Welcome to 2025! It's the start of the New Year, and for all of us that love to read, a chance to set some new reading goals for the year.
I've set my reading goal for the year at 100 again. You can follow along with my progress on Goodreads and The Story Graph. Send me a friend request on either one so I can follow along with your progress too! You can find me on Goodreads here, and on The Story Graph here.
Before we get into 2025, it's time for a recap of the books I read in December of 2024! Let's wrap it up!
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The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis by Lydia Davis
I will start out by admitting that I am not a huge fan of the short story format in general. Part of why I love to read is the development of the story and characters and getting pulled into that, and I find that very difficult to do in a short story. Additionally, some of the short stories in this collection really aren't even short stories. In some cases they are only a paragraph or two, and in a few cases only a sentence or two.
Davis is clearly a brilliant writer. Her style is very unique, and her mind has come up with some very original concepts for these stories. And while I found a few of the stories very good and interesting, there were far too many that I thought.... what was the point of that???
I gave this 3 stars because the writing deserves it, but this was just not for me and I found it difficult to get through. This book is number 88 on the NY Times list of the "Best 100 Books of the 21st Century". Three out of five stars.
Pets And The City: True Tales Of A Manhattan House Call Veterinarian by Dr. Amy Attas
If you are a pet lover, this book is for you! Dr. Amy Attas is a veterinarian in NYC, whose practice is completely based on making house calls for her patients and their owners.
In the beginning of the book, Dr. Amy talks about how she fell in love with becoming a vet from a very early age, and all the things she did to make that dream become a reality. She also talks about her training and the early days of her career working at another vet's practice in NYC.
After being unexpectedly let go from that practice, Dr. Amy realizes that there is a big demand in NYC for veterinary services that will come to the pet's home, so she decides to start her own practice based on that concept.
The remainder of the book is full of little stories that Dr. Amy has experienced in her practice. And while some of the pet parents are among the rich and famous, some are just common New Yorkers who want the best care for their pets in their own homes. Some of the stories will make you laugh, and some will make you cry. As a pet lover, I found this book very entertaining and worth the read.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Four out of five stars!
Mars Hospital by Lloyd Flatt
While you may think this book is a science fiction novel based on its title, it's actually a book about a fictional hospital in the town of Mars, Nebraska.
The book is satirical fiction and is intended to be a dark comedy. However, the author is a retired physician and wrote the book with the intention of bringing to light all of the corruption and the broken health care system in the U.S. In fact, the author sent a letter along with the book that talked about how the book had infuriated many in the health care system, including his own former employer.
I have never worked in the healthcare world, so I have no insight into what goes on behind the scenes. But, where I think the author goes wrong here is being too over the top with some of the patient stories. While the behavior of the hospital administration and the consultants they hire is also over the top (although I think most of is who have worked in corporate America have experienced consultants that come in with absolutely ridiculous ideas), their ignorance is clearly played on to be funny. But the humor and outrageous behavior of the patients goes too far and feels like it is poking fun at people living in a rural town in the middle of the country. This is amplified when the main character finishes his one year contract as medical director at the "backwards" Mars Hospital and lands a more prestigious job at a Boston Hospital.
I think everyone has dealt with the frustrations and difficulties of our healthcare system, and can relate to how broken it seems to be. From that perspective, this is worth the read. But I think toning down the stories around the seeming ignorance of the patients would have made this a better book.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Three out of five stars.
Whispering Winds Of Appalachia by John Ellington
Chris and his family move from the "big city" to Brevard, NC when Chris is a young boy, when his Dad takes a job as the plant manager in a local plant. In an area of the country where outsiders aren't always welcome or well received, Chris struggles to find friends until he meets his next door neighbor, Walker. The unlikely pair become best friends, and added to the mix is Walker's girlfriend, Brook.
As the three grow up together, their bond is inseparable, even as their paths start to diverge. Shortly before Chris and Brook are getting ready to graduate from college and the three need to make decisions about their future, a fourth person - Paul - enters their circle. Little do they know that meeting and befriending Paul will set in motion events that will change the lives of the four friends forever.
As soon as I started reading this one, I felt like it was going to be a five star book for me. The writing is absolutely fantastic, and the story of these characters really grabs you. I did feel like there was a bit of a drop off after the "event" (which I won't give away), and considered lowering my rating. But then the last couple of chapters pulled me right back in.
This is one that is hard to put down and is beautifully written. You will fall in love with these characters and the part of the country they live in.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This book gets one of my RARE five star ratings!
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters
First of all, about 1/4 of the way into this book, I realized it seemed really familiar. Since the plot is pretty unique, I figured that I must have read it before. Turns out I did - almost exactly 2 years ago.
Since I remembered enjoying the book and couldn't remember exactly how it ended, I decided to read it again. The book is about Reese and Ames. Reese is a trans woman, and Ames is a man, who lived as a trans woman for awhile before detransitioning back to being a man. Reece and Ames were in a relationship for several years before it ended badly.
Ames is now in a relationship with his boss, Katrina. After Katrina unexpectedly becomes pregnant, Ames struggles with whether he can be a father to the child. Knowing Reese always wanted to be a mother, Ames comes up with a plan to have Reese co-mother the child. He thinks that having Reese involved in the parenting will help him feel more comfortable in his role, as he knows Reese understands him like no one else does.
This book dives deep into emotions and relationships. It is no holds barred and can be pretty graphic at times, so will not be for everyone. At the end of they day, it's well written and pulls you into the lives of these characters. I gave this 4 stars the first time I read it, and agree with that rating again. This book is #87 on the New York Times list of the best 100 books of the 21st century.
The Empty Kayak (A Queen City Crimes, Book 3) by Jode Millman
This mystery is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone book. Kyle and his fiancé, Olivia, go out kayaking on the Hudson River, when an unexpected storm pops up. Olivia returns to shore, but Kyle doesn't.
As the detectives start looking into Olivia and her family, they begin to suspect that this might be more than a kayaking accident.
This book felt like it had a few pieces that just didn't quite fit together. It also felt a bit slow at times. While the author clearly thought through the story carefully, it lingered too much on some of the details for me.
This is an average mystery novel for me. Good story and well thought out, but a little slow.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Three out of five stars.
Winning For Life: Make Every Day Rich In Every Way by Denis Waitley
This is an excellent self-help book, that is well worth your time to read. I found it very motivational, and full of good advice to help you change your attitude to be more positive.
The book is full of good advice you can use at home or at work. I especially found the advice around thinking about things you love to do, and how to incorporate them in your every day life useful.
If you are looking for a self-help book with practical advice that doesn't seem preachy, this book is for you.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Four out of five stars!
The Healthcare Disruptor: How An Underdog Inventor And His Companies Are Changing Medicine And Saving Lives by Randall W. Jones
First, I will say that I did read this whole book, but definitely skimmed through the last 75% of it. The book was just too technical and not interesting to me.
The author is an inventor and owner of several companies. His focus has been on medical equipment - specifically MRI machines - that offer alternatives to the standard machines.
The first 1/3 of the book talks about the author's childhood and early adulthood in the military. The middle section was very detailed and technical about his inventions and the start up of his company. The last section was his advice on starting up businesses, and sort of randomly, a chapter on healthcare and politics.
The book was well written, so I don't feel it's fair to give it a bad rating. But it was truly a struggle for me to read. It read more like a medical journal article and was not compelling at all for me.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Three out of five stars.
The Wind On Her Tongue (Daughter Of Three Waters, Book 2) by Anita Kopacz
Oya is a young woman who was born in Cuba. Oya has inherited otherworldly powers from her mother, Yemaya. While Yemaya had powers of healing, Oya's powers are creating and influencing storms, which make her a threat to the people around her and the island.
The story is set in the 1870s. Yemaya sends her daughter to New Orleans to study under Marie Laveau, who is the Queen of Voodoo. Laveau works with Oya to learn how to control her powers.
The book follows Oya's adventures after she arrives in New Orleans. Her life ultimately takes her on travels through the west, and ultimately ending up in San Francisco. Along the way, she encounters numerous historical figures including Jesse James, Native Americans trying to save their land, and other memorable characters that impact her life.
While this is a story of Oya and her powers, it's also a story of racism in early America and how Oya learns to find her way in a place where people fear her for more than one reason.
I really enjoyed the overall story and loved Oya's character. I did feel that some of the pieces were a bit out of place, including the appearance of Jesse James and his obsession with Oya, which then just as suddenly disappeared. I also felt like the ending was a bit rushed. But overall, a short and entertaining read.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Four out of five stars!
This book will be published January 21, 2025. To pre-order your copy on Amazon, click here: Kindle, audiobook or hardcover.
Well Built: How The Top 2% Of Construction Contractors Create Superior Value, Profits And Excellence by Chad Prinkey
This book is specifically geared towards people in the construction industry. The author has a consultancy company that is geared towards helping construction companies. And while the advice in this book definitely leans toward construction specific circumstances, I do think it is also general enough to be helpful to businesses in other industries as well.
I appreciated the author's straightforward writing and advice, which was practical and useful. As someone who worked with contractors many years, you can tell the author is well experienced in dealing with that industry by the use of his straightforward talk rather than consultant speak.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Four out of five stars!
Frederick Douglass: Prophet Of Freedom by David W. Blight
This is an extremely thorough and well done biography of Frederick Douglass. I'm not a big history buff of that time period, so I wasn't sure how interesting I was going to find this, but I found this to be extremely interesting. And despite it being very, very long (almost 800 pages of very dense text), it kept me intrigued and wanting to learn more about the time period and the man.
This covers Douglass' life from his birth into slavery, to his death as one of the most known Black writers and orators of his time. His life saw the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation, as well as the painful times after, as racism continued to divide the country.
As you read, you will see the parallels with our world today - both in the way of the world and the workings of our government.
This is a no holds barred biography that does not sugarcoat the flaws of Douglass or one of the other central figures in his story - Abraham Lincoln. This book is #86 on the New York Times list of the 100 best books of the century.
The Men In My Life by Garth Simmons
This book is quite quirky and won't be for everyone, but I found myself really drawn to it and found it hard to put down.
The book is told from the perspective of Sarah, who is the main character. It is written as Sarah's autobiography of her life through mostly her teenage years. Sarah finds it hard to fit in. Her home life is troubled. Her Mom walks out. She is more interested in her art than in school. She meets Mark, who is the lead singer of a band and much older than her. The various relationships in her life are complex, and she struggle to find herself along the way.
This book is graphic. Some of the characters are pretty screwed up and the book depicts that. The writing style is more like a screenplay than a book, but I felt like it was perfect for this story.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Four out of five stars!
Lost At Sea: Poverty And Paradise Collide At The Edge Of America by Joe Kloc
This book tells the story of the "anchor-outs", which is a group of homeless people living on abandoned boats in Richardson Bay. The bay is located in Sausalito, which is just outside of San Francisco.
The community of people living on the bay began in the early 1900's, after so many people in the area lost their homes after the devastating earthquake and fire in 1906. Over the years, the reasons for homelessness changed, but the community continued on.
The author tells the story of the battle between the anchor-outs and the rest of the community. As is often the case, the community doesn't want the homeless in "their backyard", but also doesn't want to come up with any solutions.
This is an in depth look at homelessness in one specific community, but can apply anywhere. The author shares stories of the people he meets over his nearly 10 years investigating this story. Well written and eye opening.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Four out of five stars!
This book will be published on April 15, 2025. To pre-order your copy on Amazon, click here: Kindle, audiobook or hardcover.
When Stars Fall At Midnight (The Midnight Stars Saga, Book 1) by Tess Thompson
This story is set after WWI and is told from the perspective of the two main characters, Estelle and Percival. Estelle is a young woman who was brought up in a wealthy household. When she finds herself pregnant and unmarried, her father kicks her out of the house and disowns her.
Percival is a young married father whose wife has had a mental breakdown and is living in an asylum. Estelle and Percival meet on a train and Estelle becomes part of Percival's life. The two find out their lives are more connected than they thought.
I found it difficult to get into these characters. The story is quite far fetched, which is fine for a romance. But it seemed a bit overdramatic.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Three out of five stars.
Only In Your Dreams by Ellie K. Wilde
If you are looking for a sweet but spicy romance novel, check this one out.
Since she first met him as a kid, Melody has had a crush on her twin brother's best friend, Zac. When she finally has the courage to tell him the night before she is going away to college, Zac seems to also have feelings for her, but runs away from her and doesn't come back. Confused, Melody heads off to school and the city, determined to get over Zac and build a new life for herself.
When she has a nasty break with her longtime boyfriend, Melody finds herself broke and lost, so she moves back home and in with her brother. Of course, moving back home means seeing Zac, who is now the head coach of the football team he was the QB for. To Melody's surprise, it seems that Zac's feelings for her were stronger than she thought and never went away.
This one was a bit long, but I really felt like it allowed you to get to know the characters better and to really cheer for them. It also allowed for a few side stories that added to the book.
Was Zac almost too good to be true? Yes. Could you figure out how it would all end for Mel and Zac? Yes. But this was entertaining enough to keep me wanting to read it. A good read if you are looking for something fun and steamy, with a happy ending.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Four out of five stars!
The Paradox Of Post-Pandemic Societal Trends by Alexis Karakannas
I had much higher expectations for this book than what it delivered based on the title and description. First, I felt like this was just one long lecture by the author, trying to use big words to tell me I should listen to their opinion on things. Second, while some of the topics were talked about in the context of the pandemic, a lot seemed to just be an excuse for the author to opine on their perspective of problems with society.
I did not take the subject matter or the author's opinion into consideration when giving my rating, as I believe ratings should be based solely on the writing of the book. However, I feel people should be aware that the author's views on many highly controversial topics could definitely rub some people the wrong way. I feel it's important to understand the views of others, even if they don't align with yours, but I know that is not the case for everyone.
Bottom line is I found this book to be dry and with a lot of fluff to make the author sound smarter, and not much substance.
I received an advance copy of this book for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily. Two out of five stars.
That's it for December and for 2024! Let's set those 2025 book reading goals!
What books do you recommend I read next? Let me know! Did you check out any of these books? I'd love to hear what you think! Comment below or e-mail me at tips2livebywriter@gmail.com.
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