Four things:
1 - Vote for reading, every day, but please get out and vote at the polls today, Americans.
2 - I am in Ireland and will not be visiting your bookish blogs today but I will be doing so this weekend, so apologies in advance for the late visits.
3 - Congratulations to the winners of our Anniversary Giveaway - Linda, Micah, Rose, & Kristen.
4 - December will be a special Double Show Us Your Books month - the regular monthly link up will take place on the second Tuesday as always (December 13) and the Show Us Your Books Best of 2016 on the last Tuesday of the month (December 27). You can see my post from last year here.
This link up happens the second Tuesday of every month.
The next one is Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Special Show Us Your Books Best of 2016 on Tuesday, December 27
1. Please visit and comment with both of your hosts, Jana & meSpecial Show Us Your Books Best of 2016 on Tuesday, December 27
2. Please display the button (need it? let me know) or link back to us on your blog post
2. Please visit a few other blogs who've linked up and get some book talk going!
Here's what I've read from the last linkup.
Engrossing Reads
The Education of Dixie Dupree by Donna Everhart - Good Lord this was a tough one. The subject matter was hard to stomach, but it was well written and Everhart did a good job using a child narrator, which is something I do not typically love. Free copy from Netgalley for an honest review
The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena - I think I spent most of this book thinking two things simultaneously: I need to know what's going on and everyone is a fucking dumbass. I liked the mixed feelings, they spurred me on towards the end. Jana and I will be discussing this in a future episode of The Armchair Librarians. Library hardback
The Mothers by Brit Bennett - I couldn't put this down. I loved the writing itself, specifically what I came to think of as the Mothers' chorus, and the way the story was told. Read it. library hardback
Faithful by Alice Hoffman - Last month I read a Hoffman dud, and lort was this a redeemer. I fell headfirst into this book. Great characters and relationship work by Hoffman. Sad and hopeful and full of love from unlikely sources and redemption. Free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.
Still Mine by Amy Stuart - I started this just before midnight on a Thursday and finished just before midnight on a Friday. I'm a sucker for stories set in dying towns with feuds that run deep. e-book from Amazon
The Girl Before by Rena Olsen - Well, file this one under crazy. MFD is even reading it now. purchased paperback
After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid - My first TJR book. I liked it. Some of the writing annoyed me, like the lack of contractions which made some of the dialogue sound formal. That's a pet peeve of mine but the story kept me right in there. purchased paperback
Passed the Time Just Fine
The Things We Wish Were True by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen - Good timing on this book, because it contains some things I dislike - more than two points of view, numerous plotlines lacking depth - but I enjoyed it anyway. I liked the writing and the characters. Amazon e-book
A Certain Age by Beatriz Williams - Solid Williams effort, set deep in the glamorous past and full of intrigue and society shit. Not my favorite of hers but I still liked it. Library hardback
Safe With Me by K.L. Slater - This book is very odd and everyone might be a little delusional. It kept me interested and flipping pages fast. Free copy from Netgalley for an honest review
Evelyn, After by Victoria Helen Stone - Everyone is wrong, some characters try to swim towards right but get waylaid. Some good writing on what it feels like to be scorned, reduced, and wronged, but not good enough to carry the story. Amazon First choice for October, e-book
Not Worth It
I Met Someone by Bruce Wagner - Jesus, Netgalley, if you want me to review something, it has to be readable. This was not readable and it was apparent that it was not readable by the second page.
I Met Someone by Bruce Wagner - Jesus, Netgalley, if you want me to review something, it has to be readable. This was not readable and it was apparent that it was not readable by the second page.