The Book Jotter by way of Nan at Letters from a Hill Farm , has a meme, Six in Six, sort of a half way through the year check in. It's not a highlight of the Raptors basketball season, or the six players who meant the most to their championship run, which is something you might expect to find here on my blog, being a huge basketball house that I live in. Toronto is known as 'the six' thanks to Drake, who is closely connected to the Toronto Raptors. Anyway, back to books. I haven't repeated any books, but there are a few that could fit in more than one category.
1. Six new authors to me (and understood to mean, I'd read again)
1. Six new authors to me (and understood to mean, I'd read again)
I liked this unlikely romance between two young people who were continually drawn back to each other.
Inside the O'Briens - Lisa Genova 🎧
Somewhat predictable story, but well-done family drama about a tight-knit Boston family whose patriarch is diagnosed with a terrible, hereditary disease
Somewhat predictable story, but well-done family drama about a tight-knit Boston family whose patriarch is diagnosed with a terrible, hereditary disease
An American Marriage - Tayari Jones 🎧
A Women's Prize for Fiction short-listed book about a marriage that faces unfortunate circumstances, where no one is right or wrong, so it was sad
A Women's Prize for Fiction short-listed book about a marriage that faces unfortunate circumstances, where no one is right or wrong, so it was sad
The Mars Room - Rachel Kushner 🎧
A view of women in prison, also sad, but kept me interested.
A view of women in prison, also sad, but kept me interested.
The Library Book - Susan Orlean 🎧
Great non-fiction read for book-lovers and library lovers, with a little bit for true crime fans as this book centers on a 1980s fire at the Los Angeles library
Great non-fiction read for book-lovers and library lovers, with a little bit for true crime fans as this book centers on a 1980s fire at the Los Angeles library
Wild Bird - Wendelin Van Draanen 🎧
YA book about a messed up fourteen year old who gets sent to a wilderness rehab situation done quite well
2. Six authors I have read before
YA book about a messed up fourteen year old who gets sent to a wilderness rehab situation done quite well
2. Six authors I have read before
Reid is finding a nice niche in writing tabloid-type stories about somewhat famous people. Daisy Jones was a seventies rock icon and the novel is written in interview style. Easy reading.
Nine Perfect Strangers - Liane Moriarty 🎧 (Big Little Lies)
Multiple view points, many characters (nine!) all in an isolated situation, with slowly revealed connections. I love this kind of story.
Multiple view points, many characters (nine!) all in an isolated situation, with slowly revealed connections. I love this kind of story.
Kingdom of the Blind - Louise Penny 
🎧
Book fourteen in the Gamauche series set in Three Pines
🎧Book fourteen in the Gamauche series set in Three Pines
Warlight - Michael Ondaatje 🎧 (The English Patient)
Post WW2 London with some interesting characters, looks at what makes a family. More literature and layered than my usual fare
🎧 (The English Patient)Post WW2 London with some interesting characters, looks at what makes a family. More literature and layered than my usual fare
Who Do You Love - Jennifer Weiner 🎧 (Fly Away Home)
Pretty easy reading, with two (kinda unlikeable) characters who are drawn to each other over the years in different ways. Won't break any stereotypes but still, a great beach read book.
Pretty easy reading, with two (kinda unlikeable) characters who are drawn to each other over the years in different ways. Won't break any stereotypes but still, a great beach read book.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Annie Barrows, Mary Ann Shaffer🎧
I haven't read this author more than once, I've only read this same book twice, and it was just as charming the second time around. Next up is to watch the movie on Netflix.
3. Six books I have enjoyed the most
3. Six books I have enjoyed the most
Lives up to the hype, part nature book, part mystery, part loneliness study, this was a wonderful book.
Milkman - Anna Burns (ebook)
This won't be for everyone, but I loved it. You would know very quickly if you liked the writing style, Irish stream of consciousness, set during the Troubles
This won't be for everyone, but I loved it. You would know very quickly if you liked the writing style, Irish stream of consciousness, set during the Troubles
Brown Girl Dreaming - Jacqueline Woodson 🎧
Amazing novel in verse memoir. If you get a chance to listen, you should.
Amazing novel in verse memoir. If you get a chance to listen, you should.
The Swans of Fifth Avenue - Melanie Benjamin 🎧
I've raved about this one already. Fictional account of Truman Capote in New York City and his socialite women friends. There's another book, Swan Song, based on this story. It's ripe for writing about!
I've raved about this one already. Fictional account of Truman Capote in New York City and his socialite women friends. There's another book, Swan Song, based on this story. It's ripe for writing about!
A Study in Scarlet Women - Sherry Thomas 🎧
Another play on Sherlock Holmes, but with women. I'm looking forward to reading another book in the series.
Another play on Sherlock Holmes, but with women. I'm looking forward to reading another book in the series.
My Sister, the Serial Killer - Oyinkan Braithwaite 🎧
Black comedy maybe? It was interesting and won the Tournament of Books this March. It think it was good because it was such a surprise.
4. Six series of books read or started
Black comedy maybe? It was interesting and won the Tournament of Books this March. It think it was good because it was such a surprise.
4. Six series of books read or started
Fun, surprisingly deep, middle school book set on Alcatraz during the '50s.
Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay - Elena Ferrente (book 3 of 4)
Continuing saga of those frenemies in Italy.
Continuing saga of those frenemies in Italy.
The Tainted Coin - Mel Starr (book 5 of 11)
Hugh de Singleton, 14th century surgeon and bailiff who solves murders, great for fans of Brother Cadfael
Hugh de Singleton, 14th century surgeon and bailiff who solves murders, great for fans of Brother Cadfael
The Ruin - Devla McTiernan 🎧 (book 1 of 2, so far, it's a new series)
This feels like it could be part of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series, but shorter. Great start to a new series and I can't wait for the next one.
This feels like it could be part of Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad series, but shorter. Great start to a new series and I can't wait for the next one.
Always and Forever, Lara Jean - Jenny Han (book 3 of 3)
Dear Lara Jean and her adorable boyfriend Peter, are dealing with finishing high school and moving on to university.
Dear Lara Jean and her adorable boyfriend Peter, are dealing with finishing high school and moving on to university.
A Dublin Student Doctor - Patrick Taylor 🎧 (book 6 of 13)
This was a flashback to Fingal O'Reilly's days in medical school, but so easy to read and so charming.
5. Six From the Non-Fiction Shelf
🎧 (book 6 of 13)This was a flashback to Fingal O'Reilly's days in medical school, but so easy to read and so charming.
5. Six From the Non-Fiction Shelf
Crazy off the grid family memoir about a daughter who sought education as a way out
Everything Bad is Good for You: How Today's Popular Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter - Steven Johnson
Social science that says TV and video games are not the worst thing ever! I am becoming quite a fan of this nonfiction author.
Social science that says TV and video games are not the worst thing ever! I am becoming quite a fan of this nonfiction author.
The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump - Andrew G McCabe 🎧
You've heard McCabe called down by Trump on CNN, now read his side of the story. (hint, someone is more credible sounding than the other) One cool thing in this book was the reference to a 2006 incident with a terrorist trying to get on a plane with a liquid bomb. It was cool because my sister and mother and I were travelling during this time period and our trip back home with no carry-on luggage was significantly different than our trip over.
You've heard McCabe called down by Trump on CNN, now read his side of the story. (hint, someone is more credible sounding than the other) One cool thing in this book was the reference to a 2006 incident with a terrorist trying to get on a plane with a liquid bomb. It was cool because my sister and mother and I were travelling during this time period and our trip back home with no carry-on luggage was significantly different than our trip over.
Murder at McDonald's: The Killers Next Door - Phonse Jessome (ebook)
Just like we are encouraged to #eatlocal, #readlocal also applies. I loved this true crime read about horrific murders in nearby Cape Breton that I remember from a distance.
(ebook)Just like we are encouraged to #eatlocal, #readlocal also applies. I loved this true crime read about horrific murders in nearby Cape Breton that I remember from a distance.
Force of Nature: The Frontier Genius of Ernest Rutherford - Richard Reeves
Great biography of one half of Bohr-Rutherford fame, for you students who remember your chemistry.
Great biography of one half of Bohr-Rutherford fame, for you students who remember your chemistry.
Bad Blood - John Carryroo 🎧
Fascinating read about the biggest fraud in the bio-tech industry. You will want to learn more about Elizabeth Holmes after this investigation.
6. Six Canadian Authored Books
Fascinating read about the biggest fraud in the bio-tech industry. You will want to learn more about Elizabeth Holmes after this investigation.
6. Six Canadian Authored Books
🎧The vanities of art, and the troubles of family.
The Golden Tresses of the Dead - Alan Bradley
🎧The last of the Flavia de Luce mysteries was well done, but I'm ready for the series to end.
The Lost Girls of Camp Forevermore - Kim Fu
🎧Premise was good and it started strong, but I found it fizzled out by the end
Blink & Caution - Tim Wynne-Jones
🎧I enjoyed this young adult adventure through Toronto about two runaways
French Exit - Patrick deWitt
(ebook)deWitt's follow-up to The Brothers Sisters, the author shows he can write different styles. This was more of a Oscar Wilde comedy of manners?
I Am a Truck - Michelle Winters
This was the winner in this section - cute little book set in rural New Brunswick about a husband who goes missing and his wife picking up the pieces. Quite a bit of French in this but my high school French came through enough.
