Kelly Hooker - September's Real Time Reading

 

[00:09] Cindy: Welcome to Thoughts From a Page, amember of the Evergreen Podcasts Network. I'm Cindy Burnett and I am so glad you're here. I personally select and read every book featured on the show so I can bring you thoughtful spoiler free author interviews. Whether you're deciding what to read next or looking for deeper insight after finishing a book, you're in the right place. I hope these conversations will enrich your reading life. In addition to the podcast, I write a monthly column, Buzz Reads, featuring my top five picks for each month which is linked in the show Notes. If you enjoy the show, rating and reviewing it on Apple or Spotify really helps new listeners find me. If you're looking to contribute to the show financially, you can support me on Patreon or with a one-time contribution on PayPal, Venmo or buy me a coffee. It takes a long time to grow a show and I continue to find a larger audience thanks to you, my loyal listeners. I am so grateful. Today, Kelly Hooker returns this time for our September Real Time Reading episode. August's episode was chock full of titles and some interesting conversation topics that I've had a lot of feedback about. We'll talk a little bit about that in our episode September. We don't have quite as many books to talk about, but still some interesting titles that we bring, some musings on what's coming soon and more. I hope you enjoy our conversation. Welcome Kelly, how are you?

[01:31] Kelly: I am doing well, Cindy. We are just trying to get into our back to school routine. I'm so grateful that the boys are back and I've been trying to reclaim my reading life a little bit and it had been slow going all summer long and I'm just like, I feel like I'm on the precipice, like it's coming back. We can do this. Like I, I can carve out time for this now.

[01:55] Cindy: It's always such an interesting time period September because it is that shift into fall. Everybody goes back to school and sometimes it feels like it should be a less busy time. But I feel like right now it's really hectic.

[02:08] Kelly: Here it is and I feel so scatterbrained and so it has been hard to get into some books. I was at school drop off this morning and one of my friends was like good luck tomorrow. I'm like, what's tomorrow? She's like, your triathlon? I'm like, right, right. And I knew that it was tomorrow. It's just like my mind is in a million places and I think that my Reading Life has reflected that.

[02:33] Cindy: I had so many great books that I talked about in August and I sat down to get ready for this one and I was like, hmm, well, I don't think I have nearly so many. I have some, but it has been much more up and down for me. You and I were talking before we recorded and I was telling you that last month's episode really resonated with people. I had stated that I felt there were a number of books coming out where I couldn't quite figure out the purpose of the book, like why the author wrote it. I have had so much feedback, people agreeing, saying, I can't figure out what the author's trying to tell me or I agree, like what was the purpose of this book? So it was interesting to me that that really resonated with people, huh?

[03:11] Kelly: Yes, it. Maybe it's not just us, maybe it's a publishing problem, maybe it's not a reader problem.

[03:18] Cindy: I agree. So I thought that was kind of interesting.

[03:20] Kelly: Yeah, that is. How have you been?

[03:22] Cindy: I'm good. I host Ethan Joella on Monday for my literary salon and I just booked Elizabeth Letts for January, which I'm thrilled about. She's one of my favorites and I loved Fallen for France and so I'm really excited to host her. So other than that, it's just been a little hectic. We leave for Morocco in Spain at the end of the month and are gone for a while. And so I think I'm just feeling like I've got a lot to get done before we go.

[03:47] Kelly: Yes, I'm kind of feeling that same pressure of time. Scott and I are leaving for banff for our 10 year anniversary and we had a little passport snafu so we weren't sure if he was going to be able to get his in time. But it's supposed to come in the next couple days so hopefully we can go celebrate together. Otherwise I'm going to bring my mom, which would be lovely, but not the 10 year anniversary celebration that we at intended. So hopefully it all works out.

[04:15] Cindy: You're like, mom, we're celebrating my anniversary with Scott and celebrating 10 years. Here we go.

[04:19] Kelly: Yes. Let's go. He's at home with the boys.

[04:22] Cindy: Yeah, exactly. You definitely would get the better end of the stick there.

[04:25] Kelly: I think so.

[04:27] Cindy: Well, hopefully that all works out.

[04:29] Kelly: I hope so too.

[04:30] Cindy: Well, what have you been reading recently?

[04:33] Kelly: Well, my last two reads were actually my two current reads when we recorded last for real time reading and I think that is just a sign of my slow going progress at the end of August slash early September. So I finished Breathing Underwater by Jacqueline Friedland and this came out August 4th. I was initially drawn to this one because of Leo, a 16 year old autistic boy, but I ended up especially loving his mom's chapters. This is a story about found family. It is a story about a struggling high school girl who finds some purpose teaching swim lessons to autistic children. The story is told in two points of view. Barry is Leo's mom and I loved those chapters. I really appreciated seeing Barry navigate raising an autistic son, especially as he gets older and he's entering a different season of life. And it gave me a lot to consider about the challenges and joys of parenting autistic kids beyond those early years that I'm in now. And so I really valued that perspective. The sections that were told by the high schooler slash college student felt a little bit YA for me, and typically I'm not drawn to YA stories, but I I tolerated her sections. But overall I'm really glad that I read this book for the perspective that it gave me on what autistic parenting can look like as kids grow up. So I ended up landing at 4 stars and that's Breathing Underwater by Jacqueline Friedland.

[06:12] Cindy: That definitely sounds like it would be a good fit for you and something of great interest to you.

[06:16] Kelly: Yes, absolutely. What was your last read?

[06:20] Cindy: So one of my last reads was the Shadow Friends by Tess Garretson and it's out now. When a renowned disease expert and Russian defector dies mysteriously during a global affairs conference in Purity, Maine, the tight knit band of former spies in the Martini club once again see their quiet coastal retirement interrupted by intrigue. And when a waitress at the conference hotel is found murdered, Ingrid Slocum sees chilling links to a disastrous mission that nearly killed her three decades ago. Desperate to uncover the truth, she's drawn back into the game by a magnetic ex-CIA colleague and former lover who was with her on the long ago doomed mission. He convinces her to join him and together they head to Amsterdam. To track down her would be killer so this is book three in the Martini Club series and it was a really fun read. I love this crew. They're so entertaining and the mystery was really interesting in this one. I loved book one and I liked book two and this one fell in the middle for me, which is perfect. So that is the Shadow Friends by Tess Garretson and it's out now.

[07:17] Kelly: Oh, that's one that I haven't even seen anywhere else.

[07:21] Cindy: Did you read the first one? No, the first one was a huge hit. It was all over Bookstagram and the second one was somewhat. But I agree, I haven't seen much about this one at all.

[07:30] Kelly: Okay, interesting.

[07:31] Cindy: Yeah. What else have you been reading?

[07:33] Kelly: I finished up Fallow by Sarah Anderson and it's out now. During this hectic back to school transition with my kids, I just needed something unique enough to hold my attention and so this definitely did it. The story's about Natalie. She's a woman who's barely getting by when she becomes the world's first in house corporate surrogate. So in exchange for carrying seven babies over 10 years, she gets this luxury apartment, excellent healthcare, personal trainers, healthy meals, and a job that she's actually good at. So I loved how unique this premise was and the questions that it raises about capitalism and motherhood and what we're willing to sacrifice for a better life. What's interesting about this book is the last third of it almost feels like a completely different book than the first part. But I actually didn't mind the direction that it took. I appreciated that Sarah Anderson took a risk instead of giving us something predictable. I mentioned last time on Real Time Reading that this is being compared to yesteryear and I do see the connection more now that I finished the book. But I do think they have totally different messages. They're both a little bit satirical and their main characters names are Natalie and they are a bit unlikable. But I will say that Natalie in yesteryear is far more unlikable than Natalie here in Fallow. Overall, this was just such an interesting thought provoking debut. And that's Fallow by Sarah Anderson.

[09:01] Cindy: It was interesting because last time we both had it on our list of to read next. Or maybe you were currently reading and I was reading it next, I can't remember. But either way we both chatted about it and I finished it as well. And I agree with everything you said. So thought provoking. Especially the parts about maternity leave, women being pregnant and how that impacts a company or how a company feels it impacts them. They don't even really give even females the chance half the time. So I loved all of that. I did feel like it went in kind of an odd direction, but not terrible. But I mean, it was almost two different stories for parts of it. But I still liked it. I gave it 3.5 stars. I would recommend it for people who like different stories. Thought provoking stories. I don't see much comparing it to yesteryear other than they're both named Natalie, both unlikable, and the stories are definitely satirical.

[09:48] Kelly: I think the last third of the book is where I see the connection coming through.

[09:52] Cindy: More that's interesting to me. It's always fun to hear what people have to say about those kinds of things. Yes, the other book I recently finished was another series, We Chase Shadows by Richard Osmond, and it's also out now back at We Solve Mysteries hq. Amy, Rosie and Steve leave at the chance to take on their first proper case. So what if their new client seems to have his own reasons for avoiding the police? All they need to do is uncover who left the note and then find them. Simple. But once they start digging, the suspects keep piling up. There's Sweden's most wanted criminal, a canny ex-wife and a fierce business rival. Yet the murderer keeps evading them. And as the trio chase a villain through the shadows, danger travels closer to home. So I've been on a series kick. There are a bunch coming out right now, so it's been fun to get caught up with all of my favorite characters. While I like the Thursday Murder Club better than this series, I do really enjoy this one as well. This is book two. I listened to it. I I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was really fun to spend time with these characters again. And the mystery was a lot of fun and I liked the way it wrapped up. And that's We Chase Shadows by Richard Osmond and it's out now.

[10:58] Kelly: I really enjoyed the first book. I liked the daughter in law father in law duo. I just thought that was such a unique team and I'm excited to read this one too.

[11:09] Cindy: Yes, they really are a great team. The characters are very well done in this one. Well, what are you reading now?

[11:15] Kelly: Now I'm reading Hopeless romantics by Mary McFarlane and this is out in February. I'm about 60% into this one and it's taking me a while because this is what I refer to as my Kindle Cozy read. I just read it on my Kindle before bed, just a few pages at a time. So it takes a while and I usually try to pick books that don't take a lot of thought that are going to keep me up at night. So working my way through this book. At first I wasn't totally sure about this one. It started off feeling a little fluffy and very rom com. So we've got these two best friends, two males and two females each. Best friends. We've got a wedding in Scotland, a sleeper train, champagne, and this instant connection between Tess and Ryan. But Somewhere along the way, this book started becoming so much more interesting to me. So we follow Tess and Ryan over the course of a decade as their lives keep crossing with plenty of missed opportunities, complicated timing, friendship, and just this overarching question of what if? Now that I'm deeper into the story, I really like that it isn't feeling as formulaic as I expected. I'm especially curious to see where Tess and Ryan end up, because this is definitely giving the right person wrong time trope, that is hopeless romantics by Mary McFarlane.

[12:32] Cindy: This is giving me vibes of one star romance by Laura Hankin. Her last book where a couple has sparks but then don't end up together. And you follow them over the next decade.

[12:43] Kelly: Yes. I think one of my least favorite tropes is insta Love, where these people just have a connection and you're like, but why? Where did this come from? And so this is like the slow burn, the. The complete opposite of insta love. And I appreciate that.

[12:56] Cindy: Good. Well, I can't wait to hear what you think when you're done.

[12:59] Kelly: Yes. What are you reading right now?

[13:01] Cindy: So I'm reading the Shadows of Kensington Gore by Ross Montgomery, which is out in January. My third series title, by the way. London, 1911. Coronation Fever. Suffragette unrest. A city crackling with tension when a policeman is found brutally murdered on the streets of Kensington. Blame falls on three women seen fleeing the scene. Their sole witness, Stephen, under butler extraordinaire and assistant to the most unconventional detective in London, Ms. Decima Stockingham. Sharp tongued, fearless, and bored of behaving herself, she's the only one able to see that this case is not what it seems. Aided by an invisible network of maids, their eyes and ears in every house in London, this unlikely duo must catch the killer before time runs out. But in a city dazzled by ceremony and divided by change, you never know what might be lurking in the shadows. When I was looking at what I was going to talk about today, I realized, oh, my gosh, not only are they all series titles, but they all have the word shadow in the title. I loved book one in this series. I love Steven and Decima. Talk about an amazing pairing for a mystery. They are fantastic. And what I love about Ross is that he sets his stories against the backdrop of some very important historical aspects. So right now, it is the Coronation Fever and the suffragette movement. So it's so interesting. I'm really, really enjoying this one so far. And that's the Shadows of Kensington Gore by Ross Montgomery. And it comes out in January.

[14:23] Kelly: You really are on a series binge. And so interesting about the shadows.

[14:27] Cindy: I mean, what are the odds?

[14:29] Kelly: That is wild.

[14:30] Cindy: Okay, well what else are you reading?

[14:32] Kelly: I'd started on audio cleared for takeoff by Captain Nia Gilliam and it came out August 4th. So I picked this up because we were coming up on the 25th anniversary of 911 and I was really interested in hearing about that day from the perspective of a pilot who was actually sitting in the cockpit as this unfolded. The author had dreamed of becoming a pilot since she was a child and she eventually became a commercial airline captain at a time when there were very few black women in aviation. So I'm especially interested in that aspect of her story because I love reading about women breaking into traditionally male dominated fields. She also talks about the black aviators who paved the way for her. Then 911 completely changed her relationship with flying. She she witnessed Flight 175 hit the south tower and something that had always represented freedom and possibility suddenly became connected to this unimaginable trauma. What I find most interesting is that this isn't just a 911 memoir. Gilliam has described it as a coming of age story and in a way a love story about her relationship with flying. She eventually found her way back into the cockpit after 911 and I'm really interested in seeing how she gets there. So so far I'm loving just this combination of women's history and aviation and personal resilience. I think it's going to be a really meaningful read and one that I'm hoping to finish up today as we are recording on the anniversary of 911 that's cleared for takeoff by Captain Nia Gilliam.

[16:08] Cindy: Did you ever see Come From Away, the Broadway musical about 911 that's based on a book?

[16:14] Kelly: No, I haven't seen.

[16:15] Cindy: So it's so interesting. You know, I'm a huge Broadway person. I've seen Come From Away three or four times. My family has all seen it several times. We love the music. And with the anniversary approaching, there has been a lot written about it because it's by far the most popular piece of art related to September 11th. You know, the musical's been hugely successful. It was turned into a movie. One of the women who tells her story and Come From Away is also featured in the 911 Museum which I know you recently visited. We had visited a while ago, so it's so good. But the female pilot in that story also talks about how piloting she made her way as a female pilot and then 911 ripped you know, the love of flying away from her for a little while. I mean, this is all told in the book and then in the musical. But it's interesting because that had to be so difficult for all of those pilots.

[17:06] Kelly: Yes, absolutely. And in Captain Nia Gilliam's case, she saw this unfold and they were still told to take off because it was still unclear what was happening. But she had just seen this tragedy unfold and yet, like life had to continue. There was no ground order at that time. And so they're like, okay, here we go.

[17:28] Cindy: Yeah, it's crazy. And Come From Away is set up in Gander where there was an airport that used to be incredibly important in like the 40s and the 50s because planes couldn't fly all the way from the US to Europe. They didn't, they couldn't store enough fuel. So this airport was like the biggest airport and had all these runways. But then over time, the way planes developed and they could make this flight all the way across without stopping in Gander, it kind of became obsolete. But then when they closed the skies for 9 11, all of these planes had to land there because they couldn't get back to Europe, but they couldn't fly into the US and so it's all of their stories. It's fascinating. It's really, really good. If you have a chance to either read the book or, or see the movie.

[18:10] Kelly: Yeah, I definitely will add that to my list because I like to read something about 911 every year.

[18:15] Cindy: I agree, and it's a good one for that. But your book sounds really, really good too. I'll have to look for that one.

[18:20] Kelly: Yes. Okay. What's. What are you reading right now?

[18:23] Cindy: So I am listening to the Untold Story of the World's Most Extraordinary Spy by Ben McIntyre and it's out now. The year is 1981. Tehran is in violent turmoil in the wake of the Iranian revolution. The Soviets are planning to overthrow the fledgling Islamic regime. If they do so, one response contemplated in the secret chambers of American power unknown to the public, would be to strike with nuclear weapons. Redwood is the story of how at the height of the Cold War, one mysterious double agent whose intelligence reached the highest levels of American and British governments cracked open the KGB, revealed the Kremlin's secret plot and prevented Armageddon. Red drawn on never before seen materials from archives in multiple countries and interviews with the participants, including officers from MI6 and MI5, the KGB and CIA. Redwood lifts the lid on an unknown and highly significant Cold War victory on the Machinations of history's great game and on how espionage really works. Without Redwood, our world would be very different or might not exist at all. So Ben McEntire is one of my very favorite nonfiction writers. His last book, the Siege, was absolutely fantastic and so interesting. I am really enjoying this one, too. I'm learning a ton about Iran and the Soviets during the Cold War. As I said, I'm listening. My only issue is there are so many individuals and groups involved, and because I'm listening, I'm not seeing it in print. And so sometimes I'm like, what exactly is the name? So I'm having to do a lot of Googling to make sure I understand what he's talking about or who he's talking about. But that's just because I'm listening to it versus reading it. And it's such a timely read with all of the trouble that we are having with Iran right now. So I am thoroughly enjoying it and I hope to finish it up pretty soon. And that's the Untold Story of the World's Most Extraordinary spy by Ben McIntyre. And it's out now.

[20:13] Kelly: Okay. I have not heard of Ben McEntire before, but we are going to Banff, and my husband needs some books, so I actually just put a few of his books on hold at the library because I think it sounds like he would really like these.

[20:30] Cindy: I was going to actually suggest that to you because I know Scott likes these type of stories, and Ben McIntyre is kind of the. The guru for the spy story, so. So he would be perfect for Scott, I think.

[20:41] Kelly: Yes. I'm just looking. Ben McIntyre has so many books, so this is. This is great. I think this could be a good rabbit hole for him.

[20:49] Cindy: The book he's best known for is the Spy and the Traitor, which I really enjoyed. I also loved the Siege, so either one of those would be great books for Scott to start with.

[20:58] Kelly: Perfect. I just put both of those on hold from the library. I'm looking at Goodreads for the ratings for the Spy and the Traitor, and it has 4.52 on 96,000 ratings, which is amazing.

[21:12] Cindy: It's the book that he's always mentioned about, so if people are talking about him, that one is referenced.

[21:18] Kelly: Okay. Great. Perfect timing on that recommendation. Thank you.

[21:21] Cindy: Absolutely. Well, what's up next for you?

[21:24] Kelly: Next up for me is up to the Light by Julia Armfield, and this comes out March 30th. I've never read this author before, but this one immediately caught my attention because Charlotte McConaughey called it magnificent and said I could not stop reading it. I loved it and I've loved all of Charlotte's books, so I'm hoping that this blurb comes with a lot of truth. So up to the Light follows two best friend climbers who head into the French Alps to conquer a mountain that hasn't been climbed in decades. After a previous expedition ended in tragedy, it's being pitched as Into Thin Air meets the haunting of Hill House with A little Brokeback Mountain, which is quite the combination. So it definitely sounds like a unique mix of adventure, complicated relationships, maybe some horror or psychological suspense. As the climbers begin experiencing strange dreams and hallucinations on the mountain, they start questioning what's real, and I'm very intrigued by that element. This is definitely a book I'm going into with somewhat of high expectations. It just sounds atmospheric and I'm excited to experience Armfield's writing for the first time. So that was up to the Light by Julia Armfield.

[22:35] Cindy: So I was just having a conversation with another book influencer the other day about how romance and horror seem to be the two genres that are just booming. Do you feel that way?

[22:46] Kelly: Yes. And this winter I noticed that the unexpected genre mashup of romance and horror is also having a moment.

[22:55] Cindy: I don't read either very much at all, so I'm being pitched so many titles in both genres or some combination of them, and I just think, hmm, I guess that's what's being read a bunch now.

[23:05] Kelly: Yeah, that is an interesting trend. What is next up for you?

[23:12] Cindy: Next up for me is the Cursed diamond by Anna Rask. It comes out in November 2010. Jenny is working as a runner in the diamond district when a friend's sudden death leaves her with a cryptic note. Not safe. Her search for answers leads her to an antique jewelry box, a clue to a century old mystery, and the legend of the Midnight Diamond, a rare blue gem rumored to bring ruin to all who poss. As Jenny is pulled deeper into a world of secrets and danger, she realizes she is not just chasing a lost treasure, she is uncovering a story that was meant to stay buried. 1910 on an ocean liner bound for New York, heiress Marcella Porter returns home after being disgraced by scandal in London. Her path collides with a charismatic nobleman and the magnificent Midnight diamond, which she unknowingly smuggles into the city. Mesmerized by its brilliance, Marcela feels an irresistible pull toward the diamond. And when the glittering facade of her charmed life begins to crack, she must decide whether the Midnight diamond is her salvation or her doom. November and December are much quieter in the publishing world than the rest of the year. There are some really big books that come out, but there's not a lot of just traditional stories. And I write my monthly Buzz Reads column, so it's always difficult to fill November and December, so I'm hoping that this is going to be a good fit for me. The Goodreads reviews are very good, so I'm hoping that is a good sign. And that's the Cursed diamond by Anna Rask. And it comes out in November.

[24:33] Kelly: I hope so too. November and December do feel like they are a little bit of a slim pick as far as finding a great book, but there are great books out there to be found.

[24:43] Cindy: Absolutely. Well, what else is up next for you?

[24:46] Kelly: Buried Embers by Alex Sigmore this comes out January 26th. I'm interested in this one because the premise feels so different. The main character, Calla Rowe, is a federal fire investigator who can identify the work of an arsonist almost instantly. But after watching her partner die in what everybody believes was an accident, she walks away from the job. So she ends up in this small organ town hoping to escape her nightmares, only to get pulled into investigating a suspicious wildfire, a missing local boy, environmental activists, and a logging company accused of illegally cutting old growth forest. The part that really grabbed me is the wildfire arsonist angle. I don't think. I've read many thrillers centered around fire investigation and wildfire arson, and it sounds like such a unique setup for a mystery. It's also supposed to be the first in a series, so I'm curious to see if Calla is a character I want to follow beyond this book. That's Buried Embers by Alex Sigmore.

[25:49] Cindy: That does sound good, and another very timely read with several fires started recently by arsonists.

[25:55] Kelly: Absolutely. Yes. Unfortunately, yes.

[25:57] Cindy: Exactly. Well, next up for me is Rabbit Rabbit by Jennifer E. Smith, and it comes out in December as the clock counts down to midnight on New year's Eve. Billie, 39, single, an American film editor on a girls trip to Florence, makes this the year she's going to have a baby on her own. Less than an hour later, she meets Arthur, 44, single, a Scottish environmentalist celebrating a friend's stag party, who seems perfect but for his conviction, the kids are not for him. Over the course of the next year, Billie finds herself pursuing both versions of her life, moving back and forth between visits to fertility clinics and romantic getaways around the world as she tries to figure out what she wants most. But as she approaches the inevitable fork in the road, she'll discover that it's not so easy to follow your heart when it's pulling you in two very different directions. Jennifer wrote the Unsinkable Greta James, which was one of my top reads the year it came out. I just love that book. So I'm hoping that this one is going to be equally good. And that's Rabbit Rabbit by Jennifer E. Smith, and it comes out in December.

[26:57] Kelly: Oh, good. I hope that this is a win for you. I know she's an author that you've really loved in the past.

[27:03] Cindy: Me too. Well, has anything not worked very well for you?

[27:06] Kelly: No, to be honest, I haven't had a lot of volume of books come through the last month or so, so thankfully no flops yet. How about you?

[27:16] Cindy: I have a couple. The first is one I talked about last month, The Camino by Anya Nuwara. This was just not a good fit for me. I was really wanting a propulsive thriller. I loved the setting for this one. I thought it could be a really interesting premise. But instead, so far there's not a lot happening on the Camino de Santiago at all. There's just all this random character development. So I decided I wasn't loving the characters, wasn't loving the way it was written. It is translated, so that may be part of it, but it just wasn't a good fit for me. The next is the Library of Leaving by Emily Dunley. This was historical fiction, and that's been a tough genre for me this year. There's just not a lot coming out and some have worked, but some haven't worked very well at all. So I was hoping this one would. The setting is World War I, which I did actually really enjoy that part of the book, but it's very, very slow and I did not like the main character at all. The next is Exit party by Emily St. John Mandel. And I'm afraid this may be my land. The equivalent of what you went through for that. I have tried listening to it, I've tried reading it. I just can't connect with it. It's very long. Nothing is happening. So I don't know. It may just be that I'm not picking it up at the right time. I'm not going to fully give up on it yet, but so far it's not been a great fit. And then last, Another Name for Red by Amber Blazer-Wardzala. And I did actually finish this one and I certainly enjoyed parts of it. I loved the Native American aspects, I loved the reservation life. I learned a lot about all of that and thought it that was amazing. But I really didn't like the main character, I didn't like some of the choices she made and the ending was super rushed so I ended up giving it three stars.

[28:55] Kelly: Oh bummer. It's hard when you actually finish a book and invest that much time in it and it's just like eh.

[29:01] Cindy: Sometimes that makes me want to give it one star because I get so annoyed. But I did really like aspects of this book so I decided to go ahead and finish it. I just wish certain things had unfolded differently.

[29:11] Kelly: Yeah, I can see that.

[29:12] Cindy: Well, what's come in the mail for you?

[29:14] Kelly: The Starving Bride by Catherine Chidgey. This comes out March 30th. Catherine is the author of the Axeman's Carnival and the Book of Guilt, which were both books that I really really loved. So I already trust her to tell a great story and honestly this book sounds pretty unique and I don't know if I would be interested in it if it wasn't written by Catherine. The story follows Hazel, a woman who after being dumped and losing her job, takes a job as a son sideshow attraction at Blackpool Tower where she becomes the quote unquote starving bride and is put on display as she grows increasingly thin. It sounds unsettling and really thought provoking, exploring female bodies, friendship, shame and the ways that we can perform for other people. So I truly have no idea what to expect from this one, but I'm definitely excited to see what Chidgy does with it. That is the Starving Bride by Catherine Chidgy.

[30:11] Cindy: So we talked about her son last month because of the book I was talking about. Miss Archer. I loved The Book of Guilt. I'm definitely going to let you read this one first and see what you think.

[30:22] Kelly: Yes, I mean she is the author that got me to truly love a book about a talking magpie bird. So I'm just going to go with this one.

[30:33] Cindy: I think that makes sense. I mean we always talk about how fun unique reads are, so I can't wait to hear. Yes, well the first one that recently came for me is What Kind of Mother by Bernadette Murphy and it comes out in January. What kind of mother gives up her son? Bernadette Murphy grew up the miracle child of her immigrant Irish Catholic family, arriving unexpectedly after her mother's difficulty conceiving and her parents adoption of her older brother. Three more siblings followed and as her once glamorous mother sank deeper into depression and her father struggled to support the family, Bernadette was forced to grow up quickly and care for her brothers and sister. When Bernadette's first love resulted in a pregnancy at age 16. Faced with limited options and a belief from her Catholic upbringing that abortion was a sin, she made the impossible choice to give up the baby for adoption. More than 40 years later, Bernadette, the mother of three other grown children she raised and still living with deep rooted shame and guilt for having given up her son, was consumed by thoughts of the boy she relinquished. What did he think of her, if he thought of her at all? Was he angry? Troubled? Content? As she launched a desperate search for her firstborn, she began writing him letters describing her life and explaining her decision at once. An incisive, affecting memoir of a childhood filled with hardship and love, and the story of a birth mother's quest to find her son and forgive herself. What Kind of Mother challenges our assumptions about adoption? Opening up an important conversation about family, love and possibility this one sounds really good and I'm so excited to dive in. The memoir genre has not been a big seller recently in the publishing world. The numbers are so much lower on them and you just don't see as many coming out. So I'm really excited to find one that sounds good. And that's what Kind of Mother by Bernadette Murphy and it's out in January.

[32:16] Kelly: Yes, I love motherhood stories, especially memoirs, so this will be one for me to watch as well.

[32:22] Cindy: Exactly. Well, what else has come in the mail?

[32:24] Kelly: Cash Out by Nick Hornby this comes out January 12th. I'm really excited about this one because the premise reminds me of Abby Off Sides, which is a book that I really loved this year. So Cash out follows Sophie, who isn't a soccer fan, but she gets pulled into the sport when her uncle places a 5,000 to 1 bet on a team to win the Premier League in her name. Then incredibly, the team starts winning and suddenly Sophie has a life changing decision to make cash out and take the money or risk it all and see what happens. So I love that the story seems to use the soccer bet as a bigger metaphor for Sophie's life, and as the ads start changing, she begins questioning her relationship, her financial situation, and whether she's been settling for less than she deserves. So it sounds funny and unexpected and I think that it sounds like it could work even if you aren't a soccer fan. And that's Cash Out by Nick Hornby.

[33:22] Cindy: I am a massive Nick Hornby fan. I don't think he's had a book come out in a while, and I'm so excited for this one.

[33:28] Kelly: Ooh. I haven't read any of his books before, so.

[33:31] Cindy: Oh, you haven't? No. Oh, he's fantastic. And a bunch of them have been made into movies.

[33:35] Kelly: Okay. So great.

[33:37] Cindy: He's awesome. So the other one that came for me recently is Heart of the Wild by Patti Callahan Henry, and it's out in April, the summer Emma McKinney turns 15. Hope feels fragile. Her father is missing in action in Vietnam, and her mother, seeking escape as much as stability, accepts a teaching job in a remote mountain town. Emma, sensitive and intelligent, senses her mother has other reasons for their stay in Silvervale. Before she can press for answers, Emma is sent away to a youth group retreat with only her father's worn copy of the Call of the Wild for comfort. On the last day of the retreat, she strays from the trail and becomes hopelessly lost. With no clear path back to camp, she relies on instinct, animal signs, and the vast, unyielding wild for guidance. As days go by and exhaustion, hunger, and fear begin to hollow her out, Emma's fate feels uncertain. But she is not alone. Deep in the woods, another teenage girl is keeping watch, resourceful and determined to remain unseen. As they move through the same wilderness, their stories begin to collide, forcing them to discover their strength and will to survive. First, I'm a huge, huge fan of Patti, so I am really excited for this one. And second, I love wilderness stories. They almost always resonate with me, so I am so excited for this one. And that's Heart of the Wild by Patti Callahan Henry, and it comes out in April.

[34:50] Kelly: Oh, that does sound like you're honestly your perfect combo.

[34:53] Cindy: I know exactly so well. So many fun books to talk about. I'm really excited for 2027.

[34:58] Kelly: Yes, me too. We are dipping our toes in and it's so much fun.

[35:03] Cindy: Absolutely. And thank you so much as always for coming on and chatting with me.

[35:08] Kelly: Thank you for having me. We always have such great conversations and it's something that I always look forward to.

[35:14] Cindy: Me as well. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast. I would love to connect with you on Instagram or Facebook where you can find me at @thoughtsfromapage. If you enjoy the show and have a moment to rate it or subscribe to it. Wherever you listen to your podcasts, I would really appreciate it. It makes a huge difference. And please tell all of your friends about thoughts from a page. Word of mouth does wonders to help the show grow I hope you'll tune in next time.