5 Mini Book Reviews

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Chain-Gang All-Stars is a dystopia following prisoners forced to duel for freedom on live TV. There are multiple POVs from prisoners and fans who watch the show. There are two women, the gladiators, who dominate the fighting arenas. As one of them plans to leave the prison, she thinks about how she can help her fellow inmates save their humanity.

The synopsis sounds better than the execution. Many scenes were unnecessary to progressing the story. I appreciate getting into character’s heads, but none of it added to the overarching storyline. The length also added to my annoyance with certain characters. By the end, I only wanted to read about the two main characters, Loretta Thurwar and Hamara Stacker.

I understand why there is so much hype surrounding the book. I appreciate that the story is out there to teach others about how brutal the prison system is and how necessary prison reform is. If you’re interested in reading this book, please look for content warnings.

Goodreads Review

A Short Stay in Hell by Steven L. Peck

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

A Short Stay in Hell follows a Mormon married man who wakes up unexpectedly in Hell. This Hell is full of what seems like an endless amount of books filled with characters. To escape, the protagonist has to find the book that contains his life story. 

The book has a high rating on Goodreads and an intriguing plot. That’s about all it has going for it. There were comments about women I didn’t enjoy, regardless of intent. I didn’t think it was horrifying because the writing was bland. The only reason this book received two stars from me is because the beginning was slightly intriguing.

I don’t want to recommend the story to anyone, but I know that many loved it. I’m sad that my second read of 2024 was such a flop, but I hope the good outweighs the bad this year.

Goodreads Review

Blackouts by Justin Torres

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Blackouts is about a young man who has become friends with an older man named Juan on his deathbed in The Palace. They share stories about their past. Juan is passing a project onto his young friend that involves a book called “Sex Variants: A Study in Homosexual Patterns” by Jan Gay, a woman from the early twentieth century. The story was taken from her, removing any credibility she had.

I could talk about this book for months! I enjoyed how comfortable Torres is with the discussion of sexuality and nudity. The writing is pretentious, but I think it works with the storytelling. The only thing that stopped me from giving it five stars is that certain parts dragged along.

If you’re going to read this novel, pick up the physical copy. Whoever Torres hired to create the book is a genius; it’s beautiful from cover to cover. Disclaimer: There are photos of nude people throughout the book.

Goodreads Review

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed by Mariana Enriquez

Rating: 2 out of 5.

The Dangers of Smoking in Bed is a collection of short dark fiction stories set in Argentina. There’s a wide range of topics from witchcraft to fetishes.

This collection didn’t work for me at all. I only handed out a few 3.5/5 stars to stories that weren’t terrible. I understand that it’s translated, and I’m unsure if that contributed to my lack of enthusiasm. Many stories dealt with suicide, and while it’s a topic that should be discussed, these instances felt inserted for shock value. It’s not my preferred type of storytelling, even though I’m not easily triggered. This almost makes me hesitant to explore more of Enriquez’s work.

If you’re searching for a dark fiction short story collection, perhaps this isn’t the best starting point. I came across a fantastic one last year titled Never Whistle at Night, edited by Shane Hawk and Theodore C. Van Alst Jr.

Goodreads Review

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

In Clarke’s story, the reader follows Piranesi as he explores the House (labyrinth), accompanied only by another person referred to as Other, at least according to his understanding. Piranesi possesses intricate knowledge of the labyrinth, including its layout and the tidal patterns of the ocean trapped within.

I devoured this story in two days. The writing isn’t anything special, but the story is easily digestible. I think the twist is predictable to a point, but it never ruined the enjoyment for me. I’m not sure why there’s so much hype surrounding this one, but I do get some of the appeal. If you’re looking for a cozy fantasy to cuddle up with, this might be a great one for you.

Goodreads review to come.

If you have read any of these, let me know your thoughts in the comments!

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After a Two-Year Hiatus, Here Are My 2024 Reading Plans

Well, well, well, this is a bit awkward. It’s been a few years since I’ve written anything on here. It’s been a social media roller coaster for me. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to have an online presence or not. I actually deleted my Bookstagram, personal Instagram, and my personal Facebook. However, here I am, resurrecting my Bookstagram. A fresh start from square one, perhaps a necessary reset for my virtual soul.

In the past two years, my literary taste has undergone a fascinating transformation. Nonfiction has become my literary playground, and I’ve embraced the allure of weird and short books. There’s a strange pleasure in shedding a tear or two over the pages of a compelling story.

A newfound love affair has blossomed with manga, adding a splash of visual storytelling to my reading repertoire. It’s cool how our preferences evolve, opening new avenues to explore. Here’s to the joy of embracing the unexpected in the world of literature!

I’ve simplified my reading quite a bit. No more bullet journaling, a careful selection of unread book purchases, a preference for eBooks, and a restrained approach to NetGalley requests—all contributing to a more straightforward and enjoyable reading journey.

I used to engage in the Popsugar Reading Challenge, but inevitably, my enthusiasm waned by the middle of January. It simply wasn’t the right fit for me. However, I stumbled upon the NYT Notable Books of 2023 list, and it feels tailor-made for my reading preferences. This curated selection aligns seamlessly with my tastes, sparing me the need to spend days scouring the internet for books that don’t resonate with me just to meet a challenge.

The twelve books are:

Another reading milestone on the horizon: aiming to read 100 books for the first time ever. My previous record stands at 90 books in 2019, and while I’m setting my sights on this goal, I’ve learned not to let it dictate my reading experience. If I fall short, that’s perfectly fine.

If you have any reading goals, let me know in the comments. I’d love to see what other challenges are out there.

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Follow Me to the Land of Sweets! Baking Glazed Lemon-Thyme Poppyseed Cake

Hey, friends! I touched on wanting to include more than just book posts on my blog. It won’t be an all-the-time thing, but I’d really love to share my journey of baking with you all. It’s another hobby I dabble in quite often, and it’s something I’m passionate about outside the land of books. I totally understand if you aren’t interested, but for those who are, let me share with you my successful baking experience.

Before I get into the post, I also want to let you all know that I have created a Medium. I shared an article on there about my baking experience. If you’re interested in following me there you can. I’ll probably share about my baking journey on there more frequently than on here.

If I’m being honest, these didn’t really scream ”cake” to me as they lean more toward the banana bread side of things. I don’t know if banana bread is considered cake in the baking world. I’m pretty much clueless when it comes to most baking terminology.

I’d like to preface this by saying that I did not create this recipe on my own. I love learning recipes from Bake From Scratch! The photos that I post on here are my own, however.

I’m so glad this was a success! I think my only qualm was with the glaze. I have a feeling I may have added too much lemon juice. I’m not 100% sure, but I’m aware of the issue and plan to resolve it in the future.

I’ve had lemon poppyseed muffins before, but I’ve never had them mixed with thyme. I think the combination is chefs kiss. The pairing is unlike anything I’ve ever tasted before. I also didn’t realize how tasty thyme was. Why didn’t anyone tell me?

If you’re interested in making this, please make sure you have all of the items and ingredients. I actually had to go out and buy certain items—some for convenience (lemon squeezer) rather than necessity. I bought all my ingredients from Walmart, but I’m sure you can find them in whatever store is close to you. If not, there are places online you can order ingredients from.

If any of you bake, I’d love to see pictures of desserts you make. If you make this one, then definitely let me know what you think. Again, this won’t be something I do all the time. If you want to see everything I bake, I will be posting on Medium (linked above).

If you enjoyed this, then give it a like and follow my blog for more content as well my other social media. Be respectful and happy reading!

Goodreads Choice Awards Predictions

I personally don’t vote in the GR Choice Awards because it’s typically the popular books that end up winning. I don’t really talk about it much, but I think it would be a fun blog post if I predicted which book I thought would win and which one I would choose. I think I saw a blogger post something like this recently…I’m sure many have. You can tag them below if you know other people who have. I’d love to see everyone’s predictions. I probably won’t do all the categories since there are many that I don’t read from. I’m just doing the main ones.

Fiction

The final nominees are hard to pick from because I know most of them have been raved about lately. It’s sad that I haven’t read any of them, but most of them are on my TBR.

I’m going to predict that good ol’ Nicholas Sparks will take the cake. The Wish has been pretty popular at my library. Everyone is wanting to read it and there just isn’t enough copies to go around.

If I were to pick one that I wanted to win, it would probably be The Guncle by Steven Rowley. This one just seems like so much fun. I’d say it’s a fantastic book to read in the summer. It has great ratings/reviews. I also love the cover.

Mystery / Thriller

I have read a few good ones in this section. I automatically assume that Billy Summers by Stephen King will win, and I’m sure that’s what everyone else thinks.

I hope that Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby wins. I read that earlier this year and really enjoyed it! It has a lot more violence than I was expecting. There were some parts where I couldn’t really believe, but I recommend it if you can handle that.

Historical Fiction

It won the BOTM Book of the Year, and I’m just assuming it’ll win this category, and that is The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah.

I’ve only read one book out of the category and it was The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles. It wasn’t really my cup of tea as far as historical fiction goes. So, if I had to pick one it would probably be The Four Winds. I read The Great Alone by her and really enjoyed it. I think she’s a pretty good writer.

Fantasy

I want T.J. Klune to take the cake for this one, but I know that Sarah J. Maas will beat him. I’m sure she does every year.

I, of course, want Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune to win. I absolutely loved The House in the Cerulean Sea. It was such a loved book when it came out.

Romance

I think my prediction and my choice would be the same judging by all the hype surrounding the book recently. It’s The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. I just ordered this one as an add-on to my BOTM box. I’m super stoked to get to it!

Science Fiction

My assumption is that Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir will be the winner.

I love Becky Chambers and Martha Wells, so these two choices were hard to pick from. They’re both close in ratings too, but I think I’d rather Becky Chambers take the cake. I’ve heard great things about A Psalm for the Wild-Built.

Horror

I’m going to go with The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix as the winner of this category. It’ll probably be Stephen King, but I’m trying to be positive.

I haven’t read any of these in the horror category, but I think it would be cool if My Heart is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones won.

I think that’s where I’m going to stop. There are categories after this that I just don’t know anything about. This is just supposed to be fun so don’t take anything seriously or to heart. If you have any predictions, please let me know in the comments. I’d be interested to see different opinions!

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Book Review of How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith

How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith

336 pages

Published in 6/1/21 by Little, Brown, and Company

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Genre: Nonfiction / History / Social Justice

Amazon | B&N

*click on photos to view original source.

“Poet and contributor to The Atlantic Clint Smith’s revealing, contemporary portrait of America as a slave owning nation

Beginning in his own hometown of New Orleans, Clint Smith leads the reader through an unforgettable tour of monuments and landmarks-those that are honest about the past and those that are not-that offer an intergenerational story of how slavery has been central in shaping our nation’s collective history, and ourselves.

It is the story of the Monticello Plantation in Virginia, the estate where Thomas Jefferson wrote letters espousing the urgent need for liberty while enslaving over 400 people on the premises. It is the story of the Whitney Plantation, one of the only former plantations devoted to preserving the experience of the enslaved people whose lives and work sustained it. It is the story of Angola Prison in Louisiana, a former plantation named for the country from which most of its enslaved people arrived and which has since become one of the most gruesome maximum-security prisons in the world. And it is the story of Blandford Cemetery, the final resting place of tens of thousands of Confederate soldiers.

In a deeply researched and transporting exploration of the legacy of slavery and its imprint on centuries of American history, How the Word Is Passed illustrates how some of our country’s most essential stories are hidden in plain view-whether in places we might drive by on our way to work, holidays such as Juneteenth, or entire neighborhoods—like downtown Manhattan—on which the brutal history of the trade in enslaved men, women and children has been deeply imprinted.

Informed by scholarship and brought alive by the story of people living today, Clint Smith’s debut work of nonfiction is a landmark work of reflection and insight that offers a new understanding of the hopeful role that memory and history can play in understanding our country.”


“The sky above the Mississippi River stretched out like a song.”

As the whitest person to exist in America, I feel it is my responsibility to educate myself as much as I can on social justice issues that have taken place in the past and present. The goal, of course, is to prevent future issues from coming up. I like to share what I learn from what I read, and there’s a lot to unpack with this one.

I’ll start by discussing my reasoning behind my rating. I’m sure there are people throwing shade my way for not giving this five stars. First, just because someone doesn’t give an important book a five-star rating doesn’t make it any less important. There’s more to a book than the content that makes it a phenomenal read. Second, I shouldn’t have to explain myself. It didn’t hold my attention the entire time, there were naming off fact after fact, and I had to take a break from the book, sadly. If I rated books with decimals, it would be a 4.5. Anyway, let’s get to the review.

There was information I didn’t know about places I’ve learned about before. The Monticello Plantation is the best example. I remember learning about that in school, but not like I learned about it in this book. The tour guides want visitors to understand what kind of person Jefferson was in his entirety, but visitors were offended claiming they were trying to change history. There were also people who didn’t think slavery was a thing. I don’t know if they just deny it completely, really didn’t know, or they’re messing with the tour guides. That’s why educating yourself on the topic is important!

Yes, he contributed great things. Yes, he gave us the Declaration of Independence, and the university where I got my degree, but he also owned people. He owned ancestors of people I know. That’s reality. I think in order to really understand him, and to fully understand him, you have to grapple with slavery. You have to grapple with [physical] violence and psychological violence, and family separation. We would not be doing the story justice if we don’t tell those stories.

Niya Bates – Monticello’s director of African American History.

Smith also visits Angola Prison (Louisiana State Penitentiary). A location I have never heard of, but it’s so interesting (and horrifying) to learn about. The Red Hat Cell Block (restrictive and harsh housing in Angola Prison) holds cells that are 5 x 7 ft. It got extremely hot in there with no air. Prisoners would just lay on the cement floor in misery.

The execution bed was built by PRISONERS. They actually went on strike when they found out.

The guide would often pivot the conversation to bring positive light to the prison while Smith visited there. How could you even see this place in a positive light? It was nothing but horrifying, disgusting, and cruel. I’m happy that Smith discusses what the prison actually did.

There was talk about how women would kill their own children because they didn’t want them to grow up in the same situation. There’s a lot of talk about the Confederacy and the Lost Cause. You really just have to read it yourself to fully enjoy all the things you learn. I definitely won’t do the book justice from doing a WordPress blog review. Go read it for yourself!

About the Author

“Clint Smith is staff writer at The Atlantic. He is the author of Counting Descent, which won the 2017 Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. Clint has received fellowships from New America, the Art For Justice Fund, Cave Canem, and the National Science Foundation. His writing has been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Poetry Magazine, The Paris Review and elsewhere. He currently teaches writing and literature at the DC Central Detention Facility. His debut nonfiction book How the Word Is Passed, which explores how different historical sites reckon with—or fail to reckon with—their relationship to the history of slavery, will be published by Little, Brown in June 2021. He received his B.A. in English from Davidson College and his Ph.D. in Education from Harvard University.”

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Guess Who’s Back!

Hello, friends! I know it’s been a while, but I finally feel up to the task of writing a blog post. Since I’ve left I haven’t read many books. To let you really know how it’s been going this year, I’ve only read 29 books. Unfortunately, at the end of April / beginning of May, I went through a pretty tough breakup just a week shy of our 5-year anniversary. I don’t want to go into much detail since that is pretty personal, but the two months following that were probably two of the hardest months for me mentally, physically, emotionally, etc. It took everything I had in me to function. I finally feel like myself again, and I’ve been occupying my brain with other positive outlets. I have a few odds-and-ends I’d love to share with you all.

I’ll just start with a little reading update!

I believe I’ve finished six books since I last wrote a blog post. It’s been a lot of non fiction and historical fiction. I think I read one thriller.

The Hunting Wives by May Cobb – two stars

News of the World by Paulette Jiles – five stars

The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline – four stars

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates – Not rated (assume it’s a five-star read.)

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby – four stars

Maid by Stephanie Land – three stars

I’m honestly happy with the books I have been reading, even though I haven’t read that much. I’m currently in the middle of How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith, and I’m still truckin’ through A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. That’s pretty much my goal for the rest of the year. I’m not going to pressure myself too much.

Now I’ll talk about the other hobbies I’ve picked up since I last spoke to you. As many of you know, I tried to get into digital art, specifically digital planning, and it didn’t go as planned. Etsy wasn’t really the best place to start off with. I pretty much stopped doing that very quickly. I’ve moved to Redbubble just as somewhere to put my art without having the pressure of paying a renewal fee with Etsy every so many months. It’s book-ish art that I want to share with you all, but I’m willing to create other content. I’d love it if you all checked it out. I think if you have any friends who love bookish items, these might be good little stocking gifts!

Redbubble Shop

Books & Coffee
Excellent Library

One other little hobby I’m working on is sugar cookie decorating. I’m very much a newbie, and it’s crazy hard to do. It is fun to learn and I’m hoping to continue making progress. I just wanted to share my very first decorated cookie. It looks silly, but there’s something about it being the first one that makes me smile.

Thank you to everyone who has stuck around even after I basically fell off the face of the Earth for half a year. I can’t guarantee I’ll make steady content, and I’m honestly thinking of changing up my blog to more than just books. Let me know what you think about it. I just appreciate all of you, and I’m hoping you all have a wonderful end to your year!

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Titles That Give Me Crayola Crayon Vibes

I haven’t participated in TTT in a LONG time, and I thought this prompt was super cute and creative. I had a lot of fun completing this list. I’m excited to see what other bloggers say. I’m sure there are tons of titles that could work. I couldn’t even narrow it down to 10, so I stopped at 15.

Rules:

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

How it works:

I assign each Tuesday a topic and then post my top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join me and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.

I didn’t look up to see if any of these were already names for Crayola crayons or close to it. Some of these pretty much say which color they should be, but I’ll let you think about what the other ones would look like. If you want, you can leave your thoughts / guesses in the comments. I think that would be fun!

Survive The Night by Riley Sager

Summer Frost by Blake Crouch

The Red Lotus by Chris Bohjalian

Starsight by Brandon Sanderson

Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout

Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain

Stillhouse Lake by Rachel Caine

The Stone Sky by N.K. Jemisin

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

Tidelands by Philippa Gregory

Dear Sweet Pea by Julie Murphy

Cut to the Bone by Ellison Cooper

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

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The Recommendations Book Tag

I saw Kristin @ Kristin Kraves Books post this, and it looked like so much fun, so I decided to participate. It was originally created by Ally Writes Things (link below). I tag whoever wants to participate!

Rules:

  • Tag Ally @ Ally Writes Things so I can see your recommendations!
  • Give at least one recommendation for each of the prompts below
  • If you don’t have a recommendation, talk about a book you want to read
  • Tag your friends

A book about friendship:

84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff

This is such a charming book about an ultimate friendship between freelance writer in NY and a used-bookshop owner in London. It’s under 100 pages and I highly, highly recommend this one. If you pick any of these books from this list, I suggest you choose this one.

A translated book:

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

I will admit that I haven’t read a lot of translated works—this being one of the only ones—but I really enjoyed this, regardless. It’s heartbreaking. If you don’t like reading about war, I wouldn’t recommend this to you. It gets pretty intense.

A diverse romance:

Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert

AHH! This one is so cute. If you want an easy, breezy romance, then this one is for you. It’s the second book in The Brown Sisters trilogy, but you don’t really have to read the first one. I think it’s a fun experience to read them all, though.

A fast-paced book:

No Exit by Taylor Adams

This is the craziest, fast-paced book I’ve probably ever read. It’s a little far-fetched, but it was entertaining, to say the least.

A non-fiction that isn’t a memoir:

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain

I’m the quintessential introvert…minus the intelligence. This almost made me feel like I needed to go and get a better education. Not in a pretentious way, though. Anyway, it’s so good. Go read it!

An underrated memoir:

I didn’t have one for this prompt, so I picked one that I wanted to read.

Men We Reaped by Jesmyn Ward

I looked into memoirs that I should read, and this one popped up and immediately caught my attention. It only has 17,000 ratings on GR. I’m excited to read it.

A book with fewer than 10,000 ratings on Goodreads:

The Boy at the Door by Alex Dahl (3,560 ratings)

I picked this one up on a whim a couple years ago, and I enjoyed it quite a bit. It really threw me for a loop. I will say that it’s not a fast-paced mystery by any means. I recommend going in blind, too. I found it to be pretty unique, and a mystery I don’t ever read. I’d love to reread it in the future.

A book with an LGBTQ+ Protagonist:

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

This book. This book. This book. It’s an all-time favorite forever and always. Linus and Arthur are characters I will protect with my whole being.

A book by a trans or non-binary author:

The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi

I didn’t expect this one to be so heartbreaking. It was an immediate 5/5 stars, but I don’t think I could haphazardly recommend this. Just know it’s full of content warnings. Look into this before reading, please.

A book with more than 500 pages:

The Weight of Ink by Rachel Kadish

This is a long, slow, incredible novel. It’s a commitment, but well worth the time and energy. I loved every second of it. It’s 560 pages, I believe, but it feels much longer—in a good way.

A short story collection:

The Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans

Read this in 24 hours. Weird stories that are pretty important. There’s a lot of weird deaths in this one, which could have been excluded now that I’m looking back, but I still enjoyed it a lot.

A book you want everyone to read:

Big Lies in a Small Town by Diane Chamberlain

I just thought this was something I’ve never read before. It’s such a refreshing read and beautifully written. I will always recommend this to everyone.

If you enjoyed this, then give it a like and follow my blog and other social media. Be respectful and happy reading!

Book Review of The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

368 pages

Published: 2/9/21 by Atria Books

Genre: Historical fiction

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Amazon | B&N

*Click on photos to view original source.

”Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us together, perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls and The Paris Wife. 

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

A powerful novel that explores the consequences of our choices and the relationships that make us who we are—family, friends, and favorite authors—The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest of places.”

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an early digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

“Numbers floated round my head like stars.”

If you enjoy books about books, then you’ll absolutely adore this one. It’s all about the American Library in Paris, which is still up and running to this day. I enjoyed the female power and determination that takes place in the story. We love strong female roles. The writing is no doubt beautiful and well done. I believe that the author spends quite a bit of time in Paris, so I’d say it’s pretty accurate, if I had to guess. It’s overall a great novel, but it just didn’t keep my attention. Historical fiction typically captures my attention, but I never wanted to pick this one back up. It was honestly a two-star read up until the last 50-ish pages.

I didn’t really care for any of the characters even though I could recognize how tough they were. There’s a strong community and family dynamic that I think a lot of people would enjoy. It’s more of family by choice type of situation. I can appreciate all of that.

I think the main thing that caused me to give it three stars was that it felt too long. Whenever I thought the story was about to come to a close, there was quite a bit left in the story. I’m sure no one else felt that way, but when you’re already not enjoying a book, that’s something that makes it feel even longer.

I know this author has written one other novel, so I’m interested in seeing if it’s something I’m interested in. I’d definitely give her a second chance. I really thought I’d fall in love with this one. It’s such a wonderful read, but I couldn’t get myself to give it more than a three-star rating. I would still recommend this since it’s a beloved book to many readers out there.

Janet Skeslien Charles divides her time between Paris and Montana. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family. 

The backdrop of her debut novel MOONLIGHT IN ODESSA is the booming business of email-order brides, an industry where love and marriage meet sex and commerce. 

Her second novel THE PARIS LIBRARY is based on the true story of the courageous librarians at the American Library in Paris during World War II. Janet learned about the story when she worked at the Library.

Website: https://www.jskesliencharles.com

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Book Review of Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Survive the Night by Riley Sager

336 pages

Publication date: 6/29/21 by Dutton Books

ISBN: 9780593183168

Genre: Thriller

Rating: 2 out of 5.

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*Click on photos to view original source.

“It’s November 1991. George H. W. Bush is in the White House, Nirvana’s in the tape deck, and movie-obsessed college student Charlie Jordan is in a car with a man who might be a serial killer.

Josh Baxter, the man behind the wheel, is a virtual stranger to Charlie. They met at the campus ride board, each looking to share the long drive home to Ohio. Both have good reasons for wanting to get away. For Charlie, it’s guilt and grief over the murder of her best friend, who became the third victim of the man known as the Campus Killer. For Josh, it’s to help care for his sick father. Or so he says. Like the Hitchcock heroine she’s named after, Charlie has her doubts. There’s something suspicious about Josh, from the holes in his story about his father to how he doesn’t seem to want Charlie to see inside the car’s trunk. As they travel an empty highway in the dead of night, an increasingly worried Charlie begins to think she’s sharing a car with the Campus Killer. Is Josh truly dangerous? Or is Charlie’s suspicion merely a figment of her movie-fueled imagination?

What follows is a game of cat-and-mouse played out on night-shrouded roads and in neon-lit parking lots, during an age when the only call for help can be made on a pay phone and in a place where there’s nowhere to run. In order to win, Charlie must do one thing–survive the night.”

Since this isn’t a finished copy, I’m not able to post a first line.

Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for the early digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

I guess I’ll start with what I actually did like about this book.

I enjoyed the uneasiness this made me feel in the beginning. I thought Josh was such an odd character. He definitely served those serial killer vibes. He seemed almost robotic and cold. I actually loved his character when I first started the book.

I can also say that it’s very fast-paced. I probably could have read all of it in one day if I didn’t work all the time.

Okay, that’s about all for the pros.

I don’t want this to be super negative because I respect Sager as an author. He definitely has some great books, but this one just didn’t work for me.

This gave me I’m Thinking of Ending Things vibes when Charlie first got into Josh’s car. Obviously they’re not in a relationship, but it was the uneasy driving scene that made me think of it. This book just didn’t deliver the craziness that is Reid’s book.

I really, really didn’t enjoy the ending of this one. There was so much going on that I just didn’t care. I didn’t predict it, but at one point it all clicked in some weird way.

I don’t want to give any spoilers, so that’s about all I have to say. Even if I did spoil it, there’s not much to the book. It’s mainly one long car ride with some flashbacks and movie-filled daydreams. I just didn’t find the story thrilling in any way. I wouldn’t recommend this to Riley Sager fans or anyone in between.

Riley Sager is the award-winning pseudonym of a former journalist, editor and graphic designer who previously published mysteries under his real name.

A native of Pennsylvania, Riley now lives in Princeton, New Jersey. When he’s not writing, he enjoys reading, cooking and going to the movies as much as possible. His favorite film is “Rear Window.” Or maybe “Jaws.” But probably, if he’s being honest, “Mary Poppins.”

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