April was a good book month and I really dove in deep into the audiobook (7!) and memoire world. And I loved it. So many good books but my favorite a debut about death – I know but it’s great. I managed to snatch three more books for my TBR stack as well – not that I am running out of books to read but oh well. Anyway let’s dive right into the book talk April 2025 edition.
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer | ★★★★☆
Book Blurb: From the day she watched her kindergarten teacher drop dead during a dramatic telling of Peter Rabbit, Clover Brooks has felt a stronger connection with the dying than she has with the living. After the beloved grandfather who raised her dies alone while she is traveling, Clover becomes a death doula in New York City, dedicating her life to ushering people peacefully through their end-of-life process.
Clover spends so much time with the dying that she has no life of her own, until the final wishes of a feisty old woman send Clover on a trip across the country to uncover a forgotten love story––and perhaps, her own happy ending. As she finds herself struggling to navigate the uncharted roads of romance and friendship, Clover is forced to examine what she really wants, and whether she’ll have the courage to go after it.
First Sentence: The first time I watched someone die, I was five.
What I thought: I loved this book. It is revolving around the topic death and how it is such a taboo topic even though it’s part of life. But more so I think it is about finding yourself, living life without regret, not being scared to experience joy, celebrate life and just live. It is about friendship – I especially loved the Leo-Clover friendship – and stepping out of your comfort zone and of course love. Highly recommend. And I am looking forward to more books by this author.
Elevate count: 1
Characters: Clover Brooks, 36 – death doula, Leo, 87 – elderly neighbor, Silvie – new neighbor, Sebastian – client, Claudia – grandma to Sebastian, Hugo – landscape architect
Setting: mainly New York and trip to Jersey
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title “Dieses schöne Leben”
Recommend to: Everyone loving a thoughtful, multilayered story with deep characters that leaves you with food for thought.
Author’s Origin: born in Tasmania, Australia | July 19xx
Read Around the World: Logged for Australia in my Read Around the World Challenge
Heard of/Recommended by: I wish I knew. Maybe Meike?
Additional Note: Mikki Brammer has a beautiful Instagram feed with lovely images of architecture, art and light-shadow play.
Will by Will Smith | ★★★★☆
Book Blurb:: Will Smith’s transformation from a West Philadelphia kid to one of the biggest rap stars of his era, and then one of the biggest movie stars in Hollywood history, is an epic tale—but it’s only half the story.
Will Smith thought, with good reason, that he had won at life: not only was his own success unparalleled, his whole family was at the pinnacle of the entertainment world. Only they didn’t see it that way: they felt more like star performers in his circus, a seven-days-a-week job they hadn’t signed up for. It turned out Will Smith’s education wasn’t nearly over.
First Sentence: When I was eleven years old my father decided he needed a new wall on the front of his shop.
What I thought: Very entertaining with great narration and musical snippets. I was not aware how famous Will Smith music career had been and how he paved the way in certain fields. While he is celebrating his wins and listing his accomplishments he also shares his belief system and how hard he worked to get where he is. However he also shares where he has short comings, where he lost focus of priorities and how he tries to be better. I was impressed that he has surrounded himself throughout his career with friends, family and loved ones and how loyal he has been to the community. Another interesting take is the relationship with Jada and how they live their life outside of norm.
Elevate count: not counted – audiobook
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title “Will”
Recommend to: Everyone wanting to learn more about the movie star and what drives him and get a feel of his strategic tackle on being where he is.
Author’s Origin: born in Philadelphia, U.S.A. | September 25th, 1968
Additional note: I can also recommend watching is show “Welcome to Earth” on Disney. So good.
The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston | ★★★✶☆
Book Blurb: Florence Day is the ghostwriter for one of the most prolific romance authors in the industry, and she has a problem—after a terrible breakup, she no longer believes in love. It’s as good as dead. When her new editor, a too-handsome mountain of a man, won’t give her an extension on her book deadline, Florence prepares to kiss her career goodbye. But then she gets a phone call she never wanted to receive, and she must return home for the first time in a decade to help her family bury her beloved father.
First Sentence: In the back-left corner of the Days gone Funeral Home, underneath a loose floorboard, there was a metal box with a bunch of old journals inside.
What I thought: My first intentional romance novel of the year was a spur of the moment pick and it was so great. It was corny and over the top and had ghosts and I loved it. Perfect book at the perfect time. And a murder of crows made an appearance which reminded me of this blog post about groups of animals.
Elevate count: none found – audiobook
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title – no translation as of right now found.
Recommend to: Everyone loving ghost stories, romance and doesn’t shy away from death.
Author’s Origin: born in South Carolina, U.S.A. | June 1990
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop | ★★★✶☆
Book Blurb: A candid and captivating memoir from award-winning and beloved actress Kelly Bishop, spanning her six decades in show business from Broadway to Hollywood with A Chorus Line, Dirty Dancing, Gilmore Girls, and much more.
Kelly Bishop’s long, storied career has been defined by landmark achievements, from winning a Tony Award for her turn in the original Broadway cast of A Chorus Line to her memorable performance as Jennifer Grey’s mother in Dirty Dancing. But it is probably her iconic role as matriarch Emily in the modern classic Gilmore Girls that cemented her legacy.
First Sentence: Looking back, it still fascinates me how a single, seemingly ordinary phone call changed my life.
What I thought: This was such a great audiobook. I loved it. And let’s be totally honest I now love Emily Gilmore even more with all the background info.
I was really impressed by her life, the approach she took, the determination. Most of all I felts so much warmth when she shared snippets from her marriage, the commitment, joy and equality that marriage seemed to have. The cancer struggle over decades. Th love for the showbiz not to become famous just to work hard and enjoy the community on set. Loved it all. I had no recollection of seeing her I Dirty Dancing though. How did I not know this? I’ve seen this film so many times…
Elevate count: none found – audiobook
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title – no translation as of right now found.
Recommend to: Everyone loving Gilmore Girls, loving behind the scenes of show biz and loves reading about a self made woman.
Author’s Origin: born in Colorado Springs, U.S.A. | February 28th, 1948
Heard of/Recommended by: Engie and Julie
Hard Land by Benedict Wells | ★★★✶☆
Book Blurb: Missouri, 1985: To escape the problems at home, fifteen-year-old Sam takes a vacation job in an old movie theater. And for one magical summer, everything is turned upside down. He makes friends, falls in love and discovers the secrets of his home town. For the first time, he is no longer an inconspicuous outsider. Until something happens that forces him to grow up. A homage to 80’s coming-of-age films such as ‘The Breakfast Club’ and ‘Stand By Me’ – the story of a summer you will never forget.
First Sentence: In diesem Sommer verliebte ich mich, und meine Mutter starb. (That summer I fell in love and my mother died.)
What I thought: This was a slow read somehow. I had expected it to be easier flowing – maybe it was because I had too many books going on at the same time. But I loved how Wells conjured up the feeling of that one special summer when freedom and adventure are the core of your being while life in all its ugliness is still happening and has you grow up faster then you like. That feeling of long summer days and freedom… I think we all have that one summer. And my own feeling carried this book. I enjoyed it. The growing up, the loss of friendship when seniors and siblings leave town, the struggle of small towns to survive, the relationship between parents and teenagers. Well done.
Elevate count: none
Characters: Samuel “Sam”, 15 – high school student, Jean – sister, Annie – mother, Kirstie –daughter of movie theater owner, Hightower & Cameron – employees in movie theater and high school seniors
Setting: small town in Missouri called Grady
Medium: paperback
Original Language and Title: German
Publications: a lot but not in English unfortunately
Recommend to: Everyone wanting to get the feeling of growing up in the 80s and remember that one special summer.
Author’s Origin: born in Munich, Germany | February 29th, 1984
Additional note: birthday gift from my best friend
Die Butterbrotbriefe by Carsten Henn | ★★★☆☆
Book Blurb: Is life chance or fate? Who still writes letters today? Real letters, on paper, by hand? Kati Waldstein, who at almost 40 wants to start a new life and writes farewell letters to everyone who has influenced her – in whatever way. A friendly supermarket cashier, a strict math teacher, an indifferent ex-husband. 37 letters in total. She uses sandwich paper that her father collected over decades. Then she meets Severin, who had to leave his life as a piano tuner behind because of an accident he caused. And he has good reason to believe that Kati and her hometown are his destiny. They both need to understand: Fate may determine who comes into our lives, but the heart determines who stays in them.
First Sentence: Meist verteilt das Schicksal Schläge. (Most of the time, fate deals out blows.)
What I thought: Its my third book by this author and I do enjoy his stories. However this one was my least favorite to be honest. Not sure why.
Elevate count: none found – audiobook
Characters: Kati Waldstein, Severin – piano tuner
Setting: small town
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: German ”
Publications: English title not yet translated but one of his previous books has
Recommend to: Everyone loving a heartwarming story about reflection, purpose and a slow romance.
Author’s Origin: born in Cologne, Germany | October 29, 1973
Additional note: Also reviews on this blog “The Door-to-Door Bookstore” and “Geschichtenbäcker“
Fever Dream by Samanta Schweblin | ★★★☆☆
Book Blurb:: A young woman named Amanda lies dying in a rural hospital clinic. A boy named David sits beside her. She’s not his mother. He’s not her child. Together, they tell a haunting story of broken souls, toxins, looming environmental and spiritual catastrophes, and the ties that bind a parent to a child.
Fever Dream is a nightmare come to life, a ghost story for the real world, a love story and a cautionary tale. Samanta Schweblin creates an aura of strange psychological menace and otherworldly reality in this absorbing, taut, unsettling novel. Fresh and startling, this is like nothing you’ve ever read before.
First Sentence: They’re like worms.
What I thought: What did I just read? Such a strange book. Fever dream. Never has a book title hit it that perfectly. I really can’t say much more. I don’t think I fully gotten the story. I am not even sure there was a plot. But it kept me reading. I wasn’t bored and yet I have no idea what just happened. Truely weird and different.
Elevate count: none
Characters: Amanda – dying person, David – kid, Nina – Amanda’s daughter, Carla – David’s mother
Setting: hospital
Medium: ebook through library
Original Language and Title: Spanish “Distancia de rescate”
Publications: German title “Das Gift”
Recommend to: I really am not sure. This is so strange that it can be hit or miss. Your decision.
Author’s Origin: born in Buenos Aires, Argentina | 1978
Read Around the World: logged for Argentina in my Read Around the World challenge
Hello, habits by Fumio Sasaki | ★★★☆☆
Book Blurb: Fumio Sasaki changed his life when he became a minimalist. But before minimalism could really stick, he had to make it a habit. All of us live our lives based on the habits we’ve formed, from when we get up in the morning to what we eat and drink to how likely we are to actually make it to the gym. In Hello, Habits, Sasaki explains how we can acquire the new habits that we want – and get rid of the ones that don’t do us any good.
Drawing on leading theories and tips about the science of habit formation from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and sociology, along with examples from popular culture and tried-and-tested techniques from his own life, he unravels common misperceptions about “willpower” and “talent,” and offers a step-by-step guide to success. Ultimately, Sasaki shows how ordinary people like himself can use his principles of good habit-making to improve themselves and change their lives.
First Sentence: What is will power.
What I thought: As always listing to these kind of books is hard as a lot of information just passes me by. But it was interesting. Sasaki lists 50 things in order to gain or loose a habit. And I am sure it would be of value to have them all listed on a piece of paper. I didn’t keep notes and figured I go back – I didn’t. So it’s a bit hard to review now. overall not a waste of time but maybe the print version would be better. I now really wished I had noted down the 50 tips.
Elevate count: none counted – audiobook
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German title “Hello, habit”
Recommend to: Everyone in seeking to learn more about habits and needed a checklist or step by step guide to get there.
Author’s Origin: born in Takamatsu, Japan | July 23rd, 1979
Read Around the World: Logged for Japan in my Read Around The World Challenge
Additional note: Also reviews by this author “Goodbye, Things”
Flat Broke with two goats by Jennifer McGaha | ★★☆☆☆
Book Blurb: Jennifer McGaha never expected to own a goat named Merle. Or to be setting Merle up on dates and naming his doeling Merlene. She didn’t expect to be buying organic yogurt for her chickens. She never thought she would be pulling camouflage carpet off her ceiling or rescuing opossums from her barn and calling it “date night.” Most importantly, Jennifer never thought she would only have $4.57 in her bank account. When Jennifer discovered that she and her husband owed back taxes-a lot of back taxes-her world changed. Now desperate to save money, they foreclosed on their beloved suburban home and moved their family to a one-hundred-year-old cabin in a North Carolina holler.
First Sentence: I was upstairs folding laundry when I heard the horn.
What I thought: Honestly this was a waste of time. A privileged white person living above her means suddenly realizing it all crumbles movie to a cabin and then telling it like she is finding some new light while still going out to dinners, doing craft beer tastings and sending kids to private school. There was more eye rolling than inspiration. And on top of all that the writing was so mediocre… from a self proclaimed writer and college teacher. Sigh.
Elevate count: no clue – audiobook
Medium: audiobook through library
Original Language and Title: English
Publications: German no translation found
Recommend to: no one to be honest.
Author’s Origin: born in U.S.A. | 1968
Heard of/Recommended by: The Girl Next Door Podcast
Book Stats for April
Books I couldn’t finish
Keeping track of the books that weren’t right for me. This month it was:
- Talking as fast as I can by Lauren Graham – not funny, poorly narrated
- Heimsuchung by Jenny Erpenbeck – DNFed at 29%y wasn’t bad but had to return to the library and I had no motivation to finish in time.
- The 5am club by Robin Sharma –DNFed at 4%, hated the narrator.
New books on the shelves
Always buying books even though I am trying to reduce my TBR pile. Here is this month purchases. Please hold me accountable and ask if I read them or just piled them up.
- The Enchanted Castle by E. Nesbit – little free library
- Brüder wie Freunde by Klaus Kordon – little free library
- Hallo? Ist da jemand by Jostein Gaarder – Ebay for 3,55€ for my Gaarder collection
What is your ratio on audiobooks vs reading books? Any of the above books you enjoyed as well? Do you enjoy ghost stories? What is the last book you DNFed? Name a book you read last month I should put on my TBR!
2 comments
This was so fun to read, Tobia! So many good books. “Will” was not on my radar, but now I’m curious about it! I feel like I grew up watching Will Smith’s career, from Fresh Prince to rapper to movie star, so I would be interested to learn more about him. It seems like he has made some perplexing choices in the past few years, though — maybe he addresses some of them in his book.
He definitely does. He reflects on his own shortcomings and the things that made him stop in his tracks and acknowledge that he may be on the way to (more) success but maybe not on his (families) way to happiness. I still can’t understand the consequences he took but I understand why he chose that way. Enjoy if you pick it up.