Beth and I normally wait to chat at the midpoint, but I shared with her early on that this book was amazing and so refreshingly different from other bBeth and I normally wait to chat at the midpoint, but I shared with her early on that this book was amazing and so refreshingly different from other books we’ve read recently. I don’t know what it is is about books being called “spy thrillers” that sometimes makes me shy away. The main character happens to be a spy but not at all like any I’ve read shared in a book before.
There’s so much in this story that worked perfectly for me. The dark humor threaded in often… The boldness of the main character, Sadie. The atmosphere in the remote Guyenne valley of France, along with a commune. The slight dystopian eco thriller vibes. The characters, all carved in three dimension. The snappy writing. The suspense that builds up until the last page. The short chapters! What a dream.
And, especially, Bruno, and what he contributed to the story with his emails to the activists. One of my majors in college was anthropology and all the sharing about Neanderthals and other earlier human life; well, it was just absolutely fascinating in how it was inserted throughout the story.
Sadie is rough around the edges and not trying to impress us, but she’s impressive all the same. I could not have loved this more, from beginning to end. Beth and I have plans to read the entirety of literary rockstar Rachel Kushner’s backlist.
Oh my goodness, let me introduce you to this book, one of my favorites this year. What a gift, a gem, a story to savor. You may have seen updates in mOh my goodness, let me introduce you to this book, one of my favorites this year. What a gift, a gem, a story to savor. You may have seen updates in my stories. This is one I read slowly and took my time. As someone who loves the fascinating history of the islands of North Carolina, I was extremely excited to learn more about Cumberland Island, off the coast of Georgia. Set in two timelines, 1932 and 1959, which I found equally compelling, everything about this story sparkles. The atmosphere- whoa, as rich as they come with the salty air on your face and the mammoth mansions crumbling before your very eyes.
The characters - also, wow. Cleo Woodbine, a painter/hermit, who may be somewhat of a witch. Audrey, a recent widow, tends the local hotel. And Frances Flood, trained in folklore (kind of perfect for this novel), travels to the island for answers about her late mother. I loved the male characters, especially Jimmy Walker. This story- well, it’s all about stories and storytelling. It’s so much, cleverly crafted and layered, but yet easy to immerse within, approachable, endearing, rich, warm.
I hope I’ve told you just enough to entice you because The Fabled Earth is worthy of all the stars and then some. It’s one of my favorites this year, climbing into my heart.
Several years ago, my cousin recommended books and authors to me, including Anita Shreve, Ann Patchett, and Tracy Chevalier. She specifically asked meSeveral years ago, my cousin recommended books and authors to me, including Anita Shreve, Ann Patchett, and Tracy Chevalier. She specifically asked me to read The Virgin Blue by Chevalier, which I vividly remember reading as one of the first books in my new home. I quickly followed that read with The Lady and the Unicorn, and I had a new favorite author. Now that I’m circling back to this home, it feels like the best kind of kismet to circle back to Chevalier with her new release The Glassmaker. This exceptional book is one of my favorites this year, and I could not have loved it more.
The Glassmaker skips through centuries of time set on the island of Murano, near Venice, focusing on one family, one glassmaker, especially, Orsola. Beginning in the late 1400s when Venice is the epicenter of trade, Orsolo Rosso is the eldest daughter in a glassmaking family. Because she is a woman, she is not “eligible” to make glass; however, when times get hard, she has to contribute to keep the family afloat. Time travels through the plague up through the present day. Venice time is said to move differently, more slowly, and I absolutely treasured being able to follow this same family through time. I’m not sure I’ve read another book structured this way, and it worked seamlessly.
Chevalier clearly did her research when it comes to glassmaking, and I was absorbed in the detail of how the work evolved over time and the daily lives of the makers. There are some larger-than-life real life characters who visit the story, too, such as Casanova. The Glassmaker held me rapt. Perfectly-written, absorbing, and immersive; it reminded me why Tracy Chevalier has been on my favorite author list for almost twenty years. Highly, highly recommend. Hist fic fans, this is the cream of the crop.
Catherine Newman’s We All Want Impossible Things was one of my favorite books of 2023, and just as soon as I saw Sandwich hit @goodreads, with its earCatherine Newman’s We All Want Impossible Things was one of my favorite books of 2023, and just as soon as I saw Sandwich hit @goodreads, with its early blank cover, I added it to my TBR and began stalking its release, and here it is!
How does Catherine Newman pack so much into this slim story? The emotion… the HUMOR… I read this one in a couple of quick sittings and shared many anecdotes with my mom that had her chuckling, too. Life is so much easier when you can find the humor in the mundane, especially when you can laugh at yourself, which Newman conveys so well though the insights of her characters.
Rocky is the star of the novel, and she’s perfectly imperfect. If you’ve ever had a single hot flash, you can understand some of her emotions, and if you’ve ever made a hard choice you may have second guessed for years, you will feel seen by Rocky’s story, too.
The story takes place during a week spent at the beach together, following a family tradition held for years. The same house, the same family members with an addition or two, the same big love, and also the secrets lingering just below the surface.
I’m most grateful for a story of someone meandering through midlife the best she can, with real struggles, lots of emotion, and shifting dynamics; all balanced with characters who have good hearts, who feel like real people, and who make it through, with the help of each other, even when it’s very, very hard.
Sandwich is what I call the perfect read. It has everything I want in a story and delivered every ounce of what I hoped it would be. I sent Catherine Newman a DM while reading and asked if she could please write all the books. ...more
Everyone is absolutely right about The Wedding People. I could not have loved this book more.
Phoebe, a recently divorced adjunct college professor, haEveryone is absolutely right about The Wedding People. I could not have loved this book more.
Phoebe, a recently divorced adjunct college professor, has arrived at the Cornwall Hotel, a place she’s dreamt of visiting for years. Leaving her entire past life behind, literally walking away, she is struggling hard with her mental health. Upon arriving at the hotel, she discovers it’s been almost entirely booked for a wedding party… She is the lone person not a member. She meets the bride, Lila, and from there forms a friendship and so much more than that.
In The Wedding People, the darkness of mental health struggles is not the focus. Instead, it’s connection. Humor. Growth. Understanding. Love. So much love. There’s so much to love about these characters. This story will make you feel good, but it’s not in a high (only one) note, easy story way, though it’s highly readable and perfectly written. This is a carefully, tenderly drawn story with substance out the wazoo. I’m on a reading roll right now, and this was another favorite for me this year. Phoebe’s insights into marriage and separation made me feel seen, and this story of opening her new chapter gave me a lot of hope for my own.
Oh my goodness. Where to start. When I read Stella Fortuna near its release, I knew I would read anything Juliet Grames writes, and I started countingOh my goodness. Where to start. When I read Stella Fortuna near its release, I knew I would read anything Juliet Grames writes, and I started counting down until her next book. Everyone should be talking about this book, and it will definitely be a favorite of mine this year.
Years ago I visited Italy and Sicily, and I learned more about the history of Calabria. The beautiful towns built right into the sides of mountains, it was easy to imagine picturesque Santa Chionia among the towns I was able to see. The sunsets, too. She painted those clearly as well.
Speaking of clear, Juliet Grames’ writing style is clear and offers full immersion in the captivating story. Human remains are found in the small town, just as Francesca has arrived to open a nursery school there. Ultimately, she is tasked with solving the mystery of those bones, which is, at times, quite harrowing.
The town and entire region of Italy springs to life in so many ways. Its history of brigands, the poverty, the roles of women and their mistreatment, and the unbreakable paesa values. Francesca is a strong and solid main character. She’s sharing this story decades after it happened. Some of the townspeople are sketchy, maybe even dangerous, while others are charming and fully complex. You never know exactly who Francesca, typically referred to as “Maestra/teacher,” can trust.
The story involves an entire town, so there are, indeed, lots of character names (in Italian because it’s set in Italy). You’ll notice the author typically clarifies after the name, “Tito, the Wolf,” the priest, the bricklayer, the bar owner, etc. I had no issues keeping everyone straight.
The Lost Boy of Santa Chionia is a story that made me put aside all my other books, so I had no distractions from its multiple layers and captivating plot. Grames is a wordsmith, and I appreciated the vocabulary challenge. A favorite of mine this year, I’m immensely grateful Juliet Grames is on my list of favorite authors.
As someone who adores magical realism in novels, there just aren’t enough of these on the market, and when they are this special, it makes me want to As someone who adores magical realism in novels, there just aren’t enough of these on the market, and when they are this special, it makes me want to shout from the rooftops! I already knew I loved Heather Webber’s books, having read several of her past books. A Certain Kind of Starlight is just as magical.
The story is narrated by half sisters Addie and Tessa Jane and features their beloved Aunt Beans who owns a bakery in a small southern town. Ok, the sweetness of the bakery setting got me good, with all its smells and sights. I LOVED it. Also, it’s easy to love Addie, Tessa Jane, Aunt Bean, and almost all the side characters, except the ones who are super unlikable villains, like Tessa Jane’s grandfather.
As one might predict from the title, the magic involves starlight, but I won’t give it away. It’s way too fun to explore in the story, and I loved how it was all executed. Fans of Sarah Addison Allen should definitely check this one out, as well as all of Heather Webber’s novels. The characters are endearing, and the magic blends seamlessly into the story. The town is charming. I gobbled this up. It was the perfect escape read for me and exactly what I needed to add brightness to my summer reading. All the stars and a favorite. ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you, @doubledaybooks, for the gifted book. Thank you, as well, @bibliobeth, for buddy reading one of my favorite books this year.
Wow…za… Julia AThank you, @doubledaybooks, for the gifted book. Thank you, as well, @bibliobeth, for buddy reading one of my favorite books this year.
Wow…za… Julia Ames has to be one of the unique characters I’ve ever experienced, and I loved her for that. I knew she had a story, one that was truly novel. Claire Lombardo’s writing absorbs the reader. Nothing is boring. Everything has purpose, even with a chunky almost 500 pages. The chapters alternate between past and present, and I adored every facet, every nuance.
At heart of it all is its realness. Julia simply has to be real. Someone experiencing an almost empty nest, the trials of marriage, the scars from an unusual early life; all while seeking understanding and connection, and at the same time, holding herself back. Julia’s friendship with Helen captivated me. Helen captivated me. Mark, Julia’s husband, was equally phenomenal; just so good, understanding, even-keeled, constant. Julia’s children - love how they were explored. How Julia found some healing with her connection to Sunny, Ben’s fiancé.
While very different from me in most ways, the way the story is told makes aspects of Julia so entirely relatable. It became easier to step inside her shoes once I knew her, and with such an intimate portrait, how could you now know her, in the end? There’s so much to love here, so many shifting dynamics, including long marriages, mother-daughter relationships, mothers and sons, mothering of adult children, and the role of Suzanne in the story deserves mention, too. It’s just all so very, very good. And smart. So emotionally smart and resonant.
I love love love a novella that packs so much in to a slim volume, especially when it is ultimately a quiet, peaceful story like Whale Fall. A portionI love love love a novella that packs so much in to a slim volume, especially when it is ultimately a quiet, peaceful story like Whale Fall. A portion of my family has been traced back to Wales, and over the years, I’ve been especially drawn to books set there. Whale Fall delivers all the Welsh atmosphere I was looking for with sparse, but magnificent, prose.
Set in 1938, just as a whale washes up on the shores of a remote island in Wales, Whale Fall is the story of Manod and her father and younger sister, Llinos, as well as the other island inhabitants. The island is small with a stark few inhabitants.
Two English ethnographers arrive shortly after the whale, to study the island and its people. They employ Manod as a Welsh to English interpreter and an assistant. While they may have had good intentions, they are clearly there for a book and not necessarily to gather the most truthful information. During this time, Manod truly finds her voice.
As mentioned, this is a quiet story about the daily life of these people. The beauty is in the writing, atmosphere, and the authentic, whole, clear characters. Sometimes the most cherished reading experiences are with a book like this. I adored this one.
Thanks to Beth (@bibiobeth) for another great buddy read.
The Same Bright Stars is the story of Jack Schmidt, who runs his family’s business solo. It’s not just a career. The family restaurant is his entire lThe Same Bright Stars is the story of Jack Schmidt, who runs his family’s business solo. It’s not just a career. The family restaurant is his entire life, at the sacrifice of any time off, relationships, and possibly his happiness. Jack is beginning to get worn down from at all, just as an offer to buy him out is made by a large corporation called DelDine. Jack battles with all the different emotions and thought processes that comes along with a decision like that. He thinks not only of himself but his employees, as well as his community, so connected this beloved restaurant.
This is Ethan Joella’s first book where a singular main character is the focus, instead of a cast, and I loved that. I love a cast, but Jack is an absolutely phenomenal character. What a good guy. The supporting characters are all endearing as well. There are some surprises for Jack, and with the ending, even though in true Joella style, there is a quiet, even tone for much of the story as you get to know Jack and his restaurant life in Rehoboth Beach.
Overall, The Same Bright Stars is an absolute gem of a read. The two chairs on the cover symbolize so much, a universal message for all of us to heed. I could not have loved it more.
I’m a Kristy Woodson Harvey super fan. I adore everything she writes, and every one of my summers since 2015 has been kicked off with her books, beginI’m a Kristy Woodson Harvey super fan. I adore everything she writes, and every one of my summers since 2015 has been kicked off with her books, beginning with her debut, Dear Carolina. Every story is as good as her last, but my favorites are the ones set in locations I know best, full of nostalgia for the summers of my childhood spent at the beach. The location for her newest, Beaufort, NC, just happens to be a place I know well, and A Happier Life is a loving tribute to the town.
Also, let’s talk about the messaging- it’s never too late to start over?! If that hasn’t been my last year, I don’t know what has. Secondly, the story involves Keaton, the main character, “returning home” and moving into a house that belonged to her late grandparents who passed away before she was born; she comes to know them through this house and their journals. I returned “home” in a different way, and to a house with special ties to my late loved ones (my dad and brother).
Kristy also explores serious illness and end-of-life, often taboo, in a thoughtful and meaningful way. Also examined is the guilt and blame often felt by family members after loss. This was especially powerful for me as I reflected on some instances of the blame I’ve assigned myself.
I have to mention Keaton, Bowen, and Anderson are absolutely fabulous characters you can’t help but love. Shoutout to Salt and the Dockside Dames, too. Also, all the pirate references meant the world to my inner child who is still obsessed with Blackbeard decades later (if you are from NC, especially coastal NC, you know ...more
This book. I never expected to love these characters as much as I did. Margo truly shines. She’s so insightful and smart, and with the growth she makeThis book. I never expected to love these characters as much as I did. Margo truly shines. She’s so insightful and smart, and with the growth she makes throughout the book, she finds her voice and is not afraid to say the hard things, and at a relatively young age. I also loved how the author spotlighted good, healthy communication amongst the characters. What a way to model self-advocacy.
The characters and the story are rather unconventional. I’ve been talking nonstop about the book, while reading it, and finding it hard to describe, but that’s the joy in it. It’s completely novel and original. I’ve not been a fan of pro wrestling before, but now I wish I could watch a match on the couch with Jinx and Margo. And that Jinx, Margo’s dad… He could not have been more different from my own dad, but at the same time, made me miss him. He grows into such a strong figure in Margo’s life, and healing happens. It’s stunning to watch it unfold.
There’s so much nuance and complexity and many important issues addressed in ways that don’t hit you over the head, but still slam dunk them. Mark wearing a certain school sweatshirt - well, I knew the author must have some kind of ACC tie. That sweatshirt choice is perfect. ...more
Thank you, @littlebrown, for the gifted book, and @librofm for the gifted ALC. I had a wonderful read/listen experience, and highly recommend the audiThank you, @littlebrown, for the gifted book, and @librofm for the gifted ALC. I had a wonderful read/listen experience, and highly recommend the audio narrated by the author.
I’m not holding back on this one. All the mangos. ...more
This book. Wow. The writing is flawless. The raw emotions of a failing marriage captured in their purest form. When The Half Moon published in hardbacThis book. Wow. The writing is flawless. The raw emotions of a failing marriage captured in their purest form. When The Half Moon published in hardback last year, I desperately wanted to read it, but absolutely could not. At the time, I had way too far to go and could hardly breathe. It was too close. Now with some space, I could read this one, and wow, could I ever feel it. Right to the bone. Even if Malcolm and Jess’s story was not my story, there was more than enough there to tether me in close.
The book begins with Malcolm and Jess having separated. It dips back in time to their happy and hopeful beginnings and then springs forward to the melancholy and uncertain present. It delves into their journey to having a baby that did not end as expected, but instead, has torn them further apart. The story also involves the bar they own; really, it’s Malcolm’s baby. The bar is a passion but comes with a heavy weight and burden, something sinister lying underneath all the time. Also woven are a couple of light mysteries; one involving Malcolm’s father, and the other a patron at the bar. These were well done and kept my interest piqued with the suspense.
Overall, I absolutely loved The Half Moon. There was not a spare word. Some describe the story as slow, but I didn’t find it so. It’s a deep exploration of these characters’ lives, and especially their marriage. The side characters add a lot to the story as well. I felt like I lived in Gillam, like I could be invited over to a party at Patrick and Siobhan’s house, and like I witnessed the the falling apart of Jess and Malcolm. Huge kudos to the author for how she wrapped up their story with a realistic but hopeful resolution. One of my 2024 favorites.
Thank you, @atriabooks, for the gifted book. I also purchased the audio from Libro.fm for an incredible read/listen.
About the book: “A mesmerizing anThank you, @atriabooks, for the gifted book. I also purchased the audio from Libro.fm for an incredible read/listen.
About the book: “A mesmerizing and hauntingly beautiful memoir about a Hmong family’s epic journey to safety told from the perspective of the author’s incredible mother who survived, and helped her family escape, against all odds.”
If you read and loved Kristin Hannah’s The Women, or if it’s high on your TBR and you long to read it, you absolutely should read it. I loved that book! At the same time, I urge you to add Where Rivers Part to your reading list. Kay Kalia Yang’s parents were born in war torn Laos during the time The Women was set. Do you remember the people living in the mountain villages in the book? This is the same ethnic group.
Sometimes readers are reluctant to pick up memoirs or biographies, but Where River Parts reads better than most any fictional novel, and it happens to be real. It has dialogue, action, family dynamics, culture, powerful emotion, and so much heart.
It’s a beautiful thing that the author penned this book for her mother, written in her mother’s voice. It’s especially poignant on audio. Tswb, the author’s mother, longs to be reunited with her own mother. Unfortunately, that does not happen until years after she has passed away. I won’t spoil it for you, but Tswb’s journey continues until the very last page.
Where Rivers Part is an ode to mothers, a meditation on storytelling, and a powerful story of sacrifice. It’s quite simply one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read, and I urge everyone to read it for a firsthand account by a Hmong author.
Swoon. Okay. To the educators out there, imagine a book opening on the last day of school, just as the teachers are about to celebrate at the local ApSwoon. Okay. To the educators out there, imagine a book opening on the last day of school, just as the teachers are about to celebrate at the local Applebee’s. I happened to read this on the first evening of spring break, and I think that made this one even more special and relatable. The personalities, the antics, the excitement; it’s all captured, and I laughed out loud many times. The humor is for everyone, not just educators. I just think the fact that the two main characters are also high school teachers is a huge bonus to everyone working in education.
Also a bonus is the road trip! And the music references, especially the Abba ones! Please see title for starters. ...more
Do you tend to remember synopses when you are reading a book? I totally forget them, which was extra fun in this case because Queens of London was quiDo you tend to remember synopses when you are reading a book? I totally forget them, which was extra fun in this case because Queens of London was quite the surprise. It’s not focused on the royal family, but instead on Diamond Annie, the queen of The Forty Elephants, a group of women responsible for organized crime sprees in 1920s London. What a story.
The story is also about Officer Lilian Wyles, one of the first female detectives at Scotland Yard. It’s also the story of Hira, a child who lives on the streets. Dorothy is also a main character who plays an important role in the story.
Queens of London felt so completely different from Webb’s Strangers in the Night, one of my 2023 favorites, and I loved it for being different and for all that it is. It’s an incredible story of sisterhood, the power of women, with beautiful, easy-to-read, impeccable storytelling. I was living on the bustling streets of London alongside these characters, and I could not get enough of their stories. If you are looking for your next fresh hist fic read, look no further. All the stars.
When I moved at the end of the summer, this book everyone was talking about was waiting here at my new house when I arrived. Opening the package and fWhen I moved at the end of the summer, this book everyone was talking about was waiting here at my new house when I arrived. Opening the package and finding the signed book plate and matching tote, along with the beautiful book, brought immense joy after some really tough weeks and an extremely arduous (hot!) day.
I’m already a fan of Patchett’s work, and Tom Lake is absolutely my favorite of all the ones I’ve read. Lara, her husband, and three grown daughters live on a cherry farm in Michigan. Lara’s daughters beg her to share the story of the summer she dated a man who became a famous movie star. Thankfully Lara tells the reader the whole story, even if she does hold a little back from her daughters.
The writing is exquisite, easy to read, alluring, and consuming. I could not rush the experience because it was just too good. The cherry farming facts were almost as fascinating as Lara’s time spent acting. It was all extraordinary. I cherished every ounce of this story.
I know not everyone read Our Town before reading this book, but I highly suggest you do. Thank you, @debbielynnwells, for this recommendation. I saw the play years ago, but reading the play really left a mark and added insight to the story I would have missed otherwise. I wish I could watch the play again and then read the book for the first time all over again. I’ll definitely be listening to the audio with Meryl Streep narrating in the future. There aren’t enough words to gush about this one. Definitely a favorite for me this year.
We All Want Impossible Things: this slim book with the most perfect cover has both drawn me to it, and honestly, scared me a little since its release.We All Want Impossible Things: this slim book with the most perfect cover has both drawn me to it, and honestly, scared me a little since its release. Now available in paperback, and just after the one year mark of Dad passing away, the feelings drawing me in won, and they were the ones I should have listened to all along.
Ash and Edi are lifelong best friends, and Edi has terminal ovarian cancer. The story begins with Edi and her family, including Ash, deciding her next steps in care when there are no more treatment options, and hospice is the recommended next step. What commences feels like a few short weeks of Ash navigating caring for her dearest friend in the most meaningful of ways while also mourning the eventual loss of her, bit by bit.
I’ll admit I was scared of the sadness in this book. Having been the main caretaker for Dad, I was worried it would be too hard at times, but then I hadn’t met the narrator, Ash, and Catherine Newman’s sense of humor. I was in careful hands, the story was tenderly, yet wittily, narrated by Ash, and while I cried a couple times near the end of the story, I was brought right back in by the hope and goodness of everyone who surrounded Edi in her last days.
I learned before I read that Catherine Newman experienced a similar loss. While this is fiction, the grain of truth, the authenticity, never wanes, and it feels like a deeply personal memoir. We should all have a friend like Edi. We should all have one like Ash. We should all continue to want Impossible Things. I loved this book. All the stars. I only wish I’d read it sooner.
My dear friend, Pat, recommended A Grief Observed as the one year anniversary of Dad’s death approached. I listened to it on audio and took my time wiMy dear friend, Pat, recommended A Grief Observed as the one year anniversary of Dad’s death approached. I listened to it on audio and took my time with it; almost three months, actually. Just as with the experience I had with Notes on Grief, I was astounded and grateful for the words, the sharp eloquence. It’s a quick read, a small investment, that felt epic. Highly recommended for anyone and everyone.
Jennifer ~ TarHeelReader
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