2024 in Books

I fell a bit short of my reading goal of 25 books for the year. Instead, I read 20. Not too shabby. I’ve never been able to motivate myself with a number goal and that’s probably a good thing. Here’s a list with teeny tiny reviews. Let me know if we read the same books this year and if our opinions match.

I went over my first six months in books here, but here’s a brief overview:

• WHAT HAPPENED TO ANNA K.

  • I really liked this one. It’s an immigrant take on Anna Karenina, set within the Bukharian Jewish community of Queens, NY. It’s a bit akin to an art movie.

• THE CLOISTERS

  • All I found were a ton of cliches and literary tropes. Maybe you’ll like it better.

• THE LONELY HEARTS BOOK CLUB

  • This isn’t something I usually read but it was heartwarming. An easy read with likable, relatable characters.

• THE FURY

  • I liked it a lot. It was engaging and I did not see see the grand reveal coming.

• PANIC IN A SUITCASE

  • I am partial to immigrant lit so I was really excited to read this book. Unfortunately, while it had a ton of fun and relatable anecdotes, it was so exhaustingly verbose, it was upsetting.

• TOMB SWEEPING

  • This was a collection of short stories. It took me a while to get through it but there were quite a few exquisite short stories in there.

• CLAP WHEN YOU LAND

  • I LOVED this book. Beautifully written, and beautifully narrated. Highly, highly recommend!

• DIRTY LAUNDRY

  • Entertaining but there were a few lost opportunities to develop some potentially interesting themes in there. Easy read.

• THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE

  • I am obsessed with the Thursday Night Murder Club series!

• THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE

  • This was engaging but more than that—it was educational. I love immigrant history and this taught me a lot.

    Now on to July through December of 2024:

• THE VANISHING HALF

  • An incredibly thought provoking novel. So many expertly crafted parallels. Highly recommend.

• WHAT’S EATING JACKIE OH?

  • For someone who claims not to read YA, I seem to like a lot of it. Wonderful story in the coming of age/immigrant lit realm. Highly recommend.

• HOW TO LOVE YOUR DAUGHTER

  • Much like The Lost Daughter, this is a painfully important read for mothers of daughters. Not an easy read.

• MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT

  • Riley Sager is officially back! Loved it. Great thriller.

• MIDNIGHT LIBRARY

  • I’m fascinated by the concept of parallel universes and all things related. A bit long, and I hoped to be more engaged, but a wonderful read.

• HERE ONE MOMENT

  • I’m yet to meet a Liane Moriarty’s book I don’t like. Brilliant! Very engaging.

• THE GHOST CAT

  • I would’ve found this book brilliant in high school. In college, too. As a middle-aged adult, I found it mildly entertaining. A light, easy read.

• FROM HERE TO THE GREAT UNKNOWN

  • I’m still thinking about this book and it’s been months since I read it. It’s particularly impactful as an audio book. Brilliantly produced. I think it changed me. Highly recommend if you like memoirs.

• WE SOLVE MURDERS

  • I love that it’s a new series from Richard Osmond. I don’t know if it was me or the story, however, but I wasn’t as engaged as I would’ve liked. I kept getting lost in all the character names. It was probably my own state of mind. I still recommend it to fans of the Thursday Murder Club.

• THE MOST

  • A quirky little book with fabulous character exploration. Not my favorite this year but a worthy read.

Six Months in Books, circa 2024

I’m in a bit of a reading slump right now. Ideally, I like to listen to a book on Audible and read a physical book simultaneously, as well. I’m listening to The Vanishing Half (which is aaaamazing), but I can’t settle on a physical book. I’ll update once I’m out of this crisis.

Summer reading lists are a thing, I hear, though for me, nothing really changes depending on the month when it comes to how much I can read. Well, that’s not true. Sometimes I can’t read as much, but it’s not that there is a month I can suddenly read more. Still, I look forward to summer recommendations. Many authors aim to publish in the summer. I guess some people read by the pool? Anyway, this list of mine is not made up of new books but rather books I read in the past six months. Maybe you’ll find something on here that you’d like to give a shot. Let me know if you do!

1. WHAT HAPPENED TO ANNA K.

   • I really liked this one. It’s an immigrant take on Anna Karenina, set within the Bukharian Jewish community of Queens, NY. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea (and the narrator of the audio book did bug me with some accent choices), but it’s akin to an art movie—worth it.

2. THE CLOISTERS

   • I had high hopes for this one. Mysticism and all. At least, that’s what I expected. But all I found were a ton of cliches and literary tropes. So perhaps this was the problem: it was marketed as a different genre. Maybe you’ll like it better.

3. THE LONELY HEARTS BOOK CLUB

   • This isn’t something I usually read but it was heartwarming. An easy read with likable, relatable characters. I read it with a book club so it made it even better.

4. THE FURY

   • I liked it a lot. I did expect more, given that I loved the author’s previous novel—The Silent Patient, but it was engaging and I did not see see the grand reveal coming.

5. PANIC IN A SUITCASE

   • I am partial to immigrant lit so I was really excited to read this book. Unfortunately, while it had a ton of fun and relatable anecdotes, it was so exhaustingly verbose, it was upsetting.

6. TOMB SWEEPING

   • This was a collection of short stories. It took me a while to get through it but there were quite a few exquisite short stories in there. Highly recommend.

7. CLAP WHEN YOU LAND

   • I LOVED this book. Beautifully written, and beautifully narrated. Highly, highly recommend! It’s marketed as a YA novel but I’m most definitely an adult and enjoyed it thoroughly.

8. DIRTY LAUNDRY

   • Entertaining but there were a few lost opportunities to develop some potentially interesting themes in there. Easy read.

9. THE LAST DEVIL TO DIE

   • I am obsessed with the Thursday Night Murder Club series! Obsessed, I tell you! This latest installment did not disappoint! What a poignant look at these magnificent characters.

10. THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE

    • This was engaging but more than that—it was educational. I love immigrant history and this taught me a lot. Highly recommend.

2023 in Books

2023…How can something feel like it both drags and flies, simultaneously? It’s frightening. Sometimes I find myself almost hyperventilating over how fast it all goes.

It’s been an eventful year, including the the release of my Year One. I am proud of this one and have been getting wonderful feedback. I am so grateful to each reader who finds ways to relate to my tween journey.

In addition to working on my own writing, I managed to read quite a bit this year—a total of 25 books. Here’s a list with tiny blurb reviews. If you read any of these, please let me know so we can compare notes.

1. The Cabin at the End of the World

   I didn’t read this in time for Halloween the previous year but it is quite a thriller of the philosophical kind. I know they adapted this one into a movie but I haven’t seen it. Highly recommend if you enjoy the “is this the end of the world” type of reading?

2. Still Here

   This book by Lana Vapnyar took me a while but I really enjoyed it. Highly recommend it to any immigrant as it deals with much of the “who am I and where do I belong” internal dialogue we all have.

3. Mad Honey

   I learned a literal ton from this book. I never read anything by the author and I’m glad this was my introduction to her. If you’re a boy-mom, I think you especially should read this one.

4. The Family Game

   Meh. Entertaining but a little tired by way of genre. Too many tropes (i.e. rich people are weird and just plain bad). It’s been done.

5. The Wilderwomen

   I’m not much of magical realism fan so I feel like I just didn’t get this one. A few interesting and enjoyable themes about motherhood and sisterhood though.

6. Violeta

   First book by Isabel Allende for me! Can you believe it?! Very much a multigenerational saga, I did enjoy it.

7. Sleep Donation

   Oooh what a psychological thriller. If you suffer from insomnia, this may be a bit triggering but I was enthralled with this one. Lots of medical ethics themes too. Highly recommend.

8. The Boston Girl

   This book has been on my TBR list for a while and I’m so glad I finally read it. I so enjoyed the narration. If you have an interest in women’s lit and/or history of Jewish Women in America, I highly recommend it. Very enjoyable read.

9. The Silent Patient

   I haven’t been this thrown for a loop mid-book since Gone Girl. I did not see that twist coming (yes, there is a twist). If you like thrillers, put this one on your list.

10. The Backpack, a Bar, and Eight Crates of Vodka: A Memoir

    This one shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Ever since writing my own little memoir, I rediscovered my passion for immigration history. Currently, I am working on a historical fiction novel about Soviet Jewish immigration of the late 1980s and this book came up in my research. Seen through the eyes of a child (and then adult), this is a wonderful read.

11. The Thursday Murder Club

    This series is a revelation. If you want to feel good reading something, read The Thursday Murder Club. Just glorious! Multiple POVs only help drive this Christie-esque series. 10 stars!

12. The Man Who Died Twice (#2)

    Basically, see above!

13. Pineapple Street

    What a let down. Again with the tired “rich people are weird and just plain bad” tropes! I was excited to pick it up because it’s set in Brooklyn Heights but I did not enjoy it at all.

14. The Only One Left

    Riley Sager is back! After two blah books, this one hooks you. Very much a gothic thriller.

15. Community Board

    So enjoyable! Wonderful and honest social commentary.

16. Imposter Syndrome and Other Confessions of Alejandra Kim

    I don’t read much YA even though Year One can arguably be classified as YA itself. I picked this one up at a Little Free Library and absolutely loved it. Again, immigrants of any background are the best audience for this. Coming of age when you have to code switch to begin with is not easy.

17. The Bullet That Missed (#3)

    Book three in my new favorite book series. Read above to see how much I love it!

18. None of This is True

    Great mystery. I listened to this one and the production was so innovative. Highly recommend.

19. The Scent of Pine

    I love Lana Vapnyar’s books but this one did not click for me at all.

20. My Mother’s Secret: A Novel of the Jewish Autonomous Region

    I loved The Nesting Dolls by Alina Adams so I was eager to read this one. It didn’t disappoint. And I learned so much about Berobidzhan too! Very thoroughly researched and the characters were highly relatable. Recommend.

21. The Trap

    I love CRH’s mysteries and this was no exception. A solid mystery with some food for thought.

22. The Woman in Me

    Of course I couldn’t resist this one. It felt important to listen to what Britney had to say after everything she’s been put through. Excellent narration by Michelle Williams on audible! She captured Britney’s voice without doing an impression. Also, wonderful job by the ghost writer who co-wrote it with Britney—very seamless. Britney is very funny so I do recommend it if you like a celebrity memoir.

23. The Orchard

    Alina Adams recommended this one on her YouTube series where she talks to her American-born daughter about Soviet Union through books, and I have to say I loved it. The characters are older than me by more than a decade but the time period and the setting are familiar so it was a truly engaging read.

24. Matzah Ball

    Very fluffy but adorable. Cute romance novel that also manages to educate about chronic illness. Fun for the holiday season.

25. When I’m Dead

    The first book I got via Book of the Month subscription box. A very well researched and graphic thriller. I know it’s part of a series but I didn’t have a problem reading it out of order.

What have you read this past year? And what are your reading plans for 2024?

First Six Months of 2022 in Books...

It’s that time of the year again!

Namely, it’s June. This is usually when I am busy hyperventilating as the school year wraps up and I am faced with my attachment issues. However, it’s also when I usually share my year in books so far-sharing some recommendations and reviews with you.

Here goes then (because I do have to get back to all the hyperventilating)…

The Fall of Marigolds (Susan Meissner) 4-stars

I don’t read much historical fiction but was drawn to this title because of my interest in immigration history and Ellis Island itself. It was a well-researched, vivid novel with a good amount of heart.

The September of Shiraz (Dalia Sofer) 5-stars

I received this book as a gift in a holiday book exchange. It is the first physical book I’ve read in a while (I usually listen on Audible). Set during the early days of Iranian Revolution, this book is eloquently written. I could not put it down.

Woman No. 17 (Edna Lepucki) 4-stars

An interesting premise and some good observations of mothers and children with special needs and their relationships. I found it painful in its insight, at times, actually. Which is exactly why I would recommend it.

The Girl With Stars in Her Eyes: a Story of Love, Loss, and Rock-and-Roll (Xio Axelrod) 2-stars
I was really looking forward to this one because it was so highly recommended on various book lists and blogs. Unfortunately, it disappointed rather profoundly, both in plot and character development. It’s just flat and predictable all around. I hate to leave negative reviews (and don’t, actually), but I do not recommend this one…to anyone.

Rodham (Curtis Sittenfeld) 5-stars

What a cool concept-to take a real person and run fan-fiction with it. It gives a satisfying ending for Hillary fans. Recommend.

The Lost Daughter (Elena Ferrante) 5-stars

A painful read, and I mean it in the best way. Highly recommend, particularly to mothers of daughters.

Signs of the Survival: a Memoir of the Holocaust (Renee Hartmans) 5-stars

I bought this at an elementary school Scholastic book fair. I am hardly the target audience for this but the book is a true story of real sisters (one deaf, one hearing), making it through the Holocaust without their parents. I do recommend this to middle schoolers and their parents alike. It’s not very graphic and a good introduction into personal narratives of Holocaust survivors.

Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead (Olga Tokaczuk) 5-stars

It feels silly to critique a Nobel prize winner so I hardly know what to say. An unusual read with an unexpected ending, I’ll say this much. Quirky and poignant.

The Personal Librarian (Marie Benedict) 5-stars

This was probably my favorite pick by MR BOOK CLUB. This, too, is historical fiction but based very much on thorough research. What an incredible (and almost unbelievable) true story of Belle DaCosta Greene! I want to go back to the Morgan Library now.

I Must Betray You (Rita Sepetys) 5-stars

This is a YA novel about Romania in 1989, when it finally overthrew its communist government. Yes, this is another historical fiction. I have to admit that this much historical fiction is quite out of character for me but I must say I highly recommend this title as well. I had no idea what life in Romania was like though I, too, grew up behind the Iron Curtain. Highly recommend to anyone curious about what life was like under communism in late 1980s (probably more for YA).

All’s Well (Mona Award) 5-stars

Oooh, this one I could not put down. My favorite psychological thriller in a while, that’s for sure. Very raw and a bit reminiscent of Twin Peaks from time to time (and I love me some Twin Peaks). Spooky and character driven in the most delicious of ways. Highly recommend.

Currently, I am reading The Sentence by Lousie Eldridge. It’s another pick of MR BOOK CLUB. I’ll report on this one when I finish it.

So… what are you reading? Anything to recommend?

Reading in 2021

Personal best, reading-wise! 20 books! If I were a person with any kind of influence, I would totally be asking to be the face for Audible because, OMG, without it, I’d never read anything! My goal was 10 books and I read twice as many. Lesson? Keep those goals and expectations low and you’ll surprise yourself! Right?! Right…

1. Class Mom by Laurie Gelman

   Perhaps not the most literary of starts to the year but it was a light and fun read. There are more volumes in this series. I’m not yet sure if I’ll exploring those but I might!

2. Just Like You by Nick Hornby*

   A big fan of Nick Hornby, I was disappointed in this one. There were some keen observations of society and politics but the characters fell flat and hardly developed. There are better ones out there by Nick.
   

3. The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood

   One of my favorites this year. Talk about honesty and character development! I love immigrant lit mostly because it never ceases to amaze me just how similar we all are despite our background.
   

4. Send for Me by Laren Fox*

   Another favorite of the year, this one left me broken-hearted in a fairly literal meaning of the expression. My chest truly ached here-for everyone in this multi-generational WWII drama. Inspired by her own family letters from Germany, the author did an incredible job of fictionalizing members of her family while keeping the original letters intact. Highly recommend!
   

5. How to Walk Away by Katherine Center

   It’s obvious how much research went into writing this book. The author does a great job of having us truly feel what the protagonist is feeling here. Unfortunately, the plot became predicable in the “all a girl needs is a boy” way. Solid 3 stars though.
   

6. Return to Life by Jim B. Tucker

   If you have any interest in past life stories, this is the one for you. Dr. Tucker is quite an authority when it comes to children’s past lives memories. A fascinating read rooted in scientific approach and study.
   

7. True Story by Kate Reed Petty

   A good novel touching on MeToo involving an unreliable narrator.
   
   

8. Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

   What a good novel! Painful and gut-wrenching but so good! It’s like the author puts up a mirror to your face and forces you to look. Highly recommend.

9. Dominicana by Angie Cruz*

   I love immigrant lit (as I seem to mention every chance I get) so this was a no-brainer of a selection for me. Set in Washington Heights, NYC during the 1960s, this novel was a fascinating trip back in time.
   
   

10. The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

    An entertaining suspense read. I didn’t see the final twist coming, which is always fun.
    
    

11. One by One by Ruth Ware

    A very engaging thriller. Very Agatha Christie. Recommend.
    
    

12. A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight*

    I didn’t like Kimberly McCreight’s first novel so I was a little hesitant to read this one. But no worries-this one managed to surprise me in the best of ways. I truly enjoyed it and, as opposed to totally transparent revelations in the author’s first novel, this one had me guessing.
    

13. The Last Anniversary by Liane Moriarty

    When in doubt, go with Liane Moriarty. The lady never disappoints. The characters are so distinct and crystal clear. Highly recommend.
    
    

14. The Night Swim by Megan Goldin

    A solid novel but very thick on making a point to be on the right side of MeToo. Some parts of very triggering so you’ve been warned.
    

15. Survive the Night by Riley Sager

    Unfortunately, this book was the biggest disappointment of the year for me. I love Riley Sager’s books, and was eagerly awaiting this one, but it did not live up to the author’s reputation. It almost felt like it was written simply because he was on a deadline and had to produce something regardless of inspiration and quality.
    

16. 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard*

    Totally one of the faves this year! Talk about putting lockdown to good use and writing a killer novel! Highly recommend.
    
    

17. Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty

    Two Liane Moriarty’s books in one year is what I call awesomeness. Again, Liane excels at character development without sacrificing the plot, so this one, too, was a thrill to read.
    

18. The Neighbor’s Secret by L. Allison Heller

    A fun read reminding us that we just never know our friends and neighbors the way we think they do. As a parent, I found some parts a little difficult to read, but these are important questions to ask yourself.
    

19. The Nesting Dolls by Alina Adams*

    Should I say immigrant lit again?! Loved it! Multi-generational family drama is illuminating and helpful in my own immigrant universe. Highly recommend.
    

20. Memoirs and Misinformation by Jim Carrey and Dana Vachon

    It’s hard to give this one a rating. Jim Carrey is undeniably a genius, and I am simply not worthy of being inside his brain. The book is profound in its observations, poignant in its reflections. Some of it is absurd, some of is funny. A one-of-a-kind read, that’s for sure.

    Currently, I’m reading A Fall of Marigolds. I’m not sure if I’ll have enough time during this busy time of year to finish it before 2022 but so far, I’m enjoying the Ellis Island setting. Immigration history has always been of interest and passion for me, and I’ve been toying around with an idea for a novel tying in multi-generational immigration history, but I must finish my YearOne project (my quasi-memoire about my first year in America) before distracting myself.

    Let us know what you read this past year. Any faves? Any fun recommendations? Please share.

    Legend: * MR BOOK CLUB official selection. Please join us! We meet on zoom every other month.

    We wish you lots of health and happiness this upcoming year. We need a break from life, don’t we?! We deserve it! So we wish you lots of satisfying reads in 2022!

The first six months of 2021 in books

I’ve been fairly lucky with book recommendations this year (thus far, anyway). And Audible, G-d bless it, has been my one true reading companion, allowing me to ingest much more literature than ever before-12 titles in six months! Here are some brief reviews to help you make some reading choices this summer.

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

5-stars. What a fabulous literary fiction novel. Highly recommend this one for some uncomfortable self-reflection.

Class Mom by Laurie Gelman

3-stars. A fun easy read. It won’t stay with you but it will entertain you along the way.

Just Like You by Nick Hornby

4-stars. I’m a Nick Hornby fan but this wasn’t a favorite. I didn’t connect with the characters, and I didn’t feel much by way of development either. But what the book did was bring a ton of issues to the surface that I simply never had reason to consider in the past (issues like racism in Europe, Brexit etc). I mostly recommend it for that reason.

The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Mansood

5-stars. Enlightening, entertaining, a ton of character development. Highly recommend, particularly if you like immigrant lit.

How to Walk Away by Kathrine Center

4- stars. Predictable by way of plot but some great character development. Well researched, too!

Send for Me by Lauren Fox

5-stars. So painful yet so beautifully written. Highly recommend, particularly if you have any relation to the plight of the Jewish people during WWII. The author used real life letters from her grandmother as inspiration, and included excerpts throughout. Just wow.

Return to Life by Jim B. Tucker

4-stars. I saw Jim B. Tucker on Netflix’ Surviving Death and was intrigued by his credentials and area of study. This is a fascinating book, backed up by data and science. If you have any interest in past lives, this would be the book to check out.

True Story by Kate Reed Petty

4-stars. Tough subject matter. Will keep you guessing. Great character development.

Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

5-stars. This is one of my top-3 favorite reads this year to date. Talk about holding up a mirror to “you” (and society as a whole!) and forcing you to look! Cannot recommend this one highly enough! Both the plot and character development are out of this world!

Dominicana by Angie Cruz

5-stars. This book was my book club’s most recent selection. I truly enjoyed it. It never ceases to amaze me just how similar all immigrant experiences and stories truly are. Recommend!

The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

4-stars. A little too predictable plot-wise but very entertaining. A good beach read.

One by One by Ruth Ware

4.5-stars. A highly entertaining whodunit, ala Agatha Christie. Though it is set in freezing temperatures, I’d say this is a great beach read as well.

What have you read this year so far?

Reading in 2020

Every year I vow to make this easier. Every year, I fully intend to write full out reviews for each one of the books I consume in a year. And every year I fail. This year, however, can you even blame me? Looking back on 2020, and all it has given us, I’m pleasantly surprised I was even able to read more than five books! So yeah, cut me some slack.

That said, I somehow managed to read 12 books, and below you’ll find brief reviews and recommendations. I hope you’ll share some of yours with me.

1. The Last Time I Lied (4 stars)

   I love Riley Sager! This is one of his “older” works so, in my opinion, it’s not as masterful as Lock Every Door (or the recent Home Before Dark), but it’s still gripping and suspenseful. It may very well just be the fact that I started with his latest (and best, in my opinion) and it’s hard going backwards. Recommend.

2. The Flight Attendant (4 stars)

   This book made me look for an anise candle so well did the author describe the scent of the opening scenes. An unreliable narrator/protagonist is one of my favorite things ever. Recommend.

3. Red, While & Royal Blue (3.5 stars)

   An entertaining, light read. The whole Royal thing is fun but it makes you want to roll your eyes too often given how many stereotypes are invoked on a page by page basis (same for the White House characters too). The novel also felt exceedingly long. On the other hand, I read this in the early days of the pandemic so I was grateful for any kind of distraction. Kinda recommend (so long as your expectations are calibrated accordingly).

4. The Holdout (5 stars)

   This is one of my TOP 2 PICKS this year. Many painful questions raised, all without compromising the suspense of it all. Highly recommend.

5. You Are Not Alone (5 stars)

   Greek Henricks and Sarah Pekkanen are back! I loved their first joint creation but their sophomore puppy left me a little disappointed. This one, however, brought me all the way back. Recommend.

6. Three Wishes (5 stars)

   Ah, Liane Moriarty, my love! This is an old novel of hers, but I had not read it before this year. Liane never disappoints so, if I’m ever in doubt as to what I should read next, first I make sure there’s nothing new (or old) in Liane’s bibliography. Recommend (always).

7. The Guest List (5 stars)

   What a captivating thriller. I love the setting (an isolated island in Ireland) and the way it serves as an additional character. It is uber multi POV so beware—if this isn’t your thing, you’ve been warned. I think it works beautifully in this genre. Recommend.

8. Home Before Dark (5 stars)

   Riley Sager!!! His “ghost stories” are the best ghost stories. Recommend.

9. Anxious People (5 stars)

   This title tops my TOP 2 PICKS list. This too is a multiple POV work and boy, is it clever and poignant and moving. What beautiful writing! I shall (literally shall—have the duty to!) read more by this genius author. Highly recommend.

10. My Friend Anna (4 stars)

    This is one of the two non-fiction books I read this year. I can’t believe this real-life story missed me in real life. I came across this title in an Amazon store and the title itself sounded intriguing. It is fascinating to read the account of the poor woman swindled out of tens of thousands of dollars. The psychology of it! Recommend as a study in human psyche and the tales we tell ourselves.

11. How to Stop Losing Your Sh*t with Your Kids (5 stars)

    This is that other non-fiction title I read this year. I needed this, specifically this year and how much stress it dumped all over all of us. This isn’t a parenting book (those, I loathe!) but rather a reminder to put your own oxygen mask on first, literally. It’s really been helping me take a step back and take stock of what I am feeling and what is making me feel and act a certain way. And who can’t benefit from that. Highly recommend.

12. The Sundown Motel (3.5 stars)

    I’ve been meaning to read this book since it came out. I’m sorry to say this but it let me down a bit, specifically the supernatural aspect of it. The suspense storyline is strong enough without the gratuitous ghosts. Kinda recommend.

    It’s disappointing that the last book I read this year was not my favorite, but I have high hopes for the novel I am reading now—Leave the World Behind. I’m about half way in and the writing is so sharp, it leaves me breathless at times. I’m not sure I’ll finish it in time for it to count as a 2020 read but at least it’ll mean that 2021 will have a 5-star book kicking off its list.

Any fun reads to report?

Happy New Year! May 2021 be kind to us all.

2019 in 17 Books

For some (delusional) reason, I thought I’d read more 2019 than I actually had. But I checked and rechecked my Goodreads/Audible/Kindle apps and the verdict remains the same—a grand total of 17. Below are tiniest of reviews and recommendations. Please tell me if you read any of these and if our opinions are in agreement. Happy Reading!

MY TOP PICK

My favorite by far this year was All the Rivers. I’ve spoken about this at length to anyone who would and wouldn’t listen. It left me breathless. I am not exaggerating when I say that, at times, I felt as if my sternum would snap in two from all the air I’d apparently been holding without the needed release. Something about the writing and the subject matter reached me on a level much deeper than I’d previously thought possible. I don’t cry at books (not physical tears, anyway), but I did here. A brave work. I recommend it oh so highly.

For my least favorite…read on.

Let’s see what else I read this year:

1. Second Person Singular: This was the first book written by an Israeli-Palestinian author for me. I’ve blogged about it at the time (you can read my brief review here). I learned a great amount from reading this novel—as in genuinely learned. I don’t remember the last time I walked away having truly learned something about the real world from a work of fiction. The writing is clear and precise, despite having been translated from Hebrew. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone but especially to those with interest in the seventy-something year old conflict.

2. American Like Me: I was so excited for this book to finally come out! I love immigration stories, and most of my own writing revolves around immigration in some way. I first reviewed the book when I finished reading it (you can read it here), and for the most part, I loved it because everyone’s essay illustrated how close our experiences really are underneath it all. Those early days of being the new kid in a place where everyone speaks a language you don’t recognize... The only part that was a let down for me was the fact that there was not a single Jewish voice in the entire anthology (and the only Arab one was that of a well-recognized anti-Semite). It’s a gaping editorial oversight and a disappointing one at that. I expected better of America Ferrera. Where was Natalie Portman? Mila Kunis? Tony Shalhoub, Rami Malek? Other than that—great book.

3. The Girl at the Border. A book with a complex and complicated plot but some lovely, flowing language. The settings were like paintings, the dialogues came off the page. A solid 4-star review from me. See my full review here.

4. Anonymous Girl. This book suffered from only one ailment, as far as I am concerned—it did not live up to the incredibly high standard of its predecessor—The Wife Between Us. The standard is unfair but neither is life. The book never truly came together for me. It seemed cliché and flat, but again, I have to ask myself if I would feel the same had I read it before I read the authors’ first book. Read my slightly longer take on the matter here.

5. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. What a breath of fresh air, Eleanor was! We read this in my book club and I’m so thankful. It was such a breath of fresh air! Did I say that already? Anyway, the protagonist has zero tolerance for society’s bullshit and it’s just precious. Highly recommend.

6. The Broken Girls is a title I’ve had on my Kindle for literal years. I’m not sure why it took me so long to finally read it but I’m glad I did. A captivating mystery with just enough of that supernatural element to ring believable. Recommend.

7. The Buried: An Archeology of the Egyptian Revolution is a title I was instinctively drawn to. I don’t read as much non-fiction as a I should. There is no tangible reason for it; I just find a better escape in fiction. A fascinating, educational read. A great insight as to Egyptian culture, history, and people.

8. I’ll Never Tell is a book I had on my list of summer books. It was a fun, easy mystery read. I enjoyed the multiple POVs, including the voice of the victim. For someone who’s never been to a sleep-away camp I sure do gravitate toward books set in those.

9. Searching for Sylvie Lee..family saga, suspense, immigrant lit—I’m not sure which description suits this title best. A little gray and wallowing but a fascinating novel nonetheless.

10. Lock Every Door is written by an author who goes by the pen name of Riley Sager. I won’t spoil the rest (though merely mentioning this is spoiler enough, I realize). It’s a thriller with some delicious twists and I am thankful for my little book club for having voted for it as one of our official selections.

11. Dancing Arabs is not as good as Second Person Singular, in my opinion. More like a collection of anecdotes than a novel, there is too much self-pity and wallowing in it for my taste. On the other hand, the book made me think. And feel! And I found myself thinking about it (and feeling!) for days on end when I was finished, so at the end of the day, I highly recommend it.

12. The Hypnotist’s Love Story is the first Liane Moriarty novel I read this year. Sometimes you just need a little Liane. Relatable and satisfying, this is one of my favorite novels by Liane.

13. Truly Madly Guilty is the last of Liane’s novel for me. I am finally caught up and need her to hurry up and turn out more! This one is simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming. Only Ms. Moriarty is capable of this! A little long but satisfying.

14. Final Girls is officially my favorite thriller! Riley Sager is a genius! Sure, I saw some red herrings along the way but no way in hell did I anticipate the final twists. Can’t wait to read more by Sager.

15. The Woman in Cabin 10 is a book I kept seeing on displays at a local Barnes & Noble for months. It intrigued me so I made an impulse purchase. My verdict: a good suspenseful read. A solid beach read (and not because the action takes place on a cruise ship).

16. One Day in December sure did make a splash, didn’t it. I saw it recommended by everyone, including Reese Witherspoon, who gushed about this one like no tomorrow. All I can say is meh. I honestly wanted so much to like this one but alas, it wasn’t meant to be. Perhaps it would work better as a TV show because it’s just way too long and dragged out as a novel. It’s a cute premise but such a long ride through the years and relationships becomes cumbersome (at least in this title). It’s sweet and cute, and it’s well-written, sure, but once you’re done, you forget al about it. At least I did. 3 stars.

    Reading Goals: 20 titles. Let’s do this!

Six Months in Books (2019)

At least reading-wise these past six months have been productive. Here is my humble little list and mini-reviews. If you read anything on here, please share your impressions!

Second Person Singular

A solid 4-star, eye-opening read. This was the first novel written by an Israeli-Palestinian for me. I couldn’t tear away from it.

American Like Me

I’m partial to stories about immigrant experiences. I could not resist this collection of essays. I do have a bit of beef with the editing choices here (more in my review linked above), but on the whole, it’s fascinating read. We’re much more alike than we’re not!

An Anonymous Girl

I’m a huge fan on this writing duo but this wasn’t a favorite. It fell a bit flat and predictable for me, although maybe some of that may have to do with my own high expectations given the authors’ first book.

All the Rivers

Okay, truth time: I cannot stop thinking about this one. So far this year, this has been my absolute favorite. It gripped me tight and won’t let me go. Highly, highly recommend.

A Girl at the Border

Complex and intriguing plot line. At times, it felt a little cluttered to me but, on the other hand, the language was stunning. Recommend.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine

An easy read with a hyper relatable protagonist with zero patience for society’s bullshit. Highly recommend.

The Broken Girls

This one sat on my to-read shelf for a while so I’m glad I finally read it. It’s an easy read with just enough of a hint of the paranormal. A very engaging novel.

The Buried: An Archeology of the Egyptian Revolution

I don’t read enough non-fiction. I came across this book by complete accident but wound up being completely engrossed by it. Peter Hessler is a magnificent storyteller. I learned so much! Highly recommend this book if you are at all interested in Egypt and/or politics.

If you happen to read any of these titles, please let me know. I would love to compare notes!

A Girl at the Border (Book Review)

A friend of mine recommended this novel to me. She felt that the prose reminded her of my writing. She said it seemed like something I would write, and she meant it as a compliment! She loved the book! Naturally, I was intrigued and simply had to read it ASAP. Luckily, my little virtual book club, MR BOOK CLUB, selected it as it's March/April Official Selection so I got right on it.

I give A Girl at the Border 4 stars. The writing is gorgeous. All the settings, the dialogue—it was all written so expertly and effortlessly. The pictures painted themselves. Psst, if that’s what my friend meant—I’m over the moon by the comparison! The only thing that made me “deduct” a point was that at times the novel seemed a little cluttered, touching on a few too many subjects—parental absenteeism, 9/11, the war on terror. On the flip side, the author did keep me guessing and I did not see the biggest twist coming. Okay, so maybe half a star deduction there, to be fair. The other half? The many time jumps got a little confusing here and there. All in all, however, I loved this book and look forward to more fiction from Leslie Archer.

Moral of the story? Listen to your friends when they give you book recommendations, people:)