You'll love this one...!! A book club & more discussion

I dunno about you guys, but I feel like I have had the same handful of authors and books recommended to me over and over and over again in the past 12 months. Every second podcast or booktok or interview or random person mentions the same national treasure authors we must read, or the same books that are life changing books that you have to experience. All of which I have not read.

So this month, we are going to read something that has been recommended over and over to us this year. Yes, I am sort of bringing you along on my journey of annoyance, but hopefully we do read something that is amazing and we wonder why we hadn't read it sooner and jumped on the band wagon.

I want you to read a book which has been recommended to you over and over this year, or alternatively, by an author that has been recommended to you over and over this year.
Recommendation doesn't just mean "Read this". It can be just that you have heard about the same book/author mentioned again and again and again eg "As we all know William Shakespeare is brilliant". And you are like "Do we? I don't."

General Rules:

1. The book may be in any format - paperback, ebook, audiobook.
2. The book may be combined with the Year Long Challenge and the Group Themed Read.
3. The book must be started and read between November 1 - 30, 2025 (based on your local time zone).
4. The challenge is for one book. You may read more books if you chose but you need only report one.
5. The book must be 175 pages or more determined by the issue you read.
In the case of ebooks & audiobooks, the ebook edition must be at least 200 pages and the audiobook must be a minimum of 6 hours long read

Reporting:

- WOF name
- What you chose to read
- Why did you choose to read it?
- What did you think of it? Not just I liked it, give us a few sentences so we know what it’s about/what happens in case we want to recommend it on too.
- Would you recommend it? Would you add to the 2025 hype for it?

Ah, great challenge, Rusalka.
Not necessarily this year but these books have been recommended to me time and time again. Either they are tomes (I am terrible at reading them) or for work. Let's see if I can finish one of these in a what-appears-to-be-a-busy month!

The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
The Second Sex - 746 pages
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois - 816 pages

Oh, this is great! I've also had a few recommended, but haven't had a chance to check them out. So glad I'll be able to get to one of them. I'll be able to say yes to at least one person when they ask me if I read that book yet. lol

I've had several books recommended to me this year and I'm like really?

Possibilities:
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. Everyone (my bookclub) says this is her best. I hope so because the one I read from Rooney was good, but not great in my opinion.
or
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans this book has been popping up everywhere lately.
or
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall the buzz book of early 2025 and a Reese's Book Club pick.

Ooh! Nice challenge!
Potential Reads: Heart the Lover
The Correspondent
Atmosphere
The Briar Club

We just met in my RL bookclub and this is fresh on my mind!

Perfect Little Monsters
The Correspondent
The Book Club for Troublesome Women

With the 3 of you mentioning The Correspondent, had to add it to my TBR. Had not heard of it before!

Great idea!

I just happened to see this topic and wanted to share that I recently started The Correspondent and it really is good. It had to wait for its time bc when I first got it from library holdlist, I was in the mood for a thriller.

I almost deleted it from my tbr but I’m glad I got back on the holdlist instead bc that list is long and my mood changed. It’s a little introspective and (female) MC is 73 or thereabouts.

I can see why the GR rating is so high for this. I’m only 20% in and it did grab me right away once I was in the mood for it.

Pragya wrote: "With the 3 of you mentioning The Correspondent, had to add it to my TBR. Had not heard of it before!"

Same here :-). I’ve never heard of The Correspondent and now it’s on my TBR.

Great challenge, Rusalka!!!

I think I'm going to do . A bit out of my comfort zone, but that's good sometimes. I've seen this everywhere lately.

I can't remember if these books were recommended to me over and over this year alone or over a longer period of time. One is a new book I've been hearing about in a favourite series, the other is a children's classic I've heard about from different people.

In the Time of Five Pumpkins including 2 GR friends who posted good reviews in the past 2 months, plus before it came out
Pinky Pye -- yes, I have a number of adult friends who still enjoy classic children's books along with their Dickens and Trollope--what can I say? I've been hearing about Pinky Pye (and Ginger Pye which I read in Oct) from one friend for several years, and then started hearing about it from others.

I don't know if I've had books recommended to me. I'll have to think about it. I'm sure my grandson has said, "Oh you've got to read this book, Grams." I know there's been lots of talk here in this group about A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping and The Warm Hands of Ghosts. *putting my thinking cap on* 🤠

Glad you all have some options!

My brainstorm at the moment.
- Just about every podcast or radio show in the past 6 months has someone banging on about the genius of Virginia Woolf, especially To the Lighthouse, and A Room of One's Own. Never read her.
- Similarly, but I think this was more a 2024 fad, but it's still around, Sylvia Plath.
- Anna Funder. Wifedom: Mrs. Orwell's Invisible Life is everywhere. But she just got three books voted in the Best 100 Books of the 21st Century last weekend that was run by our national radio station and had 290 000ish Aussies voted in the poll.
- I think I will have to hand in my passport soon if I don't read Helen Garner and extol her for being the best thing ever and a living national treasure.

Lol, I didn't realise how annoyed I was. At least it means I have a chance of being very pleasantly surprised, instead of disappointed. I am sure there are more but a start...

Thought of another. Middlemarch. Everyone is banging on about Middlemarch.

And sorry if I sounded angry yesterday. Please read as animated about all these books I should read that people keep on going on about and I need more time in the day and less stupid work.

It might be a lengthy endavour but I am planning to pick up Alchemised - the book I am being recommended the most amonst my peers since the popularity of Menacled.

I have other options of Atmosphere and Katabasis

If I wanted to pick a super long one, I'd go with The Covenant of Water. I doubt I'd be able to get through that whole book in November though.

I'm currently leaning towards Ordinary Grace, Hello Beautiful, or something by James McBride (The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store & Deacon King Kong are the two that have been recommended to me several times). I still have a few others that I haven't ruled out. I think it will depend on what I have access to and am in the mood for.

I'd love to read a nonfiction for Nonfiction November and I know I've been recommended a couple, but I can't think of what they are off the top of my head. I have my face-to-face book club today, so we'll see if anyone reminds me of a recommendation. lol My F2F book clubs are the reason I have so many options for this.

I think I'll read Too Old for This. I keep seeing it pop up on Goodreads.

Rusalka wrote: "Thought of another. Middlemarch. Everyone is banging on about Middlemarch.

And sorry if I sounded angry yesterday. Please read as animated about all these books I should read that peo..."

I didn't manage to finish Middlemarch despite all of the hype; ideally you'll like it better than I did.

Kristie wrote: "If I wanted to pick a super long one, I'd go with The Covenant of Water. I doubt I'd be able to get through that whole book in November though.

I'm currently leaning towards [boo..."

I gave five stars to both [book:Ordinary Grace|15803059] Ordinary Grace and Deacon King Kong, and I'm stingy with 5 star ratings. However, I hated the second book for the first 50 pages! It was only because I gave 5 stars to his book Song Yet Sung plus because it was a group read that I ploughed through, liking the book more and more as I continued.

Ordinary Grace is there twice because GR will only turn it into a link the second time I add it. I've tried several times.

Even though many people love it, I've changed my mind about Heaven & Earth Grocery Store (I've read at least 5 of his books) because I don't care for magical realism and have only give 2 of his books 5 stars.

Karin wrote: "Kristie wrote: "If I wanted to pick a super long one, I'd go with The Covenant of Water. I doubt I'd be able to get through that whole book in November though.

I'm currently lean..."

Oh, Ordinary Grace has been recommended to me many times too. Actually, probably even more than the other two.

Every so often Goodreads has weird glitches. I just had that happen with a different book link yesterday.

Kristie wrote: "Karin wrote: "Kristie wrote: "If I wanted to pick a super long one, I'd go with The Covenant of Water. I doubt I'd be able to get through that whole book in November though.

I'm ..."

Ordinary Grace is my favorite William Kent Krueger book. I also gave it 5 stars. I hope you enjoy it, if you read it.

I ended up DNFing The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. It was a pick for my book club. I am still planning on getting back to it at some point... maybe?

I added THE CORRESPONDENT too. I remembered it was recommended to me by my friend Carrie, who runs the book club I'm in. I didn't pay much attention when she did, but now reading the blurb it looks good.

Oh there's also All the Light We Cannot See

This thread is not helping!! There go, more books on my pile of TBR.

Ordinary Grace was very good! I gave it 4.25 stars. The Correspondent may stomp on my heart! I’m 83% in and don’t want it to end. I usually don’t like heart-stompers, so that says a lot.

Another one that I keep seeing and hearing about is Wild Dark Shore. I'm tempted, but I'm leery. While I liked her Once There Were Wolves, I wasn't blown away by it. I suspect from things I've read in reviews and other commentary, that Wild Dark Shore can be slow.

I just realized in my original post I said Ordinary Grace...or a book by William Kent Krueger, lol. Oh geez.

I have also been recommended Broken Country, which looks good.

Jayme - My book club is going to read The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store early next year.

Pragya wrote: "Oh there's also All the Light We Cannot See"

I loved that book on audio both times I listened to it. I loathed Cloud Cuckoo Land, and not because it's a very different story, but for other reasons. So, 5 stars for the first, 1 star for the second.

Wow, Karin, twice! I'm tempted to pick this up.

Pragya wrote: "Wow, Karin, twice! I'm tempted to pick this up."

I just compared books with you and got 78 percent agreement, which is high for me, so perhaps you'll love it, too. Who knows?

Ooo, thanks for that, Karin! I can't find my damn copy in my double decked shelves. I'm on it lol.

WOF name - Karin
- What you chose to read In the Time of Five Pumpkins by Alexander McCall Smith

- Why did you choose to read it? because I have enjoyed the entire series, so once I started hearing about it could hardly wait to get to it.

- What did you think of it? Not just I liked it, give us a few sentences so we know what it’s about/what happens in case we want to recommend it on too. My review, which is nothing stellar and assumes others have read books in this series (you do NOT have to read all of the others first to read this, although it helps). Precious started her detective agency back in the first book when Grace basically hired herself on (there is humour in these books.)

These aren't your run of the mill mystery books, they are detective books and often have the women trailing possibly unfaithful spouses plus many other things--it's hard to describe it all, but the writing is fabulous; the author was born and raised in in Africa and understands Botswana even though he was born in Zimbabwe.

Precious and Grace receive a visit from a new client neither of them particularly likes, but they still have to work the case, which turns out to be wrought with confusion. Precious' husband has a new friend who is spending a lot of time with him, but even Precious struggles to like him--yes, two unlikable men in the same book. Pumpkins are growing, and Precious' good friend at the orphanage (who has a huge heart for children) hopes to enter her biggest one in a contest once the rainy season gets going.

Better to read the blurb; even better yet, read the book. It never ceases to amaze me that McCall Smith manages to keep this series singing after so many installments.

4 stars
- Would you recommend it? Would you add to the 2025 hype for it?
Yes, because I'm miserly with my ratings and at least one other reading friend has given it 5 stars already (why I rushed to get to this.)

Karin wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Oh there's also All the Light We Cannot See"

I loved that book on audio both times I listened to it. I loathed Cloud Cuckoo Land, and not because it's a very differe..."

Karin, I can't thank you enough for giving me this push. I was absolutely consumed by this book and finished it over the weekend.

I'm going to go with The Warm Hands of Ghosts. It's not that it was specifically recommended to me, but it keeps popping up in my feed.

I'm going to be away today, so will likely start tomorrow.

I heard of The Correspondent for the first time in this thread, added it (of course, sigh) to my TBR and ever since this book is being recommended or I stumble upon it again and again. So I guess I have to read it now.

Karin wrote: "WOF name - Karin
- What you chose to read In the Time of Five Pumpkins by Alexander McCall Smith

- Why did you choose to read it? because I have enjoyed the entire s..."

Oh Karin I’m just seeing this. I love this series and author so much. He feels like a dear, close friend I have never met. I’m almost finished with his Isabel Dalhousie series and will be rereading it and I need to catch up with No. 1 Ladies. And 44 Scotland St is also a great series I’m behind on.

Have you read his other series? I also want to find a link to an interview I recently heard with him - if you’ve not heard it and you’re anything like me, you’ll really enjoy it. So glad to hear you enjoyed this book!

Here’s a link to the interview: https://www.theoldie.co.uk/podcasts/a...

Alexandra wrote: "I heard of The Correspondent for the first time in this thread, added it (of course, sigh) to my TBR and ever since this book is being recommended or I stumble upon it again and ag..."

I hope you love it, Alexandra! For me, it lived up to the hype and even exceeded it.

Pragya wrote: "Karin wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Oh there's also All the Light We Cannot See"

I loved that book on audio both times I listened to it. I loathed Cloud Cuckoo Land, and not because it's ..."

Oh so good to hear! I have adored both the books of his I have read so far, including this one.

Rusalka wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Karin wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Oh there's also All the Light We Cannot See"

I loved that book on audio both times I listened to it. I loathed Cloud Cuckoo Land, and no..."

Which is the other one you liked, Rusalka?

I finally got to Cloud Cuckoo Land this year. It took me a while due to life and brain space to get through it, but the book itself was wonderful. Part of me wants to read it again when I'm in a better personal space, and I may one day. But still thought it was great.

I have About Grace on my shelf. I'll be interested what his writing was like a bit earlier in his career.

Pragya wrote: "Oh there's also All the Light We Cannot See"

... and your review --finally!-- got me started on it, so I guess it would count for this challenge.

Laura wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "I heard of The Correspondent for the first time in this thread, added it (of course, sigh) to my TBR and ever since this book is being recommended or I stumble up..."

Thank you, Laura! Now I can’t wait to start. I only need to finish my current book..

If you like it, you'll fly through it, Alexandra! V hard to put down.

Rusalka wrote: "I finally got to Cloud Cuckoo Land this year. It took me a while due to life and brain space to get through it, but the book itself was wonderful. Part of me wants to read it again ..."

Thanks, Rusalka. Karin gave that one a 1 star so I was skeptical. Might have to give it a chance.

Kabrada wrote: "Pragya wrote: "Oh there's also All the Light We Cannot See"

... and your review --finally!-- got me started on it, so I guess it would count for this challenge."

Woohoo, excited to hear what you think.

Laura wrote: "If you like it, you'll fly through it, Alexandra! V hard to put down."

I have got a 15 weeks wait for it, so next year it is!

I hope you love it, Pragya!

I always go into very hyped books with hopes a little low as they don’t usually measure up, but that one surprised me.

I absolutely loved All the Light We Cannot See from first to last page (or in my case minute, as I listened to the audio book).

Why did I wait for almost eleven years (it went on my tbr in January 2015) to start this book???

Kabrada wrote: "I absolutely
loved
All the Light We Cannot See from first to last page (or in my case minute, as I listened to the audio book).

Why did I wait for almost eleven years (it went ..."

I read it in 2015. It was our book club's selection. I still remember bits and pieces of it. Usually, I totally forget a book within a year. So that I still remember anything after 10 years says a lot.

haha I had the same reaction, Kabrada. Glad we finallllly read and loved it!