The Orenda by Joseph Boyden

#BeatTheBacklist book 17 2017 book 17 Format: Print (hardcover) Length: 501 pages Published: 2013 Intense and (probably) historically accurate fictional account of several years in the lives of a Huron man, his captive/adopted daughter, and a French Jesuit priest. This book was well researched, well written, pretty …

Catching Up – Three Quick Reviews

Beat The Backlist Books 14, 15, and 16 Life has been hectic and I have been neglecting to do things that are good for myself.  I haven’t had any long soaks in the tub lately, I haven’t been taking the time to reflect on what …

Lion by Saroo Brierly

#BeatTheBacklist book 13 2017 book 13 Format: Print (paperback) Length: 288 pages Published: 2013 Saroo Brierley’s memoir was originally titled A Long Way Home.  A movie adaptation was released last year.  Saroo was born in a poor family in India.  When he was about 5 …

The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead

#BeatTheBacklist book 12 2017 book 12 Format: ebook Length: 273 pages Published: 1999 What It’s About… In an alternate version of a large American city (New York?) at an unspecified time in the past (1950s?) one of the most powerful organizations in the country is… the …

A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

#BeatTheBacklist book 11 2017 book 11 Format: Print (hardcover) Length: 398 pages Published: 2015 I knew pretty early into this book that I didn’t love it, but I have a thing about finishing books that I start.  When I was a kid, I pulled a …

Lamb by Bonnie Nadzam

#BeatTheBacklist book 10 2017 book 10 Format: Print (paperback) Length: 275 pages Published: 2011 All I knew about this book when I picked it up is that it is about a middle aged guy who befriends a weird young girl.  I guess I should have …

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

#BeatTheBacklist book9 2017 book 9 Format: Print (paperback) Length: 321 pages Published: 1997 I joined a women’s book club a few months ago.  I have done book clubs in the past, but those were basically wine drinking clubs where a book may or may not …

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

#BeatTheBacklist Book 8 2017 Book 8 Format: Print (Paperback) Length: 372 pages Published: 2011 Ready Player One has become a must read for geeks of a certain age.  My demographic, that is.  Recently, I found myself in an airport with an insufficient number of books …

Broken Monsters by Lauren Beukes

#BeatTheBacklist book 7 2017 book 7 Format: Print (hardcover) Length: 436 pages Published: 2014 7 word review – Not as good as the Shining Girls. But if you are looking for more details, read on. Broken Monsters is set in the broken city of Detroit …

Lucky Us by Amy Bloom

#BeatTheBacklist book 6 2017 book 6 Format: Print (hardcover) Length: 256 pages Published: 2014 As long as I can remember I have entertained fantasies of running away to a new city and reinventing myself.  I wanted to run away long before I ever did anything …