Death is a bit burned out after over 3 billion years on the job and wants to learn more about these odd humans, so she takes a sabbatical in human form. But then an unplanned death happens, and another. She needs to figure out what‘s going on while not getting too distracted by a hot Italian and trying to avoid the Devil. This is a lot of fun if a tad sappy at the end. I really enjoyed it.

What a unique book! Two elderly sisters (though their age is unclear, even to them) live in the kitchen of an old manor house and go only there and the garden, where they grow their food. They‘re emotionally stunted in certain ways and it‘s unclear if beyond them exists. I loved how this unfolded and we gradually learned more. Great book and excellent audio narration. #TOBlonglist

This one starts well enough, with a British woman traveling to Mexico with her young son in 1952 on the invitation of 2 wealthy older women and hints of a bequest. When they arrive and meet everyone (as they‘re not the only ones invited), it‘s interesting, but then there‘s really no plot or character development that happens. It was a bit of a slog to finish, even though it‘s short. #TOBlonglist

This is a hard book to describe. So I‘ll just say it‘s trippy, thought-provoking sci-fi that I really enjoyed. I think this one will be on my mind for a while.

This book looks at “silly” science—basic research on the face of it that people might wonder what the point is of putting money into—and shows how so many of those findings have led to practical applications to benefit human society. It‘s a fun and interesting read and especially important in our current era of devaluing science.

This book following 3 women of 3 generations across decades is marvelous. We see their traumas and struggles and how they hurt and love one another. It‘s not only an incredibly engaging read, but terrific on the craft level. As @BookishTrish said before, I‘m shocked this didn‘t make last year‘s Women‘s Prize shortlist. Plus, what a pretty cover!

This one starts well enough, an imperfect mystery but told in such a way to keep the pages turning. But then about 2/3 in, some misogyny creeps in alongside “traditional” gender ideas and good old fashioned victim blaming. The real kicker was when a few things were kept from the reader but the characters knew. To me, that‘s the mark of a writer incapable of crafting a good mystery. I won‘t be reading Donlea again. #ReadYourEbooks

I did not choose this book and if I had, I would have bailed fairly early. My book club chose it for our January book and that‘s the only reason I pushed, no, slogged through. It starts out well enough but then just seems to do a lot of meandering and didn‘t hold my attention. I would never made it through in print.

My husband did an exceptional job at Christmas this year, giving me gift cards to TWO independent bookstores, Cannon Beach Book Company and Beach Books in Seaside. I went to both today and had a good, old fashioned browse, finding these, only one of which was already on my TBR. I tagged the book for the cover you can‘t quite see. #bookhaul

In this quiet, meditative book, ferryman Nils knows it is his last day. As he goes around the fjord, he meets up with those in his life who have died and hears more of their stories, painting a picture of this community. Throughout, he is thinking of his wife, who has died, and waiting to see her again. I‘m sure the end will be tearful for many. I enjoyed this.

Has anyone else noticed this new widget on Libby? It‘s kinda cool. Just go to your center button (the Libby shaped one) at the bottom of the screen in the app and start playing with it. It seems to do a pretty good job of coming up with books that fit.

In this hilarious novella, failed astronaut and current drunk Walter decides to build a rocket when his cousin is left behind on the failing ISS. It gets very silly and I laughed my way through it. No horror in this one from Hendrix, and he includes a bit about his pivot to fiction at the beginning (a pivot I‘m so glad he made). This was previously published under the title Occupy Space.

This horror moves along alternating between slightly whimsical, funny segments and brutal murders. The tone gradually shifts through the book as we get to know more characters who fall to the killer. Really good horror in the vein of Grady Hendrix. And what a great cover!

I didn‘t really feel any urgent need to read this, but many #wintercamplitsy voters made it one of our choices, giving me the nudge. Well, I‘m glad, because it‘s lovely and I really enjoyed getting to know Sybil. I can‘t wait to discuss this lively woman and her correspondence with everyone at camp!

The parts of this book that focus on the Columbia Bar (the place where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, one of the most dangerous patches of water in the world, see CG boat in inset) is terrific, whether it be human history with it, bar pilots now and then, or boats that have sunk there. But the author spends an inordinate amount of time detailing his own and a friend‘s child abuse, which doesn‘t fit in this book.

Spousal rape did not start becoming a crime in the US until the 1970s, when some states started changing their laws. This book looks at that history, focusing on the first spousal rape case to go to trial in Oregon, in late 1978. Weinman‘s writing is so good and I struggled to pull myself away from this one. Superb.

Here are my books for January #ReadYourEbooks. I‘m really hoping to carry my success in December on this front forward into January, so let‘s see what happens!

This is a different kind of biography, telling the story of Mexican writer Elena Garro and really giving an idea of her personality and personal life. We get a peek at her writing as well, but I like the shifted focus and the telling of her life more in snippets than a narrative. We also get a little of Barrera‘s experience with research for the book, which works.

#NBAlonglist, translated literature

Here‘s my list for January #ReadYourEbooks! In December, I read 3 of the picked books, am halfway through the 4th, and read another that wasn‘t one of the picked numbers! I did not see this coming, but I‘m delighted by the turnaround. I can‘t wait to see what‘s picked this month.

This was a really mixed bag for me. Entertaining and propulsive, it features a woman found dead in a park early in the morning, shocking because all men are subject to 7p-7a curfew and wear electronic tags. But a major character is so unsympathetic just for a sudden switchover that it reads as caricature, and the result of the murder felt like a bait and switch. Cool premise, though.

I loved the tv show and now, having read the book, I understand why people keep coming back to it to adapt it. The writing is so absorbing and propulsive, this is narrative nonfiction at its best. It does help if you like or have liked football, but I don‘t think it‘s necessary.

I‘m not setting any reading goals for 2026 or doing any challenges, but I‘ve informally challenged myself to tackle some of my large collection of mass market paperbacks, as I tend to ignore them. I‘m hoping to read 1-2 each month and get them unshelved, probably to a nearby LFL.

I really slacked off on #Roll100 this past year and am hoping to rededicate myself to it this year. This are my first books up and they look like a good mix!

Like so many others, I‘m continuing to enjoy this series. Where volume 3 was plot driven, this one was more focused on advancing character development. There is plot, but not a single cohesive narrative as in the previous book. I like that variety—it keeps the series interesting.

Clearly informed by her own time in the foster care system, this follows Anais, in the titular facility after being accused of badly beating a cop. I thought this was well done. The characters strongly came across as teens, which I personally didn‘t enjoy 😂, but it fits the book. Her memoir hit better for me, but I think this is a good one for younger (teens/20s) readers.

For me, Simon Winchester often does a great combination of pop science and human history, as he does here in his book about wind. Not sure how much of this one I‘ll remember, but I think that‘s more me than the book.

This one was a bit muddled for me. I feel like it had too many subplots and the characterization of the main character was inconsistent. At times it felt like it wanted to be All Fours (no thanks!), but then would pull back on that. I think the topic of divorce in midlife, then exploring aspects of the self as a woman that felt suppressed by marriage is a good one. And I mostly enjoyed reading it. But not quite a pick. #TOBlonglist

Hey US campers! Barnes and Noble is currently having 50% off select hardcovers online and 2 of the books you picked for #wintercamplitsy are included in the sale! So if you‘ve been looking to source either of these, this may help! #CampLitsy26

This has such a compelling beginning, starting out in immigration court, which feels so topical (even though it‘s taking place in 2011). I really liked much of Peter‘s story, as he grapples with fighting the immigration system as a lawyer plus his ambivalence toward his sexuality. But his mother Ann‘s story fell completely flat for me and I ended up skimming her parts. Plus, the climax of his story ties in with hers, which didn‘t really work ⬇️

I listened to 2.5 hours of this 25.5 hour audiobook and it just wasn‘t doing anything for me. I hung onto it for a few days, but I have no interest in going back to try to keep going. Thanks to @Suet624 for helping me know bailing was the right choice for me! #TOBlonglist

Soubhi, this is incredible! I‘m so delighted with all the books (I don‘t remember why, but I was just looking up Fiend a couple weeks ago). I threw my head back and laughed at both the activity book and the magnet, which is now proudly on my fridge, and I love the bookmarks—the clear one is so cool. The sponges will be a huge help and Tony will likely run off with the chocolate. And THE SOCKS!!! They are my new favorites!

I read and enjoyed Sophie Kinsella‘s books for years but then stopped reading her as my tastes evolved. After her recent death much too young, I wanted to pay homage to her and found there was a Shopaholic book I hadn‘t read. I enjoyed it and will always be grateful for what she brought to my reading life.

This was an interesting read about Kim Philby, who was spying for the Soviets the entire time he rose through the ranks of Cold War era MI6. He even managed to talk his way out of it when he first fell under suspicion. Something about the audio did make my mind drift away from time to time, but I don‘t know if that was just me.

This book is a collection of essays published online from about 2011-2014 on topical issues, from the treatment of the most vulnerable to the state of academia. They are through the lens of a writer based in St Louis rather than one of the coasts. Because of the structure, there‘s a fair amount of repetition, but it‘s interesting to see where we were then and how things now are somehow so much worse.

A seemingly low risk woman disappears in southern Sweden, and her disappearance ends up being linked to a white supremacist plot in South Africa. Mankell‘s books take their time, but I enjoyed this. Though written in the 90s, it unfortunately felt quite topical for today.

I read this back in college around 30 years ago and loved it; I‘ve had this copy since. I was a bit hesitant to reread it because what if I wasn‘t happy with it? Lucky for me, it remains lovely. Then, around age 20, it was clearly about time. Now, looking down the barrel of 50, it‘s clearly about mortality. Isn‘t that interesting?

I was SO excited to get an early copy of Feeney‘s next book and I truly think it‘s her best. The pacing is terrific and the twists and turns are incredibly satisfying. My only quibble is the audio uses some sound effects and I didn‘t care for that.

I picked this one up last summer and so would have read it regardless, but I‘m so glad #TOB26 nudged me to do so now, because I loved this one. From the unusual structure to the brilliant tonal shift at the narrative‘s peak to the slightly trippy cover, this was very much a book for me.

A woman looks back at her life with the father she could never quite get a hold of. The simple prose allows a clear focusing in on their relationship and how his frequent physical and emotional absence impacted her. I really enjoyed this one. #TOBlonglist

I can always count on Laura Bates to thoroughly research and report on the deep misogyny in our society. With her latest, she looks at AI, and if you thought social media was bad (it is), AI is that much worse, from digital assistants to deep fake porn to AI sexbots (which are even more horrific than you‘re thinking). Infuriating and vital.

Geologist Bjornerud takes us through various rocks as she works through her life in geology. She weaves in features of her science, like volcanism and seismology, beautifully. This reminds me so much of Hope Jahren‘s Lab Girl, and I loved both books.

I don‘t know that I strictly *wanted* to read this, but I do think the more of us bear witness to things that shouldn‘t be happening, the more likely we are to prevail against them. The abuse Giuffre suffered is front loaded in this book, with the remainder her efforts to recover and fight against those who harmed her. It‘s a tough read but so important.

This is a fascinating history of Florida in the 1920s with its real estate boom and bust that the author posits was the main cause of the Great Depression. I was wholly absorbed by this narrative nonfiction. #ReadYourEbooks

I went into this blind and was delighted to learn how unusual the central priest in the story is. To me, this book is mostly about Father Damien getting to know and deeply respect the local Ojibwe people, though that‘s not what the blurb suggests. I really liked this early on, but my attention waned as it went on. I don‘t know if that was me, the book, or the audio, which is bad. (1950s newscaster tone with inconsistent character voices) ⬇️

Hello winter campers! As a reminder, voting is open to determine the 3 books we will be reading and discussing at winter camp! There‘s a tight race at the top, so if you haven‘t voted yet, your vote will definitely count! Voting is open until Wednesday. Here‘s the link:

https://bit.ly/3MB5rGz

And the list of books to choose from:

https://bit.ly/4oQvaZ8

#wintercamplitsy #camplitsy25

This is a novel of class and gender in modern China, mainly following a nanny and her young charge with glimpses of the wealthy family sprinkled through. I found it really absorbing but thought the ending was a little lacking. #TOBlonglist

Oh Betty. When you‘re wrong, you‘re REALLY wrong. I so wish she had been right about this.

It didn‘t make the shortlist, but this is a terrific book very much worth reading. It has complex, interesting, flawed characters sometimes making bad choices, but usually doing so because of life circumstances. It balances the darkness (and it is dark) with sprinkles of humor. I loved it and am so glad the TOB introduced me to it. #TOBlonglist

I‘m not sure what I think of this. It‘s a trippy horror that‘s often more cinematic than novelistic. It does some things that make me crazy but overall really makes me think. I don‘t know if I liked it or not. And for all those reasons, I think it would be a great book club book—there‘s a lot to chew on here. #TOB26

This one for me was so uneven I can‘t give it more than a meh. Some parts I really liked, but others dragged and I was so bored at one point relatively early on that I almost bailed. I‘ll still keep reading Harrow, though she‘s been hit or miss for me.