1.) Shadow Divers by Robert Kurson
This was my book club's pick for September 2022. We've read a lot of nonfiction in my book club this year and most of it has been pretty heavy. Therefore I wasn't too excited to *dive* in to this nonfiction read. I think our book club needs to do a slightly better job of mixing up the genres next year.
From Goodreads:
For John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, deep wreck diving was more than a sport. Testing themselves against treacherous currents, braving depths that induced hallucinatory effects, navigating through wreckage as perilous as a minefield, they pushed themselves to their limits and beyond, brushing against death more than once in the rusting hulks of sunken ships. But in the fall of 1991, not even these courageous divers were prepared for what they found 230 feet below the surface, in the frigid Atlantic waters sixty miles off the coast of New Jersey: a World War II German U-boat, its ruined interior a macabre wasteland of twisted metal, tangled wires, and human bones–all buried under decades of accumulated sediment.
No identifying marks were visible on the submarine or the few artifacts brought to the surface. No historian, expert, or government had a clue as to which U-boat the men had found. In fact, the official records all agreed that there simply could not be a sunken U-boat and crew at that location. Over the next six years, an elite team of divers embarked on a quest to solve the mystery.
This book was informative and full of interesting historical facts. I enjoyed learning more about deep wreck diving, the culture, and the community. It was fascinating and terrifying to read how the divers often put their lives in danger to retrieve artifacts (like dinner china) from underwater wrecks. I felt armchair anxiety reading about nitrogen narcosis, decompression sickness, and all of the other ways to die underwater.
It was also interesting to learn more about German U-boats/submarines which were topics about which I had zero prior knowledge. I particularly liked the last third of the book as we learned more about the crew who were onboard that particular submarine.
Sometimes I felt like the book got a little bogged down. As the pace slowed and the detailed descriptions increased, my interest would sometimes wane. I kept reading to find out the identity of the wreck and the fates of divers Chatterton, Kohler, and Nagle. One of my favorite parts of the book was the post publication interview with Chatterton and Kohler that is included at the end of the audiobook. The author interviewed the divers to ask them some questions that he had wondered about since finishing the book. Very interesting.
My Rating: Okay. It's not my typical genre which makes it a perfect choice for a book club.
2.) The Book of Difficult Fruit by Kate Lebo
This was the Spokane is Reading pick for 2022. Yay! Spokane is Reading is finally back after a long COVID hiatus! This year they picked a local Spokane writer...but still...it's back. Thank goodness!
From Goodreads:
Inspired by twenty-six fruits, essayist, poet, and pie lady Kate Lebo expertly blends natural, culinary, medical, and personal history.. In this work of unique invention, these and other difficult fruits serve as the central ingredients of twenty six lyrical essays (and recipes!) that range from deeply personal to botanical, from culinary to medical, from humorous to philosophical. The entries are associative, often poetic, taking unexpected turns and giving sideways insights into life, relationships, self-care, modern medicine, and more. What if the primary way you show love is to bake, but your partner suffers from celiac disease? Why leave in the pits for Willa Cather's Plum Jam? How can we rely on bodies as fragile as the fruits that nourish them?
This is a book of essays. A-Z essays...not my favorite essay format. And essays aren't for everyone. This book isn't for everyone. Some essays were more interesting than others. In this book the author weaves obscure facts about lesser known fruits with facts about her personal life. Two books in one. It's cookbook meets hipster memoir. Her writing is folksy at times and trying to be edgy at others. I'm not quite sure what this book was trying to be. A little bit of everything? There are also parts that are quite repetitive. We get it...pits have cyanide! Kate Lebo lives in my town and I very much enjoyed reading about local places and people.
I had the opportunity to listen to her speak and do a reading from her book at an author event. I always enjoy listening to an author discuss their work and writing process. She did a very long reading on the Juniper chapter. It was interesting how she chose the particular fruits, the research that she did, and the parts about her family. I wanted more of her family story...the secret aunts...the famous musician boyfriend with celiac. I had questions. They weren't answered in the book nor in person, unfortunately.
I enjoy a food memoir and I often enjoy a book of essays but this was a little too all over the place for me. I did come away craving jam and wanting to try some of the more unusual and hard to find fruits. I also learned some interesting obscure fruit facts along the way.
My Rating: So-So.
3.) Book Lovers by Emily Henry
I enjoyed Emily Henry's previous book Beach Read. It was a romance novel with a little more substance. I was hoping that this book would be similar. It was even better.
From Goodreads:
Nora Stephens’ life is books—she’s read them all—and she is not that type of heroine. Not the plucky one, not the laidback dream girl, and especially not the sweetheart. In fact, the only people Nora is a heroine for are her clients, for whom she lands enormous deals as a cutthroat literary agent, and her beloved little sister Libby. Which is why she agrees to go to Sunshine Falls, North Carolina for the month of August when Libby begs her for a sisters’ trip away—with visions of a small-town transformation for Nora, who she’s convinced needs to become the heroine in her own story. But instead of picnics in meadows, or run-ins with a handsome country doctor or bulging-forearmed bartender, Nora keeps bumping into Charlie Lastra, a bookish brooding editor from back in the city. It would be a meet-cute if not for the fact that they’ve met many times and it’s never been cute. If Nora knows she’s not an ideal heroine, Charlie knows he’s nobody’s hero, but as they are thrown together again and again—in a series of coincidences no editor worth their salt would allow—what they discover might just unravel the carefully crafted stories they’ve written about themselves.
This book was pure fun! I enjoyed Emily Henry's writing. It's smart and funny. The author good-naturedly pokes fun at romance novels, common romance tropes, and Hallmark-esque movies. I loved it! I especially enjoyed the witty fast-past banter between the two main characters. Emily Henry writes books that are a little more nuanced and realistic than your average romance novel and I appreciate that. Her characters are well developed and I was invested in their stories and their fates. I loved that the story takes place in the book publishing world. One character is a literary agent and the other is an editor. Then the book jumps to a small town in North Carolina. Even better! I delighted in all of the literary allusions and pop culture references that were sprinkled throughout the book. I found the novel to be charming and fresh. A welcome break from the other books I've read lately.
My Rating: I loved it! A fun rom-com that doesn't take itself too seriously.
4.) Verity by Colleen Hoover
I've seen this book everywhere. Everyone is reading Colleen Hoover. People rave about her. I've never read anything written by her so I decided to give a Colleen Hoover a try.
From Goodreads:
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer on the brink of financial ruin when she accepts the job offer of a lifetime. Jeremy Crawford, husband of bestselling author Verity Crawford, has hired Lowen to complete the remaining books in a successful series his injured wife is unable to finish. Lowen arrives at the Crawford home, ready to sort through years of Verity's notes and outlines, hoping to find enough material to get her started. What Lowen doesn't expect to uncover in the chaotic office is an unfinished autobiography Verity never intended for anyone to read. Page after page of bone-chilling admissions, including Verity's recollection of what really happened the day her daughter died. Lowen decides to keep the manuscript hidden from Jeremy, knowing its contents would devastate the already grieving father. But as Lowen's feelings for Jeremy begin to intensify, she recognizes all the ways she could benefit if he were to read his wife's words. After all, no matter how devoted Jeremy is to his injured wife, a truth this horrifying would make it impossible for him to continue to love her.
I loved the premise of this novel. I especially loved the story-within-a-story format. I was drawn right in and couldn't put it down. It was a super quick read. It was definitely page-turning and suspenseful but it was also disturbing. There are a lot of trigger warnings...child abuse, violence, gratuitous graphic sex. It was too much for me. I thought this was going to be a haunted house romance and it ended up being something darker. I also needed more character development from Lowen and Jeremy and less from Verity. Her dark twisted *sharing* made me nauseous.
This is Hoover's first thriller. She normally writes romance novels. I liked the setting and thought that the plotting was okay but her writing was meh. The ending was polarizing (as everyone said it would be.) I thought it was disappointing and a cop out.
My Rating: Not great. I don't get the hype.
5.) The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
I actually started reading this book last winter just as we were heading into the holidays and while I liked it; I didn't finish it. I am a seasonal reader. I couldn't read what was clearly (to me) an autumn/Halloweenish book around Christmastime. I had a hard time getting in to it so I DNFed it and decided to wait until this fall. It was a great idea! I picked this book up again in October and it was the absolute perfect fall read!
From Goodreads:
For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man. Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk. From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse.
This is the prequel to Practical Magic which I also enjoyed. Alice Hoffman does magical realism to perfection. Her first book Practical Magic is probably the weakest of the series. I loved being immersed in the world of the Owens family. The characters are rich and wonderful. The characters in Practical Magic are the weakest too. Each subsequent book just gets better and better as we learn about the other family members and their histories. I loved them all. Each member of the Owens family was interesting and complex. I rooted for all of them and wanted all of them to find lasting love and happiness. I cheered for them and my heart broke for them. I love this family of witches!
The writing is fantastic. It is very cinematic with beautiful descriptions. Hoffman's world building (over the course of all of her books in this series) is visually stunning. The experience of reading her work is magic in and of itself.
This is a book about love that is told through the story of a multi-generational family of witches. Each with their own interesting histories of loves, losses, family drama, and learning to choose courage. Through the years the Owens family learns to accept themselves for who they are and come to realize that it is worth it to love others and that they are worthy of being loved in return.
In this novel we follow the lives of Frannie, Jet, and Vincent as they come of age in New York City in the 1960s. We get the back story of the aunts from Practical Magic and I loved every minute of it! Despite being set in the 60s (not my favorite time period to read about) I couldn't put it down. The Owens family has such a sense of timelessness to them that I often forgot what decade I was reading about and just fell in love with the characters. There is one more installment in this series and I will be saving it for next fall. I don't want my time with the Owens family to end!
Brilliantly and poetically written I was mesmerized by this lovely book (and series) which has quickly risen to become one of my very favorite book series.
My Rating: I loved it!
6.) Birthright by Timothy Alberino
I heard Timothy Alberino on a podcast and my curiosity was piqued. He is out there in many ways. This is his take on the Universe, its origins, and future happenings.
From Goodreads:
The earth and distant extraterrestrial worlds are reeling in the wake of war and ruin. A powerful insubordinate prince, personified as the dragon, the devil, and satan, has mounted an unsuccessful insurrection against the kingdom of heaven in a battle of unimaginable destruction. The planets in our solar system, once teeming with life, have been laid waste and left to careen in their orbits, desolate and empty. After untold eons of inundated oblivion, the time has finally come to restore the terrestrial realm and appoint a new regent to govern it, Adam, the first man. This is the preamble to the story of mankind. The offspring of Adam have forgotten the patrimony and purpose of their race. Now faced with extinction at the hands of an alien adversary, it is high time for them to remember... Timothy Alberino retraces the pages and reveals the secrets of the greatest story ever told, the one in which we are all inescapably embroiled. From the galactic rebellion in the pre-Adamic past to the creation of mankind on Planet Earth; the fall of the watchers in the pre-Flood world to the machinations of Luciferian forces in modern times; the unveiling of the alien presence to the final battle at Armageddon; Alberino unpacks the synchronicity of these events with scholarly precision and leaves you breathless on the brink of a posthuman apocalypse.
This book is definitely out there! It got my imagination going looking through his lens at the Bible and his interpretation of scripture. To me it is a blend of his own brand of religious theory and sci-fi. Interesting and creepy. Perfect for October. I took it all with a large grain of salt! But it was definitely fun to discuss his theories with my spouse! I liked the first half of the book better than the last half. I enjoyed his theories about Adam more and was less into his theories about aliens.
My Rating: Out there... yet enjoyable.
7.) Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham
This was my book club's selection for October 2022. It is a YA historical fiction/murder mystery told by dual timelines and two POVS.
From Goodreads:
When seventeen-year-old Rowan Chase finds a skeleton on her family’s property, she has no idea that investigating the brutal century-old murder will lead to a summer of painful discoveries about the past, the present, and herself. One hundred years earlier, a single violent encounter propels seventeen-year-old Will Tillman into a racial firestorm. In a country rife with violence against blacks and a hometown segregated by Jim Crow, Will must make hard choices on a painful journey towards self discovery and face his inner demons in order to do what’s right the night Tulsa burns.
I had no idea about the Tulsa race riots and massacre. "Following World War I, Tulsa was recognized nationally for its affluent African American community known as the Greenwood District. This thriving business district and surrounding residential area was referred to as “Black Wall Street." (Tulsa Historical Society) On June 1st, 1921 it was burned to the ground by a white mob. Hundreds died that day. It was heartbreaking to read about the events that transpired. As awful as it was to read, I am glad that this book is creating awareness and bringing attention to this terrible time in history.
This was a quick and propulsive read. The author does a great job of building tension. I worried nonstop about who the skeleton would turn out to be. The dual timeline was necessary for the mystery part of the novel although I much preferred the timeline in the past. The whole novel could have been based in the past and been just as effective and evocative.
The character of Rowan was the weaker of the two narrators. Her character helped the reader to see how racism still exists and how far we still need to go. But I wish that Rowan had more depth. It would have also been interesting to learn more about Will's mother and her Osage heritage and the history (also terrible) which will follow the Osage people a few years later.
This is a great book to hand to any teenager or adult. It is an interesting story and brings to light a horrible little known piece of American history. Every American should know what happened on that terrible day in 1921.
My Rating: A heartbreaking and important read.
8.) The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling
This was a fun Halloween rom-com. Think Hallmark holiday movie but it's Halloween instead of Christmas. I wanted something fun and seasonal for October and I don't love scary books so this fit the bill.
From Goodreads:
Nine years ago, Vivienne Jones nursed her broken heart like any young witch would: vodka, weepy music, bubble baths…and a curse on the horrible boyfriend. Sure, Vivi knows she shouldn’t use her magic this way, but with only an “orchard hayride” scented candle on hand, she isn’t worried it will cause him anything more than a bad hair day or two. That is until Rhys Penhallow, descendent of the town’s ancestors, breaker of hearts, and annoyingly just as gorgeous as he always was, returns to Graves Glen, Georgia. What should be a quick trip to recharge the town’s ley lines and make an appearance at the annual fall festival turns disastrously wrong. With one calamity after another striking Rhys, Vivi realizes her silly little Ex Hex may not have been so harmless after all.
This was book was light, fluffy, and a little cheesy. There were witches, magic, ghosts, curses, and romance. Perfect Halloween vibes. It was also humorous and entertaining. I loved the setting of the small quaint town of Graves Glen and its love of Halloween. I liked the characters of Vivi and Rhys and the second chance trope. This is a romance so there are some steamy scenes. This isn't a deep and thoughtful read. Enjoy it for what it is, Halloween fluff!
My Rating: A quick fun Halloween read.
9.) This is A Book For People Who Love the Royals by Rebecca Stoeker
I do love the Royals (well some of them) so I thought this would be a fun entertaining read. It was.
From Goodreads:
From the line of succession to the Queen's corgis, this charming book is a perfect primer on the fascinating world of British royalty. Full of fun facts and surprising stories to delight longtime enthusiasts and new fans alike, This Is a Book for People Who Love the Royals, digs into all of the aspects of everyone's favorite monarchy. Uncover the history of British royalty and answers to common questions -- like how royal titles work, who is in the line of succession, and why the guards at Buckingham Palace never smile -- as well as deep dives into fashion, jewelry, and other palace perks. Profiles of popular family members, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, Prince William and Kate Middleton, and more, add personality to this irresistible celebration of the crown.
The book itself is super cute. I loved the size, color, and illustrations. I already knew most of the facts and royal trivia but I still enjoyed reading it. It was a cheery and charming guide to the royal family. It was amusing to read all of the little details about the royal residences, jewels, wedding dresses, and family pets. The book is now a bit dated with both Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip having passed away and a new baby, Lilibet, joining Harry and Megan's family.
My Rating: Good. A fun quirky book.
10.) Live Wire by Kelly Ripa
It's been a long time since I've watched
Live with Kelly and Ryan on TV and an even longer time since I watched Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos on
All My Children. I've always liked Kelly Ripa but I wasn't sure what to expect from this collection of autobiographical essays. I seem to either love or hate celebrity memoirs/essays. The reviews for this book seem to lean that way too. There has also been some negative press about what she had to say about Regis. I went in thinking that it would probably be.. meh... at best. I was wrong. I LOVED it!
From Goodreads:
In Live Wire, her first book, Kelly shows what really makes her tick. As a professional, as a wife, as a daughter and as a mother, she brings a hard-earned wisdom and an eye for the absurdity of life to every minute of every day. It is her relatability in all of these roles that has earned her fans worldwide and millions of followers on social media. Whether recounting how she and Mark really met, the level of chauvinism she experienced on set, how Jersey Pride follows her wherever she goes, and many, many moments of utter mortification (whence she proves that you cannot, in fact, die of embarrassment) Kelly always tells it like it is. Ms. Ripa takes no prisoners. Surprising, at times savage, a little shameless and always with humor... Live Wire shows Kelly as she really is offscreen--a very wise woman who has something to say
This was a really fun read! I laughed so hard. I enjoyed her writing style and self-deprecating tone. This is totally my brand of humor. I got a kick out of this "not a memoir". I would recommend it on audiobook. Kelly narrates it and Mark hilariously chimes in. I liked reading about her marriage to Mark, her family, and especially the part about sending kids off to college and being an empty-nester. This was the perfect palate cleanser after reading some darker more serious books. If you are in need of a book slump buster this would be a great one.
As far as the section about Regis...I didn't want it to be a big Regis bash. It wasn't. She did a decent job presenting her experience of working with Regis. I disagree that she was disrespectful. I think she explained her viewpoint in a way that wasn't salacious like the media would have you believe. I think Regis wanted things done Regis' way and I don't believe that he saw her as his equal. Not surprising for a man of his generation.
As this isn't a memoir there were some glaring omissions, hot topics, and stories that she doesn't share. I had hoped that she would address some of those and give additional insight and context. Maybe someday she will. I think Ripa is a great storyteller and this was a fun peek into her life and family. If she writes more, I will definitely read it. Sometimes after reading a celebrity book I end up liking them less; I am happy to report that this was not the case with Kelly Ripa.
My Rating: This was a fun 5-star read for me.
11.) The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain
From Goodreads:
When Caroline Sears receives the news that her unborn baby girl has a heart defect, she is devastated. It is 1970 and there seems to be little that can be done. But her brother-in-law, a physicist, tells her that perhaps there is. Hunter appeared in their lives just a few years before—and his appearance was as mysterious as his past. With no family, no friends, and a background shrouded in secrets, Hunter embraced the Sears family and never looked back. Now, Hunter is telling her that something can be done about her baby's heart. Something that will shatter every preconceived notion that Caroline has. Something that will require a kind of strength and courage that Caroline never knew existed. Something that will mean a mind-bending leap of faith on Caroline's part. And all for the love of her unborn child.
This was my book club's pick for November 2022. I had no prior knowledge of the book nor of Diane Chamberlain. It was the perfect way to go into it. Zero expectations. I just started reading. I love a good time travel novel and this one didn't disappoint. Once I started reading I couldn't stop. It was an incredibly propulsive and engrossing read.
For me, the best parts of the novel were all of the interesting characters. The main characters were well-developed and compelling. My heart ached for them as I rooted for their happiness and success. I was invested in their lives throughout the novel. The heartbreaking decisions that Carly had to make kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what she was going to do and if it would be the right decision. Sometimes I agreed with her and sometimes I didn't.
Chamberlain did a good job of keeping all of the different timelines rich and interesting. I enjoyed the setting/time periods of both North Carolina and New York. I especially loved that in this time travel novel there are jumps forward and not just backward. That doesn't happen all that often. I loved looking at New York through Carly's astonished eyes. I also liked that I couldn't predict the ending. It could've gone several different ways and it kept me turning the pages and hoping for the best while dreading the worst.
The Dream Daughter was a pleasant surprise. It is a beautifully written layered novel about relationships, family, love, loss, and the power of a mother's love. It will pull on your heart strings. I loved this book and think that most people will.
My Rating: Excellent. A thoughtful and captivating book.
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