Nevermore Books

 With the recent Tuesday holidays, Nevermore had had a forced hiatus.  Here are some of the books they were reading the last time they met:

Twice by Mitch Albom

 

Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home by Stephen Starring Grant

 

The Judge's List by John Grisham

 

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

 

The English Problem by Beena Kamlani

 

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet A. Jacobs

 

Five Epic Disasters (I Survived True Stories #1): Volume 1 by Lauren Tarshis

 

Heartwood (a Read with Jenna Pick) by Amity Gaige

 

The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei

 

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife by Anna Johnston

 

Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay

Nevermore: Fighting Words, Murder on the Orient Express: Graphic Novel, Milkweed Lands

 

Nevermore 9-9-25

Reported by Rita

 

Fighting Words by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

Ten-year-old Della has always had her older sister, Suki: When their mom went to prison, Della had Suki. When their mom's boyfriend took them in, Della had Suki. When that same boyfriend did something so awful that they had to run fast, Della had Suki. Suki is Della's own wolf -- her protector. But who has been protecting Suki? Della might get told off for swearing at school, but she has always known how to keep quiet where it counts. Then Suki tries to kill herself, and Della's world turns so far upside down, it feels like it's shaking her by the ankles. Maybe she's been quiet about the wrong things. Maybe it's time to be loud.

A good look into the foster system; very well done. A beautiful story of two sisters who have no one else. Quick, easy read.     -NH     5 stars

 

Murder on the Orient Express: The Graphic Novel by Bob Al-Greene (Illustrator, Adapter), Agatha Christie

Just after midnight, the famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. By morning, the millionaire Samuel Edward Ratchett lies dead in his compartment, stabbed a dozen times, his door locked from the inside. Without a shred of doubt, one of his fellow passengers is the murderer.

Isolated by the storm, detective Hercule Poirot must find the killer among a dozen of the dead man's enemies, before the murderer decides to strike again.

This beautiful, full-color graphic novel adaptation brings this favorite mystery to life--perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike.

It was fun and I loved the artwork.     -CD     5 stars

 

The Milkweed Lands: An Epic Story of One Plant: Its Nature and Ecology by Eric Lee-Mäder, Beverly Duncan (Illustrations)

Delve into this fascinating appreciation of milkweed, an often-overlooked plant, and discover an amazing range of insects and organisms that depend on it as the seasons unfold, with this collaboration between a noted ecologist and an award-winning botanical illustrator. Ecologist Eric Lee-Mäde r and noted botanical artist Beverly Duncan have teamed up to create this unique exploration of the complex ecosystem that is supported by the remarkable milkweed plant, often overlooked or dismissed as a roadside weed. With stunning, up-close illustrations and engaging text, they trace every stage of the plant's changes and evolutions throughout the seasons, including germination, growth, flowering, and seed development.

An amazing book filled with lots of information and great illustrations.      -MS       5 stars

 

 

Other Books Mentioned: 

Roanoke: Solving the Mystery of the Lost Colony by Lee Miller

Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor

Smart Brevity: The Power of Saying More with Less by Jim Vandehei, Mike Allen, Roy Schwartz

Doonesbury: Peace Out, Dawg! by G.B. Trudeau

When Women Ran Fifth Avenue: Glamour and Power at the Dawn of American Fashion by Julie Satow

  

New Books: 

The Illusion of Separateness by Simon Van Booy

The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox

 The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris Sweeney

Anatomy of a Con Artist: The 14 Red Flags to Spot Scammers, Grifters, and Thieves by Johnathan Walton

Nevermore: Beyond Summer, Blue Arabesque, The War that Saved My Life

 

Nevermore 9-2-25

Reported by Rita

Beyond Summer (Blue Sky Hill #3) by Lisa Wingate
Tam Lambert and Shasta Williams, new neighbors in a changing Dallas neighborhood called Blue Sky Hill, team up to fight a corrupt deal that could force them from their homes, but find their friendships and loyalties tested in the process.

A sweet story about friends solving life's problems together. I felt like it didn't have a real conclusion. -WJ 5 stars

Blue Arabesque: A Search for the Sublime by Patricia Hampl
The MacArthur Fellowship recipient, author of Virgin Time, describes her fascination with a Matisse painting during her post-college years, which prompted intricate meditations on the painting's symbolism as well as her own international travels.

This was my second reading of this lovely book. It's really interesting and beautiful. I love it! -DC 4 stars


The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Ten-year-old Ada has never left her one-room apartment. Her mother is too humiliated by Ada's twisted foot to let her outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped out of London to escape the war, Ada doesn't waste a minute - she sneaks out to join him. So begins a new adventure for Ada, and for Susan Smith, the woman who is forced to take the two kids in. As Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, learns to read, and watches for German spies, she begins to trust Susan - and Susan begins to love Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will their bond be enough to hold them together through wartime? Or will Ada and her brother fall back into the cruel hands of their mother?

It was a good, quick read. Enjoyable. - PP 3 stars


Other Books Mentioned:

My Friends by Fredrik Backman
The Overstory by Richard Powers
Mutual Aid: A Factor of Evolution by Pyotr Kropotkin
The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan
Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty
25 Real Patient Stories: A Junior Doctor's Journey through the Highs and Lows of Medicine by Monika Schneider
Where Have All the Birds Gone?: Nature in Crisis by Rebecca E. Hirsch
The Voyages of Doctor Doolittle by Hugh Lofting
Refuge by Dot Jackson


New Books:

The Enchanted Greenhouse (Spellshop, #2) by Sarah Beth Durst
American Mythology by Giano Cromley

NLW: Staff book picks: Tonia & Kristin

 

Tonia

A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher

 

I’ve always had a soft spot for gothic horror, especially stories centered around haunted or mysterious houses—and A House with Good Bones hit all the right notes for me. This Southern gothic tale is one of the cleverest horror novels I’ve read in a while. It strikes that rare balance between witty and unsettling, offering some genuinely funny moments without ever sacrificing the eerie atmosphere or the creepy tension that builds throughout the story.

I really enjoyed the main character, Sam, and her relationship with her mom. Their dynamic felt real and grounded, even as things around them started to get stranger and more unsettling. Their stories about Sam’s grandmother—whose presence is felt in both subtle and chilling ways—really stood out to me. As the buried family secrets start to unravel, the story picks up momentum and becomes a real page-turner.

There’s a lot of fun to be had in this book, but it also has teeth. It doesn’t let you get too comfortable or cozy, which I appreciated. If you enjoy stories with decaying houses, Southern folklore, and a mix of humor and horror, you will love this like I did.

 

Kristin

TJ Klune builds intricate, authentic characters and can weave dozens of threads into some of the most beautiful stories I’ve ever read. His published works vary in scope, but the ones I love most are the Cerulean Chronicles: The House in the Cerulean Sea and Somewhere Beyond the Sea; Under the Whispering Door; and The Bones Beneath My Skin. This last one was self-published in 2018, but republished in a new edition by Tor Books in 2025. Bones is a bit of departure from Klune’s feel-good cozy fantasies. Nate Cartwright has just lost his parents, his job, and even his brother has no interest in him. Nate returns to the only things his parents left him—a cabin and a truck, deep in the Oregon woods. Unfortunately, the cabin appears to have been recently occupied. A little girl calling herself Artemis Darth Vader and a tightly wound man named Alex quickly turn Nate’s life upside down. Part thriller, part supernatural/sci-fi/fantasy, and a tiny part romance, this “latest” book from Klune is already on my best of the year list.

 

Roland Rogers Isn't Dead Yet by Samantha Allen 

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Untamed by Glennon Doyle 

Family Family by Laurie Frankel 

Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune

The Bones Beneath My Skin by TJ Klune

In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune 

Assistant to the Villain &  Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer 

We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman 

Bittersweet in the Hollow and Lies on the Serpent's Tongue by Kate Pearsall

Killers of a Certain Age by Deanne Raybourn

The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

Nevermore: Serena, Ministry of Time, Tell Me Everything

 

Nevermore 9-24-24

Reported by Rita

Serena: a Novel by Ron Rash

Traveling to the mountains of 1929 North Carolina to forge a timber business with her new husband, Serena Pemberton champions her mastery of harsh natural and working conditions but turns murderous when she learns she cannot bear children.

Beautifully articulated, thought-provoking, and powerful. I loved it.  – KN  5 stars

 

The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

To establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also the fabric of space-time, a “bridge” who lives with, assists, and monitors the expat known as“1847” or Commander Graham Gore falls fervently in love with consequences she never could've imagined—ones that could change the future.

Funny at times, this was good escapism.    – MH     4 stars

 

Tell Me Everything: a Novel by Elizabeth Strout

While defending a lonely, isolated man accused of killing his mother, town lawyer Bob Burgess falls into a deep and abiding friendship with acclaimed writer Lucy Barton. Together, they meet the iconic Olive Kitteridge and spend afternoons in Olive's apartment, telling each other stories, which imbue their lives with meaning.

Many characters from other books make appearances. LOVE, LOVE, LOVED IT!  Two thumbs up!  - CD    5 stars

 

Other Books Mentioned

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn

By Any Other Name  by Jodi Picoult

 The Moonflowers by Abigail Rose-marie

The Cider House Rules by John Irving

The Maid : a Novel by Nita Prose

Lovely in Her Bones by Sharyn McCrumb

Staggerford by Jon Hassler

A Green Journey by Jon Hassler

Dear James by Jon Hassler

Holy City : a Novel by Henry Wise

You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto

New Books

A Pair of Wings by Carole Hopson

Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova

Katharine, the Wright Sister by Tracey Enerson Wood

Suffrage Song : the Haunted History of Gender, Race and Voting Rights in the United States of America by Caitlin Cass

Nevermore: Cat Saw Murder, Jefferson's Sons, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Island, Snow Leopard, Tipperary, Island That Dared

 

Nevermore opened up with another recommendation for a mystery which has been making the rounds:  The Cat Saw Murder by Dolores Hitchens. Originally published in 1939 but recently reprinted, this delightful mystery features mature sleuth Rachel Murdock whose visit with her niece turns into a murder investigation.  Our reader added her positive review to the chorus, but noted that she was shocked that the 70ish Rachel was considered to be very elderly. 

Another book making a return appearance was Jefferson’s Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Told from the point of view of three of Jefferson’s children by Sally Hemings, the book portrays the inconsistencies of Jefferson’s views and the inequalities experienced by his mixed race children. The book is both heartbreaking and enlightening.  Our reader was fascinated with the book, calling it both delightful and insightful. She highly recommends it for anyone with an interest in American history, or for anyone looking for a good story. The book is generally found in the Young Adult section, but adults will find it to be just as worthwhile.

 

This matched well with the next book, the classic Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.  Our reader was enthralled with the book, finding it difficult to put down.  Stowe knew former slaves and so had first-hand accounts to describe the horrors of slavery.  Our reviewer feels that everyone should read this book.  

The next book had a very brief review.  The Island by Peter Benchley has to do with the strange disappearances of many boats along with the people on board.  Our reader called it “one of the worst books ever.” Enough said. 

 

The Snow Leopard by Richard Matthiessen is an older title, dating from 1978, but it still captured the attention of our reviewer.  The book chronicles Matthiessen’s journey to the Himalayan Mountains to study the blue sheep, but the journey is as much a spiritual one as it is a physical one.  Buddhist philosophy plays a large role, and Matthiessen does a brilliant job of blending the search for an elusive creature with the search for peace. 

 

Our next reader so enjoyed Frank Delaney’s novel Ireland that she decided to read Tipperary as well.  The latter book set during the late 19^th-early 20^th centuries has two narrators:  one is Charles O’Brien, a historian who tells of his life, including interactions with influential Irishmen such as James Joyce.  He falls in love with an Englishwoman many years his junior who wants to reclaim her Irish home, Tipperary Castle. There is a second narrator who purports to have found this memoir and who comments on it. Our reader said it was confusing in places but a really good book if you could keep track of the characters and events.

 

The Island That Dared by Dervla Murphy is an in-depth look at Cuba.  Murphy is a well-respected travel writer, and here she seeks to experience Cuba in much the same way as ordinary Cubans. She’s looking for the backwaters and areas tourists never see, and interacts with the Cuban people.  She also provides a wealth of historical background and insight, with certain conclusions that some people might view as controversial.  Our reviewer recommended it highly, and felt that everyone needed to read it in order to understand the whole historic and modern day Cuban situation.