It’s book time again. Yay! I love book time not only because it’s the only time of the month I remember to write and engage with people not on social media, but because I love finding new books to love (and hate). And since books are my only hobby, it all works out well.
This month I did something I rarely do. Two things, really. I read FOUR NetGalley books in one month and listened to an audiobook. I don’t know, man. COVID’s making me do weird things.
My total since we last met is 10, which makes sense since it was a week longer than our usual four and I was on vacation and I always read more on vacation. It’s amazing how much I can get read when work doesn’t interfere. Don’t get me wrong. I like my job. But it does interfere with all the books.
Rude.
So here’s what I read in no particular order:
The Removed and Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson. I’m reviewing both books together because I have basically the same thing to say about them and since they’re both by the same author, it works. He is a good writer. His stories are different and interesting but they’re super slow and feel like they drag at times, which is not what you want in relatively short books. I wouldn’t NOT recommend them, but don’t rush to get them either.
Oslo, Maine by Marcia Butler. Facets of this book were excellent. She made a moose an integral part of the story (not unlike the camel in Stolen). The memory loss plot was pivotal. But for the most part, it was mediocre. I didn’t really care what happened to anyone except the moose and the epilogue was way too neat for how messy the story was. Thanks, NetGalley, for this one (not sarcasm. It was a good, quick vacation read).
The Incredible Winston Browne by Sean Dietrich. If I were someone who cried, I would have sobbed at this book. I loved it. All of it. The historical context, the weird side plots, the setting which was a character itself, the weaving of baseball into the whole thing, the writing. I’m so so glad I read this book (and it wasn’t at the top of my vacation list, either). Thanks for another one, NetGalley.
You Love Me by Caroline Kepnes. As I said on IG, I love Joe. I will always love Joe. But this book…oy. It was slow, circular, repetitive, and there were too many fucking people and plots and it felt like kind of a mess at times. I feel like I did after the third Louisa book. I think I’m done with Joe’s story now. And if there are more, I won’t be in a rush to read it. Yet another NetGalley book (that I wound up preordering because I didn’t think I would get approved so now I have a paper copy, too).
Sweet Virginia by Caroline Kepnes. This was the audiobook, and it’s narrated by Kristen Bell. It’s a great story (it’s part of the Out of Line collection on Amazon) but for me, it lost something listening to it. I would have preferred to read it. I think the annoying parts would have been less annoying if they weren’t being read to me and the darker parts would have been more engaging.
The Three Mothers by Anna Malaika Tubbs. This is the story of Berdis Baldwin, Alberta King, and Louise Little. You know their sons: James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, Jr, and Malcolm X. By using these three icons, the author talks about what it was like to be a Black mother and how they influenced (heavily) their sons, along with discussions of civil rights, racism, and outliving your children. She also gives them their rightful place in history. It’s not an easy book, but it is excellent and I highly recommend it.
Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson. There is no denying her talent but honestly, I didn’t love this book. It was kind of fragmented and read weird, but it did tell quite a story of poverty and friendship and death, addiction, loss, and a whole host of other things we don’t really like to talk about that much.
The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth. I flew through this book. Definitely a great twisty domestic thriller (and, side note, I liked the domestic part was between sisters rather than spouses. Something different) with an end that is both predictable and comes out of nowhere. It’s in the same realm as BA Paris, JP Delaney, and all the other initial thriller writers if that’s your thing. Thanks for yet another book, NetGalley.
The Unwilling by John Hart. I’d probably call this a thriller but it’s more just solid fiction with some violence thrown in. Not quite graphic violence, but violence and mystery. Similar to Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens. I guess normal people call this crime fiction. Anyway, regardless of how you label it, it’s really good. The characters are compelling, you want to know what happens next, and I’ll definitely read some more of his books because I like his writing a lot.
TL; DR: The Three Mothers, The Unwilling, The Good Sister, and The Incredible Winston Browne are my must-reads for this month. The rest are, as always, a use-your-judgment situation.
Currently reading: The Last Secret You’ll Ever Keep by Laurie Faria Stolarz.
OK. Now it’s your turn to link up and show us your books! Nonbloggers, leave a comment with what you’ve recently read and don’t forget to visit my co-host Steph, some of the other bloggers on this list, and mark down May 11 for our next one.
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The Good Sister sounds like a real page turner. I’ve still got to read the Mother-in-law which has been on my TBR list for ages. I’ve enjoyed B A Paris so I know I’ll enjoy this.
March sounds like a great reading month – so envious of 10 books.
I am reading The Good Sister right now and I’m enjoying it. Thanks for hosting!
The Three Mothers sounds fascinating. I’m putting that on my list right now.
I really liked The Good Sister too. I have to read You Love Me.
Ooh the Three Mothers sounds like a fantastic concept. The Good Sister sounds really good too, I’ve been wanting to read more from Sally Hepworth.
I feel like i’ve been trying to get my hands on The Good Sister for months. I finally was able to request it from the library this week since it’s just officially come out.
The Good Sister sounds great!
Adding The Unwilling to my list. I really love Sally Hepworth, she is a solid read for me and I flew through The Good Sister as well.
I have a few Sally Hepworth books on my radar but I’ve yet to actually read one! The Good Sister also sounds good.
Confuzzled Bev recently posted…What I read in March 2021
Well, I’m one of the odd birds who didn’t connect with Joe from You. But I definitely understand how their stories keep going past where they should. The Unwilling and The Good Sister sound interesting to me – adding them to my TBR. Since I haven’t been reading much, my NetGalley shelf is full of old books so I’m guessing I’m on their shit list. 🙂
Tanya @ A Mindful Migration recently posted…March Bookshelf: Hello, Remember Me?
I really liked The Good Sister too.
Dara recently posted…Poetry and Books in Verse for National Poetry Month
Linking up for first time with ya’ll! Thanks for the “Must Read” comments. My TBR pile, in all honesty, is too tall to add anything to right now! Have a terrific Tuesday!
Debra Eliotseats recently posted…“Show Us Your Books”: What I Read in March
I didn’t find the 4Winds to be slow either; just sad and depressing and I really did not like the ending either but I guess it wouldn’t have been realistic to have a happy storybook ending.
I am really curious about The Three Mothers and The Good Sister now. Glad you had a wonderful reading month.
I love John Hart. I’ve read a lot of his stuff.
Ditto to everything on Winston Browne. I loved it much more than I expected to.
I am waiting on The Three Mothers to come in at my library. Hopefully soon!
mackenzie recently posted…As The Page Turns: April Edition
Good to know about The Removed. I am more intrigued by The Good Sister now– I’ve seen it all over, but have never looked at what it was about.
I need to read The Three Mothers. I hadn’t heard of it before but it sounds excellent. I felt the same way about The Removed, but I still want to read Where the Dead Sit Talking.
Carolann recently posted…Recent Reads
I’m still intrigued by the story of a moose. LOL The Three Mothers has caught my eye before. It may make it to my TBR list yet. Thanks for sharing!
Becki recently posted…Show Us Your Books – March 2021
I haven’t cried in about (looks at watch) 24 hours or so so maybe I’m finally ready for The Incredible Winston Browne. Also, I cackled at “I didn’t really care what happened to anyone except the moose ” because some books are just like that.
I don’t read much non-fiction, but I heard a podcast interview with the author of The Three Mothers, and it sounded really interesting. She was really insightful. And I flew through The Good Sister as well and agree that it was a nice change to have the domestic thing be between sisters rather than spouses, but I couldn’t shake a certain feeling of real ickiness about someone who maybe had mental challenges being taken advantage of, until I got a bit further along into the story, so that colored the whole book a bit for me.
Anne recently posted…wearing lately: spring classics
Have seen so many good things about Good Sister – Hepworth is always a solid read for me. Definitely adding Three Mothers to the list as well.
So jealous of all your reading and vacation time! As always, some solid reads here that I’m adding to my list.
Karly
https://www.whatkarlysaid.com
My jaw dropped when you said you listened to an audiobook! LOL jk jk. Way to clear that Netgalley queue a bit! Loved The Good Sister!
Unfortunately, I’m a non-blogger but I LOVE finding new blogs to follow especially with solid book recommendations. I am definitely adding “The Good Sister” to my TBR pile. Thank you. I recently finished “Girl with the Rose Tattoo” by Larry Weiss. This is a book that had me hooked from start to finish. It’s considered a crime fiction thriller but I think it has so many layers to it that I think it’s hard to stick it in one genre. The book follows Tina, a young 18 year old woman, who finds herself living a life she never imagined. She is stuck with Rob, an abusive partner in a biker gang that treats her like his property. She tries to better herself but it’s hard to do with a partner who belittles you and sabotages your advancements. Tina lives in fear and it isn’t until she’s pregnant that she decides to stand up for herself and keep the baby. Rob kicks her out and she is forced to figure out how to start over, alone. He and his biker gang do not make things easy for Tina and she is lucky to meet her protector/ally/mentor/friend Jenny. As I said there is so much character development and heartfelt moments that really make this feel like a wide range of genres but the surprises along the way and occasional violence brings you back into crime/thriller territory. Hope you will check it out. This is a book that has a lot to offer! (website – https://street-fiction-writer.com/)
I bet it felt so good to check some of those NetGalley books off your list! Yay! I’m sad I missed the link up but my reading has been pathetic so I didn’t have much to show. Lol. Sigh.
Audrey recently posted…Eight Years