Thanks to the election, November started as a slow reading month for me. For a solid two weeks, I was slogging through my one sub-300 page book. Note to self for 2024 (or any stressful moment really): plan to be reading something light! But eventually I pushed through, and with the long Thanksgiving weekend, I got some good reading in by the end. Read on for some recommendations!

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

3/5 Stars

Two adult siblings reminisce on their childhood, their father’s spiteful second wife, and their lost family fortune. This book is not for me. I'll start by giving due credit to the writing: Ann Patchett is undeniably a masterful writer. I could easily picture the setting, the characters were fully developed. I just am personally not interested in the trials and travails of formerly rich people. I found myself zoning in and out. There is also just not a lot of action; it's mostly dialogue, and that's not my personal preference. I like books that are more dynamic, so like I said, this wasn't the book for me.

History of Wolves by Emily Fridlund

3/5 Stars

When her favorite teacher is suspected of having a relationship with a student named Lily, 14-year-old Madeline doesn’t believe it and grows resentful when he is forced to resign. Then Madeline finds herself complicit in the death of a young boy she babysat.

I was so confused by the plot. This is one of those books that I can't tell if I love or hate. On the one hand, the writing is simply beautiful, and I had the sense that there are some seriously smart themes and symbolism going on. On the other, I just was left with so many questions (and not in a good way).

There are two fascinating storylines running through this novel, one about a rape accusation and the other about a child allowed to die by parental negligence. This excellently woven plot has one fatal flaw for me: it is told by the character I care least about. I was completely uninterested in Linda's views/experiences. She's a bystander in both of the plot lines, which had the negative effect of making me as the reader feel distanced from the action. Literally every other character in this book was more interesting than Linda, and that was frustrating.

Also frustrating were the seemingly random details: why is Linda called two different names? Who the hell is Ann? What was all that about the missing cat? By the end, I came away with the sense that this potentially brilliant novel was bogged down by trying to be too complex.

Midnight Sun by Stephanie Meyer

4/5 Stars

The exact plot of Twilight from Edward Cullen’s perspective.

I'm not ashamed to admit that I enjoyed this book. It’s written for people who grew up reading Twilight, and in fact, I think it was much better than the original Twilight for one major reason: Edward is a much more fascinating main character than boring-ass Bella.

Besides the "she's not like other humans" cliches, I would not say it is poorly written, but I'd say it's poorly edited; many passages went on for far too long after they'd made their point, and there is no way to make the "favorite color" conversation of early dating anything but a snooze fest, so just cut it.

I am still unconvinced of Bella's attraction. This book does make some headway in explaining why Edward is drawn to her (besides her scent): she's kind and unpredictable, but that's about it.

Like Twilight, Midnight Sun still has the central question of should Edward change Bella? And that I think is what makes these books more than just a flash in the pan. It does have that complexity at its core, even if all the characters are tropes and the writing is occasionally eye roll-inducing. Meyer really hit on something with these books, and she deserves more credit for that.

Born to Run by Christopher McDougall

5/5 Stars

After a foot injury that takes him out of commission, a middle-aged novice runner goes on quest to discover why running injuries are on the rise and the secrets of one Mexican ultrarunning tribe.

Such a fascinating and immersive look at the evolutionary purpose of endurance running. It was well-paced and read like a story, not a research paper. The book examines many angles to running, from super-athletes and their legendary stories to the evolution of the modern running shoe to the running methods and lifestyle of the Tarahumara people. Did it convert me to running barefoot? No, but it did make me more aware of my sedentary habits.

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

2/5 Stars

In 1913, Laura Lyons has bigger dreams than just being the wife of the New York City Public Library superintendent, so she pursues a career in journalism and soon discovers a radical group of women’s rights activists. Eighty years later, her granddaughter is tasked with curating one of the library’s biggest collections—but then rare books start to go missing.

Unfortunately for me, this was a very blah book. Between my inability to connect with the characters and the not very exciting crime of stolen rare books, there just wasn't much for me to keep reading...although I DID keep reading, which is why I gave it 2 stars. And I'm a person who loves books! So you'd think this was a story written specifically for me, but alas, it was honestly forgettable, which is a shame.

The Death of Mrs. Westaway by Ruth Ware

3.5/5 Stars

Hal receives a letter informing her she’s been named as an heir to the deceased Mrs. Westaway, whom she’s never heard of. But strapped for cash, she decides to go along with it, and soon discovers she’s waded in to something much more sinister.

I think the main character development was the strongest aspect, especially since I like the tarot card element and the book's realistic treatment of it. The gothic atmosphere was also solid, although the constant repetition of how cold it was got to be too much at times.

I found the plot pretty slow; it wasn't until 3/4 through that something actually sinister happens. Prior to that, there were just odd happenings that weren't necessarily spooky, but just raised questions. But I was pleasantly surprised at how much heart the plot ultimately had at its core, with the big theme of family being central. I guess I was just expecting something scarier/darker.