Currently Reading
The Book of Accidents (Del Rey, 2021) by Chuck Wendig
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A family returns to their hometown—and to the dark past that haunts them still—in this masterpiece of literary horror by the New York Times bestselling author of Wanderers – From the Publisher
I just started The Book of Accidents (Del Rey, 2021) by Chuck Wendig, but I’ll need to set it aside for a day or two to finish Libertie. This is an ebook loan from the library that I’ve been saving for October, when I like to read horror – just to keep up with the genre a bit and join the annual RIP (Read in Peril) Challenge.
Libertie (Algonquin, 2021) by Kaitlyn Greenidge
Inspired by the life of one of the first Black female doctors in the United States and rich with historical detail, Kaitlyn Greenidge’s new and immersive novel will resonate with readers eager to understand our present through a deep, moving, and lyrical dive into our past. – From the Publisher
Reading Libertie by Kaitlyn Greenidge for book club this week. Set in Reconstruction-era Brooklyn, it does start out with total immersion into the life of a young woman who is the daughter of a doctor with a dream for her daughter to also become a doctor like her.
The author’s previous book, We Love You, Charlie Freeman, has been on my TBR list since it came out in 2017; I haven’t read it yet, but the concept of freedom plays a large role in that one, also, I believe.
Recently Read
Three More Months (Lake Union, Dec. 2021) by Sarah Echavarre
Recently Listened To
Corduroy Mansions by Alexander McCall Smith
I’ve listened to a lot of Alexander McCall Smith’s books on audio and enjoy them when I’m looking for something lighthearted and clever with appealingly quirky characters. Recently, I caught up with the Sunday Philosophy Club series (my favorite) and found Corduroy Mansions (first in another series) on my TBL list.
Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing it about halfway through. Most of the characters were unpleasant and/or self-centered and not in an amusing way, so although I’m sure some of them would have epiphanies over the course of the series and end up changing their ways, I didn’t want to invest any more time in their lives and relationships. Alexander McCall Smith writes a lot of books with a variety of characters, and this is the only one this has happened with!
Maybe it was too soon after spending time with Isobel Dalhousie, Jamie, and all the other fully drawn characters in the Sunday Philosophy Club books but the Corduroy Mansions residents seemed two-dimensional and almost caricatures in comparison. Or maybe it’s because I’m not a dog person and Freddie de la Hay, the dog, looks to be a major character.
It had nothing to do with the audio narration by Simon Prebble, who is one of my favorite narrators, so if anyone reading this has read this series and thinks I should give it another try, please let me know!
Currently Listening To
The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix
The Final Girl Support Group (Penguin Audio, 2021) by Grady Hendrix, narrated by Adrienne King, is an audiobook from the library I postponed listening to till October, when I always like to read some horror – to keep up with the genre a bit and join the annual RIP (Read in Peril) Challenge.
I usually like horror fiction to be leavened with humor to make it more palatable. Of course, it’s always dark humor, and this one has a lot of it. It also has a lot of gore and violence as befits the slasher movies it’s satirizing. The audio narration is great!
This post is linked to “It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?” hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date. Check out the link-up party there for more book lists!
Also linking this post up to Readers Imbibing Peril, only on Twitter and Instagram this year, it looks like!
I know October seems to be racing away too! Three More Months looks interesting, I must take another look at that one.
I can’t believe we’re this far into October already!
The Final Girl Support group sounds fun even if a bit gruesome haha, but maybe perfect for October!
Thank you for your comment on my blog. 🙂
I usually like to read some classic “horror” in October – my style is something like Dracula or Frankenstein though! Haven’t picked one this year though. Libertie looks and sounds just beautiful. I’m interested in that one.
The RIP Challenge group read that just started is The Sundial by Shirley Jackson. I don’t know if I’ll have time, but I might try to join in on that!
I’ll be curious to hear what you think of Libertie. I got a hardcover copy from my Shelf Subscription last winter, but haven’t gotten around to reading it yet…
I like it! There’s a touch (or maybe more than that) of magical realism. I’m listening to the audiobook now, too, and that’s also good. [Edited after finishing] Not magical realism, but Haitian Vodou mysticism.
I like the mix of reads here. So many contrasting genres, always makes for reading enjoyable.
As I’ve been telling Sue of Book by Book, I always intend to join the RIP Challenge. I enjoy spooky books in the fall, but every time we get around to October, I have a huge pile I’m trying to finish from my #mustread stack. Perhaps I just need to build that into my #MustReadin2022 list so that i won’t forget. Thanks for these shares and I hope you’ve had a fantastic reading week, Laurie!
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