Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash. An offbeat and quirky novel about a family consisting of mom, dad, and three daughters aged 10-17. The kids are “know-it-alls” who are smart-asses, often left alone to raise themselves as the parents are too consumed with their own problems (mainly the father trying to deal with an open marriage) to actually parent, or even buy food or keep up the house. Everyone was all very annoying, but it all came together, and ironically, “War Crimes Wes,” the 17-year-old daughter’s boyfriend, turned out to be the hero. At first, I loved it; then it bogged a little in the middle, but all came together by the final scene. Readers of Kevin Wilson’s quirky novels may want to give this a try.
See One, Do One, Teach One by Grace Farris, MD. This is a lovely graphic memoir about becoming a doctor, starting with pre-med classes, and ending with a residency in a Boston hospital. It was simple in the way each level of advancement was explained, but there was also an undercurrent of heart and of how all the apprehension about whether it was the right career decision came together. This is perfect for fans of Lucy Knisley’s graphic memoirs. This might also be a good read for those who like the current TV program The Pitt, although the memoir’s grittiness is implied rather than graphic.
Before I continue with what I read over the course of my high school years, I have a puzzle I’ve never figured out, and probably never will. So the librarian at the Cottage Grove Library was “Miss Clark,” a stick-thin woman who I thought of as “elderly,” but who was probably in her 50s, maybe early 60s. A number of years later, she retired and was replaced by her daughter, also, “Miss Clark.” OK, so if the first librarian had a daughter, why was she “MISS Clark”? Today, I wouldn’t think much about it, but this was the early 1960s!
As I headed into my mid-teens, I had read all of the Harold Robbins and Victoria Holt books I could find, so it was time to focus on more “mature” reading. During the summer between 8th and 9th grades, I picked pole beans for school clothes money and read Gone With the Wind while “laying out” in the backyard (slathered in baby oil, natch). It was tough going, mainly because the edition I was reading had double-column text, but I struggled through, immersing myself in Civil War times with Scarlett and the gang.
Other books I remember reading during my teen years included I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith, which I loved because it was set in a crumbling manor and involved family drama; Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk (a few years ago I loved Ann Hood’s Morningstar, a nostalgic look at her growing years, reading many of the same books I did); That Man Cartwright by Ann Fairbairn (if you can’t guess, I loved thick books); and the scariest novel ever written (in my opinion), The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson.
But there are three books that left an impression on me, two of which are because of the circumstances surrounding the setting, and the third, well, you’ll find out…
The first is Hotel by Arthur Hailey. I believe Hailey was one of the first authors to do what is now called “immersion journalism,” where extensive time is spent in a facility and then writing about it (think Nickel and Dimed). In 1964, he spent two months living at the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans and then wrote a novel based on the lodging’s inner workings.
Anyway, I was about 15 years old and alone at home on a Saturday night, and I decided to try a bit of clandestine drinking from my parents’ alcohol stash. Well, to quote a book title by David Foster Wallace, that was “A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again.” Not only was it difficult to read while the words swam across the page, but I also passed out (I wasn’t much for holding my booze and still aren’t). Anyway, once I got over my hangover the next day, I finished the book and thoroughly enjoyed it, which led to my continued fascination with books by “industry insiders.” (And no, my parents never found out.)
My second memorable reading experience didn’t involve drinking, but it still left a scar. I was “hired” (aka coerced) to babysit for a couple who were going out with my parents, so I had to do it in their motel room. OK, so the good news is that I remembered to bring a book, The Hurricane Years by Cameron Hawley, but the bad news is that I only had 45 pages left and overestimated how long it would take to finish it. So that meant I had to spend a couple of hours before everyone returned, with nothing to read, and the TV off, lest I wake the kids. It. Was. Torture. To this day, I probably go overboard with how many books I keep in the car (plus two Kindles), lest I get stuck again with nothing to read.
My third memorable reading experience involved my continued interest in reading about the “birds and the bees.” One day, I was heading home from school and stopped at the corner store. I was buying Buddig cold cuts when my eyes were drawn to a yellow cover on the paperback rack, and I heard the angels sing. Since all of my sex ed had come from novels, David Reuben’s Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex, a compendium of “expert” information, was something I just had to get my hands on. So after handing over $1.25 from my hard-earned waitress tips, I took it home in a brown paper bag and stuck it under my mattress. At this point in my teen years, I was not only attending high school classes in the morning, but then driving to Eugene for a few community college classes, returning to Cottage Grove for my waitressing shift at Pep’s Drive-In, plus trying to see my boyfriend; however, I managed to read a few pages now and then to complete my education. (Yes, it later became controversial over some of the misconceptions and views. For more information, read this article.)
Next post, I’ll cover how I learned to love (some) assigned reading and discovered more trashy magazines.
If you missed my earlier reading history posts, you can find them by scrolling a few posts down.
Here are my reports on four novels I read over the past few months. But first, let’s play a game. Which two books did I include in an earlier post? See, I’ll bet you, like me, won’t remember. Am I right? 😉
The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman. Set over one evening in a high-end restaurant preparing for a special dinner featuring John Grisham, the staff discovers that most of the rib-eye steaks have been stolen. From there, the narration is from the POV of all staff as they try to work around the theft and also prepare for a busy evening. At first, I liked it as I love “back-room” stories set in restaurants, and it reminded me of Anthony Bourdain’s observations, but then it bogged down, and I didn’t really care who stole the damn meat. It had an unexpected ending that slightly redeemed the story, but overall, I wouldn’t give it a high recommendation.
The Fourth Wife by Linda Hamilton. This had me at “Mormon Gothic.” Set in 1879 Salt Lake City, a man takes his fourth wife to his decrepit mansion, where she gets to know her sister wives and encounters a ghost that seems to inhabit the house. This “Haunting of Hill House” meets “19th Wife” vibe kept me interested, and I recommend it to anyone who loved Victoria Holt, but with a twist.
The Lake Effect by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney. I loved this author’s debut novel about family dynamics, THE NEST, so I was looking forward to this book, which also features lots of family dysfunction. In 1977, two neighboring families are blown apart when a husband runs away with the neighboring wife (there is a heartbreaking scene when the young daughter watches them drive away), and how the ensuing divorces affect the entire families over the next 20 years. I couldn’t put this down and recommend for readers of Ann Tyler, Ann Patchett, and Catherine Newman’s SANDWICH. It’s also perfect for book groups.
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. In 1978, I read The Mirror by Marlys Millhiser, a time-travel story about a young woman who looks into an antique mirror and is transported back to 1900, where she “comes to” as her grandmother (yeah, it was a little weird), which rocked the world of library patrons. I expected Yesteryear to be somewhat of a plagiarism of Millhiser’s book, but it turned out quite different. A “tradwife influencer” living the perfect pioneer life (think Ballerina Farm) wakes up to find herself on the same farm, only it is 1805. Is it a hoax, a new reality show, or did she really go back in time? The final mind-bending, unsettling ending is a little convoluted but fascinating, and it will spark a lot of discussion among book groups.
Cameron Crowe – The Uncool. If you’ve seen the movies Almost Famous or Fast Times at Ridgemont High (or read the book), then you may be familiar with Cameron. But did you also know he was a wunderkid who, by age 16, was interviewing and writing articles about (and at times touring) with Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, and Fleetwood Mac, and once spent a few months with David Bowie? His memoir includes stories about being with the bands, the arc of his career, and stories about his family life. I was enthralled, but my only criticism is that it wasn’t nearly long enough, and he needs to write a sequel.
David Archuleta – Devout. If anyone remembers David Archuleta from the 2008 American Idol season, you’ll most likely remember his angelic voice singing “Imagine” (I wept). This is his story about how he, as an upstanding member of the Mormon Church, came out in 2021 as part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and how it affected his family. This is excellent in audio and is one of my favorite memoirs of the year.
Christina Applegate – You With the Sad Eyes. I enjoyed Applegate in the TV show Married With Children, and while I wasn’t that familiar with her later career, I enjoyed reading this memoir about her trials over the years with abuse, breast cancer, and her current affliction, multiple sclerosis. She is very candid and sometimes funny, but a few times was a little annoying (later in the book she talks about recently lighting a cigarette, and, sorry, I couldn’t help but be a little judgey).
Lindy West – Adult Braces. I haven’t read her earlier books, nor have I watched her TV show, Shrill, but for the most part enjoyed her story about trying to come to terms with an unorthodox marriage (that includes a third person) while on a road trip across the U.S. I enjoyed the road trip part, but I’m not sure I’m buying into her final decision.
Next up, I’m looking forward to Liza Minelli’s recent release, Kids! Wait Till You Hear This! and Lisa Rinna’s You Better Believe I’m Going to Talk About It.
Thanks to everyone who is following my reading journey. If you missed my previous musings, links are at the end of this post.
Once I exhausted all of the mystery series and started finding the children’s books a little, well, childish, I decided it was time to make a run to the right of the desk where the adult books were shelved. So one day, I skulked past the gimlet eye of Miss Clark and entered a whole new world of books. At first glance, many seemed a bit beyond my ken, but it didn’t take long to discover a treasure trove of books with “teen” spine stickers mixed in with the fiction. After loading my arms for the long trek home, I soon found myself immersed in the exciting new world of teen troubles.
Young Adult Books, 1950s/1960s Style
As a dweeby sixth-grader with frumpy dresses and a home perm who so badly wanted to be popular, I found books by Anne Emery and Rosamond du Jardin a balm for my tween angst. All dealt with teen trials and tribulations, both frivolous and thoughtful, but mostly I identified with the stories where the main character was trying to be part of the cool kids’ group. Oh, and boy trouble…
Anne Emery’s Dinny Gordon series featured a teen whose career goal was to be an archaeologist, which sparked my interest in also exploring ruins and going to Egypt (spoiler alert: it didn’t happen). The series covered Dinny’s freshman through senior years, and I devoured them all. Another favorite by this author was The Popular Crowd, which I read multiple times.
Rosamond du Jardin wrote in a similar vein, and I plowed through all of her books, such as Class Ring, Boy Trouble, and One of the Crowd, which were all part of the Tobey and Midge Heydon series. Here is a lovely description of parents in a simpler era:
“The Heydon family resides in the town of Edgewood where Mr. Heydon sells plumbing supplies and Mrs. Heydon is a homemaker who enjoys baking chocolate cakes and lemon cream pie.”
I also read books by Janet Lambert and Betty Cavanna, and continue my interest in the medical profession, novels like Candy Stripers. Occasionally, I wandered into the nonfiction aisle and picked up books on Oregon history (Sacajawea was a favorite) and astronomy.
Mad about Magazines
As I mentioned in an earlier post, my magazine addiction started in grade school with the distribution of the Weekly Reader, and it wasn’t long before I got hooked on the hard stuff. In 1964, the Beatles took over the imagination of tween/teen girls (and yes, I was one, although I became more of Herman’s Hermits fan), and I started noticing magazines such as ‘Teen, Tiger Beat, 16, and more. With such lurid headlines as “Beatles Weird Wishes” and “Herman’s Wild Life!” it was easy to part with my allowance so I could follow the latest about my idols.
16 Magazine was my favorite, and I remember a contest where one “lucky” reader could win Herman’s (Peter Noone) snaggle canine tooth he’d had removed. (I hope no one thinks less of me when I admit I actually entered that creepy contest.) I didn’t read Tiger Beat very often (think it was hard to find), but I enjoyed Ann Moses’ recent memoir, Meow!: My Groovy Life with Tiger Beat’s Teen Idols, with lots of juicy behind-the-scenes revelations and interactions with the stars of the day.
‘Teen magazine was another fave that I read religiously. I don’t remember many of the articles, but I did lust after the fashions (especially the go-go boots) and perused the Pen Pal page to see who might have the same interests I did–you know, books, boys, and surfing–OK, so maybe I didn’t surf, but it was cool to think I could.
I also discovered MAD magazine, and even though I’m sure much of the content went right over my head, I thought it was hilarious, especially the movie and TV show satires. I still remember my brother and me listening to the 33 1/3 RPM record insert of “It’s a Gas” and giggling uncontrollably. If you have never had the pleasure of hearing this classic, listen to it here.
(NOTE: photo below is after I discovered I could be cool when I emulated Cher’s look.)
Next up: I discover smut and the start of my love for psychological suspense.
Fun City Heist by Micahel Kardos. I’ve enjoyed this author’s light thrillers, and I’m happy to report this was an extremely fun romp. It’s short, quick, and perfect for those who like a good heist thriller, such as Irwin Shaw’s Nightwork (an oldie, but it is great fun) and the movie Oceans 11. 4 stars
The Left and the Lucky by Willy Vlautin (Oregon author). Willy has once again written an amazing novel about misfits who face the bad odds life has dealt them. Taking place in Portland, this features a hardworking house painter who takes in a neighbor’s boy whose family life is in tatters. If you’ve read Vlautin, you will recognize his talent for tearing your heart apart and then mending it with jagged stitches, and this is no exception. Also, if you’ve read Vlautin, you will wonder about me calling it a “feel-good” story, but this one is – really! A friend compared it to books by Frederik Backman. To be published in mid-April 2026. 5 stars
The Lake Effect by Cynthia A’Aprix Sweeney. This author’s first book, The Nest, remains one of my favorite novels of family dynamics, and this compelling novel about two families torn apart by infidelity and divorce is also well done. This reminded me of Patrick Ryan’s Buckeye, only the pace was a little faster. Readers of Clare Leslie Hall’s Broken Country and Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings will enjoy this. 5 stars.
Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. There is already a lot of buzz about this offbeat novel about a “tradwife” influencer with multiple children living on a big farm (think Ballerina Farm — Google it if needed) and profiting from millions of followers for her depiction of a perfect life. At first, this seemed similar to Marlys Milhiser’s 48-year-old time-travel novel, The Mirror, but it is so much more than that. Definitely a mindbender, and nothing is what it seems. To be published April 7. I could be wrong (and yes, sometimes I am), but it could be big. 4.5 stars
I love a good psychological thriller and was in the mood for more, so I tried these new books, which ultimately left me a little disappointed, especially after reading two barnburners earlier this year (My Husband’s Wife and The One). My thoughts:
Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston. I loved her earlier book, First Lie Wins, and was eagerly awaiting her next book. However, it fell flat and was at times tedious, mainly because the timelines jumped around and I got confused about who was who. I skimmed to the end and wasn’t impressed with the ending either. As usual, your mileage may vary; some have loved it, while others felt the way I did.
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins. I enjoyed her earlier book, The Villa, a suspense novel set during the summer Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, so I was looking forward to this one. It started out well, with an appealing setting (a small Alabama beach-town hotel) prone to hurricanes and likable characters. It flipped around on the timeline, but it wasn’t confusing, and the finale was fine, not mindbending but it made sense. This would be a good book to read with sand between your toes.
It’s Not Her by Mary Kubica. I read so many good reviews of this, and despite the unappealing characters (especially the two teens), I raced through this. Unfortunately, when it was revealed who caused the murders, my heart sank. I don’t want to say more, but I have a problem with the ones who were responsible and that ruined the ending. I also didn’t care for the final final revelation. But that’s just me… (If you want more of an explanation, send me a message.)
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James. I started this in audio, which was very well done with three separate narrators, but had to finish in book form as my audio loan ended, and that was OK (an occurrence that often happens). I enjoyed her earlier book, The Sun Down Motel, and found the spooky vibes right up my alley (chilling but not gruesome). This is the author’s latest book, and it has a strong premise: three adult siblings return to their childhood home after being summoned by the ghost of Ben, their younger brother, who disappeared when he was six. This had ghosts galore (real ones), and it rolled along fairly well, but the ending was rushed, with no real details about what happened in their childhood. I gave it 3 stars.
Way back in grade school, I read Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell, and ever since, I have chased the high of that magical experience. In the 1970s, I found a bit of that magic by discovering Children of Cape Horn by Rosie Swale and Adrift by Steve Callahan, along with other survival and true adventure stories.
I wasn’t sure Marriage at Sea would scratch my itch for adventure, as delving into the dynamics of a marriage while surviving in the middle of the ocean (and Maralyn couldn’t swim!) didn’t seem that riveting. However, as soon as I started it, I realized I had read the book it was based on, Staying Alive, by Maurice and Maralyn Bailey, years ago. I had forgotten much of the story of how their sailboat was upended by a whale, and what they had to do to survive on a raft for over 115 days, so it was an interesting revisit, especially since the experience was viewed through a different lens. But what was most interesting was the “after” story of how they (and their relationship) survived the attention of the press, and what they had to do to earn a living.
For those of you craving a couple of “popcorn” psychological thrillers, do I have some recommendations for you!
The first is Alice Feeney’s My Husband’s Wife: Hooboy, that was one twisted mess, and I mean that in a good way. This author’s books have run hot and cold; the last two weren’t that great, but this one is a “banger.” It’s difficult to talk more about it without giving anything away, but just know it will keep you glued to your couch. If you prefer to listen to your books, I hear the audio is excellent, with multiple points of view and various narrators. Is it a perfect thriller? No, there are a few places you’ll be scratching your head, wondering how this happened and why didn’t someone notice “something,” and I’m still not sure I have it all figured out, but it’s a great roller coaster ride, nonetheless. This is perfect for fans of psychological suspense, such as Shari Lapena, Freida McFadden, Ruth Ware, and Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins.
The other one that had a breakneck pace was The One by John Marrs. It is a psychological suspense with a futuristic twist, and the idea of taking a DNA test to find your perfect soulmate is fascinating, but does it really work? Marrs takes on this idea for his novel, told from the viewpoints of those who have found their perfect match, with some successes (love at first sight) and some that could be called failures (the mates are dead or dying, or one is a serial killer — I know!). Marrs pulls out all of the stops in the never-ending twists in this story. I’ll for sure be reading more by this author.
This is good for fans of Dean Koontz and David Ellis’s Look Closer.
For the first half, I was ready to give this 5 stars, but it bogged down when he started delving into his experience learning to direct, although there are those who may find it more interesting than I did, so keep that in mind. I was surprised by how many TV shows he appeared in as a kid (Leave It to Beaver, Bonanza), and by the number of famous actors he worked with in various movies. Of course, his big break came when he starred in Animal House. From there, his career went through various levels of success, culminating in a West Wing role and then the Virgin River series. Even though he had a somewhat wild young adulthood (with various side eyes from me for his alley cat morals), he eventually settled down and had a family. Tim appears to be a genial guy who writes candidly about his experiences and peccadillos, but never wanders into dishing dirt on fellow colleagues (dang!), with the worst criticism being for Rob Lowe, who “stole” his nanny.
All in all, I enjoyed this and would recommend it for those who want to know more about his life and experiences, especially in the entertainment world. For similar reading experiences about those in the world of acting, try Henry Winkler’s engaging memoir Being Henry, Pamela Anderson’s Love Pamela, and Matthew McConaughey’s Greenlights.
Young Adult Books, 1950s/1960s Style
reader could win Herman’s (Peter Noone) snaggle canine tooth he’d had removed. (I hope no one thinks less of me when I admit I actually entered that creepy contest.) I didn’t read Tiger Beat very often (think it was hard to find), but I enjoyed Ann Moses’ recent memoir, 
I also discovered MAD magazine, and even though I’m sure much of the content went right over my head, I thought it was hilarious, especially the movie and TV show satires. I still remember my brother and me listening to the 33 1/3 RPM record insert of “It’s a Gas” and giggling uncontrollably. If you have never had the pleasure of hearing this classic, listen to it 
ROBIN'S BOOKS 