I just finished Sweet Spot by Kemper Donovan. It’s the third book in a mystery series about a ghostwriter. I think anll 3 anre entertaining with good characterization.
I finished The Traveler: One Man’s Quest for Humanity from the South Seas to Revolutionary Paris by Andrea Wulf. It started out fine, but I lost interest at some point. It feels more of a disappointment, too, because I had been looking forward to it having liked Wulf’s book about Alexander von Humboldt.
I’m not sure what I’ll read next.
Some of those I follow on other sites, whose opinions I trust, agree with you about this book, Anne. They felt it would resonate with those in the Subcontinent diaspora, but not with other readers.
Thanks so much @Rannie . That makes sense because it felt very specific to the Aisan culture. It will be interesting to learn how my irl book club members feel about it. I wonder how many will actually finish it.
Ann Patchette Whistler
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I’m curious as well. Please let us know.
I’ll do my best to remember. The meeting is second week in August so it’s a ways off.
I am currently reading The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett and I have to admit this is one I am reading every free minute I have. It is a fantastic novel. I recently finished Whistler which also was a great read on family relationships and how they can have so many layers
Just finished Lisa Lee’s new book, Daughters of the Sun and Moon.I really appreciate See’s commitment to uncovering and sharing this overlooked history. Her extensively researched book is character driven and transports her readers back in time to nineteenth century Los Angeles. Its tone is emotional and very heartbreaking, yet she has also managed to balance her novel with moments of strength, hope and perseverance.
I also finished “How to Kill a Crime Writer” which I found to be quirky and not necessarily my kind of a book.
Now its off the “Too Old for This” for discussion later this month.
@Carol_N since you like Lisa See’s books so much I wonder if you have ever read Above the East China Sea by Sarah Bird? I think it is an incredibly beautiful and well presented historical fiction.
I decided to pick up Life & Death & Giants by Ron Rindo after seeing positive reviews of it here. I am about half way through and am really enjoying it.
No Anne I have not, but I will look into it. I enjoy her books but reading her books are not always my first choice. My bookclub is quite fond of her work, so if she is one of the choices for the month, I can guarantee it will be the book chosen for that month.
I read The Beheading Game and as strange as the premise sounds (Anne Boleyn survives her beheading and gets revenge), I really enjoyed it. The author provided many factual details about Anne’s life so I learned a great deal. And who doesn’t enjoy some female payback!
There is another book that seems to explore this same theme that I haven’t read—Henry Tudor Must Die. I might have to read that one too.
Anne, I just looked that book up and it does sound good! Thanks for mentioning it here.
I had the same reaction, but I kept on reading it because I thought the writing at times was so beautiful. But it was SO long. I honestly would hesitate to recommend it. I think there are other better books about foreigners feeling like they don’t belong in a new land, but also not being happy in their homeland. It could have been said with fewer words.
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I’ve had my eye on The Beheading Game, @Roberta_Winchester. Glad to know it’s worth a read.
@Roberta_Winchester and @Carol_N I hope you enjoy Above the East China Sea if you check it out. Sarah is a local author and friend. She is such a generous supporter of other authors that I am happy to support her work. She has written a number of books that are quite good. Hit me up if you want to know other favorites.
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@Gabi_J @Lynne_G - I read Life: A Love Story last week, and loved it. I think I’ve mentioned before I seem to be reading more books these days featuring older women. And as an older woman, I enjoy seeing ‘us’ star in some great stories.
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3 posts were merged into an existing topic: What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? (7/23/2026)