Going Back to 'Back in My Day ...'

 

I decided I’m going back to how I used to choose books when I was 9-years-old. 

Pull one off the shelf at the library (or the Scholastic Book Fair), look at the cover, maybe a couple of pages on the inside. If it gives me good vibes I check it out (or buy it, or have a parent buy it). If I don’t feel anything, I put it back.

I have a vague recollection of knowing what a book review was in Scholastic News and book “information” in Highlights magazine, but I don’t remember putting much weight on either of those factors when choosing books. It wasn’t until 6th grade when Nancy Drew entered our atmosphere that word of mouth meant anything to me when choosing books. Even then, it was more of an image or status thing than a book quality thing. My mom bought me a couple of Nancy Drew books but all of the cheap, knock-off Robin Kane books. Know what? Robin Kane was much better. Sadly, the girls reading Robin Kane (I wasn’t the only one) were teased relentlessly. Sorry, but, “The quality of the writing is far superior in the Robin Kane books, so we’re getting the better deal in every way” just doesn’t cut it coming from an 11-year-old.

Nancy Drew to Freida McFadden is a long and odd jump, but here we go.

So many books and authors these days are over-hyped. I don’t even know how to define or describe over-hyped in a way that it would make sense in this context other than you hear so much about a book or an author that you feel as if you have no choice but to read the book because it’s the best thing that was ever written. But you started reading it and it’s just OK at best. Is that because your expectations were too high? Is it because the book really isn’t as good as people say it is? Is it good, but there’s something seriously wrong with you? Is it good, but just not your cup of tea? 

For example, if I hadn’t heard or read anything about Freida McFadden would I have picked up a few of her books just because the covers intrigued me? You bet. And I still would have stopped reading after I realized most of her plots are the same. The last book of hers I read, I figured out the ending on page 5. But people love her. In my opinion she’s over-hyped but, because people know I’m an avid, voracious reader I felt almost pressured into reading a few (OK. Seven.) of her books. 

But now? Well, Give me Karin Slaughter or any of the Lisas* any day. 

(I should point out that I’m not a book snob. James Patterson is one of my favorites and he churns ‘em out just as fast as Freida does. I only read two of the New York Times 100 Most Notable Books of the Year. Only 31 others are on my TBR list.)

I’m not just picking on Freida because she’s an easy target. Some books that are supposedly the best ever written are big snoozefests as far as I’m concerned. 

One example: “Moby Dick.” I listened to it on audible and literally used it as a bedtime story. It would put me to sleep in less than five minutes. I don’t remember if I ever got through the whole thing. Frankly, I don’t care.

Definitely not a snoozefest, but also definitely not for me: If “Mrs. Dalloway” is the best thing Virginia Woolf ever wrote, I won’t be reading anything else of hers. That thing gave me such anxiety I returned it to the library (via Libby) after about ten pages and seriously considered taking a Xanax.

A more current book I DNF’d is “All the Colors of the Dark.” Someone told me it gets better after about 100 pages. Sorry, but if you can’t grab me in the first ten pages, I’m out.

Usually.

I will stick with an author I like, but that’s another story for another time.

The point is, although I love to give my opinion on books and I think every person who reads is entitled to give their opinion on books, I’m not going to listen to anyone’s opinion to choose the books I read anymore. 

I will read reviews and discussions and watch tik toks and reels afterward, though, because discussing a book with a like-minded reader is almost as fun as reading the book.

*Gardner, Jackson, Jewell, Scottoline, Unger

Book Review: The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

 This book started very slow for me and then when I saw that the next chapter would take an hour (I read it on a kindle) I almost DNF'd it because I don't like long chapters, and I wasn't sure how I felt about the
house. Saying anymore about that would be somewhat of a spoiler. However, I do like Kate Quinn, so I put it aside for a couple of weeks and went back to it when I felt more ready to concentrate on longer chapters.

I'm glad I did.

The book is filled with interesting characters, most of whom are given their own chapters, and interesting situations, some of which one normally does not think of when thinking of the 1950s. A few times, I did wonder what the point of the story was, and why these diverse characters are brought together, but the author ties it all up in a satisfying and beautiful way.

Book Review: The Faraway Inn by Sara Beth Durst

From Penguin Random House:

After a devastating heartbreak, a teen girl decides to spend her summer helping her eccentric great aunt manage her quaint Vermont inn—but the fixer-upper is hiding a magical secret—in this cozy and irresistable new YA fantasy from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop.

When sixteen-year-old Calisa arrives at her great-aunt’s B&B in rural Vermont for the summer, she’s shocked to find a rundown inn rather than the cozy bed-and-breakfast she was expecting. Grumpy and eccentric, Auntie Zee is determined to keep anyone from messing with her beloved inn . . . even though she clearly needs the help.

To convince her great-aunt to keep her around, Calisa sets to work fixing up the inn, enlisting extra help from the groundskeeper’s (handsome) son. But the longer she stays, the surer she is that there’s something strange about the B&B—and its guests. Something almost . . . otherworldly.

The inn is hiding a magical secret—but secrets are like doors. Once Calisa opens this one, she won’t be able to go back 

My Review:

(Note: You just read the book description. You don't need me to go over it again, right?)

I love the characters, and the story is addictive. I want to stay at the Faraway Inn, or at least work there. This book totally immersed me in the story and made me forget about what’s happening in the world, at least for a little while, and I sure do need that. 

Thanks to Booktrovert and Penguin Random House for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

The Faraway Inn is scheduled for publication on March 31, 2026. 

November Reading Wrap-Up