Book #3 in 2015 (Audio)

The Vacationers by Emma Straub.  Read by Kristen Sieh.

6 hours, 40 minutes.

A family, along with some close friends, take a two-week vacation to Mallorca.   So much togetherness, leads to conflict as secrets are exposed.

I really enjoyed this book.  I listened to it over a very extended period of time (2 months?), but was always taken right back into the story each time I returned.  I assume this is due to good characterization, as well as the narration talents of the reader.  Not fine literature, but great for easy reading/listening.

4 stars.

Book #2 in 2015

The Fever by Megan Abbott.

A mysterious illness is affecting just the high-school girls in a small town.  The perfect trifecta of boring plot, ridiculous red herrings, and uninteresting characters.  Not sure why I even finished this.  I guess I kept hoping it would improve.

1 star.

Book #1 in 2015

A Quilt for Christmas by Sandra Dallas.

Set at the end of the Civil War.  A quilt Eliza sends to her soldier husband Will is returned by another soldier, this one who fought on the opposite side.

4 stars.

I don't usually care for historical fiction, but I really enjoyed this one.

Result for 2014

Only managed to read 36 books this past year, which is 69.23% of my goal (of 52 books a year).

Better result in 2015, I hope.

Book #36 in 2014

You by Caroline Kepnes.

Terrifying look inside the mind of stalker, Joe Goldberg.

5 stars.

Book #35 in 2014

Stuffology 101: Get Your Mind Out of the Clutter by Brenda Avadian and Eric Riddle.

Self-helpy decluttering book.  A bit campy at times, but very helpful.  I especially liked the idea of "temporal" clutter:  those thoughts and distractions that keep you from focusing on and achieving your goals.

I would like to re-read this in the future.

4 stars.

Book #34 in 2014

Burn by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge.

Detective Michael Bennett, et al are back in New York City.  The usual Patterson.  Not sure why I finished it or why I even pick up his books anymore.   This one had the added benefit of a disgusting cannibalism plot.

3 stars.