Goodbye September - October Reading Plans

 

September was not the best of months for me for a number of reasons and, although I managed to read or listen to (9) books, September was also my slowest reading month of 2022.  I did enjoy several of the books I read though so let's look at those.

                                                        Favorite Books of SEPTEMBER

QUICK REVIEW

Forsaken Country; Allen Eskens

Mulholland Books - Macmillan Audio - 2022

(audio purchase and NetGalley (eBook)

(11 hours 10 min - Brian Troxell - narrator - very good 

Allen Eskens is one of my favorite authors and, I've read everything he has written since his first book, The Life We Bury (2013).  Forsaken Country is his latest release and, the story held me captive even though at times I had wished for a different outcome.  I thought it was truly deserving of a 5 star rating.

Max Rupert is a former homicide detective in Minneapolis, MN. He is mourning the loss of his wife and, he is also haunted by an incident triggered by her loss.  Lyle Voight is the former sheriff who is desperate to find his daughter, Sandy, and his six year old grandson, Pip, who have gone missing. Lyle believes his former son-in-law, Reed, is responsible  for their disappearance and, he pleads with Max to help him investigate and locate them.  What follows is an intense thrill ride with both nail-biting and tender moments.  

Esken's characters have so much depth and, even some of the bad guys, men  who have done terrible things show us that they have a soft side in this story.  I love the way the author has a way of drawing you in and making you feel invested in the characters and their outcomes.  While reading this one, I quickly. forgot everything I had planned to do as I just had to keeping reading/listening.  

BTW - For readers new to Allen Eskens, Max Rupert is a character that has appeared in other novels yet this book can be easily read as a standalone.

Rating - 5/5 stars

We Spread; Iain Reid

Simon ^ Schuster Audio - 2022

(5 hours 58 minutes)

Narrator - Robin Miles - very good)

(audio download sent by publisher)

Penny is an elderly artist who has lived in the same apartment with her long term partner for years and years.  After her partner passed away, she felt comfort in the sameness of her days, surrounded by the things she loved and which brought her comfort. She felt happy and at peace despite the fact her partner had died.

After a few incidents at the apartment, she finds herself uprooted from her apartment and the things that she loves to a strange but beautiful home occupied by several elderly residents her age and some kind staff.  The group dines together, continues with hobbies and socializes. They are supervised by a caring staff who monitors their daily activities but, for Penny it is not the same as her apartment.

This was quick, well-written novel that I very much enjoyed.  It was one of those stories that as a senior myself, made me pause and reflect. It was hard to see many of Penny's prized possessions of her former life packed away as she was moved to her new residence.  Her new life was often clouded by confusion yet it felt quite realistic.

RATING - 4.5/5 stars

                                                            SEPTEMBER Reads

1. The Left-Handed Twin; Thomas Perry - 4/5 stars -  (September)
2. The Woman in the Library; Sulari Gentill - 2.5/5 stars
3. Killers of a Certain Age; Deanna Raybourn - 3/5 stars
4. Dark Tales: Stories; Shirley Jackson - 4/5 stars
5. The Lost Girls of Willowbrook; Ellen Marie Wiseman - 4/5 stars
6. We Spread; Iain Reid - 4.5/5 stars
7. Secluded Cabin Sleeps Six; Lisa Unger  - 3.5/5 stars
8. Forsaken Country; Allen Eskens - 5/5 stars
9. Dinners with Ruth: A Memoir of Friendship  (NF) ; Nina Totenberg - 3/5 stars (no review yet)

 (YTD - 127)

September Book Group - I was able to make my book group lunch and meeting which was fun as always. We had several new members thia month who offered some interesting perspective on Dark Matter by Blake Crouch.  You can read my review here. While more than half of us were non-SF fans, we enjoyed the story anyways.  Others, a few with a physics background enjoyed the SF aspects yet wanted more depth. 

Current Reads

1. Fellowship Point;  Alice Elliot Dark - almost done
2. Quartet in Autumn; Barbara Pym - almost done - Bucket List Book

October Reading Plans

1. The Old Place; Bobby Finger
2. The Maze; Nelson DeMille
3. The Last Chairlift; John Irving
4. The Good Sister; Sally Hepworth (book group read)
5. Demon Copperfield; Barbara Kingsolver
6. Because I Could Not Stop for Death; Amanda Flower

                                             How was your month? Any exciting plans for October?

3 brief Book Reviews - The Invisible Husband of Frick Island; Colleen Oakley - The Last Guests; J.P. Pomare and The Writer's Cats; Muriel Barbery

 (2) quick catch up reviews

The Invisible Husband of Frick Island; Colleen Oakley

Berkley - 2021

(eGalley-Edelweiss)

I was hoping to read this one in the first half of the year but, I decided to save it for when I was in the the mood for lighter feel good read - this was it.

In this story we meet twenty-something Piper Parrish who lives on a tiny island with fewer than 100 people on Chesapeake Bay.  Her life had been nearly perfect and the her husband Tom went out one morning on his crab boat and never returned home.  His boat had capsized and his body never found.  How does one move on from such a tragic event? Well, maybe you just don't.  Piper unable to accept the idea that Tom is dead continues to go on with life as if he is right by her side. Before long much of the townspeople are right there with Piper pretending that nothing has happened when she is around.

When Anders Caldwell a columnist and podcaster arrives on the island to cover a story, what was to be a short stay turns into something else entirely.  (There is a funny scene where Piper is at a table for two at a restaurant and Anders notices Piper her. He thinks she is beautiful and gets the courage to ask if he can join her.  She says, "can't you see I am having dinner with my husband?" 

This story wasn't perfect but I liked that it had some fun scenes and had a bit of mystery to it. If you are in the mood for a feel good story with quirky characters add this to your list.

(eGalley received from Edelweiss)

The Last Guests; J.P. Pomare

Mulholland Books - 2021

(eGalley - NetGalley)

Auckland, New Zealand is the setting for this creepy thriller where we meet Lina and Caine, they are a newlywed couple with secrets.  Lina is an overworked paramedic and Cain, a former SAS officer who was stationed in Afghanistan has dark past.  Lina has inherited a vacation home that had been in her family and since they don't get a chance to use it very often, Cain gets Lina to agree to rent it out on weekends for extra income.  The rental process used is similar to AirbNb and, it turns out their rental becomes quite popular.  So what seemed like a good idea turns into a nightmare when it's clear hidden spy cameras are in place and someone is interested in watching someone.

An extremely creepy page turner with a terrific setting as well.  This turned out to be one of those books that was hard to put down despite some implausible moments and a bit too much going on at times, I found creepy thriller totally engrossing.

The Writer's Cats; Muriel Barbery

Europa - November - 2021

I'm a reader not a writer but have always been curious by what inspires an author and what makes their creative juices flow. For French writer, Muriel Barbery, it appears to be all things Japanese, flowers, and her (4) Chartreux cats (gray fur with amber eyes). There is Kirin, graceful and charming, brothers Petrus and Ocha and sister Mizu.  The story narrated by Kirin with humor and a cat's insight gives us a look at the author's day to day life and her writing process.  How does the author know when something needs to be revised?  A clue is when a particular page gets swished to floor by a cats tail or, maybe it's when a cat sits on a page way too long that tips her off.

Cat lovers will recognize the things cats do to get our attention both to annoy us and endear us - often.  at the very same time. Quirky, fun and peppered with charming illustrations, this 80 page book is easy to read in one sitting and would be a fun gift for the cat lover in your life.

Book Review - Getaway; Zoje Stage

 

Getaway; Zoje Stage

                                                             Mulholland Books - August - 2021

This is my second book by author Zoje Stage; in 2018 I read Baby Teeth which was good and offered plenty of things to discuss with fellow readers. You can read my review HERE if interested. 

Getaway takes place in Colorado with (3) - 30-something women. There are sisters Beck and Imogen and Tilda, a close college friend. Beck is a doctor, Imogen is a struggling writer who sufferers from anxiety after a traumatic event and Tilda a former American Idol participant and an influencer. Imogen and Tilda had a falling out and had parted ways but Beck would like to see the friendship mended so the women agree to embark on Grand Canyon backpacking trip.  The sisters are skilled hikers from childhood but Tilda is not.  Pretty early on there is an uncomfortable vibe that something or someone is lurking close by. The women find their campsite ransacked and food missing. Things then get creepier and much worse when a lone male on the run shows up.

This story took a while to hook me. I loved the outdoorsy details which made the locale so vivid at times but, I also had a few scratch my head moments as some of what happens seemed unlikely considering two of the backpackers were experienced.  Despite a few roll-my-eyes moments overall, this was a tension filled thriller once the story finally got going. I think this is one of those thrillers that will have even greater appeal to those who love hiking the more difficult and remote ranges.

Rating - 3.5/5 stars

I received an early eGalley of this book from NetGalley and Mulholland Books in exchange for my unbiased review.

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Getaway; Zoje Stage and Once There Were Wolves; Charlotte McConaghy

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. 

Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book we are reading or plan to read soon.

This week I couldn't decide which book to post so I selected (2) that I will be reading this week.  

Getaway; Zoje Stage

Mulholland Books - 8/2021

Prologue

"It might have been a beautiful day. In her memory, the golden leaves of a gingko tree shimmered in poignant juxtaposition to the harrowing splatters of blood. But in reality, it could have been an ordinary maple tree. And the blood, though it had been shed, pooled indoors, beyond her field of vision.

Within moments of it happening, Imogen lost track of what was real, what was imagined.  Had she heard screams? Or were those in her head too?  Late, she could only tell the police her name, why she was there, what time she arrived and other unhelpful details.  When they asked what she saw, Imogen had shaken her head, distrustful of her awareness."

Once There Were Wolves; Charlotte McConaghy

Flatiron Books - 8/2021

1

"When we were eight, Dad cut me open from throat to stomach.

In a forest in the wilds of British Columbia, sat his workshop, dusty and reeking of blood.  He had skins hanging to dry and they brushed our foreheads are we crept through them.  I shivered, even then,  as Aggie grinned devilishly in front of me, bolder than me by far.  After summers spent wishing to know what happened in this shed I  was suddenly desperate to be gone from it."

What do you think of these opening passages - read more or pass?

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - The Stolen Hours; Allen Eskens

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. 

Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book we are reading or plan to read soon.  

Stolen Hours; Allen Eskens

Mulholland Books - Sept 7, 2021

Chapter 1

Lila Nash counted her steps as she walked from the kitchen to the bathroom of her apartment. Ten, nine, eight--the numbers falling silently in her head, a remnant from those days when she paced from the corridors of the hospital. Seven, six, five--turn into the bathroom--four, three--close the door--two--turn--face the mirror--one.

Her last step had been little more than a shuffle, but it allowed her to stop on one, which somehow eased the clockwork that ticked inside her chest.

What do you think? read more or pass?   Today is release day for this book.  I've read every book this author has written and this sounds like a good one to me as well.

Book Review - The Birdwatcher; William Shaw

                                         (I'm so happy about all the snow coming tonight.)

                                                         The Birdwatcher; William Shaw

                                                               Mulholland Books - 2017

Set in the small coast guard town of Dungeness, Kent England, Bill South has 20+ years with the police force. He's a solitary man with secrets. In fact from the first paragraph it appears he is also a murderer.  South has recently been assigned to work with a new female Detective Sergeant, Cupidi on a murder case and South isn't happy about this. Cupidi has relocated from London with her 13 year old troubled daughter Zoe. 

South knows the victim, the deceased, Bob Rayner, lived practically next door to South. Both South and Rayner were avid birders.  It's a pass time that has made South a good cop. His careful record keeping on all his bird sightings has made him a patient man, which has helped him find perpetrators on the job.  This time it seems the perp may have connections to South's childhood in Northern Ireland in the mid-late 70s. For South, keeping his past and those old secrets are even more important at this time.

This was a very good example of fine British crime fiction. South's character is incredibly well drawn. The story alternates between the present story and South's childhood and, while Bill South was clearly the focus character in this book, a man who lives in self-imposed isolation, I do expect there will be more of Det. Sergeant Cupidi and her daughter Zoe in future installments. The story was very interesting and I loved how atmospheric it felt.  I did feel the foul language felt a bit over the top at times but, I would still consider other books by this author.

Rating - 4/5 stars

First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros - Birdwatcher; William Shaw

 

Welcome to First Chapter/Intros, now hosted by Yvonne @ Socrates Book Reviews. Each week readers post the first paragraph (or 2) of a book they are reading or that they plan to read soon. 

   Birdwatcher; William Shaw

                                                               Mulholland Books - 2017 

One

"There were two reasons why William South did not want to be on the murder team.

The first was that it was October. The migrating birds had begun arriving on the coast.

The second was that, though nobody knew, he was a murderer himself."

I saw a review by Sam@Book Chase about this one and its follow-up and decided it sounded like one I might like.

What do you think, read more or pass?

Book Review - Nothing More Dangerous; Allen Eskens

TITLE: Nothing More Dangerous

AUTHOR:  Allen Eskens

PUBLISHER: Mulholland Books/Hachette Audio
PUB. YEAR: 2019
SETTING: MO
FORMAT: combo/print/audio/library
RATING: - 5/5

Set in the 1970's Ozark mountains, the story opens with talk of a missing black woman named Lida Poe. She was believed to have stolen money from the company where she had worked and had possibly left town. Jessup, MO, however, is a small town full or prejudice and steeped in racism. The whereabouts of the missing woman plays an important part in the novel.

Boady Sanden is a 15 year old boy living with his strict, widowed mother. After getting caught stealing his mother sends him to a Catholic high school where he is bullied and just doesn't seem to fit in.  He spends his free time exploring the woods, reading and talking with Hoke, his retired neighbor. Hoke is a positive influence, providing nurturing lessons on life which leads to a wonderful friendship.  When the Elgin's, a black family, moves in across the street, the father hired to run a local company, Boady becomes good friends with son Thomas. Boady begins to see the injustices black people have had to endure.

What a great novel! Honestly I've enjoyed every book this author has written.  If you love great character development, a little mystery and great writing, this is the book for you. It was wonderful to see Boady rid himself of the racial prejudices he had grown up with. Yes, this book has some unpleasant topics like:  bullying, violence and white supremacy which is hard to read about at times, but, it is an important part of this novel.  A haunting coming of age story. Read it!