In a very spoiler free way, I think The God of the Woods feels like a perfect mystery for you! It really leans into the setting and atmosphere, with a twisty but not altogether scary or jumpy plot (I thought anyways!) It’s slower paced than some by virtue of the length but it was a great read that I enjoyed!
I had a very similar response when I ready Raising Hare. It was just a beautiful read that I didn’t have to and honestly couldn’t consume all at once. It gave me the opportunity to slow down when the pressure feels strong to read x number of books each month. Alice Feeney is a great thriller author choice. I would recommend Harlan Coben for that too.
"Just a beautiful read!" Yes, that's exactly it. Also, what a lovely review that is for a book ☺️ and thanks for the reco! I wouldn't know where to begin with his stuff, but I did actually buy a copy of the book he co-wrote with RW. Any faves!?
I just finished Think Twice and was hooked from the first chapter. Other books by him I enjoyed were Fool Me Once and Missing You. Many of his books are now being turned into shows or movies. I always like to see how they get adapted!
Thank you! And yes, I've been seeing his name a lot lately, in relation to how many of his books are on Netflix now haha. I'll look them up and save them for maybe later's!
I’ve read ‘The House of my Mother’ and found it quite interesting. I read it for more information about Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrand. I am an ex-Mormon and knew about the Franke family and Jodi Hildebrand from the ex-Mormon online community. I was interested in learning more about how these Mormon women ‘went off the rails’ and justified their horrific behaviour with their Mormon beliefs. Mormonism is a cult-like religion. My father was a devout Mormon and he brought us up in a household with strict religious-based rules that we were punished for breaking. Mormonism taught us that it is the one true church on the earth. I left at age 45 after learning truths that the church had been concealing for decades and realising that I had been lied to my whole life. Because of my background and upbringing, and because I have my own trauma from spending the first 4.5 decades of my life being indoctrinated by the Mormon church, I would see ‘The House of my Mother’ in a very different light to you.
Thanks for sharing a bit of your story, Debbie! With that, and the fact that you read it already having some knowledge about their stories and wanting more, we definitely would've had different reading experiences! I didn't want to write a full review, but I was certainly left with some thoughts/concerns about the role the church might've played. At the very least, it didn't feel like anyone REALLY tried to help Shari!? I don't know enough to feel I can say more, but that's the feeling I was left with on the inside.
One thing I’ve noticed about my past memoir reading is I always seemed to pick a book about someone who’s survived some tragedy. After a while it wasn’t good for my nervous systems (to use your phrase) and felt voyeuristic.
Lately I’ve been more interested in memoirs or biographies about females artists and writers throughout history. Some are more interesting reads than others but I like learning about new creatives I may not have known before.
I used to do the same thing, Katie—so can definitely understand why you decided to look for other kinds of stories! Of the memoirs/bios you've read more recently, do you have any faves you'd recommend?
I enjoy reading Memoirs about women on a great adventure. I don't know the titles but one book was about a woman that rode a camel across a desert, one woman paddled the nile, a rock climber and a grandma that walked the Appalachian trail to name a few.
Ahhh yes, adventure memoirs are great! And usually fast-paced, which makes me love them even more. The first one sounds like TRACKS by Robyn Davidson, maybe!? Have you read any of Carrot Quinn's books?
This is super interesting. I haven’t read any of the January or February books. I’m going to add Raising Hare to my list as I think I will enjoy it. From your description, it reminds me of another book I read: The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. She is bedridden and someone brings a snail for her to look after. She writes about her time looking after the snail and learning about them because she doesn’t know much about them. Turns out snails are quite interesting - or at least I now think they are.
And I saw another comment about adventure memoir. Not sure if you’ve read Adam Shoalts? He’s a Canadian author who writes about traveling the Canadian wilderness. I’ve read Where The Falcon Flies and Beyond the Trees. They are both about the arctic. This first is through the territories and I think the second is northern Quebec (and maybe Labrador).
Not sure I’ll be adding anything from February’s list. I like my crime and mystery books to be ‘light’ - Thursday Murder Club, Finley Donovan or Aggie Christie (children’s books).
Based on your description of the snail book, I'd say it's a good bet you'd like RAISING HARE, friend! And I remember hearing about one of his books in 2020 (BEYOND THE TREES) but haven't read any of his stuff! Appreciate you listing some of the lighter options in this genre. The FD + TMC books are on my maybe-one-day-list!
Thanks for sharing your Memoirs reads Cait...I've been reading quite a few lately, a few I've loved and a few I didn't finish. Someone recommended "The Liars' Club" by Mary Karr, written 30 years ago, but it was just so bleak I put it down. I've two on my night table, "The Penguin Lessons" by Tom Michell. I saw the movie which I loved, so thought I'd read his memoir as an English teacher in Argentina who saves a small penguin from an oil slick while on holiday in Uruguay. The penguin, now named Juan Salavdor bonds to him, so he reluctantly brings it back to the boarding school where he teaches. It's a heartwarming story which I need right now. My second book to read is "Duck" by Canadian author, Kate Beaton, a graphic novel about her two years spent working in the northern oil sands. My daughter loved it. It will be my first "graphic novel" read, I've always avoided them until now!
Ahhh how cool that you're picking up something new this month then, Nora! I just looked it up and see it was one of Barack Obama's fave books in 2022. That's cool! I think I'll take note of it and look for it when I'm home later in the spring actually ☺️ oh and I LOVE penguins! And remember reading that book maybe... 10 years ago!?
"Raising Hare" is in my library so I am glad that you enjoyed it. I also heard the buzz about it and it seems compelling and different! I moved it to the top of the list to read next!
Maggie Smith's book I adored! The style of the way the book is organized was also informative to my own book project.
I tend to shy away from the celebrity memoirs as well. They just aren't as interesting to me. I used to always finish a book if I started it and if I really am not enjoying it, I stop. Seems like it should be an easy thing to do, but not always. I often will come back to a book that others have expressed interest in.
Yes, to more writer memoirs!!! I love to read about writers and their processes!
Ooo yes, I will happily quit books, Tammy! If I've given it 50-100 pages and I'm not hooked, it's time to move on! There are too many wonderful books out there ☺️ I hope you enjoy RAISING HARE! (And if not, let it go!)
The last celebrity memoir I remember reading was Britney Spears’ book, can’t remember exactly when, maybe last year or the year before. I do recall that after I read that book, I remember thinking that I am done with celebrity memoirs. It wasn’t to do with Britney personally, but more of a feeling of trawling through a person’s trauma just had me feeling feelings that just didn’t sit right. Sometimes what people go through can help others and help them feel less alone. Other times, it feels a bit icky. Again, just clarifying how I’m feeling about the celebrity memoir genre, not against anyone in any sort of specificity ✌🏼Also, I do enjoy memoirs in general and find them very interesting. And it’s not to say I wouldn’t ever read a celebrity memoir again, I just would clarify my thoughts around reading it 🙂
Well and I think with something like Britney's book (which I also listened to, forgot about that one) there's a sense that the trauma hasn't actually been processed, but is very much alive and still burning inside of them... and I think that comes through in writing. (And from what I know about the two of us, we soak up energy EVERYWHERE.)
It sounds beautiful and important, Fran! The plot reminds me of INDIAN HORSE by Richard Wagamese, which was also adapted for film (Clint Eastwood was an EP).
Cait you have reminded me to try Hare...again! How do you listen to your books? I tried to find Hare on Spotify but don't see it! I think I must be able to listen on a free library platform? Middle school greatness is found in Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin! But it is likely more young adult. Just a moving and profound book that explored death in a really unique and deeply felt way. Sara and the search for normal has also stayed with me. Roxan Gay is just perfection in every way. I can't read enough from her! Thanks Cait for so many new books for me to try!🎉🎉🥰🥰🏆🏆💝💝🩵🩵
How I listen: a mix of buying them + borrowing them from the library! I lucked out that lots were available via my library for January, but that's less true for my February picks, so I'll be buying those (as both audio and physical books). In Ontario, I'm guessing the library uses OverDrive for audiobooks? Oh and yes, ELSEWHERE was great! Read that last year.
I still hope you read at least one of Nick Russell's Big Lake mystery books. I have learned so much abut how other people think that I never realized before. The violence is implied rather than graphic which I appreciate. And I laugh a lot while reading them--such amusing people.
I loved everything about this post! I also love listening to memoir audiobooks narrated by the author and until you said it, I hadn't realized the reason. It truly is a more human experience, to hear their story in their own words. I've read a few on your list and I'd agree with you on the reading celebrity-ish books and how they impact my nervous system. I've read a few that left me feeling really anxious and weirdly unsettled and until you put the words to it, I didn't know why. I love reading and talking about books, so these recaps of yours are so cup-filling for me, thank you!
I did! I am almost finished with an atmospheric historical mystery series that takes place in the 1920s in Alabama. It's about a war widow who can see ghosts and she teams up with her best friend to solve cases. It's beautifully written and the stories are intricately layered with themes prescient to the times, like racial unrest and suffrage. The series is Pluto's Snitch by Carolyn Haines. I like to say that it's gently supernatural, in that it doesn't slap you in the face with the idea of ghosts, instead presents them as a part of life. Trying to decide which series to dive into next as I'm on the last book now.
In a very spoiler free way, I think The God of the Woods feels like a perfect mystery for you! It really leans into the setting and atmosphere, with a twisty but not altogether scary or jumpy plot (I thought anyways!) It’s slower paced than some by virtue of the length but it was a great read that I enjoyed!
Ooo ok friend! I definitely trust your thoughts/opinions on what might be right for me! Excited to crack the spine 🤓
I was thinking the same. I enjoyed that one
I had a very similar response when I ready Raising Hare. It was just a beautiful read that I didn’t have to and honestly couldn’t consume all at once. It gave me the opportunity to slow down when the pressure feels strong to read x number of books each month. Alice Feeney is a great thriller author choice. I would recommend Harlan Coben for that too.
"Just a beautiful read!" Yes, that's exactly it. Also, what a lovely review that is for a book ☺️ and thanks for the reco! I wouldn't know where to begin with his stuff, but I did actually buy a copy of the book he co-wrote with RW. Any faves!?
I just finished Think Twice and was hooked from the first chapter. Other books by him I enjoyed were Fool Me Once and Missing You. Many of his books are now being turned into shows or movies. I always like to see how they get adapted!
Thank you! And yes, I've been seeing his name a lot lately, in relation to how many of his books are on Netflix now haha. I'll look them up and save them for maybe later's!
I have moved "Raising Hare" to the top of my list! I am looking forward to reading it again! Thank you for weighing in.
I’ve read ‘The House of my Mother’ and found it quite interesting. I read it for more information about Ruby Franke and Jodi Hildebrand. I am an ex-Mormon and knew about the Franke family and Jodi Hildebrand from the ex-Mormon online community. I was interested in learning more about how these Mormon women ‘went off the rails’ and justified their horrific behaviour with their Mormon beliefs. Mormonism is a cult-like religion. My father was a devout Mormon and he brought us up in a household with strict religious-based rules that we were punished for breaking. Mormonism taught us that it is the one true church on the earth. I left at age 45 after learning truths that the church had been concealing for decades and realising that I had been lied to my whole life. Because of my background and upbringing, and because I have my own trauma from spending the first 4.5 decades of my life being indoctrinated by the Mormon church, I would see ‘The House of my Mother’ in a very different light to you.
Thanks for sharing a bit of your story, Debbie! With that, and the fact that you read it already having some knowledge about their stories and wanting more, we definitely would've had different reading experiences! I didn't want to write a full review, but I was certainly left with some thoughts/concerns about the role the church might've played. At the very least, it didn't feel like anyone REALLY tried to help Shari!? I don't know enough to feel I can say more, but that's the feeling I was left with on the inside.
One thing I’ve noticed about my past memoir reading is I always seemed to pick a book about someone who’s survived some tragedy. After a while it wasn’t good for my nervous systems (to use your phrase) and felt voyeuristic.
Lately I’ve been more interested in memoirs or biographies about females artists and writers throughout history. Some are more interesting reads than others but I like learning about new creatives I may not have known before.
I used to do the same thing, Katie—so can definitely understand why you decided to look for other kinds of stories! Of the memoirs/bios you've read more recently, do you have any faves you'd recommend?
I loved reading this!!
I enjoy reading Memoirs about women on a great adventure. I don't know the titles but one book was about a woman that rode a camel across a desert, one woman paddled the nile, a rock climber and a grandma that walked the Appalachian trail to name a few.
Ahhh yes, adventure memoirs are great! And usually fast-paced, which makes me love them even more. The first one sounds like TRACKS by Robyn Davidson, maybe!? Have you read any of Carrot Quinn's books?
TRACKS is the one! It's nice that Amazon keeps track of books purchased. I haven't read any Carrot Quinn books so I'll look them up.
This is super interesting. I haven’t read any of the January or February books. I’m going to add Raising Hare to my list as I think I will enjoy it. From your description, it reminds me of another book I read: The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. She is bedridden and someone brings a snail for her to look after. She writes about her time looking after the snail and learning about them because she doesn’t know much about them. Turns out snails are quite interesting - or at least I now think they are.
And I saw another comment about adventure memoir. Not sure if you’ve read Adam Shoalts? He’s a Canadian author who writes about traveling the Canadian wilderness. I’ve read Where The Falcon Flies and Beyond the Trees. They are both about the arctic. This first is through the territories and I think the second is northern Quebec (and maybe Labrador).
Not sure I’ll be adding anything from February’s list. I like my crime and mystery books to be ‘light’ - Thursday Murder Club, Finley Donovan or Aggie Christie (children’s books).
Based on your description of the snail book, I'd say it's a good bet you'd like RAISING HARE, friend! And I remember hearing about one of his books in 2020 (BEYOND THE TREES) but haven't read any of his stuff! Appreciate you listing some of the lighter options in this genre. The FD + TMC books are on my maybe-one-day-list!
Thanks for sharing your Memoirs reads Cait...I've been reading quite a few lately, a few I've loved and a few I didn't finish. Someone recommended "The Liars' Club" by Mary Karr, written 30 years ago, but it was just so bleak I put it down. I've two on my night table, "The Penguin Lessons" by Tom Michell. I saw the movie which I loved, so thought I'd read his memoir as an English teacher in Argentina who saves a small penguin from an oil slick while on holiday in Uruguay. The penguin, now named Juan Salavdor bonds to him, so he reluctantly brings it back to the boarding school where he teaches. It's a heartwarming story which I need right now. My second book to read is "Duck" by Canadian author, Kate Beaton, a graphic novel about her two years spent working in the northern oil sands. My daughter loved it. It will be my first "graphic novel" read, I've always avoided them until now!
Ahhh how cool that you're picking up something new this month then, Nora! I just looked it up and see it was one of Barack Obama's fave books in 2022. That's cool! I think I'll take note of it and look for it when I'm home later in the spring actually ☺️ oh and I LOVE penguins! And remember reading that book maybe... 10 years ago!?
I read God of the Woods (liked it) and was surprised by what happens near the end. Not going to say anything more about it!
"Raising Hare" is in my library so I am glad that you enjoyed it. I also heard the buzz about it and it seems compelling and different! I moved it to the top of the list to read next!
Maggie Smith's book I adored! The style of the way the book is organized was also informative to my own book project.
I tend to shy away from the celebrity memoirs as well. They just aren't as interesting to me. I used to always finish a book if I started it and if I really am not enjoying it, I stop. Seems like it should be an easy thing to do, but not always. I often will come back to a book that others have expressed interest in.
Yes, to more writer memoirs!!! I love to read about writers and their processes!
Thank you for sharing your journey!
Ooo yes, I will happily quit books, Tammy! If I've given it 50-100 pages and I'm not hooked, it's time to move on! There are too many wonderful books out there ☺️ I hope you enjoy RAISING HARE! (And if not, let it go!)
The last celebrity memoir I remember reading was Britney Spears’ book, can’t remember exactly when, maybe last year or the year before. I do recall that after I read that book, I remember thinking that I am done with celebrity memoirs. It wasn’t to do with Britney personally, but more of a feeling of trawling through a person’s trauma just had me feeling feelings that just didn’t sit right. Sometimes what people go through can help others and help them feel less alone. Other times, it feels a bit icky. Again, just clarifying how I’m feeling about the celebrity memoir genre, not against anyone in any sort of specificity ✌🏼Also, I do enjoy memoirs in general and find them very interesting. And it’s not to say I wouldn’t ever read a celebrity memoir again, I just would clarify my thoughts around reading it 🙂
Well and I think with something like Britney's book (which I also listened to, forgot about that one) there's a sense that the trauma hasn't actually been processed, but is very much alive and still burning inside of them... and I think that comes through in writing. (And from what I know about the two of us, we soak up energy EVERYWHERE.)
I agree with you 100% :)
I loved Hunger so much - 10/10 I will read anything that Roxane Gay writes.
Totally agree. Roxane's wisdom is so profound!🏆🥰
Thanks for this post! I read I'm Glad My Mom Died. I really empathized with her but the book, to me, had too much in it. It made me tired in a way.
A great novel that isn't middle grade but has a truly amazing middle grade protagonist: Stealing, by Margaret Verble. One of my favorite books ever.
Oh and it's in the first person, so it feels like memoir.
It sounds beautiful and important, Fran! The plot reminds me of INDIAN HORSE by Richard Wagamese, which was also adapted for film (Clint Eastwood was an EP).
Cait you have reminded me to try Hare...again! How do you listen to your books? I tried to find Hare on Spotify but don't see it! I think I must be able to listen on a free library platform? Middle school greatness is found in Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin! But it is likely more young adult. Just a moving and profound book that explored death in a really unique and deeply felt way. Sara and the search for normal has also stayed with me. Roxan Gay is just perfection in every way. I can't read enough from her! Thanks Cait for so many new books for me to try!🎉🎉🥰🥰🏆🏆💝💝🩵🩵
How I listen: a mix of buying them + borrowing them from the library! I lucked out that lots were available via my library for January, but that's less true for my February picks, so I'll be buying those (as both audio and physical books). In Ontario, I'm guessing the library uses OverDrive for audiobooks? Oh and yes, ELSEWHERE was great! Read that last year.
I still hope you read at least one of Nick Russell's Big Lake mystery books. I have learned so much abut how other people think that I never realized before. The violence is implied rather than graphic which I appreciate. And I laugh a lot while reading them--such amusing people.
It's on my list! Do I need to start with the first one, Linda? Like are there characters you get to know through the whole series?
I loved everything about this post! I also love listening to memoir audiobooks narrated by the author and until you said it, I hadn't realized the reason. It truly is a more human experience, to hear their story in their own words. I've read a few on your list and I'd agree with you on the reading celebrity-ish books and how they impact my nervous system. I've read a few that left me feeling really anxious and weirdly unsettled and until you put the words to it, I didn't know why. I love reading and talking about books, so these recaps of yours are so cup-filling for me, thank you!
I'm so glad you're enjoying them, friend! Did you read anything you liked in January!?
I did! I am almost finished with an atmospheric historical mystery series that takes place in the 1920s in Alabama. It's about a war widow who can see ghosts and she teams up with her best friend to solve cases. It's beautifully written and the stories are intricately layered with themes prescient to the times, like racial unrest and suffrage. The series is Pluto's Snitch by Carolyn Haines. I like to say that it's gently supernatural, in that it doesn't slap you in the face with the idea of ghosts, instead presents them as a part of life. Trying to decide which series to dive into next as I'm on the last book now.
Wow, that sounds SO intriguing! And like a sub-genre I definitely haven't explored before... might have to bookmark it for future reference!