None of This Is True

None of This Is True

by Lisa Jewell

Blurb:

Celebrating her forty-fifth birthday at her local pub, popular podcaster Alix Summers crosses paths with an unassuming woman called Josie Fair. Josie, it turns out, is also celebrating her forty-fifth birthday. They are, in fact, birthday twins.

A few days later, Alix and Josie bump into each other again, this time outside Alix’s children’s school. Josie has been listening to Alix’s podcasts and thinks she might be an interesting subject for her series. She is, she tells Alix, on the cusp of great changes in her life.

Josie’s life appears to be strange and complicated, and although Alix finds her unsettling, she can’t quite resist the temptation to keep making the podcast. Slowly she starts to realise that Josie has been hiding some very dark secrets, and before she knows it, Josie has inveigled her way into Alix’s life—and into her home.

But, as quickly as she arrived, Josie disappears. Only then does Alix discover that Josie has left a terrible and terrifying legacy in her wake, and that Alix has become the subject of her own true crime podcast, with her life and her family’s lives under mortal threat.

Who is Josie Fair? And what has she done?

My Reaction:

I thought this novel had an interesting premise, and there was some tension at times, but ultimately I didn't really enjoy it. I was expecting more than it could deliver, it was predictable (choosing a spoiler title didn't help with that), and the last-minute twist didn't redeem it, either. (In fact, it made me like the book even less.)  

Josie is a creeper, but to be honest, I didn't particularly like Alix or her husband, either.  There's just not really anyone to root for here, apart from the kids you barely see (and a couple of dogs).  

I get the impression that the author either doesn't know how the police actually operate or decided to throw all that out the window when writing.  At least, I found Alix's interactions with the police very odd and unrealistic.  Maybe I'm wrong (but I don't think so).  

I don't have a problem with popular, "lowbrow" fiction like thrillers—it's most of what I read for pleasure these days—but this one was just not much fun to read. 

Trad Wife

Trad Wife

by Saratoga Schaefer

Blurb:

Every #tradwife needs a baby. She’ll get one at any cost.

When Camille Deming isn’t cooking, cleaning, or homesteading in her picture-perfect country farmhouse, she’s posting about her tradwife lifestyle for her online followers. She takes inspiration from other tradwives on social media, aspiring to be like them, but Camille’s missing a key component: a baby. And contrary to what she posts online, things with her husband Graham have been strained. Pressured by her eager followers, Camille fears that without a baby, her relationship will suffer and her social media will never grow out of its infancy.

When Camille discovers a mysterious, decrepit well in the wheatfield behind her house, she makes a wish for a baby. Afterwards, she has unsettling experiences that she convinces herself are angelic in nature, and when she’s visited one night by a strange creature, her wish comes true. 

Camille’s pregnancy announcement gets more engagement than anything she’s ever posted—so what if Graham’s reaction is lukewarm? Camille’s life is finally falling into place. Never mind that her pregnancy is developing freakishly rapidly and she’s suddenly craving raw meat. Being a traditional wife is worth it.

Rosemary’s Baby for the digital age, this disturbing horror novel is one you’ll want to devour in just one bite.

My Reaction:

I saw this recommended on YouTube, heard the comparison to Rosemary's Baby, and didn't really bother looking into it any further before starting. 

I have no desire to go through all the reasons this didn't hold a candle to Rosemary's Baby, but you can browse other negative reviews on Goodreads to get the gist, if you care. To put it briefly, it can't seem to decide what kind of book it wants to be—the body horror is just gross and often unnecessary (though I accept that some people enjoy body horror, so... whatever... but this is my review, and I don't like it at this level)—it's far too repetitive and dragged-out, which makes it boring at many times (and I don't think it was intentionally so)—the "message" is muddled and contradictory—the husband character is lacking any hint of subtlety, a caricaturized selfish "tradhusband"—the main-character wife supposedly has a bright, scientific mind, yet she somehow didn't know about male infertility and is stunningly slow on the up-take at times—and to top it all off, the course of the plot is completely predictable, once it gets rolling.  (Well, I guess I went into my reasons for disliking this, after all...)

If I had only seen the "acknowledgements" section before starting the book—or, heck, even the "they/them" pronouns for the author in the Goodreads bio (and the back of the book)—I may have understood that this wouldn't be a book for me.  To be fair, finding the term "pregnant people" (as opposed to, you know, "women", who are the only type of people who can get pregnant) was a pretty strong clue, earlier in the book. 

Here, let me just share the opening of the "Acknowledgements":  "The rise of tradwives is a symptom of society's larger, more persistent issues. Capitalism, racism, sexism, etc., have created a culture that can twist things as simple as aesthetics and farm living into something far more insidious.  Zen Buddhists say the only way out is through. I believe the only way out is to devour. Let's consume, transform, and in that way, resist."  

...Okay, then.  

I don't really know enough about it to have much of an opinion on the whole "tradwife" thing. If some women want to live a more traditional life, I don't see an issue with that, though for the ones obsessed with posting it all online, it does feel... performative, to put it mildly.  I doubt many women honestly consider themselves part of the movement (is it a movement?), and if anything, I suspect it's fading in popularity. Just another passing trend.  Some women will stick with the more traditional lifestyle, as some women always have. The ones who were in it for the clicks will drift back to something more mainstream (or chase whatever new fad catches their eye). The author obviously despises the tradwife lifestyle.  Alright, fair enough—but I'm not really clear on how she's linking it to capitalism and racism... Whatever.  I don't even care!

Bottom line: I just didn't enjoy it.

My Husband's Wife

My Husband's Wife

by Alice Feeney

Blurb:

Eden Fox, an artist on the brink of her big break, sets off for a run before her first exhibition. When she returns to the home she recently moved into, Spyglass, an enchanting old house in Hope Falls, nothing is as it should be. Her key doesn’t fit. A woman, eerily similar to her, answers the door. And her husband insists that the stranger is his wife.

One house. One husband. Two women. Someone is lying.

Six months earlier, a reclusive Londoner called Birdy, reeling from a life-changing diagnosis, inherits Spyglass. This unexpected gift from a long-lost grandmother brings her to the pretty seaside village of Hope Falls. But then Birdy stumbles upon a shadowy London clinic that claims to be able to predict a person's date of death, including her own. Secrets start to unravel, and as the line between truth and lies blurs, Birdy feels compelled to right some old wrongs.

My Reaction:

I went into this one knowing nothing, really. I hadn't read the blurb. Just saw it recommended somewhere (I think...), recognized the author, and thought it could be entertaining.  If I'd known the major themes of the novel, I might have skipped it.  I prefer to avoid stories with medical or health-related storylines, because I just don't want to think about that stuff when I'm relaxing, if I can help it.  Real life has enough health worry and medical crap in it, as far as I'm concerned. I don't want to read about it for fun!  To be fair, the author left things very vague, which I did appreciate, but still... Not my favorite topic. 

Aside from that, this had too many things that didn't make sense.  I was listening to the audiobook version, which (for me, at least) tends to make it easier to just painlessly breeze over a good bit of nonsense, but even so, there were many head-scratching moments.  (Check out some other reviews if you're interested.) Basically, the author is favoring shocking twists and confusing misdirects over logic and believability. A certain amount of that is what makes thrillers fun to read, but at some point it tips over into ridiculousness.  This time, I was left with a sense of dissatisfaction. 

Dear Debbie

Dear Debbie

by Freida McFadden

Blurb:

Debbie Mullen is losing it. For years, she has compiled all of her best advice into her column, Dear Debbie, where the wives of New England come for sympathy and neighborly advice. Through her work, Debbie has heard from countless women who are ignored, belittled, or even abused by their husbands. And Debbie does her best to guide them in the right direction.

Or at least, she did.

These days, Debbie’s life seems to be spiraling out of control. She just lost her job. Something strange is happening with her teenage daughters. And her husband is keeping secrets, according to the tracking app she installed on his phone. Now, Debbie’s done being the bigger person. She’s done being reasonable and practical. It’s time to take her own advice.

And now it’s time for payback against all the people in her life who deserve it the most.

My Reaction:

This was my first time reading anything by this author, after seeing it recommended as a page-turner.  I ended up listening to the audiobook version, but it certainly was easy enough to listen to at a steady clip.  Did I like it, though?  Eh... It's okay—if you don't mind a revenge fantasy that hinges on some pretty incredible coincidences (and lots of them).  

Most of the characters aren't very likeable, either, which so many people always feel a need to say isn't really a problem for them.  I don't know if it's a problem for me, honestly.  I guess there may be books/movies/etc. I enjoy despite an unlikeable cast, but on the whole, no, I don't want to actively dislike most of the characters I spend a significant amount of time around.  I don't want them to be perfect, unrealistic little angels, either (so boring), but I'd rather not hate them.  

Anyway... It was something to listen to.  I'd consider another quick listen from this author, but probably wouldn't actively seek her out or commit to reading the text version, if they're all like this. 

Empress Theresa

Empress Theresa

by Norman Boutin

Author's Blurb (...?):

Theresa is honest, courageous, brilliant, loved by everybody ( even China wants her to take herself out of danger ), happily married, powerful but harmless, thoughtful of others' welfare not just her own, a believer in God, and an inspiration to the young and old. She attacks "impossible" problems with everything she's got and she never gives up. ____ "Those who challenge Theresa Hartley's power are fools" says the Israeli Prime Minister. "She could destroy the world."____ "Don't mess around with Empress Theresa!" says her husband Steve. __ Empress Theresa is what some people would consider impossible, a book about a good girl, with no sex, foul language, or violence, but still giving the reader an action-filled fascinating story. 

My Reaction:

(This is another 372 Pages We'll Never Get Back read, shared with Donald.)

Oh my gosh, I cannot stand Theresa.  She's just—argh!!  The author wants you to think she's some amazing paragon who's brilliant, brave, and wise beyond her years (and hotttt, too, of course).  But as the Empress herself might phrase it, "yeah, well", the truth is that she's an obnoxious, conceited brat of a teenager who just happened to luck into god-like powers.  (Well, sort of.  They're very strange and ill-defined powers, which she wields with all the wisdom, skill, and humility you'd expect from a bratty teenager.) At her worst, she's one of the most hateable characters I've ever come across who isn't an actual serial killer or abusive piece of crap.  Given the way Theresa is described, it's uncomfortable and creepy to remember that this was written by a man in his mid-60s. Is she his fantasy crush or his self-insert character—or both? Ick.

Then there's the science angle. None of it makes any sense, and I'm not just talking about the science fiction stuff.  It's utter insanity, yet presented in such a way that we're obviously meant to be impressed! 

There's unintentional humor, but also intense boredom and confusion and annoyance.  The podcast is the only reason to read this, as far as I'm concerned. 

Run on Red

Run on Red

by Noelle Ihli

Blurb:

A rural country road. No cell signal for miles. A terrifying game of cat-and-mouse.

By the time Laura and Olivia notice the headlights tailing them through the hills, it’s too late. What seems, at first, like a case of road rage quickly unfolds into a heart-pounding chase—and a battle for survival.

Who are the men in the truck? What do they want? And can Laura and Olivia outrun—and outsmart—them long enough to call for help, even if it means taking their chances in the hills on foot?

My Reaction:

I saw this recommended by a "booktuber" as part of a list of fast-paced novels guaranteed (well, maybe not quite that) to get you out of a reading slump.  Now, admittedly I'm not a big reader as an adult.  I enjoy reading in bite-sized chunks, but rarely do I ever just sit and read and read and read. I was more that kind of a reader as a teenager, but as an adult, I have too many other interests I'd rather pursue, most of the time.  So I can't honestly say I am (or was) in a reading slump.  I just apparently don't care for reading books as much as I once did—but I do like a fast-paced novel sometimes.  I'm probably not going to gulp it down in one reading (that's never been my reading style, anyway), but if it's a real page-turner, I'm more likely to finish it within a month or so instead of getting side-tracked for weeks at a time.  

Anyway, this was promised as a page-turner, and to start with, I thought it really was one.  I enjoyed the first however-much a lot, but at some point it lost momentum and became repetitive.  Characters did some stupid (unbelievably stupid) things, and then the end felt rushed.  Eh, it was okay.  I wasn't surprised by any of the twists (if they were meant to be twists), but I wasn't expecting twistiness from this book—just action and adrenaline.

Some of the reviews I've skimmed have been full of annoyance with the inaccuracies of the cell phone technology as described. The book is set back in the dim and distant day of the flip phone, and apparently the author got confused and had these flip phones do things that flip phones didn't do.  I barely used my phone back in those days. I had a very simple model for emergencies only, so what do I know about such things?! It flew right over my head, but evidently this was a big deal for some readers.  I was more frustrated by some stupid (and in my opinion out of character) choices characters made... and the repetitiveness of some of the inner monologue.  

Still, I didn't hate the book, and if her other novels are better, I wouldn't mind trying one of those.  (If I remember, which is doubtful.)  This is probably a 2.5 for me, rounded up to 3. 

The Quiet Tenant

The Quiet Tenant

by Clémence Michallon

Blurb:

Aidan Thomas is a hard-working family man and a somewhat beloved figure in the small upstate New York town where he lives. He’s the kind of man who always lends a hand and has a good word for everyone. But Aidan has a dark secret he’s been keeping from everyone in town and those closest to him. He’s a kidnapper and serial killer. Aidan has murdered eight women and there’s a ninth he has earmarked for death: Rachel, imprisoned in a backyard shed, fearing for her life.

When Aidan’s wife dies, he and his thirteen-year-old daughter Cecilia are forced to move. Aidan has no choice but to bring Rachel along, introducing her to Cecilia as a “family friend” who needs a place to stay. Aidan is betting on Rachel, after five years of captivity, being too brainwashed and fearful to attempt to escape. But Rachel is a fighter and survivor, and recognizes Cecilia might just be the lifeline she has waited for all these years. As Rachel tests the boundaries of her new living situation, she begins to form a tenuous connection with Cecilia. And when Emily, a local restaurant owner, develops a crush on the handsome widower, she finds herself drawn into Rachel and Cecilia’s orbit, coming dangerously close to discovering Aidan’s secret.

Told through the perspectives of Rachel, Cecilia, and Emily, The Quiet Tenant explores the psychological impact of Aidan’s crimes on the women in his life—and the bonds between those women that give them the strength to fight back. Both a searing thriller and an astute study of trauma, survival, and the dynamics of power, The Quiet Tenant is an electrifying debut thriller by a major talent.

My Reaction:

(DNF at over 50%.  I listened to the audiobook version.)

This was a disappointment.  I feel that I gave it a fair shot.  The first time, I struggled and stopped at probably around 25% through.  Months passed.  I read and listened to other books... And then I saw it, had nothing else to listen to, and decided I'd give it one more chance.  I picked back up where I'd left off, but unfortunately, all the problems I'd had with it the first time only intensified with the next quarter of the book.  

How did this annoy me?

First, it somehow manages to be terribly boring.  Very repetitive.

Second, I can't stand the way the narrator for Rachel voices Aidan (to the point I wanted to inflict physical pain on him for that alone, leaving aside all his crimes and abusiveness).  

Third, the whole story just made me angry.  If I feel worse every time I read or listen to a book, the story had better be fascinating to make up for the daily dose of negativity.  This wasn't all that fascinating, I'm afraid. 

Fourth, some of the characters' choices and behaviors just don't ring true to me.  Based on reviews I skimmed, you never get even an attempt at an explanation for why some characters are the way they are, either. 

Once a certain something happened (spoiler below), I just lost all interest.  I still gave it a bit longer, but when I realized I was only halfway through, I decided to spare myself the suffering and move on to something else.  Life's too short to push through books you dislike reading. No-one's handing out awards for finishing annoying books, these days.  I read a synopsis and a few reviews, and it doesn't feel like I've missed much by stopping where I did. 

**SPOILERS**

What was the "certain something" that made me stop caring?  I am beyond frustrated when characters who are held captive (or in some other dire position) don't at least try to escape when the opportunity presents itself.  Yes, I read this character's reasoning and I understand why she might not have acted—and maybe we're even supposed to think that she made the right call—but the fact remains that I loathe that trope.  

Don't ask me to care what happens to a character who won't even try to save herself/himself.  It's demoralizing to read, and I just don't need that in my life.  Then she ruined a second opportunity to run and was nearly killed as a result of her own stupidity.  (Argh!!)  

It felt clear that this book wasn't going to be a satisfying read for me, so why slog through another 150 pages (however many hours that would've been of listening) of torture?  Better to call it a DNF and be done!

The Mayor of Noobtown

The Mayor of Noobtown

by Ryan Rimmel

Blurb:

It could be worse. You could be stuck with a literal shoulder demon.

After dying and being reborn into a world that's built like a video game, Jim has found himself stuck in a very old world style new player zone for low level adventurers. Unfortunately, the zone fell out of use centuries ago, and no one told the monsters they were supposed to take it easy on the Noobs. Even worse, the only new player around is Jim.

Jim has been given an opportunity, and he'll do his best to take advantage of it.

My Reaction:

(This was another 372 Pages We'll Never Get Back reading selection.)

Ugh.  
Need I say more?  

I haven't been keeping up with updating my reading list, and I've mercifully forgotten most of the specifics, but I do remember pages of stats (which I skipped without an ounce of guilt), juvenile humor, and literally falling asleep multiple times while struggling to make my way through this book.  

To be fair, when the author finally had some things actually happen, it was more readable (though I wouldn't go so far as to say it was enjoyable), but that was far too late in the book to earn more than a single star from me, I'm afraid. 

I just don't get the success of this book, but the world is a strange place full of mystery and confoundment. 

(As bad as this was, I still say that Shadow Moon and Bob Honey Who Just Do Stuff were worse reading experiences for me, personally.)

I Know Who You Are

I Know Who You Are

by Alice Feeney

Blurb:

Meet Aimee Sinclair: the actress everyone thinks they know but can’t remember where from.

Except one person.

Someone who knows Aimee very well—and what she’s done. . .

When Aimee comes home and discovers her husband is missing, she doesn’t seem to know what to do or how to act. The police think she’s hiding something and they’re right, she is—but perhaps not what they thought. Aimee has a secret she’s never shared, and yet, she suspects that someone knows. As she struggles to keep her career and sanity intact, her past comes back to haunt her in ways more dangerous than she could have ever imagined.

My Reaction:

(I listened to the audiobook version.)

This one has some... issues... but at least it held my interest.  I guessed the twist just before it came, but in a half-disbelieving kind of way, because I couldn't see how it could be that.  And yet it was... 

There are some truly disgusting and enraging things in this book, and the plot feels very unlikely—but eh!  It distracted me from real life for a while, and that's the main thing I'm looking for in a thriller.  

Owl Be Home for Christmas

Owl Be Home for Christmas (A Very Murder Christmas #2)

by Rosie A. Pointe

Blurb:

With six days to go before Christmas, there’s only one thing on everyone’s minds… Murder!

Holly, local dog walker and amateur sleuth extraordinaire, likes to think she’s her hometown’s answer to the dog whisperer. But owls? That’s another sack of feathers all together. When she’s called out to a rich woman’s home, Holly is shocked when she’s asked to… walk an owl?

No amount of explaining will convince her new client that walking birds is something Holly can’t do. Or that owls are nocturnal creatures. Just when Holly’s ready to give up and go home, her client clasps at her throat, chokes, and keels over. Dead as a doornail.

Holly’s got no idea what happened to her, but with the local Christmas celebrations under threat, she won’t stop until she’s solved the crime.

My Reaction:

I read this tiny novel together with Donald, because (as you may have guessed) it was the annual 372 Pages We'll Never Get Back cozy mystery selection.  It's a tradition now for the podcast to cover a (usually Christmas-themed) cozy mystery sometime around/between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Far from completists, Mike and Conor typically just dip into the middle of series for their cozy mystery reads, and this time was no different.  It's the second in a series of three books (so far).  

Given the nature of the podcast, you wouldn't expect this to be a particularly (objectively) "great" book, and you'd be right.  In my very limited experience of reading cozy mysteries, I find them typically thin on the mystery, but this was an extreme example of that.  There's very little actual investigation, and when you reach the end, there are some big questions left hanging.  (Like how in the heck someone who is deathly allergic to cherries could eat a cake without noticing the cherries stuck inside—after baking and icing/decorating—without seeing... that it's been tampered with... and that there are whole pieces of cherries... in the cake she's eating in broad daylight... I just... Look, why didn't the author go for cherry liqueur or cherry juice or something?!  It's insane!)  

Anyway!  

I found this less fun to read than the other cozy mysteries we've read for the podcast, but I guess they can't all be The Quilters Push Back.  Listening along with the podcast makes it worth reading, but otherwise, I wouldn't bother. 

We Used to Live Here

We Used to Live Here

by Marcus Kliewer

Blurb:

As a young, queer couple who flip houses, Charlie and Eve can’t believe the killer deal they’ve just gotten on an old house in a picturesque neighborhood. As they’re working in the house one day, there’s a knock on the door. A man stands there with his family, claiming to have lived there years before and asking if it would be alright if he showed his kids around. People pleaser to a fault, Eve lets them in.

As soon as the strangers enter their home, inexplicable things start happening, including the family’s youngest child going missing and a ghostly presence materializing in the basement. Even more weird, the family can’t seem to take the hint that their visit should be over. And when Charlie suddenly vanishes, Eve slowly loses her grip on reality. Something is terribly wrong with the house and with the visiting family—or is Eve just imagining things?

My Reaction:

This is yet another horror book I've seen highly recommended, so I thought I'd give it a try.  So many other readers apparently found it terrifying and loved it, but for me it was just "okay".  The premise is great, but once you start to figure out what's going on (well, figure it out as much as anyone can, given that there are no definite answers), I found it a little disappointing.  That particular trope or style of horror has never been my favorite, and I can't reveal what it is without spoilers, so I'll leave it for now.  

The frequency of "oh no, religion" had me rolling my eyes, and apart from a few genuinely scary moments, I just wasn't feeling the terror.  Definitely not the scariest book I've ever read.  I think this might be one of those stories that works better as a movie than a novel—though I did enjoy the idea of the documents and the "hidden messages" doled out through the book.  (More about them in the spoilers section.) 

All in all, I enjoyed this novel well enough, but I also don't think it's as amazing as many others evidently do. I simply have too many unanswered questions. 

I struggle with rating this one, so I'm going straight down the middle of the road with 3 stars.

SPOILERS:

Okay, are the anti-spoilerites gone? 

Good.  

There are so many terrifying possibilities available, when the book starts with a family of strangers at the door—possibilities both paranormal in nature and completely within the realm of brutal reality.  What I wasn't expecting was a tale of "the old gods" toying with and mentally torturing hapless humans for no apparent reason except possibly their entertainment.  (Well, either that or Eve has lost her mind, and I don't think that's the conclusion we're supposed to settle on.)  

I think the paranormal can be incredibly frightening, when done right, but Lovecraftian horror generally isn't as effective for me as it seems to be for many other readers.  Maybe I just haven't found the right book, yet.  Yes, there are moments of this book that are scary, and the uncertainty is unsettling—but nothing in here kept me up at night or made me hesitate to walk down the hallway at night without switching on the light (as has been known to happen on occasion, with other books). 

Regarding the "hidden messages":  Maybe it's not exactly a hidden message when it's in the form of Morse code clearly visible at the end of chapters and random capitalized letters, but I'm not sure how else to describe them. I missed the wingdings messages completely and only read about them in another review.

Painting Cats: Curious, Mindful & Free-Spirited Watercolors

Painting Cats: Curious, Mindful & Free-Spirited Watercolors

by Terry Runyan

Blurb:

In this follow-up to her hit Painting Happiness, Instagram sensation Terry Runyan shows you how to play with watercolor to create quirky cat portraits--and let go of stress.

Perfect for cat lovers and watercolor artists of all skill levels, from absolute beginner to more experienced, Painting Cats teaches you how to go from blob of paint to a beautiful portrait of your fluffy friends. Drawing on art therapy techniques that emphasize fun and freedom in creativity over technical perfection, Runyan guides you step by step through the process of adding details to loosely painted shapes to create your own unique and distinct cats.

My Reaction:

Love it!  Even if you're more of a dog person, the cats are adorable and the book itself is fun and inspiring.  If you enjoyed Terry Runyan's previous watercolor book, Painting Happiness, you'll probably like this one, too.  I found Painting Happiness very helpful.  It opened me up to more possibilities and helped me learn to ignore my harsh inner critic.  (The author certainly lives up to her self-description as a "creative encourager"!)  I'm thrilled to have another book of watercolor happiness to flip through when I'm in need of inspiration.  

Keeping a Creative Sketchbook

Keeping a Creative Sketchbook: Build Your Artistic Practice for a Joyfully Inspired Life

by Emma Block

Blurb:

Keeping a sketchbook is a wonderfully rewarding pursuit for artists and hobbyists alike. Your sketchbook is a safe place to explore, experiment, try new things, record your progress, and sometimes mess up, and working in a sketchbook, particularly on location, is an innately mindful practice. You become completely focused on the things you are sketching or painting and completely immersed in the atmosphere of the place.

In  Keeping a Creative Sketchbook , Emma Block shares her own sketchbook practice and offers inspiring artist interviews and numerous techniques and practices for beginning or transforming your own. Packed with ideas and prompts to get started, this book helps overcome overwhelm and open a world of joyful creativity. With your sketchbook by your side, you can slow down, be present, notice the little things, enjoy the process, let go of perfectionism, and embrace the blank page, discovering rich new depths to your creativity and finding your artist mindset for inner peace.

My Reaction:

"On-location" art creation isn't really something I do much of, at the moment, but I still found the book interesting and inspiring, with plenty of useful information for anyone considering keeping a sketchbook and uncertain of where to start.  Much of this info is perfectly relevant beyond the sketchbook, too.  If you don't like working in a bound sketchbook, you can just as easily do the same type of work on loose sheets or a pad or block of paper, then put them together in a binder, scrapbook, keepsake box, etc. 

I particularly enjoyed the interviews sprinkled throughout the book, with other artists sharing how they use their own sketchbooks, tips, etc. and photos of their work. There are a variety of different styles to spark new ideas. 

How to Attract the Wombat

How to Attract the Wombat

by Will Cuppy

Blurb:

A survey of the animal kingdom in which the nocturnal and tunneling wombat is awarded the greatest praise.

Will Cuppy was something like the Larry David of the mid-20th century. From his perch as a staff writer at The New Yorker , Cuppy observed the world and found a great deal that annoyed him. This collection of essays on animals includes “Birds Who Can’t Even Fly,” “Optional Insects,” “Octopuses and Those Things”, and “How to Swat a Fly,” which codifies the essentials in ten hilarious principles. And three essays on wombats. Perfect reading for the perplexed, befuddled, and perpetually irritated.

My Reaction:

I found these humorous essays better than Cuppy's book about historical figures (The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody)—but less enjoyable than How to Be a Hermit.  Good for light reading, especially if you want something that can mostly be consumed in short bites.  

If you're the type who reads P.G. Wodehouse, I'd give this author a try.  

Deception Point

Deception Point

by Dan Brown

Blurb:

When a new NASA satellite spots evidence of an astonishingly rare object buried deep in the Arctic ice, the floundering space agency proclaims a much-needed victory… a victory that has profound implications for U.S. space policy and the impending presidential election.

With the Oval Office in the balance, the President dispatches White House Intelligence analyst Rachel Sexton to the Milne Ice Shelf to verify the authenticity of the find. Accompanied by a team of experts, including the charismatic academic Michael Tolland, Rachel uncovers the unthinkable—evidence of scientific trickery—a bold deception that threatens to plunge the world into controversy.

But before Rachel can contact the President, she and Michael are attacked by a deadly task force…a private team of assassins controlled by a mysterious powerbroker who will stop at nothing to hide the truth. Fleeing for their lives in an environment as desolate as it is lethal, they possess only one hope, to find out who is behind this masterful ploy. The truth, they will learn, is the most shocking deception of all…

My Reaction:
Read with Donald for the 372 Pages We'll Never Get Back podcast/book club.  

It's silly and formulaic, crammed with inaccurate information, much longer than it needs to be, and set at an often agonizingly slow pace, but I still found it more enjoyable to read than some of the other things we've read along with 372 Pages.  

(We've also read Digital Fortress, by the same author—and along with the same podcast—and were amused by some parallels between the two.)

The Babysitter Lives

The Babysitter Lives

by Stephen Graham Jones

Blurb:

When high school senior Charlotte agrees to babysit the Wilbanks twins, she plans to put the six-year-olds to bed early and spend a quiet night studying: the SATs are tomorrow, and checking the Native American/Alaskan Native box on all the forms won’t help if she chokes on test day. But tomorrow is also Halloween, and the twins are eager to show off their costumes.

Charlotte’s last babysitting gig almost ended in tragedy when her young charge sleepwalked unnoticed into the middle of the street, only to be found unharmed by Charlotte’s mother. Charlotte vows to be extra careful this time. But the house is filled with mysterious noises and secrets that only the twins understand, echoes of horrors that Charlotte gradually realizes took place in the house eleven years ago. Soon Charlotte has to admit that every babysitter’s worst nightmare has come true: they’re not alone in the house.

My Reaction:

I tried to keep an open mind, but this turned out to be another DNF.  The thought of picking it up to read was making me unhappy, and life is just too short to persist with books that you hate reading!  I read a few reviews to confirm that it wasn't just me, and after learning a couple of the things that came after I stopped, I'm glad I quit when I did.  This was not for me.  

I read the first part of the acknowledgements, and this phrase leapt out at me:  "I never have much idea where my stories are going..."  Yeah. I have to say, that doesn't come as a surprise, after this reading experience.

Incidents Around the House

Incidents Around the House

by Josh Malerman

Blurb:

To eight-year-old Bela, her family is her world. There’s Mommy, Daddo, and Grandma Ruth. But there is also Other Mommy, a malevolent entity who asks her every day: “Can I go inside your heart?”  

 

When horrifying incidents around the house signal that Other Mommy is growing tired of asking Bela the same question, over and over . . . Bela understands that unless she says yes, soon her family must pay. 

 

Other Mommy is getting restless, stronger, bolder. Only the bonds of family can keep Bela safe but other incidents show cracks in her parents' marriage. The safety Bela relies on is on the brink of unraveling.  

 

But Other Mommy needs an answer. 

 

My Reaction:

I guess I'm just an extremely picky reader.  Either that or I'm bad at selecting books—because it feels like it's nearly impossible to find a book that satisfies me, these days.  This is another one that was recommended by a horror booktuber.  After reading a couple of duds (or at least not roaring successes) suggested in her videos, I was skeptical of this one, from the start.  However, the beginning was actually intriguing, so I thought maybe I'd finally found one that I could agree was a good read.  

Alright, I wasn't crazy about the choice to leave out quotation marks.  I get that it's told from a child's perspective, but... so?  Why does that mean you don't need quotation marks?  Especially given that all the other punctuation is there.  Seems like laziness or a misguided attempt to be fresh and different.  But as I say, I got past that and was hopeful.  But then... It just got worse and worse.  By the end, I was very disappointed.  In between some genuinely creepy moments, it was a combination of the boring, the annoying, and the outright ridiculous—with a little confusion thrown in to make it even more irritating to read.  I would not recommend this to anyone I know.

Now I see that they're making a movie adaptation of this book.  Maybe they can improve upon it, or maybe it's better suited for the screen.  If I get the chance to see it streaming, I'll probably give it a try, but I wouldn't go to see it in a theater—not based on this reading experience.

I don't even feel like putting in the effort to list the reasons this book annoyed me.  Just read some other negative reviews; they probably cover most of it.  

Well, it may have been an underwhelming conclusion, but at least I no longer have to read more obnoxious psychobabble crap from "Mommy", "Daddo" (ow, another strain from extreme eye-rolling), Bela's grandmother, and every other adult in the book.  Phew!

The Silent Companions

The Silent Companions

by Laura Purcell

Blurb:

When newly widowed Elsie is sent to see out her pregnancy at her late husband's crumbling country estate, The Bridge, what greets her is far from the life of wealth and privilege she was expecting . . .

When Elsie married handsome young heir Rupert Bainbridge, she believed she was destined for a life of luxury. But with her husband dead just weeks after their marriage, her new servants resentful, and the local villagers actively hostile, Elsie has only her husband's awkward cousin for company. Or so she thinks. Inside her new home lies a locked door, beyond which is a painted wooden figure —a silent companion —-that bears a striking resemblance to Elsie herself. The residents of The Bridge are terrified of the figure, but Elsie tries to shrug this off as simple superstition--that is, until she notices the figure's eyes following her.

A Victorian ghost story that evokes a most unsettling kind of fear, this is a tale that creeps its way through the consciousness in ways you least expect--much like the silent companions themselves.

My Reaction:

Hm.  Unfortunately, I didn't like this one as much as I hoped I would.  (I'm beginning to think my horror tastes don't align sufficiently with the "booktuber" who recommended this.  I keep feeling let down by their suggestions.)

There were a few creepy moments, but I didn't find it all that scary, actually.  I was more frustrated than frightened, which is never a good thing in horror.  I could see most major plot-points coming from far away, so there was no element of surprise, either—and now that I sit here thinking about it, there are several things that weren't explained, unless I missed it.  (I'll get into that in the spoiler section below.) 

I think I had difficulty getting into the story because it didn't feel authentic.  (I know, I know: It's paranormal horror!)  Some of it just felt too modern for the time periods represented.  For instance, there's a multi-volume journal penned by a female character who lived in the 1600s.  I don't think that was likely, to begin with, but to make it worse, it's one of those "only exist in fiction" diaries that go into far more detail (including transcriptions of conversations) than any real diary ever does. Unfortunately, things like that gave the book an amateurish feeling, in my opinion.

It's okay, but I don't get all the enthusiasm for this one. 

SPOILERS

to

follow...

So, the plot holes, unexplained parts of the story, or whatever you want to call them... I guess you can just wiggle your fingers and whisper "Magic!" to explain away some of these things, but they annoy me.  

First, why does the companion that is known as "Hetta" so closely resemble Elsie?  They are not connected by blood.  Maybe they don't look that much alike? I can't recall if it's only Elsie who observes a resemblance... 

Second, the way the original silent companions are introduced into the story is strange.  We are given the impression that the mysterious shopkeeper knows there's something odd about them and seems to almost trick Anne into buying them.  Then when she tries to return them, the whole building is gone.  ...Huh?  What's the sinister history of the companions?  Are the companions the source of the evil that later contaminates Hetta—and if not, what are the odds that Anne would have such crappy luck (evil kid and evil home decor, totally unrelated)? 

It definitely feels like there was something wrong with the shopkeeper, and by extension the companions, even though they apparently never killed anyone until after Hetta's blood seeps into them and she possesses them, or whatever else is meant to have happened to make them evil and capable of murder.  And then there's the fact that Elsie seems to think that the companion version of Rupert (her deceased husband) is holding his soul captive and tormenting him.  (It seems like there was another character who may have been trapped inside a companion, but I can't recall for certain...) What's going on with that?!  It's never really fleshed out to my satisfaction. 

Third, are we supposed to think that Hetta was actually born evil, or... what?  She seems like she's just a bit fey and misunderstood (and poorly treated by her father) until she's forbidden to perform for the King and Queen, at which point she promptly turns evil in an extreme overreaction that makes no sense whatsoever.  

What's up with the splinters?  I'm not clear about how people would be getting splinters from contact with painted, clothed wooden figures that don't seem to be particularly roughly textured.  And how in the world does Elsie's unborn baby end up covered in splinters?!  (Yeah, it's one of the creepiest parts of the book, but it makes no logical sense whatsoever, as far as I can see.) 

Are we supposed to doubt Elsie?  Is she an unreliable narrator?  I never really doubt anything she says, so if that's the intention, maybe that's another part of what's missing.  

Are we supposed to like Jolyon?  Blurgh.  Couldn't stand the guy.  I get it that Elsie loves him (and that he's actually her son conceived through incestuous abuse, reading between the lines), but... I think he's kind of a jerk, if I'm honest. Not that I liked Elsie much, either.  None of the characters are especially relatable. 

Night of the Crabs

Night of the Crabs

by Guy N. Smith

Blurb:

The Welsh coast basks in summer tranquility, then the drownings begin... Not until the monstrous crustaceans crawl ashore, their pincers poised for destruction, does the world understand the threat it faces....

My Reaction:

This was selected for the 372 Pages We'll Never Get Back podcast, and as usual, Donald and I read it together.  

I was expecting this to be a slightly sillier version of Jaws.  (I've never read the book, but I've seen the movie very many times.)  It was even sillier than I'd expected—and surprisingly risqué.  (Perhaps that aspect is less surprising when you read the author's biography and see the other types of "literature" in his bibliography.)  

SPOILERS follow...

The marine biologist/renowned botanist/professor/very "with it" uncle of what's-his-name isn't quite as brilliant as he thinks he is, but then again, everyone in this book is kind of dumb!  

There's an obvious hole in their first big plan to thwart the evil crabs, and everyone is SHOCKED when the plan doesn't work—but then they have another idea that seems so stupid it couldn't possibly work, so of course it does.  

Except... There are no dead crabs under the sea or washing up on shore... And didn't they just go through a time when the crabs were nowhere to be seen... and everyone became complacent... until the crabs resurfaced and killed a whole bunch of people?  Nah, I'm sure it'll be fine this time!  

I don't care for creature-feature monsters that are too impervious to everything that should by rights kill them.  Sure, they're big and armored, but I'm not buying that they're invulnerable to fire or that you can't, you know, aim for their eyes and blind them with good old-fashioned bullets. 

We never do get a satisfying answer as to where they came from—and why only now.   The whole scene with Cliff Davenport (full name, please) spying on the planes at the military base, being shut in "the hole" and then interrogated—leads nowhere!  Very disappointing.  

The only part of the book that actually felt creepy was the poor train engineer (I guess?) who has had a prophetic recurring nightmare about his death that then comes true.  I don't know why, but that gave me a genuine chill.   

Oh well.  The story ends with Cliff Davenport and Pat Benatar Benson heading off to London to marry and live happily ever after (or at least until they learn that the crabs survived, because this is the first of a series of 7—SEVEN!!—books). 

My Brother Michael

My Brother Michael 

by Mary Stewart

(Edited) Blurb:

Camilla Haven is on holiday alone, and wishes for some excitement. She had been sitting quietly in a crowded Athens cafe writing to her friend Elizabeth in England, "Nothing ever happens to me..."

Then, without warning, a stranger approached, thrust a set of car keys at her and pointed to a huge black touring car parked at the curb. "The car for Delphi, mademoiselle... A matter of life and death," he whispered and disappeared.

From that moment Camilla's life suddenly begins to take off when she sets out on a mysterious car journey to Delphi.  The ride was Camilla's first mistake... or perhaps she had unintentionally invoked the gods. She finds herself in the midst of an exciting, intriguing, yet dangerous adventure. An extraordinary train of events turned on a nightmare of intrigue and terror beyond her wildest daydreams.

My Reaction:

I listened to an old audiobook recording of this novel (the Chivers Audio Books version), looking for something relaxing to enjoy while piecing my current quilt project or making watercolor doodles.  It served that purpose well.  This isn't my favorite Mary Stewart "travel mystery"—felt like it took a while for me to get into the story, and it felt more dated than some of the others (or maybe it's just me that has changed)—but it's fine.  

If you like Mary Stewart, you'll probably enjoy this, too, but I wouldn't suggest it as a first choice.  I think there's a reason this one seems to be less well known than The Moon-Spinners or Nine Coaches Waiting, for instance.