End of April Reads

I can’t believe we’ve turned the calendar over to May, but here we are! today is sunshiny, cool, in a word, perfect. 🙂 Aside from sitting on my front porch watching the world go by, here’s what I’ve been reading and listening to…

Such Sheltered Lives by Alyssa Sheinmel was an audiobook listen about a fancy recovery center out east, three main guests (an aristocrat, a daughter of a rock legend, and a pop star), and a murder (of course!). This was more psychological expense than action-packed, and was a fine enough listen, but isn’t one that will stay with me past a few days…

North of Ordinary by Sue Aikens is her memoir about moving to and living in Alaska, starring in Life Below Zero, her family, and her basic survival in harsh, harsh conditions. I’ve only seen a few episodes of the show so I had no connection to Sue, but she definitely seems to be a *character*. I love a “overcoming the odds” memoir, and this one was… fine.

Twice by Mitch Albom got me out of the “fine” rut – I absolutely loved this audiobook! Our book club pick, I knew I had to read this one, but it was such a pleasure, and combined grief, happiness, solitude, secrets, life choices, all the things! Alfie has the ability to go back in time to change things… but only one time, then he has to live with the consequences. This was so immersive and thought-provoking and interesting, I just loved it!

The Foursome by Christina Baker Kline is a historical novel based on the real lives in Chang and Eng Bunker (the famous “Siamese Twins”) and the two women who marry them, sisters Addie and Sallie. I was fascinated to step into Sallie’s shoes of how to navigate intimacy, privacy, a household of four not two, a growing family, all with the looming specter of the Civil War and the question of slavery. This novels weaves a lot into its pages and its five decades, but the writing was clear, easy, and the story pulled me in. Fascinating!

Just Watch Me by Lior Torenberg was an audiobook listen after I saw this title popping up on all kinds of lists at the beginning of the year, and all I can say is… this is kinda unhinged, but in a “can’t look away” style (and is a bit raunchy in spots so not for everyone!). Dell is our main characters in this tragi-comedy, logging onto a site that sounds like OnlyFans to raise money to keep her sister Daisy on life support a bit longer. As her audience grows, so goes to further lengths to keep them engaging and keep raising money. This is about loneliness, self-exploitation, grief and guilt and the dangers of the internet. Unhinged, but I could NOT stop listening!