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This fall just isn’t my season. Friday, while stopped at a red light on my way to work, I was rear-ended. The guy wasn’t paying attention, his tires were bald, and the streets were wet – a winning combination! I’m fine (not even sore), my car is banged up, but still drivable, and he was insured. So, I get the repair estimate today and all will be well eventually, but it’s just one more thing in a fall of things! Luckily, books (especially nonfiction books) have really been working for me this last week. Yay for Nonfiction November! And finally, I’ll be sharing some of the results from my Readers’ Preferences Survey on Thursday. A HUGE thanks to the many readers who took part.
Last Week’s Reads
My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite turned out to be a really fun, fast-paced book. About exactly what the title says, Braithwaite’s book tells the story of two sisters from Lagos with a complicated past and a crumbling present. I’ll have a full review later this month. I’m now a Busy Philipps fan, something I’d not have said a couple weeks ago. This Will Only Hurt a Little is her Hollywood memoir, but it’s so much more and I found her extremely relatable. I’d go audio on this one; she was excellent. (Mini-review next week.) I next turned to a book that has been on my Kindle so long I’d forgotten about it. I saw someone (forgot to write down who) mention Missoula last week on their Nonfiction November post and I knew I needed to finally get to it. It was one of those books where you like the writing, but dislike the need for it. I found Jon Krakauer’s investigation of the rape crisis in Missoula fascinating, especially knowing that it could have been written about many (most) cities. I’d be curious to read a follow up article talking about lasting changes over the past 4 or 5 years. (Mini-review next week.)
Currently Reading
Kicking off Nonfiction November I really craved a book that had to do with women’s roles in a typically male occupation, such as Code Girls by Liza Mundy (my review). That’s exactly what I got with Fly Girls by Keith O’Brien. I’m listening to this one and find the entire early flying industry crazy! Aviators took so many chances in the 1920’s, and pilots were the rock stars of the day, but so many died. Most of us would like to less clutter, less stuff in our lives, but Cait Flanders actually did it. The Year of Less chronicles the year she decided to dramatically pare down her life and to stop shopping for anything nonessential. At about 25%, I’m fairly certain there will be more to Flanders’ memoir than just that. Either way, I’m enjoying her writing and find her journey hopeful.
DNF – Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver – Sorry, Barbara, but this one was just too slow for me and the timeline from the past had me closing my Kindle far too easily. I gave up at 18%.
Likely to Read Next
I’ve already added a lot of books to my nonfiction reading list, and these are two I may read next. I almost started The Radium Girls by Kate Moore a couple days ago, but realized having two historical books about women going at the same time might get confusing. After finishing Fly Girls, it will likely be next. I went through a phase about eight years ago where I read book after book about women in the Middle East, both fiction and nonfiction. Eventually, I burned out on them, so when The Underground Girls of Kabul by Jenny Nordberg came out, I wasn’t interested. It’s finally been long enough, and I’m eager to finally give this one a shot.
I hope you have a great week in books!
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Sorry to hear about the car incident and glad you are okay! I’m looking forward to the Braithwaite book and am happy to hear you liked it. The Underground Girls of Kabul has been on my TBR for ages.
Thanks, RK. I hope you enjoy My Sister, the Serial Killer. (I just love that title!)
Yikes! I am glad that you were uninjured in the accident, but what a pain. I’m sorry that happened! Hopefully the rest of the season will be better.
The Year of Less sounds really good! I have been trying to do live more simply and without as much stuff. I will have to read her book!
It’s an interesting read. She’s a woman who has completely pared down her life.
Let’s just put fall madness behind us. Glad you weren’t hurt. I really need to get a grip on the amount of junk we have in this house. Maybe the year of less would be good for me.
Good news that your car accident wasn’t worse. Scheduling in repairs isn’t fun though. You have some tempting books. They are almost enough to make me add some nonfiction to my stack. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
Almost? I wasn’t a big nonfiction fan either, but I’ve turned that around a bit in the last few year.
Susie, yikes, I’m glad you weren’t hurt and I hope you have better accident-free months ahead. I loved Missoula and agree that it’s sad it needed to be written. Sorry to hear Unsheltered was a DNF. I have it to read and anxious to see if it will be a love to or hate it.
Thanks, Jan. It feels a little awkward to say I loved a book about rape, but it was so eye-opening. I wish I could get mothers of teenage boys to read it and use it as a conversation starter for their sons.
I hope you enjoy Unsheltered. I feel like it was me!
Thanks Susie, stay tuned on Unsheltered! I agree that Missoula should be required reading. Attitudes and actions from and toward our boys need to change.
Just to clarify….Meaning the boys will be boys attitude!!
I’m so sorry about your accident! I’m glad you’re okay, and that the other driver has insurance. I’m waiting to get a copy of Fly Girls from the library to read this month. I hope you love Radium Girls as much as I did!
I’m excited to start Radium Girls. You were one of a few who got me interested in it, so thanks for that.
Oh lord – I’m so sorry about your car, but glad you’re ok! It’s still one more task to have to deal with when you don’t have much free time, though….so frustrating.
OH MY GOSH – Underground Girls of Kabul is fascinating! I think you’ll love it. And, I added the Busy Phillips to my audiobook TBR.
I think you’ll like Busy! Glad to hear you liked The Underground Girls.
Glad to hear that you escaped serious injury with your accident!
The Radium Girls was fascinating. It was incredibly difficult to read about all the health issues the Girls endured, the fact that there were no workers’ rights at that time, and the general refusal of businesses to admit that radium was poisonous and help their employees. My only gripe (which really isn’t that much of a gripe) is that there were too many Girls to keep track of (every one of them deserved to be mentioned and have their experience memorialized) and I found myself flipping back constantly to determine relationships and how they fit together. But it is a phenomenal book- hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for the heads up about all the women in Radium Girls. Maybe I’ll try to take some notes about each as I read. I think I’m going to go with print on this one just because I think it will be easier than audio.
I’m about halfway through The Radium Girls now and it is an all-consuming read… think you’ll like it. The Underground Girls of Kabul has been on my list for a long time, too.
Yay for all-consuming. That’s just what I need this time of year.
Susie I’m so sorry about your accident! Glad you’re ok but dealing with car repairs can be frustrating so fingers crossed all goes smoothly for you. I’ll be starting My Sister soon so I’m glad you liked it.
Thanks Renee. All is fine. The car goes into the shop for three days next week and I’ll have a rental car, so a little inconvenience, but all is well.
My Sister the Serial Killer is on my TBR. I probably won’t get to it until January because of my Cybils commitment. My weekly updates
I’m not sure I know what Cybils is. Should I?
It’s the children’s and young adult literary awards. You can find it at http://www.cybils.com
Glad you’re ok!! Also glad to hear you’re a Busy fan, too – can’t wait to read the book, I love her instagram ❤️
Everyone recommends me Radium Girls!
Oh and I want to read your reviews of Busy Phillip’s book and My sister the serial killer, which I want to read!