How has your first week of September been going? Mine has been good. Iâve been spending time getting back into my morning routine of journaling and reading, catching up on podcasts, and enjoying long walks and bike rides. Weâre having great weather in Ohio, and Iâve been seeing signs of fall on my walks with Vinny- the leaves are beginning to change and our walking paths are starting to be covered with them đ Iâm still reading one section each day of The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest, and itâs got me thinking more deeply about the idea of pivoting. I plan on writing more about this in a longer post, but one aspect I love when thinking about pivoting, whether itâs in our reading lives, or more personal is that itâs about embracing the ability we all have to change our minds! To discontinue something, go in a different direction, to experiment, or to return to places, people, things that we know bring us joy and comfort. This does play into something Iâm being forced to pivot on and I need to crowdsource your help with:) As far as my reading goes, Iâve been pivoting like crazy when it comes to not finishing books. Iâll be sharing many of the books I havenât finished lately (DNFâs) in my upcoming August Reflections post. Itâs not a question right now, but if you feel like sharing what youâre pivoting on lately, weâd love to hear about it
Question TimeâŠ..The questions I ask in weekly threads are meant to be fun and help us connect, so please know you donât have to answer each question, if you only have the time/desire to answer one, great!
What are you reading this weekend (or what did you finish reading this week)?
What September books are you excited to read?
What do you need to crowdsource? - could be a book recommendation, advice, a certain product youâre searching for, help deciding between certain books you want to read, what to watch or listen to nextâŠ.this is an awesome community with tons of knowledge, letâs share it!
My current read is ORDINARY TIME by Cathy Rentzenbrink - I'm reading an actual print book! I'm almost halfway and really enjoying it. Her writing is giving me vibes of David Nicholls writing and there's a bit of a love triangle which I'm LOVING!
September books I'm excited about- PLAYGROUND by Richard Powers, THE ART OF THE INTERESTING: WHAT WE MISS IN OUR PURSUIT OF THE GOOD LIFE AND HOW TO CULTIVATE IT
by Lorraine Besser and A REASON TO SEE YOU AGAIN by Jami Attenberg
I need your recommendations for a SUPER thick or balmy under eye creme for nighttime - my tried and true beloved Cannuka Eye Balm is goneđ« the company shut down:( Hopefully someone else buys it but in the meantime I'm running out of my last container of eye balm- I love it because it's very thick and does help with puffiness and wrinkles.
Also, I need your opinions and help with creating my fall content calendar.....what book content is your favorite, what do you love reading online, what type of book lists are you looking for this fall? Do you love reading longer essays about our reading lives, or do you prefer short bulleted lists- any and all feedback welcome!!
personally longer essays are difficult for my to follow and read. I usually end up skimmed. Love bulleted lists! I love ALL your content! So excited to see what the fall will bring us!
Sorry got too excited about the eye cream! đ€Ł I love the audios, lists, fall thrillers, dark academia, spooky reads and suggestions of reading challenges or things to try to shake up our reading life! X
Thank you for this rec! This might be perfect because every other night I use Origins Avocado overnight sleep mask on my face and I was thinking if I could find something creamy like that made for under eyes that would be great. Need those eye mask pads too:)
Renee my friend gifted me the eye cream Lumiere by Neocutis and I really like it. I just looked it up and it has a hefty price tag but I will say it is good and a little goes a long way. I have had it for awhile.
Oh I forgot September books Iâm planning to read. Iâve saved The September House for this month, The Rachel Incident, The Wedding People and Here One Moment for by in real life book clubs. Long Island Compromise for a reader retreat at the end of the month! So a full month of reading!
I absolutely LOVED Rachel and The Wedding People- I hope they're big hits for you! And this is another plug for The September House. Not a 5 star read like the other two, but it was a huge surprise hit for me last year! Great for October- campy and scary and lots of layers thrown in there about finding yourself as you as as well. Enjoy- what a great month to look forward to!
I am 1/2 way through The Sequel and 1/3 of the way through The Last Days of Night and enjoying both! I'm looking forward to a few September books even I don't get to them this month- especially the new Rumaan Alam and Kate Atkinson.
I do have a crowd source question! We are desperate for a new tv show! We don't like shows that are too soap opera-ish but do like dramas, and also don't like shows that go out of their way to weird or disturbing. We've really enjoyed The Diplomat, The Bear, and Presumed Innocent lately. Any good literary adaptations any suggests?
I'm anxious to hear your thoughts on The Sequel! Two shows my husband and I have watched together and loved are Workin Moms and Queen of the South season 1- we continued on with QOTS season 2 but we didn't love it.
Have you watched The Chestnut Man on Netflix? I haven't read the book but my husband and I thought the show was excellent (there are a couple gruesome parts but you kinda know they're coming/can fast forward, esp in last episode).
Happy Weekend đ. Iâm listening to The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock and reading The Road to Dalton (I know, I know, Iâm late to the party!).
Excited for #1 in Richard Osmanâs new series We Solve Murders. Iâm not really a spooky season reader and this is about as close as I get to typical October sinister books.
Iâm so intrigued by The Pivot Year, especially after learning about the theory of Managing Transitions (MEAwisdom.com via The Satellite Sisters podcast!)
thank you for linking that episode, I'm going to listen to it! I bet The Pivot Year would make a nice book flight with that theory. I predict you'll like The Road to Dalton! Oh and I have to tell you, I took a long bike ride this afternoon and started My Name is Lucy Barton on audio and I'm really enjoying it- there's been so many sentences I want to highlight, something Lucy says that just speaks directly to me. I'm starting to see why people rave about Elizabeth Strout's writing
Love this! Presently going through a personal challenge to not suffer through books if I just am not loving it, so this resonates with me đ.
1. Killers of the Flower Moon and The Art Thief!
2. After just finishing a long series iâm actually not sure what will call to me in September⊠feels strange ha! Im missing the reliability of a long series. I have been savoring (aka slowly reading) Braiding Sweetgrass, Bird by Bird, and Lies and Sorcery for the last month or two so Iâm imagining those might be completed this month tooâŠ! Another personal challenge, not racing through books haha!
Iâm working on not racing through books too! Iâm enjoying having a bigger book to slowly chip through which for me at the moment is FELLOWSHIP POINT by Alice Elliot Dark!
I've been feeling the pull of a good series too. And I just don't want to push through books right now so I'm dnfing if I'm not feeling something - I loved Bird by Bird! I read that years ago and still about it when I have a big project to tackle, I tell myself to start and just go bird by bird:)
Renee, I forgot you were one of the reviews that made me read THE PLOT. No worries. I've already forgotten what you said about it. I just know it made me want read them. I think that Sarh from Sarah's Booksheles was the other. I'm loving the plot.
I was recently prompted (by a few podcasters) to read THE SEQUEL by Jean Korelitz so I went to B&N today and found out it doesn't publish until 10/01. So I'm jealous of everyone who has gotten an early copy. The podcasters said I had to read THE PLOT first as The SEQUEL is the sequel. I read 2/3 of THE PLOT yesterday (don't know why it wasn't on my radar) and will finish today.
This week I finished THE WIDOW'S GUIDE TO DEAD BASTARDS by Jessica Waite. It is an excellent memoir about the author's discovery (after the sudden death of her husband at age 39) that he led a dark and hidden life (mistresses, porn, prostitutes) exacerbated by his being bipolar (which he refused to address). It's a lyrical exploration of grief, mental health, single parenthood and betrayal.
There are several books coming out this month that I am anxious to read:
Jan I can't wait to hear what you think of The Plot and The Sequel! If you haven't listened to my Reading Simplified yet I reviewed The Sequel- no spoilers so you don't have to worry:)
My current read is A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Loving it. I borrowed it from the library but was unable to finish it due to the length of the book so I purchased it.
Looking forward to reading Blue Sisters by Coco Mellor, Here one Moment by Liane Moriarty, The Wedding People is also on my list.
I like bulleted reading lists (or a photo of the cover) with short descriptions of a book.
Crowdsourcing: good podcasts or tv showâs recommendations.
How far are you in A Little Life? I'm glad to hear you're loving it! Thanks for your content feedback:) Two shows I love to recommend are Loot and Shrinking on Apple TV
Hi everyone! Iâm currently reading The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes and it is in a school setting. Perfect for Sept. Right now Iâm also reading The Wedding People. Loving it as well. Next up it will probably be True Biz. I need to finish that one. I put it down a while ago.
Women and Children First by Alina Grabowski, Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. All of these books are on my shelves and I need to get to them.
Beatrice you're loving The Wedding People too?! Maybe I'll pick that up again next summer. I'm excited you're going to read from your shelves some this month- I want to hear about Ninth House, I had that on my tbr when it came out and I don't know why I forgot about it
I got caught up in reading a few books at once. I couldnât resist. Lol. The Wedding People is my night time book because it has a humorous side to it and I find myself laughing out loud.
I LOVE NINTH HOUSE! One of my favourites and the second one is out now so you can go straight into it! This reminds me to put her book THE FAMILIAR higher up on my TBR! Thank-you!
My current read is Perris, California which I am loving so far. I finished Lady Tanâs Circle of Women (5 stars âïž) and I am listening to Fantasticland that was recommended to me by a close friend. Great on audio.
I loved Lady Tanâs so much that it got me thinking that I want more books about different time periods and cultures by not centered around war like a lot of historical fiction. If anyone has any trusted authors or book suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. I will definitely read more by Lisa See.
I am currently reading This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan and she writes such fantastic romance with adult main characters that have real struggle and are flawed, but are working on themselves in a true way. The side characters are excellent and all I want to do is read it and everything else go away. I read her previous book in this universe which was 5 stars and I am sure this will be as well. I am starting in print today the new Amari book, Amari and the Despicable Wonders which is a wonderful middle grade fantasy series I am super excited to go back to. In September I have a few buddy reads and book clubs planned including The Great Believers, The Stolen Hours, The Real Americans and the Seven Year Slip. I want to get in a good amount of reading now because my work is really amping up with the holidays coming up in early October. I tend to crowdsource local needs and places since I am still new to my area (like best restaurants, etc)
I love getting so invested in a read that I want everyone around me to disappear for a bit haha. I know Tina really loves Kennedy Ryan, glad you're enjoying it. I prefer the characters in the romance I read to be flawed too
I just started THE PLOT. I just finished WANDERING SOULS BY CECILE PIN AND THE LOVE STORY OF MISSY CARMICHAEL BY BETH MORREY. The first book mentioned was very depressing and disturbing and Iâm hoping my current read takes me out of that book. I am looking forward to WE SOLVE MURDERS BY RICHARD OSSMAN. And before you mentioned that the other day, I have already started prioritizing my books on my bookshelf that I need to read before using credits on Audible to purchase more. One of my upcoming reads is JESSICA BY BRYCE COURTENAY. I also have a few other books on my Audible wish list as well as those at the library that I need to read before I think about purchasing more. Does anyone have any thoughts on this book that I had purchased a year ago called MR. BLOODâS LASTRESORT BY JESS KID?
Can't wait to hear what you think of The Plot!! I'm glad you'll be joining me in reading some from your shelves, I'll be very excited to hear from everyone what books they ended up prioritizing. Haven't heard of the Jess Kidd book
Hi everyone! I should be finishing up Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce today and then I want to start either (both?) Bird Box by Josh Malerman or Unlikely Animals by Annie Harnett. Fall reading is my favorite and love both horror and spooky adjacent :)
I'm beyond excited to read the new Rachel Kushner book, Creation Lake.. Need to head to my local indie this weekend to pick it up! I was bummed it wasn't a BOTM pick/add on.
Crowdsource question.. Do we like netgalley or does it add pressure to read/review? I don't have a public platform (just goodreads/storygraph) but always been curious about advance reading. Not sure it fits my reading life. Curious what others think, especially those without a bookstagram/blog/substack/etc, but would love to hear from all!
I think Unlikely Animals would be a great fall read or listen, I have a copy of Creation Lake, it sounds like something I'd like- with the spy aspect especially. I do like Netgalley for the access to advanced copies. When I started out it did create some pressure because I thought everything had to be read and reviewed by pub date- ideally that's what publishers would like but I've been reviewing 8 years and it's ok if books don't get reviewed by the pub date. And you don't have to write long reviews either- I think if you're thinking about trying it, go for it
I personally think Netgalley adds pressure to read and review but it's worth it if you're eager to get your hands on a new book before it releases. I'm at the point in the year when I'm ready to fly through the rest of my Netgalley shelf so I can focus on my mood reading.
Happy Weekend from under the fan in this heat wave in Southern California! I am currently listening to A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher. The narration is so perfect-it truly feels like someone is telling you a fairy tale. Iâm Kindle reading Road of Bones by Christopher Golden, which is perfect for this heat as it takes place on a creepy Siberian highway. Excited to poet Lyndsay Rushâs first published book in a couple of weeks! A rare pre-order for me. I need help crowdsourcing good movies. Itâs a goal of mine to watch more movies, as I LOVE them, but I am picking duds lately. I need something to stream that is beautiful and interesting with good music and a great ending!
Ooh you have me interested with your mention of creepy Siberian highway! I've never heard of that book either. I LOVE movies, have you watched Are you there God it's me Margaret? So good, my husband liked it too. We also enjoyed Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile (great scenery), if you're in the mood for action, I always recommend the Mission Impossible movies and the James Bond movies-my favs are the recent ones staring Daniel Craig- amazing scenery and a fantastic ending!!
Happy weekend! School just started here in Oregon, so Saturdays mean a lot more than they did over the summer when I was on break. I have definitely found my reading decrease since I'm more tired in the evenings and don't have reading time during the days. This weekend I'm reading THE SAME BRIGHT STARS by Ethan Joella so I'll be ready for Kelly Hooker's Chapters and Chats event with him on 9/19. I'm also reading FORGOTTEN ON SUNDAY by Valerie Perrin, which is a translated work from French. Renee, I know you like/look for translated books. Have you read this one yet? I'm having trouble getting into an audiobook right now (probably due to brain fatigue), but I just finished WHERE WOLVES DON'T DIE by Anton Treuer, which is a YA book written and read on audio by this Indigenous author. I really liked it and especially liked hearing Treuer read bits of the native language aloud on audio.
For books coming out in September, I'm looking forward to TJ Klune's SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE SEA, which I got as a free audiobook from Libro.fm as part of their educator program where you get selected free books each month. I also am interested in A LITTLE LESS BROKEN by Marian Schembari, which I also got free from Libro.fm.
Happy back to school to you! I know itâs probably busy times for you but hope things are starting off good. I havenât yet read Forgotten on Sunday but I have a copy.
I'm reading PHANTASMA by Kaylie Smith and really enjoying it. I've been having a hard time finding an audiobook that keeps my attention so I would love some 5 star audiobook recommendations.
I just finished listening to Minor Detail by Adania Shibli (translated from the Arabic). Iâm always trying to understand what it might be like living in Palestine. At just 4 hours, this was a tight book-amazing! I wonât soon forget this.
Rereading Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie. This was one of the first books that I read in a book group. Does anyone remember it? Pulitzer Prize winner. Easy reading. Iâd forgotten the main character definitely counts as a seasoned character.
I love that you share books Iâve never heard of! I think thereâs book serendipity at play because I just saw Foreign Affairs mentioned in a NYT post about fall reading and now youâre sharing it- I pay attention when a new to me book crosses my path twice in one day!:) Plus, Iâm enjoying books with seasoned protagonists
Hi all :) My current read is Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister, or book club selection for September, Iâm just in the beginning and Iâm enjoying it! September reads Iâm looking forward to are Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors , Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty, Security Police by Yoko Ogawa and My Husband by Maud Ventura, the last two listed are backlists :)
I love reading spooking reads and literary fiction , those are two Iâm looking for in book lists :)
I LOVE seeing these Fall photos - more please! I love getting to have a âsecond fallâwhen everyone in the northern hemisphere shares! Iâd also love to know your go-to podcasts Renee thereâs a request for you!
This weekend Iâm reading SUMMERâS END by Juneau Black for a nice cosy palette cleanser. Iâm excited to get back in some series this September - THE DALES DETECTIVE by Julia Chapman, THE MIRROR VISITOR series by Christelle Dabos and THE PALEONTOLGIST by Luke Dumas for my dinosaur fix! đŠ
Iâd love to outsource some new good tv shows - police procedurals and legal thrillers especially! X
Say no more, I will happily take more fall pics to share here:) And I'll make a list of my go to podcasts, I have a lot and I think I could add that to a post- let me work on the list and I'll share it asap . For a police procedural show- have you watched The Killing? It's on Netflix That was excellent.
Iâve heard The Bridge is good for fans of The Killing- I havenât watched it yet. Iâve never been able to find a detective show as good as The Killing
My current read is ORDINARY TIME by Cathy Rentzenbrink - I'm reading an actual print book! I'm almost halfway and really enjoying it. Her writing is giving me vibes of David Nicholls writing and there's a bit of a love triangle which I'm LOVING!
September books I'm excited about- PLAYGROUND by Richard Powers, THE ART OF THE INTERESTING: WHAT WE MISS IN OUR PURSUIT OF THE GOOD LIFE AND HOW TO CULTIVATE IT
by Lorraine Besser and A REASON TO SEE YOU AGAIN by Jami Attenberg
I need your recommendations for a SUPER thick or balmy under eye creme for nighttime - my tried and true beloved Cannuka Eye Balm is goneđ« the company shut down:( Hopefully someone else buys it but in the meantime I'm running out of my last container of eye balm- I love it because it's very thick and does help with puffiness and wrinkles.
Also, I need your opinions and help with creating my fall content calendar.....what book content is your favorite, what do you love reading online, what type of book lists are you looking for this fall? Do you love reading longer essays about our reading lives, or do you prefer short bulleted lists- any and all feedback welcome!!
Love fall content and particularly dinner recipes.
personally longer essays are difficult for my to follow and read. I usually end up skimmed. Love bulleted lists! I love ALL your content! So excited to see what the fall will bring us!
Thank you!!
Sorry got too excited about the eye cream! đ€Ł I love the audios, lists, fall thrillers, dark academia, spooky reads and suggestions of reading challenges or things to try to shake up our reading life! X
Iâm obsessed with this eye cream - have been using it for about 6 months religiously, itâs great for day time too because the colour brightens your under eyes. In the evening I do it underneath some rose Korean eye mask pads! https://www.kiehls.com.au/skincare/eye-creams/creamy-eye-treatment-with-avocado/258.html?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADkYdt8WWA3CrXK-O8pc7nDAolWoe&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-7z256GviAMVNMY8Ah24bzEmEAAYASAAEgJOE_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Thank you for this rec! This might be perfect because every other night I use Origins Avocado overnight sleep mask on my face and I was thinking if I could find something creamy like that made for under eyes that would be great. Need those eye mask pads too:)
That's also a great mask - I'd say the kleins one is more lick and creamy than the Origins one!
Was going to recommend this same cream! Iâve been using it for years and love.
Renee my friend gifted me the eye cream Lumiere by Neocutis and I really like it. I just looked it up and it has a hefty price tag but I will say it is good and a little goes a long way. I have had it for awhile.
thanks Ashley, ! I haven't heard of this brand, Im open to trying it, esp if a little goes a long way
Oh I forgot September books Iâm planning to read. Iâve saved The September House for this month, The Rachel Incident, The Wedding People and Here One Moment for by in real life book clubs. Long Island Compromise for a reader retreat at the end of the month! So a full month of reading!
I absolutely LOVED Rachel and The Wedding People- I hope they're big hits for you! And this is another plug for The September House. Not a 5 star read like the other two, but it was a huge surprise hit for me last year! Great for October- campy and scary and lots of layers thrown in there about finding yourself as you as as well. Enjoy- what a great month to look forward to!
The September House was very good. It will get you ready for October if youâre a seasonal reader.
I am 1/2 way through The Sequel and 1/3 of the way through The Last Days of Night and enjoying both! I'm looking forward to a few September books even I don't get to them this month- especially the new Rumaan Alam and Kate Atkinson.
I do have a crowd source question! We are desperate for a new tv show! We don't like shows that are too soap opera-ish but do like dramas, and also don't like shows that go out of their way to weird or disturbing. We've really enjoyed The Diplomat, The Bear, and Presumed Innocent lately. Any good literary adaptations any suggests?
Oh also Loot and Shrinking on Apple TV!! we watched those together and both loved them
We loved Shrinking!
I'm anxious to hear your thoughts on The Sequel! Two shows my husband and I have watched together and loved are Workin Moms and Queen of the South season 1- we continued on with QOTS season 2 but we didn't love it.
I'm enjoying A Good Girl's Guide to Murder on Netflix!
Have you watched The Chestnut Man on Netflix? I haven't read the book but my husband and I thought the show was excellent (there are a couple gruesome parts but you kinda know they're coming/can fast forward, esp in last episode).
No, and I havenât read the book either. Our tastes are so similar Iâll have to check this out!
Have you watched Normal People? Or Conversations with Friends?
I havenât. Those are great suggestions!
Happy Weekend đ. Iâm listening to The Fabled Earth by Kimberly Brock and reading The Road to Dalton (I know, I know, Iâm late to the party!).
Excited for #1 in Richard Osmanâs new series We Solve Murders. Iâm not really a spooky season reader and this is about as close as I get to typical October sinister books.
Iâm so intrigued by The Pivot Year, especially after learning about the theory of Managing Transitions (MEAwisdom.com via The Satellite Sisters podcast!)
thank you for linking that episode, I'm going to listen to it! I bet The Pivot Year would make a nice book flight with that theory. I predict you'll like The Road to Dalton! Oh and I have to tell you, I took a long bike ride this afternoon and started My Name is Lucy Barton on audio and I'm really enjoying it- there's been so many sentences I want to highlight, something Lucy says that just speaks directly to me. I'm starting to see why people rave about Elizabeth Strout's writing
Iâm also excited for WE SOLVE MURDERS.
Love this! Presently going through a personal challenge to not suffer through books if I just am not loving it, so this resonates with me đ.
1. Killers of the Flower Moon and The Art Thief!
2. After just finishing a long series iâm actually not sure what will call to me in September⊠feels strange ha! Im missing the reliability of a long series. I have been savoring (aka slowly reading) Braiding Sweetgrass, Bird by Bird, and Lies and Sorcery for the last month or two so Iâm imagining those might be completed this month tooâŠ! Another personal challenge, not racing through books haha!
Iâm working on not racing through books too! Iâm enjoying having a bigger book to slowly chip through which for me at the moment is FELLOWSHIP POINT by Alice Elliot Dark!
I've been feeling the pull of a good series too. And I just don't want to push through books right now so I'm dnfing if I'm not feeling something - I loved Bird by Bird! I read that years ago and still about it when I have a big project to tackle, I tell myself to start and just go bird by bird:)
Renee, I forgot you were one of the reviews that made me read THE PLOT. No worries. I've already forgotten what you said about it. I just know it made me want read them. I think that Sarh from Sarah's Booksheles was the other. I'm loving the plot.
Hi Renee and everyone,
I was recently prompted (by a few podcasters) to read THE SEQUEL by Jean Korelitz so I went to B&N today and found out it doesn't publish until 10/01. So I'm jealous of everyone who has gotten an early copy. The podcasters said I had to read THE PLOT first as The SEQUEL is the sequel. I read 2/3 of THE PLOT yesterday (don't know why it wasn't on my radar) and will finish today.
This week I finished THE WIDOW'S GUIDE TO DEAD BASTARDS by Jessica Waite. It is an excellent memoir about the author's discovery (after the sudden death of her husband at age 39) that he led a dark and hidden life (mistresses, porn, prostitutes) exacerbated by his being bipolar (which he refused to address). It's a lyrical exploration of grief, mental health, single parenthood and betrayal.
There are several books coming out this month that I am anxious to read:
THE NIGHT WE LIST HIM (Laura Dave)
DEATH AT THE SANOTARIUM (Ragnar Jonasson)
THE WILDES (A NOVEL IN 5 ACTS (Louis Bayard
WE SOLVE MURDERS (Richard Osman)
THE EMPUSIUM (Olga Tokarczuk)
Jan I can't wait to hear what you think of The Plot and The Sequel! If you haven't listened to my Reading Simplified yet I reviewed The Sequel- no spoilers so you don't have to worry:)
Happy Friday Readers!
My current read is A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Loving it. I borrowed it from the library but was unable to finish it due to the length of the book so I purchased it.
Looking forward to reading Blue Sisters by Coco Mellor, Here one Moment by Liane Moriarty, The Wedding People is also on my list.
I like bulleted reading lists (or a photo of the cover) with short descriptions of a book.
Crowdsourcing: good podcasts or tv showâs recommendations.
How far are you in A Little Life? I'm glad to hear you're loving it! Thanks for your content feedback:) Two shows I love to recommend are Loot and Shrinking on Apple TV
I love a podcast. What kinds do you like?
Mostly podcasts about books or celebrities.
Hi everyone! Iâm currently reading The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes and it is in a school setting. Perfect for Sept. Right now Iâm also reading The Wedding People. Loving it as well. Next up it will probably be True Biz. I need to finish that one. I put it down a while ago.
Women and Children First by Alina Grabowski, Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. All of these books are on my shelves and I need to get to them.
Beatrice you're loving The Wedding People too?! Maybe I'll pick that up again next summer. I'm excited you're going to read from your shelves some this month- I want to hear about Ninth House, I had that on my tbr when it came out and I don't know why I forgot about it
I got caught up in reading a few books at once. I couldnât resist. Lol. The Wedding People is my night time book because it has a humorous side to it and I find myself laughing out loud.
I LOVE NINTH HOUSE! One of my favourites and the second one is out now so you can go straight into it! This reminds me to put her book THE FAMILIAR higher up on my TBR! Thank-you!
Oh wow!!! I didnât realize another was out. Awesome. Canât wait đ
I am still thinking about Women and Children First 2 months or more after I read it. I'll be eager to hear what you think!
I will report back as soon as I finish. đ
Currently reading The Lost Child, the last of the Neapolitan Novels. I don't want the novel/whole series to end.
I've heard the series gets better with each book, would you say that's true?
My current read is Perris, California which I am loving so far. I finished Lady Tanâs Circle of Women (5 stars âïž) and I am listening to Fantasticland that was recommended to me by a close friend. Great on audio.
I loved Lady Tanâs so much that it got me thinking that I want more books about different time periods and cultures by not centered around war like a lot of historical fiction. If anyone has any trusted authors or book suggestions I would greatly appreciate it. I will definitely read more by Lisa See.
So glad Perris is working for you, isn't her writing so good? Those characters and the story are memorable
I also loved Lady Tan. I read it a while ago.
I am currently reading This Could Be Us by Kennedy Ryan and she writes such fantastic romance with adult main characters that have real struggle and are flawed, but are working on themselves in a true way. The side characters are excellent and all I want to do is read it and everything else go away. I read her previous book in this universe which was 5 stars and I am sure this will be as well. I am starting in print today the new Amari book, Amari and the Despicable Wonders which is a wonderful middle grade fantasy series I am super excited to go back to. In September I have a few buddy reads and book clubs planned including The Great Believers, The Stolen Hours, The Real Americans and the Seven Year Slip. I want to get in a good amount of reading now because my work is really amping up with the holidays coming up in early October. I tend to crowdsource local needs and places since I am still new to my area (like best restaurants, etc)
I love getting so invested in a read that I want everyone around me to disappear for a bit haha. I know Tina really loves Kennedy Ryan, glad you're enjoying it. I prefer the characters in the romance I read to be flawed too
The books I'm excited to read in September would have to be THIS RAVENOUS FATE by Hayley Dennings and CARMILLA by J. Le Fanu.
I just started THE PLOT. I just finished WANDERING SOULS BY CECILE PIN AND THE LOVE STORY OF MISSY CARMICHAEL BY BETH MORREY. The first book mentioned was very depressing and disturbing and Iâm hoping my current read takes me out of that book. I am looking forward to WE SOLVE MURDERS BY RICHARD OSSMAN. And before you mentioned that the other day, I have already started prioritizing my books on my bookshelf that I need to read before using credits on Audible to purchase more. One of my upcoming reads is JESSICA BY BRYCE COURTENAY. I also have a few other books on my Audible wish list as well as those at the library that I need to read before I think about purchasing more. Does anyone have any thoughts on this book that I had purchased a year ago called MR. BLOODâS LASTRESORT BY JESS KID?
Can't wait to hear what you think of The Plot!! I'm glad you'll be joining me in reading some from your shelves, I'll be very excited to hear from everyone what books they ended up prioritizing. Haven't heard of the Jess Kidd book
Hi everyone! I should be finishing up Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce today and then I want to start either (both?) Bird Box by Josh Malerman or Unlikely Animals by Annie Harnett. Fall reading is my favorite and love both horror and spooky adjacent :)
I'm beyond excited to read the new Rachel Kushner book, Creation Lake.. Need to head to my local indie this weekend to pick it up! I was bummed it wasn't a BOTM pick/add on.
Crowdsource question.. Do we like netgalley or does it add pressure to read/review? I don't have a public platform (just goodreads/storygraph) but always been curious about advance reading. Not sure it fits my reading life. Curious what others think, especially those without a bookstagram/blog/substack/etc, but would love to hear from all!
I think Unlikely Animals would be a great fall read or listen, I have a copy of Creation Lake, it sounds like something I'd like- with the spy aspect especially. I do like Netgalley for the access to advanced copies. When I started out it did create some pressure because I thought everything had to be read and reviewed by pub date- ideally that's what publishers would like but I've been reviewing 8 years and it's ok if books don't get reviewed by the pub date. And you don't have to write long reviews either- I think if you're thinking about trying it, go for it
Just have to say I LOVE Unlikely Animals! I'm always trying to find similar books but nothing lives up to it in my mind.
I personally think Netgalley adds pressure to read and review but it's worth it if you're eager to get your hands on a new book before it releases. I'm at the point in the year when I'm ready to fly through the rest of my Netgalley shelf so I can focus on my mood reading.
Happy Weekend from under the fan in this heat wave in Southern California! I am currently listening to A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher. The narration is so perfect-it truly feels like someone is telling you a fairy tale. Iâm Kindle reading Road of Bones by Christopher Golden, which is perfect for this heat as it takes place on a creepy Siberian highway. Excited to poet Lyndsay Rushâs first published book in a couple of weeks! A rare pre-order for me. I need help crowdsourcing good movies. Itâs a goal of mine to watch more movies, as I LOVE them, but I am picking duds lately. I need something to stream that is beautiful and interesting with good music and a great ending!
Ooh you have me interested with your mention of creepy Siberian highway! I've never heard of that book either. I LOVE movies, have you watched Are you there God it's me Margaret? So good, my husband liked it too. We also enjoyed Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile (great scenery), if you're in the mood for action, I always recommend the Mission Impossible movies and the James Bond movies-my favs are the recent ones staring Daniel Craig- amazing scenery and a fantastic ending!!
Have you watched Call me by your Name?
I'm starting my fall reading by picking up GREAT IRISH TALES OF HORROR: A TREASURY OF FEAR edited and introduced by Peter Haining
Happy weekend! School just started here in Oregon, so Saturdays mean a lot more than they did over the summer when I was on break. I have definitely found my reading decrease since I'm more tired in the evenings and don't have reading time during the days. This weekend I'm reading THE SAME BRIGHT STARS by Ethan Joella so I'll be ready for Kelly Hooker's Chapters and Chats event with him on 9/19. I'm also reading FORGOTTEN ON SUNDAY by Valerie Perrin, which is a translated work from French. Renee, I know you like/look for translated books. Have you read this one yet? I'm having trouble getting into an audiobook right now (probably due to brain fatigue), but I just finished WHERE WOLVES DON'T DIE by Anton Treuer, which is a YA book written and read on audio by this Indigenous author. I really liked it and especially liked hearing Treuer read bits of the native language aloud on audio.
For books coming out in September, I'm looking forward to TJ Klune's SOMEWHERE BEYOND THE SEA, which I got as a free audiobook from Libro.fm as part of their educator program where you get selected free books each month. I also am interested in A LITTLE LESS BROKEN by Marian Schembari, which I also got free from Libro.fm.
Happy back to school to you! I know itâs probably busy times for you but hope things are starting off good. I havenât yet read Forgotten on Sunday but I have a copy.
I'm reading PHANTASMA by Kaylie Smith and really enjoying it. I've been having a hard time finding an audiobook that keeps my attention so I would love some 5 star audiobook recommendations.
I just finished listening to Minor Detail by Adania Shibli (translated from the Arabic). Iâm always trying to understand what it might be like living in Palestine. At just 4 hours, this was a tight book-amazing! I wonât soon forget this.
Rereading Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie. This was one of the first books that I read in a book group. Does anyone remember it? Pulitzer Prize winner. Easy reading. Iâd forgotten the main character definitely counts as a seasoned character.
I love that you share books Iâve never heard of! I think thereâs book serendipity at play because I just saw Foreign Affairs mentioned in a NYT post about fall reading and now youâre sharing it- I pay attention when a new to me book crosses my path twice in one day!:) Plus, Iâm enjoying books with seasoned protagonists
Hi all :) My current read is Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister, or book club selection for September, Iâm just in the beginning and Iâm enjoying it! September reads Iâm looking forward to are Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors , Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty, Security Police by Yoko Ogawa and My Husband by Maud Ventura, the last two listed are backlists :)
I love reading spooking reads and literary fiction , those are two Iâm looking for in book lists :)
I still think about Wrong Place Wrong Time! So much more than just a mystery.
My Husband is one of those slightly wacky stories that stay with you. Iâm very curious about Here One Moment
I LOVE seeing these Fall photos - more please! I love getting to have a âsecond fallâwhen everyone in the northern hemisphere shares! Iâd also love to know your go-to podcasts Renee thereâs a request for you!
This weekend Iâm reading SUMMERâS END by Juneau Black for a nice cosy palette cleanser. Iâm excited to get back in some series this September - THE DALES DETECTIVE by Julia Chapman, THE MIRROR VISITOR series by Christelle Dabos and THE PALEONTOLGIST by Luke Dumas for my dinosaur fix! đŠ
Iâd love to outsource some new good tv shows - police procedurals and legal thrillers especially! X
Say no more, I will happily take more fall pics to share here:) And I'll make a list of my go to podcasts, I have a lot and I think I could add that to a post- let me work on the list and I'll share it asap . For a police procedural show- have you watched The Killing? It's on Netflix That was excellent.
Loved The Killing!
I loved the killing! I need someone else like that! X
Iâve heard The Bridge is good for fans of The Killing- I havenât watched it yet. Iâve never been able to find a detective show as good as The Killing
Agree! We loved it too.
Happy Friday Renee! Iâm currently Tethered by Tracy Anne Ong, a memoir by my go to indie bookstore in my city.
This weekend I am finishing up Blue Sisters, and listening to Elizabeth of East Hampton on audio!
There are so many September books I can't wait to get my hands and eyes and ears on including:
The Night We Lost Him
Intermezzo
Entitlement
Madwoman
Crowdsource:
What do I do with my old wedding dress from 2004? I am impatient and want it gone ASAP, wanted to donate to Angels but they have a wait list :(
How to get more followers to read/interact with my blog? Without sounding like I am pushing it on people!
What do I want to get my masters in? I am a special education teacher and want to get out of the classroom, not sure WHAT direction I want to go in