🟣 :::READING THREAD::: Week of February 11th

Last week I read Creep by Myriam Gurba. This is a memoir, and she weaves in her own Chicana upbringing in California with her romantic (mostly lesbian) life, California history, and a fair amount of true crime that has happened in California. As a content warning, she talks a lot about sexual assault and domestic violence, including incidents where she is the victim. I though this was interesting and well-written, and she has a very sly sense of humor. I did find the passages about her abusive boyfriend really hard to read.

I also read A Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter. This book is basically the script version of a reality-TV true-crime series (think shows like The Jinx or Making a Murderer), and while there are some *extremely improbable things* in here, I did enjoy it (it's a super-quick read, also).

I read The Women by Kristin Hannah.
Her books never disappoint. I loved this beautiful story. The Nightingale will always be my favorite of her books.
Women can be heroes. When 20 year old nursing student Frances "Frankie" McGrath hears those words, it is a revelation. Raised in Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.
As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets-and becomes one of- the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.
But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.
The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm's way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a meaningful heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.

Two for me last week that were both disappointing. 



A FRIEND IN THE DARK (‘24 - 242 Pgs - 2 STARS) BY SAMANTHA M. BAILEY
DESCRIPTION : Eden Miller’s world is crumbling. Her husband blindsided her with divorce, and her daughter barely speaks to her. In an impulsive decision to escape her present and revisit the past, she sends a friend request to her college crush, Justin Ward. One night twenty-three years ago changed the course of her life. It closed the door on Justin and opened the door to her husband, Dave. But what if Eden could have a do-over? Eden begins an online relationship with Justin that awakens her in ways she never thought possible, and his voice and words make her take bold risks. But something’s off. He knows too much about her and her family…he’s been following her. Eden is forced to awaken from her fantasy and look for answers—who really is the man on the other line? The truth about Justin—and about what happened that fateful night two decades ago—puts her and her family in a fight for their lives.

REVIEW :

First two books by this author were Woman on the Edge (‘19 - Read ‘22 - 4 Stars) and Watch Our For Her (‘22 - 5 Stars).

Only 242 Pages but still a fan of this author’s writing. I didn’t care for the main plot but did like some of the twists which kept me reading. Overall was a little boring for me and had to go with only 2 stars. When I didn’t love the description, I should have stopped there. The epilogue leaves room for a sequel, but I will not be reading.



THE TEACHER (‘24 - 3 STARS) BY FREIDA MCFADDEN
DESCRIPTION : Lesson #1: trust no one. Eve has a good life. She gets up each day, gets a kiss from her husband Nate, and heads off to teach math at the local high school. All is as it should be. Except…..Last year, Caseham High was rocked by a scandal, with one student, Addie, at its center. And this year, Eve is dismayed to find the girl in her class.  Addie can't be trusted. She lies. She hurts people. She destroys lives. At least, that's what everyone says. But nobody knows the real Addie. Nobody knows the secrets that could destroy her. And Addie will do anything to keep it quiet.

REVIEW :

New author for me in 2022 and so far I’ve read 9 of her books: Do Not Disturb (‘21 - Read ‘23 - 4 Stars), The CoWorker ‘23 - 3 Stars), One by One (‘20 - Read ‘23 - 4 Stars), The Perfect Son (‘19 - Read ‘23 - 4 Stars), Ward D (‘23 - 5 Stars), The Housemaid’s Secret (‘23 - 5 Stars), The Inmate (‘22 - 3 Stars), The Housemaid (‘22 - 5 Stars) and Never Lie (‘22 - 4 Stars).

Moves along very quickly which is usual for this author. Only at the beginning, but I’ve been warned of many cringe-worthy teacher/student parts, so not for everyone. At 40% typical cheating spouse and questionable student/teacher interactions; a little slow. A couple of storylines come to light in the last 30% that I didn’t see coming; I decided to go with a solid 3 Stars due to this.



I’m hoping for a better reading this week with the start of The Women by Kristin Hannah !

I also read The Berry Pickers last week and it was 5 stars for me. Her debut novel! Such talent.

I'm about halfway through The Women by Kristin Hannah and like the others I'm loving it. She's a must-read for me and this one doesn't disappoint. Unless it takes an unexpected nosedive, it will be 5 star for me.

This week I finished:

The Teacher by Freida McFadden- 4 Stars and

The Spoon Stealer by Lesley Crewe- 4 Stars.

Presently finishing up Three Sisters by Heather Morris. I really enjoyed this series. The first book was The Tattooist of Auschwitz and the second was Cilka's Journey. There was a bit of controversy regarding the accuracy of some of the details but it is historical fiction based on real characters. You certainly can understand the larger concepts.

Our library is doing Blind Date with a Book this month. I have really enjoyed the first 3. Two of the books I probably wouldn't have chose otherwise. I picked my 4th book last night, A Little Life, and I am not sure I am going to like it. Hopefully I get into it because it is over 800 pages.

Thanks so much!  I put a hold on The House is on Fire and just got the Echo...  on Kindle Unlimited. 

I am less than 50 pages in so I am giving it time.  The last book I was about a third of the way into the book before I started getting into it so hoping that will be the case with this one too. 

I stopped reading books a few years ago because I am the type of person that once I am into a book I can't stop. I decided at the beginning of the year I wanted to get back into reading again and this blind date with a book has really helped. However, I am back to my old ways and not going to bed until 1 am so I can finish a book.

While DH had a job interview a few weeks ago, I read Junkyard Girl (it was in the new releases area in the library where I waited for him). It probably wouldn't have been something I picked up normally, but I didn't want to go searching in an unknown to me library. Some parts were eh, but I enjoyed it for the most part.

I'm not sure what I'll read next. I may download an eAudiobook to listen to while I cross-stitch.

I am excited that Berry Pickers is my IRL Book Club's April book and am looking forward to reading it.  Glad to see your review, @the Great Carpezio!


My first read of the week was quite slow so, while I’m almost done with a couple, only a two-book week.



The Whalebone Theatre by Joanna Quinn. A mix of Downton Abbey and I Capture the Castle, this was an interesting tale of three children in a declining aristocratic family in England who, as children, make a theater out of a whale carcass that has washed up on the beach. They later are engaged in World War II. The set-up was great, but I struggled with the writing, it was so languid that there were moments that I feared I would never finish. 2.75/5 stars.



The Warden by Anthony Trollope. Read for the Close Reads Podcast, this is my first Trollope. This book is at its best when describing people and their foibles, not so much for a scintillating plot. 3/5 stars.

Last 2 weeks I read The Alice Network by Kate Quinn, 5 stars.
When All Is Said, by Anne Griffin. This was about an elderly Irish man, Maurice, who is sitting in a bar in a hotel, and toasting 5 people from his life. Each chapter is the person, and through these chapters his story comes out. This was really good, I enjoyed it. 5 stars.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette, by Maria Semple. This was about a mom of a 14 year old girl who was a renowned young architect,but something happened that shut that part of her life down. This is told in a series of letters, emails, police reports, and bits and pieces from her daughter, Bee. This was an interesting way to tell the story. Even though I liked episolary stories like Meet Me At The Museum, and The Guernsey Literary Society, this wasn't the same exactly. But I ended up really liking this. 4 stars.
Right now I'm reading The Daughter of Time, by Josephine Tey. Her police officer character, Allan Grant, is laid up with an injury and he's delving into the mystery of the Princes in the Tower and Richard III. This is good too.

I read this book this week also. I really enjoy Frieda McFadden books and I think I have read 12 of them so far. This story was interesting but cringy due to the teacher/ student relationship. I did not see the ending coming.

I also read THE COWORKER. I found that a little more interesting. The infatuation with turtles was kinda funny.

Oh, wow! You know, I've never been to Seattle, I've never been west I live in PA, but this novel really did bring Seattle to life for me.