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ClareR (6134 KP) rated The sentence in Books

May 1, 2022  
The sentence
The sentence
Louise Erdrich | 2022 | Contemporary, Fiction & Poetry
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I don’t envy whoever has to narrow down the books on the Women’s Prize 2022 from the long list to the shortlist this year. The books I’ve read so far I’ve enjoyed all equally.

The Sentence is, amongst other things, a book about books. It’s also a book about Tookie, who works in a bookshop and is haunted by a deceased customer. Tookie has a colourful past, which involves imprisonment after it was discovered she had smuggled drugs over county lines, strapped to the corpse of a friends boyfriend. She didn’t know about the drugs, but she certainly knew about the dead body! Prison gave her plenty of time to read, and she leaves prison with a huge knowledge of literature.

On release Tookie gets a job in a Native American bookshop, and marries the Police officer who arrested her. Like her, he is also Native American.

This is a book of two halves: before and during the Covid-19 pandemic. The ghost of the customer, Flora, remains in the bookshop for most of the book, whilst Minneapolis sees a lot of important things going on: the death of George Floyd, Black Lives Matter marches, the Covid-19 epidemic, isolation from friends and family, illness, near death experiences and the importance of heritage.

I loved this book. Like I’ve said, I’m just glad that I won’t have to decide the Women’s Prize winner. I still have some books to read from the long list, which I still want to read even though the shortlist has been announced - so watch this space!
  
The Krampus's First Christmas Gift (An MM Monster Christmas #6)
The Krampus's First Christmas Gift (An MM Monster Christmas #6)
Gigi Rivers | 2025 | LGBTQ+, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
THE KRAMPUS'S FIRST CHRISTMAS GIFT is the sixth novel in the MM Monster Christmas series, and finishes off the series (I think!).

This is also the one where we find out just what happened to Jasper, and what his mysterious illness is all about. If you've read the prior books, you know Jasper had a fall in the forest and never fully recovered. You find out snippets in both Leo's and Trent's stories, but now you actually get all of it.

You might think, because of the title, that this might be scary or frightening, but what you get is a touch-starved black sheep of the family with a heart of gold. I loved Kraghol from the very beginning, but hearing about his family life and upbringing about broke my heart. I loved how Jasper made no judgments and fought for what-or rather, who-he wanted, right up until he didn't. That was the right thing in my opinion, and I loved how the story continued after that.

Trent's story will always be my favourite out of the bunch, but this one comes a close second. A brilliant story that I read in one sitting, that held my attention from beginning to end. A great series that I definitely recommend.

** Same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Dec 19, 2025