Expectation: An engrossing retrospective of the not-too-distant past with an Indigenous perspective.
Reality: Meandering plots, ancillary characters and terrible narration by the author all overshadowed the strongest parts of the story.
All in Audiobook
Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland – Patrick Radden Keefe
While he gave it his best effort, “Say Nothing” came up short for me – and that’s more on me than it is on Keefe. He did the work, distilling thousands of interviews, analyzing watershed events and piecing together elements of an intricate puzzle while battling cagey subjects and still fresh wounds on both sides.
Most of my tepidness towards the novel is because I thought it was focused solely on “The Disappeared,” the 18 individuals abducted by loyalists and republicans during the Northern Ireland conflict.
The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying – Nina Riggs
It goes without saying this is a heavy read, and I wasn’t in the right head space for it. You can’t give a book like this a negative review, because it’s going to hit you differently depending on where you are in life and what you’re dealing with.
The Art of Fielding – Chad Harbach
Expectation: A “sports bro” book full of men suppressing emotions.
Reality: A contender for the modern “Great American Novel,” I was surprised by the depth of character development and the queer subplot.
The People in the Trees – Hanya Yanagihara
Expectation: A rough around the edges but captivating debut by Hanya Yanagihara.
Reality: Bloated and centered on a main character with zero redeeming qualities, this was a chore to complete.
Replay – Ken Grimwood
Expectation: An exploration of second chances and following your passion.
Reality: A completely underrated, highly influential novel that introduces a wealth of ideas about regret and happiness.
Afterparties – Anthony Veasna So
Expectation: The next great coming-of-age collection spotlighting an underrepresented group of people.
Reality: A tonally uneven collection that was not helped by a terrible audiobook narration.
Christodora – Tim Murphy
Expectation: An engrossing, underappreciated modern epic.
Reality: Bloated, meandering and populated with people doing terrible things, I wanted to like this more than I did.
The Winners – Fredrik Backman
Expectation: A crowd-pleasing finish to a beloved series.
Reality: Uneven, but ultimately satisfying, fans of the series shouldn’t skip this one as it is a closer cousin to the first novel than the second.
The Help – Kathryn Stockett
Expectation: Cringe-level disappointment that I found the film so entertaining given the hindsight view of its problems.
Reality: Deeper characterization and discussion of the socio-political realities of the time period made this an excellent, if still flawed, novel.
Trust – Hernan Diaz
Expectation: A layered and nuanced old money mystery.
Reality: A sometimes difficult structure and alternating POVs made it uneven but still engaging, even if the payoff wasn't totally there in the end.
A Darling Obsession – S. R. Murray
Expectation: A supernatural thriller with historical fiction elements.
Reality: The supernatural is only hinted at in this overstuffed police procedural.
Reprieve – James Han Mattson
Expectation: Teens trying to survive a haunted house where the actors can actually do harm.
Reality: A dark exploration of the horrors that lie within us and around us.
The Halloween Tree – Ray Bradbury
Expectation: A nostalgia-fueled story of what Halloween was like for kids in the 1970s and 1980s.
Reality: A little convoluted, but ultimately an entertaining and family friendly spooky story.
Pearl – Josh Malerman
Expectation: High concept horror drivel, if the incredibly low user ratings on Goodreads are to be believed.
Reality: Uneven but creative, I was entertained throughout.
Kindred – Octavia E. Butler
Expectation: A science fiction/horror classic with historical elements.
Reality: A no holds barred exploration of the horrors of slavery through the lens of 20th century sensibility. It was devastating and utterly engrossing.
Hawk Mountain – Conner Habib
Expectation: A psychological thriller and modern-day revenge fantasy with queer sensibilities.
Reality: A promising first half is squandered by overstuffed plots and a last-minute reveal that is more frustrating than illuminating.
Less Is Lost – Andrew Sean Greer
Expectation: Another imperfect but reflective travelogue with Arthur Less.
Reality: Essentially three different stories mashed together, Greer favored slapstick over sentimental in this inconsequential and unnecessary sequel.
My Policeman – Bethan Roberts
Expectation: A part-romance, part-revenge tale made more heartbreaking due to the time period.
Reality: A simple, yet effective story with no clear villain or hero.
Carrie Soto Is Back – Taylor Jenkins Reid
Expectation: Another engrossing novel about a fictional character that feels like someone you’ve known about your whole life.
Reality: Shallow and repetitive but still entertaining, it is the least interesting story from the author.