Taylor Jenkins Reid's Daisy Jones and the Six
We're discussing this in book club this week, so I figured I'd glance through to refresh my memory . . . and dang if I didn't sink right back into it and reread the whole thing! The novel is told in an oral history format, charting the spectacular rise and dramatic fall of a 1970s rock band, with all the sex and drugs you could imagine a 70s rock band having. Great characters, good reveals, interesting clashes in narrative--a really fun read, even the second time (though I still don't love the very very end).
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Tuesday, May 28, 2019
2019 book 69
Laura Lippmann's Lady in the Lake
I love when Lippman turns her gimlet eye to mid-century Jews in Baltimore, so was pleased to dive into her latest. In this one, a thirty-something Jewish housewife, dissatisfied with her life and wanting to make a mark on the world, leaves her husband and tries to get a job as a reporter at a local paper. And then she becomes pretty obsessed with the murder of a young black woman, the titular Lady in the Lake, a murder that someone wants to sweep under the rug. I liked the way Lippman constructed the narrative here—the main narrators are the wannabe reporter and the murder victim, but almost everyone the reporter encounters gets their own little POV chapter. It’s a nice way to build up the world and makes for a fun and quick read. I haven’t quite decided how I feel about the ending, but I definitely enjoyed reading this. A-.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
I love when Lippman turns her gimlet eye to mid-century Jews in Baltimore, so was pleased to dive into her latest. In this one, a thirty-something Jewish housewife, dissatisfied with her life and wanting to make a mark on the world, leaves her husband and tries to get a job as a reporter at a local paper. And then she becomes pretty obsessed with the murder of a young black woman, the titular Lady in the Lake, a murder that someone wants to sweep under the rug. I liked the way Lippman constructed the narrative here—the main narrators are the wannabe reporter and the murder victim, but almost everyone the reporter encounters gets their own little POV chapter. It’s a nice way to build up the world and makes for a fun and quick read. I haven’t quite decided how I feel about the ending, but I definitely enjoyed reading this. A-.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
Sunday, May 26, 2019
2019 book 68
Brittany Cavallaro and Emily Henry's Hello Girls
I’ve read and more or less enjoyed Cavallaro's books about the descendants of Holmes and Watson, so figured I’d try out this new book she co-wrote with an author friend. And it was GREAT! Real Thelma and Louise vibes for the teen set, as two girls—one menaced by a controlling, abusive father, the other by a drug-dealing brother—go on the run on an epic road trip. The risks and the adventures both ring true, but their amazing friendship is what I really loved about this. Just a fist-pumping good time. A/A-.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in August.
I’ve read and more or less enjoyed Cavallaro's books about the descendants of Holmes and Watson, so figured I’d try out this new book she co-wrote with an author friend. And it was GREAT! Real Thelma and Louise vibes for the teen set, as two girls—one menaced by a controlling, abusive father, the other by a drug-dealing brother—go on the run on an epic road trip. The risks and the adventures both ring true, but their amazing friendship is what I really loved about this. Just a fist-pumping good time. A/A-.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in August.
Friday, May 24, 2019
2019 book 67
Jasmine Guillory’s The Wedding Party
The third book in Guillory's romance series has the same stuff I’ve liked in her other books—fun characters, believable chemistry, interesting work and personal issues—but also has the one thing that I slightly dislike from her previous books. “Oh no, we were trying to do a casual thing but we both caught feelings and refuse to admit it and will instead have a silly fight!” But at least it happens LESS in this one? Anyway, the (hetero) romantic duo here are the two best friends of the protagonist from the /first/ book (her stylist and her coworker) and both are in her wedding party! (I really needed more wedding planning shenanigans in this plot, seriously.) They hate each other until they don’t and vow to keep their fling a secret from their friend. Things go about as you’d expect but, again, Guillory does such a good job with the characters that you’re just like, oooh work it out! Kiss and make up! And rooting for them etc. Another fun read, and I can’t wait for her next one, which is about the stylist's MOM and involves British royals?!? Yessssss. A-.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
The third book in Guillory's romance series has the same stuff I’ve liked in her other books—fun characters, believable chemistry, interesting work and personal issues—but also has the one thing that I slightly dislike from her previous books. “Oh no, we were trying to do a casual thing but we both caught feelings and refuse to admit it and will instead have a silly fight!” But at least it happens LESS in this one? Anyway, the (hetero) romantic duo here are the two best friends of the protagonist from the /first/ book (her stylist and her coworker) and both are in her wedding party! (I really needed more wedding planning shenanigans in this plot, seriously.) They hate each other until they don’t and vow to keep their fling a secret from their friend. Things go about as you’d expect but, again, Guillory does such a good job with the characters that you’re just like, oooh work it out! Kiss and make up! And rooting for them etc. Another fun read, and I can’t wait for her next one, which is about the stylist's MOM and involves British royals?!? Yessssss. A-.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in July.
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
2019 book 66
Felicity McLean's The Van Apfel Girls are Gone
This novel centers on a young woman, heading home to Australia from the US to visit her older sister, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. But both women are haunted by the disappearance of the titular Van Apfel girls, their friends and neighbors, twenty years earlier. The story weaves between the past and present to good effect—the story has a kind of Virgin Suicides vibe, though the women here seem slightly better adjusted than the narrators of that one. I thought this was good, but it didn’t necessarily stand out to me in the sea of books about missing girls? Definitely better written than most. B+.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June. Content warning for brief scenes of animal abuse and child abuse.
This novel centers on a young woman, heading home to Australia from the US to visit her older sister, who is undergoing treatment for cancer. But both women are haunted by the disappearance of the titular Van Apfel girls, their friends and neighbors, twenty years earlier. The story weaves between the past and present to good effect—the story has a kind of Virgin Suicides vibe, though the women here seem slightly better adjusted than the narrators of that one. I thought this was good, but it didn’t necessarily stand out to me in the sea of books about missing girls? Definitely better written than most. B+.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June. Content warning for brief scenes of animal abuse and child abuse.
Saturday, May 18, 2019
2019 book 65
Sarah Gailey's Magic for Liars
I liked Gailey's novella about historical hippos a lot, so was psyched to check out her first full length novel. Our protagonist is your typical world weary, hard drinking, hard boiled private eye, taking on the usual cases involving adulterous spouses—until the headmaster of the school where her twin sister teaches hires her to investigate the murder of another teacher. And, oh yeah, IT'S A MAGIC SCHOOL. Bam! This was a really fun book and the mystery and magical elements both totally worked for me. Great characters too. I can’t wait to see what Gailey does next. A/A-.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
Thursday, May 16, 2019
2019 book 64
Julia Phillips' Disappearing Earth
Phillips' debut is sort of a series of interconnected stories, involving the locals of a town in Russia where a pair of young sisters were abducted. I found some of these characters more interesting than others, of course, and wished they had come together a little bit sooner. Still, this is a complicated portrayal of grief, loss, love, family live, inter-generational conflicts, etc. I especially appreciated Phillips' depiction of white Russian racism toward ethnic Northern populations. I did have mixed feelings about the ending, but mostly liked it? I don't know. B.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book is available now.
Phillips' debut is sort of a series of interconnected stories, involving the locals of a town in Russia where a pair of young sisters were abducted. I found some of these characters more interesting than others, of course, and wished they had come together a little bit sooner. Still, this is a complicated portrayal of grief, loss, love, family live, inter-generational conflicts, etc. I especially appreciated Phillips' depiction of white Russian racism toward ethnic Northern populations. I did have mixed feelings about the ending, but mostly liked it? I don't know. B.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book is available now.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
2019 book 63
K.J. Charles' Proper English
I'd heard good things about this and was in the mood for something cute, so a lesbian romance novel set at an English house party seemed like it would fit the bill. And I was already super into it--the characters are interesting, the romance is sweet, and the writing is great--when, halfway through, a murder occurs, and our new romantic duo must solve it! YESSSSS!!!!!!! The mystery is mildly underbaked, but of course this is primarily a romance novel that just happens to have a lil murder mystery in it, and is satisfying in that regard. This was awesome and I will definitely be reading more by this author. A/A-.
I'd heard good things about this and was in the mood for something cute, so a lesbian romance novel set at an English house party seemed like it would fit the bill. And I was already super into it--the characters are interesting, the romance is sweet, and the writing is great--when, halfway through, a murder occurs, and our new romantic duo must solve it! YESSSSS!!!!!!! The mystery is mildly underbaked, but of course this is primarily a romance novel that just happens to have a lil murder mystery in it, and is satisfying in that regard. This was awesome and I will definitely be reading more by this author. A/A-.
Sunday, May 12, 2019
2019 book 62
Scarlett Thomas' Galloglass
Yayyyyyy the third book in Thomas' Worldquake series! This series is set in a near future world where all technology has basically gone back to 1992, there's an Otherworld full of magic and a mysterious Underworld, there are lots of rival groups of magic users, and a band of magical kids! The kids are once again learning more about themselves and their powers, which Thomas does a great job with, plus there are lots of cats in this one (one of the cats is a POV character!), and everyone has to come together to foil another evil plot. Content warning here for child abuse, though Thomas handles and resolves it really well. Anyway, hooray magic and research and cats! Can’t wait for more in this series. A/A-.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on May 21st.
Yayyyyyy the third book in Thomas' Worldquake series! This series is set in a near future world where all technology has basically gone back to 1992, there's an Otherworld full of magic and a mysterious Underworld, there are lots of rival groups of magic users, and a band of magical kids! The kids are once again learning more about themselves and their powers, which Thomas does a great job with, plus there are lots of cats in this one (one of the cats is a POV character!), and everyone has to come together to foil another evil plot. Content warning here for child abuse, though Thomas handles and resolves it really well. Anyway, hooray magic and research and cats! Can’t wait for more in this series. A/A-.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released on May 21st.
Saturday, May 11, 2019
2019 book 61
Scarlett Thomas' The Chosen Ones
The second book in Thomas' Worldquake series deepens the world building, introduces new characters and mysteries, and has lots more magical friend action adventures! I like that the kids make realistic mistakes and then learn from them, and how they support and care about each other. I also like when they work together to foil evil plots! Yeah! By the way, if you are into personality tests, this series' website has a great one. I’m a witch-interpreter!
The second book in Thomas' Worldquake series deepens the world building, introduces new characters and mysteries, and has lots more magical friend action adventures! I like that the kids make realistic mistakes and then learn from them, and how they support and care about each other. I also like when they work together to foil evil plots! Yeah! By the way, if you are into personality tests, this series' website has a great one. I’m a witch-interpreter!
Thursday, May 09, 2019
2019 book 60
Scarlett Thomas' Dragon's Green
The third book in Thomas' marvelous Worldquake series is out soon, so of course I wanted to reread the first two so everything would be fresh (and also because I love them!). This is a great start to a series—lots of magical adventures, a band of friends coming together and learning about their talents, bad guys, BOOKS, dragons, animal friends, etc. What more could you want in a book?
The third book in Thomas' marvelous Worldquake series is out soon, so of course I wanted to reread the first two so everything would be fresh (and also because I love them!). This is a great start to a series—lots of magical adventures, a band of friends coming together and learning about their talents, bad guys, BOOKS, dragons, animal friends, etc. What more could you want in a book?
Sunday, May 05, 2019
2019 book 59
Taffy Brodesser-Akner's Fleishman is in Trouble
The entire internet seems to be buzzing about this book, and I love the author's essays and profiles, so I was psyched to read her first novel. But it left me a little bit cold. It centers on a 41-year-old man, in the process of divorcing, who's trying to be a good dad to his kids and a good doctor where he works, except he’s obsessed with hooking up with women via dating apps. Like I really needed about 80 percent less of this guy and his horny thoughts. Once we meet the narrator, things are a little more interesting, and I liked the last say 20 percent a lot (the end is amazing), but I just was not feeling this. Maybe it’s because I’m not married and don’t have kids, and it seems to be thinking deeply about those subjects? Or maybe because so much of it is about a dude thinking about all the ladies he is banging or wants to bang. Maybe both! But the more I think about it, the more depressing I find it. B.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
The entire internet seems to be buzzing about this book, and I love the author's essays and profiles, so I was psyched to read her first novel. But it left me a little bit cold. It centers on a 41-year-old man, in the process of divorcing, who's trying to be a good dad to his kids and a good doctor where he works, except he’s obsessed with hooking up with women via dating apps. Like I really needed about 80 percent less of this guy and his horny thoughts. Once we meet the narrator, things are a little more interesting, and I liked the last say 20 percent a lot (the end is amazing), but I just was not feeling this. Maybe it’s because I’m not married and don’t have kids, and it seems to be thinking deeply about those subjects? Or maybe because so much of it is about a dude thinking about all the ladies he is banging or wants to bang. Maybe both! But the more I think about it, the more depressing I find it. B.
__
A review copy was provided by the publisher. This book will be released in June.
Friday, May 03, 2019
2019 book 58
Connie Willis' To Say Nothing of the Dog
I've actually never read anything by Willis before--I had the impression from reading reviews of her more recent works that they tended toward the ponderous--but this was an absolute delight. Time travel shenanigans, a heroine who lives by the sage writings of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers (a woman after my own heart), a hero who looks good in a boater, a lovable dog and incorrigible cat, etc etc. It's all very hilarious, though there is a fair amount of tension--CAN the time-traveling duo get history back on track in time for the big church restoration thing their determined patroness is organizing? This was a lot of fun, though the hero is frustratingly slow on the uptake. Open the basket, Ned!!! Anyway, hooray cats and dogs and time travel. A-.
I've actually never read anything by Willis before--I had the impression from reading reviews of her more recent works that they tended toward the ponderous--but this was an absolute delight. Time travel shenanigans, a heroine who lives by the sage writings of Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers (a woman after my own heart), a hero who looks good in a boater, a lovable dog and incorrigible cat, etc etc. It's all very hilarious, though there is a fair amount of tension--CAN the time-traveling duo get history back on track in time for the big church restoration thing their determined patroness is organizing? This was a lot of fun, though the hero is frustratingly slow on the uptake. Open the basket, Ned!!! Anyway, hooray cats and dogs and time travel. A-.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
