Even though I shared all of the books I read in 2019 with you last week, what I haven’t shared is my reviews of the books I’ve read since November. So, here you have what I read during November and December of 2019.
The Christmas Spirits on Tradd Street by Karen White
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
It’s difficult when you’re invested in a series and the books start to degrade but that seems to be the case with the Tradd Street books. There is too much repetition and no real development with the main character . . . she likes sweets, I get it . . . she’s OCD, I get it . . . she wants to pretend that she doesn’t communicate with spirits, I get it. The descriptions of Charleston and the curiosity to see what will happen have kept me coming back, and I’m sure I’ll read the final installment when it comes out, but honestly, this series should have ended after book 4.
I received an advanced copy of this title from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So good and yet so heartbreaking, it’s hard to say I enjoyed this book since it’s truly difficult to read, but I really did love it. The characters are real and Whitehead’s description are fantastic, this one is highly recommended.
Stolen Things: A Novel by R.H. Herron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a good suspense novel that mostly kept me guessing until the end. I do think it dragged a bit and maybe tried to cover too many hot button issues, some tighter editing would have made for a better book. I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.
All the Bad Apples by Moïra Fowley-Doyle
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This book started out strong, the middle was a bit of a slog, and then it picked up again at the end. Honestly, I felt like there was really just too much going on: family curses, feminism, abortion rights, the evil practices of the Catholic Church, LGBTQ rights and then some magical realism mixed in. It was enjoyable but ultimately fell flat for me.
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is not for everyone but for me it was amazing. Full of magic and symbolism, it’s an epic tale that has many twists and turns and doesn’t wind up at all the way I thought it would. I do think it’s a tad long but it’s really an incredible story within a story within a story. There’s a passage in the book that describes it far better than I could: Part spy movie, part fairy tale, part choose your own adventure. Epic branching story that doesn’t stick to a single genre or one set path and turns into different stories but it’s all the same story. I was given a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Save Me the Plums: My Gourmet Memoir by Ruth Reichl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I love the way Ruth Reichl describes food and this book about her experiences as the editor of Gourmet magazine is terrific and classic Reichl.
The Revisioners by Margaret Wilkerson Sexton My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is a powerful story of multiple generations of women in the same family and how they are connected by the experiences and cruelty of racism. There were moments in this book that were so painful to read they took my breath away. Highly recommended.
Nanaville: Adventures in Grandparenting by Anna Quindlen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Anna Quindlen writes about being a grandparent in a beautiful way, she truly captures the feelings that come along with loving the child of your child. Her advice on navigating the role is helpful but mostly this is a book that just celebrates the joy of being a Nana.
Black Is the Body: Stories from My Grandmother’s Time, My Mother’s Time, and Mine by Emily Bernard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This collection of essays is good but somewhat uneven. The opening chapter is fantastic and some of the others are as well but many of them are repetitive and lack the insight of the first one. Still, recommended because of the insights she shares and the vulnerability she exhibits.
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’m giving this 3 stars because, even though I sort of disliked it, I can appreciate the literary aspects of this book. I was fine with the timeline, with the ambiguous story and abruptly changing narrators, and even the ending, although I think the publisher’s promise that the ending will make everything click into place is misleading. My problem with the book is that I found the characters completely unlikable and I couldn’t connect to their experiences. That lack of connection is the flaw and kept me from giving the book a higher rating.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Beautiful, haunting, and emotionally powerful, this novel reads more like a stream of consciousness poem. I loved it . . . but it’s not for everyone.
Do You Mind If I Cancel? by Gary Janetti
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
A great collection of essays, funny and entertaining, there were moments where I laughed out loud.
And there you have it. I ended the year on a pretty strong note. And, here’s one of my quirks. I finished Do You Mind If I Cancel on December 30, 2019. And I made myself wait to start a new book until January 1, 2020. I’m weird like that.
I’m still waiting in a long line for The Nickel Boys, but now I can also add Save Me the Plums and Do You Mind If I Cancel? to the list. Thanks, Carole!
I’ve been meaning to read Save Me the Plums. Thanks for the reminder, and another book or two to add to my list. It makes me sad when a favorite series goes downhill, like having an old friend disappoint you in a surprising way.
Thanks for your brilliant reviews – my read list grows each time you post your reviews! 🙂
As always, love your reviews. Thanks for the reminder of Plums!
I had Save Me the Plums in my hands from the library . . . but I couldn’t get to it before it was due back. So. Back on hold for me! 🙂 I thought On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous was exquisite. (But you’re right . . . not for everyone.) Looking forward to watching what you read in 2020. XO
What a great finish to your reading year.
I’ve long wanted to read Ruth Reichl’s memoirs, so thanks for the reminder to add Save Me the Plums to my list!
I very much agree with you on The Starless Sea. I adored it, but I think it’s a book you either love or hate (or at least really don’t like). Storyline aside, there were so many beautifully written passages.
Thanks for the great recommendations. Don’t give up on R. Herron. She usually writes as Rachel Herron. She started with a series of fun, sexy romance novels, and then added a very candid memoir, Life in Stitches, and three serious novels, Pack UpThe Moon, Splinters of Light, and The Ones That Matter Most. I loved them all. She’s a charming and open person, I’ve met her several times and have gone to a few readings, since she lives in the SFBay Area near me. And she’s a knitter!
What Kat said! 🙂
I’m trying to read women authors this year, but I think Nickel Boys is going to be a good exception. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I like Trust Exercise quite a lot! They were just kids, making mistakes, being mislead and exploited. I found the whole episode disturbing and the adults part in it unconscionable. Nickel Boys and Save Me the Plums were both very good. On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous is next on my list!
Thank you for your reviews.