The World We Make

The World We Make by N.K. Jemisin, 357 pages

This second half of Jemisin's Great Cities duology (after The City We Became, which you REALLY need to read before picking up this one) finds the living avatars of New York and its boroughs struggling with being a newly alive city, one with a supernatural Lovecraftian horror still looming over Staten Island and threatening to destroy the newborn New York. In a less supernatural horror, a fearmongering mayoral candidate who aims to "Make New York Great Again" is stirring up fascists, and threatening to destroy what really makes New York great: it's diversity, creativity, and individuality.

Jemisin writes in an afterword that she intended this to be a trilogy, but when she started it, she didn't see COVID-19 on the horizon (but who did?), nor did she realize how close to home this series would hit. So two books is where this ends. But you know what? While it does hit disturbingly close to home, it's also an excellent duology, and this is a fitting end. I enjoyed it, and I loved that it had all of the Lovecraftian horror while fighting all of Lovecraft's hatred. A great duology, and I can't wait to read what Jemisin writes next.

Babel

Babel, or The Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History by R. F. Kuang, 544 pages

Silver is very important in this version of Victorian England, where the metal serves as a conductor of magic that strengthens the foundations of buildings, speeds vehicles, lightens loads, and does all manner of other things that are crucial to the progress of a growing empire. However, the silver is nothing without the paired words of foreign languages that are etched into the bars and activated by linguists who fluently speak both languages. It's because of this that orphaned Robin Swift is taken from his Chinese homeland and brought to England to be raised in a manor, with tutors in Greek and Latin. He's destined for Babel, the silver-and-language-based college of Oxford, and home to the most esteemed silver workers in the empire. However, after he gets to Oxford, he begins to learn more about the ways in which he and his companions (and their abilities) are being used to further the British empire's colonizing ways.

This is by no means a cheerful book, but it's an astounding and thoughtful look at colonialism, racism (both pointed and systemic), misogyny, privilege, and identity. Bonus points for the linguistic lessons scattered throughout, which made this feel academic in a good way. It isn't a quick read, but it's well worth your time. 

Go with the Flow

 Go with the Flow by Lily Willliams & Karen Schneemann  627 pp.

This graphic novel should be read by all teenagers, no matter their gender. As the title suggests, it is about menstruation and it is a much needed attempt at removing the stigma surrounding menstrual periods, which one half of the population experiences. This is not that cutesy little book girls were given in health class (Do they still do that?). The story centers around four girls, their friendship, and their experiences with their periods and the lack of support given by their school regarding necessary hygiene products and how every female experiences periods differently. What starts with complaints to the school principal and one of the girls blogs on the subject grows into a larger protest by one of the girls that goes viral and provides much needed publicity to the issue. The book is appended with good information on menstruation and activism. 

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling 262 pp.

Aven Green tells people she meets different outlandish stories about how she lost her arms when the truth is, she was born without them. When her father takes a job running a Wild West Theme Park in Arizona that has seen better days. Aven must leave the only life she has known to begin a new one in the desert. While Aven is mostly self-sufficient, using her feet in place of her hands to do necessary tasks, the idea of meeting a whole lot of strangers in a whole new school and being gawked at makes her nervous. She quickly finds a friend in Connor, a classmate with his own kind of disability and they, along with another "misfit" student, navigate their lives and discover many new things about themselves and secrets about the park. The audiobook was performed excellently by Karissa Vacker.

About Face

About Face by Donna Leon 278 pp. 

This is the 18th installment in the Commissario Guido Brunetti mystery series. There is much going on in this story. Brunetti is approached by one of the Italian Carabinieri (National Police) investigating the illegal transport of toxic materials both within Italy and to other countries for dumping for help in solving a connected murder. While doing that, Brunetti's father-in-law, the wealthy Count Falier, asks him to investigate a potential business whose young and highly intelligent wife is well known for the extreme facial plastic surgery she has endured. By the end of his investigations there are multiple dead, the discovery of very dangerous petrochemicals, and an unexpected killer. Another satisfying episode about Brunetti and company.

Sapiens

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Harari, 443 pages

In this fascinating book, Harari presents a concise yet comprehensive history of humans from the origins of our species all the way through the 20th century, touching on milestones such as the cognitive revolution, the agricultural revolution, and the industrial revolution. Throughout, Harari presents a thoughtful consideration of how each of these have impacted humanity — were they actually good for our species, and our well-being? What an excellent, thought-provoking book, and I'm kicking myself for not reading it before now.

The Soul of an Octopus

The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery 261 pp.

I've always found Octopuses (yes, that's the correct plural) to be fascinating creatures. After reading this book I'm even more fascinated. The author's research, including personal contact and ultimately "friendships" with the 8 armed residents of the New England Aquarium in Boston as well as encounters in the wild while working with other researchers. Each of the aquarium's specimens had distinct behaviors and personalities that demonstrated a consciousness beyond what most people expect of cephalopods. The captive octopuses, named Athena, Octavia, Kali, and Karma,  were curious about the people taking care of them and expressed a kind of affection by gently using their suckers to explore the hand and arms of their caretakers. Octopus ingenuity is exhibited in a number of online videos showing large specimens exploring and escaping through the tiniest of openings as did one at the aquarium who unfortunately died from being out of water for too long. One even managed to steal an entire bucket of food by distracting the humans present with tentacle cuddles. This book makes me want to find an aquarium with opportunities to "pet the octopus." Highly recommended.

Just Haven't Met You Yet

 

Just Haven't Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens (2021) 371 pages

Laura works for a company called Love Life, a lifestyle website where she interviews people about how they met. Suki, her difficult boss (to put it mildly), wants to suck in viewers with feel good stories and get them to buy "stuff" in targeted ads, which helps keep the business afloat. Laura talks Suki into letting her travel from London to Jersey, an island in the English Channel, to see where her parents met and fell in love 30 years ago. Laura's father died when she was a small child, and her mother died a couple years ago. Suki gives Laura a long weekend to make a good story out of the trip.

Laura's wish is to find her own true love, and her hopes start to soar after she lands on the island and discovers at her hotel that she has picked up the wrong suitcase at the airport. The items in the suitcase show her a man that seems to meet all of her requirements on paper, and she tries to meet him, supposing that he has probably taken her suitcase. Laura enlists the help of Ted, a man who grew up on the island, who drives a cab part-time while he's helping his aging father.

Laura does some cringy things, a bit reminiscent of the "I Love Lucy" show, but she is also thoughtful and learning that the life she imagined her parents had together was not at all what she had been led to believe.

The story's character development and many subplots made it hard to put this book down.

The Herring in the Library

The Herring in the Library by L.C. Tyler  225 pp. 

Apparently this is the third book in the Ethelred and Elsie mystery series. Ethelred is a mediocre mystery author and Elsie is his nosy and annoying agent. After an invitation to the local manor, owned by Ethelred's college pal "Shagger" Muntham and his aristocratic wife. Sticking with the usual manor house mystery trope, Shagger is found murdered in his locked study/library. Ethelred and Elsie use their sleuthing talents to solve the mystery of Lord Muntham's death. This book is a send-up of the stereotypical British country house mysteries with the "locked room" detail added. Not great literature but an amusing, light-hearted take on the genre. And it was only $1.99 on Kindle.

Christmas By the Book

 

Christmas By the Book by Anne Marie Ryan (2020) 310 pages

Nora and her husband Simon have been running an independent bookstore that Nora's deceased mother established long ago, when Nora was a child. After Simon has a health scare, Nora steps in to handle the finances of the business, hoping to minimize Simon's stress. However, she isn't sharing information with him that she has already used all the proceeds of a loan, and additionally, she is avoiding calls from the authorities looking for taxes that are past due.

As Christmas approaches, instead of doing bustling business as they'd hoped, their store is still struggling. Simon and Nora decide to ask on their website for suggestions of people in their village who need a lift in their spirits, and after they read the responses, they surprise six people with some of their favorite Christmas books. The books that they deliver, along with the bookstore's holiday party, find their targets, bringing Simon and Nora, if not a "Christmas miracle," a sweet reminder of how good it feels to give.

Invisible Kingdom, Vol. 3: In Other Worlds

Invisible Kingdom, Vol. 3: In Other Worlds by G. Willow Wilson with art by Christian Ward (2021) 128 pages

Several years ago I read G. Willow Wilson's complete run of Ms. Marvel graphic novels. This series looked really intriguing when it started in 2019, and it won a couple Eisner Awards. I love the marbled vibrant colors and the themes that Wilson explores in this sci-fi adventure. All three volumes are available on Hoopla. The back cover tagline and summary for Volume 3 bears repeating. 

"The Path of Most Resistance  

On the run through the darkest depths of the galaxy, Grix, Vess and the crew of the Sundog are captured by a faction of mysterious new Nones, and now, they'll have to face The Point of No Return."

From the beginning, the crew reminded me of a combination of the characters from the TV show Firefly and several characters from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies. The characters here are unique enough that the story is not a rehash of those other adventures. We are in a universe with a mono-religion that is mainstream, but also corrupted by its ties to a monopolistic corporation (like Amazon). This third volume especially incorporates elements that we all would recognize from the past few years of dealing with the pandemic, such as the reaction to interrupted supply chains despite record profits for the biggest corporations. All of our main characters discover that it is more important to do the right thing even when powerful religious or corporate entities encourage something else. The conclusion felt satisfying with Grix and Vess, our queer protagonists, saving the day and finding each other again.

 

Ducks

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton, 430 pages

In this honest and earnest graphic memoir, cartoonist Kate Beaton recalls the time she spent working in the oil sands of Alberta, Canada, to quickly earn money to pay off student loans. Somehow, in this single volume of black and white comics, Beaton is able to portray the stark landscape of Alberta, the environmental impacts of the oil industry, the tough working conditions for all (but particularly for the grossly-outnumbered women) in the oil sands, the difficult situations that lead so many Canadians from the eastern provinces to head west for work, and an incredibly nuanced look at the people who have made the journey. And all of this is secondary to Beaton's own story and experiences, which is told candidly and unflinchingly. I can see why this book is on so many Best of 2022 lists.

Station Eternity

Station Eternity by Mur Lafferty, 456 pages

For her entire life, Mallory has been a magnet for murder. Literally. She can't stay in one place longer than a year or two before a murder occurred in her vicinity. She never committed the crime, and she almost always helped solve it, but that hasn't kept various law enforcement agencies from harassing her. So when the opportunity arises for her to quite literally leave humanity behind and become one of three humans on the sentient space station Eternity, Mallory jumps at the chance. But the arrival of a shuttle full of human tourists arrives, so does murder, and once again, Mallory must solve the crime, this time against the backdrop of a breached space station and internal conflict among Eternity's many alien races.

This book was described to me as "Murder, She Wrote in space," and to a degree, that's accurate. Mallory and Xan (a former military quartermaster and current refugee on Eternity) are compelling characters, and I loved their backstories. However, there might be a few too many characters to keep track of — particularly when you add in the various alien life forms (though I dug the fact that the universal translator gave the giant rock-like Gneiss names like "Stephanie" and "Tina") — and the plot was thus a bit confusing. I have a feeling Lafferty is going to write more books with Mallory and I can only hope that the setting and characters are settled enough from this book that the mystery can shine through.

Heiresses

Heiresses: The Lives of the Million Dollar Babies by Laura Thompson, 378 pages

One would think that being born into fortune is undeniably a good thing. But in Heiresses, we learn that, historically speaking, for girls, it's actually quite complex and often dangerous. In this book, Thompson profiles a handful of British and American heiresses, dating back nearly 300 years to the young women who were bartered by their fathers in real estate deals; who were kidnapped and forced into marriage that left their kidnappers in charge of their fortune (which happened until shockingly recent changes in British law changed that); who fell victim to fortune-hunting husbands and died nearly penniless. The names — Consuelo Vanderbilt, Nancy Cunard, Patty Hearst — are well known, and each of the women profiled has a fascinating story, deserving of her own book. However, when they're all put together in this book, it sometimes becomes hard to tell them apart.

The Echo Wife

The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey, 256 pages

Regan offered up an excellent plot summary in the post just before this one, so I won't rehash the plot here. However, I disagreed with her opinion of the novel, which was definitely dark, and didn't have many likeable characters (perhaps two? and that's a stretch). But I don't have problems reading books with unlikeable characters, and the complexity of PTSD and abuse and grooming and gender made this a thoroughly thought-provoking book. It made for a great Orcs & Aliens discussion too. I'd recommend it more for fans of domestic psychological thrillers than science fiction fans, though there definitely is crossover with the focus on cloning.

The Echo Wife

 The Echo Wife by Sarah Gailey, 256 pages.

Evelyn Caldwell's contributions to the science of cloning has won her awards and grants. That same research was also stolen by her husband to create a more docile and domestic version of her. A version without all of the hard edges and venom. Evelyn is doing her best to forget this fact and make sure nobody knows, so the scandal doesn't destroy her academic career. But when that supposedly docile new wife kills Evelyn's terrible ex-husband she suddenly doesn't have the option anymore. After all, her DNA is all over the crime scene. 

To be honest this book didn't really work for me. There were just too many fundamental things about the plot, characters, and rules of the world that I couldn't buy. It also didn't help that I found Evelyn pretty insufferable. I am still looking forward to discussing this book with Orcs and Aliens tonight, I'm curious to see what other people got out of it.

Real Hero Shit

 Real Hero Shit by Kendra Wells, 120 pages.

Prince Eugene, who mostly seems to spend his time in various sexual encounters, is bored. He decides that the best way to be not bored is to join an adventuring party, and since the adventuring party desperately needs someone who can use a sword they have no choice but to take him with them on their next job. The job is in regards to a small town where people have been going missing, and the guards are bared from investigating. 

This book was fine, sort of fun, but I'm honestly not sure what it's driving force was supposed to be. The characters are all a little Dungeons and Dragons stereotypical, and the plot is as well. The "mystery" feels glaringly obvious from the very beginning, and the characters don't feel engaging enough to drive a weak plot. There's nothing wrong with this book, but I don't know that there's a whole lot right with it either. It does definitely capture the energy of a D&D game though, which is sometimes a niche all it's own.

A Better Man

 

A Better Man by Louise Penny (2019) 437 pages

Chief Inspector Armand Gamache and his son-in-law, Jean-Guy Beauvoir are working together, along with Isabelle Lacoste, on what will be Beauvoir's last case before he and his family move to Paris. A colleague alerts them to a friend's distress at his daughter's disappearance. The daughter, Vivienne, is married to a man, Carl Tracey, who abuses her, and her father is completely agitated. Meanwhile, the winter is turning to spring, and the rain and melting snow are overloading the rivers. Canadians are facing catastrophic flooding, including at Three Pines, the village where Gamache and his wife live, which is also near where Vivienne and her husband live. There's also a large amount of politicking going on, because the risks involved with mitigating the flooding could cause other disasters, and no one wants to be blamed.

When Vivienne's body is found in the aftermath of flooding, all signs point to her husband's actions causing her fall from a bridge. But will he be released on a technicality (or two)? The investigative team is working at a frenzied pace to tighten the case.

This is probably my favorite mystery series when I'm ready for a meaty read, and it did not disappoint.

You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams

You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams: My Life in Stories and Pictures by Alan Cumming  272 pp.

This book by actor/author Alan Cumming is not as autobiographical as his previous books Not My Father's Son and Baggage. Instead it is a series of episodes in Cummings' life which connect to the photos, mostly taken by him over many years. The photos are not gallery quality, in fact most are very amateurish. It is the stories that go with them that give them a sort of charm. The title comes from an encounter with Oprah Winfrey at an award ceremony and was directed to a friend of Cummings. The audiobook was read by the author. If you are wondering how I could see the photos from an audiobook, Audible includes a .pdf. 

Thoreau: A Sublime Life

Thoreau: A Sublime Life by Maximilien Le Roy with art by A. Dan (2012) 88 pages

I loved this. Super short read since words are used sparingly. Many pages and panels visually show the world in which Thoreau lived with no dialogue or quotes from his speeches. The words Le Roy chooses to highlight are perfect for emphasizing Thoreau's thoughts through his adult life. In 1845 he begins to construct his cabin by Walden pond. Walden and the time he was arrested for not paying taxes as a protest of America's slavery are perhaps the most famous moments of his life. But these are very brief parts of it. 

Thoreau spoke against slavery many times and assisted with the underground railroad for a short time. We hear him speak against Capitalism. We see him express interest in Eastern philosophies. We see his enthusiasm for nature. This book also traces the contemporary events of abolitionist John Brown. We learn Thoreau's thoughts on Brown, which might surprise those who oversimplify his pacifism. Then we see the decline of his health due to tuberculosis. 

Following the sources of the quotes there is an excellent essay with a Thoreau specialist, Professor Granger, who spoke with author Le Roy.
 

Late For His Own Funeral

 

Late For His Own Funeral by Elaine Viets (2022) 227 pages

Sterling Chaney's car had crashed, rendering the driver unidentifiable. He was declared dead. As it turns out, someone else had stolen his Porsche and died in the wreck. When Sterling shows up at his own funeral with a bottle of Johnny Walker, it causes quite a stir.

Sterling's wife, Camilla, had previously kicked him out as a result of his serial infidelity. After his "return from the dead," though, she agrees to a reconciliation. But when it is publicly revealed that Sterling makes his money from running a business where women read sexual scripts to men, and that these women barely make a living while Sterling and his manager rake in great wealth, Camilla is disgusted and kicks him out again. It's also clear that Sterling is already straying.

When yet another car wreck occurs, really killing Sterling and a female passenger, Camilla is the prime suspect. Her friend, Angela Richmond, the death investigator for the county, makes it her mission to find out who the real killer is, even as it strains the relationships Angela has with two police officers, Chris Ferretti, her boyfriend, and Jace Budewitz, an officer she often worked with.

Elaine Viets again produces a story with all the drama of a good mystery, with realistic details and relationships, along with a smattering of humor.

Blood Royal

Blood Royal: A True Tale of Crime and Detection in Medieval Paris by Eric Jager  323 pp.  

I purchased this Audible audiobook on sale and somewhat by accident. I totally thought I was getting a historical fiction book read by the late actor Rene Auberjonois who did such an excellent job narrating the Pendergast series. This is actually a factual account of the brutal and bloody murder of Louis I of Orleans, the brother of King Charles VI of France. It is also the story of Guillaume de Tignonville, the Provost of Paris, one of the first detectives, who discovers the conspiracy involved in the crime. It is a fascinating, if frustrating story.

Bipolar Bear and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Health Insurance

Bipolar Bear and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Health Insurance: A Fable for Grown-ups by Kathleen Founds  197 pp.

This allegorical graphic novel is the tale of bear who is diagnosed as Bipolar and his quest to get affordable treatment. While his quest is a bit more challenging because he is a bear, his experiences are what too many humans go through just to remain healthy.  

Tread of Angels

Tread of Angels by Rebecca Roanhorse, 201 pages

The mining town of Goetia is split in two, between the Virtues (descendants of the angels who stayed in heaven) and the Fallen (whose ancestors took Lucifer's side in the big battle). Rarely do the two groups mingle, but on the one celebratory night that they do, a Virtue is found dead in a Fallen saloon and half-blood cardsharp Celeste must defend her sister Mariel from the swift justice of the Virtues.

For such a short book, Roanhorse really packs in a lot of worldbuilding and intrigue. The old-time western feel of Goetia, the strict social structure, the racial commentary (Celeste can pass as a Virtue if needed, while her sister can't), even the health impacts of industry. However, the plot — solving the mystery of who this murdered man was and who killed him — never slowed, making for a thrilling ride. Not that I'm surprised — Roanhorse always delivers a fantastic story in a fully realized world.

Terrier

 Terrier by Tamora Pierce, 581 pages.

Centuries before most of Pierce's heroines lived, Beka Cooper starts her career as a dog. This is the term for the policing force of Tortall during this period, and Beka has been training for it most of her life, ever since the Lord Provost took her family in from the slums after she helped him capture a criminal gang. She stays very busy in her first few months, and (with the aid of the ghosts that talk to her) quickly stumbles upon not one but two major cases.

That wasn't a particularly good description, but this is a very good book. This was a reread for me, and is probably one of my top two Tamora Pierce series. The cast in this book is great, and I like the diary format. I would definitely recommend this for anyone looking for relatively smaller stakes high fantasy.

Fun fact: George Cooper (from the Alanna series) makes a cameo in this book, Beka is his famous ancestor.

Ash

 Ash by Malinda Lo, 264 pages.

This Cinderella retelling takes place in a fantasy kingdom that feels a lot like historical Ireland and makes some twists on the classic tale. For one, there are way more faeries, and they're often wicked. For two, Ash falls in love with the King's Huntress instead of the handsome prince.

I was pretty underwhelmed by this book, but that may be because I went into it with high expectations, hearing from several people that it was excellent. It feels like a pretty direct Cinderella retelling, and I could never quite shake the feeling that it was about to get good, but it felt like it never quite hit it's stride for me.

November totals!

Byron  5/1306

Jan  4/1377

Kara  10/3145

Karen  7/2407

Kevin  1/222

Regan  10/3321

Ruthie  1/317

Stephanie  1/38

Total: 39 books & 12,133 pages!

And a whopping 8 bloggers! Woohoo!

The Book Eaters

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean, 298 pages

Since the dawn of the written word, there has been a human-looking race of creatures that subsists solely by eating books, gobbling up knowledge and stories while nourishing their bodies. However, every once in a while, a book eater will give birth to a mind eater, one who feeds on the minds and ideas of humans and other book eaters. For a long time, a specific group of book eaters manufactured a medication called Redemption, which has the ability to keep mind eaters from feasting on their preferred diet, and aim them toward the more acceptable books. But that group has imploded and disappeared, leaving the mind eaters as dangerous and uncontrollable creatures once again. Book eater Devon is determined to track down Redemption for her son Cai, and hopefully escape the book eater world altogether.

There's something very mafia-like about the book eater "Families," in this book, and combined with the zombie-esque (though faster and more intelligent) mind eaters, this book wasn't nearly as interesting to me as I thought it would be. I recognize that that's probably a "me" problem, not a book problem though, and I'd happily recommend it to someone who's interested in a creative new type of supernatural creature.

Truth Worth Telling: A Reporter's Search for Meaning in the Stories of our Times

Truth Worth Telling: A Reporter's Search for Meaning in the Stories of our Times by Scott Pelley  424 pp. Audiobook read by the author.

Anchor and Managing Editor of the CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley reflects on his life, his career, and the monumental events that shaped that career up to and including the 2016 Presidential Election. Besides his time in Iraq and Afghanistan covering the wars, the most riveting experience was his time on the ground at the World Trade Center on 9/11. The book is not just about him but mostly about the people directly involved in those events. Pelley also makes a strong case for the search for truth that good journalists do and should be doing in these days of "news as propaganda". Scott Pelley is one of the few who tries to uphold the standards of "The Most Trusted Man in America" Walter Cronkite by refusing to air a story until there are at least two verifiable sources, rather than rushing to get a story on the air with sketchy provenance. The book ends with a "lecture" to aspiring journalists about what they should endeavor to accomplish with their careers and a list of CBS correspondents, camera & sound men, and directors who have been killed in the line of duty.

You're Not Lost if You Can Still See the Truck

You're Not Lost if You Can Still See the Truck by Bill Heavey 288 pp.

Bill Heavey is an editor and columnist for Field and Stream Magazine. He writes about hunting and fishing and the outdoors in general. This collection contains articles from that publication and others. Most of the book is comprised of tales of failures (some spectacularly so) that occurred during his hunting and fishing trips. Also included are reminiscences about his father and grandfather and the legacy they left to Heavey. A poignant, non-sporting story involving the death of his daughter to SIDS and the eventual adoption of another child is quite touching. This is a light read that is often humorous though not to the degree of similar books by Patrick F. McManus. 

Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula

Lugosi: The Rise and Fall of Hollywood's Dracula by Koren Shadmi (2021) 161 pages

I have previously read Shadmi's graphic biography of Rod Serling, the creator of The Twilight Zone. I'm trying to get through several of these relatively short graphic novels available on Hoopla to complete my reading goal for the year. I was excited to see this graphic biography since I've seen all the old Universal horror films. I must admit, though, that I'm more of a fan of Boris Karloff than Bela Lugosi. Earlier this year I also read a biography of Michael Curtiz, the director of Casablanca and another Hungarian transplant to Hollywood. The structure of this book is classic. We start near the end of Bela's life when he was in a state rehab facility to fight his morphine addiction and flashback several times to tell about key moments in his life and career. The present is in sepia tones and the flashbacks are in black and white. The art work is realistic and energized by light and shadow. It fills in details I wasn't previously aware of, but follows an unsurprising arch with the rise and fall storyline. Solid and enjoyable.
 

Ready Player Two

 

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline (2020) 370 pages

I listened to about half of this from a Libby audiobook before I ran out of time. Like the first book in this series it was narrated by Wil Wheaton. Then I finished it with a print copy.

The first book was definitely a case of liking the book better than the movie adaptation for me. This sequel continues directly after the events of the first book. Most of the main characters are back. There is quite a bit of exposition before the new quest, which will be the bulk of the adventure, is revealed. The virtual world of the OASIS becomes even more immersive with new tech. Cline succeeds in raising the stakes for this quest. Wade and his avatar Parzival lionize Halliday the creator of the OASIS in the first book. This time a corrupted copy of Halliday's consciousness in the form of his avatar Anorak holds much of the real world hostage. The other two co-creators of the OASIS, Ogden Morrow and Kira Underwood, get more of the focus, especially Kira. The new quest is all built around Kira's nerdy interests and reveals her love story with Og. Because of the life and death stakes there is a sense of rushing to collect each of the seven parts of the gemstone without spending too much time in any of the virtual worlds that the quest sends the heroes to, but I felt like it was enough time in each of the previously unexplored worlds. I wish the new characters who assist Wade with a side quest got a little more time to shine. Otherwise, I really don't understand the many negative reviews on Goodreads. It is as if people were set against this book even before publication and couldn't give it a fair chance.

Banned Book Club

 Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook, 198 pages.

When Kim Hyun Sook started college in South Korea in 1983 she expected to study English Language and Literature and expand her worldview. It was quickly expanded far more then she ever imagined, as she quickly got pulled into the student protest movement through the titular "Banned Book Club." This graphic memoir takes place during South Korea's Fifth Republic, a military regime that was very heavy on censorship and very quick to brand any criticism of the government as communism. This memoir is not only Kim Hyun Sook's coming of age memoir, but also a story of people coming together to defy impossible circumstances, often with mixed success.  

This was a very exciting memoir, and it also made me realize I don't know very much about Korean history, even relatively recent Korean history. This is a fast, efficient read that I think is definitely worth the time.

I Kissed Shara Wheeler

 I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston, 356 pages.

Chloe Green moved from California to False Beach, Alabama with her moms about the time she started high school, and in that time the most important thing has becoming beating Shara Wheeler out for valedictorian of Willowgrove Christian Academy. Shara is the principal's daughter, and all-around False Beach golden girl. Chloe is the only out bisexual at Willowgrove and has a whole lot to prove. So when Shara kisses her and disappears shortly afterwards (about a month before graduation) Chloe is determined to find her, because Chloe Green doesn't win by default. She soon finds that Shara kissed two other people shortly before she left, and the three of them are thrown into a completely absurd scavenger hunt trying to put together the clues that Shara left behind. 

This book is ridiculous. It's also extremely fun. Much like One Last Stop this book is carried by its great supporting cast and the relationships between them. This book is very theatrical and over-the-top, and I found it to be a great time. Honestly the part I ended up caring about the least was the romance, which I found okay. This was a fun novel, although probably more of a summer read.

I'm Glad My Mom Died

 I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, 320 pages.

Jennette McCurdy, most famous for her acting in Nickelodeon show iCarly and Sam and Cat, really wishes that wasn't the case. This memoir is told in two parts. The first is her unhappy childhood and adolescence in child acting under her extremely controlling and emotionally abusive mother. The second part is her struggles with alcoholism, bulimia, and various other traumas after her mom died.

This book is, unsurprisingly, pretty heavy. More surprisingly, it's often also quite funny. McCurdy has a masterful grasp on perspective, and you can see the perspective voice morph as she gets older, which makes many of the childhood scenes even more disturbing. It also ends in recovery, which is the kind of ending I really appreciate in these types of stories. I'm not often a memoir reader, but this one was definitely worth the time.

Spinning Silver

 Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik, 465 pages.

Miryem is the daughter of a very incompetent moneylender, and the granddaughter of a very competent one. When her mother falls sick and there is no money to help her she decides to take over her father's business, and it turns out that she is very, very good at it. But her boasts of turning silver to gold attracts the attention of the Staryk King of Winter, who says that he will marry her if she can change his gold to silver trice, and kill her if she cannot. And this impossible task is just the beginning,  for both Miryem and the people pulled into her orbit.

This phenomenal book is roughly a retelling of Rumpelstiltskin (a specific genre that I have a soft spot for), but full of Eastern European folklore, Jewish custom, and just generally really good characters. I found it really hard to write a summary here because there's just SO MUCH in this book, and it's all so good. I've been meaning to read it for like three or four years and now I'm a little upset that I didn't get to it sooner. I would definitely recommend.

Number One is Walking

Number One is Walking: My Life in the Movies and Other Diversions by Steve Martin, art by Harry Bliss, 256 pages

In this light and charming memoir-of-sorts, Steve Martin shares a few anecdotes from some of the many movies he made over the course of 40+ years in showbiz. What makes this a fantastic book, however, is the fact that New Yorker cover artist Harry Bliss provides the artwork that turns these short anecdotes into comic-strip-esque vignettes (the many appearances by Bliss's dog, Penny, is the cherry on top). About halfway through the book, however, the memoir stops and the rest of the book is filled with single-page "diversions," (written by Martin and illustrated by Bliss) that are guaranteed to raise a giggle or two. The memoir and the "diversions" make for an odd pairing, but otherwise, it's a delightful book. I'll have to check out their previous collaboration, A Wealth of Pigeons.

The League of Gentlewomen Witches

The League of Gentlewomen Witches by India Holton, 336 pages

This sequel to The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels focuses on the Wisteria Society's sworn enemies, the Wicken League, a similarly neat and tidy group of society women wreaking havoc on England, the main difference being that the Wicken League is full of witches (though they won't admit it as witchcraft is still illegal and punishable by death). This book isn't quite as delightfully wacky as its predecessor, perhaps because we're already familiar with the previously surprising flying manor homes and tea-drinking pirates. That said, this one definitely ramps up the romance between book-loving future Wicken League leader Charlotte and scandalous Irish pirate Alex. It's a light, fun read.

Grunts: Inside the American Infantry Combat Experience, World War II to Iraq

Grunts: Inside the American Infantry Combat Experience, World War II to Iraq by John C. McManus  518 pp.

Military history is not generally one of my go-to topics when reading non-fiction, except in the case of books written by this author. I first learned of him when my son was in a military history class taught by Dr. McManus, the Curators’ Distinguished Professor of U.S. Military History at the Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). This book, like his others are very readable and understandable by anyone regardless of previous knowledge of the wars contained in it. Through interviews with the soldiers who lived through extreme battles, McManus details conflicts in the forests and jungles as well as the streets of villages and cities where infantrymen do the legwork and hand-to-hand fighting. The modern idea of "push-button" wars, begun during the Persian Gulf War, where the battles are fought just with technology rather than men on the ground is exaggerated. While hesitating to call reading this book as enjoyable, it is engaging on a number of levels.

A Good Day for Chardonnay

A Good Day for Chardonnay by Darynda Jones (2021) 404 pages

Sunshine Vicram has been the sheriff in the small town of Del Sol, New Mexico for four months, ever since her parents put her on the ballot against the crooked incumbent and she won. Sunshine, in her early thirties, is still single, but has a teenaged daughter, Auri, who was conceived during a tumultuous time when Sunshine had been kidnapped long ago. Sunshine still can't remember the whole ordeal, but pieces periodically come back to her. Auri is a good kid whom everyone adores, but she does have a way of getting into trouble. 

Sunshine's best friend, Quincy, is her deputy. The small staff of close-knit officers are trying to locate a group who stabbed a guy outside a bar owned by Levi, a guy from a local family filled with some seriously messed up individuals. However, everyone loves Levi, especially Sunshine, who can't seem to express herself to him, although she can bring herself to arrest him in an attempt to keep him safe after he is seriously injured and refuses to go to the hospital.

Problems in Del Sol pop up like a game of Whack-a-mole. Some old unsolved crimes add to the trickiness. Can some of these crimes be interconnected? And why do the townspeople line up to turn themselves in when crimes are committed? I was quite entertained, but also more than a bit worried a number of times. 

This was book two in the series, but enough detail is supplied that the book works as a stand-alone.

Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band

Redbone: The True Story of a Native American Rock Band by Christian Staebler and Sonia Paoloni with art by Thibault Balahy (2020) 168 pages

This is translated from a French graphic novel. Super fan Staebler was in touch with Pat Vegas, one of two brothers who were central members of Redbone. Even though Staebler wrote the book based on his research and interviews, the book is framed as an extended conversation between Pat and his grown daughter and son a few years after his brother Lolly died. It is not only a dual biography of Pat and Lolly, but a history of some key moments of indigenous life in America during their lifetimes. We learn how the Standing Rock pipeline protests are not just a current event, but an ongoing example of indigenous activism. The story is not told in straight chronological order. It flows smoothly as Pat's memories dart from event to event. However, the page layout and art are sometimes a little jumbled. The standard pattern of reading left to right and top to bottom is not clearly followed. So, speech "bubbles" and the flow of a conversation are often confusing. Still it was a pleasure to read about rock 'n roll history paired with the important message of the contributions and treatment of indigenous peoples in America.
 

Now Is Not the Time to Panic

Now Is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson, 246 pages

It's the summer of 1996 and Frankie and Zeke are 16, awkward, and bored to tears. There's not a lot to do in their small town of Coalfield, especially for a couple of kids that are more interested in art and writing than drinking and sunning by the public pool. But on one hot afternoon, they create a flyer with two cryptic sentences and some creepy imagery, and decide to start hanging up copies around town. Before long, the whole town is confused and convinced that there's a satanic cult taking over the tiny Tennessee town.

Oh, Kevin Wilson... how the heck do you write books that are so odd yet relatable and funny and somehow real? I fell in love with this author's writing in Nothing to See Here (read it, it's fantastic), and had high hopes for this one. Thankfully, my expectations were surpassed, and this is one of my favorite books of the year. So good!

Not a Nation of Immigrants

Not a Nation of Immigrants: Settler Colonialism, White Supremacy, and a History of Erasure and Exclusion by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (2021) 400 pages

This book appeared on my radar after reading an article based on a speech given by the author Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz. The subtitle is very clear about the themes in this well-researched book. "'A nation of immigrants' was a mid-twentieth-century revisionist origin story." Each of the eight chapters are so packed with historical detail and critiques of interpretations of that history that are problematic that it feels as if you are reading eight different non-fiction books connected to the theme of correcting this revisionist origin story of America. We explore a critique of the popular musical Hamilton, the genesis of settler colonialism, the racial capitalism of slavery, the continental imperialism of manifest destiny, Irish settlers and policing, the efforts of Americanizing Columbus, the Western panic against Asian immigrants, and the history of aggression against Mexico. She wraps it up by discussing how actual refugees and immigrants are treated in our settler state, a place where white supremacy still holds a strong grip. It is a call for a more honest understanding of our American history.
 

Flight Risk

Flight Risk by Cherie Priest, 312 pages

Seattle homicide detective Grady Merritt is looking for his dog at Mount Rainier National Park when the formerly lost pooch returns with a human leg. Meanwhile, psychic karaoke queen and travel agent Leda Foley gets hired by a man who would like her to use her psychic abilities to track down his missing sister. But as it turns out, their cases are connected and the odd-couple investigators must once again work together to solve their linked mysteries.

The first book in this series, Grave Reservations, was one of my favorite books of 2021, so I'm not at all surprised that this one is just as delightful. I feel like I could read about Leda and Grady's investigations for ages, so I'll happily devour whatever Priest throws at us next.

Legends and Lattes

Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree, 294 pages

After two decades fighting monsters, chasing bounties, and sleeping rough, orc Viv is ready to retire. So that's exactly what she does: she takes a stone that has mythical powers, finds a space that's ripe for renovation, and starts building a coffee shop with the help of a couple of new friends she makes along the way. And that's pretty much the book. Sure, there are a few stumbling blocks (convincing everyone to try the hot bean-water, sorting out the local mob element without resorting to violence, getting the word out, etc), but yeah, that's basically the book. A blurb on the back refers to this as "high fantasy with low stakes," and I really can't think of a better description. It's cozy, it's fun, and it's even better when enjoyed with a toasty mug of coffee.

A Desolation Called Peace

A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine, 496 pages

With an empire still finding its feet after the shocking transfer of power at the end of A Memory Called Empire, the Teixcalaanli fleet is not quite sure how to handle a deadly and unknown alien threat where the ships seem to arrive out of nowhere and leave no survivors in their wake. Fleet leader Nine Hibiscus makes the controversial decision to seek first-contact assistance from the Information Ministry (instead of her own military intelligence sources). Now Three Seagrass and Lsel ambassador Mahit Dzmare (you knew they'd be involved somehow) are tasked with negotiating with a hostile new alien species that doesn't use any known method of communication.

Martine has done a wonderful job of once again showing the delicacy of diplomacy within a culture, between two cultures that already have a history, and in a first-contact situation. While the mental gymnastics of the military and political worlds are certainly intriguing, my favorite character was 11-year-old emperor-to-be Eight Antidote, who becomes a spy and learns his own way through the adult world around him. This was fantastic, and I'm not surprised that it won the Hugo. Can't wait to see what Martine writes next!

The Martian Chronicles

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury, 222 pages

Last month's book for the Classics discussion group was The Martian Chronicles by Mr. Science Fiction himself, Mr. Ray Bradbury. This was my first time reading through the novel, though I recall reading some short stories in high school that I liked. However, if you're new to Bradbury et al., this is a great place to start. The book is comprised of several pieces--short, short stories, vignettes--some are only a page long. The entire thing is sort of a birds-eye-view on what would happen if we colonized Mars over the course of a few centuries. Bradbury really does a good job of just dropping the reader into the middle of an on-going story just before eking out some kind of twist or thought-provoking ending. Of course at the time, Bradbury had no idea what Mars was really like, so he had plenty of room to use his imagination and expand on some ideas that became the basis for most Mars-oriented material (aliens, mind control, etc). Flash-forward to The Martian by Andy Weir, and almost all of that old tchotchke kind of Martian fare is gone. But Martian Chronicles to me is kind of where man's love for Mars really began. I was making parallels to Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues, not in style or tone but really just in discovery. In this book, there's no singular character to follow, no real plot development, except that by the end it all, the reader should come away with a cautionary view of colonizing some one else's potential home. Really, this book speaks to ideas of anti-technology and unknown frontiers. Stories of note: Usher II, There Will Come a Soft Rains, The Third Expedition. Great for teens to adults. Recommended. 

Thanks a lot, Mr. Kibblewhite

 

Thanks a lot, Mr. Kibblewhite by Roger Daltrey  259 pp.

Yes, that is the Roger Daltrey of The Who. This is his autobiography which is only half as long as the one by his bandmate Pete Townshend. While Daltrey covers the main events in his life and that of the band, he spends a bit too much time attempting to justify his behavior when compared to some of the bad behavior of other band members (e.g. They were all getting wasted but I didn't do drugs . . . until I did.) The audiobook was read by Daltrey. Warning, a sort of spoiler: Mr. Kibblewhite was a teacher who told young Roger he'd never amount to anything.

Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness

 Seek You: A Journey Through American Loneliness by Kristen Radtke (2021) 352 pages

I read this non-fiction graphic novel on the Libby app. The chapter breakdown is Listen, Watch, Click, Touch, Listen. Within these sections Radtke references various social psychology studies. She shares personal stories and probes our American cultural habits. Certain pages combine visuals and text in an especially meaningful way that I wish I could share as a meme on social media. However, the overall connection between the concepts felt disjointed. Each old generation blames new technology for breaking down how connected we are to those close to us. Radtke also shows that technology should not be the scapegoat for our sense of isolation. Loneliness is surely a complex concept to study. Ultimately this doesn't entirely succeed in tying together the different approaches to thinking about loneliness into a deeper understanding of the issue, and what to do about it, if we see it as a problem.

Best American Science and Nature Writing 2020

 Best American Science and Nature Writing 2020 edited by Michio Kaku and Jaime Green, 384 pages

This anthology is exactly what it says on the can, collecting what the editors consider to be the best science and nature writing of the year. Notably the year in question is 2019, and the collected volume came out in 2020 (which is to say the edition all about COVID is actually the 2021). I think the editors did a really great job. In most anthologies I read there are a few stand out stories, a handful of very bad ones, and a lot that are alright. There were only two of the twenty-four presented here that I thought weren't very good, and many that were exceptional. I also feel more informed having read it. The collection covers a wide range of topics that I probably never would have thought to seek out information about on my own, and I feel like I learned a lot by the time it was done. 

The 2021 edition seems a little depressing, but the organization of the 2022 edition (which we recently got in at the library!) seems really interesting, and I'll probably pick it up next time I want some bite-sized reading.