Comments on: Reading Lately: September 2023 Book Reviews

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 00:51:35 +0000

Love your lists! This current one saved me A LOT of time because it just kills me to buy or library ( yes, I use it like a verb) a book, get excited, find time to read, and e d up disappointed! I just finished The Starfish Sisters by Barbard O’Neal and was disappointed by her for the first time. I have loved her books but the flashbacks, letters and Journaling ruined the flow for me and on top of that, I didn’t particularly like one of the major characters. Keep up the good work, hope you are doing well in your healing Nd recovery.

By: mary barrett

mary barrett — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 18:48:41 +0000

You must read Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom… it’s wonderful and I couldn’t put it down. I waited 10 years for her to finish researching and writing this wonderful book!

By: Ann

Ann — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 18:40:25 +0000

The Invisible Hour by Alice Hoffman
The Widows of Malabar Hill by Sujata Massey
The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
The Song Of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
The Invisible Hour was a perfect cross over from Summer to Fall, but somehow the second half of the book, despite the lovely writing, fell flat for me.
The Widows of Malabar Hill and The Lost Apothecary were both book club reads. Both jumped back in forth in time/time-lines. The Lost Apothecary even more so, by 200 years! I’ve decided mystery is not my strong point, but I do appreciate that aspect of book club: being given books that I might not typically choose on my own. I liked the premise of The Lost Apothecary and despite it getting mixed reactions when it was in the running for Goodreads choice awards a few years back, I liked it okay. I felt like the author could have done more with the premise. I do love history and it left me wanting more. The whole idea of mudlarking fascinated me.
I won my first Goodreads giveaway and got an ARC of The Vaster Wilds. I was thrilled to receive such a highly anticipated Fall release. The book moves at a fast pace and as usual Lauren Groff’s writing is beautiful, but around page 127, I suddenly felt repetition sinking in. Sadly, this went from a 5 star to more of a 3 for that reason alone.
I finally got around to reading my copy of Tom Lake. My copy I had received quickly after the August publication date. I had ordered a signed copy as a Happy Birthday to me, as soon as I heard it would be published near my birthday. A bit of a splurge I know, but who doesn’t love Ann Patchett. She did not disappoint. This was such a different story from some of her earlier books. A smooth read. I must admit, now I get why people don’t like the embedded book club stickers. My signed copy has Reese’s on it.
The best part of my September reads is that my college graduate is home for the time being & we had been meaning to buddy read for the longest. She chose The Song of Achilles and we finally got to it. Admittedly, it was more her cup of tea than mine, but that is not what counts: the important thing is we enjoyed reading together!! And she renewed a library card that was taken out when she was probably 5.
I have to be cool about this, but I am thrilled to pieces that she is reading again!!! I even had my middle daughter say she liked a book (Thirst For Salt by Madelaine Lucas) that I had read and loaned her. She read it on a flight for a business trip.
Isn’t every readers dream to get loved ones reading???!!!!!!!!
Currently reading No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister.
Wishing you a very speedy recovery and many good books Rachael!

By: Ciara

Ciara — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 16:44:09 +0000

“Maus” is my daughter’s favorite book right now. She’s 10. She spends a lot of time mimicking Art Spiegelman’s drawing style. I read “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” for the Newbery Award prompt. It was one of my favorite books when I was around my daughter’s age. It is very different from the book I remembered. I recalled there being actual witchy stuff in it, but obviously there’s nothing like that at all. I was raised atheist, so honestly, a lot of the Puritan doctrine stuff that makes up the meat of the conflict went completely over my head, but ultimately, I partnered with a Quaker, & my daughter has Quaker roots going all the way back to the 1600s on her paternal side, so reading it again with an actual understanding of Quaker persecution in the colonies was illuminating.

By: Lisa Leone-Campbell

Lisa Leone-Campbell — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 15:24:47 +0000

Hope everything went well I love your reviews!

By: Gayle

Gayle — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 15:19:16 +0000

September reads: these were all enjoyable.
Lessons In chemistry
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
The Vanishing Hour
It’s one of us
The Paris Library
You Shouldn’t Have Come Here
spare
Never Never
I average 6 books a week. I’m retired and love to read.