November 2024 in Books

Didn't get to finish as many books as I wanted this month, but overall it was a really good month of reading.  Here are the recaps:

The Life Impossible - Matt Haig - fiction - three stars - This one was a bit of a disappointment.  I've had The Midnight Library on my to read list for a while now, but saw this one come out and figured I would read this one first.  This had one of those literary devices I hate.  Someone is narrating the story to someone else in letter form and adds all random asides that do nothing to push forward the storyline.  Honestly, just tell the story.  That aside, the story just dragged.  It's about a retired math teacher who is left a home in Ibiza by a long ago acquaintance.  She goes there intending to see and sell it, but ends up getting caught up in the mystery of what happened to the woman who left it to her.  It's a little mystical/science fictioney, but also a little predictable.  It lacked focus and in general the story line was just kind of weird.  Meh, and now I'm not sure I want to read The Midnight Library.

The Lion Women of Tehran - Marjan Kamali - historical fiction - five stars - The story of two friends in Tehran, Ellie and Homa, who come from vastly different segments of society.  Their lives come together when they are young, diverge, come together again in high school/college, and then diverge following the fall of the Shah.  Ellie ends up in the US, while Homa remains in Iran.  Years later, Homa contacts Ellie with a request that brings them together yet again.  Amazing story, great read.

The Bletchley Riddle - Ruth Spetys - juvenile historical fiction - four stars - I'm a big fan of Septys' young adult books, so was curious to see about a middle grade book and was not disappointed. The book takes place during WWII.  Lizzie's mother has gone missing under mysterious circumstance, her brother is in the military, but hasn't been responding to her.  Her wealthy grandmother in the US has dispatched someone to bring her to America for the duration of the war.  Lizzie is not having it.  She believes her mother is still alive and needs help, so she ditches her minder and heads off to find her brother.  Turns out he is working as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park. Lizzie then enters into a world of secrets while she continues to try and find out what happened to her mother.  The book is not as rich as Septys' other books, but the characters are likable and there are some good twists involved.  It does get a bit technical in parts, but still a good read for the intended audience.

The Wedding People - Alison Espach - fiction - five stars - Phoebe Stone shows up at a ritzy resort in Rhode Island with a plan.  She plans to kill herself there.  Her life is falling apart, and she's decided to splurge on a gorgeous room and go out in style.  Unfortunately for her, the rest of the hotel is fully booked for a wedding.  After a chance encounter with the bride who is horrified with her plan, she ends up entangled in the week of wedding festivities and becomes reacquainted with herself in the process.  The scenario itself is somewhat absurd, but it's fully balanced by the absurdity of the wedding itself.  The characters are amusing and likable and the ending is satisfying without being trite.  Great read.

The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club - Helen Simonson - historical fiction - five stars - I've really enjoyed Simonson's other books, so was excited to see another fro her.  It's set just after WWII.  Constance's mother died from the influenza and she's beed adrift since.  She has been getting by helping care for the mother's best friend's mother, Mrs. Fog.  She's at the shore with Mrs. Fog to help her recover further, but knows that after this paid vacation, she'll need to find a job, or a husband.  At the hotel, she meets Poppy, the daughter of a local baronet, who was part of a female motorcycle courier service during the war.  She's not trying to keep the ladies in the service afloat financially by creating a women's motorcycle taxi service.  Poppy's brother was injured and lost a leg during the war and she's trying to help him recover also.  Full of very enjoyable and entertaining characters, this was a fun read.

Least favorite this month was definitely The Life Impossible, but it's really hard to pick a favorite.  I think because all the five star books were so different and excellent in different ways.  You won't go wrong with any of those books.  I'm currently reading The Volcano Daughters which is quite good.  I'm always looking for recommendations, so please share if you're reading something good!