The Nest

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney  368 pp.

The four Plumb siblings have been somewhat patiently waiting for their inheritance, called the Nest, which their father delayed to be a nice mid-life supplement to each of them. However, Leo, the oldest brother has fouled things up in a big way by inebriated driving and a wreck. According to the terms of the will, the matriarch can use the money for emergency purposes and she does this to cover up Leo's scandalous actions, pay off the family of the teenage waitress with Leo in the accident, and to pay for Leo's treatment at a substance abuse facility. The remaining siblings have to band together to ensure that Leo finds a way to repay them at least in part for their lost inheritance. It's an okay story but parts were very predictable. I just didn't find it engaging enough.

Parable of the Talents

Parable of the Talents by Octavia Butler  448 pp.

Caution: Spoilers

This is the sequel to Parable of the Sower, the continuing story of Lauren Olamina and the refugees that escaped to northern California. Earthseed, the religion created by Lauren, believes the only way to save humanity is by moving to space. In the mean time they have created a village of Acorn where they are sustainably self-sufficient. Lauren discovers one of her brother Marcus survived the destruction of their Los Angeles home and he briefly lives at Acorn before leaving to make his own way in the world. However, the collapse of society and the election of a fanatical leader of the country has led to oppression and roving bands of members of "Christian America" attack and enslave people almost at random. When Acorn is attacked by one such group, many are killed, and the rest enslaved. The children, including Lauren's daughter are taken and given to adoptive parents who will raise them to be "good Christian Americans." Eventually Lauren and the others escape their captors and begin searching for their children. Unbeknownst to Lauren, her daughter ends up with Marcus who told her Lauren and the girl's father were dead. It is only many years later when mother and daughter are reunited. Earthseed is a continuing and growing movement and Lauren is a leader of it until her old age. This book is a hard read and I could only do small parts at a time because of the content. However, I think it is a book well worth reading.

Parable of the Sower

Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler  345 pp.

In the not-so-distant future a teenager named Lauren Olamina lives with her family in a compound in a Los Angeles devastated by violence, drugs, disease, and food & water shortages. Her father is a Christian preacher who is determined to keep his people faithful and protected. Lauren suffers from a condition called hyperempathy which causes her to feel the pain of others, often to an extreme degree. When their compound is burned and Lauren's family killed, she and a few other refugees head toward northern California in hopes of safety. While navigating the dangers of the road, Lauren develops a revolution "religion" that could be the salvation of her and her followers. I read this book many years ago but revisited it for the summer Big Book Challenge. Much in the book is similar to many things currently going on in our country it's as if Butler was prescient when she wrote it in 1993.

Prime Deceptions

Prime Deceptions by Valerie Valdes, 448 pages

In this sequel to last year's Chilling Effect, Captain Eva Innocente and her crew of the smuggling spaceship La Sirena Negra are on the run from The Fridge, an intergalactic mafia, when they pick up an assignment to track down a scientist that escaped from The Fridge a year earlier. It seems one of the galactic organizations fighting The Fridge is in need of the scientist's expertise, and when Eva and her crew agree to the assignment, they're sent on an intergalactic caper that takes them through larger-than-life bot fights, through tourist-trap worlds, and into a tangled web of psychic Pokemon-type creatures. It's a fun, action-filled tale, full of psychic cats and fantastic humor, especially at the expense of a particular mansplaining and infinitely punchable scientist. I loved it, and I can't wait to see what Valdes comes up with next.

*This book will be published Sept. 8, 2020.

Death of a Ghost

Death of a Ghost by M.C. Beaton (2017) 246 pages

For my first time reading M.C. Beaton, I chose a book with her colorful character Hamish Macbeth. He's a police sergeant in present-day Scotland, in the town of Lochdubh. Macbeth and his constable, Charlie Carson, are summoned to a castle by a retired police superintendent from Glasgow, who has taken up residence in nearby Drim. Apparently there is all kinds of moaning and groaning from the more decrepit part of the castle at night. Hamish and Charlie spend the night, find a dead body, and then it disappears when they step away for a bit. Eventually they find the body again in the Loch and retrieve it. When the body is identified as that of a professor, there are many suspects: A minister and his sister, a wealthy man and his wife, and even the retired police superintendent himself. There's almost a sense of slapstick as Hamish keeps bringing his dogs with him, except for the times when he feels guilty for leaving them behind, while wishing he hadn't let his feral cat go back to the woods, while also breaking up with his current girlfriend by offering to marry her. Charlie, the constable, is constantly knocking things over and breaking them. There is also lots of drama within the police department itself, especially with Detective Chief Inspector Blair. One thing is evident: Macbeth seems to take great care to avoid being promoted. This is not the usual murder mystery!

Sex and Vanity

Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan, 315 pages

In 2013, Lucie Churchill attended the swanky wedding of her friend Isabel on the island of Capri, with her older cousin Charlotte in tow as a chaperone. Unfortunately, Charlotte's presence didn't prevent Lucie from falling for, and being caught in a compromising situation with, the enigmatic and ridiculously handsome George Zao. Five years later, Lucie has moved on with a different uber-rich young man when George comes back into her life.

OK, that sounds like an incredibly blah plot, but that's why Kevin Kwan's the writer here and I'm not. Much like his blockbuster Crazy Rich Asians books, Kwan and his snarky asides open up the world of the billionaire set and the social expectations of them, with layered characters and very real frustrations. Lucie's half-Chinese heritage is examined through the eyes of her family and friends, and through the prejudices she feels on a regular basis, while Kwan does an excellent job of presenting it without detracting from the story as a whole. I loved this book, and my only complaint is that it wrapped up too quickly. I need more Kevin Kwan!!

Survivor Song

Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay, 307 pages

There are certain times when it's not good to be reading something that hits particularly close to home, and I'm pretty sure we'd all agree that 2020 in general fits the bill. Unfortunately, Survivor Song hits too close to home.

In Tremblay's horrific tale, a fast-moving rabies-type epidemic has hit Massachusetts, including Natalie, who is 8 1/2 months pregnant. Natalie immediately seeks the help of her close friend Ramola, a pediatrician who Natalie hopes can help bypass the long wait for treatment to either cure Natalie (unlikely) or deliver the baby before it becomes infected. While the disease itself is not similar to COVID-19, the hard-hit hospitals, the N95 masks, the conspiracy nuts, and even the people who pretend to be fine even when they're not, this is a bit too close to nonfiction for me these days.

A Star is Bored

A Star Is Bored by Byron Lane, 352 pages

Bored to tears by his graveyard-shift job, Charlie, a 20-something gay man, interviews for, and somehow gets, a job as personal assistant to Hollywood royalty Kathi Kannon. Now a semi-retired actress and author, Kathi cemented herself as a star some 30 years ago when she appeared in the biggest blockbuster science fiction film ever. Today, she lives in an oddly-decorated house on the same compound as her mother, who was a film star in her own right during Hollywood's golden age. Kathi has a quirky and brutally honest sense of humor, as well as some substance abuse and mental health problems and a cute dog that goes everywhere with her.

If this all sounds familiar, it's probably because author Byron Lane was a personal assistant to the late actress and author Carrie Fisher, AKA Star Wars' Princess Leia and daughter of silver screen star Debbie Reynolds. A Star Is Bored is theoretically fiction, but Fisher's off-beat humor and personality are as real here as they are in her many memoirs. I loved the relationship that developed between Charlie (whose Kathi-given nickname is unprintable here) and Kathi, and feel like this must be Lane's love letter to his former employer. It's certainly a fun read, especially for fans of Fisher and celebrity life.

The last tourist

The last tourist / Olen Steinhauer, 375 pgs.

Another wonderful book in the Milo Weaver series by Steinhauer, the only person who seems to be able to write the spy stuff as well as Le Carre.  This latest book is set in present time. The Department of Tourism is no more but welcome The Library.  Staffed with Reference Librarians and headed by Weaver, they are collecting intelligence for their patrons and keeping it flowing. If there was a better use for the library jargon, I can't think of it.  In the new world order, lots of terrible things are happening but no one sees a connection.  Leave it to Weaver to stumble upon more and more before realizing the one line that runs through many events.  This book is as exciting as any thriller and the intricate plot keeps you on your toes.  Steinhauer has created such an interesting spy ecosystem, I hope the title isn't a hint that this is actually the last in this series.

The Obsidian Tower

The Obsidian Tower by Melissa Caruso, 514 pages

When a book begins with a rhyming mantra about guarding a tower and repeats the line "Nothing must unseal the Door," it's a pretty safe bet that the capital-D Door will be opened somewhere in that book. Well, that's how this book start, and Caruso makes sure we don't have to wait long. Warden of Gloamingard Castle and granddaughter of the castle's immortal Witch Lord, Ryxander's broken magic kills everything it or she touches, and that apparently includes the seal upon the titular block of obsidian, which breaks open and begins unleashing hell (literally, with demons and everything) in the middle of diplomatic talks Ryx is hosting. Can Ryx keep the demons at bay, close the Door, broker peace, AND keep from killing anyone in the process? Who knows?!? But it sure is a hell of a lot of fun watching her try!

I'm a sucker for a good found-family story, and this one definitely has that, as Ryx is literally broken and thus has no friends before the Rookery (a sort of neutral magic investigation squad) turns up. It also has plenty of political intrigue (death! grievances! power struggles! potential world wars!) and the odd bit of flirty verbal sparring. Also: the craziest castle this side of Howl's moving one. This was a bunch of fun, and I can't wait to see what the second book brings when it comes out next year.

Under Wildwood

Under Wildwood by Colin Meloy, 560 pages

The second book of Meloy's Oregon-set, foresty hipster fantasy trilogy finds cyclist Prue traveling back into the Impassable Wilderness to help restore the natural order to the land, once again with the help of now-bandit Curtis. But this time, they're fighting off kitsune assassins and racing against nefarious industrial titans who scoff at child labor laws and have Curtis's sisters hard at work. It's the second book in a trilogy and as such has that weird nothing's starting, nothing's finished feel about it, though my daughter and I certainly enjoyed it. Our favorite part was when Prue and Curtis encountered a community of blind shouting moles and their elaborate Fortress of Fanggg, which made us giggle every time I read it aloud. On to Book 3!

The Man Without Talent

The Man Without Talent by Yoshiharu Tsuge, 216 pages.

Tsuge's graphic novel about a man who routinely and continuously disappoints his wife and child because of his lack of ambition and inability to form a viable plan for supporting his family. He tries repairing and selling old cameras, working as a ferry operator, and selling rocks. He leads an unsettled life, thinking that money will be coming in soon from his semi-preposterous ideas. An odd look at some odd people in mid-eighties Japan,

Department of Mind-blowing Theories

Department of Mind-blowing Theories / Tom Gauld, 154 pg.

Should I just go for the obvious here and say, "Read this book, it will blow your mind!" or should I consider something more subtle. Nah.

Gauld is excellent, as always.

The Firsts

The Firsts: The inside story of the women reshaping congress / Jennifer Steinhauer, 262 pgs.

A behind the scene look at some of the "freshmen" women elected to the House in 2018.  After seeing some headlines about most, it was good to learn a bit more about their elections, the districts they represent and the change they represent.  Two Native American's, Muslim, women of color, women with military and national security backgrounds.  Will they bring change?  Will they accomplish their goals? What will success look like.  I was struck by at least one who commented that they didn't know if they would be there in two years so refused to vote against her beliefs system even if to fit into the wider party narrative.  Despite some early controversies, they are mostly marching to the beat of their own drummer, sticking together and revising this staid body of legislators.

Party of Two

Party of Two by Jasmine Guillory, 337 pages

Career-driven Olivia Monroe has just moved to L.A. when she meets a cute kinda familiar-looking guy at the hotel bar. They strike up a conversation about cake and pie (because that's the good dessert, not the fancy schmancy pastries that all the hotel restaurants put on their menus), and it's only later that Olivia realizes she's been chatting with the most eligible bachelor in the U.S. Senate, Max Powell. While he's immediately smitten with her drive and confidence, she's understandably hesitant to get involved with a senator.

A romance novel about a Black lawyer and a privileged white U.S. senator (from Beverly Hills, for crying out loud!) shouldn't be able to be adorable AND steamy AND a balanced criticism of racial disparity and the criminal justice system. But somehow, it is. It's fantastic, and Guillory proves once again that she has the Midas touch. Read this book, and everything else Guillory writes, because it's awesome.

Ship of Fates

Ship of Fates by Caitlin Chung, 127 pages

A couple of millennia ago, a young woman fled from an arranged marriage with the gold that was to be her dowry. She sailed across the Pacific Ocean and landed in California, spreading the gold throughout the land. But she later found she was cursed to live forever in a lighthouse until she regathered all of the gold to return to her family. Ship of Fates is that young woman's story, and the story of how she tried to reverse her curse, despite the complications presented by the California gold rush. It's an intriguing novella, presented as the young woman's story punctuated by second person bits about "you" listening to her tell it. I'm not sure what I thought of that bit, though I did enjoy the lessons of the young woman's tale.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, 480 pages

In early 1800s France, 23-year-old Adeline LaRue is an old maid by community standards, though she's happy to be unmarried. Unlike her peers, Addie just wants to see the world, not be married off to a man that she's unlikely to love. In fact she's so against the idea of being married that on the eve of her wedding, she runs into the forest and makes a deal that frees her from ever being accountable to anyone...but also curses her to an immortal life in which nobody remembers her once she's out of their sight. She can see the world, but she can't leave her mark on it in any way.

This is a fascinating book about what it means to be free, as well as what it means to love and be loved. I'm a fan of Schwab's previous books about magicians in various parallel worlds, but this is absolutely nothing like those. That said, it's still a wonderful, thoughtful novel, somewhat reminiscent of Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. Well worth reading.

*This book will be published Oct. 6, 2020.

The Worst of All Possible Worlds

The Worst of All Possible Worlds by Alex White, 528 pages

Given the title of this book and the state of the world today, it would be understandable to think this was a non-fiction book on current events. (That's certainly what Google thought when I did an image search for the cover.) Thankfully, it's not. Instead, this book is the final book in White's Salvagers trilogy, about the magically inclined, not-always-law-abiding, highly talented crew of the starship Capricious.

This volume finds the crew once again fighting through perilous worlds and situations in their final attempts to take down the power-drunk Gods of the Harrow, a cabal of powerful galactic movers and shakers intent on... well, it seems like they just want to live forever while killing other people. The important thing is the Capricious crew is intent on stopping these jerks. Along they way, they acquire a snarky new AI in the form of a supercar/tank, and manage to track down some incredible archaeological finds to help them on their quest.

While this series probably won't win any awards, I absolutely love it for the love, friendship, and snark that makes the crew a wonderful found family. Highly recommended for fans of Becky Chambers, Valerie Valdes, and Firefly.

*This book will be published July 28, 2020.

La Voz De M.A.Y.O.: Tata Rambo

La Voz De M.A.Y.O.: Tata Rambo / Barajas, Henry, 127 pgs.


This book based on the oral history of Ramon Jaurigue, an orphan and WWII veteran who co-founded the Mexican, American, Yaqui, and Others (M.A.Y.O.) organization. The story covers three generations and was occasionally difficult to follow but the art is fantastic and I learned something about the Yaqui people and their struggle for recognition.

The Women Warrior

The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts / Maxine Hong Kingston, 209 pgs.

A powerful story of the author's history and youth. A bit of growing up, dealing with family and being an immigrant with a backdrop of Chinese myths and reality.  The sections of the book kind of all stand alone. Starting with the family history in China and ending in the family business in California - a laundry of course.  There is suffering and some funny parts too.  If you can read this in a sitting or two, it would be best, I think.

Untamed

Untamed / Glennon Doyle, 343 pgs.

I have never read a book by this author and was not familiar with her story at all.  Upon reading, she is writing here about finding herself.  And I mean, she was lost from her true self.  She changed and found happiness.  Who doesn't love a happy ending even if the path to it is a little jagged.  And I'm not really talking about her life, I'm talking about how she tells the story.  But enough about that...the most amazing thing I learned from this book is that Abby Wambach plays soccer on a co-ed recreational league.  Who in the world wants to play on the opposing team?  What a shock that would be. If you don't know why this book reveals this little nugget, then maybe give it a read.

Object Lessons

Object Lessons by Anna Quindlen (1991) 262 pages

Twelve-year-old Maggie and her parents, Tommy and Connie Scanlon, are the main characters in this coming-of-age story. Tommy's father, John Scanlon, is a force to be reckoned with. He is an outspoken Catholic, angry that the Mass is now said in English instead of Latin. His opinions are harsh and his sons and wife dare not cross him, although Tommy did that just once when he married Connie, his pregnant girlfriend. Connie feels that she has been the scapegoat of the family and avoids the Scanlons when possible. Maggie has been the most comfortable with her gruff grandfather, but when he becomes hospitalized one summer, the family dynamics seem to be in flux. Meanwhile, a developer is building new houses in a wooded area behind Tommy and Connie's house. The neighborhood kids can't stay away from the construction work. Maggie's friendships are changing, to her dismay. Her mother seems less available lately. Her parents don't seem to spend time together anymore. This book is a trip back in time, but its lessons are current for any modern time period.

A Memory Called Empire

A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine, 462 pages

I first read and blogged about this book almost exactly a year ago, so instead of rehashing my description of the plot here, I'll simply link to my previous blog post. Basically, it's about the new ambassador from a small space station to an ever-expanding empire that she both loves and fears. It's an incredible novels that has racked up lots of award nominations over the last year, and I'm excited to discuss it with the Orcs & Aliens book group tonight. It's clever, nuanced, and interesting on so many levels, which means it's ripe for discussion.

Space at the speed of light

Space at the speed of light: The history of 14 billion years for people short on time / Becky Smethurst, read by the author, 144 pgs.

When I started this book I was amazed that it was being narrated by a 12 year old girl!  Recovering from my ageist view, it is  actually narrated by the author - a British astrophysicist at Oxford.  She is fantastic and so in love with her topic, I couldn't stop listening.  Unfortunately the text is so very technical, I can't imagine it would be too popular.  So much above my head but also she does a good job in interspersing relatable stories along with the high tech astrophysics. Perfect for the science or astronomy interested.

Why we swim

Why we swim / Bonnie Tsui, read by Angie Kane, 277 pgs.

This book covers so many aspects of swimming, I could not even fathom there were so many.  The history of, medical and curative aspects, competition, type of swimming (did you know that Samurai were trained to swim in all of their armor?), the physical and mental benefits.  I mean if you are someone who likes any aspect of swimming, this is a great book. The listening is easy and the information is completely fascinating.

Big Black: Stand at Attica

Big Black: Stand at Attica / Frank Smith & Jaren Reinmuth, 171 pgs.

A memoir by a man who was at the center of the prison riot at Attica in the 1970's resulting in death and mayhem.  A short takeover by prisoners who held guards hostages and demanded to be treated as humans was met with derision and a governor who would not back down.  Not wanting to be seen as weak, Nelson Rockefeller approved breaking up the stalemate with fire power.  Thirty nine inmates and hostages were killed.  Following the standoff, prisoners involved were beaten and tortured for a long time.  Frank Smith was one of those who suffered at the hands of prison guards and officials.  Within a short period of time, all charges were dropped against inmates when deaths were discovered to have been 100% at the hands of the troops that stored the prison.  A lawsuit settled many years later awarded a settlement to the prisoners.  Frank Smith continued to suffer from PTSD until his death in 2004. His legacy post prison was exemplary as he worked as an investigator, a drug counselor and became a notable prison reform activist. In a lot of ways this was a tough read.  Also, viewed from the lens of 2020, you wonder if things have changed.

Economix

Economix: how our economy works (and doesn't work) in words and pictures / Michael Godwin, art by Dan E. Burr, 304 pgs.

I borrowed this on Hoopla then got so engrossed in all the details I had to check it out again.  Fundamental economics education tracing back through the big thinkers and how things have changed but also how they have stayed the same.  Near the end when we are talking about modern times, the author takes an unapologetic liberal stance but also points out the many ways policies of the "conservative" have failed. A great way to make the dismal science a bit less dismal. 

Broken People

Broken People by Sam Lansky (2020) 297 pages

Sam is a gay man who has written a memoir about his early messed-up life, immersed in drugs and sex. Even in sobriety, he has continued to sabotage his relationships with other men. At a party, he overhears someone talking about a shaman who can do the equivalent of ten years of therapy in a single weekend. He and Buck, the host of the dinner party, go to meet Jacob, the shaman, to learn about his field of "transdimensional intercession." They decide that they're willing to give the process a try.

The book switches back and forth between Sam's past  relationships and the present, weekend-long session with the shaman. If the reader is firmly entrenched in the here and now, the mystical connections might be hard to swallow, but the factors that have caused Sam's brokenness are very believable.

Why fish don't exist

Why fish don't exist / Lulu Miller, read by the author, 225 pgs.

Science reporter Miller writes about her obsession with David Starr Jordan, a naturalist who classified a lot of fish in his day.  She researches him at length, impressed by some of his professional triumphs but not quite as impressed with his personal history that may include murdering his boss.  She also mixes in a little bit of her own memoir.  Jordan tried to make sense out of chaos and was slapped with a lot of trials and tribulations in his life. Miller has had a bit of a hard time too and somehow makes this all work in a book that is a little chaotic itself.  Still enjoyable.  The narration is nicely done.

Network Effect

Network Effect by Martha Wells, 350 pages.
The first full-length Murderbot novel from Wells. Murderbot finds itself and several of its human friends kidnapped by some odd alien -type beings. Being Murderbot, mayhem ensues.
For those not in the know (you should definitly be "in the know" many of my colleagues and the wonderful Ann Leckie have convinced me of this) Murderbot, formerly a SecUnit, a lethal security robot under control of a profit-driven, unscrupulous company, but now, thanks to its ability to disable its governor module, and with the help of ART and some decent humans, an independent sort of lethal robot / human who (which?) often finds itself in mayhem-rich environments. Network Effect is a bit looser and more rambly than the novellas which precede it, but it is still an excellent, excellent book. And, am I the only one who feels that Murderbot and the Expanse operate in the same universe? Very similar universes? Okay, just me. Cool.
Thanks to a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Missouri State Library, The MLC, of which UCPL is proudly a member, was able to purchase a downloadable audio version of this book. I read it the old-fashioned way, because I could not wait, but downloadable audio brings an enormous amount of joy to my life and you should give it a try.

Fair Warning

Fair Warning by Michael Connelly, 399 pages.
Reporter Jack McEvoy, late of the Velvet Coffin, and of the Los Angeles Times before that, is now a reporter at the  consumer watchdog website FairWarning. He is still relentless about pursuing the stories that interest him and he is still making the same mistakes when it comes to trusting people close to him.
McEvoy is more or less dragged into a murder investigation when the LA police question him when a woman he dated once a year ago turns up dead. It turns out she had still his contact information  and had said something to a friend about a stalker. The police push McEvoy hard, wanting to believe he is a suspect, McEvoy pushes back, beginning his own investigation.
Connelly gives us glimpses from some of the guiltier parties (trying to avoid spoilers, they are all bad people in these POVs), and does a great job keeping us guessing about the identity of the killer.
Connelly also brings back former FBI profiler Rachel Walling, alumna of previous McEvoy novels and a few from the Bosch series. All in all a very good thriller. 

Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line

Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara, 347 pages.

Jai, Pari, and Faiz all live in the same basti (or slum settlement) in an unnamed Indian city. When the second of their classmates  goes missing, Jai believes that he has learned enough from television to become a first class detective and solve the mystery around them. Jais first suspect, a fellow student, is a bully, and connected to a local nationalist group. No one is willing to help, though. The local police are corrupt, and no one with any real power is interested in the fate of the poor, let alone poor children.
Pari is the smart one of the three children, but Jai is somewhat scornful of her advice. Faiz, who holds down a job at a tea shop is too busy to help and tries to convince Jai that the disappearances are the work of malign Djinn, but as the disappearances mount and the children witness too much of the worst that people can do, the truth is more horrifying and prosaic. A compelling book.

Barbarians at the PTA

Barbarians at the PTA / Stephanie Newman, 268 pgs.

Don't judge this book by the cover.  I thought with a cartoonish picture and fun title, that there might be something fun inside. Alas, this was a serious book about cyber bullying and a young girl and single mom dealing with moving into a community that is fairly closed to newcomers.  There is nothing wrong with the book, it just wasn't what I expected.

Friends in High Places

Friends in High Places (Commissario Brunetti #9) by Donna Leon  326 pp.

Brunetti is having a quiet afternoon at home when the arrival of a young bureaucrat from the housing department comes to the door questioning Brunetti about the construction of the apartment. Apparently there are no records of the stories added to the centuries old building which, according to the department, don't exist. Soon Brunetti's red tape conundrum becomes a murder investigation when the same man is discovered dead, having been pushed off the scaffolding outside a building under renovation. While this is happening, Brunetti's boss, Vice-Questore Patta has drawn Brunetti into the arrest of Patta's son for selling drugs. Soon the investigation leads Brunetti to drug abuse and distribution, loan sharking, and danger. I have to admit I'm hooked on this series.

Not Like the Movies

Not Like the Movies by Kerry Winfrey, 320 pages

Nearing her 30th birthday, Chloe is working at a neighborhood coffee shop, taking night classes, living in the apartment over her best friend's uncle's garage, and dealing with the day-to-day care of her father, who's in the early stages of Alzheimer's. In other words, she has a lot on her plate, even without helping her best friend prepare for her wedding next month or dealing with the rom-com movie that's coming out that her best friend wrote about Chloe and her boss Nick. But Chloe is determined that she can do it all, without help or sleep. Sure thing, the cracks start showing as she attempts to juggle it all and fend off a relationship with Nick, despite the fact that there are some SERIOUS sparks flying there.

It's honestly great to read a romance novel about an anxiety-ridden worrier, especially where not everything's fixed by love at the end. And there's definitely a Gilmore Girls Luke-and-Lorelai (but with Sookie's baking skills) feel to the whole book that appealed to me too. But for a book titled Not Like the Movies, it sure is a romantic comedy in book form, which is definitely not a bad thing.

Long Bright River

Long Bright River by Liz Moore, 482 pages

Sisters Kacey and Mickey grew up being raised by their grandmother since their parents were addicted to opiods. Mickey managed to break the cycle, avoiding drugs, graduating from high school, and becoming a patrol cop in the rough Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, near where she and Kacey grew up. She's even the mom of a super-smart four-year-old son. Kacey, however... well, she didn't fare so well, becoming addicted on her own, eventually becoming a prostitute to feed her addiction. After years of trying, Mickey knows she can't change her sister, but she does try to keep an eye on her during her patrol. But when Mickey finds a strangled prostitute on her rounds, she realizes it's been a few months since she's seen Kacey, and starts searching for her while simultaneously trying to catch the killer.

This thriller/mystery is also a beautifully told story of a real-life, hard-on-its-luck neighborhood and the people who live there. Moore does an excellent job of weaving the story of a family, a city, and a nationwide crisis into a page-turning mystery. Definitely a great read.

Outsider

Outsider by Linda Castillo, 320 pages

On the run from the crooked cops she works with (and who framed her for murder, among other things), Gina Colorosa can think of only one person to turn to: her former roommate Kate Burkholder, who is chief of police in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere Ohio. Unfortunately, before she reaches Kate, Gina gets caught in a snowstorm and ends up rescued by an Amish widower and his children, who are out on a sleigh ride. Thankfully, he knows Kate and pretty soon these two outsider women are snowbound with the Amish, attempting to sort out Gina's escape to safety before she's caught.

This wasn't a great book by any means, though it's also the twelfth in the Kate Burkholder series, so perhaps I would have appreciated it more if I'd read those first. But reading about a snowstorm as I'm sweating my way through July? That was a nice way to cool off. So there's that.

The Other Bennet Sister

The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow, 463 pages

Most of us are familiar with Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, the story of the five Bennet sisters whose overbearing mother is determined to see married off to wealthy gentlemen. By the end of the book (is a spoiler alert really necessary for a 200-year-old book?), four of Mrs. Bennet's daughters are married — the oldest two quite successfully, the youngest two somewhat less successfully — leaving only plain, boring Mary suffering from the worst case of middle child syndrome ever.

Hadlow's debut novel picks up where Austen left off, telling us Mary's story both during P&P and in the years after. It's the ultimate diamond in the rough, black sheep tale, with intelligence, humor, and a long fight for self confidence. I'm not a huge Austen fan — I've often said I prefer my Austen derivative, like with zombies or as a choose-your-own-adventure book — but I loved this story. Mary is definitely the sister I'd most like to hang out with, and the fact of that is Hadlow's crowning achievement. Great fun for anyone even remotely interested in Austen, derivative of not.

Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey

Cher Ami and Major Whittlesey by Kathleen Rooney, 336 pages

During World War I, homing pigeons were used by the allied forces to send messages when phone lines and other human constructs simply failed. In the case of a battalion that made it farther behind enemy lines than its neighboring troops, these pigeons were literally a lifesaver. This book tells the story of that "lost battalion" through the eyes of its leader, Major Charles Whittlesey, and Cher Ami, the pigeon that delivered the life-saving message.

I'll have to admit that I wasn't expecting to read a WWI story told as the memories of a taxidermied pigeon when I picked this up, and honestly, I kinda wish I'd known what I was in for. I loved the realistic treatment of Major Whittlesey's reminiscences as a gay man in the war, but when it came to Cher Ami's chapter, I found I had trouble believing her philosophical ruminations on human constructs of war, religion, bigotry, and so many other things. Perhaps if I'd read Rooney's previous novel, Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk, I'd know what I was getting into. But this one was just too much.

June totals

Christa  12/3088
Jan  3/888
Josh  2/481
Kara  28/9844
Karen  4/1266
Linda  8/2279
Patrick  3/456

Total: 60/18,302

The Gimmicks

The Gimmicks / Chris McCormick, 354 pgs. read by Will M. Watt, Mike Ortego & Mary Jane Wells

Armenian genocide, families, wrestling, betrayals...all of these elements have a place in this rambling book that is told from the different perspectives of the main characters. Avo is a gentle giant, Ruben his diminutive second cousin who becomes his brother, Mina, Avo's love and Ruben's frenemy, and Terry, the wrestling manager who makes Avo into the Brow Beater.  The story skips around among the characters and the time.  The audio was confusing so I switched to the print.  Still kind of confusing but the story and the characters are memorable and interesting.  It all came together in the end, at least I think it did. 

Arguing with zombies

Arguing with zombies: economics, politics, and the fight for a better future / Paul Krugman, 444 pgs.

A compilation of columns and blog posts from Krugman about economics and public policy related to same.  A pretty hefty book but most chapters are short so you can take your time and read a section or a shorter selection.  The zombie part is him talking about ideas that have been proven over and over to be wrong but are still discussed as if true.  Of course I love the economics talk but more so, the clarity that can be provided in a short format.  Taken together, this is a powerful review of the basis of modern economics.

Broken Heart of America

The Broken Heart of America: St. Louis and the violent history of the United States / Walter Johnson, 517 pgs.

A comprehensive history of St. Louis and the treatment of African Americans since long before Missouri was a state.  As you can imagine, not a lot of "light" content, in fact most is quite horrifying.  Still, I can't imagine not reading this book if you have any connection to St. Louis although the experiences here are, unfortunately fairly universal or at least indicative of the race issues prevalent in the U.S.

Weather, by Jenny Offill

Like Offill’s "Dept. of speculation," which I loved, "Weather" is narrated in very brief, episodic paragraphs. It is also quite short, just 201 pages, and there is a temptation to rush through it, which is a mistake. Lizzie, whose thoughts we are privy to, works as a college librarian, having dropped out of her PhD program when her drug-addicted brother hit bottom and needed her help. He’s now recovering, engaged, and soon has a daughter, the care of whom will send him into a new tailspin. Lizzie is married to Ben, a classics major now working from home coding educational games, and they have a young son, Eli. As a side gig, she begins answering the mail of a former mentor, Silvia, who travels the world lecturing on climate change and environmental degradation. All these threads – the minutia of daily life in the family; the worries about her brother, who fears he will harm his daughter; her involvement in the brother’s problems – again – effect on her marriage; and the depressing environmental and political scene (this is set in current times and the 2016 election is another gloomy storm) could be very depressing. It’s not – it’s thoughtful, sometimes quite funny, and gives the reader a lot to reflect on while engaged in the book and thinking about it afterwards. Important and good. 201 pp.

Rodham, by Curtis Sittenfeld

As in "American Wife," which was loosely based on Laura Bush, wife of George W., Sittenfeld’s new novel, "Rodham," reimagines a well-known political figure’s life – Hillary Rodham Clinton. What if Hillary had not married Bill? I found the first third of the book, which deals with Hillary’s childhood and young adulthood, rather pedestrian despite a good bit of steamy sex with the irresistible Bill. But he was too irresistible to too many for Hillary to ultimately excuse his infidelities and she refuses his marriage proposal. In the second third, we learn of her post-Bill years as a law professor at Northwestern and her budding interest in running for office herself, culminating in a successful bid for the U.S. Senate. In this reimagining, she, rather than Carol Mosley Braun, wins the Illinois election, which will permanently damage her decades-long important friendship with a Gwen, who is African-American. Still interesting, but a bit long. However, the book really comes into its own and gathers considerable momentum and suspense in the final third. She runs for President, with Bill, who has left politics and become a billionaire tech exec in this retelling, a late entry into the field. Sittenfeld’s faux Trump texts are simply marvelous. Recommended with these reservations. 432 pp.

How to pronounce knife

How to pronounce knife / Thammavongsa, Souvankham, read by James Tang & Kulap Vilaysack 181 pgs.

A great collection of stories featuring mostly Laotian immigrants in an unnamed city. Some are struggling, some ok.  I particularly liked the stories that featured parents and children...The children in school and the parents having never been. There is a disconnect between these newly educated youngsters.  Particularly moving was the mother and daughter who put together a puzzle of the world and the mother warning the daughter to be careful if she ever gets close to the edge because it is not safe.  The elementary school daughter informs her mother that the earth is round and it is a slap in the face to the mother.  The title story features a father and a young child.  The father is the only one in the family who can read so the child goes to him to learn the word knife - later in school when the child learns the k is silent, she decides she can not tell her father.  She doesn't really understand it herself, the k is right there in front.  It is a lovely story along with many others here.

The Glass Hotel

The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel, 301 pages.
Mandel's follow-up to her enormously successful Station Eleven is a quieter book. The tragedy here is much more personal; its scope narrower and involving only of those immediately near
Vincent and her older brother Paul. They were both set adrift by family tragedy in 1994 when Vincent was 13. Paul who had been attending college and had already been in an out of rehab, was already struggling. Paul's actions serve as catalysts for both siblings, bringing Paul futher downward, but sending Vincent into the orbit of Jonathan Alkaitis, a Madoff-like character whose crimes affect many. An intricately constructed and engaging work that moves in and out of time. It's a beautiful book.

Just Kids

Just Kids by Patti Smith, 279 pages.

The noted poet, singer, and songwriter won the National Book award for her 2010 memoir. In it, Smith recounts a bit of her pre-New York life, but the memoir really begins with her move to the city in 1967. Starting out there, broke and somewhat desperate, the author relied on friends and kind strangers to help her get by as she searched for work and a place to stay. She reminds the reader of how devastated many were when Coltrane died in July of that year. Smith does an excellent job of painting a picture of hope and borderline despair in the summer in New York; a hot city in a turbulent time. Strange to hear that the Doors were such an influence on her as a young woman.
Smith finds a job at a Brentano's bookstore and there meets Ropert Mapplethorpe. A short while later Mapplethorpe saves Smith from a creepily awkward date and their lives together begin. The couple live and work together as their art becomes their focus. At first they're lovers, but Robert realizes he's attracted to men and Patti meets others, including Sam Sheppard when he was drumming with the band The Holy Modal Rounders.
An excellent book that evokes a time and a place. The people who pass through the story are amazing; Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Alan Ginsburg, and Jim Carroll all appear. I read this after finishing her third and then her second autobiographical  works, Year of the Monkey and M Train. I listened to both of her later works on Overdrive; Smith is an sublime narrator, telling her stories with a raspy sincerity that adds a layer of intimacy to the work.