So far this mid century French girl friendship is giving Elena Ferrante vibes

Was a little nervous with the comparison to Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (an excellent book but a slog) but this is has the same elevated tone while being totally readable/ bingeable. It‘s literary fiction / alternate history fantasy and I am completely drawn in!

Simply having a Medieval Christmas time. So far this is definitely reminding me of Pillars of the Earth but less plot heavy?

A friendship story revolving around video games.

So far an intriguing family focused dystopian novel. A faster paced read than her previous books.

Enjoying my next book club read which is a literary thriller.

This Shakespeare focused A Secret History read alike is starting off strong!

Addicting character study about this older cleaning lady.

A cozy little folk tale for Halloween.👻🎃

Really liking the writing and setting so far but already there are parts that feel like they could be cut in this 500 page book.

If you really loved the narrative voice of Lemony Snicket in A Series of Unfortunate Events, then this book, where Lemony Snicket is trying to figure out which of his breakfast foods might have poisoned him, is for you. It‘s very rambly and is less a mystery than it is short interesting stories and philosophical musings. I enjoyed it but was glad it was short.

Disjointed. Funny. Magical.

I loved Hamnet so I am very excited about this.

So far beautiful prose but this is slow moving and dense. This book follows a man named Roland over his whole life (and major events of the 20th century). I am interested to see what happens with Roland and his female piano teacher(who is very much grooming him).

More character and thought focused than plot focused. It‘s so easy to read even though I don‘t understand half of the philosophical ideas. It reminds so much of being a freshman, very young and inexperienced but dealing with these weighty ideas.

Loving this layered fiction (like Trust Exercise or The Blind Assassin) that starts with a griping little Edith Wharton style novel within a novel and slowly peels back layers of truth.

A Taylor Jenkins Reid novel about tennis? My body is ready.

Loving this nonfiction that covers all aspects of why we swim (historically and scientifically) bringing in literature and music and personal stories. I will miss my summer swims!

Excited to start my book club book for this week!

Already in love with the Cape Cod setting and many pond swims that are happening. It‘s lovely and nostalgic.

Based on a true case of an exploited teen sex worker in 2005 the prose and characterization are so well done!

This years women‘s prize for fiction winner! I absolutely loved this; it is definitely a book for book lovers. The tone felt playful and whimsical and was giving me Neil Gaiman vibes.

The grossest Moshfegh book yet but I loved the medieval setting and how she structured this book!

So far this book is perfect. I could read about Achilles and Patroclus running around on sandy beaches and eating figs and herbed cheese forever.

Loving this slow paced character focused historical fiction that focuses on the life of one woman.

I love a romance that makes fun of some of those Hallmark movie tropes and showcases characters with very real feeling trauma. Lots of book references for book nerds in this one!

Ok if you like food or cooking even a little bit….this is so good (also it‘s hammock reading season!)

I didn‘t love her previous book the Glass Hotel (beautiful writing but it felt fragmented). This has me hooked with the character writing and things are already tying together in an interesting way

Finally getting around to this novel. I don‘t normally like stories centered around war but the writing is pulling me in (it‘s so good it‘s forcing me to not speed read!).

These essays are a little more erudite than I was hoping for but I love the insight into what writing and being a writer means to her (she compares her process with Woolf, Stein, Dickinson, Dante, etc),

I was devastated by her other book Migrations so very excited to start this environmental fiction/ mystery.

I enjoyed Powers‘ previous novel The Overstory but that felt very complex. It‘s nice to read a story on a smaller scale with a lot of heart about a dad trying to help his son who appears to be on the spectrum.

So far this is an excellent blend of personal stories, science, and indigenous tales.

At the beginning, we see young 20 year old Rosie in a relationship with Bennett, a man 20 years her senior. Even though Bennett does not physically abuse her, he is very controlling (dictating her preferences) and later on very emotionally abusive; there is so much tension in the beginning of the book because of it. They end up moving to an isolated cabin in rural Vermont where she is very dependent on the money he gives her for survival.

Just like his novel, the writing is so so good already in these somewhat connected short stories.

Devastating

Seniors solving murders! My Murder She Wrote loving self is very excited.

Loved this mystery: it‘s a really sweet character study (think Frederick Backman) with some surprise reveals.

Already loving these beautifully written short stories. So far I have been fully immersed in each one.

I really loved this food focused memoir of a daughter remembering her mother.

Very very excited!

Starting my winter reading a little early. A chunkster that has been on my tbr always.

Excited to start this epic historical fiction about a female pilot who will disappear Amelia Earhart style.

I put off reading this because it‘s 800 pages. My mistake; I cannot put this down! It flashes between a modern story of a family with some secrets and historical fiction of the origin of that family (with Creek and enslaved ancestors). Don‘t let the intense family tree scare: both stories are so vivid and gripping and heartbreaking.

If you liked other Franzen novels then you will like this. What I enjoyed about this one was that the character perspectives switch a bit more frequently and that propels the narrative.

So far this is the yellow wallpaper/ Rebecca meets The Shining and I love it.

Absolutely could not put down this unique book about a man exploring a mysterious house with an ocean in the center (you can tell there is more to the situation) that was so hopeful.

I was a little nervous about all the different narratives across time but the writing is so vivid I am completely invested in each story and am easily keeping track. It definitely feels more historical fiction with very very light sci-if.

Very good character studies so far: I am enjoying learning about this family whose matriarch is missing (is she dead? Kidnapped?).

Very excited to start this!