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Reader’s Log 023: Current Read and Difficult Passages

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Differentiating between red herrings and explicit content for shock value or book sales in mystery-thrillers.  

Today, I thought I would share a book I’m currently reading and discuss a little about difficult passages that may be disturbing, or what one may feel is inappropriate. Oftentimes, a reader can come across a scene where they wished they hadn’t read or wish they had just skipped over entirely. But what should one do if they’re reviewing a book for the publisher or author and come across this problem? Should they just give up on the book entirely, or power through it, hoping for the best? Personally, I really think it depends on a few things.

Firstly, it depends on the type of reader you are and what you can handle or not handle. I’ve noticed through the decades the different stages I’ve gone through with reading material. What I will tolerate, what I deemed appropriate or inappropriate. What disturbs me and so forth… Like, is it just for shock value for book sales or does it serve a purpose to drive plot of the story? Does it attest to the character’s human nature and lifestyle? What are the purposes of these scenes?

There can also be that the theme or scene-if you will-upsets one’s psyche on a personal level. One must consider these things when reading physiological thrillers and literature as a whole. If you are a reader who reads widely, even then one can have limits and there is nothing wrong with that; one must use discernment in all things.

I’m currently reviewing an ARC of, “The Last Room on the Left” by Leah Konen at the invite via email from the publishers, and I’ve come across two difficult but brief scenes I could have-in all honestly- done without. It seriously had me pause and considered if I wanted to finish this story or not. The next morning, I reflected more on whether or not to continue with the story. The pause had me ask myself the question whether or not the difficult but brief scenes were a red herring or just shock value. As I read further, I came to the conclusion that they are definitely red herrings. To be honest, the old me would have probably given up on the book entirely. I’m glad I didn’t in this case and I believe the author did a good job with writing these scenes without dragging it out. They serve the right purpose in story-telling, in my opinion.

If you come across scenes when reading books for review, what is the standard you set for yourself, and do you ask or consider the questions I mentioned above?  

Edit: My review for, “The Last Room on the Left” by Leah Konen will be posted on January 4, 2025.

Stephanie

The Last Room on the Left by Leah Konen

Expected publication January 14, 2025 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons – Penguin Random House

Kerry’s life is in shambles: Her husband has left her, her drinking habit has officially become a problem, and though the deadline for her big book deal—the one that was supposed to change everything—is looming, she can’t write a word. When she sees an ad for a caretaker position at a revitalized roadside motel in the Catskills, she jumps at the chance. It’s the perfect getaway to finish her book and start fresh.

But as she hunkers down in a blizzard, she spots something through the window: a pale arm peeking out from a heap of snow. Trapped in the mountains and alone with a dead, frozen body, Kerry must keep her head and make it out before the killer comes for her too. But is the deadly game of cat-and-mouse all in her mind? The body count begs to differ . . .

Book Review: A Cold Tomorrow by Mae Clair

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As Katie Lynch makes her way home, she spots a car on the side of the road that seems to be in trouble. As she approaches the car, she soon recognizes the motorist as Jerome. He appears to be in some sort of trance and says the word “Cold”.  She loans him her jacket and is deeply concerned about him and decides to go get help. Shortly after her decision to get help, an officer shows up identifying himself as Deputy Brown. In so many words, he tells her that he has it under control, and she can be on her way. After she leaves, she can’t get her mind off what happened. The next day she calls Point Pleasant, West Virginia sheriff’s department to speak to her friend Officer Ryan to find out if Jerome is okay. She quickly discovers that there is no Deputy Brown and Jerome was never admitted to the hospital. Officer Ryan, knowing it isn’t likely for Katie to make things up and considering the town’s strange, odd and disturbing occurrences, begins to investigate the disappearance of Jerome which connects them to the mysteries of the town’s lore of the Mothman, UFO sightings around the town and the TNT and lights appearing in the sky.

As the story unfolds further, Katie’s young son’s father shows up in town out of the blue-which is a threat, and it comes apparent that there is more to the story of why he showed up in the first place. Officer Caden, Officer Ryan’s brother, helps his brother and Katie to solve the mystery of Jerome’s disappearance and the town’s troubles.  As they race to solve the mysterious and troubling happenings in their town, while keeping Katie’s son safe, Katie and Ryan form an attachment and become involved.

Another of the many elements of this story is the relationship between Katie and her mother, Doreen. Without giving too much away, their story touches on a troubled past in more ways than one, which leads to a strained relationship and Katie keeping her mom at arm’s length. Is there healing and forgiveness in the mother and daughter relationship? I’m glad the author wrote this in the story and will leave an impression on many readers’ hearts.

This book is the second in a trilogy and I recommend reading the first book in the series before beginning this one. That said, while there are a few details that are unclear to me, it didn’t take away from the enjoyment of reading this story. After I read this book, I was curious if there is such a thing called “The Mothman” lore and what was the TNT. I discovered that such a place and the lore exist! This made, “A Cold Tomorrow” even more intriguing and mysterious.

Readers who enjoy reading about lore, UFOs and small-town events will enjoy this entertaining story.

I rated this book three and a half stars but bumped it up to four stars due to my interest in the lore and TNT.

Stephanie Hopkins

Pub Date Dec 20 2016 by Kensington Books

I obtained a reviewer copy from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.

Reader’s Log 022: The Supernatural Genre and Spiritual Warfare

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I woke up this morning reflecting on our world’s current events and my faith in God weighs the outcome on how I respond to these current events. The world’s troubles are always on my mind, like I’m sure it is for everyone. We are living in unsettling times. When I pray to God, I ask for peace and understanding. I pray for courage, strength, protection, healing, and stronger faith in my daily walk with Christ. I pray this for others as well. If it weren’t for my Christian Faith, I don’t believe I would have made it this far in life.

I’ve also been thinking a lot about how would I respond to the US elections outcome this coming November. Whatever the outcome, I pray for a peaceful transfer of power in our government and how our citizens and the world response. I pray that our government officials will truly care about the people’s welfare. These things have me thinking about spiritual warfare as well and how we as Christians should rest in God’s strength and stand on God’s promise, how important it is to know God’s word and to put on the full armor of God. When people come to know Christ as their Lord and savior, spiritual warfare can become intense. I’ve recently thought about books I’ve read on spiritual warfare. The Bible-of course-is number one.

As a reader, I love stories and I read many different genres. I believe it is important for people of Faith to read widely for many reasons. Some brothers and sisters in Christ may disagree with me on that score but I’m okay with that. God knows my heart and I firmly believe that reading widely makes us better people and as we expand our minds, we have a better understanding other people’s world views, struggles and situations in life. Reading enhances our critical thinking thus giving us the knowledge and the tools to help us in life with relationships to others. Anyhow, reading widely is another subject for another time.

Today, I want to share two books I read in the early 90’s and again in the late 90’s on spiritual warfare by Frank E. Peretti. I have my father’s paperback copies. Since they are early editions, and have become a bit fragile, I’m having handle them carefully. Though I believe they will still be okay to read in and may do so again soon. If you haven’t read them, whether you are a Christ follower or not, I highly recommend you read these books. They are prevalent to our humanity and our society as a whole.

Stephanie

This Present Darkness by Frank E. Peretti

First Published – January 1, 1986 by Crossway Books

Ashton is just a typical small town. But when a skeptical reporter and a prayerful pastor begin to compare notes, they suddenly find themselves fighting a hideous New Age plot to subjugate the townspeople, and eventually the entire human race.

Piercing the Darkness by Frank E. Peretti

First published January 1, 1989

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:5 (ESV)

It all begins in Bacon’s Corner, a tiny farming community far from the interstate . . . An attempted murder, a case of mistaken-or is it covered up? -identity, and a ruthless lawsuit against a struggling Christian school. Sally Beth Roe, a young loner, a burnout, a kind of “leftover hippie, “finds herself caught in the middle of these bizarre events, fleeing for her life while trying to recall her dark past.

Across a vast panorama of heart-stopping action, Sally Roe’s journey is a penetrating portrayal of our times, a reflection of our wanderings, and a vivid reminder of the redemptive power of the Cross. A companion volume to This Present Darkness, readers have purchased over two million copies of Piercing the Darkness since its publication in 1989.

**********

The Armor of God

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NIV)

Book Review: Two Times Murder by Adam Oyebanji

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A Quiet Teacher Mystery

Book Description:

Greg Abimbola is many things. He’s Black, British and fluent in Russian. He’s a snappy dresser, a reasonable teacher, and an unenthusiastic sports fan. But most of all, he’s exceptional at keeping secrets. Like, who he really is, and the things he’s done.

Determined to keep his head down after helping solve a murder in the school basement, Greg fears a trap when Sergeant Rachel Lev of the Pittsburgh police corners him in his apartment. Because his refusal to take credit isn’t modesty, it’s a survival tactic.

But Rachel is here on another matter entirely. She needs his help. She’s lead detective on the homicide of an unidentified man fished from the Allegheny River. With clues scant, and surrounded by colleagues who’d love to see her side-lined, Greg is her final roll of the dice.

Greg has no choice. He knows more than he’s saying about Rachel’s mysterious corpse. To add to his troubles, a school trustee plunges to his demise after a heated board meeting. Both deaths come with potentially lethal consequences. If he doesn’t find answers, and soon, Greg Abimbola might be the third man on the autopsy table.

My Thoughts:

Two Times Murder is a multifaceted story told in an extraordinary way. I have not quite read a story such as this and I find myself wanting to know more about the protagonist Greg Abimbola and his side kick, Andrea Velasquez. Greg works hard at keeping a low profile, which is not working out great for him and Andrea, who is the assistant custodian at the Academy, is happy to help Greg out in solving the death of one of the Academy’s trustees. They are great team and their backgrounds make the story all the more intriguing. The other characters in this story make a great diverse cast of characters.

The DEI and culture war themes in the story had me pause at first when I came across the subject in the story. I had several thoughts on that score and was worried that this is a theme that would completely turn me off from wanting to read this book at all. Well I’m glad I chose to read this story and these themes were woven through fairly well without being obnoxious or in your face. After all, it is an issue of our day… I did find Greg’s remarks about what he calls “pampered, privileged white kids” to be somewhat of an issue especially since he is a teacher. You see, even what he may considered privileged and not having real problems in life is a bit of an assumption and a dangerous one at that. One never knows what goes on behind closed doors and all his students can be dealing with something that on the surface may seem insignificant or superficial but life teaches us that often times there is something boiling below the surface despite the backgrounds people come from. Greg definitely has room for growth.

I have not read this first book so I’ve missed a few details but this story made a great standalone and has me wanting to read the other book. An intriguing story with all the right bunches of a crime thriller. Bravo to the author!

Stephanie Hopkins

Book 2 of A Quiet Teacher Mystery

Pub Date Nov 05 2024  by Severn House

Side Bar: This book contains profanity but not so much that is distracting.  

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.  

Reader’s Log 021: Mystery & Thrillers

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On My Radar

I have been collecting book titles for 2025 reads and I discovered these thrillers on NetGalley. I’m particularly interested in Baldacci’s book. I love historical fiction thrillers and the story looks like it will be a fantastic read. Be sure to check out the others below. Are you a mystery and thriller reader? Do any of these titles mentioned spark your interest?

Stephanie

Strangers in Time by David Baldacci

A World War 2 Novel

Grand Central Publishing

Pub Date Apr 15 2025

Description:

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Calamity of Souls comes David Baldacci’s newest novel, set in London in 1944, about a bereaved book shop owner and two teenagers scarred by the second world war, and the healing and hope they find in one another.

Fourteen-year-old Charlie Matters is up to no good, but for a very good reason. Without parents, peerage, or merit, ducking school but barred from actual work, he steals what he needs, living day-to-day until he’s old enough to enlist to fight the Germans. After barely surviving the Blitz, Charlie knows there’s no telling when a falling bomb might end his life.

Fifteen-year-old Molly Wakefield has just returned to a nearly unrecognizable London. One of millions of people to have been evacuated to the countryside via “Operation Pied Piper,” Molly has been away from her parents—from her home—for nearly five years. Her return, however, is not the homecoming she’d hoped for as she’s confronted by a devastating reality: neither of her parents are there, only her old nanny, Mrs. Pride.

Without guardians and stability, Charlie and Molly find an unexpected ally and protector in Ignatius Oliver, and solace at his book shop, The Book Keep, where A book a day keeps the bombs away. Mourning the recent loss of his wife, Ignatius forms a kinship with both children, and in each other—over the course of the greatest armed conflict the world had ever seen—they rediscover the spirit of family each has lost.

But Charlie’s escapades in the city have not gone unnoticed, and someone’s been following Molly since she returned to London. And Ignatius is reeling from a secret Imogen long kept from him while she was alive—something so shocking it resulted in her death, and his life being turned upside down.

As bombs continue to bear down on the city, Charlie, Molly, and Ignatius learn that while the perils of war rage on, their coming together and trusting one another may be the only way for them to survive.

The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas

Harper Paperbacks

Pub Date Aug 05 2025

Description:

Two sisters discover that the secrets they keep from each other prove to be deadly.

You’ve known her all your life. Or have you?

Tasha and her older sister Alice may look alike, but they couldn’t be more different. Tasha’s married with two children and still lives in their hometown near Bristol. Alice is a high-flying scientist who travels the world with her equally successful husband.

Yet each sister would trust the other with her life.

When Tasha and her husband Aaron need a break and Alice offers to stay in their home with the kids, Tasha knows her family is in safe hands.

She couldn’t be more wrong.

The call from home is devastating. Alice and her husband Kyle have been attacked, leaving Alice in intensive care and Kyle dead. Rushing to the hospital, Tasha finds the police trying to piece events together. She can’t think why anyone would attack her sister.

Then the note arrives, addressed to Tasha:

It was supposed to be you . . .

Every family has secrets. Some more deadly than others.

Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds by L. V. Pederson

Raconteur 888

Pub Date Jan 28 2025

Description:

Everyone has secrets. Some are just more deadly than others.

When Madison starts her first real job as an executive assistant at a Silicon Valley tech giant, she has hopes to start afresh and put her troubled life in Boston behind her. But it is not to be.

A young employee out for an evening jog turns up dead.  

Her charismatic VP boss fills her with unease. 

And when Madison uncovers his deadly secret, her ordinary life is thrust into a high-stakes conspiracy the FBI is desperate to crack.

An unprecedented crime from the past is about to be repeated on an unimaginable scale.

A shocking revelation, and her quest for redemption, could get her killed.

Tick-tick-tick…

The Fourth Girl by Wendy Corsi Staub

Thomas & Mercer

Pub Date Mar 25 2025

Description

On the anniversary of a teen’s disappearance, three friends face a deadly hometown reunion in this twisty suspense novel by a New York Times bestselling author.

On prom night, Caroline Winterfield walked away from the ruins of an abandoned mansion called Haven Cliff and into the woods…never to be seen again. Only her three best friends know what really happened. But a secret is a secret, and a promise is a promise—even when it shatters lifelong friendships.      

On the twenty-fifth anniversary of that night, Midge, Kelly, and Talia reunite at Haven Cliff, now a gleaming architectural jewel. But they aren’t alone. Someone is watching. Someone who knows what really happened to Caroline—and to the man who now lies dead a stone’s throw from where she was last seen.

Police detective Midge knows she’s dealing with a murder the moment she sees the item clutched in his lifeless hand. Only three other people in the world would grasp its significance. That means Kelly and Talia are either involved or in danger, because Caroline is long gone…or is she?

Reader’s Log 020: Cover Crush

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It has been ages since I’ve posted a cover crush. I spotted this one (see below) on NetGalley and had to share. Wouldn’t it be lovely to take a stroll down that street? The colors, sky and dome of the building is what first caught my attention.

Have you ever thought about when the piano was invented? Though I love the piano, I had not really thought about its invented in-depth. According to my brief research, the piano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori (1655-1731) of Italy. According to Yamaha, the instrument’s ancestor can be traced back through various instruments such as the clavichord, harpsichord, and dulcimer.

The creation of Music sounds like a fascinating story.

Stephanie

The Creation of Music by Britian Bell

Pub Date Nov 13 2024 by Candor Publishing Group

General Fiction (Adult) | Historical Fiction | Romance

Description:

Bart dreams of being an inventor, of building something that matters. When a famous composer asks him to make an instrument that doesn’t exist, an opportunity exceeding his imagination presents itself, along with it, struggle and heartache of overwhelming proportions.

When life throws its worst at him, and his decade-long vision is destroyed by his own hands, everything seems lost. But with the help of friends closer than family, his wife, Adele, and a mountain of grit, an idea becomes a reality.

Take a trip to Florence, Italy, and journey back in time to witness firsthand the creation of the most influential instrument on earth. The invention that changed the landscape of music forever. The king of all instruments. The piano.

Be sure to listen to The Creation of Music (Original Soundtrack) available everywhere you listen to music on January 31st, 2025!

Reader’s Log 019: Book Stack Part 6

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Acquiring books and reading them are entirely two different hobbies. I must say in the last few years, I have been working on curating my home library and working out what criteria I want to set to grow my stacks.

In this book stack series, I’m sharing books I’ve previously read and reviewed from NetGalley and want to obtain a physical copy for my home library. Today, I’m doing something a little different with this post.

A fellow blogger tagged me in a, “Spook Scary Book Tag” post and was excited to spot a few titles I’m not familiar with and appreciated the tag. As I was checking out the books listed, I came across, “I see You” by Clare Mackintosh. I made a comment on the post stating “I see you” is on my to-read list. Umm…shortly after, I remembered I read and reviewed the book for the publishers! Good grief. That said, it is worth reading the story again and I will be adding a physical copy of this story to my book stacks. It is also a perfect October read. If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend you do.  

About the Book:

When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it’s there. There’s no explanation: just a website, a grainy image and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it’s just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.

Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . .

I See You is an edge-of-your-seat, page-turning psychological thriller from one of the most exciting and successful British debut talents of 2015.

My book review of, “I See You” here.

In the mid to late 90’s and early 2000s, I used to read Dean Koontz books. Well, this past Tuesday, I went over to my local thrift store to get out of the house a bit and came across one of his books! I’ve read so many books, I can’t remember if I’ve read the book I spotted. So, I picked it up and examined the book for wear and so forth… It’s a hardback and the edition is from 1992. The book is called, “Hideaway.” Are you familiar with the story? Maybe once I start reading it, I will remember if I have read it or not.

About the Book:

Strange visions plague a man after he survives a near-death experience in this chilling thriller from #1 New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.

Surviving a car accident on a snowy mountain road is miraculous for Lindsey Harrison, but even more so for her husband, Hatch, who was clinically dead for eighty minutes.

 After experimental procedures bring Hatch back to life, he awakens with the terrifying feeling that something is it out there. But it soon becomes apparent that the evil stalking Hatch is within him—a dark force of murderous rage that hides within us all…

Tagging:

Mybookworld24

Be sure to check out Alex’s books he mentioned in the post he tagged me on.

Stephanie

Book Review: Philadelphia by Paul Kahan

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Philadelphia is the epicenter of our nation’s creation.

My enthusiasm for American history is long standing and it has been a goal of mine to further study the history and development of all fifty states and territories individually, including notable cities and towns. To my delight, the discovery of this book was perfect timing. Learning more about Philadelphia has been high on my list for some time.

Paul Kahan presents the reader with a sweeping narrative of the city’s history beginning with the Lenape tribe who inhabited the land that became Philadelphia all the way through the twenty-first century. Highlighting individuals who made their mark on the city’s history and delves into cultural diversity of the people and explore its uniqueness of what the city offers that makes Philadelphia stand out.  

As I got a few chapters in, I quickly realized that I had only scratched the surface of Philadelphia origins and history. I found myself taking pages of notes and jotting down questions I had regarding several notable people and details I did not previously know. For example: Charles Dickens visited the city. The city is home to the first natural history museum in the United States. Philadelphia remained the world’s leading publishing center and had several subscription libraries. In 1850, Philadelphia was still home to a few enslaved people. The first hospital was in Philadelphia and so on… There are a few people mentioned I’m looking forward to learning more about: Folklorist and Humorist Charles Godfrey Leland, William Hamilton, John Bill Rickets, Cecil B. Moore and Cherelle Parker.

This book is packed full of information and at times, I felt a few topics or mentions jump from one to the other too quickly without being fleshed out. Personally, I wanted to have a bigger picture of certain elements of history. Though, by reading Kahan’s account, I understand the direction he chose to go with, and nor did my opinions on that score take away from how much I enjoyed reading his narrative. I will say that while this book is educational and excellent, the dense information provided may be slightly overwhelming to readers who are not used to reading such material. I do recommend taking your time with this book. You’ll be glad you did.

As for the information of the history provided in this book, I can only attest to a few of its accuracies on account that I chose to read this book wanting to go more in-depth with the timeline of the city’s growth and to the contribution of culture, architecture, city planning, science, political arena, and government formed through the centuries. Kahan meets all those points, and it is apparent that the research and time that went into writing this account of Philadelphia’s history, ever-growing culture and diversity is quite extensive. I respect Kahan’s intellectual ability to provide readers with this profound selection of work.

I’m delighted to have chosen Kahan’s book to read as I have learned tremendously from its pages, and it has provided me with a comprehensive source for further study and reference. I will be adding a physical copy of this book to my history stacks.

Stephanie

Pub Date Oct 29 2024 by University of Pennsylvania Press

Hardback: 424 pages

For more information about this book and Kahan’s work please visit Kahan’s website HERE or by typing: http://www.paulkahan.com

I obtained an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley for an honest review.  

Reader’s Log 016: Book Lists

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I’ve been making book lists for as long as I can remember. Occasionally, I find lists on scraps of paper between pages of books, notebooks or scattered in random places. The latter reminds me of a passage in Possession by A. S. Byatt of paper referring to leaves. Do you know it?

Knowing I won’t get to all the books on my lists, I still keep adding. Also, I break up the list into categories sometimes. Recently, I watched a couple of book vloggers on YouTube who went through the New York Times top books of the 21st Century-or something like that. There were a few I was interested in and I started a new list for those books. One of them was Stephen Kings book “11/23/64” and I have owned a hardback of that story for years but have not read it as of yet.

Last week, I went to our local used book store and only found two of the books on my list! Collecting these books may take a while but I’m determined. Perhaps, the library sale next year will have them. Do you make lists and how many books do you think you have you want to acquire? I’m pretty sure I may have over 3,000 give or take.

Below are the two books on the list I purchased last week and the list of books I want to add to my home library to-read. I may be adding to this list. We will see. Have you read any of these books? Do share!

Stephanie

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

(Paperback)

I really want to read this book soon.

An audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization’s collapse—the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity.

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.

Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.

The Martian by Andy Weir

(Paperback)

I saw the movie when it came out. I see people keep talking about the story, so I’ve decided to read it. Read the first few pages already.

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills — and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit — he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

Book List:

The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles

We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer ( I randomly just added this one.)

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann

2666 by Roberto Bolaño

The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

11/23/64 by Stephen King (Own)

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Tomorrow and Tomorrow, Tomorrow by Gabriella Zevin

The Wager by David Grann

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

The Knowledge Gap by Natalie Wexler

Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang

The Last House on the Cliff by Anne Wyn Clark

Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (Own)

The Plot Against America by Philip Roth

The Book of Witching by C.J. Cooke

The Martian by Andy Weir (Own)

The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese

Reader’s Log 015: Book Stacks Part 5

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Acquiring books and reading them are entirely two different hobbies. I must say in the last few years, I have been working on curating my home library and working out what criteria I want to set to grow my stacks.

In this book stack series, I’m sharing books I’ve previously read and reviewed from NetGalley and want to obtain a physical copy for my home library.

I reviewed, “Good Time Coming” by C.S. Harris in September of 2016 and I was deeply moved by this story. I feel my review did not do the story justice and I want to go back and read it again to update my thoughts and to-of course-add a physical copy to my book stacks. Interestingly enough, ever since I’ve been on the lookout for the book at used bookstores and have never come across a copy. I have noticed-I’m not surprised-that there are a few readers that misunderstand the story and the author’s intentions in writing about the subject of what civilians in Mississippi went through during the war. Harris doesn’t leave any women out no matter their class, status in society, or age. What I mean to say is that there is a diversity of women in this book that are tied together by war, uncertain of their fate and the utter despair and savagery of war. Today many people still don’t want to address this part of the American Civil War because then it will force one to admit that we tend to look at things with prejudice. Harris is a brave woman to write this story and I admire her greatly for her spirit of persistence in bringing Good Timing Coming to the public.

Stephanie Hopkins

About the Book:

A powerful tale of the survival of the women and children left behind during the American Civil War by the author of the Sebastian St Cyr mysteries.”

It’s the beginning of the American Civil War and the Union army is sailing down the Mississippi, leaving death and destruction in its wake. The graceful river town of St. Francisville, Louisiana, has known little of the hardships, death, and destruction of the War. But with the fall of New Orleans, all changes. A Federal fleet appears on the Mississippi, and it isn’t long before the depredations and attacks begin.

For one Southern family the dark blue uniform of the Union army is not the only thing they fear. A young girl stops a vicious attack on her mother and the town must pull together to keep each other safe. But a cryptic message casts doubt amongst the town s folk. Is there a traitor in the town and can anybody be trusted?

Twelve-year-old Amrie and her family have never felt entirely accepted by their neighbors, due to their vocal abolitionist beliefs. But when Federal forces lay siege to the nearby strongholds of Vicksburg and Port Hudson, the women and children of St. Francisville find themselves living in a no man’s land between two warring armies. Realizing they must overcome their differences and work together to survive, they soon discover strengths and abilities they never knew they possessed, and forge unexpected friendships.

As the violence in the area intensifies, Amrie comes to terms with her own capacity for violence and realizes that the capacity for evil exists within all of us. And when the discovery of a closely guarded secret brings the wrath of the Federal army down on St. Francisville, the women of St. Francisville, with whom Amrie and her mother have shared the war years many deprivations and traumas, now unite and risk their own lives to save them.

My interview with Harris HERE

Check out the previous book picks:

Reader’s Log 002: Book Stacks Part I

Reader’s Log 005: Book Stacks Part 2

Reader’s Log 009: Book Stacks Part 3

Reader’s Log 011: Book Stacks Part 4