What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? Please share! We’d love to know.
I finished Margaret Atwood’s memoir, Book of Lives. It dragged a bit in the middle, but overall it was one of the best memoirs I’ve read. Parts were VERY funny. She’s witty and intelligent - and opinionated - so I enjoyed the majority of the narrative. Definitely worth the price of admission.
I started The Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Bathwaite yesterday, and there’s a lot I’m loving about it. But I always do have problems with plotlines that involve a person’s “one true love” or women whose identities are all wrapped up in having a husband, or a specific man as a husband, so I’m starting to get a little leary about the book. Looking forward to the discussion next week.
After that, I’ve got the opportunity to read anything I want, and that’s rare enough that I’m not sure what direction I’ll head. I bought a ton of books this year and I’ve read just a fraction of them. Leaning toward Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green, but also on the table are We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson, and Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood. (Probably because those are the last three I bought, LOL.)
In audiobook format, I’m “reading” The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephan Graham Jones. It’s horror, so outside my normal genre choice, but it was getting such good reviews I couldn’t resist. Well, I can see why it’s a critical darling - from a historical point of view it’s exceptionally well done. But there’s a lot of gore (particularly concerning animals) that I’m having more trouble with. And there’s a cat. Please dear god don’t let anything happen to the cat.
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The Red Tent by Anita Diamant.
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I’m reading The Only One Left by Riley Sager. I’ve never read any of his novels, but my physical therapist said it might take my mind off my knee replacement! It is pretty intense.
S. A. Crosby’s name kept popping up in lists, and I hadn’t tried his stories. I’m reading Razorblade Tears. Haven’t Killed In Years by Green is next in line.**
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We Must Be Brave by Frances Liardet, reading this for one of my book clubs. Next will be The Diary of Anne Frank for my Banned Book club.
Everything Is Tuberculosis is definitely worth your time. I worked in an acute care hospital for 40+ years with the last 20 as quality and risk management director so I didn’t come to it with strictly a lay person’s background, yet I learned so much.
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Still working on my book journal/planner’s 2025 challenges. I just finished listening to Just So Stories by Rudyard Kipling for J in the Title Alphabet Challenge. The classic children’s books are so wonderful. They stretch imaginations and vocabularies! Am starting the audiobook of Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov for the U.
Print wise, I’m currently reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie to meet the Locked Room Mystery and the Cover with a Key or Keyhole challenges. I’ve never read Christie and am enjoying her. I try to choose books from James Mustich’s 1000 Books to Read Before You Die to expand my reading.
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I am an audio reader for a number of reasons and am thankful for the availability of the books. An eclectic week of reading. The Time of the Child by Niall Williams - wonderful Christmas time book complete with the narrator’s brogue. I finished Stephen Puleo’s book Voyage of Mercy about the Irish potato famine and America’s first humanitarian mission. I have begun Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt for my banned book group.
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Thanks for the recommendation @Carole_B! I think I may have to pick up Time of the Child with my next Audible credit. It’ll be a really nice pallet cleanser after King of Ashes and The Buffalo Hunter Hunter. I think I’m overdue for a feel-good listen and that sounds like just the ticket.
I’ve been on a non fiction trend recently. I read All the Frequent Troubles of Our Days by Rebecca Donner last week. I liked the chronological timeline of the book, giving a comprehensive view of the Hitler regime without being dry. This is the background for the biography of Mildred Harnack, an American who is joins the Resistance movement in Germany. Mildred’s bravery and determination reminded me a bit of Nancy Wake (an Australian) who was based in France.
Continuing with WWII - but in the Pacific front - I just started The Mosquito Bowl by Buzz Bissinger. My dad would have loved this book. I acquired the love of college football (particularly the Big 10 Conference) from him; he was a Korean War veteran (just a bit too young for WWII) but I know he would have known so many of the players in the Armed Forces that are highlighted in this book.
I may have to check out Voyage of Mercy - thanks, Carole!
You’re an ambitious reader, Lana! Good for you!
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I loved the Time of the Child especially this time of year.
Getting ready for the holidays has put me in a reading slump. I have currently tried reading Bel Canto by Ann Patchett but it’s not a page turner for me. I enjoyed her novels Tom Lake and The Dutch House so it surprises me about this book.
The current praise of Margaret Atwood has been intriguing. Years ago I read and enjoyed her novel The Handmaid’s Tale. I downloaded her novel The Blind Assassin. However, the 600+pages is longer than my normal length unless it’s a great story, so I might give it a chance.
Does anyone have any suggestions for a feel good book.
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You mean what am I reading beside sale ads and Christmas cards? 
 Suggested by my library I’m reading Her Last Flight a novel by Beatriz Williams about a female photographer in search of a story about a missing pilot back in the 1940’s. A surprise discovery leads her to a mystery women aviatrix. Recently finished The Silent Period by Francesca Manfredi for Book Browse first impressions.
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I wouldn’t suggest Atwood if you’re in a slump, @Lynne_G. I love her books, but I think almost every one of them has a “dead zone” in the middle where they drag. I’m always glad I’ve kept reading, but maybe not the best choice for you right now, IMHO.
Feel good books:
2025 BookBrowse favorite Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle
The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern by Lynda Cohen Loigman
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
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I’ve only read about 150 of the 1000. Since I’m a senior citizen, I doubt I hit the goal! 
But it enriches my reading.
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I’m curious, @Lana_Maskus - what made you pick Mustich’s list in particular? I’ve been poking around and there are several different lists out there.
You might like West With the Night by Beryl Markham. She was a contemporary of Amelia Earhart. It’s nonfiction, but so good. Paula McLain’s Circling the Sun is a fictionalized account of her life. I enjoyed it, also.
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I love books about books and was browsing in a major book retailer in that section and found his book, 1000 Books to Read Before You Die, shortly after it came out. It’s a monster! He has written a synopsis of each book and its author, lists other books by the author, etc. It’s full of illustrations and is a great reference tool. Some of the books are hard to find because they span the ages. There’s also a related website and he contributes to Substack.
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