Years ago I was working background at a war-gaming conference and there were piles of copies of Tom Clancy‘s The Hunt for Red October that people were reading in the many hours of before internet downtime. The consensus was - just what does he know so he can make this stuff up? Well, with this writing duo, we know the answer to that question here. Good job and game on Bill and James!

Last summer I was committed to working down my very tall thrifted Elin Hilderband stack but I saved this series for some virtual winter fun in the sand. No Nantucket in this Virgin Island series, but she did stick with framing her story around a dead guy. Fun, but shouldn‘t they be grieving!?

#BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks

I had so many visions of John Boy as I read this. I couldn‘t recall how this one ended (I remember watching the movie years ago!), but Richard Paul Evans doesn‘t spare the children in his tiny stories. I kept reading, and hoping, oh please, not Jenna. Whew.

#MonthlyWrapup Here‘s my November contribution to my #indexcard collection. I finally showed my actual physical cards to someone IRL - my visiting sister!

I loved every single sentence of this book. Often I‘m anxiously reading because I want to know how a story resolves. I didn‘t care how this resolved because that would mean this experience was over. I was interested in every aspect -including the story of Chico, the bird. The setting - Cypress - I need to know more!

My guest room is occupied for the first time since months prior to the initial Covid lockdown and by a sister, no less! So, no book completed but I sure laughed at the socks she gave me :)

Told from the perspective of the white guys in their westward expansion of America into the Ohio Valley but a fascinating history which was never covered in my Northwest upbringing. Now I need to balance it with Indigenous Tribe perspectives. ↓

I found this while thrifting books and can‘t let an Elizabeth Gilbert book go unread. It was interesting to read a book published years before I even knew who she was, but there were 12 stories in this little book. Each was well written but none really had an end. I prefer stories, however short, to have a beginning, middle, and end.

Happy American Thanksgiving. I‘m grateful for this Litten family!

My bookshelf is ready for the holidays and that vertical stack of tiny Christmas books on the center shelf is where I plan to find myself. I‘m pretty sure every book there was thrifted - I see holiday books looking all lonely out there in the wild and know I can make a lovely new home for them. And I might have moved #20 down on my list just so it could follow #19 :)

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Outliers and Talking to Strangers had a huge impact on me and those in my world have likely grown weary of my referencing Malcolm Gladwell. Although this didn‘t land with quite as significant an impact I‘m sure before the holidays are over I‘ll find reason to refer to ‘thin-slicing‘!

This is a heart wrenching memoir. There‘s a disconnect between the author and her story. It‘s at once off putting but then it makes sense. It‘s told not from the successful adult that Qian has become but from the undocumented child of which she evolved. A child who was taught to be as invisible as possible in order that she and her family might stay in this country.

I loved this book. I think it would not have taken much to turn this one into a thriller, Instead it‘s a quiet story of a 48 yo woman discovering who her biological father is and how incredibly different her life would be (for better or worse) had he known of her existence.

I often prioritize my fiction reads above my nonfiction but like taking a month to prioritize NF as I‘ve read some great books and I‘m enlightened on several topics! Tagged an important book for me to have a different perspective.

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

I like to read memoirs - to be a fly on the wall of a cathartic journey where the writer is better at the journeys end for having put pen to paper while discovering who they are in the craziness that is life. Ariel explains upfront she lost her unborn child, spouse, and home in too short a time, but I felt the tell of who she became on the other side of that journey was lacking because she remained clouded by blame she placed on her ex-wife.

I‘m always entertained Sutton Foster and first learned of her from the casting of Younger rather than her many Broadway credits. Her relationship with her mother is fascinating, but my favorite part was her fangirling over Patty LuPone. …Oh, and reading her Instagram, she designed and crocheted her sweater on the cover!

I love a good hero‘s journey and Amor Towles tells a good one. I would love an update on Billy and Emmett, who they became as adults - and what their grandchildren would have to say about how their grandpa and great uncle were responsible for the seeds of happiness in the family that is theirs.

This is my first David Sedalia book - how in the world did this not happen long before now!? I loved how he wrote about his relationships with his family. It makes me smile to think of grown-ass families coming together to enjoy a vacation home. The last essay on non-English speaking European swearing is hilarious.

#DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks

I‘ve walked inside and around the Alamo countless times with my challenge of snapping a pic sans tourists (my photo above!). What I did not realize is how much influence John Wayne and Walt Disney had in creating the post 1950 view of the Alamo - wow! ↓

Settling into these books of essays by this mother/daughter duo always makes me happy. I think this was my fourth book with none read in order of publishing. Their ability to laugh at themselves is refreshing . Mother Mary had passed in my previous reads but she is still with them, nearly 90, and feisty as ever when this one was written.

#BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks

I‘m accustomed to earning my psychology reading credits from Malcolm McDowell. But what‘s this, Malcolm‘s a visiting professor for a history lesson - I‘m all in! Why he is interested in his research makes the book even better. I don‘t often spend time in the historical details of war but have new understanding for how difficult it was to deliver a bomb on an intended target during WWII.

I‘ve long been aware of the Troubles because people from my hometown were highly suspected of gun running for the provisional IRA in the 1970s. Somehow I‘ve never read a nonfictional account of those 30 years of terror, and this sent me down the google and Netflix rabbit hole. So much I didn‘t know and I‘m intrigued to keep learning.

What! I liked this, but I‘m sure I‘ll have an opportunity to read this again with my IRL bookclub. It‘s books like this that make me appreciate that I have no problem rereading a book. Knowing how this books comes together will actually benefit my reading experience the second time through!

Gosh, I‘ve read some really good books of late. I picked the tag because it was so important for me to read a non-fiction account of the Japanese internment camps.

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

I‘ve paid attention to this family over the years and was curious to read how Anderson would frame this history for his his son. I‘m impressed that he can see the Vanderbilt flaws without feeling he was somehow cheated of an inheritance …And again with Truman Capote and how he fills a room! But, after all, Anderson, if in vitro, did attend Truman‘s historical Black&White Ball.

Over the years Ive read several historical fiction books centered on the internment camps of Japanese Americans during WWII - but fictional romance focused. This NF based on IRL troops of Americans of Japanese descent is a terrible thing done and important to write down. It‘s a history we should learn and never forget.

I thought this NF book was written in such an interesting way with three parts practically independent of each other (the dead guy, the lawyer, the writer). Harper Lee‘s research into said dead guy, and the lawyer, and the book that never came to be makes for a great read. This author did a nice job pulling together the story Harper Lee couldn‘t write in the way she wanted it told. ↓

There was something about this story that immediately drew me in and I was near the end when I realized it. The MCs born in 1922 have yet to turn 30 by the final page, but the very good present tense writing had me forgetting time until historical reminders slid in. I felt like a fly on the wall that wasn‘t moving until the story resolved. I feel like there‘s another book or two for this Family, and I‘m here (well, a fly over there) for it.

Well first you off, I loved this book. Possums, squirrels and the hellish creatures they can be - yep, my life. But the heart of this book is so incredibly important - depression, living in and through it - and findings ways to keep laughing and loving.

I read this book just over a year ago and couldn‘t help but consider who I‘d be now if I‘d been taught history with a consideration of perspective bigger than white privilege. I just reread this book for an IRL bookclub, and this time I wept. In just a year‘s time I read this differently knowing that legislatures are actively working to silence that perspective.

I found this book back in August in a LFL. I didn‘t know of the author, but the title was too perfect for me not to read as my kick-off to NF November. She‘s funny and also loves the people in her lifetime NYC world. The book is a quick read but I should add the hours I spent down the google- and Instragram- rabbit hole learning more about Jill and family. ↓

How is it that it‘s time again for a #MonthlyWrapUp with my #indexcard collection of books read!? About a thousand cards ago when I began this journal/journey (I‘m looking at you @Clwojick I would sometimes make a mistake on a book‘s title and create a card anew. Now I look at The Apple Never Falls, and think, oh well - woops. …Happy Halloween Everyone!

This was a quiet little book. Fours sisters originally from Dominican Republic and now 60+ yo Americans having lived lives spread across 4 states. Antonio, both recently retired (English lit prof) and widowed, must navigate this ‘afterlife‘ with her distant sisters and her local community. It‘s an immigrant story but those interviews where the director explains, ‘It‘s a boxing movie but it‘s not really about boxing.‘ Yea, like that.

Here‘s my November #BookSpinBingo list, and a note to self…. Self, don‘t save so many nonfiction reads for NF November because you‘ll discover even more NFs that weren‘t even on your radar. And you still have 2021 fictions to read before holiday reading begins. …It‘ll take a couple Oct days did get a head start!

This was a nice conclusion to the curse of the Owens family - to undo what was done. I read @Branwen ‘s post noting the author and editors forgetting the manner of death of Michael in Practical Magic - I appreciate that I was prepared for that miss! It‘s definitely a companion to the previous trilogy and doesn‘t really stand alone as it‘s own story. And that‘s completely fine as it‘s not intended to stand alone.

What to tag!? Four books tied at my highest rating of a 4.5 (A-). Tough choice but Wen with the tagged because I had fun reading this mystery unfold.

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

Dang it. The whole whodo voodo youdo mystery, the why and the how, had the potential of a solid October reading pick. However, the time spent inside the heads of the two manipulative, money-hungry, man-hating MCs was just ugh, a big ol‘ pan, diminishing the stories potential. I guess for this weekend one, Pick + Pan = So-So.

My thoughts are all over the place on this one, but I‘m giving it a pick because I really wanted to read how it resolved - and just who was the sociopath (I guessed wrong). There was a lot, maybe too much, going on for the MC though. Let‘s see, I‘m counting at least 5 significant reasons to lawyer up - that‘s gonna hurt the pocketbook!

Although I was of the right age, I missed out on 80s slasher movies - reserving my entertainment in horror to haunted house films. But I had to go here because I can‘t miss out on Grady Hendrix and his campy hysterical fiction. I lost track of who was who and did something I seldom do (and for the 2nd time this month)- 1/3 in and I started over. I‘m so glad I did that!

Once I realized the mystery/thriller aspect in this slow burn of a book was secondary to the character relationships, I enjoyed it. It could be an interesting a parent/teenager buddy read. Sometimes people lie because they are good at it. That same person might grow into a very responsible adult and things erroneously kept secret then could have an even greater impact later. The discussions ensuing by a buddy read could be beneficial.

I wanted to read the Jake Brigance trilogy in order and enjoyed doing so. This one set in ‘94 but published in 2020 did not do the thing that‘s a pet peeve of mine - infuse today‘s mores back to the story‘s setting. That said, a pregnant 14 yo supporting character is raped by a thug. Rather than professionals in the know immediately getting her the support she needs, she‘s used as a pawn in a court case. Geez, was that normal in 1994?

I don‘t remember when or why this book made it to my shelves, and now that I‘ve read it, my loss of memory here is fitting. Sad, yet fascinating to consider a woman with dementia confusing a current situation with a traumatic event from her long ago past - particularly when the caretakers of her 82 year-old self have little knowledge of who she really was in your youth. The mystery wrapped inside this was interesting, as well.

I had pen and paper in hand as I read this so I could track the characters and their connections to each other. I‘m glad I did this because it helped me stay focused on the many aspects of this story. Every character had their part in how this tale went down and I enjoyed it!

I only understood the mystery of this book as it unfolded and that‘s a good thing. What I liked most was the story supporting the mystery - an ex-stepmother living a good life is 3 years out of touch with the two girls she helped raise but when one of those girls knocks on her door - can you really ever be an ex-mom?

#BookSpin

I love the way this author weaves a story and had an apple bucketful a good time reading this book. Joy, the 69 yo mother was a fascinating MC. Her grown-ass children were fun and complicated and demonstrated how four kids can be raised close in age within the same environment yet grow to be unique in personality. And Savanna - I don‘t have enough characters to go there!

Any grid where nothing falls blow a solid B, 4-star rating is a fantastic reading experience for me. I knew immediately the tag on this grid because I love everything about this book. I even love thinking about it after moving onto other books!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

I hadn‘t thought about it before, but I suppose authors as a character is a trope I gravitate to as this is my 4th such topic in less than a month! I was entertained reading this. I also read in the jacket description that this is already optioned by Netflix. Just how hard it will be to correctly cast Bob, the dog!?

Well, include me not among those that solve mysteries earlier than intended by an author. I didn‘t have a clue what was going to happen next. Fun read.

My first thought was that this book was too middle grade for my current mood but I quickly read to the creativity in the story and had fun reading about a book that when the pages are closed have a life different than the roles they play in print. Beware, characters may be watching you if you keep your book open between readings! It must have been a blast for mother and daughter to spin this yarn.

I realize this book is chalk full of triggers, but it has equal potential to be therapeutic to help a reader understand they are not alone in their world of confused feelings. …I went to HS in an era where students did not tell on authority figures. When I was a sophomore a teacher would say wildly inappropriate things to me. I was very fortunate to have supportive, protective friends so this was not my story. ↓

#DoubleSpin @TheAromaofBooks

Considering how quickly this story went to print, I thought it was really good. I loved the setting - when reading the pandemic, I‘d prefer to read about how it‘s going down outside the U.S. politics. …I‘m left thinking about authors out in the world with new resolutions, character‘s named, contemporary 2020 plot line in place, typing away on 2Jan2020. And then Covid hits, and that story cannot remain what it set out to be.