What are you reading this week? And what did you think of last week’s books? Please share! We’d love to know.
FINISHED:
A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang—LONGLISTED FOR THE 2026 WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION this is a tale of family, folklore, and fantasy that gave me wonderful debut vibes. A Chinese family is traumatized by the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and it changes the lives of three generations. Starting in 2017 Manhattan we meet a young woman who is reunited with her father who went missing eleven years earlier. This is one of the most affecting stories I can remember reading in a very long time. @kim.kovacs I would recommend this one to you if there is any room on your tbr.
The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline—a fictional account of the wives and families of Chang and Eng Bunker, the famous conjoined twins. I’ve been fascinated by these guys since I first heard of them years ago. The author claims a distant familial relationship with them. I’m not sure what I expected from this novel but it was mostly a dysfunctional family story. Perhaps, under the circumstances I should have expected exactly that. They married Addie and Sarah, sisters, and raised 21 children over 32 years of marriage. The author did an amazing job of creating the separation between the couples despite the always constant presence of a third person in even the most intimate settings. 
NOW READING:
The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai—[struggling] will accept any words of encouragement. Anyone?
GLITZ, GLAM AND A DAMN GOOD TIME: How Mamie Fish, Queen of the Gilded Age, Partied Her Way to Power by Jennifer Wright, read by Ashlie Atkinson— anyone who watched The Gilded age will recognize the names of rising scions. It’s fun to know the narrator for this audio is the actress who played Mamie Fish on that series.
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I am reading “White Lies: How the South Lost the Civil War Then Rewrote the History” by Ann Bausum. It is an unapologetic book with a lit to say that will ruffle a few feathers. I cannot believe it is YA, because is it written so well and intelligently.
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@Anthony_Conty - yeah, I was really surprised that White Lies is considered YA. It was a pretty heavy subject. I kind of knew in general terms much of the material Bausum covered, but the book really brought it into focus.
@Anne_Glasgow, thanks for the recommendation! It’s actually been on my TBR for a while… along with, like, 100 other books, sadly. One of the biggest frustrations in my life is that there are so many worthwhile books I’ll likely never get around to.
This week I read Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker. I picked it up so I could ask her intelligent questions while she was here (and it was a very good Q&A - check it out!) and boy, was I glad I’d had the chance to read it. If you’re looking for a great character-driven book, you really can’t go wrong with this one. BookBrowse gave it a four but I think the reviewer rated it too low.
I also read The Cloak and Dagger Club by Jackie McMahon for our discussion here. I like mysteries OK, but they’re not at the top of my to-read list. I did enjoy this one, however. It was better than most.
I just started The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara (Jeff Shaara’s father). The book won the Pulitzer for fiction, but it received zero recognition until Ken Burns made it into a miniseries (Gettysburg) something like 18 years later. Unfortunately, the author died before realizing his success. He was so discouraged by the lack of reception for The Killer Angels that he never wrote another book.
After that, it’ll be another discussion book, How to Kill a Crime Writer by Sarah Lotz, followed by a book for our indie review program, Reset by Kevin Charles.
In audiobook… War and Peace continues!
Last week I read LIFE; A LOVE STORY by Elizabeth Berg. Part of her Arthur Truluv series. I love her books, she is such a comfort read for me. The book gave the reader some insights of his childhood. It was just what I needed last week with simple thoughts and many words of wisdom. My second book was THE PULL OF STARS by -Emma Donoghue. It was from my maybe someday reading list. The plot centers around a nurse devoting her life to save the millions suffering from the 1910 plague. Reading about the deaths of millions is depressing, however the author portrays the story with so much compassion and strength that at the end I felt a spirit of hope.
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@kim.kovacs I didn’t know the additional information about The Killer Angels. Thanks for providing it. I read it many years ago, but kept it on my bookshelves because I knew it was one I would want to come back to. His son has done a good job of continuing to carry the banner for him.
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Continuing with War and Peace and Days of Sun and Shadow and just started listening to The Correspondent by Virginia Evan’s. For some reason I really like the epistolary style and am enjoying this one tremendously.
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Strange reading week…Read political satire from Ben Fountain Rasputin Swims the Potomac. Still processing this one. Loved Ann Patchett’s newest Whistler! Mad Mabel was another interesting book about an eccentric character finding her tribe.
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I worked as a children and YA librarian for many years. Adults should read more in these sections for powerful content and magnificent art! Some of my favorite books, authors, and illustrators beginning in the nineties came from these sections! I structured a book club for YA and parents discussing controversial books. Great discussions! Unfortunately too much book banning in this area now. Many of those types of discussion groups are not happening anymore in public and school libraries with the exception of independent book stores.
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I loved The Pull of Stars despite the darkness. Emma Donoghue is a favorite of mine.
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I’ve been so curious about Rasputin Swims the Potomac and will probably read it at some point. Ben Fountain has certainly written a wide range of books and styles. I’ve heard him talk about this new one and it sounds really fun.
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Over the holiday weekend, I read Travels with Charley in Search of America by John Steinbeck published in early 60’s. I couldn’t go back 250 years to relive some of my country’s history first hand but this time frame worked perfectly for me. I had not read it before. So enjoyed his observations and wit over the many miles from sea to shining sea. I liked being reminded that I’ve seen quite of bit of it myself. He ends with the civil rights era heating up in the south and that time is very vivid in my own memory as well. I would recommend this retro-read, especially at this landmark year in our history. (One odd note: I had the distinct feeling he did not clean up after Charley - it was a different time I guess.)
For book club, I’m currently listening to Broken Country. It is taking multiple attempts and restarts to keep the dual timeline sorted. This format works better for me in print.
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I started Intermezzo. Too early to tell. Loved Ivan’s intro, not connecting with Peter yet…I will give it time. (audio) Also started Lisa See’s latest Daughter’s of the Son and Moon. I have never not loved a Lisa See book. Looking forward to the adventure of these audiobooks. Reading digital verison of Empire of Sand by Tasha Suri (a rec by Shannon Chakraborty, writer of the Daevabad Trilogy and Amina al Sirafi adventures) These are my first toe dip into fantasy, based in middle eastern mythologies and I am enjoying stepping outside my ususal comfort reads.
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I finished Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland - and loved it. I’m so grateful that I finally read it and am now looking forward to discussing it at our local library book discussion in October. Beanland is becoming one of my go to writers. I really liked her second book, The House is on Fire and her just released book, The Half Life.
I had started Adam Higginbotham’s Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space but then put it aside while to read a few fiction selections. I’ll likely pick it back up now.
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Stay with The Loneliness a bit longer. I liked the book. Our time is so limited; therefore, read or don’t finish - what’s best for you.
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Decades ago I taught middle school and read many, many YA books. Loved them! What more recent titles might you recommend? I realize there are different genres within. Realistic, scifi, dystopian, historical, mystery suggestions would be greatly appreciated. What a fabulous idea for a book club - YA and parents. Sadly, you’re right that the current social atmosphere is a hurdle.
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Thanks @NanK. I’ll keep going because it is for book club. I appreciate your encouragement.
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I love pretty much anything by Steinbeck. I haven’t read Travels with Charley in quite a few years but your comment about it resonating with the times really struck me. Since it’s so short I might try to work it in.
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I listened to part of the Daevabad trilogy but I don’t think I ever finished it. It was good though.
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Challenger is really good. I had read a few other books about the disaster so by the time I got to it the info was kind of repetitive but he took a different approach by trying to find the origin of the breakdown. I hope you enjoy it.
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