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

**I would like to clarify that I don't have anything against Freida McFadden. Actually, I've read more of her books than anyone else's this year. It's just that, after reading all those books, I've decided she's not my thing. Will I go back to her? Probably. Do I look down on people who like her? Abso-freakin'-lutely not! I don't care what anyone reads as long as they're reading. 

Let's Try This Again ...

I've read 57 books so far this year and, I'm confident that by the end of the week that number will be 60. It was not that ago that I couldn't even read 26 books a year. That's only 2 books a month, which makes me feel much better about the only 7 I read last month.

I do have an excuse for September, though. I was without a car for most of the month, meaning my audio book "reading" was cut by 40 minutes per workday. Also, my Bona Girl Trip was in September so my nighttime reading was cut down by a little. 

At least the majority of the books were good, though. 

For the first time ever I was disappointed with a Lisa Gardner book. I love Frankie Elkin but One Step Too Far just didn't do it for me. I will keep reading Lisa's books, though. And, after all, 3.75 is not a bad rating. I just thought the last 1/3 was too slow-paced.

I've never read Stacy Willingham before but had read good reviews of her books so I chose the audio book of Forget Me Not for my Book of the Month Club selection. (I was not impressed by another selection. For October, I was so unimpressed that I'm skipping this month.) It was OK but -- and sorry for this -- forgettable. It was very slow for the first 3/4 then had too much jammed into the lat 1/4. I might read her again. I'll decide when and if I get to that point. 
 

Mary Higgins Clark (who I still miss) and Alice Feeney haven't let me down yet. (I know All Around the Town is quite old, and I don't know how I missed it when it first came out. I am, however, grateful that I was able to pick it up at the Bemus Point Library book sale.) 

It's very unusual to have more than one 5-star rating in a month. I had 3 in September. Jane Eyre. Need I say more? I was late to the party for Remarkably Bright Creatures but so glad I finally got to it. The Secret Book Society, although historical fiction, is very relevant for the times in which we are living. It's the current selection for the Sounds Novel Book Club. This month's meeting will be my first and I'm looking forward to it.  

I'm keeping track of my reading on Storygraph and Goodreads (Fable, too, but I'm going to leave there after my reading streak gets to 366 days.) I also have a physical book journal. Why I need to keep track here, I don't know (Compilation of everything, I guess). And, I don't know if I'll keep up with it. But I do love reading and books, and looking at books, and talking about books, and writing about books, and going to libraries, and searching Libby for books ... You get the idea. So, we'll see what happens here. I'm hoping I don't go 11 months without posting like last time.

Note: The August graphic is to show that I have been doing better than 7 books a month. 

Coming Up ...

interviews with:

Robert Krott on Robert B. Parker's "Blackjack"

Eli Sanders on "While the City Slept"

Lisa Gardner on "Find Her"

Claudia Kalb on "Andy Warhol Was a Hoarder"

Jan Ellison on "A Small Indiscretion"

Matt Haig on "Reasons to Stay Alive"

And more!

https://twitter.com/AnneSBU

Anne’s Book Club on Facebook

Anne's Book Club on Pinterest

Two for the Price of One

Fear Nothing by Lisa Gardner

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

Fear Nothing:

This is what a psychological thriller should be!

Part of the fun of reading a thriller is trying to figure out whodunit. I thought I had it figured out. Again. And again. And again. And yet again. Turns out I was right the second time but she duped me into thinking I wasn't. Then, I was so sure my fifth guess was right that even when the killer's identity was being revealed I was waiting for the twist that would prove I was right. She had me hook, line and sinker. But that's one of the things that makes this book so thoroughly enjoyable and almost impossible to put down.

Onto the story: Adeline and Shana are daughters of a notorious serial killer and, after his death, are put on different paths in life. Adeline is adopted by a doctor doing research on a genetic condition she has that doesn't allow her to feel pain. She grows up to be a psychiatrist. Shana is put in a series of foster homes until, at age fourteen, she is convicted of murdering a 12-year-old boy. In prison, she kills three more times and is destined to be locked up for the rest of her life.

Forty years after their father's death -- and 20 years after the sisters reconnect -- a serial killer emerges who is using part of their father's MO. Detective D.D. Warren, Adeline and others, at first think Shana may somehow be involved even though she is in solitary confinement.

The story from there takes several twists and turns that are as exhilarating as the scariest roller coaster ride you've ever been on. In my opinion, Lisa Gardner has written the perfect psychological thriller.

The Husband's Secret:

When I talked to the author she told me she got the idea while reading about deathbed confessions and coming across a man who wrote one, but didn't die.

That's kind of what happens in this story. Cecilia, the perfect wife, mother and Tupperware salesperson finds a letter from her beloved Jean-Paul that says it's to be opened in the event of his death. After struggling with whether she should open it or not (I admire her restraint. I would have ripped it open so fast!) she does and her world turns upside down. Many of her questions are answered as well and, even considering the circumstances and the secret, they are funny in a black humor sort of way.

But Cecilia isn't the only one dealing with changes. Tess -- my favorite character -- is dealing with the fact that her husband and business partner thinks he's in love with Tess's cousin, the once fat but now beautiful Felicity, who is also a business partner.

And there's Rachel, who is still dealing with the unsolved murder of her daughter, Janie. She thinks she knows who the killer is, and even thinks she has evidence. If she's right, Tess is now dating him.

The lives of the three women are entwined in such interesting ways and the author does a great job of keeping the action going -- even after we know the secret and think we've figured out a few more things.

This is a real page turner and I can hardly wait for her next book.

Both books get 5 of 5

How do you feel about either one, or both?

You can listen to my interviews with the authors here. Click on "Local Programs."

Note: I received a free copy of each book from the publicists.