The Surrogate Mother - heard of it on here and really slogging through. Skipped ahead.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash. I really love the humor, at least in the 75 pages I’ve read so far.

I’m also in the middle of listening to the third book in the Finlay Donovan series about a Fairfax County romance/crime author and mom who gets mixed up in crazy murder for hire and other ridiculous schemes. But they’re a fun, easy listen while driving or doing stuff around the house.

I DNF on Finlay Donovan after the 2nd book. The plots are thin and repetitive and are bloated with goofy characters and dialogs. A joke.

I am not the OP but I find this type of response disrespectful and unnecessary. Fine for you to have an opinion on a given book but it’s no more or less valid than anyone else’s. The OP quite clearly said that this book falls into the category of a fun, easy listen so the PP’s comments don’t even seem to fit the discussion. Pp, why not tell us your suggestions in the fun, easy listen category? Or ask the OP to expand on the things she likes about the books (assuming you’re open minded enough to reconsider your opinion)

Just finished The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout, and it was a real turner for me, even if it did feel like a personal diatribe of sorts at times, and even though I agree with her. That said, I was fully engaged and couldn't put it down. Like most of Strout’s characters and books, this wasn’t a happy, sunshiny read.

I, Medusa by Ayana Gray. Modern retelling of Medusa's story from myth. My husband gave it to me because I really enjoyed Song of Achilles and Circe and recently reread the Odyssey in anticipation of the movie.

So far it is just okay, it's not grabbing me as much as the Madeline Miller books, but I may just not be far enough in. It has more of a romance novel vibe, even though it is not a romance. We'll see.

I have been on a role this year with a number of books I really liked: Tilt by Emma Pattee, All the Little Bird-Hearts by Victoria Lloyd-Barlow, Memory wall by Anthony Doerr (short stories), Fleishman is in Trouble by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, City of Thieves by David Benioff, and The Mighty Red by Louise Erdrich.

Pp again. Also funny. And about artist and art.

Backman’s My Friends

So far like it.

An unusual portrayal of adolescence and adult misunderstanding of emotions and behavior. Also, about grief, which I didn’t seek -almost avoid- but it hits true notes.

Interested in other’s views on this book.

These Impossible Things

Salma El-Wardany

Anonymous wrote:Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash. I really love the humor, at least in the 75 pages I’ve read so far.

I’m also in the middle of listening to the third book in the Finlay Donovan series about a Fairfax County romance/crime author and mom who gets mixed up in crazy murder for hire and other ridiculous schemes. But they’re a fun, easy listen while driving or doing stuff around the house.

I DNF on Finlay Donovan after the 2nd book. The plots are thin and repetitive and are bloated with goofy characters and dialogs. A joke.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Long Ships, by Frans Bengtsson. It's about a Viking and his adventures (originally written in Sweden in the 1940s) and it's a fun page-turner, but based on real history.

This is one of my favorite books! And it got me hooked on buying and reading books published by NYRB.

Michael Chabon was right: It is really good!

Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash. I really love the humor, at least in the 75 pages I’ve read so far.

I’m also in the middle of listening to the third book in the Finlay Donovan series about a Fairfax County romance/crime author and mom who gets mixed up in crazy murder for hire and other ridiculous schemes. But they’re a fun, easy listen while driving or doing stuff around the house.

I’ve been binging on cozy mystery audio books by local author, Krista Davis. It is set in Alexandria about a sleuth aka Domestic Diva. She is a likable heroine and the plots are well crafted. The latest book is #16 in the series.

I'm reading The Sea Wife by Amity Gaige about a married couple who ditch their suburban life and take their young kids on a year long sailing voyage in an effort to save their marriage.

For nonfiction I'm reading Revolutionary Summer by Joseph Ellis. It's about the summer of 1776 and how the military campaign and the political ideas in the Continental Congress played off each other to bring about the American Revolution. Part of my 250 reading.

Anonymous wrote:The Long Ships, by Frans Bengtsson. It's about a Viking and his adventures (originally written in Sweden in the 1940s) and it's a fun page-turner, but based on real history.

This is one of my favorite books! And it got me hooked on buying and reading books published by NYRB.

My primary right now is “The Ghost Map,” by Steven Johnson. It’s NF about the 1854 cholera outbreak in London, which in part shaped modern understanding of disease spread. Very interesting and well written; listening and reading.

I just got “The Midnight Train” by Matt Haig (new release) on audio, a sequel to “The Midnight Library”; excited to start that soon.

Anonymous wrote:Fates and Furies, by Lauren Groff.

I really liked this book. I didn't know what was coming.