Thanks to long plane rides, airport stopovers, and bus journeys, I read a LOT on my trip to Paris and Morocco. I am ever so grateful for my Kobo and e-reader technology; isn’t it amazing how many books can be “packed” in such a slim way?
City of Night Birds. I have always thought the greatest athletes are the ones who are in the artistic realm: figure skaters, gymnasts, and dancers. The amount of strength and training that goes into those athletic feats PLUS artistic expression? It’s really remarkable. So I was excited to read this book that delves into the Russian Ballet in general and a prima ballerina in particular, and in the way of providing details about the training process, the body deterioration, the work and skill and sacrifice, it did not disappoint. It is also so well-researched in terms of the ballets, the roles of the dancers, and Russian nomenclature. I kept checking to see if the author was Russian, because of all the Russian words and the names, which vary from the diminutive to the formal. So that’s the upside. The downside is that, whoa, this book is long. It is 120K words, and I think that’s at least 20K too many. It just gets in the weeds about every possible detail about every ballet. The entire second act, and most of the third, really dragged for me, and the big reveals were just not all that interesting. I feel like if it was shorter and sharper I would have really loved it, as it was, I didn’t.
The Rumor. Was I dissociating from the news by binging on Elin Hildebrand’s back catalogue? I’m not NOT doing that. This was a fun one: a rumor circulates that Madeline, a writer, and Eddie, her best friend’s husband, are having an affair. But in reality, it’s Eddie’s WIFE who is having an affair with her gardener. Madeline, on deadline for her next novel, writes an outline in desperation, featuring the details of the affair. Meanwhile, Eddie’s deep in debt and starts a prostitution ring with his cleaning staff, and all is ASHES. This was fun and entertaining and (almost) everything works out in the end.
Nesting. This book, about the struggles of an Irish woman leaving her emotionally and sexually abusive husband and recreating a life for her and her small children, was compelling enough for a plane read, but the symbolism of the crow kept captive was a bit heavy handed and also WEIRD. Who rescues a baby crow and keeps it tied up in their yard? Seriously, weird. I get the symbolism but it’s a bit much.
Ask Not. Another plane read but this was just frustrating and enraging. Talk about entitled rich white men. From lobotomizing one’s own daughter to wild adultery, to continuously case miscarriages through passing on endless STDs, to rape, to actively causing the death of a number of women, to flying under the influence of painkillers after repeatedly been told not to fly under the weather/ medical conditions and killing oneself and one’s wife and her sister, well, the list goes on. I mean, don’t read this if you don’t want to think AGAIN, MORE, ANOTHER ONE. I wasn’t in the headspace for this but I guess I’m glad I read it. The alternate title could be Entitled Rich White Men Who Ruin The Lives Of All The Women Around Them. GRIM.
Is She Really Going Out With Him? On a lighter and much-needed romantic note, I really liked this lovely little enemies-to-lovers romance. I love a book where it all works out, particularly on the heels of reading about Entitled Rich White Men! A divorced mom living in Bath takes on a magazine assignment where she dates who her kids choose – as long as it’s not online dating. There is an amazing character who’s is a Jane Austen superfan, which I loved. It’s a great, light story.
Reckless Girls. Okay, first of all, I thought this author wrote The Girl On The Train, which I genuinely enjoyed, but no. That’s PAULA Hawkins, no relation to Rachel Hawkins. Anyway. This was decent bus read, a twisty-turny thriller about people who end up on a deserted island. Not my usual thing but a diverting read nonetheless.
Finlay Donovan Is Killing It. Another decent book for a long bus ride – a writer is mistaken for a hit woman…and then gets unintentionally tangled in an actual murder! Cute and fun, let’s not overthink it.
How To Walk Away. Oh, I loved this romance between a woman who survived a terrible plane crash – albeit with severe burns and a spinal cord injury that has left her paralyzed – and her physical therapist. As a romance it had me cheering for the happy ending, but it was more than that, with a message that when we are broken and hopeless and damaged, the best thing to do to heal is to help someone else. It was really a lovely story, with fun and charming characters.
The People We Keep. This book features a teen/ young woman in the 90s, and I was also a teen/ young woman in the 90s, so the setting immediately appealed to me. But whoa, this book is a heartbreaker. It was particularly poignant for me as I knew many young people with bad home lives who slipped through the cracks. Ultimately it is a story of hope and of chosen family and of letting people into your life, but 95% of it is heartwrenchingly sad. Beautiful. But sad.
Crush. I find my husband very sexy and attractive and I’m very happy in my marriage, which is maybe why I find myself fascinated to read books like these – it’s such a different perspective, and why do we read if not to expand our outlooks? This book is kind of wild: a woman – who, frankly, is married to a guy who seems like a dud, he refuses their entire marriage to get a job or do domestic duties because he is AN ARTIST and must only devote himself to art – is living a decent life. She loves her almost grown child, although she regrets not having more – her dud husband only wanted one. She has decent sex but no foreplay or kissing, and so her husband encourages her to kiss other men, he find this sexy. Ooookay. But then! She begins an emotional affair which is, honestly, kind of pretentious with lots of literary references BUT they end up doing it. It’s the most sacred wonderful sex ever. Like, transported into another universe, that kind of good sex. Meanwhile Dud Husband is now going on dating apps in order to have sex with much younger women. Things devolve and it’s an interesting, if kind of weird, story. I had a conversation with one of my sons about the concept of polyamory, and we both agreed that while we don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum, it DOES seem frequently – but not always, probably, I mean, how would I know – that one person is really, really into it, and the other person? The light has maybe dimmed in their eyes. Anyway, that’s kind of this book, that shows that a dull marriage was certainly spiced up, and then destroyed, through the introduction of polyamorous behaviour. And somehow, everyone ends up living their own Happily Ever After. Is that a spoiler? I don’t know. It’s fascinating! But also? Somewhat mind-bending.
Cults Like Us. This is a very smart and well-researched book about the nature of cults, and how cults have shaped America since the Puritans landed. There are interesting insights into how isolation and a need to belong drive cult membership, the development of MLMs, specifically Amway, and how charismatic leaders can manipulate the disenfranchised. This is written in a casual and easy-to-read style, but the subject is pretty depressing. Don’t read this if you want to, say, distract yourself from the news or feel happy about anything.
Aren’t e-readers such a great invention? So many books and nothing to pack! Speaking of which, I put all my library holds on pause while I was travelling. Last week, I kept seeing that several were “in transit,” and then last weekend they all came in at once. Here’s the teetering stack I have now:
Eeep. And according to my account, one more has arrived and there are three more in transit. Well, there are worse problems than a stack of books! On that note, I’m off to tackle some. xo
I found out last night at book club we’re meeting again next week (which I knew but had forgotten– we have a complicated, erratic meeting schedule) and the book is 300 pages. I have a feeling this would not be a problem for you. And it won’t be for me, either, if I can get a copy today and devote a good chunk of the weekend to it, but it does change my weekend plans.
Don’t read this if you want to feel happy about anything is quite the warning. I don’t think I will be seeking out that one.
Hahaha it was SO depressing, Steph.
What book are you reading?
I have three going: Tyll, My Best Friend’s Exorcism, and Huckleberry Finn
Woof, I am going to go out on a limb and say none of those seem like Nicole Books.
The only book on your physical stack I’ve read is The Enchanted April. It’s a perfect palate cleanser!!
I allowed myself to add one book from your list to my TBR, but the situation is dire, Nicole. DIRE. I have lately felt like I am literally drowning in books. So much to read, so little time!!!
Yesterday I flipped through a book and could immediately identify it was, as Lisa would put it, a Not Safe for Elisabeth and felt relief that I had one less book in my stack – haha.
Girl, I know, I have SO much on my TBR as well as physically in my possession! I mean, it’s not a bad problem to have, but things are getting a wee bit out of control.
I just bought a Kindle a couple of weeks ago and loving it! Books are super heavy. Especially when you move. I donated about half my stash. Love the back light and making the font bigger! ..but I sure do miss that new book smell!
Judy, I know what you mean. I love holding a book! But there is something so great about just loading on a ton of books on the e-reader. And switching the font size, it’s brilliant!
Ooo you have a couple really good ones in your library stack! I especially like It’s a Love Story and Americanah.
Hi Sam, thanks! I have been looking forward to both of those for a while now!
Ah yes, I saw “The Enchanted April” and immediately thought of Elisabeth!
“Crush” sounds absolutely wild. I always wonder how often these “open” arrangements actually work, they always seem to implode sooner or later. I think you and your son are spot on with the arrangement only suiting one person.
That Spain book caught my eye too – is it a travel guide? Are you plotting a trip?
Catrina, yes! Trip planning has begun (although really, it’s my husband who is the trip planner. I am the trip-goer.)
The open relationships are fascinating to me. Absolutely fascinating! I always want all the details and then I’m always shocked by the details.
I spy The Enchanted April! I’m hoping it was me who influenced you.
It was! I put it on my list as soon as I saw it on your blog!
Crush is definitely NOT FOR ME. I try to be open-minded about polyamory but I am just such a prude about things. WHY stay married? What even if the point? We know of someone in an open marriage and it’s puzzling to us…
Anywhoooo, that Kennedy book sounds interesting but maybe too triggering since we have RFK down here wreaking havoc and blaming women’s tylenol use during pregnancy… so the legacy continues which is depressing.
Nearly all of my reading is on my kindle which I love for its convenience. It is not very aesthetically pleasing, though, so I’m trying to have one physical book going. Right now, it’s “Minor Feelings” which is a collection of essays written by an Asian American woman. It’s really good so far!
Oh I know, and there is a whole thing about RFK in the book and it sounds like he has always been a terrible man. Ugh.
Hahaha I thought about putting a warning on that book “not safe for Lisa” but I figured if you read the review you would clearly know it was not for you!
Now I’m kinda thinking that the Kennedys are actually a cult.
For sure the Puritans were. I always gave my students a lecture about the Puritans before we read Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. I was very scholarly and unbiased–the facts, ma’am, just the facts–but the students always arrived at the same conclusion: Those People Were Crazy. And Mean.
Hahaha Nance, that thought DID cross my mind!
The Puritans WERE crazy and mean! I mean, that’s why they left England (at least the way I understand it)
Having that many books come in at once stresses me out. Especially as someone else can suddenly request it, so you can’t renew it. I read a few of the ones you read on your trip, but I will always stan for Hilderbrand. Have you read The Academy yet?
Something really strange about me . . . while I have no love for the Kennedy family, I always cry when I see photos of or think about the death of JFK, Jr. I have no idea why!
Oh yes, most of those books are non-renewable! All of them have holds! But at least the period is four weeks, so I can do it! (I hope) (if not I guess I’ll just re-request it).
I have not read The Academy, but I have it on hold! (hopefully it doesn’t come in this week, but that seems unlikely)
I! Love! Katherine! Center! Haven’t read that one yet, though, so I need to get on that.
Look at you reading a mystery! LOL at “don’t overthink it.” So true. Suspending ALL the disbelief. That book on cults is on my holds list! It looks good!
Ooooh Suzanne, I think you would love that KC book! It was REALLY good and had such a good story and message. The characters were brilliant too!
Being from Cape Cod, I was kinda obsessed with the Kennedy family and did my big 8th grade history project on them – such drama and deceit and death. I am reading Elin’s new book “The Academy” and the part I’m at is dealing with a polyamorous couple and yeah, i don’t get it, but you made me laugh by not yucking someone’s yum.
Poor Jackie Kennedy, that woman just got it from all sides. I feel for her!
When my sister was getting married, I was in Michigan and Dr. BB wasn’t there yet and my Kindle stopped working. I was STUCK THERE WITHOUT A BOOK. Now I bring at least two paper books with me wherever we go, in addition to my Kindle. I LOVE my Kindle, but I am very suspicious that it will break down on me, too.
OMG that is a nightmare. I had a glitch with my Kobo right before our flight from Rome-Canada, and LUCKILY I got it working but the thought of ten hours on a plane with no book…
Wow, so many books. I’m jealous, I hardly read anything when I travel because I get travel sickness.
I can’t look at my phone in a vehicle, but for some reason reading a book or on the Kobo doesn’t bother me. Luckily!
I think Finlay Donovan is Killing it sounds good. I will skip The Crush. Shudder! It’s so convenient to have books on the e-reader! I really do love ebooks. There is something special about physical books too, but often the small print makes reading them difficult for me. I’ve tried large print books, but they can weigh a ton! When you’re traveling carry-on only, an e-reader is a must. I see you have another trip in the works! How exciting!
The Finlay Donovan book is a series! You might really enjoy them, Michelle!
Well, thanks for sharing your evaluations of each of the 11 books in your Paris and Morocco 2025 Reading List, Ms. Nicole MacPherson. I also think that there’s got to be some books that you’ve read in the past that made you better equipped to write the new book that you yourself are writing right now.
I’ll give a pause on how great an invention e-readers are, though. As Dr. Sarah Hart-Unger is exploring her analog habits in 2026, I’m actually interested to know if she, too, is going to refer to e-readers – which is a digital device – as a great invention. I’m especially interested to know how she’ll think about e-readers when they are used in combo with paper books. If she turned out not to think of e-readers as an invention that does more good than harm, then I’m afraid that you’ll have to discuss that further with her, Ms. Nicole MacPherson, and see what conclusions you’ll jointly come up with. On the other hand, if she does think of e-readers as an invention that does more good than harm, then all will be fine. Indeed, Dr. Sarah Hart-Unger does not advocate for treating all digital devices the same, either, so I’m more interested in seeing her view on this particular digital device that is e-readers – esp. when they’re used in combo with paper books.
I’ll look forward to her view as well!
I have read Finlay Donovan is Killing It (so good, so unbelievable but I don’t even care), How to Walk Away (LOVED), and The People We Keep (loved even more – my favorite book of the year when I read it).
It’s a Love Story is the next romance I’m reading! Twinsies.
Oooh BOOK CLUB FOR TWO!!!
I loved The People We Keep as well; the characters really stuck with me for a long time.
It was very, very moving! I found it to be such a heartbreaker of a story.
I’m picturing you frantically reading your way through that huge stack of books right now! Well, it gives you something to do when it’s dark at 4 pm.
You read A LOT OF BOOKS on your trip! I’ve heard of a lot of these- the only one I’ve read was How To Walk Away, which was pretty good. I’m actually surprised looking back that I read it at all, considering it’s not my usual genre. I think I was drawn in by the premise, which is great.
Happy Reading!
Jenny, I AM surprised you read that! It’s a rom-com! WELCOME TO THE DARK SIDE. Actually, it should be welcome to the Light Side Where Everything Works Out In The End.
Wow, you got a lot of reading done on your adventure!
Like many North Americans, some of my ancestors were Puritans, and boy, those folks were wacko. Sorry ancestors, you just were! And so much of that had steeped into our current culture, which is definitely weird.
That Kennedy book? ACK. No, not for me. Way too much evil truth. Also the one about cults.
Of your books, I’ve only read 3. The People We Keep, which I remember really liking. The Bright Years, which also was good. And Americannah, which I liked a lot. I hope you enjoy them! Our library has gotten rid of overdue fees, so due dates kind of feel like a suggestion rather than a rule. I don’t keep them past that date, but if I had a stack like that, I might for a couple at least.
They really were wacko, J! It’s quite unsettling. Also unsettling – that Kennedy book. It was just terrible thing after terrible thing.
I read The Bright Years this past week, I liked it but didn’t love it – it will be in Monday’s post!
The great thing about this library is that it’s a four week lending period so I SHOULD be able to make my way through it! Wish me luck!
You’re right e-readers, ipads etc, make packing for a trip much easier than trying to pack books. We have some in common. I LOVE Elin Hilderbrand books, and think I’ve read all of hers, but there might be a new one out…need to check. I’ve read several about the Kennedy’s, not the one you mentioned; but what Joe did to his daughter without his wife knowing about it…….horrible. Not My Type, very timely…(I recently read NoBody’s Girl, you’d like it; but how sad of a life she had. Everyone’s Lying to you, think I read that one too. Have to check my list. Sometimes it’s hard to remember the titles. I popped in from a mutual blogging friends blog, it’s always fun to meet new bloggers.
Hi Sandy! I am so sorry for the delay – somehow this very nice comment ended up in the spam folder. Anyway, hiiiii! There IS a new Hildebrand book called The Academy, I’m sure I will read it on my next trip. Her books are really good for travel!
What Joe Kennedy did to that poor Rosemary was a tragedy – and there were so many awful things in that book!!
Going to go pop over to your blog now, thanks for dropping in!
I’ve read City of Birds and The People We Keep. I felt the same way about the first one – way too long and in the weeds – in fact I may have DNF’d it?? The People We Keep was also quite sad, I agree…
IT WAS SO LONG. Why was it so long? I wish I had DNF’d!
I also love my kobo so much and read almost exclusively on it. It became a staple when we started travelling for extended periods of time – a month or more. So many great books here. Many I’ve loved and a bunch more are now on hold. Have you listened to Elin Hilderbrand’s podcast? She interviews so many of the authors we love. I think as a writer yourself you might enjoy it. It’s called Books Beach & Beyond.
Pat, yes! I have been listening to her podcast. She has some really great guests on there!
So many books! I don’t know that I could read on a bus. I’m so easily distracted, and I’d be looking outside all the time.
I’ve not read an Elin Hildebrand book before and I have no idea why that is.
We know a couple who had been married about twenty years, and they brought in another woman to become a Thruple.
He told my husband it was the wife’s idea.
The wife told me it was the husband’s idea.
He would bring both women to our company parties. Who gets a plus two? HA.
After a few years, the first wife up and moves across the country (still legally married) and then a year later, the newbie flees the scene, and he is now Alone Again, Naturally.
It’s all bizarre and I don’t know why I just shared all of it with you, but there you go.
SUZ. That story is WILD. OMG. I am just staring into space right now. Also, lololol a plus two. That is…I mean…I cannot even imagine! Also, it’s a great ending to a story, because of COURSE he’s alone again, naturally.