Midnight in Chernobyl is also great! He uses a similar approach and goes through the countdown to the plant failure. There was also a tv series produced from it that was quite well done but horrifying.
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At this time too many interruptions so I have nm finish the book. Hopefully today I will. It is a Downtown Abbey theme but I think it does a better presentation of the people downstairs.
Stayed awake far too long in order to finish the last few pages of “Too Old for This” by Samantha Downing. I came away with very mixed feelings about this crime thriller about a retired serial killer, forced back into action.
I am now about halfway through “Enormous Wings” by Laurie Frank. Interesting read about a senior citizen who finds herself pregnant after having given up her home and moved to assisted living. It takes place in the state of Texas which presents a problem all into itself especially with Texas’s current abortion laws.
Also still struggling to finish up “Famesick” by Lena Dunham. With my long-time vice of reading gossipy ''celebrity" bios and having watched her latest appearance on a late night show, I was anxious to explore her writing. So far. . . I have been very disappointed in its contents.
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The show was excellent. I don’t know if I could bear reading the book.
Re: Midnight in Chernobyl
The show seemed more graphic to me. When you read it is up to you to provide the accompanying images but the show really went there with the radiation sickness. Since you’ve seen the show I think you would be fine with the book, if you are at all interested in reading it.
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Just started reading John of John.
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Really glad I read Challenger - chosen by one of my book clubs. I was happy to have more background on what happened and was shocked by the level of hubris. I have recommended it to two friends. I have not read Chernobyl. Not sure I will tackle it. I recently read Sudden Sea: the Great Hurricane of 1938 and The Great Displacement: Climatic Change and the next American Migration and enjoyed them. I also enjoy Stephen Puleo’s books - all good. I have a number of book groups and that keeps me busy…so when I read on my own I tend to read books (actually listen to) books by authors whose books I like or those recommended by friends who read the same types of books I like….mostly literary fiction. I like coming of age stories - My Friends by Backman was a favorite.
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I read Too Old For This by Samantha Downing for the Book Bowse book club. Still trying to finish Cleopatra by Sara Ari fi
First time posting here–I love learning more about what people are reading. . .it’s always good to get tried and true recommendations. I just finished Rachel Hochhauser’s Lady Tremaine which I found to be an inventive and engrossing re-take on the Cinderella story from the stepmother’s point of view with compelling characters. I also finished a new favorite–Catherine Cliff’s Miss Bates: Emma Revisited which I loved. I re-read Austen’s Emma before starting this which was illuminating. I’m not sure if people who love the character of Emma Woodhouse will like this book–it’s pretty dark–but I loved its reimaging of the characters and how how it illuminates the plight of poor women (particularly the unmarried and middle aged) in Georgian England. I’m starting Daniel Mason’s Winter Soldier (I adored North Woods and enjoyed Country People), and Lauren Groff’s Fates and Furies. Hoping to pick up Whistler soon as I haven’t read an Ann Patchett book that I didn’t love (Commonwealth and Run are real faves)
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I am reading Theo of Golden by Alex Levi. It is such a pleasant, relaxing story that slowly unfolds about a new man in town who buys portraits of people on display in a coffee shop and gives it to them as a gift. Why? What’s in it for him? Who is he? I can’t wait to find out!
I read the Midnight Train and I DID like it better than the Midnight Library, which I loved! I think he’s getting better and better! Now I want to go back and read How to Stop Time ( because I’d like to !)
Hi @Aprile_G and welcome! You list some good books there. I’ve got a copy of Lady Tremaine but haven’t gotten to it yet. I’m glad to hear you liked it. Too bad it hasn’t been on my TBR list long enough to qualify for a Challenge book!
If you liked Patchett’s other novels, you’ll love Whistler. I think it’s one of her best.
My very favorite Matt Haig book is THE BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS…I read them it
and a couple follow-up children’s books several years ago. (Very good for adults, as
are many children’s books.)
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Hi and welcome @Aprile_G!
Winter Soldier might be my absolute favorite of Daniel Mason’s books. As I recall it has some pretty sad scenes of WWI soldiers. I’ve also heard him interviewed and I think he said Miles’ (from Country People) grandfather has a role in it. So if you encounter a Lucius Krzelewski you’ll know there’s a connection.
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I had read Emily Wilson’s translation of The Odyssey in 2018 (audio) and reread it after seeing the movie last week. No regrets. In hardcover, I today finished Buckeye and have to say it was my favorite book this year (47th). Sometimes a book is SO good, you can’t start another book right after, even IF you have a stack of beautiful hardcovers from Anne Patchett’s bookstore, Parnassus because you have to just KEEP thinking about it.
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I finished Whistler by Ann Patchett and liked it a lot. She makes you appreciate a well written book. I also had an advance reader copy The Squatters by Saba Brelvi which gave me a lot to think about. It doesn’t publish until November. I just started The Stories We Tell by Patti Callahan Henryas I needed something light.
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I am loving Weyward!! I resisted this one for awhile, but I guess it found me at the right time finally!
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Thank you for the book recommendations, Carole. I’ll look further into Stephen Puleo’s books, too.
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Evonne, I finished Whistler today and you were so right with your assessment! I loved it. I can’t imagine that there is anyone who can’t relate to some aspect of the novel. I was caught a little off guard by the ending but I realized it was probably the best way to end. I hope to find a discussion of the book in the future.
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So glad you loved it too, Joyce! I still think about Eddie all the time, alas, he’s distracted me from every book I’ve read since! 
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