Welcome back to The Book Thread. This is my monthly newsletter where we talk about books! I’m sharing what I’ve read and what’s on my TBR list, but it’s also an opportunity for you to share the books you’re loving and would recommend too. As a reminder if you’re a paid subscriber you can login to comment. You can login by requesting a one time code OR you can do a password reset if you’d prefer to use a password for logging in. If you’re having any trouble let me know!

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A quick note about how I’ve linked to books. If I’m not buying from my local bookstore I like to use ThriftBooks. I will obviously never ever link to Amazon or Goodreads. If the book is new I might link to it on Bookshop.org. Your local library is always a great option, especially for books that aren’t new releases which tend to have waitlists.

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February started off slow for me. I was surprised I read 5 books last month because it didn’t feel that way. Some of these books were so good I finished them in a day or two, so that helped!

The Girls’ Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank: This was one of the selections for our book club last month. The book is over 20 years old so it was interesting to talk about what we felt has changed, and what hasn’t. The book was funny and also made me realize how happy I am to be in my 40s. I certainly could relate to a lot of the main character’s experiences as she navigated love, friendships, and her career, and it made me grateful for the perspective and wisdom that comes with age. I found myself irritated by Jane’s relationship with a much older man, which was interesting to discuss in our Book Club because everyone had different perspectives about it. Curious if you’ve read it, what do you think?!

Tilt by Emma Pattee: My Dad gave me this book after he read it and said “she reminded me a bit of you” and now I need to confirm if he meant the author Emma Pattee, or the main character Annie, an acting school dropout who finds herself 9 months pregnant in an IKEA when a devastating earthquake hits Portland, Oregon, lol. I could not put this book down and ended up reading it in one day. It’s a fast-passed thriller that’s equally funny and devastating. I’m still thinking about it to be honest. If you live in the Pacific Northwest, it might hit a little close to home.

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Justice8 months ago

Bright Young Women is such an underrated book. It really helped reshape my perspective on the true crime genre. Maybe I need to reread it!

I love the “borrowed books” section — what a great idea! I’ve been tracking my format and how I heard about the books I’m reading this year because I’m so curious about how much I’m reading from my library (and how much of a waste book subscriptions have become!).

The best book I’ve read lately is We Don’t Talk About Carol by Kristen L. Berry, recommended by blackgirlthatreads on Insta. It’s about Sydney’s search for her missing aunt, which leads to her learning about several Black girls who went missing around the same time. Yet the family mystery is just one element of the book — it’s about identity and trauma, motherhood, growing up and navigating your path, and community. And somehow it all works together, each element building and blending together to create a layered narrative. I can’t believe this is a debut!

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Jess KirbyAuthor8 months ago

That's so interesting re: Bright Young Women, which is what I sort of expected as a recommendation from Diabolical Lies so I'm excited to read it.

We Don't Talk About Carol sounds excellent, will definitely add that to my TBR list!

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Caro8 months ago

Thanks for these recs! I had some on my list already but just requested the rest from the library. The best book I read last month was We Will Be Jaguars by Nemonte Nenquimo - I can’t stop thinking about it! It’s a powerful memoir of modern colonialism and also a love story to the indigenous peoples in the Amazon, and the forest itself. I did the audiobook because she uses a lot of indigenous language that is powerful to hear spoken.

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Jess KirbyAuthor8 months ago

Oh that sounds really good! Thank you for the rec I'm going to see if I can borrow that from the library.

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Victoria McGinley8 months ago

Three TBRs!

T Kira Madden's debut novel WHIDBEY (a follow-up to her absolutely incredible memoir) published yesterday. I cannot wait to read it! The reviews have been rave. She is a brilliant writer who knows her way around a sentence.

I also picked up IMMEDIATE FAMILY by Ashley Nelson Levy from the library. I haven't started yet, but the premise (and structure/epistolary approach) caught my eye.

Also, I'm sure it's on your radar, but I can't wait to read Caro Claire Burke's YESTERYEAR when it comes out in April!! Have a feeling it'll be up your alley. ;)

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Jess KirbyAuthor8 months ago

Ohhh had not heard of WHIDBEY, adding to my TBR! Also yes, very excited for Yesteryear when it comes out. I should probably pre-order that one because love Caro! xx

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Jennifer8 months ago

Love the borrowed section! I am an avid library user and our system also has an audiobook borrowing program which is awesome for times I want to multi-task (cleaning, long drives, etc). I just finished American Mermaid, by Julia Langbein (which I borrowed from a friend) and I am about to start a book that was gifted to me last fall after my dad died - Almost Everything by Anne Lamott. I think I'm finally ready...maybe. If not, I will set it aside and read a book I got in my book club's Christmas book exchange - The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt. I also borrowed Michelle Obama's book Becoming from my SIL...not sure how I never read it!

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Jess KirbyAuthor8 months ago

Me too! I love our library so much and we can borrow audiobooks as well, I've got a few in my queue. I'm so sorry for your loss, if you do decide to read the book, I hope it gives you what you need from it. <3

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Ani Z8 months ago

Bright Young Women is SO good and never gets the attention it should.

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Jess KirbyAuthor8 months ago

Can't wait to read it!

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Anna Uricchio8 months ago

I just finished Good People by Patmeena Sabit which is in oral history format about an afghan refugee family that moves to the DC area and gains a lot of monetary success and then a tragedy unfolds. It’s a really good commentary on so many different subjects and I loved it!

Also finished The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland which is loosely based on the life of Princess Charlene of Monaco. It’s about the dark side of being royalty and it was so good!! I think there are some parallels to influencing you can see in the commetary.

After all that heaviness I break it up with the Emma M. Lion series which is a hilarious and wonderful series about a woman in Victorian England navigating life single.

Thanks for the list and recs!!