November 2024 Reads

TL, DR above

Election aftermath stunted my reading this month. Fascism effects focus, you know?  

Engrossing Reads

Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor - There's a sci-fi/futuristic bent to this book which is typically not my favorite but the characters and overall story and humanity won me over - loved this read. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/14/25

Crescendo by Joanna Howat - Very impressive for a debut novel - vulnerable characters, symbolism with the piano. I read this quickly, which is not always the case with novels like these. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder - A re-read. Seemed timely. Check it out. Paperback, own - bought a few additional copies to place in Little Free Libraries

Johnny Careless by Kevin Wade - Haves and have nots, beach town, treachery, murder? Sign me up. This is a really good debut novel. At points it reminded me of some passages from Pat Conroy books.  Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/28/25

Passed the Time Just Fine

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego - On a star system I have this as a 3 but it's closer to a 4 - this was a ride. I like a locked room mystery. Several confusing points and a few weak backstories but I had no idea who was pulling the strings, and that propelled me through nicely even though I was reading this over Election Day. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy, book publishes 2/11/25

The Perfect Boyfriend by S.E. Lynes - This was pretty clever and quick moving, and I liked the characters which doesn't always happen in a psychological thriller. Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 1/6/25

The Hunter (Cal Hooper #2) by Tana French - These books read as very Ireland to me. A little slow, but that's okay. Always an interesting supporting cast of village characters, which I love. OCNJ library hard cover

Blood Moon by Sandra Brown - Standard Sandra Brown fare, which I like because I know it will be a dependable read. It is still always weird to me to have romance mixed with murder, but that's life, baby. If I was sitting on the beach with a paperback copy, I would finish it in three hours. Thanks to Netgalley for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, book publishes 3/4/25

Not For Me

Did Not Finish

The Receptionist by Kate Myles - Own on Kindle, this was maybe an Amazon First Reads at some point? 

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What have you been reading?

Weekending September 2024

September 6-8

Started at the shore with the always delicious Luigi's special bake on Friday evening, some beach time Saturday before heading back to Philly where we saw the most beautiful rainbow before taking the River Line from Pennsauken into Camden for The Killers concert which was fantastic - both the method of transport and the concert. Despite wearing long pants and long sleeves, I was freezing. Sunday I headed back to the shore to clean after weekend guests left - very late, so that was not that cool - but I did sit on the beach for a bit and ran through the Corvette show on my way back to the house.

September 13-15...long wedding weekend 

Friday we made our way to an ABB rental in Chester, MD. So fantastic to spend a weekend with Gwen and Aaron and Gena and Meem and Doug for Tess's wedding. Friday we hung out outside, got dinner on the water at The Dock House then met Meem and Doug and wedding folks at The Big Owl Tiki Bar before heading home to sit out back for a bit under a lovely moon. Saturday we laid low at the house, Aaron cooked for us, and then we went to the wedding. Everything was beautiful and the food was great. It's sort of nice to be the older people who can leave before the end LOL. Sunday we sat out on the dock before going our separate ways. MFD and I caught some of the Phillies game and after he went down the shore and I headed back to Philly to melt into the couch after a full peopleing weekend.

September 20-22 family shore weekend 

Friday I made my way back to the shore. Mom and Rich were already down there. We hit the beach later in the afternoon. Saturday Mom and I did Asbury and more beach but this time as twins in East Coast tees - thanks Mom! I slept upstairs for the first time in ages as Mark, Sarah, and Harry arrived for an apartment stay. We all hung out on the driveway at night. Sunday Kate, Dan, and the kids came down. Some boardwalking and beaching, a great relaxing weekend all around! 

September 27-29 

Friday I did trip prep and made salmon for dinner. Saturday more trip prep before Frank and Amanda picked us up to finally see Stevie Nicks in Hershey (postponed from June 19). We made an attempt to flip the continuum back to where it should be and clearly failed. We stopped at a great restaurant in the middle of nowhere on the way. We secured VIP parking with a straight face. Stevie was fantastic and has really adapted her music for her voice as its aged. It's been a long ass time since I saw so many people absolutely shitcanned drunk in public. Frank said it was like they started drinking on the original concert date and never stopped. Hilarious and true. Sunday I had to go back and forth to the shore to clean the house after weekend guests since we had people check out Sunday and new people check in while we were on vacation.

SMD