Turns out that listening to scary audio books (even by fave authors) and jogging solo before the sun comes up DO NOT MIX for me, even in a spooky month (especially in a spooky month?). As you can see from the list below, though, I made it work
Skippable
The Bachelorette Party by Camilla Sten: Meh *2025
Such a Good Mom by Julia Spiro: A quick read while Minnie was at gymnastics. *2025
Meditations for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman: I liked him better in his other book and also on Before Breakfast.
The First Gentleman by Bill Clinton and James Patterson: Meh. But a quick and entertaining meh. *2025
Stop me if You've Heard This One by Kristen Arnett: This book needed a better editor. *2025 **Audio
Good Reads
Tranquility by Tuesday by Laura Vanderkam: SO MANY good tips and gentle reframing nudges-- loved this! *Audio
107 Days by Kamala Harris: Read by the author! *2025 **Audio
Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell: Her last couple have not satisfied me, but this one was TERRIFIC. Too creepy for early AM exercise listening, though *2025 **Audio
Sharp Force by Patricia Cornwell: This is the 29th Kay Scarpetta book, and I have read EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM, and I am TIRED of Cornwell making up characters from Kay's past to suddenly be prominent in her life. I have known Dr. Scarpetta for THIRTY YEARS and I would remember these GD people if they were really important. Still, it was creepy and well plotted, per usual. *2025 **Audio
Better Reads
Katabasis by RF Kuang: This is my least favorite of hers, but it was still really good. Academia is hell. Noted. **2025 **Kindle
The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman: The gang is BACK! Loved it. *2025 **Audio
Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart: THIS IS LOVELY and sad and funny-- a weird child narrator, and the author does a pitch perfect job of explaining the world through her eyes. **2025
BOTY Potential
Actress of a Certain Age by Jeff Hiller: Loved him in Somebody Somewhere; loved this book. He reads it, and it is hilarious. *2025 *Audio
Culpability by Bruce Holsinger: THIS IS SO GOOD!! **2025 *Kindle
Wreck by Catherine Newman: The most perfect book about middle age. (Read Sandwich first.) **2025 **Kindle
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans: OH WOW. I THINK THIS IS THE BOOK OF THE YEAR. **2025 *Kindle
BTM 16
Book books: 5
Kindle books: 4
Audio books: 7
2025 books: 15
BTY 157
Book books: 84
Kindle books: 13
Audio books: 66
2025 books: 103
Correspondent is definitely my book of the year so far. I adored Sybil so very much. I am suggesting Culpability as one of my 3 book options we will vote on at our end of year book club (each member suggests 3 and we vote). I can’t wait to read Wreck - I’m going to her author talk on Monday with a book club friend.
ReplyDeleteI had a bananas reading month with 11 books but my reading is off the charts since I was off for 2.5 weeks and have not been sleeping well as my PTSD brain heals… I hope I read less in November honestly.
ooooh a Catherine Newman author talk-- how perfect!
DeleteSybil!! We all love Sybil.
ReplyDeleteso much
Deleteooh so excited for Wreck, Katabasis, and Culpability! AND I heard Ann Patchett and Emily St John Mandel have new releases soon - so exciting!!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh! really? must ore-prder!
DeleteWreck is on my Christmas list, so I know what I'll be doing on Boxing Day.
ReplyDeleteI pre-ordered. Her writing is so similar to yours!
DeleteOH MY GOD SARAH. What a beautiful thing to say to me! I'm literally tearing up, she is an inspiration. xo
DeleteSo many books on this list are on my immediate TBR list!!
ReplyDeleteI think 107 Days will be my next nonfiction audiobook. I was nervous to read it because it might just make me sad, but I think I'm ready for it.
I DID cry a little.
DeleteI have a hold for the correspondent but I think it will be a long wait. I’m gonna have to read sandwich soon, because Wreck sounds great. Thanks for these reviews. I find them so helpful!
ReplyDeleteyes! sandwich and wreck are SO GOOD for women our age
DeleteProps to you for sticking with Patricia Cornwell - I gave up on that series quite a few books ago. It's a shame, the first few were so good.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read Wreck! I keep trying to get Correspondent as an express ebook.
I really liked Katabasis, more than Yellow face. I read one Camilla Sten book and that was enough.
Jogging in the pre-dawn listening to scary audiobooks does not sound good to me, and I love horror.
I liked Katabasis third best, but maybe all of the allusions were too much for me-- you are much smarter than I am, I fear.
DeleteHAaaaaahaha no
DeleteYes, I also LOVED The Correspondent!!! Everyone seems to love it so far. I should try Patricia Cornwell again- I know I read some of her earlier ones. At first I thought this one would be good on my December TBR, but then I read the description, and just because a grizzly murder takes place on Christmas morning, doesn't mean it has a lot of Christmas vibes. Also, people seem to like her earlier books better?
ReplyDeleteI hope you're not our running in the dark and listening to spooky audiobooks at the same time- that sounds a little too scary for me!
Count me among the fans of The Correspondent. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it, but I loved it.
ReplyDeleteThe Correspondent by Virginia Evans is coming up more often. I already have it on my TBR but I might have to move it up.
ReplyDeleteAgree with Tobia, I keep hearing SO much about The Correspondent and it seems to be a rare book where "everyone" seems to love it? Like I'm not hearing the usual banter of "it didn't work for me" vs "I absolutely loved it!". Guess I need to move that up that list!! Added a few others to my list from your list, too! I really want to read Sandwich (I know that's older now) and had it come up for me on my library holds, but I never got to read it! Was reading other things and I read too few books/too slowly and then it was due and I ended up returning it. Now I really want to get it again and then read Wreck too.
ReplyDeleteI loved The Correspondent so much!!!!
ReplyDeleteHave we discussed Kay Scarpetta? I am super impressed that you have read every single book. I used to adore the Scarpetta books (and even got to meet Cornwell at a book signing once!), but somewhere along the way they became a slog... I feel like the writing went downhill at one point and I never picked them back up again.