Hi JoAnn, so cool you got to hear Lily King speak … I have read three of her novels and I sort of wonder if I liked Euphoria best … though others haven’t. I just liked the whole aspect of Margaret Mead and the complex times in the jungle in New Guinea, which were hard & fascinating.
I didn’t realize you’d read the Cranes novel. It is sad … but I think I was drawn to read it due to what my family went through not long ago. Felt pretty real.
And Flesh is succinct … but has some trigger warnings to it … sad but also worth it. I was surprised it won the Booker over Kiran Desai’s novel … which I hope to read sometime this year. Are you interested in any of the online classes at Politics and Prose? I hope this Wharton class will be good, I think so.
Good luck with your nonfiction reading. I still have to force myself a bit — I like fiction so much. Cheers! Happy reading.

Thanks Rachel, I’m continuing with pink skies, lol. I can understand — a couple of these books might not be for everyone … due to sadness or subject matter. For some reason, I keep picking up novels on aging or parents with problems — I think I’m still reliving or trying to deal with what I went through with my folks. Hmm. Hope you have happier reads.

Hi Olivia, I understand how terrible it is watching from afar the U.S. these days. It’s nuts and sad. Not sure when any common sense will return.
And I’m glad you’re doing the Nonfiction Challenge too. Will be nice to see everyone’s titles etc.
Luckily these books I reviewed kept me hooked over Christmas & New Year’s. But maybe lighter ones would be nice too. Cheers!

When the Cranes Fly South was very well done and realistic, yet I found it so sad that I’ve had a hard time recommending it.

Heart the Lover was one of my favorites of 2025 and hearing Lily King speak at R.J.Julia in Madison, CT added to my appreciation. Now I’m thinking about reading her entire backlist.

I’m on the fence as far as Flesh goes, but the fact that it’s succinct, has a lot of dialog, and reads quickly increases the likelihood that I’ll grab it off the shelf if I find it at my library. Good luck with the Nonfiction Challenge. I’m planning to read more nonfiction this year, too.

Hope you have a wonderful week!

I joined the Nonfiction Challenge as well.

You’ve been reading some intense books!

Hi Jane, I think we will need more pink sky photos as a tonic for the news … & keeping strong. Your skies in Colorado I’m sure are amazing.
Glad to hear you like Wharton … and her novel Ethan Frome which I also loved. More Wharton I think will be good for me. And some nonfiction this year too.
Heart the Lover is a quick read … and you don’t have to think too much ….the pages fly by. See what you think when you get to it.
Enjoy your week & happy reading.

I appreciated the pink sky photo. The skies in CO have been so pretty in the morning–all pink and golden and pale blue.

I like Edith Wharton, and I loved Ethan Frome when I reread it a few years ago. Good for you, signing up for a class. I love doing stuff like that.

Good luck grazing in the nonfiction meadow. So many delicious books to feast on over there.

I got Heart the Lover from the library before Xmas, but never felt motivated to read it. Sounds good, though.

Hi Jeanie, yeah we have to take these (rare) pink skies when we see them … either weather-wise or in the news. I think this is my first challenge (other than summer’s) but it’s totally open with no real requirements … which works for me. Good luck with your stacks. And Happy reading.

Hi Joy, thanks, yeah I didn’t realize the bookstore was offering all the online classes …. I will try one out, and I might do others if this goes well.
Keep up the resistance there.