May 2025 -- What are you reading?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished The Tell by Amy Griffin. I didn’t realize she was the G9 business ventures founder and is friends with Reese and GP. The memoir was interesting especially with the use of MDMA, but I still find it a little bit lacking.

So happy to find someone who I agree with re: The Tell. It was good, interesting like you said, but just not that special. Perhaps I went into it with too high of expectations given the hype around it. It's almost like the wall the author describes putting up to protect herself from her childhood trauma still exists in her writing. Her daughter told her didn't really know her mom and I feel like after reading a memoir detailing such a horrific series of events, I still don't know the author.

Yes, I always have a hard time judging memoirs because it's obviously a deeply personal experience but I was left wanting more. Amy's career is obviously impressive and I would have liked to see more of that tie-in.

**Spoiler**
I thought there would be greater confirmation of the incident, or it happening to someone else too, besides the anon postcard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Nix by Nathan Hill. It's so good!

This one was fun for sure

[Anonymous]

Summer Water by Sarah Moss. So far it’s outstanding.

Braided stories about people vacationing in the same community in Scotland, collectively moving (I’m pretty sure?) toward something big. Some stories are harrowing, one was laugh-out-loud funny, and all are completely compelling, with characters you can’t look away from.

Such good writing, too. I am loving it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm reading North and South by Elizabeth Gaskill - a review said it's the socialist pride and prejudice.

Her books are great. I have read most of them, along with Willkie Collins and Anthony Trollope. All worth visiting if you like Victorian writers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Summer Water by Sarah Moss. So far it’s outstanding.

Braided stories about people vacationing in the same community in Scotland, collectively moving (I’m pretty sure?) toward something big. Some stories are harrowing, one was laugh-out-loud funny, and all are completely compelling, with characters you can’t look away from.

Such good writing, too. I am loving it.

I finished. Really liked it through the end, which was abrupt, but it was a short book so kind of fit.

Everyone was seen both from inside and outside. We watch characters though others’ eyes and see others through theirs. The disparate stories came together in a way that worked.

She’s a great writer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm reading North and South by Elizabeth Gaskill - a review said it's the socialist pride and prejudice.

Her books are great. I have read most of them, along with Willkie Collins and Anthony Trollope. All worth visiting if you like Victorian writers.

PP here - wonderful, thank you! I haven’t made much progress yet because work (ugh) but so far really captivating.

[Anonymous]

On a Kate Quinn kick (The Rose Code, Briar Club). Only The Alice Network was in at the library so that's what I'm reading now.

[Anonymous]

Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld. I've read a lot of her books but I think I'm enjoying this one more than the all the others. I'm listening to it and enjoying the different narrators too. She's funny, and smart. I really like short stories and a lot of people don't, but if you do, so far so good.

[Anonymous]

Just finished Jar of Hearts and really liked it.

Currently reading The Wedding People and I'm loving it.

Next on the list is Butter: A Novel of Food & Murder, and I'm dreading it after listening to the audio sample. Book club choice, though, so I'll give it a shot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Show Don't Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld. I've read a lot of her books but I think I'm enjoying this one more than the all the others. I'm listening to it and enjoying the different narrators too. She's funny, and smart. I really like short stories and a lot of people don't, but if you do, so far so good.

It was very good! I didn’t know that about the different narrators; I might have to give the audiobook a shot later. I went to her Arlington Library event last month and she seemed very midwestern nice and funny, and of course smart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just finished The Tell by Amy Griffin. I didn’t realize she was the G9 business ventures founder and is friends with Reese and GP. The memoir was interesting especially with the use of MDMA, but I still find it a little bit lacking.

So happy to find someone who I agree with re: The Tell. It was good, interesting like you said, but just not that special. Perhaps I went into it with too high of expectations given the hype around it. It's almost like the wall the author describes putting up to protect herself from her childhood trauma still exists in her writing. Her daughter told her didn't really know her mom and I feel like after reading a memoir detailing such a horrific series of events, I still don't know the author.

Yes, I always have a hard time judging memoirs because it's obviously a deeply personal experience but I was left wanting more. Amy's career is obviously impressive and I would have liked to see more of that tie-in.

**Spoiler**
I thought there would be greater confirmation of the incident, or it happening to someone else too, besides the anon postcard.

Yes! Exactly. I felt so isolated from her and her story and it made me doubt much of the narrative.

[Anonymous]

Just finished The Best Land Under Heaven, by Michael Wallis, today. It tells the story of the Donner Party, with an eye toward historical accuracy more than sensationalism, though of course the facts of the story are sensational enough without embroidery. It was harrowing and made me want to raid my fridge.

Next up, The Indifferent Stars Above, by Daniel James Brown, another take about the same subject matter and apparently even more intense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just finished The Best Land Under Heaven, by Michael Wallis, today. It tells the story of the Donner Party, with an eye toward historical accuracy more than sensationalism, though of course the facts of the story are sensational enough without embroidery. It was harrowing and made me want to raid my fridge.

Next up, The Indifferent Stars Above, by Daniel James Brown, another take about the same subject matter and apparently even more intense.

The Indifferent Stars Above is great narrative nonfiction.

I'm reading Lost Children Archive by Valerie Luiselli. This came out in 2019 and is about a family driving across country from NYC to the southwest so the husband can continue his research about the Apaches and the wife can continue research on migrant children held in detention centers. The writing is really beautiful and I'm enjoying it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got Say You'll Remember Me on the lucky day shelf at MCPL. I love Abby Jimenez books.

I had seen Abby Jimenez recommended here, and just forced my way through The Friend Zone, which was easily the worst book I ever made myself finish. I checked Reddit, which suggested she has dreadful books and very good ones. I’m now wondering if there is some sort of writing conglomerate that uses her name?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I got Say You'll Remember Me on the lucky day shelf at MCPL. I love Abby Jimenez books.

I had seen Abby Jimenez recommended here, and just forced my way through The Friend Zone, which was easily the worst book I ever made myself finish. I checked Reddit, which suggested she has dreadful books and very good ones. I’m now wondering if there is some sort of writing conglomerate that uses her name?

Try Part of your World series. Those were great.