Anonymous wrote:I just finished Death Valley by Melissa Broder. She’s such a fun writer. A woman goes to the desert to process the impending death of her father and discovers a giant cactus where she can go and relive moments with him. It’s very well done despite the very speculative part about the cactus.

Just starting Death in Her Hands by Ottessa Moshfegh.

This sounds good, but my dad just died fairly recently....in the desert...not more than 15 feet from a giant cactus. So maybe it would be triggering? I'll let that one sit for a while I think.

Reading "We Computers" - a revelation and the freshest thing I have read in some time. Reminds me of Houllebecq at his best but from Uzbekistan and honestly better. A beautiful vision if unsparing maybe. The 21st century is only going to get tougher and this book has it exactly right so far.

The Rest of Our Lives by Ben Markovits.

Does anyone else feel there are a ton of good books out right now?

Just finished Little Secrets and though there were lots of twists and turns, I didn’t love it.

Anonymous wrote:The Mad Wife, by Meagan Church

1950s housewife struggles to keep up with expectations and life in general after the birth of her second child. But what’s really going on?

I’m about halfway through. The main character is interesting, as is the window into suburban life at that time. It’s an easy read, yet there’s a darkness to it, too. Gothic/horror or just domestic suspense? Not sure yet, but I like it.

Loved this! Heartbreaking twists.

^^ ooh I have to read this!

Just finished Shark Heart, and it was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It’s about a newly married couple whose life is turned upside down when the husband is diagnosed with a condition that slowly turns him into a great white shark. It sounds bizarre, and it is…but it’s really about love, grief, and what it means to stand by with someone you love through devastating times as they change. I think for me, this book especially resonated after losing a parent to dementia, and the toll it took on my parents’ marriage and our family. Heart wrenching but beautifully written.

I needed something light after Shark Heart, so now I’m onto Margo’s Got Money Troubles. It’s fine, it’s cute, it’s just what I needed after something so heavy…

Midway through the Correspondent - loving it. Ultimately enjoyed Heart the Lover as well.

Just finished up The Correspondent (LOVED it). Currently working through Theo of Golden. Unpopular opinion, I'm finding it a little boring so far and the characters are one dimensional and not portrayed realistically.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Finishing The Golem and the Jinn, which I’m loving.
Just started Hamnet for my book club. Only a dozen pages in, but Inreally like O’Farrell’s writing so far.

This is one of my fave books.

It's one of my next in line reads 😍

I read The House in the Cerulean Sea and Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune. About magical children and rules around how magical people live, being true to yourself, accepting yourself, etc. LOVED both. Had them in my shelves for a while and really enjoyed both!! Can't wait for a possible third.

Also just finished Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson. A little meh. About generational wealth, privilege etc. Was supposed to be funny but didn't land it. At first thought I might dnf, then ended up enjoying it a bit, (mostly just Sasha) then the ending/last few sentences kind of ruined any positive feelings I had about the book, just seemed so unnecessary and didn't belong.

Agree on Pineapple Street. Had higher hopes for it and it fell flat. A pretty cover I guess?

I'm just starting Whale Fall about a small island of the coast of great britain and set in 1938 when times are changing for multiple reasons.

I absolutely loved Whale Fall. Nice and short too. I just finished Heartwood (Amity Gaige) about a woman who gets lost while hiking the AT and the search for her in Maine. Fantastic portrait of hard boiled searchers and warden life, people who hike etc. Next up is Liars by Sarah Manguso. I tried to get into 1929 but just couldn’t. Can someone convince me to try again?

I just finished Whale Fall and really liked it too! And had immediately prior loved Heartwood so we are on a similar reading streak. Now I've started Raising Hare and finishing Demon Copperhead.

I just finished Strangers by Belle Burden.
I really enjoyed it, much more than I thought I would. The tone is elegaic and it's about finding your way when everything falls apart. It feels like the voice of a mature, wise person.

^^ Oops sorry posted 2x!

I am reading Frieda McFadden’s newest release “Dear Debbie.”

It is very good so far & I am thoroughly enjoying the story.

I just picked up the latest thriller from one of my favorite authors Frieda McFadden “Dear Debbie” & am fully engrossed in it so far!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just started The Life Impossible by Matt Haig. So far I’m enjoying it. I liked another of his books, The Midnight Library, which I read a couple years ago.

His book The Humans is better than both of these. And laugh out loud funny.

Agree- so unexpectedly funny! I liked that one.