Monthly rundown vol. 21
time travel, puns, murder, love, and the nature of reality
Hello, hello! September has been one of those odd months that has simultaneously felt like it lasted forever and also sped by.
I have a confession: sometimes writing an intro to these newsletters confounds me: often, I feel the urge to just chat about nothing like when this newsletter was a basic blog (somewhere in the early 2000s). And then occasionally I have OPINIONS about something I want to share. Most of the time, since the newsletter evolved to be mostly book reviews and author news, my instinct is to jump right in, but I feel pressure (from where? No clue) to ease into it, like how it’s more socially acceptable to start with small talk before asking deep personal questions. (Can I just jump right into the deep, personal questions?) Anyway, all that to say…I read some books this month, how about you? Here’s what I read…
Reviews
The Anomaly by Herve Le Tellier. I thought I would like this book more than I did, but something just didn’t click. The first half of the book is peek into the lives of a handful of characters at a moment in their lives before and just after a memorable transatlantic flight from Paris to New York City. The second half of the book takes place after the identical plane full of the identical people lands in New York City again three months later. Despite the intriguing, sci-fi premise, it’s more of a character-driven, philosophical book about choices and regrets, humanity and the nature of reality.
A Talent for Murder by Peter Swanson. This was a twisty, dark, fast-paced thriller with a morally flexible protagonist. Apparently, it’s the third book in a trilogy, although they are written so that one can read them as standalones, and while I thought I might have been missing some back story, I definitely enjoyed A Talent for Murder without having read the other books.
Begone the Raggedy Witches by Celine Kiernan. You can tell I’m back to work because I have three middle grade novels in my reviews list. I picked up this book because of the excellent title and gorgeous cover, and it didn’t disappoint. I’m going to give you the Goodreads summary here, because I couldn’t say it better: “On the night that Aunty dies the Raggedy Witches come for Mup's mam. Pale, cold, relentless, they will do anything to coax Mam back to Witches Borough. When they kidnap Mup's dad, Mup and her mam must leave the mundane world to rescue him. But Mam is strange on this side of the border - striding, powerful, and distant. Even if they can save Dad, Mup is not sure anything will ever be the same again…” It’s a story about finding your voice, family, loyalty, individuality, and love with a touch of adventure and of course a lot of magic.
The Dog Star by Peter Heller is historical fiction set in the Soviet Union during the “space race” between the USSR and United States. The main characters are a little girl whose dad works for the Soviet space program and a little stray dog who ends up training as a canine cosmonaut. The story is sweet and sad, and really well written (and really sad).
Dying to Meet You (43 Old Cemetery Road) by Kate Klise. I adored this book. It’s whimsical, funny, and charming. Told entirely in letters and newspaper articles, it’s about a crotchety old writer with writer’s block who rents a house for the summer that comes with a temperamental ghost, an eleven-year-old boy, and a cat named Seymore. The book abounds with puns and silly humor, and I would definitely recommend to kids who like funny books.
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young. This atmospheric novel has shades of The Time Travelers’ Wife and Sarah Addison Allen’s flavor of southern magical realism. The story starts out moody and mysterious, then you feel like your brain is maybe cracking just a little, and then you’re simply rooting for June to be able to grab and hold onto her life with her full heart. I really loved it.
The Madness of Crowds by Louise Penny. I’ve almost caught up! Who would have thought it. This installment of the Armand Gamache series took place just after the most intense period of the Covid19 pandemic, so that felt a little jarring, but it was a really good story, one of those that asks “what if” questions about moral and ethical dilemmas.
Unoffendable by Brant Hansen is a book that made me think. It’s non-fiction from a Christian perspective, about why Christians are called to be unoffendable, to let go of perpetual anger and stop getting offended so easily, and to instead live lives of forgiveness, humility, and love. The author talks about concepts that are both simple and complex. It made for a great book club discussion!
That’s it for this month, readers! I’m finding it difficult the past week to nail down exactly what I’m in the mood to read, so let me know what you’re reading right now! I need some inspiration.
Until next time!