What I’m Reading: September & October 2015

reading with beer for carole knits

Summer Book Bingo may be long over but there is still lots of reading around here. With nothing else inspiring me today, you are about to get a rundown of the 9 books I have finished since Labor Day. Exciting? Innovative? Not really. But you might find something good to read.

Every Secret Thing by Laura Lippman

  • Fast paced and intriguing with an ending that surprised me. Very good and recommended for those who like suspense without blood and guts. 4 stars.

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

  • Going back and forth from the present to the late 1800s this book tells the story of the origins of polygamy and the current state of the practice as well. I enjoyed the fictionalized account of historic events and would recommend it to anyone interested in the topic. 3 stars.

At The Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen

  • I enjoyed this book a great deal. The main character evolves from a spoiled and pampered brat into a caring and selfless woman, all in Scotland during WWII. It was a little predictable and some of the Loch Ness monster stuff is a bit unbelievable, nevertheless, it’s ultimately a romance and I’m a sucker for a Scottish romance. Recommended. 4 stars.

The Orphans of Race Point by Patry Francis

  • I enjoyed this book immensely. It’s maybe a little longer than it needs to be but it’s satisfying and unpredictable and ultimately gives a message of hope and love in the face of hatred and manipulation. It’s also great to read a book set in a place that’s so familiar to me – Cape Cod and Provincetown. Highly recommended. 4 stars.

Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll

  • What do you get when you cross Gone Girl with a typical Lifetime movie? This book. It’s good, though, and there are few twists I didn’t see coming. Recommended for those who enjoy this type of story. 3 stars.

The Children’s Crusade by Ann Packer

  • It took a while for me to get into this book and once I did I enjoyed it but it was a little too similar to A Spool of Blue Thread and reading it so soon after I finished that might not have been the greatest timing. It’s definitely not as good as The Dive from Clausen’s Pier but still a solid read, particularly for those who enjoy family dramas. 3 stars.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

  • This book is for anyone who experienced first love, particularly as a teenager. All of those feelings and emotions are described in such a fantastic way, the agony of being apart, the idea that no one has ever felt this way before, the wonder of it all. There is a dark side, too, though, and that’s what keeps this from being just another teenage love story. Eleanor and Park are two characters that will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommended. 4 stars.

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson

  • A “what if” story, very compelling, and ultimately a quick read simply to find out how it would resolve. The narrator’s voice is a little stilted at times, perhaps that’s intentional due to the story itself but sometimes it just felt awkward. I pretty much “figured it out” halfway through but then second guessed myself since others had said the ending was hard to predict. I enjoyed the setting of the early 1960s and would recommend the book. 3 stars.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

  • Set in France during WWII this book is heartbreaking and haunting but also hopeful. Yes, it’s fiction and certainly not high brow literature but it’s good writing and I learned about the French Resistance, the evils of the SS, the horrors of starvation and war, and so much more. Highly recommended. 4 stars.

What are you reading these days?

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This Post Has 12 Comments

  1. I love reading about what other people are reading – not a boring idea at all! At the Water’s Edge and The Nightingale are both on my TBR. I’m kind of surprised I haven’t read any of your recent nine! My recent favorites are Being Mortal and A Man Called Ove. Both highly recommended. 5 stars!

  2. This is a great post! Love knowing what you’re reading. I’m currently 1/2 way through Eventide and waiting for a renewal and starting Mink River. Need. More. Time. 🙂

  3. I’m also a big fan of looking over people’s shoulders to see what they’re reading, and may have to try Every Secret Thing. I’m currently rereading The Silkworm before I start Career of Evil. I read these because I love the two main characters, but there is definitely a surfeit of blood and (literally) guts.

  4. Book recommendations are always welcome. I have been in a reading slump, so you have inspired me!

  5. Eleanor and and Park is on my TBR (and has been forever). You read many more books than I ever get to and you’re reviews are always interesting to read. I read Suite Francaise, which is similar to Nightingale and I love it. You might enjoy it, too.

  7. My daughter and I both read the trilogy beginning with Ancillary Justice, an award-winning futuristic series peopled with women (gender is not an issue), with a protagonist who is altered to be part of a sentient ship (all the space ships and stations are sentient).

    I also found a list of mysteries set in foreign lands, and while some have not cut the mustard for me, I am currently reading a series of mysteries by Martin Walker beautifully describing the Dordogne, a region of France which I used to visit. The first book is Bruno, Chief of Police.

  8. Eleanonr and Park sounds like one I would like. Thanks for the list. I’m actually reading every day right now so that’s a start.

  9. Love it when you do a book post! My TBR list grows by leaps and bounds. Although I’m not able to read as much as you do, these posts help me whittle it down to a few time-worthy titles.

  10. I agree with you on The Nightingale! I didn’t really understand Occupied France until I read the book. I thought it was a beautiful story and one of my favorites from this year.

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