Book Nook Cafe discussion

Here is the Folder and thread to tell us what your monthly reads for September 2024 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. For some of these books I did an "immersive reading" which is reading along while listening to the audiobook. I've found this really adds a lot to my enjoyment of the book.

The Secret Life of Groceries: The Dark Miracle of the American Supermarket by Benjamin Lorr
~Format: eBook & Audiobook
~Published: 2020
~Non Fiction
~Rate: 4/5 - Exceeded expectations
I read the eBook as I listened along with the audio. The author, Lorr, narrates the book well. This book gives a brief history of the grocery store. The current stores he spotlights are Trader Joe's, Whole Foods & Aldi's. It also is an exposé about the supply chain that gets that food to the store. The picture is not a pretty one. The push for lower and lower prices does not come without a devastating cost. The author uses real individual stories to make his point. I think that makes the book less textbook like and more poignant.

The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
~Format: eBook
~Published: 2021
~Fiction
~Rate: 2/5 Did not meet expectations
This is a fictional book set in a major publishing house in NYC. The main character, Nella, is an editorial assistant. She is the only black employee until Hazel arrives. Then suddenly there are messages left for Nella warning her that she needs to leave.
The book is a psychological thriller. Unfortunately, it took 75% of the book to just set up the plot. That was way too long a wait causing the plot to move along like molasses. Then when the reveal came, I honestly thought it was silly.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
~Format: eBook and audiobook
~ Fiction
~Published: 2012
~Rate: 3/5 - Good
This is a YA novel that has been challenged and banned in various places in the U.S.. It's a New York Times bestseller and a Sundance Grand Jury Prize-winning film.
This is a quirky book. I think the humor would appeal to young teen boys. However, It did make me LOL in parts. It's a very quick read.
The book is narrated by high schooler Greg Gaines and his sort of pal Earl. They basically are outsiders in school. Earl comes from a dysfunctional home and Greg is just trying to get through high school without being noticed. The two make super silly movies to pass the time. Then Greg's mom pushes him to befriend a classmate, Rachel, who has leukemia and is dying. Yes the humor can be juvenile. There is a lot of gross out jokes. Yes, there is a lot of cursing and some silly sex talk but overall it's all really quite harmless, IMO. I don't see why this book is challenged and banned.

My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
~Format: eBook and Audio book
~Published 2018
~Fiction
~Rate: 4/5 Exceeded expectations
Adepero Oduye was the narrator and she did a wonderful job.
This slender novel takes place in Lagos, Nigeria. It's about two sisters, Ayoola and Korede. Ayoola is very beautiful and also the serial killer, psychopath of the title. Her sister Korede is a nurse and plain looking. Perhaps because of the culture she feels it is her responsibility to take care of her sister no matter what she does. Which posits an interesting moral question. How far should one go to protect a family member? The focus of the book is more on Korede which I think makes the book more interesting.
I had no idea what to expect from this book. Surprisingly I found it poignant, weird and sad. It certainly kept me engaged and turning the pages. The chapters are short and crisp.

Being Henry: The Fonz . . . and Beyond by Henry Winkler
~~Non Fiction Memoir
~Format- eBook and audio book
~Published 2013
~Rate: 4/5 exceeded expectations
Winkler also did the audio which added much to my enjoyment of the memoir.
Winkler covers his difficult upbringing. He has dyslexia, which wasn't diagnosed until he was in his 30s.
Most of the book covers his acting career. After a being in Hollywood only a week he was booking commercials. He lands the defining part of his career, The Fonz on the TV show Happy Days. Later in life he found success as a children's book author of 29 books about a character with dyslexia and voice over for animation. Even though I wasn't a regular viewer of Happy Days and none of his other work, I still found Winkler and the book engaging. He seems like a very nice guy and you can't help but find yourself rooting for him.

Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change by Elizabeth Kolbert
- Format: eBook
- Non Fiction
- Published: 2006
- Rate: 3/5
I've read two other books by this Pulitzer Prize winning author.
The excellent The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural Historypublished in 2014 and
Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future published in 2021.
Field Notes was published in 2006 so it is dated. Therefore I recommend reading her other two excellent books. All 3 books deal with climate change. I think The Sixth Extinction and Under a White Sky should be required reading by all.

You read a lot on an good variety of topics! Kudos to you, Alias! :-)

That's an interesting list of books, Alias.

I'm interested in Field Notes, despite you saying that it is somewhat dated. .....I also find My Sister, The Serial Killer interesting in concept.

Petra wrote: "That's an interesting list of books, Alias.

I'm interested in Field Notes, despite you saying that it is somewhat dated. .....I also find My Sister, The Serial Killer interesting in concept."

I do suggest reading the other two. The writing is more engaging and they are more current. Since all 3 cover the same topic, climate change and its effects, that would be my suggestion, Petra.

However, if you do read Field Notes, get the updated version with the added articles she wrote for The New Yorker Magazine.

Bella (Kiki) wrote: "You read a lot on an good variety of topics! Kudos to you, Alias! :-)"

Thank you, Kiki. For some reason I'm always surprised by the number of books I read during the month.

Hello everyone! For the month of September, I read a grand total of five books.

First up was Bearstone by Will Hobbs. My review on it can be found here.

So this is a book that centers around a troubled kid named Cloyd who gets sent to live on a ranch with a man named Walter, a friend of the lady who runs the group home Cloyd used to live at.

The plot of this book may be simple, but you know what? Sometimes, that's okay and this book is proof of that.

I think this book's biggest strength is its two main characters, Cloyd and Walter. I love how they have their own unique set of challenges that they have to overcome and how they're gradually able to not only overcome their own issues, but also form a strong connection with one another, with Cloyd eventually coming to see Walter as a loving father figure.

Honestly, the only real issue I have is that this book tried to have an antagonist, but (aside from one super rushed and out of the blue moment) the book doesn't seem to have much interest in developing him as a character or even giving him that much page time and as a result, he comes off as boring and unnecessary.

Rating: A-

The second book I read was Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets by Chelsea Ichaso. You can read my full thoughts on it here.

Long story short, this book involves a girl named Savannah trying to figure out who put her sister Piper in a coma.

Can't believe I forgot to mention this in the actual review, but the title is kind of misleading because Piper isn't actually dead. But I digress.

Anyway, I'm really glad to say that this is actually one of the better YA mysteries that I've read. One thing that I really appreciated and one thing that really sets it apart from some other YA mysteries I've read was its exceptional sense of balance. Whether that's setting things up in the first chapter or developing and eliminating the possible suspects, it knows how much information to reveal and how much to not reveal, which really helped with things like keeping me guessing, even if I thought I knew the answer.

Also, I loved how Savannah makes a legitimate effort to come to terms with her grief and basically goes through a redemption arc too as she tries to solve the mystery. It was a cool way to provide some character development and make her quest to solve the mystery all the more compelling. Hell, this book even managed to have some pretty decent humor.

However, I think this book could've really done without the chapters told from Piper's perspective. To keep things short and sweet, these chapters feel more like boring filler that really shouldn't have made it into the final version.

Rating: A-

One of the other books I read in September was All The Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham. I wrote an entire review on it, which you can read here.

Now, the premise of this book seems interesting enough. A mother named Isabelle Drake is trying to find her missing son named Mason as she struggles to deal with her insomnia and sleepwalking. Its execution however is... not good.

But, before I get into why, I'd like to talk about the good parts. First off, Isabelle served as a pretty interesting protagonist because, due in part to her insomnia and history of sleepwalking, she can best be described as an unreliable narrator, making the reader question what's real and what's not. I also think one of the twists was actually pretty clever without compromising on logic.

Okay now I'm gonna rant.

I hate the writing style. I hate it because it seems as though it doesn't know or care to utilize any other way to describe something and as a result, nearly every other sentence is a simile. And this is coming from someone who loves a good simile! Also, it's got characters Like Isabelle and her ex, Ben, saying variations of "As you know...", one of my biggest pet peeves of writing and, just like almost every other time this sentence is used, it has no logical purpose for existing. If Ben and Isabelle are speaking to people who already know what they're talking about, why do the people need the information to be repeated? Seriously, there's no reason given.

But the thing that really sinks this book for me is how it just wastes so much time on things that barely relate to the main plot and even the characters, that it makes the reader feel like their finite amount of time on this earth is not being respected. Like, it's to a point where even the "Get On With It" scene from Monty Python and The Holy Grail cannot express just how much of an awful time waster of a decision this was.

Rating: D

The second to last book I read was Red River Road by Anna Downes. I go more in-depth on my thoughts here.

A woman named Katy sets out on a quest across Australia to find her missing sister Phoebe as a woman named Beth tags along.

I bought this book on impulse and man did it pay off! I think one thing that really worked for me was how effective the parallel between Beth and Katy was on a number of different levels, as both have this element of mystery in their lives. What's also really cool is that it may seemed like everything is disconnected at first, but slowly but surely, it comes together as the book goes on until it all just clicks into place.

Also, I cannot stress just how much of a hard time I had putting this book down and how well it reveals just enough information to fuel a smooth sense of progression and keeps the flame of curiosity ignited. I also have to give some serious credit to the way it develops Phoebe's character and how it provides an additional way for the reader to solve the mystery alongside the main characters.

But the element that I absolutely adored the most was a twist involving the mystery. I'm not gonna give too much away, but let's just say it takes everything that was previously established about it and flips it on its head in a really cool way.

For me, the one problem I did have with it was a scene that made me say, "Why is this a problem? Why not just do this other thing?"

Rating: A

The final book I read for September was Theo Tan and The Iron Fan by Jesse Q. Sutanto. My review can be found here.

So this is not only a sequel to Theo Tan and The Fox Spirit, but the series finale as well and deals with Theo, his spirit companion Kai, and Theo's friends journeying into Diyu to rescue Theo's brother Jamie.

Now here's the thing. While I don't think Theo Tan and The Fox Spirit was a masterpiece, I still enjoyed it well enough. This book is the masterpiece. I mean, wow!

The one word that I think best describes this book is "unflinching". It's not afraid to show just how dangerous, lonely, and bureaucratic Diyu can really be. It's not afraid to show the reality of the outcomes of things set up in the last entry. It's not afraid to have some really clever and heartwarming character development. It's not afraid to give its readers a bittersweet ending. Oh and speaking of the ending, not only did it get me crying (which is not easy to do), but it also wrapped everything up so damn effectively. For me, the unflinching nature of the book gives off a serious sense of respect for the intelligence of its readers and that is something that I seriously respect.

That being said, it did have some really strange, out of character moments for Kai and certain aspects of the worldbuilding made absolutely no sense.

Rating: A-

Overall, September was an incredible reading month for me and I'm so looking forward to what October will bring for me.

Thanks, Alias! I have The 6th Extinction: An Unnatural History on my TBR list. I'll start there.

Hailey, those are all new titles for me. They all sound interesting, in their way. I really enjoyed your reviews of them.

I read 10 books, I participated in back to back read-a-thons
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
5 stars, sweet story with likable characters.
A Doll's House and Other Plays
4 starts, the title play was powerful but I thought the other 2 were just ok
Women Talking
5 stars, it is equal to the movie and raises excellent questions. My book group got a lot out of the discussion of this book.
Pathetic Literature
3 stars, its add anthology and the collection was hit or miss. the editor claimed the word pathetic (pathos) as meaning raising emotion, but too often the emotion raised was disgust
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
4 stars, humorous and not just a grammar guide it also explained the history of punctuation (yeah I'm a nerd)
Lesser Known Monsters of the 21st Century
3 stars, short story collection. Good writer but some stories too creepy for me
The Utility of Boredom: Baseball Essays
5 stars, does an excellent job of capturing emotions of baseball fans that we have trouble describing...I FELT the essays
Wide Sargasso Sea
4 stars, interesting take on Jane Eyre, unexpected why Rochester decided to lock her away
Last Chance to See
5 stars, Douglas Adams being his witty self but on the serious topic of endangered species.
None of This Is True
2 stars, guessed the ending and no likable person in the book.

Alias Reader wrote: "Bella (Kiki) wrote: "You read a lot on an good variety of topics! Kudos to you, Alias! :-)"

Thank you, Kiki. For some reason I'm always surprised by the number of books I read during the month."

I haven't been diligent about keeping track of mine, but I'm working on trying to do better.

Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! For the month of September, I read a grand total of five books.
."

Excellent recaps, Hailey. Only one clunker in the bunch. And as to that book, I think if there is a lot going on in a story, an author will use the "as you know" to help the reader. I know you don't like that, but I often find it helpful. That is, if the author doesn't constantly use it throughout the book. If it's needed a lot, then that probably signals something wrong with the writing, IMO.

Petra wrote: "Thanks, Alias! I have The 6th Extinction: An Unnatural History on my TBR list. I'll start there."

I don't think you will be disappointed, Petra. Horrified by the facts, yes. She won the Pulitzer for the book.

Denise wrote:
"I read 10 books,

Last Chance to See
5 stars, Douglas Adams being his witty self but on the serious topic of endangered species.
"

Wow ! You certainly had a wonderful month reading, Denise.

I see Last Chance to See was published in 1992. "Scientists estimate that the number of species going extinct each year is between 100 and 10,000, which is 100 to 1,000 times higher than the natural extinction rate." It's horrifying know this and yet as a species we do nothing. :(

Bella (Kiki) wrote: "I haven't been diligent about keeping track of mine, but I'm working on trying to do better.
."

It literally take me 2 minutes after finishing a book to note it in my hardcover journal.
Date, title, Author, NF/F, rating 0-5, and the number that book is for the year. I've done it since 1999. My only regret is I didn't start when I started college.

Petra wrote: "Thanks, Alias! I have The 6th Extinction: An Unnatural History on my TBR list. I'll start there."

Good book. And it sounds a very important warning.

Alias Reader wrote: "Here are my September reads. For some of these books I did an "immersive reading" which is reading along while listening to the audiobook. I've found this really adds a lot to my enjoyment of the b..."

I like calling this"immersive reading", Alias. Did you come up with that?

Congratulations on the varied reading month you had. It's a pleasure to read your recaps & opinions on your selections. Thanks for sharing here.

Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! For the month of September, I read a grand total of five books.

First up was Bearstone by Will Hobbs. My review on it can be found here.

So this is a book that centers around a tr..."

Hailey, thank you for sharing both your synopsis, as well as your full review. I learn from both. As i read each, i began to appreciate the varied levels you explore as you read. I suppose folks do that but i'm not as dedicated, as to think too much about inconsistencies which bother me. When you address those, we get a better sense of the book, both as it failed & succeeded.

I'm grateful you take the time to offer us so much when surveying your monthly books. Thanks for doing so here.

Denise wrote: "I read 10 books, I participated in back to back read-a-thons
What You Are Looking For Is in the Library
5 stars, sweet story with likable characters. .."

Remarkable list, Denise. You are a trooper for being part of back-to-back read-a-thons! I'm glad you shared the titles & notes with us.

I've read several plays written by Henrik Ibsen but Doll's House is the best, imo. While i liked Hedda Gabbler, it was a distant second. Reading plays is a pasttime i always enjoy.

I read Women Talking last year & found it thought provoking. I'm glad to learn you read it, too. The questions it posed where good ones.

Again, thank you for sharing. I hope October's reading is as fulfilling for you.

Alias Reader wrote: "Bella (Kiki) wrote: "I haven't been diligent about keeping track of mine, but I'm working on trying to do better.
."

It literally take me 2 minutes after finishing a book to note it in my hardcove..."

And I have a very nice journal that is mostly blank pages! I'll have to do better.

I read quite a bit in September, but most of the books were mysteries. This is because i was busy, in a fashion, attending to my mother-in-law's hospice days. For the other books, i will link to my fuller reviews on my Book Challenge Page.

First, the mysteries follow:
Ellen Byron's A Very Woodsy Murder, which was just okay for me. I liked Byron's earlier series, based in Louisiana's Cajun Country but this west coast premier just failed me.

Also, read her Bayou Book Thief, which is set in New Orleans. Perhaps she just has Louisiana "right", as i rather like this series. Presently i'm on the second. In this one the main character runs a gift shop at a tourist stop in the city. The shop (& end of book) features vintage cookbooks, nothing after 1970. Some of the recipes sound yukky, as a result.

Under a pseudonym, Byron wrote Here Comes the Body. Set in New Jersey, i found it pretty awful. Maybe it was the Mafia aspects that turned me off, but i doubt it. Regardless, i will not be reading any more Maria DiRico mysteries.

Simon Brett's Declutter Mysteries appeal to me, where his others fail me. I finished the series (up to this point, i do not think the author has concluded them) in Sept. with An Untidy Death, Waste of a Life and A Messy Murder. By the end, i'm not sure i'll continue with the series. I like the declutter parts but her personal life sounds as though it was written by a man, which it was, but some of the lead female character's decisions sound off.

The Midnight Library--Matt Haig was an enjoyable book. At midnight the main character is close to dying by suicide. Instead, she finds herself in a library, where she has opportunities to live other lives her parallel self lived. Sound good? It worked for me.

The Most--Jessica Anthony. While her family is at Sunday church services, the main character decides to go into the apartment complex's swimming pool. And doesn't come out. The story, set in the 1950s, gives readers insight into how her live & marriage came to that point. It includes both her vantage point, as well as her husband's. The ending is quite inconclusive but i didn't mind.

The other books, read for the Challenge follow;

Fuller reviews may be found here, https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

POST #231, Hester--Laurie Lico Albanese is set in the early 1800s, mostly in Salem, Mass. Hester is a seamstress who is also synesthesia, meaning she associates letters and sounds with colors, which she incorporates into her work. Nathanial Hawthorne is also a character. I liked this one.

POST #232 Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You--Sam Gosling. The subtitle says it all. I'm not a fan of psychology, but this book provided much to consider.

POST #233 Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets--David Simon. The highly praised television program of the same name was based on this book. It covers one calendar year (roughly 1989 or so) in Baltimore, Maryland's homicide department. It was informative and fascinating.

madrano wrote: "Also, read her Bayou Book Thief, which is set in New Orleans. Perhaps she just has Louisiana "right", as i rather like this series. Presently i'm on the second. In this one the main character runs a gift shop at a tourist stop in the city. The shop (& end of book) features vintage cookbooks, nothing after 1970. Some of the recipes sound yukky, as a result...."

I'm reading the third book in the series, French Quarter Fright Night (which I happened to get from Netgalley). I like the setting and the Halloween spookery in the Bon Vee Culinary House Museum.

Glad to hear you're enjoying these books madrano. 🙂

madrano wrote:
I like calling this"immersive reading", Alias. Did you come up with that?.."

Nope. That is what google AI called it ! :)

Re: journals

Bella (Kiki) wrote: And I have a very nice journal that is mostly blank pages! I'll have to do better.."

Not nagging. However, I will say you won't regret doing it.

madrano wrote:
The Midnight Library--Matt Haig was an enjoyable book. At midnight the main character is close to dying by suicide. Instead, she finds herself in a library, where she has opportunities to live other lives her parallel self lived. Sound good? It worked for me"

You had quite a nice reading month deb.

I hope reading gave you a bit of escape time while dealing with hospice care for your mother-in-law. I've often found reading does that for me.

I've seen The Midnight Library on so many lists but I had no idea that was the premise. I'll need to check this out further. Thanks !

madrano wrote: "The Midnight Library--Matt Haig was an enjoyable book. At midnight the main character is close to dying by suicide. Instead, she finds herself in a library, where she has opportunities to live other lives her parallel self lived. Sound good? It worked for me...."

Sounds like this will work for me, too. Thanks, Deb.

You've had a good reading month. Sorry to hear about your mother-in-law's situation. The reading would have made a good distraction.

Barbara wrote: "Glad to hear you're enjoying these books madrano..."

I think of you every time i read one of her mysteries, Barbara, as you are the one who introduced her to me. Those Cajun mysteries were my favorite, thus far.

Alias Reader wrote: "madrano wrote:
I like calling this"immersive reading", Alias. Did you come up with that?.."

Nope. That is what google AI called it ! :)"

They/It should know, right? Thanks for the info.

Alias Reader wrote: "I've seen The Midnight Library on so many lists but I had no idea that was the premise. I'll need to check this out further. Thanks..."

Thank you, Alias. The reading helped pass the time while she slept.

Re. The Midnight, i cannot remember what drew me to it now, as opposed to other times. I was eager to read each new "life".

Petra wrote: "You've had a good reading month...."

True. I did. I'd like to round up some final books from my Challenge this month, though.

Had a decent September, reading wise.


A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly
5 Stars

This is based on the story of the Carpathia, which was the ship that rescued those from the Titanic. It's told from 2 view points: a 3rd class steerage passenger and the captain of the Carpathia
I thought this was really well written and a remarkable story. It was nice reading the alternate views of the same story.
**********

Clover Hendry's Day Off by Beth Morrey
3 Stars

This was a spin on Ferris Bueller's Day Off, but with a middle-aged woman. There was a lot that I felt could have been left out of the story since it didn't really add any value. Overall I was a bit disappointed since I had high hopes for this one.
**********

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen
4 Stars

The only thing that kept this from being a 5 star rating for me was the ending. The book was really engrossing and was told in a way where you were constantly thinking of what the twist would be. I was let down by the actual twist.

Three books you rated well. That's a good month, Kim.

I'm going to share the title, A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly, with a friend. She has always been intrigued by the Titanic. Thanks for the title !

Alias Reader wrote: "Three books you rated well. That's a good month, Kim.

I'm going to share the title, A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly, with a friend. She has always been intrigued by the Tita..."

It sounds very interesting, Alias. Thank you for letting us know about this book. I'm kind of obsessed with the Titanic, too. Not beyond reading about it, though. No deep sea diving or anything like that for me! LOL

~*Kim*~ wrote: "Had a decent September, reading wise.


A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly
5 Stars

Thi..."

The first book captures my imagination, too. When i read about the Titanic & their rescue of survivors, i wonder how that went & what the other passengers thought of it all. Thanks for sharing about this book.

Your second book somewhat reminds me of a book i read last month, although it isn't supposed to be an amusing book. The title i read seemed to be about a woman who was taking the day off. As i read The Most--Jessica Anthony, which is set in 1957, i was initially amused. The mother of two decides to go for a swim in the apartment complex's swimming pool, while her family goes to church. And she does not get out.

The story explores her marriage and life but i couldn't really figure out the problem or why until near the end. In some ways it reminded me of The Swimmer--John Cheever, which i read a couple of years ago, having seen the film decades ago. (In it, the MC decides to swim home, using the pools of neighbors to make his way.

Both characters had reasons and i liked how both ended. But there was no humor. Just had to share about it, given the story your book shared.

Thanks for writing about your selections, Kim.

Bella (Kiki) wrote: "obsessed with the Titanic, too. Not beyond reading about it, though. No deep sea diving or anything like that for me! ..."

I hear you on that, Bella! I like looking at the photos taken of the ruins but have no desire to visit. Presently i'm intrigued by rusticles, and their composition. I saw those dangling strings on the steel/iron of the Titanic and found out what they were. Amazing.

Here's the Wiki article, in case anyone else is interested. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusticle

Alias Reader wrote: "Denise wrote:
"I read 10 books,

Last Chance to See
5 stars, Douglas Adams being his witty self but on the serious topic of endangered species.
"
Wow ! You certainly had a wonderful month readin..."

By the end of the book in the afterward, a program featured to save a river dolphin in China was ending...and one of the authors met someone who was served one of the dolphins as a sign of respect since he was a distinguished guest 😢

madrano wrote: "I read quite a bit in September, but most of the books were mysteries. This is because i was busy, in a fashion, attending to my mother-in-law's hospice days. For the other books, i will link to my..."

I really liked the Midnight Library, but I know it's a bit polarizing. A book I read last month, What You Are Looking For Is In the Library had similar vibes but more upbeat.

Alias Reader wrote: "Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! For the month of September, I read a grand total of five books.
."

Excellent recaps, Hailey. Only one clunker in the bunch. And as to that book, I think if there is ..."

Thank you, Alias. I also find your perspective on "As you know" to be rather interesting, as it's not one that I've heard before.

madrano wrote: "Hailey wrote: "Hello everyone! For the month of September, I read a grand total of five books.

First up was Bearstone by Will Hobbs. My review on it can be found here.

So this is a book that cent..."

You're welcome, madrano. I'm glad to hear that you find my takes on the books I read to be insightful and enjoyable to read.

Petra wrote: "Hailey, those are all new titles for me. They all sound interesting, in their way. I really enjoyed your reviews of them."

Thank you, Petra. I certainly had a lot of fun writing my reviews, regardless of the quality of the books.

I also just noticed that most of the books I read for September seem kind of underrated too.

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
A honest gritty look at life in pre-civil war era Kansas.
4/5

Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely by Lysa TerKeust
A motivational resource based on Biblical principals
5/5

Remainders of the Day: More Diaries from The Bookshop, Wigtown by Shaun Blythell
The day to day life of a Scottish bookstore owner, and the community around him.
4.5/5

They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti
A novel about a missing spouse and a troubled marriage.
4/5

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine by John Fox Jr.
A turn of the century tale in the Ozarks, I really enjoyed it
4.5/5

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
Ms. See has written a historical novel about Tan Yunxiang, a woman physican born during the MIng dynasty 5/5

Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill
The search for truth about a cold case tragedy leads Det. Amera Alveraz into the world of child abduction. 3.5/5

Myra wrote: "Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
A honest gritty look at life in pre-civil war era Kansas.
4/5

Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely by Lys..."


Welcome to Book Nook Cafe, Myra ! Thank you for joining the group and also for posting and sharing your reads with us.

It looks like you had a very nice month with all well rated books.

As to Marilynne Robinson I read and enjoyed her
Housekeeping. I should read her Gilead as I think that is her most popular and I see you gave it a top rating.

Denise wrote: "By the end of the book in the afterward, a program featured to save a river dolphin in China was ending...and one of the authors met someone who was served one of the dolphins as a sign of respect since he was a distinguished guest..."

I've read all his fiction but none of his other works. Thanks for mentioning this detail, Denise.

Denise wrote: "I really liked the Midnight Library, but I know it's a bit polarizing. A book I read last month, What You Are Looking For Is In the Library had similar vibes but more upbeat..."

I didn't realize it was polarizing but upon reading the comments here on GR, i can see why. Oddly, though, i am not a self-help person. Still, i didn't read it that way, either. I felt it was one character coming to understand herself and her decisions.

To be fair, i like science fiction & parallel universes call to me. Well, not personal...although...

ANYway, thank you for suggestingWhat You Are Looking For Is in the Library--Michiko Aoyama. I wasn't familiar with the title. It sound more like a library setting than the Haig book, even though the latter is set in a library. It's made clear for other people, the setting would be different.

It's interesting that both novels were published in 2020.

Alias Reader wrote: "Myra wrote: "Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
A honest gritty look at life in pre-civil war era Kansas.
4/5

[book:Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely|278..."

I do recommend it, its written as a looking back on one's life journal. Theres a follow up thats on my TBR list

Myra wrote: "Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
A honest gritty look at life in pre-civil war era Kansas.
4/5..."

Myra, thanks for sharing your list of September-read books. The first moved to the top of my favorites when i read it several years ago. I followed it up with two more but none else yet. Like Alias, i read Housekeeping, which hooked me on Robinson early on.

Your list is eclectic, which calls to me. Point in fact, Lonesome Pines was a good book for me, too. It's a book i'd heard about most of my Texas-raised life but never pursued. When i did, i appreciated its value.

Reading Shaun Bythell books about book selling has been an education. His first is still my favorite, but i like that he addressed his online business subsequently.

Again, we are grateful to read about the titles you've been reading.

~*Kim*~ wrote: "Had a decent September, reading wise.


A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly
5 Stars

Thi..."

Love your picks and your reviews Kim! Def Night of Stars and Ice is going on my TBR list! sooner rather than later hopefully :)

madrano wrote: "Myra wrote: "Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
A honest gritty look at life in pre-civil war era Kansas.
4/5..."

Myra, thanks for sharing your list of September-read books. The first moved..."

Your post made me smile, Madrano! Any good decisions I make, I give credit to sites like Goodreads that seem to open up the reading landscape for us readers! Lonesome pines came to my attention from another book I was reading, one of those books that mention irl books. A wonderful narrative and the story ending was perfection.

Myra wrote:

that seem to open up the reading landscape for us readers! .."

I love the way you phrased that, Myra !

Ditto. It states all we feel about the book talk on our threads.

Myra, i believe i got the Lonesome Pines title from another western book i read. I love that. It's my suspicion that folks don't realize how much families on the "frontier" read. I've inherited quality books from both sides of my family, most were well read, with a few including notes.