Grief Archives - Novel Visits

Favorite Books of November 2022

Susie — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 11:00:35 +0000

With Thanksgiving is behind us, I hope yours was lovely and that the rush of holiday madness in front of us will be filled with laughter. It’s difficult to believe that there is only one more month left in this year. Time truly flies, even as the world sometimes feels a little upside down. But, let’s not worry about any of that, instead let’s talk books. 2022 has been an amazing year for books and I’ve got three November favorites to share today.

You may be seeing one or two of these in the coming week when I share 2022 Underrated Gems, My Favorite Debuts of 2022, Best Books of 2022 and maybe more! As always, for all my reviews delivered close to publication, you can follow me on Instagram.……

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August Audiobook Reviews Three Very Different Listens!

Susie — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 10:00:49 +0000

I haven’t listened to as many books in the last month as I typically do. I did have a couple of long drives where a finished two, but the rest of my time has been limited, especially for listening, so I’ve only three audiobooks to share this month: one I loved, another I liked a lot, and a third that was a bit of a disappointment for me….

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Three Very Different Listens! appeared first on Novel Visits.

Writers & Lovers by Lily King | Review

Susie — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 11:00:00 +0000

Writers & Lovers by Lily King
Publisher: Grove Press
Release Date: March 3, 2020
Length: 320 pages
Amazon

{A Bit of Backstory}

Single Sentence Summary

After six years, a young writer struggles with completing her first novel in the midst of grief, longing, and confusion about what it really means to be an adult….

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Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano | Review

Susie — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 11:00:06 +0000

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
Publisher: The Dial Press
Release Date: 1/6/20
Length: 352 pages
Amazon

{A Bit of Backstory}

Single Sentence Summary

Twelve-year old Edward has no idea how to live a life in which he’s the only survivor of a devastating plane crash that took his whole family along with everyone else aboard….

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Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes | Audiobook Review

Susie — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 10:00:13 +0000

Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes (debut)
Narrator: Julia Whelan
Publisher: Ballantine Books (Random House Audio)
Release Date: June 25, 2019
Length: 304 pages (9 hrs. 6 min.)
Amazon

{A Bit of Backstory}

Single Sentence Summary

A charming little story of a young widow and a down-and-out Major League pitcher struggling to find paths toward a new normal….

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The Other Americans by Laila Lalami | Review

Susie — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 10:00:19 +0000

The Other Americans by Laila Lalami
Publisher: Pantheon
Release Date: March 26, 2019
Length: 320 pages
Amazon

{A Bit of Backstory}

Single Sentence Summary

The quiet differences that divide a sleepy desert town slowly come to light in this remarkable story of a daughter’s love for her father….

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The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai | Review

Susie — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 10:00:05 +0000

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
Publisher: Viking
Release Date: June 19, 2018
Length: 432
Amazon

{A Bit of Backstory}

Single Sentence Summary

Stunning portrayal of the AIDS crisis in Chicago seen through the eyes of two people deeply affected by the epidemic that’s slowly taking everyone they love….

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Only Child by Rhiannon Navin | Review

Susie — Thu, 31 May 2018 10:00:11 +0000

Only Child by Rhiannon Navin (debut)
Publisher: Knopf
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Length: 304 pages
Amazon

{A Bit of Backstory}

Single Sentence Summary

Six-year old Zach survives a mass school shooting that takes his brother’s life and in many ways takes his parents, too….

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Mini-Reviews: The May Fiction Edition

Susie — Wed, 09 May 2018 10:00:14 +0000

The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner
&
Alternative Remedies for Loss by Joanna Cantor

The Mars Room and Alternative Remedies for Loss have almost nothing in common. One is dark and very serious, the other is light with a humorous take. One is a debut, the other by an established author. In one I found hopefulness and in the other hopelessness. One is literary fiction, the other contemporary fiction. It could be argued that both are coming-of-age novels, but that would be a stretch. For me, the strongest commonality between these two May releases was grief. Grief suffered, grief endured by two very, very different young women….

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Every Last One & Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen | Double Review

Susie — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 10:00:13 +0000

Up until just a few weeks ago, I’d never read anything by Anna Quindlen, but had been told by many that I was missing out. So when I secured an early copy of Alternate Side I was delighted, only to soon hear rumors that it may not be Quindlen at her best. Sarah from Sarah’s Bookshelves convinced me that I really needed to start with Every Last One and I decided to take her advice. I chose to listen to that one and wanting to be perfectly fair to Alternate Side, I also listened to it. What follows is my attempt to look at the many good aspects both books shared, as well as a few final thoughts on each….

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