The Friend by Sigrid Nunez

• This is an off-beat novel that celebrates writers and the act of writing.
• This is also a book that examines the impact of a dog on everyday life.
• Overall, this is an enjoyable novel, and a nice change of pace.

Hardly Children by Laura Adamczyk

• This is a collection of short stories that examine the experiences of young adults.
• I found the short stories enjoyable and accessible.
• I look forward to Adamczyk's future publications.

Becoming by Michelle Obama

• I wanted to hear Michelle Obama's take on her experience in the White House.  While politically we have different views, I see her as a smart and inspiring woman.  I wanted to hear she had to say.  I'm thankful she wrote this book to share with the public.
• She tells her life story starting as a young girl through her time in the White House.
• She is an excellent narrator for her own book.  The book is a 19 hour audiobook.

Dopesick by Beth Macy

• This nonfiction book looks at how the opioid crisis developed.
• The story is told by profiling individuals combined with broader societal commentary.
• The anecdote that sticks with me the most is that farm supply stores had problems keeping animal syringes on the shelf because addicts would steal them.  Given the gauge of needles, I can only imagine the desperation behind that theft.

Ohio by Stephen Markley

• This novel offers a candid snapshot of rural life in the Midwest.  
• I enjoyed how the various characters lives intersected over time from high school forward for about a decade.
• Drug abuse is a main topic of this novel.

Vox by Christina Dalcher

• This novel feels like a lesser knock-off of The Handmaid's Tale.
• The concept of the novel is that women are forced to wear a word counter that limits them to 100 words a day.  Basically, an evil Fitbit.
• This book reads like a YA novel, although it has adult characters.