August was a pretty good reading month for me, with almost 12 books read. I ended up quitting one of them about 75% of the way through. The best part of my reading this past month was that most of the books were really good! Eight of them were 4-5 stars! I'll give a brief recap and my rating. I'll do more complete reviews of my favorites in another post.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. may be the best book of the year for me so far. In the spring of 2020, Lara's three daughters return to the family cherry orchard to wait out the pandemic and beg their mother to tell them the story of her brief relationship with a famous actor. It is all about family and being grateful and happy with what you have. 5 stars
September by Rosamund Pilcher. I know I read this back in the 80s, but it definitely is worth revisiting. This author is a master of description, and you will love immersing yourself in the world she creates in the Scottish Highlands as we follow a diverse cast of characters who gather in September when the heather is in bloom and the hint of fall is in the air. This book is a long but lovely journey. 5 stars
Yellowface by R.F.Kuang. Juniper Song is a bestselling author who definitely did not write the book she says she wrote. And she also is not Asian American. This is a book about consequences and is thought-provoking and very well done. Features social media, cancel culture, plagiarism, and own voices.
4.5 stars
When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff. Billy, a pre-med student at Princeton is arrested for assaulting his ex-girlfriend. Unpleasant topic, unpleasant characters, this book left me with a bad taste in my mouth. 2.5 stars
Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent. Strange is right. The main character of this book is "neuro-divergent" and takes everything quite literally. When her father tells her to "put him out with the trash" when he dies, she does just as he asks. This book was very dark, but funny at times. Trigger warning for child abuse. 4 stars
We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange. This is a family saga about the secrets you keep from your family and the secrets you keep FOR your family. We have four generations of an Irish-American family who are investing in a family pub, but something is threatening their livelihood and they must band together as a family in spite of their differences. 4 stars
The Summer Job by Lizzy Dent. This book is light-hearted, but the main character, Birdy is a liar. She impersonates her best friend and takes a summer job as a sommelier at a Scottish hotel, even though she knows nothing about wine. I found the main character annoying and the plot implausible. 3 stars
How the Penguins Saved Veronica by Hazel Prior. A curmudgeon of an old woman, her estranged grandson, and a flock of Antarctic penguins come together and find that it's never too late to change and become the best version of yourself. Charming and heartwarming. 4 stars
The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe. This is a well-researched novel about John Jacob Astor and Madeleine Force and their scandalous romance and disastrous honeymoon aboard the Titanic. Very moving and rich in detail of the Gilded Age in New York. Free on Kindle Unlimited 5 stars
The Whispers by Ashley Audrain. There wasn't a likable character in the book, which was painful to read. It did have a satisfying ending, however. Trigger warnings for infidelity and child abuse. 3 stars
Red Queen by Juan Gomez-Jurado. This book was a very pleasant surprise. It is a fast-paced thriller that is destined to become a series. I can see why it was a best-seller in Spain, as it features a remarkable female detective that may put you in mind of Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With the Dragon Tatoo. Never a dull moment, and if you enjoy page-turning mystery you will enjoy it. Free on Kindle Unlimited. 5 stars
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck. No, just no. I DNF'd this at about 75% and wish I'd done it sooner. It is about a man who is mutating into a great white shark, and his wife who sticks with him throughout the ordeal. No. People are raving about how great it is, but this book was for sure not for me. Do not be tricked by the beautiful cover. 0 stars
Hope you will give some of these a try and let me know what you think.
Happy September and have a great weekend.
21 responses to “Books Read in August 2023”
OMGosh!! You must be a speed reader!!! -or do you do Audible while you work? I don’t know how you manage to do so much beautiful quilting and read that many books and be so involved with your ‘grand’. Is this also a function of the job situation dropping off? You are wonder woman! I am not so successful at listening while I stitch. My quilting has fallen off recently in favor of needlepoint. A couple of these, particularly Tom Lake are already on my Kindle or on my radar, but I’m more of a nonfiction reader. I make too many mistakes in my patterns (or cutting when I’m quilting!) if I’m distracted with a book.
OMGosh!! You must be a speed reader!!! -or do you do Audible while you work? I don’t know how you manage to do so much beautiful quilting and read that many books and be so involved with your ‘grand’. Is this also a function of the job situation dropping off? You are wonder woman! I am not so successful at listening while I stitch. My quilting has fallen off recently in favor of needlepoint. A couple of these, particularly Tom Lake are already on my Kindle or on my radar, but I’m more of a nonfiction reader. I make too many mistakes in my patterns (or cutting when I’m quilting!) if I’m distracted with a book.
OMGosh!! You must be a speed reader!!! -or do you do Audible while you work? I don’t know how you manage to do so much beautiful quilting and read that many books and be so involved with your ‘grand’. Is this also a function of the job situation dropping off? You are wonder woman! I am not so successful at listening while I stitch. My quilting has fallen off recently in favor of needlepoint. A couple of these, particularly Tom Lake are already on my Kindle or on my radar, but I’m more of a nonfiction reader. I make too many mistakes in my patterns (or cutting when I’m quilting!) if I’m distracted with a book.
If there’s child abuse in a book, I’d toss it immediately if not sooner. Thanks for the warning!
If there’s child abuse in a book, I’d toss it immediately if not sooner. Thanks for the warning!
If there’s child abuse in a book, I’d toss it immediately if not sooner. Thanks for the warning!
I can wholeheartedly agree with your analysis of September. I love Rosamund Pilcher’s books and this one is so enjoyable. She can really set a mood. And who wouldn’t want to see the Scottish Highlands in the fall – or anytime for that matter.
I can wholeheartedly agree with your analysis of September. I love Rosamund Pilcher’s books and this one is so enjoyable. She can really set a mood. And who wouldn’t want to see the Scottish Highlands in the fall – or anytime for that matter.
I can wholeheartedly agree with your analysis of September. I love Rosamund Pilcher’s books and this one is so enjoyable. She can really set a mood. And who wouldn’t want to see the Scottish Highlands in the fall – or anytime for that matter.
I always look forward to your book reviews. I have Tom Lake reserved at the library but the others are new to me.
I’m reading Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly by Marie Bostwick and listening to a Sandra Brown book while I’m sewing.
I always look forward to your book reviews. I have Tom Lake reserved at the library but the others are new to me.
I’m reading Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly by Marie Bostwick and listening to a Sandra Brown book while I’m sewing.
I always look forward to your book reviews. I have Tom Lake reserved at the library but the others are new to me.
I’m reading Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly by Marie Bostwick and listening to a Sandra Brown book while I’m sewing.
How strange…I borrowed SEPTEMBER from the library on Thursday to make sure I had a long book for Labor Day Weekend. I am really liking it, as I have others she’s written. I am also reading TOM LAKE and continue to like Ann Patchett’s writing and way with a story. I will remember other titles on your list , since we seem to agree on what we like. Thank you so much for sharing.
How strange…I borrowed SEPTEMBER from the library on Thursday to make sure I had a long book for Labor Day Weekend. I am really liking it, as I have others she’s written. I am also reading TOM LAKE and continue to like Ann Patchett’s writing and way with a story. I will remember other titles on your list , since we seem to agree on what we like. Thank you so much for sharing.
How strange…I borrowed SEPTEMBER from the library on Thursday to make sure I had a long book for Labor Day Weekend. I am really liking it, as I have others she’s written. I am also reading TOM LAKE and continue to like Ann Patchett’s writing and way with a story. I will remember other titles on your list , since we seem to agree on what we like. Thank you so much for sharing.
I also found the Medoff book disturbing and unpleasant. Everyone was appalling. Yet I saw these rave reviews! Glad to hear your honest thoughts on it.
I also found the Medoff book disturbing and unpleasant. Everyone was appalling. Yet I saw these rave reviews! Glad to hear your honest thoughts on it.
I also found the Medoff book disturbing and unpleasant. Everyone was appalling. Yet I saw these rave reviews! Glad to hear your honest thoughts on it.
Re. your comment on When We Were Bright and Beautiful. Someone once wrote a letter to Flannery O’Connor saying, “Your book left a bad taste in my mouth.”(Not sure which book they wrote about.) Ms. O’connor wrote back saying, “You weren’t supposed to eat it.”
Re. your comment on When We Were Bright and Beautiful. Someone once wrote a letter to Flannery O’Connor saying, “Your book left a bad taste in my mouth.”(Not sure which book they wrote about.) Ms. O’connor wrote back saying, “You weren’t supposed to eat it.”
Re. your comment on When We Were Bright and Beautiful. Someone once wrote a letter to Flannery O’Connor saying, “Your book left a bad taste in my mouth.”(Not sure which book they wrote about.) Ms. O’connor wrote back saying, “You weren’t supposed to eat it.”