Two books I‘ve been putting off reading merely because of their size … thinking of starting one today

5 Stars • Fantasy, Mystery, Dark Academia • "Hell Bent" by Leigh Bardugo is the second book in the Alex Stern series (also known as Ninth House). The story continues with Galaxy "Alex" Stern, who is now more deeply entangled in the occult underworld of Yale University. After the events of the first book, "Ninth House," Alex and her mentor Darlington must navigate dangerous magical societies to save Darlington's soul from Hell.

3.5 Stars • "Reasons to Stay Alive" by Matt Haig is well-written and is both a memoir and self-help book detailing Haig's experience with depression and anxiety. It offers advice on managing mental health, emphasizing recovery and small victories. It‘s relatable and focuses on helping reduce the stigma around mental health.

#ReasonsToStayAlive #MattHaig #Bookish

4 Stars • "Sign Here" by Claudia Lux is a novel that blends dark humor with elements of the supernatural. The story revolves around Peyote Trip, a character working in Hell's bureaucracy. Her job involves managing the intake of souls in a highly bureaucratic afterlife system. The plot thickens as she navigates through the complexities of her job and a peculiar case that could potentially change her eternity. ⬇️

#OUABC Once Upon a Book Club December 2024 Monthly Box (Chasing Waves and Waterfalls)

4 Stars • "The Maui Effect" by Sara Ackerman is a romance novel where 'Iwa, a biologist, fights to save Maui's forest from becoming an eco-resort. She's drawn to surfer Dane, challenging her no-surfers-dating rule. Themes include environmentalism, surfing culture, and love against Hawaii's backdrop.

#Bookish #TheMauiEffect #SaraAckerman

3.5 Stars • In this fifth installment in the series, Finlay Donovan and her nanny/partner-in-crime, Vero, deal with another murder mystery when a dead body is discovered in the backyard of their elderly neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty, the nosy president of the neighborhood watch. Mrs. Haggerty, initially a suspect, is cleared by the police but her house becomes an active crime scene, leading her to stay at Finlay's house across the street. ⬇️

3.5 Stars • "If This Book Exists, You're in the Wrong Universe" is the fourth installment in Jason Pargin's "John Dies at the End" series. This novel continues the adventures of Dave, John, and Amy in the city of "Undisclosed," where they confront various supernatural phenomena including interdimensional parasites, paranormal cults, and a possessed toy. ⬇️

5 Stars • "The Little Liar" by Mitch Albom is a novel that explores themes of truth, deception, and the consequences of lies. The story revolves around a young boy named Nico who, during World War II, is manipulated by the Nazis to spread false information. His ability to lie convincingly leads to tragic outcomes, affecting his life and those around him long after the war. ⬇️

3.5 Stars • "The Reaping" by Jess Lourey is the second in the Steinbeck and Reed series. It follows forensic scientist Harry Steinbeck and BCA agent Van Reed as they investigate a chilling cold case in Alku, Minnesota, involving the murder of a family in 1998 and recent child disappearances. The setting adds a spooky backdrop to the thriller, though reviews are mixed on pacing and plot engagement.

#MMDBookClub 2023 Fall Book Preview

3.5 Stars • "The Last Devil to Die" is the fourth in Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series. It involves the club solving a murder linked to drug smuggling, set in their retirement village. It explores aging and dementia, with the usual mix of humor, warmth, and mystery.

4 Stars • "Before We Forget Kindness" by Toshikazu Kawaguchi is the fifth book in the "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" series. It features a mysterious café in Tokyo called Funiculi Funicula where customers can travel back in time under strict conditions. Focusing on themes of regret, forgiveness, and human connection the narrative follows four new characters:
⬇️

4 Stars • "Truths: The Future of America First" by Vivek Ramaswamy is a book where the author, a former presidential candidate, outlines his vision for the conservative movement. It critiques the modern Republican Party for failing to articulate a clear alternative to progressive policies and emphasizes bringing the nation together through principles like country over politics, merit over grievance, and truth over lies. ⬇️

Read in December 2024...
17 Books
Five 5-Star reads this month:
• The Life Impossible
• James
• Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen
• One
• The Echo Chamber

How I‘m spending New Year‘s Eve. Happy 2025, y‘all.

5 Stars • "The Life Impossible" is a novel by Matt Haig, released in 2024. It follows Grace Winters, a retired math teacher, who inherits a house in Ibiza from a long-lost friend and embarks on a journey of discovery, dealing with themes of grief, new beginnings, and the interplay between magic and reality. ⬇️

3.5 Stars • The Stillwater Girls by Minka Kent is a psychological suspense novel about two sisters, Wren and Sage, who were raised in isolation in upstate New York. Their secluded life is upended when their mother leaves with their sick younger sister and doesn't return, leading to a series of mysterious and chilling events as they confront the secrets of their upbringing. ⬇️

4 Stars • Tricked is the fourth book in The Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne. In this novel, Atticus O'Sullivan, a 2,000-year-old Druid, teams up with the Navajo trickster god Coyote to fake his death and avoid the wrath of Norse gods. This leads to confrontations with skinwalkers and other supernatural entities. The book includes themes of cunning, betrayal, and survival, maintaining the series' blend of humor, urban fantasy, and mythology.

4 Stars • I found this inside-peek to be very uplifting. Melania Trump published her memoir titled "Melania" in late 2024, which discusses her Slovenian childhood, modeling career, and life as First Lady. The book ends just after the Butler, Pennsylvania, assassination attempt on her husband, Donald Trump. The book has been both praised and criticized, with some seeing it as an inspirational account of resilience, while others view it as shallow.

3.5 Stars • "Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice" by Elle Cosimano is the fourth book in the Finlay Donovan series. Like the other books in this series it is chock-full of slapstick humor, has a fast-paced plot, and unforgettable characters. ⬇️

5 Stars • "Symphony of Secrets" by Brendan Slocumb is a novel that explores the hidden history behind a famous American composer, suggesting his work might have been stolen from a Black Jazz Age prodigy named Josephine Reed. The story alternates between the present, where Bern Hendricks uncovers these secrets, and the 1920s, detailing the relationship between composer Frederic Delaney and Josephine.

5 Stars • "James" by Percival Everett is a novel that reimagines Mark Twain's "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved character. It has received widespread acclaim, winning the 2024 National Book Award for Fiction and being shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize. The novel explores themes of identity, freedom, and the harsh realities of slavery with both humor and profound seriousness.

Now that‘s what I call a silent book club!

#OUABC Once Upon a Book Club November 2024 Monthly Box (The Fabric of her Life)

4 Stars • The Memory Dress by Jade Beer is a touching novel centered around a missing husband, Meredith Chalis, a former dressmaker for Princess Diana; Jayne, a neighbor who helps unravel the mysteries surrounding Meredith. and a dress once owned by Princess Diana. It interweaves stories of two women whose lives are transformed by this discovery. ⬇️

4 Stars • Cameron Winter, a former journalist turned private detective, is hired to find a missing woman named Sarah, who has vanished under mysterious circumstances. As Winter delves into the case, he uncovers layers of deception involving politics, crime, and personal secrets. His investigation leads him into the underbelly of society, from the streets of New York to the corridors of power, where he encounters various dangerous characters.

3.5 Stars • "The Taken Ones" by Jess Lourey introduces detectives Reed and Steinbeck in Edina, Minnesota. Two women vanish during a snowstorm, leading to an investigation that uncovers a link to historical disappearances. The duo navigates community secrets and personal histories, confronting a possible serial abductor. The novel blends thriller elements with themes of trust, past trauma, and small-town secrets.

4 Stars • 4th in the series • In The Mistress of Bhatia House, Perveen Mistry, Bombay's only female solicitor in the 1920s, investigates the suspicious death of a resident in a women's boarding house. Amidst personal challenges, she unravels secrets and navigates societal norms to solve the mystery.

#TheMistressOfBhatiaHouse #PerveenMistry #SujataMassey

5 Stars • "Illuminations" by Mary Sharratt is a historical novel about Hildegard von Bingen, a medieval abbess and visionary. It explores her life from childhood in a monastery to becoming a leader and composer, highlighting her struggles against religious and societal constraints. The book is noted for its vivid historical detail and lyrical style.

The zombie apocalypse has begun! You have an SUV and a baseball bat. Where are you going first?

5 Stars • Loved this old sci-fi book. "One" depicts a future where humanity merges into a collective consciousness called "One." This unity eradicates loneliness but raises questions about individuality. The protagonist navigates the benefits and drawbacks of this system, leading to a conflict between those advocating for unity and those for personal identity.

3.5 Stars • This book delves into themes of love, secrecy, and the impact of history on personal lives, set against the backdrop of Scotland's rich historical landscape.

1707: Lily Aitken, a servant, falls in love with Adam Williamson amidst Scotland's political turmoil over the Union with England.

Present Day: A writer researches Lily's life, finding personal echoes in her own.

#TheVanishedDays #Slains #SusannaKearsley #Bookstagram

3 Stars • Just a bunch of random trivia. Totally my bag.

5 Stars • The Echo Chamber by John Boyne satirically follows the Cleverley family. It delves into miscommunication via social media, public image vs. reality, cancel culture, and identity. George, a has-been novelist; Beverley, a TV star; Elizabeth, an influencer; and Nelson, transgender, navigate fame and personal life, often clashing due to their echo chambers. ⬇️

3 Stars • Alice, a pregnant Mohawk woman, navigates her fear of inheriting or passing on mental health issues linked to her Indigenous heritage. Her journey involves visions or hallucinations that blur the lines between cultural legacy and personal psyche. The novel explores themes of identity, trauma, and the weight of history on present-day Indigenous life, leading Alice towards a tentative reconciliation with her past and heritage.

Thank you #Atria Books and #NetGalley for providing this #ARC Advance Reading Copy. Expected publication date is April 8, 2025.

4 Stars • Murder at Gulls Nest by Jess Kidd is a cozy mystery set in 1954. The story follows Nora Breen, a former nun who leaves her convent to investigate the sudden disappearance of her pen pal, Frieda. ⬇️

Read in November 2024...
16 Books
Three 5-Star reads this month:
• The Spellshop
• Dead Souls
• The Importance of Being Earnest

#Goodreads #Bookstagram #OUABC #Litsy #Libby #Everand #Audible #Kindle

Bowie Book Club Podcast 💫 November 24, 2024

4.5 Stars • The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi is about Karim Amir, a mixed-race teenager growing up in 1970s suburban London. His father, Haroon, becomes a pseudo-spiritual guru, leading to family disruptions. ⬇️

3 Stars • The Sailor Who Fell from Grace with the Sea is about Noboru Kuroda, a 13-year-old boy in a nihilistic gang, and his mother Fusako, who starts an affair with Ryuji Tsukazaki, a sailor. Initially, Noboru idolizes Ryuji for his adventurous life at sea. Ryuji's decision to settle down and marry Fusako is seen by Noboru and his friends as a betrayal of the sea's romantic ideal. The gang plots against Ryuji, leading to his murder by boys.

3.5 Stars • Cameron Winter, an ex-spy now teaching English, investigates the brutal murder of a wealthy family and their nanny in Chicago's suburbs. The only survivor is the family's young son. The police initially focus on the daughter's boyfriend as the suspect, but Winter, using his unique crime scene reconstruction ability, uncovers corruption and hidden truths.

4 Stars • This novel follows Frank Szatowski, who reconnects with his estranged daughter Maggie for her wedding. The event is set at a luxurious estate, where she's marrying Aidan, son of a tech billionaire. Frank feels out of place and grows suspicious of Aidan and his family due to their evasiveness and the locals' hostility. His investigation reveals dark secrets, blending themes of family, class, and the protective instinct of a parent.

3.5 Stars • Front to back terrifying • A pilot's heart attack leads to a plane crashing into Waketa, Minnesota's nuclear power plant, causing an explosion and meltdown risk. This disaster is initially a Level 7 on the nuclear event scale, but its severity prompts the unprecedented classification as a Level 8. The story follows the immediate aftermath, the desperate efforts to contain the catastrophe, and its national and global repercussions.

2.5 Stars • Meh • This Will Be Fun follows four friends - Clare, Beatrice, Elowen, and Galwell - who reunite at a wedding. Each is dealing with personal issues: Clare with divorce, Beatrice with commitment fears, Elowen with work stress, and Galwell with career woes. Their reunion stirs up past dynamics, leading to humorous and poignant moments as they navigate their friendships and life's challenges together.

The Ones We Choose centers around Paige Robson, a genetic scientist focused on discovering the genetic basis for paternal empathy. Her personal life is complicated by her upbringing. Paige has always felt the absence of her father, leading her to research genetics, possibly in an attempt to understand why her father left and how much of our personality is determined by genetics.

5 Stars • After her library burns down in the city, Kiela, a librarian, escapes with several priceless spellbooks along with her self-aware spider plant, Caz. They flee to Caltrey, her remote childhood island home. She opens a secret spellshop to help restore the island's magic. This is a story full of tender-hearted moments and whimsical creatures.

3 Stars • The Future centers around a tech billionaire, Lenk Sketlish, who prepares for an apocalypse by building a survival ark on an island. The narrative explores themes of survival, technology, and power, with characters like Martha Einkorn, a survival guru, and Jimi, a hacker activist, playing pivotal roles. The story critiques societal structures and the ethics of who gets to survive a global catastrophe.

4 Stars • The Coworker by Freida McFadden is a psychological thriller centered around two women, Dawn Schiff and Natalie Farrell, who work at Vixed, a nutritional supplement company. The story begins when Dawn doesn't show up for work one morning, prompting concern from Natalie. ⬇️

4 Stars • Elizabeth, from the Thursday Murder Club, receives a letter from her supposedly dead ex-husband, Douglas, claiming he's in danger due to a diamond theft from a past heist involving a criminal named Marcus Carmichael. The club, including Joyce, Ibrahim, and Ron, investigate after a local drug dealer's death seems linked to the diamonds. Their sleuthing involves navigating local crime, corruption, and espionage.

4 Stars • "The Latecomer" by Jean Hanff Korelitz focuses on the Oppenheimer siblings, Harrison, Lewyn, and Sally as they deal with their parents' academic obsession and emotional detachment. The story delves into themes of identity and parental influence, showing how each sibling grapples with their place in the world.

#TheLatecomer #JeanHanffKorelitz #Bookstagram

3.5 Stars • "What the Hell Did I Just Read" by David Wong (Jason Pargin) is a collection of short stories and essays, not a novel like the first two books in the "John Dies at the End" series. It showcases Wong's signature blend of horror, humor, and social commentary in a variety of standalone pieces, offering readers a look into his creative process and thoughts rather than continuing the main narrative of John and David.