Life Everlasting

Life Everlasting by Bernd Heinrich (2012) 236pp

Inspired by a dying friend who asks for advice on end-of-life alternatives, naturalist Heinrich describes the life-to-death cycle of nature in a folksy style and answers his friend's query. Supported by a meticulous life of observation of the natural world and using examples of dung beetles, sphinx moths, trees, ravens, etc. he demonstrates the interconnectedness of, well, everything. And by definition, the death of everything. But in his sprawling exercise he primarily emphasizes that the cyclical nature of nature. In addition to the mindful essays, the work is illustrated with the author's intricate line drawings. The final essay answers his friend's query on making informed choices at the end of our cycle.

How the South Won the Civil War

How the South Won the Civil War by Heather Cox Richardson (2020) 240pp

A grand overview of United states history with a focus on the myriad transgressions the wealthy have wreaked on the majority of citizens. It's a rare feat to cogently explain how the actions of the moneyed interests have distorted democracy to their benefit. This work doesn't bog down in detail, but piques the interest of the reader to go deeper. Accessible and well written (avoiding the constant polemic drum-beat of obvious and well-trod ground) this historical summary stands as a marker as the leadership of government changes once again. Read it and wonder, "where is the outrage?"

Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art

Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art by Rebecca Wragg Sykes (2020) 400 pages

Archeology is fascinating to me. This is a well-written science book that is not too academic. Sykes presents a great overview of the latest findings and new interpretations of old findings to thoroughly explore all that we know and understand about Neanderthals currently. Each chapter begins with an italicized paragraph to put you in the mindset of our stone age kin, and these can be quite poetic in describing their environment. I found the chapter on the variety of stone knapping techniques to be a bit difficult to push through. However, all the chapters are great at challenging our assumptions of what we think we know about their lives.
 

Sag Harbor

Sag harbor by Colson Whitehead (2009) 332pp

I was fortunate to spend some time on the far reaches of Long Island this fall and in conversation the book Sag Harbor was brought up. Being vaguely familiar with all-black towns such as Nicodemus, Kansas, formed in the post-civil war era and more recently all-black beaches, I checked it out. Very much the traditional coming-of-age story with the usual hijinks and the expected teenage humor. Colson does more as he interweaves the founding of the community and the travails of being the other in a very exclusive enclave, and the varied and complex characters who end up on a spit of land at the end of the Eastern seaboard. But this is not sociology wrapped in a memoir, it is a humorous read with just enough pathos to make you think and connect with the author and his community.

Among the Thugs

Among the Thugs by Bill Buford (1992) 313 pp

An absolutely frightening read. While riding the tube in London, journalist Buford observes loutish behavior by football fans and decides to find out what all the fuss is about. For the next several years he immerses himself in the tawdry fan base of a number of British club teams as they rampage across the country and the European continent. Buford seems to be channeling Hunter Thompson’s wild ride in the book Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga and George Orwell as he explored poverty in Down and Out in Paris and London. In his defense, Buford would never have been able to embed himself if he hadn’t embedded himself. His deplorable subjects were reluctant to go on the record. Not only were they involved in criminal activity, they were also proud of their bigotry and claimed to be maligned by the press. Hence the only way to report on the clubs was to become one with the fans. So, rather than take the “high road” of a traditional reporter – neutrally observing and filing a story – Buford plunges into the raucous behavior, cozying up to the team supporters. In too many examples to recount, he attempts to match their drinking habits and interacts with the thugs: drunks, Nazi sympathizers, skinheads, outright criminals, and other riff-raff as they disrupt civil life in the name of sport. Ethically it is hard to justify this style of reporting and indeed his observations are bleak and pretty simplistic. He recognizes and explains the frightening nature of crowd behavior (including getting severely beaten himself) and how otherwise good citizens can slip into anti-social, self-destructive behavior. Nothing good happens in this saga.

Bury Your Gays

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle, 294 pages

It's a longstanding Hollywood trope that LGBTQ characters don't get happy endings. So when the suits at the studio behind Misha's long-running TV show tell him to either cut the queer storyline or kill off the characters, Misha's disappointed, but not particularly surprised. However, Misha also has an Oscar nomination, which gives him a bit more leverage (just a bit though, as it's for live action short, not one of the big categories). Or so he thinks. But before long, the monsters from Misha's horror movies are coming to life and stalking him, and Misha's trying to save not just his beloved show but also himself and his friends. There is definitely something strange afoot...

Somehow this horror novel manages to have complex relatable characters, skewer the entertainment industry, and comment on the threats of emerging technology while being truly scary and also funny? I don't know how Tingle managed to swing it, but this is quite the feat, and I absolutely loved it.

The God and the Gumiho

The God and the Gumiho by Sophie Kim, 397 pages

Long exiled to the mortal realm, fallen god Seokga must send 20,000 unruly supernatural creatures back to hell before he can return to the realm of the gods. He's about halfway there when he picks up the case of a particularly problematic and powerful demon that is threatening to end humanity. At the same time, the long-dormant serial-killing gumiho the Scarlet Fox has resurfaced, and Seokga strikes a new bargain — kill these two menaces to society and his debt is paid. Unfortunately, the Scarlet Fox also happens to be the alter ego of Kim Hani, an annoying (yet alluring) gumiho that's been assigned to assist Seokga in his investigations. While she tries to throw him off her track, their mutual dislike morphs into something much more pleasant (and steamy), even as they hunt the humanity-killing demon.

While I appreciated this Korean-inspired, action-packed fantasy novel, I felt like the execution wasn't quite where it deserved to be. It felt almost like young adult writing in an adult-centric novel. Not bad if that's what you're looking for, but nothing that particularly wowed me.

The Lion Women of Tehran

The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali, 327 pages

When the death of her father forced 7-year-old Ellie and her mother to move from the lap of luxury to a tiny, downtrodden home in downtown Tehran, Ellie finds solace in her new friend, Homa. As they grow up, Ellie and her mother return to a comfy lifestyle, while Homa's rebellious father languishes in prison, keeping Homa's family in poverty. Reconnecting as they prepare for university, Ellie and Homa have very different goals for their college years — Ellie wants to get an education, sure, but mainly find a husband, while Homa is determined to bring on a feminist revolution, becoming a judge and helping promote women's rights in Tehran. When political turmoil erupts in Tehran, a betrayal drives the two friends apart for decades, and both must come to grips with their past and their role in Iran as it is.

This is a wonderfully written story of Iran in the second half of the 20th Century, as seen through the eyes of two very different women. They're both relatable, complex characters with understandable motivations and fears. I loved this book and will be recommending it widely.

After Annie

After Annie by Anna Quindlen, 285 pages

Annie wrote an excellent review of this book here, and I'm going to direct you to read that instead of writing my own review, as she says what I want to say better than I could phrase it. My only addition is that I listened to the audiobook (wonderfully read by Gilli Messer) while baking cookies, which is just about the only thing that kept me from bawling the whole time I read it. A lovely book, if not always the easiest to read.

99 Percent Mine

99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne (2019) 342 pages

Darcy's photography ambitions have been shelved indefinitely; now she spends her time working as a no-nonsense bartender. Her salary only pays for her health insurance, essential since she has had heart trouble for her whole life. She and her twin, Jamie, have inherited a cottage in poor condition from their grandmother, with the proviso that they have it renovated and sell it, splitting the proceeds. A quarrel has left them estranged. They've hired a longtime childhood friend, Tom, to renovate the house. The trouble is that Darcy has always had a crush on Tom, but snubbed him in order to travel the world, and when she came back, much later, he had a girlfriend. In order to assuage her unhappiness, Darcy has had some relationships, but never with anyone who merited permanence.

This novel serves as a dance between Darcy and Tom, as they spend time together handling the renovation, each figuring that the other is unavailable to them. There are a number of unrealistic details that just don't seem to fit properly, except to be more important later as the plot develops. How will all the connections between the characters work out? I had to suspend my disbelief, but in spite of that, mostly enjoyed the story.

How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi

 How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi edited by Chris Balakrishnan and Matt Wasowski, 320 pages.

This book consists of bite-sized bits of knowledge on all sorts of STEM topics adapted from pop-science presentations given over two decades. It includes section headings such as "Mmm...Brains," "Creature Features," and "Tech (High and Low)." Most of the topics aren't more than a couple of pages long, and include a cute little comic or drawing of some sort (the book blurb describes these as infographics, but I didn't see anything I would describe as such flipping through the physical edition after I finished the audiobook).

Unfortunately, I found this book to be pretty much all style with little substance. It does a great job making the reader feel like they're learning something in a fun and easy way. Unfortunately, with how tiny the chapters are, by the time I got through the introduction and opening jokes there was essentially no time left to actually learn much. This feels like it's intended to be picked up and read a handful of pages at a time, but it's not actually efficient enough about presenting information to be very good for that. Unfortunately I don't know that I can recommend this extremely stylish book, there are better choices for books of general curiosities.

Most Wonderful

 Most Wonderful by Georgia Clark, 432 pages.

The three adult children of Hollywood star Babs Belvedere have all worked hard to get out from under their mother's shadow in one way or another. But when showrunner Liz, comedian Birdie, and hopeless romantic Rafi all manage to self-destruct their lives in their own unique ways just before Christmas, the whole family ends up spending weeks together in their mother's house in the Catskills. Unfortunately, many of their problems follow them home. Fortunately, many of those problems may be less problematic then they initially seem, and soon each sibling is falling in love. 

I am honestly very impressed by how well Clark managed to balance three love stories in a single, normal-length novel. All three of the Belvedere siblings felt like equal protagonist, and each story was unique enough that I wasn't reading the same thing three times. This was a sweet story, although a little heavy for a Christmas book, which I think put me off of it a little. My only other real complaint was that the conclusion of the novel didn't feel like it could keep up with the rest of the book. I was a little bored for the last 100 pages or so, which is not ideal for the payoff of a romance novel, but perhaps inevitable when three stories are trying to have their big conclusions at once. While I don't know if this is my favorite Christmas book, it is overflowing with both queer and familial love, and I am glad I read it. I think fans of Alison Cochrun will likely enjoy this book as well.

How to End a Love Story

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang, 372 pages

When she was 16, Helen Zhang's sister, Michelle, killed herself by jumping in front of a car driven by the homecoming king, Grant Shepard. When Grant showed up at Michelle's funeral, Helen and her mother threw him out, and that was the last Grant and Helen saw of each other. Thirteen years later, Helen's a successful young adult author and her wildly popular series is getting a TV adaptation. One of the lead writers on the show? Grant Shepard. So now Helen has to figure out how to deal with seeing Grant on a daily basis in the writers room for the show while simultaneously figuring out her increasingly confusing feelings toward him.

I'll admit that this setup is not at all something I would expect to find in a romance novel, yet somehow Kuang makes it work. There's good character arcs and a spicy love story to satisfy any romance reader. My one quibble is that the awkward dislike/hatred between Helen and Grant shifts to sexy attraction pretty rapidly, considering there was no previous interest shown between them beforehand (maybe an unrequited mutual high school crush would've helped?). However, their complicated relationship is well handled, and that makes me less concerned about the steep on-ramp to the relationship.

I'll Be Waiting

I'll Be Waiting by Kelley Armstrong, 324 pages

As someone who has been dealing with cystic fibrosis her whole life, Nicola never expected to outlive her husband, Anton. But after a car accident, that's just what happened, and Nicola is left reliving Anton's final moments on the side of the road, whispering "I'll be waiting for you." Several months later, Nic is still haunted with grief, and has turned to spirit mediums to try to reconnect with her late husband. In an attempt to cut her off from the unhealthy relationship with fakes and cons, her friends and family convince Nic to try one last time, with a very scientific seance before calling it quits. That's how she ends up at Anton's grandmother's lake home with an American scientist, her brother-in-law, and a new friend from a grief counseling group. However, there's something from Nic's past that keeps popping up and potentially interfering with their attempts to reach Anton...

It's rare to find a horror novel featuring a character with a terminal illness that doesn't immediately become the center of the story, and it's lovely to see Nic portrayed as much more than her illness (it's more of a character trait than a definition). I loved the way Nic and her friends and family approached the seances (with a bit of dry humor and skepticism, even as they took part in the rituals), as well as the mix of easily explained and unexplained phenomena in the book. It does go a bit off the rails toward the end of the book, though that's the case in a lot of horror novels. All in all, this one was pretty decent. (However, reader beware if you don't like bugs. Bleh!)

What Happened to Nina?

What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan, 322 pages

Nina and her boyfriend Simon have been dating for several years when they decide to spend a week alone at his family's vast country estate in Stowe, Vermont, hiking, climbing, and generally enjoying the mountainous landscape. But when Nina doesn't turn up at home when she said she would, her parents become panicked and are convinced that Simon knows more about her whereabouts than he's letting on. Before long, the search for Nina has become a social media sensation, with increasingly crazy conspiracy theories and slanderous spin against both Simon and Nina's family (though the latter is at least partially fueled by Simon's wealthy and influential parents). Still, Nina's parents just want to know what happened to their daughter... but will they ever find out?

Based on the 2021 murder of Gabby Petito, this fast-paced thriller keeps you guessing as it bounces back and forth between points-of-view of Nina's parents, Simon's parents, the investigating police officer, and even, in the foreword, Nina herself. It's compelling and surprisingly fresh, given the "ripped from the headlines" nature of the book. A good quick read.

The Murder of Mr. Ma

The Murder of Mr. Ma by John Shen Yen Nee & S.J. Rozan, 300 pages

In this Sherlockian mystery, college professor Lao She assists Judge Dee Ren Jie in solving the titular crime, as well as a string of related murders of Chinese men in 1924 London. Judge Dee is a whip smart martial artist (as well as opium addict) whose experiences in the trenches of France give him insight into the lives of the murdered men, as well as plausible theories as to the motives behind their deaths.

The book offers a very traditional mystery setup mashed together with a stark depiction of the casual racism against Chinese people in London at that time. While I appreciated the social elements, the way in which the story was told — the brilliant detective makes discoveries and solves the crime as we watch, as opposed to hints appearing throughout to give the reader a chance to solve the mystery themself — felt a bit dated and uncomfortable for those who prefer more modern storytelling styles. Still, for those who like Sherlock stories, this one may hold some appeal.

Amazing Grace

Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace (33 1/3), by Aaron Cohen, 2011, 176 pgs.

Final Rhythm n' Books read for 2024, capping off the year of our newest book club. I'm not a god-fearing man, but I do enjoy some old school gospel--not because of any religious messaging, but primarily because a lot of the music lends itself to other genres, like soul, blues and funk. There are harmonic things going on that you don't usually encounter in other forms of music. The consensus from the book group was that this felt like a decent book report, as opposed to an in-depth exploration. I was surprised to learn that out of everything Aretha has ever done, this is her highest selling album ever. The author explores Aretha's roots in the church and how she tried to walk the line between church and secular music, while also having a voice during the Civil Rights Movement. For all its limitations, the book pairs well with the documentary of the same name that came out in 2018. But everyone in the group absolutely loved the album, whether they listened to gospel before or not. Listening to her sing a live set for over an hour seemed to make her voice a God-given superpower. But you don't have to go to church to believe it; let Aretha take you there. 

Hampton Heights

Hampton Heights: One Harrowing Night in the Most Haunted Neighborhood in Milwuakee, Wisconsin by Dan Kois, 2024, 208 pgs. 

I've seen a series of these types of books that are typically fairly short and are some kind of visitation of popular Stephen King themes. The last one I was read was A Scout Is Brave, that also had a similar retro cover, which is what first caught my eye. A Scout is Brave was ok, but this was much better. Equal parts Stranger Things, Are You Afraid of the Dark and Monster Squad, the story follows a handful of kids in the 80s who split up on a paper route to get more subscriptions, only to each encounter their own strange, Lovecraft-ian episode. The first two chapters were good, but the middle chapter really hooked me for the rest of the book. There, the boys fall under two witches' spell while listening to the story of how they fell in love. It was suprising and unexpected, and really defined the tone of the whole book. I don't really like much fiction but I enjoyed this, so you know it must be pretty good. 

A Little Devil in America

 A Little Devil in America: Notes in Praise of Black Performance by Hanif Abdurraqib 2021, 320 pgs.

A national book award finalist and a best book of 2021 by the Chicago Tribune, this was a bit of a departure for us in the Rhythm n' Books club in that everything here is personal essays about music or music-related icons--as opposed to what we've read so far, which have primarily been biographies or histories. Abdurraqib is not a musician, but is very reflective when it comes to his black heroes--both known and those who have been buried by the past. Of note is an essay about magicians and the "magical negro" trope often found in white culture, as well as an essay about various degrees of blackness and how even in African-American communities, those degrees can be used as weapons against each other. The essay about Josephine Baker and her willingness to sort of love a country that hated her because of her skin color was also a great essay. The book is filled with a lot of black pain that Abdurraquib seems to be working through in his own way of writing. Very personal, heartfelt and eye-opening.  

Sorcery and Small Magics

Sorcery and Small Magics by Maiga Doocy

Leo Loveage is entering his final year at the Fount on probation — he's skipped class, gotten in trouble, and avoided doing any difficult magic for four years already, and if he doesn't buckle down and study now, he'll get kicked out and he'll lose the inheritance his father has promised him. Sebastian Grimm has long been Leo's rival and different from him in every way — serious, studious, and determined to use his education to make a difference in the magical world. However, when they're paired up in class, Grimm accidentally casts an illegal control spell on Leo that leaves Leo quite literally unable to resist doing what Grimm tells him to do. As discovery of this spell would mean doom for both of them, Leo and Grimm embark on a quest to track down a counterspell, a project that takes them far from the Fount and into the dangerous Unquiet Woods.

This was a lovely lighthearted story of reluctant friendship that somehow manages to also include solid backstories for both of the main characters, and wonderful worldbuilding. There's definitely a vibe of romance throughout, which I thought might be problematic given the control spell, though thankfully it's handled very well. This is as series starter, and I can say that I'll be delighted to read more books about Leo and Grimm in the future.

Island Witch

Island Witch by Amanda Jayatissa, 367 pages

Amara has long assisted her father with his work as the local village's priest, helping exorcise demons and protect homes using the traditional methods. When local men start getting attacked in the nearby jungle, however, villagers who have adopted the colonizers' Christian religion start blaming him (and by extension her) for welcoming and controlling the demons instead of fighting against them. Meanwhile, Amara struggles with a growing divide in her relationship with her father, which has disturbingly coincided with a series of violent nightmares and an increase in sleepwalking. All the while, the attacks continue...

This was an intriguing look into the colonization of Sri Lanka and the ways in which it impacted local culture (it reminded me of Things Fall Apart in that sense). But it also taps into local mythology, the anger of mistreated women, and fear of the unknown. There are times at which the author does a bit more telling than showing, which is unfortunate, as so much of horror is based on atmosphere and the unsettling feelings it creates. But overall, this was a fresh and creative way to examine colonialism.

Listen for the Lie

Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera, 336 pages

Five years ago, Lucy's best friend Savvy was murdered after a wedding in their small Texas town. Lucy has no memory of that night, but given that she was found covered in Savvy's blood not far from the body, everyone assumes she did it, despite the fact that the police never charged her with the crime. In the aftermath, Lucy divorced her husband and fled to Los Angeles, where she's enjoyed a much more anonymous life...at least until a popular true crime podcaster picks up the cold case. Suddenly, everyone knows who Lucy is, and it's managed to end her job and relationship in one fell swoop. At the request of her beloved grandmother, Lucy heads back to her hometown and starts working with the podcaster to discover the truth of Savvy's murder, whatever that may be.

This was an interesting, quick read with a main character that is such a mess that you can't help but shake your head at her. But she also has a fantastically dark sense of humor, which made her so realistic and likeable to me. The book is alternately billed as a thriller and a mystery, though I'm not sure it really matters in the grand scheme of things, because it's wicked fun and keeps you guessing until the end.

The Pairing

The Pairing by Casey McQuiston, 411 pages

Theo and Kit had been best friends for years before they started dating. Four years ago, they tried to take a romantic food and wine tour of Europe, and a fight on the flight over ended their romance and they haven't spoken since. Now both of them have separately cashed in their vouchers for the tour at the last possible moment, and they're separately determined to make it through the trip as friends. And what better way to do that than create a competition over who can hook up with the most locals on the trip?

This isn't exactly the most likely setup for a romance novel, and there are certainly those who will balk at Theo and Kit's free-love, sex-positive vibes. However, as she always does, McQuiston creates characters that are endearing and flawed, and situations that are holy cow spicy, which may win over a different set of romance readers. Also, I particularly enjoyed Theo's character development, as someone coming out as nonbinary and finding their place in the world — it made me miss their point of view when it switched to Kit's POV for the second half of the book. But all in all, this is another winner from McQuiston.

When Among Crows

 When Among Crows by Veronica Roth, 166 pages.

In modern Chicago the Holy Order hunts monsters from Slavic folklore with swords made from there own souls. These monsters are mostly just normally communities of people, who happen to do things like eat fear and pain. Dymitir is seeking Baba Yaga, the oldest witch of all, and dragging Ala along for the journey. She is has a bloodline curse that will one day kill her, just like her mother, and Dymitir has the cure, if she's willing to help him on his mission. They have only one day before the cure fails, and their adventure will take them all over a fascinating supernatural city.

This was a really neat little novella. To be honest I picked this book up because the cover was gorgeous, but I would say I wasn't disappointed by the interesting little adventure story inside. Roth's version of Chicago was very interesting, and I learned a lot about a branch of folklore I don't know well. I also thought it had some interesting thoughts about the nature of guilt and duty. The characters were all good, and I enjoyed seeing them interact. Overall, this is a short, exciting book that's easy to tear through, and definitely worth the time. 

A Fatal Grace

 

A Fatal Grace by Louise Penny, 320 pgs.

It's Christmas time in Three Pines, a quaint village in the forest of Quebec. Snow is falling on the picturesque countryside. The townsfolk are falling back into their traditions a little over a year after the murder of their dear friend. Everyone is preparing for a normal year of gift exchanges and communal meals, when a new member of the community is murdered at the annual parish curling match in a very peculiar manner. Chief Inspector Gamache returns to the town with his posse of Surete officers and attempts to unravel this befuddling case, learning that a frozen heart can be just as deadly as a winter freeze.

This is not my favorite Inspector Gamache mystery, largely due to the disrespectful way that Penny describes Crie, the daughter of the victim (I think she uses the term "grotesque" either more than once), but in this re-read, I found myself completely engrossed in the drama of the overarching mystery and side stories. The interwoven and complex motives driving each of the police officers are so intriguing and set the stage well for a larger story looming over the series. Penny fails to pick up where she left off with some character storylines from the first novel (mainly Peter and Clara's), opting instead to give an in-dept introduction to a set of new characters, but those characters are so interesting that I don't even mind. Overall, an interesting story with a lot of twists and turns but also some faults.

Long Live Evil

Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan, 464 pages

Three years into a battle with cancer, Rae has very few comforts in life, though her younger sister reading from their favorite fantasy book series while she's in the hospital is one of them. When an opportunity to join the fantasy world and cure herself with a magical flower presents itself, Rae jumps at the chance, not realizing that when she arrives, she's taken over as Rahela, the villainess of the series and foe of Rae's favorite character, the Emperor. It means a few adjustments, including getting comfy with her new seductive character, but Rae is determined to save herself with an evil plot... if she can keep the Emperor from executing her, that is.

While the beginning of this book is a bit confusing (Rae gets inserted into the fantasy world before the reader really knows anything about the world, other than that the Emperor exists), the rest of it is a lovely story of escapism, of being an antihero, of fighting hard battles, and of creating family out of outcasts and miscreants. And it's funny! Very much enjoyed it, and I look forward to the second book in the series.

Sword of the War God

Sword of the War God by Tim Hodkinson, 601 pages

When Hagan was in his first battle at just 15 years old, he witnessed the massacre of his people, the Burgundars, by a combined Roman and Hun army. Included in the death toll were his mother and the man that, until the eve of the battle, he believed was his father. Over the next 20 years, Hagan became a man without a home, traveling across Europe as parts of different armies and mercenary groups, before being sent by the Romans to Geneva, where the last Burgundars had gathered under a new king. While the new king was once Hagan's friend, something about the new position of power has corrupted him, and Hagan must do his best to stay on the king's good side, and thus stay alive.

This book was obviously well researched, and includes some really well-written battle scenes (some of which stretch on for 50+ pages). And it's nice to see historical fiction set in this largely ignored time period. However, there wasn't much depth to the characters, making it hard for me to fully care about them when their lives were on the line in the aforementioned battles. Read it if you want to read battle scenes, but find something else if you want something with a bit more meat.

Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop

 Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum (trans. Shanna Tan), 312 pages

Yeongju is beyond burnt out by her high-pressure job and high-stress life, so she leaves it all behind to create the bookstore of her childhood dreams. Hyunam-Dong Bookshop isn't very flashy, just a simple neighborhood bookstore, with coffee and books to suit the owners tastes. But gradually, many other local residents come and start to find the same peace in the bookshop that Yeongju does.

This is the type of sort-of cozy book with no real plot to speak of. I occasionally found it a little slow and dry, but I also found it pretty relaxing. Virtually every character is dealing with a fairly similar burnout issue, which both allows the author to examine the problem from many angles, but also implies a broader social commentary on the work culture of South Korea. Ultimately this is a relaxed, thoughtful book about what makes up a life well-lived. I'm not sure I would recommend this book for everyone, but I'm sure there are many people who will enjoy it, especially going into the dark and reflective portion of the year.  

Tangled Up in You

Tangled Up in You by Christina Lauren (2024) 309 pages

Ren is 22 years old and has been homeschooled all her life, self-taught while helping take care of her family's farm in Idaho. They are off the grid, with no telephone and no internet. Her parents, who tend to be closed-mouthed, have finally ok'd her going to college in Spokane after she secretly applied and was accepted to Corona College on a full-paid scholarship, including room and board. The catch is that she can't go off campus and she must come home every weekend to catch up on her farm chores. No boys, no booze, no restaurants, no makeup, etc., etc.

On campus, Ren is totally mesmerized, and in spite of her inexperience at modern life, she's doing well. A guy she's met, Fitz, has a requirement to be at the top of each of his classes, but now, in his last semester, Fitz's future is threatened by Ren's top grades in a science class they share. Each member of the class has submitted their DNA as part of the curriculum, and the results have Ren confused. In an improbable moment, she foists herself into Fitz's road trip plans and they take off across the country. If you can accept that the driving times don't match up with reality, and also accept a few other highly unlikely occurrences, then look for a fun-filled story, with a backstory that takes its time to be revealed.

The Murders in Great Diddling

The Murders in Great Diddling by Katarina Bivald (2024) 392 pages

Berit Gardner is a writer with 10 books to her name, but she has been suffering from a lingering case of writer's block. She recently moved from London to the village of Great Diddling, hopeful that being among the quirky residents will help get her writing again.

During a tea party in the village, at the Tawny Hall estate, an explosion kills a man that no one likes, a man who had informed several shopkeepers that they will be evicted. Detective Chief Inspector Ian Ahmed and his team determine that the death was not an accident. Suspects include several of the tea party guests. Berit, the author, and DCI Ahmed share a number of conversations about possible suspects and motives. Berit looks at the murder as if it were a novel, trying to figure out the characters and the plot, how the pieces fit together, and what information is still missing.

The eccentric characters and their interactions are compelling. For many of them, there are tantalizing unknowns in their backstories to keep the reader guessing about their possible guilt. When the villagers decide to host a book and murder festival while the murder investigation is still underway, it is a bit crazy, especially on short notice. Fun story!

Hunted

Hunted by Abir Mukherjee, 382 pages

With just a week to go before a hotly contested presidential election, the whole country is on edge. A suicide bomber at a mall in Los Angeles, specifically a Middle Eastern young woman, makes everything even more precarious, with the ranting right wing candidate spouting more "close the border" and "ban Muslims" talks at his final rallies before election day. FBI agent Shreya Mistry is convinced that more attacks are coming, and is determined to do anything she can to track down the cell responsible for the bombing, even if it means ignoring everything her superiors tell her to do.

There's something very reminiscent of 24 about this book, with a tight timeline, escalating terrorist plots, and conspiracies galore. I appreciated that the points of view managed to encompass people on all sides, including the radicalized young women and men of the cell, the FBI agents, and the parents of the radicalized young adults who are just trying to find their children before it's too late. Were there some things that were completely unbelievable? Absolutely. Was it tough to read right after our own tight presidential election? Definitely. Was it better than I expected anyway? You bet.

The Sky on Fire

The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons, 433 pages

Seventeen years ago, Anahrod was the daughter of the mayor, a potential dragonrider, and had a bright future ahead of her. But then she did something that caused the elder dragons to call for her immediate execution, which her parents didn't hesitate to grant. Miraculously, however, she survived, and those same elder dragons are now calling for her head again. Meanwhile, she's being tracked by a motley crew of kidnappers who have their own reasons for wanting to track her down, and Anahrod's main goal is to survive the kidnappers and the dragons to get back to the life she's been living in exile.

The world created in this book is excellent, and I think there's a lot to explore in the relationships between the dragons and their people. However, I also think the author tried to shove too many plot devices into a single book, which made me feel like I was being dragged around the setting by a feral creature. Really, this could've been two books, if not more. (But props are due to the artist for this amazing cover. Well done!)

Death in the Spires

Death in the Spires by KJ Charles, 272 pages

Almost a decade ago, the murder of gregarious Toby Feynsham tore apart a close-knit group of friends at Oxford. Why? Because one of them did it, but nobody ever was prosecuted for the crime. So when identical notes claiming each surviving friend a murderer arrive at their places of business, one of them, Jem Kite, loses his job due to the notoriety and decides to spend his suddenly free time tracking down not only the letter-writer, but also the murderer.

Told both in "present day" 1905 and flashbacks to the friends' time at Oxford in the 1890s, this historical mystery is complex and compelling, and a look at how privilege plays out in school, life, and even murder investigations. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this one. 

A Deadly Endeavor

A Deadly Endeavor by Jenny Adams, 341 pages

Edie Shippen has just returned to Philadelphia from California, where she was recovering from her bout with the Spanish flu. What should be a happy homecoming is marred, however, by the fact that her former beau is now engaged to Edie's twin sister. In the midst of the engagement celebrations, Edie connects with a new crowd of artistic women, hoping they'll help bring her spirits up. Unfortunately, they keep disappearing, right around the same time some horribly desecrated corpses show up along the river. Soon Edie and a handsome city morgue doctor are teaming up to track down the killer.

I read this book about a week ago, and already, the details are sliding away from me — likely overshadowed by the absolutely bonkers ending. Overall the book was OK, nothing great, though I did enjoy Edie as a character. So there's that?

Thistlefoot

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott, 435 pages

So I first read this book in 2022, and loved it and blogged about it then, particulary noting that I could see using this Baba Yaga story of generational trauma and magical powers for Orcs & Aliens. And whaddaya know, that's just what we did this month! It was a great book discussion, and one of the more even-keeled Baba Yaga tales around.

(Also, I would LOVE to see this author live, as she apparently brings puppets, which is a vital part of the story, to all of her author visits.)

Still Life

Still Life by Louise Penny, 352 pgs.

A quaint town in the Quebecois forest. A group of close, somewhat codependent locals. A murder. What fun!
Chief Inspector Armand Gamache is called to Three Pines, a place not easily found on most maps, to investigate the homicide of Jane Neal, a beloved long-time resident and friend in the community. Her killing shocks those closest to her, but it quickly becomes clear that one of their own is the perpetrator. On the quest to uncover the motive behind this murder, Gamache and his colleagues must leave no stone unturned until more than just one deep secret is out in the open. 

With this mystery, somehow Louise Penny makes literary murder feel so cozy and inviting. Each new character introduced is given a backstory and a quirk. The town itself has its own comforting, maternal characterization. I come back to this series again and again for Inspector Gamache himself--his kindness, the lessons he teaches, the way he observes everything so thoughtfully. The legend he is. I love that Penny has such a clear view of where the series was going, even with this first novel. I highly recommend this book, and its successors, to anyone who likes a good mystery and wants to escape into the forest.

The Mercy of Gods

The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey, 422 pages

On a faraway planet that humans settled generations earlier, a team of biologists is working on ways for the carbon-based cellular life we know to safely evolve with the crystallized life native to the planet. And then aliens attack, killing 1/8 of the human population and herding the rest into transport ships like livestock. Once they reach their destination, the team is forcibly reassembled and given a task of making food out of one type of alien life to nourish a second type, with the now-ruling species threatening extermination if they do not prove themselves useful. But not all is as it seems. The team is threatened by other alien species, and unbeknownst to them, a swarm of alien life is living amongst them, gathering intelligence on the ruling species.

This is a horrible explanation of a fantastic and thought-provoking book. It's not particularly pleasant to read, particularly in the first third or so, but it certainly subverts many "traditional" science fiction tales featuring human intelligence, power, and dominance, and forces the reader to rethink everything we think we know. It's fascinating, and I'm anxious to read what's next in this series. (Also, as someone who's been curious about Corey, but not curious enough to pick up one of the doorstopper books of The Expanse, I'm thrilled that this one is a relatively short 400 pages!)

Family Family

Family Family by Laurie Frankel, 386 pages

India Allwood has always wanted to be a professional actress, and at 32, she's achieved the dream, having starred on Broadway, on a hit TV show, and now, in a new film drama. But when she makes an offhand remark in an interview about how the film's focus on the trauma of adoption isn't good, she suddenly has everyone from studio execs to the social media masses calling for her to be canceled. What those people don't know, however, is that India not only adopted her two children, but she was also a teen mom who chose to place her baby with an adoptive family. As these facts start to become public, India's trying to save her career, protect her complicated family, and be true to her beliefs about the positivity of adoption.

It's so rare to find a book that focuses on the joyful elements of adoption and teen pregnancy, so this one is a breath of fresh air. Yes, there are times that stretch believability, but overall, this is a wonderful book about all the many ways that functional families can be formed. Usually, I'm a fan of dysfunctional family stories, but this one is fully a functional family book, and I'm all in. Highly recommended.

November Totals

I've started my Christmas reading!

 

We're welcoming a new blogger this month!

Annie: 2 books, 685 pages (Welcome Annie!)

Byron: 3 books, 887 pages

Jan: 6 books, 2080 pages

John: 4 books, 2269 pages

Kara: 24 books, 8002 pages

Karen: 4 books, 1101 pages

Regan: 9 books, 2879 pages

Total: 52 books, 17903 pages

The In Crowd

The In Crowd by Charlotte Vassell, 424 pages

DI Caius Beauchamp was just trying to enjoy a bad play after his date stood him up when the next thing he knows, he's sitting next to a dead guy covered in vomit. As he looks into who this guy was and what he was even doing at this horrible drunken production of The Importance of Being Earnest, Caius learns that the dead man was in London looking into a cold case, the disappearance of a teen girl from a remote boarding school. Soon, Caius has taken up the banner and is simultaneously investigating this 15-year-old case as he also looks into the death of a woman pulled out of the Thames.

I feel like that was a horrible description of a book that ties together both of these cases, as well as the snooty upper crust of British society (that bit hinges on a surprisingly likeable milliner) in a compelling way. The twists were good and Vassell hit the sweet spot of letting the reader figure it out just barely before the characters did. This is the second in a series, and stood well on its own, even though I haven't read the first one yet. But I definitely will!

Dark Space

Dark Space by Rob Hart & Alex Segura, 290 pages

Mosaic, the first space ship to leave the solar system, is on its way to a planet where humans can settle, giving space to our ever-growing population as settlements on the moon and Mars are overflowing. However, when something catastrophic goes wrong on the Mosaic, pilot Jose Carriles must try some fairly difficult maneuvers to save the mission. Meanwhile, Jose's estranged friend, former spy Corin Timony, learns of the Mosaic's troubles when a report comes in through the long-range communication she's monitoring. But before she can do anything, the distress signal is wiped clean, indicating that something foul is afoot. Soon, both Jose and Corin are conducting independent investigations to figure out what happened and how to bring everyone home safely.

I have never hate-read a book before, but now I think I can say I have. The best thing about this book is that it's not too long and it reads quickly. Aside from that, there are lots of anachronisms (detailed baseball references and phones with apps) and contradictory details (scarcity of lumber and wood, yet lots of paperwork piled up in offices and people still drinking out of disposable paper cups) and women that were obviously written by men. Perhaps the worst bit is the fact that nepo baby Jose fails up throughout the book, as his female superior officers stand by waiting for him to fix all their problems (including speaking on behalf of all humanity!). The only thing that makes it *slightly* redeemable is that he's a Latino guy failing up, so points to Hart & Segura for that bit of diversity.

Dearest

Dearest by Jacquie Walters, 304 pages

Flora just had a baby and while her dad and stepmom stayed for a few weeks, she's now on her own for a few more weeks until her husband returns from his overseas deployment. But now that she's on her own, the sleep deprivation, nursing challenges, and general feeling that she's woefully unprepared for motherhood have Flora second-guessing everything, including her sanity. In a weak moment, she emails her estranged mother for help, and she's shocked to find her mom on the doorstep offering assistance. But not all is quite as it seems...

The first part of this book — where Flora's sleep deprived and hasn't showered in days and is having trouble getting the hang of the nursing thing and keeps getting surprised by noisy toys — is so horrifyingly real. Then it takes a turn into a different kind of horror, before a final turn to a perplexing conclusion. Somewhere in there, it goes from being scary and sympathetic toward new moms and those with postpartum depression to almost vilifying them, which is uncomfortable in the worst possible way. It icked me out, and not in a way that's horror-novel appropriate. So read at your own risk.

Just Some Stupid Love Story

Just Some Stupid Love Story by Katelyn Doyle (2024) 325 pages

Molly Marks has had some success as a screenwriter for romantic comedies, but she has no trust in love‒it just sells well. Her friends drag her to their 15th high school class reunion, where she encounters Seth Rubenstein, her boyfriend all through high school, until she broke up with him pre-emptively, so that he couldn't break up with her. Seth, meanwhile, although a divorce attorney, still has a belief in true love and "happily ever after."

Molly and Seth place bets on five couples whom they see at the class reunion, wagering on whether the couples will still be together at the 20th reunion. If Seth wins the bet, Molly has to admit that true love is real. The kicker is that one of the couples‒added to the mix by Seth‒is themselves.

Over the next few years, they take turns interacting and avoiding each other. If this book is a rom-com, they'll have to find a way to be together, but it's just not looking good. Their feelings and their dialogue are realistic and nuanced. Interactions with their friends and family add well to the mix. Couldn't put the book down.