My Reading Frenzy

What I've Read - What I am Reading - March 15, 2020

I went two weeks again between posts, but have also not been able to carve out as much time for reading, so there are probably as many "reads" and "readings" after 14 days as there usually are after seven. I should have more time this week and am feeling more energetic with the time change. I don't like changing the time twice a year, but I do like sunlight later in the day.

 

 

Read:

• Patina (elibrary book) by Jason Reynolds - I loved seeing the whole track team through Patina's eyes and hearing details about her life that were only ancillary to Ghost's story. I am sorry not to have read this series sooner, but glad to be now. Reynolds has found a really engaging way to draw us into the lives of these four runners. It has taken me some time, but I see how Reynolds likes to explore situations from different perspectives as he did in Look Both Ways. 
• Notes from a Young Black Chef (eaudiobook purchased from Audible) by Kwame Onwuachi - There was so much I did not learn about Onwuachi from watching Top Chef, a point he made in the book, about the way the show is edited to create a persona for each chef that may or may not align with their true personality. His story also caused me to be disappointed that he is no longer a DC chef. 
• I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (purchased Manga) by Yoru Sumino - Think The Fault in Our Stars by John Green and Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews rather than The Walking Dead. I decided it was time to try Manga. Happening upon this book is what made me decide to take the plunge, because the blurb revealed it to be a realistic, almost-romance and the entire story was contained in one volume. I did not want to get myself into an on-going series. I enjoyed the story and appreciated the way manga must be read front to back and each page right to left, then left to right and back again. Once I got the hang of it, it was not an issue and provided an additional layer of mental stimulation.
• Spoiler Alert (egalley) by Olivia Dade - This one takes place in the world of fanfiction and cons (conventions). I purposely chose to read this right after One to Watch because both have been praised for positive portrayal of a plus sized main character. I wanted to compare the approach. I found Dade's characters to be more sophisticated, with more depth. This is in part because there are far fewer characters than the group of bachelors in One to Watch. There were interesting differences in the family dynamic with Bea having a loving family while April's was toxic that added a layer to each woman's expereinces. I also appreciated Dade's clever word play between April and Marcus. This as well as Marcus as a fully fleshed out character made this the novel I liked better, so if you were going to read just one of these I would recommend Spoiler Alert. I am looking forward to Dade's next novel All the Feels, due out in October. I may also look into some of her backlist.

 

Reading:

• A Court of Silver Flames (purchased hardback) by Sarah Maas - I am a bit over halfway finished and enjoying this story immensely. Maas is an excellent storyteller, creating characters I care about and situations that fit well into the sophisticated world she has created.
• Sunny (elibrary book) by Jason Reynolds - Two weeks ago, I was reading Patina, the second in the series, hoping that when it ended, the 3rd book would pick up where it left off. In true Jason Reynolds fashion, he surprised me by revealing what happened in Patina's relay without beginning Sunny's story with hers. This installment may be my favorite so far because I like the use of Sunny's diary entries to tell his story. I also feel more connected to Sunny because the entries show his introspective side which feels familiar to me.

 

Listening:

In order to decide on my next listen, I searched for a list of "best chef memoirs" and found a wonderful list. Many I put on hold at the library or in my Goodreads list, but only found one available when I finished my previous listen. 

• Yes, Chef (library eaudiobook) by Marcus Samuelsson

 

Up Next:

Again, these are at the top of the list, but I have moved books that have come in via library holds as well as new purchases ahead for a few weeks. 

• Lu by Jason Reynolds - This is truly my next read after I finish Sunny because it came in from the library before Sunny and I am in a time crunch.
• The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden - I am eager to read this second installment.
• Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir - I read and loved Gideon the Ninth and feel ready for the 2nd book.
• Commonwealth by Ann Patchett - I am making my way through all of Patchett's backlist after being bowled over by The Dutch House. I had previously read Bel Canto at the recommendation of a number of readers, for some reason had not read anything else until recently.
• Four Hundred Souls (purchased hardback) edited by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blair - I think this collection of essays exploring 400 years of the history of African America will be a good companion to read alongside Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Kendi.

 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

 

 

**A note on the picture. I always use an image from the Prints and Photographs collections of the Library of Congress. I like these because they are interesting, and freely available because they are in the public domain. I mainly choose images of people reading. If you click the image in any of my posts you will be able to see the Library's bibliographic record which includes whatever they know about the image including its creator. There are also usually links to other similar items or to the collection the image is a part of.***

What I've Read - What I am Reading - March 1, 2021

Last week I added a new list "Up Next," which includes the titles at the top of my TBR list. You will find, which I already knew about myself" that I may or may not really choose my next reads from those I mentioned. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read:

• Ghost (library ebook) by Jason Reynolds - It is not a surprise that I loved Castle's story. I just started the second book in the series, Patina, which I am glad to say picks up right where Ghost left off, but this time from Patty's perspective. Really an innovative way to tell four different stories (the next two books are Sunny and Lu.)
• Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton -  Even since getting hooked on Top Chef, I have been seeking memoirs by chefs. I have listened to Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential, David Chang's Eat a Peach, Padma Lakshmi's Love, Loss, and What We Ate (She's not a chef, but a judge on Top Chef), two books by Ruth Reichel Save me the Plums and Garlic and Sapphires (She's a home cook and a food writer/restaurant reviewer), and now am listening to Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi.
• Amari and the Night Brothers (purchased hardback) by B.B. Alston - This book was fantastic. The magical world Alston has created was a delight to visit. I have to believe there is another book on the way.
• One to Watch (library book) by Kate Stayman-London - This romance was promoted as a body-positive story, which is one of the reasons I chose it. It also has a multi-faceted and well-written main character in plus-size fashion blogger Bea Schumacher. I found the messaging a bit heavy handed at times, but overall I enjoyed Bea's journey.

 

Reading:

• Patina (elibrary book) by Jason Reynolds - Before I even finished Ghost, I put this one on hold at the library and it came through just at the perfect moment to start after finishing One to Watch while I was waiting the required 10 minutes after my 2nd COVID shot! (Thank you SCIENCE!)

 

Listening:

• Notes from a Young Black Chef (eaudiobook purchased from Audible) by Kwame Onwuachi - I am just at the beginning, but so far Onwuachi's early life led him almost inevitably to becoming a chef. 

 

Up Next:

Four of these have been carried over from last week - I ended up reading one from this list this week and then reading a one library book that is due back soon and starting another.

• The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden - I am eager to read this second installment.
• Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir - I read and loved Gideon the Ninth and feel ready for the 2nd book.
• Commonwealth by Ann Patchett - I am making my way through all of Patchett's backlist after being bowled over by The Dutch House. I had previously read Bel Canto at the recommendation of a number of readers, for some reason had not read anything else until recently.
• Four Hundred Souls (purchased hardback) edited by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blair - I think this collection of essays exploring 400 years of the history of African America will be a good companion to read alongside Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Kendi.
• A Court of Silver Flames (purchased hardback) by Sarah Maas - I have stuck with Maas's series over the years and people I trust say this one is not to be missed. They also said this was not a book they thought would be appropriate for high school students. I will be interested to see if I agree. I have found that people who do not interact much with teens are more conservative in their outlook than I am.

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

 

**A note on the picture. I always use an image from the Prints and Photographs collections of the Library of Congress. I like these because they are interesting, and freely available because they are in the public domain. I mainly choose images of people reading. If you click the image in any of my posts you will be able to see the Library's bibliographic record which includes whatever they know about the image including its creator. There are also usually links to other similar items or to the collection the image is a part of.***

What I've Read - What I am Reading - February 22, 2021

I have been remiss in posting anything here at all, but I am back with an overview of what I have been reading during these long, cold weeks. In addition to what I have read, am reading, and am listening to, I have added an "Up Next" section to preview what I have at the top of my TBR pile.

 

Read:

• The Best of Me (audiobook purchased from Audible) by David Sedaris I am thoroughly enjoying this one. I listened for hours the other day while working on a jigsaw puzzle while the snow fell.

 

• A Rogue of One's Own (egalley) by Evie Dunmore - Yep, romance is my go-to when I need a comfort read. The assurance that it will all work out in the end gets me through the frustrations every time. If only real life were so predictable.

 

• Riviera Gold by Laurie R. King - This is the most recent Mary Russell mystery to have been published. It takes place mainly in Monte Carlo and brings us back to Mrs. Hudson's story. I like these mysteries when I take a break from Elizabeth George and Louise Penny. The more recent novels have not lived up to the fascination I found in the earlier books, but I will keep reading unless they take another downturn. (Next book in the series is due out in June.)

 

• Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness - (library eaudiobook) I have loved watching the revival of Queer Eye over the past five seasons. Jonathan is a force of nature with his positivity and vision for each of their heroes. His book was personal in tone, as if we were sitting together having a chat. 

 

• The Bear and the Nightingale (purchased paperback at a DC independent bookstore) by Katherine Arden - This was recommended to me by a bookseller when I asked for something to follow the Daevabad trilogy. I loved its fairy tale and folklore roots as well as the magical and fierce Vasya. I am looking forward to the continuation of her story in The Girl in the Tower. 

 

• Dangerous Alliance (library ebook) by Jennieke Cohen - Eh, I finished it. The ending was satisfying, but predictable. The rest was also predictable and just ok. 

 

• Deception on His Mind (library ebook) by Elizabeth George - I am moving through these quickly because I can't get enough of definitive mystery solving. But I can take a break now and read one Louise Penny before the next Lynley mystery. This will be seamless, in part, because I have the next George installment in print having found it in a neighborhood Little Free Library and am not therefore beholden to when my library hold comes in.

 

• Fashionopolis (audiobook purchased from Audible) by Dana Thomas - This is not my first read about the dangerous waste associated with fast fashion, but this is the first to give equal time to designers and companies who are trying to shift the industry to sustainable practices. This is an important read for anyone interested in the the environmental impact of clothing production. 

 

• The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win (audiobook purchased from Audible) by Maria Konnikova - I am not sure when I last gave a book 5 stars in Goodreads, but this story earned every star. Wow! I found the mix of poker history, strategies, and play with Konnikova's personal progression to winner to be fascinating. She spends time with poker masters, game theorists, and psychologists as she learns about the world of poker, not only for the book, but also for herself. Some of the most interesting revelations are how what she learns about being successfully at the poker table spills into other areas of her life in positive ways. 

 

• All's Faire in Middle School (purchased paperback) by Victoria Jamieson - While this story does not quite live up to Roller Girl, Jamieson captures the challenges Imogene faces in attending middle school after previously being home schooled, while also exploring the respite the Renaissance Faire provides. This was a fun read.

 

• It Had to Be You (egalley) by Georgia Clark - This was a lovely romance. It could have dived right into some romance tropes, but Clark was able to write the love stories of a new widow, recently out queer woman, and music partners in a way that felt fresh even while the outcomes were expectedly happy.

 

 

Reading:

• Ghost (library ebook) by Jason Reynolds - I realized after watching an online chat between Reynold and Dr. Ibrahim X. Kendi that I have missed a few of Reynolds works, so I am jumping into the Track series with Ghost. I have two others on hold at the library. 

 

 

Listening:

• Blood, Bones, and Butter: The Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton - I am only about 14 minutes into this listen, but settled in easily as Hamilton explores some of the ways food was important to her family as she grew up in New Hope, PA a town I have loved since high school visits during the annual geology trip. 

 

 

Up Next:

• The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden - see "Read" for my thoughts about the first book in the trilogy. 
• Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir - I read and loved Gideon the Ninth and feel ready for the 2nd book.
• Commonwealth by Ann Patchett - I am making my way through all of Patchett's backlist after being bowled over by The Dutch House. I had previously read Bel Canto at the recommendation of a number of readers, for some reason had not read anything else until recently.
• Four Hundred Souls (purchased hardback) edited by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blair - I think this collection of essays exploring 400 years of the history of African America will be a good companion to read alongside Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Kendi.
• Amari and the Night Brothers (purchased hardback) by B.B. Alston - I admit it, sometimes I buy books for their covers. While the cover is spectacular, as soon as I read that Amari would be dealing with a ticking briefcase from the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, I was in for the premise too. 

 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

 

**A note on the picture. I always use an image from the Prints and Photographs collections of the Library of Congress. I like these because they are interesting, and freely available because they are in the public domain. I mainly choose images of people reading. If you click the image in any of my posts you will be able to see the Library's bibliographic record which includes whatever they know about the image including its creator. There are also usually links to other similar items or to the collection the image is a part of.***

What I've Read - What I am Reading - February 1, 2021

Not currently possible with the fences up, but maybe someday.

I am not sure if January was long or short. It feels fast for it to be February already, but on the other hand, looking back, the holidays feel long ago. In other news, I have secured a part time job as a bookseller. Long ago I worked at the B. Dalton in the Ocean County Mall one summer and then over the holidays. Bookselling has a lot in common with being a librarian, so I am looking forward to the opportunity to engage people in chat about books. 

 

 

 

Read:

• Gideon the Ninth (purchased book) by Tamsyn Muir - I finished. What a book! Now that I have finished, I would definately put it in horror in my own library, mainly so that students would know there are some graphic segments, but for me, it was manageable and I do not usually read horror at all. I was drawn in by the relationships, particularly between Harrow and Gideon. I am looking forward to jumping into the second book. (And trying to be calm about when the 3rd might be available.)
• In the Presence of the Enemy (elibrary book) by Elizabeth George - I flashed through this one, neglecting Gideon in order to find out whodunit. A really satisfying read. I am not sure I can adequately verbalize how important mysteries have been to my mental health during these COVID months. I will be a lifelong George fan because of the way her work has carried me through. 

 

Reading:

• Angel Mage (library ebook) by Garth Nix - I may give it another go, but I think this one may be destined for the DNF list. I just haven't found it engaging enough to go back to. 
• A Rogue of One's Own (egalley) by Evie Dunmore - Yep, romance is my go-to when I need a comfort read. The assurance that it will all work out in the end gets me through the frustrations every time. If only real life were so predictable.

 

Listening:

• The Best of Me (audiobook purchased from Audible) by David Sedaris I am thoroughly enjoying this one. I listened for hours the other day while working on a jigsaw puzzle while the snow fell.

 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

 

 

**A note on the picture. I always use an image from the Prints and Photographs collections of the Library of Congress. I like these because they are interesting, and freely available because they are in the public domain. I mainly choose images of people reading. If you click the image in any of my posts you will be able to see the Library's bibliographic record which includes whatever they know about the image including its creator. There are also usually links to other similar items or to the collection the image is a part of.***

What I've Read - What I am Reading - January 25, 2021

I thoroughly enjoyed Amanda Gorman's inauguration poem and have listened and watched it on repeat. I have written about it for my Library of Congress Teacher's Corner post this month. 

 

Read:

• Just Last Night (egalley) by Mhairi McFarlane - I enjoyed this as much as I have McFarlane's other novels. It was certainly more sad than the others, but still contained a health dose of satisfying romance. 
• Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan - I think my expectations were high, which may explain why I was somewhat disappointed overall. What happened to Cahalan as documented in the book was a medical mystery for weeks at the beginning of her illness. The segment of the book chronicling her downward spiral and the early attempted to diagnose her illness were interesting. After that the story plodded along through her treatments and return to regular life activities. I would be surprised to discover that teens stay engage all the way through.
• This is the Story of a Happy Marriage (eaudio library book)  by Ann Patchett - This is a collection of essays, one of the which is the title essay, written over a decade and published in a variety of magazines. I think Patchett may be as engaged an essayist as she is novelist. BONUS: Patchett does the reading 

 

Reading:

• Gideon the Ninth (purchased book) by Tamsyn Muir - I am close to finishing, but one night, right before bed I read a few chapters and realized when I tried to pick up the next day that I had forgotten important details. This is why I try to avoid reading right before bed or when I am sleepy. I should finish within the next two days. Then will move immediately on to the next installment, Harrow the Ninth, to avoid losing the momentum of the first book. 
• Angel Mage (library ebook) by Garth Nix - I have not read any more of this than I had last week, because life got busy and then the book was due back to the library. I have put it on hold again and am first on the list for when it is available again. 
• In the Presence of the Enemy (elibrary book) by Elizabeth George - I had this once from the library then it was due, so when it popped back up again I moved it to the top of the TBR. I am not sorry to have done so. George mixed things up a bit by delaying the murder until almost half-way through the book, taking us slowly into the story through investigating a kidnapping before a murder occurs. The focus also begins with Simon St. James, rather than Lynley. This is the 8th Lynley mystery, but I have also read the 6 most recent works. I started over at the beginning and have 6 to read after this to catch up. I hope she has something new in the works too, I don't want to run out.  

 

Listening:

• The Best of Me (audiobook purchased from Audible) by David Sedaris I mentioned this one a few weeks ago, but had to skip it in favor of the Patchett book that came in from my library holds list. But after finishing that this one rose to the top. As expected I snort laughed a number of times already. Luckily I was by myself in the car so I didn't get any funny looks from strangers.

 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

 

 

**A note on the picture. I always use an image from the Prints and Photographs collections of the Library of Congress. I like these because they are interesting, and freely available because they are in the public domain. I mainly choose images of people reading. If you click the image in any of my posts you will be able to see the Library's bibliographic record which includes whatever they know about the image including its creator. There are also usually links to other similar items or to the collection the image is a part of.***

What I've Read - What I am Reading - January 18, 2021

Hanging poems on a cherry tree

The weather this week wavered from gloriously warm and sunny to less warm, but still sunny to cloudy and chilly. Each day that it was sunny, whatever the temperature, I went for a 5K walk. I'd like to work up to a mostly 5K run to prep for the race I might be able to participate in in April, in Richmond, VA. This means lots of audiobook time. 

I am looking forward to Wednesday's Inauguration, which I will watch with a celebratory glass of something bubbly. Probably the lemon-cucumber sparkling water I have been saving for a special occasion. While I am thrilled about the change in leadership, I am also looking forward to the return of the Inaugural poem. Amanda Gorman, former National Youth Poet Laureate, will perform a poem at the ceremony. And rumor is that it will be an original poem, composed for the occasion. 

 

 

Read:

• 500 Miles From You (elibrary book) by Jenny Colgan  - This is Colgan's most recent book, and the 3rd in the Scottish Bookshop series. While much of it is set in Kirrinfeif, Scotland each of the main characters also spends time in London. Their differing points of view about London life are especially interesting to me after having spent a few days there in 2019. This story is heavier than some of Colgan's work, but I think she found a good balance between the realistic and romantic elements of the book.
• Year of the Monkey (audiobook purchase from Audible) by Patti Smith. I saw her live when this book was released. I have listened to her read both Just Kids and M Train finding that I love her laid back style. This one is a short 4.5 hour listen in Smith's unmistakable, poetic voice.
• Brave, Not Perfect (library eaudiobook) by Reshma Saujani - While I appreciated the author's observations about how striving for perfection sometimes holds women back from taking brave steps in both the personal and professional realm, there wasn't much here that was new for me. I felt the segments about how this affects young girls and teens was more informative. I would have like more of this and how parents and educators can counteract the negativity. 
• On Account of the Gum (purchased book) by Adam Rex  - This was a sweet picture book, with delightful illustrations depicting the story of a wayward piece of gum and the family's attempt to remove it. 

 

 

Reading:

• Gideon the Ninth (purchased book) by Tamsyn Muir - While talking about how much I was enjoying this read, I did lament that if we were to purchase it for our library we would have a tough time deciding where to shelve it. It has fantasy elements since half the characters are necromancers, but since they were brought to Canaan House via spaceship and the story is set in a futuristic galactic empire it also leans to science fiction, BUT the animated skeletons and deaths certainly fit into horror. As I was typing this, I convinced myself it would go in horror, but then I talked myself out of it. Maybe it will be easier to decide once I have finished. I am looking forward to how the story turns out for Gideon and eager to move to the 2nd book with its focus on Harrow. 
• Angel Mage (library ebook) by Garth Nix - This is the second of Nix's stand alone novels I am reading after loving The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. The first was Newt's Emerald. I did not really know what this book would be about, but so far there are characters who use icons to call on the powers of a variety of angel to do their bidding. Not everyone uses this ability for good. That's about all I have so far. 
• Just Last Night (egalley) by Mhairi McFarlane - I have read all of McFarlane's work. I will continue to do so. I cried a bit during this one already, but I don't think overall it will be a sad book. Disappointingly though, since this is not even out until May, I will have to wait for another book. I am open to suggestions for similar authors and titles.

 

 

Listening:

• Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan - After years of checking this book out to AP Psychology students I thought it was time to find out more. I've listened to just over an hour and the Susannah does not seem to have yet reached the apex of her illness, but she is devolving quickly into someone suffering from extreme paranoia, auditory hallucinations, and a mix of defiant and ego-centric behaviors. I am fascinated to keep listening to find out more.

 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

**A note on the picture. I always use an image from the Prints and Photographs collections of the Library of Congress. I like these because they are interesting, and freely available because they are in the public domain. I mainly choose images of people reading. If you click the image in any of my posts you will be able to see the Library's bibliographic record which includes whatever they know about the image including its creator. There are also usually links to other similar items or to the collection the image is a part of.***Wht

2020 Reading Reflections and Favorites

Wanting to write a post about everything I read in 2020 made me grateful for my diligence in logging everything I read on Goodreads. I was able to pull up my 2020 challenge and look at all the books I read this year, including dates and a look at the cover. I have always told my students the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover" applies in many situations as a metaphor, but not when talking about books. Artists, marketers, and salespeople count on book covers being engaging in order to sell them to us. I am highly visual, and almost never buy a book simply for its cover, but the cover does imprint in my brain and help me remember reading it and at least a bit about it, making a walk down book-memory lane much easier. 

 

 

 

 

Here they are - My 2020 favorite reads:

In roughly in the order I read them.

• Happier at Home (eaudiobook from the library) by Gretchen Rubin - I have found valuable takeaways in all of Rubin's books, but this one hit exactly where I needed it to, when I needed it to. It was particularly prescient because I was isolated at home starting in March, not too long after finishing this listen. I was able to incorporate some of her ideas that in turn helped make staying at home less fraught with anxiety.
• Almost American Girl (purchased book) by Robin Ha - While I read this one as soon as it arrived in our library in February, it was not until August that I had the opportunity to watch an online discussion between Ha and Malaka Gharib, author of the graphic memoir I Was Their American Dream hosted by One More Page Books, an independent bookstore in Arlington, VA.
• City of Girls (egalley) by Elizabeth Gilbert - This is a work of historical fiction that takes place in 1940s New York City in the glamourous-ish theatre world. It reminded me very much of Herman Wouk's Marjorie Morningstar with a young hero who longs to be New York theatre star. This year I also read Gilbert's Big Magic (non-fiction) about living a creative life. It just barely missed being on this list, though here it is I suppose. Ha!
• New Kid and Class Act (purchased books then gifted to my niece) by Jerry Craft - New Kid was the 2020 Newbery winner, the first for a graphic novel. Class Act is an equally thought provoking companion.
• Maybe You Should Talk to Someone (purchased audiobook from Audible) by Lori Gottlieb - Gottlieb chronicles her therapy journey after a sudden break up, while also sharing details of therapy patients she is seeing. And interesting look at therapy from both perspectives.
• The House in the Cerulean Sea (purchased book) by TJ Klune. This might be my favorite read of the year. It is one of the books I specifically sought at the beginning pandemic related isolation. The story of Linus Baker and the magical children he is seeking to help was a perfect mix of humor, heartbreak, and fantasy. I want to read it again to savor all the delights of the family they all become.  
• Buzz Saw: The Improbable Story of How the Washington Nationals Won the World Series (purchased book) by Jesse Dougherty - One of my most missed 2020 activities was baseball. We are and have been Washington Nationals fans, which made 2019 the culmination of 14 years of hopes with our first World Series win. It was tremendously disappointing to be deprived of all the celebrations that should have come at the beginning of the 2020 season. Dougherty's book came to me just when teams were cancelling spring training and the season was put on hold indefinitely. I derived great comfort from reliving the triumphant season through this book. I also had the opportunity to hear Dougherty discuss writing the book in  a live Twitter talk.
• Kingdom of the Blind (purchased book) by Louise Penny - Penny's mysteries get better and more sophisticated with every book. This one was particularly satisfying because it finished out a significant story arc. There are two books after this one, which I have not read. I try to stay a bit behind her publications so I do not run out. I have one with me in FL to read soon.
• A Banquet of Consequences (elibrary book) by Elizabeth George - I have found mysteries a great comfort during the pandemic, perhaps for the way they end with the solving of the crime. I read 8 Lynley mysteries this year, but this was my favorite.
• The Goldfinch (eaudiobook from the library) by Donna Tartt - I loved Tartt's The Secret History, I was less enamored of The Little Friend. The Goldfinch was wonderful. I listened to it because I balked at sitting with such a long book. In retrospect I would have torn through it, probably faster than I was able to listen. I had to pause twice because the audiobook was due back at the library before I could finish. In the end, I was on edge for most of it after the initial disaster, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. It did, in spectacular fashion. I loved it.
• Magic Lessons (egalley) by Alice Hoffman - I saw the movie Practical Magic when it came out in 1998, having no idea it was based on a book, which I just read in 2019. I followed in 2020 with the others in the family of books, but this was my favorite, with its overtones of The Scarlet Letter.
• Untamed (eaudiobook from the library) by Glennon Doyle - This was my favorite non-fiction read/listen of the year. Doyle is amazing. She shares her own story in all her books, but somehow is also able to tap into the ways we all feel weak and not enough in our own situations, but then she offers badass wisdom to build us up. I like this one so much I also purchased this book to re-read and re-visit.
• Daevabad Trilogy (purchased books) by SA Chakraborty - Like I sometimes do, I rejected these books because they were too popular, everyone was reading them, I was going to be different. I am a fool because I LOVED them all. The benefit however of my stubborness is having been able to read all three books in a row without waiting. 
• The Year of Living Danishly (eaudiobook from the library) by Helen Russell - Having never lived outside the United States, I appreciated Russell's thorough exploration of her temporary (or so she thought) country. The book is organized by months, beginning when she arrives in January. She explores, in depth, 12 different facets of life in Denmark from work to motherhood to eating to winter to traditions. This detailed look at moving and living in another country was intriguing.
• The Left-Handed Booksellers of London (purchased book) by Garth Nix - I have raved about this one more than once. It was definitely ending up on this list.
• Return of the Thief (purchased book) by Megan Whalen Turner - While I really liked how Turner wrapped up this six book series, reading it was an important reminder that sometimes it is a good idea to re-read earlier books.
• The Witches are Coming (eaudiobook from the library) by Lindy West - I recently listened to Shit, Actually, West's most recent publication, but this one is so far my favorite of hers. I need regular feminist commentary in my life so I do not get complacent. 
• A Promised Land (purchased audiobook from Audible) by Barack Obama - I was so eager for this one, I pre-ordered the audiobook. I spent much of the book lamenting the loss of dignity and integrity in the White House. (I am looking forward to their return next week.) But I also learned about aspects of law making and running for office I had not known. 

 

What were your 2020 favorite reads?

 

Some 2020 Reading Reflections (based on all my reading, not just my favorites)

1. I need more diversity in authors, particularly in non-fiction. I don't feel I need to diversify in genre as I read:

• fantasy
• science fiction
• literary fiction
• historical fiction
• romance
• mystery
• non-fiction 

In all of the above I read adult as well as YA and some middle grade (mostly realistic). There were also MANY graphic novels and comics in my reading year. These tended to be memoirs, realistic, and fantasy. I will admit I avoid horror, thrillers, crime. They just take the intensity of a mystery up a notch too far for me. 

2. I want to try to tackle more of my TBR this year rather than jumping immediately to new publications. I make no promises about this one. If I decide however that I am most satisfied when I read newer releases, I need to cull my physical shelves of older books I may never get to. They should find a home with someone else.

 

What reflections do you have on your 2020 reading life? What are you looking forward to in 2021?

 

What I've Read - What I am Reading - January 11, 2021

The Beautiful Capitol Building in more peaceful times

I disappeared for a while. Between prepping to be away from home for the next few months and the holidays, I let the blog posts languish. But I am back with renewed inspiration and reading goals.

In my previous reading update, I was nearing my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal of 185 books, I ended 2020 having read 189. That last week of the year, the time between Christmas and New Year's is a reading heavy time for me. My next post will review my favorite 10-15 reads of 2020. 

I have relocated from DC to FL for some time, no firm plans at this point, but one goal is to avoid seeing live snow this year. I do love being inside and cozy, watching snow falling. (I dislike when it hangs around making walking the sidewalks a slushy obstacle course.) One of my most favorite walks is around the Capitol Building while it is snowing or just after it stops when the whole world is quiet. (The events of the past week, the desecration of this temple of democracy is heart breaking. I shed copious tears watching and reading about the invasion and attempts by some to thwart the democratic process with terroristic methods. I make no apologies for these strong words.) 

 

Read:

December 2020

• Holly Black's How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories (purchased book) - I have not read anything by Holly Black that wasn't fantastic. If you are just starting her work, I would recommend The Curse Workers series that begins with White Cat or her most recent The Folk of the Air series that begins with The Cruel Prince. The stand-alone The Coldest Girl in Coldtown is also a favorite of mine.
• I finished A Promised Land by President Barack Obama (purchased from Audible) before driving to FL. I find Obama's voice pleasant to listen to. Add to this, my preference for non-fiction read by the author and this was a 5 star read for me. This is the first of two books about his Presidency. This volume ends with the killing of Osama bin Laden in 2011. With this installment coming in at 768 pages and ending before the end of his first term, I wonder if he will move more quickly through 2012-2016. I anticipate a fair bit of reflection on his entire presidency at the end of the 2nd book. Whatever the case, I will again purchase and listen.
• Super Fake Love Song (purchased book) by David Yoon - I almost stopped reading this around chapter 3. Early in the novel, Yoon uses some stereotypes of students who play sports, students who prioritize their academics, and musical students that I disliked. I was also turned off by the portrayal of teachers as indifferent at best and hostile at worst. As a high school educator I can speak from experience when I say these types have been a minority in schools where I have worked. But, I chalked Sunny's attitude up to self-absorption and moved on. I am glad to say my faith in Yoon was well placed as Sunny's story progressed. 
• Christmas at the Island Hotel (elibrary book) by Jenny Colgan - This was a well-timed read just before Christmas. Colgan's novels are not without conflict and angst, but the characters are engaging, the settings serve as integral to the characters and their relationships, and the resolutions are satisfying.
• The City Baker's Guide to Country Living (elibrary book) by Louise Miller - I can't rave about this one because of some unrealistic coincidences that served to move the plot along. But I read the whole book and did not feel like I wasted my time. 
• Carry On Warrior (library audiobook) by Glennon Doyle - I have read Doyle's books in reverse chronological order after starting with Untamed (I bought this audiobook and WILL listen to it again now I have finished all her books.)
• Second First Impressions (egalley) by Sally Thorne - This is the 3rd and final book I will read by Thorne. My first was The Hating Game, which I gave 3 stars. Next was 99 Percent Mine, which I did not finish. This one was a 2 star read. The dialogue is unrealistic and choppy. The story was boring and the characters only prompted indifference. 
• For Everyone (library audiobook) by Jason Reynolds - This isn't really a book, but a long poem. It is self-reflective for Reynolds but contains nuggets of wisdom for everyone about living a creative life. I listened to his reading but am planning to buy the print version to reread and reference. 
• The Cold Millions (ebook purchase) by Jess Walter - I agreed to read this novel in order to participate in a small book club with two friends. I read Beautiful Ruins a few years ago, but was unsure about this one because of references to violence in the book's description. I am happy to have given it a try. I don't always like novels that switch from character to character, but these interwoven stories in early 1900s Spokane, Washington were well-balanced and paced. I am looking forward to our Zoom meet up to discuss. The history was also intriguing enough to push me to further research, which is not always the case.

 

January 2021

• Act Your Age, Eve Brown (egalley) by Talia Hibbert - I am disappointed there are no more sisters in the Brown family. I hope Hibbert will discover some cousins whose stories need to be told. Funny, romantic, and satisfyingly realistic are three ways I would describe all three of Hibbert's stories of the Brown sisters. [Get a Life, Chloe Brown (#1) and Take a Hint, Dani Brown (#2) - Though there is no need to read these in order.]
• The Lost Love Song (egalley) by Minnie Darke - I read Darke's debut Star-Crossed last January and liked it enough to recommend and send through the mail to a friend. I don't read too many books that take place in Australia, so I appreciate the change of scenery. This one has a number of settings including Edinburgh, which are an element of the story of the lost love song. I liked this one better than the first in part because of the larger cast of characters who are caught up in the story of the song. (An interesting companion read would be Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano.) 
• "The Prince and the Troll" by Rainbow Rowell and "Hazel and Gray" by Nic Stone. These are part of a series of five short stories by YA authors that reimagine classic fairy tales. The other three are "The Princess Game" by Soman Chainani, "The Cleaners" by Ken Liu, and "The Wickeds" by Gayle Forman. I purchased all five stories before their release and am looking forward to finishing the series in the next few weeks. So far I like the innovative twists on tales many of us know well.
• Ready Player Two (library audiobook) by Ernest Cline. Like many others, I LOVED Ready Player One, which I listened to early in my re-discovery of audiobooks after a year or two hiatus. Wil Wheaton, King of the Nerds, was well chosen to read both books and a primary reason I chose to wait for the audiobook from the library. Having just finished listening to this over the weekend, I am still not sure how I feel about it. It was slow to get going with lots of review. I needed it, having read the book when it was released in 2011 and have not seen the movie, but this means it took almost 4 hours into the book before the inciting incident. The action section of the novel was the strongest for me. The ending is where I just cannot decide. I don't think I liked it, but that does not mean it wasn't an appropriate end. 
• Fangirl Manga volume 1 - by Rainbow Rowell, adapted by Sam Maggs, illustrated by Gabi Nam - This is the 1^st of 4 planned volumes and so far I am enjoying the visual adaptation, which I wasn't sure would work...but it does. The story line and dialogue align with the novel so unless a reader is a big fan as I am, there is no need to read both. 
• The Good, The Bad, and the Dumped by Jenny Colgan (elibrary book) - This was an early book by Colgan that seems to have been re-released. I finished the read, but was tempted more than once to stop. This is an example of an author growing and improving with each book. If you are interested in Colgan's work I would recommend staring with the Little Beach Street books or the Scottish Bookshop books.
• Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory by Deena Kastor. I am just finishing this while I am polishing up this post. I started listening on the drive to FL a few weeks ago and have continued both in the car and at home. I was attracted to Kastor's story after listening to What I Talk About When I Talk About Running by Haruki Murakami. I ran my first 5K in October of 2019 in Baltimore after taking up running more seriously at the beginning of 2019 to support a friend who was planning a 10K for her 60^th birthday. The 10K was meant to take place in Richmond in April 2020, which happened only as a virtual event. I chose to defer my registration to the April 2021 event, but depending on vaccine distribution, it may be October 2021 before I participate in another race. Whatever happens I have found inspiration in listening to others talk about their running lives. I doubt I will move past a 10K, but who knows what my running future holds.

 

 

Reading:

• I read The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow when I was in Florida in April. I think many of the books I read back when I naively believed the COVID isolation period would be short will stick with me because they were of comfort or engagement when we were trying to figure out how to modify our lives to be safe. I began reading Harrow's recently published The Once and Future Witches (egalley) a few weeks ago, but took a break to read other books from the library. I have not gone back yet because it did not draw me in strongly. I am intrigued enough that I will try again before I forget the part I have already read.
• After resisting the call of a book I had decided NOT to read for any good reason at all, I started Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir. There's no reason to dwell on regrets for having not picked it up sooner. But I am glad to be reading now. The banter between Gideon and her life-long enemy Harrow is a perfect mix of snarky and mean. Rich with detail the descriptions still fly by as Muir builds this world. 
• Angel Mage (library ebook) by Garth Nix - This is the second of Nix's stand alone novels I am reading after loving The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. The first was Newt's Emerald. I have his The Old Kingdom series on deck for later in the winter, which begins with Sabriel.

 

Listening:

• Since I just finished my previous listen, I have not started another yet. I will need to decide soon for my planned afternoon walk. I am wavering between two. 1. Year of the Monkey by Patti Smith. I saw her live when this book was released. I have listened to her read both Just Kids and M Train finding that I love her laid back style. This one is a short 4.5 hour listen. Might be perfect for a week of walking. 2. The Best of Me by David Sedaris. His work is always hilarious and also read by him but hard to listen to at the gym with other people around since it is only ever a matter of time before I snort laugh aloud. 

 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

**A note on the picture. I always use an image from the Prints and Photographs collections of the Library of Congress. I like these because they are interesting, and freely available because they are in the public domain. I mainly choose images of people reading. If you click the image in any of my posts you will be able to see the Library's bibliographic record which includes whatever they know about the image including its creator. There are also usually links to other similar items or to the collection the image is a part of.***

What I've Read - What I am Reading - December 7, 2020

The year is coming to a close and I am nearing my Goodreads Reading Challenge goal number of 185 books read this year. (I am at 179.) I don't set a goal to push myself or compete with previous year's numbers, but as one way of noting my reading habits. When a goal is set, Goodreads keeps track of both the number of books and the specific titles read for the year. If I were just to mark books "read" as I finish, it would not be as straightforward to revisit the year's reading. I find this to be the most valuable feature of Goodreads for my reading life. 

 

It has been two weeks since one of these posts because the holiday and some reading ennui kept me from making progress or jumping into anything new. 

 

 

Read:

• I finished Playing for the Ashes the 6^th installment in the Inspector Lynley series by Elizabeth George (elibrary book). I do need to take a break on these for a bit as I think I met my limited of intrigue for a while with this one. I will say that I don't think the quality of this book was less than others I have read, but I did enjoy it less. Perhaps because I am just burned out on murder mysteries. But I found it difficult to care as much as I have with others. I'll wait until after the new year to read another of hers.
• 25 Days 'Til Christmas by Poppy Alexander is a 2019 Christmas novel. There were zero surprises in this story, but I didn't mind. I needed something to get my reading muscles moving again and this worked. This was not a saccharine romance without strife or sadness, but it had a predictably happy ending after the usual ups and downs of romance. My favorite character was Kate's son Jack, a quirky 6 year old who was a realistically drawn kid with issues and challenges separate from his mother.
• I mentioned a few weeks back, after being delighted by Garth Nix's The Left-Handed Booksellers of London that I was seeking more of his work via the public library. The first of my holds came through this week, Newt's Emerald. Its initial attraction for me was as a stand-alone work. I am saving Nix's The Old Kingdom series for cozy winter reading. (It has only just recently turned winter cold in Washington, DC and I am looking forward to using the gas fireplace in this new apartment. It has been 7 years since I had regular access to fire.) Reading this after the previous romance was probably just the formula I needed to get out of my reading funk. I was reminded of the Regency romances à la Georgette Heyer and by golly I was right. The author's note verified her works had been some of his inspiration. A lovely heiress whose magical emerald is stolen, mixed with a masquerade ball, and a passel of well-meaning but mainly ineffective cousins and I was charmed. I am 4th on the holds list for Angel Mage.

 

Reading:

• Way back, two weeks ago I started Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch (elibrary book) I have stalled in my reading just a few pages in. This one may just have to wait while I read titles I feel more drawn to. 
• I also began the recently published volume 5 of Monstress (independent bookstore purchase) the comic book by Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda. I have read about half of this and am savoring it.
• I read The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow when I was in Florida in April. I think many of the books I read back when I naively believed the COVID isolation period would be short will stick with me because they were of comfort or engagement when we were trying to figure out how to modify our lives to be safe. I began reading Harrow's recently published The Once and Future Witches (egalley) last evening. I am so far intrigued by the three witch sisters who have been reunited after years of separation. 
• I am planning to read Holly Black's How the King of Elfhame Learned to Hate Stories this week too.

 

Listening:

• I have been listening to A Promised Land by President Barack Obama (purchased from Audible) for the past two weeks. It is taking time because I did not listen at all over the Thanksgiving weekend and because it is a loooooong audiobook. 29 hours and 10 minutes. I have about 16 hours left. I like listening to President Obama read his own work. He has a soothing voice that keeps my irritation levels down when he talks about how slowly decisions are made and the reasons why some of his legislation met with opposition. The book is detailed and thorough as he explores the many different elements of his Presidency from lawmaking to family life to overseas travel. In the segment I just heard on a morning errand he discussed his nomination of Justice Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.

 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

 

**A note on the picture. I always use an image from the Prints and Photographs collections of the Library of Congress. I like these because they are interesting, and freely available because they are in the public domain. I mainly choose images of people reading. If you click the image in any of my posts you will be able to see the Library's bibliographic record which includes whatever they know about the image including its creator. There are also usually links to other similar items or to the collection the image is a part of.***

What I've Read - What I am Reading - November 9, 2020

Despite the distractions of last week, I managed to read quite a lot. I definitely indulged in some of the graphic novel reading I did on Tuesday night while refreshing the election results. I knew we would not have an answer until much later in the week, but I did not want to try to go to sleep with dread in my heart like I did in 2016. All that to say that I am calmer now and had a weekend of lovely weather, celebration, and reading!

 

A note on the picture. I always use an image from the Prints and Photographs collections of the Library of Congress. I like these because they are interesting, and freely available because they are in the public domain. I like to pick images of people reading, but this week I looked for something patriotic and found the image I used. I though it represented a nice mix of patriotism and books. If you click the image in any of my posts you will be able to see the Library's bibliographic record which includes whatever they know about the image including its creator. There are also usually links to other similar items or to the collection the image is a part of. Happy exploring!

 

 

 

 

Read:

Over the course of the week I finished a few books I had been reading in last week's update.

• Missing Joseph by Elizabeth George (I have the next one in this series lined up on my Kindle, but I am going to take a quick murder mystery break.)
• Shit, Actually by Lindy West was hilarious all the way through. I got a kick out of her irreverent look at so many popular movies, ALL of which I have seen. That made it even more fun because I knew exactly what she was talking about every time. Her take-down of American Pie was my favorite. 
• Drawing the Vote by Tommy Jenkins illustrated by Kati Lacker - This was not a light, easy graphic read at all, but I think it could be a great addition to studying the history of elections in the United States. It was well-researched and chock full of important information. I would use it in chunks though as it is dense.
• Class Act by Jerry Craft - This is a follow-up to the 2020 Newbery winning New Kid. While Jordan and Liam play a prominent role in the novel, this is Drew's story. I appreciated his perspective. I wonder if Craft will continue to show us these young people as they move through middle and high school.
• Apparently it was a week for Newbery winners because I also read Meg Medina's 2019 award winner Mercy Suárez Changes Gears. I think it was last week that I said I might need to read fewer middle grade novels....this book is a clear exception. While 6th grader Mercy is the main character, we are invited into her family in a way that makes this feel like the story of the Suárez family and how Mercy sees herself in relation to her brother, cousins, aunt, grandparents, and parents as well as her classmates. So deserving of bountiful honors. 
• Mooncakes by Suzanne Walker and illustrated by Wendy Xu. I like witch books. This one was not for me. 

 

Reading:

A few weeks ago I watched a Zoom chat between Garth Nix and Maggie Stiefvater. I signed up for it because of Maggie, but ended up being intrigued by the newly published Nix book The Left-Handed Booksellers of London. This is the first of his works I have read and am happy to have given it a chance. I am not quite at the half-way point and already feel that this is likely to be the first in a trilogy or series. 

Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane - I like McFarlane's romances. The heroines are smart and capable, but they choose partners poorly sometimes, but as in all good romances, they get it together for a happy, but not necessarily perfect, ending. I like the mix of reality and fun of her novels. 

 

Listening:

I have made the decision to go back to the gym. Because DC is currently in Phase II of reopening, gyms can be open but members must be masked at all times and equipment is constantly being cleaned by staff and there are sprays and wipes for exercisers to use as well. It has been quite empty each time I have been there. AND since the weather has been so nice the windows have been open for extra ventilation. So far, I feel confident they are doing everything they can to keep the space safe and I am doing my part as well. 

As I knew it would be, The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson is dense with facts about Churchill, Great Britain, and the war before and during the Blitz of 1940-41. That, along with the reading by John Lee, is keeping me engaged as I run on the treadmill. 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

What I've Read - What I am Reading - October 12, 2020

This was a random reading week. At first I had NO time, then we arrived in Florida and I had TIME.   

 

Read:

Between the plane and beach morning, I finished If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane. I appreciated the main characters progression from someone who tied her identity to her male partner to seeing her value as an independent person. 

I started and finished The Geometry of Holding Hands by Alexander McCall Smith on the beach on Tuesday. This is Smith's 13^th Isabel Dalhousie novel. I have read them all. The descriptions of old Edinburgh, Scotland in these books are the main reason I wanted to visit there on our trip to the UK in June 2019. I think I remember this series being touted as mysteries at first, but the mysteries were generally of a domestic nature as in people trying to find lost relatives or Isabel getting involved in solving someone else's problems. The content of the stories has not changed, but I don't see them in the mystery genre any longer. 

Next I started and then finished Beach Read by Emily Henry. I thought this was going to be a lighter read than it turned out to be, but it was also more of a romance than I was expecting. I am not sure who commissions the design of book covers, but this one was misleading. I am not mad about it, but I don't feel like the cover did credit to the important work the two main characters did as they wrote books unlike those they had written previously. (I don't think the title is quite right either. I might have called it The Writing Bet or Two Authors: Two Lives, or something with more gravitas.) I embraced the meta nature of a novel about two novelists trying to approach new genres and topics that turned out to be personally therapeutic. This book spoke to the ways that writing about challenges in our lives can help us to confront them in realistic and healthy ways. 

Reading:

Now that I am home for a good long time, probably until Christmas time, I will finish The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty. I also started Megan Whalen Turner's 6th book in The Thief series, Return of the Thief, a book, among others, which I have been looking forward to seeing published. 

 

Listening:

In the past week I have not listened to much at all. During the time I did spend driving, I continued The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell.

When I finish this, I will move to Meaty by Samantha Irby. This is one of her earlier titles, but I loved both We are Never Meeting in Real Life and Wow, No Thank You to the point that I cried tears of laughter, so I think it will be an excellent investment of time. 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

What I've Read - What I am Reading - September 21, 2020

This week was more busy than I was expecting, but I had some satisfying reading time anyway.

 

Read:

Late in the week I finished The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai. It was a relatively quick read, but one I almost did not finish. Had it been more difficult to read or longer I might have abandoned it, but I persevered and ended up finding it to be just ho hum. The main character is a children's librarian in Hannibal, MO. She is the weak link in the story. She just wasn't interesting to me. This is why I don't like to do traditional reviews. A character who was difficult for me might not be an issue for another reader. The other main character was Ian who I liked quite a bit. Finding out how the story ended for him is why I stuck with it. 

On Wednesday I picked up a bag of books from school from the carts of new arrivals. I jumped in right away to the graphic novels and read Giant Days: Volumes 10 and 11 by John Allison, Lissa Treiman, Max Sarin, Whitney Cogar, and Jim Campbell. Also in my bag was The Phantom Twin by Lisa Brown. It is the story of Isabel and Jane, conjoined twins in the 1920s whose parents sell them to a "freak" show where they perform as the Extraordinary Peabody Sisters until a doctor, looking for fame tries to separate them and only one survives. The details about the traveling side show life were well researched and the art was simple but effective for the story being told.          

When I signed into my DC public library account early in the week, I discovered a book that was about to be due that I had not even cracked yet. Eep!  So I read We Met in December by Rosie Curtis over the past two days. It was a fairly standard London romance. My favorite parts were when the two main characters Jess and Alex would amble around London seeing sites and visiting nooks and coffee shops. It was nice to revisit places I have been with them and note down new places for another visit. 

 

Reading:

I am continuing to read The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty because I want to savor this last book in the trilogy. 

I also started A Suitable Vengeance by Elizabeth George, the next in the Inspector Lynley series. I don't usually read the same author's mysteries so close together, but this one came up from the library more quickly than I was expecting and is due back in about a week. 

 

Listening:

I finished Dreams from My Father, written and read by Barack Obama. I voted for and supported Obama as president but this book revealed many things about his early life that I had not known. His early commitment to racial equality is impressive. I also learned a lot about his family, which is diverse and spread around the world. 

My next listen is Eat a Peach by chef David Chang. So far it is an interesting hop and skip through his early life. Since he is from northern Virginia he references many places and characteristics of the area that are spot on about local food, schools, and towns. He has just started describing how and why he started his first restaurant. I have no interest in going into the restaurant business, but I am fascinated by its inner workings from having watched every season of Top Chef and listened previously to Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential. 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

What I've Read - What I am Reading - September 14, 2020

A week and three quarters after the move, the apartment looks like a home and just about everything has found a place or been given away or donated, which does include some books. This means I was able to spend more time reading than I did last week. 

On Saturday I made a trip to Politics & Prose on Connecticut Ave. to pick up the latest Louise Penny mystery All The Devils are Here that was part of our ticket to the Zoom conversation between she and Hillary Clinton. 

 

 

 

 

Read:

Last week I began reading Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore, which I finished this week. I enjoyed it and thought it was sassy, smart, and swoony. I liked both Annabelle and her love interest Montgomery. Each was layered and flawed as well as believably attracted to each other based on backstory and events in the novel. I appreciated the strong friendships between the women working for women's suffrage in the Victorian age in England. This was a slice of history I knew little about which prompted me to do some research to discover how the movement in England compared to that here in the United States the centenary of which is this year. I intend to read the next in the "A League of Extraordinary Women" series A Rogue of One's Own.

Over the week I also started and finished The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I read Daisy Jones & the Six in November, which prompted me to seek another novel by Reid. The story of Evelyn Hugo is framed around her seven marriages, but the larger frame is that Evelyn commissions a talented but struggling writer, Monique Grant to interview her then write her biography after she passes away. The layers of both women's stories drew me into all the twists and turns of their lives.

I picked up two books in addition to the Louise Penny when I visited the bookstore. The first was the graphic novel, Wonder Woman Tempest Tossed, by Laurie Halse Anderson, illustrated by Leila Del Duca. It came with a signed book plate which was a surprise. I read it on Saturday evening. I want to read it again, but I think my 10 year old niece will like it too. 

I also bought Still Life with Tornado by A.S. King, which was also unexpectedly signed. I have read many of her works, each of which I have found surprising and mind-sparking. This one will go near the top of my TBR. 

 

Reading:

I am continuing to read The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty because I want to savor this last book in the trilogy. Since it is a library ebook due this week, I started The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai. I will finish it early in the week. 

 

Listening:

I finished The King of Crows by Libba Bray, just in time for the digital audiobook to go back to the library today. The series ended satisfyingly. I am thinking of grabbing the book from my library so I can reread the last few chapters. One of the reasons Bray is one of my favorite YA authors is because she writes a variety of genres. I think my first Bray read was the Gemma Doyle trilogy, which I have read AND listened to and still ranks as my favorite of her work. 

In the car today I started Dreams from My Father, written and read by Barack Obama. 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

What I've Read - What I'm Reading - September 7, 2020

Life has been hectic recently. First was my birthday, then I moved. Moving was far more stressful than getting another year better. But amid the chaos I had the idea for a recurring post on Mondays. A "what I have read"and "what I am reading and listening to" post. I read quickly but depending on the books, some weeks I read an amazing amount and others I just make progress. This was a "make progress" kind of week. 

 

 

Read:

I finished Well-Schooled in Murder by Elizabeth George early in the week. As I have written, I love this series of mysteries, but have read the 5 most recent and then went into her earlier novels to catch up with the backstory I was missing. During the week, I was also had the opportunity to participate in a book event with Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton discussing Penny's most recent publication, All the Devils are Here. (The recording of this even does not seem to be available yet, but I will update the post with a link when it is.)

 

Reading:

On the 29th I went ahead and treated myself to a birthday book, The Empire of Gold by S.A. Chakraborty. 
I devoured the first two in the series The City of Brass and The Kingdom of Copper. I love when I can read a trilogy or series without waiting for publication since I sometimes forget important details if there is too much time between books. This trilogy has been a reader's delight because the world building and characterization are a fantasy lovers dream. In addition to enjoying these as a reader, I have appreciated them for their artistry as I craft my own novel. 

Since I want to savor The Empire of Gold, I also started Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore. I appreciate how she is able to weave current issues into a historical romance. The story is swoony and political without being heavy-handed. I have Dunmore's next novel, A Rogue of One's Own in the queue on my Kindle from Net Galley to bring into my reading over the next few weeks. 

 

Listening:

I finished Lindy West's The Witches are Coming just in the nick of time before it was due back at the library. My politics align with hers so I spent time while I was packing shouting "hell, yeah" and "YES!" while I was listening.

Just as I finished, The King of Crows by Libba Bray popped into my library so i jumped in as I unpacked. This is the 4th and final book in the Diviners series, which I have enjoyed all the way through. This one is 21 hours of audio so i need to buckle down and listed regularly as I go about my day in order to finish before the audio is due back to the library on the 14th. 

 

What have you read? What are you reading and listening to?

 

One "New to Me" Author and One Old Favorite

This week I read both The Duff by Kody Keplinger, a "new to me" author and The Darkest Part of the Forest, by Holly Black, a perennial favorite.

I got The Duff for my Kindle because it was super inexpensive and there has been quite a bit of hype related to the release of the movie. I was pleasantly surprised by the depth of the story. "DUFF" stands for "Designated Ugly Fat Friend." Early in the story, Wesley Rush, a womanizing type, tells our heroine Bianca that she is the DUFF for her friends and he is going to chat her up so her gorgeous friends will like and sleep with him. I was concerned that Bianca would fall for this guy who would cause her to seek a makeover and wham, bam: no more DUFF.

This is not what happens. While Bianca and Wesley do become involved, their relationship is more sophisticated than this. One of its strengths is they each accept the other as is. This is also the book's strength. While Bianca and Wesley struggle with family issues they become a support for each other in a sweet and completely un-saccharine way. It is lucky I had a snow day from work today because I stayed up much too late reading this.

Another powerful element is that Bianca's two best friends Casey and Jessica are true friends who do nothing but support each other. Nice to see a realistic portrayal of female friendships that do not involve trying to tear each other down.

I will hold off on seeing the movie until I hear how close it sticks to the book, but I am thinking I want to read both Midsummer's Nightmare and Lying out Loud to see if Keplinger's later efforts live up to her early promise.

It should be no surprise that I loved The Darkest Part of the Forest. I have met Holly Black and raved about her Curse workers series, and have only good thoughts about Doll Bones, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown and The Iron Trial, which she wrote with Cassandra Clare. Again we have a story featuring a strong heroine who is flawed and real. In this case, she must work to save her town from the Folk who would destroy Fairfold in a power struggle. There's also a nice side of romance for Hazel and her brother Ben. This story really embraces what we mean when we talking about needing diverse books. The characters both human and faerie are not all white and straight, but the story is not about their differences, but rather about their experiences. And given my strong, sometimes negative feelings about trilogies, specifically the second book in trilogies, I am happy to say the end of this story makes me think this is a stand alone.

Summer Reading 2014 - Part II

I ran through books quite quickly this summer - or in the three weeks of it I had since I did not get a full summer vacation - I know- boohoo - no one feels sorry for me, and I do not either. The work I did with teachers in July was gratifying and renewing in a way that July usually is not.

After the books I covered in Summer Reading 2014 - Part I, I jumped into 6 more, without a dud in the whole stack:

1.  Lexicon by Max Barry - At one point I owned two copies of this book. I waited quite a long time to read either one, though it was on the top of my TBR pile as soon as I bought it the first time. I am partly sorry I waited so long and partly so mind-blown by it that all regrets have faded. The premise is that words are powerful...what a concept. If any of my former English students are reading this, I am not crazy, words are powerful and this story illustrates that they can even be deadly. Set in the not too distant future, Emily escapes her life on the streets by attending a super-secret school that teaches its students how to be "persuasive." Barry explores the issues of persuasion and the power of language in a way that makes the read a bit wary of those who may seem a bit too glib or at ease with command. A powerful and provoking exploration of mind manipulation and psychology.

2.  Heirs of Grace by Tim Pratt - Upon being called to the reading of a will for a man she does not know, Bekah finds herself with a house, siblings, and magical powers. I just never get tired of well-done stories about magic, mostly because ever since Harry Potter I have been sad not to have magic powers. Romance, adventure, and humor are mixed together in this story that was originally published as a Kindle serial. Not sure how I feel about the concept and am glad I did not have to wait to read this entertaining novel.

3.  Champion by Marie Lu - This is another book I had on the shelves for quite a while but put off reading...for no good reason. This is the third in the Legend series. The Republic of America faces certain annihilation by the Colonies if doctors cannot find a cure for a virulent plague the Colonies believe the Republic has created and unleashed. Day, as hero of the people, and June as a Princeps-Elect, put their nation before their relationship. I love YA dystopia and have no probelm with the idea that 17-year-olds will save us all. Fantasy and dystopia are all mixed up anyway. 

4. The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin - This is considered a classic of children's literature, winning the Newbery in 1979. The story is a bit dated, and reminded me of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein, a 2013 publication. I like the concept of each, that a group of people must use clues to solve puzzles that will lead to prizes and glory (not too far from the concepts of Willa Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, but without the borderline creepiness). The most significant difference in The Westing Game is that the participants are a mix of children and adults. The story is clearly for children as the main character is a child and the novel is short, but it does not talk down to the reader in a way I think too many middle grade and YA books do today.

5.  Can't Wait to Get to Heaven by Fannie Flagg - I have read two other books by Flagg and see them as very close to ideal for summer reading. They are not saccharine and overly cheerful, but there are moments of reading when a tall, cool, glass of iced tea (unsweetened for me - I am a Jersey girl after all) and a rocking chair on the porch would round out the experience perfectly. The two main characters here are Norma and her aunt Elner, both residents of Elmwood Springs, Missouri, a location for other stories, but I have not read any of those, only Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe andThe All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion. I think I'll save reading another by her for the dead of winter when I need to feel summery.

6.  One Plus One by Jojo Moyes - This is the first novel I have read by Moyes, though I have been tempted to purchase others in the past. I will be reading more now. Tanzie is a maths genius. Her half-brother Nicky does not fit in at school. Jess works two jobs to keep the family afloat in a not-very-nice suburb of London. The bulk of the novel revolves around the three days they spend traveling with one of Jess's cleaning clients trying to get Tanzie to a math Olympiad competition where she could win enough money to cover the cost of a private school to which she has been admitted but they cannot afford. Throw in a smelly dog, a fair amount of vomiting, and some romance and you have a story worthy of a satisfying summer read.

Now I am going to get back to reading as I return to work soon and will miss having so much time to indulge in good books!

Summer Reading 2014 - Part I

As I did not work in a school this year, my summer was significantly shorter than in the past.  I still managed to fit in quite a bit of reading in three weeks. I consider my summer reading anything I read during my three free weeks in August, not what I read in July in the evenings after working 10 hours a day.  (Sadly, I read very little because I was mostly exhausted those nights and just sat on the couch watching Dr. Who - David Tennant, in all his dreamy-ness.)  I can remember a few of the books I read then I will include them on this list. 

I started my 6 day vacation in Maine with The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin. There has been lots of buzz about this one as AJ owns an independent bookshop. It also came recommended by a colleague in the 5 minutes we had to chat about books in July.  I figured if this was the one she could call to mind it must be memorable, and it was. Highly recommend for its nice story as well as the bookshop anecdotes.

Side note: For a number of reasons I recently purchased a Kindle. I read the above on it after purchasing it for a reasonable price. I spend far too much money on books. I also check a fair number out of the library and buy from used stores. What I have balked at is paying over $10 for an ebook. Most of what I have I have gotten for free as review copies, or inexpensively when Amazon offers a deal. It seems that if I am going to spend over $10 I want a paper and cardboard book to show for it. $10 seems like a good threshold for new-ish books, when a hardback is significantly more expensive and a paperback is upwards of $11. I have been pleased with my purchase and found it very convenient when we were in and out of hotels and the car. I have also adjusted well to reading in a different format which will also come in handy on the Metro. My bag of books stayed right in the trunk (and became a bit fuller during the journey) until we arrived home to VA.

The second book I read was Deborah Harkness's A Discovery of Witches. I will admit I made an effort to avoid vampire books after the atrocities perpetuated by Stephenie Meyer - though it was Bella more than the vampires I found offensive. By the time I realized what a large role vampires play in this one, it was too late and I was hooked. There was a bit to much "I am enthralled by this vampire and am therefore his for all eternity" on the part of the heroine, but the story moved along well and the world-building was thorough and consistent. I purchased the second book in the series, Shadow of Night (which I am happy to say involves time travel to Elizabethan England) as an ebook as well, but the 3rd I picked up at an independent bookstore I love in Madison, CT called RJ Julia. I just began the 2nd book, making myself wait until I had read all the books I brought to VA from DC in order to avoid taking them back unread. 

Because we were so busy in ME, I only read those two books. As soon as we returned to VA, I began Isla and the Happily Ever After, by Stephanie Perkins. I loved Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door. Perkins suffers from depression and took a bit longer to finish this story than she anticipated. While the book was certainly worth the wait, I do not feel it was as strong as the other two. But what I did especially like was that while it is still a YA love story, she moved away from the formula of the first two in a way that made it more difficult to predict how the relationship between Isla and Josh would turn out. Anna, Etienne, Lola, and Cricket put in an appearance but are only a side story in Josh and Isla's relationship. I had pre-ordered the book from Hooray for Books in Old Town Alexandria where I went to see Perkins as well as Ellen Oh, Victoria Schwab and Megan Shepherd in January and picked it up on our way out of town. I felt like it should be my next read since I had already waited so long. 

One book I can now recall reading in July was My Salinger Year, by Joanna Rakoff about the year she spent working for JD Salinger's agency. One of her jobs was to answer his fan mail with a form letter indicating that Salinger had requested not to receive any letters. One of the most interesting aspects of the book is that Rakoff had not read any of his work before getting the job and put if off until she had been there many months. This makes her before and after reactions to the fan letters an intriguing part of the story. I like Salinger's work, but never reacted to it the way many of my students did to Catcher in the Rye. Rakoff's insights into publishing were enlightening as well.

That is probably enough for Part I...I'll discuss the rest of my summer reading stack in my next post. 

 

Summer Romance

Throughout the year I like to read books that feature love stories, but there is something satisfying about reading a romance in the summer time. Maybe it is the warm nights and sunny days that turn one's thoughts to smooching. Or perhaps it is the humidity that turns a reader to steamy books.  Whatever the case, I have read a fair number of romantic tales since June. Four in particular:

1.  Landline by Rainbow Rowell for which I patiently waited and was not disappointed.

2.  For Once in My Life by Marianne Kavanagh which was sweet and a tad predictable.

3. Guy in Real Life by Steve Brezenhoff, a YA romance with an interesting twist. 

4.  So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti another YA, without much to recommend it. 

I have loved everything by Rainbow Rowell, her previous adult novel Attachments and Eleanor and Park as well as Fangirl. As I have said previously, Rowell is a master of the slow lead up to the first kiss, or the bells and swelling of the heart that indicate a character is in love. She captures those unsure moments before both parties are able to acknowledge they are in love. Landline however is a bit different. While there is some flashback to the beginning of the romance, this story is really about a relationship falling apart, and the desperation to fix it, aided by a magic telephone.  Yes, it sounds ridiculous, but Rowell is talented enough to make it believable without asking for suspension of disbelief beyond tolerance. I enjoyed the story, though I did root for the wrong outcome for a bit, but that's just the cynic in me...I knew how it would turn out in the end. 

As far as I know, For Once in My Life is the first novel from Kavanagh. While the eventual end was predictable, the getting there was more convoluted and unexpected than I would have thought at first...teaches me a thing or two about assumptions.  Tess and George's romance is not the usual summer romance fodder, which is the main reason I enjoyed it. I am not against a predictable romance so long as it is well-written and the twists and turns toward the happy ending let me live vicariously in their world for a time. I am also a sucker for a story set in London.

Guy in Real Life is a YA romance that truly surprised me.  Lesh is a metal head who falls for a lovely dungeon master named Svetlana. They are an unlikely pair in their high school world, but there are any number of stories of star-crossed teen lovers. What made this story interesting is Lesh's foray into a massive multi-player on-line role playing game in which he becomes Svetlana, asking the question: Does Lesh want to be with her, or does he want to be her? Brezenoff simply touches this question lightly, but his dip into questions of gender roles without it being the focus of the story adds a layer of interest I found myself thinking about well after finishing the story.  I will be looking for what Brezenhoff does next.  

In So Much Closer, Brooke moves to NYC, ostensibly to live with her estranged father, but really to be with the boy she knows she should be with.  Brooke is annoying; Scott, the boy she follows is shallow, despite Colastani's weak attempt to give him depth; and the issues of leaving home, parental relationships, and finding oneself are left without a real look. I think the story had potential, as can be seen in the two characters who save the tale: Sadie and John. I will probably not read anything else from this author, but perhaps later books are better.  

Trilogies....again

It can be no surprise that I have again finished the third book in a trilogy...two actually.  It is nearly impossible these days to read YA without being sucked into a trilogy. Last night I finished The Selection series by reading The One and the day before, the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy with Dreams of Gods and Monsters. One of these trilogies is one of my favorites of recent years...the other, I am not really sure about, even after having finished.  

Laini Taylor is a strong world builder and I have loved all three books, beginning with Daughter of Smoke and Bone, [which I listened to courtesy of SYNC (which provides a free audio book a week through the summer - awesome!) as a way of re-reading it, just before the second book was released] and continuing with Days of Blood and Starlight, which I reread sort of by accident, but am glad I did. I could go on and on gushing about these books, but that is not helpful to readers. Instead I will say, that characters are believable and evoke a range of emotions in the reader. The world Taylor has built has consistent rules that are not muddled when the author needs the way out of a tough spot; she clearly had the entire trilogy set out before beginning so there is a clear path in the narrative that ends, not without surprises, but with no convenient plot contrivances. This sounds quite clinical, but these characteristics are part of why I loved the series so much. Not for nothing, the love story is stirring and each and every character is crafted carefully.

On the other hand, I liked The Selection series by Kiera Cass less. The trilogy began well, as I discuss here. It seems I did not review the second, The Elite, but remember liking it less than the first, and sadly now, the third book less than that. And in this case, it wasn't even the whole book, just the end which tied up the relationship between America and Maxon a bit too neatly.  Here be spoilers:  I feel the death of both the king and the queen was a bit much. This makes Maxon's ascension to the throne too easy. We have been set up to believe he and America will rule well together despite their youth, but I think the queen could have been allowed to live as a strengthening and guiding force without hindering their work. Losing both parents and a variety of others in one fell swoop, just pages from the end, was too much.  

I'm off to hunt for the next great YA trilogy.

The Delightful Parnassus on Wheels

I cannot remember when or how I first heard about Christopher Morley's Parnassus on Wheels, but I found a free e-version long before I read it.  It was not until I received it in my Book Riot Quarterly box. (I am not associated in any way with Book Riot, except as a fan.)  I used to subscribe to Powell's Indispensable, but I so rarely got any books I really liked or even wanted to read. This is not a criticism of Powell's, their choices simply did not fit my tastes.  Book Riot on the other hand has gotten it right in both boxes so far.  The Book Riot susbcription is also quarterly rather than every six weeks, which also fits my habits a bit better.  

Parnassus on Wheels is a novella. It begins with Andrew McGill's sister Helen. Andrew is a writer and farmer. When Roger Mifflin comes to the farm intending to sell his traveling bookshop to Andrew. Helen quickly sees the trouble this will cause and resolves to buy the bookshop to have her own adventure. It is a charming love story in traditional ways, but it is also a tribute to the love of books and reading. It will take only an hour to read if you are quick, and only slightly longer if you are not. I am seriously tempted to read it again before putting it on my "keep forever" shelves. 

Just as I was typing this I purchased Haunted Bookshop, also by Morley.  If it is even half as good as Parnassus on Wheels it will be well worth the read. 

Revisiting Jessica Darling and Marcus Flutie

Not too long ago I succumbed to the lure of a great Kindle deal on Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty. While I own all the books in the series, I am separated from them by a great distance. I kept reading in starts and fits on the Metro, which was a mistake as the emotional impact of the story calls for sustained reading. I did not make this mistake with books 2-5 checking them out of the library to avoid waiting to be reunited with my copies.

A few comments:

1.  Though the first book was published in 2001, the cultural references feel nostalgic rather than tired. 

2.  I was just as engaged by the romance between Jessica and Marcus this time as I was when the outcome was a surprise. 

3.  McCafferty has created teens I believe (and I taught HS for 15 years).

4.  Having spent 10 years living near where the books are set, I enjoyed visiting McCafferty's thinly disguised Pineville. 

5.  Watching Jessica mature is almost as satisfying as the romance. She is a woman with whom I want to be friends. (Maybe Megan McCafferty will be my friend instead. - Holden Caulfield says it best: "What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.")

6.  Perfect Fifths is my favorite. The majority of the book takes place in the airport, based almost entirely on banter between Jessica and Marcus that sparks and snaps. Their exchanges speak to the genius of an author who can drive suspense with little action all the while slowly building up to the ending the two were destined for. 

I am looking very forward to the second installment of Jessica Darling's It List.  McCafferty  is taking us back to Jessica in middle school, to see her as she becomes the thought-full, notso we love as a teen and young adult.  

Holiday Time Reading

I was able to do quite a bit of reading during my Christmas break along with relaxing and spending time with family and friends.

Not too long ago I read Graceling by Kristin Cashore.   I followed up with Fire the companion novel.  On one hand I was irritated not to get the continuing story of Katsa and Po, but it did not take many pages before I was caught up in the story of Fire and Brigan.  Their story takes place in the same world as that of Katsa and Po, but many years before.  There is also a significant cross-over character who will be important in the third book, Bitterblue, which is at the top of my TBR pile. 

I do like the books I read at holiday time to be generally cheerful.  I chose well with The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.  It is a love story in which the romantic lead is a man with Aspberger's.  As more and more children and adults are diagnosed we will see more and more literature of this type.  The object of his affection is Rosie, a woman who on paper, or according to Don's questionnaire, is completely wrong for him.  There are few surprises in this love story, but the tale is so sweet and so indicative of the Aspberger's experience that it is informative as well as heart-warming. 

 

Next up was The All-Girl Filling Station's Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg.  This is the first of her books I have read, though I have seen Fried Green Tomatoes, the movie version of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.  This novel moves back and forth from present day (approximately) to right before World War II.  I enjoyed both segments, which of course intersected, but the WWII were great historical fiction.  Just like in Flygirl, by Sherri L. Smith, which I read last year, this is the story of women pilots, a whole family of them.  I find this topic really interesting and appreciate the incorporation of historical accuracy with the story of women who might really have been there.  

 

For New Year's Eve I read Persepolis by Marjane Patrapi, which made me want to know more about the Iranian people.  All I know pertains to the time after the establishment of the Islamic republic.  I know almost nothing about the rich and ancient culture of Persia.  I also had time to visit my favorite used bookstore in Norfolk, The Book Exchange, where I picked up Lauren Myracle's ttyl and L8r, g8r but not ttfn.  I did not find ttyl as shocking as I expected given the buzz I have heard about the series.  I just found it to be a realistic depiction of teen life.  I look forward to the next two books.   I also started This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen, whose work I always enjoy. 

I like sweet love stories and I cannot lie

I have managed to read quite a bit recently, but have not managed to blog much. But here I am to get in a post before Christmas hits, though honestly I should probably still be outdoors enjoying this freakishly warm weather. 

1.  Attachments by Rainbow Rowell  Rowell is the queen of the slow burn.  She pulled it off beautifully in Eleanor and Park as well as Fangirl, both YA romances.  Attachments is a romance featuring adult characters.  (I dislike using the phrase "adult romance" because it makes me think of "those" kind of adult romances.)  It does not pack quite the romantic power of the YA stories, but it was Rowell's first and I think she just needed to settle into her romance groove.  Beth and Jennifer are friends who work together and use work e-mail to chat through the day.  (The books takes place in 1999 and 2000.)  Lincoln's job is to monitor employee e-mail that is flagged for inappropriate content.  This leads to Lincoln falling for Beth because of her witty banter.  Her cute freckles do not hurt once he sees her.  It is a sweet story that is not saccharine and though the set-up could be creepy, but with Rowell's way it is not. 

 

2.  Meet me at the Cupcake Cafe by Jenni Colgan  This story on the other hand is far too sweet, but I love it anyway.  For crying out loud, the story centers on Issy opening a cupcake cafe. It does not matter to me that the ending is predictable, and even some of the more major plot points.  I read mainly for enjoyment and I do not take umbrage at a story that does not surprise me.  I like Colgan's style and enjoy the storytelling, and I like a happy ending.  

3.  Less a straight love story is Adriana Trigiani's The Supreme Macaroni Company, which picks up just after the end of Brava, Valentine.  Valentine and Gianluca's romance has progressed to engagement and marriage.  This story is really about how two independent people come together in a marriage.  It is not all birds singing and romance, but instead Trigiani focuses on how each person must give a little in order to be married successfully.  I always like Trigiani's stories and look forward to more. 

4.  I took a bit of a break from YA with the titles above, but I have not neglected it entirely.  I have had The Infinite Moment of Us by Lauren Myracle for a few weeks.  I have not read any of Myracle's Internet Girls series (ttyl, ttfn, and l8r,g8r), but I have read Shine.  There is no doubt this is a romance.  Wren and Charlie meet just as high school is ending, the set up for a summer romance.  However, what they find with each other is more intense and probably long-lasting than a summer fling.  The issues with which Wren (overbearing parents) and Charlie (foster home) deal keep the story from being purely romance, but the two fall hard for each other in the way only teens can.  Sadly, adults tend to be a bit more jaded about love and romance.  The story has some pretty graphic sex scenes, but I would not label these as gratuitous. They serve to illustrate the intensity of the relationship as well as present the reality that teens are sexual beings no matter what some churches, schools, and parents would like to believe. 

4.  Just to avoid having to write an entirely new post for one book, I am going to include From Norvelt to Nowhere by Jack Gantos in this post.  While it does contain an element of romance I would place it more in the comedy genre than anywhere else.  I loved Dead End in Norvelt to which I listened (narrated by the author).  In that novel, Ms. Volker takes center stage when she composes the fasinating obituaries for all the women who are murdered.  In this one, Ms. Volker and Jack travel from Pennsylvania to Florida with more than a few stops in between.  Note: These are the only two books by Gantos I have read.  I found this story to be empty.  I did not care much what happened to anyone, which really made me sad.  The tale was just so far-fetched I had trouble suspending my disbelief, which led to apathy.  

Now that I have a break from work I am planning a full scale attack on my TBR pile, hopefully followed by lots of posting!

 

 

 

McCafferty, Carson, and Turgeon

So my blogging has been sporadic since I moved to DC to work at the Library of Congress for the year, but since last Tuesday's government shut down my excuses for not writing have all but disappeared.  The good news is that I have mostly been using my time wisely to visit the museums and attractions that are still open and reading.  I finished three YA gems in the past few weeks:

1.  Jessica Darling's It List by Megan McCafferty  I will start by saying I loved McCafferty's YA/adult series about Jessica Darling that began with Sloppy Firsts.  Part of the appeal was the Ocean County, NJ setting.  But beside the frequent references to the Seaside boardwalk, Jessica Darling was a delightfully flawed main character.  Simply put, she is believably real, which to me is the mark of a well-written character.  This new novel takes us back to Jessica's middle school days.  This is obviously a bid to catch some younger readers who will hopefully follow Jessica through this new series and then move to the five original books.  It has been a while since I read them, but I feel the younger Jessica is true to her older self.  Her worries and challenges are also in line with those of actual 7th grade girls.  I definitely recommend this for actual middle school readers as well as those who liked the tales of Jessica's high school years.

2.  The Fairest of Them All by Carolyn Turgeon I can freely admit I had not heard of this author when I won my copy of this book from The Beheld, a site dedicated to the deconstruction of beauty stereotypes.  The blogger was promoting the author as someone who turns fairy tales around to look at the dangerous underside of their presentation of "happily ever after."  This story combined Rapunzel and Snow White into a fairy tale mash-up.  While I appreciated the look at feminine power based on beauty and what happens when beauty fades, I did not feel the tale was entirely natural.  There were plot elements that felt contrived in order to meet the needs of the message, but since I felt the message was a positive one I can overlook the minor flaws.  I think this sort of retelling is important if only to remind us to consider stories from multiple perspectives.

3.  The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson I had to wait longer than I would have liked to read this because I had it shipped home rather than to DC and it sat there alone in its box until I could get it.  This was the final in the Girl of Fire and Thorns trilogy.  I have kept reading despite the second book falling victim to the 2nd book syndrome. This was a satisfying end to the series, though I have not yet figured out if the author intended Christian/religious overtones or not.  It does not really matter because Elisa's story of having to find internal strength to lead her people trumps any reliance she has on a higher power....so I guess I answered my own question there. 

 

Right now I am finishing up Empty Mansions about Huguette Clark and started reading The Woken Gods by Gwenda Bond. 

Two Thumbs Down for Banned Books, or Why I Love Rainbow Rowell

Last week I had the good fortune to see Rainbow Rowell at Politics and Prose in Washington, DC.  In addition to being fabulous she was funny, and honest, and delight.  If I had not already loved her books I would have been smitten just by listening to her talk about them.  Interestingly she was scheduled for the Teen area, but I think I could count up the number of actual teens present on one hand.  I reviewed Eleanor and Park a while back and think I could definitely read it again soon!  I was very happy when her next book, Fangirl came out so quickly.  

Rowell began her talk with a bit of background about Eleanor and Park that she had not necessarily intended for a teen audience.  She does have an adult romance called Attachments, which I now own and will read.  I may have to wait a bit in order to equalize the time between releases, as her next novel, another for adults is not being released until the spring.  She also discussed how the book was a bit autobiographical and gave her a great outlet for some things she had not quite grappled with as a teen. 

She went on to read from Fangirl.  At one point she touched on reasons why she hates/loves romance movies: because they leave out all the good falling in love stuff.  Eureka! I said in my head, yes, that is exactly what I loved about Eleanor and Park, the slow build.  There was little doubt they would have a romance, but how would it all fall into place? When?  Fangirl is full of the same tantalizing, mosey toward love.  It reminded me of Stephanie Perkins's novels Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door.  I even tried to read the book a bit slowly to savor all the little details of the romance. 

The book opens with Cather walking into her freshman dorm room for the first time.  She is scared, jumpy, and completely unprepared for the social aspects of college, see she has anticipated rooming safely with her twin sister, who declined the privilege in favor of meeting new people and asserting her one-ness.  Cather is also an intense fan-fiction writer of stories that take place in the universe of Simon Snow, wildly popular boy wizard.  (One of the most charming parts of the book is Rowell's inclusion of snippets from both the original books as well as Caht's fanfic.)  Cath longs to be a writer, but feels she is only competent in a world invented by someone else.  This causes a bit of a problem with her creative writing professor, but Cath persists in what she loves.  Cath's story is rounded out with family issues as well as boy phobia/longing.  Levi and Nick figure into her romantic life that is inhibited by her own fears. 

Now, for the banned books part of my title.  It seems that Rainbow Rowell was recently invited to speak at a public library in Minnesota, then uninvited because of issues with the language in Eleanor and Park.  Here is a link to a good overview of the whole situation.  When someone at the reading asked about the situation, Rowell was visibly upset.  Not in a "I don't want to talk about it" way, but in a "these people may not have read the book and the definitely did not understand it."  I guess it is good that book banning gets lots of attention so we do not forget it still happens in this "free" country, but it is so sad when kids are deprived of excellent books that will help them to feel connected to a community of other readers and the characters.  More sad when it is people who claim to care about them, but not enough to read about difficult topics in order to open up communication about things like bullying and abuse that we need to talk about if we want them to go away. 

So, bottom line READ THESE BOOKS and tell all your friends about how wonderful they are.