Anonymous wrote:Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Stout. I just started it, and so far so good. I loved "Olive Kitteridge" and am really looking forward to reading this.

Reading Olive Kitteridge and loving it so far. Grabbed me from the first page. Maybe I'll read Tell Me Everything next.

Anonymous wrote:The Girls who Grew Big by Leila mottley.

I am only 35 pages in. It is a book about a group of pregnant and parenting teenage girls in a poor town in the Florida panhandle.

I was hesitant to start the book because I have read and listened to a few too many books on the subject recently, but it came up on my Libby app and I’m giving it a go. So far I like the writing style.

there seems to be a convergence on this topic. Did you read Grady Hendrix's Witchcraft for Wayward Girls? Similar topic but crazy horror.

Anonymous wrote:In honor of "Sap-tember, I have been dipping my toes into the pool of "cozy fantasy"... I'm about 3/4 through Legends & Lattes, about an orc retiring from the warrior life and opening a coffee shop. It is an easy listen, but a bit too cozy without enough fantasy action for me, even as I am apparently pretty sympathetic with this month's sappy theme!

That said, I need some coziness to get through Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell, which is great, but where I already previously got stopped short by its premise, i.e. the death of one of Shakespeare's children from the plague. I am only about 1/4 of the way in and alternating with L & L as necessary...

Hamnet is a stunning work but I found several scenes hard to read. There is one particular scene that I skimmed through, which I nearly NEVER do, but I just couldn’t handle how painful it was to read.

I think the movie will do it justice so I’m excited for that. But not really the theme/reliving some of those really hard parts.

Haha I’ve heard of and participated in “Spooktember” so I thought “Saptember” was also a theme thing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Names by Florence Knapp - the story of an abused woman, Cora, and the three different paths her life takes based on what she names her second child. Her abusive husband insists that he be named Gordan (his name, and the name of his father). Their 9 year old daughter suggests another name, and Cora likes a third name. It seems like an innocent premise, but it's a very powerful book, and really shows how abuse permeates generations.

It's not sappy enough for SAPtember, but is a September read nonetheless.

Oh gosh! I am the person who usually starts the monthly what are you reading threads. I had not even realized I misspelled the month! Whoopsie!

Ha! I figured that SAPtember was a BookTok thing. If it's not, you should totally make it a thing. I finished The Names - four stars, btw. It was difficult to read at parts, but a powerful book.

Now, in honor of the newly formed SAPtember, I'm going to move on to a much lighter book. - TBD

I've been trying to read all the Sherlock Holmes books/stories, which I have never done. Currently reading 7 (of 9) - The Valley of Fear. Seems like this is where a lot of Moriarity lore comes out of, possibly? Really loving these. After I finish them all (it's been 2 years total), I'll finally watch the BBC Sherlock. And then I think in 2026 I will start on all the Poirot books/stories in order.

I'm going to have a bunch of popular things hit from the library holds list this month:

Kind of Ashes, S.A. Crosby - southern thrillers, this was on Obama's summer list as was the past one.

The Maryleborne Drop Mick Herron - a slow horses novella, takes place inbetween books 5 and 6. Just finished book 5 in prep for season 5 of the slow horses series starting up this month.

Careless people - the Fcebook expose

Accomplice to the Villain - third in the series. Supposedly a cozy romantasy series. The first book was ok, the second was annoying. I thought this was the last book but am worried there will be a 4th, so this one will be all onging and glances and one kiss and no actual romance action. My patience is wearing thin.

The Brutal Telling - book 5 of louise Penny's Gamache series. I'm sort of reading this by the seasons - so the last book was set in the summer and I read it in summer 2024. THis one is set in September and I missed readin git last year so waited til now.

My book club is reading the second book in the Old Filth series by Jane gardam. THe first book was good so hoping this one will be too.

I want to squeeze in Hamnet this month.

In honor of "Sap-tember, I have been dipping my toes into the pool of "cozy fantasy"... I'm about 3/4 through Legends & Lattes, about an orc retiring from the warrior life and opening a coffee shop. It is an easy listen, but a bit too cozy without enough fantasy action for me, even as I am apparently pretty sympathetic with this month's sappy theme!

That said, I need some coziness to get through Hamnet, by Maggie O'Farrell, which is great, but where I already previously got stopped short by its premise, i.e. the death of one of Shakespeare's children from the plague. I am only about 1/4 of the way in and alternating with L & L as necessary...

“Harvest” by Jim Crace, on which a recent movie is based. It was also a Booker finalist about ten years ago. When I heard about the movie (supposedly surreal folk horror, with bizarre Bosch-like posters), I knew I had to read the book first.

Anonymous wrote:The Names by Florence Knapp - the story of an abused woman, Cora, and the three different paths her life takes based on what she names her second child. Her abusive husband insists that he be named Gordan (his name, and the name of his father). Their 9 year old daughter suggests another name, and Cora likes a third name. It seems like an innocent premise, but it's a very powerful book, and really shows how abuse permeates generations.

It's not sappy enough for SAPtember, but is a September read nonetheless.

I also read The Names and really liked the concept of the three ways her life might have diverged depending on the name of the child. I have a very hard time reading books that include abuse, though, so that made it a difficult read for me.

Anonymous wrote:I am reading The Rosie Result after just finishing The Rosie Effect and The Rosie Project. It's about a high-functioning autistic man who navigates dating, marriage, pregnancy, and fatherhood. The main character is so endearing and sometimes relatable.

You might like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman, also a story about a person with autism who finds a foothold in life.

Anonymous wrote:Reading The Correspondent which is an epistolary novel. Interesting self portrait of a woman if not a bit dry but I’m only 1/3 in.

Recently read A Marraige at Sea which was an Obama pick and really harrowing and fun, tragic. Was a good summer bookend to listening to Unbroken with my family on a long road trip in June!

A friend just recommended The Correspondent -- she loved it, so maybe it will get better as you keep reading.

Reading The Correspondent which is an epistolary novel. Interesting self portrait of a woman if not a bit dry but I’m only 1/3 in.

Recently read A Marraige at Sea which was an Obama pick and really harrowing and fun, tragic. Was a good summer bookend to listening to Unbroken with my family on a long road trip in June!

I'm starting The Displacements, by Bruce Holsinger

The premise sounds good, but I'm having a hard time getting into it. Has anyone read it? Thoughts?

Meanwhile, according to Goodreads, I read and liked one of his earlier books (The Gifted School), though that was five years ago, and I can't seem to remember anything about it now . . . not a great sign?

I am reading The Rosie Result after just finishing The Rosie Effect and The Rosie Project. It's about a high-functioning autistic man who navigates dating, marriage, pregnancy, and fatherhood. The main character is so endearing and sometimes relatable.

The Girls who Grew Big by Leila mottley.

I am only 35 pages in. It is a book about a group of pregnant and parenting teenage girls in a poor town in the Florida panhandle.

I was hesitant to start the book because I have read and listened to a few too many books on the subject recently, but it came up on my Libby app and I’m giving it a go. So far I like the writing style.