Reviewing My Recent Reads | Including a New Fav Read of 2024!

[@RovingReader]

I love the cover of Knife River! The Safe Keep sounds good and I love the cover of that one too!

[@Megan.eco-Instinct]

You really gave me a couple of marvelous adds to my TBR :) I'm not sure if I have said this before but I truly adore your reviews. There is a real knack to great book review and *you have it* You have such a genuine and approachable style. I can't tell you how many times you will describe something --- some experience while reading and I will find myself saying "Yessss, exactly; that has happened to me so often" So, I just wanted to thank you; I enjoy your videos so much.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Thank you so much. That really means a lot. Sometimes I worry that I'm boring to watch or have nothing to add anymore so it's lovely to hear that :)

[@maggiemincey1516]

i just finished the safekeep on audio- i was so shocked at where the story went! i’m working my way through the booker longlist, and that one is definitely a favorite so far!

[@pastorytime2683]

Heh i loved the vibes and chaos of the maggie thrash but also kinda agree with your points and have seen similar reviews to yours ! Siân xx

[@Ali-AvidReader]

You keep costing me money🤣 I absolutely love your reviews, you outline every book so well without giving the plot away, a real art.

[@tabitha_h2000]

So interesting to hear you mention Sarah Waters when discussing The Safe Keep as Yael Van der Wouden mentions Waters in her Waterstones shelfie video as key inspo👏

[@katieha12345]

I read Little Fish by Casey Plett last year and really enjoyed it. The writing style really reminded me of Detransition Baby by Torrey Peters and Nevada by Imogen Binnie. I hope you’ll enjoy when you get to it!

[@judybrown1624]

Knife River sounds really good to me.

[@DeeDeeCatMom]

I'm currently reading The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters. Have you heard of it? It's about a First Nations family in the 60s who travel as seasonal workers to pick blueberries in Maine and their daughter is taken. The narrative goes back and forth between a brother, and another person through the years. The prose is easy but the subject is hard...I'm halfway through.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

Yes, I was thinking of listening to it on audio because I liked the sound of it.

[@rebeccarowe9005]

​@@MercysBookishMusings I found The Berry Pickers to be a bit of a letdown. It had such an interesting premise, but sadly the character development wasn't there for me and the plot was also pretty weak. I wouldn't go running to read this one 🙈

[@jorjastonej]

So agreed about The Safe Keep!

[@GregHarness]

Thank you for these reviews. I really like seeing "Idaho" over your shoulder, not because I have read it yet but because I live in Idaho and have spent most of my life here. Idaho is not a common setting for novels. I absolutely loved "The Safekeep" for many of the reasons you mentioned.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I really enjoyed Idaho so I'd highly recommend it :)

[@wordsofclover]

I just read Everyone Is Still Alive by Cathy Rentzenbrink and the Maeve Binchy comparison is actually quite apt - I really enjoyed reading it and it was very just nice and neat and looking at a little bit in people's lives in a very ordinary way that I really enjoyed.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

@@wordsofclover I'm glad it wasn't just me who thought that as I was doubting myself 😅

[@Gagging4Lit]

Recently read Chocolat, Convenience Store Woman and Ghostwall (by Sarah Moss). Enjoyed all 3, with Chocolat probs being a comfort read I shall go back to. Also just ordered loads more Sarah Moss books as her writing was gorge. The Murata was an easy-enough read with a great moment when a guy was essentially living in someone's bath tub, but apart from that it didn't work wonders for me. May pick up more Murata books sometime though... The Safekeep does sound dreamily written

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I love Sarah Moss' writing so I am glad to hear that you've ordered more of her books. I've rwad the Murata and don't remember the bathtub bit, haha.

[@Gagging4Lit]

@MercysBookishMusings *spoliers* the guy who gets fired from the store agrees to live with her and ends up living in her bathtub lol

[@doesitmatter13]

That Maggie Trash book sounds like is based on the McMartin preschool trial. There's a good movie about it with James Woods.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I just looked it up and it definitely is based on that! Although loads more plot after the accusations has been added to the book.

[@jacquelinemcmenamin8204]

I’m listening to the audio of The Safekeep at the moment. I’m kinda struggling with Isabella. She’s very difficult to understand or like so far. Books I’d highly recommended The Coast Road by Alan Murrin Wild Houses by Colin Barrett The Alternatives by Caoilinn Hughes Stone Yard Devotional by Charolette Wood ☘️👋🍀📚📖📕☕️

[@jorjastonej]

I advise you hang in there with Isabella and The Safe Keep. I struggled too but it turned out so worth it to stick with the story.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I've heard a few people say they struggle with Isabel. I read her as neurodivergent. I'm not sure if that was the authors intention but maybe that would affect your reading of her?

[@mehranhnt3770]

I watch for your beauty ♥️

[@notahachitaet]

I can see The Deluge by Stephen Markley on your shelf behind you, and I was wondering if you've done the review on this book on this channel, and if yes, how can I find it? because I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

[@MercysBookishMusings]

I haven't because I was scared to film one, haha. I just didn't know how to tackle such a massive story. Overall I enjoyed it and found some of it (flood scenes) terrifying. I did think some of the sections (journal articles for example) were boring an unnecessary and that quite a few of the characters were a bit one note. It's a book 'd probably reread though because it was such an experience. Have you read it? If so, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

[@notahachitaet]

@@MercysBookishMusings Oh, it was one of the best books I've read last year, and I'll definitely reread it at some point too! As soon as I finished it I had one really strong emotion for a couple of days (weeks, even), the kind of...helplessness? and fear? weirdly mixed with a bit of hope. And I wanted to just walk around and shove this book in people's faces, haha. I really think that although it's not a perfect book, but it is a really important one, and sadly it got overlooked in a way. Also, I really loved the writing, it was soo immersive! I'll try to get to Ohio by the end of this year or early next year, I hope I'll enjoy it as well.