Book Review: The Convenience Store By the Sea By Sonoko Machida

 This book is probably the ultimate in cozy fiction.  I picked it up because it fit with my water theme.  I've not liked a lot of this cozy fiction- (DNF the Dallergut Dream department Store, DNF Dinner at the Night Library, Did not even start We'll Prescribe you a Cat, and Just barely made it through The Kamogawa Food Detectives) So, I'm a little unclear what possessed me to check this out of the library.  Did I think it would be different? 

  I didn't actually.  Yet, this one crept right into my heart, slowly and with a bit or stealth! 

I got to about 25% through and I honestly wasn't loving it. There were a lot of gentle vignettes coming along but I was not exactly finding myself wanting to read it. It became relegated to the car audio book- which is the audio I put on when driving. I can't easily switch to a new book, so it's likely to get finished.  

   An odd thing happened about at the 55%-65% mark. I started to really enjoy the way the stories connected. I started to love how some lovely, and lonely people were finding meaning in their lives through a convenience store that was run with thoughtfulness and obvious care.  I gobbled up the rest of this book with some joy. I especially loved the story of the girl who wanted to create the delicious treats sold in these stores, and the story of the retired businessman who became a substitute Grandfather - finding himself, rekindling a relationship with his wife and supporting a lonely child all in one fell swoop. 

  For me, I didn't really love that there wasn't exactly an overarching story, instead it being kind of a jumble of interactions and slices of life with an overall theme of kindness and care.  That said, I do see the appeal and see why it has sold so so well! 

I admit also... I am a little sad that this store - being by the sea- really says nothing about the sea in general! 

Overall more enjoyable than expected, would make an excellent gift book- nothing very controversial. What it lacks in propulsion, it makes up for in tenderness. 

STATS

First Published :  2023 in Japanese/ English version July 2025

Pages: 228

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings: lonely people, medical situations, bullying, parental death (not a complete list- be responsible!)

Book Review: The Crane Husban, By Kelly Barnhill

   This is a short novel that really surprised me.  OK, so... it would not have if I had read a blurb or anything about the novel. I seriously grabbed this one due to the gorgeous cover. 

That cover... is stunning and I love it so much that I think I may rate the book a tiny bit higher due to the cover choice. 

This is a folk horror novella that is a contemporary retelling of of "The Crane Wife".  It has some horror elements, but it is also quite a gentle read, perhaps in the way the the young narrator gives us the very brutal story in a pragmatic, practical tone that is not devoid of emotion, but is also not overwhelmed by dramatic, over the top florid prose. 

  Our Narrator is a teen living in the American Midwest - after her father's death, she assumes the role of the parent for her mother and her younger brother. She's resourceful and savvy, but when her mother invites a stranger into their lives, she finds she can't entirely "fix" this issue. She's offered help, but she can't quite bring herself to accept it or trust that it will actually be the needed help. As she navigates some very adult situations with only teen ager tools, we come to a conclusion that is satisfying but not entirely joyful. 

I enjoyed this novella very much. It was well written, with a solid propulsive plot, unique imagery and very reflective. 

  I did read this via audio book.  and the narrator was clear and excellent, - not taking anything away from the story. 

STATS

First Published  February 2023

Pages: 118

Available as an Audio Book : Yes

Trigger Warnings:  violence, grief, Animal death, body horror, body injury, child neglect, food insecurity. 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly) 

Book Review: And the Ancestors Sing, By Radha Lin Chaddah

   A  big thanks to NetGalley and Rising Action Publishing  for the Advanced Reader Copy of this novel, coming out in February!  

As always, I am a sucker for a good cover, and this one really has a lot of very interesting elements, so I had to request it. 

   In short, this is a historical fiction novel that spans generations in China during the cultural revolution.  Readers are swept into a multigenerational saga, and into the Chinese setting with attention to character development and cultural and societal norms.   

      We follow Lei and her husband as they move from a rural area into the city - with so many others. In the city, we meet Lulu a plucky 16 yr old who's keeping her family afloat, but also trying to live her own life and be true to her own self. The story, flows naturally and I was quickly immersed and invested in the characters and setting.  I really had to know how things were going to go for each character! 

 This will appeal to readers who enjoyed Min Jin Lee's Pachinko.  The themes of family, ancestors, identity progress, and change are similar, but the stories, and the setting are quite distinct.  Highly recommend. 

                                         First Published :  COMING: 2/2025

Pages: 384

Available as an Audio Book : Not at this time. 

Trigger Warnings:  Sex work, domestic violence, sexism, 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly

 

Book Review: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones

  I want to just write 5000 stars, no notes... but that wouldn't really be...correct. 

  I have an odd relationship with this novel  and perhaps just with SGJ in genera. 

  SOOOOO,  The Indian Lake Trilogy broke me down and put me back together. It was a very intense reading experience.  After that I dipped into more of his work, The Babysitter lives is one that entirely creeped me out, and there were a few unfortunate experiences- Zombie Bakeoff did not do it for me.  As I digested more of his work, I could see a progression within SGJ's writing-- things he was creating, massaging, and experimenting with through all of his works. I liked it. I always feel like, if this author is anything, he's genuinely the real deal- a writer who's put in the work - and now he's putting all of that knowledge and work together to give readers a genuine, impactful, powerful and enjoyable work. And A lot of folks seem to agree with me. Mostly horror folks. I really couldn't convince anyone that they needed to read a book about a "chainsaw heart" but if they had read it, we'd both chat so enthusiastically. He's got a unique style and some folks don't love it.  

Along came The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, and this book- had more press than some films! 

Buffalo Hunter Hunter has had SO MUCH publicity, I was a little...concerned it wouldn't live up to the hype.  I mean look at the spread for the reading guide! It's so obviously BIG BIG BUDGET.   SGJ suddenly looks like a film star...rather than a mountain biking professor.

 When I came out, I grabbed the audio copy from my library, and actually- read about 3 chapters and then it sat, until it was returned to the library. Something was not sitting right with me. I suspect it was that I had too much going on, and for me it was something I really wanted to absorb deep into my skin. 

I restarted it as a buddy read with one of my TikTok pals.  Same book, different time. She blew through it in 2 days on a road trip. I took about 2 weeks. As I let the narrative unfold, I became so invested in the characters - the sort of crept in and settled and I found them in the periphery of my thought all the time. 

   As a summary - this is a novel told in multiple timelines, Etsy- a "modern day" professor of literature is struggling with the "Publish or Perish" situation in academia when a journal of a relative is returned to her.  This diary tells the story of her relative- a Lutheran Pastor in 1912, and of Good Stab, a member of the Blackfeet- who has lived an extraordinary life. and yes - there is a vampire involved...but I surely don't want to give a book report.  I will say this is an excellent novel to explore ideas, and themes of horror, destruction, exploitation, revenge, forgiveness, and justice. Knowing more about US history, particularly the Marias Massacre of 1870 will help readers understand the narrative in a deeper way. 

This is a 1925 Re-enactment of a War Dance, and I like this photo as it shows sort of the progression of time and circumstance.  It's slightly later than the time frame that SGJ wrote about, but,  I just feel like the wagons, and the audience sort of... showed an interesting juxtaposition. 

Underwood & Underwood, C. C. (ca. 1925) Re-enactment of war dance at Blackfeet Indian reservation at Browning, Montana. Montana Blackfeet Indian Reservation Browning, ca. 1925. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/2012646812/.

  For me the thing that really shines  is the sort of - off hand observations made by all the characters- that hints at just how much we have in common. These bring the characters to life- and the story. The second thing, and I do not know how SGJ does it, but he writes women well. I noticed this in the Indian Lake Trilogy as well, and I can only surmise that he observes and then is able to apply small details that usually aren't noted by other writers.  Just perfection.  Some have said they had trouble with this book- and noted a "Staccato" writing style, and I did note that there was sort of punctuated feeling while reading this one, but it didn't bother me.  I actually think this may be his best yet. 

Surely looking forward to more! 

First Published : 3/2025

Pages: 448

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Animal death, mass death, murder, blood consumption, vampires, 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly

Book Review: The Shadow Key By Susan Stokes-Chapman

  I am not sure who recommended this novel, but I wish them all happiness.  This was amazing at every turn!

Because I am still having eye issues, I did do the audiobook, and the narrator- Richard Harrington was fantastic.  I was surprised in the end to realize it was only one narrator. 

  I'm going to try to do this without spoilers, because they are just the worst, but this one may be a bit hard to not spoil a wee bit. 

Readers are taken to a wild rural area of Wales where the majority of men are working in dangerous mines, and Lords and Ladies rule the day.  We join Henry - a disgraced physician who found the only employment available was as a county doctor in what was surely considered a backwater area.  henry is sharp and observant, and as he attempts to settle in, he finds his suspicions aroused, as strange events are going on. He's befriended by Linette, a lady of the estate, who endeavors to teach him the mythology , history and language of the area.  Henry and Linette find themselves becoming fast friends and team up to solve a deep and somewhat sinister mystery that will threaten them all. Along the way, there are so many twists and turns, that my mind was constantly one step behind trying to figure this out! 

  This novel falls into the genre of Gothic novels that have been popular lately. It does not fall, however, into the super trendy "dark academia" or even into "dark romance"  though there is a touch of romance that enters- and exits quite differently from the dark romances. 

As I was reading, all I saw in my mind was THIS: While they lived mor ein a manor house, there were lots of ruins noted....

Views in England, Scotland and Wales: Caerphilly Castle, Glamorganshire. Period: 19th century. Accession number: B1981.25.2145. Amos Green (1735–1807); Harriet Green (1751–1807)

I really loved learning more about this part of Welsh history, the myths, language, the mines and even the "HellFire" clubs!  The plot hung together very well, and the ending was satisfying to me indeed. 

 5 Stars!  Recommend. 

First Published : 5/2024

Pages: 464

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: kidnapping, murder, poison,  more murder, medical situations, death, dreary weather. 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly. 

Book Club- The SAGA Continues!

 So, readers-  as you know, I joined my local library book club in January.  I had started to feel a little isolated in my community and decided to try it.  I had a pretty rough entry into the club (as detailed here) and I wasn't sure if this was going to be for  me.  There have been some notable crash-outs    and a few books that I regretted reading. 

Below is how I imagine us all reading away....

Carnegie library in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, None. [Between 1900 and 1905] Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2007684172  

To be honest, I think for the first 6 months I attended, I really felt like an odd duck.  I am about- on average- 10 years younger than everyone else, and the leader is a bit of a queen bee type who is a bit controlling. She is definitely "in charge". 

But last night, I piled in, having read only 3 chapters of the assigned book. (It was a good one by William Kent Kreuger)  and it was...sort of magical. Immediately when I came in, I was greeted by many of the members with big smiles and I FELT SO WELCOME! 

I had a discussion with two ladies about how much we had enjoyed the book ( my whole three chapters!), another person told about finishing off Project Hail Mary, and immediately offered to loan it out to me.  On the way out, I chatted away with another person, and felt very comfortable overall.  Although these are not people I'd call if I had a flat tire, I have to say I did feel a sense of belonging that I had not had before. I felt like I could actually be myself in the group, which is a rare feeling indeed. 

So... I guess I'm surprised and pleased to say that my persistence with book club has paid off, 10 months later, with book club being an activity that I really look forward to and enjoy.  I'm most excited to nominate 2 books for next year and I am hoping one gets chosen, if not both! I'd recommend a local book club, even if initially you think they aren't reading what you enjoy. It's been such a journey! 

Cheers! 

To

Book Review: A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst

   I picked this book up because it went with my water theme and it was on a list of Barak Obama's favorites.  I've honestly never gone wrong with anything off his lists. While they are not all favorites, I've always learned some interesting things and gained insights from them! 

  This book has a lovely cover. I like the whale tail so much even though that particular whale was none too friendly to our protagonists. 

   This is one of those non-fiction reads that seems to be fiction at first blush.  Readers follow Maurice and Maralyn who embark on a journey from the UK to New Zealand- in the 1970's. Maurice is much older than Maralyn, and he's shocked she wanted to marry him.  Based on my read, he was clearly on the autism spectrum- with difficulty giving up routine, and some strong preferences regarding how things should be done etc. Maralyn was more easygoing and able to recognize that her husband wasn't always well liked and thus she was able to smooth the way for him. A sailing trip in itself wouldn't have been much of a story, but mid trip- the couple find their ship damaged by a whale. The ship sinks and they were left to drift for over 100 days.  When finally rescued by a Korean fishing vessel, a media frenzy takes over their lives. I don't want to spoil the story, but it was remarkable how this already unlikely couple worked together to survive this ordeal, heal and return to sailing again. 

  As a reader, I tend to have several books going at one time, and it's rare for me to concentrate on just one, but this one- I found I couldn't put it down and I had it read in 3 days.  I think it's an interesting companion to Moby Dick ( which I've been delving into slowly) as both have an oddly obsessed captain type, a whale nemesis, and a journey undertaken for personal reasons.  While the cover is beautiful, I'm not positive I'd recommend it for gifting, as it might be seen as a commentary on someone else's relationship etc. 

    I found this to be very well written, engrossing, and thoughtful and well worth the time taken to enjoy. 

First Published : 2/2024

Pages: 256

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: Animal death, unusual food consumption, starvation  

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly