The Briar Club - Kate Quinn

September's Book Club choice was .... OK. I have gotten to the point where I am not sure if it some faulty perception on my part, or if the writing in these "bestseller" type books really is this meh. Is it me???? I also feel like this book could have just been a drama and didn't need to be a "mystery" if that makes sense. I did like some of the characters. Sometimes with books like this I like to check out the Amazon reviews and I was stunned to discover that something in this book that I really liked was something that a lot of readers hated. LOL LOL LOL I guess I am just far out of step with most people but what else is new. 

Reread: The Giver - Lois Lowry

Reality is more and more dystopian by the minute, so why not kick off autumn/fall (I know it's technically still summer, but as far as I'm concerned, Sept 1 = the first day of autumn/fall) with a classic of the genre. I actually first read this book ~25 years ago, long before this blog, when I was reading a bunch of Newbery Medal award winning books. My local library had its annual book sale a few months ago, so of course I could not help myself and added a bunch of books to the ever-growing and never-shrinking TBR Pile, including this book. Another reason of course is because if I recall correctly, this is a frequently banned or challenged book, and frankly I would like to have copies of some of these books ... just in case. 

This book is a deceptively fast read but I am still thinking about it. My lousy memory meant that I remembered next to nothing about it, except that I had liked it, so it was as if I were reading it for the first time. And I am pleased to report that I liked it again. I am still thinking about the story and how I feel about it. Without getting spoiler-y at all, I am not sure how exactly I would want to live. I think the me that existed in, say, 2019 would make a different choice than the me that exists today. But who knows. 

The Trackers - Charles Frazier (Spoilers?)

What a terrific choice for this month's Book Club! I loved this book. It's basically a film noir in book form (I guess that would make it a livre noir?), so much so that I mentally cast Barbara Stanwyck as Eve and pictured that character as looking like Phyllis Dietrichson from Double Indemnity, one of my favorite movies. The writing is great, the setting is fascinating, I liked the characters even when they were rather unlikable - this was just a great read. Highly recommended. 

The Deerfield Massacre - James L. Swanson

This book's subtitle draws us in and gives us more context: A Surprise Attack, a Forced March, and the Fight for Survival in Early America. I was not familiar with this event in history, and the author has clearly researched it in great detail and used a wide-ranging compilation of sources to paint a picture of colonial America that I don't think we hear or see much about these days. I would love to read more about Eunice Williams (the daughter) - that is a fascinating story in itself. 

Family Lore - Elizabeth Acevedo

July's Book Club choice grabbed me and would not let me go. I was compelled to keep reading and I resented any time I had to stop. OK, there was a bit more "adult content" than I would like, but this book was worth it. I am really looking forward to the discussion! Recommended. 

Reread: Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret - Judy Blume

Saw this book at Dollar Tree, of all places, and thought I'd grab it for $1.25 before their prices keep getting higher and higher, both out of nostalgia for a book I remember reading as a kid, and also to have a copy of a book that is frequently banned and challenged by people who don't think other people deserve to know actual medical information. The funniest thing about that is that this book isn't some explicit description of anything, it's just a story about maturing and etc. But whatever! 

So of course I had to reread it, and it was entertaining as an adult. At my ripe age, part of me thinks anyone WANTING menstruation has something drastically wrong with them, ha ha. But of course I understand that it was (is? I don't know anymore) a sign of "maturity" and etc. I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE Margaret's grandmother, even if she is kind of a pain in the neck from time to time. I think there were some interesting lessons in this book. 

Now I am kind of wondering if I should have picked up copies of other Judy Blume books they had.... 

(Starring Sally J. Friedman As Herself, Blubber, Deenie, and maybe 1 other?)

The Curse of Penryth Hall - Jess Armstrong

June's book club choice was... underwhelming. I wanted to like this book but the story was all over the place. And if one more character "wet [his/her] lips" I would have screamed. What does that even mean????? I can't recommend this one. 

The Miniaturist - Jessie Burton

This was a quick read - I basically finished it in 1 day. I enjoyed the story, although some of it was unpleasant, but I am left with a lot of unanswered questions too. Ultimately, I think it's about the power or suggestion, but I don't have a lot of thoughts to back that up. I really wanted to love this one, but I didn't. Not sure what exactly to make of it. 

The Husbands - Holly Gramazio

This was an enjoyable and entertaining Book Club choice.  It was a good "beach read" type of book. It did make me think about how we choose a "partner" to go through life with. 

The Secret War of Julia Child - Diana R. Chambers

April's Book Club choice left me completely cold. The writing was awful, just amateurish and poorly done. It read like something written by a person who has never read a book in their life. The story itself is heavily fictionalized and full of over the top "action scenes" and silly romance nonsense that I imagine is supposed to build some kind of "will they/won't they" tension but is just tiresome. I suspect everyone else in the Book Club will love it though (I hope I'm wrong). I can't recommend this one.