Lollapalooza

 

Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock and Tom Beaujour, 432 pages 

The last music book of the summer for the Rhythm n' Books reading club before we move on to our round of books for the fall. We haven't read anything quite like this, an oral history. Some folks liked it for it's candid anecdotes, some did not feel it was "journalistic" enough to merit an entire book. The problem with trying to dive into the past and document the concert in it's earliest days is that there probably is little documentation to go on. All of this was the brainchild of Perry Ferrell, the charismatic front man for the band Jane's Addiction, who were a more popular band at the time than I ever realized. In Perry's mind, this was something akin to Woodstock, but a little more organized--something to bring together the alternative counter culture that was starting to coalesce after the radio death of hair metal. In it's earliest heyday, Lolla included a second stage which consisted of a group of California circus performers who were more sideshow than side acts. Perry accidently tapped into a huge market and the festival grew into a concert that spanned cities and genres. Though it kind of reads like the script for a VH1 Storytellers episode, if you're looking to relive some of the early 90s, this is a good start. 

Dungeon Crawler Carl

 

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, 464 pages

    I had started reading The Veiled Prophet by Devin O'Shea, the highly-researched, potentially last-word nonfiction text on the history of the long-time racist parade in St. Louis. But then the cover art of Dungeon Crawler Carl book caught my eye and the VP book sat on my nightstand unread. I felt so guilty. What would I say to O'Shea if I ran into him around town? "Sorry it's a great book, but I'm too into this book about a space alien "running man" style intergalactic game show with a talking cat." 

    This book has such a ridiculous premise but you really just have to go all in on it and never look back. I found myself having to read a few chapters every night just to see what the heck was going to happen to these characters. I'm not sure I'm in it for the long haul just yet, since there are eight books in this series, but I did pick up the second book. I have, however, recommitted myself to finishing the VP book before I start it. Hopefully. 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling, 592 pages

I am getting caught up on the series after *(checks watch)* twenty years. I now know what muggles and marauders maps are. I am floored that this published in 2000. Also this one had time travel, which was a neat twist. It seems like the more these go on, the more Rowling just keeps world building. On to the Goblet of Fire. 

Names Have Been Changed

 

Names Have Been Changed by Yu-Mei Balasingamchow, 272 pages.

The lockdowns were hard on everyone, and after a personal emotional shock Ophir (not her real name) desperately needs a way to process her life, so she starts a podcast. She began life under a different name, in Singapore, but after her involvement in a petty crime yields serious criminal consequences, she decides to go on the run instead of going to prison. That was 10 years and many identities ago, and trouble has followed her around the world, but this is finally her chance to tell her story, whatever the consequences may be.

I didn't dislike this book, but I do feel like it is a very different book than I was sold on. Most places seem to be classifying it as a crime novel (mostly just the initial petty crime, followed by a lot of variants on using forged papers and resisting arrest) or a thriller (definitely not), for what is mostly a leisurely confessional style. I listened to the audiobook, which I definitely think enhanced my experience, both for selling Ophir as a person and for making the podcast format pop. Selling Ophir as a flawed but real person with a voice you could hear emotion in really helped, because I have to admit that even with all that I found her a little insufferable. I think I would overall class this book as sort of interesting, but not particularly great.

Die: Loaded Vol. 1

 

Die: Loaded Vol. 1: Zero Sessions by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, 176 pages.

A year after they finally escape the world of Die (hopefully for the last time), the players gather for Chuck's wake in the midst of a pandemic. The reverberations of the group disappearing for a second time with no explanation has deeply shaken their loved ones, and healing will be a long process. A process that is abruptly interrupted when those who were left behind have to experience Die for themselves.

This is the start to a direct sequel series of the "goth Jumanji" comic DIE. Although it is a sequel with completely different characters, it was a little more direct than I was expecting, and I did find myself wishing I had reread the original series before diving into this one. That being said, this is a great continuation! We are already getting to see a lot of the world that we didn't in the first comic line, as our new protagonists know nothing about the world, and very little about the TTRPG logic that it runs on. This gives not only a really interesting perspective, but a chance to explore the same setting with completely different themes. Gillen and Hans continue to write stories that are both exciting and deeply emotionally resonate, and I'm excited to see where this story goes next!

Palaces of the Crow

Palaces of the Crow by Ray Nayler, 384 pages

As the Nazis and Red Army converge in eastern Europe, four children band together in their attempt to survive the frozen Lithuanian woods: a Jewish girl and aspiring biologist Neriya, who hopes that her doctor parents are still alive after being torn from her; underage Polish soldier Czeslaw, who didn't so much abandon the army as the army abandoned him, when the rest of his unit died; Roma daughter of horse traders Kezia; and a nameless and silent abandoned young boy. As they learn from and lean on one another, they befriend an insightful and intelligent murder of crows, who end up offering protections that none of the children could have dreamed.

Nayler has a knack for writing about intelligent animals and making it feel both real and surreal (see: The Mountain in the Sea and The Tusks of Extinction), and this book is no exception. While the others are firmly seated in science fiction, however, this one is much closer to historical fiction with just a hint of magical realism. But it's still full of intelligence, meticulous detail, and a sharp understanding of the world in which the book is set. I've read everything that Nayler has published, and I have yet to be disappointed. This was excellent, and I highly recommend it. I will also be much more reverent toward crows going forward.

Life on the Mississippi

 

Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain, 450 pages.

That's a wrap on our 2026 Big Book Challenge! This book is part memoir, part travelogue, and all Mark Twain. His specific dry humor and tall tales permeate the book, and give it a very distinctive character. I really enjoyed the tall tales and historical look at the region I call home (I especially got a kick over his excitement of this hot new thing, Forest Park), although I did find the whole thing a little disjointed and meandering. I still think it is definitely a worthwhile book, and I am thrilled I got to talk about it with a great group of library patrons last night! 

Promise of Blood

 

Promise of Blood by Brian McClellan, 545 pages.

Revolution is a bloody business, but Field Marshal Tamas and his powder mages have no regrets about removing the foolish king and his cabal of Privileged sorcerers. But after the guillotine has fallen on the king and his nobles the nation is still tottering under the weight of debt, war, complex alliances, and betrayals. Beyond the political, the removal of the king had symbolic ramifications, and the people are seeing dark signs everywhere. Signs that may well be more than peasant superstition.

Brian McClellan was a student in Brandon Sanderson's writing classes, which makes a lot of sense to me, because this feels very reminiscent of his work. I really enjoyed the diverse character perspectives that give a very three-dimensional feel to a complex world. This book had a bit of a slow build, as a lot of it is very focused on the day-to-day of the aftermath of a revolution, but I was still very engaged the whole time. I'm very excited to read the next book, which given the end of this one, will have even more epic stakes.  

Where the Girls Were

Where the Girls Were by Kate Schatz (2026), 368 pages

It is late 1960s San Francisco and high schooler, soon to be Valedictorian, Elizabeth "Baker" finds herself pregnant. Obviously, this disrupts her whole future as she had planned to attend Stanford and then head to Paris. Against her will, she ends up in a home for pregnant women. There she explores the complicated situations that landed the other women there and what their futures might hold.

I am back and forth on this book. I think it covers some very important topics (such as women’s choice) that are still very prescient today. It delves into the limited options women had and the very real judgements they faced if they became "in the family way" - whether it was by choice or violence. It also touches upon the lack of knowledge women had about their bodies and the taboos older women had in sharing valuable information to younger women. That said, Baker's naiveté was almost to the point of unbelievableness. There were libraries back in the day. I wish more time had been spent with the interesting characters in the women's home and how the women's rights movement was progressing through San Francisco. The ending is pretty unbelievable, but, if you get a chance, I would still read it. 

Hungerstone

  

 

 

 Hungerstone by Kat Dunn, 336 pages

A retelling of the classic story Carmilla, but with a backdrop of the Industrial Revolution. Inside a  remote country manor in the Moors, Lenore must face an unhappy marriage, nightmares that leave her desiring more, and her past traumas. 

I really enjoyed this book! I have read Carmilla and enjoyed it, although given the time it was written it was hard to understand at times. This novel brought a fresh perspective to the classic, while still maintaining key themes. The ending did feel a bit rushed. 

 

A Fortune of Sand

A Fortune of Sand by Ruta Sepetys (2026), 304 pages

Marjorie is the artistic youngest daughter of a Detroit automobile glass tycoon. She finds herself accepted into an exclusive arts residency program funded by secretive benefactor from which, life changing secrets unfold.

I wanted to like this book (as who doesn't want to know more about the dark underworld of Detroit during its automobile heyday), but it totally missed the mark. There was so much potential and interesting tidbits that the author could have delved more deeply into! Instead, we got an insufferable main character, an unbelievable benefactor, and a scattered storyline. I wish I had more to say, but that is all I got.

 

The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich, 368 pages

The Last Report on the Miracles at Little No Horse by Louise Erdrich, 368 pages

It is very difficult to summarize this book! I’ll give it a shot: An eccentric, musically genius ex-nun is widowed and impersonates a priest in the Minnesotan wilderness for much of their life, becoming ingrained in the local Native American community. The tone is somewhere between historical/ (mostly) realistic fiction and Capital L Literature.

This book has all of the things that a Louise Erdrich fan is looking for: A terribly interesting and admirable protagonist, Native American culture and community, love stories that are interesting and surprising...and yet never the focal point of the story.

It would also be difficult to overstate how much I loved LROTMALNH! In addition to the point of view of the protagonist (who goes by a few different names), we see how community changes over a long period of time, and have a variety of interesting religious experiences represented, and explores complicated spirituality sincerely. While there are themes of mysticism and ethical dilemma, I would never classify this as “Christian Fiction” to someone looking for that genre. It was impressive to cover such a length of time- 70ish years- in less than 400 pages without ever feeling that the story glossed over anything. Very engrossing, too! I recommend this one if, like me, you found The Sentence to be “just okay” but want to try more Louise.

Nonstop Bodies: How Dance Shaped New York City by Rennie McDougall

Nonstop Bodies: How Dance Shaped New York City by Rennie McDougall, 384 pages

This is a series of vignettes about important moments in which the histories of dance and New York City converge. Martha Graham, Lindy Hop, Alvin Ailey, and Vogueing are a few of the topics covered.

This was pretty straightforward light nonfiction, and the audiobook was a good listen. I read quite a bit about dance and think this is a good introduction to any of the topics covered. I especially enjoyed the chapter about the dance marathons during the depression, and appreciated that the author included both performance and vernacular dance.

Native Stranger: A Black American's Journey into the Heart of Africa

Native Stranger: A Black American's Journey into the Heart of Africa Eddy L. Harris 315 pages

This is a travelogue by St. Louisan Eddy Harris, better known for Mississippi Solo, about his journey through an impressive portion of Africa. It was published in 1992, so it’s also a bit of a portrait of an Africa in which globalization wasn’t quite so pronounced.

My high school French teacher gifted me a copy of this book when I was about 16, and I remembered liking it but was curious to see how much of it had really stuck with me.

Harris is so charming and honest, I found the book funny and touching and human. I hadn’t retained much over the years, so it was rare treat to read a book for the first time, twice. Some parts are difficult, about poverty and disease. There is a lot of bodily function talk, but the author’s purpose is to face his discomfort head-on. His honesty about how the intention to not behave “Americanly” when travelling, and how that intention can erode when we’re exhausted and uncomfortable was interesting, and is not often explored in travel writing. I did roll my eyes a little at author’s preoccupation with cultural differences female modesty, but I suspect that the author, like me, would see this journey through a different lens today.

I recommend this one even if you don’t normally gravitate toward travel writing. I have written in this blog before that this genre is saturated with pretty bad writing, and now I wonder if I feel that way because this one spoiled me for the average travelogue 25 years ago.

Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks

Turning to Stone: Discovering the Subtle Wisdom of Rocks Marcia Bjornerud 288 pages

Our author tells stories from her life and career, relating them to little lessons in geology. This blends a lot of subgenres that I adore, including:

*Memoirs that are anecdotes from an interesting job
*Teacher stories
*Nonfiction in which authors look at a subject and say “We are not so different, you and I.”

This was really fun, as our author is very likable and imparts some interesting information about rocks and how the field of geology has changed over the last 50 years or so. The parts about working in really remote places and the camaraderie between the scientists were especially fun. I recommend to anyone casually interested in science.

Meeting New People

Meeting New People by Daniel M Lavery (2026) 268 pages

If one is content to read a novel with most of the action happening in a woman's head or in her past, you might want to pick this one up. Barbara lives in a small apartment on the top floor of a six floor walk-up in Brooklyn. Recently her best friend broke up with her and she really doesn't know why, and she is distraught. She spends much time considering the best friends she has had in the past, not knowing exactly what went wrong in these relationships, either. Along the way, Barbara contemplates her two marriages and divorces. She also delves into the relationship she has with her adult son, Ezra, wondering how it could be made less contentious.

She doubts she'll ever remarry, and knowing how friends can help each other get through life's trials, she wonders how she can find a friend at her age (almost 58). Meanwhile, she goes through her life's motions, working in an upscale food market while managing the staff. She also considers what religion means to her.

This was not an action-filled novel, but I felt that I really was inside Barbara's head. I enjoyed her history, her life now, and the incremental changes that make a difference.

Record Journey Vol. 1

 

Record Journey Vol. 1 by Ryoichiro Kezuka (trans. Jan Mitsuko Cash), 256 pages.

This manga is a collection of short comics about the power of music. In one a girl learns more about her late grandfather from a strange record found in his things; in another young people run a pirate radio station to avoid censorship from an oppressive regime. There are many stories from different decades, but all of them feel thematically linked and cohesive.

I intercepted this book on the way to our new shelf, and I really enjoyed it! It has a very gentle, relaxing tone. I liked the characters and relationships, and thought this was a really nice, low stakes anthology. 

Voidverse

Voidverse by Damian Ober, 336 pages

Emery has always lived on a tiny rock (literally, a smallish rock floating in the void), but when her son gets sick, she follows The Sinker, a traveler between rocks, to seek out a cure. However, Emery's home rock is destroyed when she returns, and the pair start traveling, attempting to find out what they can about the void through which they travel, meeting people both kind and dangerous along the way.

I read this a while ago and had to check the summary to remember names. However, when I read the publisher-provided info, it didn't match up at all with what I remember reading. The publisher touts this as science fiction, though it doesn't feel like quite the right definition to me. I feel like science fiction requires some degree of physics (like, a nod to how gravity works or how people propel between places or some science, no matter how handwavy it might be) and this one just involves floating and falling at random, and there's no sense of whether these rocks are orbs or discs or what. If you can't tell, that really distracted me while reading this book, which I think I'd best define as the goth cousin of The Little Prince. It's literary science fiction, I guess, but I don't know that I'd recommend it to a SF reader.

The Author's Guide to Murder

 

The Author's Guide to Murder by Lauren Willig, Beatriz Williams, and Karen White, 404 pages.

Three famous authors in different genres go to a remote Scottish island to collaborate on a book. Allegedly. But while they are there the host of the retreat, famous author Brett Saffron Presley, is found dead under bizarre circumstances, and the three women's statements about how they knew the man don't seem to be adding up.

I enjoy a classic whodunit, and a book by three authors about three authors writing a book felt delightfully meta, so I was excited to check this one out! Unfortunately "literary satire" seems mostly in this case to mean "doesn't have to feel embarrassed about a whole lot of cliche." That being said, I did start having fun with this book a little later on, as the authors put down some of the tropes and started treating the characters as characters more than archetypes. Fairly enjoyable, but I don't know that I would recommend this one unless you're looking for something extremely cheesy.

Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea

 

Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea: Journeys Through Ancient Literature by Emily Wilson, 288 pages.

This book collects and reworks decades of Emily Wilson's essays on translation and the Greek and Latin classics into a single book. The book is wide-ranging, and the chapters aren't particularly closely related, but it gives particular weight to the ways translation can both help convey and alienate the cultural values. This book is described as being accessible to readers without a classics background, which I do believe to be through. However, I think a reader without a background in some sort of related academic field (literature, history, etc), would probably have a bit of a rough time. I personally really enjoyed the sections that were very focused on translation itself, especially the last chapter, which compares side-by-side how many translators have interpreted the same lines of the Odyssey. However, I'm afraid I found the chapters that were functionally an ancient literature review fairly tedious. I think this is a great book to check out from the library and read whatever chapters sound interesting, but I don't know if I would recommend reading it straight through. 

This book is scheduled to be released 9/1/2026.  

This Book Made Me Think of You

This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page, 416 pages

Five months after her husband died, Tilly receives a phone call from a local bookstore, telling her that her birthday present from her husband is ready to be picked up. When she arrives at the store, she learns that, before his death, her husband had arranged for 12 books to be given to Tilly each month for a full year. Included with each book is a note from her late husband, telling her why he picked the book and what he hopes it brings her. As a one-time book lover who hasn't been able to enjoy her hobby, Tilly is both impressed and intimidated by the yearlong venture, but as she begins to read and have conversations with bookseller Alfie, Tilly begins to feel a bit more herself.

This was a lovely book that's cozy like a favorite movie — it's predictable, emotional, and easy to enjoy. The characters are three-dimensional and the story takes a couple of turns that I didn't quite expect, and even though I feel like the "message from my dead spouse" trope has been played out, it plays well here.

The Death Row Club

The Death Row Club by V.A. Vazquez (2026), 323 pages

This book seemed like a cool concept. The adult children of death row inmates get to spend a weekend together away from the pressures and prying eyes (and judgement) of the public. While that eventually happened, it really follows two women whose fathers' commit murders while they come to terms with their unknowing roles in them. In some ways, the book does touch upon the family members of convicted murderers and the complicated relationship that they may have with each other and the convicted member, but I think I was hoping that there would be more of that angle. Instead, it quickly touches upon that issue and slowly (then dramatically) ends with a murder at the retreat and a quick resolution to the whole thing. It was an ok book, I just found myself a bit disappointed in it.

Heather

Heather by Caitlin Mullen (2026), 352 pages 

Callie Hauser is the new Police Chief in her hometown. She is young and motivated, and is soon swept up in a decades old murder surrounding a pair of teenage twins who went missing and left behind a dead newborn baby. 

I am back and forth on whether I liked this mystery. It is definitely better than Please See Us (which I recently reviewed), but I am having a hard time figuring out why it wasn't quite right. It is a bit unbelievable that a 30 y/o cop who just recently returned to her hometown would suddenly become the Police Chief (especially when there were more experienced police officers on the force). It is also a bit unbelievable said new Police Chief would have so much extra time to watch her best friends 3-year-old. I also did not care for the chapters written in the 2nd person - they were jarring compared to the rest of the novel. That said, there were some fun twists and unexpected turns that kept the storying engaging. So, I am torn about recommending it. 

Cool Machine

Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead (2026), 352 pages

Garnering praise from all reviewers, award-winning author Colson Whitehead has earned it with Cool Machine, the final installment of the Harlem Trilogy. The series started with the novel Harlem Shuffle, a story that is subdued. A lot of background — family, neighborhood, and relationships – a calm before the storm. Book two, Crook Manifesto, is a non-stop fling into the unplanned and random violence that crime generates. In Cool Machine Ray Carney, the protagonist of the three books, appears to recognize his fate and embrace the criminal he has become, a cool machine. There are no subtleties; Carney gets punched by page 15. Whitehead manages to weave the feel of 1980s New York into every page. Rare is the author that generates a page-turning crime novel and a sociological treatise in one book. Bonus — the writing is first-class.

With Love From Harlem

With Love From Harlem by ReShonda Tate, 416 pages

In the late 1940s, Hazel Scott was a jazz phenom, pulling classical themes into popular music, and beginning a career as a film star. All the while, she was using her fame to challenge social norms and fight for civil rights. So it seems inevitable that her path would cross with Harlem's newest electrifying politician, Adam Clayton Powell. They instantly form a connection (despite the fact that he's married) and embark on a long, and often tumultuous, relationship that takes them through Hollywood, political activism, and a cultural revolution.

This novel follows Hazel's life with Powell, though it also focuses on her professional highs and lows, as well as the relationships she has with other artists of the day. While some of the relationships feel genuine (the long relationship with Billie Holliday), there are times where it feels like the author is trying to drop as many names as possible (the Nina Simone bits were particularly irksome, as the author admits in the afterword that neither of these two meetings ever happened). Still, it's an interesting book, and worth a read as a jumping-off point for learning more about Hazel Scott, who certainly had a fascinating life.

Murder Mindfully

 Murder Mindfully by Karsten Dusse (2019), 416 pages

Life is coming in hard for Bjorn. Work is stressful, marriage is stressful, and all he wants to do is spend more quality time with his daughter. In an effort to save their marriage, Bjorn's wife sends him to a mindfulness coach. Initially Bjorn is reluctant as he has things TO DO. But even he realizes that he cannot keep going at this pace, especially as his top client's shady businesses are bringing unwanted attention. Thankfully, the mindfulness coach has given him the tools to be present in any situation (whether with his daughter, defending gang members, or committing the occasional murder). 

This was a fun read. It is light with a touch of humor and, honestly, some good advice on how to be more present in your life. I found this German series through the Netflix show, and will likely read more of them.  

The Trip

The Trip by Audrey J. Cole, 303 pages

Twenty years after a whitewater rafting trip that left a friend for dead, four women have gathered for a luxury sailing trip. Each has her own reasons for attending, and none of those reasons are to rekindle their friendship. However, nobody expects things to go sideways so quickly, with death, storms, and an almost complete lack of sailing ability aboard (though you'd think that one would've given them a clue). What becomes obvious is that someone aboard the sailboat wants revenge.

There is absolutely nobody likeable in this book, which mentions Starlink enough that I'm really hoping it was a paid advertisement. I read it a couple months ago and I honestly can't remember who the bad guy is, and really, I don't care. If you're looking for a hate read, give this one a go. Otherwise, skip it.

Such a Perfect Family

Such a Perfect Family by Nalini Singh, 384 pages

After a whirlwind romance, Tavish has married the woman of his dreams and moved in with her parents on the other side of the world while the newlyweds try to find a home of their own. However, it literally all goes up in flames when Tavish returns home from an errand to find the house ablaze, killing his new in-laws and putting his wife in a coma. While he tries to figure out exactly who may have set this fire, Tavish's checkered past (full of wealthy women dying and leaving him all kinds of riches) may be catching up to him, making him a prime suspect in the arson.

I read this a couple months back and I'll admit that I had to look up the summary to get that paragraph written. It was a disjointed story with unreliable and largely unlikeable characters, and other than the exotic locale (Philippines? New Zealand? Maybe both?), it's completely forgettable. Meh.

 

A Zoom with a View

A Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon, 384 pages

I already had this mystery on my TBR pile, but when I read Jan's review of it, I moved it up to the top. Leo, who has reluctantly returned to her tiny Texas hometown for job that doesn't even come close to using her doctoral degree in English; her batty hairdresser-with-a-secret-life mom Karina; Karina's best friend Kay, who manages to turn the county lockup into a kegger; police consultant (and secret girlfriend to one of the officers investigating the murder) Macy... these are just a few of the fantastic characters that make up the cast of this charming and innately readable cozy mystery. And while there are plenty of over-the-top and unbelievable elements (Chaz and Kymber saying "babe" in every sentence they say to each other, for example), there are also some very real elements to ground the story. The way Leo's best friend Emily reacts to both her mother's arrest and Leo's aloofness, Leo and Karina's difficult relationship... it's a fantastic book, and I can't wait to read the next one in this series. (And yes, the dog is fine.)

The Keeper of Lost Children

The Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson, 464 pages

Living with her husband in occupied Germany in the 1950s, Ethel Gathers is a proud wife of an American serviceman and always looking for something to do. She soon discovers a nearby orphanage filled with the abandoned children of local German women and the African American soldiers with whom they had brief affairs. While Ethel and her husband personally adopt a handful of kids, they're determined to help these children find homes back in the U.S., and Ethel begins reaching out to all of her contacts at African American newspapers, churches, and everywhere else to accomplish her mission. Ethel's tale is woven together with the stories of Sophie, a Black girl attending a prestigious private (and mostly white) school in 1965, and Ozzie, a Black serviceman in 1948 Germany who falls in love with a German woman.

Braiding these three stories together creates a captivating novel that is based on a real phenomenon of Black American families adopting mixed race children from Germany in the 1950s. All of the stories are compelling, and while the reader may expect each story to go one way, the somehow-realistic twists keep us guessing. Indeed, the least believable element of the whole book is how many kids Ethel and her husband adopt, and that part is based on an actual woman: Mabel Treadwell Grammer, who, with her husband, adopted 12 mixed-race children from German orphanages. It's a fascinating book, and I was riveted the whole time while reading it.

Lost Lake

Lost Lake by Sarah Addison Allen (2014) 296 pages

The cast of characters include Eby, an older widow who owns a lakeside resort that is in disrepair, just outside a little town in Georgia; Lisette, a mute woman whom Eby and her late husband had met in Paris and who has now been with Eby for most of her life; Kate, a young woman who has been a zombie since her husband died a year ago; Devin, Kate's eight-year-old daughter who has a most lively imagination; Cricket, Kate's mother-in-law, a controlling woman who is planning to run for a political office in Atlanta; and several others, all with engaging backstories.

Kate feels as if she has literally woken up after a year lost when her husband died. She sees her mother-in-law planning out her life, selling her house, moving her to the mother-in-law's house, and planning for her to work in her mother-in-law's office. The mother-in-law also wants to send Kate's daughter to a private school and train her to wear proper clothing, instead of letting her choose the fairy wings and cowboy boots and other garb that Devin likes so well.

 On their moving day, Kate finds Devin wearing clothing from a dress-up trunk in the attic and Devin shows her a postcard she found in the trunk from Kate's great-aunt Eby, which has a picture of Eby's resort. They make a split second decision to go to the resort to see if it still exists.

Eby has just agreed to sell the resort to a man who wants to redevelop it. The past keeps poking up its head. There just might be a ghost or two. As well as people who are looking for meaning. I liked this novel very much.

Swindle Series

Swindle series by Gordon Korman

Swindle (2008), 252 pgs.

Griffin Bing does not stand for injustice. In fact, more likely than not, you will find him outlining and executing a plan to right some wrong. Along with a group of friends, each with their own set of skills, Griffin makes a plan to get back a baseball card which he was swindled out of. These kids are constantly underestimated, but with the right plan, they can show the world that they are not to be messed with.

Zoobreak (2009), 230 pgs.
Griffin and his friends continue their mission of fighting for the little guy--this time for the little furry guys! After a field trip to a floating zoo, the classmates are horrified by the poor living conditions for the creatures in the exhibit. The animals must be freed, and this is just the team to do it. 

Framed (2010), 234 pgs.
When a Super Bowl ring belonging to the school goes missing, all signs point to The Man With a Plan. The thing is--Griffin did not take it. Given his history with heists, Griffin has trouble proving his innocence, so his friends must step up and make a plan to clear their leader's name. 

Showoff (2012), 248 pgs.
Luthor, the hulking Doberman belonging to one of the friends, is in trouble. After going berserk at a dog show and injuring the star canine, his owners are forced to give him up to the pound. Griffin cannot stand to see a member of the team behind bars--even when it may be deserved--so he picks Luthor up and comes up with a plan to tame the beast--by training Luthor to win a dog show of his own. 

Hideout (2013), 275 pgs.
The team must band together again to help Luthor after his malicious previous owner begins suing for custody. The friends decide to take the dog with them to their summer camps and hide him while they figure out what to do. 

Jackpot (2014), 200 pgs.
Someone in Cedarville has won the lottery, but they have yet to claim their prize. As time runs out for the winner, The Man With a Plan takes it upon himself to discover what happened to the winning ticket. If that weren't stressful enough, Griffin must complete this plan alone after a new student moves to town and disrupts the friend-group.  

Unleashed (2015), 202 pgs.
Since his dad is an inventor, you'd think that Griffin would be a shoe-in to win the inventing contest at his school. However, competing against his technology-genius friend, Melissa, is never a good idea. Despite the invention rivalry, when Melissa's invention goes missing, the team must come together once again to make sure it's a fair competition. 

Jingle (2016), 199 pgs.
After being unwillingly signed up for the annual Christmas extravaganza, Griffin and his friends begrudgingly participate--dressing as elves and handing out gifts. When the event is cancelled after a priceless artifact is stolen, the group is slightly relieved to be out of elf-duty--until the blame is shifted their way. In order to clear their names and keep the spirit of the holidays alive, the team completes another plan... this time to save Christmas. 

The Mercy of Gods

The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey, 448 pages

I first read this book about a year and a half ago, and realized that as awkward as my write-up was then, I'd write it exactly the same way now — in fact, when I first started writing this, I started it with the same sentence before I erased that and just chose to redirect you to that original blog post. Anyway, this made a bit more sense on the second read-through, and it was an excellent discussion in Orcs & Aliens. Can't wait to read the second book in this series, which I thankfully have sitting on my shelf at home.

The Last Mandarin

The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung, 400 pages

Food blogger Alice and her mother, famous dissident and human rights activist Vivien, have never really gotten along. Yet when mysterious global attacks traced back to China start setting off alarms worldwide and stopping all the elevators simultaneously, they learn that they are closer to the source of these attacks than they thought. The mother-daughter pair must work together, with or without the help of the U.S. and Chinese governments, to determine who is behind the attacks before something truly devastating happens.

This would make an excellent summer blockbuster along the lines of Indiana Jones or National Treasure or The Mummy. However, there are just too many improbable or downright impossible things to suspend disbelief for the length of time it takes to read a book. Wait for the inevitable film adaptation and read one of Penny's other books instead.

Yesteryear

 

 

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, 391 pages 

Natalie Heller Mills is a "tradwife" social media influencer, who lives the perfect life in the eyes of her Instagram followers. Her posts hide the less "perfect" aspects of her life, like her nannies, farmhands, and martial problems. One day Natalie wakes up in the 1800s and has to learn to navigate her life without her usual modern amenities.

I was really excited for this book, and did enjoy the beginning. I enjoyed the book less as it progressed, and found the story line got muddled in attempts to keep the suspense alive. Similar to many readers, I did not like the ending. The concept of this book was very intriguing, and I am looking forward to the movie, however it did not hit home for me. 

The Road to Tender Hearts

The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025), 384 pages

PJ is struggling. He is a 63 y/o divorced alcoholic that is drifting through life. He gets a wake-up call when he suddenly becomes the caregiver to his orphaned grand niece and nephew. On top of that, his ex-wife (of whom he is still very close to) and her fiancé take an extended trip to Alaska while his somewhat estranged daughter comes back into the picture. To round out the sudden changes, a death cat appears to provide comfort, warnings, and security. PJ decides that best way to handle all of this is to take a road trip west to reconnect with a recently widowed former high school crush and to get a paternity test from a Soap Opera star for his grandniece. 

 ALL of that is in this book. There is also a bunch more. Despite PJ being a man-child and a bit irritating, I ended up really liking the book. Fair warning, there are a lot of heavy topics covered in the book. It is not a breezy read, but there is enough warmth and humor to keep you invested.  

The Silver Fish

The Silver Fish by Connor Martin, 384 pages

Fresh off a personal tragedy, journalist Dani has come to Ghana determined to expose corruption and write an investigative article that will restart her career in the high-risk world of international journalism. While she seeks a story uncovering corruption in the oil industry, she stumbles upon something much more sinister and explosive, involving the fiberoptic cables that traverse the ocean, international spies, and oh so much danger.

As much as I wanted to like this book at the outset (it's a spy novel! in a setting we're not used to! with a female journalist as the lead character!), it was kind of a mess. Dani's journalistic ethics are almost nonexistent and she makes some REALLY stupid moves, which is what leads directly to the danger and suspense. Would've loved to see a smart woman exposing corruption without corrupting herself in the process. But alas...

The Final Target

 The Final Target by Nora Roberts (2026), 419 pages

Arden Bowie's first book has just been published and her book signing was a success; except that it is also the first time she meets her future stalker. 

This is a somewhat new genre for me as I didn't realize Romance Thriller is a thing. Now that I know it is, I understand the book better. I couldn't figure out why there was this crime, but a lot of the book centers around her meeting nice guy Gideon. The parts surrounding the stalker were pretty intense, but then the book would refocus to Gideon and it was like a nice Hallmark show. So, if this is your thing, it was a good summer read. If it isn't, I would move on. 

Please See Us

 Please See Us by Caitlin Mullen (2020), 341 pages

Clara, a teenage psychic/prostitute, and Lily, an embarrassed art gallerist, form an unlikely friendship to reluctantly solve a string of Jane Doe murders in down and out Atlantic City. I really didn't care for this novel. The writing was clunky, the character arcs both tropey and unbelievable, and it was told from too many points of view. Definitely not one I will be recommending. 

July Totals

Please talk to us about our books!

 

Annie: 2 books, 852 pages

Byron: 4 books, 1209 pages

Jan: 5 books, 1334 pages

John: 2 books, 746 pages

Kara: 9 books, 3054 pages

Kevin: 9 books, 2308 pages

Regan: 10 books, 4087 pages 

Sarah: 6 books, 1716 pages

Tracey: 9 books, 3322 pages

 Totals: 56 books and 18, 628 pages

 

More Weight: A Salem Story

More Weight: A Salem Story by Ben Wickey (2025) 532 pages 

I loved the in depth history, mostly in black and white, of the 1692 events. So much more disturbing than Arthur Miller's version of events in The Crucible. The focus on Giles and Martha Corey works well. I also appreciated poets Longfellow and Hawthorne's tour of Salem in the 1860s. It goes in an otherworldly direction, which seems odd, until you realize that this part has been a ghost story all along. The two parts connect because Longfellow had written a play about the Salem Witch Trials focusing on the Coreys and Hawthorne is related to one of the judges with his family living in the Salem area for generations. The Intro and Outro about the aftermath of the witch trials leading to modern day Salem is super dense with litigation from mishandled justice, politics, consumerism, and ongoing fictions and frauds. So much fascinating educational material. It took longer to complete than I expected, but I'm glad I stayed with it.

A Zoom with a View

 

A Zoom with a View by Jess Cannon (2026) 370 pages

Leo (short for Leonora) has reluctantly moved back to her hometown, a small city just south of Austin, Texas. Reluctant because she has most often felt that her mother is standoff-ish and doesn't want her to come back. Reluctant, too, because moving back is an admission that after her multiple post-doc years, she can't get a permanent job as an English professor. However, she accepts a summer job taking photos of new listings with a realtor (Kay) who happens to be her mother's best friend as well as the mother of Leo's best friend.

At the town's 4th of July parade, there is an altercation between Kay and another realtor, Chaz.  Chaz and his girlfriend have been spotted sabotaging Kay's float for the parade. Just hours later, Chaz is dead and Kay is arrested for his murder. On the surface, this story looks to be a standard whodunnit. However, there are hints early on that something more nefarious is going on, something which started way before this murder. This is the hook that led to this book being finished in a day, which does not happen often anymore.

Social media skills come into play while collecting evidence; Leo knows her stuff and finds herself helping the local detective. Are the characters believable? Mostly. Is the storyline solid? Reasonably. Is Leo a protagonist we can get behind? Most definitely. She's smart, measured, and takes time to think.  The only negative might be a positive: the book is calling for a sequel.

Mississippi Solo

Mississippi Solo by Eddy Harris, 250 pages

At the age of 30, aspiring writer Eddy Harris decided to find a canoe and paddle his way from the headwaters of the Mississippi River in Minnesota all the way down to the delta in New Orleans. Never canoed before, yet here he was, doing it all by his lonesome. Except that he wasn't really alone. Along the way, Harris met dozens of folks from all walks of life and swapped stories with them, getting as familiar with people as he did with the river itself. 

This was a fascinating memoir, and I'm so glad we read it as part of the Big Book Challenge this year (and even happier that Eddy came to visit! The dude give really good hugs.) I'll be recommending this widely.

The Underground Railroad

 The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016), 306 pages

This sometimes hard to read novel follows Cora, a young slave woman, fleeing the South for somewhat freedom in the North. Books about slavery aren't enjoyable, but should be required reading for all Americans. Whitehead does not hold back on the horrors Cora, her compatriots, and aiders experienced during this era. He does a great job exploring all the aspects of the Underground Railroad and how risky it was for the folks using it and for those running it. If you haven't already, I highly recommend you check this one out. 

The First Date Prophecy

The First Date Prophecy by Kate and Danny Tamberelli (2023) 327 pages

Lucy and Rudy are both in their early thirties and living month to month without great jobs and definitely not finding partners. When Lucy gets back onto the dating website HeartThrobs after a particularly bad first date, she sees Rudy's profile and recognizes him as a child star from a TV series and decides to give him a chance. Rudy, meanwhile, gets onto the same site after his own annoying date: someone who approached him after one of his music gigs in a bar. He finds Lucy's profile. They end up meeting in a restaurant featuring Elvira, the oldest psychic in New York. The date ends up etched in their memories because of the old woman's prophecy for them, which seems like it's positive. However, the old woman is unable to finish before she collapses.

After that unsettling experience, Lucy and Rudy decide to hang out with each other to see if their relationship has a chance of success. They go to each other's job gigs and meet each other's friends. They like each other a lot, but they are each reluctant to take the relationship to a physical level, fearful of possible heartbreak.

Watching them as their friendship and job prospects progress, waiting to see if they can be successful together, is a fun trip, complete with eccentric secondary characters, weird situations, and of course, a crisis point.