Book Nook Cafe discussion

Here is the Folder to tell us what your monthly reads were.

Please provide:
~ A GoodReads link
~ A few sentences telling us how you felt about the book.
~ How would you rate the book

Here are my September reads. 🍂📚🍁

Education of a Wandering Man by Louis L'Amour
Genre: Non Fiction- memoir
Rated- 4/5

This was a Book Nook Cafe Buddy Read.
Here is the thread where we discussed the book.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Though I have not read this author's books, I did enjoy reading his memoir and his love of books.


- Fiber Fueled: The Plant-Based Gut Health Program for Losing Weight, Restoring Your Health, and Optimizing Your Microbiome by Will Bulsiewicz
Genre: Diet- health
Rate 5/5

I thought this book was very good. The writing clear and I think the message was spot on.

The basic message is fiber is the key to a healthy microbiome. A healthy microbiome is the critical for ones health.

The key for Dr. B is plant diversity. Less than 3% of Americans get even the recommended minimum daily intake of fiber, let alone what is optimal. The single greatest predictor of a healthy gut microbiome is the diversity of plants in one's diet. The goal is to have 30 different plants in a given week. That was the greatest predictor of gut microbiome diversity.


Wrong Place Wrong Time-Gillian McAllister
Rate: 2/5- Didn't meet my expectations
Genre: fiction

A mom witnesses her son stab and kill someone. After that every time she falls asleep she travels back in time. The purpose is to figure out how to stop the crime.

The plot unfolds backwards. I found this format confusing to follow. After I finished, Google had to come to my rescue to explain the ending. There are characters who aren't who they say they are or they are lying about one thing or another. That coupled with the backwards story was hard for me to follow and at some point, I really didn't care that much. It was an interesting plot idea but the execution didn't work for me. I also didn't care for the writing. It was very repetitious and stilted.


In Pursuit of Jefferson by Derek Baxter
Rate: 4/5
Genre: Memoir & history

The author, Derek Baxter, is a lawyer, history buff and a Thomas Jefferson fan. In came across a guide that Jefferson wrote for two young American men who asked him what to do on their own trip through Europe. Jefferson wrote a 5000 word letter titled, Hints for Americans Traveling Through Europe.

Baxter decides to follow the guide on and off over the course of 8 years as he travels with his wife and two children. It ends when the pandemic struck. He writes about Jefferson's passion for wine, agriculture, landscaping, science, architecture, food and more. I thought this approach of combining memoir and history really brought Jefferson to life for me. Baxter doesn't flinch from the darker aspects of Jefferson's life regarding his owning of hundreds of slaves. He respects and admires him for writing the Declaration of Independence which still guides us to this very day. However, In the end, he found Jefferson to be a man of disturbing contradictions

I enjoyed the author's humor and writing. I also enjoyed the many YouTube videos I watched of the places he visited.

Thank you to John, for the recommendation !

Nice reading month for me.

Reading with Patrick: A Teacher, a Student, and a Life-Changing Friendship—Michelle Kuo. Teacher goes to Helena, Arkansas, at a school for teens who are barely in school. Three years after leaving, attaining a law degree in the process, she returns to help one of those students after his arrest for murder. As a teacher, not as a lawyer.

Education of a Wandering Man—Louis L'Amour. I liked learning about the books he read & his travels.

Dead Space—Kali Wallace. Sci-fi novel about a murder on an asteroid. Welcome Change of pace for this month.

Ivory Vikings: The Mystery of the Most Famous Chessmen in the World and the Woman Who Made Them—Nancy Marie Brown. I liked what i learned about Nordic history, the development of chess and their descriptions. However, i felt the material was not well organized, so the reading suffered.

Cabin Fever: The Harrowing Journey of a Cruise Ship at the Dawn of a Pandemic—Jonathan Franklin and Michael Smith. A Holland America cruise ship, set to travel around the cape of South America, is flooded with COVID-19 cases near the beginning of the pandemic. The majority of passengers ended up aboard ship, not allowed to leave their rooms, for two months. Cruise workers were aboard months longer! What a mess. Good News? Tomorrow we embark on a Holland America ship, headed for Alaska. :-)

Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt—Aida D. Donald. This is part of my continuing intention to read a bio on each US President, in chronological order. This was quite basic and i missed some of the details of issues, as i’m not well informed on those years.

The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman—Laurence Sterne. Started two years ago, at least, i finally finally shed this classic and am glad I did. It’s discursive, satiric and funny. Intending to tell the story of his life, Tristram doesn’t get much beyond his birth!

Alias, your book topics were quite varied this month. Fun!

I am glad we read the Louis L’Amour book together. Thank you.

madrano wrote: "Alias, your book topics were quite varied this month. Fun!

I am glad we read the Louis L’Amour book together. Thank you."

Thank you !

madrano wrote: "Nice reading month for me.

Cabin Fever: The Harrowing Journey of a Cruise Ship at the Dawn of a Pandemic—Jonathan Franklin and Michael Smith. A Holland America cruise ship, set to travel around the cape of South America, is flooded with COVID-19 cases near the beginning of the pandemic. The majority of passengers ended up aboard ship, not allowed to leave their rooms, for two months. Cruise workers were aboard months longer! What a mess. Good News? Tomorrow we embark on a Holland America ship, headed for Alaska. :-).."

You had a very nice eclectic reading month, deb. Well done !

Wishing you a wonderful, safe and fun cruise. I'm looking forward to hearing all about it.

Alias, you read a wide variety this month.
I'm intrigued with the book on Jefferson's travels in Europe.


Deb, I haven't read Tristan Shandy. I keep hearing how funny it is. Maybe I'll try it one day.
Cabin Fever sounds interesting, from a gruesome point of view. I can't even imagine being confined to a cabin for so long, especially an inside cabin with no fresh air.
Have a great trip. I'm looking forward to hearing the stories when you're back.

My reads for September:

The Diary of a Nobody by George Grossmith (3-star) - remember the TV show Seinfeld, where a group of friends live life and have comedic episodes occurring? Well, this book is like that. It's a spoof of Victorian life and morals, told through the diary of Mr. Pooter, a common clerk of the time. It tells of his family and social life, while commenting on Victorian times. The humour is continuous and fun. I enjoyed my visit with Mr. Pooter and his family & friends.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Two Trees Make a Forest: Travels Among Taiwan's Mountains & Coasts in Search of My Family's Past by Jessica J. Lee (4-star) - a mix of memoir, travelogue, history. The author reflects on her family and its history. As she hikes through Taiwan, she describes the flora and her experiences and thoughts.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Pearl in a Cage by Joy Dettman (4-star) - a well-told but vioent book. A family story with mental health issues, secrets, passiveness, etc. Very well told and written. This is the first of a series, which I may continue. This book could be read as a stand-alone.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Death in a Darkening Mist by Iona Whishaw (3-star) - an easy, light murder mystery; second in a series. This is a character driven series where the relationships advance and develop with each new book. The murders are light, the characters interesting. A fun diversion.
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thank you for the kind wishes for our trip, Petra.

I read the Grossmith book immediately after reading Three Men in a Boat—Jerome K. Jerome. I liked both equally. They exposed me to a British sense of humor which was new to me. Delightful reading them.

Lee’s book sounds good for someone who doesn’t know much about Taiwan. Thanks for the title. And for sharing about the other two.

3 Stars
This one disappointed me. I was really wanting some type of major plot twist that didn't happen. It was a good book, but just didn't meet my expectations.
~~~~~~~~~~

3 Stars
I had high hopes for this one, but was let down. The story is told from 4 different perspectives and took a while to figure out who was who and how they played into the story. But I really didn't see an outright plot. To me it was just following a few months out of the character's lives. I didn't see a point to the story.
~~~~~~~~~~

4 Stars
I enjoyed this sequel. It was fast paced and kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. There's one more book in the series, but not sure if I want to read that one or not.
~~~~~~~~~~

5 Stars
This was such a fun read! It had me laughing through most of the book. A little over half way it really picked up and I was zooming through it, dying to see how it was going to turn out. I can't wait to read the next one that she's got out.
~~~~~~~~~~

3 1/2 Stars (rounded up for GR)
So, the last couple of chapters saved this one from being a really low rating. It started out so slow and didn't really pick up like I thought it would. I honestly almost gave up, but after one of the plot twists I wanted to see what was going to happen. The major twist helped me give it the extra 1/2 star (to be rounded up on GR). This is my 3rd book by her.
~~~~~~~~~~

5 Stars
This book had more twists than a ball of yarn...and I loved it! So unexpected throughout the whole storyline. Nothing like I thought it would be, and I mean that in a good way. I've enjoyed almost all the books that I've read by him. Great author!

Petra wrote: "
Two Trees Make a Forest: Travels Among Taiwan's Mountains & Coasts in Search of My Family's Past by Jessica J. Lee (4-star) - a mix of memoir, travelogue, history. The author reflects on her family and its history. As she hikes through Taiwan, she describes the flora and her experiences and thoughts..."

Very nice month, Petra. Two Trees sounds like a nice read. I'm glad to hear the audio is also well done. I like that you noted the book is "Part travelogue, part history, part family memoir and part nature". I think that mix, much like the Jefferson book I read this month, really makes the history come alive and feel current.

~*Kim*~ wrote: "
3 Stars
This one disappointed me. I was really wanting some type of major plot twist that didn't happen. It was a good book, but just didn't meet my expecta..."

You had two 5 star books, so the month was a win in my book.

I've never read a Harlan Coben book. I'm going to make a note of Run Away. Thanks !

Kim, thanks for sharing your list. The first two are titles i have been wondering about since first seeing them. I began Aunties but didn’t finish because my loan expired. Since then, it’s been a long wait. It’s good to know i should stay “ in line”.

~*Kim*~ wrote: "
3 Stars
This one disappointed me. I was really wanting some type of major plot twist that didn't happen. It was a good book, but just didn't meet my expecta..."

I keep seeing similar sentiments to yours in regards to the Last Apothecary. It seems like such a great story, it's too bad it doesn't quite land for many.

I was surprised adding up my September books... 6 fiction and only 2 non-fiction (the later is usually my preference)

Here's my list:

1) 5 Stars - I'm so glad I listened to this on Audio. Dr Perry and Oprah narrate and it comes across as conversational, which I'd never experienced in an audio book before. The science and content is 5 stars on its own, imo, but the narration is the cherry on top.

2) 4 stars. This could have been 5 stars, but it took a while to really get into. Each chapter is a different narrator and it got a bit confusing at times (it would have been nearly impossible in audio format - glad I had the actual book for this one!). But a strong 4 stars - I laughed, cried (a lot) and still miss the characters in this one. It's left a lasting impression for sure.

3) 2 stars / DNF; I really wanted to like this one and held on much longer than I should have. The story itself was amazing; the writing was difficult to get through. I think this author's story would make an amazing biography (written by someone else).

4) 3 stars; This book was lovely, if not a bit over-done. I'm wondering if it would come across a bit differently in French (its original language). The story was compelling and the writing was beautiful, but I knocked a star off for the amount of time I rolled my eyes at the dramatic, overly flowery (and totally unnecessary) listing of inanimate objects (ex: "A cell phone. A marriage. A flower. A bumblebee"). It was just a bit... overdone.

5) 3 stars; This little book was adorable. I would have given it 4 stars if the main character was likeable in any way. I feel like she really could have been likeable and would have liked to feel some empathy for her decisions. I have a feeling that just wasn't the author's objective. Regardless, it was a fast, engaging book that made me chuckle (& annoyed) at the same time.

6) 4 stars; I feel like this book captured something that few do. I guessed the basic "mystery" aspect of the book within the first paragraph. Yet I was still hanging on every word. The author had me second-guessing my initial thoughts (multiple times) but even if I knew the mystery, it was still engaging and enjoyable to read.

7) 5 stars; I knew very little about the history this book is based off of, so everything was new and exciting. I have a feeling it would still be a great read regardless though. I especially appreciated the author's epilogue where she details the some differences between her novel and the actual history, as well as how closely (or not) her characters were to real people.

8) 4 stars. I love everything Tiffany D. Jackson writes. Technically YA, but her content is definitely geared towards adults. I love how every one of her books has underlying political, social, economic, and racial topics sewn into the narrative. This wasn't one of my favorites of hers (but to be fair, I'm not much of a horror book fan), but it was still a strong 4 stars. It reminded me a little bit of Alyssa Cole's book (similar twist & racial + gentrification undertones) When No One Is Watching

madrano wrote: "Kim, thanks for sharing your list. The first two are titles i have been wondering about since first seeing them. I began Aunties but didn’t finish because my loan expired. Since then, it’s been a l..."

Yes! Aunties was so good. It was a nice light read.

Lindsey wrote: "I was surprised adding up my September books... 6 fiction and only 2 non-fiction (the later is usually my preference)."

You had a wonderful reading month, Lindsey. Only one DNF. I really enjoyed your comments on each book.

Even though it wasn't top rated for you, I think I will still add An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good.
Do you think you will read the second book in the series
An Elderly Lady Must Not Be Crossed ?

Alias Reader wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "I was surprised adding up my September books... 6 fiction and only 2 non-fiction (the later is usually my preference)."

You had a wonderful reading month, Lindsey. Only one DNF. I ..."

Despite my 3-star rating (it was a solid 3.5... just not quite a 4), I do think it's worth the read. It's quick and a great little break between heavier books. I do think I'll read the other one!

Thanks for the follow-up, Lindsey.

Lindsey, your reason for not giving Elderly Lady 4 stars was precious. And i agree. We like the stories but keep us away from that woman!

Thanks for the comments on those books. The fact Quinn ended the book with a recap of what was fact was a great touch.

Here are my September reads:

Where the Dead Walk by John Bowen - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Darkfall: Deathborn by Lee Mountford - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Strangers by Michaelbrent Collings - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Haunted Halls by Glenn Rolfe - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Brian's Birthday Bloodbath by Brian G. Berry - 5 stars.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Sorrows by Jonathan Janz - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Something in the Groove by Glenn Rolfe - 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Fairy Tale by Stephen King - 5 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Ghost Mine by Hunter Shea
- 4 stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

That is my wrap for September reads. I was happy with a lot of my reads for September. The King book was especially fun. :)

What a good mix of books, Marie. Horror western genre is different! I am tickled with your “Magical Well” stars, but am glad to see your gore suit is still at hand.

Strangers presents a frightening idea, being imprisoned in your own home!

Clowns in horror books are a perfect match, imo, as i hold no fond for clowns.

Your patience with the Bowen novel is interesting. I would have given up, i think. Obviously, i’m much less patient than you!

Thanks for sharing your titles and opinions on these, Marie. I imagine an October Bloodfest of books from your next list. Savor!

Glad you had an enjoyable September. Stephen King is the Master !

madrano wrote: "What a good mix of books, Marie. Horror western genre is different! I am tickled with your “Magical Well” stars, but am glad to see your gore suit is still at hand.

Strangers presents a frighteni..."

Thank you, Deb. I was some disappointed with the Bowen book but normally I would have dnf'd a book like that - I just decided to try to stay with it and get my mind set on that it was more of a mystery book instead. :)

Alias Reader wrote: "Glad you had an enjoyable September. Stephen King is the Master !"

Thank you, Alias! King is the Master for sure! :)

Oops. I'm very late to this party, but I'll quickly post the books I read anyhow. Quickly, while listening to Ultra podcast;

Holding the Line: Inside the Nation's Preeminent US Attorney's Office and Its Battle with the Trump Justice Department. Jeffrey Berman at the SDNY until he was fired by Wm Barr for pursuing cases uncomfortable for Trump. Persuasive on the idea held by many that if they resigned, it would create a ripple, but nor move the needle, and their replacement would be even worse.

Guilty Men. A polemic about the failures of the British government after WWI and in the years leading up to WWII. Britain was woefully unprepared for a foreign war. When war seemed inevitable, they first tried to appease Hitler. They refused to spend money to build armaments, or to consider an alliance with Russia, which was inevitable in the end and very much preferred to the alliance they did pursue with Poland, a country who could offer no help to England, but would make heavy demands on the British, who offered a full defensive alliance including sending troops. This pamphlet is a prime example of polemical writing, and I thought it might be helpful to me in deciphering current events. It was fun to read for a political junkie and I enjoyed it 4 stars worth.

Shy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers. 4 stars. Interesting portrait of an era and a social class in New York City. Richard Rodgers, Mary's incredibly talented father, was at the height of his powers, creating musical theater with Oscar Hammerstein, as she reached her adult years. Blessed with a minor talent herself, which she devoted mostly to children's music and to one musical 'Once Upon a Mattress," Mary felt neglected in different ways by each of her parents. Her love life was chaotic; she in men destined to fail her.Mary had children, but I don't know how many. She spent much time working and was away a lot, so she didn't spend a lot of time on them.

Into the Abyss: How a Deadly Plane Crash Changed the Lives of a Pilot, a Politician, a Criminal and a Cop. 4 stars
I enjoyed the amateur feel of this first book by author Carol Shaben, the daughter of one of the surviving passengers. The setting was Alaska, where commuting by plane is required. The pilot was a young man working all hours for almost no pay in order to collect experience enough to get a job on a regional airline, which came with better pay and benefits. The passengers on the plane included two members of the provincial government (only one survived) alone with the young pilot, a cop and his handcuffed prisoner, who helped them all once his cuffs were removed. The author told the story very well, the less successfully followed the survivors through the next 20 years. Interesting and refreshing.

Black Cake Chosen by President Obama and Jenna Bush for summer reading, I gave this family saga 4 stars, though I'm not sure why. A Chinese man emigrates to the Caribbean, where he works off his indenture and begins to save money. He marries, has a daughter, becomes a local character. He expands to two stores, but develops a couple of bad habits, drinking and gambling. His wife leaves home, he raises his daughter with the help of his housekeeper/cook, and this is the story of what happens to the daughter and her family over the years to come. It was outstanding, but not exceptional. I think I should probably have given it 3.5 stars.

Thanks for the info about the books you have read. I'll do better next time.

Michele, no need to worry about timing with these monthly recaps. Just sharing is the point, not deadlines.

Besides, you’ve led me to two books. Carol Shaben’s work sounds interesting, despite her post rescue follow up.

Early in my marriage i read a couple of books, the first co-written by Mary Rodgers and her mother, Dorothy Rodgers, A Word to the Wives. It served me well when house hunting, decorating, entertaining and other aspects of early marriage. Then i read Freaky Friday and the play, Once Upon a Mattress, both of which I enjoyed.

There wasn’t a hint of sadness or bitterness in any, so i’m curious to readShy: The Alarmingly Outspoken Memoirs of Mary Rodgers. Thanks for sharing about this one, as well as the others.

Small world! I feel happy that our interests have coincided a bit in the case of Mary Rodgers. I know you’ll like her memoir, and also the plane crash. The author was inexperienced and protecting her family’s privacy. Thanks for letting me know.

Michele wrote: "Oops. I'm very late to this party, but I'll quickly post the books I read anyhow. Quickly, while listening to Ultra podcast;

[book:Holding the Line: Inside the Nation's Preeminent US Attorney's O..."

Michele, thank you for sharing. I really enjoyed reading your reviews.

You can share your reads anytime. There is no rush to do it the first of the new month.

Michele wrote: "Oops. I'm very late to this party, but I'll quickly post the books I read anyhow. Quickly, while listening to Ultra podcast;

[book:Holding the Line: Inside the Nation's Preeminent US Attorney's O..."

Great list! I just added "Into the Abyss" to my TBR. I've seen Black Cake mentioned and people seem to love it, but I've been hesitant to pick it up. I think it'll remain on my "maybe" list :)

Thanks for sharing!

Michele wrote: "Small world! I feel happy that our interests have coincided a bit in the case of Mary Rodgers. I know you’ll like her memoir, and also the plane crash. The author was inexperienced and protecting h..."

My pleasure.

I’ll also echo Lindsey’s post. These monthly recaps are an excellent way to learn the pitfalls of some books. Then we can decide whether we are up to handling reading the book at this time…or figure out we’ll skip them altogether. We all have bete noirs we just refuse to tackle, such as too much jumping around in timelines.

Late report due to combination of Hurricane Ian issues, and a Rhine cruise.


A Late Divorce by A.B. Yehoshua ⭐⭐⭐

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


The Rhine: Following Europe's Greatest River from Amsterdam to the Alps by Ben Coates ⭐⭐⭐⭐

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin ⭐⭐⭐⭐

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...


Where the Wild Winds Are: Walking Europe's Winds from the Pennines to Provence by Nick Hunt ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

John, I’m adding your river & your wind books to my TBR. I’m looking forward to learning more about those named winds.

I read the Dusapin novella & liked it. (view spoiler)[I wondered about both your questions. Ultimately, i think he was not her father but i cannot zero in on why i felt that way. I suppose the fact it is unanswered pushed me toward that conclusion. He didn’t seem anxious about running into her mother, which i think would appear.

On the second point, what a poser, right? Did she just want to illustrate her skills? If not, did she plan a murder/suicide? I’m uncertain about that. Over the years i’ve become used to those hanging endings. While i still don’t like them, i’m more comfortable with them, thanks to Villette, which we both have read. That one really torqued me!!
(hide spoiler)]

John, I hope all is well with your Hurricane Ian issues.

How was your Rhine cruise ?

As always, very nice reviews. Thanks !

My mother and I agreed that the Danube Cruise we did pre-Covid was more interesting than the Rhine. This one was heavy on cathedrals and churches, which isn't our thing.

John wrote: "My mother and I agreed that the Danube Cruise we did pre-Covid was more interesting than the Rhine. This one was heavy on cathedrals and churches, which isn't our thing."

Sorry it wasn't totally what you wanted. Still, getting to cruise the Rhine and go on vacation is always fun.

Do you have any ideas where you might like to vacation next ?

Yes: a month in Japan and Korea next autumn

Oh, John! We are hoping to visit Japan next year, too. Our family is in flux, so it may not happen, so i will look forward to your recap. We were considering an intensive cruise of Japan and may still go that route. Often, we noticed a stop in South Korea is included in cruises around Japan. I’m open to that, too.

I’m glad Hurricane Ian did you & yours no serious harm. It looked awful.

I realize I sounded not-so-grateful about my recent trip. On the plus side, I met many interesting people on the cruise. If I knew how to post pictures here these days, I'd upload some castles.

As for Asia, I started 2020 with a slew of airline miles and hotel points earned over many years. Then ... no one could go anywhere. So, time to go.

John wrote: "Yes: a month in Japan and Korea next autumn"

Wow ! How exciting. I would love to visit Japan one day. A friend of mine went with her husband last year. I saw their pictures. It looks wonderful.

John, i hear you on using those miles & points. It's a great benefit--enjoy!!