Book Club: The Books We Didn't Pick

A compiled list of the books that weren't chosen for book club, for reference if we ever find ourselves without options, or if anyone is looking for another great book to read on their own.

You can click on the images to be taken to a book description page.

The Vanishing Half, by Britt Bennett

O Pioneers! by Willa Cather

My Heart Lies South, by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino

When Breath Becomes Air

Graphic

Cancer, Death, Medical content

Moderate

Grief, Suicide, Pregnancy

Hello Beautiful

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Death of parent

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Abandonment

Minor: Child death, Homophobia, Alcoholism

Hannah Coulter

Graphic

War, Death, Grief

Moderate

Cancer, Gore, Death of parent

Minor

Terminal illness, Drug use, Addiction

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Britt-Marie Was Here, by Fredrik Backman.

This author wrote "A Man Called Ove", which I enjoyed, and I'm looking forward to reading another of his books. The author is Swedish which gives him a unique voice, I think. Very well reviewed.

Content warnings, Moderate: Car accident, Murder, Gun violence, Death, Grief, Child death, and Death of parent

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes.

A classic summer read that I have seen on so many lists! This looks like the quintessential summer book.

Content warnings, Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Domestic abuse

Content warnings, Moderate: Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship

Content warnings, Minor: Car accident, Sexual content, Abandonment

House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.

A super-popular YA novel with a fantasy flair. So many people were talking about this one when it came out!

Content warnings, Graphic: Child abuse, Xenophobia, Confinement

Content warnings, Moderate: Fatphobia, Body shaming, Abandonment

Content warnings, Minor: Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse

House in the Pines by Ana Reyes.

I wanted to give a mystery option and this is the only summer book type that I could find without major content warnings. It looks good!

Content warnings, Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Alcoholism

Content warnings, Moderate: Murder, Death, Alcohol

Content warnings, Minor: Domestic abuse, Vomit, Mental illness

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TBR: October 2024

Let's Cheer, All Cheer, for October is Here! I just clicked into this post and received a burst of joy when I saw the artwork above. I forgot that I placed it into the blank October file on my blog account. What a lovely surprise! I've been missing the coast terribly in recent months and this picture makes me miss it even more! If I look at it long enough I can put myself back in the parking lot of Lone Ranch beach in Brookings, Oregon, where I often went for a few moments of quiet when we lived there. I would roll down the windows as I neared the area, feeling the wind intensify in measures--stronger and stronger as I got closer. Then, after parking, a full-body wave of relief would wash over me the moment I cut the car engine. Complete peace. All alone. Not a human sound except my own breathing. I would close my eyes, lay my head against the head rest, and listen to the roaring battle between the ocean and wind. The wind (and often rain) would mist onto me as I sat ...

Reviewed: My October Reading

This month's reading turned out differently than most. While I only completed four books, I took my time with each selection in October. Each of the books that I read were remarkably rich and satisfying, with exceptional storytelling that felt like attending a literary banquet. I'm sure the weather change helped this along. As it gets colder outside, reading becomes less feature and more fixture in my days. I've learned that living in a four-season climate has this effect for me: As soon as a new season arrives, I'm eager to conclude what I've been doing and fully ready to submerge in the joys of the season to come. In October, I felt a tension between a yearning to be doing cozy things inside and my end-of summer-to-do list, which is mostly outside. So what did I read? Here's the list. As usual, I'm giving simple ratings that make sense in my mind. DNF = Did not finish 1/5 = I really disliked this book 2/5 = I disliked this book 3/5 = I liked ...

Reviewed: What I Actually Read in December

After four years of a reading Renaissance, December saw an abrupt drop off. I guess, in hindsight, it's been coming on for a few months, but in December there was a dramatic switch in focus that resulted in my reading only two (mediocre) books. January is going similarly, prompting me to wonder if my current season of reading warrants a book blog at all. I think the other areas of life that I am focusing on now will continue to take precedence over the stacks of books on my TBR, and I'm not sure that blogging is worth the time it takes. On the other hand, it's good for me to regularly stop and synthesize my ponderings. So maybe I'll keep it up. For December, however, I'm just going to list the books and my rating. I don't think I have much in the way of insight for either of them. The Frozen River, by Ariel Lawhon Our book club choice for December. My rating: 3/5 Wintering, by Katherine May My rating: 3/5

Midlife Sarah

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