Dream Girl

 

Title: Dream Girl

Author: Laura Lippman

Publisher: HarperAudio

 
ISBN: 9780062390158

 

Thoughts: Very interesting culmination, but the twists felt off, and I seem to have lost a few threads from the start to finish.

 

Rating: 3/5

Election

 

Title: Election

Author: Tom Perrotta

Publisher: Berkley

 
ISBN: 9780425167281

 

Thoughts:  While I enjoyed the almost mockumentary style, I feel like the book seemed more scandalous when it came out than it does today.

 

Rating: 3/5

We All Want Impossible Things

 

Title: We All Want Impossible Things

Author: Catherine Newman

Publisher: Harper

 
ISBN: 9780063230897

 

Thoughts: A raw yet often humorous story about grieving and dying.

 

Rating: 4/5

Other Birds

 

Title: Other Birds

Author: Sarah Addison Allen

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

 
ISBN: 9781250019868

 

Thoughts: Another great work of magical realism from Allen that explores families of all varieties, including those no longer living.

 

Rating: 4/5

Stacking the Shelves: 12/4-12/24

Received from Owl Post:

 

Arcadia Burns by Kai Meyer

The Glare by Margot Harrison

 

Burn Our Bodies Down by Rory Power 

 

Bought on Amazon:

 

Good Sh*t by Julia Blohberger & Roos Neeter

The Kingdom of Back

 

Title: The Kingdom of Back

Author: Marie Lu

Publisher: Listening Library

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts:  I really enjoyed the historical fiction aspect of this book, but I had trouble giving into the fantasy, although the author's note at the end offered explanation for some of the things that were hanging me up.

 

Rating: 3/5

If I Survive You

 

Title: If I Survive You

Author: Jonathan Escoffery

Publisher: MCD

 
ISBN: 9780374605988

 

Thoughts:  Escoffery has a unique voice that really draws the reader in, even as he plays with styles among these connected short stories.

 

Rating: 4/5

Six of Crows

 

Title: Six of Crows

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Publisher: Penguin Audio

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts:  This book was just a very average read for me - nothing stood out in either direction.

 

Rating: 3/5

The Guncle

 

Title: The Guncle

Author: Stephen Rowley

Publisher: Penguin Audio

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts:  Heartfelt and hilarious story of an uncle and his niece and nephew learning to live with grief.

 

Rating: 4/5

Sisters First

 

Title: Sisters First: Stories from Our Wild and Wonderful Life

Author: Jenna Bush Hager & Barbara Pierce Bush

Publisher: Blackstone Audio

 
ISBN: 9781478996460

 

Thoughts:  Enjoyable, but despite the title, this still seemed very superficial; definitely does as poignant as Everything Beautiful in Its Time.

 

Rating: 3/5

Demon Copperhead

 

Title: Demon Copperhead

Author: Barbara Kingsolver

Publisher: HarperAudio

 
ISBN: 9788212037273

 

Thoughts:  A modern retelling of David Copperfield that will haunt the reader with its rawness and humanity.

 

Rating: 5/5

Stacking the Shelves: 11/20-12/3

LibraryThing Early Review:

 

Inside the Storm I Want to Touch the Tremble by Carolyn Oliver

Won:

The Good Widow by Jennifer Katz

Stay True

 

Title: Stay True

Author: Hua Hsu

Publisher: Doubleday Books

 
ISBN: 9780385547772

 

Thoughts:  This angst-ridden, melancholy, yet at times pretentious memoir really captures the feel of Hsu's formative years, but those qualities can also make it unattractive.

 

Rating: 3/5

Phoebe and Her Unicorn in Unicorn Theater

 

Title: Phoebe and Her Unicorn in Unicorn Theater

Author: Dana Simpson

Publisher: Andrews McMeels Publishing

 
ISBN: 9781449489816

 

Thoughts:  Fun full-length tale about true friendship.

 

Rating: 4/5

The Case of the Defunct Adjunct

 

Title: The Case of the Defunct Adjunct

Author: Frankie Bow

Publisher: Hawaiian Heritage Press

 
ISBN: 9781943476008

 

Thoughts:  A solid mystery, but a little too much tangential elements.

 

Rating: 3/5

Less

 

Title: Less

Author: Andrew Sean Greer

Publisher: Lee Boudreaux Books

 
ISBN: 9780316529015

 

Thoughts:  I found this novel to be a tad melancholy, despite reviews to the contrary.

 

Rating: 3/5

If We Were Villians

 

Title: If We Were Villians

Author: M. L. Rio

Publisher: Flatiron Books

 
ISBN: 9781250095282

 

Thoughts:  As a theatre major in late 90s/early 00s, I absolutely loved this book, but it definitely is not for everyone.

 

Rating: 4/5

Miracle's Boys

 

Title: Miracle's Boys

Author: Jacqueline Woodson

Publisher: Listening Library

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts:  Very moving story for middle graders about brothers and grief

 

Rating: 4/5

Blush

 

Title: Blush

Author: Jamie Brenner

Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio

 
ISBN: 9780593408698

 

Thoughts:  Perfect pick for a summer read with a little more weight.

 

Rating: 4/5

Selected Poems of Langton Hughes

 

Title: Selected Poems of Langston Hughes

Author: Langston Hughes

Publisher: Vintage

 
ISBN: 9780697928184

 

Thoughts:  Hughes's poetry is real and relatable with a wonderful rhythm.

 

Rating: 5/5

Stacking the Shelves: 11/13-11/19

Won:

Dirt Creek by Hayley Scrivenor

Best of Friends

 

Title: Best of Friends

Author: Kamila Shamsie

Publisher: Riverhead Books

 
ISBN: 9780593421826

 

Thoughts:  Shamsie really pulled me into this story about a friendship during the teen years and then in middle age.

 

Rating: 4/5

No Matter the Price

 

Title: No Matter the Price

Author: Daniel Pare

Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio

 
ISBN: 9781684338221

 

Thoughts:  Some very heartfelt moments, but the whole premise seemed more hurtful than helpful, and I had a visceral reaction to Karen making it hard to stay in the story.

 

Rating: 3/5

Lessons in Chemistry

 

Title: Lessons in Chemistry

Author: Bonnie Garmus

Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio

 
ISBN: 9780593507544

 

Thoughts:  Very rich, fun characters make this a book unforgettable.

 

Rating: 5/5

Stacking the Shelves: 10/30-11/12

Bought on Amazon:

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

 

Won:

The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead

You Don't Know Us Negros

 

Title: You Don't Know Us Negros and Other Essays

Author: Zora Neale Hurston

Publisher: Amistad Press

 
ISBN: 9780063043855

 

Thoughts:  Very interesting to read Hurston's non-fiction work and I did appreciate how it was organized by topic, but some felt (and a few were) unfinished.

 

Rating: 3/5

Zombie Daze

 

Title: Zombie Daze

Author: K.E. O'Connor

Publisher: self

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts:  Fun cozy with a zombie twist and a likeable main character, even if the mystery elements where not fleshed out enough.

 

Rating: 3/5

Three Lords and Three Ladies of London

 

Title: Three Lords and Three Ladies of London

Author: Anna Faktorovich

Publisher: Anaphora Literary Press

 
ISBN: 9798750094424

 

Thoughts:  Confusing Renaissance allegorical comedy by William Percy that did benefit from Faktorovich's "translation" (aka summary), even if that portion was very long and dry with theories that seemed far-fetched based on the evidence presented in the form of the play.

 

Rating: 2/5

Long Live the Pumpkin Queen

 

Title: Long Live the Pumpkin Queen

Author: Shea Ernshaw

Publisher: Disney Press

 
ISBN: 9781368069601

 

Thoughts:  What could have been a very cool exploration of the other towns (even the new one) was hindered by very flat writing with a very morose main character whose motives seem directionless.

 

Rating: 2/5

Nebula Awards Showcase 2009

 

Title: Nebula Awards Showcase 2009

Author: Ellen Datlow, ed

Publisher: Roc

 
ISBN: 9780451462558

 

Thoughts: Wonderful collection of outstanding sci-fi and speculative fiction work - some standouts are "The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" by Ted Chiang and "Pol Pot's Beautiful Daughter (Fantasy)" by Geoff Ryman.

 

Rating: 4/5

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

 

Title: The Many Daughters of Afong Moy

Author: Jamie Ford

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts:  Unique yet confusing concept that felt more like a standard family saga with too many characters and time periods to keep straight.

 

Rating: 2/5

The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream

 

Title: The Frederick Sisters Are Living the Dream

Author: Jeannie Zusy

Publisher: Atria

 
ISBN: 9781982185381

 

Thoughts:  A delightful tale of family navigating through middle age.

 

Rating: 4/5

Stacking the Shelves: 10/23-10/29

 

LibraryThing Early Review:

 

Antuna's Story by Terry Birdgenaw

Summer on the Bluffs

 

Title: Summer on the Bluffs

Author: Sunny Hostin

Publisher: HarperAudio

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts:  Heftier than a normal beach read, but still a wonderful novel for and of summer.

 

Rating: 4/5

The Halloween Tree

 

Title: The Halloween Tree

Author: Ray Bradbury

Publisher: Spectra

 
ISBN: 9780553258233

 

Thoughts:  I like Bradbury and there is a reason he is a master, but I think what he was trying with this story fell flat.

 

Rating: 3/5

Geekerella

 

Title: Geekerella

Author: Ashley Poston

Publisher: Quirk

 
ISBN: 9781594749476

 

Thoughts:  Very fun Cinderella retelling set against the backdrop of sci-fi fandom.

 

Rating: 4/5

The Beginning

 

Title: The Beginning

Author: Ranay James

Publisher: self

 
ISBN: 9781311668424

 

Thoughts:  Not a bad story, but the structure was wonky with a pivotal character not being introduces until Part 2, and an even more important plot point not even touch upon until the final third.

 

Rating: 3/5

One Crazy Summer

 

Title: One Crazy Summer

Author: Rita Williams-Garcia

Publisher: Recorded Books

 
ISBN: n/a

 

Thoughts:  A middle-grade historical fiction that is not afraid of tough family issues.

 

Rating: 4/5

Stacking the Shelves: 10/2-22

LibraryThing Early Review:

Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor by Shawn M. Warner

The Family Remains

 

Title: The Family Remains

Author: Lisa Jewell

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

 
ISBN: 9781797139050

 

Thoughts:  This sequel to The Family Upstairs is just as dark but not quite as twisty.

 

Rating: 4/5