October was a slow month of reading for me, comparatively speaking. Of course, one of the books I read was over 600 pages so that accounts for some of it. I blame the rest on an increased interest in knitting lately. In any event, it’s not a contest, I’m happy for all reading and knitting time, and here are the books I finished last month:

Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is a weird review to write because I enjoyed this book but also skimmed quite a bit because at times it just felt tedious. Still, it’s a fast paced story and easy read. I figured out some of the twists but not all and the ending shook me a bit and certainly gave me a lot to think about. In fact, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it and I don’t think I’ll ever look at the experience of deja vu the same!

Fairy Tale by Stephen King
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoy today’s Stephen King. He’s still a master of horror but in a far more subtle way that I find engaging and fascinating. Fairy Tale feels like part Wizard of Oz, part Rumpelstiltskin, part Jack in the Beanstalk, all combined to create a creepy, magical, imaginary world. The hero is very much a typical teenage boy yet he rises to every challenge placed before him and becomes, quite literally, a prince of the people, seeking justice and a solution to the problems of the fantasy world he has entered. The book is long, incredibly well written, and utterly engrossing. Highly recommended.

The Midcoast by Adam White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
What would you do if you saw someone living far above where you expected? Would you wonder (and then investigate) how they made their fortune? That’s the story behind The Midcoast, a novel about Damariscotta, Maine, and the native son who returns there to raise his family only to find that the uneducated lobsterman he knew years ago is now the richest guy in town and his teenage bride is now the mayor. There’s a dark underside to all of us and The Midcoast does an excellent job of exploring it.

Hallowed Out by Barbara Ross
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Really more of a short story, Hallowed Out is another installment in this cozy mystery series about a little town (Bar Harbor, I think) on the coast of Maine. With none of the details and side stories of a typical book in this series, this one gets right to the point and wastes no time in reaching a satisfying conclusion. Recommended for fans of the series.

And that’s a wrap on October’s reading.

I’m ready to share what I read in September. Let’s do it!

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Maggie O’Farrell is brilliant at taking obscure historical figures and writing fascinating stories about them and The Marriage Portrait is no exception. Her ability to create a setting that feels vibrant and alive with detail is my favorite thing about her writing. There were moments while reading this book that I felt the panic and confusion of young Lucrezia, I could see the paintings she made, and I swore I could taste the delicacies prepared for her to eat. O’Farrell has taken very few historical facts and turned them into a full fledged story of passion, deceit, and the struggle for power and survival in 1500s Italy. Highly recommended. I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I adored this book about a female scientist in the 1960s who does not allow herself to become a victim despite the misogyny and prejudice she faces. She is courageous and smart, and manages to succeed despite all the crappy things that happen to derail her. The dialogue is smart, the feminism is strong, and the story is triumphant. My only complaint is the cover and the blurb about this book are highly misleading. This is not a light madcap adventure, this is a serious book (with lighthearted moments) about the struggle women have faced in the workplace and the home. Highly recommended.

Muddled Through by Barbara Ross
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
This is another solid entry in this series. Barbara Ross continues to find ways to introduce new characters and has managed to not let this go stale even 10 books in, unlike some cozy mysteries that I’ve read. If you love the coast of Maine and enjoy cozy mysteries, this is a good series to read.

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I realize I’m in the minority but I just did not care for this book. I found it boring and repetitive, the dialogue was stilted, and the attempt at recreating And Then There Were None fell flat. The big twist/reveal at the end felt contrived and almost silly. I do not recommend this but your mileage may vary.

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“What is a game?” Marx said. “It’s tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow. It’s the possibility of infinite rebirth, infinite redemption. The idea that if you keep playing, you could win. No loss is permanent, because nothing is permanent, ever.”
I adored so much about this book. The pace of the writing, the familiar Boston setting for much of it, the fresh and flawed characters, and the descriptions of all the games. It was headed to be a 5 star read for me until there was a development that I did not see coming and I was disappointed in the aftermath and how the author chose to portray it. I won’t say more due to spoilers, and I still loved the book, but I believe the author missed an opportunity to make it truly great. Still highly recommended.

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Set in New York City and Hollywood, this novel depicts an elderly actress as she approaches the end of life and wishes to tell her story after a lifetime of refusing interviews, set the record straight on all of her romantic relationships, and atone for her sins. It’s an easy read, but there is an unexpected depth to the characters and the storyline, and enough intrigue to keep you guessing

And that’s a wrap on September’s reading. It was mostly excellent, with one clunker.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled Three On Thursday post for this breaking news bulletin. We have winners in the Summer Reading prize contest! Here’s how I did it: I made a list of every comment (there were 124) for all of the Summer Reading posts (there were 7) and then I used a random number generator to choose 4 winners because . . . well . . . I have 4 prizes.

The winners are . . . insert drumroll . . .

Juliann

Allison

Patty

Vera

And the prizes are . . . not very exciting so they don’t deserve a drumroll . . .

Book stack earrings for Juliann

Socks with books that say shhhh I’m reading on the soles for Allison

Socks with books that say I’d rather be reading on the soles for Patty

And a book bag (made by me) for Vera

I’ll be in touch with the winners about getting your prizes sent to you.

Thank you to everyone who participated this summer! I loved your enthusiasm, your comments, your book recommendations, and most of all your love of reading!

Let’s do this again next summer, hmmmm?