Nevermore: After the Cataclysm, Force of Nature, Family Lore, When I'm Dead, To Conjure a Killer, This Time Tomorrow

 Reported by Kristin 

 

We had a small group on this very cold day, but it was nice to Zoom in and talk books!

 

First up, one reader discussed After the Cataclysm: Volume II: The Political Economy of Human Rights by Noam Chomsky and Edward S. Herman. Covering Western influenced political movements in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, Chomsky and Herman come together again to look at how the United States is involved in the political regimes of many other world countries. Our reader expressed her fraught emotions that so many lives have been lost, decades past and continuing to the present day.

 

Another more life affirming book was mentioned by the same reader: Force of Nature by Joan M. Griffin. The non-fiction work tells the tale of three women friends, all 50-somethings, who set off to walk the beautiful John Muir trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. Our reader noted that alongside the description of the beauty and difficulty of the trail, the author included nitty-gritty details such as the relief of receiving food and clothing packages, including the delight of being able to put on clean underclothing after days of hiking. This comes highly recommended!

 

Another reader is just getting into another new book, Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo. Dominican American Flor has a special gift--she can predict when someone will die. When Flor announces to her family that she wants to have a living wake, their responses are generally along the line of "Oh no, is Flor going to die soon??"

 

When I'm Dead by Hannah Morrissey interested one of our book club members, with the main characters being a husband and wife team, a police detective and a medical examiner, respectively. When bodies of their teenage daughter's friends start showing up, and then their daughter goes missing, these parents must race against the clock as they investigate the murders of the young women.

 

Clea Simon's Witch Cats of Salem series returned to Nevermore with the fourth in series To Conjure a Killer. Main character Becca is part of a young coven based in Cambridge, all members working earnestly to cast spells. Little does she know that her mystical feline friends may be the ones who have more substantial power. When Becca's ex-boyfriend shows up (dead), guess who is a prime suspect? 

 

Another recent book read was This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub. Our reader said this was another time travel or time slipping book which she keeps finding in her reading pile. Alice goes out to celebrate her 40th birthday with her lifelong best friend. Her life is okay, but somewhat mundane, and she is dealing with anticipatory grief for her hospitalized father. But when she wakes up the next morning in her childhood home with her father at the table, she realizes she has returned to her 16th birthday, and perhaps a chance to live her life a little differently. Again, and again, and again.

 

Also mentioned:

 

Sigrid Rides: The Story of an Extraordinary Friendship and an Adventure on Two Wheels by Travis Nelson

Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen

The Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand

The Fireman by Joe Hill

Weyward by Emilia Hart

To Conjure a Killer by Clea Simon

 

Reviewed by Jeanne

Becca Colwin, witch detective, is walking home from her job at the New Age shop Charm and Cherish when she sees a kitten darting into the street.  Becca springs into action, chasing the kitten into an alley to rescue it—and finding a dead body in the process.  It’s not just any dead body either:  the deceased is Becca’s former boyfriend, Jeff. 

Of course, that’s when the police show up.

While Becca isn’t arrested, she is a person of interest in the slaying. After all, she was found standing over the body.  In order to clear her name, Becca is going to have to use all her powers, supernatural or otherwise, in order to solve the case.  This means she’s going to have to find out about the people in Jeff’s life and about the software program he was working on—one that people are saying could have been an electronic game changer.

Fortunately for Becca, she’s not the only one on the case.  Her three cats also have a vested interest in keeping her out of jail—and her cats are the ones with actual supernatural powers.

Nowadays, there are many mystery series with some otherworldly touches, but this series stands alone in that, unbeknownst to her, Becca’s cats are the ones with magic.  In fact, Becca’s belief that she has powers is due to luxury loving Harriet deciding to conjure up a more comfy pillow.  Harriet and Laurel, the two older cats, are more concerned that Becca bring home the cat food and attend to their every need, while Clara is devoted to Becca as her person and tries to help in every way she can.  The new kitten adds a layer of intrigue to the story as well:  is she just an ordinary cat or is she a witch cat as well?

The characters are well drawn.  Becca is an appealing protagonist, with her kind heart and empathetic nature. There are some intriguing supporting characters as well, especially the enigmatic Elizabeth, whose sister owns Charm and Cherish. The suspect gallery in this one is quite good.  But I have to say that the cats steal the show—as well they should.

This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub

 

Reviewed by Kristin

 

Alice is pretty much satisfied with her life. She works in admissions at the private school she herself attended. She has her own affordable apartment in New York. She has romantic prospects, but is deciding that she may be better off unattached. She is still close with her childhood best friend, even if Sam is married and seemingly eternally pregnant. Her father Leonard is aging though, and currently in the hospital in a coma.

 

On the eve of her 40th birthday, Alice finds herself in the exact right place at the exact right time to find out what might have been.

 

Yes, Emma Straub has taken the familiar trope of discovering all the what-ifs, if only one could travel back in time and live life differently. But this author takes an atypical angle, and does it very well.

 

Alice finds herself back in her childhood home on the morning of her 16th birthday. Leonard is there, looking much younger than Alice remembers he was. It's not some lost boyfriend who Alice is most motivated to bring into her 40 year old life; it's the healthy version of her father who she misses.

 

I won't go into too much detail to avoid spoilers. I will say only that the characters resonated in a way that most don't, and the reason may be because the author was going through losing her own father, horror author Peter Straub, while she was writing this novel. In the acknowledgements, she talks about her father encouraging her to write a fictionalized version of her own story. I can imagine that writing about time travel to an earlier time to be with a missing family member must have been at once wrenching and cathartic.

 

I'm now off to find even more Emma Straub books. This Time Tomorrow may have been the first I have read, but it won't be the last.

Our Favorite Books Read in 2023: Rita and Tonia

 

Rita

 

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz - This is a book that I have read multiple times. I find the insights to be enlightening, and I manage to take away something new with each read. 

 

Baggage by Alan Cumming - This is a very intimate look into the life of the Hollywood actor. He shares the tragedies and adversities he has overcome as well as many joyous moments. It is a very personal look at how life events shape the person one becomes.

 

Dolly Parton, Songteller by Dolly Parton  - I highly recommend listening to the audiobook and hearing the stories from Dolly herself.  It reads like the ultimate liner note with all of the stories behind the songs and the inspirations and influences. I believe this book is not just for fans of Dolly Parton, but for fans of music in general.

 

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boyle - I was, at first, drawn in by the abundance of amazing facts about bees. There is a wealth of knowledge about honeybees and beekeeping throughout the novel, but it also a story of love and acceptance woven into a murder mystery. With good character development and surprising twists, this book really held my attention.

 

Where the Deer and Antelope Play by Nick Offerman - There is a lot to enjoy in this book, from historical facts about the creation of the National Parks to humorous and often irreverent observations about the human spirit. Nick Offerman tells of three different trips taken across the country. One of those trips included Jeff Tweedy from the band Wilco and American writer George Saunders. I cannot read a Nick Offerman book without laughing out loud, and this was no exception.

 

Tonia

1.       Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

2.       The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

3.       Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

4.       The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell

5.       Messy Roots by Laura Gao

6.       The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

7.       At The Mountains of Madness by H. P. Lovecraft

8.       The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

9.       The Devil Wears Scrubs by Freida McFadden

10.   We Used to Live Here by Daniel Hurst

11.   The Coal Tattoo by Silas House

12.   The Crossroads at Midnight by Abby Howard

13.   Ikigai by Hector Garcia Puigcerver

14.   Eerie Tales from the School of Screams by Graham Annable

15.   Pattern Behavior:  The Seamy Side of Fashion by Natalie Kossar

Our Favorite Books Read in 2023: Jenna and Nena

 

Jenna

2023 hit me with a reading slump, so this was the year for short and fast reads. The book that really pulled me through and got me reading again was The Empress of Salt and Fortune by Nghi Vo. It’s the first in a series of high fantasy novellas in a setting comparable to historical China. The series follows the cleric Chih and their bird Almost Brilliant as they record the life stories of the people they meet on their travels. It was a quick, charming, and engaging read that I was able to power through in one sitting and immediately made me want to get my hands on the rest of the series.

 

Nena

Fourth Wing  by Rebecca Yarros

Iron Flame  by Rebecca Yarros

From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

1.      A Court of Thorns and Roses

2.     A Court of Mist and Fury

3.     A Court of Wings and Ruin

4.    A Court of Frost and Starlight

5.     A Court of Silver Flames

Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

1.      Throne of Glass

2.     Crown of Midnight

3.     Heir of Fire

4.    Queen of Shadows

5.     Empire of Storm

6.    Tower of Dawn

7.     Kingdom of Ash

Wilder Girls by Rory Powers

Witches of East End series by Melissa de la Cruz

Our Favorite Books Read in 2023: Andrew & Jeanne's Non-Mysteries

 Andrew

 

Some of my favorite books of 2023 that I read were:

 

Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Ready Player One and Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

Animalia written and illustrated by Graeme Base (this one is a great children's picture book I used to read when I was a kid, that I recently found and purchased. One of my favorites!)

 

Jeanne’s Non-Mystery Favorites

 

Non-fiction:

Agatha Christie:  An Elusive Woman by Lucy Worsley: While there were not a lot of surprising revelations, I did appreciate that Worsley made me look at Christy and her legacy in a different light, making me question assumptions I had made.  Christie has been seen by many as a lesser writer, but even her detractors have to admit that she has staying power

 

Fiction

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus:  Much to my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters are well developed and I genuinely liked so many of them.  Six-thirty was a special favorite.  

 

Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi:  I have seen a Godzilla movie or four but don't count myself a huge fan.  However, this pandemic era tale of an unemployed worker finding a new, secret job helping some ... unusual... animals was funny, exciting, and thoughtful.  I really want to read his next book, Starter Villain. I suspect it will be on my best of 2024 list!

 

Big Trouble on Sullivan's Island by Susan Boyer: First in a series which will feature the same characters and setting (Sullivan’s Island, of course) but each book may be a different genre.  This one is mystery, but the next may be a romance.  Entertaining, fund, and with appealing characters.

Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett: I read this one because there was an animated movie.  It may not be the best Pratchett, but any Pratchett is better than a lot of authors in my book.  This one was his usual mix of humor, social commentary, and action, but written for a younger audience.  The movie made changes, of course, but I still enjoyed it.  Hugh Laurie was the voice of Maurice.  Alas, the movie has not come out on DVD for the library to purchase, but it IS available for streaming via our new Hoopla account.  You can also listen to the audio version of the book. 

Our Favorite Books Read in 2023: Kristin

Lily and the Octopus by Steven Rowley - a moving story about a man and his dog Lily who has a mysterious octopus attached to her head.

 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus - when a 1960s woman scientist is rejected by her male peers, she ends up on a television cooking show using her chemistry education.

 

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt - a lovely story about family, human and octopus alike.

 

Patricia Wants to Cuddle by Samantha Allen - a laugh out loud island-based reality show, complete with a gorilla/bigfoot/creature.

 

With My Little Eye by Joshilyn Jackson - my favorite author with a main character fiercely protecting her family from a stalker.

 

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin - a story of childhood best friends and the changes life throws their way.

 

Pageboy by Elliot Page - a memoir from a young actor and LGBTQ+ activist.

 

High School by Sara Quin and Tegan Quin - the early story of Tegan and Sara, Canadian twins and singer-songwriters, with an accompanying television production available on Freevee.

 

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boylan - a story of mothers and their teenagers, love, loss, and finding the strength to continue.

 

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki - violins, donuts, spaceships, and a deal with a devil, these things make up what is probably my favorite book this year.

 

This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone - this tale of time agents who plot their moves for centuries flows beautifully as Red and Blue become more than adversaries.

 

The Road to Roswell by Connie Willis - another laugh out loud tale, this one featuring a bridesmaid who simply wants to save her best friend from herself, but ends up being abducted by a very needy alien.

 

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver - 2023 Pulitzer Prize winner, set in Southwest Virginia, Demon is a young boy who experiences more than his share of losses.

 

Starter Villain by John Scalzi - one day Charlie has less than $100 to his name, the next he is heir to his long lost villain uncle's billions; fortunately he has his own brains and talking cats to help him navigate his new life.

Our Favorite Books Read in 2023: Jeanne's Mysteries

Mysteries are my favorite genre, so I have a lot of those to list.  On another post, I’ll list favorite non-mysteries.  Don’t worry—that list is a LOT shorter.  Several of these were already reviewed on our blog.

 A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton:  Kinsey Milhone is a private detective in Los Angeles in the 1980s.  Strong plots, strong sense of place, and a wonderful protagonist in Kinsey, this is a series to savor.

Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen: Hiaasen has an off-beat sense of humor and I really like the Florida setting—especially when it’s cold and dreary outside my window.  His books are always a wild ride!

War and Peas by Jill Churchill: Jane Jeffries is a single mother who ends up solving mysteries along with her friend Shelly.  Both are sensible but also very funny, and certainly not prone to rushing into danger. 

Fatal Glow by Valerie Wilson Wesley: Odessa Jones, a widow working in a real estate office and trying to make some extra money catering.  She also sees “glimmers” or auras around people that give her slight clues. She’s not only sensible, but kind and compassionate. The supernatural aspects don’t dominate and don’t solve the mystery. 

Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch: Another entry in the Rivers of London series about Peter Grant, a young police officer who is also an apprentice magician.  Packed with historical tidbits about London, dark plots, fantastical characters and leavened with humor, these are addictive.   They definitely need to be read in order.  

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano:  Finlay is a divorced mother of two small children who is trying to hold it all together and not doing very well—and then someone mistakes her for a hitwoman.  It’s fast-paced and very funny, but with high stakes

 Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman:  The residents of an English retirement village are about to have their way of life  disrupted by a developer.  When he turns up dead, the residents decide to investigate.   

Mrs. Malory's Shortest Journey by Hazel Holt: Another older series (started in the 1990s) but for me did not seem dated at all.  Mrs. Malory is a widow and literary critic with a keen eye for observation.  The characters are well developed and the plots are interesting, and the British setting is a plus.

 

Honorable Mentions:

 

See Something: A Witch City Mystery by Carol J Perry:   Lee is a TV reporter in Salem, Massachusetts who has some psychic abilities but they don’t overwhelm the story. . I really like the characters in this one, especially O’Ryan, a witch’s cat who is probably more than an ordinary cat, and Lee’s Aunt Ibby who is a librarian. 

On the Spine of Death by Tamara Berry: this series gave me Finlay Donovan vibes a bit. The main character is a best selling thriller author who has a rebellious teenage daughter.  I particularly liked  that the author character would meet someone and immediately start mentally writing the person as a character in her book, giving a new background, motivations, etc.  This is the second title and I felt Berry really hit her stride here, though first one was good. 

Shady Hollow by Juneau Black:  This entertaining first in series books features anthropomorphic animals in a village mystery.  If you don't like animals sipping tea and chatting, avoid this book.

Our Favorite Books Read in 2023: Christina, Laura

Here are two more staff members with lists of their favorite books read in 2023!

Christina:  A black hole is not a hole by Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano (Juvenile audiobook from Libby)

Starter Villain by  John Scalzi (Libby audiobook)

Vera Wong’s unsolicited advice for murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto (Audiobook)

Losers club by Yvonne Vincent

No better friend by Robert Weintraub

When the corn is waist high by Jeremy Scott (audiobook) This one involves a serial killer and has an extremely unexpected twist.

Nala’s world by Dean Nicholson

The coworker by Freida McFadden

The bandit queens by Parini Shroff

Remarkably bright creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is my favorite of the year. It is a very poignant and well written work of fiction (only a tiny bit unbelievable).

 

Laura:  I made a list of 10. Mostly, I like thrillers, but I love books that tell fabulous stories. Mitch Albom is my favorite author of all time and he did not disappoint with his new one!

 

1. The Little Liar by Mitch Albom (As always, broke my heart and then put it back together. Fabulous book!)

 

2. Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (I kept avoiding this one thinking it would be sad, but it was fabulous!)

 

3. Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden (Wonderful book, I'll have to own it!)

 

4. Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult (Fascinating book and I learned so much about bees!)

 

5. This Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp (YA book about a school shooting-very well done.)

 

6. Everyone Here is Lying by Shari Lapena

7. You Look Beautiful Tonight by L. R. Jones

8. My Darling Girl by Jennifer McMahon (Creepy, but really good!)

9. Dirty Thirty by Janet Evanovich (I had about gotten over the Stephanie Plum series, (too repetitive), but this one made me laugh out loud!)

10. Episode Thirteen by Craig Dilouie (Another scary one. A little wild, but sure kept me interested).