Book Nook Cafe discussion

Please share with us what you read September 2019 !

Please provide:

~ A GoodReads link
~ A few sentences telling us how you felt about the book.
~ How would you rate the book

Only one book stood out enough for me to mention: The Observations. Story told through the eyes of Irish teen Bessy, in 1860s Scotland looking for work, which she stumbles upon; taking the job changes her life in ways she could not have believed. Highly recommended.

Conversations with Friends--Sally Rooney
Fiction
Rate: 2 + / 5
I read this novel for the NY Times/PBS book club. The book centers around four troubled people. It was somewhat engaging but I don't really get the accolades it received. I wouldn't recommend it.

The Champion's Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive --Jim Afremow
Non fiction
Rate: 3/5
I read this book for motivation and inspiration for my various gym activities. It had some good passages but overall a bit too repetitive and not much new here. Still, it is motivating.

Mind Gym: Achieve More by Thinking Differently---Sebastian Bailey
Non fiction
Rate: 2/5
Too repetitive. I was looking more for an exercise related book. This dealt a lot with how to interact daily with people. Possible good for a young adult. Not much new here. Though it did have some good tips which I guess are always good to review once in awhile.

Runner's World Complete Book of Running----Amby Burfoot
Non fiction
Rate: 2/5
The book was published in 2009. I found many things, especially diet, to be very outdated. Still, it did have a few interesting items. I just walk/jog intervals. So the whole section on marathon running didn't really apply to me. I skimmed that.

Slow Jogging: Lose Weight, Stay Healthy, and Have Fun with Science-Based, Natural Running----Hiroaki Tanaka
Non fiction
Rate: 3
Probably should have given this a 2 rating. (didn't meet expectations) It was an interesting concept but it was way too repetitive. Are we sensing a theme this month :)
If you are interested, this 5 minute YouTube video tells you basically the whole concept.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9L2b2...

John, Jane Harris sounds better & better. I'm not a great one for historical novels but i like the premise behind this one.

Alias, you read quite a number of fitness books this month--is this prep for winter months, when activities can be more challenging? Mind Gym actually sounds good, partly because i've been thinking quite a bit about loneliness in older people. Granted, there are many (most?) who have available family & friends but lately i've noticed many who have lived their last years alone, both physically & mentally. For my money, it's the lack of mental engagement which is the more troublesome. Yet it's tough to get out & make new acquaintances when you are living alone. Over the years i've had a number of people who have no local friends how one goes about finding new ones. It can be a challenge for some, particularly when they try but make no connections.

My September reading was more fiction than not. Sadly, it wasn't great fiction, either.

Recursion is scifi by Blake Crouch with a rather interesting idea. Told from two viewpoints (but varying time frames!)--one, the inventor of a device which can control memories, and two, a detective trying to figure out a new development "False Memory Syndrome", where people seem to have memories of events in their lives which appear not to have occurred.

Deaf Republic: Poems is a themed collection of poems about the way citizens react to the military taking over a country. Petra mentioned the book earlier last month & i knew i wanted to read it. The poems relate the story of several individuals but also the fact citizens appear deaf after one soldier killed a child. Some of the poems were truly outstanding.

Inland was one of the books on Barack Obama's list of books this year. Its inclusion had me even more interested in Téa Obreht's book, which was already on my waiting list. Set in the 1800s when the Southwest was being invaded by US citizens, it had some interesting storytelling, not the least of which included a few people who seemed to be able to see &/or talk to dead people. Add to that a marauding camel & it's quite a story, although, as with most fiction of late, could have been much better edited.

Sister Wendy's American Collection was a book i owned but didn't want to keep. The excitable nun Wendy Beckett selected six US museums, then chose pieces of art to discuss from each. The museums were the NY Met, Boston's Museum of Fine Art, Art Institute in Chicago, Cleveland's Museum of Art, Texas' Kimball Art Museum and LA County Museum of Art. She covered more than just paintings, which enhanced the book, imo.

The second book from Obama's list, one that wasn't previously on my radar, was Speaking of Summer. One-third into it, i was ready to abandon it & reconsider the former President's opinion on fiction. However, i gave it one more chapter, which made all the difference. Author Kalisha Buckhanon tells the story of adult twins, one of whom appears to have disappeared when her footprints are found on the snow-covered rooftop of her NYC apartment building. Good story and a nice insight for me to the NY African American community.

I cannot recall where i heard about the mystery Someone We Know by Shari Lapena, which is set in a housing community. From the beginning we learn there has been a murder and that a teenager in the area has taken to breaking into homes for fun, taking nothing but entering computers. From there, the author had us guessing whodunit with alacrity. I changed my mind many times but ultimately went back to my first choice.

I read the next in the Terry Shames mystery series set in mid Texas, The Last Death of Jack Harbin: A Samuel Craddock Mystery. I continue to like the series because it evokes family i knew earlier in my life. And the mystery is good, too.

Cold Storage is a scifi work by David Koepp, which read like a screenplay. As it turns out, at the end i learned the author is, in fact, a screenwriter. The premise--a killer fungus--was a really good one but he created characters who just didn't hold my interest long. However, the idea of a storage facility setting called to me, as that's where our household goods now are. ;-) This was a weak book, imo.

Having enjoyed a couple of earlier art-based books by Ross King i decided to read his Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling in preparation for our visit to Rome next year. As usual, it was a fascinating book about the art methods, historic characters and history itself. However, i also checked out a picture book about the restoration of said ceiling for better photos. The Sistine Chapel: A Glorious Restoration pretty much filled the bill. Unfortunately either the author, Pierluigi de Vecchi, or the publisher decided not to provide an index or organize the chapters according to the paintings, which took up quite a bit of time thumbing to locate the painting i wanted. In other words, good book but try others if you want to use it as a reference.

Elsewhere today i referenced The Last Weynfeldt, a book set in Switzerland which John mentioned in our thread about books set in other countries. It was a pleasurable read by Martin Suter and i liked the ending.

madrano wroteAlias, you read quite a number of fitness books this month--is this prep for winter months, when activities can be more challenging?.."

No. I workout and take dance classes at the YMCA. So weather is not an issue for me.

My interest in the books is to try and bring my performance to a consistent level and possible take my competence up a bit to the next level. That is probably more a dream than a reality as I am older. However, for me, I need goals to shoot for to motivate me.

I visited the Kimball Museum specifically because Sister Wendy had featured it!

madrano wrote:
Having enjoyed a couple of earlier art-based books by Ross King i decided to read his Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling in preparation for our visit to Rome next year."

I think I may own a kindle copy of Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture-Ross King or perhaps I just thought about purchasing it. I swear my kindle is a black hole where things go never to be seen or heard of again.

I'm glad to hear that Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling is good. I will have to read that one.

I did read his Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies and enjoyed it quite a bit.

Alias, that's a number of fitness books.
I understand the desire to move to the next level. With running, though, I've come to the conclusion that where I'm at is the best I'll be.
That said, this summer has seen a change in my running. I'm running slow (as always) but I'm running longer without trying to. I guess I have gotten stronger, even when it doesn't feel like it.
Be on the lookout for improvements that you may not be noticing. Take it from this older person....it can happen.

Great monthly reading.

Deb, I am glad to see that President Obama reading list I posted motivated you to read some books from the list. I never really know if people like that sort of thing or not. So I appreciate the feed back.

John, The Observations sounds really good. Being gothic, it's a good choice for October. Thanks!

Deb, you had a fantastic month. Lots of varied reading.
You're going to Rome next year!? How exciting!

I've added Inland & Speaking of Summer to my library "later" shelf. Thanks!

Was Sister Wendy the nun who had the art show on TV ages ago? I liked her shows.

This is the second mention of Blake Crouch that I've heard lately. I hadn't heard of him before.

Alias, thanks for answering my nosy question. I know you are quite active at the Y, which i like. Today i happened to be awake when the "Sit & Be Fit" show was aired on the local PBS. It's neat to have that if confined to a wheelchair or incapacitated. What can i say? It made me feel quite healthy. *turning red-faced with embarrassment*

John, neat to know. I had fun with her description of the Kimball because we were quite surprised by it when we visited a few years ago. Indeed, we've been impressed by the art museums in Ft. Worth--they are head over heals more awesome that what is offered here in Dallas. The Sid Richardson (Remington and Russell: The Sid Richardson Collection / Revised Edition), too, is a small but wonderful gallery, if you ever return to the city.

Petra, yes, Sister Wendy is the nun who had that neat PBS series years ago. I think this sprang from the original work. Her depth in assessing collections/museums was a pleasure. In addition to painted art & sculptures she reported on tribal art, Asian dynastic pieces and those of other tribes. Wonderful.

Our trip to Europe begins in Italy but we will also visit Belgium, bits of France & finish up the eastern part of England, which we missed in '17. Our thoughts were that we need to go while we are still able to tolerate long days in museums, as well as the walking required for archeological sites.

Alias, i read & really, really liked Ross King's book about the Florence Dome. Indeed, that was why i read his book on the Chapel. I also liked King's The Judgment of Paris: The Revolutionary Decade That Gave the World Impressionism, too.

This was the first time i found a number of book listed by Barack Obama that called to me. Additionally, earlier this year (or was it last year?) i read another book he listed, Lab Girl by Hope Jahren and learned much from it. Often i like what you share along these lines but this was the first time i followed up.

Petra, this was the first Crouch work i've read. The premise really called to me, as i'm a fan of time travel books. While i haven't read any of his other books, i am familiar with the tv series based on his series Pines and Wayward.

My September reads
A Better Man by Louise Pennyby Kristin Hannah
Rating 4/5
This was a lovely story about learning about love
The Case of the Dangerous Dowager byErle Stanley Gardner
Rating 4/5
Another Perry Mason book. The mystery was good
The Rent Collector byCamron Wright
Rating 4/5
The Lager Queen of Minnesotaby J. Ryan Stradal
Rating 3/5

You had some good reading in September, Meredith. I couldn't quite figure out the Kristin Hannah name--is the book link missing? Regardless, a fun reading month, i think.

A very nice month, Meredith. Not a stinker in the bunch !

Sorry that I disappeared for a few days. We had family staying with us for an early Thanksgiving.

Deb, thanks for confirming that Sister Wendy is the same one I was remembering. I liked her show.

Meredith, A Better Man is on it's way to me now from the library. I should have it by the weekend. I'm glad you enjoyed it so much.
I really enjoyed the Perry Mason TV show (way back in time). I've never read any of the books.
You had a very good reading month.

I'll post my September books very soon. Sorry to be late with them.

Petra wrote: "Sorry that I disappeared for a few days. We had family staying with us for an early Thanksgiving. "

Petra, it's nice that you had time to share an early Thanksgiving with your family. Family and friends are indeed something to be thankful for. Not everyone is so blessed to have them.

I'm with Alias. My husband's family just firmed up T-Day plans here. We'll be meeting at his sister's home with his mom from San Antonio & his bro & wife from the Seattle area. Looking forward to the holiday. Petra, does this mean you have other plans on Thanksgiving or that others will be busy?

nosy deborah

Deb, our Thanksgiving is this coming Monday. My step-dad returned from a visit to England last week, so my brother & sister-in-law came over from Vancouver Island where they live to be here for the weekend. That way, we could all have an early Thanksgiving together. It was really special and I'm thankful that we could make this family weekend happen.
This means that hubby and I don't have any Thanksgiving plans this coming weekend (the "real" Thanksgiving). I'm kind of giving thanks for that, too. It'll be nice to have some time together, just the two of us.

My September reads:


The Word Is Murder (audio; 4 stars) - I enjoy this author's books. In this book, the character, Hawthorne, is an interesting man. I would read more of this series if they are written.

The Contract With God Trilogy: Life on Dropsie Avenue (graphic novel; 4 stars) - an interesting look at Faith, asking the question "Did man create God or did God create man?"

Will Eisner's New York: Life in the Big City (graphic novel; 4 stars) - a look at life in a big city, in particular, New York, where the author lived. This was an interesting look at general invisibility in a city and how neighbourhoods change over time.

The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed (4 stars) - an interesting story encompassing the history of the BC coast, indigenous relations, a golden tree, ecology, the environment.

Light in August (4 stars) - I always enjoy William Faulkner's writing. This book was no exceptions. The story & characters are so well portrayed.

Dannemora: Two Escaped Killers, Three Weeks of Terror, and the Largest Manhunt Ever in New York State (audio; 2 stars) - not a lot about the prison break. A lot about the system, what's wrong with it, etc. That would have been okay but the author kept reminding us of how he worked in the system and knows it well. This could have still all come together well but comes across as opinionated & biases.

Petra wrote: "
The Golden Spruce: A True Story of Myth, Madness, and Greed (4 stars) - an interesting story encompassing the history of the BC coast, indigenous relations, a golden tree, ecology, the environment..."

I am pretty sure I read this, but it's not showing up on Goodreads. I'll have to check my journal.

Thanks for sharing your monthly reads, Petra. As always, a very interesting mix.

Petra, thanks for the fast reply. I can imagine that a Thanksgiving without the hustle would be great. The US Thanksgiving, in late November, seems late to me; it seems the day should be closer to when food is harvested, as you do there.

The John Vaillant book sounds very good. We were in the area several years ago & was fascinated by what we learned about the indigenous people there. And i'm a fan of mythology, so this also calls me.

Light in August was a very good William Faulkner, imo. I haven't read many but that is my favorite.

The prison book sounds trying, even though informative. I'm not a big fan of authors injecting themselves into nonfiction, particularly with their biases.

It looks as though you had a good reading month, i must add.

I've read 5 five-star books in September. So this is even tougher to pick the best one, but I'll go with one that stood out to me as masterpiece.

The Queen's Fortune: A Novel of Desiree, Napoleon, and the Dynasty That Outlasted the Empire


Set during a rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Desiree Clary was the first fiancé of Napoleon and later became the Queen of Sweden.
Overshadowed by history, this book sheds a light on her life.

In summary, masterfully written and richly imagined, the story captures the rich history of the France’s turbulent times, textured with fascinating characters, who captivate with their raw feelings.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Annette wrote: "I've read 5 five-star books in September. So this is even tougher to pick the best one, but I'll go with one that stood out to me as masterpiece.

[book:The Queen's Fortune: A Novel of Desiree, Nap..."

In these monthly threads we list the books we read during that month. The good and bad.

Thanks for sharing with us and looking back on the old threads, too !

Annette, my favorite line from your review holds true for so many well-written historical novels, "The historical background is like a rich cake with devouring layers." For me, that is the best part of such fiction. You can generally find out the overall bio elsewhere but presenting the backdrop is the beauty of them. Well put.

madrano wrote: "Annette, my favorite line from your review holds true for so many well-written historical novels, "The historical background is like a rich cake with devouring layers." For me, that is the best par..."

Thank you Madrano. Yes, and that takes a skill to present it with a rich backdrop. She certainly is a talented writer.

Backtracking to September 2019. This was a great month for me as I read four books that I rated at four stars each and I read one book that I gave it five stars. So here we go! :)

Dead Crow by David Haynes - four stars.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Vampire on the Orient Express by Shane Carrow - five stars.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Neighbors by Jeremy Bates - four stars.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Haunting of Crow House by A.W. James - four stars.
My review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Kin by Kealan Patrick Burke - four stars.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Marie, it’s cool reading reviews when a person loves her genres. Your descriptions of the stories are good but your own reactions and eagerness shine. I love the title and image of the Carrow work—

Your description reminds me of a movie i saw a couple of years ago, Train to Busan. What an awful situation! Thanks for the title.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_t...

Marie wrote: "Backtracking to September 2019. This was a great month for me as I read four books that I rated at four stars each and I read one book that I gave it five stars. So here we go! :)

[bookcover:Dead ..."

I could not resist putting the Vampire book on my list.

madrano wrote: "Marie, it’s cool reading reviews when a person loves her genres. Your descriptions of the stories are good but your own reactions and eagerness shine. I love the title and image of the Carrow work—..."

Thank you Madrano! I love writing reviews as I want the readers to feel what I feel when I have read the books. :)

Julie wrote: "Marie wrote: "Backtracking to September 2019. This was a great month for me as I read four books that I rated at four stars each and I read one book that I gave it five stars. So here we go! :)

[b..."

Awesome! :)