Halfway through the year and it looks like the one to beat will be ‘David Copperfield‘ by Charles Dickens.

January - Tom Lake
February- David Copperfield
March - Sea of Tranquility
April - Dead-End Memories
May - A Woman Is No Man
June - Waiting
Bonus - Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Bonus - Bright Young Women

#topread2024

PS thank you @CSeydel for this great bracket template— I just realized you are the creator!

A depressing but well written and well researched novel confronting injustice within the American justice system and the (most likely) poor, marginalized people serving long prison sentences. I felt invested in the stories of all the characters — but especially that of main character, Romy. I felt that if I‘d been born under different circumstances I could have been her.

What books would you love to see on the list? My top picks include:

‘The Nix‘ by Nathan Hill
‘The Enchanted‘ by Rene Denfeld
‘Mink River‘ by Brian Doyle
‘Finding Me‘ by Viola Davis
‘Shadow of the Wind‘ by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Hope you‘re having an amazing Monday! Don‘t forget to tag me with your picks! #MondayMusings ?

I mostly loved the 22 books I‘ve read from this list and feel inspired to read more. Although, I have to admit that I DNF‘d their top pick. 🤦🏻‍♀️ #nyt #nytbest100

I thought this was ok as a vacation read that‘s easy to follow, but it did take awhile to get to the “thriller” part and when it did it wasn‘t very surprising. I have noticed that Downes does well with romantic tension though and wonder if she writes romances under another name.🤔

Vacation reading is the best! ☀️🍹📖

January - Tom Lake
February - David Copperfield
March - Sea of Tranquility
April - Dead-End Memories
May - A Woman Is No Man
June - Waiting

I loved the Cambridge University setting, the gothic/dark academia feel and the idea of a secret society influenced by Greek mythology called ‘The Maidens‘. I also enjoyed the appearance of a character from ‘The Silent Patient‘. However, the behavior of main character, Mariana, made no sense to me. This was between so-so and light pick.

This is a fun mystery/thriller. Two separate but equally creepy and slowly intersecting story lines focus on mums trying to protect their children. I loved the characters, the plot twists and the resolution. I enjoyed her writing style and plan on reading her other books.

This historical fiction whodunnit takes place in 1920‘s India amidst British rule, a strict social hierarchy and emerging women‘s rights — yet remains mostly light hearted with charming characters and obstacles that are fairly easy to overcome. This was a light pick for me because while enjoyable, I thought it could have used more editing.

A love triangle forms in 1960‘s China between a doctor, his (modern, educated) city girlfriend and his (simple, kindly) country wife. I loved the way this novel transported me to another place and time while the romance/drama was symbolic of the changes that modernization brought to China. The writing was excellent.

January - Tom Lake
February - David Copperfield
March - Sea of Tranquility
April - Dead-End Memories
May - A Woman Is No Man

#topread2024 #fiction

This is told from the perspective of three generations of Muslim women — two originally from Palestine with the youngest raised in the United States. Past horrors in Palestine are referred to and are a catalyst for moving to Brooklyn but the story is about the women, internalized misogyny and the difficulties of living in a patriarchal society. I thought this was brave, well written and hard to put down though at times a bit heavy handed.

Crystal Hefner reveals a dark side to life in the Playboy mansion where a controlling and narcissistic Hugh Hefner preys on vulnerable young women. He‘s not here to defend himself but post ‘me too‘ his former lifestyle seems best left to a bygone era. I do think that framing herself as a ‘survivor‘ is a bit much but overall I appreciated how well written and insightful her memoir is.

‘Bel Canto‘ is loosely based on a true story when, in 1996, a group of young terrorists took over the Japanese embassy in Peru. I loved the way Patchett wrote these characters with complexity and nuance — hostages and terrorists alike. There is a surprising amount of tenderness, beauty and love within the tension and tragedy. However, this was a light pick for me because I found much of it too slow.

This novel imagines a world decades ahead but with the same potentially catastrophic events threatening civilization (the environment, pandemics, etc). There‘s futuristic technology with leaders vaguely reminiscent of people like Bezos, Musk and Zuckerberg but the conclusions reached in this book would have Ayn Rand rolling over in her grave — a plus imo! There‘s a lot going on here but I would recommend to anyone interested in tech fiction.

I just realized that Emma Straub‘s dad was Peter Straub (mental note to move his book ‘Ghost Story‘ up the tbr pile). This novel is really a love letter to a fictionalized version of him from a fictionalized version of her. I enjoyed the sweet father-daughter dynamic. The time travel aspect made me feel wistful and wish I could occasionally go back in time too.

January — Tom Lake
February — David Copperfield
March — Sea of Tranquility
April — Dead-End Memories

#fiction #topread2024

I gave this novel a DNF back in 2019 but between being made into a miniseries and reading that it was loosely based on Fleetwood Mac, I decided to try again. I can see why people like it but I find the interview format tedious.

I adored this collection of five gentle, female centered, melancholy stories of everyday Japanese life punctured with a big event and reoccurring elements that include coming of age, love, engagement, family, loss and a couple of building demolitions and hospital courtyards. I think Murakami fans will love Yoshimoto.

There is a surreal weight loss phenomena occurring with main character Scott, but this is really a story about accepting differences and caring for the people around you. Surprising and heartwarming — but if you‘re looking for scary, this isn‘t it. Maybe when King wrote this he thought the real world was scary enough?

This was the 2009 debut novel of Emily St. John Mandel. It‘s a beautifully written book about love and loss with a mystery at the center. I found the plot a bit implausible but liked it enough to ‘pick‘ although not as much as some of her later work.

January - Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
February - David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
March - Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

#topread2024 #fiction

Nothing wrong with these lessons, but for me they felt kind of intuitive. There was something old fashioned and even comforting about the advice that I did enjoy. It reminded me of the classes my father took for his company in the 80‘s. Dad is highly effective, so maybe it worked. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Part memoir and part illuminating tales from the technology world and its leaders, by award winning journalist Kara Swisher. I loved her insights, entrepreneurial spirit and ability to call out powerful people.

This is the third excellent book I‘ve read by Emily St. John Mandel. If you‘ve ever enjoyed going down a rabbit hole regarding the nature of reality, this novel might be for you. I finished it in one sitting. ❤️

This was probably a more realistic spy novel than ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold‘ but I preferred the drama and romance of that novel over so much of the day to day training in this one.

I don‘t usually read ‘cozy‘ mysteries, but after the week I‘ve had, it was just right — a relatable woman in her early sixties as the main character, a quaint hometown, lots of creature comforts, a little murder mystery and possibly a friendly ghost. There was one story line that didn‘t get resolved but this is the first in a new series, so perhaps it‘s a thread that will be continued.

I could not put this slim novel with gorgeous prose down — though I admit to wrongly thinking that more was tying together the character driven story than the interior life of the unnamed interpreter. In any case, I enjoyed it. If there‘s a theme I‘d say it‘s the complexity of communicating with and understanding others…the male/female dynamics are especially unsettling.

I undertook this doorstopper because it inspired ‘Demon Copperhead‘, which is on my reading list this year and because I enjoyed ‘Great Expectations‘ so much last year. Since the book is long (it was serialized) I liked the idea of going back and forth between written and audio formats. The saga is said to be close to the life and experiences of Charles Dickens himself. I think it was extraordinary in every way. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Knoll fictionalizes the case of a real serial killer, telling the story from the perspective of bright, young women. This book surpasses standard crime fiction in my opinion because in addition to being well written it also critiques misogyny in a relatable, impactful way. Knoll‘s writing is dynamic and fast paced.

The beauty of Patchett‘s prose combined with her ability to immerse you in another place and time are enough to recommend this novel but I‘m also at the point in my life where I truly appreciate a mature main character reflecting on her youth. I was going to read this book but could not resist listening to Meryl Streep give voice to it. Outstanding.

I enjoyed this ambitious, sweeping novel — Oxford in the 1830‘s, a good cast of diverse characters and informed writing regarding language, history and culture. I only regret having had big expectations for magic, fantasy and world building. Instead, enchanted silver bars were mostly a stand in for the Industrial Revolution, leaving our reality relatively unchanged. However, as a fan of dark academia and historical fiction I found it quite good.

Davis suffered childhood poverty, trauma and abuse followed by an extraordinary rise to stardom. Her outstanding memoir is extremely personal, inspirational and wise. I highly recommend the Grammy Award winning audiobook that she narrated — which made her an EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winner! ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Great book to start the year with! You don‘t have to be a gamer or a fan of romance to enjoy the story of this tender but fraught relationship because it‘s really about friendship that survives lapses, creative partnership and a different kind of love.💗

I tend to read more fiction than nonfiction, but I still find it too difficult not to separate the categories. #2023readingbracket #nonfiction

When a book leaves me hugging it like a long lost friend, I know it‘s a contender! This was my first reading of ‘The Color Purple‘. 💜 💜💜#readingbracket2023 #fiction

My first John le Carré book and it was excellent — beyond the smart plot twists of good spy fiction it read like great literature. This has probably been on my tbr longer than any other book. Thanks to my November #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks I finally read it!

I haven‘t finished my December reads yet, but I am all ready for the January 2024 Bookspin! Here‘s to another great year of books! ⛄️

@TheAromaofBooks #bookspin #bookspinbingo

I don‘t think this is a phenomenal autobiography but after everything she went through, fans surely must appreciate hearing her story (especially regarding the conservatorship) from her point of view. It seems like she was mistreated by everyone from her family to the media due to a combination of sexism, her emotional vulnerability and the money that could be made off of her.

The book ends with her doing well. I hope she still is.

I wanted to “reread” this prior to the new movie coming out but as soon as I started it I realized that I hadn‘t actually read it before. The entire book is epistolary. Imagine my surprise! I think most people already know that this is a masterpiece. I‘m so glad I finally read it! 💜❤️

I also just realized that there is a #purplereadalong going on hosted by @TheBookHippie ! I may chime in if that‘s ok!

Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes! My sweet husband took me to a new independent bookstore today & this is what I came home with! I probably won‘t get around to reading it until the new year, but nice to know it‘s waiting. 📚 📖

Do I want help choosing my final reads of the year? Yes, please! #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks #TBR

I was intrigued by the premise of the book (husband disappears under mysterious, possibly criminal circumstances) and I wanted to know how it would turn out but ultimately the plot and the actions of MC Hannah didn‘t make sense to me.

Six short stories loosely connected by the aftermath of the 1995 Kobe earthquake. Murakami‘s writing has been described as mesmerizing and visionary, mysterious and familiar. I agree. There‘s a dream like, metaphysical quality to his stories. I loved them all.

I‘ve read (almost) five of the books from my October #bookspin list, which is a record for me. If I can check one of these off in November I‘ll be happy! @TheAromaofBooks 🤞🏻

This little book is the translation of a famous speech Sartre gave (Paris, 1946) to further expound on his philosophy. I think it‘s perfect for anyone wanting an explanation of existentialism. I do not agree with this philosophy primarily because I think it underestimates the importance of the situation a person is born into. Nevertheless, it was an interesting read.

This reads like YA fiction, though I don‘t think it technically is. I can see how readers might really enjoy the atmospheric romance with a little magic, drama and mystery. To me it felt a bit confused about what kind of book it wanted to be plus there was a lot of mouth twisting and references to ‘all of this‘ by multiple characters. Aspects, such as the setting, did appeal to me but overall not my thing. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Omg WTH am I reading? I don‘t know whether to laugh, cry or throw up! 😵😂🤢

Hill writes poignantly about a relationship that spans decades of personal and cultural change, heartbreak and the quest for an improved future. I highly recommend.