Book Review: Sex on The Moon by Ben Mezrich

 If you've been looking for Non-fiction that reads like fiction, this 2011 Beat the Backlist book is one you will want to read! 

 While normally I might say the title of the most audacious heist in history is overblown, in this case, I think it meets the criteria! Not so much that it was pulled off in any sophisticated manner, but that someone would decide that was the "thing to do" at all. 

   Readers are given an inside story of Thad Roberts, a one time fellow in a prestigious NASA program in Texas. While at NASA Thad, made a name for himself by being audacious, bold and curious. It didn't hurt that he was - by all accounts- very bright and conventionally attractive. 

Thad started out with an idea involving "decommissioned" moon rocks- those used for education, rather than hard scientific uses.  He and a friend dreamt of selling some of these "trash" moon rocks, and came up with a brave but not very sophisticated plan.  He was sure he'd never go through with it, but the more he dreamed and schemed, the deeper he got, until he found himself meeting a supposed buyer and being arrested by the FBI. 

   I enjoyed this book, but I will say, no matter how hard the author tried to make Thad likeable, I found him to be a complete Jack-Hole. This man had so many advantages in life, and decided to just be pushing the envelope in ways that didn't even make sense.  I suspect there is some sort of mental health issues at play in these decisions, but honestly, I feel like his time in prison was actually too short. This was a man with multiple opportunities ahead of him, and decided this was the most appropriate way to move through the world.  So not a fan. Not impressed, and deeply disturbed that he's now out in the world giving... TED talks. 

The writing is OK. I had the audiobook and for being only 320 pages, it did seem to drag on. So... 

revising my first statement, this is a book you MAY want to read. I have become obsessed with Axel Emmermann, a rock enthusiast who tipped off the FBI and assisted in multiple ways. So there is that.  This is a most interesting book and while I can't say I liked the main character, I did find the entire thing interesting.  So 3 stars out of 5 from me. 

STATS

First Published :  7/12/2011

Pages: 320

Available as an Audio Book :  YES (~8 hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: Heist, discussion of heights, drug and alcohol use, thievery, mild sexual behavior (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: Starry and Restless by Julia Cooke

 

Firstly Many Thanks to macmillan audio for the advanced listener copy of Starry and Restless. 

This is a non-fiction book for those who want to start reading more non-fiction!   Julia Cooke has brought to life the amazing lives of three woman reporters who were most certainly the talk of the town. It reads a bit like a memoir but has more commentary and information giving historic context to the women's lives.

In my very progressive school, I was taught that the women's rights movement really came along in the 1960's and 1970's. I was led to believe that women were pillars of domesticity up until that time. Obviously there's truth in this, but exploring the lives of these women who decided it to shed those expectations showed me that there were indeed many degrees of this domesticity. 

    Martha Gellhorn, Emily (Mickey) Hahn and Rebecca West were three women who defied custom and made their way in the world as writers. These women traveled the world, married who they pleased, reported on the events of the day, and all left their mark on American journalism.  Although their names are not well known in this day and time, their influence is unmistakable. 

    In very readable (listenable) language, Cooke introduces us to these women and illustrates how they themselves interacted, influencing each other. I was fascinated by the lives they carved out for themselves, defying many social norms and expectations. 

   Andi Arndt is the narrator for this gem and her clear reading voice made this a fantastic read for my morning commute. Arndt always has perfect pacing, and this narration is no exception!

   This book was fascinating and while reading, I was reminded of Isabel Allende's My Name is Emilia Del Valle, which is a fictionalized story of a female reporter in about the same time frame. While I enjoyed Allende's work quite a bit, I was most intrigued by Cooke's new book because these ladies were real living beings- one who owned a pet Gibbon! One who chose to be a single mother in a time when this was not at all the norm, several who traveled to exotic places and married "exotic" men. The truth always does seem stranger than fiction. 

One to add to the shelves if you like historical fiction, or non-fiction. Definitely one to share with young aspiring writers as they figure out how to make a mark in the industry. 

First Published :  February 2026

Pages: 448

Available as an Audio Book : Yes  

Trigger Warnings: drug use, war violence, (this is not a full list, read responsibly)

Book Review: Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton

 Mickey 7  is a well known smash hit made into a motion picture.  

Of COURSE --I'd never read it.  But having chosen the theme of Outer Space, it seemed like a good year to pick it up, and  because it isn't the latest media darling, the audio book was available immediately at my local library, 

Overall, I'm not sure how I feel about it. The premise is fascinating, Mickey Barnes is an Expendable.  A person who's sent out on dangerous missions that only a human has the dexterity or decision making skills to carry out.  If Mickey perishes, they have a way to regenerate him with memories and personality intact.   

         Mickey joined up to escape an unpleasant situation on his home planet, but now that he's been regenerated a few times, he had to admit that this life is a challenge. Left for dead at one point, he actually survives, and comes back to his bunk to find that Mickey 8 has already been regenerated. As one might imagine,  this creates a great deal of comedic problems, and thought provoking situations. 

     I liked this novel.  I admit, I did not LOVE this novel. The writing is good, and the premise is fantastic, and original.  What I didn't like is that the characters were kind of flat overall.  Given that this is an action/plot based kind of a book, it makes sense, but I still wanted maybe a bit more. 

I will definitely be reading more from this author, but I'm not sure I want to read more of the Mickey 7 series.  It was a solid OK.  I suspect if I was a 17-22 yr old man it would have been perfection. 

Have you read this series or seen the film?

 STATS

First Published :  2023

Pages: 330

Available as an Audio Book : Yes  

Trigger Warnings:  poverty, racism, classism, bugs, medical issues, body horror, supernatural creatures

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)

 

 

Book Review: Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior

 Crooked plow was not on my radar.   I saw a new novel from this author on Net Galley and decided instead of requesting the new novel that perhaps I should explore Crooked Plow- on audio from my local library. This is an award winner, winning the Brazilian LeYa Award and in 2024 it was shortlisted for the International Booker Prize.  I did remember seeing some reviews for this in 2024 and then... it seemed to fizzle out.  I fully took advantage of that fizzle and found that the audiobook was immediately available from my library! 

This is a novel that I probably won't soon forget for many reasons. 

   This story is set in an Afro-Brazilian farming community living on Fazendas.  While technically these Fazendas were basically plantations, the post slavery situation resembled strongly the sharecropping situation in the US  after the Civil War and Emancipation. Folks were free to leave, but the technicalities really left them in poverty and with few options. 

Our story opens with two sister's exploring their Grandmother's secret luggage and enduring an event so traumatic that one sister loses her ability to speak.  Readers watch the two sister's grow and navigate life within their limited choices. Their lives, intertwined with their relatives and with the land, serve as a way for the author to also bring forward the changes that Brazil, and particularly the Sertao area of Bahia Brazil was facing, as tenant farmers grappled with their relationship to the land and their rights as tenants. With relevant themes of generational poverty and trauma, economic and racial injustice and the power of community, it's no wonder this book sparked interest.  I found the writing to be engaging, and the multilayered, multigenerational story to draw me in.  The non-linear style was slightly confusing to me, but I suspect that was because I chose an audio version and the division between chapters where the time switches did occur were not very clear via audio. 

  I found the descriptions of the Jare religious ceremonies to be particularly engaging, and I do want to learn more about this area and time- although passively- i admit, as in, I am more attuned and sensitized to this and will likely prick up my ears if the topic comes up.  Rather than say, going to the library to do a deep dive into the topic.  

  One thing that fascinated me is that the author, a man, chose to center his tale primarily around the lives of women. He writes a great deal about women's work, relationships and struggles, as well as the role of children in the lives of women. I'm always a little skeptical about men writing main character women, though it can be done well.  in this case, I feel that he did capture what life was like as a woman in these areas - essentially - it was a hard row to hoe- with a crooked or straight plow. I do not feel like he really captured the inner lives of women, however, so that area, was sort of flattened, but with so much going on in the novel, I didn't really feel that it was missing, as introspection wasn't the main point as far as I can tell.  I did get that there was a deep respect for women and childbearing, but it seems to be limited to this. Again, given the scope of the novel, there wasn't room for more exploration.  I should note that this book is also a translated work, so some of the spark and meaning may not have hit just right. 

     Overall, I enjoyed this book, and will likely read more from this author.  I don't know that it would reach my top 12 for the year, but I think it's an excellent piece of fiction- again another I'd recommend for book clubs - lots of themes and history to discuss, as well as all the relationships, revenge, and resilience that a reader may want. 

STATS

First Published  6/2023 (English edition) 

Pages: 288

Available as an Audio Book : Yes

Trigger Warnings:  Domestic violence, poverty, misogyny, child death, 

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)  

 

Book Review: Galloway by Louis L'amour

 So I needed to read a book from the 1970's  for a reading challenge. 

This is indeed the first time that my library has sort of let me down.  My friend and I decided we wanted to read some of the old Harlequin romances from that era, just to compare them to contemporary ones. 

Did I find anything from that era in the library?  No.  No I did not. 

I did find several Classics  of good literature written in 1970, but I really didn't any of the more "popular" style literature, except for... Louis L'Amour. 

So I thought, Cowboy romance has been kind of a favorite of mine, so I might enjoy Louis L'Amour.  

As a kid, my Dad made fun of this writer quite a bit and so I of course shunned him, but here we are, its a new era and a new day, AND I needed to finish my January reading challenge.  It turns out Libraries don't really preserve this type of pop fiction, and of course there are space concerns and no one really wants to read what used to be contemporary fiction that often. 

   SO I read Galloway. 

I didn't really like it.  I did enjoy L'Amour's folksy writing style as it was kind of easy to read and enjoyable. 

Galloway tells the tale of two brothers who head West to start up some cattle ranching, but somehow along the way, one is captured by Native Americans, and just manages to escape with no clothing whatsoever.  Through his wits, he somehow steals an Elk kill from some wolves, wisely shares some of the kill with the wolves, and then proceeds to make multiple pairs of moccasin type shoes which he can magically make overnight.  Eventually he comes upon a town, and makes his way back to his brother.  There they encounter the Dunns who are hell bent on running them out of town as they want to have a cattle empire. The Dunns and Sackitt's battle it out a bit and of course Galloway and his brother come out on top.  L'Amour does employ a cool literary  device where the wolf continues to appear here and there throughout the novel, and in the end saves the brother's life. 

    I am unsure why I disliked this so much.  In part it might have been because I HAD TO FIND A BOOK FROM THAT ERA.  It also may be that it was a book from the middle of the series.

So my foray into Louis L'Amour is now definitely over. Nothing particularly wrong, but also nothing particularly compelling to keep me interested in going back.  

Read at your own discretion! 

 STATS

First Published : 1970

Pages: 176

Available as an Audio Book : YES  (~ 5HRS) 

Trigger Warnings: violence, poor representation of Native American persons  (not a complete list- be responsible!)

Book Review Discordance: The troubled history of the Hubble Constant. By Jim Baggott

Many thanks to Oxford university Press and Recorded books for an advanced Listener copy of Discordance by Jim Baggott! 

This is my year to read about outer space and when I saw this audiobook on offer at net Galley, I jumped at it! 

  As I've already noted, I am not a math or physics genius, but I do have a bit of an obsession with outer space, and while I know I won't ever be an arm chair Cosmologist, I know I certainly LOVE to learn more as I toddle along. 

  Now, with no spoilers--- can one really spoil a non-fiction book? We are given the story of the Main main character, the Universe. Making cameo appearances are the Big Bang Theory, Afterglow radiation or Cosmic Microwave background radiation, Cosmic inflation and the Lambda-CDM model.  Side Characters of note include: The Hubble Telescope, multiple scientists, The Space Shuttle, The ALMA Observatory (Atacama Desert), Apache Point observatory, (and more), the Supernova Cosmology project,  the JPL Cosmology Group, and so many more.  Supporting roles go to Dark matter and Dark energy (yes, we can't see you, but it seems you might be there, maybe...) Redshift, the strange and charm quarks (and yes the other top and bottom ones too) and gravitational lensing.  There's more, but as any good Academy award winner will note, we are grateful to all players, too numerous to mention.  

  In this account of humans moving closer and closer to deducing the full nature of the universe and all that it encompasses, Dr Baggott introduces readers to the basic physics of Cosmology.  Readers learn about models and ideas, generally accepted concepts of the universe, and key phenomena and building blocks (equations/theories and computations) that hold our concepts of the universe together. 

   As a complete lay person, I will note that there is quite a bit of math, and a few times, I did experience a few flashbacks to my ill fated Astronomy 101 college class.  Baggott intersperses some amusing thoughts, comments or stories in between all the math so I did remain engaged. He is particularly adept at describing the "space drama" regarding a possible "new physics" without going completely off the rails. 

  I did enjoy this listen. I can't say I recommend it for my Library Book Club - as we are diving into Remarkably Bright Creatures this month, and this is definitely not in the same book universe if you will. 

I can recommend it for space enthusiasts, students and readers who want to be challenged as they read. For me, it was definitely worth my time. I feel it answered some of my questions as to why humans aren't just travelling the universe as Bester's Demolished Man predicted back in 1953!

 STATS

First Published : 1/22/2026

Pages: 336

Available as an Audio Book : YES  (~ 9 HRS) 

Trigger Warnings: Math  (not a complete list- be responsible!)

Book Review: Squib by Helen Harper

 Big Thanks To Tantor Audio for an advanced listener copy of Squib by Helen Harper.

Squib is a novel I'd recommend for anyone who wanted to dip into paranormal romance, but was not sure how they really feel about PNR!  It is an excellent, palate cleanser novel after a heavy read, and although there was some violence, and mentions of a possible war in the future, this really fell very heavily into the realm of Cozy Paranormal Fantasy/Romance. 

Mallory is a squib, a person with no magic.  She's chosen to live in Coldstream which is full of magic, and she's happy there. A ray of sunshine, she has a business of trading in information and secrets.  Mallory does not accept cash payment, just payment in favors, which seems quite clever, but I did wonder all along how she managed to eat.  After all, it would take loads of time to settle on a grilled cheese sandwich sized secret every time one want one.  Anywhooo-  Mallory is well regarded and has a great business going in this magical town.  

All this changes rapidly with a chance encounter with Alpha Werewolf  McTire.  He's obviously an Alpha and a bit bossy.  Mallory is more of a free spirit, but at her core, she's a business woman, so when he proposes a business deal, she accepts.  She's to find him his perfect First Mate. Tricky business as the First Mate is somewhat akin to a "First Lady" and must meet a lot of requirements. 

As Mallory and McTire spend more time together, sparks fly - but  will Mallory and McTire fan the flames or dim them?  You'll want to read to find out!  Mallory is fun, sunny, smart and sassy.  McTire is of course broody and bossy and prone to impulsive behavior. 

I did find the town of Coldspring to be enjoyable to read about. There's magic, and lots of magical creatures all going about daily lives, which was well done and a lot of fun.  To me the book did read a bit like a Young Adult novel - and I thought it was one until that one last scene!  I think this is likely appropriate for todays 16-18 year olds and beyond.  

  This cozy Paranormal romance was narrated by award winner Ruth Urquhart.  I was delighted to find out that she is a real human who was nominated  for a Voice Arts Award, as there was some discussion on the interwebs about AI use for narration of this book and I do not support synthesized voices in finished copies of books.   Her accent was charming, and I really found that the narration flowed, making this book an "easy listen" for me. 

I will say, personally, I am not a fan of the cover. It has an AI look to it, and no cover designer is specifically listed.  It is very possible this is a real graphic design art work. I have reached out to the author on her page and will update if she gives me an artist to credit.  

 UPDATE:  The cover was done by a Creator "Covers by Juan"   Juan appears to specialize in romatasy style covers, and looks like he offers a lot of pre-made covers that are adaptable to a variety of books.  

It is specifically noted that they " Do not use AI generated images".  I still can't say that I like this cover, even with this additional information.   But it is bright and colorful, and will likely appeal to others! 

STATS

First Published : January 13, 2026

Pages: 298

Available as an Audio Book : YES (~8.5 hrs) 

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, medical situations, Paranormal sexual situations  (mild) , magical situations, lack of coffee,   (not a complete list- be responsible!)

Book Review: The World's Greatest Detective and Her Just Okay Assistant by Liza Tully

   This is definitely a book far out of my own regular reading arenas.  Cozy Mystery. 

I do not know exactly why I picked this up.  I was casting about for a particular kind of book- one that had some romance but wasn't exactly a romance, and one that would be thought provoking, but not an entire treatise on something... 

    And the Library had this one posted on their page. 

And it really was essentially  JUST OKAY. 

This is a cozy whodunit. Olivia is a modern day young adult, who is fascinated by Ms Merrit a world famous detective. Olivia finds herself in the job of assistant to Ms Merritt and the two embark on a New England adventure to discover who did away with an aging society darling. 

I did read the whole thing, I enjoyed the unraveling of the mystery and the brain gymnastics that I went through as I considered who I thought the killer might be.  I also enjoyed the very subtle subplot of Olivia's life- where she's planning a wedding to a nice guy, but she's not very interested in the wedding details, especially because his mother is quite involved in the wedding planning.  

Do I feel passionate about this one?  No, no I do not. It was.... fine.  It was enjoyable. It was also what I'd call an airport book- you pick it up, read it on a plane trip and might leave it in an airport because you definitely don't need to carry that extra weight in your journey.  Would I read more from this author?  Possibly. Would I gift this to a reader friend, or a book club white elephant- definitely!  It is interesting and does not contain deep exploration of any dark themes. 

STATS

First Published: 7/8/2025

Pages: 400 pages

Available as an Audio Book : YES  

Trigger Warnings:  violence, Murder, LGBTQ content, mild bullying

(this is not a full list, read responsibly) 

Book Reivew Unmarked & Unbonded by Lolu Sinclair

  Many Thanks To Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review Unmarked & Unbonded:  Bonds of Silence Book 1. 

    I loved the cover. 

 I definitely wanted to explore that as soon as I saw it. When I saw it was a Why Choose SCI FI, I thought that this was a read for me. 

With no spoilers- let me attempt a summary. 

   Our main character Rienna Vale, has grown up in a society that seems controlled by rhythms and frequencies. Upon coming of age, folks attend  a temple ceremony and hope to find their one bonded love. Marks appear on wrists and people are sure and secure in these connections. Rienna, of course, must go against this and become one who is unmarked and unbonded. She's not against love, but she wants to choose it for herself.  She gets by doing various jobs, and continues her life as a misfit until a strange occurrence in the desert allows not one, but three bond marks to appear on her skin. Rienna isn't ready for that, and seeks answers. As she seeks, she gathers her three soulmates (a rebel, a scientist and a solider)  and together they work to find a place and situation that will work for all four. 

   I loved the concept. I did not totally love the book.  This story has good bones, dare I say - excellent bones.  It unfortunately lacks the detail that I crave in this type of a novel. The world building is sparse so readers are left to fill in the blanks, which might be alright, but I found that I needed just a few more details about this world that we're drawn into. Is this a future earth? Another planet? Is it all a glass desert? Why is the Sanctum chasing after this one human woman, is she a threat to their way of life, or is the Sanctum just sort of cruel? What kind of end goal is there?  What about the frequencies and rhythms? Are they set up by the gods or coding or?  Is it all some fancy math? 

This could be an excellent Sci-Fi Why Choose with a bit more world building and back story, as it was, I didn't feel a strong pull to any characters in general and in the end, didn't care that much about their future.  In general, the tale was told as if we had some background information that readers definitely do not have. 

    I didn't dislike it though, I just felt like I was missing some key element.  Frankly, i read this one with my own eyeballs, and that should say a lot as I'm more prone to choose an audiobook these days. 

 I liked the writing very much, Sinclair has a way of making analogies that really grab a reader and avoid being trite. I also liked that the author brings in math and physics with frequencies and harmonics, I just wish I had a teeny bit more understanding of those pieces!  I will likely read book two as it ended with very little resolution and I want some resolution! 

So in conclusion, this is an interesting Why Choose, with lots of room left to imagine and dream.  If you like why choose, science-magic systems and are comfortable with filling in your own details, this could be a winner!  

STATS

First Published : December 2, 2025

Pages: 210

Available as an Audio Book : not currently

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, religion, bullying,  Non-traditional relationships, on page sex, alcohol use. 

Book Review The Black Cathedral by Marcial Gala

 

  This... book -  it was an adventure!  I have a lot of mixed feelings about this one! 

I have been reading

Ada Ferrer's  Amazing history of Cuba, and I wanted to pair it with some Cuban writers, and I really only knew Jose Marti and Leonardo Padura.  A search through Libby for some Cuban authors brought this one up. It advertised that it was a portrait of a broken utopia, so I thought, let's try this one out.  

Keeping in mind that this novel was read in translation, I fear I may have missed the twisted satire a bit, thought I caught some of it. 

     In summary-- with no spoilers, this novel follows a family as they move to a neighborhood on the edge of being a bad one- in a southern city in Cuba. Mr. Stuart is a minister and begins to raise funds to build a spectacular house of worship.  The story  unfold with very little "plot" and is more of a slice of life told by multiple narrators - gossips, neighbors both young and old, serial killers and a few ghosts. 

 The writing was excellent and evocative and thought provoking. Readers get a glimpse of Cuba as the narrators grow and change with Cuba as a nation growing and changing. I did enjoy the changes seen in several main characters, and was equally thrilled and horrified by the resident serial killer indeed. 

I did feel like the entire novel really embraces a  "Slice of life" style which over all is not my favorite. We have a distinct beginning with the arrival of Mr. Stuart and his unusual family, but the novel itself then sort of fans out to provide almost cameos of each interesting member of the neighborhood, rather than a novel focused on the arrival, settling in and moving away  of the Stuart family.  

So for me this is not going to be one of my favorite reads of the year.  I feel that reading it in the original language may have helped me, but alas, I am not fluent to read.  I feel that the perceived flaw - with a less solid plot- may have been intentional, so I can't say it's poorly executed, I can just say that the more nebulous plot is just kind of "not my favorite" style of novel. 

So- I do recommend this for people interested in Cuban literature,  weird literature, and books in translation. If you are looking for a story with a defined Beginning-Middle-End, this one may not satisfy you in that way. 

     STATS

First Published : January 2021

Pages: 224

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings: violence, blood, death, grief, racism, Cannibalism, murder, As always not a complete list, please read responsibly. 

 

Book Review Fisherman Blues by Anna Badkhen

  Ok reading friends.  This is a non-fiction account of a West African Community at sea. In the end, I am not a fan of this book or this type of immersive journalism. 

Badkhen is a journalist, war correspondent and author of some acclaim. Her writing is beautiful, and she really knows how to set a scene.  Readers follow the ins and outs of a fishing community in Senegal, getting a very "slice of life" experience in the reading of this account. All of this is beautiful, and lovely. I could feel the sea, the rock and roll of the boats and waves, the joy and the anguish of the happenings in the village. 

              What I could not figure out was WHY exactly Badkhen chose this as a project.  Badkhen is noted as personalizing the effects of globalization and climate change in this work, and I suppose that is true, there's a lot of observation of declining catch, and discussion of reasons why. In the end, I did feel like I got an interesting read about this W. African village, but very firmly from the perspective of a very perceptive middle aged white lady. Her observations are spot on, but at the same time, I didn't feel immersed in the village, I felt immersed in her perceptions of the village. In some ways this made it a very palatable book, as my perspective is very similar to hers, so her views and descriptions were easily understood by me, but I did feel like I never fully understood the minds of the fishermen, the first, second and third wives, or the children who careen about the village. I also got the odd sensation that her presence was mostly providing her with material, and what was she providing in return?  I don't think of Badkhen as some sort of "taker"  on purpose, but I also feel slightly uncomfortable with this perspective. I think though, in 2018 things felt different. 

 It is a unique book, with very good writing, and interesting vignettes, but I'm still not sure how I feel about this book overall. 

STATS

First Published 2018

Pages: 304

Available as an Audio Book : YES

Trigger Warnings: infant death, death, medical situations, poverty

(this is not a full list, read responsibly)

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 Husband, 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: 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 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

Book Review Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

   This book should be at the top of any horror lovers list for "Spooky Season"  It is one book that actually managed to terrify me. 

A lot of the horror I read is sort of creeping, unsettling,  or slasher style horror with lots of gore and body parts.  Generally speaking, most of it seems so unrealistic that it isn't exactly "scary". HEX, on the other hand... very realistic with supernatural mixed in, sheer horror. 

    Our story is one of a HEX officer - Robert Grim who works in a small bucolic town - Black Spring NY  which is oddly haunted by a centuries old witch. There's a lot of lore about the witch- and she shows up all around town all the time. HEX is a project to monitor and control this phenomena- without alarming the general population outside of Black Spring. At some point, some teens start to do things that teens typically do- and the carefully constructed peace between the witch, and the town comes tumbling down. 

  If you are looking for something that is nauseatingly frightening on many different levels, this is going to be the book for you.  If not, I strongly advise avoiding it. 

For me, I loved it.  It was so original, and so well paced, and put together, that I could not put it down.. sort of. I also could not read it anywhere but the gym - surrounded by other people.  Interestingly, HEX is translated from Dutch, and the author heavily changed the story line for  a North American audience- moving the location from the Netherlands to the Hudson Valley and more.  I'm not sure how I feel about a book being essentially re-written for a new audience, but that was a choice that was made. 

This is definitely one with lots of extremely spooky vibes, and one from "the Backlist"  I'm glad I read it and I admit, I have been peeking around corners making sure that I don't bump into Katherine all week!!!! 

First Published : 2013  in Dutch  2016 in English

Pages: 384

Available as an Audio Book :YES

Trigger Warnings: violent events, Child death, Suicide, body horror, illness, murder, animal death. 

Not a full TW list, please read responsibly.