I’m still working on getting back into the groove with both reading and writing. I’m happy with my reading progress, though I need to stay on top of the writing a bit better. As I shared in my summer reading update, a priority for the fall would be to return to my literary travels around the world. I’m pleased to have completed two books that let me check off two new regions—Central America/Caribbean and Oceania—for that challenge. I also continued to make progress on my ongoing Nordic Literature Reading Challenge with a Nordic Noir from Denmark.

How has your reading been going lately?

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas (2022)

In this middle grade graphic novel, a young Black girl moves with her dad to a new state where it turns out that Swim 101 is the only elective left for her to take. She overcomes her fear of water and with the help of an elderly neighbor who was once a swimming champion, she helps her new middle school swim team have a successful season. Besides the themes of family, friendship, and community along with the engaging artwork, one of my favorite aspects of this graphic novel was how it delved into the history of swimming in the Black community and how racism played a role in Black Americans’ ability to swim. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Summer Reading Challenge: A “CS Reader Medal”; A book with a sports or arts connection

Iron Flame (The Empyrean #2) by Rebecca Yarros (2023)
Audiobook Narrated by Rebecca Soler, Teddy Hamilton

Last summer it was the first in the series; this summer it was the second. I had some trouble remembering the details of the characters, setting, and story from the first book, but it didn’t prevent me from having another extremely engaging and enjoyable listening experience. I just focused on what was going on at the moment. I really enjoyed the friendships, camaraderie, chemistry, action. What a cliffhanger at the end, though! I may need to listen to the third installment sooner rather than later so I don’t forget as much. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

• Summer Reading Challenge: A big book

The Lost Man by Jane Harper (2018)
Audiobook Narrated by Stephen Shanahan

I loved how this book took me to the Outback in Australia, a vast, remote, and sparsely populated area of the country. It’s about the cattle farming Bright family who is shocked by the death of the middle brother. He left behind his wife and two young daughters, as well his mother and two brothers. The circumstances of the death are mysterious—and the older brother is determined to find out what happened. It’s a story of family, relationships, and second chances with strong characters and a fascinating sense of place. ⭐️⭐⭐️⭐⭐️

• Read Around the World: Oceania (Australia)

River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer (2023)

I was drawn to this story because of its setting in the Caribbean in the 1830s when slaves were freed but forced into apprenticeship instead. The story follows Rachel as she escapes the plantation where she’s been for years and begins a desperate search to find her five children who have been taken from her and sold over the years. Her journey starts in Barbados, continues to British Guiana, and then to Trinidad. I appreciated the glimpse into this historical period (her children all in very different circumstances), but the excessive mind-reading and convenient plot turns made it hard to fully connect with the story. ⭐️⭐️(⭐️)

• Read Around the World: Central America & Caribbean (Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad)
• Read my own shelf: BOTM

The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup (2019)
Translated from the Danish by Caroline Waight (2019)
Audiobook Narrated by Peter Noble

This Nordic Noir is not for everyone. It’s a dark, gruesome serial killer story. There were several times I considered putting it down, yet something about it kept pulling me back in. The killer always leaves a handmade chestnut doll at the scene, and before long, a connection emerges to a young girl who was kidnapped and murdered a year earlier. Two detectives reluctantly cooperate to solve the case. Over time, the detectives grew on me and I was increasingly intrigued by the plot. After finishing, I discovered there’s a second installment with these detectives, and I just might add it to my TBR once it’s released in English despite my hesitations with this one. ⭐️⭐️(⭐️)

• Nordic Literature Reading Challenge: Denmark / Nordic Noir
• Read Around the World: Western Europe (Denmark)

What have you been reading lately?

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