Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

For prompt #40 - A book you'd consider a comfort read - I read a cutesy cozy mystery: Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke. I enjoyed it although I admit to fast forwarding through all the recipes.

I listened to an Audible Original by Tayari Jones called Dispossession. I didn't realize it was a short story when I got it. I was looking for a book set in winter, and this was set on Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, so it fit, but when I started listening to it, I realized it was only 45 minutes! Oops. I'm glad I listened to it though. I enjoyed it, and now there is another author on my radar.

For prompt #27 - A book set in the winter - I searched Audible for something with Christmas in the name and found: Christmas at the Gingerbread Inn by Michelle Stimpson. It was cute and sweet, and I enjoyed it.

I listened to Cappuccinos, Cupcakes, and a Corpse by Harper Lin today while I was cleaning house. It was fun. I enjoyed it. I used it for #40 - A book you'd consider a comfort read.

I needed a book for prompt #25 - A book with waves on the cover, so I looked through the thread for this prompt, and a couple of people mentioned Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. I was familiar with the book since I pretty much built the elementary library at my kids old school, but I had never read it. I found a free version on Audible, so I listened to it. I have read some of the criticism of the book, and there are some valid points. The book overall is pretty interesting. I gave it three stars.

MARCH ROUNDUP
AUTHOR GENDER
Female = 15
Male =3

RATING
1 - 1 Star
2 - 3 Star
9 - 4 Star
6 - 5 Star

AUTHOR ETHNICITY
White = 13
Asian = 1
Black = 2
Indigenous American = 2

COUNTRIES: 5 (+USA)
UK = 1
Czech Republic = 1
France = 1
Canada = 1
Turkey = 1

STATES: 6
Georgia
Colorado
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Iowa
Maine

New to Me Authors: 11
Catherine Winters
Tamsyn Muir
Lily Chu
Claire Messud
Carissa Broadbent
A. S. Byatt
Rachel Yoder
Tayari Jones
Michelle Stimpson
Harper Lin
Scott O'Dell

For prompt #31 - A book with a coastal setting
The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart. It is the third and final book of the Drowning Empire series. It is really good. The magic in it is so different from anything else I have read. It was really interesting, and I recommend it.

I just finished Anyone But Her by Cynthia Swanson, and it is such a good book. I loved it. It is the third full-length novel of hers that I have read, and although I loved the others, this one is my favorite. I used it for prompt #44 - A haunting book - there are multiple ghosts. This book was a slow burn - which I loved - and it was done so well. The book follows dual timelines of Suzanne's life. One timeline starts in 1979 and the other in 2004. I highly recommend this book.

I finally read my first book by Virginia Woolf - Orlando. It was weird, but I liked it. I'm really surprised that nut case fascists haven't banned it. The gender fluid theme is intriguing. I used it for prompt #46 - A book related to one of the traditional full moon names

My last ATY 2025 book! For prompt #50 - A book posted in one of the ATY Best Book of the Month threads in 2024 or 2025, 2024 ATY Best Book of the Month listopia, 2025 list to be added in January - I read Heartstopper: Volume One by Alice Oseman. My kiddo has been asking me to read it, so I did. I enjoyed it. It's very sweet.

Today I finished Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones - it was really cute, and now I want to see the movie. Talking to my son about it - I asked him if he'd want to watch the movie with me. He said yes, but he'd already seen it! Little turkey. I can't get him to read it. "Why would I want to read it? I've already seen the movie." Argh!

I just finished Brother, I'm Dying by Edwidge Danticat. It made me cry. Her last days with her father kept me thinking about my last days with my mother. I'm sure I would have a lot of good things to say about this memoir, but I just can't right now. It was a very good and well-written book.

After the super heavy memoir by Edwidge Danticat, I needed something light, so I listened by Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson. It is about a 13 year old boy living in foster care who does not think he has any family and things around him break all the time. The book is cute, silly, and fun. It was just what I needed.

I finished my second Lily Chu today. I listened to The Takedown, and I really enjoyed it. I don't hate her romances. I still don't consider myself a romance reader, but she might convince me.

I read Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia by Sabrina Strings. I really want to give this book a glowing review, but I just can't. It is really frustrating. There are a couple of things in it that I know are not factual which I hate because now I question what is accurate and what is not.

I finished Watermelon by Marian Keyes today, and I enjoyed it. There were many things about it that bugged me, but overall, I am glad I read it. I'm not sure if I will read more of her work yet. I gave it four stars which was rounding up a bit.

For the anniversary prompt: 2021: A book related to a codeword from the NATO Phonetic Alphabet - I read Blood's Echo by Isabella Maldonado. The main character is a police officer in Phoenix. It was pretty fun to read a mystery set in a location where I am comfortable. I loved the story. I enjoyed the whole book, and I definitely plan on reading more of her work and more of this series.

I read my first Gertrude Stein book - Paris France. I was underwhelmed. It was okay. I'll read another of her books.

I read Quicksilver by Callie Hart, and I truly do not understand how it has such a high rating. The book was pretty awful. I gave it four stars because there are parts of the story that are interesting. It's just a hot mess though. It's not coherent. I texted my daughter, who was also reading it - it was for a book club - "This book reads like it is a parody of a romantasy not an actual romantasy." The sex scenes are not sexy. The characters are flat and uninteresting. The story lines do not connect in any coherent way. The book was a waste of time, and I will not read the rest of the series. Way too many good books out there to spend energy on this series.

I paused Call the Midwife: A Memoir of Birth, Joy, and Hard Times by Jennifer Worth to read Quicksilver, and I was really enjoying Call the Midwife, so I was annoyed that I stopped to read that ridiculous romantasy. I did not realize when I started this book that it was the movie tie-in. I don't know how it was different from the other books, but I really enjoyed it. Even though some of the stories were a little gross, I still liked the book. People keep telling me that I should watch the series. After reading the book, I do want to watch it.

My middle kiddo is in college and asked me to get The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros because she needed to read it for a class. Of course I am going to get her a book she needs for class, but bonus points - it was a book I already wanted to read. Cisneros is a very good writer, and this book just proved that again. I loved the stories, and I am glad I read the book.

APRIL ROUNDUP
AUTHOR GENDER
Female = 17
Male = 1

RATING
1 - 2 Star
2 - 3 Star
10 - 4 Star
5 - 5 Star

AUTHOR ETHNICITY
White = 11
Asian = 3
Latinx = 2
Black = 2

COUNTRIES: 6 (+USA)
Ireland = 1
UK = 3
Haiti = 1
Canada = 2
France = 1
South Korea = 1

STATES: 4
Colorado
Arizona
Illinois
Georgia

New to Me Authors: 11
Virginia Woolf
Alice Oseman
Diana Wynne Jones
Edwidge Danticat
Sabrina Strings
Marian Keys
Isabella Moldanado
Miriam Toews
Gertrude Stein
Callie Hart
Jennifer Worth

I finished We Do Not Part by Han Kang, and parts of it are really powerful. I gave it four stars because it is also a bit of a hot mess in parts. It's hard to follow in many places. It's still definitely worth the read though. She writes some deep stuff.

When I was looking for women espionage authors at the used book store, I found a few books by Helen MacInnes. When I got home and did some research, I found out that she wrote quite a few espionage novels. I just finished North From Rome, and I really enjoyed it. It was written in 1958. I think I have three other books by her, and I am looking forward to them.

I finished Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Zhao today, and that is a weird book. I enjoyed it, but it's a trip.

I finished book 2 in the Brandon Sanderson Alcatraz series. It is a young YA series, but I am really enjoying it. It's really cute, and it is a great distraction from the shit show that is our world right now. Alcatraz Versus the Scrivener's Bones was as much fun as the first book. I definitely recommend this series for young readers or to those who enjoy young series - as I do!

I listened to Alison Bechdel’s Dykes to Watch Out For by Alison Bechdel, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minutes of it. It was witty, fun, sad, frustrating, and poignant.

I listened to my first Ali Smith yesterday on the recommendation of a fellow Goodreads user. I listened to Autumn, and it was really good. The story flowed. I liked the characters, and it wasn't overly sad which I was afraid it was going to be. I liked it.

I just finished Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia, book 4 of the Alcatraz series by Brandon Sanderson. This is a really cute series, and I am thoroughly enjoying it.

I have finished the last book of the Alcatraz series. Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson was just as cute and fun as the rest. I hope he'll write a few more.

I finished Hope in the Dark: The Untold History of People Power today - my first book by Rebecca Solnit. It had pretty good information in it. It wasn't great - but it was good.

I finished the second book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series by Carissa Broadbent. The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King is so good. It was really nice because the last romantasy book I read was crap. Her twist is unique, and I really enjoyed it. The sex in it was really good, too. I'm excited to read the rest of the books set in this world.

I was looking for a book set in South America or by a South American author, and I found Dostoevsky's Last Night by Cristina Peri Rossi. I hadn't heard of her, but then I found out she had been a political exile from Uruguay. She is in her 80s and has been living in Spain. I had a very (unusually) slow day at work today, and I had plenty of time to read. I finished it today, and I really enjoyed it. The book was all about addiction.

Our book club book this month is Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry. I wasn't too excited about it because it is classified as a romance, and I am not a huge fan of romance books. Well, there is a romance in the book, but I would not classify it as a romance. Whatever - I liked the book. Actually, I loved the book. I was completely hooked. I'm looking forward to our book club discussion this weekend.

I finished my second book by Malla Nunn - A Beautiful Place to Die. It is a police mystery set in South Africa in the 50s. The language was a little jarring because she uses the word "colored" a lot. I just had to get used to it because it is a different country, a different time, and being a Black African, she can use the language she wants. I just had to get used to it. The story is very interesting, and I enjoyed it. It is the first in a series written about the main character.

I listened to an Audible Original by Kirsty Logan called The Sound at the End. The story was great. the recording was crap. It was all staged with multiple narrators. The narrators were all fine, but the added sound effects made it hard to understand often. The recording was just annoying. I wish it had just been a regular book because the story really is quite good.

An Elderly Lady Is Up to No Good by Helene Tursten is unlike any other book I have ever read. The protagonist in the book is, um, well, quite a character. LOL. I thought maybe it was a Nordic Noir book, and it isn't really. Most of the book is from the MC's point-of-view, and it is a really twisted point-of-view, but it is entertaining!

I read Six Scorched Roses by Carissa Broadbent today while my birthday kid was getting their hair cut and colored. It was so good. I didn't realize it was 1.5 of the series until I had already read book 2. It's okay because you didn't HAVE to read it first, but I wish I would have. It is about characters that are introduced in book 2. It was really good. I love her writing. I can't wait for the next book.

I've been listening to Silas Marner by George Eliot. Last night I had a major bout of insomnia, so at 4 in the morning I got up and finished it. I enjoyed it. It was my first Eliot book. I have a few more that I will likely read this summer. I enjoyed the story of Silas and his adopted daughter.

I finished The Wizard Hunters by Martha Wells, and it was completely delightful. I loved it. I really enjoy her writing. The book did NOT wrap up though which means I will need to read book 2 very soon.

I finished Never Flinch by Stephen King last night. This book effected me, and I'm not sure how to talk about it yet. I loved it. The afterward made me cry.

MAY ROUNDUP
AUTHOR GENDER
Female = 15
Male = 2
NB/GQ = 1

RATING
12 - 4 Star
7 - 5 Star

AUTHOR ETHNICITY
White = 14
Asian = 1
Black = 2

COUNTRIES: 6 (+USA)
Italy = 1
Egypt = 1
UK = 2
Uruguay = 1
South Africa = 1
Sweden = 1

STATES: 4
Georgia
New York
Washington, D. C.
Ohio

New to Me Authors: 10
Helen MacInnes
Alison Bechdel
Ali Smith
Rebecca Solnit
Cristina Peri Rossi
Emily Henry
Cat Sebastian
Kirsty Logan
Helene Tursten
George Eliot

I stayed up until 1:30 last night to finish The Memory Keeper of Kyiv by Erin Litteken. I actually had to put it down for a couple of days because it is a heavy book, but it is really good. There is a dual timeline. One in the 1930s Ukraine, and one in 2004 Illinois. I did not know that much about what Stalin did to the Ukrainians, and it turned my stomach. I highly recommend this book.

I forgot to add the first book of the month that I read: The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness. This book is the third of the series, and I am really enjoying it. My husband is also read it - which is fun. He's loving it as well.

I finished Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler today. That book is freaky. It was written in the late 90s. The fascist running for president had a slogan, and I kid you not, it was "make America great again," and his gestapo were called maggots. Creepy. Too close to home. I think she was a time walker.

I think Carissa Broadbent may be one of my favorite new authors. I just finished Daughter of No Worlds, and I loved it! I have it on Audible Included and the trilogy is disappearing on July 1, so I am barreling through it. Luckily, I think it's going to be an awesome ride.

We've been reading How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going: Leading in a Liminal Season by Susan Beaumont at work and discussing the chapters occasionally. It was supposed to be every month, but it hasn't been. I think the book as some really great information in it. I had issues with some of the things she said, but honestly, the good far outweighed the bad. I would recommend this book for those working in a church.

I listened to The Modern Scholar: Geology: The Story of Earth by Kate Zeigler. I didn't learn a whole lot new because I studied it in college, but it was a great refresher, and there was new stuff in there as well. She was very clear, and I enjoyed listening to it.

Just finished Children of Fallen Gods by Carissa Broadbent (book 2 of the trilogy), and I really love it. I think she is my favorite romantasy author. Maas fans will gasp, but her books are solid. I'm digging into book 3 tonight.

I just finished Silver Elite by Dani Francis, and it was pretty good. I think maybe I was not in the right frame of mind to read it right now. It's supposed to be a cliff hanger at the end, but meh. I might read the next book, but I don't know yet. I did give it four stars, but I think I am being a little generous.