Eligible

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld (2016) 492 pages

In this modernized retelling of Pride and Prejudice, Jane and Liz Bennet live in New York City. They drop everything to go home to Cincinnati because their father has had a health emergency. Jane is almost 40 years old and feeling her biological clock ticking, so she's been undergoing artificial insemination, without luck so far, and also without the knowledge of anyone besides her sister Liz. Liz, almost 39, is the editor-at-large for Mascara, a magazine known equally for feminist issues and cosmetics. She's been involved with a married man for a long time.

Chip Bingley is an emergency room doctor at the local hospital, but he is better known for having been  on a reality television show called Eligible, where he was to date a slew of women in order in find a possible wife. Fitzwilliam Darcy, Bingley's good friend, is a neurosurgeon at the same hospital.

Mrs. Bennet is as annoying as the original, and even Mr. Bennet comes off somewhat negatively to make this version believable. The remaining Bennet sisters are unemployed, still living in the large family home that clearly needs numerous repairs, not being that helpful to their parents. Lydia and Kitty needle their sister Mary about being gay, which she disputes, while they are into health fads and fitness training.

This take on Jane Austen, given Sittenfeld's wry wit, landed just right.

Goddess of the River

 Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel, 496 pages.

The river Ganga is angry when she is pinned to Earth and forced to flow in a certain way. She is even angrier when she is cursed to live a mortal life and bear mortal children to save the immortal godlings she is so fond of. Human life changes her, and impacts the course of human history as her son Devavrata is left behind, a prince who swears not to take the throne. 

I'm afraid I didn't care much for this Orcs & Aliens selection (although plenty of other members did!). I did not feel that the two timelines served this book well, and mostly served to confuse what was already a somewhat confusing book. I'm also afraid I didn't find the characters very engaging, although I'm sure they were likely more engaging here than in their source material. Overall this was a fine book, but I don't know that I would recommend it to anyone except fans of the Mahabharata. 

Homework: a Memoir

Homework: a Memoir by Geoff Dyer  (2025) 276pp
Dyer is first and foremost a writer and at times this rollicking (do they rollick in the UK?) coming-of-age memoir reads like Dickensian fiction. I keep expecting Miss Havisham and Estella to make an appearance. But Dyer would put Havisham in a caravan and Estella would be dressed in a mini skirt and drive a Mini Cooper. A literary polymath, Dyer can write about anyone and anything and he does not disappoint here. Certainly, an argument could be made that he is too stylish and too detailed, but the writing is snappy and his ability to put the reader in the setting is uncanny (of course this is not autobiography, it is memoir, much license given). Fair warning – once you read a book by Dyer you will read another and another and another.

Victorian Psycho

Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito, 208 pages

When Winifred shows up as the latest governess at Ensor House, she puts up with the four members of the Pounds family, who are all horrible in their own way. Mrs. Pounds is dismissive of Winifred, Mr. Pounds keeps ogling her, and the Pounds children are obnoxiously spoiled and rude. Winifred vows to remain patient, and put aside her past violent tendencies... but the longer she spends with this wretched family, the harder and harder that becomes.

This book is wickedly funny and horribly wrong. It's gory and ghastly, and Winifred's droll inner commentary sets it off perfectly, making the reader wonder how it is that they're laughing at something so literally psychotic. While it's not for everyone, I loved cackling my way through this horror novel.

The Last Hour Between Worlds

The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso, 432 pages

Detective Kembral Thorne has left the house on her own for the first time since giving birth, heading to a fancy year-turning party that she's not even sure she belongs at. Her main goal is to relax and have fun, though she's not sure her boss will let her do that, once she learns he's in attendance. Especially when people start dying and time keeps turning backward a few hours while the party drops through increasingly chaotic alternate worlds.

That is a horrible description of a truly imaginative and fun fantasy novel. Caruso's descriptions of the very VERY strange alternate worlds are so creative and fully fleshed-out, providing a well-realized setting for an action-packed fantasy novel with a no-nonsense main character. This was astoundingly fun, and I can't wait to read more of Kembral's tales.

Our Infinite Fates

Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven, 352 pages

For thousands of years, Evelyn and Arden have found each other as they've been reincarnated, and every time they've fallen in love, and every time, one of them has killed the other (and subsequently died themself) just before their shared 18th birthday. EVERY TIME. Evelyn has no idea why it has to happen, as she can only remember the last few lives, but for some reason, Arden can remember all the way back to the beginning. Told in chapters alternating between their current situation and flashbacks to their previous deaths, this book weaves a tale that questions fate, love, and whether we can ever do anything to change those things. It's an angst-filled story, and it's perfect for teens who would like a bit of substance to their dramatic love stories.

Stone Blind

Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes, 370 pages

I read and blogged about this Medusa retelling back in 2023, and the book just got better with a second read. I loved the snark and the fresh take on this myth, and I loved discussing it in June with Orcs & Aliens. Told from Medusa's point of view, this should be required reading for those studying Greek mythology. It's that good.

No Body No Crime

No Body No Crime by Tess Sharpe, 304 pages

Private investigator Mel swore she'd never track down Chloe, Mel's high school sweetheart, who's been missing for six years. On the night of Chloe's 16th birthday, the pair fought off local tough guy Toby, and buried him deep in the woods, though nobody else knows that Toby's even dead. Not long after their shared murder, Chloe disappeared too, leaving many in their small town heartbroken, especially Mel. But when Chloe's family hires Mel to track down their missing daughter, Mel can't turn down the case, and soon learns that there's much more to Chloe's life on the lam than previously thought.

Although I appreciated the lesbian couple at the center of this action-packed thriller, the plot takes so many nonsensical twists and turns that I had trouble keeping track of what was going on when (didn't help that the chapters bounced back and forth between current events and flashbacks). There are many better and more cohesive thrillers out there, and I'd recommend reading one of those instead.

A selection of July graphic novels

 Shuna's Journey by Hayao Miyazaki and translated by Alex Dudok de Wit (2022) 160 pages

This is read right to left. The book was originally published in 1983 with it being translated into English just recently in 2022. The note from the translator at the end was fascinating. Miyazaki was doing much creative brainstorming in the 1980s and I definitely noticed some visuals like the slave wagon and the slave trade in the fortress town that were also used in Ghibli's Tales from Earthsea film. There are many beautiful watercolors. It is a quick read because there is not much text. There are some narrative leaps that I wish were explained or developed better, but still very enjoyable.

You and a Bike and a Road by Eleanor Davis (2017) 172 pages

Simple and kind of rough line drawings. No color. Nice journal of a journey by bicycle. Eleanor starts in Tucson, Arizona and is aiming to go all the way to Georgia. Cool observations. This fit with the #hooplachallenge July prompt of Tales in Transit.

The Road: A Graphic Novel Adaptation by Cormac McCarthy with art by Manu Larcenet (2024) 160 pages

Yes, it is bleak in every way. A post apocalyptic tale of survival. I gather from the letter at the end, from the artist to the author, that it is a faithful adaptation. Smoke and ash, dirty decay and destruction, and alarming apprehension are illustrated realistically at every step of the way. There are moments of relative plenty, but often scarcity and death. A father and son can only rely on each other and are often scared of losing the other. When they find packaged food I like that we get a little bit of color. Some of the wide landscapes are beautiful even though desolate. After I finished, I flipped back to the beginning to write this review and there is a definite progression that the two main characters go through in becoming more ragged. This adaptation is handled really well.

Djuna: The Extraordinary Life of Djuna Barnes by Jon Macy (2024) 320 pages

Fascinating. I listened to the audiobook of her Nightwood recently. Struggled to understand it, but this graphic biography of her life is brilliant. I loved the art (b&w with bits of red like Djuna's hair). It captures the times realistically. Structured like a three act play, but not completely linear. The who's who of art and literary modernists she crossed paths with was incredible. The free love commune run by her grandmother was outrageous. So much throwing around the term genius. So many people striving to break the rules. So much alcohol, sex, and people living their queer lives. Djuna Barnes was a struggling artist who stood out in a crowd.

George Sand: True Genius, True Woman by Severine Vidal with art by Kim Consigny (2024) 344 pages

Following the graphic biography of Djuna Barnes, I read this biography of another writer. 19th century France and Aurore Dupin's life from childhood is very detailed. Despite her writing habits, liberal social values, and rebelliousness against the strictures of marriage, she remains a little mysterious. Her playfulness comes across strongly. Moving in circles of artists, taking many lovers, and seeking freedom by dressing in men's clothes and using a male pen name also comes across. There was a lot of family drama and romantic drama and social issues of the day that she used in her fiction. This graphic novel does a good job encapsulating a full life within its pages. The art serves its purpose without many surprises.

Everything for Everyone

 

Everything for Everyone: An Oral History of the New York Commune, 2052-2072 by M.E. O'Brien and Eman Abdelhadi (2022) 256 pages

I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla narrated by Charli Burrow and Soneela Nankani. The authors have written this as if they are the oral history interviewers. This is speculative fiction about the near future, but it is in the style of nonfiction. It feels a bit dry, but very real. With the current developments of late-stage capitalism the future presented here is very probable. Many of the people interviewed about their part in the growth of communes in New York city are people of color or queer. We hear from many people who understand activism, abolition, collectivism, and mutual aid as tools to survive the collapse of the old systems. If you are interested in dystopian fiction that is closely tied to reality like Octavia Butler's Parable books or Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale, you'll probably enjoy this. It has a hopeful message.

An Easy Death

 An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris, 336 pages

Gunnie Lizbeth Rose works as an armed escort and smuggler in Texoma, one of the countries that was left after Deconstruction. She has good reason not to trust any of the Grigoris from the Holy Russian Empire (located along the west coast of what used to be America), but she still finds herself accepting a job from the magicians to help guide them to a man they need for reasons they refuse to specify. The party is hounded by assassins the whole way to Mexico, and it doesn't make things any easier that not a single person here is telling the whole truth.

This was an exciting adventure book, but honestly I found the alternate history elements the most interesting. After the assassination of FDR and a whole parade of other disasters in rapid succession, America fractured into five different countries, in addition to the expansion of Mexico and Canada. I thought everything came together into a book that is just fun and interesting enough to keep me hooked, and I'll probably read more in this series just to see how it plays out. 

Famous Last Words

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister, 336 pages

On literary agent Camilla's first day back to the office after maternity leave, she's hoping for a calm re-entry into the working world. Instead, she gets a visit from the police who tell her that her husband, Luke, is involved in a hostage situation at a factory — and worse yet, he's the one holding the gun. Through the tense situation and Luke's eventual disappearance, Camilla has no clue what's going on and even years later, has no answers. But, seven years later, when she begins the process of having him declared legally dead, a new novel and some suspicious men in Camilla's life brings the traumatic experience back to the forefront.

This was a twisty page-turner that kept me guessing the whole time. There were several things that Camilla did throughout the book that made me wonder what the heck she was thinking (but that's par for the course with thrillers) and I felt like an inordinate amount of ink was spent on Camilla's sister's infertility journey (still have no idea what that had to do with the rest of the book), but really, those are minor quibbles in an otherwise excellent thriller.

Remember When

Remember When by Mary Balogh, 368 pages

Clarissa, the Dowager Countess of Stratton, has finally shuffled all her children out of the house and is looking forward to relaxing in an empty nest at long last. But between her children concerned that she shouldn't be alone (What if she gets lonely in that big old manor? Whatever will she do without guiding her children's coming out and matchmaking?) and the reappearance of her old friend Matthew, relaxation seems unlikely. A gentleman who has thrown off the mantle to live a simpler life as a carpenter, Matthew has made a name for himself as a craftsman, and begins rekindling a long-dormant friendship with Clarissa between projects for her friends in the aristocracy. But when that buried friendship sprouts a romance, Clarissa's friends and family can't help but voice their concerns.

I read this book a few weeks back, and for something called Remember When, I had a heck of a time remembering it (thank you internet for the plot summaries to spark my recollection). Yes, it was nice to see a romance featuring older adults, but other than that, nothing really stuck out to me about this one. Read it if you're a fan of Mary Balogh, I guess, but otherwise, there are better Regency romances out there.

The Case of the Missing Maid

The Case of the Missing Maid by Rob Osler, 320 pages

It's 1898 and Harriet Morrow has just left her secretarial job to become the first female detective at the prestigious Prescott Agency. Her first assignment is something of a throwaway: go visit the boss's batty neighbor, who seems to have misplaced her maid (much like she did with the jewelry and silver that was later found exactly where it belonged). But when Harriet arrives, she discovers the maid's room in disarray, and after conversations with other employees and the maid's family, it's clear that the she is indeed missing. Harriet is given one week to track her down, and puts her fledgling investigation skills to the test in what feels like a fruitless search.

Harriet is a lesbian who is still getting comfortable with herself and her desire to wear men's clothing instead of the elaborate dresses popular at the time (which make riding her trusty bicycle much more difficult), and that, more than anything else, is the most compelling part of this book. I loved seeing her become herself, which helped when the plot lagged or felt repetitive (which happened a lot when discussing Harriet's parents' political activism for women's rights and unions). The one thing that really bugged me was that Harriet has a 16-year-old brother who goes to high school and doesn't have a job to help contribute to household expenses, which seems really strange and unlikely given their reduced means and the era in which this book is set. However, the book was decent, and I'd recommend it for fans of Jacqueline Winspear or Amy Stewart.

First-Time Caller

First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison, 448 pages

Single mom Lucie has gone a REALLY long time without dipping a toe in the dating pool and, for the most part, isn't looking to find romance. When her precocious daughter calls a radio romance hotline to get dating advice from host Aiden, Lucie is a bit shocked at first, but ultimately willing to use her new notoriety to get back into dating through a radio-sponsored experiment. Of course, as she starts going on dates and reporting on them on Aiden's show, Lucie finds that she really enjoys spending time with grumpy Aiden, who isn't so sure that he believes in love, even if that's what he constantly discusses over the airwaves. Now it's just a matter of figuring out whether The One is out there listening or sitting in the studio beside Lucie.

For a fairly contrived plot, this was a lovely story, full of realistically nosy relatives and coworkers, eye-roll-worthy bad dates, and a refreshingly unstereotypical take on a woman in a stereotypically male workplace (Lucie is a car mechanic, and instead of having a scene with bro-y dudes make a mockery of her job, she simply refers to them abstractly while explaining her mental strength in another situation — we don't need to give guys like this any more ink than that). While the mother-daughter relationship seems a bit odd at times, especially given how young the daughter is, it's still a winner of a romance novel.

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng

Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker, 304 pages

As COVID-19 starts ravaging the world, so do the racist allegations that Chinese people (and all Asian Americans, by association) are to blame. It's against this backdrop that Cora Zeng witnesses her sister get pushed in front of a subway car, one of many officially ignored deaths of women in Chinatown in 2020. And Cora would know, as she's a crime scene cleaner tasked with removing all traces of these women and their gruesome deaths (all ruled suicides, incidentally) from their apartments. However, while dealing with the gross details of her job and the grief over her sister, Cora doesn't have time for traditions like the Hungry Ghost Festival. But ignoring the hungry ghosts is a mistake, as Cora soon learns.

This is a fantastic horror novel that combines supernatural horror with the very real horrors of racism and sexism in a terrifying and creative way. An excellent book for fans of The Eyes Are the Best Part or the works of Stephen Graham Jones.

The Quiet Librarian

The Quiet Librarian by Allen Eskins, 320 pages

As a teen, Hana lived in war-torn Bosnia, where she saw the atrocities creep closer and closer until she was violently thrown into the middle of them. So when Hana's best friend is found murdered, Hana fears that her past is coming back to haunt her. 

Told in alternating chapters between flashbacks to Hana's youth and Hana's current attempts to find her friend's killer while simultaneously adapting to her new role as caregiver for her friend's grandson, the book gives readers insight into the Bosnian War 30 years ago while keeping a thrilling pace in both times. I thought the flashback chapters were more compelling, though as they were also much more harrowing, it was nice to have the calmer current-day chapters as breaks between the historic action sequences.

Dreams

 Dreams: The Many Lives of Fleetwood Mac by Mark Blake, 432 pgs. © 2024

It took me a bit of time to get used to the structure of this book--it's not written as a narrative history of the band but more as episodes and vignettes of the band members and the songwriting that came about--of course, filled with anecdotes about the absolute dysfunction of the group as a whole. Really, there were two Fleetwood Macs--in the mid 60's they were doing what everyone in Britain was doing at the time, chasing the American blues sound. That was before their guitarists left the band and were ultimately and, pretty much on a whim, replaced with Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, two LA-based songwriters who were strapped for cash and looking to make it musically. Along with Christie McVie, there were now three official songwriters in the group. The band became so well known for their romantic entanglements with each other (and the copious amounts of cocaine they ingested) it's a miracle they were able to maintain the group the way they have over the decades. At a certain point, it's obvious that the band members are really just enamored of the money and lifestyle they've been able to achieve and each subsequent album and tour was really a call-to-arms for making cash, as opposed to creating something of artistic value. Be that as it may, the band were able to consistently recreate pop hits well into the late 80s. It was interesting to learn about Stevie Nicks--such a polarizing figure. I don't know how you write songs for a living when you can't play any instruments. But her voice was and is so unique--it's one of the voices you recognize immediately when you hear it. Her kitschy mysticism routine was inspried by both Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Throw in Buckingham's need to push the musical envelope and you have had something different entirely from anything else on the radio in 1977. 

The Nature of the Beast

The Nature of the Beast by Louise Penny, 374 pgs. 

Tragedy has struck once again in the remote Canadian town of Three Pines, but the horror of this particular case is at a scale much higher than former Chief Inspector Armand Gamache has seen here. A member of the community, near and dear to the hearts of many, has died under mysterious circumstances right after a large cannon was found in the woods. Now that Gamache is no longer the official boss, he must figure out where he fits into the investigation, and the stakes are higher than ever. 

After the slower previous book in this series, Louise Penny really picks up the narrative, making it clear that Inspector Gamache will not have a restful retirement. The high stakes of this case, and the horrors that have occurred in connection to it, make for a thrilling and harrowing tale about the monsters among us. 

 

Where Are Your Boys Tonight?

Where Are Your Boys Tonight?: The Oral History of Emo's Mainstream Explosion 1999-2008 by Chris Payne, 496 pages.

This book follows the rise of emo music and culture from its earliest days rising from the hardcore scene in New Jersey to the chart-topping phenomenon it eventually became. It explores not only the musical influences, but the way that the genre's explosion on a newly developing internet forced the music industry to address early issues of file sharing and internet virality. Payne interviews more than 150 people, from big names to people behind the scenes, to give an immersive picture of the whole history. 

I found this book engaging and informative, but there were also aspects I found challenging and confusing. One of which is that I listened to the audiobook (read by the author), thinking an oral history would be good in an oral format. However, 150 people is too many to keep straight, and Payne rarely takes time to identify who people are, which can make the rapid switching between interviewees confusing. That being said, I still definitely found it worth the read, and I think it would be even more interesting for people who were more involved in this scene. 

The Murderbot Diaries 2-4

 Artificial Condition, Rogue Protocol, and Exit Strategy by Martha Wells, 479 pages.

These three novella feature Murderbot out on its own for the first time. In Artificial Condition it goes back to the scene of the massacre that caused it to name itself "Murderbot" and in the process gets way to invested in helping some humans being hunted by corporate powers. In Rogue Protocol it decides that it is maybe more invested in helping Dr. Mensah than it wanted to admit and goes to gather evidence of corporate maleficence, once again immediately getting very invested in protecting another group of humans. In Exit Strategy it is not another group of random humans it has to protect, but rather Dr. Mensah herself, who has been kidnapped. 

These little novellas are extremely readable, and I find something about them very compelling. I am especially liking them better as Murderbot becomes more capable of being honest with itself about the fact that it cares about more than media, which is a gradual development up through these books. I do think, that with very minor structural tweaks, these books might work better as one longer novel. The slow periods would feel less noticeable in a larger book, and it feels like in many ways these book complete a single arc. I would recommend them as fun, quick sci-fi reads with a solid sense of humor. 

Direct Descendant

Direct Descendant by Tanya Huff, 336 pages

Lake Argen is a mysterious tight-knit community that ages ago made a deal with dark forces to keep it idyllic (well, as idyllic as you can get with cryptids wandering about), and part-time baker Cassidy is one of those chosen to be a liaison between the dark forces and the townspeople. But when a visitor dies under mysterious circumstances, his wealthy grandmother hires Melanie, an unemployed teacher desperate for cash, to be her private investigator and visit Lake Argen. Obviously something is up when Melanie arrives, and even though all she has to do is look around and drive back home to get paid, she starts poking around, finding more than she bargained for — including an unexpected romance with Cassidy.

The marketing copy for this book bills it as "cozy horror," which is an oxymoron that makes me roll my eyes enough to give me a headache. Yes, it has eldritch horrors, but they're downright cute, and there's none of the building dread or atmospheric creepiness that are hallmarks of the horror genre. Nope, this is straight-up fantasy (albeit with dark magic behind everything), but it's also straight-up fantastic. I loved the world and characters created here, and I would love to go back to Lake Argen for more books. Highly recommended, especially for fans of cozy fantasy and the Welcome to Nightvale podcast.

A Letter to the Luminous Deep

 A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall, 432 pages

A year ago E. Cidnosin and scholar Henerey Clel disappeared when E's marvelous home beneath the sea was destroyed. The two had begun a correspondence first to discuss natural history, but soon because they are two lonely individuals who come to care about each other very deeply. As E's sister and Henerey's brother begin to reconstruct their siblings' last days (and build their own friendship), they too are quickly pulled into the same mysteries that drew in E and Henerey.

This book is set in such a fascinating world. The planet is almost entirely covered in water, and society has a distinctly Victorian feel and is mostly organized around three colleges, while we get only hints of the apocalyptic event that started this society. This novel is epistolary, told entirely in letters and the odd journal entry. This book reminded me a lot of Victorian Science Fiction, which definitely won't be for everyone, but I personally loved it. I loved all of the characters, and was completely invested in their relationships of every description. I would definitely recommend this to fans of Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Fairies and also anyone who likes unusual worldbuilding.  

Careless People

 Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams, 382 pages.

Sarah Wynn-Williams was the Director of Public Policy at Facebook for many years, and this memoir gives a chilling internal look at the unbelievable irresponsibility of Facebook as an organization and especially of the people at the top. Although the generalities of Facebook's many crimes are pretty much public knowledge, the specific incidents Wynn-Williams describes still manage to be shocking, as she describes how carelessly the people running Facebook move through the world, completely unbothered by the harm they cause. 

This book manages to be personal while still feeling very focused on Facebook as an organization, which is a difficult line to walk with memoirs that are also informative about a topic. This makes this book very readable. The events are often dark, but it almost feels like watching a train wreck, and I couldn't look away. This especially feels like an interesting companion piece to Maria Ressa's How to Stand Up to a Dictator, which is another memoir about how Facebook undermines democracy, but from a very different perspective. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) 389 pages

Monique Grant, a little known magazine writer, has been chosen by 79-year old actress, Evelyn Hugo, to write a biography about her. Monique has been reeling because her husband left her 5 weeks ago. She leaves her own world of upheaval and delves into the actress's life and movies, visiting her daily, tape recorder capturing their conversations. 

Evelyn started out poor, living in Hell's Kitchen in New York City, but her mother had big dreams about moving to Hollywood. However, her mother died when Evelyn was 11, and Evelyn's first need was to get away from her father, who was violent, and whom she didn't know if she could trust to keep his hands off her once she started developing. She was tall and slim with large breasts, some of the traits that gained her attention, and she used that attention to gain her first husband, Ernie, at age 15, because Ernie was heading to Hollywood to get work as a key grip. Evelyn got a job as a waitress, where she caught the attention of a Hollywood producer, Harry Cameron, beginning her tenure as an actress.

Evelyn's story over the decades between the 1950s and the 1980s is fascinating, and I had to keep telling myself it is fiction; it seems so real. Evelyn insists that she is not sorry for anything she did to get the security and the life she lives. She tells all. And when the story is told, there is even more—the answer to why Evelyn chose to give her story to Monique. Highly recommended.

The Inheritance

The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha, 352 pages

When the wealthy Agarwal siblings gather at a remote island for their parents' anniversary, they expect their father to retire and announce the succession plan for his multimillion-dollar company. All three of the adult children are expecting to get the lion's share of the inheritance, with pricey renovations, business plans, and adventures already planned. But when he changes his mind, things get dicey, with all three assuming that the other two have caused the change. As the claws come out, so do some long-buried secrets that threaten to disrupt everything even more.

Told through alternating points of view of the sisters and sister-in-law, this book is certainly intriguing, though it's not always easy to tell who's narrating. So it's OK, nothing to write home about. But if you're looking for a good Succession-like book to read, go ahead and give this quick read a whirl.

The Bane Witch

The Bane Witch by Ava Morgyn, 384 pages

Since she was a little girl, Piers has always loved poisonous things, including dangerous pokeberries, which she's able to eat without any ill effects. This affinity comes in handy when Piers fakes her own death to escape her abusive husband, and then again when a man on her escape route tries to sexually assault her and she inadvertently kills him in self-defense. But when she eventually joins up with her extended family, Piers learns that her ability to harness the powers of poison comes naturally to the long line of witches in her family. And now she must face a decision — does she embrace her deadly nature or does she reject it to try living a more normal life (albeit one with the ever-present possibility of accidently poisoning someone)?

This was suggested to me as a fantasy novel, though I'd be hesitant to hand this to a reader looking for a straightforward fantasy. It's more of a thriller with a fantasy tinge. Like Gone Girl with magical poison powers or Practical Magic with murderous overtones. It's well-written and a compelling story though, and an excellent read if you want to see some truly horrible people get their due.

Old Soul

Old Soul by Susan Barker, 352 pages

Years ago, Jake lost a friend in a shocking and terrible way after meeting a terrible woman. After a chance meeting with someone else who lost someone in a similar way, Jake decides to track the woman down, learning the horrific ways she steals images and souls to stay alive. Told through a series of vignettes describing the many victims of the mysterious woman, this book is thoroughly creepy, though very literary, in that it makes the reader slowly ponder the coming terrors and the greater impacts of each interaction, rather than confronts us with visceral terror.

The Missing Half

The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers, 272 pages

Since her sister, Kasey, went missing several years earlier, Nic has been having a rough time, stuck in a dead-end job and fighting alcoholism. But then Jenna walks into her life, offering a new sense of purpose. Jenna's sister, Jules, disappeared not long before Kasey did, and Jenna is convinced that she and Nic can do what the police were unable to accomplish and find their sisters. However, as they go further and further down the rabbit hole of investigation, Nic becomes even more unstable and unpredictable, making questionable choices and taking untold risks in her quest to find Kasey.

This was a twisty thriller with a very unexpected ending. It's a solid tale, with a few credibility-stretching moments (I had trouble believing that Nic and Jenna could find obvious clues that the authorities overlooked years earlier), though it doesn't really stand out from the crowd of thrillers that come out every year.

The Collected Regrets of Clover

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Milli Brammer (2023) 314 pages

Clover is a death doula -- she spends time with people who are dying. Sometimes she is the only person who visits them; other times she helps the family of the patient, as well as the patient. While comfortable being with dying people, Clover is less comfortable with the living. For the times when she doesn't have a job, she hangs out in her apartment with her pets and binge-watches romantic movies. 

Her parents died when she was six; after that she was reared by her grandfather. But now she's 36 years old and he's been dead for 13 years. She hasn't ever dated and she does everything she can to avoid being around people, other than her grandfather's friend Leo, who lives in her apartment building. Sometimes, though, she needs a people-fix, and she gets these in a kind of anonymous way, by going to death cafés, gatherings where people can talk to each other, ask questions, and maybe get advice. She runs into a guy named Sebastian at two different death cafés, and she can't believe that he seems interested in her. That terrifies her as much as it inspires her. When he asks her to meet his dying grandmother, Claudia, a woman who has not been told that she is dying, Clover is conflicted, but agrees. Claudia was a photographer who gave up her work when she got married. She is still a spunky woman, one of the highlights of the novel.

The reader is expecting that Clover's life is going to change, and it does, just not in the way it seems to be heading. The book emphasizes really living, and it also showcases regrets people have had about what they did (or didn't do) when they had the chance. It's a thoughtful book.

Turning to stone

Turning to stone : discovering the subtle wisdom of rocks by Marcia Bjornerud,  (2024) 306 pp

It’s summer and time to rock out! Geologist Bjornerud has a delightful style which reflects her enthusiasm for her specialty and also gives a glimpse of her journey to all things rock. Using chapters on a variety of minerals, she takes us time traveling to the formation of Earth and, in turn, we visit extreme research environments such as Norwegian archipelago Svalbard above the Arctic Circle and Ellesmere Island in northern Canada where new discoveries abound. Are all significant rocks located in the most inhospitable places? Along with the rock hunting we get an intimate feel for the slow-moving field of geology (think glacial) and Borgeaud’s equally slow and arduous climb up the academic ladder. In the chapter basalt we are introduced to plate tectonics and volcanos, in sandstone we learn of purifying and fragile aquifers. Interspersed on this rocky road we learn about the exploitive effect of human activity on the environment. She tells the story of native culture and its relationship to the land and leads us through the devastation of industrial logging of the lumber barons, the mining of copper and the monoculture of modern agriculture. Grim. Going against canon, Bjornerud confesses to considering rocks as integral to the living world, not animate, but certainly vital.

The Dragon of Ynys

 The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen, 87 pages.

Sir Violet isn't really a knight, the village of Ynys is too small for that, but he does all of the things that knights do, so the villagers call him one anyway. Mostly this means he has to hike out to the local dragon's cave every time he steals something and politely ask for it back. But when the baker goes missing Sir Violet, the dragon, and the baker's wife have to solve the mystery of her disappearance, and the trip may be altogether more adventure than Sir Violet really wanted. 

This is a very wholesome little story about embracing each person's differences as a community. In many ways this novella reads like a story from a very good picture book, although there aren't any pictures in it. It is marketed as an "all ages" fairy tale, and I think that's a pretty good descriptor. I think this would be a really good book to read with kids.

June Totals

It was too hot to read this month

Annie: 5 books, 1818 pages

Byron: 6 books, 1354 pages

Jan: 2 books, 735 pages

John: 2 books, 488 pages

Kevin: 1 book, 208 pages

Regan: 4 books, 1735 pages

Totals: 20 books, 6338 pages

Trigger Mortis

Trigger Mortis by Anthony Horowitz, (2015) 310 pp

I thought reading a James Bond spy thriller might be an escape from incessant internet doom scrolling and the St. Louis summer heat. I can vaguely recall my dad reading Ian Fleming in the 1950s and the avalanche of 007 films. How bad could it be? Horowitz, a prolific author, apparently jumped on the Bond cash cow, making an agreement with the Fleming estate to continue the spy series. In this re-mix nearly all the Bond cliches are present -- misogyny, gratuitous violence and impossible feats of daring-do. This genre reflected cold-war realpolitik in the early 1950s, but now it is just stale and lifeless -- this puerile fiction does not age well.  Perhaps Horowitz did not see the satirical 1999 movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

A Bloomy Head

A Bloomy Head by J. Winifred Butterworth, 289 pages

Newly widowed Kate has just been forced back into her family home with a passel of adult siblings when her brother returns from the war with an injured army surgeon in tow. Between fighting to keep the family farm, recovering from her late husband's abuse, and nursing the surgeon, Thomas, back to health, Kate somehow manages to begin a cheesemaking business, which she hopes will help keep things afloat until as the farm becomes self-sustaining. What Kate doesn't count on is falling in love with Thomas, or finding beheaded bodies on the farm. Yet both those things occur, and both complicate Kate's life immensely.

This is an intriguing mix of mystery, romance, and cheesemaking, and it's hard to put down. I appreciated the historical details and delicacy in portraying Thomas as a trans man, as well as Kate's previous abusive relationship. Were there perhaps a few too many elements to juggle? Oh definitely. But it was still fun!

But Not Too Bold

But Not Too Bold by Hache Pueyo, 128 pages

When her predecessor messes up one too many times, housemaid Dalia finds herself promoted to keeper of the keys at the manor home of Anatema, a huge spiderlike creature who eats those she finds objectionable (RIP former keeper of the keys). On her first day attending to Anatema, Dalia learns that someone has stolen a precious item from Anatema, and her life is on the line if she doesn't find the culprit. However, as she spends more time with her strange mistress, Dalia finds herself becoming more and more drawn to the creature.

This is an unnerving short novel that's very atmospheric, and particularly creepy if you fear spiders as I do. However, it's also almost an odd love story (or Stockholm Syndrome, depending on who you ask), which makes it hard to categorize. No matter what, however, it's captivating and impossible to put down.

Holmes, Marple & Poe

Holmes, Marple & Poe by James Patterson and Brian Sitts (2024) 339 pages

Three modern-day private investigators with mysterious backgrounds come together to solve crimes in New York City. Mysterious indeed: two have the surnames of famous fictional detectives, and one has the surname of a famous writer of detective stories, horror and poetry.

The three—Brendan Holmes, Auguste Poe, and Margaret Marple—almost immediately make enemies with the mayor and the police commissioner. They have a somewhat more nuanced relationship with Detective Lieutenant Helene Grey. The group has its foibles to add interest: Holmes has a drug problem and Poe has a lost love. Marple, on the other hand, seems to have her head together just fine. The group has a number of cases underway at once, and the novel flows quickly for a good escapist experience, good enough for a sequel, it appears.

The Devils

The Devils by Joe Abercrombie, 560 pages

When Brother Diaz is summoned to the Sacred City, he's expecting a promotion, a commendation, something wonderful from the Pope. Instead she assigns him to a group of prisoners who must escort a street urchin to a faraway land to reclaim the throne that is apparently rightfully hers. Along the way, the group — which includes a snobbish sorcerer, an aloof vampire, a lusty and forgetful werewolf, and a sometimes-invisible elf — must fight off the newfound queen's angry cousins, who are dead set on stopping her from ascending the throne.

Full of action, snarky humor, and a surprising amount of heart, The Devils is an excellent irreverent bit of fantasy fun, perfect for fans of Kings of the Wyld and The Blacktongue Thief. It can get a bit repetitive at times, but still, I highly recommend this one!

The Favorites

The Favorites by Layne Fargo, 496 pages

Since they were young teens, Katarina and Heath have been a sensation in the world of ice dancing, clawing their way to the top of podiums despite their lack of wealth or connections. Over the years and several attempts at world championships and Olympic medals, scandal followed the pair as they fought with their volatile chemistry both on and off the ice, as they worked together and with other partners, slept together and toyed with each other's jealousies and insecurities. 

Interspersed with documentary transcripts, this captivating book reimagines Wuthering Heights in the cutthroat world of ice dancing, and while that sounds like a farfetched dud of a book, it's not. AT ALL. It's fascinating, page-turning, and fantastic. Highly recommend for the over-the-top drama.

A Rare Find

A Rare Find by Joanna Lowell, 368 pages

Stuck at a crumbling manor with her father and sisters, Elfreda doesn't have any friends or acceptable hobbies, which might explain the lack of friends in rigid Edwardian England. Instead, Elfreda's passions lie in archaeology, specifically in her quest to find proof of a Viking army camp near her family's property. As she digs one day, she discovers that her neighborly nemesis, Georgie, has returned from London to lark about the countryside for a while. Elfreda is equally annoyed with and grudgingly charmed by Georgie's laissez faire attitude and self-confidence, and soon a relationship of attraction and curiosity blossoms, much to their mutual consternation.

The idea of a romance heroine trying to buck gender norms and make a name for herself in a male-dominated society isn't by any means a new one, so that element of this book doesn't really forge anything new in the genre. However, there aren't a whole heck of a lot of nonbinary leads in historical romance novels, so that element is a bit fresher (though it's also done in a somewhat clunky way). An enjoyable enemies-to-lovers tale, but nothing to write home about.

The Seven O'Clock Club

The Seven O'Clock Club by Amelia Ireland (2025) 354 pages

Genevieve is a counselor who has taken on a group of four grieving people: Victoria, a middle-aged hotshot lawyer; Callum, a rock star with a drug problem; Mischa, a young working woman in her late teens; and Freya, a 31-year-old woman who used to work in interior design.

None of these people were looking for Genevieve, but they (or someone they knew) aimed them towards her advertisement indicating that she was looking for people to participate in a new process for navigating the grief process, a process that uses a group setting rather than a one-on-one setting to move the clients forward.

The point-of-view changes to a different character each chapter. Larger sections are titled with stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, etc. At first, most of the characters do not really want to attend these sessions, but they return anyway, and as they get to know each others' stories, they bond.

If this were the whole point of the book, it's already good. However, the story takes a few very unexpected turns that I don't want to spoil. I had to see what happened. 

Proof : the art and science of certainty

Proof : the art and science of certainty by Adam Kucharski,  (2025) 357 pp

Kucharski uses an enlightening set of anecdotes and historical examples to reveal the complex combination of factors that go into knowing what we know. An epidemiologist in the UK, Kucharski was caught in the maelstrom of the Covid epidemic and was impelled to make decisions based on sometimes contradictory and constantly changing evidence. He proves his bone fides explaining the complexity of determining the efficacy of a medical procedure, vaccine, or medicine. Those that get hives thinking about math, statistics and all things uber rational will thank the author for his clear explanations and insights. Whether explaining Abraham Lincoln’s embrace of Euclid’s proofs in debating Senator Stephens, or the more arcane reasoning (and math) behind confidence intervals, Kucharski delivers. The book is a strong antidote to the seemingly endless barrage of lies, damn lies and statistics that bombard us daily. The real beauty of this work is the feeling (Eureka moment?) that comes with a glimpse of ever-present complexity and the elusive nature of certainty.