After reading the suspense in The Loch Ness Enigma and the harsh survival conditions in Isola (a compelling historical fiction) I need a quiet book.
I just started The Fortnight in September. Hopefully it will be uplifting. Then I plan to read Death at the Sign of the Rook.
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Fortnight in September was one of my “pandemic” reads and just what I needed at that time - family, normal life, and heartwarming. I like all the Jackson Brodie mysteries but haven’t read Death at the Sign of the Rook yet so thank you for reminding me. I have a cross-country flight next week and that may be just what I need to make the day go quickly (although I wish it was out in paperback!). I just started So Far Gone by Jess Walters. It may be more political than I’m in the mood for but I’m enjoying the characters and humor.
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Though the reading slump got me down, I kept picking up books from the library, and snagged a low price ebook to get “back on the (reading) horse.” I picked three that are working well for me. I’d been meaning to read “The Lincoln Highway” (Towles) for some time. The audio version has several readers which complements the variety of characters. I’m waiting for Duchess to get come uppance, but I’m only a little over halfway through, there’s time yet. The ebook I was pleased to find discounted is “Woodworking” (St. James). The lives of characters at very different stages in trans self-acceptance and change is a good balance. Finally, Harini Nagendra’s “Into the Leopard’s Den”, the fourth in her Bangalore Detective’s Club series is a historical mystery set in 1920’s India. The background of the Indian independence movement lends depth to the book.
Now, I’ve added three more books to my TBR based on interest shown here: “Death at the Sign of the Book”, “A Flower Traveled in My Blood”, and “The Original”. Thanks to all for sharing your thoughts.
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Kim, when you said “Butler’s work,” I looked in the first few pages to see what other titles were listed. Much to my surprise, there were none. Then I discovered the publication date was 1979! Where have I been these last 46 years?! Seriously, can you explain why I may have just purchased this book within the past year? And second, what’s your favorite Octavia Butler work of fiction?
That was my reply to Kim’s response to me a day ago! I’ll figure out this system one of these days!
No worried, @Carol_B! When you hit Reply, the person you’re replying to shows up on the right side, just above your comments, so most folks should realize who you’re responding to. 
Regarding Octavia Butler, yeah, her books have been around for awhile (she died in 2006). She’s widely considered the first Black woman to be a successful science fiction author. I reviewed her short story collection for the last issue, since we were featuring older books.
My favorite of her novels that I’ve read is Kindred and I hope you’re enjoying it. The two that I want to read but haven’t gotten to yet are Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents. The latter book won all sorts of SF awards.
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Thanks, Kim. I am indeed enjoying the book, but I am irritated by Kevin. Understandably.
Good to hear another reader expressing my feelings with Broken Country. It was chosen by the View yesterday as a must read. I was so disappointed in the characters and their reactions to their complicated situation.
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An advanced reading copy of Cover Girl by Amy Rossi!
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Ann_Beman, The Flower Traveled is on my TBR list, so I will be curious what you think about it.
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I just finished Isola by Allegra Goodman. It was an amazing, breathtaking, gripping novel, based on a true story. I saw the great reviews in New York Times.
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The Folded Sky by Elizabeth Bear.
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I very much liked The Original as well
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I just finished “A Marriage at Sea” a nonfiction that reads like a novel. Hooray for a strong female character who bolsters her husband and helps lead them to survival at sea.. But will the marriage survive? Read it and find out…a gripping story!.
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Yes, I recommended Isola this to our book club and we will review next month- I loved this historical fiction!
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I’m also reading and enjoying Death at the Sign of the Rook. From the very beginning, the character names are making me smile
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I am halfway thru Northwoods by Daniel Mason. I read his earlier book The Piano Tuner and was wowed and so decided to take the leap to his most recent book. I am enjoying the very original book, Northwoods on audio (Libro.fm format, benefits an independent bookstore of my choosing). Also reading the hardcover library book of Louise Penny’s Gamache book #17 The Madness of Crowds (which is a great series). My current nonfiction book on audio is How to Love Better by Yung Pueblo, excellent although the subject is a Life long project, thankfully, the book is shorter than that. I love to get suggestions from this discussion.
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I just finished How to Read A Book. I enjoyed it.
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Kindred was an amazing book—really loved it
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Just finished listening to Know My Name: A Memoir by Chanel Miller.Tough to hear her read about the assault and trial, etc. With that being so heavy needed something light so am half way through The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren. Fun romance. Need to finish it fast as Wally Lamb’s The River is Waiting is waiting to be next!
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