Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith 927 pages What’s it about? This is the fifth Cormoran Strike detective novel in the series by Robert Galbraith (a pen name for J.K. Rowling). In this novel, Strike and his business partner Robin are tasked with trying to solve a missing persons case from 40 years earlier. Margaret Bamborough went missing in 1974 and is assumed dead, most likely at the hands of convicted serial killer Dennis Creed. However Creed has yet to confess to this crime and the victim's daughter would like closure. Strike and Robin continue to explore their own relationship as they look for clues as to what happened to Margaret Bamborough. What did it make me think about? J.K. Rowling just writes interesting characters and intricate plot lines. I was thinking about who did it for 900 pages. Should I read it? So this was a long book and I enjoyed it immensely. I must add that this book has gotten uneven reviews. The book has also had it's share of controversy over a cross-dressing character in the story. Quote- " 'One t'ing life's taught me: where there's no capacity for joy, there's no capacity for goodness,'" If you liked this try- These Women by Ivy Pochoda The Long and Faraway Gone by Lou Berney The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey Long Bright River by Liz Moore 9 stars |
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Recommended by Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple, NPR, Slate, and Oprah Magazine #1 Library Reads Pick--October 2020 BOOK OF THE YEAR (2020) FINALIST--Book of The Month Club A “Best Of” Book From: Oprah Mag * CNN * Amazon * Amazon Editors * NPR * Goodreads * Bustle * PopSugar * BuzzFeed * Barnes & Noble * Kirkus Reviews * Lambda Literary * Nerdette * The Nerd Daily * Polygon * Library Reads * io9 * Smart Bitches Trashy Books * LiteraryHub * Medium * BookBub * The Mary Sue * Chicago Tribune * NY Daily News * SyFy Wire * Powells.com * Bookish * Book Riot * Library Reads Voter Favorite *
My favorites of 2020
1. The Children's Bible by Lydia Millet 2. Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill 3. Deacon King Kong by James McBride 4. Writers and Lovers by Lily King 5. Memorial by Bryan Washington 6. What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez 7. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson 8. How Much of These Hills is Gold by C. Pam Zhang 9. Long Bright River by Liz Moore 10. A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum Can you leave it at 10? 11. The Boy in the Field by Margot Livesey 12. Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker 13. Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar 14. Hum if You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais 15. Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland 16. Olive Again by Elizabeth Strout 17. What Are You Going Through by Sigrid Nunez 18. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett 19. My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell 20. Reader Come Home by Maryanne Wolf
Memorial by Bryan Washington
303 pages What’s it about? Mike and Benson are a couple living together in Houston and trying to make their relationship work. Mike is a Japanese American working as a chef- and Benson is a Black, daycare teacher. Mike discovers that his estranged father is dying in Osaka, just as his mother arrives to visit from Japan. No one is happy when Mike decides to leave his mother with Benson (whom she has never met) and go care for his father. Mike's decision to go leaves both men wondering what is happening to their relationship. What did it make me think about? This story is a slice of America. It is also about love, about family, and about redemption. Should I read it? This book has gotten so much hype that I hate to pile on- but this book was really good- so I am piling on! What a love story. Bryan Washington has a gift for dialogue. What isn't said, is just as illuminating as the conversation itself. Be prepared for a gay love story and all the sex that comes with it. In the end you will be rooting for both Mike and Benson- no matter what the outcome. Quote- "That loving a person means letting them change when they need to. And letting them go when they need to. And that doesn't make them any less of a home. Just maybe not one for you. Or only for a season or two. But that doesn't diminish the love. It just changes forms." If you liked this try- Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones On Earth We're Breifly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong 9 stars A People Book of the Week | An O Magazine Best Book of the Fall| A USA Today Book Not to Miss| A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
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― Charles William Eliot
ratings
3 to 4- I found some aspect of this book redeeming but would not recommend it.
5 to 6- I really enjoyed something about this book (characters, plot, meaning etc.) but it was uneven. Some aspects were stronger than others.
7 to 8- It was a good book. I liked lots of aspects of this book. I would recommend it.
9 to 10- I was sorry to turn the last page. I highly recommend this book!