Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason 3+ stars, probably good for book group. It took me awhile to get into it, then it got my interest up.

Next up Tom Lake by Ann Patchett for book group.

Tom Lake is lovely. It restores your faith in humanity.

Another vote for Tom Lake, and love the meme!

I was in the city last week and went to the NYPL Treasures exhibit. They had a special section about James Baldwin, because 2024 was his centennial birthday. At my library, I picked up his Giovanni's Room, which I had never read. It's about a expat in Paris, coming to terms with his past, his future and his desires. It read like poetry.

I just now finished Killing Lincoln. I have heard of all the Killing series but never read any and was always curious. The beginning starte out with a bit more about battles and geography than I could retain, but really to also give a backdrop. That did not go on long and the book quickly got to the really interesting events leading up , day by day, to the assassination of Lincoln along with the escape and capture of the group. I really didn't know much about this, other than that John Wilkes Booth was THE assassin and it happened in the theatre. There is so much really interesting background provided in this book. It was extremely readable and so many names were familiar but again I had no clue as to why.

I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of the series.

I gave it 4.5 stars.

The Secret Scripture by Sebastien Barry. Irish writers have such a beautiful way of writing about painful things.

Salonva - This is a follow-up to one of your last posts in the November reading thread, the one in which you mentioned Sarah Canary and The Jane Austen Book Club - both by Karen Joy Fowler. Though I am one of those who DNF'd Sarah Canary (in spite of the delightful character name), I really enjoyed her book, We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. It was an amazing novel, based on a true event, and about a topic unlike anything else I've ever read before or since. I highly recommend that one. I've always meant to try another Karen Joy Fowler book because that one was so original.

thank you Kathy! Sarah Canary is the only book I've read of hers. I will definitely be adding We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves. to my want to read list.

Two winners in a row here. (Second one gleaned from this thread.) 4 Stars for each.

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson. The author is known for science fiction, but this is very slightly 'futuristic' and all too realistic. I'm inspired to go out and crusade for a Carbon Coins, a new world currency to save the planet. This is long -- and zealous -- but never dull or impossible.

The Anomaly by Herve Le Tellier. This mystery features an impossible 'fold' in time, set in the present day. You meet the characters in the first half if the book, then meet their altered selves following the time lapse.

After I finished reading Killing Lincoln, my sister mentioned that she looked at her library book club for ideas and saw The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry. I looked it up and thought why not- got the kindle from my library. Here's the goodread link-The Heart in Winter (goodreads). It's very new, and under 300 pages. Editing to add, the under 300 pages is what pushed me to give it a try.

I just finished it this morning, and at parts it was really a very good read, and other parts were just maybe a bit too "out there". It is definitely a different read. (haha maybe Sarah Canary-ish?). There is a lot of humor, but lots of crudeness and other worldlyness.

To combine a post on goodreads as well as a phrase from the author-----Imagine a beautifully written western with an Irish accent about forbidden love, escaped love on the run, the harsh winter landscape of Montana in 1891, a manhunt driven by revenge from a wronged husband, cold, warm, touching, and brutal.

It would probably be good for a book club to discuss, but knowing mine, they would not care for it. I see it between 3.5 and 4 stars, and after thinking about it, I'd give it 4 stars.

I finally finished The Nightingale after eschewing books about WWII a few months ago. Now I have a personal ban on them. The book itself was fine, not anything approaching great literature (or even literature, TBH) but I am really sick of the subject. Those who do not learn from history may be doomed to repeat it but those who rehash history ad nauseum end up being bored by it— arguably a worse scenario. 🙄 As a mental palate cleanser I am rereading MacBeth— an odd choice perhaps but the language is very satisfying.

Kwsl, good for you for picking up Macbeth. My DH was wanting a Macbethathon viewing Polanski’s and Orson Wells’. I was hoping for Doc Martin or similar that night.

Just finished Tom Lake by Ann Patchett for book group. I'm not sure how the discussion will go but I suspect a majority will like the book. It was fine by me...I give 3+ stars. But it took me quite awhile to get into the plot line which was a bit disjointed.

Next up will be This Ordinary Stardust: A Scientists Path from Grief to Wonder by Alan Townsend for my nonfiction book group which may be reconstituting itself. I'll try to read it quickly as I have another that's soon to expire...

I'm most of the way through Huckleberry Finn, in preparation for reading Percival Everett's James. It's quite funny in places, a little boring in others, but I definitely wouldn't call it a book for children, because most of the humor and references would sail right over a kid's head, and certainly did mine when I read it in...6th grade?

Annie, I liked Tom Lake well enough but it falls very far short of what I expect from Anne Patchett, so in that sense I was disappointed.

I seem to be reading books lately that I classify as different.

I just read The Glutton by Blakemore ( there is more than one book with that title) which Jupidupi recommended back in October thread. It was beautifully written and a very different story. I was thankful I read it on my kindle because I was constantly looking up words ( not sure how much I retained, but maybe they will be familiar next time if I ever see them again).

It was definitely a diversion and after I finished and read that it was based on an actual person,I was really amazed.

It is not for the faint of heart, and I did get confused at parts. I would give it 3.5 stars.

It would probably make for excellent discussions for a book club, (but I know mine and they would be unhappy with it)

I finished This Ordinary Stardust: A Scientists Path from Grief to Wonder by Alan Townsend. I give it 3 stars. It was a fast read, but I've found other books about dealing with dying and grief to be more effective with better lessons learned.

Next up is Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera which I believe was recommended here.

The Age of Innoceence, Edith Wharton. I agree with the 1920 Pulitzer committee: 5 Stars. I've read this in a 'doorstop' collection with a great introduction by Jonathan Franzen. Should we be snowed in, I'm all set with the two remaining: The Custom of the Country and The House of Mirth.

For something completely different, I have David Mamet's Everywhere an Oink Oink, about his days writing for the movies. DH listened to the audio and recommended it -- more a collection of thoughts than a 'story'. Amusing.

I am reading All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren. The novel tells the story about a charismatic populist and corrupt governor, a character inspired by real-life Huey P. Long. The narrator is a newspaperman who is Willie's right-hand man. His voice is idiosyncratic, bitter, and fascinating.

I just finished The Women by Kristin Hannah. My Mom read it with her siblings as a group, then sent it to me after they were done. It's about women in the Vietnam War, and I don't usually go for war stories but I really loved this book. It left an impression on me for sure, and it sparked so much great discussion about it with my mom and her side of the family, and their personal experiences from that time. It was great to learn something about my family and about the war, but with an interesting storyline and fictional characters. It would be great for a book club read!

Why can I only locate this thread by first finding the November heading and linking through that?

I found it by using Search, but not by paging through today's threads. Strange.

I read The Collected Regrets of Clover, mentioned here over the past few months.

When I went to look back at what was written, I saw while some were singing its praises, there were a few who thought it was pretty weak and DNF( did not finish).

I really liked it in the beginning, but then for a small bit thought about giving up on it. I stuck with it, happily, because probably 85 % or so was really good. It was very touching, although it had some saccharine moments. Overall I would recommend it and give it 4 stars. I thought it was sweet, and even uplifting.

So I am not the only one who has not been able to find this thread for several days? I had to resort to the search also.

Salonva - Your description of The Heart in Winter intrigues me. I just placed a hold on it at my library, but then had to immediately pause the hold because I am #1 in line, but I'm currently reading Pat Conroy's Beach Music, which is 768 pages long and I'm a slow reader. Also I will soon need to start reading my January book-club book, so I can't start The Heart in Winter right away.

I have to say, trying to manage my library holds is challenging. I try to let them reach #1, then pause them until I'm ready for a new book. I'm not very good at this because I don't check on my holds often enough. I still get surprised by holds becoming available when I'm not ready.

So funny Kathy I have the same issue currently . I have so many books on reserve and of course they all come through now. I just got The Women, The Nightingale, Whistling Past the Graveyard and one more as available. I keep suspending as well as I try to decide which one I'll pick to read and time the others! Beach Music is my book club read for January and since it's so long we did not have a book for December. I read it a few months ago and really liked it. It is a 'big book, but really it was a very easy read- not work at all if you know what I mean.

I'm getting a little bit less thrilled with book club . I used to be in 3, now down to 1. I have so many books I want to read that I've decide to take a bit of a break when the book club selection doesn't entice me.

Just finished Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera and give it 4 stars. I believe it was recommended here. Nice mystery/thriller. May be good for book group if they like that sort of thing.

Just finished In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox by Carol Burnette. A look back at her career with a focus on her TV show, summary of her take on a lot of the guests, how the show was done and specific sketches they did. Some of it was LOL. Very quick read and a good pick me up.

So sorry! My bad! I didn't realize this thread didn't include the Kitchen Table. And now with houzz so messed up, I can't add it from here...and I don't want to lose all the comments made.

I'll be sure to do better for January!

I just finished Framed: Astonishing True Stories of Wrongful Convictions by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey. Depressing to think how wrong our criminal justice system can be...not because of errors or innocent mistakes, but because prosecutors and police get wedded to the idea that someone is guilty and the seek all the evidence they can, including paying informants, withholding evidence and lying, to see themselves proven right...even after incontrovertible proof comes out that they are wrong. 4 star, but not for book group unless they have a stomach for the disheartening.

Next up is It's Always Something by Gilda Radner.

My library is doing a reading challenge with a myriad of topics to choose from between now and mid March: book with a color in the title, or book you didn't read in school kinda of stuff. So I'm pouring it on for awhile.

I'm reading Evan Friss' The Bookshop: A History of the American Bookstore. Unlike many of these sorts of books, it's not fluff, but rather an excellent history book. Catnip for those of us who love bookstores!

Link to January 2025