Jolissa
Check out my full review at https://literaryquicksand.com/2021/05/review-i-thought-you-said-this-would-work-by-ann-garvin/
This was such a great read! I absolutely fell in love with Ann Garvin's I Thought You Said This Would Work.
Guys, this book was so funny, and so sweet, and so fun. If you read the synopsis, you're probably thinking “oh my, that's a lot going on” and it totally is, and at times, it's a little absurd. I mean, a diabetic dog and a D-list celebrity? Just trust me on this, though...it's a great read!
The characters were super lovable. Even Holly, who seems angry for no reason, is likable because you can tell there's something more going on and you just really want to find out what it is. It really kept me guessing throughout the story, and I was rooting so hard for Sam to just speak up and ask Holly what the heck was bothering her.
Really, I was rooting for Sam the whole time. She's such an endearing character, and I wanted to be her friend. She has that classic “I'm a mom and that's my identity but now my kid is moving out so who am I?” kind of thing going on. I enjoy stories that deal with empty nesting, as it's such a big change in lifestyle.
Check out my full review at https://literaryquicksand.com/2021/05/review-twice-a-daughter-by-julie-ryan-mcgue/
Twice a Daughter by Julie Ryan McGue was an engaging memoir! It was hard to stop reading when Julie was on the cusp of finding out some information about her birth parents.
It was hard to stop reading this book when Julie was about to discover something about her birth family. It was really interesting to read an account of trying to find birth parents, too, as I've never read an account like this. I know people go searching for their adoptive parents, but I've never read a memoir about it.
I actually felt anticipatory nerves as she was about to discover something. For that reason, I enjoyed it! I also liked her insights into being adopted and wanting to discover her lineage.
The book did get a little slow for me in between those breakthrough parts, and the writing was pretty simple. Overall I thought that worked pretty well, but it also added to the slowness for me at times.
Check out my full review here: https://literaryquicksand.com/2021/04/review-are-we-there-yet-by-kathleen-west/
We are Kathleen West fans here at Literary Quicksand, as she used to contribute! So, I was so super excited to read her second book, Are We There Yet? and review it here for her! Spoiler alert (but not really): I loved it...it was a book I just gobbled up.
You've done it again, Kathleen! This book was...well, it was kind of nuts. In a good way
Check out my full review at https://literaryquicksand.com/2021/04/review-find-me-in-havana-by-serena-burdick/
This book has me conflicted. In some ways I loved it, and in some ways, it didn't quite work for me. I'll try my best to explain my mixed-up feelings here!
Alright so first of all, Estelita's story was fascinating and I couldn't believe the book was based on a true story! So dramatic. I would say, if you plan to read this book, don't look up Estelita Rodriguez. Let yourself be surprised by the story arc instead.
I liked both Estelita and her daughter, Nina, but they were both definitely flawed. Estelita is kind of a horrible mom, and Nina makes some pretty interesting choices throughout the book. I do think Burdick is an excellent relationship writer — I was sucked into this book pretty quickly because the characters and their relationships pulled me in. Nina loves her mom, but Estelita's flaws are hard to deal with. Estelita loves her daughter, but isn't quite sure how to balance their relationship with her career.
What didn't work for me with this book was the letter style. The book goes back and forth between mother and daughter, and the text is written like a letter. So, when it's Nina's chapter, she'll talk about her mom by using “you.” This was weird for me. The chapters are definitely not like letters anyone would write. There are so many details....great details for a novel, not for a believable letter. Plus, in the end, they're speaking in letters when that actually becomes impossible. It's just kind of odd.
Check out my full review at https://literaryquicksand.com/2021/02/book-review-good-company-by-cynthia-daprix-sweeney/
I enjoyed Good Company! It has been a few years since I read The Nest, so who knows, maybe I would like it better now? It seems like most people are the other way around, but I liked Good Company more.
This book was really a deep look at relationships, especially romantic ones, and what happens when something that was taken for granted is maybe not as solid as it appeared. Flora's relationship turns into something entirely unexpected when she finds her husband's “lost” right, clearly not lost. She deals with a lot of “what now?” kind of questions about her family and her marriage.
Meanwhile, Flora's best friend, Margot, is facing a different kind of marriage question. Her husband suffered an early stroke, turning him into a man she's not sure she recognizes anymore.
I thought this was a wonderful deep dive into relationships, parenthood, family, and friendships. If you like a lot of action happening in your books, this one might not be for you. If you enjoy largely character-driven stories about love and marriage, you'll probably like Good Company.
Check out my full review at https://literaryquicksand.com/2021/02/review-the-project-by-stacey-potter/
When I first laid eyes on this book, I was right away pulled in by the pile of letters on the cover. Snail mail is so...romantic? Anyway, the contents of the book lived up to the intriguing cover for me!
The Project is set in Minnesota, which is my state, so that was part of the fun of reading it. It's way up north, but I've been briefly to Detroit Lakes, which is mentioned a lot in the book.
At first, I really didn't like Sabella. She's incredibly ageist, although the author does explain where that comes from (several negative experiences with older folks). Still, she just seemed a bit rude, naive, and spoiled.
In some ways, the plot line was predictable, but I didn't find that detrimental to the overall story. It has kind of a typical “girl with long-term boyfriend meets someone fresh and gets confused” storyline. Plus, you know that she's going to end up getting attached to the “old person” she's made to spend time with.
Yet, there were enough things that happened that I didn't quite expect or thought would go a bit differently, including what happens with the letters. I'm not going to spoil the story here...you'll have to read it if you want to know! It was just a cool surprise at the end that I enjoyed.
Another thing I liked about the book is that I warmed up to Sabella as the story went on. She kind of gets what's coming to her in some ways and has some realizations that I was rooting for. Also, she's rather funny! There were a few one-liners that made me chuckle as I read.
Find my full review at https://literaryquicksand.com/2021/02/review-minus-me/
Like I said above, this was a nice, quick read to beat my January pandemic doldrums. I have to admit I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book better than the last 1/3, but I'd still say it was an overall pleasurable read.
In the beginning, we learn of Annie's diagnosis, and as anyone would with a scary diagnosis, she starts thinking about how she wants the rest of her life (and after she's gone) to look. Her husband, Sam, is sort of bumbling, but I liked that he was also strong at some points in the book. So, Annie writes a sort of manual for him that explains how to go on without her.
However, while all of this is going on, Annie is keeping her diagnosis to herself. At first she was just waiting until a next appointment, but when her rich and famous mother finds out the diagnosis (before Sam does) and takes her to New York to visit expert doctors, she STILL keeps it all to herself. When she gets back, she “attempts” to tell Sam, but can't because he's angry and thinks she had an affair in the city.
This is where the book kind of lost me.
I loved this quick read! My daughter is too young to be in school, so all of the perspectives from teachers, parents and students were enlightening. There are a lot of feelings in this book, somehow contained in six little words. I also really enjoyed the longer essays, as they were really well written and just well said. If you're looking for something concerning the pandemic that's quick and funny at times but serious at others, I definitely recommend this one.
Books that are serious enough but have some great comedic moments are totally up my alley, and I ended up finding just that in Fishing! by Sarah Stonich.
The protagonist, RayAnne, is pretty badass, but also unsure of herself in a few key areas of her life. She doesn't feel confident in her role as the host of her show, is rather lackadaisical about her love life, and is working on her relationships with both of her parents.
I enjoyed RayAnne and a few favorites supporting characters, including RayAnne's mom Bernadette (who leads pilgrimages to spiritual destinations for menopausal women) and Cassi, RayAnne's assistant on her show, who dresses like some sort of steampunk teenager.
While I expected the book to be mostly about RayAnne's show, it really wasn't, which threw me at first. The show really plays a supporting role, and the novel is really more about her life in general. Her difficulty with romantic relationships, her somewhat strained relationships with her parents, other family matters (don't want to give away spoilers!), her sense of where “home” is, and her confidence in herself and her accomplishments are really at the center of the book.
Full review: http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2020/06/review-fishing/
This book started out pretty much just as I was hoping. It had all the references to Minnesota things, it was witty, and I wanted to know what was going to happen. I was hooked.
I really enjoyed how Landvik makes Haze Evans the book's main character, even though she's in a coma. Through flashbacks of Haze's and her newspaper columns, you really get to know and love this woman who has spent most of her life writing for the local paper.
What I didn't love was how the book jumps between characters, without giving the reader much of any warning. You might be reading a chapter in Haze's voice, then suddenly you're in someone else's head, and you're not exactly sure whose for a few sentences or so. It was a bit confusing and pulled me out of the story several times.
Also, I wasn't in love with the last 1/3 or so of the story. While I'm all for a warm feel-good read, this was soooo syrupy sweet.
Full review: http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2019/09/review-chronicles-of-a-radical-hag/
I think a good word to describe this book is “unusual” – in a good way!
There were a couple things that made this book unusual:
The writing style. Valente chose not to use quotation marks at all, making the book have a certain flow to it that's fast – like Rhiannon's racing career.
The main characters. Both of the sisters are not your run-of-the-mill female characters. Billie has half of her head shaved and has just come from prison, and Rhiannon is a lesbian racecar driver (one of the only ones in history). Their mother, the famous paleontologist, was also one of the only females in a male-dominated field.
How many other times have you read about cross-country geocaching road trips?
For the full review, visit http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2019/05/review-the-desert-sky-before-us/
First of all, I have to say happy release day to Susan Wiggs! Between You and Me is out today, and lucky me, it's touring LQ today!
Susan Wiggs is a best-selling romance author with over 40 published novels. I discovered her when I read and reviewed Family Tree back in January, also on a book tour. Although I'm not a huge fan of your typical fluffy romance novel, I found Wiggs' writing and story to have a little more sustenance to it, making it a better fit for me. Also, Family Tree was set in maple sugar country in Vermont, and it was so idyllic, I just wanted to pack up and move there.
But this is a review of Between You and Me, so let's get to that! This one is all about family, love (of course), and stark differences between one world and another. We follow Reese, a med student, as she struggles to decide which direction her life should go in, and as she meets a family that will end up influencing her life and her decision in big ways. At the same time, we meet Caleb, who is living in an Amish community and practicing that lifestyle, but doesn't share the belief system. He's only there for the sake of his niece and nephew, who he cares for and acts as guardian for.
A terrible accident brings Caleb and his family into Reese's world at the hospital, and that's when life gets complicated, yet amazing, all at once.
My Thoughts
Between You and Me had the sustenance I need to enjoy a girly, romantic read. Sure, it's also got fluff and those oh-so-perfect ways things happen sometimes, but that's really what a romance novel is. This novel goes deep into some pretty tough family situations, which I think Wiggs tackles with great insight and empathy.
I also enjoyed getting the points of view from several different characters in this novel. Instead of a more typical female-protagonist-lead narrative, we got some male insight, too, and it's not just on the romance bits. I really liked the balance of this novel between the romance and the rest of the plot.
Overall, I recommend this one. It's a pretty quick and easy read, hits you in all the right romantic heart spots, and has an interesting story about family and secrets that's layered amongst the romance. If you're like me and you prefer your romance novels to have some good substance, this is one you'll enjoy. This is a solid 3.5 stars from me!
What I loved about A Place for Us was the way Mirza seamlessly weaves together family, identity, religion, and love. Each character struggles with each of those things in his or her own way, and Mizra used their different points of view to narrate the story so very well. It pulled me in and endeared me to each character separately, which gave me a unique perspective of each one, even when the story was being told from another's point of view.
While I really loved that portion of the way this book was written, I had a hard time with the time jumps. I can see how they added to the story, with seeing an incident and then going back into the past to explain how the characters are the way they are or into the future to see how it affected them, but you'll just be reading sections of a chapter and suddenly be in a different time AND from a different perspective. It all just got a little discombobulating, orienting yourself back with another character in another time altogether.
Another thing that I really did like about this book is that it's about being Muslim in America, yet family and relationships are the focus, not that. It's definitely a piece of the novel, having clearly affected each character, but it's not the focus. I felt like this book could have run away in that direction, but it really didn't. While I'd like to read something like this about being a Muslim in America during the last two decades or so, I was glad that the story continued to focus on family from beginning to end.
Overall, A Place for Us was a fantastic read, and one that I definitely recommend picking up.
Mysteries and suspense novels aren't usually my favorite thing to read, but after reading Lisa Jewell's The Girls in the Garden back in 2016, I knew I wanted to read her new release, Then She Was Gone. I was hearing about it absolutely everywhere and it had great reviews on Goodreads, so I just had to read it. It was definitely more thrilling/suspenseful than The Girls in the Garden was, but I'm starting to get more into books like that, and I think this was a great one to work on that with.
First of all, I read Then She Was Gone in two days, so it's clear that I didn't want to put it down. It definitely held my attention and kept me wanting to know what comes next, which I think is an indication of a good suspense novel!
For my full review, visit http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2018/06/review-then-she-was-gone/
These are real, beautiful, human stories about grief. The writers in this book have been affected by grief in so many different ways, and their stories are an intimate look into how their lives have changed as a result of that grief. I highly recommend this book for both those who know grief and for those who just want to understand grief a little better.
Although I typically enjoy character-driven novels, this one felt slow at times. The writing was lovely and was clearly really well researched, but I have to admit I was bored at times. There's also some foreshadowing that happens at several points that I found unnecessary...it felt a little like the editor said “hm, this is a little boring, anything you can do to keep people reading?”
Family Tree is a lighter, girlier book than I usually go for, but I'm glad I picked this one up! There were a lot of feelings and relationships that were deep and well developed, and I really fell in love with the main character and wanted her to succeed.
The story is about Annie, a producer of a popular cooking show in Los Angeles, who gets in an accident at the studio and misses a year of her life, stuck in a coma. When she wakes up, she finds herself divorced and without a job. She's at a facility back in her home state of Vermont, and needs to recover both physically and mentally from her year asleep.
The setting for this book is an amazing family farm in the hills of Vermont. The farm has been producing maple syrup for generations, and it's very idyllic. Let's just say I brought up Zillow to look at homes for sale in the hills of Vermont 😂. Really, the scenery was my favorite part of Family Tree – I just loved it. I hadn't really thought about Vermont, but I think I'll have to plan a vacation there!
Read the rest of this review at http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2018/01/review-family-tree/
This is one heck of a unique novel. Centered around food and baking, it's also a bit futuristic and strangely magical.
Our main character is Lois, a young, gifted software programmer who has just moved to California to work at a company that programs robotic arms to do various jobs. She moves from a slow life in Michigan to a world of long days in an office, surviving on quick bites in between work. She's been trying Slurry, a sort of nutritional meal-replacement paste, to supplement her diet. Until, that is, a new restaurant opens up very close to her apartment called Clement Street Soup and Sourdough. She falls in love with their bread and soup so much that she orders nearly every night, and is soon called their “Number One Eater”.
When the guys who run the restaurant inform her that they're moving away, she's not happy. They show up at her door and hand her something to keep as a gift: some of their sourdough starter.
It's here that the story moves into strange gastronomic territory. The starter creates loaves of bread that seem to have faces in them, and it seems to sing at times. Lois's bread becomes well-loved, and she finds a way to combine both her career and her new love of sourdough baking. She finds camaraderie in a strange gathering of people in an underground farmer's market of sorts, where science is just as much a part of food as the ingredients are.
Although far-fetched at times, Sourdough is a foodie novel unlike any other I've read before, and I liked it. I've been wanting to start my own sourdough starter for some time, and after reading this book, I went for it. As I type up this review, it's growing and bubbling in my kitchen. Our relationship to food is so fascinating, and I thought this book explored that relationship in a really unique way: with a little magic.
Read the rest of my review here: http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2018/01/review-sourdough/
I would definitely recommend The Nix. You have to be in the mood for something more literary than sit-back-and-enjoy, but overall I thought this book was a well-written piece of art. Everything just fit together so perfectly for me: the writing style, the multiple characters and viewpoints, the nuggets of humor in between the more serious themes...I just really like this one.
For my full review, visit http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2017/12/review-the-nix/
Imagine a couple dysfunctional families, Thanksgiving Day, and a concealed pregnancy resulting from infidelity, and you've got Start Without Me by Joshua Max Feldman.
The story happens over the course of one day, which happens to be Thanksgiving. Two strangers meet in a hotel bar, and from there, their stories intertwine as they attempt to navigate the day with their families. Our main characters, Adam and Marissa, both have a large reason why they're not looking forward to going home to their families. For Adam, his alcoholism (now in recovery) made him estranged from his family. For Marissa, she's pregnant by an ex – not her husband.
I don't want to give away much, but the day just goes nuts. To put it bluntly, shit hits the fan.
If you're a fan of dysfunctional family stories like The Nest, you'll probably like this one. It's crazy, but it's also really filled with heart at some points, which I appreciated. The writing style was straightforward yet detailed and expressive, which made it a good, quick read.
For my full review, visit http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2017/10/review-start-without/
I thought this was a great read. Taylor's writing style grabbed me from the beginning, and I loved the nuggets of great prose about the complexities of life:
Memory is slippery, not even like a fish but like an eel, like an ice cube, like a clot of blood whose membranous skin can barely contain internal shifting liquidity. It's something that, the firmer you try to grasp it, the weaker the hold you have on it, the less trustworthy it becomes. But it doesn't matter what really happened, does it? Reality matters less than how it is perceived, that edge or feather or scale that you catch onto as it flickers by. And after a year or ten in a dingy pocket who can say if it was a lizard's scale or a dragon's in the first place?
Overall, I thought this was a great read. I recommend it if you're a literary fiction lover! It's deep and there are a lot of complicated emotions, yet the story itself is fairly simple. Pick it up if that sounds like your kind of read! 4 stars from me.
For my full review, vist http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2017/10/review-the-lauras/
The book explains how Child fell in love with food when she and her husband moved to France, because it was just so good. It was so much more thought out and finessed than American food was, and her love affair with it is just delightful to read. The way she describes the tastes and smells had me wishing I could be right there in France along with her, tasting that fish with the perfect buttery sauce.
You learn all about the process of learning to cook for her, in Paris at Le Cordon Bleu. She didn't grow up knowing how to cook, she just learned it all! I hadn't known that. The book also goes through the years-long process of writing her first cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
I gobbled this book up! If you enjoyed watching Child on TV or the movie Julie & Julia or you just love the romanticism of cooking and French cuisine, you'll love this one. Five stars.
See my full review here: http://www.literaryquicksand.com/2017/10/review-life-france/
If you've not listened to The Moth radio show, you're missing out. It's all about storytelling, and there are so many amazing stories to listen to. They're just stories of people – of love, of life, of pain, of wonder. This book is a collection of a bunch of those stories, and I loved reading every one of them. That said, as good as the book is, listening to the stories gives them something that just reading them can't. The voice and emotion of the person telling the story just gives a dimension that reading the story can't. Overall, though, recommended!
Find more of my reviews at http://www.literaryquicksand.com/