What I read: The Falling Leaves Edition

BOOK COUNT FOR THE YEAR: 89

• January: 14
• February: 5
• March: 12
• April: 8
• May: 7
• June: 12
• July: 15
• August: 16
• September: 8
• October:
• November:
• December:

WHAT LITTLE BUN READ

A LOT! He made up for it this month.

• The Wild Robot Duo – He loved these books
• Wayside School: Sideways Stories
• Wayside School is Falling Down
• Wayside School gets a little stranger
• Sideways arithmetic from Wayside School
• Bad Kitty Camp Daze
• Bad Kitty does not like dogs
• Bad Kitty
• Bad Kitty does not like candy
• Bad Kitty drawn to trouble
• Bad Kitty does not like video games
• Bad Kitty does not like snow

WHAT I READ

Girl, Forgotten

[ THRILLER, HORROR, MURDER, DETECTIVE ]

It was a book I could not put down. It was such a great thriller to follow the twists and turns, and I was drawn into it from beginning to end. It seems like it’s a continuing series, so I am excited to read the other books.

SECRET CHRONICLES OF SHERLOCK HOLMES + OTHERS

[ MYSTERY, SHERLOCK HOLMES, MINI STORIES ]

I cannot say that these are GREAT stories. Obviously the real ones are way better, more complex. These ones sort of lay out the story, then feed you the solution or ending with very little in-between Sherlock Holmes brilliance/adventure/deduction. They are a light version of the originals. Not terrible to read as I am a Holmes geek, but not amazing either. I am going to read them all, but only because I love any spinoff on Holmes.

OUR WOMAN IN MOSCOW

[ THRILLER, SPY, MYSTERY, WAR ]

She’s an excellent author, Williams. I did find the book a little twisty-turny with all the names and switches from one to another (I am a less complicated woman who would like to really only focus on one set of characters, not multiples)… and I got mixed up in all the names, but eventually righted myself midway through the book.

The ending was SO UNEXPECTED. MY GOODNESS. It was a perfect thriller that kept me guessing to the end.

COUNTERFEIT

[ MYSTERY, SCAM, CON, DESIGNER HANDBAGS ]

An excellent book that kept me glued to its pages until the end. Of course, it helped that it was centered around designer handbags (haha!), and I loved the “reveal” of how it was all done in the backend (I am grateful when authors spell it out for busy, tired parents like myself who cannot do mental gymnastics after a full day of work). I also loved the descriptions, the total immersion into that world. Quite excellent.

WHILE WE WERE DATING

[ CHICKLIT, HOLLYWOOD, MOVIE STAR ]

I think my tastes are veering off into the thriller genre as of late. So these books appeal less to me these days, as they are too superficial in terms of character development and interest. I need.. something more. A mystery, an adventure… something.

THE LAST DANCE OF THE DEBUTANTE

[ DEBUTANTES, SOCIAL CLASS, FEMINISM ]

I do not know what I expected of this book but it surprised me. Of course, it was talking about an outdated practice of “coming out” as a deb (debutante) in the past, and so on.. but it developed pretty deep characters (in my mind), as well as bringing hope to the end with a strong feminist streak. I really enjoyed looking into the past life, and seeing how hard it must have been to be a woman in those times. Definitely recommended.

EUSTACE DIAMONDS

[ SOCIAL CLASS, HISTORY, FEMINISM, MONEY, VICTORIAN, GREED ]

I must say that none of it made sense in my head until I googled what 10,000 pounds would be today ($1.3M) … then the hoopla started to all make sense. I very much enjoyed the book because it gave a glimpse into the Victorian life back then, but also, to how women were perceived and treated (I definitely am happy to not have been back in those times). A good read, and a nice look into the characters played by each and what they were wrestling with, in terms of social ambition and money.