What I Read in September 2024
September was a busy month filled with travel, hosting friends, and catching up on work, but I still managed to fit in a few books! Each one offered something different, from historical fiction to reflective sci-fi, making my reading list as varied as ever. In this post, I'll share my thoughts on Sandwich by Catherine Newman, The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester, and How to Stop Time by Matt Haig.
For more recommendations, don’t forget to check out my Bookshelf page!
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Sandwich by Catherine Newman
Taking place over seven days in Cape Cod, we experience Rocky’s life on their annual family vacation where she is “sandwiched” between her adult children and her parents. While I don’t have children, I related to Rocky on so many other levels and found myself enthralled with this book. It was humorous and emotional. After talking with a friend who read it and has adult children, she said it was a bit too close to real life - meaning being a newly empty nester and missing her children. But she did enjoy it as well. There are also secrets that get revealed during the week that could have lasting implications. I enjoyed the writing and felt like I was right there on the cape with Rocky.
The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre by Natasha Lester
You know I like Historical fiction and usually read one a month. The Three lives of Alix St. Pierre, from the author of The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard (which I LOVED), did not disappoint. Alix St. Pierre is an orphan who finds herself attending a prestigious boarding school, becomes a WW2 spy, and ultimately becomes a Fashion Icon - working for Christian Dior. I truly enjoy books like this. Where you feel like you’re in the story, watching it happen, reacting to all the drama, adventure, and deceit with full on emotions. Alix is trying to forget her past, the horrors she witnessed, and move on. But she still needs justice and starts down a path of trying to get it on her own… all while attempting to prove herself in her new role as the PR director for a new designer - Christian Dior. Blending fashion, adventure, history, and plot twists, I could not put this book down.
How to Stop Time by Matt Haig
I loved the Midnight Library, also by Matt Haig, and found How to Stop Time just as thought provoking. Bonus: It’s being adapted a TV series starring Benedict Cumberbatch! The story follows Tom Hazard, who stopped aging at 13 and now, centuries later, appears to be in his late 30s. As he navigates the present, haunted by memories from his long life, Tom struggles with loneliness and the challenge of living in the moment. It's a poignant exploration of time, love, and what it means to truly live. How do we live in the present- really live in the present. That is what this book is about. The past haunts us in many ways and this book shows how we must never forget the past, but somehow learn to live with it in present. A reflective and enjoyable read!
