January 2025 - what are you reading?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Woman Who Knew Everyone: The Power of Perle Mesta, Washington’s Most Famous Hostess
by Meryl Gordon (Author)
A TOWN & COUNTRY MUST READ BOOK OF 2025
AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH - BIOGRAPHIES & MEMOIR

Please report back!

[Anonymous]

Loyalty by Lisa Scottoline

[Anonymous]

I just finished "The Second Chance Year" by Melissa Wiesner.
It was about a woman who had a lousy year. On New Year's eve, she goes to a party and there is a fortune teller there. She tells the fortune teller that she would like a do-over for the entire year and her wish is granted.
I thought it was fun. Well written. I plan to check out what else this author has done.

[Anonymous]

All the Colors of the Dark. Loved it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All the Colors of the Dark. Loved it.

Can you say more? And who is the author?

[Anonymous]

Chris Whitaker.
It was a beautiful story spanning several decades with a really satisfying conclusion. It has gotten some criticism for its length. I loved the writing, and post reading All Fours (which I hated) it was just what I needed. I was at first intimidated by the length but I flew through it. I found it reminiscent of how Demon flowed. While there is the story of the missing girls, it is very much a coming of age story and one of friendship.

[Anonymous]

A goofy little novel I found on Kindle Unlimited called Who Loves You Best. About a grandmother - who's a podiatrist - who comes up from Florida to watch her beloved granddaughter in the Berkshires while the kid's mom (the grandmother's daughter) is out of town.

She gets caught up with all the difficult and quirky characters, has a rivalry with the kid's other grandmother, and someone else acting in a grandmother role. She's struggling with the question of whether to move up north to be around more or stay in Florida, where she's built herself a nice life.

It's light and enjoyable, and feels very low stakes - which I appreciate right now. I assume the resolution will have her spending more time up north without giving up her other life in Florida.

[Anonymous]

So far:

Coetzee - The Pole - spare and surprising at times

Cunningham - Day - self-indulgent and over-stylized - the only book of his I've enjoyed is The Hours; I think I'm done with him

Kiesling - Mobility - better than expected, well observed, some very funny lines, a little sad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Finished Long island, first Colm Toibon book I have ready, it was ok, enjoyed it, middle aged woman finds out about her DH affair and baby on the way, goes back to mother Ireland and reconnects with an ex from long ago.
reading The cliffs now-just started

It is a sequel to his earlier book, Brooklyn.

Brooklyn was fine, easy reading. The Master is a small masterpiece. (Skip The Magician.)

[Anonymous]

Just finished Local Woman Missing and enjoyed it even though there are some issues with the plot. It was a quick escapist read. By Mary Kubica.

Much better than her other book : Just the Nicest Couple. At least IMO. If anyone has a recommendation for any of her other books, would love to hear it.

[Anonymous]

All Good People Here- Ashley Flowers

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Chris Whitaker.
It was a beautiful story spanning several decades with a really satisfying conclusion. It has gotten some criticism for its length. I loved the writing, and post reading All Fours (which I hated) it was just what I needed. I was at first intimidated by the length but I flew through it. I found it reminiscent of how Demon flowed. While there is the story of the missing girls, it is very much a coming of age story and one of friendship.

Anyone who complains about the length hasn't actually opened the book. It has many, many chapters that are a page long or shorter. It may be 600 pages but word count-wise it's a "regular" length book. I devoured it in a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished Local Woman Missing and enjoyed it even though there are some issues with the plot. It was a quick escapist read. By Mary Kubica.

Much better than her other book : Just the Nicest Couple. At least IMO. If anyone has a recommendation for any of her other books, would love to hear it.

I enjoyed The Good Girl, for another quick read.

[Anonymous]

I just read Mademoiselle Chanel, an historical fiction account of the life of Coco Chanel. I really liked it. Not deep reading, but entertaining.

[Anonymous]

To my fellow All the Colors of the Dark reader, I totally agree about the length. Really short chapters and very, very easy to read. I also devoured it, but took more than one day, but just a few days.