Lexicon
Author: Max Barry
Genre: Fiction, Thriller, Sci-Fi
# of Pages: 416
My Rating: 4.25 stars
Why I Read It: It was on a list of recommended books in The Atlantic
One Sentence Summary: Trained “poets” use words to control and persuade depending on a person’s personality but things go very awry when a particularly powerful word is found and used.
Why 4.25 Stars? This was a crazy-ass thriller that had a great concept and was executed really well. In addition to being a smart thriller, it also has some important things to say about our modern world and the power of language.
Would I Reread One Day? Probably
All Fours
Author: Miranda July
Genre: Fiction
# of Pages: 336
My Rating: 4.25 stars
Why I Read It: The New York Times listed it as one of the Top 10 books of 2024
One Sentence Summary: A perimenopausal woman embarks on a cross-country road trip and stops just minutes from home where she does some interesting things that change her marriage and life.
Why 4.25 Stars? This was kooky and interesting in all the right ways, and the narrator’s voice was super fun to read. I didn’t relate to everything but I enjoyed reading it.
Would I Reread One Day? Maybe
Three Ordinary Girls
Author: Tim Brady
Genre: Non-Fiction
# of Pages: 304
My Rating: 3 stars
Why I Read It: This was a book club read
One Sentence Summary: The true story of three teenage girls involved in the Resistance during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands during WWII.
Why 3 Stars? As the U.S heads into its own difficult times where the need for an underground “resistance” may become a necessity, it was helpful to be reminded of the atrocities of the Nazis in WWII, including the complicity and collaboration of local officials. It is heartbreaking to think of how these girls had to give up their innocence and safety (and, in one case, their life) to fight back against evil. These girls weren’t passive; they performed assassinations, blew up bridges, and led persecuted people to safety despite great personal risk. The world deserves to know their stories … and all the stories like this. However, I thought the book was not well-written, which took away from the story. I suspect there might be a better telling of these stories.
Would I Reread One Day? Probably not … but there are many others similar stories that I will read to remind myself of our history and why resistance is so important in these dark times.
Trust Exercise
Author: Susan Choi
Genre: Fiction, Literary Fiction
# of Pages: 267
My Rating: 3.5 stars
Why I Read It: It was mentioned in this article in The Atlantic and sounded interesting. Plus it was the 2019 National Book Award winner.
One Sentence Summary: The lives of students in a performing arts high school are affected by a beloved teacher in ways that aren’t always clear or truthful.
Why 3.5 Stars? This was an interesting (if somewhat unsatisfying) read. There are three parts (Trust Exercises) and in each one the “truth” of the story being told shifts—leaving us (as the reader) to try and determine the truth of the story being told. If you like your stories to be told in a straightforward way with a tidy ending, this book is NOT for you. This is the type of book where, once you read the last page, you look for opinions from others about what happened. This can be interesting and fun … but it can also be annoying. I wanted a bit more clarity about what happened, but I’m still glad I read it.
Would I Reread One Day? No
Children of Time
Author: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Genre: Fiction, Sci-Fi
# of Pages: 640
My Rating: 5 stars
Why I Read It: My friend Paul recommended it, and his past recommendations have been great.
One Sentence Summary: The Earth is gone, and an ark ship with the last of humanity is trying to find a habitable planet—too bad the one they locate is jealously guarded by scientist running a rather interesting experiment.
Why 5 Stars? This book just rocked my world! I LOVED IT! The chapters rotate between life on the ark ship and the interesting things going on down on the planet. And rather interesting things are going on … super interesting and involving things that were what made this book amazing. (Yes … I am being coy because if I told you what’s developing on the planet I’m afraid you might decide not to read the book. Just trust me.) There is so much to love in this book: the world-building, the clever commentary on our modern society, the amazing way the author makes millenia pass by realistically. Brilliant sci-fi! If I find out you like sci-fi, I’m going to be forcing you to read this book.
Would I Reread One Day? Yes … but first I need to read Books 2 and 3 of this trilogy!
All the Water in the World
Author: Eiren Caffall
Genre: Fiction, Dystopia
# of Pages: 304
My Rating: 4 stars
Why I Read It: I saw it on a list of new releases for 2025, and it sounded intriguing. Plus I like dystopias; they make me feel that perhaps the world I’m living in now isn’t so bad after all.
One Sentence Summary: Overcome by climate change, floods, severe storms and hurricanes, the world is basically flooded out and people are forced to live in difficult circumstances with limited resources.
Why 4 Stars? Told from the point of view of a young girl who has been living in this “new” flooded world for almost all her life, we experience her point of view (and many losses) as her family is forced to leave their home on the roof of NYC’s National History Museum and seek shelter elsewhere after a particularly bad supercane. The journey and narration are harrowing, difficult, and involving. I could not put it down. This is a very literary dystopia/thriller, and the personal nature of the narration made the book feel very real, human, and gripping. I think this is a debut novel; well done, Ms. Caffall! I look forward to reading what you write next!
Would I Reread One Day? Probably
More or Less Maddy
Author: Lisa Genova
Genre: Fiction
# of Pages: 368
My Rating: 4 stars
Why I Read It: I’ve read most of Lisa Genova’s books and always find them interesting. She is a neuroscientist that specializes in writing fiction books that put you “inside” the experience of living in different neurological or mental health conditions.
One Sentence Summary: Maddy, a college freshman, beings to experience extreme ups and downs that eventually lead to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Why 4 Stars? Lisa Genova always does a great job of putting you in the mind of a person experiencing different neurological or mental health conditions, and this book is no exception. It is painful to read when Maddy (who has mostly gotten her condition under control) decides not to take her medication because she feel like she is better, which leads to diastrous results. This feeling is part of bipolar disorder itself, and it highlights why the disorder is so challenging to treat. You cannot trust what your brain is telling you! I think it is important to read these types of books to have an understanding and empathy for people experiencing the issues that Genova writes about. I imagine that her books must really resonate and help people and families living with these conditions as well.
Would I Reread One Day? Maybe
