This month, I’ve really had to start being more intentional with my reading so that I’ll be able to complete my reading challenges in time. I’ve now planned my reading for the rest of the year. For Diversity Across Genres, I have a TBR title for every missing prompt – two of which I read this month – which will help me move quickly from one finished read/listen to the next one. For Book Voyage: Read Around the World, I have already read something from every world region, but I would love to add another title for South America, Africa, and/or Southern Asia so I’ll see if I can squeeze any of those in. My Nordic Literature Reading Challenge is luckily not a time sensitive one, so I can read at my leisure for that one.
What have you been reading lately?
Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister (2022) 📖
This was a fun mystery thriller. A mother witnesses her 18-year-old son murder someone and is shocked and baffled. He’s in police custody and his bright future is gone. However, when the mother wakes up the next morning, it’s actually the day before the murder and this pattern continues. As time continues backwards, the mother learns more and more about how this murder came to happen. I’m not usually a fan of time travel, but this time loop premise worked for me. Some aspects of the mystery I guessed in advance, but there were still twists that surprised me. There’s some substance to it also, such as questions around motherhood and parenting. It was a fun read! ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️
- Book club read with work colleagues
- Read My Own Shelf: Gifted
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell (2023) 🎧
Narrated by Nicola Walker and Louise Brealey with full cast, music and sound design
This is a book that needs to be listened to if you’re going to read it. The structure (which included podcast recordings) and production (with a full cast, music, and sound design) were so unique and well done. And the story was good, too. It’s a dark psychological thriller that follows Alix, a popular podcaster, who is intrigued by Josie and records her story for a podcast. As she digs deeper, she uncovers dark secrets that blur the lines between truth and deception. She soon finds herself in an unsettling friendship with her. I was riveted and have already recommended the audiobook to many. ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️⭐
- Book club read with friends
Murder on the Red River (Cash Blackbear Mystery, #1) by Marcie R. Rendon (2017) 📖
This book had an unexpected intersection of interests! Descendants of Scandinavian immigrants were part of the setting. In an attempt to learn more about Scandinavian immigration to that area, I came across The Great Dakota Boom: Scandinavians, an interesting 4th grade lesson from North Dakota on Scandinavian immigration to the Red River Valley area, and as well as Norwegian Immigration to Minnesota, a deeper dive into the topic.
This book has a mystery element to it, but it’s more of a character-driven look at life for a 19-year-old Ojibwe woman named Cash in the Red River Valley (North Dakota/Minnesota border area) in the 1970s. Cash grew up moving from one White foster family to another and only graduated high school thanks to the support from her “guardian,” Sheriff Weaton. Her life now consists of driving trucks for local farmers, drinking beer, smoking cigarettes, and playing pool. When a Native man is found dead, Cash is drawn into the investigation. The story puts a spotlight on the lasting impact of Indigenous youth being removed from their communities and placed into White foster care. I liked Cash, flaws and all, and appreciated the unique perspective the setting offers. I’m eager to dive into more of her story in the next book in the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️
- #DiversityAcrossGenres: Indigenous / Mystery/Thriller
- Book Voyage: Read Around the World: USA (North Dakota & Minnesota)
Get a Life, Chloe Brown (The Brown Sisters, #1) by Talia Hibbert (2019) 🎧
I really enjoyed the main characters and their relationship in this romantic comedy. Chloe, a chronically ill woman in her twenties, is smart and strong and decides she needs to push herself out of her comfort zone. She enlists the help of her grumpy but attractive building superintendent in exchange for creating a website for him. As they spend more time together, their initial tension gives way to a slow-burning romance. It’s a funny, heartwarming story about embracing life and vulnerability. My only issue with it was the graphic, vulgar language used when it came to the sex scenes. For me, it was cringeworthy and just didn’t jive with the tone of the rest of the book. ⭐️⭐⭐️
- #DiversityAcrossGenres: Black / Romance
What have you been reading lately?
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I only completed one book in October. And, in “my book,” The Women by Kristin Hannah is a “5-star” book. Being 78, I was very aware of the war. A brother there. Feeling like I was actually ”on the fence” about whether we should or should not be in the war. I took a break from college and worked on an Army base which was a stopping off place for soldiers, men AND women, going to Nam. Making so many friends who were scared of what was ahead of them. Sending packets of Koolaid, ketchup, mustard etc. to add some flavor to food and water. Checking the weekly posted list of MIA, killed and wounded with fingers crossed none of our friends would be on it. I had teary eyes through a good portion of The Women. I no longer remember the names however this book brought back a lot of memories. And of course the irritation of gender roles in the military.
Our container arrives Monday, husband’s Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy has started, so I’m hoping in a couple of weeks, my reading time will be back to normal. Very disappointed I will not meet my Goodreads Challenge this year.