Not much reading done this past week, but I finished one and started on two new books.
No Two Persons by Erica Bauermeister
Publication: May 2, 2023; St. Martin's Press, NetGalley
Genre: literary fiction, contemporary fiction, adult fiction
My comments:
No Two Persons - the premise is that no two people will ever read the same book. In other words, a book will affect different readers in different ways.
This is a series of stories about various readers of a book written by an introverted young woman, Alice Weir. The book, Theo, tells of a young boy surviving a childhood with a strict and abusive father.
The vignettes in the novel show this one book altering different people's perspectives and actions. The characters in the stories are all going through some conflict at the time they read the book. One I remember used the book as part of her artwork. She was the only character that didn't actually read the book, however.
Overall, the stories are of interesting personalities who find some inspiration or message in a story that helps them in dissimilar situations.
Publication: June 20, 2023; Minotaur Books
Genre: adult fiction, mystery and thriller
Publisher: Sometimes the darkest acts occur in the most beautiful houses…
When Alexis and her husband Sam buy a neglected Cape Cod house in an exclusive DC suburb, they are ecstatic. Sam is on the cusp of making partner at his law firm, Alexis is pregnant with their second child, and their glamorous neighbors welcome the couple with open arms. Things are looking up, and Alexis believes she can finally leave her troubled past behind.
But the neighborhood’s picture-perfect image is shattered when their neighbor Teddy – a handsome, successful father of three – is found dead on the steep banks of the Potomac River. The community is shaken, and as the police struggle to identify and apprehend the killer, tension in the neighborhood mounts and long-buried secrets start to emerge.
I'm Not Done With You Yet by Jesse Q. Sutanto
Publication: August 22, 2023; Berkley
Genre: adult fiction, mystery and thriller
Publisher: Some friends—and friendships—are worth killing for in this dark, twisty suspense novel by national bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto.
Jane is unhappy. A struggling midlist writer whose novels barely command four figures, she feels trapped in an underwhelming marriage, just scraping by to pay a crippling Bay Area mortgage for a house—a life—she's never really wanted.
There's only ever been one person she cared about, one person who truly understood her: Thalia. Jane's best and only friend nearly a decade ago during their Creative Writing days at Oxford. Now, years later, Thalia comes back into her life.
Memes: The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, and Sunday Salon, Stacking the Shelves, Mailbox Monday
I like the idea that no two people will ever read the same book and I think there is truth there. We each bring our own background to our reading experience.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is so, I think. Just look at the variety in the reviews of the same book.
DeleteI've been on a thriller kick lately.
ReplyDeleteMe too, but I sometimes miss the other kinds of books I've been reading and will incorporate some of those genres into my current reading.
DeleteI completely agree with the premise of No Two Persons. In fact, because I believe that so strongly, I've sometimes hesitated to review or much comment on a book that my feelings are lukewarm about. I always kind of figure that, for me, the scale is almost balanced on those, and that some folks are going to strongly love it while others equally as strongly hate it...and then I give in to the temptation to spout off about it anyway. Never fails.
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued by the idea behind No Two Persons, and requested it from the library. Unfortunately, I was in a mood when it arrived, and I didn't get past the first couple of pages. I'm glad that you read the whole thing and are able to share your thoughts about it.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, the fact that you read and enjoyed the book, and I didn't, supports the theme of the book!
The beginning about Theo's abuse is hard to read, but the rest of the book is good.
DeleteNo Two Persons sounds good!
ReplyDeleteRecommended!
DeleteNo Two Persons sounds intriguing. I can see it working well, but I can also see it feeling forced.
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DeleteThe stories are subtle and the characters may not even realize they are influenced by the book they read.
I'm on a Greek Myth theme presently so I've just started 'Circe' by Madeline Miller and next up will be 'Pandora's Jar - Women in Greek Myths' by Natalie Haynes.
ReplyDeleteLoved Circe.
DeleteNo Two Persons sounds good and I agree that no two people read the same book. And I love a good thriller, happy reading this week!
ReplyDeleteLiterary fiction is now a genre I'm looking at more closely than I did before. Of course, thrillers and adventure are always on my list too.
DeleteThe author would have to write a very different story if the theme was “no two book bloggers” because book bloggers read so many so fast that it’s not possible to think their lives are affected!
ReplyDeleteNice reviews.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Thanks. Bloggers and avid readers are probably affected in some way by the contents of all the books they read. Not just the one, that's true.
DeleteNo Two Persons definitely sparked my interest! I will have to take a closer look.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading The World that we knew by Alice Hoffman and it's a lovely read.
Some great reads and reviews you have here! Have a great week ahead!
Elza Reads
I love the sound of No Two Persons. As book reviewers ourselves, I know we see the way different readers react to the same book every day! I'm almost done with SA Cosby's latest All the Sinners Bleed, and I have Luis Alberto Urrea's Good Night, Irene tapped for next.
ReplyDeleteNo Two Persons sounds really good. I love the cover too. I hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteAll of the books sound good. No Two Persons sounds really different and intriguing. Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteNo Two Persons has such an unusual premise.
ReplyDeleteAll three books new to me. I enjoyed the reviews
ReplyDeleteThat last thriller looks & sounds spooky.
ReplyDeleteThe author has written humorous mystery novels so far. This one is a departure from her usual books.
DeleteThey sound like good books. I keep falling asleep instead of reading!
ReplyDeleteHave a good week.
Emily @ Budget Tales Book Blog
That happens to me too.
DeleteI hope you enjoy your thrillers. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteStill reading! Thanks for the visit
ReplyDeleteBoth of your thrillers sound good to me. I've read some books by Jesse Q. Sutanto and enjoyed them. Have a great week and happy reading!
ReplyDeleteYour books look so good! I must add them to my list. Here are my WEEKLY UPDATES
ReplyDeleteNo Two People sounds interesting and the thrillers sound good. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteI don't think its the people who don't read the same book, because they do. It's more that they are shaped differently by what they read and the background they bring to the reading of the book, so to them and others it may feel like they read a different book. I like the idea of that book, and I've loved other books of this author.
ReplyDeleteThe first one sounds like a great plot idea!
ReplyDelete"No two people will ever read the same book. In other words, a book will affect different readers in different ways." That's so true, and I love this quote!
ReplyDeleteThe other two books sound intriguing! Happy reading!
Oh my goodness! I am looking forward to reading No Two Persons! I am so intrigued by this concept!
ReplyDeleteI am very interested in No Two Persons. I do believe that about a book, that everyone sees it differently, even though there may be commonalities. I will have to find that book.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to hear what you think of What the Neighbors Saw. I was offered the book but couldn't take it on. I'm also interested in I'm Not Done With You Yet. I read Jesse Q. Sutanto's Vera Wong and loved it and I'm curious at how her thriller will be.
ReplyDeleteWhile I didn't read that particular novel, I do love Erica Bauermeister's other two novels titled THE SCHOOL OF ESSENTIAL INGRIDIENTS and its sequel: THE LOST ART OF MIXING!
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