Since dropping Ten On Tuesday I’ve been struggling with a weekly topic for Tuesdays. I mean, I don’t have to have the same thing every week but sometimes it’s nice to have a plan. You know?
Anyway.
This week Tuesdays are for talking about the books I’ve been reading. It’s been almost a month since I updated you on the books I’ve finished and it seems like as good a time as any to do it again.
- How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny. 4 stars. Another wonderful Inspector Gamache story. Beautifully written, it makes me just want to go and live in Three Pines with these fantastic characters.
- 11/22/63 by Stephen King. 4 stars. Very entertaining and with quality writing, I enjoyed this book immensely. It’s long but the pace never lags and the ramifications of time travel are certainly interesting to contemplate. If you think Stephen King is all blood, gore and scary stuff, think again and read this one.
- The Long Way Home by Louise Penny. 4 stars. Another winner from Louise Penny. Gamache is retired and finding joy in Three Pines but he’s still an investigator at heart and can’t turn Clara away when she needs his help. The writing is beautiful, the setting is vivid, and the characters feel like old friends. Highly recommended.
- Burial Rites by Hannah Kent. 3 stars. Bleak, depressing and cheerless, this book is full of words like greasy, grisly, bloody and dirty. I did not enjoy the story but did appreciate the excellent writing.
- Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. 4 stars. I want to give this 5 stars, I really do, because part of it deserve the highest rating. The blog excerpts on race and white privilege, the portrayal of life in Nigeria and life as an immigrant in America are all fantastic. But part of this felt a bit tedious and dull and that is what made me pause and only give it 4 stars. And really, 4 stars is an excellent rating and this is an excellent book that I know will stick with me for a long time.
- Dark Matter by Blake Crouch. 3 stars. Fast paced and entertaining, I read this book in practically one sitting. The writing isn’t elegant and the story is far-fetched but it kept me interested right up until the end. As I was reading I kept thinking this would make a great movie and it turns out that’s the plan. Recommended for those who enjoy suspense, science fiction and thriller stories.
- The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer. 4 stars. This is a delightful and endearing story. While an epistolary novel can sometimes feel contrived this one manages to stay fresh and utterly charming. I’ve meant to read it for ages and I’m glad I finally did. Definitely recommended.
- Better than Before by Gretchen Rubin. 3 stars. Excellent advice on creating and keeping habits. Tedious at times and perhaps a little bogged down in minutiae but recommended for fans of Rubin’s writing.
- The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena. 2 stars. Ho hum. Think Fargo meets Gone Girl meets Truly Madly Guilty. In other words – it’s been done before and with better writing. It started off well enough but the story got so convoluted (and yet not surprising, which is odd) and the characters all felt flat to me.
Great reviews, Carole. As always! I loved 11/22/63. (Stephen King books are one of my “guilty pleasures” — and that one is a favorite.) It’s good to mix things up on Tuesdays . . . but it may take a while to settle into the new routine. 🙂
I always appreciate a book review and will check out a few of these. Of this list I’ve only read Better Than Before and was disappointed. I thought This Year I Will was a much better book on the subject of habits.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed 11/22/63. And I know this Tuesday is for reading, but I really like your boots!
I adore the Gamache novels, and like you would happily move to Three Pines. 🙂
I really really liked Burial Rites. So much of it was different and new to me.
Trustworthy book reviews are always welcome. I have found it harder to find reading time the last few years, so not wasting it on so-so books matters. Thanks.
(And maybe you’ll end up at a few things you rotate through for Tuesday’s. If you write it, we will likely enjoy it.)
I will gladly join you and Bridget in Three Pines…though I may get there first. I just finished the latest one in the series (“A Great Reckoning”) and it was wonderful. Also – based on your review, am reading “The Night Circus” and I love it! Thanks. I need to look into 11/22/63. Really enjoy your reviews Carole (and I love your boots too – lol).
I love those boots! (And your book reviews!) XO
Read the Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Society some time ago. My only disappointment was that there was no “second book”. I really wanted to know what happened to those people next.
Yep, your boots are rad. You read a wide variety of books and your reviews are very helpful!
Appreciate the reviews, especially for the Louise Penny and Dark Matter titles. I had DM twice from the library and had to return…never really got around to it. Back on my reading list. Fiction is not my ‘go-to’ reading of choice…working on it, very slowly.
Cheers~
You always steer me in the right direction and I thank-you for that! I just read the Guernsey book as well after wanting to for a very long time. It was great! I also read 11/22/63 and loved it. Now finally…after waiting since 9/15/16 I am next for Insp. Gamache #1…I can’t wait! (And those boots!!!!)
I loved the Guernsey book but thought it was a shame that you could really tell where the first author died & the section author took over. Still, fond memories of that book. I’ll have to try the Stephen King book–I’m a fan & it is Halloween after all! At some point–maybe Christmastime–I have to try the Louise Penny books. P. S. Your boots are fab! Ariat?
I’ve read #1 and #7 and enjoyed them both. Your post provides lots of suggestions for future reading.
Thanks for the titles – books on Tuesday is a great idea
I am taking note of those Louise Penny titles
Love those boots!! and impressed by all your reading this past month. It’s been a while since I read a 5-star novel – I’m ready to get absorbed into a bit of fiction right now 🙂