Hard Return

@ahardreturn

Personal and book review blog. (Sometimes.) A one-woman book club. Posting books I read. Muting writer self-promos. 💙📚💬 AI free. I do not use AI to read, post, or review books. My content is my own. www.aHardReturn.com

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Hard Return@ahardreturn· 13d

I don’t expect a book this fun to read to also be this insightful. Wow. Thorpe puts words to stuff I’ve NEVER had words for about having a baby young. Then I watched the show. Fuck the show. #YouShouldReadThisBook 💙📚 #BookSky #BookRecs #Review #Love #Women #MargosGotMoneyTroubles

A hardback library copy of “Margo’s Got Money Troubles” by Rufi Thorpe sits on a deck rail in the sunshine. The book has an illustrated drawing of a blond woman on a hot pink couch with a black and white striped throw blanket over the back. She’s laying stomach down on the couch with her head ready on her chin and looking up and something out of sight. Her hand rests on a laptop that sits on the floor not far from a baby’s pacifier. The background is a solid fuschia purple.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· 14d

So behind posting my reads! This is really good. I enjoyed Colson Whitehead’s novel on the topic a tad more - but that’s just writing style preference. Not heard of the Dozier “School” in FL? This is a great novel to start. 💙📚🖋️📚⌛️ #BookSky #DozierSchool #Novel #BookReview #Wednesday #Books #Lit

A hardback library book lays on a griege wood floor in sunshine. The book is “The Reformatory” by Tananarive Due. Its cover art is a small, white building at center with a silhouette of a tall tree behind it dripping Spanish moss. Fog throughout image adds to an eery feel. The fog around the building is a red/fuschia that fades up to a peach sky. Very sunset and foreboding look.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· 23d

Incredible! Helluva story and the way #LeifEnger puts words together is downright musical. Check Alt text a couple of my favorite examples. 💙📚🖋️ #BookSky #BookRecs #Reading #AmReading #Books #Love #MustRead #MondayReads

I’m holding a hardback copy of “I Cheerfully Refuse” by Leif Enger in front of a pot of pink geranium. This is a truly gorgeous book jacket. The image is an oil painting by Franklin Carmichael titled “Bay of Islands” (1930).

Sainted in deep emerald greens and navy blues, the image is of a bay surrounded by hills with more island stretching toward the horizon of blue and green clouds. A single, small sailboat floats in the foreground.

“He wore woven huarache sandals and a loose cream linen shirt like an old man remembering women.” -from the book

“Rubicons get crossed for all kinds of petty reasons.” -from book

Hard Return@ahardreturn· 26d

Also, I thought this was a really thoughtful way to care for the reader. 💜 #BookSky

“A Note Before Beginning:

Stories have a way of finding us at just the right—or sometimes the most fragile—moment. This one is steeped in history, woven with grief and longing, and tangled in the complexities of the human mind. It explores the weight of silence, the ache of the unseen, and the shadows that linger in the spaces between what is known and what is lost.
If you find the pages growing heavy, if the emotions press too hard against your heart, please know you have permission to set the book down. Step away, take a breath, and return only when you are ready. Stories will wait. May this one meet you in your time.”

-Meagan Church introduction to “The Mad Wife”

Hard Return@ahardreturn· 26d

A good read. Quick and well done. It hit on a LOT of societal issues for white, middle class women but more as a survey of issues than a super deep dive. My copy isn’t full of tabs, but good for a read-in-a-sitting mood w/o being vacuous. 💙📚🖋️📚⏳ #BookSky #AmReading #BookRecs #Read #Love #Reading

A paperback copy of “The Mad Wife” by Meagan Church lays on my sage green bed in very warm, weird light. (Courtesy of the wildfires.)

The cover features an artist rendering of a 1950s woman in a full dress, pearls, hair and makeup with an apron over it all. She’s standing in a pink suburban kitchen of that era. The woman is posed and smiling right to the viewer like a Good Housekeeping model. A stark, black bar (think redacted words) goes right across her face to hide her eyes.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· 28d

#MobyDick to prepare for the Irving book. OMG the #Melville. A slog at times, sure, but that is part of the payoff. Funny. Moving. Engrossing. Profound! The #Irving was ok. 💙📚🖋️⏳📚⌛️ #BookSky #Read #Literature #Classics #Books #Love #Reading #Summer #LitFic #BookRecs #AmReading

Two paperback books lay on a white garden table in bright sunlight. Deck boards and some greenery can be seen below. The books are a bright blue, mass market copy of “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville and “The Last Chairlift” by John Irving. That is a trade paperback size and features a sunrise sky seen through the silhouette of a chairlift over a ski slope.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· 29d

Oh hell yeah. Fantastic. Weird. Loved it. 💙📚🖋️ #BookSky #AmReading #Read #ShortStory #GeorgeSaunders #Monday #BookRecs #Love #SummerReads #Books #Reading #Fun #YouShouldReadThis

Holding up a paperback copy of “Pastoralia” by George Saunders from a reclined position on a couch. A light grey couch and tall windows with blue sky are behind the book. Its cover is white with black type on the bottom quarter. The rest is a photograph of what I think is an antlered deer with the foot of a mountain stretched out behind him. At least I think it’s a deer but could be elk or antelope or something else with antlers?

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Jul 6

This is a super read - well paced, good characters, good thriller. The writing is clean and I read it in a night. Just a really fun palette cleanse. Would also be a fantastic holiday/beach/travel book. 💙📚 #BookSky #Books #Read #BookRecs

A hardback copy of “Mad Mabel” by Sally Hepworth sits in the sunshine on a white garden table. Flowering things can be seen below.

The book is a gorgeous cherry red with a stylized image of half of a woman’s face down the right side. She wears her red hair in a loose chignon, a white blouse, and green cat eye sunglasses.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Jul 6

Ugh. A book club miss. This was so tedious it left me grouchy. Want a great read w/ horror and psych thriller elements & a focus on the world of publishing (including meaningful focus on gender/class/race)? Read Yellowface by R.F. Kuang. 💙📚 #BookSky #BookReview #Read

Photo of an eReader on a blanket with patches of pastel colors. The reader has a skin on it that is pink with red strawberries and white daisies. In black and white on the screen is the cover image for “The Ending Writes Itself,” by the writing duo named Evelyn Clark.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Jun 11

It’s a very busy season, but I’d be #reading this slowly either way. Very short reading sessions. It challenges my focus but I wasn’t prepared for how immersed I’d feel in all the foreboding as well as the gore! 🫣 #Moby-Dick 💙📚🖋️🐳 #BookSky #AmReading #Books #Literature #Classics #Love #Melville

My left hand holds up a Signet Classics paperback copy of “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville. A green flower garden is out of focus in background.

The book is a striking cerulean blue with the silhouette of a whale in white. The title is written over that in thick navy blue block letters.

I started out reading this with a copy of the Norton Guide version but eventually got frustrated by the footnotes distracting me so I swapped to this version and let go of needing to perfectly understand every reference. It was the right move because the book came alive when I did that.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· May 26

My graduated senior agreed to read a book with me the #summer before college! IF they chose the #book.. “We read a chapter at a time together or individually, then discuss it.” They read this in 8th and 12th grades but picked it again. So, here we go. 💙📚🖋️🎓 #BookSky #Literature #BookRec #Review

My left hand holds a paperback copy of “How To Read Literature Like A Professor” by Thomas C. Foster up to the camera. Beyond is a hazy sky, and a pair of teen feet in a grey Adirondack chair on a deck.

The book cover itself looks like a book lying open on a wood sesh with a green rectangle over the open page as background for the title.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· May 25

Feeling grounded and present about life atm. A good time to get back to #reading and I’ll start with something chewy. 💙 📚🖋️ #BookSky #Classics #Literature #Fiction #Books #LitFic #Moby-Dick #AmReading #Summer #DedicatedReader #Weekend

A paperback book lays on a griege wood floor. The book is the Third Norton Critical Edition of “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville, edited by Hershel Parker.

The book has a stylized image of a seaman with a wooden leg rendered in brown and white tones. He looks directly out at the reader in a haunting way.

The bottom third of the book used blocks of color to make the title and author info clear to read. They are a bright teal for the title, a black, and a grey box below.

Note: I chose this edition after perusing Reddit. I wanted something with a lot of contextual footnotes and that is what this one is. Might look for a different copy if not wanting to be bothered by multiple notes in each page.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· May 24

A full, celebratory time! I’ve done some reading but not even kept up w my log book let alone posted here. This morning, in the quiet aftermath, a book sits on my lap. I scroll pictures of the last two days. Great thing about books, they’ll wait for me. 💙📚🎓 #BookSky #Graduation #Parenthood #Love

A photograph of graduating seniors at a commencement ceremony. Photo taken from behind so there are no faces showing. You see the backs of heads, black and white graduation gowns, and the flat tops of their mortar boards with tassels. Furthest from camera but centered in frame is the first row of students, standing so we see them shoulders up. In the center and flanked by students in white cap and gown, is my child in black cap and gown. Just above them a flag waves in the distance and the top of the photo is all green trees.

My student graduated in the top of their class with so many honors and awards I can’t keep track. So say I’m proud is true but more than anything I’m so damn happy for them.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Apr 14

I loved this book. Finished it, flipped back to early pages and read for another hour through the storylines again. ⬇️More in Alt Text⬇️ 💙📚🖋️ #BookSky #LitFic #Books #AmReading #BookRecs #GreatBooks #Love #Cult #MustRead

My hand holds a paperback copy of “The Colony” by Annika Norlin. It is an off white cover with a single, black ant drawn near center. Title and author are in red block letters above and below.

Norlin uses individual and group perspectives to tell this story of how people can take different paths into groupthink and cult environment… including that of the person to whom they forfeit their agency.

Just an incredible read.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Apr 6

TFW a new issue arrives when I’m between books. Sigh. ☺️ 💙📚 #BookSky #AmReading #LondonReviewOfBooks #BookReview #Books #Monday #Afternoon #Reading

Holding up the April 2 issue of London Review of Books. Showing the front cover which is a pencil sketch in grey and red of a woman facing away from viewer. A disheveled bun sits low on her neck, hand on hips, feet slid into slippers and, and a button open at neck of her dress. Her hands are on her hips and body language is tired and maybe contemplative. The image is framed by a solid teal frame around the whole cover and the heading “Patricia Lockwood reads Willa Cather” in red.

Holding up a copy of London Review of books in afternoon light. It is open to the table of contents for the issue.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Apr 5

I spent the last hour of this book openly sobbing. Absolutely beautiful book. 💙📚🖋️ #BookSky #Books #AmReading #Weekend #LitFic #Fiction #Novel #MustRead #TheCorrespondent #VirginiaEvans

An eReader lays on my wood desktop showing the cover of “The Correspondent” by Virginia Evans on its screen. The reader has a decorative floral skin of pink roses and in the upper left corner there’s a glimpse of a pen and a table top sun lamp.

The book cover is a greyscale version of what might be a water color illustration. The image is of a pair of birds turned toward each other on two wood fence posts.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Mar 28

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I am not a speed reader. Just read this book in one evening… HashtagOhMyGodAllTheStars 💙📚🖋️ #BookSky #Literature #LitFic #Dystopian #Fiction #Book #BookRecs #AmReading #Love #TBR

Holding up a library hardcover in front of white doors. The book is “The Dream Hotel” by Laila
Lalami. It is a purple cover with a red rectangle going vertically up the center. The rectangle looks like an opening leading to darkness with red walls, floor, ceiling. In its bottom right stands a very small silhouette of a person whose shadow stretches into the darkness.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Mar 27

Enjoyed this cover-to-cover this morning. Kiddo calls this “mom’s newspaper.” 💙📚 #BookSky #AmReading #Review #BookReview #TheNewYorkReviewOfBooks

March 26th 2026 issue of The New York Review. Cover features art of a person’s hand holding a coat closed against the cold just under the chin.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Mar 23

Finished this yesterday and it was great! A chunky book but YA so it goes fast. Story is captivating. Gives deep insight into women’s experiences. Sorry to be vague but I really hate spoilers. Read it! 💙📚🖋️ #BookSky #Indigenous #LitFic #WomenAuthors #Books #BookRecs #YA #Fiction #AmReading

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Mar 21

What is more fun than reading in preparation for an #author visit? Nothing. It’s the most fun! A busy time in my life. Nice to have a month full of #AuthorEvents return me to focused reading. 💙📚🔥 #BookSky #AngelineBoulley #Books #YA #LitFic #Indigenious #AmReading #Saturday #Weekend #Library

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Mar 19

Starting my copy of #ConcreteBotany by by fav botanist #JoeySantore tonight. If anyone knows if he’s doing a book tour, please share!! 💙📚🌱🌵 #CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt #BookSky #Botany #BookRelease #BookTour #Books

Holding up my copy of “Concrete Botany: The Ecology of Plants In The Age of Hunan Disturbance” by Joey Santore. The book is white with black lettering. Its background is a line drawing of a brick wall and from the center grows a “weed” drawn in green.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Mar 15

I was entertained. I was not satisfied. “Magical realism” can only do so much heavy lifting before we just have to admit to loose ends not tied. I have the follow-up book checked out but don’t feel excited to revisit those characters. 💙📚 #BookSky #Thriller #Books #Reading #Horror #Fiction

An eReader lays on a cream woven fabric. The cover of “Bunny” by Mona Awad is shown in black and white on its face. A silhouette image of a rabbit sitting up on its hind feet makes up the cover art with the title and author info written in white chalkboard writing across the front. The eReader has a decorative skin around its face that is a white background with floral print of pink roses.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Mar 12

Despite life in a high-control religious fam/church.. I never connected the concept of “massacre” to Sodom and Gomorrah. Vonnegut did it for me. *click* Reading meaningfully turns on another light bulb. 💡 💙📚🖋️📚⏳ #BookSky #Books #Favorite #Quotes #Religion #Novels #Literature #Fiction

A blue tile with the following quote by Kurt Vonnegut in white type:

Those were vile people in both cities, as is well known. The world was better off without them. And Lot’s wife, of course, was told not to look back where all those people and their homes had been. But she did look back, and I love her for that, because it was so human.

So she was turned into a pillar of salt. So it goes.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Feb 28

My good lord am I loving Vonnegut. My research librarian bestie has informed me of a museum and a festival honoring him in Indianapolis. Looks like I’ve got a trip to plan!!! 💙📚 #BookSky #Weekend #AmReading #Indianapolis #Books #Literature

Holding a library paperback of “Mother Night” by Kurt Vonnegut in sunshine. It’s a navy blue cover with a cartoonish drawing of some sort of submarine looking vessel (maybe I’ll understand what I’m seeing after I read further into the book). Behind the book you glimpse my lap, a wood deck, and a Bluetick Coonhound whose booty is out of frame but warming my feet.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Feb 27

Welcome to Friday, my fellow “Dedicated Readers.” 💛 This passage made me feel so understood. From the introduction to his book “A Swim In A Pond In The Rain.” 💙📚 #BookSky #Reading #Reader #Books #TGIF #Friday

On a blue background in white text:

“… there’s a vast underground network for goodness at work in the world — a web of people who’ve put reading at the center of their lives because they know from experience that reading makes them more expansive, generous people and makes their lives more interesting.”

- George Saunders

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Feb 26

Returning to library. Hemingway’s prose is so atmospheric. While I did roll my eyes over the subject matter, his writing is so soothing I loved it anyway. Rec: 👍 💙📚🖋️ #BookSky #Literature #Classics #LitFic #AmReading #Books #BookRecs

Holding up a paperback library copy of “The Old Man and The Sea” by Ernest Hemingway. Picture taken in my car before dropping in the library return. The cover image is a of the sea with the sun coming up or going down at the horizon in center of the page. Silhouetted agains the orb of the sun is a small boat with a single man in it wearing a fishing hat. The colors used are black, teals and peach tones.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Feb 19

This just made my top books ever. I suggest reading it, then reading the first chapter again - then marveling. 💙📚🖋️📚💬 #BookSky #Classics #LitFic #Literature #Books #BookRecs #Reading #WWII

A paperback copy of “Slaughterhouse-five” by Kurt Vonnegut lays on my dark, wood coffee table next to a plant and knick-knacks. It has a bright red cover with a skull and crossbones in yellow. Out of right side of the book are many tabs marking pages.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Feb 18

First time reading Vonnegut. How is this my first time reading Vonnegut??? 💙📚🖋️📚💬 #BookSky #KurtVonnegut #Books #Classics #Literature #LitFic #Reading #Wednesday #Sunshine #Love

A paperback copy of “Slaughterhouse-Five” by Kurt Vonnegut lays on deck boards in sunshine. The cover is red with a yellow spine. Writing on the cover is in yellow and in black. The only art is a scribble drawing of a skull and crossbones in black and filled in with yellow.

Hard Return@ahardreturn· Feb 16

I’m really enjoying this.