Books on the Nightstand discussion

I'm presently working on two books for Booktopia (which starts tomorrow)
The Bletchley Riddle and The Salt Stones: Seasons of a Shepherd's Life
And well into volume 2 Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 2: The Complete and Authoritative Edition (Volume 11)

Finished The Bletchley Riddle. Ireally liked it.

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

"The Barn" is on my night stand just now.

Whoops Linda - looks like a double post accidentally.

Finished Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

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

Finished Horse by Geraldine Brooks

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

Britany wrote: "Whoops Linda - looks like a double post accidentally.

Finished Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan

My Review:
https://www.good..."

Thanks, Britany. It's been a very busy month. I should come here more often.

May has been an incredibly busy month with both Booktopia and my husband undergoing treatment for cancer which ended last Friday. The prognosis is good.
Since last checking in I've finished:
Mad House: How Donald Trump, MAGA Mean Girls, a Former Used Car Salesman, a Florida Nepo Baby, and a Man with Rats in His Walls Broke Congress 4-stars.
Fagin the Thief (recommended to me by fellow Booktopian and friend Janet S.) 5-stars. I'll probably actually read Oliver Twist rather than just rely on my memories of the movie musical.
Mallory: A Mysterious Profile Mallory is the protagonist of a series of thrillers that I always read immediately upon publication, but there hasn't been a new one since 2016. I gave this 3-stars.
On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century - Graphic Edition I had read this three years ago, but had forgetten. I increased my star rating to 4.
Keeping the best for last. I just finished a combination of reading and listening to The Measure a major 5-star rating for me. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished listening to SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups - mostly listened to in the car while running errands. 3-stars.

I totally get it Linda - and don't worry about us! I'm so glad to hear your husband's cancer diagnosis is positive.

Finished Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney

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

I recently read an article about a Florida school district banned two books. Well, just tell me "No!" and I've got to, so I read When Aidan Became A Brother which I really liked and gave 5-stars. The other was Antiracist Baby which had excellent information but I only gave it 3-stars.
And lastly, on a road trip to meet a Booktopian friend who was passing through the state I finished listening to Big Dumb Eyes: Stories from a Simpler Mind I only gave it 3-stars and I want others to know that although I loved Nate Bergatze on SNL both times, my past experience at reading or listening to books by comics I don't knee slap. I understand the author is being funny, but, you wouldn't know it by looking with me.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished listening to Uncharted: How Trump Beat Biden, Harris, and the Odds in the Wildest Campaign in History 3-stars. I did learn some things new. Behind the scenes of both sides of the 2024 presidential campaign.

Finished Floating Hotel by Grace Curtis

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

Finished The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

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

I finished two books in the past two days that qualify. I read Pope Francis: The Struggle for the Soul of Catholicism which I gave 4-stars https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

And I listened to The Woman Who Knew Everyone: The Power of Perle Mesta, Washington’s Most Famous Hostess another definite 4-star. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I recently read the biography by Lisa Marie Presley. I also read The Lion Women of Tehran.

Finished two on the drive to Florida.

Finished We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

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

Finished The Long Way Home by Louise Penny

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

Finished Drowning by T.J. Newman

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

It's been a slow book completion month. I just finished listening to Small Rain which won the 2025 Pen Faulkner Prize for Fiction and came to my attention with Luis Alberto Urrea's recommendation. Most of the time if I read a prize winning book I wonder about the jury's choice. Not this time. 5 big stars.

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

I finished listening to The Ceely Rose Murders at Malabar Farm. It's a true story which took place in the late 1800s. It turned out that I had read it several years ago. Evidently it listened better than it read. I enjoyed it more this time.

Finished The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden

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

No More Tears: The Dark Secrets of Johnson & JohnsonI finished two 5-star reads in the last two days. The first was a slow read of . I think everyone should read this book to learn of the duplicity of one of our most revered companies. I'm enraged that my last name is muddied by this duplicitous behemoth.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The second book, I read in one day in 2 sittings. The Stolen Book of Evelyn Aubrey.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

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

Just began . and finished

Finished listening to Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White House. I gave it 4.5 stars.

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

I finished Red Dog Farm: A Novel.

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

Finished The Last One at the Wedding by Jason Rekulak

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

Finished The Inmate by Freida McFadden

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

Finished listening to a long read Apple in China: The Capture of the World's Greatest Company. I know it's not for everyone, but I gave it 4-stars.

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