Life in the Wilderness

A Strange in Town (A Rockton Novel) by Kelley Armstrong
Publication Date - February 2, 2021
4 stars 

I picked requested this book from NetGalley because I thought the premise sounded interesting.  Then I realized it was a part of a series, and not just in a series but the SIXTH in a series.  But because I thought it still sounded like a good plot, I decided to bit the bullet and buy the first five books and then preceded to binge read them ALL in the month of October.  This is a good series and not just because the premise is such a darn good one.  The characters are well thought out, the main ones and all of the residents with side roles.  The wilderness setting is so well described that I can imagine it clearly.  This is all around a great mystery series.  My only complaint, and this is one that some may not quibble with, is that the ambush scenes (there are several in each book) are very repetitive but that may be because I read the books in such quick succession.  The sixth in the series solved some long running mysteries while also strongly setting up further books.  I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Love on Fire

Just a Little Bet by Tawna Fenske
Publication Date - October 26, 2020
3 stars

Kayla and Tony dated for a short time and then transitioned very nicely into friendship.  They are happy with their relationship but not with their lives.  When Kayla asks Tony to join her on a work-related road trip, she also stipulates that they follow the rules of a self-help book and visit Tony's old flames to find out where he went wrong.  I will admit right off the bat that I self-help books are not something that I seek out and they usually annoy me to no end.  That is probably why I was personally not a fan of the premise.  I did enjoy the main character's relationship and liked when they were alone, not talking about ex's or past relationship woes.  I liked that part enough to try this author again, even though this one was not a good fit for me.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Science Thriller

The Mirror Man by Jane Gilmartin
Publication Date - October 20, 2020
3 stars

Jeremiah, a dedicated employee, has just been recruited by his controversial company to participate in a research experiment where he is cloned, locked in a lush apartment and forced to watch his clone take over his own life.  Jeremiah does this willingly for the big paycheck and for the opportunity to take a break from what he believes is an unsatisfactory family life.  What I found most interesting in this book is that Jeremiah is forced to watch himself and his relationships as an outsider would.  It is a fascinating concept to consider.  When the novel focuses on the more thriller aspects of the story I began to lose a bit of interest.  Overall, it is a compelling idea but some of the plot details just didn't gel for me.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  

Apollo's Arrow: The Profound and Enduring Impact of Coronavirus on the Way We Live
by Nicholas A. Christakis
Publication Date - October 27, 2020

4 stars

I have to admit that I was very nervous about reading this book.  First of all, it seems a little too soon to have a book published about Covid-19 and secondly, I am dealing with some fragile emotions involved with sending my kids back to school so I wasn't sure this book would be necessarily soothing.  Fortunately, this wasn't an entirely gloom and doom book about the current pandemic.  Instead it looked at the origins of the virus (which is helpful, since it seems like it started decades ago) and at past pandemics for comparison.  It also discusses infection rates, different treatment trials, vaccine opportunities and how it may end.  After reading this book, written by a physician and public health expert, I feel like I have a better understanding of Covid-19 and how this may all play out in the end and how to face it until it does end.  I received a digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

To Be a Reader

How Should One Read a Book by Virginia Woolf
Introduction and Afterward by Sheila Heti
Publication Date - October 12, 2020
★★★★★

This essay by Virginia Woolf was initially included in the book The Second Common Reader but is being reissued as a standalone with an introduction and afterward by author, Sheila Heti.  Woolf explores how a reader should adjust his/her reading based on the genre and type of book being read.  She emphasizes that a good book, regardless of the category, will leave an impression that lasts long after the actual reading is complete.  She also somewhat criticizes critics reading book after book in order to provide a review and not choosing books that matter to them.  Sheila Heti, a current writer, takes these concepts and discusses how she chooses the first readers of her own novels and how important it is to choose well.  I enjoyed this and read it fairly quickly.  I am always interested in works about the act of reading and this one is definitely a classic.  I received a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.