I was drawn to this book by my own similarities to the main character - we are the same age, grew up in the same part of the country, and moved to similar towns to attend college. I liked the insight into the LGBTQ+ issues of the time and place and how having a child in that environment fit in. Loved the inclusion of 2 animals as supporting characters.

The actual network of female spies in German occupied France during World War I was a great idea for a novel. I liked the thread that followed the character Eve in that setting better than the other thread that followed Charlie in 1947 as she searched for her cousin who went missing in France during WWII. Parts of this novel were too long and did not seem to be authentic representations of the time in which the story was set.

Backman has done it again. This second installment in the Beartown series is even better than the first. I didn‘t think it was possible.

This is my first time reading Louise Penny. The characters and small Canadian town have great depth. The audio version was good, but it took me a bit to follow the shifts in perspective between the many characters. I may try future installments in the series in print, but I definitely liked it enough to continue.

Re-read this book for at least the third time for book club. It really is the great American novel.

The excellent writing kept me turning pages quickly. The reclusive, agoraphobic protagonist‘s obsession with classic Hollywood films enhances the eerie atmosphere as events unfold.

This book shows what it is like to be part of a musical ensemble, in this case, a string quartet, and how the artistic process evolves over time. The quartet members become intimately involved in each others‘ lives. My favorite parts of this book were the descriptions of the performances and how it was the combination of four particular individuals that gave a unique vibrancy to the music being played. Some overly elaborate writing, though.

I am re-reading all of Joshilyn Jackson‘s books in order of publication. This is the first. I love her writing style that can be simultaneously warped and insightful, and her unique take on the effects of historically Southern issues on contemporary life.

This was an enjoyable light read, set on the beach in Pass-a-Grille, Florida, near St. Pete, where I lived for two years in the early 2000s. Wendy Wax does a good job with contemporary women‘s issues through characterization, plot, and a fast-moving story.

A middle-aged man reflects on his momentous experiences as a 13-year-old in Minnesota in the summer of 1961. Time and place are impeccably described. Mystery and a sense of foreboding pervade this addictive novel, as well as bittersweet nostalgia for the particular time in the life of a young person who is on the threshold of adulthood.

A short account of the charm and peculiarities the British author and his wife encountered during their first year living in Provence. Some humorous anecdotes are told in a conversational style that allows the reader to remotely experience a vacation in the region. Narrated by the author, the audio book was a delightful way to spend 3 hours, but this is not very memorable.

This was a fun read, in part because of its fictional similarities to the upcoming nuptials between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The characters and British setting were vibrant. British and American traits are combined to create a fantasy about an outsider becoming part of the royal family while staying true to herself and falling in love.

The death of the author, who was obsessed with solving the mystery of the Golden State Killer, while writing the book, and the publication of the book only two months before a suspect was arrested, more than 30 years after his last known crimes, made me interested in reading this book. I will definitely be following this case more closely because of how engrossing the book was.

This was the 1987 Pulitzer Prize winner for fiction. A saga about a family fleeing genteel Nashville society for Memphis after the father is disgraced from being swindled by a business colleague. Father, mother, and their four children subsequently define their lives by this event and their obsession over all of the ways in which they believe their lives in Nashville were superior.

Everyone is a suspect in the death of the former troubled tenant of a modern, highly technological home, including the house itself and its eccentric architect. The home‘s current tenant becomes entangled in the mystery. There are many complicated elements, some executed better than others. This book satisfied my desire for a quick read.

This story is marked by strong writing that takes the reader along on the main character‘s descent into madness, and by the depth created by symbolism and ambiguity throughout. This is a book that I really appreciate for its artistic merit, but I can‘t tell if I actually like it.

I had a surprisingly emotional reaction to the different siblings, how their relationships were portrayed, and the exploration of how religion, science, and magic affect mortality. This is not a perfect novel, but it is impactful. My favorite sections were Varya and Simon‘s.

This is my first McEwan: a clever and funny retelling of Hamlet from the perspective of an unborn fetus. The precise writing turns an absurd premise into a legitimate story. The audiobook narrator credibly portrays the erudite fetus a la Stevie Griffin from Family Guy. I really enjoyed this.

Joan‘s bond with her 4-year-old son Lincoln influences the tough choices that she makes to protect him from gunmen who open fire in a zoo. Some uneven pacing and unnecessary character detail detract from the story a bit.

The suicides of 5 teenage sisters over the course of a year in 1970s suburban Michigan is recalled years later collectively by the now-grown men who admired them as adolescents. They are still processing how the defining moment affected them at the time and for the rest of their lives.

The dynamics of parents of a class of kindergarteners make for a fun, light audiobook listen. The protagonist is a witty and sarcastic older-than-normal parent of a kindergartener. The emails that she sends to organize classroom activities are funny and a very clever character development device. The author‘s narration of the audiobook is entertaining.

Beautiful, non-traditional story about love, friendship, family, and processing grief. The author communicated so much (in less than 200 pages) through the use of artistic imagery and subtle language. This device does not work for me very often, but it was executed flawlessly here. It was a touching story.

Nora Ephron‘s distinct, funny, relatable voice makes this difficult story about the breakup of a marriage due to the husband‘s infidelity while the wife is pregnant easy to digest. Meryl Streep‘s audiobook narration made me enjoy this more than if I would have read it in print.

Comprehensive story about the effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction on everyday life in the South. Complex love story and so many other themes that remain current to American life 150 years after the Civil War. Brilliantly crafted novel. Scarlett O‘Hara is one of the great literary characters.

Good look at immigration and interracial adoption issues, however, I kept getting distracted by the adoptive parents‘ ignorance and lack of insight, and the biological mother‘s inexplicable actions.

This book tackles, and does justice to, the major topics of suicide and obesity. It is an emotional read that explores the two main themes through relationships between family members and life in a rural, contemporary Irish community.

Beautiful prose and depictions of the Alaskan wilderness. Successful changes in tone throughout, from bleak to hopeful, and heartbreaking to magical.

Fun and funny book about books. I would have added more books to my TBR if I had read this in print rather than listening to the audio. I enjoyed the author‘s strong opinions about many memorable books and her bold, sometimes snarky, writing style.

Well-paced mystery/thriller involving the impact of a large corporation on a small Indiana town. Main character is highly flawed and well-developed. The link between environmental issues and a decade-long local scandal makes for a good story, but the two threads do not come together clearly or convincingly enough.

This story shows the power of hope, even in the most dire of circumstances. Eleanor is a quirky and completely loveable character, and her story enables the reader to experience a wide range of emotions. It reminds me a lot of The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, which I loved a lot too, for many of the same reasons.

Solid read about friendship among a group of adult men who grew up together on a small Wisconsin town. They see each other through triumph and tragedy as they are both taken away from, and drawn back to, their community of origin.

This is one of the best novels about adult sibling relationships that I can remember reading. I loved the inclusion of Shakespeare verses throughout and the fact that none of the characters was ever without a book.

Wonderful story about the titular character Naomi‘s search for an 8-year-old girl who has been missing for 3 years in the Oregon woods. Naomi‘s own history as a missing child herself sets up her journey of self-discovery in the process. Beautiful descriptions of the snowy, rugged terrain. Gorgeous cover.

I never felt like I understood exactly what was happening in this short novel, but the excellent writing kept me listening to the audio version. I would describe the story as atmospheric, with themes of motherhood, family, and the inevitable changes that affect a rural community over time.

This is only the second Agatha Christie novel that I have read. I wanted to read it before seeing the movie. I love her writing style and character development, and I need to read more of her work.

Character study of a narcissistic middle-aged man who kidnaps and manipulates an 11-year-old girl. A dark story with engaging prose and descriptions of the Rocky Mountain landscape. Overall an unsettling read.

The author, his five brothers, and his mother were terrorized by his alcoholic father, a Mayo Clinic physician, in their large Rochester, MN home in the late 1950s and early 1960s. There were no financial or other sources of support to help them leave. They did not allow their circumstances to destroy them and instead shared many happy experiences. Realistic descriptions of time and place.

Jennifer talks about her career and weight loss journey, all of which is interesting, but distinctly different tones throughout the book diminished the impact of her story a bit. I still look forward to following the career of this young and talented woman.

I read the young readers edition, which covers Tim Tebow‘s life through the first of only two seasons with my hometown Denver Broncos. His faith and work ethic make him a good leader and teammate. He handles his successes and challenges with grace and a competitive spirit. Positive story, especially for young readers.

Mystery/crime novel based on the life of Constance Kopp, one of the first female sheriff‘s deputies in 1914-1915 New Jersey. She and her sisters, Norma and Fleurette, are dynamic characters, and I enjoyed following their adventures. Love the cover!

Short, atmospheric read, appropriate for the fall/Halloween season. Reclusive, eccentric family members living in a mansion on the outskirts of a small town become the target of public speculation after one of them is accused of murdering four others. The story shows the conflict between marginalized people and a society that struggles to accept them.

Decent psychological thriller with a main character who loses her memory every night when she goes to sleep. She begins to piece together her past, including the traumatic event that caused her amnesia, by keeping a journal and reading it daily. I wanted a bit more out of the reveal.

This was my first time reading this book, and I enjoyed the gothic and psychological tone. The slow, methodical reveal of the details of Rebecca‘s relationship with Maxim and her mysterious death, and the characterization of the Manderley estate and its location on the Cornish coast provided excellent atmosphere and fodder for the exploration of gender and class issues. The prose was surprisingly modern.

Yet an ugliness often lurked beneath the reformist zeal of Progressivism. Many Progressives - who tended to be middle-class white Protestants - held deep prejudices against immigrants and blacks and were so convinced of their own virtuous authority that they disdained democratic procedures.

Such an important story about how recognizing and treating brain illness may help to avoid tragedies such as the Columbine massacre. The author's perspective as the mother of one of the two killers is unique and insightful, mainly because of her experience raising a son whose actions at the end of his life made him a total stranger to her and also because of how she coped through educating herself on brain illness and reached out to others.

Difficult read due to graphic abuse against a child and violence. Descriptions of the Northern California landscape, promised in the publisher's blurb, drew me to this book in the first place, but proved to be overwritten. Some beautiful scenes involving the main character's relationships with her grandfather, two older boys, another abuse victim, and teacher.

I became completely immersed in this book that is an aging fictional screen siren's reflection on her life and loves to a budding journalist. Set amongst the golden age of Hollywood and the world of celebrity gossip, a guilty pleasure, it was different than I expected but so good!

Beautiful prose and authentic dialect. A worthy modern classic. Masterful audiobook performance by Ruby Dee.

My hopes for this one were very high after Everything I Never Told You. Unfortunately, I found the writing to be less nuanced and sophisticated, and the story to be YA, which I didn't expect. Seems like I'm in the minority on this one, but I was disappointed.

The audiobook, narrated by the author, is very entertaining. The story itself is fun, and the author manages to make her experiences growing up in Queens relatable.