It’s been five weeks since we last met…
And I read a fuck ton of books. Now, there are some of you who regularly read like 15, 20 books each month and for you, my 13 seems like a paltry sum. But to me, that’s WAY above average and I don’ t know how y’all consistently do it. I’m very overwhelmed at the thought of writing this post, especially since I quit on Litsy and I am hella lazy about writing reviews on Goodreads.
May the odds be ever in our favor.
Oh, and before I forget, there’s a big SUYB announcement to make. Big. Huge! This weekend, Steph and I are hosting our very first Show Us Your Books readathon! The rules are simple:
- Read when you want and as much as you want
- Start any time on Friday you feel like it
- End any time on Sunday you feel like it
- Tag us in pictures on either IG or Twitter because we have prizes
So, essentially, it’s a regular weekend but we’re all reading together. And you might win shit for doing so. Yay!
Okay, with that out of the way, let’s get to my book reviews (for sake of argument, we’ll call them that). Don’t forget to visit Steph and some of the other bloggers joining us this month. Next one is March 12, for those of you who like to plan in advance.
What I read since the last time we met, in no particular order.
Alice Isn’t Dead by Joseph Fink. I was a huge fan of the podcast, and since I’m looking forward to the TV adaptation, I figured I’d give the book a whirl, too. WHY NOT. As it turns out, the book was just okay. Not a waste of time, and if you didn’t listen to the podcast, you’re fine reading it because it’s essentially a different story with the same characters and some plot similarities (like the whole Alice isn’t dead thing). Read the book. Listen to the podcast. Do one. The other isn’t necessary.
Take Me With You by Catherine Ryan Hyde. I adored this book. You know how sometimes you read a book and you know it’s just good but there’s not one defining characteristic that makes it so? Like, all of it is just GOOD and you’re so glad you picked it up and read it? That’s this book.
On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. This book broke my heart in a hundred different ways. It was confusing a bit to start but it evened out and OMG. So worth sorting out. I love how she writes teenagers as complete characters rather than caricatures, and she tells a captivating stories. The mystery element of this one added to it, too.
The Good Father by Noah Hawley. This is proceed with caution kind of book, especially if you are triggered (no pun intended. Seriously) by anything related to mass shootings or murderers. Because this book is the story of a father, a not-so-great one, to prove that his son is innocent of killing a presidential candidate. Of the Hawley books I’ve read, this is his best work by far. It’s a fascinating look in the mind of the parent and the shooter.
Other People’s Houses by Abbi Waxman. Meh. A Very Fine Book. Nothing special, nothing memorable. I did like how she brought some characters from her other books into this one. I find it fun when authors do that. The stalkery element of one of the characters concerned me a bit and I feel like it was glanced over. But this is a fine portrait of what goes on behind people’s closed doors. I guess.
Lightning Men by Thomas Mullen. The follow-up to Darktown, one of my favorites of 2017 (2016?). This book wasn’t quite as good as that one, but it came damn close. It addresses murder, crime, racism, integration, the KKK, and how they’re all intertwined in 1950s Atlanta. Honestly, the scope of this book is so big, it’s hard to review it fairly but it was fucking terrific.
Spy of the First Person by Sam Shepard. Blah. Boring AF and if it hadn’t been 80ish pages, I would have quit. It’s also Sam Shepard’s last book, he wrote it as he was dying, and it’s self-reflective. I feel like that makes me horrible for not liking it but it is what it is. However, I didn’t know what a prolific writer he was, though, and I’m seriously considering reading more of his work. I mean, this is Spud from Steel Magnolias. DOLLY’S HUSBAND IN THE MOVIE. I owe him at least one more pass on a book.
Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata. This is a short, weird little book that makes some very significant points about societal pressure on women to marry, have kids, “real” careers, and what happens when you don’t fit the mold of that. It’s dark and a bit messed up, particularly one of the male characters, and it’s translated from Japanese. That last part is mostly irrelevant but just in case you like to know those things when deciding to read a book.
Of Mess and Moxie by Jen Hatmaker. When I picked this book, I did so because of the name. I was only peripherally aware of Jen Hatmaker, and was not aware that she is essentially a Christian celebrity. Second, the fact that I “read” this as an audiobook without a doubt affected my experience with it. Not in a good way. Audiobooks are not for me, and this confirmed it. So there’s that. And while I was able to mostly tune out the religion stuff, and I related to a lot of the parenting and body image stuff, I found that a good portion of the book focused on her profound popularity and amazing group of friends without whom she simply could not survive NOT. FOR. ME. It made me, who does not have that, feel like shit. If this is supposed to empower women, maybe tone the popularity contest down a tad. We’re not all that fortunate.
Two Can Keep a Secret by Karen McManus. If you liked One of Us is Lying, you’ll probably like this. It’s not quite as…fluffy, if a murder book can be fluffy. Maybe I mean less YA-ish. Even though it’s YA. It’s much darker and violent, and the end left me wanting to take a shower because EW. I don’t want to describe why but if you read it, you’ll understand.
Maid by Stephanie Land. If you’ve been around awhile, you know I love some nonfiction, particularly when that nonfiction is about poverty in any capacity, from policy to memoir and everything in between. This one is a memoir of what it was like for a single mom living in poverty, not to mention dealing with an abusive ex, and a desire to move on from both, figuratively and literally. It’s a book that makes you think and really check your own privilege. NetGalley book I read not too much beyond its pub date.
Heartbreaker by Claudia Day. Not a fan of this book at all even though I wanted to be. it seemed like something I would LOVE. But nope. Her writing is good but when the best part is the cover, it’s time to move on. I finished it mostly because it was a NetGalley book and I don’t think I’m in their good graces right now. I’ve been rejected for like 4 books in the last month.
Foe by Iain Reid. I fucking loved I’m Thinking of Ending Things. It fucked with my head and I am so excited for the movie adaptation. I think it set up unrealistic expectations for this book, though. It was good -don’t get me wrong- but nothing like his first book. The ending is cool as hell, so if you get bored reading the whole book, just skip to the end. NO ONE WILL KNOW. Another NetGalley book I finally read.
TL; DR: Of all the books, read Lightning Men, the Good Father, Maid, and On the Jellicoe Road. Take Me with You and Two of Us Can Keep a Secret if you’re feeling feisty. Take or leave the rest.
Currently reading Calm the Fuck Down by Sarah Knight and The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker.
Now it’s your turn! Bloggers, link up and show us your books! Nonbloggers, let me know in the comments what you’ve been reading!
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