Sister's Choice Quilts

My interests are quilting, reading, cooking, family, decorating, and matters of style. I post regular quilting tutorials and book reviews of current fiction.

Early Fall Books

What she knew

Another psychological thriller, What She Knew by Gilly MacMillan is about a mother's search for her son.  Rachel Jenner is walking in the woods on clearly marked trails they have been on many times, when her son asks if he can run ahead.  This is not an unusual request, so the mother agrees.  Then her son vanishes without a trace.  It is a great mystery, with lots of red herrings and interesting characters, most of whom you suspect as kidnapping the boy.  It all turns out quite unexpectedly.  A well plotted, engrossing mystery.

Sittenfeld_eligible3

Eligible by Curtis Sittenfled is a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.  If you think you might like a romantic comedy rendition of Austen's classic, this book might be your cup of tea, so to speak.  Not so much for me.  I found the characters annoying and the modern day scenarios were too far fetched for me.  Mrs. Bennett hooked on Valium?  When the author has Elizabeth and Darcy having "hate sex" I pretty much wanted to close the book and move on.  It was flat and totally lacking in charm.  

June

This synopsis by Christina Baker Kline says it all:   "A crumbling family home, a shockingly large inheritance, a small-town mystery, and a high-wattage Hollywood star: June is atmospheric, ambitious, and filled with enough intrigue, betrayal, passion, and heartbreak to keep you reading all the way to the explosively satisfying end."   Set in two time periods (1955 and the present) the book delves into family secrets and past and present love affairs.  400 pages that kept my attention, even though the main character was so messed up I wanted to pinch her at times.

Apple-Tree-Yard-645x994

British courtroom drama and mystery, Apple Tree Yard was a great read.  Yvonne Carmichael, a renowned geneticist, succumbs to the temptation to engage in a steamy affair with a stranger.  This has fatal repercussions to her marriage, her career and her future.  The story comes out in the courtroom and in flashbacks, and it totally engrossing.  Exceptionally well written.  The author, Louise Doughty is very popular in Great Britain.  I want to read more of her work after finishing Apple Tree Yard.

Light between oceans

Oh goodness, was this ever an excellent book.  The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman is the story of a lighthouse keeper and his wife who are unable to have children.  After two miscarriages and a heartbreaking still birth, this couple has just about given up hope.  When a boat containing a dead guy and a living infant washes up on their remote island, what do you suppose they do?  You cannot read this book without feeling great sympathy for all the characters.  The choices they made will really make you stew over the moral dilemmas that are raised.  This book was awarded the Goodreads award for best Historical Fiction, and I think I agree.  It was a fantastic book.  And guess what?  It has been made into a movie!  Lots of tension–the "parents" who are devoted to a child that really isn't their own, the heartbroken real mother, who has been grieving for years over the loss of her beloved baby, and the child who has become quite used to who she thinks are her loving parents–this book will make you question what you think is right and wrong.  This may be the best book of the year for me.

Restaurant-critics-wife

The Restaurant Critic's Wife is about Lila Soto, who is married to a controlling restaurant critic, has a toddler and a new born, and a master's degree that is going to waste.  She is asking herself just how it is that she got herself into this situation.  Because of his occupation, her husband takes great pains to remain anonymous- not letting her befriend the other women in her neighborhood, wearing outlandish disguises when they go out to try various restaurants, and refusing to let her go back to the work she was good at and loved.  I found this book a real stretch for my credibility.  The husband was so ridiculous no sane woman would have stayed with him.  I was annoyed with the main character for being so spineless.  This wasn't a big winner for me.

The-Woman-in-Cabin-10-Ruth-Ware

The Woman in Cabin 10 is a claustrophobic psychological thriller that takes place on a yacht.  It is being compared to Agatha Christie's style of writing, where there is a confined cast of characters, a murder, and loads of suspects.  The main character has a history of neurotic problems and when she claims someone in the cabin next to her has been murdered, no one believes her.  It was a strange but compelling book that I stuck with until the end.  The main character was super hard to like, with her dependence on alcohol and rather paranoid fixations.  "The unreliable narrator", like The Girl on the Train.  

I do hope you enjoyed my book reviews.  I will try to do them every couple of months so you all aren't bombarded with such a long list at one time.  I've read a couple of truly marvelous books in October which I can't wait to share with you.

 

 

66 responses to “Early Fall Books”

  1. I love when you do book reviews. Often there just isn’t the time to browse in the library, and I’d rather read some recommendations from people I relate to and then go get those books.

  2. I love when you do book reviews. Often there just isn’t the time to browse in the library, and I’d rather read some recommendations from people I relate to and then go get those books.

  3. I love when you do book reviews. Often there just isn’t the time to browse in the library, and I’d rather read some recommendations from people I relate to and then go get those books.

  4. Thanks Nicole for the book reviews and have written down a few that look good and want to read. Nice to have a bit more info on these books and thanks for sharing…

  5. Thanks Nicole for the book reviews and have written down a few that look good and want to read. Nice to have a bit more info on these books and thanks for sharing…

  6. Thanks Nicole for the book reviews and have written down a few that look good and want to read. Nice to have a bit more info on these books and thanks for sharing…

  7. I love reading too, so I enjoy your book reviews. Your review of The Girl on the Train was right on – I read it in two days. Would have finished it sooner if I didn’t have to cook and sleep!

  8. I love reading too, so I enjoy your book reviews. Your review of The Girl on the Train was right on – I read it in two days. Would have finished it sooner if I didn’t have to cook and sleep!

  9. I love reading too, so I enjoy your book reviews. Your review of The Girl on the Train was right on – I read it in two days. Would have finished it sooner if I didn’t have to cook and sleep!

  13. Loved Apple Tree Yard and read everything else she wrote, The Stone Cradle was a good read too.. also loved Light between Oceans, just thought the ending was sad for her. I shall look up the others, see if I will like them.

  14. Loved Apple Tree Yard and read everything else she wrote, The Stone Cradle was a good read too.. also loved Light between Oceans, just thought the ending was sad for her. I shall look up the others, see if I will like them.

  15. Loved Apple Tree Yard and read everything else she wrote, The Stone Cradle was a good read too.. also loved Light between Oceans, just thought the ending was sad for her. I shall look up the others, see if I will like them.

  19. Thank you for the wonderful book reviews! I read Eligible awhile back on Net Galley and couldn’t agree with you more. I love references to Jane Austen but this read was rather crass.

  20. Thank you for the wonderful book reviews! I read Eligible awhile back on Net Galley and couldn’t agree with you more. I love references to Jane Austen but this read was rather crass.

  21. Thank you for the wonderful book reviews! I read Eligible awhile back on Net Galley and couldn’t agree with you more. I love references to Jane Austen but this read was rather crass.

  22. Thank you for the book reviews. I downloaded one of your choices last night. I think we have similar tastes in reads. I absolutely loved Light Between Oceans, I thought about some of their decisions for days after reading it.
    Thanks again!

  23. Thank you for the book reviews. I downloaded one of your choices last night. I think we have similar tastes in reads. I absolutely loved Light Between Oceans, I thought about some of their decisions for days after reading it.
    Thanks again!

  24. Thank you for the book reviews. I downloaded one of your choices last night. I think we have similar tastes in reads. I absolutely loved Light Between Oceans, I thought about some of their decisions for days after reading it.
    Thanks again!

  25. Thank you for the reviews. I also loved The Light Between Oceans. Looking forward to the Apple Tree Yard

  26. Thank you for the reviews. I also loved The Light Between Oceans. Looking forward to the Apple Tree Yard

  27. Thank you for the reviews. I also loved The Light Between Oceans. Looking forward to the Apple Tree Yard

  28. Thanks a lot Nicole. lots and lots of great information. I loved the Light between the Oceans as well. Such a sad story but so well done.

  29. Thanks a lot Nicole. lots and lots of great information. I loved the Light between the Oceans as well. Such a sad story but so well done.

  30. Thanks a lot Nicole. lots and lots of great information. I loved the Light between the Oceans as well. Such a sad story but so well done.

  31. Yes, thank you, I do enjoy your book reviews…. So good to hear about the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Too many only write a review if they like the book and by what they post would give a good review to the back of a cereal box.

  32. Yes, thank you, I do enjoy your book reviews…. So good to hear about the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Too many only write a review if they like the book and by what they post would give a good review to the back of a cereal box.

  33. Yes, thank you, I do enjoy your book reviews…. So good to hear about the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Too many only write a review if they like the book and by what they post would give a good review to the back of a cereal box.

  37. Thanks for tge reviews, have now a few books to add to my reading list. I did like tge Light Between The Ocean. I wonder if the movie is going to stick to the book?

  38. Thanks for tge reviews, have now a few books to add to my reading list. I did like tge Light Between The Ocean. I wonder if the movie is going to stick to the book?

  39. Thanks for tge reviews, have now a few books to add to my reading list. I did like tge Light Between The Ocean. I wonder if the movie is going to stick to the book?

  40. Several of these are already on my list of books to read. The Light Between Oceans has just moved up that list a few spots. Sounds very intriguing. I also just had a couple of books pop into my head to recommend to you. Have you read anything by Alex Marwood? Like some of the authors in this batch of reviews, she’s a British writer. Her first, The Wicked Girls, and her third novel, The Darkest Secret, were both among my most memorable reads of the past few years. Dark, twisty, & filled with characters who aren’t always likable. But worth reading despite that.

  41. Several of these are already on my list of books to read. The Light Between Oceans has just moved up that list a few spots. Sounds very intriguing. I also just had a couple of books pop into my head to recommend to you. Have you read anything by Alex Marwood? Like some of the authors in this batch of reviews, she’s a British writer. Her first, The Wicked Girls, and her third novel, The Darkest Secret, were both among my most memorable reads of the past few years. Dark, twisty, & filled with characters who aren’t always likable. But worth reading despite that.

  42. Several of these are already on my list of books to read. The Light Between Oceans has just moved up that list a few spots. Sounds very intriguing. I also just had a couple of books pop into my head to recommend to you. Have you read anything by Alex Marwood? Like some of the authors in this batch of reviews, she’s a British writer. Her first, The Wicked Girls, and her third novel, The Darkest Secret, were both among my most memorable reads of the past few years. Dark, twisty, & filled with characters who aren’t always likable. But worth reading despite that.

  43. I have really enjoyed reading your book review posts the past few days. Thank you for the time and thought you put into writing them. I checked our library for the titles that interest me but they are all out right now! I guess I will be putting them on hold and waiting patiently (or not) for them to come available!

  44. I have really enjoyed reading your book review posts the past few days. Thank you for the time and thought you put into writing them. I checked our library for the titles that interest me but they are all out right now! I guess I will be putting them on hold and waiting patiently (or not) for them to come available!

  45. I have really enjoyed reading your book review posts the past few days. Thank you for the time and thought you put into writing them. I checked our library for the titles that interest me but they are all out right now! I guess I will be putting them on hold and waiting patiently (or not) for them to come available!

  46. Well, Nicole, I just blew $94 on books this morning on Amazon!!! LOL You’re not allowed to post any more reviews for 6 months. 😉 Take care!

  47. Well, Nicole, I just blew $94 on books this morning on Amazon!!! LOL You’re not allowed to post any more reviews for 6 months. 😉 Take care!

  48. Well, Nicole, I just blew $94 on books this morning on Amazon!!! LOL You’re not allowed to post any more reviews for 6 months. 😉 Take care!

  49. I love your book reviews and pass them on to my sisters. We are all always looking for good reads.

  50. I love your book reviews and pass them on to my sisters. We are all always looking for good reads.

  51. I love your book reviews and pass them on to my sisters. We are all always looking for good reads.

  55. Thank you so much. I selected Our Souls At Night (after reading your book reviews last year) for my book club when it was my turn. A wonderful discussion followed and many of us found a new author we liked. Thanks again for all these new titles to check out. Karen

  56. Thank you so much. I selected Our Souls At Night (after reading your book reviews last year) for my book club when it was my turn. A wonderful discussion followed and many of us found a new author we liked. Thanks again for all these new titles to check out. Karen

  57. Thank you so much. I selected Our Souls At Night (after reading your book reviews last year) for my book club when it was my turn. A wonderful discussion followed and many of us found a new author we liked. Thanks again for all these new titles to check out. Karen

  58. Good recommendations. Although I have a huge book supply, I’ve been using the library a lot since I retired and read at least 4 books a week to keep up. I use the hold feature to good advantage and get my favourite writers’ books as soon as they are received. Must quilt more and read less.

  59. Good recommendations. Although I have a huge book supply, I’ve been using the library a lot since I retired and read at least 4 books a week to keep up. I use the hold feature to good advantage and get my favourite writers’ books as soon as they are received. Must quilt more and read less.

  60. Good recommendations. Although I have a huge book supply, I’ve been using the library a lot since I retired and read at least 4 books a week to keep up. I use the hold feature to good advantage and get my favourite writers’ books as soon as they are received. Must quilt more and read less.

  64. Thanks for the book reviews, and I agree with your pick for best of the year. I absolutely loved A Light Between Oceans and the movie was excellent as well.

  65. Thanks for the book reviews, and I agree with your pick for best of the year. I absolutely loved A Light Between Oceans and the movie was excellent as well.

  66. Thanks for the book reviews, and I agree with your pick for best of the year. I absolutely loved A Light Between Oceans and the movie was excellent as well.