This was a very frustrating read for me. I think I could have really liked it, and at times I did, it‘s just that I felt like my shoes kept getting stuck in the mud. It is slow, but not the kind that is quietly building tension or atmosphere, it‘s the kind where you feel stuck in details and are just dying for the story to get moving again. #BookerPrize Shortlist 6/6

Obviously, it would be impossible to sum up all 1000+ pages in a short review, so I won‘t try. I will say that it was more than a book to me, it was an experience, an immersive one that took over my thoughts during the months that I spent savoring it. I kind of can‘t believe it‘s over. #BookerPize Longlist 10/13, Shortlist 5/6

This is Science writing at its best; conversational, nuanced, and never boring. I came in with basically no knowledge, I thought all bees lived in hives and made honey (which I‘m pretty sure I learned from Winnie the Pooh), yet still managed to come away with with a basic understanding of the ways in which bees affect the evolution of ecosystems and agricultural systems. Hanson convinces you without ever proselytizing.

I absolutely loved the first half of this novel, but the premise wore a bit thin for me as it went on. Still well worth a read for the wickedly subversive humor and for the undertone of loneliness and rejection that Awad deftly carries throughout to bring this wild plot down to earth.

Lalami is trying to do a lot here, frankly too much. Islamaphobia, undocumented immigration, treatment of veterans, parental expectation, work/life balance, opioid abuse, gun rights, racism etc... are all brought up over the course of the narrative, but because there are so many issues to explore, none can be examined in any meaningful way. I get that she is going for “this is America now” but what‘s the point if we‘re only skimming the surface?

Oh this is great. A departure from Whitehead‘s usual style in that he leaves out his familiar elements of speculative fiction and just tells the story straight. There is no looking away here, it‘s only the cold reality of the Nickel Academy and the society in which it exists. Even so, Whitehead knows when to stop; when the stomach turning violence has had its effect and will only be met with numbness or incredulity if it is pushed further.

Set during the Cold War while the US was engaging in troubling covert operations to stop the spread of Communism in West Africa. It‘s a spy thriller on its face, but that was the least interesting part to me. What engaged me the most was Marie‘s voice and perspective as a Black woman in white man‘s profession. The way she is cautious and plays along when she needs to, but never allows the people who underestimate and try to use her, to break her.

I went in with some apprehension after seeing all the bails from other #NYRBBookClub members, and I can see why, but this wound up working for me. It‘s a life told in glancing vignettes about those who shared her life. @MerelyBookish made an apt comparison to Rachel Cusk‘s Outline, and much like that book, I can‘t articulate very well why I found it so affecting. For the sake of discussion, I will try to by Sunday.

Eep! My #BasicWitchSwap package arrived today! @Catsandbooks I can‘t wait to dive in, thank you so so much!! Now, off to hide the box from myself until Halloween...

This was a re-read for book club and it hasn‘t lost any of its magic. Kelly Link somehow manages to create vivid, unexpected worlds yet still leave much to the reader‘s own imagination. I love her so much.

#7days7covers #covercrush

Day 7

#7Days7Covers #CoverCrush

Day 6

#7Days7Covers #CoverCrush

Day 5

Don‘t wait to be tagged if you want to play, just jump right in!

I really enjoyed this. It doesn‘t reach Rushdie‘s highest highs (though not much else does either), but it‘s well above his lows. I‘d say if you like Rushdie, you will like this. If you don‘t, I don‘t think it will do much to change your mind. I was completely charmed by it though. #BookerPrize Longlist 9/13, Shortlist 4/6

#7days7covers #covercrush

Day 4

If you want to join in and haven‘t been tagged, consider yourself tagged!

#7Days7Covers #CoverCrush

Day 3

Want to play @Catsandbooks ? It‘s seven covers in seven days, with no explanation, and tag someone new to play each day 😊

On its own, I liked this book. Did I like it as a sequel to The Handmaid‘s Tale? That‘s the part that I‘m not so sure about. It‘s a much broader view of Gilead, it‘s even seen from the outside, and told from different perspectives of power, and that all works for this story. My problem is that the lack of all of those things, and the confinement to Offred‘s perspective, were what I loved the most about The Handmaid‘s Tale.

#7Days7Covers #CoverCrush

Day 2

Has @Redwritinghood been tagged yet? Seven covers in seven days with no explanation and tag someone new everyday.

#7Days#7Covers #CoverCrush

Day 1

Want to play @merelybookish ? Seven covers in seven days with no explanation, and tag someone new every day.

Thanks for the tag @LeahBergen 😊

New Margaret Atwood and a pumpkin spiced latte, now this is a good day off!

Aw what a sweet surprise in my mailbox this afternoon! Thank you so much @erzascarletbookgasm !! The tea and bookmark are perfect for starting a new book on a Friday night! ☕️📚

A series of loosely connected stories of (mostly) Black, (mostly) immigrant (mostly) women in England. No one here has an easy life, but they all seem to have an innate sense of hope and an optimism that is refreshing. Is it possibly too optimistic at times? Sure. Did I enjoy every minute of it? I sure did. #BookerPrize 7/13

This is a difficult book for me to review because I have a lot of respect for Hope Jahren, not only for her contributions to science but also for her willingness to be so vulnerable about professional, as well as, personal struggles. Unfortunately, botany and geochemistry just don‘t really interest me. This memoir is well written and is loved by many, I just don‘t think I‘m the right reader for it.

This is a great idea and I‘m sorry to be slow responding @Catsandbooks it‘s been a crazy week! #BasicWitchSwap

1. Earthy, clean scents like sage and sandlewood. Nothing that smells sweet or like food
2. Oh I‘m easy. I like most things that are bad for me!
3. I‘m more into historical witches, paganism, and folklore than the kind who fly on brooms
4. For sure it‘s cozying up with some classic horror movies

And finally, Barry Gifford notes in his introduction that “nobody writes books like Black Wings Has My Angel anymore.“ Do you think that is true? If so, why not?

#NYRBBookClub

Elliott Chaze was a WWII veteran. Why do you think he wrote Tim Sunblade as a fellow WWII veteran? How does it change your feeling or understanding of the character?

#NYRBBookClub

Several critics have called this a cinematic novel. Do you agree?

#NYRBBookClub

While not a humorous book, Chaze uses humor throughout the novel. What do you think about the use of humor? Does it provide needed levity, break the atmosphere, etc..

#NYRBBookClub

Hello @vivastory and the rest of our #NYRBBookClub friends! It's time to get our discussion going.

Chaze's style was influenced by Hemingway and James Cain. Cain and Hemingway were also journalists. Do you think this had an impact on the novel?

#NYRBBookClub

I really enjoyed this one! Looking forward to discussing this with the #NYRBBookClub on Saturday.

Checking out all of our pictures through the hashtag, I think this might be turning into the #NYRBBookAndWineClub!

I hated pretty much everyone in this novel, which is not a great starting point. Choi seemed to be trying to make this much more than teenage melodrama, but for me, it didn‘t get there. The narrative tricks she uses in an attempt to elevate it, feel like tricks and as such, fell flat for me.

I found this enjoyable if a bit uneven. Shafak draws some unique, engaging characters, but unfortunately gives them stilted dialog and very little to do. Likewise, her description of Istanbul “a city where everything was constantly shifting and dissolving” is magnificent, but the story itself doesn‘t have the depth to match the setting. It‘s as though she had the set, but show left me wanting. #BookerPrize2019

Hey there #NYRBBookClub! I hope you are all enjoying this month‘s selection and will be able to join @vivastory and me for the discussion on Saturday 8/24, at 2 pm, eastern time.

Roach brings her inimitable informative irreverence into outer space this time. More specifically, to the details, and often indignities, of humans in space. Ever wondered if astronauts get motion sick, have sex in space, or are ever jealous of monkeys? Mary Roach did, and found some very serious people to answer her questions. Her questions are often hilarious, but they are never irrelevant.

MacFarlane lets us tag along as he explores the vast world beneath our feet (the catacombs of France, ancient cemeteries, mines where dark matter is studied, Bronze age Norwegian cave art, etc..) complete with the many engaging characters who inhabit and explore this world. His enthusiasm for the beauty of these parts of the earth, that so few of us will ever see, makes this a real pleasure.

A deeply personal, emotional, and beautiful debut. Told with honesty and brutality, but also full of love, forgiveness, and understanding. In addition to the coming of age narrative, Voung also offers a meditation on the limitations of language and communication. At times, the language comes across more as striving to be beautifully poignant than actually so, but that is a minor quibble when so much of the prose is, well, gorgeous.

Everything about this, setting, plot, characterizations, even the message the author seems to be putting across, is all just too simple. There is no complexity in any of it to dig into. And yet, the plot points are still over explained. To the point that even the most crucial events, that should be exciting, lose all impact. I think I'm starting to hear a "how did this make the Booker long list?" echo.

Booker 5/13

I‘ll save most of my thoughts on this one for our #NYRBBookClub discussion tomorrow, but for now I‘ll say that I can‘t believe how riveted I was by a chess match! Thanks for such a great nomination @sprainedbrain !!

An interesting concept in which Kundera inserts himself, and his writing process, into the novel. I'm usually on board for experimental form, but this one left me a bit cold. It felt more like a writing exercise than a novel to me.

An examination of psychedelic drugs, both their history and their future. Despite promising early research, poor scientific practices and misuse of the drugs ended any serious study of them for many years. Now they are back and being studied in palliative care and as treatment for addiction and depression. This subject seems a bit of a departure for Pollan, but his engaging writing and immersive research are still on show.

What fun! This book is really about the future of the human soul, but it is so much fun that it is never weighed down by the deep philosophical questions that it raises.

Great idea @Cinfhen and thanks for the tag @Redwritinghood Here are my #Top6Reads so far this year. If I had to choose only one, it would be Lanny. It‘s the kind of book that reminds why I love to read.

I‘ll tag my recent swap buddies @Hoopiefoot and @erzascarletbookgasm

Alright @vivastory and the rest of our #NYRBBookClub friends, it‘s time to vote for our August pick. Looks like I‘m taking us to a pretty dark place, wonder what that says about me 🤔

1. Sand, Wolfgang Herrndorf
2. A High Wind in Jamaica, Richard Hughes
3. Black Wings Has My Angel, Elliott Chaze

Vote in the comments! And please tag anyone I may have forgotten.

This is a difficult one to describe. On its face, it‘s a woman on her way to a sinister appointment who is reminiscing on everything that brought her to this point. It is filled with absurdity, banality, humor (both dark and silly), and even love, but it is the, ever present, undercurrent of sadness and rage, that you know can pull you under at any point (and often does so sharply) that makes is so powerful and unforgettable.

A fascinating look at the life of Carol Ruckdeschel, a relentlessly passionate advocate for wilderness preservation, who certainly hasn't led a boring life. It also covers the history of wilderness preservation generally and the history of Cumberland Island specifically. This is Ruckdeschel's story, so while there is an argument that the other side of the debate isn‘t as well represented, who needs them when you have Carol to steal the show?

Oh my gosh, @Hoopiefoot I love everything!! I can be tricky to pick books for, but you nailed it. These all look right in my lane! The tote and bookmarks are adorable and I‘ll enjoy that chocolate with a glass of wine tonight! Thank you so, so much for your kindness and generosity, you‘re right, Litsy really is the best!

And huge thank you to @BookishMarginalia for putting together this wonderful #SummerSantaGoesPostal swap!!

Congratulations to Joy Harjo! Tracy K. Smith had an excellent tenure but her time is up. I‘m off to check out some of Harjo‘s poetry now. Let me know if anyone has advice about where to start.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/19/books/joy-harjo-poet-laureate.html?smid=nytco...

I took everyone‘s advice and listened to the audiobook for this one and I am glad that I did. The full cast is excellent and definitely kept me entertained. As for the book itself? It‘s fine, I guess. I was expecting it to go to much darker, rougher places than it did, so it all felt a little too safe. Still a perfect vacation read though.

I always get excited to read an author from a part of the world that I am not so familiar with. I love reading a point of view that I‘ve never seen before, so I really thought I would love this. The concept is great, but there are just too many characters and timelines here. I can see that Alharthi is intending it all to read as rich and complex, but for me it came off more muddled and confused.

The first half of this lays out the story of Rev. Maxwell, a suspected serial killer in 1970's Alabama, without much style or fanfare. This choice makes more sense in the second half where she explores Harper Lee's investigation and decision not to publish a book about the case. If Cep had tried to write about the case with any kind of flair, it would be hard for a reader not to compare her choices with what could have been if Lee had written it.