pickLoved this novel set in post WWII England. Beautiful relationship between an older woman who has lost her love and a young man just starting his life. Wonderful nature writing and such a strong sense of place.
pickVery funny and pointed greek myth retelling. I laughed out loud several times. I enjoyed it but would be surprised if it made my top reads of the year. 3.5 π
#womensprize23 #52bookclub23 #mythology @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee @Deblovestoread @jlhammar @MicheleinPhilly
pickCharming fantasy/romance. A delightful read. 3.5 π
#52bookclub23 #publishedin23 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee @Deblovestoread @jlhammar @MicheleinPhilly @Clwojick @bookbelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820
pickI enjoyed this fantasy novel set in 1800s Oxford. I fell in love with the characters. Near the end, I felt that the writing got strident and a bit preaching. The epilogue saved the end of the novel for me. 4 π
#tob23 #52bookclub23 #dedication @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Bluebird @Read4life @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee
so-soA sweeping epic tale of immigrants to Hollywood from europe during WWII. This felt overwritten to my ear. If the novel focused more on one story, it would have been more effective for me. An OK read. #Tob23 #52bookclub23 #abookeveryonehasread
@Clwojick @bookbelle @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee
pickBeautiful dense poetic nature writting. Reminds me of Ali Smith or Max Porter. Loved this brief novel about a couple that make their own world in a small house in the country. 4 π #52bookclub23 #alliterativetitle @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee @Deblovestoread @jlhammar @MicheleinPhilly @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies
I have changed this list so many times! I am reading The Eighth Life for the March of the Mammoths. The Secret History for the Buzzword challange. The Gracekeepers from my TBR Jar. The Strays for the Simon Savage prompt. I hope the #bookspin will double up one of these!! @TheAromaofBooks
Feburary 2023 Reads:
5 π
Recitatif: Toni Morrison π
4.5 π
The Lions of Al Rassan: Guy Gavriel Kay π
Dinosaurs: Lydia Millet π
4π
The New Life: Tom Crewe π§
How High We Go In The Dark: Sequoia Nagamatsu π
3π
Hester: Laurie Lico Albanese π§
Lost in the Moment and Found: Seanna McGuire π§
2.5 π
Wade in the Water: Nyani Nkrumah π§
2 π
Lessons in Chemistry: Bonnie Garmus π
Wide Sargasso Sea: Jean Rhys π
pickThis reads like connected short stories. The book covers centuries and explores what the future of the world may be. Some chapters were very powerful and other less successful. Mixed for me but I am glad that I read it! 3.5 π #52bookclub23 # dystopian @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee
I am in NYC for a couple of days, so of course I have been to a couple of bookstores. At McNally Jackson I found this gorgeous dual book of Mrs Dalloway and The Hours. I could not resist!!
pickLoved this quiet but profound book about one man's life. I also loved The Children's Bible by the same author. The writing has an ease to it. Here is the last line of the novel:" How you came not from a couple or a few but from infinity. So you had no beginning. And you would never end." 4.5/5 ? #TOB23 #52bookclub23 #inheritance @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke
pick8th book in the Wayward Children series. Love visting the endless worlds in this series. Wish the book had been longer. 3 π #52bookclub23 #lastinseries @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee @Deblovestoread @jlhammar @MicheleinPhilly @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820
so-soI thought the writting, particularly around time and place was super strong. It was difficult to read about the extreme racist in the novel. I also think that writing from a childs perspective can be tricky. In the end the plot did not hold together for me. I would read this writer again. 2.5 π #52bookclub23 #doesnotfitotherprompts @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke
panI have looked forward to reading this classic for years. I love Jane Eyre and wantes to know Bertha's back story. The writing style was not for me. The obvious symbolism and opaque writting did not work for me. 2 π #52bookclub23 #Caribbeanauthor @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee
pickLoved the writing of this historical fiction novel set in 1894 during the Oscar Wilde trials. The sex is very explicit. I cared about the characters and found the debate about Homosexuality in the victorian era compelling. Great on audio. 4 π
#52bookclub23 #7deadlysinslust @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee @Deblovestoread @jlhammar @MicheleinPhilly @Clwojick
pickEverything I love in an epic fantasy! Complete complex world, political intrigue, romance, all with an underlying message about essential human nature. 5 π #bigbookreading2023 #52bookclub23 #highfantasy @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee @Deblovestoread @batsy @jlhammar
pickToni Morrison's only short story. Two girls meet in a state orphanage at the age of 8. One is black and one is white...and Morrison never lets the reader know which girl is which race. Brilliant introduction by Zadie Smith. Fast Brilliant read. 5 π #52bookclub23 #under200 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain
so-soHistorical fiction with a strong female lead. Touches on the witch trials, slavery, the power men had over women. It fell flat for me. 3 π #52bookclub23 #titleH @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @Read4life @bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee @Deblovestoread @batsy @jlhammar @MicheleinPhilly
This proof just came in the mail. So excited to read it. It is so rare that I get ARC 's that it feels like Christmas.
panUgh! This was not a book for me. It was an easy and at times a funny read...but ridiculous. Completely unrealistic charaters that lacked depth. The author can write, but this not a stoy that workd for me at all. 2 π #52bookclub23 #hasafuneral @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee @Deblovestoread @batsy @jlhammar @MicheleinPhilly @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke
2023 is off to a good start!
5 π
Salvage the Bones: Jesmyn Ward π
4π
Tresspasses: Louise Kennedy π
3.5 π
Violin Conspiracy: Brendon Slocumb π§
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida: Shehan Karunatilaka π§
3π
Bibliophile: Jane Mount π
Tread of Angles: Rebecca Roanhorse π§
Best of Friends: Kamila Shamsie π
DNF
Notes On Your SUdden Disappearance: Alison Espoch π§
#bookspin @TheAromaofBooks
so-soI β€οΈ Home Fire. It was a 5 π read for me. Best of Friends is well written and at times painful to read, however it did not hit me like Home Fire. 3 π
#52bookclub22 #characterisarefuge @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @jennifer80 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee @Deblovestoread @batsy @jlhammar @MicheleinPhilly
pickI admire this novel for its craft and creativity. I see why it won the Booker Prize last year. I learned a great deal about Sri Lanka. It has some profound observations about war, love,betrayal, and forgiveness. I think this will stay with me for a long time. 4 π
#TOB23 #52BOOKCLUB23 #setinwar
@LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @Jennifer8 @AshleyHoss820 @Read4life @Bluebird
Feburary #bookspin
1 A Knight of the 7 Kingdoms
2 Recitatif
3 Boy, Snow, Bird
4 Corrag
5 The Gustov Sonata
6 Fault Lines
7 Redhead by the Side of the Road
8 Our Missing Hearts
9 Oryx & Crake
10 Winterland
11 The Waves
12 Parable of the Sower
13 Get in Trouble
14 The God of Small Things
15 NW
16 The Sellout
17 What is not Yours is not Yours
18 The Master Butchers Singing Club
19 True & Beauty
20 The Underground Railroad
pickI know I am late to reading this book...but Wow. What a masterpiece. Loved how she used the story of Medea as a framework to tell about this family surviving hurricane Katrina and life. One of the best books I have ever read. Jesmyn Ward is a must read if you love Toni Morrison or Alice Walker. 5+ π
#52bookclub23 #survivalstory @MicheleinPhilly @jlhammar @batsy @Deblovestoread @ravenlee @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Bluebird @Read4life
pickI love her writing. She can build a complex world so quickly! This short novel did not give me enough time to get invested in the characters. That said I will read anything Rebecca Roanhorse writes. Good book just not great. 3 π #52bookclub23 # authorwithsamename. @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @Jennifer8 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain
pickThis book was a comfort and a joy. I picked it up at the library, came home and read it cover to cover. If you ever need to forget the world and destress, may I suggest this book. A book for book lovers. #52bookclub23 #booksoncover @jlhammar @batsy @Deblovestoread @ravenlee @BarbaraBB @squirrelbrain @Bluebird @Read4life @AshleyHoss820 @triplem80 @Librarybelle @Jennifer8 @BookBelle84 @Clwojick @LeeRHarry @Smarkies @CarolynM @britt_brooke @KarenUK
pickGreat book about discrimination in the music industry told in a mystery. Enjoyed the audio with the addition of some of the music pieces. 3.5 π #TOB #52bookclub23 #bookwithepilouge. @LauraReads @KarenUK @britt_brooke @CarolynM @Smarkies @LeeRHarry @Clwojick @BookBelle84 @Jennifer8 @Librarybelle @triplem80 @AshleyHoss820 @Read4life @Bluebird @squirrelbrain @BarbaraBB @ravenlee @Deblovestoread @batsy @jlhammar
pickFirst completed book of 2023. Loved this novel set in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. Full of believable, complicated characters. Has such a strong sense of place and time. 4 π Highly recommend. #52Bookclub23 Book about secrets.
bailedFirst bail of the year. I am more than 50% through this novel and just can't continue. The topic and people are not compelling for me and the writing is flat. Life is too short and my TBR is too long to stick with this one. I am shocked it made it on the list for #ToB23
#52bookclub23
so-soLast book of 2022. For a short novel this took me a long time to read. This book about a difficult subject was written well. Just not my cup of tea.
Top Reads of 2022! It has been a great reading year.
The Book of Goose
Nightbitch
Popisho
Learwife
Black Sun
Migrations
The Summer Book
The Trees
True Biz
Creatures of Passage
Demon Copperhead
Foster
so-soI have been reading this novel off and on since the beginning of November. I admire the writing and can appreciate Saunders talent. This book was a slog for me. The chorus of story tellers held me at a distance from this story of greif. It was a relief to finish this one and not carry it over to 2023.
1 The Gustav Sonata
2 The Netanyahus
3 Sin Eater
4 Holding
5 We Were the Lucky Ones
6 How to Stop Time
7 The Lions of Al-Rassan
8 For the Wolf
9 Mrs Death Misses Death
10 The Master
11 The German Mujahid
12 Parable Of A Sower
13 Wide Sargasso Sea
14 Forest Walking
15 A Deadly Education
16 Our Missing Hearts
17 Hester
18 Trespasses
19 Library
20 Audio
January #bookspin #doublespin #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks
pickWow. What a literary accomplishment. This is a straight forward narrative that has so many easter eggs for those that know David Copperfield, but works wonderfully for those that dont know the source material. It is also a love letter to the region of the US where I have lived in for the last 20 yaers. Bravo 5 π
pickWonderful creepy tale of old age and the value of a good death. Really enjoyed this fast paced horror novel.
pickSuch an enjoyable read! Straightforward Historical Novel set in Canada in the run up to WWI. A love story between two men on the plains of Canada. Moving. 3 π
November Reads:
5 π
The Marriage Portrait:Maggie O‘Farrell π
4.5 π
Elena Knows: Claudia Pineiro π
4 π
Lucy By The Sea: Elizabeth Strout π§
Fingersmith: Sarah Waters π§
3.5 starπ
Walk the Vanished Earth: Erin Sawan π§
3 π
Bitter Orange Tree: Jokha Alharthi π§
The Birdcatcher: Gayl Jones π§
2.5 π
When We Were Dragons: Kelly Barnhill π§
#bookspinbingo so close to a bingo but one book short! @TheAromaofBooks
so-soI wanted to like this book more than I did. Set in the 1960's at a time when women turned into Dragons. This read more like a YA novel and I found the themes heavy handed. Such a cool idea, bummed it did not work for me. 2.5 π
1 The Lonely Hearts Hotel
2 What is Not Yours is not Yours
3 Caleb‘s Crossing
4 Parable of the Sower
5 NW
6 The Luminaries
7 Oranges are not the only Fruit
8 Gustov Sonata
9 The Master Butchers Singing Club
10 For the Wolf
11 The Master
12 Holding
13 Hotel World
14 A Place Called Winter
15 The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida
16 Lincoln in the Bardo
17 Library
18 Library
19 Audio
20 Audio
December #bookspin #doublespin @TheAromaofBooks
so-soI am happy to have listened to this post apocalyptic novel. It is very similar to The Sea of Tranquility. It is not as tight of a narrative as the Emily St. John novel. 3 π
pick5 π Exquisite writing. A story of mothers and daughters, and how we deal with what life hands us. Highly recommend!
so-soRead like connected short stories. Enjoyable read but at times hard to follow.
pickWhat a wonderful Gothic romp. Fun twists and turns. Highly recommend. 4.5 π
pickJust love this series. Deceptively simple writing. Her characters are so layered. In this novel Lucy goes through the pandemic and January 6th along with William.
pickMy most anticipated book of the year did not disappoint!! Historical mystery with great writing. Loved it. 5 π
5 π
True Biz: Sara Novic π§
The Book of Goose: Yiyun Li π§
4.5 π
Briefly, A Delicious Life: Nell Stevens π
Delphi: Clare Pollard π
4 π
The House of Fortune: Jessie Burton π
A Year Without Months: Charles Dodd White π
3.5 π
Bluebird, Bluebird: Attica Locke π§
3 π
The Matchmakers Gift: Lynda Cohen Logman π§
The High House: Jessie Greengrass π§
DNF
While Justice Sleeps: Stacy Abrams
so-soBeautifully written dystopian novel about the last survivors of the flood that drowns England. As you can imagine, a bleak read. 3 π
pickOne of the best books I have read this year. If you like Ferrante you will love this novel. Follows a friendship of two young girls in post war France. Beautiful writing. 5 π
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