Disclaimer: I received an ARC of A Forty Year Kiss, Like Mother, Like Mother, Show Don't Tell, and Propaganda Girls from NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest review. This post contains affiliate links.
February may be a short month, but I still did plenty of reading. It helped that I was stuck inside most of the time due to the extended polar vortex that wouldn't blow away. A silver lining of sorts, I suppose.
Four of my books were NetGalley pre-releases, and they were all winners. The other two were books I had my eye on. Homeseeking, which had great pre-release press and is also a GMA book club pick, was on my list. The wait from the library was long, but miraculously, my hold came in quickly! I vowed to dig into my backlist this year, and Home is Where the Bodies Are was a fun, quirky thriller that I'm glad I picked up. I also read books from a couple of repeat authors, Nickolas Butler and Curtis Sittenfeld.
I can't wait to dig into my March books!
A couple in their 60s gets a second chance at love after a failed marriage 40 years before. A lot has happened during that time and Charlie is determined to make things right. Vivian is not so sure. One of the reasons they originally split up was due to Charlie's alcohol abuse. Living with her grown daughter and 2 granddaughters, Vivian doesn't want anything to happen to them. The couple takes it slow, knowing that while they have a history, they have a lot to learn about each other. I really enjoyed A Forty Year Kiss. I also loved that the story was set in central Wisconsin. Just like he did in Shotgun Lovesongs and Little Faith, he captures the quirky midwesterness of the people who live there. Beautifully written, it's sweet but not saccharine, and was the perfect palate cleanse after reading some really intense books.It's best to go in blind on Home is Where the Bodies Are, so I'll keep it vague and brief. Three estranged siblings reunite to clean out their family home after their mother passes. She left them with a parting message: "Don't trust..." before she took her last breath. Looking through some old VHS tapes, they find one of their father, covered with blood.... Ooooh! I do love a good thriller and this one checked the boxes. Once I started it, I didn't want to stop. Told in 4 perspectives, the narrative allows the reader to sort through all the information. This kept me guessing until the end.
Curtis Sittenfeld can weave stories about people like no one else. She does a great job developing quirky characters and exploring connections between people. In her latest short story collection, Show Don't Tell, Sittenfeld explores a variety of situations, mostly involving middle-aged women. I laughed out loud at some of the situations. Some of the stories have been published elsewhere but I hadn't read them before and enjoyed all the stories in this book. Sittenfeld never disappoints! I'm not usually a short story fan, but these were great. Highly recommended!
I had Homeseeking on my to be restless, but hadn’t heard of The 40 Year Kiss so I’m definitely going to read that one too! I typically don’t read short story collections, but I’ve heard such great things about Sittenfeld’s collections. I read that one of the stories is about the character in Prep which I somehow haven’t read so I want to read that one first.
ReplyDeleteMy best read in Deb was Ghosts by Dolly Alderton. It was so relatable since I dated some jerks in my 20s sadly. I also enjoyed ‘Pageboy’ which is a memoir by Elliot Page about their experience being transgendered.
I was interested in Pageboy! I loved 'Ellen' Page; would like to learn about Elliot!
DeleteI have not read any of these and I think I want to read ALL. Though I'm not a fan of short stories.
ReplyDeleteOh, but Curtis Sittenfeld...
DeleteYour reviews come at a perfect time as I've been loading up my kindle. I'm definitely adding Home is Where the Bodies are Buried and Show Don't Tell on my list - thanks!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved Homeseeking!
ReplyDeleteHomeseeking was wonderful!
DeleteThese sound like great reads. Home is Where The Bodies Are is most intriguing! I’ll have my February book review up on Monday. It might have one you haven’t read, but you’re usually ahead of me.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to see what you've read!
DeleteI slacked off with reading this month! The thriller book sounds like the perfect page turner!
ReplyDeleteIt was crazy! Glad I picked it up.
DeleteAdding these to my list now! These sounds like great books to read.
ReplyDeleteI hope you enjoy them!
DeleteThank you so much for sharing the articles - the Kingsolver one was very cheering. As often, no overlap with your books but I've read some great ones recently myself!
ReplyDeleteWe rarely overlap--but that's a good thing because it shows how many great books are out there!
DeleteYay! Homeseeking is on my list and I might try to pitch that for a future book club read later this year. Glad to hear that you liked it! I'm adding Propaganda Girls to my TBR too, and Demon Copperhead is on my short list of books I want to read! <3
ReplyDeleteI usually don't really like reading short stories too much either, but Show Don't Tell sounds like a good read. :] Your thoughts have never steered me wrong so far, haha.
I just finished another REALLY GOOD book that will be at the top of my March reviews. As long as authors keep writing them, I'll be reading them!
DeleteWendy, what great reads I'm definitely interested in a few of these.
ReplyDeleteVisiting today from Farrah's
Thank you for checking them out1
DeleteI enjoyed Home is Where the Bodies Are too. Propaganda Girls sounds really interesting and A Forty Year Kiss sounds rather sweet.
ReplyDeleteI think you'll enjoy both of them!
DeleteHi Wendy -- sorry to be late checking in (and saying thanks for your visit, too). What a good list of books -- all new to me and I'm delighted to hear they are winners. Propaganda Girls sounds especially interesting to me. I had a pretty good February (yet to post it). As for short stories, far from my favorite, although I really do enjoy essays, which aren't always that dissimilar!
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you on the short stories, but Curtis Sittenfeld is one of my favorite writers and she nails it!
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