October’s reading was the month of 3 1/2 books for me. A 3🍷 for me is – Eh, I liked it. A 4🍷 is- Loved it, great book! So a 3 1/2 is – Yeah, it’s a good book! I really liked it but it fell a little short of love. October had five books for me (of eight total) that were 3 1/2 – pretty unusual! Other than that I had 2 4’s and then one I didn’t care for much at all. I also had quite a few (maybe four?) DNF’s but I rarely mention those by name as it is generally a me/mood/timing issue and not a book issue.
Other than reading, our October empty nest was spent enjoying the outdoors, a lovely visit with my dad, a work trip and trying to re-center. We also enjoyed a quick trip to Phoenix for our 28th wedding anniversary that was supposed to be just R & R to the pool but it was 103-105 out and I think I slowly baked one day like a rotisserie chicken. The air conditioned hotel was nicer than outside at the pool (which felt like a warm bathtub).
I think I have come to grips that I won’t finish all of the books from my 2023 reading goals list, and that is ok. They’ll still be there in January! I did however hit 100 books read this month, so that is something for sure!
Here’s what I read in October.
Killers of the Flower Moon – David Grann
I have had this book on my TBR for some time but I finally read it. This year I joined Sharon McMahon’s online book club and really enjoyed reading it with her group. There were several group discussions online and it concluded with a one hour online meeting with author David Grann. The book is well written and compelling although the events are horrible. It is important that we learn about these atrocities so that we can be better and keep history from repeating itself.
🍷🍷🍷🍷
Things I Wish I Told My Mother – Susan Patterson, Susan DiLallo & James Patterson
Very well written, reads like a memoir. I didn’t realize it was a novel for a bit. It did make me rather sad though.
🍷🍷🍷🍷
The Leftover Woman – Jean Kwok
I have to admit I am having a hard time deciding between a 3 & 4 – so 3.5 it is. Parts of The Leftover Woman were great but others were just meh. Character development of our leads was strong, but others, not so much. Definitely tackled some heavy issues, fast paced and will keep you going. I went into this book thinking it would be a 4/5 – but it is a solid 3.5 for me.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
You, With a View – Jessica Joyce
A bit spicier then my regular selections. Noelle is grieving the loss of her grandmother and uncovers secret events and a great love of her past. This leads her to Paul and his grandson, Theo and the trio set out on an adventure. I am guessing my mid-twenties daughter and her friends will love this book.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
Christmas Presents – Lisa Unger
A chilling, short thriller/suspense that centers in a small town still haunted by past unsolved murders of 3 young girls. Could they be related to a current disappearance? Madeline Martin was the soul survivor of a long ago Christmas’s past tragedy/mystery, she now owns The Next Chapter Bookstore (love the name!) and cares for her father, once sheriff, as he recovers from a stroke. Harley Granger, a failed author, now unsolved mysteries podcaster, is in town unburying secrets and stirring things up. Until I got to about the half way part (which in this case was only about 100 pages) I thought this could potentially be a high 4 or maybe even 5 star read. And then the second half just didn’t do it for me. The answer was staring us in the face and really had been the whole time – which isn’t unusual, but the way it all came together was a bit much and didn’t work for me. I expected to read this book in one or two sittings but the back half was just continual repetition and I kept putting it down, delaying its completion. Thank you to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for an advance copy inn exchange for my honest opinion. Christmas Presents is now available.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
Saving Emma – Allen Eskens
Not my favorite by this author, who has been a favorite for me. This legal drama should be marked as a sequel, read Life We Bury first and then (most importantly) Nothing More Dangerous – which is much better than this one. It was fine and I liked it, but lacked what I’ve come to expect from these characters and author.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
The Good Part – Sophie Cousins
Lucy is a twenty-something that feels stuck, nothing is going right. Following a terrible day and a terrible date, she wishes she could “get to the good part”. Enter Magical realism. This rarely works for me, and again it didn’t. Lucy wakes up 16 years in the future and has a great job, home, husband and family and it all goes wacky from there. If you have loved books and movies that time jump around in this way, you will likely love this more than I did.
🍷🍷🍷1/2
The Home Edit – Stay Organized – Clea Shearer & Joana Teplin
Now this is one that I feel bad about writing and debated leaving it out, but I won’t. I actually like these ladies and have bought some of their stuff, watched their shows and follow their socials. But here’s what I thought: Lots of pretty pictures wanting you to buy more of their stuff. There are no fabulous ideas here to actually take you from getting organized to staying organized. I do like some of their products but this book isn’t one of them.
🍷🍷
