What I Read Last Week

Hello, all. Here is another of my periodic "what have I read lately" posts. I skipped a December roundup, but my thoughts on everything I read in 2020 are available on GoodReads, where I'm BethFishReads.

One of Our Own by Jane Haddam (Minotaur: Nov. 2020; Dreamscape: 9 hr, 6 min). This is the end of a long series featuring an ex-FBI agent, his wife, and the members of his Philadelphia Armenian American neighborhood. Haddam finished this book just before she died. Note: because I was the copyeditor for the first several entries in this series, the Demarkian books have always held a special place in my heart.

Although this isn't the strongest Demarkian book, Haddam did a fine job concluding the series. Most of the story arcs reached a satisfying ending, though (rightly so) not everything was tied up in a neat bow. I'm sorry to say goodbye to the returning characters whose stories I've followed since the first book was published.

As in most of the Demarkian books, Haddam addresses contemporary sociocultural/sociopolitical issues. In this case, she looks at inner city housing and a real estate magnate, immigration and ICE, foster care, culture clashes, and the changing nature of city neighborhoods. The mystery and side stories are well constructed, complex, and engrossing.

You'll want to start this series from the beginning so you can understand the dynamics between the main characters. For my thoughts on the audiobook, read by David Colacci, see AudioFile Magazine.

The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin (Delacorte: Jan. 12; Random House Audio: 11 hr, 25 min). This is a well-researched, though fictionalized, account of the great 1888 blizzard, often referred to as the Children's Blizzard because it struck just when most schools in the upper Midwest were closing for the day. The majority of those schoolchildren failed to made it home or to a safe haven before the blinding snow engulfed them.

The focus of the novel is on two sisters who are schoolteachers in different towns. The women make very different choices for how to tend to the children in their care. We also meet a newspaper man who is forced to think about his role in enticing the unprepared to stake claims on the prairie, and a young girl who was sold by her mother to a childless couple and makes decisions based on her unique situation.

The storm came up so suddenly that people were simply caught unaware and unprepared on the open prairie, where they became lost in the blinding snow, eventually freezing to death. The novel conveys the horrors of the blizzard, why even seasoned settlers were surprised by the snow, and how the storm had lasting effects.

Cassandra Campbell performs the audiobook, adding to the drama and bringing the characters to life. Thanks to the publishers and Libro.fm for review copies in audio and digital media.

Under the Alaskan Ice by Karen Harper (Mira: Dec. 2020; Harlequin Audio: 9 hr, 9 min). I was attracted to this book because of the premise of the mysterious unmarked private plane that crashes into a frozen Alaskan lake. What I didn't realize, though, was that this mystery had a heavy romance factor. That in and of itself would have been okay, but ultimately I had problems with the writing/style and put the book aside fairly early on.

My primary issue was the number of times the author asks the questions that should be left up to the engaged reader. For example, Harper has one of the characters think through a long list of questions about the plane: Why did it crash? Why now? Why here? and so on. The plotting should have made me ask those questions, without the prompting. This happens more than once. In addition, the young child was little too precocious for my tastes.

I'm a mystery fan and love an Alaskan setting, but this book just didn't click with me. Thanks to the publishers for audio and digital review copies.

Summerwater by Sarah Moss (Farrar, Straus & Giroux: Jan. 12 Macmillan Audio: 4 hr, 27 min). Written almost as linked short stories or vignettes, this slim novel, told over the course of one day, follows about a dozen people who are vacationing in a remote area of Scotland.

At the beginning of the day, which opens with a young mother taking a dawn run, each family is insular, hunkering down in their own cabins or following their own amusements. As we see the day progress through the eyes of different characters, we begin to view the temporary community of strangers as unique individuals, understanding their behavior from a variety of perspectives. By the end of the day, several groups have crossed paths, quarreled, or bonded . . .

The novel is beautifully written. Moss creates an uneasy atmosphere, building a sense of dread beneath what should be a relaxing summer day for the vacationers. This isn't an uplifting story, and some threads are left open-ended. But life isn't always bright and we can't predict how people are going to face their challenges.

The audiobook is read by Morven Christie, who does an excellent job conveying the author's style, building the tension, and subtly distinguishing between the characters. Highly recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and libro.fm for the audio review copy.

The Effort by Claire Holroyde (Grand Central: Jan. 12; Hachette Audio: 10 hr, 38 min). What happens when a comet is destined to hit Earth? A secret international team is quickly cobbled together to try to figure out a way to deflect the comet's path. Meanwhile, a team of scientists is heading to the North Pole, with a poet and photographer in tow, to try to record the last vestiges of Arctic wildlife and the icy landscape before climate change finally wins.

We follow the individuals from these two groups as the countdown to either the comet's impact or the comet's destruction occurs. We also see what happens afterward.

I liked the premise and the different ways people reacted to the news of the impending death of the world as we know it. This isn't an action-packed story but more a slow burn as individuals rise to the occasion or crumple under hopelessness. In addition, this isn't a feel-good story, but it does give us lots to think about.

This will not be the best book I'll read this year, but I'm glad I read it. This would be a good book club pick because readers will likely have differing opinions about the characters' actions. Worth your while.

The audiobook was read by Jay Ben Markson, whose sense of pacing was good match for this book. Thanks to the publishers for the digital and audio copies of this book.

The Power of the Dog by Thomas Savage (Back Bay: 2001; Hachette Audio: 8 hr, 15 min). This is a re-issue of a book originally published in 1967 and my first time reading it. It is soon to be a movie.

Set in the 1920s in Montana, this is the story of two brothers, aged 38 and 40. The older, Phil, has always been thought of as the smarter, tougher, more sociable of the two. George is stocky and quiet. The brothers run a successful cattle ranch, living together in their childhood home, which their parents left them when they moved to Salt Lake City.

Strict routines are kept until George suddenly, and without telling Phil, marries Rose, a widow from town, bringing her out to the ranch to make a new home for her and her son. Teenage Peter is bookish, somewhat effeminate, and has trouble connecting with others, but George hopes to be a good stepfather. Phil concocts myriad reasons for disliking and distrusting Rose and Peter and is determined to break up the marriage so life can get back to normal.

Savage writes with power and insight. He provides just enough of the characters' history, through minimal backflashes and memories, to give foundation to the events that unfold after George brings Rose into their home. Chilling and moving. In a way, Savage reminds me of Mishima: through sparse prose, a full and lush story is told. The Power of the Dog will likely be on my best of 2021 list.

This is my first Savage book, but now I must read the rest of his work.

The unabridged audiobook was brilliantly read by Chad Michael Collins. This is my first experience with him, and I was taken in by his pacing, his delivery style, and his ability to build a mood. The afterword (do not miss this!) is read by Annie Proulx, who provides context and thoughts gleaned from several close readings.

Thanks to the publisher and Libro.fm for the audio review copy.

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Sound Recommendations: 8 Audiobook Reviews

I been a little busy with work this month, but I still managed to listen to 8 books since I last checked in with you. BTW: I have been reading in print & digital too--I'll get to those books next time.

Before I get to my mini reviews, I'd like to remind you that I list the books I've read on both Library Thing) and Goodreads, so if you're curious, you can always follow me there. I also post book content on Instagram.

Coming up later this week, I have a fun post involving a collaboration, and I'm planning a Weekend Cooking post as well. Hope you're all staying healthy and safe.

• The Heatwave by Kate Riordan (Grand Central; Aug. 18): This domestic thriller is set in the south of France and involves a deteriorating estate, family secrets, and a closed community. Although I didn't guess all the secrets and the atmosphere was tense, I was ultimately left with a meh feeling. I don't think everything has to be explained in detail, but some plot lines weren't fleshed out enough, and the ending was unsatisfying. The audiobook was nicely read by Miranda Raison (Hachette Audio; 8 hr, 46 min). Her accents and expressive delivery kept me invested in the story.
• The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi (Holt; Aug. 4): This mystery is set up as a book within a book. The frame involves a young book editor who is working with an author to bring his collection of short mystery stories back to print. Within the frame, we have the stories themselves, which were written (by the fictitious author) to teach lessons of a good mystery. The stories are retellings of Agatha Christie classics, so it was fun to figure out which story went with which Christie. Other than that, I wasn't all that drawn into the frame mystery: what are the editor and author hiding? Note, however, that this book has won tons of praise. As I wrote in my AudioFile magazine review, this is recommended for Agatha Christie aficionados (read by Emilia Fox; Macmillan Audio; 11 hr, 16 min).
• The Less Dead by Denise Mina (Mulholland; Aug. 18): This thriller involves a pregnant doctor (Margo) who, in the aftermath of her mother's death and a breakup with her boyfriend, decides to try to get in contact with her birth mother's family to learn more about her heritage. What she discovers is that her biological mother was murdered just days after giving up her baby. Now that Margo's met her aunt, she finds herself getting increasingly tangled up in their personal dramas as well as in the unsolved serial murder cases that include her own mother. There were definitely some scary moments and it was difficult to tease out the motives and secrets of the people Margo meets, but in the long run, the book was only okay for me. I didn't really connect or care enough. Katie Leung did a fine job with her narration (Hachette Audio; 8 hr, 4 min)--good accents, building tension, believable emotions--so the miss is totally on me.
• Death of a Liar by M. C. Beaton (Grand Central; 2015). This is the 30th in the series. I don't have more to say, except that I am still enjoying this very light, fun cozy series. Graeme Malcolm (Hachette Audio; 5 hr, 20 min) is always a pleasure to listen to.
  

• Death of a Nurse by M. C. Beaton (Grand Central; 2016): The 31st in the series. Graeme Malcolm (Hachette Audio; 5 hr, 28 min) did it again!
• 10 Things I Hate about Pinky by Sandhya Menon (Simon Pulse; July 21): This is the third book Menon has written about Indian-American California teens; the books have some overlapping characters but can all be read as stand-alones. Pinky's story is successfully based on The Taming of the Shrew (think of the movie Ten Things I Hate about You) and is generally interesting with relatable characters. Though I liked it, it was my least favorite of the three novels. Some of the story lines seemed unnecessary and others were a little drawn out; still worth the listen. Narrators Vikas Adam and Soneela Nankani (Simon & Schuster; 7 hr, 11 min) team up to read this young adult rom-com. Adam's delivery isn't as smooth as Nankani's, but I got used to it.
• Brave Enough by Jessie Diggins and Todd Smith (U of Minnesota Press; March 10): In this memoir, cross-country ski champion Diggins talks about her journey from her childhood in rural Minnesota to standing on the Olympic podium to accept a gold medal. She speaks frankly about her eating disorder and the less glamorous aspects of being an elite athlete along with the wonderful opportunities, friendships, and rewards of training with a team. Maybe not the best-written memoir of all time, but I liked getting to know Diggins. More on the audiobook read by Allyson Ryan (Tantor; 10 hr, 532 min) in AudioFile magazine.
• Death of a Ghost by M. C. Beaton (Grand Central; 2017). This is the penultimate book in the series. Sadly it wasn't my favorite of the bunch, but I still liked spending time with copper Hamish Macbeth. Only one more book to go! As always, Graeme Malcolm (Hachette Audio; 5 hr, 37 min) put in an terrific performance.

Thanks to the publishers (audiobook & print) for the review copies. And thanks to Libro.fm.

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12 Audiobooks: What I've Listened to This Summer

Here's what I've read since my last check-in. All books were received for review or for a freelance assignment unless otherwise indicated. Where you see "AFM," please check out my full audiobook review on the AudioFile Magazine website. Also note that I've given fuller treatment to some of these titles over on Goodreads. Also note that I listened to all of these titles. I miss print/digital reading, but audios are what works for now.

Before I get into my brief thoughts on the dozen books I listened to since my last post, I want to mention one that I didn't finish. While I really liked the first book in the Aurora Cycle series, I ultimately turned off Aurora Burning. It may be my mood, it may be a case of sophomore slump for the authors, but I just didn't care enough to find out what happens to the characters. Note that I normally love Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff, so blame the DNF on me. The narrators were Kim Mai Guest, Johnathan McClain, Lincoln Hoppe, Donnabella Mortel, Jonathan Todd Ross, Erin Spencer, and Steve West, and they all did a fine job. The performances were not the issue. (Listening Library; 15 hr, 16 min).

• Wandering Strange Lands by Morgan Jerkins (author read; HarperAudio; 8 hr, 3 min): In this memoir, the author sets out to search for her roots and along the way discusses the Great Black Migration north, myths and traditions, food and customs, and more that connect and disconnect Black Americans from each other and their ancestors. Adequately read by the author.
• The Golden Cage by Camilla Lackberg (read by Ann Richardson; Random House Audio; 11 hr, 2 min): This is a standalone thriller that focuses on a woman who is out to seek revenge on her husband who has done her wrong. A few good twists. I like Lackberg's main series better, but this is a good listen. Richardson does well with the accents and builds the tension.
• Death of Yesterday by M.C. Beaton (read by Graeme Malcolm; Grand Central; 5 hr, 36 min): The 28th installment in the Hamish Macbeth series still doesn't disappoint. I was, however, unhappy that I downloaded a "Booktrack" version of the audiobook. Malcolm's delivery was fine, but the so-called enhancements (music, sound effects) were too distracting for me. Your mileage may vary, but I'm not a fan of Booktrack.
  

• The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley (read by Gary Furlong, Elle Newlands, Morag Sims, Imogen Church, and Moira Quirk; HarperAudio; 10 hr, 8 min): What a super closed-door mystery with a ton of red herrings and an exquisite slow burn. You don't even know who the victim is until pretty far along. Loved this. The full cast was terrific; highly recommended. (personal collection)
  
• Summer Longing by Jamie Brenner (read by Molly Parker Myers; Hachette Audio; 11 hr; 36 min): It's not summer without a Brenner book. Her beach reads always have some depth to them and focus a lot on mothers and daughters and family. Perfect for these hot August days. Myers's performance was engaging.
• Northernmost by Peter Geye (read by Edoardo Ballerini and Lisa Flanagan; Random House; 11 hr, 34 min): Just a quick note here to say that this is probably my top read of the year. I'm pretty much in awe of Geye's talents and love the generations of characters he has created. I write more about this book on GoodReads. Ballerini and Flanagan were amazing. Listen to this one!

• Death of a Policeman by M.C. Beaton (read by Graeme Malcolm; Hachette Audio; 5 hr, 20 min): I'm almost done with the series and will likely finish up by the time I post reviews again. Still fun and Malcolm is still good.
• The Aunt Who Wouldn't Die by Shirshendu Mukhopadhyay (read by Deepti Gupta and Zehra Jane Naqvi; HarperAudio; 3 hr, 15 min): I'm not sure I understood this Bengali audiobook in translation. It's the story of a poor woman who marries into a rich family and also the story of her daughter. The magical realism and the cultural references I didn't really get made this only meh for me. On the other hand, Gupta and Naqvi's performances were fine. AFM.
• His & Hers by Alice Feeney (read by Richard Armitage and Stephanie Racine; Macmillan Audio; 10 hr, 39 min): A twisty thriller set in England. Every time I thought I had figured it all out, I was wrong! Well done and worth your time. Armitage and Racine kept my interest and didn't give the story away.

• Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir (read by Moira Quirk; Recorded Books; 16 hr, 50 min): This is the first in the Locked Tomb trilogy and because the second book was (or will be?) released this summer, I thought it was time to get on board. It's a unique fantasy and science fiction mashup with good characters, okay world building, and some mysteries. I'm interested enough to listen to the second book. Quirk was good; I have no complaints.
• The Fixed Stars by Molly Wizenberg (read by Erin Mallon; Dreamscape; 6 hr 21 min): I wrote more about this on GoodReads. I like Wizenberg's earlier memoirs so I knew I would like this one too, though the subject matter is not food related. Instead Wizenberg writes about her growing self-awareness in terms of her sexuality and discusses gender in broader terms. Mallon was excellent.
• Becoming Eve by Abby Chava Stein (author read; Seal; 7 hr, 53 min): Go see my thoughts on GoodReads for more. Fascinating look into both contemporary Hasidic life and the journey of a transgender member of the community. Stein writes with openness and feeling and seems like a natural behind the mic. One of my favorites of the year.
  

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: My Week in Books

Why is it that we imagine we'll have so much free time during the holidays? I'm forever hopeful and forever wrong: between work, parties, cooking and baking, cleaning, shopping, wrapping, and more, there are really very few moments just to sit and relax.

Very little print reading was going on, but I finished two audiobooks, abandoned one, and started another, so that's not too bad. All the chores were so much better with a good story to keep me company.

We haven't watched too much on the screen this past week. We finally saw Green Book with Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali. If you haven't seen this movie, put it on your list. It was much more than I was expecting, and it's made all the stronger because it's based on a true story. On a lighter note, we're catching up with The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I think we're almost done with season 2.

What I Read

I've written about Sebastien de Castell's delightful Spellslinger series and how much I absolutely love the audiobooks--all read by Joe Jameson (Hachette Audio). The fantasy series has a little bit of a Wild West feel and has characters you'll totally fall in love with (or totally hate--because they're evil). There are laugh-out-loud moments and plenty of danger and troubles as well. Crownbreaker (Orbit, Dec. 10) brings the series to a satisfying end, though the author left room for more adventures. The books star Kellen, a teen who leaves his powerful family for an outlaw's life. Kellen tries to right wrongs and to outsmart those would see him dead. The cast includes many strong women and a complex animal sidekick. In this final book, Kellen must find a way to defeat his father, one of the most powerful men on the continent. Will the confrontation end in a death, in a reconciliation, or in a stalemate? If you're looking for a fun series with great characters, give these books a try. If you're an audiobook fan, don't miss Jameson's brilliant performances. (audiobook copy provided by the publisher)

When I found out the follow up to Karen M. McManus's One of Us Is Lying (Delacorte, 2017) is coming out in just a few weeks, I decided it was high time I read this closed-room mystery. Here's the premise: five high schoolers are given detention for having cellphones in class. Before the hour is up, one of the students is dead. Who killed him and why? The story is told from the view point of the four survivors. Each one claims innocence both for the death and for having a cellphone, claiming it was all a set up. Of course, they all have secrets, and the dead boy knew those secrets and was threatening to reveal all. A nicely plotted mystery with well done red herrings and a few twists. I'm so glad I gave this a chance. The audiobook (Listening Library; 10 hr, 43 min) is performed by Kim Mai Guest, MacLeod Andrews, Shannon McManus, Robbie Daymond, who each take the part of one of the surviving students. There were no weak links, and their characterizations blended well. Now I have to put book 2 (One of Us Is Next) on my list; it's about the same school but focuses on different students. (print copy provided by the publisher; audiobook in my personal collection)

1 Ditched and 1 Loving

I started Maaza Mengiste's The Shadow King (Recorded Books; 16 hr, 9 min) with high hopes. Everyone seems to love this book about Ethiopia during World War II and the strength of a peasant girl turned woman who inspired her country to continue to fight for freedom, even when Haile Selassie himself seemed have given up. Sadly, even Robin Miles's brilliant performance couldn't save this book for me, and I abandoned it after six hours. Maybe it's the time of year and I needed something lighter, I don't know. Anyway, I said good-bye.

I'm currently reading Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski (Ballantine, March 2019). I'm not really a self-help kind of person, but when Swapna Krishna recommended it, I decided to give it a try. Although I put a hold on the book over the summer, it took until this month before my turn at the library copy became available. I was hooked almost immediately. I'll have more to say about this book when I finish it, but may talk about it on Instagram and/or Litsy. The book is geared especially to woman and will have you saying YES before you're even five pages in. I see why Swapna was raving about this, and why April from Good Books & Good Wine also recommends it.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: A Bookish Weekly Reset 1

First off, I totally stole the idea of a "weekly reset" from some (non-book) YouTubers I follow. I love the idea and so am going to do this for the remaining Mondays in December.

What is a weekly reset? In terms of work, planning, cooking, housecleaning, and organizing, it's a day to catch up, reprioritize jobs, set your goals for the week, and so on. For my blog, it's going to be a kind of combination of Sunday Salon, Monday reviews, Mailbox Monday, Currently, and whatever else you want to throw in there.

December in my world means more socializing, getting work done before the Christmas break, taking time to shop, and focusing on family and friends. Reading doesn't disappear, but it plays second fiddle to everything else. While I'm in the holiday mood, I don't really feel like sitting down to write a thoughtful review (even one of only one paragraph) of every book I've read. My weekly reset is a chance to review, organize my upcoming reading list, and tell you what what's on my book stand.

A Book to Put on Your List

Nothing More Dangerous by Allen Eskens (Mulholland, Nov.) is everything I love in a coming-of-age story. Set in a small town in the Ozarks, this is the story of the summer 15-year-old (white) Boady Sanden learned just how far white men would go to maintain the status quo. This beautifully written book is told in retrospect, as Boady recalls the consequences of befriending the son of the new factory manager: not only was Thomas's family black and from the North, they were financially well off and educated. With so many points against them, trouble was sure to follow; would things have gone differently if Boady had been more aware? Other themes are local politics, the police, atoning for past sins, depression and loneliness, the joys of boyhood, and a sort of murder mystery. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 10 hr, 27 min) was wonderfully read by Kevin Stillwell, who kept the characters straight, was sensitive to pacing, and believably conveyed the emotions of a young teen boy. This book is likely to be one of my most memorable of the year.

Books I'm Reading

• Total Gut Balance by Mahmoud Ghannoum (Countryman Press, Dec. 24): Not very sexy, I know, but I'm on a quest to learn more about gut health and how it affects our overall well-being, including our immune system. This book focuses on the fungi that live in our gut (our mycobiome). The author summarizes current research and provides some meal plans and recipes. My initial impression is that the information is well researched and the recipes look good.
• Highfire by Eoin Colfer (Harper Perennial; Jan 28, 2020): I loved Colfer's Artemis Fowl books for middle grade and young teen readers and couldn't wait to read his first adult novel. This is a kind of modern-day fantasy that takes place in the Louisiana bayous. The two principal characters are Vern, the last of the dragons, who loves pop culture and vodka and hopes to spend the next millennium with minimal contact with humans, and Squib Moreau, a young teen who got caught in the middle of something big and dangerous one night after sneaking out of his bedroom window. Humor, action, and mayhem are on the horizon. The fantastic Johnny Heller is the narrator (Harper Audio; 9 hr, 19 min).

New to My House in Print

• The Perfect Love Song by Patti Callahan Henry (Thomas Nelson; Oct. 8): a Christmas romance
• NVK by Temple Drake (Other Press; Nov. 26): an urban fantasy set in modern-day Shanghai
• Clean Getaway by Nic Stone (Random House Children; Jan. 7, 2020): Stone's first middle-grade novel
• The Tenant by Katrine Engberg (Scout Press; Jan. 14, 2020): crime fiction / murder mystery set in Copenhagen
• The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampire by Grady Hendrix (Quirk; April 7, 2020): Set in Charleston in the 1990s
• Aftershock by Adam Hamdy (Hachette; Dec. 3): A thriller set in London featuring a local DI and an FBI agent
• The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner (St. Martins; May 26, 2020): Set just after WWII a group of people gather to preserve Austen's home and legacy
• The Lost Diary of M by Paul Wolfe (Harper; Feb. 20, 2020): The imagined diary of a murdered ex-lover of JFK
• No True Believers by Rabiah York Lumbard (Random House Children; Feb. 11, 2020): Young adult contemporary thriller involving Islamophobia and white supremacy in suburbia
• The Keeper by Jessica Moor (Penguin; Mar. 24, 2020): Thriller set in England that explores violence against women and girls 

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 5 Current Book Reviews

Hello, December! Where the heck did this year go? We may be a few weeks away from winter, but the weather here has definitely taken a downward turn. It's been windy, a little icy, and cold.

We haven't had any major snow yet, so that's something to be grateful for. I'm also glad we took the time to get the deck ready for winter. We didn't finish with the yard work -- but there's always next year, right?

Another thing I'm happy about is that it seems as if my workload is finally under control. It's crazy how busy I was. My reading suffered horribly, but I plan to make up for lost time in December.

I'm not going to review everything I read or listened to over the last month (or however long it's been since I did a Monday post). Instead I picked five books to talk about.

I assume everyone has read Erin Morgenstern's The Starless Sea (Doubleday, Nov. 5). The premise of this book hit a ton of my buttons: a fantasy set in modern times involving stories and books and an alternative world with portals to our own. Unfortunately, Starless Sea didn't totally work for me. Here's the good: I loved the stories within stories, the blending (in the book's reality) of truth and fiction, and the nonchronological plot threads. I also liked the alternative world, with its caves and library and kitchen and, yes, starless sea. However, despite so many positive elements, I was left, at the end, with a vague feeling of being unsatisfied and maybe even thinking (just a little), "So what?" On the other hand, the audiobook (Random House Audio; 18 hr, 37 min) is absolutely beautifully narrated by a full cast, and it was the fabulous performances of Dominic Hoffman, Dion Graham, Bahni Turpin, Fiona Hardingham, Allan Corduner, and Jorjeana Marie that kept me going. Bravo to the narrators; I hope they win some awards. (digital and audio copies provided by the publisher)

Here's a novel you may have missed. Heddi Goodrich's Lost in the Spanish Quarter (Harper Via; Sept. 10), takes place mostly in Naples near the end of the twentieth century and is told in retrospect after our protagonist hears from her college lover after a long silence. The book is billed as fiction, though much of the main character's life mirrors the author's including her name. Heddi moves from America to Italy on a high-school exchange program and ends up staying in the country all the way through college. When living in the Spanish Quarter of Napels, finishing university, she meets Pietro, and the two fall for each other hard. The novel is a love story to the ancient city, Mount Vesuvius, and all things Italian as well as the story of a group of young people facing their futures, full of hope and opportunity, yet still very much influenced by their families and their past. Heddi and Peitro's relationship and the pain and trials of their transitioning to full adulthood are universal enough to draw you in and unique enough to keep you interested. Goodrich wrote Lost in the Spanish Quarter in Italian and translated the book to English herself. Recommended to those who like character-driven novels. Warning: you'll be planning a trip to Naples even before you finish the book. (audio copy provided for a freelance assignment)

Do you read the New York Times column "Modern Love"? If you don't, you've been missing out. Fortunately, you can read about 30 of the essays in the collection Modern Love, Revised and Updated, edited (with others) by Daniel Jones (Broadway, Oct. 1). Each of the essays reprinted here really shine. I can honestly say there were no misses for me. The stories cover all kinds of love from romantic relationships to parent-child relationships. Some are funny (as in dating mishaps), some are sad (those that ended in death), and others are almost unbearably moving. One of my favorites involved an Evangelical woman who loved her church and her god but was later surprised to realize that she loved a woman from her Bible study class even more. Another one is about a man who meets some of his many children for the first time: he was sperm donor when he was in college and one of his sons finds him through a DNA/genetics site. There are also stories of adoption, dating when you're disabled, and much more. If you're an audiobook lover (Random House Audio; 8 hr, 9 min), you don't want to miss this all-star cast performance. Each narrator did a credible job, bringing out the many emotions without going over the top. (audio copy provided for a freelance assignment)

A few weeks ago, I included Wild Life by Keena Roberts (Grand Central, Nov. 12) in a nonfiction round-up. I really enjoyed this memoir of a girl growing up divided between a remote research camp in Botswana and a Philadelphia Main Line private school. Keena's parents are well-known field primatologists who studied baboon communication and social behavior in a colony of monkeys who lived on a string of islands a long way from any kind of town. Keena's story is a fascinating look at life in one corner of Africa, with its incredible beauty, haunting sounds, and many dangers. She was curious, level-headed, smart, and self-sufficient at an incredibly young age. Despite her impressive Africa skills, Keena found it difficult and sometimes frustrating when she had to adapt to America. Even sitting in a classroom all day was hard for her. Add on the fact that she had missed out on television and other pop culture, and you can see why it wasn't always easy for her to fit in. Still, because she returned to the same school each trip home, Keena was able to make some lasting friends who helped her survive the mean girls. The audiobook (Hachette Audio; 9 hr, 42 min) is read by Chloe Cannon, who picks up on Keena's personality and her obvious love of the wild places of her childhood. (audio copy provided by the publisher)

Another book I featured in my nonfiction round-up was Gareth Russell's The Ship of Dreams: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era (Atria, Nov. 19). I'm one of those people who have been fascinated with the Titanic story since I was a child. I don't really know why, but I've never gotten tired of learning more about the tragedy. Russell's take is a little different from others. Although he does give details about the actual night of the sinking, the loading of the lifeboats, and the sights and sounds of that horrible night, he places the passengers and the whole phenomenon of the luxury liner in the contemporary global context. He talks about immigration, old versus new money, various prejudices (ethnic and religion), political issues, social conventions, and other concerns of the fading Edwardian Era. He focuses on a handful of passengers to make his points of how various people were treated and/or expected to be treated in the years leading up to World War I. He also paints a much more realistic picture of the evacuation of the Titanic than sensational movie scenes have led us to believe (for example, third-class passengers were not locked below decks). This is as much a history of the mid-1910s as it is a story of the Titanic and its passengers. I tried the audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 12 hr, 35 min), but I didn't click with narrator Jenny Funnell. Her performance was fine, but a few mispronunciations and odd pauses sent me to the book. Your mileage may vary. (audio and digital copies provided by the publisher)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 5 Short Book Reviews

I'm going to start this post with the obligatory question/exclamation: How can we be just days away from November? I haven't yet cleaned off my deck, I never did finish weeding the garden . . . Sigh.

I don't have a lot of chitchat this week because I'm still catching up from being away. My hope is that by Friday, life will have settled back down, just in time for me to get ready for my annual fall lace-making getaway. You'll hear more about that later.

This week's reviews are extra short because that's all the energy I have. Here's what I read and listened to over the last couple of weeks.

Virga & Bone: Essays from Dry Places by Craig Childs (Torrey House Press, Oct. 1): If you like essays about nature and our connections to it, you'll like this slim volume of a half dozen essays of observations about various places in the American Southwest. Childs writes about all kinds of desert things: temperature variations in Death Valley, the juxtaposition of bleached bones (the end of life) with the occasional rain (the beginning of life), and the layers of seashells found on the dry side of the Colorado Rockies. He talks about the people he meets and his observations on animals and insects. He also discusses the way people have changed the desert, from ancient indigenous populations all the way to the atomic bomb tests and on to twenty-first-century hunters and scientists. Childs gives you a lot to think about. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

The Sweetest Fruits by Monique Truong (Viking, Sept. 3): This is a fictionalized account of the life of the journalist, author, and teacher Lafcadio Hearn (also known as Koizumi Yakumo), as told through the eyes of the four significant women in his life. I have very mixed feelings about this book, primarily because I didn't realize until I finished it that the novel was based on a real person. Thus I was kind of in the dark and didn't connect at all to the story or to Hearn's extensive travels and relationships. Truong's writing was fine, but without the context, I felt lost. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Penguin Audio; 9 hr, 25 min), read by Cassandra Campbell, Lisa Flanagan, Adenrele Ojo, and Emily Woo Zeller, for a freelance assignment. I enjoyed all four performances. Note that the book has won wide critical acclaim, presumably by people who knew who Hearn was. (audio copy provided for a freelance assignment)

Royal Flush by Rhys Bowen (Audible Studios; 2010; 8 hr, 31 min), narrated by Katherine Kellgren. After that last book I needed something light and fun so I turned to the third installment in the Royal Spyness cozy mystery series, which takes place in England in the 1930s. Our hero is Lady Georgiana, who is 34th in line to the throne and a cousin to the royal family. As with all good cozies, Georgie never seems to be too far away from a murder or two. In this outing, it appears that someone is targeting the royal family, and Scotland Yard hopes Georgie will help them find the bad guy. Meanwhile, in Scotland, Georgie's brother and sister-in-law find themselves with unexpected American house guests, including that Simpson woman who has caught the eye of Edward, the king to be. Lots of madness and mayhem, good humor, great characters, a touch of romance, and a fun look at the royal family. Kellgren does a marvelous job with the various accents and characterizations. (personal collection)

What I Lick before Your Face: And Other Haikus by Dogs by Jamie Coleman (Atria, Oct. 8): Attention all dog lovers: Here's the perfect stocking stuffer, hostess/host gift, conversation starter, and feel-good book for you. Coleman presents life from a dog's perspective as told through haiku. I loved pretty much every single one of Coleman's poems. I was laughing and smiling my through this delightful collection. The poems cover such things as taking walks, curling up on the furniture, begging for food, drinking out of the toilet, and fetching slippers.

Your Things
You keep throwing it
I keep on bringing it back
Look. After. Your. Things.

Each poem is accompanied by a photograph of a dog that perfectly complements the sentiment. This book is so much fun to look through and read. You'll be tempted to recite all the haiku out loud to your family and friends. Put this on your gift list! (digital copy provided by the publisher)

In Oceans Deep: Courage, Innovation, and Adventure beneath the Waves by Bill Streever (Little, Brown, July 2): Streever, a lifelong diver, examines the history, science, and technology of humankind's journey to explore the depths of the ocean. Streever takes a personal approach to this book, telling the story of underwater exploration by introducing us to the people involved. We learn about the various types of submersibles, the discovery of what causes the bends and how to prevent them, the effects of being under pressure, and the different kinds of diving (with and without tanks). I never thought about why space exploration seemed to capture the attention of the government and of people's imaginations more than the exploration of the ocean bottom--even with Jacques Cousteau and the later discovery of The Titanic. Streever has thoughts about this. He not only looks at history but also discusses the future, such as the development of underwater robots. Humans are drawn to the ocean depths for a lot of reasons beyond recreation, and Streever explores many questions, including these: Could we someday have underwater colonies? How can we make it safer for underwater work (for example for building bridges)? What are the consequences of underwater drilling? What's the status of underwater robots or drones? All in all this is an interesting and entertaining book. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 9 hr, 3 min) read by Jay Snyder, who is quickly becoming one of my go-to narrators for nonfiction. He totally blurs that line between performer and author, drawing me solidly into the book. (audio copy provided by the publisher)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Traveling the World through Books

Happy almost October. I am so ready for sweater weather and hearty dinners. Although the temperatures still say summer, the leaves are starting to change, and I feel the hints of fall.

I had an unexpectedly busy September, which has really eaten into my blogging time. I don't seem to have the energy to write reviews or spotlights after a long day. It's a dilemma because I have a ton of great books to talk about in October. I'm hoping to up my game either here or on Instagram or Litsy. We'll see how I do.

We haven't been watching too much on television. We're about halfway done with Ken Burns's series on country music. Even if you aren't a country music fan (I'm not either), it's a fascinating documentary of America and the music industry.

Here's what I've read and listened to in the last two weeks.

Match Made in Mehendi by Nandini Bajpai (Little, Brown YR, Sept. 10): This is a fun, light contemporary novel about a first-generation Punjabi American teen who dreams of being an artist. Simi, however, is pressured to follow the path of generations of women in her family and become a professional matchmaker. With help from her older brother (who's a whiz at coding) and relying on the matchmaking wisdom she's learned from her mother, aunt, and grandmother, Simi decides to take the family business into the twenty-first century. She and her best friend, Noah, devise a dating app that's geared specifically to the kids in their high school. As Simi and Noah (who's gay) help others find their soulmates, their popularity increases, until the coolest girl in the class is upset that she wasn't matched with the coolest guy. When Amanda begins her defamation plan, Simi and Noah have a whole new set of problems, some of which test their long friendship. Great themes of staying true to oneself, being honest, friendship, family, young love, and finding balance between family traditions and the modern age. Simi and Noah's relationship is believable, as are the plot lines of young love. Simi's family life and the differences between the generations also rings true. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 7 hr, 2 min) was well read by Priya Ayyar, who smoothly transitioned between teen and adult voices and American and Indian accents. She picked up on the emotions and personalities of the characters, making it easy to root for Simi and Noah and boo the mean kids. (audio copy provided by the publisher)

The Glass Woman by Caroline Lea (Harper, Sept. 3): Set in the late 17th century in Iceland, this haunting novel examines the choices a young woman makes after her father suddenly dies and her mother becomes sick. Facing a bleak future, Rosa agrees to marry Jon, a wealthy farmer and trader, who lives in a distant town near the sea. In return for leaving her beloved village and being obedient, Jon has agreed to provide for Rosa's mother, ensuring the older woman's survival. Rosa's marriage is haunted by the uncertain circumstances of Jon's first wife's death, her husband's distance and coldness, and her extreme loneliness. The story is infused with the Icelandic landscape and focuses on the edge of change or maybe the edge of changing states: Christianity and the old Norse gods, girlhood and womanhood, single and married, married and widowed, love and friendship, woman and mother, insider and outsider, life and death. Although primarily a character-driven novel, the book includes some drama as well as mystery. I really liked this and have continued to think about Rosa. The unabridged audiobook (Harper Audio;11 hr, 18 min) was read by Heiða Reed and Smari Gunn, who set the mood and pace of the story, and nicely avoided foreshadowing. I appreciated hearing the correct pronunciations of the Icelandic names and words. (print and audio copies provided by the publisher)

Fever Year: The Killer Flu of 1918 by Dan Brown (HMH Books YR, Sept. 3): A graphic nonfiction look at the spread, aftermath, and cause of the great flue pandemic of 1918. I don't know why I have a fascination with the Spanish flu -- maybe because it acted as a modern-day plague, killing many more people across the globe than the Great War. Brown (who also illustrated the comic), lays out the pandemic in three parts: In Act I the flu wasn't any more deadly than any other flu, but it spread quickly as troops returned home from war in Europe. No one really knows where it started or its origins, but it was likely from an animal source and may have first shown up in the eastern United States. In Act II, the flu came back with a vengeance, was more deadly than any other flu ever seen, and seemed to strike young adults most strongly (unlike usual flu, which is worse for the very young and very old).  Act III came later, when the Spanish flu reared its ugly head several more times in the following few years. The plot of Fever Year is a little disjointed, but the book serves as a good introduction to the pandemic. The artwork is in muted colors, befitting the event; the expressions on people's faces clearly convey emotions, and period details are evident. The book concludes with a short look at biological research into the Spanish flu and a good bibliography for readers who want to know to more. Recommended. (review copy provided by the publisher)

Death of a Gentle Lady by M. C. Beaton (Blackstone Audio; 2008; 5 hr, 31 min): This is the 23rd entry in the Hamish Macbeth mystery series set in Scottish Highlands. As you know, I just love these cozy mysteries, in which village copper Hamish Macbeth solves murders, helps his neighbors, has bad luck in love, and avoids getting promoted to the city. There's quite a bit of action in this book, and the murder mystery was well set up, with a few believable red herrings. Hamish's personal life plays a large role and includes his ongoing dealings with his personal nemesis, big-city detective Blair, as well as some complications in his love life. Lots of fun, and I'm looking forward to the next installment. The audiobook is read by Graeme Malcolm, who captures the personalities of the townsfolk and keeps the story moving. These quick listens are perfect escape books. (borrowed from the library)

The Liar by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen (Little, Brown, Sept. 24): What happens when a lonely, insecure Israeli girl mistakenly cries wolf but is slow to tell the truth? Seventeen-year-old Nofar has had it with her summer job scooping ice cream, with being outshone by her perfect younger sister, and with feeling lonely since her childhood friend graduated to the cool kid group. After an altercation with a male customer, Nofar reaches her breaking point: she storms out of the store into the back alley; when the man follows her, she screams. Witnesses assume the worse, and Nofar, in shock and humiliation, fails to correct them. The man goes to jail to await trial on charges of sexually assaulting a minor. I really wanted to like this story of Nofar's struggles to balance her newfound fame and popularity with doing what's right to save her "assailant" from serving time. I, however, could not relate to how far she let things go. There are several other liars who cross paths with Nofar, and I didn't much care for them either. I had issues with the ending as well (I can't get into detail without spoiling the book), because the lesson almost seems to say, lying pays. I was not sold. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 8 hr, 14 min) was very well read by Ajjaz Awad. This was my first experience with her. Her performance was fine and her pronunciation of the names, Hebrew, and Yiddish seemed believable. On the other hand, her British accent seemed off in a book set in Israel. (audio copy provided by the publisher)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Reading across the Genres

Oh happy day! I'm now officially back to a human-level workload. I met all my crazy deadlines last week and now I'm looking forward to having more time to read blogs and, especially, to read books. Yay!

I spent the weekend doing some baking (sandwich / toast bread and banana bread) and catching up with the household chores. I even did a little fun shopping.

We finally started the second season of Mindhunter, and it's just as good as we remembered. We often make Saturday a movie night, but this week, we ended up reading and listening to music instead. It was relaxing and just what I needed.

Here's what I listened to and read last week.

I couldn't resist listening to Elin Hilderbrand's What Happens in Paradise (Little, Brown, Oct. 8). This is the second book in Hiderbrand's Paradise series, which is set on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The story revolves mostly around the Steele family, a few months after Russell, the father/husband, was killed in a helicopter accident. Irene is still reeling from her sudden widowhood and because she had no idea her husband had a secret life in the islands: not only a much younger mistress but also a tween daughter. The only good news is that Irene's husband left her a wealthy woman . . . or did he? It turns out Russell's business may not have been on the up and up. Sons Cash and Baker have their own woes: Cash's outdoor supply store is going under and Baker's wife is leaving him for a woman. Independently, all three decide to relocate to Russell's St. John luxury villa and think about a fresh start. In Hilderbrand's signature style, the story involves family and romantic relationships with broader themes stirred into the mix. In this case, the novel deals with sleazy business dealings, tax havens, secrets, and ethics. I loved getting to know the Steele family and their friends in St. John. As always with Hilderbrand, I felt the relationships and characters were realistic, and I'm fully invested in what happens next. But ARGH, I hate waiting until next fall to find out whether the Steeles find lasting happiness.

The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 9 hr, 47 min) was read by Erin Bennett, who (as I've said before) is *the* voice of Elin Hilderbrand. I love the way Bennett picks up on Hilderbrand's style and tempo. She also creates great characterizations and never tips us off when someone is hiding secrets. Can't wait for next fall. (digital and audio copies provided by the publisher)

Renia's Diary (St. Martin's Press, Sept. 24) by Renia Spiegel and her sister, Elizabeth Bellak, is one of those rare things: a Holocaust diary that reveals the daily life of a young girl in Russian-occupied Poland. The diary starts out with typical 15-year-old thoughts about school and gossipy comments about classmates. After Poland is divided between Germany and Russia, Renia's thoughts turn to her mother, who is living in the German side -- almost daily she writes about how much she misses her mother as she tries to cope with everyday teenage issues (school, girls, boys) in an increasingly dangerous environment. Reina and her family are Jewish, but not particularly religious. She hopes God will protect her, but she never mentions going to the synagogue and only rarely acknowledges a holiday. Her diary is filled with poems she writes for various occasions and to express her deep feelings. Life gradually changes as food and goods become more scarce, the Germans come, and Jews are put under more and more restrictions. Finally, she is to be sent to the ghetto, and Jews without work permits will be likely be sent away to camps. Reina, 18 years old by then, hands her diary over to her longtime boyfriend. He hides Reina and his parents with friends and smuggles Reina's little sister into the city, where she is eventually taken to Warsaw to be reunited with her mother. Reina and the elderly couple were not so lucky. Decades after the war, the boyfriend tracks Elizabeth and her mother down in New York and returns the diary, where it remained hidden to the world until relatively recently. It's a hard read, but important. I read a digital galley and thus missed the photographs, though many are shown on the Smithsonian website. Never forget--especially in the current political climate. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

The Swallows by Lisa Lutz (Ballantine; Aug. 13) is set in a New England boarding school and addresses the #MeToo movement and sexual bullying. When new teacher Alex Witt asks her creative writing students to fill out an anonymous Q&A about themselves (what do you like, what do you hate, who are you), she learns about something called the Darkroom, which turns out to be a secret website created by the academy's male students. The site includes inappropriate photographs of female classmates and the running scores for a contest the girls don't know they're participating in: who gives the best blow jobs. Although the Darkroom and contest are not all that secret, the faculty seems to have a boys will be boys attitude. Alex is having none of it and so begins to help a couple of the girls who are determined to shut the boys down. The story is told from a variety of viewpoints and includes a couple of other plot lines. Lutz has written a timely book, and I hope it makes at least some young adults think twice about their behavior. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Random House Audio, 11 hr) read by a Abby Elliot, Lisa Flanagan, Ari Fliakos, Michael Crouch and Johnny Heller. The performances were spot-on and captured the different emotional reactions of the students and faculty. More on the audiobook at AudioFile magazine. (audio copy for a freelance assignment)

Cat Science Unleashed by Jodi Wheeler-Toppen (photos by Matthew Rakola) is a National Geographic Kids book (Aug. 27) that helps kids (and adults) learn more about their furry feline friends through easy in-home experiments and activities. The book is illustrated with photographs of kids and and their pets, and I'm happy to report that the book features a diverse group of young scientists. The activities help us learn about cat health, senses, predatory behavior, and intelligence. The activities are easy, fun, and inexpensive to do. For example, kids can test their pet's hearing and purring by using a smartphone. The photos, fonts, and colors are engaging, and I can't wait to try some of these tests with my niece's cats. Fun and informative for cat lovers of all ages. Below is an example spread from the book--click to enlarge. (print copy provided by the publisher)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Books I Loved, Books I Didn't

It was the best of two weeks and it was the worst of two weeks. I had to DNF two books in a row, but I listened to what is probably going to be my favorite audiobook (and book) of the year. Ditching books always puts a damper on my reading mojo, plus I’ve been really busy with work.

On a better note, we managed to get to the county fair (and eat all the junk food! Yay!). Plus the weather finally shifted. It’s downright chilly in the evening, and I’ve worn jeans twice during the day. I’m not at all sad, because I love fall and soup and sweater weather. Bring it on!

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (Redhook; Sept. 10). If you like fantasy, adventure, historical and imaginary settings, and a strong female protagonist and if you like stories of female friendship, young and lasting love, coming of age, and betrayals, you must put this book on your list. And if you’re an audiobook fan, then make sure you listen to January LaVoy’s mind-blowing performance (Hachette Audio; 12 hr, 20 min). If this audiobook doesn’t win a million awards, I’ll be very upset. You need all the Januaries in your life. Trust me. At this moment, The Ten Thousand Doors of January is my favorite audiobook of the year and is on my all-time top ten list.

At the turn of the last century, young January Scaller lives in a big mansion in Vermont, where she is more or less treated as a daughter by her guardian Mr. Locke. January’s mother died when the girl was quite young, and her father is rarely home, because he’s an explorer and seeker of the exotic in the employ of Locke. Despite her beautiful surroundings, January’s life isn’t easy, being biracial and raised in isolation. She is strong willed and learns early that the way to Locke’s heart is through obedience. One day, while looking through some of Locke’s priceless collections, she finds a book filled with stories of love, adventure, and magical doors that open into other worlds. The book implies that all is not well, however, because someone is destroying the doors, trapping people in the wrong worlds and isolating the realms. Once a door is lost, it seems that it’s lost forever. What happens when January finds herself believing the stories?

I don’t want to say much more because the less you know, the better. This book has so many levels and such great characters. I was sorry when it ended, but (excuse the pun), I think Harrow might have left the door open for more January adventures. One can only hope. (audio and digital review copies provided by the publisher)

A Prayer for Travelers by Ruchika Tomar (Riverhead; July 9). I wasn't at all sure what to expect when I started this audiobook (for a freelance assignment). The audiobook starts out with a note telling the listener (1) that the chapters are purposely out of order and (2) that you really do need to download the accompanying PDF. Set in contemporary times in a tiny town in the Nevada desert, the story is told through the eyes of Cale Lambert, abandoned shortly after birth by her mother to be raised by her widowed grandfather. Cale is a studious girl, and her grandfather does his best for her. After high school graduation, Cale gets a waitressing job at the roadside diner, where she befriends Penny, who is a couple years older. Penny is one of those girls who attracts men’s attention and who is a little too worldly for her own good. Cale is still surprisingly naive and quickly comes under Penny’s spell. After an ill-fated night, Penny disappears, and Cale cannot let it go. She is determined to find her friend—dead or alive—no matter what it takes.

As I said, the book’s chapters are all out of order, and though you’d think this would be confusing (especially in audio), the device works and works well. You get hints of the past and future as the story winds through time, from lazy, hot nights watching the stars to dodgy deals and dangerous encounters. The girls ache for something, but what that something is, is hard to say: connection? a get of town free card? a desire to be left alone? A Prayer for Travelers is haunting in its truths, and Tomar has a promising future.

The Winemaker’s Wife by Kristin Harmel (Gallery Books; Aug. 13). I often say I’m done with World War II books, but I thought this dual-time-period story set in Champagne on a vineyard would be good. In the past, Inès, an orphan from Lille, meets and marries the slightly older Michel, a major champagne maker. Inès feels totally out of her element at the vineyard and in the chateau, but fortunately her best friend from childhood, Edith, lives in nearby Reims. In the present day, Edith’s granddaughter, Liv, lives in New York, is newly divorced, and is at loose ends. When she joins Edith in Paris and then on a trip to Champagne, the stories of past and present collide.

The book is peppered with real events and real people and accurately relates the struggles and dangers of the German occupation. The main driving point of the novel is the relationships among Inés, Edith, and the wine master’s wife (Céline) and Liv’s discovery of the secrets and sacrifices of the past. I enjoyed the story for the most part, but many of the secrets were not all that difficult to figure out, Inés's behavior drove me nuts, and there were parts of the ending that were a little out there. If you’ve read The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah (William Morrow, June 2018), then some of the plot lines (hiding wine in the caves, for example) will seem familiar. Still, this kept my attention to the end. (digital and audiobook copies provided by the publisher)

When You Read This by Mary Adkins (Harper; Feb. 2019). This novel was billed as being perfect for fans of Maria Semple and Rainbow Rowell and is told through blog posts, emails, texts, and other media. It is a story of friendship and family, loss and redemption, and seemed liked something I would like, especially because it involves publishing a memoir. Sadly, I got about 40 pages in and realized I wasn’t connecting with the characters or the plot line. (print review copy provided by the publisher)

The Reckless Oath We Made by Bryn Greenwood (Putnam; Aug 20). This novel is about Zee, who is just trying to heal and find a future after her boyfriend left and she was in a motorcycle accident. While at physical therapy, she meets a young man who claims to be her knight in shining armor—not for romance but for protection. He even talks in Middle English. This is supposed to be a quirky modern-day fairy tale and has received a zillion starred reviews. The audiobook is read by a winning cast, and their performances (the little I heard) were great. However, I barely made it 90 min before I had to bail. The audiobook itself was not to blame; I just didn’t care about any of the characters. (digital and audiobook copies provided by the publisher)

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