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A Book and A Dog

MONTHLY READING RECAP
 

A WINTER WONDERLAND!

A snowy January…

Despite her skeptical expression, Nikolette absolutely loves playing in the snow! We’ve had quite a bit of snowfall this January, and I’m not complaining. It makes for a lovely backdrop when I’m reading. Thanks to the freezing temperatures, I’ve been reading a lot more this month. I’ve also managed to get my hands on quite a few new books!

 

JANUARY BOOK REVIEWS

Such Kindness (by Andre Dubus III)

Such Kindness by Andre Dubus III took me on an unexpected journey through the life of Tom Lowe. Dubus’ narrative style of gradually revealing Tom’s character…

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Doctor Sleep (by Stephen King)

I re-read Doctor Sleep by Stephen King, which is the January selection for our Constant Reader book club. I first read it in 2013, so it was like reading it for the first time. I had forgotten…

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A Hush at Midnight (by Marlene M. Bell)

Marlene M. Bell’s A Hush at Midnight is a thrilling murder mystery that takes place on a historic estate in Texas. Laura Harris, a former celebrity chef, recently moved…

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Hourglass (by C. Martins)

Hourglass is a collection of thought-provoking poems by C. Martins. I thoroughly enjoyed each poem. Her poetry is so relatable, and I could see myself in each one.

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Empty Your Cup (by C. Martins)

Empty Your Cup is a unique poetry collection by C. Martins. I often find poetry difficult to comprehend, but this collection is so relevant to my experiences that I was immediately impressed…

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The Hunter (by Tana French)

I waited six long months for my library hold to become available for The Hunter by Tana French. It was worth the wait to finally read the sequel to The Searcher.

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Beginner’s Mind - Words + Music (by Yo-Yo Ma)

Audible produces a Words + Music series, which allows listeners to consume a brief overview of various music artists. I enjoyed learning about…

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Second Coming (by George Bachman)

Second Coming by George Bachman is a novella set in 1857 Victorian London. Seven-year-old Melissa Hawthorne is taken from her home in the English countryside…

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The Drowners (by David A. Anderson)

David A. Anderson’s, The Drowners, is a creative non-fiction that follows 15-year-old Aaron through a poignant year in his life. Set in 1990’s Dublin…

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Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to My Life and Times (by Neil Peart)

Continuing my literary journey of Neil Peart’s writing with his third book, Traveling Music: The Soundtrack to My Life and Times.

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Sleeping Dogs Lie (by Samantha Downing)

This is my first time reading Samantha Downing’s work, and it definitely won’t be my last! Sleeping Dogs Lie is a thriller novella…

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The Oligarch’s Daughter (by Joseph Finder)

It’s been too long since I’ve read a Joseph Finder book! The Oligarch’s Daughter is an outstanding, suspenseful, fast-paced spy thriller…

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Elvis and Me (by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley)

The audiobook of Elvis and Me by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley has been sitting in my Audible library for a while. I was motivated to listen to this book…

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THE BACK ROOM AUTHOR EVENT

Kicked off the new year with a fresh Back Room event! The Back Room: Cocktails and Conversations with Your Favorite Authors, hosted by authors Hank Phillippi Ryan and Karen Dionne, featured authors Alafair Burke, Joseph Finder, Rachel Howzell Hall, and Lisa Williamson Rosenberg.
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BOOKS I COLLECTED IN JANUARY

Seems like ages ago that JoJo was a popular, rising singer. I’m curious to learn about her journey and perspective on her music career. I was able to find a signed copy!

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Amazon First Reads gave me two free ebooks this month as part of my Prime membership. I first picked Glamorous Notions by Megan Chance. It’s a historical fiction story set in Hollywood with a connection to an Ohio dressmaker.

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My second selection for this month’s Amazon First Reads program is a thriller, Into the Fall, by debut author Tamara L. Miller. Set in Canada, a husband goes missing on a family camping trip.

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I love Audible’s 2-for-1 sales. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier was one of my selections. As an art lover, I’ve been wanting to read this book for a long time.

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My second selection for Audible’s 2-for-1 sale is The House at Riverton by Kate Morton. I’ve read a few of Morton’s books, and I really enjoyed them.

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My first time winning a Goodreads giveaway! Perfect timing as I got to ‘meet’ Joseph Finder during the The Back Room author event, where he discussed The Oligarch’s Daughter.

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I had five Audible credits left before they expired. I usually save them up for the 2-for-1 sales throughout the year. I’m really enjoying the Orphan X series, and I can’t wait to read the third book!

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I became interested in the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum when I learned about the infamous art heist. I’m curious to learn more about the curator.

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I love nature and its effects on the soul, so I think I will enjoy this hiker’s exploration of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

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Even though I retired, I’m still fascinated by prisons and criminals.

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I was drawn to this one because it’s a historical fiction novel about a married couple who are authors. Seems like there will be mystery and mischief afoot!

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My husband is the master at giving birthday presents! He surprised me with first editions of all three of Neil Peart’s Far And… series.

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Far and Near is the second book in the series by Neil Peart.

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Far and Wide is the final book in the series. These books are gorgeous and make perfect additions to my library.

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I loved These Silent Woods and couldn’t resist buying a copy of the author’s latest book when I found it on sale!

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During this month’s Back Room author event, Joseph Finder recommended this book. It sounds fascinating, and it’s on Apple TV+.

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While recently watching a documentary, there was a segment about Steve Jobs that reminded me of books he identified as significant to his personal growth. This is one of them.

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OTHER BOOK NEWS

Constant Reader Book Club

The Constant Reader book club met on a rainy January day to discuss Stephen King’s Doctor Sleep, which is part two of The Shining. As our first meeting in 2025, everyone was in attendance, with great conversations and lots of laughs. I continue to appreciate the facilitators’ structure and thought-provoking discussion questions. Now, it’s time to start re-reading The Dead Zone in preparation for our February meeting.

Wrapping it up…

I’m slowly reading my way through the Sherlock Holmes collection on Audible. I’m currently reading The Adventure of the Stock-broker’s Clerk. Only 40 more hours to go! I’m also enjoying my physical copy of The Dead Zone by Stephen King, Bitter Passage in ebook, and The Stolen Queen on audio. I hope you enjoy the books I included in this month’s reading recap. Nikolette and I hope your books are keeping you warm this winter!

Reaching for my next book,
Natalie

A Book and A Dog
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