Scarlett Hart Monster Hunter

Scarlett Hart Monster Hunter by Marcus Sedgewick, 192 pages

“Finding herself at odds with her parent's old nemesis Count Stankovic, Scarlett Hart sets out to disocver why more monsters are manifesting than ever before.” As graphic novels go this one wasn’t bad.  I  have liked others better.  I think that the subject matter really wasn’t my thing, but I liked the characters, especially Scarlett herself, and I think that kids who like graphic novels would enjoy it.

Black Lives Matter Movement

Black Lives Matter Movement by Peggy L. Parks, 80 pages

“Black Lives Matter was born in July 2013 after a jury exonerated the killer of an unarmed black youth named Trayvon Martin. Since that time it has become known as a formidable, often controversial, civil rights movement that seeks equality and fair treatment of black citizens by law enforcement and by society as a whole.” This was a very informative book.  I learned a lot about the movement that I didn’t already know.  This is a great book for kids who want more information about this topic.

Zoo II

Zoo II by James Patterson, 146 pages

“Will the last humans on Earth please turn out the lights? James Patterson's ZOO was just the beginning. The planet is still under violent siege by ferocious animals. Humans are their desperate prey. Except some humans are evolving, mutating into a savage species that could save civilization-or end it.” These bookshots are a little too compact for me.  This one was better than some of the others but too much is packed into too little time.  I feel like I’m missing something when I read these.  I appreciate the fact that they are short but they feel over before they really get started to me.  I’m sure they appeal to people who like shorter books but they aren’t really for me.

Mad Ship

MadShip by Robin Hobb, 850 pages

“As the ancient tradition of Bingtown’s Old Traders slowly erodes under the cold new order of a corrupt ruler, the Vestrits anxiously await the return of their liveship—a rare magic ship carved from sentient wizardwood, which bonds the ships mystically with those who sail them. And Althea Vestrit waits even more avidly, living only to reclaim the ship as her lost inheritance and captain her on the high seas. But the Vivacia has been seized by the ruthless pirate captain Kennit, who holds Althea’s nephew and his father hostage. Althea and her onetime sea mate Brashen resolve to liberate the liveship—but their plan may prove more dangerous than leaving the Vivacia in Kennit’s ambitious grasp.” This series is incredible.  I love the characters, even the ones I hate.  Hobb is an excellent writer and I love everything I’ve read by her so far.  People who like fantasy need to read this series and this book was as wonderful as everything else by her.

Trouble Makes A Comeback

Trouble Makes A Comeback by Stephanie Tromly, 298 pages

“Now that the infuriating and irresistible Philip Digby has left town for a lead on his sister who disappeared years ago, Zoe Webster is looking forward to a quiet spring semester. She's dating a cute quarterback, hanging out with new friends, and enjoying being "a normal." Which is of course when Digby comes back. He needs Zoe's help, and not just to find his sister. Zoe can either choose to stay on her current path toward popularity, perfect SAT scores, and Princeton, or she can take a major detour with Digby, and maybe find out what that kiss he stole from her really meant. Digby and his over-the-top schemes always lead somewhere unexpected and Zoe's beginning to learn she might just like jumping into the unknown. When it comes to Digby, for Zoe at least, the choice might already be made.” This was a fun sequel.  I wouldn’t recommend reading this before the first book but teens who like humorous action stories will love the series.

Crossing Ebenezer Creek

Crossing Ebenezer Creek by Tonya Bolden, 230 pages

“Since the start of the Civil War, Mariah has dreamed of a Yankee victory that will grant her and her fellow enslaved men, women, and children their freedom. After Union soldiers show up to loot her Georgia plantation in November 1864, she, her younger brother Zeke, and many others join the 14th Army Corps of the left wing of General Sherman's army as it marches through Georgia. When a kind black man named Caleb invites her and Zeke to ride in his wagon, Mariah-generous hearted herself-accepts, bringing along a traumatized woman who cannot care for herself. The attraction between Caleb and Mariah is allowed to grow slowly and quietly, expressed only in each one's thoughts, over 12 days on the march. Readers learn, along with Mariah, about the war through Caleb's stories; the close-knit ties among the formerly enslaved members of the company are depicted through their experiences on the march, while the trials of their daily lives are revealed through Mariah's mostly silent memories. Bolden (Capital Days) bravely concludes this concise, moving story with a historically accurate and horrifying ending.” This was a good book but the ending, especially, was hard to read.  Although I liked the book, it felt a little disjointed throughout.  There was a lot of skipping around in history and point of view, and it was hard to follow sometimes.  However, overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it to kids who like historical fiction.

Illegal

Illegal by Eoin Colfer & Andrew Donkin, 122 pages

“Ebo is alone. His brother, Kwame, has disappeared, and Ebo knows it can only be to attempt the hazardous journey to Europe, and a better life--the same journey their sister set out on months ago. But Ebo refuses to be left behind in Ghana. He sets out after Kwame and joins him on the quest to reach Europe. Ebo's epic journey takes him across the Sahara Desert to the dangerous streets of Tripoli, and finally out to the merciless sea. But with every step he holds on to his hope for a new life, and a reunion with his family.” This book is captivating and powerful.  I’m not sure that I liked it, exactly, because it was really hard to read, but it’s a great book.  I would highly recommend it for older kids.

Y Is For Yesterday

Y Is For Yesterday by Sue Grafton, 483 pages

“In 1979, four teenage boys from an elite private school sexually assault a fourteen-year-old classmate--and film the attack. Not long after, the tape goes missing and the suspected thief, a fellow classmate, is murdered. In the investigation that follows, one boy turns state's evidence and two of his peers are convicted. But the ringleader escapes without a trace. Now, it's 1989 and one of the perpetrators, Fritz McCabe, has been released from prison. Moody, unrepentant, and angry, he is a virtual prisoner of his ever-watchful parents--until a copy of the missing tape arrives with a ransom demand. That's when the McCabes call Kinsey Millhone for help. As she is drawn into their family drama, she keeps a watchful eye on Fritz. But he's not the only one being haunted by the past. A vicious sociopath with a grudge against Millhone may be leaving traces of himself for her to find...” I have always loved Sue Grafton’s alphabet series.  I can’t believe that this is the last book but it’s a worthy ending to the series.  Anyone who likes mysteries should read the series and will enjoy this book.

#NotYourPrincess: Voices Of Native American Women

https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/search?query=notyourprincess&searchType=smart

#NotYourPrincess: Voices Of Native American Women by Lisa Charleyboy & Mary Beth Leatherdale

“Whether looking back to a troubled past or welcoming a hopeful future, the powerful voices of Indigenous women across North America resound in this book. In the same style as the best-selling Dreaming in Indian, #NotYourPrincess presents an eclectic collection of poems, essays, interviews, and art that combine to express the experience of being a Native woman. Stories of abuse, humiliation, and stereotyping are countered by the voices of passionate women making themselves heard and demanding change. Sometimes angry, often reflective, but always strong, the women in this book will give teen readers insight into the lives of women who, for so long, have been virtually invisible.” This was a fascinating collection of poems and short anecdotes, and other miscellanea.  This is a great book for anyone concerned about racism.

The Cruel Prince

TheCruel Prince by Holly Black, 370 pages

“Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him--and face the consequences. In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.” I think this might be my favorite book by Black.  I loved the characters and the story and I really loved how everything worked together.  This is an excellent book for teens who like fantasy.

Gross Anatomy: Dispatches from the Front (and Back)

Gross Anatomy: Dispatches from the Front (and Back) by Mara Altman    320 pages

"An honest, funny, neurotic, and totally gross love child of Mindy Kaling and Mary Roach. Mara Altman's volatile and apprehensive relationship with her body has led her to wonder about a lot of stuff over the years. Like, who decided that women shouldn't have body hair? And how sweaty is too sweaty? Also, why is breast cleavage sexy but camel toe revolting? Isn't it all just cleavage? These questions and others like them have led to the comforting and sometimes smelly revelations that constitute Gross Anatomy, an essay collection about what it's like to operate the bags of meat we call our bodies."

I really like Mary Roach's books, so this book sounded interesting.  And . . . I prefer Mary Roach's books.  It's probably because there were topics the author covered that just weren't that interesting to me. Or, things that I never thought about too much (and maybe that's a good thing). However, I appreciate that the author questions a lot of things, especially customs that don't seem to have a basis in rational explanation (see the chapter on body hair).  I liked reading this, although I found some sections to be more interesting than others. 

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan      306 pages = 200 pages from audiobook = 506 pages

I enjoyed the first book so much that I picked this one up.  I tried it in audiobook first, and it was a good listen . . . but I found myself getting impatient to know what was going to happen in the story.  So, I wound up getting the book and reading it.  I wound up reading the whole thing because I had been listening in the car and had missed a few parts (also, one of the discs was dirty and had a bunch of skips).

This book picks up where the first book ended. Polly is in love with Huckle, they're sharing the lighthouse (with Neil the puffin, of course!), and Polly is running the Little Beach Street Bakery.  Of course, nothing can go smoothly for too long and when the woman who actually owns the bakery passes away, her sister decides her own son should run the bakery.  Which yes, is awful.  Adding to that, Selina, Tarlie's widow, has moved to Mount Polbearne and then Huckle's brother comes for a visit with disastrous results.

Can you see why it was easier just to grab the book and read it? It was definitely faster.  I enjoyed this book as much as the first one. It's a warm story where not all of the characters may wind up happy, but the resolution of the book is satisfactory.  Plus, the descriptions of Polly's baking were so well done that I wound up craving freshly baked bread.  Maybe that's not such a good thing . . .

Country Living Simple Country Wisdom

Country Living Simple Country Wisdom: 501 Old-Fashioned Ideas to Simplify Your Life by Susan Waggoner          Paperback Book:  224 pages          

I LOVED THIS BOOK!    Susan Waggoner offers so many excellent tips here you will love it, too.   She offers ideas, time, money and planet savers in such fun, readable and beautifully illustrated ways that don’t inundate you with a barrage of more “helps,” she brings the reader time tested by our grandparents ways that take us all back to basics when people made wonderful tasting recipes from scratch and when they cleaned by combining and preparing ingredients they had on hand, vinegar, salt, oil, etc. items easier on the planet and our health simple country knowledge for a less frantic simpler life.   She tells you how to and what to plant to attract birds and butterflies to your sanctuary (home).   She presents all of her time-saving less stressful gems in such easy to understand language that you never get left behind or feel like you are reading an astro physics text.    Like sitting in the kitchen chatting with an old friend or relative, you can feel the love in what she is sharing.   She lovingly brings you info that will serve you for life.   Swig a glass of sweet tea, maybe have yourself a slice of chocolate cake to go along with it.   This book will leave you with that satisfied feeling of a truly pleasant experience.   All of us should be issued a copy of this book at birth so we will have it memorized by the time we are adults and making out own home the place we want it to be and a blessed place that offers comfort like a hug to all who enter.   I read the library’s copy but I am going to have to buy myself a copy.   This is definetly a go-to book so often that if you have a copy, you’ll likely wear it out from referring to it so often.   The chapter that tells about food will be a life saver for when guests drop in unannounced and you want to show them some hospitality, but, what have you got in the fridge or cabinet that you can combine to whip up something good and quick to serve – viola!  Susan Waggoner has the most excellent suggestions on that.  Trust me, read this book, you will love it as much as I do.   Like an angel on your shoulder turning yikes moments into ahhhhh relief moments.   Gotta smile thinking of all the great stuff here.  Find out for yourself, you will be glad you did.   I have learned so much.   And if you have been following my blogs – you know I love to learn new things.   Mwa, mwa, mwa, mwa – blowing kisses to Susan Waggoner, Author and Homemaker Extraordinaire!  

To All the Boys I've Loved Before

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them… all at once?

Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control. 

What can I say about this book other than that it is disappointing because it wasn’t even close to what I was expecting? If you look at the cover, if you read the book description, all signs point to YA Romance. But that’s where it gets you: there is no romance.

Some might protest: “Oh no, there’s the romance between Lara Jean and Peter!” or “Lara Jean and Josh!” But I say, “NO.” This is not romance. For one thing, a fake relationship does not translate to romance. Even when Lara Jean and Peter <spoiler>admit that they like each other</spoiler> that does not really equal romance. And nothing comes of it anyway. For another, you can’t even count Josh – he’s a periphery and nothing happens <spoiler>and don’t even count the fact that he surprise kisses Lara Jean and she sort-of kisses him back before breaking it off.</spoiler>. NOT ROMANCE.

What this book is really is just a hint, a tease, to get you to read the next book. The beginning says: buckle up, the characters are circling each other in a “will they/won’t they”! The middle says: nothing remotely romantic is happening, only wistful day-dreaming about romantic things. The end says: PSYCH! No romance, just a could-have-been and now it’s over, but IS IT???!!!

Now I have to read the next book to see where that takes me – and to figure out why in bloody heck there’s a THIRD book. Why is this love story a series? I couldn’t figure it out before I read this book and now I know why. Because, most likely, the romance won’t happen till somewhere by the end of the second book, but probably not until the third book. Is it worth the struggle? I’ll say yes, because this book is a light, easy read.

Proceed with caution if I haven’t warned you off yet: Lara Jean is not the greatest head to be inside. As if her name weren’t cutesy enough, Lara Jean is such a “baby girl” that she reads more like a 13 year old. This is perpetuated by her continuous use of the titles, “Mommy,” and “Daddy,” for her parents. I’ve never met anyone above the age of 10 who calls their parents mommy and daddy. It was really freaking weird and I could not get over it. Lara Jean also has no life – she hangs out with her sister(s) and her dad and she goes to school. The only other person she sees more is Josh (because he freaking lives next door!). She has a sort-of girl friend, Chris, but that doesn’t really count because a) they don’t hang out at school and b) Chris only pops up every once in a while or calls Lara Jean. They don’t frequently see each other enough to call them best-friends.

And then, of course, there’s Peter. The “love interest.” I say it in quotes because <spoiler>their relationship is based on a contract</spoiler> but also because there is absolutely no chemistry between Lara Jean and Peter. In fact, Peter is very much still hung up over his ex-girlfriend throughout the book. Even when he says he likes Lara Jean, I sort of don’t believe him because I just don’t see any proof of that in the text and that’s either the author’s fault or Peter is just a really terrible person. But I think, it’s actually kind of both.

I’m going to go on a side-tangent here (feel free to skip to the bottom for my final say on this book): Neither Peter, nor Josh, are good romantic choices for Lara Jean.

I’ll start with Josh because the reason is really short: he’s her sister’s ex-girlfriend. Even if the author might in future write a scene where Margot says, “Lara Jean, I really am completely over Josh and I don’t even care that you and he are in a relationship, in fact, go you! I’m your biggest fan and supporter,” I would not be down with this relationship. For one, <spoiler>Margot breaks up with Josh and clearly still has feelings for him. And he for her. I don’t really buy the whole, “Lara Jean why didn’t you say something before because actually I love youuuu,” thing. In fact, it makes Josh an even bigger creep because he seems to be in love with Margot and Lara Jean interchangeably. If I were Lara Jean (or even Margot, to be honest) I’d be constantly worried about who Josh is thinking of when he kisses me/does anything romantic with me</spoiler>. Secondly, Josh and Margot <spoiler>had sex</spoiler>. If I knew that about my sister and the guy I have a crush on, I think any feelings would immediately be doused. Just no.

Now, Peter. First of all, Peter is still into his ex, a girl he’s on/off dated for all of high school and some of middle. If that doesn’t spell trouble, I don’t know what does. Secondly, Peter continually treats Lara Jean badly. He continually makes fun of her, picks fights with her, and has very little to say positively about her. He’s also extremely vain/selfish, a fact which Lara Jean CONTINUALLY brings up. If she can see it, I don’t know why Peter becomes attractive to her because that seems a bit problematic, especially given her romantic notions. After a certain point in the book, Lara Jean starts saying, “He’s really not like that,” or “He’s actually a nice guy,” or something to that effect. What I want to know is, how has she come to this conclusion? Even though a good percentage of the book is her and Peter hanging out, I don’t really see him change at all from her initial perception of him: he’s a bro, he’s vain, etc. Either Han is just not good at showing character development or she wrote Lara Jean to be just like all the other girls Lara Jean complains about when in connection to Peter: Peter’s a charmer and he makes every woman fall in love with him. Which means that no, he’s not actually nicer than people thought, not as self-involved as everyone thought, he’s just really good at conning people. I’m leaning towards this one a little bit because Lara Jean often says things like, “If Peter asks, I’ll probably do it,” as in, Peter can convince her to do things she normally wouldn’t do. If that’s how it is, then no – Peter is a terrible choice for a boyfriend.

Final thoughts:

So, ultimately, this book is a giant tease – it hints at romance, doesn’t deliver, and then expects you to read the next book to find out. Also, both love interests are terrible and Lara Jean is so babyish it’s hard to imagine anything romantic happening with her in a way that wouldn’t be creepy because she seems like a 13 year old. It’s a fast read – mostly because I kept trying to get to the good part, but it never happened. Will I read the next one? Probably, because it’ll probably be just as quick. I know I might be setting myself up for more disappointment, but at least it will be over quickly. I don’t know who I’d recommend this to.

Reboot

Reboot by Amy Tintera     365 pages

Seventeen-year-old Wren rises from the dead as a Reboot and is trained as an elite crime-fighting soldier until she is given an order she refuses to follow

I’ve had this book on my to-read list for a while and now that I have a small fr

iend group book club, I’ve finally found the chance to do so and I’m glad I did. This book was a fun, action-packed read that is full of things I love: a bad-ass female main character, science-fiction/future setting, and an intriguing storyline.

That being said, I wasn’t wowed by this book. It was certainly enjoyable, but it had a few bits here and there that made this just a middle grade rating for me:

For one, I felt the romance was a bit rushed and sort of took over Wren’s bad-ass character style. I felt like she started the book as yes, a bit of a hard-to-like character, what with her enjoyment of chasing down humans and fighting them, incarcerating them, and/or killing them. But, I gave her leeway because she has been trained to do so since she was 12, an impressionable age. I like that she started breaking out of this shell once she meets Callum and realizes that she does have the capability to feel things (when up until this point she’s thought of herself as next-to being like a robot). I like that he helps her discover new things about herself, but I dislike that he so quickly falls for her (basically insta-love on his part) and that they go from begrudgingly friends to romantically involved. Suddenly Wren goes from being really in control of situations to being like most typical YA main characters: the boy becomes their whole center of being, from which the orient themselves and they suddenly become the incapable one in the relationship.

The only thing that saves it from being a total loss is that Wren is still mostly capable in the physical department: she is stronger (yes, partly because of her Reboot number), better equipped to save the day (and often is saving Callum’s butt), and she is often the one emotionally supporting Callum. I am glad that, though they are given an opportunity within the book, that Wren and Callum do not have sex (mostly because Callum would like for Wren to be more enthusiastic/on-board with it when the do). Many YA books these days seem to insist on having young, teenage couples have at least one sex-scene. While both Wren and Callum are virgins (and it’s stated in the book that Reboots frequently have intimate relations in the HARC facility), they know enough that they could do it, but choose not to. It’s a bit refreshing and it also gives them more time to get to know each other better and solidify their relationship (even though the both are clearly ready to throw their lives away for it – which was one of my issues with this couple).

I understand, when writing a YA romance, especially with teens, that things move quickly. Wren and Callum, however, seem to develop a bit of the Romeo/Juliet thing, more so on Wren’s side, where they don’t want a plan B in case one of them dies. Wren doesn’t want to think about any scenario in which Callum might die because if he does, their plans suddenly become pointless to her, as if her life will have no meaning after. I understand that Callum is the catalyst in her becoming more human and less robot-like, but it’s still irksome to see.

That brings me to my main issue with this book: Callum’s love for Wren is the main reason that Wren decides to break free of her bonds and escape. A relationship is the reason that the rest of the book becomes necessary because if she didn’t feel things for Callum and knew that he felt things for her, she never would have wanted to escape, would have continued living her life as a HARC slave. It’s disappointing, because Wren seems so awesome and competent, but I understand that Tintera is attempting to use her age and the length of her stay at HARC as the reason why Wren would never leave. But I say – write her character differently, then. I don’t like that she needs a love interest to be the reason for her to want to escape.

Right, so the good bits:

I like this world that Tintera has built: a sort-of post-apocalyptic United States, or more specifically Texas. Characters often refer to some Reboot vs. human war, which ended up destroying most things and which is the main reason why HARC exists. It sounds like an epic story and I enjoyed getting to read about this new United States, where children who get this disease KDH then come back as a weird kind of high-functioning zombie when they die. The whole minutes dead = how skilled a zombie you are is quite interesting.

I also quite like the tension between humans and Reboots – that most families are horrified by/don’t want to be around their undead children, that most humans are terrified of Reboots (mostly because of lies that HARC has fed the populace). I like the big bad company HARC and how it manipulates both the Reboots (telling them minimal information so they can use them as basically slaves that then further enforce their enslavement) and humans to be mistrustful of each other. If I end up reading the second one, I hope Tintera includes a plot of humans and Reboots breaking that cycle and learning to live alongside each other. In fact, I hope that’s one of the main plot points. I like that there are human rebels (yay, rebels!) who believe in a different world and attempt to rescue Reboots and take down HARC. I’m always in for a good underdog story.

All in all, the world is well built, the characters are pretty solid. Aside from me ragging on Callum’s and Wren’s relationship, I think Callum is a pretty cool dude (maybe a bit too good to be true), likable, kind, and super not into killing (like, my level not-into-killing, as in, I’d rather die than kill someone else not-into-killing). I think he and Wren balance each other well and they’re both good for each other – Callum helps Wren get in-touch with her feelings and Wren helps build Callum’s strength. I liked Ever, Wren’s Reboot friend, as well. Most of the other characters are a bit one-note, but they’re also not in the story very much.

The final conflict went a bit too well for my taste – the puzzle pieces all fell into place nicely for Wren, which didn’t leave much room for believability, but I still enjoyed the ride. I will probably end up reading the next book, just to see where things go and how Wren and Callum progress.  I would recommend this to teens looking for a good action-pact story and who like supernatural/sci-fi elements. This book, I think, could be of interest to boys and girls, which is a plus in its favor.

Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work & Life

Ready for Anything: 52 Productivity Principles for Work & Life by David Allen          Audio Book:  3 hours 18 mins     Paperback Book:  192 pages        

Great Book!   I have listened to this book 2 times already and I plan to listen to it at least 2 more.    There is so much knowledge here that this another book I would like to do a Vulcan Mind Lock on every page on such topics as learning to focus more whether at work or home on getting stuff done and how to do it better and easier than you would ever believe you could.   I also particularly like the quotes he includes – quotable quotes and words to live by.   This guy must be a direct descendant of King Solomon because everything in this book is a true pearl of wisdom.   I would like to memorize every page this book is that good.    He defines for the reader that organization and productivity does not cause you to lose your creativity, in fact he says your creativity will spur you on to be even more productive and organized.   This book is a treasure offering tips, shortcuts and clear thinking ideas that will make you slap your forward and say what perfect sense that makes.   He is the best motivational speaker I think I have ever heard.  He even broaches spirituality in his focus, organize, simplify talks.   He explains how to start from organizing your emails into more effective ways that will serve you instead of having to slog through them, he is very clear and concise on the points he makes and every tasty mental morsel he brings will leave the reader wanting more.   You will end this book feeling like David Allen is your mentor.   Excellent well presented reasoning on getting one’s life so in control in every area in such easy steps you will find yourself nodding in agreement and raring to go!  I recommend this book to everyone.

Midnight Mass

Midnight Mass by Paul Bowles, 162 pages

Midnight Mass is a collection of a dozen short stories, most of them set in the author's adopted Morocco, mostly involving interactions between the local Arabs and the European and American immigrants, which the locals mostly get the best of.

Bowles' Arabs are neither noble savages nor benighted barbarians, but people, characters rather than plot devices, situated in rather than determined by their circumstances.  His Europeans are rather bloodless by contrast, uncentered, disoriented, and complacent.  His stories rarely surprise, instead, they progress with a kind of elegant inevitability.

Nine Perfect Strangers

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty   432 pages  due out November, 2018 - I read a galley

Can 10 days at a special health resort change you forever? Can you lose weight, gain inner peace and make yourself into a newer, even better you? It could happen, sure. These nine people are about to find out just how much change can happen over 10 days (and it might happen even sooner than that)!  Told with Moriarty's signature for creating interesting characters and a storyline that builds upon itself, complete with a bit of a dark undercurrent, this is a smoothly written pageturner that will stick with you after the last page.

The title is is actually a bit of a misnomer, as some of the people know each other; a couple has come to work on their marriage and a family of three has come to work on . . . well, that's not very obvious right away. Suffice to say, though, that all of these people have secrets they are hiding (sometimes even from themselves).  And, true to real life, not all of the characters are likeable. However, what's important is how you see them play against each other, and struggle with themselves over a course of days in a place that seems tranquil and lovely.  I'm using the word "seems" for a reason  because as the story progresses, it becomes clear that something is a bit off about the person running this resort.  And, there's a shocker about halfway through and the story really ramps up from there.  And yes, it ramps up in a way that I found to be completely engrossing.  This is a "screw the vacuuming because I'm going to read all afternoon" kind of book.

I admit it: I did a little happy dance inside when I got this ARC from the publisher.  I really enjoy Moriarty's books and to read a new one ahead of schedule?  How great is that?  Actually, pretty damn great. I always enjoy that Moriarty's books combine interesting characters with a storyline that builds on itself and where there's a sense of a dark undercurrent to the story. There's usually a bit of edge to her books which I really like and which make her books worth reading again and again. 

Encyclopedia Gothica

Encyclopedia Gothica by Liisa Ladouceur    313 pages

"A guidebook to the language of the most shadowy of subcultures, this work collects and defines more than 550 Gothic words and phrases. Compiled by an acclaimed Goth journalist and poet, this compendium provides insight into the unique vernacular of this fascinating community, describing in detail and with black humor the fashion, music, and lifestyle as well as sharing insider slang such as Baby Bat, Corp Goth, and the Gothic Two-Step. A Goth Band Family Tree and essential Goth listening, reading, and viewing recommendations are also included in this phantasmagorical work."

I picked this up because it was on a cart of books to evaluate and randomly turned to a page . .. which led me to another entry . . . and then on Pandora, a Sisters of Mercy song came on and I felt it was a sign I should check out this book. I found this book to be a lot of fun, informative and with just a touch of snark. While I never went full Goth, I definitely enjoyed a lot of the music and some of the fashion. I still enjoy a fair amount of Goth music and had feelings of nostalgia when reading entries for Scary Lady Sarah, Wax Trax, Sisters of Mercy (yes, I own all of their CDs), and more.  I have seen Cruxshadows in person (at DragonCon, hawking their CDs) and thought Ladouceur's entry on them was pretty funny: "But despite appearances, there's something not quite Goth about them. The fact that they eagerly identify themselves as Goth might be the first clue."   Um,  yes.

I also liked the entry for Industrial music, which reads "Goth's meaner sibling, a style of dark, heavy music with some similar themes that's just as slippery to define . . . "

I'll be grabbing the Black Box from Wax Trax! to listen to in the car soon and also pulling out some Sisters of Mercy to listen to at my desk.

Eternal Life

Eternal Life by Dara Horn                    Audio Book:  8 hours, 54 minutes      Hardback Book: 256 pages                          

I’ve been reading a lot of stories lately about people who become different people everyday, now in this story, the main characters are under a curse and because of their transgressions to save their son they must sacrifice their deaths instead of their lives.    An interesting story, very well written of two people who lived over 2,000 years ago and who are still living 2,000 years later.   Interesting historical references and tie-ins, a surprising number of births in family after family as they continue on and have to adopt new identities to explain their still living while their partners and children all age normally (they aren’t part of the curse) and die.     Sometimes these star-crossed lovers share a life together but not always and not often despite their unique intertwined histories.   Good story development, lots of research went into this one as Ms. Horn talks like a scholar throughout the historical periods, the lifestyles, the Judeo religion, customs, beliefs, practices both in the services in the synagogue and those observed in the home.   Realistic and knowledgeable.   Intriguing like following the story of a vampire having to make up new lives with every century.   She discusses the sorrow of leaving your family behind to avoid questions,   she describes realistically noting all the senses, the feeling of being burned alive then coming back from it, being shot and coming back from it and a very touching scene when she sees one of her children being pushed in a wheelchair at an airport because he is so old, he can no longer walk unaided.    She pours out the tearful reunion and while he was likely suffering dementia, he recognized her and got tears in his eyes as she kissed him and told him how much she loved him.   There are times your emotions will be taken right along with her as she carries on living while those around her die in the plaque – her neighbors thought she was a witch because she came through it completely unscathed.     A good story up to the present day when her granddaughter is working in the field of genetics and wants a sample of her DNA because while Rachel happens to be 84 according to her falsified passport and i.d. papers, turns out she has the skin and DNA (Stolen samples –that rascally granddaughter!) of an 18 year old –which just so happens to be the age when the curse was placed on her.     A well thought out story.   I enjoyed this one a lot.

Angels Walking

Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury           Audio Book: 11 hours, 11 mins         Hardback Book:  384 pages                  Genre: Adult Fiction    Christian Romance   Angels

This book is the first in Karen Kingsbury’s Angel Series.   The story itself was o.k.   I liked the premise – an injured ball player loses his chance at the big leagues and ends up down on his luck, his finances, his girlfriend, becomes addicted briefly to the pain pills he is given to combat the intense pain he still suffers.   His parents have high expectations for him and push nothing but becoming a professional ball player to him throughout his life to this point.   Feeling he has let them down and disappointed with himself he leaves town to get away from anyone who might recognize him and ends up as a maintenance man at a home for the elderly.   There he, Tyler Ames meets an elderly resident, Virginia Hutcheson who has Alzheimers and is doing so poorly the residence wants to send her to another facility 165 miles away that treats the residents with severe dementia and is able to deal with their angry outbursts more so than the quiet home her daughter has put her in.    Her daughter goes into a tailspin when the Director of the Nursing Home her mother is currently in wants her to transfer out as the staff do not have the training to properly care for residents with such acute symptoms.    When Tyler enters Virginia’s room to mop the floor it is as though her mind has been freed and she is restored to her former self.   The miraculous turn around in her condition is due to Tyler’s presence – he looks just like her son, Ben, and Virginia is sure that Ben has come back and while Virginia sees Ben in a mental time frame from when he was young, Tyler feels sorry for her and goes along with it.   His intentions are pure, he sees no harm in “being” her son because it makes her so happy,   The Director of the facility is wary wondering if Tyler is trying to get something from Virginia nut learns that the two are fast friends and Tyler spends time visiting with Virginia and talking and listening to her talk.   When her daughter comes to visit expecting another horrible visit where her mother doesn’t recognize her and wants her to leave, but, she is gob-smacked to find her mother up and dressed, her hair combed and looking wonderful.   Her mother even recognized her, had several loving comments to make and told her all about her brother Ben coming to visit.   Her daughter thought she was experiencing Alzheimer symptoms again, but, no, she was totally lucid carrying on conversations, behaving lovingly none of what they had been going through the last few years.   What brought about the change?    The Director brings her into his office for a chat and gets the wanting to send her to another facility talk out of the way.   Virginia has recovered so tremendously there is no reason for her to leave.   The Director tells about the miracle that Tyler’s presence has brought about.      There are angels afoot, too, putting everyone in the right place so they connect.     More happens and the angels come in and out of the story and there is a cliffhanger at the end.    The story was pleasant enough but many times throughout the author seemed to go off spelling out so many details about uninteresting things.    The story would flow for a while then get bogged down in all this extra unnecessary in my opinion verbage that went on and on about minute things or uninteresting things or things that barely needed to be discussed in the story.    If the author was paid by the word she was making a lot of extra pay for narrative that did not feel like it needed to be included.   That took away from the story for me.   It was like discussing each separate hair on someone’s head when you could just say hair and be done with it.    I found that really annoying to wade through when you just want to get to the meat of the story.   Perhaps the author is just wordy and obviously felt it was needed whereas I could not wait to rush through what felt like 7 extra hours on the audio book that did not contribute a farthing but made me not want to read the next in the series because it was so aggravating to wade through the muck that bogged the story down.    My recommendation, Karen Kingsbury, don’t overthink yourself when writing.    Don’t go back and feel like you to flesh the story out or that maybe you need to concentrate more on the details of everything you are describing.    The slogan, less is more, is true.    The story was just o.k. for me, plus, I love Clarence in Frank Cappra’s, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” but I was not a fan of the commando angels brought in from time to time throughout the book.    I wanted to like this story more and true enough, I liked the story just those couple of grating things like ants at a picnic or mosquitoes on your camping trip that put me off.    I want to say I would recommend this book, but, if you are like me and want to get to the gist of things not 40 miles around it then over the hill criss-crossing a field running a marathon and oh yes, this is what happened next.    I just didn’t have a lot of patience for this story.

Beartown

Beartown by Fredrik Backman, 418 pages

You can see Sara's review here:
http://slplbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2018/02/beartown.html

I am late to the party and don't have much different to say but liked this book so much that I feel I have to add my review.

This novel is set in a small Swedish town. It is a remote town that is on the downswing. A large part of it is about a junior hockey team. The success of the hockey team could return the town to better times by attracting a national hockey training facility.

The beginning of the novel lets you know something major will happen but then it rewinds and it is not until almost the end of novel that you get back to that point.

With the dedication and intensity shown towards the hockey team, I can see the events of this book occurring in the U.S. although it would more likely be football than hockey.

The book is about hockey and sports but is also about family, parenthood and life in general. There were several parts that were hard to read but I just had to push through them. I rate this book pretty highly and would recommend it to hockey fans and people who like fiction.

Rosie's Mom: Forgotten Women Workers of the First World War

Rosie's Mom: Forgotten Women Workers of the First World War by Carrie Brown 254 pages 

I really enjoyed this book! It starts with pointing out how many of us know "Rosie the Riveter," but all of the women who preceded her, who worked in industry during World War I, remained unknown. For example, who made the gas masks for American soldiers facing chemical warfare for the first time? Who filled and shaped millions of cartridges?  Who assembled planes, sewed uniforms and worked in meatpacking factories to keep soldiers fed? More than a million women!!

The author goes back to pre-World War I to explore women working in all kinds of industries and how these women left those jobs to work in munition plants and other jobs to help the war effort. She also is quite clear that the jobs they left (working in garment factories, etc.) were just as dangerous as their new jobs where they were exposed to explosives, toxic chemicals and hostile male co-workers. I appreciated that the author wrote about women who helped the labor movement and how their work continued on, even as World War I came to an end. The author also spends time documenting how Black women faced even more challenges, taking jobs that were too dirty and dangerous for White women (and even White men).  The author's discussion of how the Chicago Defender newspaper drove people from the South to go North to find work is unsparing in describing the hardships that people faced. She points out that except in the peanut and tobacco industries, most factories were closed to Black women and men alike and that when Blacks did get into factories, they inevitably earned less than their White counterparts.

While there were a lot of obstacles in the way, women kept at it, determined to continue working and also continue working towards a living wage. The author does discuss unions and how women entering the job force in the war actually led to improved working conditions for many workers (men included).  Brown includes quotes from people who advocated on behalf of working women, including this one which struck me as something which could come from someone in today's society (but was from 1919):

Dr. Anna Howard Shaw, one of the most respected leaders of the woman suffrage movement, addressed the National War Labor Board and said, "Is it  not astonishing, gentlemen, that women are not quite as interested in their own moral conditions as men can be for them, and is it not quite remarkable that women may not know what kind of employments they are adapted to as well as men can tell them? . . . Let me say that the time has come when it is neither the right of men nor the duty of men not justice for men to decide these problems for women . . . "

The Day of the Peacock

The Day of the Peacock: Style for Men, 1963-73 by Geoffrey Aquilina Ross   144 pages

This book, filled with text and great photos, focuses on the 1960s in England, a period of spectacular fashion for men. This movement in men's style was called "The Peacock Revolution" by the media and the book explores not only the change in fashion, but many of the designers, tailors and shop owners who made this style revolution happen. Included are profiled on people like Tommy Nutter, Mr. Fish, shops like Granny Takes a Trip and much more.

This is an interesting book because it focuses on such a narrow slice in time. The author does a great job of explaining the move towards this "dandy" style and how it borrowed from previous fashions. It's not just about fashion, but about the change in society in the 1960s.  And then, when the 1970s dawned, this fashion movement dropped away. As the author observes, "Fashion comes and fashion goes; it was ever thus."

House Lust

House Lust: America's Obsession With Our Homes   by Daniel McGinn    272 pages

"A rich narrative that blends social commentary with incisive reporting, House Lust offers an astute, funny, and sometimes disturbing portrait of the behaviors that drove the greatest real estate boom in history—and its eventual bust."

This is an interesting book.  It's part analysis, part memoir and part cautionary tale. McGinn explores the root of how many people have transformed houses and house-renovating and house-buying into an all-consuming passion. He notes that even as the real estate boom was bursting, Americans continue to trade up, add on, add properties, etc. Of course, some of this has resulted in soaring foreclosure rates and people who have ruined their credit as they realize they have stretched themselves too far in the pursuit of the perfect house.

McGinn writes about attending open houses, taking real estate courses, and more and he went across the United States, so you get a "big picture" feel here.  While I admit that I enjoy watching "House Hunters" and especially "House Hunters International," I get impatient with people who say they need a stainless steel kitchen with granite and then admit they don't cook.  It's obvious that white kitchens are in style (also apparently with people who do not cook).  I do like looking at different styles of houses online, and when we looked for a house when we moved to St. Louis, we went through a few dozen to find one that would work best for us.  I've also grown up with parents who flipped houses (although back in the 1970s and 1980s, it was just called "working on a house and selling or renting it,").

McGinn's book is an interesting exploration.  I am glad that while I enjoy the voyeuristic opportunities granted by HGTV, that I don't obsess about my own house or insist that we constantly do improvements. I lived through one kitchen renovation (a needed renovation as the kitchen was mostly original to 1961, complete with spangly formica counters and brown appliances) and would prefer not to do that again.

Unmasked: A Memoir

Unmasked: A Memoir by Andrew Lloyd Weber           Audiobook:  16 hours, 34 minutes    Hardback Book:  528 pages              

When I first heard of this book, I was excited because by reading it I would get to learn all the background on one of my favorite rock operas, “Jesus Christ Superstar,”  by one of the two men who created it, Tim Rice being the other.    I was not disappointed.    Reader, there is so much good information to be found in this book.   If you are a fan of any of the musicals that Andrew Lloyd Weber has done, you will thoroughly enjoy his telling of his life up through his huge success with the Phantom of the Opera.     The author tells his inspirations for every project he has ever undertaken, he gives his history with some of the biggest names in showbizness both on the celebrity side and the business side.    You will learn such jewels of trivia like a young Bette Midler who was singing in gay clubs at the time was suggested by one of his most trusted friends to let her audition for the part of Mary Magdalen in Jesus Christ Superstar.     He was blown away by her soulful, heartfelt, moving rendition of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” and would have given her the part hands down but Tim Rice was having a fling with Yvonne Elliman and he and Andrew had a confab prior to and after Yvonne’s audition for the part which had been quite a while before Bette was brought in and Elliman had been promised the part.    It could have been an entirely different story if the Divine Ms. M. had done it, but, we will never know.   Just like in the original “Cats,”  Judi Dench was onboard to play the part of Grizabella and would have sang that unmeasurably beautiful tune, “Memory.”   Can you imagine?    Andrew says that he would have made the song even more intentionally touching for her as she gave a performance so moving in rehearsals he was moved to tears and didn’t see a dry eye in the house.   Unfortunately, during rehearsals, Judi at that time had a dance routine she did in another part of the show and fell and injured herself to the point she was unable to do the dance routines and after falling once again during another rehearsal it was deemed that she ought not to proceed in the role and it was eventually given to Andrew’s second wife he affectionately dubbed, “Sarah B”  as his first wife was also named Sarah.   A lovely book, you won’t mind the length because it is so gripping and surprising all the way through.    You will come away knowing not only the view from the footlights, but, what it takes behind the scenes from the ground up on what it takes to get a show done from finding angels and backers, to crew to venues, the many hours involved in deciding just how to pull lyricist and composer together to make the magic that we all love so much.    A thoughtful, honest look at a flawed but phenomenal life.    I enjoyed it start to finish and I believe anyone who is a fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber or the performing arts will too.   BRAVO!    Standing ovation!    I highly recommend this book.    I think it ought to be added to the curriculums of all drama courses to give an inside view of how to go about producing a theatrical piece from writing, pulling together crew, actors, backers, venues, working through writer’s block, believing in your project and perservering.   Great stuff to be found here.

The Everything Feng Shui Decluttering Book

The Everything Feng Shui Decluttering Book: Simplify Your Environment and Your Life by Katina Z. Jones         Paperback Book: 271 pages               

I loved this book.   It is so informative.   It helps if you have an inkling already on what Feng Shui is and a plus if you are familiar with the bagua but I think beginners will benefit immensely from this book, too.   I am fascinated with the concept of Feng Shui which means wind and water.   Feng Shui actually translates from the Chinese language to wind and water in English.   Feng Shui is a system of balance keeping one’s yin and yang or quiet and boisterous aspects in life, work, play, your home, family, career, etc. balanced.    If a person has too much going on one way or the other it can throw everything in your life off but with cures and adjustments that this book will tell you about,  you will be able to get things back in balance all by following the principles explained here.    I have read several books over the years on feng shui and this is probably my favorite.     There is also a huge bibliography for the reader to be found at the end of the book and lots of resources included to further study or get help with getting your chi (the energy of life) flowing.   Chi or qui is said to be the energy from above that was set free on earth.   Chi needs free flow through all the areas that affect you.   If chi is slowed down or worse made stagnant by too much stuff in its way so will your life be.    Chi needs free flow at home, in your work space, and if it isn’t it can leave you with a feeling of being out of control of these areas.    If chi becomes blocked or stagnant it can cause anxiety, loss of control of finances, feeling out of sorts and/or unable to focus.   Blocked chi can cause problems in relationships, finances, career, your reputation, wealth, your marriage, your relationships with your children, it can even block your pursuit of knowledge and keep helpful people away, make travel plans have to go on hold, blocked chi is hazardous to your health, too, however, blocked chi is an easy thing to fix and this book will give you the skinny on just how to do that.   It includes cures or as you will come to see tiny miracles that are so easy you will not break a sweat nor a nail doing.    Easy peasy.   I recommend this book whole heartedly for anyone.   If you are wondering why things in your life seem out of control or overwhelming this book can offer you solutions.     I think you will be amazed and surprised at how things work out when you apply the knowledge found in this book.   Try it and see, I guarantee it will be as though a weight has been lifted off of you.   You will feel the energy surge and it will spur you on to do more to improve your situation by simply checking where you may be stockpiling stuff without even realizing it which throws the balance in your universe off.    It is uncanny how elements, color and the 5 human senses along with cleaning, clearing and decluttering your life will illuminate the disorder so you can fix it or adjust it to work in your favor to lift you up.   If you are feeling lethargic, no energy, joy is hard to come by try feng shui and as a Gypsy once told me, “Stand back and be amazed!”   You really will be.   I strongly recommend this book.   Another manual to add to the books for a better life everyone should have to as Mr. Spock says, to “Live Long and Prosper.”   Excellent book.

Persian Poets

Persian Poets, edited by Peter Washington, 248 pages

     O come with old Khayyam, and leave the Wise

     To talk; one thing is certain, that Life flies;

          One thing is certain, and the Rest is Lies;

     The flower that once has blown for ever dies.

Persian Poets collects a wide array of poetry from seven medieval Persian authors, from the great epicure skeptic Omar to the great pantheist mystic Rumi.

     Love is for vanishing into the sky.  The mind,

     for learning what men have done and tried to do.

     Mysteries are not to be solved.  The eye goes blind

     when it only wants to see why.

The subjects of the poems vary accordingly, from love of God to romantic love, from high philosophy to hedonistic pleasure.

     Sweet maid, if thou would'st charm my sight,

     And bid these arms thy neck infold;

     That rosy cheek, that lily hand,

     Would give thy poet more delight

     Than all Bocara's vaunted gold,

     Than all the gems of Samarcand.

The selection of translators is nearly as diverse as the selection of poets, although the collection is bookended by the celebrated Edward Fitzgerald.  Anachronism is freely permitted, with references to a newspaper here and a psychiatrist there.  Unfortunately, this very variety makes it difficult to separate the poets from the translators, but this is a minor thing when weighed against the beauty, wit, and wisdom of the works themselves.

     Go to the librarian and ask for the book of this bird's songs, and

     Then go out into the desert.  Do you really need college to read this book?

Catcher in the Rye

Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger   240 pages

A copy of this literary classic has been languishing on my shelf for years, so that’s why I chose it as my July read for my 2018 Reading Resolution (I picked 12 books to read that having been in my library for ages). Most people I know had to read this in high school, but growing up in Arkansas, we didn’t have summer reading lists.

And now I know why I’ve been putting it off for years…what a drag of a story. I realize that the story is only three days and nights in the life of sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield, but omg, what a whiner.

There is one consolation to this story of Holden’s New York adventures after he gets expelled from yet another prep school: teenage angst has changed since Salinger published this in 1951. The biggest difference is that instead of goddamn, teenagers today use the F-bomb and the MF word. 

And the way he called every "old [their name]," drove me up a wall.

 “Catcher in the Rye” receives 1 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.