Book Talk – May 2024

I am surprised how many books I managed to read in May. I felt so exhausted often times. I slept better which means no night reading. But then I did commute a lot which explains the audio books. Overall very happy. And I may have another favorite of this year. I think definitely top five maybe even top three. Are you curious what which book I mean. Well, welcome to book talk May. Here we go.

The Cartographers by Peng Shepard | ★★★★★

Goodreads says: Nell Young has lived her life in and around maps. Her father, Dr. David Young, was one of the most respected cartographers in the world. But this morning he was found dead – or murdered? – in his office at the New York Public Library.
Nell hadn’t spoken to her father in years, ever since he fired her after an argument over a seemingly worthless highway roadside map. A map which was mass-produced – and every copy of which is now being found and destroyed. But why?
To answer that question, Nell will embark on a dangerous journey into the heart of a conspiracy beyond belief, the secrets behind her family, and the true power that lies in maps 
What I thought: What a wonderful book. This one checked off all the things I love in a book. A nerdy topic with lovable characters. A plot that made me look up some specifics only to realize that they are based on the truth. And maps. Maps hold such magic. This one was a good one. I flew through the book and probably could have read it in a day but at the same time I didn’t want the book to end so I slowed down. This book is filed under magic realism. And it doesn’t disappoint. I want to believe that these places exist and we as people are just not tuned enough to find them. I don’t want to give away too much so I am not explaining further.
Characters: Helen “Nell” Young, Dr. David Young – father to Nell, Felix – ex boyfriend to Nell, the cartographers
Setting: The New York Public library and some remote town in the State of New York
Medium: paperback
Original Language and Title: English hardcover, paperback, ebook
Publications: no translation yet unfortunately
Recommend to: Everyone loving maps, historic fiction a little bit of magic and a setting that takes place in the library and academia around it.
Author’s Origin: born in Phoenix, U.S.A. | 1986

Forever Interrupted by Taylor Jenkins Reid | ★★★★✶

Goodreads says: Elsie Porter is an average twentysomething and yet what happens to her is anything but ordinary. On a rainy New Year’s Day, she heads out to pick up a pizza for one. She isn’t expecting to see anyone else in the shop, much less the adorable and charming Ben Ross. Their chemistry is instant and electric. Ben cannot even wait twenty-four hours before asking to see her again. Within weeks, the two are head over heels in love. By May, they’ve eloped.
Only nine days later, Ben is out riding his bike when he is hit by a truck and killed on impact. Elsie hears the sirens outside her apartment, but by the time she gets downstairs, he has already been whisked off to the emergency room. At the hospital, she must face Susan, the mother-in-law she has never met—and who doesn’t even know Elsie exists.
What I thought: I have a thing for stories where someone dies and the remainingg people battle the grief and fighting to live and survive. this is such a story. I loved that it was centered around Elsie and her relationship with Susan. It showed all the drama and chaos that happens after losing a loved one. It takes us deep into the grief, the ugly and the beautiful parts. Overall I really enjoyed this one by TJR. Despite it bringer TJR debut I declare this my favorite of hers.
Characters: Elsie Porter, Ben Ross, Susan Ross
Setting: Mainly at home… either Elsie or Susan’s apartment
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: English paperback, ebook
Publications: German title “Forever Interrupted” paperback, ebook
Recommend to: Everyone loving a sad love story and stories about friendship across the ages. And of course any TJR fan.
Author’s Origin: born in East Shore Maryland, U.S.A. | 1983

Zeichnen in der Natur by Albrecht Rissler | ★★★★✶

Amazon says: You will find an inexhaustible variety of motifs in nature. What could be more natural than capturing places and landscapes, the animal and plant world in a sketchbook or on a drawing pad? Professor Albrecht Rissler takes you on an excursion into the countryside and shows you the best technique for capturing the beauty you find there.
What I thought: This is a very good go to book when it comes to drawing in nature. I multitude of tipps, exercises and a huge number of examples from students and the author. You can tell the author has been an art professor for decades. The way the book is structured makes a lot of sense to develop the skill. Very much enjoyed it. I would have loved this book as a teenager to dive in more, when I spend my afternoons drawing.
Medium: hardcover from library
Original Language and Title: German hardcover paperback, ebook
Publications: no translation
Recommend to: Everyone speaking German and wanting to fine-tune their drawing and sketching skill.

The End of the Alphabet by Charles Scott Richardson | ★★★✶☆

Goodreads says: Ambrose Zephyr is a contented man. He shares a book-laden Victorian house with his loving wife, Zipper. He owns two suits, one of which he was married in. He is a courageous eater, save brussels sprouts. His knowledge of wine is vague and best defined as Napa, good; Australian, better; French, better still. Kir royale is his drink of occasion. For an Englishman he makes a poor cup of tea. He believes women are quantifiably wiser than men, and would never give Zipper the slightest reason to mistrust him or question his love. Zipper simply describes Ambrose as the only man she has ever loved. Without adjustment.
Then, just as he is turning fifty, Ambrose is told by his doctor that he has one month to live. Reeling from the news, he and Zipper embark on a whirlwind expedition to the places he has most loved or has always longed to visit, from A to Z, Amsterdam to Zanzibar. As they travel to Italian piazzas, Turkish baths, and other romantic destinations, all beautifully evoked by the author, Zipper struggles to deal with the grand unfairness of their circumstances as she buoys Ambrose with her gentle affection and humor. Meanwhile, Ambrose reflects on his life, one well lived, and comes to understand that death, like life, will be made bearable by the strength and grace of their devotion.
What I thought: This is one book I picked up at the library flea market in April. And while I usually don’t buy translations if I can avoid I did take tis one. The excerpt was just too good. I loved the ways the worlds already flowed showing it will more prose or literary than my usual reads. I love those slower books. This one did not disappoint. It was a cute little novella. I was a little confused in the middle when they stopped traveling. The reason was a bit too subtle for me. The translation by Carina von Enzenberg was well done from what I can say. No regret here reading it in German.
Characters: Ambrose Zephy – terminally ill man, Zipper – his wife
Setting: England and Europe
Medium: hardcover
Original Language and Title: English hardcover, paperback, ebook
Publications: German title “Das Ende des Alphabets” hardcover
Recommend to: Everyone loving a short little book about travel, bucket lists and an older couple.
Author’s Origin: born in Regina, Canada | 1955

Emotional Labor by Rose Hackman | ★★★✶☆

Goodreads says: “Emotional labor.” The term might sound familiar…but what does it mean exactly? Initially used to describe the unacknowledged labor flight attendants did to make guests feel welcomed and safe—on top of their actual job description—the phrase has burst into the national lexicon in recent years. The examples, whispered among friends and posted online, are endless. A woman is tasked with organizing family functions, even without volunteering. A stranger insists you “smile more,” even as you navigate a high stress environment or grating commute. Emotional labor is essential to our society and economy, but it’s so often invisible. Many are asked to perform exhausting, draining work at no extra cost.
What I thought: This was an interesting, eye opening read with lots of food for though. At times I thought it was a bit over the top or taken too far but maybe I am so accustomed to emotional labor that indeed I find it strange to think that it is. Not sure. Definitely worth my time. As always with audio books I may not have grabbled everything and all the nuggets of wisdom.
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: English hardcover, paperback, ebook
Publications: not yet translated
Recommend to: Everyone overwhelmed with emotional labor, educating about feminism and needing food for thought.
Author’s Origin: born in Belgium or Great Britain

Family Family by Laurie Frankel | ★★★☆☆

Goodreads says: India Allwood grew up wanting to be an actor. Armed with a stack of index cards (for research/line memorization/make-shift confetti), she goes from awkward sixteen-year-old to Broadway ingenue to TV superhero.
Her new movie is a prestige picture about adoption, but its spin is the same old tired story of tragedy. India is an adoptive mom in real life though. She wants everyone to know there’s more to her family than pain and regret. So she does something you should never do—she tells a journalist the truth: it’s a bad movie.
Soon she’s at the center of a media storm, battling accusations from the press and the paparazzi, from protesters on the right and advocates on the left. Her twin ten-year-olds know they need help–and who better to call than family? But that’s where it gets really messy because India’s not just an adoptive mother…
What I thought: I really really wanted to love this more. But I fear Frankel’s books fall a bit flat for me despite the general hype. The story itself was an ok one. It started out strong but then it gotten a bit too constructed for my taste. I understand why Frankel set it up like that to explore the entire spectrum of the topic but for me it was just a bit unbelievable, maybe even a bit irresponsible behavior for the main character. I understand that this is an issue Frankel wanted to raise… Still it bothered me. And the again the famous trope. Why did it need to be a famous person. Am I the only one who doesn’t care about people in the spotlight?
I might have to edit this rating after we had our book club talk with Laurie Frankel (it needed to be postponed due to scheduling issues.)
Characters: India Allwood, her kids, her lovers… and a ton of other character, I had to create a cheat sheet,
Setting: During the pandemic and a house in Hollywood.
Medium: hardcover gifted by my book club host
Original Language and Title: English hardcover, paperback, ebook
Publications: not yet translated
Recommend to: Anyone interested in the topic of adoption and a fan of Laurie Frankel.
Author’s Origin: born in Columbia, U.S.A. | 1977

Herzenssachen by Corinna Wieja | ★★✶☆☆

Goodreads says: 15-year-old Fee is actually a city girl. Nevertheless, her friend Merle persuades her to help out as a counselor at a youth camp in France. She actually enjoys working with the children, if it weren’t for all the nature – and Eric. He is also a counselor at the camp and regularly infuriates Fee and makes her heart pound. Well, that could be fun!
What I thought: This was an okay 3 hour audiobook I listened on double speed while cooking and cleaning. It was very middle grade but since it was short I finished it. I bet I would have loved that kind of story as a teenager. Not a fan of the mousy,-scary-girl-shown-adventure-by-a-guy-trope though
Characters: Fee, Merle, Eric
Setting: summer camp in the woods somewhere in France
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: German hardcover
Publications: no translations found
Recommend to: Every teen experiencing first love.
Author’s Origin: born in Germany | 1967

The Woman in Me by Britney Spears | no rating

Goodreads says: In June 2021, the whole world was listening as Britney Spears spoke in open court. The impact of sharing her voice—her truth—was undeniable, and it changed the course of her life and the lives of countless others. The Woman in Me reveals for the first time her incredible journey—and the strength at the core of one of the greatest performers in pop music history.
Written with remarkable candor and humor, Spears’s groundbreaking book illuminates the enduring power of music and love—and the importance of a woman telling her own story, on her own terms, at last.
What I thought: This is heavy. I definitely do not want to switch with her. I can see that writing this book was cathartic. She definitely didn’t have an easy life, and awful family that only exploited her hard work, almost no say in her career. And no support system once she lost her rights, no one telling her how to fight it. She is a people pleaser for sure. I may not agree with some of her decisions and still find them a bit excessive but it is hard to imagine how one would react in such a situation. As it is a memoire I am not rating. But I believe it is worth your time.
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: English hardcover, paperback, ebook
Publications: German title “The Woman in me: Meine Geschichte” hardcover, ebook
Recommend to: Everyone wanting to know Britneys side of the story.
Author’s Origin: born in McComb, U.S.A. | 1981

Books I couldn’t finish

Keeping track of the books that weren’t right for me. This month it was:

• Natürlich alles künstlich by Philip Häuser – stopped because it was a bit outdated and i am already struggle with my other Ai book
• The library of lost things by Laura Taylor Namey – stopped at 12%, wasn’t interested in the story, maybe too much middle grade / YA
• The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren – stopped at 12%, just boring and assaultive character behavior

New books on the shelves

Always buying books even though I am trying to reduce my TBR pile. Here is this month purchases. I have looked up Kindle freebies after a long time so the list is excessive…Please hold me accountable and ask if I read them or just piled them up.

• Family Family by Laurie Frankel – a gift from a book club member
• Über Lebenskunst in unsicheren Zeiten by Bernhard von Mutius– a gift from my dad, author is a friend of his, he thinks its a bit too esoteric but I might be into it… not sure how I feel about that statement. Ha.
• A History of the World in Twelve Shipwrecks by David Gibbins – 0,99€ Kindle steal
• The Next Girl by Carla Kovach – a Kindle freebie
• One For Sorrow by Sarah A. Denzil – a Kindle freebie
• Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – a Kindle freebie
• Black World: The Dark Fae by Quinn Blackbird – a Kindle freebie
• Princes Prisoner by Quinn Blackbird – a Kindle freebie
• Make me Loose by Ember Leigh – a Kindle freebie
• The Cottage by the Loch by Kennedy Kerr – a Kindle freebie
• Moon Kissed by multiple authors – a Kindle freebie
• Sandra Bullock: Behind the Scenes by Ruby Bennett – a Kindle freebie

Did you receive a book for Christmas? What book did you enjoy in December? What book was a total fail? How many books did you gift for Christmas?