Monday Musings...

Vertigo hit me this past weekend and it really sucked. I haven't had it in a while, so I had forgotten about it until now. I should have seen it coming though. My depression hit me so hard a few days ago. I mean, it scared me how awful it felt. Anxiety showed up as well. The two always seem to come hand in hand. So, yeah, I should have know that vertigo would strike. When I'm that bad mentally, it tends to show up, too. Ugh. I'm just grateful that I knew what it all was. In the past, when I had no clue what was happening to me...that was terrifying. So, the positive is knowing what is going on and knowing what I have to do to get through it. I just hate that I have to deal with any of it. Ugh. 

I finished watching Tracker this morning. It was such a great episode. I'm really liking the show more and more. I'm going to order the books and read the series. I have to find out what the deal is with Colter's family. I just don't believe that his brother killed their father. And, also, what is the mom hiding. Plus, where is the sister? And, why is Colter so ready to believe his brother is a killer? I have so many questions!

I finally finished the new Elizabeth Strout book, Tell Me Everything. I loved it. The writing was superb and the storytelling was excellent. I really enjoyed having Lucy, Bob, and Olive in the same book. Familiar characters are always a special treat. Olive and Lucy finally meet and all because Olive had a story she wanted to share with Lucy, a writer. From that point on, they meet up to share more stories with each other - stories from people they once knew, or even their own stories. Stories that are referred to as "unrecorded lives', because the truth is that everyone has a story and people never get to hear it or know it.  I'm still thinking about this book and to be honest, I can't wait to read it again and again. In fact, I want to re-read all of Strout's books again and again. I just love her writing. Her stories always make a deep  impression on me. 

Anyhow, I must get to it. I hope you are having a great start to the week. Happy reading!

My Friday Five...

1. Books. I'm reading the new Elizabeth Strout book, Tell Me Everything. It will be released August 13th. And, it is terrific! I am loving it! I'm really enjoying having Bob, Lucy, and Olive in the same story - what a treat! Strout is a master storyteller and I am in just in awe of her work. I'm already looking forward to rereading her books. Make sure to check out Tell Me Everything. 

2.  Tracker. The TV show. My mom got me hooked on it, so now I watch it every week. I was annoyed, because I watch it on Hulu the day after it airs and this past Monday it was not available. Somehow, when they uploaded it, they ended up uploading 60 Minutes instead. Suffice it to say, I was able to watch it the other day and it was such a good episode.  I can't wait for the next one and I heard that the show got approved for a second season. And, thanks to my friend Lark, Lark Writes...on books and life, who also happens to be a fan of Tracker, I found out about the books. How did I not know this? Yep, Jeffrey Deaver has written The Colter Shaw series that Tracker is based on and I MUST now add these books to my TBR list. 

3.  No Spend/No Buy.  I was trying to curb my spending, because needs must. However, I wound up ordering a few bits and bobs recently. And, the guilt is real. Ack! Especially, since it was stationery supplies, which I already have too many of.  Yikes! I don't feel guilty about pre-ordering books, because books are always a Must-Buy. Oh well. I need to just not buy anything now. Wish me luck!

4. TBR book. Banana Yoshimoto has a new book that will be released in November! Woo hoo! I can't wait! It's called, Mittens and Pity: Stories. Yep, it's a collection of six short stories and I just know they are going to be ace. I love her writing, so I am really looking forward to this book. Mittens and Pity will definitely fall under the Must-Buy list. 

5. Music.  James released a new album titled, Yummy. I've been listening to my copy on repeat. I love this band. I heard their music freshman year of college and became a huge fan. I was lucky enough to see them perform in London when I was in grad school. I've been listening to them for nearly thirty years now. They are one of my favorites. 

And now, I'm off to start my weekend. Hope you have a terrific one! Happy reading!

You Know What You Did: A Novel by K. T. Nguyen

(Thank you to Dutton Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book!)

WOW! K. T. Nguyen's novel, You Know What You Did is freaking fantastic! I mean it. This book is unputdownable. I found myself reading late into the night to find out what would happen next. I just had to find out. I was hooked right from the start and enjoyed every second I spent with this story. It was just so damn good. I would happily recommend it to anyone and everyone looking for their next great read - you will LOVE this one! 

So, what is the book about? (summary from Goodreads)

In this heart-pounding debut thriller for fans of Lisa Jewell and Celeste Ng, a first-generation Vietnamese American artist must confront nightmares past and present…
 
Annie “Anh Le” Shaw grew up poor but seems to have it all now: a dream career, a stunning home, and a devoted husband and daughter. When Annie’s mother, a Vietnam War refugee, dies suddenly one night, Annie’s carefully curated life begins to unravel. Her obsessive-compulsive disorder, which she thought she’d vanquished years ago, comes roaring back—but this time, the disturbing fixations swirling around in Annie’s brain might actually be coming true.

A prominent art patron disappears, and the investigation zeroes in on Annie. Spiraling with self-doubt, she distances herself from her family and friends, only to wake up in a hotel room—naked, next to a lifeless body. The police have more questions, but with her mind increasingly fractured, Annie doesn’t have answers. All she knows is this: She will do anything to protect her daughter—even if it means losing herself.

With dizzying twists, You Know What You Did is both a harrowing thriller and a heartfelt exploration of the refugee experience, the legacies we leave for our children, and the unbreakable bonds between mothers and daughters.

How awesome does that sound? We are talking about mystery, thrills, and a bit of horror all rolled into one well written novel. What more could you want? Unforgettable characters enduring mental health issues, along with generational traumas needing to be unpacked - I mean, seriously! This book explores so many relevant topics and does so in such a unique and smart way that you can't help but fall in deep. You Know What You Did is a definite must-read!Make sure to check it out!

Tenderloin: A Novel by Joy Sorman

(Thank you to Restless Books for providing me with a copy of this book!)

 

about book:

Can killing be an act of love? Hypnotic, gruesome, and exultant, Joy Sorman’s macabre ballet whirls from industrial slaughterhouses to the boutique butcher shops of Paris.

Pim is a delicate youth—stringy, solemn, and prone to bouts of unexplained weeping. When he enrolls in trade school as an apprentice butcher, his mentors have low expectations, but his lanky body conceals a peculiar flame: a passionate devotion to animals. In a business that strives to distance the chopping block from the dinner plate, his ardor might seem like a handicap, but Pim rises through the knife-wielding ranks with a barely-tethered zeal. He scours blood from floor mats and stacks carcasses in the cold room by day. By night he tries to slake his appetites: at the table over boudin sausage and steak tartare, and in bed with women whose flanks, ribs, and haunches he maps with careful fingers.

As Pim’s professional successes mount, his cravings gnaw. Meat crowds his waking thoughts. Even as he carves ripe flesh from exquisite bone, he labors to close the gap between man and beast—to be seen, understood, even loved, by a primordial mind. Will this ravenous obsession yield to madness, or to ecstasy?

With shades of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle, Joy Sorman’s Tenderloin is an ethical foray, fever dream, and paean to an ageless hunger.

my thoughts:

Wow! What a fascinating, disturbing, and riveting story! I couldn't put it down! I found myself immersed in Pim's life right from the start. It was unusual and strange, which made me want to keep reading. Tenderloin by Joy Sorman is a definite must-read!

1. I love that book cover. Yes, I am a sucker for a great book cover. If I love it, then I'm most likely grabbing a copy of the book. And this one was definitely intriguing. I loved the colors and the simplicity of the look - it had a cool style to it. 

2. The book's title - definitely caught my attention. 

3. The story. A butcher named Pim and his insatiable cravings is pretty much all you need to know. I never knew I wanted to know about a butcher until now. 

4.  The characters are unforgettable. 

5. The writing was top notch! I loved the vivid details - they were so graphic at times - whoa! 

6. Overall, I really enjoyed this short novel and would recommend it to anyone and everyone. 

And now, I'm off to figure out what to read next. I'm veering toward Elizabeth Strout's latest, Tell Me Everything. Hmm...

Thank you to Restless Books for providing me with a copy of this book!

Monday Musings...

Woke up too early...again.  I feel like I am definitely not getting enough sleep. My anxiety keeps me up and it really rots. Ugh. 

Anyhow...

I was rewatching The Magicians and decided to skip the last season, because it wasn't my favorite season. I missed seeing Q on the show, so yeah, that's a DNF. So, I started to rewatch The Sopranos. I love that show! It's so smart and funny. Plus, the acting is superb. I'm about to start season 2. Oh, I did try to watch Tracker early this morning. My mom and I love that show. Except I couldn't see it, because there must have been a glitch when they uploaded it on Hulu. Instead of Tracker's latest episode, you are watching last night's 60 minutes episode. I do want to see the AC interview with Salman Rushdie, so I will watch it later. However, I'm going to have to wait to see Tracker. Is anyone watching that show? What do you think of it? 

I finally finished the latest collection of The Moth stories and it was sooo good. I love those books and this last one, A Point Of Beauty, was terrific. I started More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, but I'm thinking of pausing and picking up Elizabeth Strout's latest novel, Tell Me Everything. I love her writing so much, so I just know I'm in for a real treat.  What about you? What are you reading lately? 

It was nice and chilly this morning. Such a great way to start a Monday morning. 

Hope you are having a lovely start to the new week. Happy reading!