LOVED The Vegetarian but just couldn‘t grab into this. Maybe another time.

Quick read, likeable characters. Reminds me I want to go to Nantucket!

My intro to Korean fiction. Different kind of patriarchy and yet exactly the same. Girl power!!

How does she think this stuff up? The cruelty. But the recurring family storylines are fascinating and of course a story about Haymitch brings Woody Harrelson‘s great character to mind. I should read these all back to back again. Great storytelling!

Japanese translations read a little stilted to me, and this was no exception. Quick read, pretty forgettable.

Another candidate for best of 2025. Swedish indigenous raindeer herders, taken from their families to boarding schools, mistreated, generational trauma. Same story, different continent. Excellent.

Learned a bit about the Chilean Civil War but otherwise not a memorable book.

Not the right time for me. Too many stories of accidents in space, one survivor has to get back. Or maybe that‘s not even what this was going to be about?? Bailed.

One of the best books I read in 2025. Orphaned French heiress, guardián loses all her money. Sh it‘s always been great to be female. Epic!

Charming book about a homeless man who gets a job at a convenience store, working the overnight shift. Quick read, redemptive.

The hype is 100% deserved. Wow. Slavery is such an evil evil stain on this country and would that this kind of empowerment had been true. A smart and witty telling of Huck and Jim on the river.

Saw this on a list of best nonfiction that reads like fiction. I learned so much about Tibet — it‘s huge! And such severe altitude and weather. And the Chinese ruined everything. Fascinating.

This was so good and just a kick in the gut, over and over. Also sometimes funny. Corby was such a messed up character but good and trying and I rooted for him…
“about a young father named Corby Ledbetter who is sentenced to prison after accidentally causing the death of his son. The story follows his journey through incarceration, where he grapples with tragedy and guilt while seeking redemption and hope for forgiveness.”

This was so so good! Historical fiction about prosperous Chinese families, women practicing medicine on other women because male doctors were not allowed to, more foot binding killing girls and women. Based on an actual book written by a female Chinese doctor. Maybe her best book yet.

Two sisters, mental health, but connected forever. Captivating.

Amazing historical fiction about a real woman pursued as a witch in 1615 Germany. Excellent and timely reminder that hysteria and groupthink and ostracism of the different are nothing new.

Really don‘t get the fuss on this one. I didn‘t like any of the characters.

So chilling to see in real time was used to be the stuff of novels—propaganda against an out-group turning them into “other” and then dehumanized, persecuted, murdered. And a reminder to be the person who helps.

Just a great author. This story of reform school boys making a hilarious trip from Nebraska to New York was LONG but I was sad for it to end. Emmet, Billy, Duchess, Woolly and Sally are great characters. Would love to see them come back.

Started slow, but I ended up liking it a lot. Life is long and family life is complicated. Same as it ever was.

I didn‘t love the writing style nor the way he wrote about women and sex. If I‘m not anxious to pick it up, it‘s time to move on.

What is it with the Japanese and cat books? And all the magical stuff? Ah but always imparting a lesson. Fun read.

One of the best books I‘ve read this year. The Netherlands, WW2, the persecution of Jews in Europe, all the collaborators. And a great conclusion.

Wow what a life. The husbands! Yet all of them cads. Being rich doesn‘t mean happiness. But it does let you collect estates all over the country. Loved it.

Did t quite get this book nor why her family was so mean to her. Glad she dumped the superficial fiancé. Easy read but forgettable.

Picked this up in Flagstaff, an interesting memoir of a man who retraces his parents‘ epic walk across the West with his aging mom. Problem is she‘s a Trumper now and he‘s gay. Current, relevant. Didn‘t love it but then I prefer fiction.

This seemed like a well-worn premise but wasn‘t, and it kept me guessing. Fun read.

Loved this book about brave American women (the CARDS) going to help rebuild mothers France, even before the war ended. Terrific.

Of course I love this author. This was a quick read, terrible stories of war and migration and parents doing the unimaginable to save their children. How come humans can‘t evolve? Why can‘t small men stop creating huge catastrophes?

Have loved other books by this author but couldn‘t grab onto this one

Ah, depressed women in psychiatric hospitals. We‘ve seen this movie. But this book wove in all the writers in this instance so it‘s more of a literary review. Also she was hospitalized in the 90s! Incredible.

I loved this book and the small-town dramas. I could especially relate to the girl who sort of wanted to go to college but getting married was so much easier.

I liked this a lot, despite my very limited knowledge of the Spanish colonial period. Funny characters, smart women, great storytelling about palaces and gardens and religious tradition of all kinds. Can‘t wait for the movie.

Well it was not as good as All the Light We Cannot See and it‘s a problem when it takes the first 350 pages — 350!! — to get into it, but I tore through the last 200. Creative and really compelling characters. An ode to libraries and books, which I love.

Wow this was unforgettable. Feels like similar stories have been told but this one was so compelling. Couldn‘t put it down.

Who put this book on a “best-of” list? Stupid.

Beautiful, hopeful, aspirational novel about the giving economy. We should all read one chapter each day, over and over, until this nightmare is over.

I like her writing but prefer the novelas. Didn‘t finish.

Very short, autobiographical, compelling story about the writer waking up after surgery for a brain tumor. Couldn‘t put it down.

This was surprisingly on a year-end “best of 2024” list. Surprisingly because it was so fun and beach-read-y. I liked the characters (Daphne and Miles and Miles‘ sister, Julia). The ode to libraries and books and small towns in Michigan! Couldn‘t put it down.

What a delight. I don‘t even like nonfiction. I learned so much, it‘s so close to home (Shickley? Little Blue?) (the Continental Divide is where the rivers run the other way, not the highest peak?) Loved it.

So enjoyable. I love how all the characters keep making appearances. I love that William and Elizabeth are back together. I love the idea of storytelling. Of course, Olive Kittredge. Don‘t know how long she can string the same long story out, but I‘m still in.

Wow. Painful, real, an actual true account of what happens to women after war. Couldn‘t put it down but happy to finish.

Wonderful. Indian boarding schools, indigenous knowledge, community.

I really do not get the fuss. The first 2/3 of this book was stupid. Is it possible that an educated woman has never heard of perimenopause? I trust the other books on all the “best of” lists will be an improvement.

Spectacular. Couldn‘t put it down. And true!

Amazing. Written in 1993, how did she know? There‘s no water in California, the lucky people still live in houses behind walls, everyone is armed to the teeth. Terrific.

Ah this author. What took me so long? Loved this story of post-Depression, pre-WW2 New York. Loved that Eve reappears in Table for Two. Blew through it in 2.5 days.

Such fond memories of Paris, where I bought this. A little slow to start and loved it by halfway. Wonderful characters!

Not what I expected, layered story of the end of a marriage. Entertaining and fun.