I really loved Tom Lake. Loved it.

I keep saying this (in other situations in real life mostly) but you know how there's a lack of books/movies/music/entertainment about the spanish flu of 1918? I've read that people were just so relieved it was over that there was no looking back. I've certainly felt I don't want to consume media of people in lockdown or worried about covid.

Well, I thought this was just the perfect book about covid. It's there, but very background. It frames out why the mother is able to tell the story to her daughters, but otherwise it remains just a situation. I just think she handled it perfectly.

I keep seeing Birnam Woods mentioned, but I can’t get into it.

Not published this year but I loved Wintering. Babel was pretty good too.

The NYT notable books list came out about a week ago. I'm looking forward to getting some of these.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/11/21/books/notable-books.html

Anonymous wrote:Hello Beautiful
Signal Fires (published in late 2022, so it may not count for this?)

Thank you for this recommendation. I loved Hello Beautiful so when I saw your second title I figured we had similar tastes and was correct. Signal Fires was a wonderful read.

Anonymous wrote:I have discovered what whatever the Goodreads readers love, I hate. They lost their minds for the Midnight Library and Lessons in Chemistry and I don’t think I’ve ever hated two books more

Goodreads is probably hosted by the publishers.

Hello Beautiful
Signal Fires (published in late 2022, so it may not count for this?)

First round voting is up on Goodreads.

Victory city

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have discovered what whatever the Goodreads readers love, I hate. They lost their minds for the Midnight Library and Lessons in Chemistry and I don’t think I’ve ever hated two books more

Same here! I was the only one in my book club that wasn't raving over Lessons in Chemistry.

It’s like reading a book about the Big Bang Theory characters. Awful.

I didn't make it very far into this one. I’ve learned that if I hate a book right way, it rarely gets better.

Anonymous wrote:Old God's Time by Sebastian Barry
Our Share of Night by Mariana Enriquez

I DNF the bolded. Too much abuse.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have discovered what whatever the Goodreads readers love, I hate. They lost their minds for the Midnight Library and Lessons in Chemistry and I don’t think I’ve ever hated two books more

Same here! I was the only one in my book club that wasn't raving over Lessons in Chemistry.

It’s like reading a book about the Big Bang Theory characters. Awful.

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide was delightful! I read the book and then listened to the audiobook.

The Bandit Queens was excellent. I really did laugh and cry and read it again.

Chain-Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Wellness by Nathan Hill
Quietly Hostile, Samatha Irby

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have discovered what whatever the Goodreads readers love, I hate. They lost their minds for the Midnight Library and Lessons in Chemistry and I don’t think I’ve ever hated two books more

Same here! I was the only one in my book club that wasn't raving over Lessons in Chemistry.

Little Fires Everywhere was voted to be the winner of best fiction

Anonymous wrote:I have discovered what whatever the Goodreads readers love, I hate. They lost their minds for the Midnight Library and Lessons in Chemistry and I don’t think I’ve ever hated two books more

Same here! I was the only one in my book club that wasn't raving over Lessons in Chemistry.