Hi bookworms. I made it to the beach and I’ve been enjoying some peaceful days bike riding and beach-going. I have not been in the ocean yet as it’s been a bit overcast and cool, but yesterday my things got wet anyways after a wave suddenly sent water over the sand incline bank and into the area where I was sitting quite a ways from the shore, argh. My library book got a little wet, which is not good, and my backpack and towel were drenched and sandy. Grrr, what are the chances. Today I’ll be back and prepared, lol, and the day should be nice and sunny and good for a swim. On my evening stroll, I saw this sailboat heading out of the harbor. I’ll be leaving in a few days, so I need to enjoy everything while I can. I’ve visited with my brother, niece, and four-month-old grandniece … who was a thrill to see and I’m hoping they return for a beach day.
And now I’ll leave you with a few reviews of what I finished lately. These three books were #8, #9, and #10 on my summer reading list.
Audition by Katie Kitamura / Riverhead / 208 pages / 2025
4 stars. Synopsis: This is about a married middle-aged accomplished actress who’s in play rehearsals for an upcoming premiere in New York. At the beginning she meets a young attractive man in his twenties at a restaurant and you don’t know who they are at first to one another, whether a lover, co-worker, or something else. But later the stranger tells her that he might be her son … which sets things off on an odd, disorienting path.
My Thoughts: The novel (about a family) is split into two parts … which are not completely congruent or linear to one another, so it’s a bit like a puzzle, or a play with the characters playing various roles and you come to see how they fit or not together. Part 1 has the accomplished actress and the young stranger who comes to work as an assistant to the play’s director; while Part II has the actress, her husband and an estranged son moving back into their apartment. I think there are various interpretations of what unfolds and some might see Part 1 or 2 as an unreal fantasy, or maybe just on another different timeline.
Katie Kitamura, whose writing is alluring, keeps your footing a bit on uneven ground with the family of three. But if you like novels more concrete, you might think twice about this novel. I’ve read Kitamura’s other novels A Separation and Intimacies and will continue to read her mysterious and provoking books because for one thing, she writes like a dream. Audition has been longlisted for the Booker Prize … whether it will make the shortlist we need to stay tuned on Sept. 23 when it will be announced.
Tilt by Emma Pattee / Simon & Schuster / 240 pages / 2025
4.2 stars. Synopsis: Annie, a 35-year-old very pregnant woman is shopping for a crib in IKEA when a major earthquake hits Portland, Oregon. She’s gets out from being trapped and sets out on a mission to walk to her husband’s job site to find him. They don’t have much money as he’s a struggling, auditioning actor and works at a cafe, and she gave up being a playwright to earn money as a manager at a start-up company. As Annie ambles through the wreaked city, she has various experiences as she comes upon various people and situations, and remembers earlier days with her husband and when they met 17 years ago.
My Thoughts: I wasn’t sure about this protagonist Annie at first as she seems sort of harsh or bad-mouthed at the book’s beginnings, but also a bit funny too, sarcastic in how she looks at things. When the quake hits early at the onset, she becomes a survivor and turns quite determined and strong to make it through for her unborn baby “bean” and to find her husband Dom. As she makes her trek across the city, many thoughts run through her head from the past (the loss of her mother) and regrets she’s had when she last saw her husband. She told him not to take an understudy part in King Lear but to continue his job at the cafe for the money.
She thinks over her life quite a bit and talks to her baby while dealing with thirst and rubble, and so you’re stuck in Annie’s head or narration for the whole novel, but it’s a journey you want to see her through. Annie seems to soften a bit as time goes on and tries to help a few others along the way. But the story is sort of darker towards the end than I had imagined it’d turn out, but it also grabs you. So beware: earthquake disasters aren’t for the light of heart. For a debut novel, I was impressed by Emma Pattee’s writing and the many details she imparts. It’s quite a potent short-ish novel that the author seems to pour much heart into. I will look for what she puts out next.
Heartwood by Amity Gaige / Simon & Schuster / 320 pages / 2025
4.0 stars. Synopsis: After 42-year-old Valerie Gillis, a nurse, goes missing from the Appalachian Trail in Maine, a massive search begins. The novel alternates chapters among various people who know or are searching for Valerie as well as chapters of Valerie herself and her journal. She went on the hike to find herself after dealing with the Covid pandemic and all the deaths while working at the hospital.
The chapters include those with: Bev Miller, the Maine official who’s leading the search; and a big guy from the Bronx named Santo who befriended Valerie on the trail; and Lena, a nursing home resident who’s trying to piece together tips she finds online of where Valerie might be. It’s a race against time as most people who disappear in the woods are found alive only in the first couple days.
My Thoughts: I listened to this on audio and the various narrators do a good job bringing the characters to life. And there’s a heartwarming quality between missing Valerie and her mother, who are close. It also has a pandemic angle to the story — as Valerie, a nurse, is in search of a break to find herself after the covid pandemic and goes to hike the AT — that seemed interesting and relatable after recent hard years. Some of the alternating cast of characters get a bit uneven as the story goes on. I came to like Bev, who’s leading the search quite a bit, but I sort of tired with much focus on Lena, the elderly lady who is following it online. Though it is Lena who finds a key contact online who might know something.
Still, despite some unevenness, the vivid descriptions of the trail and woods and the overall cacophony of people trying to help Valerie — made me want to tramp through the wilderness to help find her too. This novel will make you want to: put on the boots, get the moleskin and the insect repellent and get out there on the trail and search. There’s only a few hours left to find her.
That’s all for now. What about you — have you read these and what did you think?
I would love to be at the beach! I am sorry your library book and stuff got wet! Hopefully it will dry out nicely. Enjoy your time and have a great weekend!
Thanks Cindy. I think the library book did dry out and I don’t think it’s too damaged to return. The waves have calmed down & I have had some nice swim days at the beach! Have a great week.
Love the picture of the sailboat heading out of the harbor…either for adventure or an evening sail. Enjoy your beach and family time!
I am so eager to read Heartwood–absolutely love the premise. I’m hoping to put my feet on the AT this October when we drive down part of the Shenandoah Valley after Gettysburg.
Not sure about either Audition or Tilt–they sound like they could be good. We’ll see if I can fit them in this fall.
Safe travels home!
Thanks Jane. The beach has been a nice time and took some pics to follow.
All three of these were pretty quick books. Short & page-turners. You’re going to have a beautiful trip in October. October is the perfect time there. I’m actually going to be in DC Sept. 25-Oct 4. My first time to return there since 2016. I once lived in Va. till 2008. Anyways have fun planning your trip. Cheers.
Good to know they are short reads–maybe good plane books!
Safe travels to DC–definitely looking forward to experiencing fall in that part of the country.
Yep the books are fairly short. I like reading on planes. I usually get much done locked in like that, lol. I bet you do too.
Luckily I still have a good month before DC … as I’m not organized yet. The mid-Atlantic area is pretty in the fall. I hope you have a great trip!
Now that I’ve finished Heartwood, I reread your post on it. Bev was definitely my favorite character, but Lena held my interest, she reminds me of people I know, maybe a little bit of me in there, maybe more than I’d like there to be. I found her very sympathetic, whereas Bev was straight up a hero!
Ha. I like your perspective on Bev and Lena. Your review of Heartwood was good. And it’s a book that comes back to you afterwards — the characters. Lena and Bev figured big into the imagination. Glad you enjoyed it.
I am glad you are enjoying your visit on the coast. That’s a beautiful photo. A view like that would be so relaxing. You’ve sold me on Tilt. I read another novel several years ago that kind of reminds me of that one, only it was about more than one person, set directly in the aftermath of an earthquake. I wish I could remember the name of it. Given the spike in recent earthquakes, it makes Emma Pattee’s novel even more appealing to me. I hope you have a good week, Susan!
Thanks Wendy. It’s been a good week … and the beach has been certainly cooler than more inland areas. I have to go home tomorrow but I enjoyed it! The novel Tilt is a short quick read that’s quite affecting. I think you’d like it. And I wonder now what the other book was. I’m drawing a blank on other earthquake novels. Hopefully these big earthquakes won’t happen anytime soon. Have a great week and stay cool with the A/C as the temps look hotter coming up this week. argh.
Have fun at the beach! And great picture! You had a successful reading experience with this book haul— all 4*. I will be reading Audition, and you sold me on Tilt (just so you know), though it will be tricky to accommodate it at least until the Fall.
Hi Carmen — thanks. It’s been a good week at the beach and I got some fun swims in the last two days. These books were all pretty quick ones. It seems if I generally like the book it gets a 4, which I think I did with these novels. But I don’t give out hardly any 5s, when maybe I should give more? But 5s are like super excellent. And 3s are like a little less strong than a 4. I think I gave James a 5 but rounded it up from 4.5-ish. Ha. These books were like summer reads to me. See what you think of Audition when you get to it. It’s a tricky book. Enjoy your week.
Lovely picture of the sailboat and the water and I do hope the weather gets better so you can enjoy the beach more. I like the plot of Audition but I do like novels that are concrete and don’t jump around too much. But it is getting alot of attention and so I should give it a try.
Hi Kathy, thanks, just in the nick of time we’ve had 3 nice sunny days at the beach before I go home, so it’s been fun with some swims in the Ocean.
Audition is worth reading though a bit tricky. I’m still trying to figure it out a bit. It has several interesting passages. But the writing itself is not difficult, so that makes it easy reading … it’s just that it can be interpreted in different ways. Have a good week.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about your reading, Susan. I just put in a request for Tilt.
I’m glad you are enjoying your time at the beach. Though at times—mostly hurricane season—I wish we did not live so close to the Gulf, generally I love having the ability to stop by and feel the lull of the ocean.
Hi Deb, Tilt is a quick one. The narrator Annie is a bit of a feisty protagonist especially at the start, but I think she softens as her walking ordeal goes on. See what you think.
I can understand your worries being near the Gulf with hurricane season each year. Man that’s a worry. I hope you stay clear & safe this season. I’ve had a good week at the beach here, with some good dips in the Ocean too. Have a great week.
That’s some view! I would love that, but bummer you get drenched by the wave. Hope the library is understanding. Enjoy every moment of being back in CA. and seeing family and the beach.
I am almost done with Heartland and I am also tired of Lena’s story. Just read it’s based on another story about a nurse who went missing hiking the AT.
Hi Tina, thanks. I’ve been enjoying it as much as I can so far. One day left, argh! The library book dried but it’s a little wrinkled on some pages, still might not be too bad, hmm.
Okay I’m glad you told me you’re tired of Lena too in Heartwood. I thought it was just me that tired of the character. There was just too much on her I thought! But overall I enjoyed it well enough. Look forward to your thoughts on it.
So sorry to just now hear about this lightning that hit near your house, ugh. It sounds like it really screwed with your electrical things. I hope it can be fixed but quite a pain I know! I had that happen once. talk soon.
Heartwood sounds really good!
What a beautiful view! I would be so distracted by the beauty and the water to read. Lol. I am not good at reading outside although I wish I was.
Hi Erin, thanks yes the views around here at the beach are pretty eye-catching. I’m trying to take it all in. I do like reading on the beach but it can be distracting with other beach-goers nearby. I try to tune them out and dive into the book at hand, lol. Heartwood was a quick good tale. I had to get to the bottom of it. You might like it. Have a great week, cheers!
I haven’t read these but Audition is on my TBR.
What beach is this? I live on a beach island myself in the Caribbean, so I’m always curious…I need to take a few beach days myself. Yours sound lovely.
Hi Joanne, thanks for stopping by. This is Newport Beach in California. I grew up more inland in Southern Calif. in the ’70s but we used to take trips to the beach when it was killer hot in the summer. Now I live faraway in Canada but I’m here visiting a week. It sounds nice you are in the Caribbean with plenty of beaches. I enjoyed reading on your site about your surroundings & island. It’s neat to hear about. Enjoy the waters & beauty! Cheers.
Sounds like you’re having a good time in So Cal. I am sure it feels very different without your parents, but I hope you are feeling connected to your brother. I’ve got a bunch of family here this week and it’s been wonderful!
Hi Helen, thanks. Yes it’s a bit sad and different being in my parents’ old beach cottage. Everything in here is them. But it seems they would want us to enjoy it. And I do feel connected to them here. It was nice to see my brother & niece too.
It was heartening to hear of your family gathering. Wow sounded excellent. How fun. So glad you got to enjoy some days together. Have a great week.
Sounds like you’re having a good week, and with some great reading, too. All three books have been on my radar, but I’m most likely to get to Audition… especially since it’s on the Booker longlist. Hope you enjoy the rest of your beach time. Beautiful photo!
Hi JoAnn, thanks. My beach week has been good. Like old times, except without my folks sadly. But I’ve been out & about and my brother came yesterday.
These three books were quick and quite good, particular as summer reads. I’m wondering if Audition will make it to the shortlist. I am not sure. I took more beach photos so I might post more next time. Cheers! have a good week.
Being at the beach is the best – rogue waves aside. Looks like a good reading week! I have Heartland on my TBR list.
Hi Olivia, thanks. Being at the beach is fun and good for reading. I have to go home tomorrow but it’s been pretty great. See what you think of Heartwood. It’s a pretty quick read. I’ll stop by your site soon to see what’s up there. Happy reading!
Nice to hear about your California time. I will admit that I am not much of a beach person at all. It’s that sand and how it gets into everything. Just not for me. Nice picture though. I’ve heard things about Tilt and also Heartwood. May pick those up eventually. We shall see. Have a good week!
Hi Kay, ha so you’re a non-sander. It’s okay I don’t like all the sand everywhere either. I think we became beach-goers after growing up inland nearer the desert where it was like 110+ on summer days. The beach is much cooler and the ocean refreshing. It’s the water & swimming that’s alluring … since it’s baking hot everywhere else, Lol. Tilt and Heartwood are pretty quick reads!
I hope you’re enjoying your summer break. Stay cool.
Enjoy your beach days! I wish I was there, errant waves notwithstanding. 😀
Hi Lark, thanks! It’s been really nice the past three days … idyllic beach days and the ocean has felt great. I have to go home tomorrow so one more day of bliss. You must plan a beach getaway next summer! You’d love it and so rejuvenating.
Ah, three four-star books. More for the reading list. Thank you.
Hi Dorothy, these three novels were good summer reads on my summer list. Short and pretty quick, not dull. I think you’d like them. Happy reading.
I’m glad you’re having a good time in CA! Love that photo of the sailboat with the palm trees in the background. So typical SoCal. Sorry that rogue wave got your belongings wet. Grrr. Hope the water isn’t too cold. I saw a group of tourist swimming in the ocean the other day and thought they were crazy. Our water temp in Oregon is NOT warm! 55 degrees. Brrrrrrrr.
Audition sounds a bit daunting. Probably not for me, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your review.
I was impressed with Tilt (reviewed here, where you did comment) and found myself a bit nervous about living on the Cascadia Fault line. We are somewhat prepared (go bags in our car, as well as lots of supplies here at home), but living in a forest does not bode well. I’m pretty sure the house (with us inside?!) will be crushed, so all the preparation in the world won’t save us from that. And then there’s the issue of a tsunami. And being cut off from help for weeks if not months. Fingers crossed it doesn’t happen in my lifetime.
Making a note to get Heartwood on audio. Sounds good.
I’m currently listening to Project Hail Mary and LOVING it!! What a great audiobook.
Hi Lesley, thanks. All is well here. That picture is taken looking towards Corona del Mar from Newport/Balboa. Brings back the old days. Luckily the last three days have been sunny & warm and the ocean, though cold, feels refreshing. I am doing my best not to get burned, but have gotten a bit red despite sunblock & clothes cover. Still I will go out one more day!
I just reread your Tilt review. I’m glad you liked it a lot. I was impressed too by what the author gets across. I cross my fingers a big quake like that to the NW (or the San Andreas fault in Calif.) won’t come in our lifetime. That’s my hope! They’ve been talking about it for decades, but it’s good to be prepared.
I’ve heard such good things about Project Hail Mary on audio. I must put it back on my list. Not sure why I never got to it. thanks. Enjoy your week.
Warm weather at the beach sounds great to me! It’s pretty cold here still at the moment!
Have a great week!
Hi Marg, yes you must still be in winter right? It’s heating up here. Later this week should be a scorcher. But I’ll be gone by then. Still one more day at the beach and the cold ocean feels quite refreshing. Enjoy your week too. Happy reading.
The beach looks lovely! Wishing you good travel on your journey home.
Thanks Joy, appreciate it. It’s been a nice week here and now it’s about time to go home. Much to do. Have a great week.
I haven’t read any of these, but I do love the cover of Tilt. It’s clever and eye-catching. And it also sounds interesting.
Enjoy the beach. It’s not my go-to place at all – that sand, for a start! But I know it’s essential to the happiness of some and so I wish you many happy beach hours.
Hi WG, thanks for stopping by. You’re right about the cover of Tilt … it is one I keep staring at … love the bird and the tilt to it. I think you’d like it: a disaster story with some inner reflection for the character.
I enjoy the water so the sand is something to be tolerated, lol. I like reading out there in my beach chair in the shore wind … when it’s not too hot or cold … and there’s a view of the ocean for as far as one can see. Dreamy. Have a great week.
I’m so glad you made it to the beach! I know you’ll have a wonderful time — and thanks for both the reviews and your visit to my place!
Hi Jeanie, yep it was so nice to be at the beach for a week. I’m back home now, but I really enjoyed it and the ocean was great for some swims. I hope you are enjoying your days at the lake and that your days at pretty. Cheers!
Are you still in California or are you home now? I am not much of a beach person but I might enjoy it if it was cool and overcast. Back when I was in Riverside and working in Norco, where I met my current husband, some of my coworkers lived in Newport Beach and carpooled into work together every day. I visited one of them a few times but that was in the 1970s and I don’t remember much about it.
Audition sounds good, I will look into it, or maybe something else by Kitamura. And Tilt also sounds worth a read.
I left a further comment for you on my Monthly Reading post for July, that I finally identified the flower at the bottom of that post, with the help of google. It is Yarrow (or achillea millefolium) and a few years back I actually planted some in my back fenced-in area, so I should have recognized it. But mine were yellow.
Hi Tracy, I just got back from the beach in California … where I was a week. It was a bit of a whirlwind returning. But I enjoyed being there. Interesting that you spent some time in Newport in the 1970s. We probably started going to the beach in Orange County in the later 1970s. You said that Norco was a military base in Calif. right? Cool you were in Riverside, I was in Redlands back then.
Kitamura is an interesting writer. A bit different, her protagonists are a bit mysterious.
Thx for the flower ID … interesting to hear the photo was of Yarrow. Pretty nice looking. I think I was thinking of lantana since the monarch butterflies at the beach seemed to be going crazy for the lantana in my mother’s garden. I like going back and reading your comments in regards to my comments left on your posts. It’s always informative. Thanks. Enjoy your weekend.
There is a Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Detachment in Norco. The grounds it is on has a very interesting history (that I wish I had known when we worked there). It was originally a 700-acre resort hotel complex which was turned into a Naval Hospital in 1941. Glen and I worked for a contractor for GIDEP, the Government Data Exchange Program which coordinated shared technical data between the armed forces and their industry partners. And GIDEP still exists. I cannot believe that.
My husband at the time worked at March Air Force Base near Riverside (a B-52 pilot).
Good to hear you enjoyed Audition. Of all the Booker long-listed books, it may be the one which intrigues me the most. Although, I have a feeling it could go either way, either I love it, or I don’t get on at all. Hope you managed to swim and that you had no more incidents with soaked library books. 🙂