources for detectives, an environment that offers little protection, and a hugely systematic problem on all fronts, she covers the complex issue from all sides in a sensitive yet matter of fact manner. She also works to dispel some stereotypes of the detectives, neighborhoods, perpetrators, and victims and given the world we live in, it was an important highlight.
Dark of the Moon by John Sandford. This was a very fine, standard, nothing outrageously special mass market mystery. Virgil Flowers is a fun character and Sandford is a good writer but I am in no rush to read any more in this series but I would stock up on a few before a vacation or long plane ride.
Joe Victim by Paul Cleave. I love his books, I love how fucked up they are, I love his writing, I love everything about the way he tells a story and I’m also now terrified to go to New Zealand but that’s fine if it means he keeps writing books. I don’t like this Joe quite as much as Joe Goldberg but I would like to see them in a cage match. This was the sequel to The Cleaner and I really, really hope there’s a third in this series.
Currently reading My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent.
TL;DR: Joe Victim and Ghettoside FTW this month! Everything else is based on your own taste except I do not recommend Lincoln in the Bardo because people who tell you it’s good are liars.
Now it’s your turn!
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One of Us is Lying is already on my TBR and I’m definitely adding the Paul Cleave book. I read Trust No One (I think that was the title – too lazy to confirm) and it was really good. Ghettoside sounds like a need to read and hard to read book. I’ve read a couple of Sandford books from his Lucas Davenport series. I enjoyed them but not as much as I like JD Robb or Lee Child, which I would consider to be comparable.
Tanya @ A Mindful Migration recently posted…November Bookshelf: Got My Reading Mojo Back
Yup. That’s one of his books. READ THEM ALL.
It’s such a weird feeling when people fawn over a book that I couldn’t stand! I just found a summary of Lincoln in the Bardo and it sounds very odd, so I’ll definitely skip this one. Thanks for the honest review!
Rachel @ Never Enough Novels recently posted…2017 Book Survey
I didn’t mind the premise but the style was not for me
i am definitely not cut out for artsy-type books either, so definitely not checking that one out. glad you liked one of us is lying! your review makes me want to move it up my list. joe victim sounds interesting and terrifying.
Thank goodness you didn’t like the Lincoln book either. I was the only person out there who DNF’d it, that I knew of. I can’t even explain why I didn’t like it. I heard of someone last week who read it and THEN listened to the audio because they enjoyed it so much. I can’t with that.
I started One of Us is Lying but couldn’t get into it by the first few chapters. I may have to give it another try, since I had no idea what it was about before I put it on hold and it sounds like my kind of book! I also had a reading slump last month and did not read my usual amount.
Nancy @ NY Foodie Family recently posted…November 2017 Reads
I think reading slumpiness is going around
Lincoln in the Bardo is what I’m reading next, but I already read/listened to half of it earlier this year– it was hard for me to get the hang of the format but I’m still really intrigued, can definitely see why it’s polarizing and people seem to love it or hate it. I really enjoyed One of Us is Lying and Ghettoside.
Carly recently posted…Carly Reads Here | December
Ugh…I hate when a bad book ruins my reading flow! Definitely adding “One of Us is Lying” to my TBR list!
I liked your description of One of Us Is Lying. I thought it was pretty solid, too.
I like when YA does a murder/thriller story
I had a crap month reading, too and zero of them are worth of non-fiction soul mate. However, I’ve heard good things about one of us is lying, so I’m going to add it – as well as Joe Victim.
Confession – I added Lincoln in the Bardo to my TBR last month? month before? because of all the people recommending it. It’ll stay on there and I knocked it down a few ranks … but let’s be honest, do I really think I’ll get to every book on my list before I die? That’s a big nope. A Breakfast Club murder mystery is right up my alley — going to bump One of Us is Lying up a few. 🙂
As discussed previously, I read about 15 pages of Lincoln in the library, put it down, and will never pick it back up.
I am not a Klosterman fan. I’ve read two of his at the urging of a friend. I just don’t connect with him.
SMD recently posted…Show Us Your Books: the gift of reading
I actually DO want to read Lincoln in the Bardo but I like weirdly written books. LOL I’m hoping to read One of Us is Lying in the near future though!
-Lauren
ShootingStarsMag recently posted…Show Us Your Books: Cozy Christmas Edition
I am a firm believer in quitting books that aren’t working for me, no matter how much other people liked them. Sometimes I feel like others lie about how much they like things just because they feel they are supposed to or something. I dont know. I added One of Us is Lying last month during the link up, I am looking forward to it. I had a shit reading month and only got in two books, so you are doing better than me!
I enjoyed One Of Us IS Lying more than I should be allowed to… and I loved your review of it. I do agree that it was wrapped up too neatly at the end and the good girl, bad boy story line bothered me, and had my rolling my eyes so hard that I think they live in the back of my head now.
I am adding Ghettoside to my TBR list.
Your “halt” was still more than mine- I only had 2 this past month! Haha. One of Us Is Lying is totally on my TBR, sounds fun.
I’ve been wondering about that One Of Us Is Lying book… I’ve been hesitant to read it so I appreciate your review!
Did you ever watch the 13 Reasons Why? — I couldn’t finish it!
One of Us Is Lying is at the top of my list for next year. I’ve heard that the ‘whodunit’ is easy to guess so I guess we’ll see what I come up with… lol
Audrey recently posted…What I Read… vol. 12
I love the icon! Is it new?? I’ll have to add it to my posts instead of using the old one…
Also, I feel you on Lincoln in the Bardo – I haven’t read it, but I’ve purposefully abstained b/c I’ve heard a lot of complaints. No point in struggling through a book you’re not feeling. Especially if it holds you back from books you’d enjoy more!
Megan recently posted…Show Us Your Books – December 2017
I’m glad that I’m not the only one that didn’t have that great of a reading month- which means that I didn’t read anything in November! I’ve already read one book in December though so that’s a good thing. Anyways that Joe Victim book sounds really good! I need to check out the series!
I highly recommend it! Paul Cleave is awesome!
I quit Lincoln in the Bardo, too. I do not understand the hype. I also started and stopped X, but can’t remember why now. I think I’ve read 5-6 Kolsterman books and also love him. I should get back to it. And yes, I 100% agree with you about One Of Us Is Lying!
Christina recently posted…What I Read In November
I’ve considered adding One of Us Is Lying to my TBR for a while now.
Teh Megan recently posted…SUYB: Fall Books
One of Us is Lying is on my TBR list. My husband loves Sandford’s book, but I know he wasn’t too impressed with this latest one either.
Your first paragraph made me laugh. WHAT THE FUCK THAT BOOK IS NOT GOOD AND YOU ALL ARE VERY MISLEADING! Ahahaha!!
Confuzzled Bev recently posted…The books I read in November 2017
One of us is Lying sounds interesting!!! I have no desire to pick up Lincoln in the Bardo at all — the plot and the format just don’t seem like something I’d like.
Heather recently posted…Show us Your Books – What I Read Last Month
Hi Jana. I recommend listening to Lincoln in the Bardo (and have the hardcover handy). It was definitely a different kind of book. Took me a while to settle into it. I loved the different voices utilized on the audio. For me it is the type of book I would definitely need to read/listen to more than once. It is easy to miss alot. Pam 🙂
Pam recently posted…Sea Glassing
I enjoyed One of Us Is Lying. I’ve always felt iffy about reading Lincoln in the Bardo and now I know I don’t ever need to read it, so thanks!
Oh no! Lincoln in the Bardo is on my nightstand for when I finish my current book. It keeps popping up as a must read all over the internet so I got it from the library.
I agree, A Prayer for Owen Meany was garbage, but I finished it for some reason. I don’t know why I keep coming back to John Irving.
I hate when a book totally ruins your reading mojo. I’m not a huge fan of quitting books, but sometimes you just have to!
Alison – Puppies & Pretties recently posted…Red Plaid and Neutrals
I have Lincoln in the Bardo on my TBR but I have heard it’s very different and also maybe better on audio. I’m not a big audio book listener but maybe that’s the best way to do that one. I’m going to add Ghettoside to my TBR, it sounds like a great one to add to my nonfiction stack. I’ll be curious to hear what you think of My Absolute Darling. I though it was hard to read in a lot of ways but I really did love it.