It's Monday 5/16! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by The Book Date

Ahhh ... a quiet Monday at home. I need this! I finally finished my whirlwind four trips in three weeks. It's all been fun--but exhausting!--and now I am ready to just hunker down at home and recover for at least a few weeks. This week's adventures included my father-in-law's 97th birthday and a family gathering in Connecticut for my mom's birthday.

Friday, my father-in-law turned 97, so my husband and I visited him in the nursing home at noon. We brought him a McDonald's vanilla shake, a homemade lemon meringue pie (his favorites!), and a few gifts to open. He was pretty out of it (his dementia is severe now), but he woke up enough to enjoy it. He loved the treats and had fun opening his gifts. And it's a good thing my husband took time off to visit with me at lunchtime because by dinner, he was in another world (and not a happy one). So, we're glad we could give him some treats and pleasures on his birthday.

Saturday morning, we drove to Connecticut for our first full family gathering since 2019! I'd seen individuals once or twice (except my niece), but this was the first time in years my immediate family was all together. It was so wonderful to see my niece and nephew again and spend time with them--they are both so grown up! And it was great spending time with my own sons--we're rarely all together these days. It was pretty exhausting for me, after the flurry of activity the past few weeks, but I managed it. We got home about 3 pm yesterday and have no plans to leave the house! (Well, my husband's at a doctor appointment, and I'll be visiting my father-in-law in an hour, but we're not traveling anywhere for awhile.) I promised I wouldn't post photos online (some are sensitive to that), so here's the delicious BBQ dinner we had on Saturday night.

And, all of a sudden, it's May 16! Wow. As I suspected, we jumped from rain and cool 50's right into mid-80's, but we should get some nicer weather later this week. The trees around here are finished blooming, but the ground last week was carpeted with pink blossoms outside of the nursing home!

And my annual Big Book Summer Challenge starts next Friday!! It sort of snuck up on me, with all that's been going on, but I do already have a stack of big books set aside. If you're new to the challenge, you can check out my post from Big Book Summer 2021 (this year's challenge page will go up on Friday, May 27). The challenge runs until early September, and the idea is to use summer (or winter, if you're in the southern hemisphere) to tackle a bigger book (or two or more!). A Big Book has 400 or more pages, and you can just choose one to read or devote the whole season to Big Books, like I do. 

So, get ready! Start looking through your shelves and your TBR list for those bigger books you've been putting off reading, and set them aside for Big Book Summer 2022! And this is the 10th anniversary of the challenge, so I will try to make it extra special, with a new logo, an extra giveaway, and some cool Big Book Summer products!

I uploaded two new book videos last week:

April Reading Wrap-Up - a quick recap of the five great books I read last month

Friday Reads 5-13-22 - my brief weekly update on what I'm reading

And here's what we've all been reading this past week:

I am still reading a Booktopia selection, a memoir called The Year of the Horses by Courtney Maum. I didn't get to her author session, but she gave a hilarious wrap-up talk about publishing a novel at the end of Booktopia Saturday night. This book, however, is about her personal battles with severe depression. She was married with a two-year-old daughter when her insomnia and other symptoms finally got bad enough for her to seek help. Looking back, she realized she had struggled since childhood. She turned back to her childhood passion, horses and riding, to help herself heal. I am about 80% finished now, but I did something I almost never do and set it aside briefly when I realized my neighborhood book group meets this week!

 

Luckily, I was able to get a library copy pretty quickly of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michelle Richardson for my book group. I didn't get much reading done at my mom's, but at bedtime last night I was able to get immersed in the story, and it is already so compelling! In 1936, nineteen-year-old Cussy is working as a Pack Horse Librarian, as part of the WPA, bringing books via horse or mule to her isolated neighbors in the Appalachian hills of eastern Kentucky. Cussy is the last living female of the Blue People of Kentucky, a family whose genetic defect that caused blue skin was passed down through generations. I had to go to Wikipedia yesterday to look this up, and it is all based on fact, including the location of Troublesome Creek. It's a wonderful historical novel so far, and Cussy is a fabulous heroine, spreading literacy and the joy of books through her very poor and insulated community.

 

On audio, I am still listening to The Hollows by Jess Montgomery, book two in the Kinship series, historical mysteries set in 1920's southeastern Ohio and featuring the first female sheriff in the state. This is also historical fiction (strange that I ended up by chance reading two books set in the Appalachians in about the same time period!). In book one, The Widows, Lily's husband dies and she is asked to take over his position as sheriff of the rural county, with her first job to investigate her husband's murder. Now, Lily is running for election on her own when an elderly woman is found dead on nearby train tracks, clearly having plunged from the tunnel overhead onto a moving freight train. As Lily begins her investigation, she starts to suspect this was not an accident. The story delves into the mystery, the sheriff's race, the difficult decision Lily's best friend must make, and even the KKK beginning to infiltrate their area. It is wonderful on audio and completely engrossing; I'm really enjoying it. 

My husband, Ken, is still reading the new book I put in his Easter basket, Afterland by Lauren Beukes. I picked this one out for him because we both liked Shining Girls, by the same author, and we are very excited about the new TV adaptation that started last week on Apple TV, starring ... Elizabeth Moss! We can't wait to watch it. Meanwhile, this newer novel from Beukes is a post-apocalyptic story about a world where most of the men are dead. A twelve-year-old boy named Miles is one of the few boys left, and his mother will protect him at any cost, from the many women who want a piece of him: as a scarce reproductive resource, a sex object, or a substitute son. It's described as a high-stakes thriller that Stephen King said is "smartly written," so it should be good!

 

I was able to catch up with our son's (27) reading this weekend! He finished reading The Written by Ben Galley, book one of the Emaneska series. It is fantasy, of course--his favorite genre. It's described as Game of Thrones meets Diehard and "an explosive epic fantasy."He said the plot was good but the characters felt a bit shallow to him. He's heard the second book is better, so he may try that. In the meantime, he has started reading a new-to-him series, Art of the Adept by Michael G. Manning, with book 1, The Choice of Magic. He's enjoying it so far. 

 Blog posts from last week:

Fiction Review: Black Cloud Rising by David Wright Faladé - Outstanding historical fiction about an all-Black regiment of freed slaves in the Civil War

Fiction Review: The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle - science fiction from the famous author, about an expedition that finds dinosaurs still alive in the modern world

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

You can follow me on Twitter at @SueBookByBook or on Facebook on my blog's page.  

What are you and your family reading this week?

 

Fiction Review: The Lost World

Looking for a classic among my huge audio book backlog, I was quite surprised to find The Lost World by Arthur Conan Doyle. I was surprised because this novel, published in 1912, is not about Sherlock Holmes. In fact, it's not even a mystery; it's science fiction. I had no idea that Doyle ever wrote science fiction, but apparently, this book was the start of his Professor Challenger series. The intriguing premise, action, and suspense of this unique novel kept me rapt.

The book is narrated by Ned, a journalist who wants to impress the woman he loves by embarking on some sort of rugged adventure. Just that kind of opportunity presents itself when he attends a scientific conference and hears Professor Challenger talk about his astounding discoveries. While on an expedition to a remote region of the Amazon basin in South America, Professor Challenger claims to have seen prehistoric animals--including dinosaurs--still living and thriving on a huge, isolated plateau. When his scientific colleagues laugh at his claims during the talk and don't believe him, he proposes another expedition, including another scientist (one of his detractors). Ned jumps at the chance to accompany them as a journalist, to document their findings ... and impress his beloved. The small group sets out and once in the region, hires a group of men to accompany them and help them on their journey through the rugged terrain. Following Professor Challenger's instructions and memories, they do indeed find the plateau, populated by strange and wondrous--and very dangerous--creatures unlike any that exist in modern times elsewhere. Their story is told through Ned's writings and drawings that he sends back home with native messengers, as they encounter strange beasts and even an entirely new kind of human.

This story was suspenseful and compelling on audio, as the team encounters one challenge after another and Ned documents their astounding findings. There is plenty of action and adventure in the novel, and it's easy to see how this story--originally serialized in a magazine--captured and held the attention of its 1912 audience. It's also interesting from a historical perspective, since the prehistoric creatures they encountered were based on the paleontological findings of that time. My one complaint was the racism throughout the narrative, that was, of course, a product of its time but is cringe-worthy nonetheless. The hired helpers on the expedition were referred to as "swarthy half-breeds" and described in unflattering terms, while the one African man hired to help was constantly described as "huge and ever-loyal," more positive terms, perhaps, but no less stereotyped and cringey. Despite these flaws (which many classics carry), I was engrossed in the action-packed and suspenseful narrative and fascinated by the descriptions of the creatures they encountered.

230 pages, Seawolf Press

FNH Audio

NOTE: While I listened to the audio book and normally recommend using Bookshop, which supports indie bookstores, for book purchases (links to both below), in this case, I recommend the 100th Anniversary edition from Seawolf Press, available from Amazon, which includes 50 original drawings that accompanied the book's original publication in magazines. From the "Look Inside" feature at that link, the drawings look detailed and gorgeous.

This book fits in the following 2022 Reading Challenges:

Monthly Motif - April - a book adapted into a TV series or movie (but, wow, this one looks so bad, complete with cheesy special effects and a busty, semi-clad woman--there's no woman on the expedition in the book.)

Back to the Classics Challenge - 20th century classic

2022 Alphabet Soup - L

Travel the World in Books Challenge - Brazil

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases from these links provide a small commission to me (pennies per purchase), to help offset the time I spend writing for this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Visit my YouTube Channel for more bookish fun!

 

Listen to a sample of the audiobook here and/or download it from Audible.

 

You can buy the book through Bookshop.org, where your purchase will support the indie bookstore of your choice (or all indie bookstores)--the convenience of shopping online while still buying local!

 

Or you can order The Lost World from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

 

Fiction Review: Black Cloud Rising

I know I've been talking here non-stop about Booktopia, which was held last weekend at Northshire Bookstore in Vermont, but it is just such an extraordinary and unique event! One of the many great things about it is the incredible books and authors that the booksellers choose to feature and invite to the event. One of those eight authors this year was David Wright Faladé and his powerful historical novel, Black Cloud Rising. This unique Civil War story was immersive, engrossing, thoughtful, and fascinating.

The novel begins when its narrator, Richard Etheridge, is just a young boy on Roanoke Island, near the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Richard was born into slavery, but his father is the master of the house, John Etheridge. John has adopted his nephew, Patrick, who is the same age as Richard, so the two boys--one a black slave and the other a white slave owner--grow up together like brothers. As Richard gets older, though, he realizes they are not equals and never will be, that Patrick enjoys privileges he never will and that, though John clearly likes Richard, he can never be his "real" son. When the boys are twenty-year-old men, the Union Army comes through their area, freeing slaves and offering them the opportunity to join the Union forces. Much to John and Patrick's dismay, Richard joins up and becomes a part of an all-Black regiment. In fact, Richard soon becomes a Sergeant, thanks to the education John allowed Richard to gain through his daughter's tutoring. The regiment, including many of Richard's childhood friends, are all freed slaves, led by a few white officers committed to abolition. They march through the Eastern marshlands of Virginia and North Carolina, going from house to house and farm to farm, fighting Confederate rebels and freeing slaves from sometimes-uncooperative slave owners. Through it all, Richard remembers times from his childhood and muses about how he will fit into society in the future.

On its surface, this is historical fiction about the Civil War--and it absolutely does illuminate a little-known aspect of the war--but it is so much more than that. There is such emotional complexity here that it is also a very intimate story, about Richard and his fellow newly-free soldiers. All of the characters are fully fleshed out, providing different viewpoints for these extraordinary events. Richard's family background adds to the thoughtful intricacies of race relations laid out here, as some white officers see the Black soldiers as mere physical force, while a few come to realize their full potential as thinking, feeling men. These thought-provoking details echo in the race issues we are still experiencing today. This novel is also beautifully written, with plenty of action and suspense folded into a captivating story. As with much historical fiction, I was fully absorbed in this small piece of history I knew nothing about, but I was also riveted by the rich emotional lives of Richard and the other characters. This was the author's first adult novel, and I can't wait to see what he writes next.

290 pages, Atlantic Monthly Press

Recorded Books

I fully enjoyed meeting David Wright Faladé at Booktopia and listening to his intriguing discussion of his book. For a small glimpse into this interesting author, watch this brief 12 Things with David Wright Faladé video from Bookfinity:

 

This book fits in the following 2022 Reading Challenges:

Diversity Reading Challenge

(that's it - believe it or not, this was my 3rd book read so far this year set in North Carolina!)

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases from these links provide a small commission to me (pennies per purchase), to help offset the time I spend writing for this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Visit my YouTube Channel for more bookish fun!

 

Listen to a sample of the audiobook here and/or download it from Audible. It sounds great!

 

You can buy the book through Bookshop.org, where your purchase will support the indie bookstore of your choice (or all indie bookstores)--the convenience of shopping online while still buying local!    

 

Or you can order Black Cloud Rising from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

 

It's Monday 5/9! What Are You Reading?

Hosted by The Book Date

First, Happy Mother's Day to all you moms and grandmas! I was away yesterday, so I didn't get to see either of my sons, but am looking forward to a little belated celebration with my husband and younger son tonight. I did spend the day with my own mom, so that worked out well. In fact, we spent all weekend together.

And, wow, what a weekend! She and I drove to Vermont for Booktopia 2022, an annual weekend-long event for authors and readers, held at the fabulous Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT.

Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT

I will be writing up a full summary with lots of photos here on the blog--and recording a video, too--but briefly, it's a weekend packed full of author talks, great meals, lots of book discussions, getting to know the authors, book trivia, a Yankee Book Swap, and most of all, hanging out with book-loving friends, both old and new. Many of us return each year (this was my mom's and my 5th time!), and after the two-year break for the pandemic, it was extra-special to gather together again for our annual event. It's paradise for book lovers and avid readers!

Our book trivia team! Author Jane Pek is on the far left.

The eight authors chosen by Northshire booksellers this year were outstanding (as always). I have some work to do to catch up on reviews, but I've already reviewed three of the books, which were among my favorites:

Country of Origin by Dalia Azim, a riveting novel of family, immigration, coming of age, and more.

Six Walks: In the Footsteps of Henry David Thoreau by Ben Shattuck, a beautifully written memoir that weaves together the author's experiences, Thoreau's experiences, and gorgeous nature writing.

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb, a fan favorite at Booktopia, an engrossing mystery that incorporates family drama, historical fiction, and music.

Watch for the rest of my reviews (because all of the books were great!) and my Booktopia summary and video.

Speaking of videos, I only had time to post one new video on my YouTube channel last week, but it's a fun one! Let's Get Outside Tag is a fun "BookTube" meme all about books related to nature and the outdoors, with some fun questions woven in. You can watch it at the link.

And, here's what we've all been reading this past week--my reading was mostly focused on Booktopia:

While in Vermont, I finished reading The Verifiers by Jane Pek ... after eating dinner with the author! She is super-smart and was great at book trivia. The novel is a mystery/thriller with an intriguing main character and a great sense of humor. Claudia is sort of the black sheep of her "model minority" Chinese-American family, so she hasn't even told them about her new job. She works for a company that people can hire to investigate their "match" from one of the many dating apps. One woman comes to them, and Cluadia investigates two men for her, but then the client dies suddenly. Since Claudia loves detective novels, she begins looking into the mysterious death, even though her bosses tell her to let it go. From there, there are lots of fun twists and turns to the story, as Claudia tries to find out what happened. She is an awesome protagonist, and the author has a wonderful way with words. I was often laughing out loud but also turning the pages in suspense!

 

Next, I started on another Booktopia selection, a memoir called The Year of the Horses by Courtney Maum. I didn't get to her author session, but she gave a hilarious wrap-up talk about publishing a novel at the end Saturday night. This book, however, is not hilarious. It's about her personal battles with severe depression. She's married with a two-year-old daughter when her insomnia and other symptoms finally get bad enough for her to seek help. Looking back, she realizes, she has struggled since childhood. She turns back to her childhood passion, horses and riding, to help herself heal. I'm only 20% of the way in, but it's good so far--honest and moving.

 

I needed an engaging audio book for my long drive back and forth this weekend, and my favorite podcast, Book Cougars, gave me just the inspiration I needed (by the way, they are Booktopians, so I got to catch up with them this weekend and will appear in an upcoming episode!). In their latest Episode 154, they talk to author Jess Montgomery, which reminded me that I really enjoyed her first book in the Kinship series, The Widows (my review at the link), so I chose book two, The Hollows, for my road trip audio. This series of historical mysteries is based on the real-life first woman sheriff in Ohio in the 1920's. In this fictionalized version, Lily took office when her husband, the current sheriff, was killed (in book 1). Now, Lily is running for election on her own when an elderly woman is found dead on nearby train tracks, clearly having plunged from the tunnel overhead onto a moving freight train. As Lily begins her investigation, she starts to suspect this was not an accident. The story delves into the mystery, the sheriff's race, the difficult decision Lily's best friend must make, and even the KKK beginning to infiltrate their area. It is a completely immersive story that helped the miles fly by, which was especially helpful last night when I was exhausted with terrible back pain and trying to get home!

 

My husband, Ken, is still reading the new book I put in his Easter basket, Afterland by Lauren Beukes. I picked this one out for him because we both liked Shining Girls, by the same author, and we are very excited about the new TV adaptation that started last week on Apple TV, starring ... Elizabeth Moss! We can't wait to watch it. Meanwhile, this newer novel from Beukes is a post-apocalyptic story about a world where most of the men are dead. A twelve-year-old boy named Miles is one of the few boys left, and his mother will protect him at any cost, from the many women who want a piece of him: as a scarce reproductive resource, a sex object, or a substitute son. It's described as a high-stakes thriller that Stephen King said is "smartly written," so it should be good!

 

Our son, 27, finished reading book 6, Faith of the Fallen, in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind, a favorite of his. After reading three from that series in a row, he is now reading something new, The Written by Ben Galley, book one of the Emaneska series. It is fantasy, of course--his favorite genre. (You should see the stack of awesome books I found for his birthday at Northshire this weekend!) It's described at Game of Thrones meets Diehard and "an explosive epic fantasy." Sounds like a good one!

No new blog posts last week! Too busy reading and talking books.

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

You can follow me on Twitter at @SueBookByBook or on Facebook on my blog's page.  

What are you and your family reading this week?

 

It's Monday 5/2! What Are You Reading?

 Hosted by The Book Date

Welcome to May! (May? Really?) Our weather here is still cooler than usual, but we've had some nice days mixed in. I fear we will jump from temperatures in the 50's to the 80's and skip right past the good stuff! This is a two-week catch-up post because we took a couple of days off last week to go camping.

Our favorite campsite on the Elk River

 

It was our first time out for the season, and we can't go far (or for long) because of my elderly father-in-law, but it was nice to have a little break, while our son checked in on his grandad. We went to Elk Neck State Park in Maryland and stayed on our favorite campsite--see that wonderful water view? We love being right on the water--it's so calming and peaceful. From there, it's a short walk down to this little beach, which has been a favorite for spot of ours for decades--our sons loved to swim and play in the sand there when they were little.

My husband on the beach

My sons and I playing in the same spot in 1999!

It got a bit cool and very windy the second day, but a campfire helped keep things cozy, with plenty of reading time, of course!

Cozy by the fire with my book!

We returned home Tuesday by noon ... and then left again on Friday! I had another book signing at Browseabout Books, an amazing indie bookstore in nearby Rehoboth Beach, DE. We love the store, and we love the town, so we enjoyed another mini getaway after my book signing on Saturday. We had a great lunch with our son and his girlfriend and relaxed. We came back Sunday, in time to visit my father-in-law.

At my book signing Saturday

And I leave again on Thursday! After not traveling for more than two years, this few-week period with four trips is a bit overwhelming. Next weekend is Booktopia, an annual book event held at the fabulous Northshire Bookstore in Manchester, VT (click Events). My mom and I usually go together, though of course it was cancelled the past two years. All the regulars (Booktopians!) are super excited to get back there this week and see each other again ... but newbies are always welcome, too! It's a relaxed weekend of authors and readers hanging out together and talking books. There are still tickets available, and you can read my summary of Booktopia 2019 to get an idea of what it's like. The town is also wonderful, with lots of great inns and restaurants. 

My mom and I at Booktopia 2018

For obvious reasons, I only had time last week for one quick video, my usual Friday Reads summary of what I'm reading, but this one also includes some short videos of our camping trip, for your relaxation!

And, here's what we've all been reading the past two weeks:

My focus has been entirely on Booktopia books! The booksellers at Northshire chose eight books (all recent releases) whose authors will be at the event this weekend, so I try to read as many as I can ahead of time. After finishing Black Cloud Rising by David Wright Falade (which was outstanding), I moved onto The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb. Wow, this novel was amazing! Perhaps my favorite of the Booktopia books so far (a tie with Country of Origin). It begins with a crime, the theft of a $10 million Stradivarius violin from Ray, a famous Black violinist. But this novel is so much more than just a mystery. The story moves back in time to look at how Ray got to the upper echelons of classical music, from his start as a poor Black kid playing a rental instrument, with no support from his family, classmates, or music teacher. It's also historical fiction, tracing Ray's family history (and the violin's history) back to slavery times, family drama, mystery, and so much more. You can hear a bit more in my Friday Reads video or read my review. I can't wait to meet the author this weekend!

 

I am now reading another Booktopia selection, The Verifiers by Jane Pek. This is a mystery/thriller with an intriguing main character and a great sense of humor. Claudia is sort of the black sheep of her "model minority" Chinese family, so she hasn't even told her family about her new job. She works for a company that people can hire to investigate their "match" from one of the many dating apps. One woman comes to them, and Cluadia investigates two men for her, but then the client dies suddenly. Since Claudia loves detective novels, she begins looking into the mysterious death, even though her bosses tell her to let it go. Claudia is an awesome protagonist, and the author has a wonderful way with words. I have been often laughing out loud while reading!

 

On audio, I finished listening to a new-release historical novel, The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn, my first of her novels. During WWII, a Russian woman became one of the war's deadliest snipers, better than her male counterparts. Mila is a single mother at the beginning of the book, working on her degree in history while managing a job in the library and bringing up her young son. Her shooting skills catch the eye of the Russian military, and she soon finds herself in the midst of war, where she quickly gains a reputation as "Lady Death." In 1942, she visits the White House with a contingent of Russians to try to convince President Roosevelt to enter the war and help provide a western front to assist in fighting off the Nazis. Then--and during the US tour that follows--Mila becomes friends with Eleanor Roosevelt. It's a wonderful novel, with fascinating historical detail but also an intimate look at this woman who was both a killer and a mother. Definitely recommended!

 

My husband, Ken, just finished reading I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara. Neither of us reads a lot of nonfiction and rarely true crime, but I got this book as a gift from my son's girlfriend and really enjoyed it. This chilling, captivating true story is about a serial rapist and killer in California who outwitted police for decades, mainly by moving around. Writer McNamara heard about some of the cases and began investigating on her own, eventually helping police to connect diverse cases all over the state before her untimely death. Her husband, actor Patton Oswald, and her research assistant finished the book. It's a riveting read, and Ken and I talked about it this weekend.

 

Now, Ken has started the new book I put in his Easter basket, Afterland by Lauren Beukes. I picked this one out for him because we both liked Shining Girls, by the same author, and we are very excited about the new TV adaptation that started this weekend on Apple TV, starring ... Elizabeth Moss! We can't wait to watch it. Meanwhile, this newer novel from Beukes is a post-apocalyptic story about a world where most of the men are dead. A twelve-year-old boy named Miles is one of the few boys left, and his mother will protect him at any cost, from the many women who want a piece of him: as a scarce reproductive resource, a sex object, or a substitute son. It's described as a high-stakes thriller that Stephen King said is "smartly written," so it should be good!

 

Our son is still enjoying the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. He finished reading book 5, Soul of the Fire, and immediately moved onto book 6, Faith of the Fallen. Keep in mind these books are each between 500-1000 pages! He's been working a lot, but his work includes downtime during his shift when he can read. He's loving this series!

New blog posts:

Fiction Review: This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger - I gave this extraordinary novel a perfect 10 in my book group - moving, suspenseful, warm historical fiction

TV Tuesday: Transplant - a medical drama with a twist, about a Syrian refuge doctor, struggling to make a new life for himself and his sister in Canada.

Fiction Review: The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb - outstanding novel that mixes mystery, historical fiction, and family drama

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

You can follow me on Twitter at @SueBookByBook or on Facebook on my blog's page.  

What are you and your family reading this week?

Fiction Review: The Violin Conspiracy

I've been reading books for the upcoming Booktopia weekend (my 2019 summary at the link; info for Booktopia 2022 here - click Events and scroll), and they have all been outstanding, as always. The booksellers at Northshire Bookstore always choose amazing books and authors. My latest Booktopia read, The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb, was perhaps my favorite of the bunch so far! It starts out as a mystery but turns into so much more: family drama, history, up-close look at racism, romance, and more. It was so compelling that I could hardly bear to set it down!

Ray McMillian is a rising star in the world of classical violin, but he is often not recognized as such for one simple reason: he's Black. But Ray has struggled against racism his whole life and has finally proven himself; he's soloing with top orchestras and will be competing in the Tchaikovsky Competition, the Olympics of classical music. Then one day, as he leaves New York for his home in North Carolina, his world crumbles. His beloved violin--a Stradivarius valued at $10 million--has been stolen. This violin is not only a big part of what helped him finally rise in others' estimation, it also has great personal importance to him, given to him by his beloved grandmother. That violin is like one of his own limbs, and its absence is unbelievably painful. Given its value, a whole team jumps in to investigate its disappearance: the NYPD, the FBI's Art Crimes Division, and a top investigator from his insurance company (which stands to lose $10 million). As the investigation continues with few good leads, the story moves back in time to show how Ray came to this extraordinary life he's been leading. We learn about his very unsupportive family, his loving grandmother, his family's history, and the astounding history of the violin, going back to slavery times. Along the way, we also watch Ray's rise to stardom, from a poor kid excelling with a cheap rental violin from school to the extraordinary international reputation he now has as a top violinist. Oh, yes, and we finally find out what happened to the missing violin but not before some big surprises.

This is such an extraordinary novel, with so much depth to it and so many layers. It's a twisty mystery, particularly at the beginning and the end. In between, though, the underlying story completely engrossed me with its fascinating family history, the horrifying racism Ray experiences (based on the author's own experiences as a Black musician), his rags to riches rise to fame, and even a love story. Through it all, the author maintains a steady tension that kept me glued to the book, staying up much too late each night because I just had to know what happened next. This novel is, itself, a virtuoso performance incorporating complexities and emotions that kept me on the edge of my seat and building to a stunning crescendo. I can't wait to meet the author next week at Booktopia!

337 pages, Anchor Books

This book fits in the following 2022 Reading Challenges:

Alphabet Soup Challenge - V

Diversity Challenge

Travel the World in Books - Russia

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases from these links provide a small commission to me (pennies per purchase), to help offset the time I spend writing for this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Visit my YouTube Channel for more bookish fun!

 

Listen to a sample of the audiobook here and/or download it from Audible. The narrator, JD Jackson, sounds great!

 

You can buy the book through Bookshop.org, where your purchase will support the indie bookstore of your choice (or all indie bookstores)--the convenience of shopping online while still buying local!

 

 

Or you can order The Violin Conspiracy from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.