Hi Bookworms. It’s mid-February already. I hope you all had a lovely Valentine’s Day yesterday. We went out to dinner, which was nice. And lately we’ve been watching the Olympics. It’s been good streaming it without the commercials.
We’ve watched plenty of action, everything from the downhill skiing, to the biathlon, and hockey games, to the moguls skiing, and figure skating. I’m not sure which has stood out to me the most so far, but the ice dancing competition was quite alluring and close and the Canadian couple of Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier skated so beautifully to a program using the song “Starry Starry Night” to take Bronze. So pleased for them! They’d been skating together apparently since 2011. I wonder a bit what made them choose the folksy, soupy Don McLean song from 1971, but wow they took it to another level, lol.
This coming week we’ll be going to Vancouver, B.C. for a family reunion, so I’m excited about that. We haven’t traveled in a long while. It’s a lovely city and we’ll walk around lots and maybe visit a couple bookstores too. Meanwhile our doggies will be home so I hope they’ll be good with the sitter. Here is Willow looking mellow now, lol.
I’ll be taking a couple books I have going including Edith Wharton’s 1905 classic The House of Mirth (for my Politics & Prose class) and a nonfiction book by Mark Braude titled The Typewriter and the Guillotine: An American Journalist, a German Serial Killer, and Paris on the Eve of WWII. Quite a title right? I had not known about its subjects before — Janet Flanner of the New Yorker and a man named Eugen Weidmann who was a con man and a killer apparently. We will see what happens.
And now I’ll leave you with a review of what I finished lately.
Crux by Gabriel Tallent / Riverhead / 416 pages / 2026
4.0+ stars. This novel — about two high school best friends Dan and Tamma, who have family strife in their lives and share a love of rock climbing — was a buddy read with Tina over at the blog Turn the Page. It’s a bit jarring at first with its foul teenage language especially from the girl Tamma, but as it went on and I adjusted, I was drawn into their story more and more.
Dan and Tamma have grown up in the desert, not far from Joshua Tree National Park, where they like to rock climb steep boulders and peaks. It’s their last year of high school and they’re dreaming up plans of taking off after school becoming dirtbaggers, living and climbing in Utah’s Canyonlands.
Dan is a smart honor student type, and Tamma is an outcast, gay and like a firecracker. Their families are poor and busted and they have a lot of baggage, so you don’t know what will happen to Dan and Tamma and their future. Dan’s parents are hoping he can win a scholarship to college. But Dan and Tamma spend most their time just trying to keep their families going and to be able to climb together.
Climbing is their one happy place and they’re the only ones who have each other’s backs. Their families and mothers are particularly bad — one has a drug problem and the other severe depression and a heart defect without any insurance. By and by, you come to root for Dan and Tamma with no money to find a way to rise above their situations. Will they be able to live their dreams? This is a gritty novel that navigates lives on the line that lured me with its two main characters and their pact together, which you’re unsure of whether it’ll hold.
Others on Goodreads have warned that this novel has a lot of rock climbing and jargon to it. I actually liked these parts. Some is descriptive and beautiful and the rock climbing to me came to be compelling … even though I don’t know much about the sport. There are a couple boulder plateaus in the desert the two characters attempt to scale that are scary and make for good action. It’s all a part of their journey during that fateful last year of high school.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you seen this one and what do you think? Enjoy your week. And happy reading.
That was a good book and I think the loyalty, friendship and motviations of Tamma and Dan made for interesting reading, You’ll laugh, but I sent a letter to Gabrial Tallent’s literary agent to pass on to him. I would love to see a followup….maybe see where Dan and Tamma are in thier 30s and how life panned out for them. Great review. I had so many spoilers to talk about that I marked those on Goodreads.
Currently reading my classic club pick, Agnes Grey, and what vile little children she is dealing with. I’d end up in jail if I had to watch those kids! Also going back and forth between that a nonfiction Four Lost Cities.
Working on my to-read next list.
Have a great trip to Vancouver. That will be a blast to walk around the citty and visit family. Maybe find a few bookstores?
Hi Tina- thanks. We made it to Vancouver. And will check out the bookstores, lol. Good idea.
Now you have me curious about what Dan & Tamma would be like in their 30s. Maybe they are driven? Maybe both would be doing fine in their fields that they chose. I like to think they would.
I look forward to your review of the classic. I’ve had a bit of a lull in reading since Crux. Sometimes that happens if I’m still thinking of a book.
Have a great week! chat soon.
I love the ice dancing. It could be my favorite Winter Olympic sport. It seems impossible for humans to do something so lovely. Amazing.
Enjoy your trip to Vancouver. I wonder if it will be warmer there. I hope you are enjoying House of Mirth. I want to read more Edith Wharton.
Hi Deb, I agree. The ice dancing really captured me. I hope to get a chance to watch the pairs figure skating too … even if on YouTube.
We made it to Vancouver and the rain here is cold to the bone, argh. But back home we are getting our first big snowstorm in months. So maybe it is warmer.
I’m near the end of House of Mirth. Though it is a bit of a soap opera — the writing is amazing and Wharton has become a favorite to me. She is so astute that she might be my very favorite classic writer of that era. I have only read Ethan Frome (which is great), so I will continue on with her. Cheers!
I just read that Custom of the Country, by Wharton, is being adapted for a movie, starring Leo Woodall and Sydney Sweeney. I’m 99% sure that I read that book, but it might be time for a re-read!
Hi Lesley, so glad you told me about it being adapted to a movie. I think the instructor of my class would be interested to know. He says the older movie of The House of Mirth is good to watch too with Gillian Anderson & Eric Stolz. So I hope to rent it soon, or try to find it. I have not read Custom of the Country yet but our instructor said the protagonist is more unlikable than Lily Bart in House of Mirth. He seems less a fan of that one because of that. But I’m definitely on a Wharton kick. She’s a fav of that era. I’ve read 3 by her … but there’s so many more … I can try later. Thx for the info!
Gabriel Tallent seems to be one of those guys who only publish every few years. The setting of this one reminds a lot of his debut novel My Absolute Darling, about a survivalist family with all kinds of problems. I wonder what he does as a “day job” between books. He grew up in northern California, “off the grid,” so has a great feel for that kind of coming-of-age.
Hi Sam, I was a bit scared off by the abuse in Gabriel Tallent’s first novel to try it. Did you think it was good? He is quite a good writer in ways. His feeling for dialogue is pretty good in this 2nd novel and his descriptions for the outdoors. I get a sense he’s gone thru or seen some of the hard stuff his characters have. But I don’t know much about him. He’s new to me. Thx for your thoughts. Have a great week.
Happy belated Valentine’s Day. We’ll go out this coming Wednesday when the restaurants aren’t quite so crowded. Tourist area with a 3-day weekend makes for a lot of people on the coast!
I just watched the video of Gilles & Poirier (had to look it up on Youtube – your link is for Canada only, I think) and am almost in tears. What a beautiful ice dance! And her skating costume was perfectly matched for the music. Gosh, thank you for bring this event to my attention, Susan. I’ll watch it again! By the way, I love Starry, Starry Night. 🙂
Your trip to Vancouver sounds great. Will you fly or drive? Probably too far to drive it, although it’d be a pretty trip.
Crux sounds like a good novel, especially since it’s set near Joshua Tree. I don’t know anything about climbing, but I do like the outdoors.
Enjoy your travels!
Thanks Lesley. We made it to Vancouver quickly by plane. It rained hard upon arrival. Welcome to the Northwest, lol. It’s quite chilly here but we walk nonetheless.
I’m so glad you liked the Gilles and Poirier skate program! (Sorry if I had a link that didn’t work.) But man it was pretty moving right? I plan to watch it again and perhaps the pairs figure skating too. We are on the move so YouTube is pretty good for this. I loved that it worked for them. Quite a song too, ha.
Crux was a bit of a different kind of read for me … sort of a long family drama with a bit of the outdoors too. It moved fairly quickly though.
Hope you enjoy your belated V-Day … Have a great week.
Happy Belated Valentine’s Day! We went out Friday night, but on Saturday we stayed home, watched the sunset, then grilled some steaks… an excellent evening. I know you’ll enjoy your travels, and I hope the pups do well at home. You and Tina have me thinking about adding Crux to my list.
Hi JoAnn, Sounds like a good weekend & meals there. Perfect for V-Day. All is well as we made it to Vancouver and it should be fun.
Crux was a pretty quick read though it is long … it moves well and I’m still thinking about those characters with rough lives in the desert. It leaves a mark a bit. I’m glad I tried his writing as I was a bit curious after he wrote My Absolute Darling, which I did not read due to abuse (I think) in it. Have a great week.
Have a great trip! I’m reading Crux too. I’m 70% in, probably finishing today, or tomorrow at the latest. I have the same criticism as other people on GR about the technical jargon, but somehow the general meaning comes through. Tamma has a sailor’s mouth, but I find her so endearing and funny… Overall, I think it’ll be a 4* reading for me too, if it doesn’t go off the rails towards the end. Great review, by the way, as was Tina’s on GR as well. My next book will be A Marriage at Sea, which I know you enjoyed a great deal. Bring back great pictures and I hope Willow and Stella manage without you guys. Happy reading ahead!
Hi Carmen, thx what a nice message! Interesting that you’re reading Crux too. I didn’t know that. I hope it keeps up to be a 4 star read for you. It made a mark on me, ha — with their rough lives in the desert. It moved pretty quickly but since Crux I’ve had a lull of sorts in my reading. I think I’m still thinking about them.
The ending was pretty good I thought. See what you think. A pretty big rock climb thing happens. eh? whoa.
I hope you like A Marriage at Sea. The writing is sort of subdued but I was surprised by what happens to them and how they deal. See what you think. Have a great week. & We have made it to Vancouver. Raining lots! lol. chat soon.
Glad you had a lovely dinner for Valentine’s Day. My husband and I kissed in front of two Macaws. That’s a first!
I am very attracted to the cover of Crux, but not sure if the story is for me.
Have fun in Vancouver, BC. If you go to the conservatory there you can kiss in front of Macaws, too.
Hi Anne, glad you had a nice Macaw V-Day. Sounds fun.
We made it to Vancouver and it has welcomed us with hard rain, lol. Still we will tour around. And I agree the cover to Crux is quite fetching. I keep looking at its mix of rock colors. The book was a good one for me. Hard lives but worth exploring it. Enjoy your week & reading.
Crux sounds very good with two characters I know I would like. The rock climbing though i wish I could get into exercise or books about exercise. Still it sounds like Crux is about alot more
Have a great time in BC Vancouver. Never been there but from the pictures I have seen its beautiful.
Hi Kathy, thanks we made it to Vancouver and it’s a big big city but the outer areas are really pretty — the views of the mountains and water. It’s nice but chilly in the winter!
And Crux was a good one. It includes hard lives but was worth exploring. The rock climbing in the book is a bit intense. It’s a danger that they love. It could be a good metaphor too. I liked hearing about it — though don’t do it. lol.
Have a great week.
As always, thanks for the lovely picture! Hope you guys have a nice trip to Vancouver. We’ve been watching parts of the Olympics too. We’ve enjoyed the speed skating, but I will admit I’m still trying to figure curling. Ha! Take care!
Hi Kay, ha I’ll try to find a nice photo of Vancouver as well … though it’s raining so hard not sure how that’ll pan out, lol.
I’ve seen a little of the speed skating. One skater got a re-do race since he was tripped — did you see that? I didn’t realize they do that. It was a bit unfortunate. Anyways the curling is a bit of a mystery to me as well, but it’s big in Canada.
I hope you have a great week. Cheers!
Cute photo of Willow! And the ice dancing was so fun to watch. It’s my favorite of the figure skating events. I loved their starry starry night performance. Though I do really wish Chock & Bates had won! I’ve also been enjoying all the curling. 😀
Thanks Lark. Willow is a sweetie, lol. Glad you liked the ice dancing too. The programs were good! And I need to watch the figure skating pairs on YouTube since we’re traveling. The Chock & Bates skate seemed well done and I was hoping for them as well. The curling has some drama right? You might need to be our curling expert. I have watched some of it but not a lot. Enjoy the last week of the Games!
I have a 22-year old niece who is a big reader and a rock climber. I am going to recommend this book to them! Thank you!
Hi Helen, the rock climbing scenes will likely interest her …. the family drama is sort of rough to wade through … though hopefully she can handle. Not many novels include rock climbing. I’m glad she likes the sport. Have a great week.
Your trip sounds like it will be very nice!
Thanks Lisa. Yes I think it will be. And we’ve made it to Vancouver. It should be a fun week. Thx for stopping by.
Lovely picture of the countryside; I love that sky. And thanks for the picture of Willow.
Crux has a beautiful cover. I think I could handle reading about rock climbing; not so sure about the youthful characters. I will keep the book in mind.
Have fun at the family reunion.
Hi Tracy, it’s good you’re a fan of the dog photos. I try to get them in for you once a month, lol. Willow doesn’t mind but Stella dislikes her picture being taken. Go figure. She’s particular.
And I agree about the cover to Crux — it’s quite fetching. The novel is a bit of rough family tale but it was worth exploring. I got into the rock climbing parts.
Thx I think it’ll be fun to meet up with our relatives. We made it to Vancouver. Cheers! Happy reading this week.
That IS a heavy duty title! It sounds interesting. I’ve been into Olympics too and I’ll remember the Starry Night dance for a long time (and great costumes, too!). I watch a little bit of everything — whatever is on. I especially love the things I would never have the guts to do (which in the winter is most of it!), especially the aerials, skating, curling (I just discovered curling this year!) and skiing. But really, I’ll watch about anything! Have a wonderful time away. I’m sure the dogs will be fine.
Hi Jeanie, good to hear! Glad you liked the Starry Night ice dance too. Yeah I also like watching some of the weird or different Oympic sports. Like aerial ski jumping or whatever. Moguls! I can only watch curling for so long, ha ha. We are having fun in Vancouver, thanks. It’s not all rain. Enjoy your week.
The figure skating and ice dancing is my favourite part of the Olympics.
Have a wonderful time in Vancouver!
Thanks Shelleyrae, we’re having fun in Vancouver! I’m glad to hear you’re liking the ice dancing & figure skating too …. I love the grace, moves, and drama of it. Enjoy the rest of the competition!
I’ve never watched the Olympics, but I love seeing figure skating clips on YouTube and Instagram! And since I watch them when they pop up, those platforms feed me more of course lol.
The Typewriter and the Guillotine sounds so interesting!
Hi Karis, I can relate. Sometimes it’s easier just to watch the figure skating clips on YouTube than to try to find it on the TV. But I’m onto the Women’s free skate figure skating coming up. Enjoy.
And I am liking the book. Will post about it in the near future. Cheers!
I enjoyed The Road to Dalton but, honestly, if there hadn’t been some hope in the last chapter, I would have been very, very depressed!
Did you ever read Three Bags Full? It is a mystery translated from German that got a lot of buzz when it came out because it’s about a shepherd who is killed and his sheep solve the mystery! I found it kind of boring, unfortunately, but just saw there is a movie based on the book coming out in May called The Sheep Detectives. Not sure I would pay $20 to see it but I would watch it later. I wish there were some movie I wanted to see but am busy with Olympics and college basketball until April anyway.
Have fun in Vancouver! I had planned to go when my nephew was working in Banff but did not make it to either place, which I regret. He is doing a semester in Prague next year so I will definitely make that trip.
Hi Constance, glad you made it through The Road to Dalton. It has some sad elements to it. Do you think you’ll continue the series?
Gosh I don’t remember Three Bags Full – but I’ve seen the trailer to the Sheep movie. It looks a bit sweet. Now that the Olympics are ending I might see it — who knows? But you better get ready for March Madness.
I hope your nephew enjoyed his time in Canada and Alberta. And that’s exciting that he will be in Prague for a semester. Nice! It’s been a good week in Vancouver. We even saw the sun for an afternoon! Enjoy your reads.
Enjoy your trip to Vancouver. I hadn’t heard of Gabriel Tallent but the book sounds interesting.. I read a whole book about walking so maybe I’ll like rock climbing.. who knows?
Hi Hena, thanks, the trip to Vancouver has been enjoyable. And the novel’s parts of the rock climbing were quite good … though the story is sort of gritty about their lives with their poor families and what their future plans are. I’m curious which walking book you read … so I will visit your site to see. Cheers. Have a great week.
I will probably read Crux–putting it on the list now. One of my brothers was a pioneering rock climber, so the subject matter does appeal to me. Love the setting–I haven’t actually been to Joshua Tree, but my daughter goes there often–again, it’s on the list.
Hi Jane, yes it would be good to read this novel — since you’re familiar with rock climbing through your brother. I’d be curious to hear what you think of it. The author seems to do a good job describing those parts. I grew up just about an hour 15 mins from Joshua Tree National Park. So the desert felt like home in ways. It’s sort of a gritty story but we both liked it. See what you think. Cheers!