I liked Who is Maud Dixon? -- it was dark and twisted and I didn't see a lot of it coming, which is refreshing. That said, if you're not into it at 153 pages, why bother? I quit books FIVE pages in if I'm not feeling it -- life is too short.
I have no problem DNF'ing. It's interesting so far, I was just waiting for the "event" to happen. I did get to that yesterday, so I'm more invested in it now. I agree, life it too short to read books that aren't working for you. lol
So many great titles on the June release list! I just chose my Book of the Month club June selection (The Wishing Game) and can't wait to dive into summer reading.
I cannot wait for these too. Elin has said she will keep writing in a different genre and she plans to keep promoting her book favorites. Thank goodness! I can’t imagine a world without an Elin H novel every year. Hahaha!!
I loved Maud Dixon- I listened to it and thought the audio narration was great- I do think the second half is better than the first . I’m very excited about the new Beatriz Williams!
L you like historical fiction, here are some of the great historical (Amercan) novels ( or do you read novels about other countries' history.
Jubilee- Margaret Walker. A freed black man and a slave fall in love and go through the Civil War and Reconstruction. Much more historically accurate than Gone With The Wind.
Storming Heaven by Denise Giardenia. A powerhouse multipe point of view nove oilabout the birth of the coalminers union in the early 20th century.
Mean Spirit- Linda Hogan. After the Cherokees,Chcksaw and other Southeastern Natve Amercicn tribes were forcibly marched to far bleak Okalahoma, oil was found on their land, and vllleanous companiies were trying to ssteal oil leases by any means necessary including murder. Write to me at erbrill69@gmail. for further information.
The Marrow of Tradition- Charles Chestnutt, the infamous decimaton and slaughter of African Americans in the black and welloff neighborhoood of Wilmngton, North Carolina.
Table Money- Jimmy Breslin. The immensely underrated panoramic generation novel of the New York City "sandhogs' who built the "mines" for the greater metropolitan city off New York at a time when many New York city busisness had signs saying ' No dogs or Irish allowed."
My preference is US historical fiction. I don't dislike other countries, I think I just read too much WWII over the last several years. I'll have to check a couple of those recommendations out. Jubilee & Storming Heaven sound like something I might like to read.
I forgot a few others. There is a terrific nouvella,
Precious Jade" in the fine very underrated short story collection by Monfoon Leong, NUMBER ONESON. There is an outstanding immigrant novel of a Russian Jewish girl with a tyrannical father. There is a powerhouse novel Christ In Concrete about the immigrant Italian who built the skyscrapers of NYA. Also two of the best novels about slavery are Toni Morrison's Beloved and Shirley Williamss' Dessa Rose.
The Five Star Weekend is on my TBR list too! Am also looking forward to some older books I just picked up in the sales: Lessons in Chemistry (Bonnie Garmus), The Maid (Nita Prose), and After I Do (Taylor Jenkins Reid).
I've read a couple of TJR's older books and I've enjoyed them. I haven't read The Maid yet, but many people have recommended it to me. Thanks for reading!
Gayla, thanks for this list. I'm a subscriber but haven't been receiving your Substack in my inbox, and I'd love to. My email is meta@metawagner.com in case you'd like to double-check your list. Thanks!
How strange, I do show you as a subscriber and the "behind the scenes details" show that you opened this email on 5-30, so I don't know what is going on/wrong. I haven't published anything since 6-9 so maybe that is why you haven't seen anything in your inbox? I may be very sporadic in publishing between now and when I retire/move as I'm feeling overwhelmed with all of it. :( Thanks for being here and reading. :)
Oh, that might be it! It was just recently. Will look forward to your next piece whenever you publish it, and good luck with your retirement/ move. And also thanks for always "liking" Page Fright - I appreciate it!
I liked Who is Maud Dixon? -- it was dark and twisted and I didn't see a lot of it coming, which is refreshing. That said, if you're not into it at 153 pages, why bother? I quit books FIVE pages in if I'm not feeling it -- life is too short.
I have no problem DNF'ing. It's interesting so far, I was just waiting for the "event" to happen. I did get to that yesterday, so I'm more invested in it now. I agree, life it too short to read books that aren't working for you. lol
So many great titles on the June release list! I just chose my Book of the Month club June selection (The Wishing Game) and can't wait to dive into summer reading.
That's a book I want to read too!
I cannot wait for these too. Elin has said she will keep writing in a different genre and she plans to keep promoting her book favorites. Thank goodness! I can’t imagine a world without an Elin H novel every year. Hahaha!!
I can't imagine that world either. And I can't wait for her to write in a different genre.
Happy anniversary, Gayla! 🎉
Glad you’ll soon have more time for reading and recommendations! 😊
Thanks Jan. Thanks for reading!
Girls and Their Horses sounds amazing! I’m also excited about Megan Abbott’s latest, Beware the Woman, which is arriving at my house today!
Abbott's book sounds really good, I'll have to check it out.
Last Lfeboat is compelling but so emotional!
That's what I've heard. So many of these type books are tearjerkers.
It’s relentlessly tense. Almost the entire story is in the boat! It’s well written though!
I loved Maud Dixon- I listened to it and thought the audio narration was great- I do think the second half is better than the first . I’m very excited about the new Beatriz Williams!
I finally got to the "event" and now I'm invested. I think the author could have cut 1/2 the back story and it would have been fine. lol
L you like historical fiction, here are some of the great historical (Amercan) novels ( or do you read novels about other countries' history.
Jubilee- Margaret Walker. A freed black man and a slave fall in love and go through the Civil War and Reconstruction. Much more historically accurate than Gone With The Wind.
Storming Heaven by Denise Giardenia. A powerhouse multipe point of view nove oilabout the birth of the coalminers union in the early 20th century.
Mean Spirit- Linda Hogan. After the Cherokees,Chcksaw and other Southeastern Natve Amercicn tribes were forcibly marched to far bleak Okalahoma, oil was found on their land, and vllleanous companiies were trying to ssteal oil leases by any means necessary including murder. Write to me at erbrill69@gmail. for further information.
The Marrow of Tradition- Charles Chestnutt, the infamous decimaton and slaughter of African Americans in the black and welloff neighborhoood of Wilmngton, North Carolina.
Table Money- Jimmy Breslin. The immensely underrated panoramic generation novel of the New York City "sandhogs' who built the "mines" for the greater metropolitan city off New York at a time when many New York city busisness had signs saying ' No dogs or Irish allowed."
My preference is US historical fiction. I don't dislike other countries, I think I just read too much WWII over the last several years. I'll have to check a couple of those recommendations out. Jubilee & Storming Heaven sound like something I might like to read.
I forgot a few others. There is a terrific nouvella,
Precious Jade" in the fine very underrated short story collection by Monfoon Leong, NUMBER ONESON. There is an outstanding immigrant novel of a Russian Jewish girl with a tyrannical father. There is a powerhouse novel Christ In Concrete about the immigrant Italian who built the skyscrapers of NYA. Also two of the best novels about slavery are Toni Morrison's Beloved and Shirley Williamss' Dessa Rose.
Happy newsletter anniversary!!
Thanks Katy!
Summer beach reading is the best!!
I agree!!
Thanks for so many intriguing summer reading ideas, Gayla--and Happy Second Anniversary!
Thanks Ruth and thanks for reading!
The Five Star Weekend is on my TBR list too! Am also looking forward to some older books I just picked up in the sales: Lessons in Chemistry (Bonnie Garmus), The Maid (Nita Prose), and After I Do (Taylor Jenkins Reid).
I've read a couple of TJR's older books and I've enjoyed them. I haven't read The Maid yet, but many people have recommended it to me. Thanks for reading!
These look amazing! Especially the Pride book. She was my editor on my Freckled memoir. 👍🏻
I didn't know you had a memoir; I'll have to check it out. :)
Definitely, Freckled is a bestseller. ☺️
Gayla, thanks for this list. I'm a subscriber but haven't been receiving your Substack in my inbox, and I'd love to. My email is meta@metawagner.com in case you'd like to double-check your list. Thanks!
How strange, I do show you as a subscriber and the "behind the scenes details" show that you opened this email on 5-30, so I don't know what is going on/wrong. I haven't published anything since 6-9 so maybe that is why you haven't seen anything in your inbox? I may be very sporadic in publishing between now and when I retire/move as I'm feeling overwhelmed with all of it. :( Thanks for being here and reading. :)
Oh, that might be it! It was just recently. Will look forward to your next piece whenever you publish it, and good luck with your retirement/ move. And also thanks for always "liking" Page Fright - I appreciate it!