I just finished Remember by Lisa Genova who also wrote Still Alice and many other books with story lines about neurological diseases. This is non-fiction and explores the brain and how we remember and why we forget. Besides being an author, she is a neuroscientist, so she knows what she's talking about! I highly recommend this book!

I read the excerpt of Silverview in the October issue of Harper's. The book is near the top of my list .

I finished The Idiot. It was fantastic. I didn't expect so much humor. Since Spring I have been searching our book shelves for The Brothers Karamazovwithout luck. The very day I finished The Idiot, I found it in the middle of a bookshelf, at eye level. I supposedly read it in college, but have no memory of doing so. Too bad. The book is excellent so far.

I'm reading Joyce's Maynard's At Home in the World. It was published in 1998, and recounts her upbringing in New Hampshire and her relationship with JD Salinger. This book was slammed when it was first published, called a "tell all" and even "the worst book ever written." I disagree. It was 1971--she was 18, and a freshman at Yale, when Salinger began writing to her. He was 53. Maynard, who came from a very literary family, worshipped him and eventually dropped out of Yale and moved in with him. Seven months later, he told her to move out and disappear. She spent a long time trying to figure out how she had become so unworthy in his eyes. Reading this now, as a parent to a daughter, and in light of the #metoo movement, I am furious on her behalf. I also want to add that the writing is fabulous. The book is honest, self-deprecating and intelligent. I'm only halfway done but I'll definitely finish this one. Oh, and yes, she did sell his letters, but again, thinking of her as the victim makes me realize it was probably a healthy choice to get rid of the letters.

I just finished Love the House You're In by Piage Rien which I thought was well done and will likely purchase to reference later on. It is definitely a good first step for someone trying to decorate their own home, or make other improvements, etc. There are a lot of exercises to help evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of a home and to identify things that one is drawn to.

Based on recommendations here, I did read The Golem and the Jinni, too and definitely recommend it. I am waiting for the sequel to be transferred to my library. I am also in the middle of reading The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan. It's definitely a commitment to finish since there are 14 volumes. I am waiting on book 7 right now. For those who like fantasy, I think it is definitely worth looking into. The characters and world building are quite good. It is not on quite the same level as Tolkien or George R.R. Martin, but is still a worthwhile read. I had not heard of it before seeing the trailers for the Amazon film adaptation, so this was a happy find.

Jojo, I have been reading Joyce Maynard forever. She's about my age and I recall thinking her tremendously pretentious when she published a much-praised "memoir" at ~21 years old. The Salinger relationship definitely was salacious and she was certainly portrayed as the villain in that. Like Monica Lewinsky, #metoo has sparked a welcome revision in the public viewpoint.

He clearly was a predatory wacko. That said, Maynard does seem to have a keen eye for how to market herself throughout her life as whatever chameleon-of-the-moment is popular.

I loved her memoir about her relationship with her second husband, who sadly died of cancer only a few years into their marriage. Very touching story of two people finding each other and true love later in life.

I just had to research because I know "At Home in The World" as Daniel Pearl's book. It was a wonderful compilation of his writing in the WSJ. I own very few books ( because I use the library) but I own that. I triple checked because I kept thinking I was seeing wrong but apparently both Joyce Maynard and Daniel Pearl had books with that title. Live and learn.

His books is actually titled--At Home in the World: Reflections on Belonging While Wandering the Globe

So excited. Yesterday I filled out a request to purchase suggestion for the library for The Offing.

It really looks excellent and it is nowhere to be found around here. To my delight I just got this acknowledgement from the library:

Thank you for your title suggestion. We will be purchasing this print title for our collection. A hold will be placed for you for pickup at the County Library when the book is ordered.

Thanks again for your suggestion,

How do you like that? Ask and ye shall receive sometimes!

I just started the second book in what I hope will be a long running series. The Man Who Died Twice is the sequel to The Thursday Murder Club and both are delightful!

They are semi-cozy mysteries, set in an upscale retirement community in England and featuring a foursome of residents who are colorful to say the least. The group includes a retired labor organizer, retired psychotherapist, retired nurse and most delightfully a retired spy. She's a pistol, as are the rest, and they solve murders with a lot of humor and mad skills. You're never too old to sleuth I suppose. Highly recommend both books for a light but very entertaining reading experience.

Salon, see what happens when you simply ask?!! I returned my copy yesterday, since it was borrowed from another county's library and I hope the next person in line enjoys it as much as I did.

Now I'm reading Peril by Woodward and Costa. Talk about a 180 from The Offing. I don't know how much appetite I have for reading about what's essentially still being churned out in the news, so I'll stop if it gets to be too much.

Silverview is wonderful! Le Carre's DS had promised his father that he would try to complete any manuscript left unfinished -- and he did it perfectly, leaving the reader with exactly what I think was his father's intended 'last word' about The Service. Five Stars.

I've started The Offing. It reminds me of Cider With Rosie, that old standard by Laurie Lee, although that was set in an earlier, even more bucolic England.

I just finished Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman. I read her Practical Magic so many years ago (25 maybe?) that I remember nothing about it but that I loved it. Now, all these years later, she's written a prequel to Practical Magic. I see now that there are some Magic books in between these two that I've missed.

It mattered not that I don't remember any of characters or the story of the previous book; this one stands alone just fine. I really, really enjoyed it, too. She can tell a story! I've loved some of her other books, especially The DoveKeepers and The Marriage of Opposites.

Although this book takes place in the 1600's, I was struck by and saddened to recognize the continuing, long lived, and lingering misogyny and oppression of women that she writes about. Even though our (in the US) gov't is not hanging women for suspected witchcraft, the vilification, fear and hatred of women, particularly of educated and/or powerful women by some segments of our culture lives on today. Women are being assaulted and killed in record numbers because of that hatred and fear all around the world. Also, I think the book reflected the continuing lack of respect for many things that are considered 'women's' domain, from caregiving to emotional intelligence, child rearing and teaching, nursing, non-traditonal healing, nature and nurture, etc.

Depending on the people in your group, it could be an interesting book group discussion.

Finished Keep Sharp about the brain and brain health by Sanjay Gupta, the CNN health correspondent, brai surgeon and academic.

It is a lot of useful information, presented in a fairly jumbled up fashion, loosely organized. The information and the main points were helpful. It’s self-help, science, preaching and examples all thrown together.

Easy read and worth the time just to make you more mindful of the importance of good habits for sound health.

My book club meets tonight to discuss Rock, Paper, Scissors. The twist really got me, I didn’t see that coming at all. Other than that, I enjoyed it, but did not love it. It will be interesting to hear what others thought. There were several moments when I thought who in their right mind would do that, such as taking off for the Scottish Highlands in a totally inappropriate car, that sort of thing.

I am almost done with The Personal Librarian, which is a novel about a real woman, Belle DaCosta Greene, who lived at the beginning of the twentieth century. She was J.P. Morgan's librarian and advised him on what treasures to buy for his collection. I happened on this because the Morgan Library in NYC is an absolute jewel of a museum that I have visited often and have marveled at its beauty and its vast collection of books, manuscripts and art objects. Apparently, Belle spent her entire life "passing" as a Caucasian, and lived in fear of her secret becoming known. Told in the first person, it is an interesting read. Not life-altering, but good.

Having enjoyed The Offing, I wonder if anyone here has read The Gallows Pole or Pig Iron, also prize winners by Benjamin Myers. We should be seeing the film adaptation of the former in a year, based on a true story about a syndicate of coin clippers' in Yorkshire in the 18th (?) Century.

I have not, but want to read more of his writing!

I just finished We Keep the Dead Close, a nonfiction about a young student at Harvard who was murdered in the 60s and the case was never solved. The author takes you on a journey exploring as she explores the case, talking to people, suspects, etc. It was good. 3.5 stars but it would've benefited from some editing. I would've preferred if it was closer to 300 pgs rather than over 400. Too long for our book group, anyway.

Well I have added Cider with Rosie to my list; thanks Chisue.

This morning i finished The Button Man, for book club next week. It started out ok but then really grabbed me and became a page turner.

It's historical fiction, and it resonated with me because it is a Russian immigrant family in the early 1900's with like 5 or 6 kids, father dies, etc etc . There were so many similarities (even the names!!) with my father's family. The story was based on the author's grandfather who was in the garment business (my dad was not), and it turns out started Leslie Fay. ( remember that company?) .

It had a lot about organized crime ( Murder Incorporated) and the unions and Thomas Dewey. I think most would like the book but I don't know if I was smitten because so much of it was like remembering little tidbits that my dad shared.

It was fascinating.

salonva -- Hope you like Cider, and glad you liked The Button Man. Both DH and I enjoyed that. We'd give it 3.5 stars.

Interesting- chisue- I never heard of either of those 2 books. I just started Cider.

I meant to include that I when I finished Button Man, I wasn't really clear about the title.

(I thought it was just a reference to the garment business , and I had friends whose families were into "notions and trimmings" but this book was about actual garments..). I googled the term and either I forgot or never learned that it is a term for a lower level enforcer with unions and the mob. This was new to me, but when I mentioned the book to DH , he knew the term right away.

Live and learn.

I've requested The Offing from the library...thanks for the suggestion!

My fourth by Susan Meissner, White Picket Fences, was not as enjoyable as the previous three that I have read. The term white picket fences was used to refer to the family at the heart of the story. It is a synonym for the the seemingly perfect family. Of course, we know that perfect families don't exist. Buried in their background are issues that they hide from the world and each other but with which they are struggling mightily when these issues come to light. A decent read but only 3 stars.

Our book group has just completed it's reading list for next year. Thought I'd share it here:

January - The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty
February - The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
March - The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
April - The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
May - Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
June - Things We Didn't Say by Amy Lynn Green
July - The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict
August - The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
September - In An Instant by Suzanne Redfearn
October - The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
November - Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty
December - The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

Some of these were based on your suggestions here, so thanks to all of you!

Wow, two Liane Moriarty books...I do like her writing. I haven't read Apples, so will have to look it up. I love that you're including so many women authors.

Hamnet!!!

Annie...If your book club is concerned about the printed length of a book...you'd better scrap The Rose Code. It's over 600 pages...625 [paperback version] if I remember correctly. Kate Quinn does not write short novels and I've found very little that I would edit out of any of her prose.

Yes Winter, some were already suggesting that we get the book a month ahead to get enough time to finish it.

I read The Rose Code recently. I liked it a lot. I'm not world's fastest reader, but I think I finished it in under two weeks.

I like long books, but I found The Rose Code too bogged down in detail. I did just finish Cloud Cuckoo Land, also 600 pages. It was an odd interconnection of 5 different stories, but I liked it very much.

It took me 100 pages to decide to continue with The Matrix, Lauren Groff, but by the end I was grateful to the author. It's an opportunity to sink into 12th Century England -- to *live* there. The story also improved my understanding of a heroine of my youth, Eleanor of Aquataine. (I hold Katherine Hepburn's Eleanor in "The Lions of Winter" responsible for that!) If you can stick with the very human struggles of this royal bastardess-become-abbess, you too may feel rewarded for the experience. 4 stars.

I just stared this book, its really good. It's about older women and its quit funny, The Enlightenment of Esther

by Joshua Berkov Book

Finished The Sweetness of Water. Thank you to those that me tioned and recommended it. Liked it a whole lot, especially as a debut novel. 3.5 to 4 stars. (I grade low. Could be higher for others.)

Also finished Cloud Cuckoo Land. This one was also impressive, but perhaps not as much as Doerr’s first book All the Light We Cannot See. At least for me. 3.5 stars. I found some similarites between the two books — for instance, a thread connecting children/adults connected across geography and time.

Chisue, thanks for the reminder about Matrix-I had seen a review and thought the book sounded very intriguing, but then forgot it. Just requested it from the library and also downloaded an Amazon sample. Looking forward to checking it out.

I've finished a few books over the last few weeks.

Milk, Blood, Heat by Dantiel Moniz -a collection of short stories. All written in the spare style I so love. Found myself highlighting quite a few sentences.

Maid, by Stephanie Land -this is the book behind the Netflix series. This is not a masterfully written memoir but it is hard-hitting, and I am glad to have read it.

A Life's Work -On Becoming a Mother, by Rachel Cusk. -every time I listen to a Rachel Cusk interview, I feel compelled to read another of her books. But they don't resonate with me as much as the interviews do for some reason.

Dear Life, by Alice Munro -one of my favorite writers, particularly of the domestic scene. Loved it.

I've started samples of the following, but haven't yet decided if I'll finish:

Mary Coin: by Marissa Silver -inspired by the famous 1936 photo of a California woman who is a migrant worker, (with her children hanging off her in the photo). Will probably continue.

Friends Like These, by Kimberly MacReight -this is supposed to be fast-paced suspense, which I don't often seek out but can get caught up in. Doesn't feel all that fast-paced to me, but I may persevere.

Bewilderment, by Richard Powers -intriguing, and beautifully written. Very interesting child character. Will probably continue.

The Best Cook in the World, by Rick Bragg -I'm a huge Rick Bragg fan, but this one just isn't cutting it for me. It somehow feels a little too 'folksy' whereas his other books have all felt so authentic. But it may be just me.

Apples Never Fall, by Lianne Moriarity -abandoned. I'm not a huge LM fan. YMMV

I liked Mary Coin -- wasn't what I'd expected going in. I got very tired of the whiny photographer and her spouse, but the main character's life was well rendered.

I thought Mary Coin was a great read. I was really glad I read it.

I have read a few of Susan Messner's books, and I think my favorite was As Bright As Heaven. Fwiw, I read it a few years ago- well before the pandemic. I did not care for A Fall of Marigolds.

I finally finished The Offing, thank you Oly for the recommendation! It took me a while to get used to the writing style as some of the vocabulary was outside my wheelhouse. With the descriptive writing and words unfamiliar to me, I had to read at a slower pace than I am accustomed to but eventually I settled in and enjoyed it immensely. A couple of his other novels look interesting, but I fear I will have an even harder time finding copies. 4+ stars.

Just prior to The Offing, I read The Sweetness of Water, by Nathan Harris, another heartbreaking, beautifully written story. I really loved the author’s depiction of the relationships between the various characters. Knowing this was a debut novel, after finishing, I read an article about the author and his journey as a writer. It’s wonderful to see his book is being recognized and hope to see continued success for him. 4+ stars.

I also recently listened to the audiobook publication of Snowflake by Louise Nealon, a novel set in contemporary Ireland. It’s sort of a coming of age about a teen from a dysfunctional family. She heads off to university in Dublin but finds it hard to navigate the new environment while at the same time dealing with problems at home. Excellent narration, good character development and an interesting story. 3.5-4 stars

Up next, either The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles or Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir.

I finished Daughter of the Morning Star...#17 in the Longmire series and enjoyed it.

Now I'm reading The Whistling Season which may have been recommended here.

For anyone interested, The Offing is now available on Amazon in paperback. No Kindle version. But paperback (new) is $14. I just ordered it and it will be here Friday.

Annie, i loved The Whistling Season. i just started Nobody’s Fool , an oldie by Richard Russo. I needed a happy book after some of the downers Ive read recentlyenjoy. Next for book club is The Girl With The Louding Voice . We had good discussion of Rock, Paper Scissors. I am tempted to reread it, I missed so much One member of our club is a neurologist and knows a lot about face blindness. She said it is extremely rare to be born with it, that it usually occurs after a head injury and often resolves itself. We wondered if perhaps Adam had acquired it from the car accident involving his mother. Hmm.

A few people recommended The Whistling Season and I really liked it. One of my book clubs is doing it next month.

Ded, my other book club read The Girl With the Louding Voice last month. I didn;t expect to like it so much but I did. I wasn't able to make the meeting.

Today, just had book club for The Button Man and every one of 12 people there really liked it. Most gave it 5 stars, and the ones who didn't gave it 4. As I shared, it really resonated with me so I couldn't tell what others would think or how they would react but clearly it was a good read.

I just finished Cider With Rosie and am glad I read it. At points it was a bit too long or wordy but it was so interesting. I had the kindle version (from the library) and it also had a good chunk ( not really sure how much maybe a chapter or three ) from his other work- As I Walked Out One Mid Summer Morning. I think I enjoyed that a lot more. (There was a lot more happening than the changing seasons etc).

I am going to start The Sound of Gravel next as well as re-peruse The Whistling Season.

Thank you to the people who recommended The Offing. I finished it this afternoon. You know sometimes you don't want something to end? That's how I felt. It was just beautiful and sad and touching and wonderful. What a command of language! At first, I thought "Does he have to use an adjective for every noun in the sentence?" But, yes, he does. It reminded me so much of L.P. Hartley's The Go-Between, also a great novel.

I'm so glad people are enjoying The Offing as much as I did. It's kind of an obscure little book but I think this group is going to begin an increase demand for it, as we read and recommend it. Faftris, I love what you wrote; that's exactly how I felt. I couldn't put it down because it was so enjoyable, but then was mourning that I would soon finish it. I will find The Go-Between. Thanks for that recommendation.

The mention of The Whistling Season made me remember just how much I loved that book, too. There is something so sweet about coming of age books written by men who have that grasp of emotion and language.

I finished #15 and #16 in the Longmire series recently, Land of Wolves and Next to Last Stand. Annie, I was torn about starting #17, but decided to catch up on some other things i wanted to read instead. So I have started Silverview. I havent read much yet, so too early to report, but I have loved almost all Le Carre’s books, so I was happy, yet sad, to hear of this one.

Bookwoman, I am not a huge fan of LM either. I almost abandoned The Husband’s Secret. Came back to it and managed to finish it but didnt really enjoy it. We’ll see on Apples.

I also just finished THE MAN WHO DIED TWICE and fully agree with Runninginplace's review - not much to add - but thoroughly enjoyed it.

I finished my Stephen King book last night. I would give it a 4.5, but I really like most of his books. I have no new books to read.

I enjoyed the movie Cider with Rosie. Believe I saw it on Amazon. Very good sense of place and history. I've got the book on hold thru ebooks at my library.

Kathsgrdn, which book was that?

Annie, Billy Summers.

Adding a link to Sept 2021 reading:

What are we reading September 2021