Intros and Updates

Its been a while since I’ve done this, so let me (re-)introduce myself. My name is Shayne and I love all things books and reading. I read around 100 books a year, and spread that widely among genres, locations, and voices. Mysteries are my go-to but also love memoir, narrative-nonfiction, stories about complicated families, and historical fiction. This monthly newsletter started shortly after our family moved to rural Virginia. It filled my desire to talk about books when I didn’t have close friends nearby. My other loves are traveling and hand embroidery. Thank you for joining me in my bookish pursuits — if you know someone who might enjoy this, please pass it on!

Book of the Month Update

I joined BOTM in early 2021 with the goal to read more newly published books. So far, I love having shiny new books delivered to my door but I don’t always read them. In 15 months, I ordered 19 books and read 13 of them.

Here are my main takeaways:

• I have found the choices offered a bit lacking. With BOTM, I pay $14.95 a month and get to choose one title from five options. I have seen some ongoing complaints in the last 6 months about the choices and in February, BOTM gave us 7 titles to choose from. I have skipped a few months when none of the titles stood out. Note: just as I was about to send this, I received notice that the monthly price is going to $15.95.

• The add-on books (in addition to your monthly pick, you can add on a title for only $10) often look better to me than the monthly option. I found myself ordering a book a couple times just so I could pick an add on.

• The choices in the past 15 months have skewed towards thrillers and lighter romance novels. These are not genres that I necessarily want in hardcover.

Overall, I have read more new titles with BOTM, but I am undecided about continuing (my original goal was to make it through April so I would qualify for my free birthday book). I will give it a couple months, but if I don’t like the upcoming choices I will drop it.

Poems Anyone?

April is Poetry Month — an annual reminder of how little I read (or listen to) poetry. But… when I do stop and spend time with a poem, I am often thankful. Here is one of my favorites springtime verses, Today, read by the author Billy Collins:

If you want more poetry in your life without being overwhelmed, sign up to receive the Poetry Foundation’s daily poem via email.

#ReadtheWorld 2022

In celebration of World Book Day, Amazon is making 10 books from around the world available to download FREE! These are only the e-book versions. You can find a list of the books and links to download HERE. Included are memoir, historical fiction, mystery, thriller, and even a children’s picture book.

Bookish Updates:

Independent Bookstore Day is April 30th! If you have an indie you love and support, check out what special things they have go going on that day.

The Trailer for Where The Crawdad Sings is out and it looks fabulous!

Remember Educated — that incredible memoir by Tara Westover about growing up in rural Idaho (cue guns, violence, conspiracy theories, herbal medicine, and a large family) ? I enjoyed listening to her as a guest on this always thoughtful and wise podcast. Westover has more wisdom and perspective now than when the book was first published, and this is an interesting follow-up.

I recently watched The Talented Mr. Ripley. The movie has aged pretty well: the coast of Italy looks divine, Gweneth Paltrow is absolutely glowing, and Matt Damon is at his creepiest. I didn’t know the movie is based on the first of a series of five books about Tom Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. The books are well rated but I am not sure I want to spend that much time with Tom Ripley!

Recent Reads

This is my third Sally Hempworth novel, and I devoured them all. She is writing in a space that feels similar to a domestic thriller but without crazy unbelievable situations. Her characters come across as realistic (with shortcomings or challenges), then Hepworth puts them in a family with something bigger going on. The Younger Wife begins as a tragedy occurs at a wedding, and then looks back at what brought everything to a head. The Aston family seems perfect — two grown daughters and a father who is a successful heart surgeon. They are coping with the mother’s early onset alzheimers and her adjustment to a care facility. When dad announces his engagement to a much younger woman, the daughters try to understand what is and has been going on - both in their parent’s marriage and in their own lives. If they come from such a happy family, why do they both struggle with compulsive behaviors? If dad loved mom so much, why is he remarrying so soon? I sped through this well executed novel and appreciate that the younger woman isn’t treated as the antagonist, but as a complex character trying to do the best she can. I don’t want to over-describe this book, it is a great read. A fascinating look at the inner workings of a family.

I was over the moon to see a new novel by Simone St. James after loving the Sun Down Motel so much. In The Book of Cold Cases, St. James has framed a book around Shea, a woman with a tragic past who discusses cold cases at night on her own podcast. Shea becomes interested in a local case from 1977 when she runs into Beth, an infamous resident of her town who was tried — but not convicted — of killing her own father. Beth lives as a wealthy recluse in a dilapidated mansion on the edge of a cliff (yes, of course she does). Let me say, I liked this book and sped through it, but it just didn’t carry me away like her previous book. It was a little slow and as the mystery of the past unfolded, it was a little cut and dried. I do think St. James tells a great tale and works the supernatural into her story lines, but this one is just a bit forgettable for me.

The Unsinkable Greta James follows a rising rock star struggling with the fallout from a breakdown on stage. Overcome by grief following the death of her mom, Gretta accompanies her difficult father on a cruise to Alaska. She is trying to repair her relationship and push through her professional difficulties. Setting the book on the cruise makes for an entertaining background with lots of possibilities. Though the father-daughter misunderstandings and poor communication can be frustrating at times, I appreciate all the angles this author is trying to cover. This book covers heavy topics without feeling weighed down. One of my favorite storylines is that of a young passenger who is a huge fan of Gretta’s and how Gretta handles this girl’s admiration. This is not a mystery, thriller, historical fiction, or overly dramatic domestic story, it is just a straight up novel about people and life. The cruise ship settings give it a lighter feel and provides moments of levity and amusement. If you are not sure what you are in the mood for, give this sweet book about family, love, and life choices a shot.

The Abominable is a historical fiction novel about a secret climb up Mount Everest that weighs in at 650 pages - yet is totally immersive. I can tell Dan Simmons became obsessed with the details of climbing in the 1920s; there is not a crampon, a tent, a jacket, or rope that he does not describe with absolute precision. This book will be perfect for some people, but probably not everyone. I enjoyed his tale about four disparate climbers that come together to track down a missing — presumed dead — climber that disappeared the previous year. Even though it is weighed down in detail (that I often skimmed), I was on the edge of my seat for the main section of the novel that takes place on Mt. Everest. There are (possibly) Yetis and (maybe) some Nazis, so it is not entirely just climbing. The action sequences are great and the author does a good job tying up all those loose ropes to provide a satisfying ending.