Happy happy Tuesday!
It’s BOOK DAY!
This month, I am reviewing FIVE books!
It was a big variety this month. I have a little suspense, a little historical fiction, one by my favorite author, and a memoir-ish book too.
Settle in for one big book post (and maybe nibble on one of my Apple Butter Oatmeal Cookies?!) and enjoy!
Let’s start with…
Book #1 this month was:
….The Story Keeper by Kelly Rimmer.
As many of you know, this was our SEPTEMBER BOOK CLUB pick! If you have read this book, please head to THIS POST to discuss. If you haven’t read this book, let me give you a spoiler-free review below…
I am a HUGE fan of this author. Her book The Things We Cannot Say was MY FAVORITE BOOK OF 2019, and her book, The Paris Agent, was my FAVORITE BOOK OF 2023!
She’s the only author that has ever received my #1 spot multiple times.
All of that to say, I did not enjoy her latest novel.
This is the story of an Australian woman who buys her deceased uncle’s estate. Everyone from her mother to the neighbors to the strangers in town think it’s an odd purchase since this home was known to be haunted.
Sigh.
I actually would have liked this story more if it had been a “meaty” horror story, but instead, I found it a little cheesy and very predictable.
Since the novel is “suspenseful”, I don’t want to give anything a way, but needless to say, this one fell very flat for me.
Book #2:
Receipts From the Bookshop by Katie Clapham
Well this book was just SO CHARMING!
Goodness, I really enjoyed it.
The author herself lives in a little seaside town in England and co-owns a bookshop with her mom. She spent a year writing journal entries of the funny tales, whimsical customers, and daily life as a bookstore owner. The book opens the first day back after the holiday break at the beginning of January and goes until the end of the year.
Spoiler alert: you will want to head immediately to your independent book seller after reading this and buy a bunch of books.
The author is funny and witty as she describes her daily life in the shop, but she’s also very honest about how hard it is to keep a little book shop in business. If you love books, you will love this memoir. It’s the book every reader should read.
Book #3:
The Thoroughbreds by Elin Hilderbrand
I don’t know about you, but I have been waiting a whole year for this one!
Last September, I reviewed the first book in this series, The Academy, and I loved it. It’s very “quintessential” Elin but with a fall twist. If you haven’t read that book first, you absolutely should before diving into this sequel. The characters and storyline pick up right where the other one left off.
In this novel, we head right back into the New England boarding school where the cast of characters includes everyone from students to admin. There is a little suspense, a little love, and a big peek into boarding school life.
Do I love these stories as much as I do her Nantucket novels? No. Do I find them very entertaining, easy to read, and very fall? Yes!
I will say that even though this was a fun, fall read…I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first one. In my opinion, the first novel had a nice balance of adult narrative and student narrative…where I felt this one was a bit too much about the students. Hilderbrand’s Nantucket and St. John books are almost exclusively about adults which…I guess I prefer.
If you liked the first one, pick this one up. If you were on the fence about the first one, I’d probably pass.
And now it’s time for…
…except this month, I listened to TWO audiobooks both based on YOUR suggestions!
Woohoo!
Okay, first up…
Book #4:
The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
You guys, why didn’t I read this one when it was released five years ago? Why people? Why?
This book was SO GOOD! From beginning to end, I loved it. If you have been living under a rock like me and haven’t read or listened to this one, stop what you’re doing and do it now. Without a doubt, this was the best book of the month for me.
This is historical fiction about three young British women working in a secret sect of intelligence outside of London during World War II. These three women couldn’t be more different, but they form a friendship during war time that lasts a lifetime.
This story toggles back and forth between WWII and then the weeks leading up to Queen Elizabeth marrying Phillip. I don’t want to give anything away because this story has a big problem/issue/mystery that you’re trying to resolve from beginning to end.
Whether you read or listen to the book, make sure you stay for the acknowledgments at the end where the author goes back into history and shares the real people behind these fictitious characters (and some not-so-fictitious…like Prince Phillip!).
Truly, truly this will be a book I recommend to people moving forward. I loved each main character, sub-character…every character. I actually cried at one point listening. My heart broke for these people. I was nervous for these people. I was rooting for them and invested in them…the whole book is so well done.
As far as listening to this one, it’s narrated by one person who I thought did an excellent job. Was her voice as magical as the narrator for Lady Tremaine? Not quite, but she added value to my experience without taking anything away. I did not find her distracting/over the top/boring/dull. I couldn’t quit listening and finished this one quickly.
This was a FIVE STAR book for me! I loved it!
And the second audiobook I listened to this month was…
Book #5:
Whistler by Ann Patchett
Awwwwww, yes. This was also a rec from you ladies. Brace yourselves, I have a lot of thoughts.
My first thought is that I am clearly a person who judges books by their covers because the cover alone was making me not to want to read this one. Anyone else? I could not muster the enthusiasm to actually read a horse book, so when several of you suggested I listen to this one, I did.
Spoiler alert: it’s not about a horse.
This is a beautifully written novel about a woman and her stepfather toggling back and forth between present day NYC and then about 40ish years prior outside of Boston. (See? Confusing. I really thought it was going to be about a horse.)
I really did think it was beautifully written. Patchett has a way with words that pull you into a story and keep you there without a lot of pomp and circumstance. This story is layered with topics from childhood to divorce to tragedy and hope and resilience and forgiveness and remembering the details in life that are small at the time but profound in the end. It really was a great book about this woman and her relationship with her stepfather. That being said (I feel like you knew that was coming), I found the whole book a little melancholy. It’s very reflective. It’s very introspective.
When the story was over, I wasn’t sure what I thought. It was good. I was entertained. I was a little sad though. Given the chance again, I don’t know that I would have selected this one.
I would call this book “vanilla”. It’s good but not really flavorful. Does that make sense?
Since I’m new to this audiobook thing, I would LOVE some feedback about this…the author herself read this story which, in the end, I don’t think I particularly enjoyed. Her voice was soothing and peaceful which might have been part of the “vanilla” aspect. As the story was being read to me, it didn’t have a lot of “zip” or personality. I think that might have contributed to the flat, melancholy vibe I received.
Any thoughts? I genuinely would love to know.
This book was fine. It was good. I don’t know that I’m recommending it. I am though just letting you know, it’s not about a horse. 😉
And that’s my SEPTEMBER BOOK REVIEW!
Don’t forget…
To see the complete list of books I read in 2015 (all 63 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2016 (all 62 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2017 (all 62 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2018 (all 61 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2019 (all 54 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2020 (all 54 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2021 (all 59 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2022 (all 60 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2023 (all 51 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2024 (all 58 of them), click here.
To see the complete list of books I read in 2025 (all 58 of them), click here.
If you want to stay current on all of the books I’m reading in 2026, THIS PAGE HERE is where I keep the books, authors and reviews each month.
Don’t forget, we would love, love to have you join us in October for our BOOK CLUB!
Next month, we are reading…
…Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult and discussing it on October 22nd.
Alrighty, let’s chat books in the comment section!
I’ll see you back here tomorrow, friends! xx
Natasha says
After I read The Rose Code, I fell down the Bletchley Park rabbit hole and read a TON of non-fiction about code breaking. Did you know there was a complex similar to Bletchley Park in the US and it focused more on Japanese code breaking? Check out Arlington Hall. I can’t remember specific book titles, and no fiction ones I could find, but I just thought the whole thing was FASCINATING!
Mix and Match Mama says
I had no idea! This book opened up a whole new side of WWII for me!
Leah Z says
If you’re interested in code breaking, do a little digging into the Navajo Code Talkers! Fascinating stuff!
Dawn Timmons says
Yeah for your new perspective on audiobooks!
Some super sweet ones to consider for Christmas and Winter are in the Red Gloves Series by Karen Kingsbury. They are sweet shorter stories to read or listen to as an audiobook:
Gideon’s Gift
Maggie’s Miracle (Also a Hallmark Movie)
Sarah’s Song
Hannah’s Hope
I think your daughters would love these stories too!
Tracie says
I highly recommend you add The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion to your reading list! Admittedly I didn’t love the first book, but kept going and they get better and better. I read the books first but am now listening to them again as audiobooks. The audiobooks are excellent too, but there are quite a few characters to keep track of and if learning the story for the first time I think it might be easier in print. I think your teen girls would also enjoy!
Kristy says
I second this! My 16 year old daughter is re-reading them and I got my 13 year old hooked on the audiobooks on a long car trip
Kelly says
I second this recommendation. These were so fun to read!! I loved them so much!
Lorraine Holland says
I LOVE Emma M Lions. She is just delightful!!!
Michelle Sherrod says
Yes! I HIGHLY recommend reading Emma M Lion via Audiobooks. I’ve read the series all the way through 3 times, once in print and twice in audio. The narrator is fantastic. In fact, Dame Helen Mirren just mentioned these books in an interview with Pierce Brosnan. It’s so so good!
Jessica says
Yes!!!! I’m on Vol 6, and Vol 5 has been my favorite! It really does get better and better. The Gilmore Girls comparisons have been fun to see too.
Susan Jeffries says
We picked Hollow Bones for our October book club too! /I am excited for this one!
Elspeth Mizner says
I can’t wait to read the Thoroughbreds! I agree with Whistler, it was good but not great! Thanks for your review! I always oook forward to them!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Alicia Fedell says
Kate Quinn is always good. I recommend any of her books.
Katie Compton says
I’m about half way through Hollow Bones and I can’t put it down. I can’t wait for book club day!!
jennibell says
I’m in the middle of listening to The Whistler – don’t love, don’t find it difficult but also don’t find myself “dying” to get back to it. I haven’t bought The Thoroughbreds yet – waiting for someone else to read it first. Still have the Story Keeper in my queue. I LOVED the Rose Code – so surprised you hadn’t read it before!! Have you been to Bletchley Park? After reading the book I really, really wanted it to be a stop when we were in London a couple of years ago. I’m looking forward to the new John Grisham book that comes out this week! His narrators are generally pretty good.
Mix and Match Mama says
I haven’t read Bletchley Park. I need to look that one up right now!
Ginger says
I didn’t realize you could visit Bletchley Park. That is certainly on my list now for next time I’m in the UK.
Hallye Terrell says
Love your books reviews! As a big audible lover, I’m so glad you are reviewing audio books, too. As you get into them, you’ll find some narrators are “reading” books to you and some are more “acting” them out – of that makes sense. A lot of commenters have suggested anything narrated by Julia Whalen, a former actress. She does a ton of books, Emily Henry, Taylor Jenkins Reid, you can’t go wrong with anything she narrates. She adds so much to the story!
Ali Patterson says
I agree about The Thoroughbreds – good but I liked The Academy more. Still entertaining though! And I love her Nantucket books!
“It’s not about a horse,” and “vanilla but not flavorful” had me cracking up!
Tabitha says
Shay, I don’t know if you remember the Peachtree Bluffs series by Kristy Woodson Harvey, but she came out with a fifth book in the series – “Falling for Peachtree Bluff.” I’m only halfway through, but it picks up with the sisters right where it left off. Had to share incase you hadn’t seen it yet!
Mix and Match Mama says
YESSSSSS! I follow her on IG! It’s on my “to read” list! I love that series!
Leigh says
I’ve read everything EH has written except these last 2 books. I’m old enough that I didn’t think I would enjoy a book about high schoolers? Plus I think my kids are still close enough to that age that I don’t want to necessarily know the bad things going on? Your kids are that age, did that interfere with your thoughts/ability to love it?
I always have an audio and a print book going and my favorite narrators are Julia Whelan, Erin Bennett (EH’s narrator) and anyone with an overseas accent! An older book I love on audio is What Alice Forgot – even if you read it in print. I also like Mhari McFarlane and BK Borison books on audio – especially Good Spiris (Irish mmc), except Mixed Signals (a male narrator with a whiny voice is a dealbreaker). But my all time favorite audiobooks are the Winter Street series. I listen to them again almost every year (and I’m not typically a big re-reader of books).
Mix and Match Mama says
I don’t love these books as much as I do *most* of her Nantucket books, but they’re “fall-ish” and entertaining. Because these are boarding school kiddos, they don’t remind me of my kids, but I absolutely understand what you’re saying. These kids are much more like independent young adults living very “adult” lives in their boarding school. I’m able to disassociate.
Hallye Terrell says
I listen to Winter Street every year right after Thanksgiving! Erin Bennett is also a great narrator!
Leigh says
I selfishly wish there was a way to cobble all of my fave parts of the series together for the re-listen. I went to Nantucket for the first time this year and took a pic of the Winter Street street sign. We were on an elin hildebrand tour with her sister and she said people knock on the doors of those houses asking about the book! Can you imagine? Boo!
Kathryn Story says
I love that you love audiobooks now!! I pretty much love any autobiography that’s read outloud by the author, and I also enjoyed listening to The Midnight Train by Matt Haig.
Dena says
Was not expecting Book Review today – woo hoo! What a nice surprise! The person next to me on a recent flight was reading The Rose Code and I overheard her say to someone she was reading it slow to savor it. I’ll be adding to my TBR list.
Ginger says
Kate Quinn is one of my favorite authors. Have you read The Briar Club? If not, it is also a very good audio book, as is The Huntress. I’d pretty much pick up any book she authored.
Mix and Match Mama says
I have not!
AJ says
I agree with The Briar Club recommendation. It reminds me a bit of The Calamity Club with a variety of women living together with such different personalities, but The Briar Club has a lot more suspense and is much shorter! I, too, did not enjoy Whistler as it didn’t live up to the hype of being such an anticipated release.
Laura says
I follow Kate Quinn on Goodreads and she is a prolific reader. She’s had quite a few 5 star reviews this year. More than she usually does. I loved The Rose Code and passed it on to my sister in law and she loved it too. I also got into all the Bletchley Park books after.
Kara says
I listened to the Whistler a couple of months ago and honestly I don’t remember it at all. Was one of those that I forgot right away 😂. If you haven’t listened to the audiobook The Spellshop I would recommend that for next month!
Leslie Maxey says
The Author of Receipts from a Bookshop has a substack by the same name which is what started the book! You should definitely check it out!
Heidi says
Hi Shay…Adding some of these to my reading list ASAP! Weird question….Is anyone else tired of novels with story lines that switch from present to past, or is it just me? It seems that every novel I read lately has that kind of back and forth, and it just feels overdone/overused at this point. I have literary whiplash. I’m ready for some stories in chronological order please! 🥴🥴🥴
Mix and Match Mama says
I get reading fatigue with the toggling back and forth too!
Laci L Murray says
Yes! That’s why I have stopped taking those recs because I am exhausted, lol
Mary says
This is exactly why I haven’t read Whistler! I thought it was about a horse and have no interest in a horse book! So excited to read the Thoroughbreds! And I love everything by Kate Quinn.
Thank you for sharing books every month!
sandi says
I read a few good books this past month:
The Sister Effect by Susan Mallery
Always by Sarah Jio
The One That Got Away by Leigh Himes
Ready or Not by Cara Bastone
These Is My Words by Nancy Turner is loaded on my Kindle and I have a few books checked out from the library. Furious Love: Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the love of the Century and The Fixer Upper by Mary Kay Andrews.
Several of your reads from this month are on my TBR list in Goodreads. Recently, someone in the comment section suggested Courtney Walsh as a good Christian writer. I picked up a few of her books last month. The stories were meaty and interesting; it had been a while since I had read a Christian fiction writer and I was surprised at how good they were.
Jeanne says
Oh my goodness! These Is My Words is soooo good! I read it yers ago!
Michelle says
The book “ Horse” by Geraldine Brooks is about a horse and people as well. It was a fantastic book.
Marian says
I just finished The Lion Women of Tehran and just did a search of your site here to see if you had read it and what your thoughts were – it is absolutely fantastic! I started it on an 11 hour plane ride and just stopped myself about 20 pages before the end as I knew I needed to be able to sob and didn’t want to do that on a plane :-s. I highly recommend it! Although the characters are fiction, real historical events are woven in to the narrative and I learned so much!
Ellen says
One of my favorite books ever!
kristen says
OOh, I just googled this and it looks great. Getting it right now!
Leticia says
Yes! It was a pick for another book club I’m in, and we are meeting in October to have a Persian dinner to commemorate. Great book, I too learned so much.
Paula says
My favorite Kate Quinn novel is The Alice Network. If you liked the Rose Code, you should read this too. Maybe a little break in between WWII books, but you should definitely add this to your TBR list.
Darcy says
What a great review! I look forward to reading “Receipts from the Bookshop”…sounds so charming! I enjoyed more reading time than normal this month and found “Strangers: A memoir of marriage” so interesting…a 5 star read for me. I just finished “The Book Club for Troublesome Women” and found it so interesting too…a 4+ star read for me! I couldn’t help but think of my grandma’s old Betty Crocker cookbook that noted the importance of having a cool drink waiting for your husband when he returned from work. It is easy to chuckle about now, but truly hard to imagine living during that time of the 50’s and 60’s when women were trying to make their way into the workforce.
Amy says
I also loved the Book Club for Troublesome Women! I wish my book club would read it — I want to talk about it! It was one of those books that felt like an easy, interesting story while reading. And then the more you think about it after, the more layers you see.
Kara says
I’m currently reading Dolly all the time and listening to The Women.. loving both! I love to read shorter/quick light reads and listen to the longer/heavier stuff! It seems to be my favorite combo right now!
Amanda says
I have a thought about audio books! I think it is darn near impossible to predict how a book will be experienced via audio. I have a series of books that I absolutely adore and have read multiple times over but when I was encouraged by a friend who also loves these books to listen to them (she happens to love the narrator) I could not believe how different the experience was. I. hated. it. I’m not sure I would have ever listened to the whole series if that was my plan. I think for those of us who are more used to reading rather than listening, we have developed our own cadence and visualizations that are like our 6th sense when reading. I found it VERY strange to then go listen to a book I held so dear because it *felt* SO DIFFERENT.
But. I also recently went back and listened to the Magician’s Nephew on audible and I was completely entranced. The narration was brilliant and I experienced the story in a whole new way.
All that to say: I think it’s a crapshoot and that is why I am not giving up my default to just read books rather than listen.
Molly D says
I listen to a lot of audiobooks and also listened to Whistler. I had read it for my book club. I totally agree on the narration. I didn’t think the narration did the book any favors as it was very flat, and I felt like it was harder to pick up on the emotion of the characters. This was one that I wish I would have eyeball read because the narration tainted my view on the book overall.
For what it’s worth, a few of us in our book club listened to it via audiobook and all had the same opinion; whereas the people in book club who had read it had a better opinion. Although even some who read it thought it was somewhat boring.
A A says
The only thing I’ve read more than a few sentences of by Ann Patchett was the one essay in the book of essays, “this is the story of a happy marriage” with that same title. I had tried before to read her books because many love her work, but this was the only essay that drew me in. I would recommend that single essay, but with a warning that it discusses some traumatic topics (including divorce and its impact on children). I listened to it on audio; she read the audio.
Emily says
Heads up-Julia Whelan narrates the audiobook version of Hollow Bones. She’s the best narrator!! I just started listening for book club 🙂
Terry says
I may be in the minority, but I thought Whistler was a beautifully written story. I love reading an author who writes well. The kind of story telling that I might re-read a page just because I loved the language.
Kristin says
I agree, Terry. I love the way Ann Patchett writes. It’s just so beautiful. And I find myself loving her characters. I’m not there for a rip roaring plot, but gorgeous writing and compelling characters. Give me the beauty, and keep your unreliable narrators.
Lorraine Holland says
I totally agree!! I really enjoy her writing and the depth of her characters.
Rayne Osborn says
Big little truths on audible, you will love!
Laura Sotelo says
I loved the Rose Code – all of her books are so good. I’ve never listened to them so I’m not sure about the audio versions. She’s such a good storyteller. I also really liked Whistler. I pushed that book off for months because of the horse on the cover. I thought the story was done really well and I thought about it for days after. It made me reflect on my childhood and think about how we often forget pieces of it but all of our experiences shape who we are. Love your book reviews each month!
Bailey Morris says
Speaking of Five Stars… did you finish the Five Star Weekend show? What are your thoughts?
I haven’t read the book, but I loved the show!! Was waiting for more explanation of why that one bully gal was so mean – like I was waiting for some big flashback that would tie it all together. Maybe it explains more in the book. And I would have been waaaay more insane than the rest of the group was if I found out that homegirl was in my home and had befriended me over *ahem* false pretenses. But other than that… such a good little binge.
Mix and Match Mama says
I did finish it! I liked it enough that I’m excited about season 2!
Arika says
I remember when you posted a few years ago that you started Rose Code and it was a DNF for you. It shows what a difference an audio book can make! I have read several Kate Quinn books (I LOVED The Alice Network) and I also loved Rose Code, although it did get slow in the middle at times. I’m glad you picked it back up and I hope you read more of Kate Quinn. I’ll be anxious to hear what you think!
Mix and Match Mama says
Did I? I went back to look and cannot find it on my blog anywhere. If I did, I was foolish!
Jen says
I second this! I remember when The Rose Code was mentioned here as a DNF- stood out to me because I absolutely loved it and our book interests used to be so aligned! So funny that I’m not the only one that weirdly remembered that!
Arika says
haha, Shay that is so funny that you don’t remember. A sign of someone who reads a LOT of books. I knew I wasn’t crazy, but had to search “rose code” on your site to find it. It was the January 2023 book review and you said you weren’t’ even going to review it but you’d posted a pic that included an image of your Kindle and readers recognized the book and were reaching out to you and asking about it!
Rebecca says
Have you read Kelly Rimmer’s “The German Wife”? It is my favorite of hers by far – it is amazing and extraordinarily thought-provoking.
Mix and Match Mama says
I did read that one…but the subject left me unsettled. You can read my review here: https://mixandmatchmama.com/2022/08/july-2022-book-review/
Alexis says
The Rose Code was my favorite book of the year the year that it came out and I remember being heartbroken when you said you DNF it. 😅😂 I just couldn’t understand how you didn’t love that book! Reading your review today made me so happy. It’s SO good!
If you haven’t read My Sister’s Keeper, I highly recommend reading that one before Hollow Bones. Jesse, the husband of the main character in this book, was the brother in My Sister’s Keeper. She said in an interview she brought him back (and gave an update on the Fitzgerald family) as a thank you to all the fans who have loved that book for so many years. I read it back when it came out over 20 years ago, and reread it right before reading Hollow Bones and it made that reading experience SO much richer understanding the background of the family. Hollow Bones is easily my favorite book so far this year and I firmly believe that nothing else will top it. I cried so hard reading that story (like – bawling!!) and it is such a powerful book. I will be shocked if you don’t love it. It’s rated one of the highest ratings I’ve seen on Goodreads for a book in a long time. Powerful topic and one that needs to be talked about more. Jodi is at her best in this book…it felt like reading a classic Jodi novel to me and I couldn’t have loved it more. But definitely read My Sister’s Keeper first – and don’t watch the movie version, they change the end and Jodi is still mad about it – rightfully so! There is a part of Hollow Bones that is a direct dig at the movie version of My Sister’s Keeper and I burst out laughing – it was perfectly placed!
I cannot wait to read your thoughts on this book! The. Best. And gosh, just so powerful.
Diana says
I look forward to your book reviews every month! Thanks for sharing!
Kristy Moore says
Yay! I’m so glad you read Whistler and you’re the first person who agrees with me on it! You could not have reviewed it any better. Vanilla is the perfect way to describe it!
Jessica Schlosberg says
I am thrilled you loved Rose Code is it hands down my very favorite book of all time, especially on audio. The narrator just brings the characters to life in such an amazing way.
Dawn says
Oh-I’m adding The Rose Code to my list! I feel the same as you about Whistler-I read it but felt like it was just ok…beautifully written but overall melancholy! If you haven’t read Love You More by Emily Giffin-it’s been a good one so far!
Pam says
After reading The Rose Code two years ago, I knew I had to see Bletchley Park. There were so many images in my head that I wanted to see for myself. The book is part of WWII history that I did not know and I wanted to know more.
I just returned from a trip to England, chosen simply because it included a day trip to Bletchley Park. It was fascinating to see the Mansion and other historic buildings, and also to hear about all the unbelieveable work done there during the war.
I highly recommend a visit should you be visiting London, Oxford, or other areas nearby. It’s about a 30-60 minute train ride from London, then a 5-10 minute walk to the park entrance. My travel group toured the grounds with an excellent guide, then we had free time to walk around on our own and explore. There is much to see and read there, all of it well presented.
Now, I must read the book again!
Christi McAnally says
Here to comment of Whistler. I agree with you. I liked the book but not sure if I would reccomend it. We recently selected for our book club in the upcoming months and I’m going to suggest reading it instead of the audio, I I thought it fell flat with the author reading it. There was no distinction of the character voices between male and female. The dialogue in the book was the same between characters with little emotion or feeling put into it. I sped the audio up to 1.25 because it read so slowly. The story was fine but I think I would have likely enjoyed it more had I read it.
SS says
I read Tom Lake by Ann Patchett and your review of whistler applies well to it. Blah. Not a fan. I can tell she and I wouldn’t really click. Ha! Going to try the first in the series of the Elon Hildebrand recommendation! And read rose code. :-).