2014 In Review

It's that time of year again - time to look back over the highlights (and lowlights) of the past reading year. Once again, I was lucky to have many more highs than lows - I don't know if that is due to my increasing ability to choose books I like, or my increasing dependence on reviews from readers I trust, but no matter the cause I'm certainly happy with the outcome.

I read little nonfiction in 2014, which is somewhat unusual, but can most likely be attributed to the lack of large chunks of time to read. I generally do better with nonfiction when I can devote several hours over a weekend to reading a book - that doesn't happen much lately. But here are the best of my nonfiction year -

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot -  we all know that good nonfiction reads as compellingly as fiction, and this would be a book to prove that thesis. Fascinating and heartbreaking, this story made me think about the good of science vs. the good of the person, and which really is the most important.

 Let Your Life Speak by Parker J. Palmer - given to me by a good friend, this is a lovely book about choosing to follow the voice of vocation in your life. Had I read this book as a 20-year-old, it most likely would have become one of the seminal books in my life. Coming to me later, it was a good reminder to listen for the truths that your heart tells you. Wise and gentle, a thoughtful read.

 Carry On, Warrior: Thoughts on Life Unarmed by Glennon Doyle Melton - This book became much more than a book for me. It became a mantra - a philosophy - a call to live the life I want to life. Melton's words are wise, funny, and gracious, reminding us all that love really is the most important thing. I loved this book so hard.

Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner and a Saint by Nadia Bolz-Weber - This spiritual memoir will, quite honestly, not be for everyone. For me, it was a breath of fresh, redeeming air that resonated with my soul. Faith doesn't have to look the same for everyone, and sometimes the questions are the path to true belief. Beautiful, real, and spirit-filled.










Fiction was by far the bulk of my reading this year, which isn't a huge surprise. There is just nothing like getting lost in another world for a while to make my world feel right again. A LOT of my favorite reads of the year were speculative fiction - sci-fi or fantasy - which is also not a huge surprise. They've been a staple of my reading diet for years. Here are the highlights -

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman - this was my first read of 2014, and it was a stunner. Gaiman's story of a young boy saving himself is a meditation on memory and the power of words, and it was unforgettable.

 A Woman in the House by William E. Barrett - a loan from my mom, this is not a book I would ever have chosen on my own, but it was a truly beautiful story about two unlikely characters coming to love each other in the strangest of circumstances. Once again, my mom is always right, and her taste in books continues to be pretty darn good.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell - I think I loved this book from the first sentence, and didn't stop until I turned the last page. These two quirky characters completely stole my heart, and the bittersweet ending was absolutely perfect. Wonderful.

 Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - I finished a classic this year! That always feels like an accomplishment. I have to admit this one was a slow starter - I nearly gave up, but eventually Magwitch wormed his slimy way into my heart, and then I was lost in the story. I'm happy I finally made the time to read this much-beloved story.

 The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt - there is just something about Tartt's twisty, unpredictable door-stoppers that keep me reading page after page. I don't know that I actually liked any of the characters, and there were points that felt S L O W as mud, but she always makes me want to find out what happens in the end.

 The Testament of Mary by Colm Toibin - definitely not a book that will appeal to everyone, but I've always loved novels that take Biblical characters and imagine lives for them, and Toibin's Mary has doubts and anger that seem so natural to the life she has lived. This was thought-provoking and beautifully written.

 Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones - my first DWJ, but certainly not my last, this was a delight from beginning to end. I'm hoping to visit more of this world in 2015.

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs - I think I liked this MORE than the first in the series, which is pretty rare for me. I know the ending left me with a pit in my stomach, and a deep need to know what happens next. I love the author's use of found photographs to augment the story - they add a creepy element that feels just right. Love this series.

 Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund - I can't remember how I first stumbled on this series - it might have been a library impulse read - but it's becoming one of my favorites. The two books seem so different, yet when they connect the story becomes so much richer. I love Peterfreund's feisty, take-charge heroines, and her homages to classic books are lovely. I hope there are lots more volumes in this series!

 The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin - I chose this for my Diversiverse read this year, and it was fantastic. Not a perfect novel by any means, but so entertaining that the flaws didn't really bother me. I'm looking forward to reading the next books in this series in 2015.

The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson - the last book I finished in 2014, and it was a whopper! Well over 1,000 pages, and while it took some time to truly get into the story, it was well worth the investment. I am fasincated by this world, it's religion, politics, nations and peoples. I am eagerly looking forward to the (many) upcoming volumes in this magnificent series.








Of course, there were a few stinkers - as my New Year's gift to you, here are three to stear clear of in 2015 -

Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesca Lia Block (poorly imagined and convoluted)
Taking the Lead by Derek Hough (superficial and unsatisfying)
Blackbirds by Chuck Wendig (really just wrong in every possible way)



I don't keep track of stats, really, but I'm going to be more intentional about what I read in 2015, so maybe the keeping of stats will naturally follow. I've been running with the "read whatever I feel like" method of choosing books, and while it's been fun, it has also lead me to a backlog of books on my shelves and TBR list that are just not getting read. In 2015, I am going to be much more purposeful about reading the books I've already chosen - of course, I will continue to abandon with glee books that don't strike my fancy. Life is too short to read boring books.

Here's to 2015 - let's make it another great reading year!

Book Thoughts - JoJo's Num Num's by Joanna Baltzly

JoJo's Num Num's by Joanna Baltzly
published 11/13/14
154 pages

Synopsis from Amazon -

This is a cookbook like no other one on the market!!! Included in this delightful book is a complete 8 week (2 month) menu plan section at the back with menu lists with grocery lists for that week that you just copy, check off pantry items you already have and take the rest of the list with you to the grocery store to purchase remaining ingredients needed!!! Easy to use! This book is also filled with 150+ recipes to use for your loved ones!

My thoughts -

I'm just going to be honest at the beginning and say that I know this author - her sister was in my class from kindergarten through 12th grade; her mom was one of the piano teachers in the music club I was involved in; we went to church together, I spent nights at her house - she's one of the people I feel like I've known all my life. Needless to say, when I found out that she was publishing a cookbook, I was pretty excited.

Not only was I excited in the general sense - Hey, someone I know is publishing a cookbook! I was also specifically excited because I have tried some of her recipes in the past that she has posted on her blog, and they have been delicious! So the idea of supporting someone I know, while also getting a bunch of new, yummy recipes was pretty fantastic. And I'm happy to say the cookbook has been well worth the investment.

I've had the cookbook for a little over a week, and have tried 5 recipes - Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells; Grandma Jeanie's Swiss Steak; S'mores Bars; Salted Caramel Mocha; and Creamy Cocoa. There has not been one that hasn't been delicious. In fact, when I pulled the stuffed shells out of my oven, I honestly couldn't believe that something that delicious had been baked at my own house. This lady can cook, and the recipes she shares are incredible. Now, I should note that these are not diet recipes, or "clean eating" recipes, so if you have a specific diet there might be some difficulties. This is good, old comfort food at it's finest, and we've been loving them.

This cookbook is self-published, so it does not have the lovely staged food photos that you would find in a cookbook from a famous author or restaurant. What it has that makes it special is author notes - at the end of at least 2/3 of the recipes in the book, Joanna tells a story about the recipe's origin, or when she remembers trying it for the first time, or how she came to develop it. This makes the book seem almost like sitting down and having a cup of coffee over a yummy treat at a friend's house, and is a delight to read.

I should also briefly mention the meal-planning section in the back. Joanna has taken the recipes in her book and divided them in to 8 weekly meal plans, giving grocery lists and recipe page numbers for each week. So you could just print out the list, hit the grocery store, and have 5 days of suppers already planned out for you. This is basically a genius idea, and I can't imagine the time it would save.

Joanna has graciously agreed to let me share a couple of recipes - I've personally tried both recipes, and they were hits with everyone in my family. If you are looking for a new cookbook filled with comforting, family-friendly recipes, it would be hard to go wrong with JoJo's Num Num's. Highly recommended!



S'mores Bars

1-12 oz box Golden Grahams
1-10.5 oz bag miniature marshmallows
1 1/2 c. milk chocolate chips
1/4 c. corn syrup
5 T butter or margarine
1 tsp vanilla
1 c. miniature marshmallows (separate from above)

Butter or coat a 9 X 13 pan GENEROUSLY!! Melt all but 1 c. marshmallows, chocolate chips, corn syrup & butter in a microwave safe bowl until melted together completely. Immediately add vanilla, and stir in completely. Pour over the Golden Grahams and coat completely. Stir in the last cup of marshmallows. Spread in buttered pan refrigerate! Wait at least 30 minutes until they are cooled before eating.



Chicken Alfredo Stuffed Shells

1 package (12 oz) jumbo shells
1 1/2 lbs chicken breasts, cubed
2 T olive oil, divided
1 egg
1 carton (15 oz) ricotta cheese
3 1/4 c. parmesan cheese, grated
1 c. (4 oz) mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 tsp parsley
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 c. butter, cubed
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 c. heavy whipping cream

Cook pasta al dente. In a large skillet, brown the chicken in 1 T olive oil. Remove and set aside. In a small bowl, mix together the egg, ricotta, 1 1/2 c. parmesan, mozzarella and seasonings. Add the chicken and stir again. Stuff each shell with this mixture. Lay each of these stuffed shells in a 9 X 13 greased pan. If there is extra stuffing, spread it over the top. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic, cook for another minute. Add the cream. Cook another 5 minutes. Add the other 1 1/2 c. parmesan cheese and stir until it has all melted and the sauce thickens. Pour this sauce over the top of the shells. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 c. parmesan cheese. Cover and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover, then bake an additional 10-15 minutes until it starts to bubble.

Book Thoughts - Life Could be Verse by Kirk Douglas

Life Could be Verse: Reflections on Love, Loss, and What Really Matters by Kirk Douglas
128 pages
publishing 12/2/14

Synopsis from Goodreads -

For his 98th birthday, Kirk Douglas offers us an intimate look into his life. Through a collection of poetry, prose and photographs, he pulls the curtain all the way back exposing the bombs and blockbusters of both the personal and professional aspects. From uncomplicated poems written for his beloved wife, Ann, of 60 years, to poems written for his four boys when they were still small, Douglas' words are comical, sentimental, romantic, and sometimes painful. He chaperones us through the stages of his life, including the untimely death of his youngest son, and shares nostalgic pictures of the other 'leading ladies' in his life like Marlene Dietrich, Lauren Bacall, and Bridget Bardot. Kirk Douglas is an American legend crowned as one of the greatest male screen legends in American film history by the American Film Institute. And, at 97, he is the highest ranked person on the list alive today. Life Could Be Verse's beautiful design makes it a keepsake for the myriad of Kirk Douglas' fans who have adored "Spartacus" for many, many decades."

My thoughts -

I read this book purely for the novelty of it - a famous actor writing poetry? Who doesn't want to know what THAT sounds like? And let's be honest - I don't expect him to be a contender for Poet Laureate any time soon. But the poems are sweet and heartfelt, and each carries with it a snapshot of what has been a fantastically complex and interesting life. My only real complaint is that I wish the book had been longer - Douglas comes across as warm and funny, and I would have enjoyed hearing more stories from his 97 years. Recommended for Kirk Douglas fans or Hollywood fans.

Finished - 11/16/14
Source - review copy from the publisher via NetGalley
MPAA rating - PG
My rating - 3/5

Book Thoughts - Beautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmenn

Beautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmeen, illustrations by Kerascoet
published 2/25/14
96 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Kerascoët’s and Fabien Vehlmann’s unsettling and gorgeous anti-fairy tale is a searing condemnation of our vast capacity for evil writ tiny. Join princess Aurora and her friends as they journey to civilization's heart of darkness in a bleak allegory about surviving the human experience.  The sweet faces and bright leaves of Kerascoët’s delicate watercolors serve to highlight the evil that dwells beneath Vehlmann's story as pettiness, greed, and jealousy take over.  Beautiful Darkness is a harrowing look behind the routine politeness and meaningless kindness of civilized society.

My thoughts -

I don't think anything I've read for RIP this year has felt as perfect for the challenge as this slim graphic novel. This is Lord of the Flies in a fairy-tale world, it is eerie and creepy and unsettling and challenging. This is much less about the plot and much more about the layers of horror, unwrapping before the readers' eyes. This is a gorgeous piece of art, wrapped around a completely terrifying story.

Like all good graphic novels, there is much to uncover behind the first glance, and this is the type of story than can be read many times, with the reader finding something new upon each subsequent visit to this dark world. I know I'm being vague, but part of the impact of the story, for me, was not knowing very much about what I was getting into when I started. More than anything I've read in the past couple of months, this is the book that has stayed in my mind, lingering in my thoughts, popping up in my dreams. It's good, scary stuff. Recommended for readers who can deal with dark.


Finished - 10/22/14
Source - South side library
MPAA Rating - R. This is not for young kids. Scary stuff.
My rating - 4/5


And with this, I have completed

Hooray for me! My first year to complete my RIP challenge. It feels pretty good, I have to say! And now I'm looking for recommendations for next year - what perilous reads have you enjoyed this season?

Sunday Shorts, R.I.P edition

Just a quick summary of what's been going on around here, R.I.P.-wise....


First I read

The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
published 2006
406 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Biographer Margaret Lea returns one night to her apartment above her father’s antiquarian bookshop. On her steps she finds a letter. It is a hand-written request from one of Britain’s most prolific and well-loved novelists. Vida Winter, gravely ill, wants to recount her life story before it is too late, and she wants Margaret to be the one to capture her history. The request takes Margaret by surprise — she doesn’t know the author, nor has she read any of Miss Winter’s dozens of novels.

Both women will have to confront their pasts and the weight of family secrets... and the ghosts that haunt them still.

My thoughts -

I think I'm at the point where I'm just going to admit that novels with ghosts as a plot device are not my favorite thing. This book had lots of saving graces, though, so I did enjoy it very much. But the ghost parts? Not so much. I loved the emphasis on reading and literature throughout the novel, and found Margaret as well as Miss Winter to be extremely engaging heroines. Good stuff here, even if it DOES have ghosts.

Finished - 10/15/14
Source - mom
MPAA rating - PG-13 for adult situations & possible scaryness.
My rating - 4/5


Then I read the first two stories from this collection -

A Good Man is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor
published 1953


You can read a summary and some analysis of the title story here.

I intend to read the entire collection, but it is not a collection I will breeze through. These first two stories were tough, and bleak, and full of despair. In some ways they remind me of episodes of The Twilight Zone, which used to freak me out SO MUCH when I was young. These are worlds where horrible things happen, in ways that you don't expect. 

A Good Man is Hard to Find is a gut-punch of a story. It plays with emotions and perceptions, and introduces some pretty unpleasant characters without giving any of them much of a chance of redemption. I didn't particularly choose this collection to go along with RIP, but it certainly fits the bill. Lots of perilous situations in these stories!


Next I read this novel -

Advent by James Treadwell
published 2012
448 pages


Synopsis from publisher -

Once there were virtues in the stars and mermaids in the seas; but then a gift was lost, and all of that became no more than the stuff of fantasy. What if it came back? Everyone tells fifteen-year-old Gavin that the things he sees aren't really there. He hardly believes himself any more.

My thoughts -

Okay, there is A LOT going on in this novel. Elements of Arthurian legend, Faust, mermaids, Greek myth - there is a lot to keep track of, and there were moments in the novel that I could feel some of the threads slipping away from me. But I have to say that I was completely entranced by this story from the very beginning. Even when I wasn't quite sure that I was keeping track of all the fantastical bits, I was always eager to see where Gavin's story was going to take him next. I loved the writing, and I definitely plan to read the next in this series.

Finished - 10/24/15
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - PG-13 for fantasy violence
My rating - 4/5


And then I read -

Love in the Time of Global Warming by Francesa Lia Block
published 2013
240 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Her life by the sea in ruins, Pen has lost everything in the Earth Shaker that all but destroyed the city of Los Angeles. She sets out into the wasteland to search for her family, her journey guided by a tattered copy of Homer’s Odyssey. Soon she begins to realize her own abilities and strength as she faces false promises of safety, the cloned giants who feast on humans, and a madman who wishes her dead. On her voyage, Pen learns to tell stories that reflect her strange visions, while she and her fellow survivors navigate the dangers that lie in wait. In her signature style, Francesca Lia Block has created a world that is beautiful in its destruction and as frightening as it is lovely. At the helm is Pen, a strong heroine who holds hope and love in her hands and refuses to be defeated.

My thoughts -

This YA novel was a fairly loose retelling of The Odyssey, and it didn't work all that well for me. I thought the writing was lovely, but I didn't particularly care for the story as Block told it. I thought it was difficult to follow, and there were certain plot elements that seemed to be added more to have something to say about a "hot topic" issue than to really further the action of the plot. I will read more by this author, but probably not more in this sequence.

Finished - 10/25/14
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - R for violence, language, sexuality
My rating - 2/5



So this means that I have completed

for RIP this year!

Dewey's Readathon!

I'm taking the plunge! I'm going to participate as a reader for the first time ever in Dewey's Readathon!

It's hard to believe this will be my first year ever as a reader - I've been a cheerleader in previous years, but it never quite worked out for me to be a reader. Now, in all honesty, I won't be able to read for the entire 24 hours. I solo parent on weekends while my husband is at work, so my free time is definitely limited. BUT - I have decided that whatever time I have when I don't HAVE to be doing something else, I'm going to be reading. Will it be perfect? Nope. But it will be fun!

I even have a book stack all ready -

I've been paying attention to suggestions from seasoned Readathon veterans, so I have a few books by authors I already know I love; a couple of books of short stories; a couple of YA novels; and if none of these strike my fancy, I'll just pick up something else. I know I'll never get to read ALL these books during the Readathon, but it will be nice to have some good choices.

If you don't know what the Readathon is, you can find out more info here. I'm so excited to be joining everyone this year! Bring it on!

Sunday Shorts

Stella Bain by Anita Shreve
published 2014
272 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

When an American woman, Stella Bain, is found suffering from severe shell shock in an exclusive garden in London, surgeon August Bridge and his wife selflessly agree to take her in.

A gesture of goodwill turns into something more as Bridge quickly develops a clinical interest in his houseguest. Stella had been working as a nurse's aide near the front, but she can't remember anything prior to four months earlier when she was found wounded on a French battlefield.

In a narrative that takes us from London to America and back again, Shreve has created an engrossing and wrenching tale about love and the meaning of memory, set against the haunting backdrop of a war that destroyed an entire generation.

My thoughts -

This was a bit of a case of being sold something that wasn't quite what I got. My expectations for the novel were one thing, but the novel itself veered off into a direction that I found did not really serve the purpose of the novel. I felt like the author was holding her readers at a distance from the story, which kept me from ever truly caring about the characters or their motivations. Beautifully written, but it left me cold.

Finished - 9/6/14
MPAA rating - PG-13 for violence of several varieties
My rating - 2/5

Book Thoughts- Lock In by John Scalzi

Lock In by John Scalzi
published 8/26/14
320 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Fifteen years from now, a new virus sweeps the globe. 95% of those afflicted experience nothing worse than fever and headaches. Four percent suffer acute meningitis, creating the largest medical crisis in history. And one percent find themselves “locked in”—fully awake and aware, but unable to move or respond to stimulus.

One per cent doesn't seem like a lot. But in the United States, that's 1.7 million people “locked in”...including the President's wife and daughter.

Spurred by grief and the sheer magnitude of the suffering, America undertakes a massive scientific initiative. Nothing can restore the ability to control their own bodies to the locked in. But then two new technologies emerge. One is a virtual-reality environment, “The Agora,” in which the locked-in can interact with other humans, both locked-in and not. The other is the discovery that a few rare individuals have brains that are receptive to being controlled by others, meaning that from time to time, those who are locked in can “ride” these people and use their bodies as if they were their own.

This skill is quickly regulated, licensed, bonded, and controlled. Nothing can go wrong. Certainly nobody would be tempted to misuse it, for murder, for political power, or worse....

My thoughts -


Well. I know I've said before I'm a bit of a John Scalzi fangirl - I've pretty much loved everything of his I've read, I follow his blog, I think he's a smart guy AND an entertaining writer. So I'm pretty well predisposed to like this book.

That said, this was NOT my favorite of his work. I found his idea quite interesting - the subject of Lock In Syndrome is close to my heart, as my uncle has been suffering from ALS for 30 years, and has been locked in for at least half that time. I thought that creating a world in which this was almost the norm - where society has had to develop to accommodate people suffering from this syndrome - was a fascinating idea. As usual, his world building is fantastic, and his main characters nuanced and realistic.

So why did this one not hit a home run? The ending. I felt like there was so much forward momentum, and then the novel just ended. It felt rushed and abrupt, like there were chapters missing from the final pages. I can see this being the two-hour premier of a new series, where the point is to get people hooked on the characters and not necessarily care about the way the episode ends. I can only hope there are more books coming, because this felt really unsatisfying.

There is one thing Scalzi does in the novel that is REALLY cool - and I can't talk about it, because if you haven't read it I want you to go in without knowing like I did. I figured out what was going on about 1/3 of the way in, and it was a cool experience watching it play out until the end. My husband and I both had the same experience with it - and I want to know who else has read this book so I can talk to you about it!!

Anyway, not my favorite Scalzi, but let's be honest - even not my favorite Scalzi is more entertaining than a lot of other stuff. I wouldn't start here if you are new to the author, but it's worth reading for the ideas and cool thought-experiement stuff he has going on.

Finished - 9/21/14
Source - Audible.com
MPAA rating - R for language and violence
My rating - 3/4

This counts as my first book toward

LOTS of peril involved in this one!

Book Thoughts - I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
published 1970
291 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local "powhitetrash." At eight years old and back at her mother's side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man any times her age-and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns about love for herself, and the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors ("I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare") will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.

My thoughts -

I have to admit that I'm not QUITE done reading this.....but Diversiverse ends tonight, and I really want to get this in before it's over, and I'll finish it before I go to bed, so......

And then, of course, there is the finding of the right words to say to describe this book. It has been a hard read, not because of it's execution but because of it's content. It makes my heart ache to think of the things that happened to this little girl - of the things that are happening today to little girls around the world. Angelou writes these events with honestly, but never gratuitously - she's not writing tragedy porn, but rather a record of the events that led to her becoming the person she finally was. It's hard reading, but so worthwhile.

Her writing is beautiful, generous, funny, and smart. She paints pictures with her words, and that leads to the difficulty in reading at times - I can see what she sees, feel what she feels, and it's often painful. But ultimately, it doesn't feel hopeless, and that's why I can keep reading.

I don't know how the story ends, but I know I will keep reading to the end. This is a powerful book. I can understand why parents would be concerned about their high school aged kids reading this, but I think it could potentially foster so many wonderful conversations that it would probably be worth it. I'm glad I finally took the chance and plunged in. I know this is a book I will not soon forget.

Finished - 9/27/14 (I AM gonna finish this tonight!
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - definitely R, for lots of places
My rating -     (TBD)


I read this book for

#Diversiverse (it's over today, so go and look at the amazing number of books I haven't read yet, but.....

And Banned Books Week, because I'm a rebel! 

Book Thoughts - The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N.K. Jemisin
published 2010
427 pages

Synopsis -

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle.

My thoughts -

My first book for Diversiverse this year, and it was a great one. 

I should start by saying that I am predisposed to enjoy fantasy. I've seen several reviews of this novel that explore various problems readers have with the story, and while in retrospect I understand and can even agree with many of the problems - the weird, somewhat uncomfortable relationships; the abrupt transitions in time and place; the "telling" rather than "showing"; and even some issues with Yeine herself. But I have to tell you, as I was reading the novel, I was completely swept away. 

Something about fantasy just allows me to roll with elements that would normally by problematic for me. Something about fantasy lets me open up my mind in a way that completely immerses in the story - I can allow for things that don't make sense, really, because the rules of the world are already different. If the story is engaging, the critical parts of my brain just shut off, and I read for pure enjoyment. I think that's why fantasy is almost always what I choose for a "guilty pleasure" read - because I can so fully escape into this type of novel.

So after saying all that, I have to admit I loved the reading of this novel. I did not find anything in the story itself that was extremely groundbreaking, but Jemisin uses traditional fantasy tropes very well. It is quite refreshing to read a heroine in a fantasy novel that is not clearly designed to be European, and I would enjoy exploring more of Yeine's background in future novels. And I am generally a sucker for a good antihero, and Nahadoth is that in some really interesting ways. 

Sooooo.....not a particularly insightful review (but then, let's be honest - I don't have time to write those much anymore. I'm just happy to be reading!) But boy, did I enjoy reading this novel, and I will definitely read more by this talented author.


Finished - 9/19/14
Source - South side library
MPAA rating - R for fantasy violence & adult situations
My rating - 4/5


If you are interested in reading more reviews of books read for Diversiverse 2014, make sure to check them out here!!

Sunday Shorts

Maybe the Moon by Armistead Maupin
published 1993
303 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Maybe the Moon, Armistead Maupin's first novel since ending his bestselling Tales of the City series, is the audaciously original chronicle of Cadence Roth -- Hollywood actress, singer, iconoclast and former Guiness Book record holder as the world's shortest woman. All of 31 inches tall, Cady is a true survivor in a town where -- as she says -- "you can die of encouragement." Her early starring role as a lovable elf in an immensely popular American film proved a major disappointment, since moviegoers never saw the face behind the stifling rubber suit she was required to wear. Now, after a decade of hollow promises from the Industry, she is reduced to performing at birthday parties and bat mitzvahs as she waits for the miracle that will finally make her a star.

In a series of mordantly funny journal entries, Maupin tracks his spunky heroine across the saffron-hazed wasteland of Los Angeles -- from her all-too-infrequent meetings with agents and studio moguls to her regular harrowing encounters with small children, large dogs and human ignorance. Then one day a lanky piano player saunters into Cady's life, unleashing heady new emotions, and she finds herself going for broke, shooting the moon with a scheme so harebrained and daring that it just might succeed. Her accomplice in the venture is her best friend, Jeff, a gay waiter who sees Cady's struggle for visibility as a natural extension of his own war against the Hollywood Closet.

My thoughts -

This is the first novel I've read by Maupin, and wooah, do I get it. I get why people fall in love with his work. There were so many reasons why this novel should not have worked - I mean, it's characters are just about every stereotype you can think of, and it's "issues" practically smack you in the face. But somehow it transcends all those pieces that shouldn't work, and transforms into this somewhat magical, definitely emotional, and wholly unforgettable reading experience. I haven't read Maupin before, but I certainly will again.

Finished - 8/31/14
MPAA rating - R for language, adult situations
My rating - 4/5

In a Perfect World by Laura Kasischke
published 2009
326 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

This is the way the world ends...

It was a fairy tale come true when Mark Dorn—handsome pilot, widower, tragic father of three—chose Jiselle to be his wife. The other flight attendants were jealous: She could quit now, leaving behind the million daily irritations of the job. (Since the outbreak of the Phoenix flu, passengers had become even more difficult and nervous, and a life of constant travel had grown harder.) She could move into Mark Dorn's precious log cabin and help him raise his three beautiful children.

But fairy tales aren't like marriage. Or motherhood. With Mark almost always gone, Jiselle finds herself alone, and lonely. She suspects that Mark's daughters hate her. And the Phoenix flu, which Jiselle had thought of as a passing hysteria (when she had thought of it at all), well . . . it turns out that the Phoenix flu will change everything for Jiselle, for her new family, and for the life she thought she had chosen.

My thoughts -

I was unsure about the novel for most of the time I spent reading - it seemed purely superficial, lacking some sort of depth that could truly draw me into the story. While the situation was eerily prescient for our current times, I just couldn't quite connect with Jiselle's life. And then the author gave this book the absolute perfect ending - for THIS story - and it all came together. I'm extremely happy I stuck it out until the end, because it wound up being a thoroughly rewarding experience.

Finished - 9/2/14

MPAA rating - PG-13 for scary elements and some violence

My rating - 4/5

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

published 2010

370 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

Henrietta Lacks, as HeLa, is known to present-day scientists for her cells from cervical cancer. She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells were taken without her knowledge and still live decades after her death. Cells descended from her may weigh more than 50M metric tons. 

HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. Yet Henrietta Lacks was buried in an unmarked grave.

The journey starts in the “colored” ward of Johns Hopkins Hospital in the 1950s, her small, dying hometown of Clover, Virginia — wooden slave quarters, faith healings, and voodoo. Today are stark white laboratories with freezers full of HeLa cells, East Baltimore children and grandchildren live in obscurity, see no profits, and feel violated. The dark history of experimentation on African Americans helped lead to the birth of bioethics, and legal battles over whether we control the stuff we are made of.

My thoughts -

I think much of my reaction to this book has to do with my current profession - dealing with poor people trying to access health care, and navigating the touchy waters of privacy and medical disclosure, the majority of this book was completely appalling to me. I am thankful the medical profession has made strides to improve over much of what was done to Henrietta, but her story was a very sad one for me. While I understand the need for cells and tissues for research, it's tough for me to accept that this is the way they were collected for so many years. What an important story - it should probably be required reading for every medical student in the country!

Finished - 9/10/14

MPAA rating - PG-13 for language and adult situations

My rating - 4/5

Book Thoughts - Little Bee by Chris Cleave

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

published 2010

266 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

(We all know the synopsis from the publisher is bad. Here's mine - two women meet randomly on a beach. Bad stuff happens, more bad stuff happens, they find each other again and try to help each other heal.)

My thoughts -

To say that the book blurb on this novel is misleading would probably be an understatement. I'm not entirely sure what the publishers were thinking, but "magic" this book is not. Intriguing? Certainly. Thought-provoking? Definitely. Magic? No.

While the writing was lovely - and it was. There were places I re-read simply for the beauty of the language - the story itself was only average. I never quite believed in Sarah's voice - I'm not sure if it was an issue of a male writer not fully inhabiting his female character, or just that Sarah herself didn't buy her own BS - and since half of the novel was written from her perspective, it made those sections difficult.

I found the time-shifting of the narrative a bit confusing at times, not really understanding where each character was in relation to the other. Once we all caught up on the secret "event", it became easier, but there were still places throughout the novel where I felt like I had missed something, somewhere. I felt like the author had some interesting ideas about the different ways people can save each other, but the story ended so abruptly that it didn't seem like he had a chance to flesh these out.

Overall, it was just okay for me. Certain parts were lovely, but in other places I felt like I was really forcing myself to keep slogging on, and that's never a good sign.

Finished - 9/13/14

MPAA rating- R for violence, language, adult situations

My rating - 3/5

A More Diverse Universe 2014

If I am being completely honest, one of the reasons I am creeping back into the blogging world is because I knew I REAAAALLLY wanted to participate in A More Diverse Universe 2014 this year. So it's time to sign up!

What is this, you ask?

For those who have not heard about #Diversiverse before, it's a very simple challenge.  For those of you who have participated in the past, it's even easier this year.  The criteria are as follows:

• Read and review one book
• Written by a person of color
• During the last two weeks of September (September 14th - 27th) 

 Yep, that's it! ONE book. That's it. You might ask, why in the world is one book written by a person of color that important? Here's what Aarti, the originator of the challenge, has to say:

"I know your TBR list is huge.  I know your commitments are many.  I know that there are so many things on which you must take a stand, and it can be exhausting to make reading a political activity.  But this is so important to me, and I really think it should be important to you, too.  None of us lives in a monochromatic world, and yet the fact that terrifying hate crimes still occur makes it clear that we do not fully understand or trust each other.  And maybe part of the reason is because the media we consume does not accurately reflect the diversity of our society.  And books are such a massive part of the media we consume that we should demand and fight for those that do represent minorities and those that do present the world from a different perspective than the one we are used to.  So please - participate.  You may just discover a character or an author or a setting or a story that will completely change your life."

And she's right. The beauty of reading is that is can open up worlds for us that we would never have experienced - introduce us to perspectives that we would never know on our own. I think this is important, and I'm so excited to participate this year.

What am I going to read? Here are a few authors I'm considering -

N.K. Jemisin - The Hundred Thousand Kingoms

Nnedi Okorafor - Who Fears Death

Gita Mehta - Raj

Heidi Durrow - The Girl Who Fell From The Sky

Abraham Verghese - Cutting for Stone

Neil DeGrasse Tyson - Space Chronicles

Am I going to get through all of these in two weeks? Nope. But they are a great place to start. Join me! You can sign up here. Let's diversify our reading lists together!

The State of the Stacks - Best of January edition

You knew you wouldn't be rid of me for long, right??


While I am still enjoying the freedom of not feeling like I have to blog about every single book I'm reading, I do miss talking about the ones that have made a significant impression - the stories that have engaged my mind or my emotions in a particular way. So to ease myself back into the blogging world, I'm going to start with a "Best Of" each month, and see where that leads. I knew I couldn't stay away for TOO long.....

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
audio - read by Neil Gaiman
published 2013


Synopsis from publisher -

Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie — magical, comforting, wise beyond her years — promised to protect him, no matter what.

My thoughts -

This was just gorgeous. I don't know if listening to the author read his own work enhanced the story, but it was breathtaking. Lettie Hempstock is smart and capable and funny - a terrific heroine. The story is a genuine nail-biter, but it's not even the story that is the remarkable thing - it's the idea of the magic that is inherent in childhood, and the lengths we go as adults to forget. It's a book about memories, and magic, and friendship, and it is unforgettable. Highly recommended.

A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin
published 2012
1016 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

In the aftermath of a colossal battle, Daenerys Targaryen rules with her three dragons as queen of a city built on dust and death. But Daenerys has thousands of enemies, and many have set out to find her. Fleeing from Westeros with a price on his head, Tyrion Lannister, too, is making his way east—with new allies who may not be the ragtag band they seem. And in the frozen north, Jon Snow confronts creatures from beyond the Wall of ice and stone, and powerful foes from within the Night’s Watch. In a time of rising restlessness, the tides of destiny and politics lead a grand cast of outlaws and priests, soldiers and skinchangers, nobles and slaves, to the greatest dance of all.

My thoughts -

Okay, full disclosure - I didn't technically finish this one in January. BUT, I read MOST of it that month, so it's a January book. And it was a doozy. This is a series for people who really LOVE this genre - it is destined to be considered one of the great fantasy series of all time, and for good reason. Martin's world is complex and all-encompassing, and each book - even the volumes (like #4) that are not the best are still pretty darn good. HOWEVER. I am beginning to worry that Martin has too much going on - that there will be too many plot threads to bring together - and that the series will ultimately end and feel unsatisfying.

That said, I am all in for the ride. I've invested too much time not to follow this story to it's completion. And even though this book left me feeling unsettled, it was still a darn good adventure. If you enjoy fantasy and you haven't started this series - well, at this point, wait until Martin gets around to finishing the last two books. But really, it's too good to miss. Recommended for series fantasy fans.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
published 2014
771 pages

Synopsis from publisher -

It begins with a boy. Theo Decker, a thirteen-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives an accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by his unbearable longing for his mother, he clings to one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into the underworld of art.

As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love — and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle.

My thoughts -

Donna Tartt is becoming a go-to author for me when I want troubled characters and immersive worlds that are a million miles away from my own experience. Theo's journey is long and twisty, but ultimately worth the time invested. More than just the story, however, is the examination of fate - are we born destined to a path? Can we change who we are, or is our character - good or bad - set at birth? Thought-provoking and memorable, but also L.O.N.G.  It's a book you have to be fairly invested in to finish. Recommended to readers who are willing to put in the time - I found it to be worth the read in the end.


So there you have it - the highlights of my reading in January. I'll be back soon to give you my most memorable reads of February. Let me know if you agree - or disagree - with any of the books I've highlighted. It's good to be back!