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Caitlin Weaver

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So many twists and turns! Love the female friendships that are cultivated, and how all of the secrets start to weave around each other.

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Rebecca Yarros

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This was the third in this series. I liked parts of it more than any of the others, especially that we learn more about the world overall (and get to visit some new locations). Like the second book, it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, and beware, rumor has it that Rebecca Yarros hasn't even started the fourth book yet. If you're prepared to wait until 2027, then forge ahead! I'm not sorry I read it.

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Dara Horn

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This book was fascinating. It is set during the American Civil War and focuses on the character of Jacob Rappaport, a young Jewish man from New York. He joins the Union Army and is coerced into being a spy. This leads him on a series of adventures in the South, where he ultimately meets and falls in love with a woman. I don't want to give too much away. But it was really well-written and a page-turner in that it was action-packed. I didn't always like the main character, but that's okay. It was also really interesting to read the "Afterward" to the book and learn about the different historical characters whose lives helped to shape the fictional ones. 

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Anthony Trollope

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Part of his Bartershire series. Very enjoyable gentle comedy of social manners in mid 19th c. England, post Austen. Complications between old snobby nobility, common wealthy squires who have fallen on hard times, nouveau rich from working class origins luke masonry and tailoring, and respectable professionals like Doctor Thorne and assorted lawyers. And his neice born out of wedlock and the center of the novel. And common working people and servants who are there merely to prepare tea and make beds. A fun amusing read. 

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Break It Up: Secession, Division and the Secret History of America's Imperfect Union 

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Break It Up: Secession, Division and the Secret History of America's Imperfect Union 

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Richard Kreitner

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Witten and well researched by a Nation journalist, this is an account of the many secession and division movements from the earliest founding of the country through to the present day (2020 with a short new preface for 2024.) Though familiar with most of the events I learned of a number of others. Well argued and presented but he tends to exaggerate some of the fringe movements, which are always found in large countries, to make his point of a perpetually disunited America. This especially comes true in the final chapters where his polemical stance becomes apparent. Nicely written, I learned a great deal. Recommended

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Kate Storey

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I can imagine what Sally's library looks like in my head. I love the community aspect of this story (written by Kate STOREY, which is an amazing pen-name!) and, of course, the love of books, of people, of the power of stories. How lovely to have the people in your life share their feelings about you ... through books.

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Max Monroe

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Hilarious and thought-provoking, this is a  real tear-jerker at points. But once you "meet" Summer, she'll stick with you. 

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Rebecca Yarros

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This is the second in the series. It was a riveting and page-turning adventure-filled book with lots of exciting revelations and cliffhangers. 

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Abby Jimenez

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Once again, Abby's created a moving, powerful, funny, sad, heart-wrenching love story. I gasped      ( the puppies!!) and I laughed, I cried, and it made me think about my own love story. ❤️She's woven SO many different types of love into this story. And isn't being remembered all that all of us really want from our lives? To be loved AND remembered is an even bigger gift.💜 And Come On, Eileen is a great song!

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For the Common Defense: A Military History of the United States

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For the Common Defense: A Military History of the United States

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Allan Miller et al.

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It's weird, I've probably read more military related books in the last year than in the previous 5 combined, possibly reflecting my concern about the future of my country. This book is more a history of the policy and organization of the armed forces than detailed accounts of specific battles. I learned a lot but would have liked more consideration of the US military's relation to broader American society and culture, especially resistance and anti-war movements as well as paramilitary and privately organized groups. It did focus quite a bit on the contentious relation between the regular Army and state and local militia in the early years of the Republic. Generally a worthwhile read, a bit dry in style but seemingly very well researched.

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Richard Russo

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Here's a candidate for the Great American Novel. "Empire Falls" won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2002 and has since been adapted into a miniseries for HBO, which I'm looking forward to. I had previously read "Straight Man" by Russo, one of my favorite novels. This one's up there for me, too. Most of his stories are about regular people in small, blue-collar towns. "Empire Falls" is set in Maine, "Straight Man" in Pennsylvania, other works by Russo are mostly set in upstate New York where he was born and raised. I listened to an interview he did where he described this book as dealing with parental angst, worrying for your children. The relationship between the protagonist and his daughter is the focus throughout everything that happens. The characters and dialogue Russo writes is authentic and realistic. "Empire Falls" is an easy five star rating for me. I plan on checking out his debut novel, "Mohawk" and memoir "Elsewhere" soon. 

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Jill Santopolo

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Oh, this was a glorious read. I so loved revisiting the characters, the story, the love between Lucy and Gabe. It warmed my heart. And now I want another story ten years past this one!

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Rebecca Yarros

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I was on a wait list in Libby for 150 years for this book and finally received it while on vacation (such perfect timing!). It was excellent escapist fantasy fiction along the lines of The Hunger Games. This is the first book in a series. The main character, Violet, is the daughter of the commanding general at Basgiath War College in the kingdom of Navarre. For most of her life, Violet trained with her father to become a Scribe, but her father is now dead and her mother has insisted that she join the cutthroat Dragon Rider quadrant. Violet suffers from joint problems and is not physically strong. Everyone expects her to die early in her training, but, spoiler alert, she grows strong and succeeds. This book is a page turner - there's action, intrigue, romance, and mystery. I'm now well into the second book and it's just as intriguing!

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Suzanne Collins

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Every book in the Hunger Games series is better than the last, and this is truly a masterpiece. Besides being the best, it is also the most heartbreaking, so don’t read the last few chapters in front of others unless you are comfortable with crying in public!

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Kirt Burdick

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On the surface, Death of Power is simply another overly gory and overly sexualized adult take on superheroes in the same vein as The Boys. It is a direct parody of the Death of Superman comic from the early 90's and begins with Superm-I mean, Powerman, presumably (he is never actually named), being violently murdered by this world's equivalent to Doomsday. We see the fallout of this event as we meet parodies of Lex Luthor, Batman and Wonder Woman and lots of ultra violence. Unlike The Boys, which feels like it it's an edgy show but never takes any actual risks (Huey should be a smoldering heap of flesh and bones by now), Death of Power isn't afraid to go to those crazy, dark places. Aside from all of the gross stuff, this is a really eye-catching comic. Despite the dark story, the panels are bright and colorful, with big, bold, descriptive lettering that is reminiscent of the golden age of comics. It is extremely light on dialogue and much of the story is told through kinetic action scenes, though that makes it no less impactful. You really feel each panel, as if you were right there with them and that is an impressive feat for a comic. 

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Read reviews and discussion of Death of Power #1 from Kirt Burdick, published by Other

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C. M. Kosemen

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A very imaginative sc-fi story with a fair amount of both body and existential horror. A fun, easy read but I do wish that the author had gone a bit deeper into some of these concepts because they were so bizarre that I wanted to know more. Still a worthy read for fans of dark science fiction.

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All Tomorrows: A Billion Year Chronicle of the Myriad Species and Mixed Fortunes of Man is a 2006 work of science fiction and speculative evolution written and illustrated by the Turkish artist C. M. Kosemen under the pen name Nemo Ramjet. It explores a hypothetical future path of human evolution set from the near future to a billion years from the present. Several future human species evolve through natural means and through genetic engineering, conducted by both humans themselves and by a mysterious and superior alien species called the Qu.

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Meg Shaffer

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ADORED!!! What an amazing story! I loved Shaffer's first book, but this one was also outstanding and creative. Two friends, Rafe and Jeremy, get lost in the woods in WV. They emerge 6 months later, no worse for the wear! Stronger, bigger ... how did they survive, and thrive? And why are some memories of their time lost? How does grown-up Jeremy help find missing people and why is he so good at it? Where is Emilie's missing sister? It's magical land with LGBTQ+ friendship with chosen family and an amazing storyteller (who is a part of the story, like a narrator dipping in!)

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Alexandra Lapieire

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Published about 30 years ago, this historical biography of the great Baroque artist Artemisia Gentelleschi is a brilliant read. If focuses largely on Artemisia's tortured relationship with her jealousy demanding father, himself a leading painter of the period and still highly regarded today. Artemisia had to overcome years of self doubt, abuse and rape to eventually achieve renown. Meticulously researched, Lapieire discovered many hitherto unknown resources, but the book is a novel that draws on much of her correspondence and court and official records. It places her squarely in the context of early 17th c. Rome, Venice, Naples and London. It is a novel that is engrossing in itself and yet I learned a great deal about Baroque art. Highly recommended. 

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Sue Heath

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We all lose things. People. Relationships. Careers. It's inevitable. This book delves into loss of many kinds, all wrapped up in personal recipes and stories and memories. It's utterly charming and although one chapter just gutted me, it's ultimately a love story told in teaspoons and cups ... and now I really want scones!

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Daphne DuMaurier

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I can't believe I made it this far in life without reading this book. Jamaica Inn is a fascinating thriller in the Gothic style. Mary Yellen's mother dies and on her deathbed asks her daughter to sell the family farm and go live with her aunt Patience, who has married and lives at the Jamaica Inn. So Mary leaves the only home she's ever known to live with her aunt, and her aunt's husband Joss, who is the landlord at the Jamaica Inn. Upon arrival, it's clear that all is not right there. Joss is erratic, bullying, cruel and unstable and Aunt Patience is a shadow of her former self. Mary, however, will not be frightened easily. She soon learns her uncle's secret and tries to plot a way for her and her aunt to escape. The descriptions of the Cornish countryside are captivating (it's really its own character) and the book has a few twists and turns and surprises. This book may look simple but I feel like there's a lot of subtext and layering that I will have to read five more times to understand - and it's so readable that I just might do that.

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Alba de Céspedes

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I loved this book. The author of the "forbidden" notebook is Valeria, an Italian woman living in Rome in the 1950s. She lives with her husband, Michele, and two college-aged children. She buys a diary on a whim one day and the act of writing in it opens up her eyes to how things are in her life. Despite the fact that this book was written seventy-five years ago, a lot of Valeria's life, concerns, and struggles are very relatable. She keeps the diary hidden from her family because it's the only thing in their tiny apartment that is truly her own. She struggles to find time to write in it, and worries about her family discovering it. Nothing she writes is incredibly shocking, especially by today's standards, but her family has a certain image of her, and she doesn't want them to know the version that exists in the notebook. This was also a very compelling and page-turning read!

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Peter Farrelly

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Strong, quick coming of age story written by co-writer of Dumb and Dumber and There’s something about Mary. Very visceral, funny, and sad throughout as Dunphy learns how to accept the troubles of life and not running away from them. Hope to watch the movie now! 

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JJ Elliott

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This book is so much about grief and love, it's difficult to imagine the anger without the joy of truly knowing someone while not knowing all parts of them. I wish I had friends like Feeney, that wanted to know all the parts of me. I love what the friends did for each other to process their deep feelings. It's not an easy read, but it's one you'll remember, especially when you hear Kenny Loggins :) (

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Ta-Nehisi Coates

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I greatly enjoy listening to Coates weaves his stories, laced with thought-provoking observations and lush use of language. 

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Lisa Genova

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Maddy is a college student. A daughter, a sister, a Taylor Swift fan, an aspiring comedian ... and  is bipolar. Love how Lisa Genova can teach about a condition or illness  through fiction. 

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Phoebe Fox

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I thought I had figured out who Millie was to Grace, but I was so wrong and it was a lovely, unexpected twist! 

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Helen Scheuerer

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Fantasy based world where the main character Thea has been secretly training to become a warrior all of her life even despite the heavily induced laws there are that no women cannot wield any type of blade or fight in any battles or wars. 

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Haruki Murakami

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Very enjoyable read. The fourth and final book in "The Rat" series. Not everything makes sense, not everything is supposed to. Classic Murakami. Memorable characters. I loved the line "shoveling cultural snow" to describe the protagonist's work as a freelance journalist. The ending was a little underwhelming. 

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Sean McMeekin

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Reading revisionist history is fun if you have some idea of what the book is reviving against. I'm very far from being an expert in Russian history but I have enough sense of the Revolution to see where McMeekin is coming from. He has a liberal perspective in which historical actions are largely caused by individuals and their largely impulsive decisions and not the forces of broad social economic movements. So in McMeekin's case Lenin, Trotsky and the Bolsheviks bad, the Tsar, Kerensky and the moderate liberals bad, but not quite as bad and what's worse just plain dumb and unlucky. But we're left wondering why there was a revolution at this time and place in the first place. For McMeekin it comes down to bad luck with weather, with a break from the harsh winter one day in February in Petrograd which allowed the Women's Day March to proceed which got out of hand which lead to mutiny by the military and so on. While I'm sure this is fairly plausible it just leaves so much unexplained. Still McMeekin writes well with nerve and clarity. 

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David Rapp

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A very well informed and researched of early 20th C. baseball focusing mostly on the great Chicago Cubs team lead by the famous infield trio and their rivalry with the New York Giants. Along with accounts of the colorful players, teams and games, Rapp covers such things as popular music of baseball and sports writers. A very enjoyable read helping me gear up for the start of baseball season. 

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Amy James

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Gotta love a  contemporary story that involves a word game ... in this case, WORDLE! It got me back into playing this one daily. 

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Anne Tyler

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I've been a fan of Anne Tyler's books ever since I read Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant forty years ago. She never disappoints. She writes about real people, but she does it in such a way that the reader can add their own experiences to the characters. After all, don't we all know people like those who populate her books? Or perhaps we see ourselves in some of her characters and their stories? This newest book is no exception.

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Joshua Moehling

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This is the third in the Ben Packer series. Set in Minnesota, the author does a great job of conveying the climate. The reader can just feel the cold. What the reader can also feel is Ben's drive to solve several murders in town, as well as his angst about what happened to his brother, Nick, 17 years ago. This book can stand alone as the author does a nice job of bringing a new reader up to speed about Ben's life. However, reading the books in order makes Ben's growth all the more poignant. 

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Mitchell Luthi

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This book was awesome. A horror romp in the (not-so) Holy Land. Great concept, incredible execution. Much gore, very violent.

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Brandon Sanderson

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The run time of this behemoth is 62hrs and 48mins. I am exhausted. Being the end of the first Stormlight Arc Sanderson really out did himself. Nothing will be the same. I look forward to the next installment which, based on his writting speed will be along shortly. I enjoy it. Typical Sanderson formula, entertaining throughout steps on the gas in the last third.

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Kaliane Bradley

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On many highly recommended lists from last year and I don't disagree. A fun witty read. England has discovered (actually expropriated as we discover) a time machine which they want to test out by bringing a group of people from centuries past to modern day to see how they'll adjust under supervisors, one of whom is the narrator, all under control of the secretive heavy-handed Ministry of Time. Complications, intrigue, deceit, and narrow escapes ensue, with some romance thrown in. Ostensibly a science fiction plot, it also ranges to reflections on imperialism ( traditional and neo), comic state bureaucratic overreach, and amusing dislocations of cultures and social mores, old and new. A very nice style, witty and deprecatingly self reflective, a very enjoyable read. Highly recommend. I think it could make a great book club read.

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Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series

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Eight Men Out: The Black Sox and the 1919 World Series

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Eliot Asinof

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The fun read, getting myself geared up for the start of the baseball season. Though Asinof says he did a great deal of research and even interviewed some people who were involved in the scandal or alive at the time and though the facts seem correct, the complete lack of citations left for me a certain mar in the book. But I'm being pedantic. It was a fun quick read of a time when baseball was about to transition into the modern period. Lots of colorful characters, some sincere, most shady, and  riveting events and repercussions, in a well written exciting narrative. The basis for the John Sayles movie of the same name. Recommend 

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Liberty or Death: The French Revolution 

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Liberty or Death: The French Revolution 

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Peter McPher

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Largely a social history of the French Revolution though he covers all the important events. He charts the extraordinary transition of French society and culture and of course is revolutionary politics from 1789 to the advent of Napoleon. Perhaps the book can serve as a dismal and contrasting reflection on the conservative revolt going on in our own country right now with perhaps some warning of troubling times ahead. Very well researched, written and argued. Recommend very highly.

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Lauren Evans

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Now that's an original idea! Small town casket company owner meets ... an Agent for Death? Nora has to learn to live with grief, can an Agent for Death help her? 

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The Captain & Me: On and Off the Field with Thurman Munson

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The Captain & Me: On and Off the Field with Thurman Munson

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Ron Blomberg, Dan Epstein

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This is one of the best baseball books I've ever read. It's about the Yankees star catcher Thurman Munson, written by his teammate Ron Blomberg. There's so much insight here, about Munson, the teams they played together on, what it was like back then. I learned so much from reading this. You really get a sense of what Thurman was like, who he was as a person on and off the field. He was a family man that meant so much to his teammates as their captain. Munson died in a tragic plane crash in his hometown of Canton, Ohio at the age of 32. He had gotten his pilot's license so he could spent more time at home with his wife and kids. I really believe he should be in the Hall of Fame. He was an incredible player and even better man.

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The Captain & Me: On and Off the Field with Thurman Munson

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Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old 

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Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old 

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Brooke Shields

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POWERFUL! This audio, read by Shields, is a testament to all middle-aged women who do not feel seen or heard or valued. It's time for validation of all the awesome life experience we have had, and all of the opportunities in our futures.

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Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old

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Lawrence James

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James sees the history of the British Empire as continually wavering between naked aggression and rapaciousness and benign paternalism. My sense is that overall he sees the Empire as a mixed but ultimately positive benefit for human history. Well written with an engaging and at times with style. Seems thoroughly researched. 

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Miranda July

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I cannot explain how much I disliked everything about this book. It seemed like it was exactly marketed to me - a middle-aged career woman, mother, etc. But I have not disliked a book or a main character so much in years. I will say this - it is readable. I finished it (I read it for a book club). There are some fun/interesting ideas (the idea of escaping to a hotel room for several weeks for example).  But the main character was so self-centered and inward-thinking and privileged and absurd that I really could not care what happened to her. There were scenes that I think (?) were supposed to be deep and serious that made me want to giggle. And things that I think(?) were supposed to be funny that weren't. I don't know. Lots of people liked this book. It was shortlisted for an award. You decide. 

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Anna Johnston

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OUTSTANDING storytelling in this debut novel! Quiet, kind Frederick finds himself in the oddest case of mistaken identity ... and then finds himself in a life he rather enjoys. He finds family he wishes he had, and friends he doesn't want to let go of. One of the MOST CHARMING books I've ever read, I'm recommending it to everyone I know! (And the audio is FABULOUS!)

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J. Mathieu

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What a creative way to look at a school--as a series of intimate vignettes about those who work there. From the principal to the staff to the custodian, you'll learn some history of that person and how they came to work at Baldwin High and how all of their lives are intertwined. Funny at times, poignant and sad at others, but worth the read! 

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H. W. Hornung

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My graduate degree interest was film noir so I keep up with noir literature. Hornung was Arthur Conon Doyle's brother-in-law. These stories were very successful and popular in their day (c.1899) and are mildly amusing to read. 

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Joan Didion

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I had a hard time with this one and didn't exactly enjoy it. The main character, Maria, is purposely unlikable and difficult to relate to. This novel comments on social issues of the time and the state of the entertainment industry. Primarily set in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, it follows Maria's life and depression after a controversial decision. She later divorces and her life spirals out of control. The writing style is minimalist, with some chapters being as short as a page or two. I should say I really liked this. I'm the kind of person that has to finish reading for the day at the end of a chapter, not after a set number of pages. Play It as It Lays is considered a classic and one of the best American novels of its era. I understand why it has earned this praise, but it's just not for me. 

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Alex Michaelides

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Really good read. If you love mystery, you should definitely read this!

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Alexander Mariotti

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Much more about the history of gladiatorial combat than about the actual day-to-day life of a gladiator. 

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Bobby Finger

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Graham Nortona

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A quick read. It is a way to tell Frankie's story as she relates her life to her caregiver.  Perhaps the part that is the most gripping (and most accurate) is the ongoing description of the rise of AIDS and the impact on friends, family, and lovers. 

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Alex Grecian

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It's only January but this is already a contender for my favorite book of the year. A western occult horror. Witches? Check. Ghosts? Check. Demons? Check. Great story telling. 

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Brandon Sanderson

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Novella. Short, sweet, punches above its weight. 

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Brandon Sanderson

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IYKYK, re-reading in anticipation of Winds and Truth

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Martha Wells

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I really enjoyed this. Short and dense. Fun character, great pacing. Will likely pick up further entries.

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Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America

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Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America

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Heather Cox Richardson

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The downside of audiobooks is that I mentally compose these reviews in the car then forget to post them! I've been meaning to read this and was glad I finally started it around the time of the election. Although I knew the basic facts presented, the way the author connected them helped me distance myself from the present and see both sides of our politically polarized country in a broader view. It didn't change my present sympathies, but gave me a deeper understanding in a very engaging way.

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Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America

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Chuck Klosterman

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Good read about small town living, that hits you like a brick in the end. Instantly I was reminded of the movie, The Last Picture Show. 

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Read 1,191 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Somewhere in North Dakota, there is a town called Owl that isn't there. Disco is over, b...

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Katherine May

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This book follows Katherine May's quest to walk the Southwest coast of England, as well as her coming to terms with her adult-hood diagnoses of Autism. It's entertaining, and may or may not make you want to take long walks in England.

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John L. Parker

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This is a cult classic novel about running, considered to be one of the best ever written on the subject. The author ran in college at Florida, which leads to its authenticity. The setting is the fictional Southeastern University in the Florida Panhandle in the early '70s. The protagonist, Quenton Cassidy, is a prolific runner, his best race being the mile. He is friends with a former Olympic runner, Bruce Denton, who takes him under his wing. I loved all the parts about running, but everything else was pretty mediocre. The chapter titled "The Interval Workout" was the best in my opinion. Another thing I didn't like was the dialogue. I know this is supposed to take place over 50 years ago, so maybe people really did talk like they do in this book, but a lot of it seemed unnatural to me. The climax is well-earned, where Quenton defeats the fastest miler in the world (a character based on John Walker, after his weeks of arduous training. The ending was satisfying, too, where he reflects on the past, revealing that he later won silver at the Olympics, but knows that his old life is now over and is okay with it. 

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Gordon Wood

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Part of Modern Libraries Chronicle Series, this is a concise review of the American revolutionary period written by one of the dean's of early American history. Those familiar with Wood's earlier books will be familiar with his perspectives here but it still offers some broader ways of thinking about the Revolution. Very engagingly written.

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Heather Cox Richardson

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Although some people disagree with me, I mostly found this to be a hatchet job with a pretty simplistic message, Republicans bad, Democrats good. Since I mostly agree with this assessment, in our current political climate, I didn't mind the one sidedness of the book. It reminded me of the many failings of Trump and MAGA. I cringed at the end of the book over my awareness now that its message went unheeded. A worthwhile read, even as a polemical screed. Richardson is writing here as a public historian, not an academic in the strictest sense, and making a strong case against Trump and right wing authoritarian impulses. 

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Georges Simenon

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Can't go wrong with Maigret. This time he investigates a crime that isn't really a crime

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C. V. Wedgewood

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Though written originally in 1938, here in a NYRB edition, Wedgewood, one of the most significant historians of the 20th century, brings great research and wonderfully engaging and at times witty style into her book. In the years since, analysis of this pivotal moment in European history has been reshaped and new research has emerged but Wedgewood's study is still valuable and incisive. One of the great histories produced in the 20th C. The fact that it was written on the eve of WWII and dissects the destruction of Germany and much of Europe in the 17th century, in her view, largely pointless war that nevertheless reshaped European and world history, adds tragic poignancy. 

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Daphne DuMaurier

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This short story, on which the Hitchcock film was based, is even eerier and creepier than the movie. It centers around a handyman in Cornwall, who likes to watch the birds in his spare time. One day, he notices that they are behaving... oddly.  The story is not long, but it is haunting and engaging. 

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Octavia Butler

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I don't know how I got to this point in my life without reading this classic before, but here we are. What an incredible, terrifying, and honest story - it combines history and time travel to create a vivid account of what life might have been like on a plantation on Maryland's Eastern Shore in the early 1800s. The characters are complex and diverse and Butler's writing is concise and to the point. 

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Amor Towles

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A very satisfying and enjoyable read. Written with a certain grace and composure that befits the title character. Though at first leisurely in pace with an episodic plot, the strands come together to an intriguing and very satisfying conclusion. I recommend this with no hesitation. Made into a TV series 

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My 75 Years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL. 

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My 75 Years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL. 

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Dan Rooney

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Very enjoyable read! I think my favorites parts of the book were his first hand experiences in the early stages and relationships with the league founders and first owners of the NFL. 

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Dan Rooney: My 75 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers an…

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Read 28 reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. In 2007, the Pittsburgh Steelers will turn seventy-five years old. So will Dan Rooney. In D…

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Cixin Liu

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This is the third book in the "Three-Body Problem" trilogy. If you are familiar with the recent Netflix series based on the book, a lot of what happens in that actually takes place in this book (the TV series feels VERY LOOSELY based on the books). At any rate, this series blew my mind. I don't 100% understand the science, and it's science *fiction* so it's not real, but the characters/themes and situations are fascinating. I don't really know how to summarize it - it's about humanity, and the universe, and what we understand and what we don't. I had some very wild dreams reading this before bed. I don't want to give away too much of the plot so I guess all I will say is that it absolutely is a book that makes you think, but is also entertaining and a bit of a page-turner. 

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Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1)

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Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1)

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Walter Mosley

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I listened to this as an audiobook. The narrator for this audiobook, Michael Boatman, made Easy Rawlins and all the other characters come alive. I'm not sure it would be a 5 star review from me if I had read the words on a page.

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Devil in a Blue Dress (Easy Rawlins, #1)

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The Full Moon Coffee Shop (The Full Moon Coffee Shop, #1)

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The Full Moon Coffee Shop (The Full Moon Coffee Shop, #1)

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Mai Mochizuki

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Not nearly as entertaining as I had expected. It's more about astrology than about a bookshop with wise cats giving advice. I kept hearing the song "Age of Aquarius" in my head as I was reading this.

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	 The Full Moon Coffee Shop (The Full Moon Coffee Shop, #1)

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Jussi Adler-Olsen

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This book is said to be the conclusion to the Department Q series, and it's a nail-biter right up until the last page. It is not necessary to have read all the previous books in the series as Jussi Adler-Olsen does a good job of telling the reader enough about the characters that it all makes sense. However, do yourself a favor and read the series in order. It will definitely bring depth to the story in Locked In.

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Feast of the Seven Fishes: The Collected Comic Strip and Italian Holiday Cookbook

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Feast of the Seven Fishes: The Collected Comic Strip and Italian Holiday Cookbook

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Robert Tinnell

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Feast of the Seven Fishes, over the past few years, has become one of my favorite Christmas movies to watch- so much of it is relatable to my family and memories of Christmas eve growing up. However, finding a copy of the graphic novel it is based on is nearly impossible, BUT, I was able to read it on the internet archive! I was impressed with how much of the dialogue was exactly the same as used in the movie, but with a much different ending! 

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Feast of the Seven Fishes: The Collected Comic Strip an…

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Read 9 reviews from the world’s largest community for readers. The Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition comes to life in this popular online comic stri…

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Joseph O'Neill

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An inoffensive and unremarkable novel. It's written from the perspective of a non-native English speaker, like the author. Much of the dialogue is awkward, some of it being intentional I'd imagine. A good portion of the story is about the game of cricket, which I know nothing about and still do not fully understand the rules of. The focus is on the protagonist's personal life, which I didn't find to be particularly compelling. I picked this up thinking it would be more interesting than it actually was, given the premise. None of the characters are likeable or relatable, which doesn't always need to be the case for a good story, but it certainly helps. It's set in New York, and I liked that the Chelsea Hotel was a recurring location. Cricket fans will like this one, I'm sure. This is O'Neill's best known novel, but I didn't get much out of it. 

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George R. R. Martin

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Diana Gabaldon

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The second book in the series takes you on an adventure that starts with a modern-day mystery and leads to espionage in the French court in an attempt to alter history. Although I initially missed the Scottish Highlands setting, I was drawn in by the protagonists' interaction with a new and very different cast of characters in France.

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Diana Gabaldon

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As a fan of historical fiction, a fun read with light supernatural elements. A long book, so good to get lost in for a while!

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Yann Martel

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An exciting tale of a boy who becomes lost at sea, along with a hungry tiger named Richard Parker. The author tells a gripping tale full of twists and turns. I hesitate to say more to avoid ruining any surprises!  I enjoyed the audiobook version; the narrator, Vikas Adam, was great! At 319 pages or nearly 13 hours for the audiobook, it's a good book for long winter nights.

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Toshikazu Kawaguchi

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Of the 5 books in the "Before the Coffee Gets Cold" series, I found this one to be the  most moving.  Perhaps because there were only 3 stories so each one could develop the characters more, and explain why they wanted to go back in time. The underlying theme really of each story really is kindness.

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Agatha Christie

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This was the first Christie book I ever read, back when I was in college. Not sure why I read it, guess I was just a little bored. But I remember very little about it other than the bit with the train schedule. So now I decided to read it again and it was very enjoyable. 

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NHPR (Jason Moon)

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I am *that* person who listens unendingly to true crime podcasts and when I was stumbled upon this, I was pleasantly surprised. The narrative definitely drew me in and kept me questioning what had happened from episode to episode. The host was also really well spoken, and I enjoyed listening to him. Definitely worth a listen!

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Toshikazu Kawaguchi

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Before the Coffee Gets Cold is a popular Japanese novel with several sequels. I listened to the audiobook, and did not particularly enjoy it. As a highly-rated bestseller, I was a little disappointed given its intriguing premise. Without spoiling anything, it has to do with time travel. There is a long list of rules with this that I felt was severely limiting the narrative. Its thesis, that you cannot change the past, but the future remains full of possibilities, I thought, was rather underwhelming. The story takes place at a cafe and focuses on the experiences of four characters. None of these plot lines were exactly profound, I hate to say. My favorite author, Haruki Murakami, is Japanese, and I've enjoyed other novels from Japanese writers, like Yukio Mishima and Osamu Dazai, so I wouldn't say my dislike of this one is due to anything lost in translation. I imagine a lot of readers will relate more to the emotions and themes it presents. However, I can't say the same for myself. 

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Barbara Vine

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I may have enjoyed this dark, gloomy, gothic novel  more if I read it in the summer? Just reading this book made me cold and the plot was so sloooow. 3 stars because it was a great sleep inducer. 

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Max Hastings

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I rarely read military history. This seems a good overview of the war. The many first person accounts of soldiers and civilians makes for very immediate impact of the war's horrors than the usual general's eye view of strategy and battles. As an editor more than a trained historian Hastings is an evocative writer with a good narrative flow 

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Percival Everett

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Amazing retelling of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as told from the perspective of the escaped slave, Jim. In the novel, Jim, or James, is educated, and just playing the ignorant slave for Jim.  What a novel!

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The Slide: Leyland, Bonds, and the Star-Crossed Pittsburgh Pirates

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The Slide: Leyland, Bonds, and the Star-Crossed Pittsburgh Pirates

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Richard Peterson, Stephen Peterson

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This is an incredibly well-researched and put together book. The authors, a father and son, are clearly passionate about the topic and give you an objective account of team history. The focus is on the 1990, 1991 and 1992 seasons, and includes the necessary context for before and after these years. I like how some of the chapters are split up and summarized, between the regular season and playoffs. As someone who didn't grow up watching these teams, I learned a lot. It concludes by mentioning the 2013 team, that broke the record of twenty consecutive losing seasons. The book came out in 2017, and I would have liked it even more if they covered 2014 and 2015, both winning seasons that included playoff berths. Even the title "The Slide" is great, describing both the play that ended the 1992 NLCS and the next two decades for the team. At under 200 pages, there's no fat that needs to be cut. It's the perfect read for someone like me. 

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The Slide: Leyland, Bonds, and the Star-Crossed Pittsburgh Pirates

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Ramona Ausubel

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This book tells the story of Jane, a recently widowed graduate student and her two teenage daughters (Eve and Vera). Jane works for a misogynistic professor as a research assistant and is trying to embark on a career that will ultimately support her and her daughters. A chance meeting with a wealthy woman at a party leads to them participating in a truly miraculous experiment. This book was relatively short and beautifully written. It makes you think about life, nature, history, and discovery. 

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Cixin Liu

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This is the second in the trilogy. It uses a different translator than the first book and I think it's perhaps a little easier to read (or at least I preferred this style better). I don't even know how to describe it, because so much happens and there are so many ways to interpret this book's many messages and events. Ultimately, the main point is that this is just really well-thought-out science fiction and it is amazing to read. Sometimes there may be a wee bit too much... science. But it's okay. There are also lots of plot twists and turns and surprises. I'm now embarking on the third (and final) book in the series... 

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James McBride

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A very satisfying read. Soulful and endearing, with wit and wisdom of small town 1930s Pennsylvania Americana, rich characters and the plot of a mystery that is so much more. Can't praise this enough. Optioned for a movie, which I'm looking forward to seeing. 

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Tamsyn Muir

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This came recommend by several sources. I checked the goodreads and reviews on audible. Its an original story with an interesting premise. While I enjoyed the dialogue, parts of it were incredibly difficult for me to follow while listening. I don't often have to go back and re-listen to parts but I found myself doing just that several times with this book.

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Susan Mallery

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This was a bit slow-starting with a lot of characters, but it grew on me! Lots of family dynamics, and I loved that the main character is not only a woman, but a woman who owns a tow-truck business! 

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Octavia Butler

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This is the sequel to Parable of the Sower.  It is often described as "science fiction" but it's not really at all. It is, however, very dystopian and continues the story of Lauren Oya Olamina and her attempt to grow her Earthseed movement. 

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Cormac McCarthy

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A fan of dystopian stories this hits all the tropes. A dark story highlighting the resiliency of the human spirit. 

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Ruby Hamad

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A history and cultural critique. A tough, uncomfortable read. It made me reflect on how I have interacted with POC femmes in my life. 

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Codi Hall

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A while back, I read a  book by Codi Hall about this town, only to stumble upon this book (#2 in the series) and am now reading book 3. What's not to enjoy about a Christmas rom-com? A single Dad meets the darling of a small Christmas-themed town, where her family owns the Christmas tree lot? Add a cute kid and some lovely parents... sweet fun :) 

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Viktor E. Frankl

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Some parts of this were difficult for me to get through. The first half is the author's experience surviving the Holocaust, and explains his beliefs regarding the book's title. The other half describes logotherapy and how it can be applied. Frankl, the author, was a psychiatrist and developed this school of thought and methodology throughout his long career. I liked part one more, but thought there were some situations where his advice would not apply well. Also, there's a lot of terminology that's referenced in part two I didn't understand that made it difficult to follow. Many people love this book and say it has even changed their lives. While I liked it for the most part, my own feelings aren't as strong. 

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Thomas R. Weaver

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I'm not sure how I ended up with this book. I'm not sure how it was recommended to me. Maybe the algorithm wanted me to read it. In the not so far-flung future, the climate collapse has already accelerated beyond harm reduction measures. Humanity has begun the process of electing a Dictator. In the Roman sense, supreme leader to implement plans to ensure humanity's survival. The final two candidates are and American and an AI. A plot to control the world, shadows moving in the dark, is there a Ghost in the Shell? The world's foremost investigative journalist is on a path to uncover the truth. Or the truth, as it appears. Steven Pacey's narration is out of the ballpark as always.  

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Susan Rieger

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This follows 3 generations of women (grandmothers, mothers, daughters), but Lila is the keystone.  She's also the most interesting of the characters.

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Now I Know: The Soviets Invaded Wisconsin?!: ...And 99 More Interesting Facts, Plus the Amazing Stories Behind Them (audiobook)

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Now I Know: The Soviets Invaded Wisconsin?!: ...And 99 More Interesting Facts, Plus the Amazing Stories Behind Them (audiobook)

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Dan Lewis, Gabriel Vaughan (reader)

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Short (4-5 minute) essays on trivia. Good way to pass the time in the gym

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Now I Know: The Soviets Invaded Wisconsin?!: ...And 99 More Interesting Facts, Plus the Amazing Stories Behind Them

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Wikipedia Contributors

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Physicists are not the best at naming things and it's very entertaining. Sstrange squarks (yes, a double s in strange), chargino, wino, gluino... 

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Jon Cohen

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I wish I could give this 10 stars. I also wish I could recall WHO recommended this to me, as I owe them a donut. What a magnificient story! A widow, a widower, a mysterious book, an inquisitive child, a gaggle of small town characters  ... all intertwined in a love letter to trees. It's poignant and thoughtful and,  at times, hilarious.  ALL the thumbs up for the audio as well! 