tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23938702155523082552024-03-18T19:55:53.395-05:00University City Public Library Book ChallengeWe are competitive library employees who are using this blog for our reading contest against each other and Missouri libraries up to the challenge.UCPL Book Challengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13990987473954959106noreply@blogger.comBlogger9716125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-57604745790733471522024-03-18T19:55:00.001-05:002024-03-18T19:55:14.177-05:00The Last Girl Left<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZphwuY2_eqzGEEPP4vUNyQ3zHKbFy-xftX0qw0Q9-PY0cvZaRy6mMeOk6kq3HGT-WSLEdU8_svdrkKCjwjJPBTj1ezJ_9Z5se78khE0f1ZW6nu2pDz26cNi50R76oa1ZSu6Gw0QbRI95SmVDDPbiDefa-H0UW9bQ_uDbtMJD9bGB1IgS80iWtFx6eKCj/s1000/last%20girl%20left.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="647" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipZphwuY2_eqzGEEPP4vUNyQ3zHKbFy-xftX0qw0Q9-PY0cvZaRy6mMeOk6kq3HGT-WSLEdU8_svdrkKCjwjJPBTj1ezJ_9Z5se78khE0f1ZW6nu2pDz26cNi50R76oa1ZSu6Gw0QbRI95SmVDDPbiDefa-H0UW9bQ_uDbtMJD9bGB1IgS80iWtFx6eKCj/s320/last%20girl%20left.jpg" width="207" /></a></i></div><i>The Last Girl Left</i> by A.M. Strong & Sonya Sargent, 333 pages<p></p><p>Five years ago, Tessa Montgomery was on vacation with three friends on a remote island when they were attacked. Tessa's three friends were murdered, and while she was left for dead, Tessa managed to survive. While the assailant was killed in a shootout afterward, Tessa is still living the nightmare, unable to leave her sister's house and taking a baseball bat everywhere with her. But after Tessa nearly attacks her sister's cat, she realizes she needs to do something drastic to get past this paralyzing fear. So she does the most drastic thing she can and rents the same vacation home where her friends were murdered and she was attacked, determined to stay for a full month. But Tessa hasn't been there long when odd things start happening, setting setting her even more on edge than she was before.</p><p>This wasn't the worst book I've read, but it was far from the best. I had trouble buying Tessa's decision to return to the scene of the crime (and alone and for a whole month), as well as the fact that she thought nobody in the town recognized her when she returned (seriously, there are about 5 residents and nothing else has happened in this town...and she has a giant scar on her face). Honestly, the main reason I didn't stop reading was because I was afraid that a particularly cliched twist was coming (thankfully, it didn't). Doesn't mean it was worth it though.</p>Kara Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936159861456474527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-42687481107596208032024-03-18T19:33:00.004-05:002024-03-18T19:33:43.130-05:00A Love Song for Ricki Wilde<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4O-RrpQi29DncnDHcBgVsGtXroaEulC6qqlQuRqtiHTi_5dIEFK67Uef54O1YS9RbsOdEs3QIFjI27s5KeR9Bm-5juv_WoYoXC7Lo1kM0ekjIUFvuLrBR0EqvsxWC-XI8kwlj9hQmsYCvjZUSXmIPOp3KFskqNmmCYnNfJbkMzL-vfScwg1oMRFcAsFG/s466/a%20love%20song%20for%20ricki%20wilde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd4O-RrpQi29DncnDHcBgVsGtXroaEulC6qqlQuRqtiHTi_5dIEFK67Uef54O1YS9RbsOdEs3QIFjI27s5KeR9Bm-5juv_WoYoXC7Lo1kM0ekjIUFvuLrBR0EqvsxWC-XI8kwlj9hQmsYCvjZUSXmIPOp3KFskqNmmCYnNfJbkMzL-vfScwg1oMRFcAsFG/s320/a%20love%20song%20for%20ricki%20wilde.jpg" width="212" /></a></i></div><i>A Love Song for Ricki Wilde</i> by Tia Williams, 342 pages<p></p><p>Ricki Wilde is the youngest of four sisters, the daughters of a business tycoon. Her sisters are all successful with wealthy husbands and designer clothes, while Ricki has a love for vintage clothing and floral arranging. When she announces her decision to open up her own floral shop, Ricki's parents all but disown her and it's only by the grace of a kind 96-year-old woman that Ricki is able to establish a business in Harlem. However, once she moves to Harlem, Ricki begins repeatedly encountering a mysterious stranger with whom she has immediate chemistry, despite his old-fashioned ways.</p><p>I'll admit that's an odd way to describe a romance novel, but this is definitely romance, as it's spicy and focused on the developing relationship between Ricki and Breeze. I don't want to spoil anything, but I'll note that there's a pretty critical fantasy element to this book too, so if you want you romance novels to be believable (or as believable as romance novels ever get), this might not be the right book for you. However, I thought this was fantastic, and I'll definitely be reading more of Tia Williams in the future (her <i>Seven Days in June</i> was also exquisite). Recommended for fans of Casey McQuiston's <i>One Last Stop</i>, and anyone with a love for vintage clothes and the Harlem Renaissance.</p>Kara Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936159861456474527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-71704942843645945942024-03-17T14:41:00.000-05:002024-03-17T14:41:19.998-05:00How To Change<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gsOgZjwN1Dx9BfWsfdTmd09PwKvJJEDHCA_dkwCQFuKsCfDRGC15TO7_XQuMtJVP-6fd_jcurVMJvGld1Tpj2EiV98Ir-gDphJpfwDeynZ91-mqJTPjWFU-Gm7O-yhHaAfwTfjKTGGqQE9_SmxM1F7BElVUxRSwrzVu-O2KO_LwqE8CyGp8bOHb48OIn/s1934/content.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1934" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gsOgZjwN1Dx9BfWsfdTmd09PwKvJJEDHCA_dkwCQFuKsCfDRGC15TO7_XQuMtJVP-6fd_jcurVMJvGld1Tpj2EiV98Ir-gDphJpfwDeynZ91-mqJTPjWFU-Gm7O-yhHaAfwTfjKTGGqQE9_SmxM1F7BElVUxRSwrzVu-O2KO_LwqE8CyGp8bOHb48OIn/s320/content.png" width="212" /></a></i></div><i>How To Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be </i>by Katy Milkman 2021 (249 pages)<p></p><p>Katy Milkman, an economist/engineer/behavioral scientist, works with a huge team of people worldwide who are trained in varying sciences: economics, medicine, law, psychology, neuroscience, computer science, etc. This book is a fascinating reference on how to make changes in our lives, from saving more for retirement to establishing better fitness habits and more. Milkman has written up the results of their research in a very user-friendly way. The book is filled with great tips based on the research they have performed while working with large companies to help nudge their employees to make better choices.</p><p>In the book, I learned that Milkman also hosts a podcast called <i>Choiceology</i>. I listened to an episode that deals with "sludge," a way that companies make it hard to navigate to get to your goals. For example, while companies make it quite easy to make a purchase, they can make it difficult to cancel purchases or close accounts. Milkman and her guests gave information on how to handle these types of situations.</p><p>I wholeheartedly recommend reading and/or listening to Milkman.</p><p><br /></p>Jan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05966654131969578815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-45108386695954572182024-03-16T16:15:00.006-05:002024-03-16T16:15:43.995-05:00Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtuJZJjnQ0ePDPfYsjea7ftLOhaqHASMkNi28TqO379Fi1JfFJhPUnA3Utm1x6btcW6D2MsJew9C6jyihsBaf_Zh59QCg3eY-PkZ7HvVDsEOmbCJSUl4-rmoIuLyzp03XowWtBzLxX60Ld_dECdwknXwevHis8JLbUmepO3XyG8F8Uh39hBbfE3Df1nM/s1500/81hAu+UcICL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="967" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEtuJZJjnQ0ePDPfYsjea7ftLOhaqHASMkNi28TqO379Fi1JfFJhPUnA3Utm1x6btcW6D2MsJew9C6jyihsBaf_Zh59QCg3eY-PkZ7HvVDsEOmbCJSUl4-rmoIuLyzp03XowWtBzLxX60Ld_dECdwknXwevHis8JLbUmepO3XyG8F8Uh39hBbfE3Df1nM/s320/81hAu+UcICL._SL1500_.jpg" width="206" /></a></div><br /><b><i>Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant</i> by Curtis Chin 291 pp.</b><p></p><p>This memoir is exactly what the title says. Curtis Chin was one of many children in a family that ran one of the best Chinese restaurants in Detroit's old Chinatown His father was the son of Chinese immigrants. His mother was a Chinese bride who came from Hong Kong to marry at the age of 17. Curtis navigates the not always easy mix of Chinese and American cultures while growing up. Along the way he realizes he is also gay and that adds more pressure to the mix. In spite of his efforts to break free from his often stifling family, his strong connections remain through high school and college at the University of Michigan. This is a very introspective book. You won't find an abundance of action. Just a gay kid trying to navigate his life and make it to adulthood on the hard streets of Detroit, cushioned by a strong family connections and chapters named like menu items. It wasn't what I was expecting, not that I know what that was, but it served the author's purpose. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-83416945911811835542024-03-14T09:32:00.002-05:002024-03-14T09:32:05.233-05:00The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoH60dhMVIS1VKPdAkhX0Y3eKQ9jEYmfJWDB8k8c6vuy0Fh4_EvJO4xBGRYOVxNP-LSitG1y6pc1P_4sZU01CCWJsqUkBynnEi_FlC5ErnmNYplJzmG-CUQuhvfdQTdIkDQcEBuSKAyZLwEnMO8uaD4mN_TF8dVZA80vQXjslpnYg-qXrwFaHDrDPxs34/s466/hazelbourne%20ladies%20motorcycle%20and%20flying%20club.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="311" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHoH60dhMVIS1VKPdAkhX0Y3eKQ9jEYmfJWDB8k8c6vuy0Fh4_EvJO4xBGRYOVxNP-LSitG1y6pc1P_4sZU01CCWJsqUkBynnEi_FlC5ErnmNYplJzmG-CUQuhvfdQTdIkDQcEBuSKAyZLwEnMO8uaD4mN_TF8dVZA80vQXjslpnYg-qXrwFaHDrDPxs34/s320/hazelbourne%20ladies%20motorcycle%20and%20flying%20club.jpg" width="214" /></a></i></div><i>The Hazelbourne Ladies Motorcycle and Flying Club</i> by Helen Simonson, 432 pages<p></p><p>During the Great War, Constance managed the accounts and staff at a large estate in Surrey, but when the war ended and soldiers began returning home, she found herself brutally shifted into a position caring for Mrs. Fog, the elderly mother of the estate's mistress, as she recovered from influenza. It's in the capacity of this continued convalescence that Constance finds herself at a grand hotel in the seaside town of Hazelbourne, and, oddly enough, making friends with a group of women who turned their wartime motorcycle delivery skills into a quirky taxi service. But with more and more men coming back from the front, it's harder and harder for the women to maintain their jobs — or find new ones, as Constance learns as she prepares to leave Mrs. Fog.</p><p>This is an interesting, and generally lighthearted, look at the way women's lives changed after WWI, albeit in a very small slice of Britain. While I'm sure there will be gobs of fans of this book for that very reason, it wasn't really my cup of tea and there were a few elements of the last few chapters that felt out of sync with the rest of the book. Still, I'd recommend it for fans of historical fiction featuring women with moxie.</p><p><i>*This book will be published May 7, 2024.</i></p>Kara Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936159861456474527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-74599590749444716302024-03-12T16:40:00.000-05:002024-03-12T16:40:08.103-05:00Lex Talionis<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396305703i/21806455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="471" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396305703i/21806455.jpg" width="216" /></a></div><br /> <u>Lex Talionis</u> by R.S.A. Garcia (2014) 354 pages<p></p><p>I read a science-fiction short story by R.S.A. Garcia that I liked well enough to seek out a full-length novel written by her. Lex Talionis is a fairly common title. It means Law of Revenge. This Lex Talionis is sci-fi noir. There are quite a few characters to keep track of, and the story leaps between locations and times. It is not impossible to follow, but it is challenging. The structure of the story doesn't always make sense, but it maintains a veil of mystery. Our main character is a genetically enhanced teenager. We meet her as she recovers in a hospital from major physical and mental abuse. She does not remember who she is, nor any of her background. She chooses to go by the name Lex until she recovers her memories. A doctor questionably falls in love with her, cops unenthusiastically begin investigating, and a strange alien creature shows up who is telepathically linked with her. There are flashbacks and flashforwards as the mystery of Lex is gradually revealed to the reader. The desert planet where she was raised brought to mind clips from the trailers of the new <u>Dune</u> movies. The hierarchical military culture is heavily based on revenge. The tv show <u>Firefly</u> also sprung to mind at times, although the show's humor was not present here. When we reach the point where we find out what led to her hospital stay, the sexual abuse is graphic and could be <i><b>triggering</b></i>. A tale of revenge can be satisfying, but only leads to more violence, and the end leaves a few mysteries unanswered.</p>byronbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12609799091013078866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-65677237650418214222024-03-12T14:09:00.002-05:002024-03-12T14:09:40.822-05:00The Half Moon<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQTZAZz_M5vvrQWdAi6oxV4sQ6bZKEpBKZmz4Dw872zVtHBn4-gPIGM_LfMhYc4L5xnMwe3NkDKbnnl471-kzcuiTcB_1hzREMm-ud-p1BHpFjd1klE6VmfinsCOda2Nzr4w8jXqX6L9u01KjvtkkjZJBmawxALHRSTtFkdkIV6ndPuOCnufCYGGRqr7y/s2113/60913577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2113" data-original-width="1400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQTZAZz_M5vvrQWdAi6oxV4sQ6bZKEpBKZmz4Dw872zVtHBn4-gPIGM_LfMhYc4L5xnMwe3NkDKbnnl471-kzcuiTcB_1hzREMm-ud-p1BHpFjd1klE6VmfinsCOda2Nzr4w8jXqX6L9u01KjvtkkjZJBmawxALHRSTtFkdkIV6ndPuOCnufCYGGRqr7y/s320/60913577.jpg" width="212" /></a></i></div><i>The Half Moon </i>by Mary Beth Keane (2023) 293 pages<p></p><p>Malcolm and Jess have been married for 15 years. Their wedding was rushed because Jess became pregnant, but then she miscarried. The irony is that when they were ready to plan their family, it didn't happen, and it was only after years of fertility treatments that they reluctantly decided to stop trying. It was at that point that Malcolm was offered the opportunity to buy the bar he'd been working at for years, and he jumped at the chance to buy the rundown place, hoping to fix it up if/when funds became available. But between paying the former bar owner and repaying Jess's college and law school school loans, money was never easy; their savings had been depleted by the fertility treatments. </p><p>With this as the set-up, the story starts with Malcolm living alone because Jess had moved out 4 months ago, and he has not heard from her. There is a huge snowstorm coming, he learns from good friends that Jess is back in town, but dating another man (a man who has three small children, a ready-made family), and there's a fight in his bar. Oh, and the former owner of the bar keeps sending out a goon to collect payments from Malcolm whenever Malcom's late to pay, which is frequent these days.</p><p>It's bleak. I wanted to stop reading, but there was something that kept me going. When the point of view switched to Jess's, a whole new dimension opened. The author wove in the reminder that there's always more than one way to look at a relationship. A few other sidebar issues become larger and add to the story. I felt rewarded for having stuck out the bleak portion of the novel.</p><p> </p>Jan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05966654131969578815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-87489612556098633672024-03-12T12:32:00.003-05:002024-03-12T12:32:53.602-05:00You Should Be So Lucky<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkA4EdIdViA2p-kIL29AQlSLzaQiXsaHPs7uTnZRTR_-wkWvuO1C7jkbFWJm4WUIqs5FrRTNCAuUBSCw-OX14gllkI1qRW0l97sTM15JakhXJqsB-DLnk5UJP_0Tg1UuST02TCmkQp_gQHaNCqCtXDx5so4KXZ_YemyYxXDJN7uurX9RxYLWyel5DCo13/s466/you%20should%20be%20so%20lucky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="305" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkkA4EdIdViA2p-kIL29AQlSLzaQiXsaHPs7uTnZRTR_-wkWvuO1C7jkbFWJm4WUIqs5FrRTNCAuUBSCw-OX14gllkI1qRW0l97sTM15JakhXJqsB-DLnk5UJP_0Tg1UuST02TCmkQp_gQHaNCqCtXDx5so4KXZ_YemyYxXDJN7uurX9RxYLWyel5DCo13/s320/you%20should%20be%20so%20lucky.jpg" width="209" /></a></i></div><i>You Should be So Lucky</i> by Cat Sebastian, 400 pages<p></p><p>When he learned on national TV that he was being traded to a struggling expansion team in New York, shortstop Eddie O'Leary let his emotions get the better of him and said some harsh things about his new team. So when the 1960 baseball season started, Eddie found himself getting the cold shoulder from the whole team, something that didn't help his loneliness in a new city or his batting average, as he hit the worst slump of his short career. Meanwhile, journalist Mark Bailey has been in a bit of a slump himself, as he's spent the last 18 months grieving the death of his longtime boyfriend, a lawyer whose political ambitions forced him to keep his relationship with Mark in the closet. But when Mark's editor assigns him to write a series of human interest stories about Eddie, they see something in each other that helps bring a bit more spark into both their lives.</p><p>This is a slow-burn romance novel that manages to portray grief and loneliness with care and kindness, and shows how the blossoming relationship helps (but doesn't 100% solve the problem). Also, I appreciated how Sebastian let the relationship flourish while still making it believable for the time in which the story is set. Too often, historical queer romances seem to ignore the social restrictions (or wave them off), which makes the premise hard to buy into, and given the stigma against LGBT professional athletes in the 1960s (and sadly, still today), a grand "hey, this is my boyfriend!" announcement would've pushed it into impossibility. But Sebastian is able to give Eddie and Mark their happily-ever-after in a way that seems very real and relatable. I totally loved this book and recommend it to anyone who enjoys slow-burn romances.</p><p><i>*This book will be published May 7, 2024</i>.</p>Kara Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936159861456474527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-27370465071719264762024-03-09T09:14:00.000-06:002024-03-09T09:14:13.874-06:00The Museum of Ordinary People<p><i> The Museum of Ordinary People </i>by Mike Gayle (2023) 324 pages</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM14hAAwctUOveqktGrkNuajlYDgxyfWT2woad19EXS85Gz3d8yIfM2qb2DTCfMVygKK4WIIw-rWyLuercg6PgWS-x3ilu1KMj9V4_Ggkh5eLhTzoVuVN00-hMP8SUFH2CrGYDdvC-Hs90SdoQteOw6Y8JxUuM77_OzA_v6S1Vndv1DCNlIxi0ETPRPyz/s1932/content%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1932" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigM14hAAwctUOveqktGrkNuajlYDgxyfWT2woad19EXS85Gz3d8yIfM2qb2DTCfMVygKK4WIIw-rWyLuercg6PgWS-x3ilu1KMj9V4_Ggkh5eLhTzoVuVN00-hMP8SUFH2CrGYDdvC-Hs90SdoQteOw6Y8JxUuM77_OzA_v6S1Vndv1DCNlIxi0ETPRPyz/s320/content%20(1).jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Jess Baxter is a low-earning receptionist instead of the museum curator that she studied to be at college. She's been living with Guy, and it's clear that she's been bending to his life. After her mother died a year ago, we see via flashbacks the difficulty she had in going through her mother's house, clearing it out. She brought very little back to the apartment she shared with Guy because she knew that it wouldn't fit with his decor. She did, however, bring an old secondhand set of encyclopedias that her mother gave her at age 11, which represented her mother's wish for her future. When Guy decides to sell their apartment to buy a house, he wants the encyclopedias removed so that the apartment looks better for viewing.<p></p><p>Jess is ready to throw out the encyclopedias, when her best friend Luce discovers a Museum of Ordinary People that will take things like this and give them a home. When Jess brings the encyclopedias to the warehouse that the museum resides in, she meets the new owner, Alex, who just inherited the warehouse. Alex is not even aware of the museum's existence. Two employees that Alex also "inherited" show Alex and Jess the museum, and Jess finds herself completely drawn to it. She offers to transform the dusty warehouse spot into a better, more curated museum, and Alex gives her a chance to do it.</p><p>The story is quite good until later, when rather more conflict than I thought necessary was inserted. But by the end, I was again a fan.</p>Jan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05966654131969578815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-46368253225148175622024-03-09T08:42:00.000-06:002024-03-09T08:42:48.234-06:00The Guncle<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx3bZPDBPlXMN26g0JnqMUQqd4BhmVpyH-0yzJVRwrL74HVI6Z6FJcEoduq6ZbeIw0-456m2BavfKrYA0mU8KTzCDrhe2D4Y-GS9ELz2xr58_u2s2xizWKs251fpsboR7cIHaAmZxAxOP3wq6xX_4mAQjPQHPw79P1xvqnYwmNgxnrh4SLpw5aOfLbg9d/s1920/content.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYx3bZPDBPlXMN26g0JnqMUQqd4BhmVpyH-0yzJVRwrL74HVI6Z6FJcEoduq6ZbeIw0-456m2BavfKrYA0mU8KTzCDrhe2D4Y-GS9ELz2xr58_u2s2xizWKs251fpsboR7cIHaAmZxAxOP3wq6xX_4mAQjPQHPw79P1xvqnYwmNgxnrh4SLpw5aOfLbg9d/s320/content.jpg" width="213" /></a></i></div><i>The Guncle</i> by Steven Rowley (2021) 324 pages<p></p><p>Patrick, a gay man who'd been a well-known actor, is asked to care for his young niece and nephew after their mother's death. Their father, Patrick's brother, is going into a 3-month-long rehab program for substance abuse that he fell into while his wife was dying of cancer. Patrick lives in Palm Springs where he moved after he couldn't find joy in acting any longer, after his partner died in a car accident. However, you'd never know the world of hurt residing in Patrick: his interactions with the children are quite entertaining. But he's also very cognizant that the children need to grieve for their mother.</p><p>I loved this story ‒ reading it was almost like watching a movie because the descriptions and dialogue are so well done. (And sure enough, I found out that a movie is in the works for this book.)</p>Jan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05966654131969578815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-25673960123014280512024-03-08T17:58:00.002-06:002024-03-09T08:46:42.413-06:00The Fake Mate<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFkHJGJITmzGPevbtdKKFxu9Rx-AAUKUil3Pe0aIogwQacDtVFfDz9BWy-f-x6HeIgB3tDrshJrNa9usNuxxkvipPMZ9_XftQNBID-W3y7zMq5_qQzB6a5kkgqJKlSh3LTT6F7x72pub5G9hONt6rKwioPdz0JU51r2udZcMUXSC4IaVAyZTGfrgTD3sn/s1973/fm.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1973" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSFkHJGJITmzGPevbtdKKFxu9Rx-AAUKUil3Pe0aIogwQacDtVFfDz9BWy-f-x6HeIgB3tDrshJrNa9usNuxxkvipPMZ9_XftQNBID-W3y7zMq5_qQzB6a5kkgqJKlSh3LTT6F7x72pub5G9hONt6rKwioPdz0JU51r2udZcMUXSC4IaVAyZTGfrgTD3sn/s320/fm.jpg" width="208" /></a></i></div><i>The Fake Mate</i> by Lana Ferguson (2023) 367 pages<p></p><p>Medical doctors ‒ Mackenzie, a sparkly Emergency Room doctor, and Noah, who's a highly touted, but taciturn cardiac surgeon ‒ start a fake relationship for different reasons. Mackenzie wants to have her grandmother stop worrying that she's single. Noah needs to assuage the hospital's concern that he is an "alpha," a type of "shifter" that is in some cases a concern for safety. An "alpha" who is mated, though, is considered to be less volatile. </p><p>Yes, shifting is going on in this story, which is somewhat fascinating, especially if you're curious as to what shifting means with regard to sexual activity.</p><p>These two very different characters work to keep their charade believable. The reader eventually learns more about what it means to be a shifter (alpha or omega), and what it means to be mated, which is different from merely having a sexual relationship. A fast and weird read.</p>Jan Vhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05966654131969578815noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-52518938014783553102024-03-08T10:34:00.004-06:002024-03-08T10:34:51.184-06:00Living with Music<p> Living with Music: Ralph Ellison's Jazz Writings, Edited by Robert O' Meally, 336 pgs. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5pGr7tE4pIRHdOmoMKYyWVdrM2WiPnFBkWOhBSWGTHJlVQ1WMluqIv1cM7svMwjy6TCjAVrFOWUViwnIIb6jPXiEVeMDQ2So_jZRAXrL8yqd--J1ss3KRPBGTiQqHY_dvpQJ7Jkbj9CPyKzbMr8Dfah1WO-Of9gvZpJmdDogKH7oymNwnQ5KJSFPR4Qo" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="647" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5pGr7tE4pIRHdOmoMKYyWVdrM2WiPnFBkWOhBSWGTHJlVQ1WMluqIv1cM7svMwjy6TCjAVrFOWUViwnIIb6jPXiEVeMDQ2So_jZRAXrL8yqd--J1ss3KRPBGTiQqHY_dvpQJ7Jkbj9CPyKzbMr8Dfah1WO-Of9gvZpJmdDogKH7oymNwnQ5KJSFPR4Qo=w258-h400" width="258" /></a></div><br /><span> </span>This was the second book in our Rhythm N' Books music book club. One of my favorite works by Ellison, and probably his most well known, is Invisible Man, which is a classic piece of African-American fiction and highly recommended reading. Ellison's prose is, as always, equal parts erudite and eloquent and no less so here. In Living with Music, the editor compiled a terse collection of 'some' of Ellison's writing related to music. I say 'some' because as a reader you might think this is a collection of jazz criticism or music analyses from Ellison ( as I was led to believe). But there are only a few essays which fit that description. <p></p><p><span> </span>The first half of the book starts out with jazz criticism--his essays about Charlie Christian and Charlie Parker are illuminating and useful in sussing out some of the major changes that were taking place in jazz at the time. For the remainder of the book, the editor pulls excerpts from interviews with the author and music-related passages from some of his major works. That said, this collection, while useful in providing biographical touchstones for the author, seems like a title in search of a collection. However, there are some great insights into one of America's greatest authors. Ellison was named after Ralph Waldo Emerson and in many of the former's essays, you get a sense of American transcendentalism merging with the African American experience. I was surprised to learn about Ellison's negative perceptions of bebop, which took over the more traditional, danceable blues and jazz forms popular in the day. In fact, he despised it. Bebop at the time shook the music world because it was so different, but would go on to take it's rightful place in the canon. It reminded me of Nina Simone, who had similar opinions towards hip-hop as it was beginning to emerge as a popular genre. Both, geniuses in their right, would be wrong about the direction of the future of music. But this collection serves as an illuminating appendix to the work of a literary master and music lover who believed jazz belonged to everyone. </p>Kevin Korinekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00171734675393194126noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-35485845360781804802024-03-08T09:53:00.004-06:002024-03-08T09:53:58.339-06:00The Heiress<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGkny9NmybbWYgccvwnJ0kRzkOc1rZY6TmhKfEKSoEiBkJNeCh_mVxNVQVcuKAy1nVUZBIKC8Xa1xAeNiP1yZUXZy_v30Y-Z-TmwPccpUPvToYHuVNbFjjduGXkAoMr5zCzJjeUWHzfs1fTKyEqgKbu1bo57uy6j35rDkSDTyCWTjJR6gbUZVlgfLL2ge/s500/the%20heiress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="328" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGkny9NmybbWYgccvwnJ0kRzkOc1rZY6TmhKfEKSoEiBkJNeCh_mVxNVQVcuKAy1nVUZBIKC8Xa1xAeNiP1yZUXZy_v30Y-Z-TmwPccpUPvToYHuVNbFjjduGXkAoMr5zCzJjeUWHzfs1fTKyEqgKbu1bo57uy6j35rDkSDTyCWTjJR6gbUZVlgfLL2ge/s320/the%20heiress.jpg" width="210" /></a></i></div><i>The Heiress</i> by Rachel Hawkins, 294 pages<p></p><p>When she was 3, Ruby McTavish, the daughter of the wealthiest family in North Carolina, disappeared in the woods outside her palatial home, Ashby House. Decades later, after four husbands died suspiciously early, Ruby herself has died, leaving Ashby House and her entire fortune to her adopted son, Camden. Naturally, Ruby's sister, Nelle, and Nelle's descendants aren't too excited about that, but until they manage to drag Camden back to North Carolina a decade after Ruby's death, there's not much they can do besides spew vitriol and shoot evil glares in his direction.</p><p>This book has all the elements of a gothic thriller with boatloads of secrets in a foreboding house and jealous snobbery galore. However, the execution just isn't there. The twists were predictable, and I never felt the adrenaline pumping or any innate sense of suspense. This could've been better.</p>Kara Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936159861456474527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-69340643732193532942024-03-07T14:46:00.001-06:002024-03-07T14:48:09.173-06:00Linked<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SyNnwZHDe-6YtkB4O5g_vxWt704VCgifSWVtbomo_UvawmroLqVbgf_KUmVqtgriXtql1cOxerCxFSl_SMgO3NDVkhMdF46c28VV9xswo2azUU8_uoYop5G-onf-IoL1muzPhlq1lboryhvRrQwC21cjQWhAVjPmr_ZHZOs3L2g_NjwT9Th6uXypgI4/s466/916JVe-4LgL._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="307" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SyNnwZHDe-6YtkB4O5g_vxWt704VCgifSWVtbomo_UvawmroLqVbgf_KUmVqtgriXtql1cOxerCxFSl_SMgO3NDVkhMdF46c28VV9xswo2azUU8_uoYop5G-onf-IoL1muzPhlq1lboryhvRrQwC21cjQWhAVjPmr_ZHZOs3L2g_NjwT9Th6uXypgI4/s320/916JVe-4LgL._SY466_.jpg" width="211" /></a></i></div><i><br /> </i><b><i>Linked</i> by Gordon Korman 246 pp.</b><p></p><p>This was the last book for the Treehouse Book Club. I think this is an excellent story about middle schoolers learning about racism and intolerance first hand when swastikas begin appearing in their school. The vandalism also brings to light an incident in the town's history that many want to keep quiet. The kids step up to combat the problem by coming together in a project to tangibly show how large 6,000,000 (the number of Jews who died in the Holocaust) is by making paper chains with that many links. With the help of the town and people across the company and the world they reach their goal. When Link, the most popular kid in 7th grade and a known trouble maker learns he is of Jewish ancestry, it changes his life. Eventually the perpetrators of the vandalism are found with shocking results. The story is told from the points of view of several of the seventh grade students. A worthy read.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-9269099734589380652024-03-07T10:30:00.003-06:002024-03-07T10:30:33.657-06:00You Sexy Thing<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApaGuarRjOfQxD613Ja52WsTapM312DqIYeGIqKPS1IqU6nJsYwaWmflM4KwQaOgz_CjPuprGklyt0LmAco7V5bBzDqemhtqjHFXmtbcHHL4eX6UN_snO0BsCrz42YlO3hNzH7tEypBwKJ1aFgQtNWmx9RnDfnuNs4l45RNBZcn1gvCyguHwnO4J16jHz/s1000/you%20sexy%20thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="662" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApaGuarRjOfQxD613Ja52WsTapM312DqIYeGIqKPS1IqU6nJsYwaWmflM4KwQaOgz_CjPuprGklyt0LmAco7V5bBzDqemhtqjHFXmtbcHHL4eX6UN_snO0BsCrz42YlO3hNzH7tEypBwKJ1aFgQtNWmx9RnDfnuNs4l45RNBZcn1gvCyguHwnO4J16jHz/s320/you%20sexy%20thing.jpg" width="212" /></a></i></div><i>You Sexy Thing</i> by Cat Rambo, 292 pages<p></p><p>A few years ago, Niko achieved the near-impossible and exited the Holy Hive Mind military force without dying or having her brain absorbed into the hive. How'd she do it? She claimed artistic need (which is a recognized exception), and with the help of her crew, left to build the Last Chance, a gourmet restaurant on a distant space station. When an attack on the space station leaves Niko and her crew fleeing on a sentient spaceship (the titular <i>You Sexy Thing</i>, in fact) with a renowned restaurant critic in tow, they find themselves pulled into a complex revenge plot created by an old enemy.</p><p>I love a good space opera, and this book has all of the elements to create one: a diverse and quirky crew of aliens, a sentient spaceship that thinks its being stolen, a fight against an evil space pirate king (yes, really), and a captain with a desire to right a long-festering wrong. There were times when the plot seemed a bit rushed, as well as places where it seemed slow, and the omniscient point of view was a bit jarring at times. But all in all it was a fun book, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the Orcs & Aliens think of it on Monday.</p><p>(Also, if you can read this book without getting the song stuck in your head, you have a stronger mind than mine.)</p>Kara Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936159861456474527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-90844872087782697882024-03-04T14:44:00.001-06:002024-03-04T14:44:42.389-06:00The Book of Love<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vJPuldYMKVvdcszhQkyLZW6uiaVKoG3uqtbo0FiRci2j_YNQ1mYO8q1SbIdi2H1C83_5G_w9xA14gzieYQUFkOAgltzRAtIixpJjdiXO-1Slpk89UYeY0H6dUEfmICY35rz9rgD_svkxWaUokOeWewOjTClhY66mesmCcLTPJiMndO0h4UWtGHRlm89Y/s1000/book%20of%20love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="665" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7vJPuldYMKVvdcszhQkyLZW6uiaVKoG3uqtbo0FiRci2j_YNQ1mYO8q1SbIdi2H1C83_5G_w9xA14gzieYQUFkOAgltzRAtIixpJjdiXO-1Slpk89UYeY0H6dUEfmICY35rz9rgD_svkxWaUokOeWewOjTClhY66mesmCcLTPJiMndO0h4UWtGHRlm89Y/s320/book%20of%20love.jpg" width="213" /></a></i></div><i>The Book of Love</i> by Kelly Link, 628 pages<p></p><p>Almost a year after they went missing, teens Daniel, Laura, and Mo turn up in the classroom of their music teacher, Mr. Anabin, with a person none of them know, Bowie. They weren't just missing — they died, and everyone they loved grieved for their loss — but now they're magically back and Mr. Anabin (who is not at all the nerdy teacher he seems) uses his supernatural skills to retcon the entire community into believing that the trio was in Ireland on a music fellowship. Now that they've returned, however, Daniel, Laura, and Mo find themselves intrinsically intertwined with Anabin, a magical shapeshifting creature named Bogomil, and a tempestuous diva named Malo Mogge, all while fighting to stay among the living.</p><p>Any description of this book is going to pale in comparison to the complex web of guilt, magic, grief, death, love, and music that Link has woven in her first novel. The characters are compelling, the magical system confusing (but in the best possible way), and the motives of everyone uncertain in a way that propels the plot through all 600+ pages. I absolutely loved this book, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it on awards shortlists later this year.</p>Kara Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936159861456474527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-90929764156592071072024-03-04T14:34:00.005-06:002024-03-04T14:34:42.391-06:00February totals<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pkpMyqEMOaXW_2SnV4HKK0h50L1PJ-66gWsIaQQ-T3QRjao-uWvreqVPM02ajUMP1xcpp5cLqh4PdBM_TcvEMV86lzl2ZswmY8D822miK-Yr-ywbW8wMekbUMDhJbV8JVQG5xkCvpYR6IRx080Qz1KavUB_3FeD0jnHiMOuZQsWPJj8vSArq75yEMQkr/s268/leap%20day%20reading.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="188" data-original-width="268" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pkpMyqEMOaXW_2SnV4HKK0h50L1PJ-66gWsIaQQ-T3QRjao-uWvreqVPM02ajUMP1xcpp5cLqh4PdBM_TcvEMV86lzl2ZswmY8D822miK-Yr-ywbW8wMekbUMDhJbV8JVQG5xkCvpYR6IRx080Qz1KavUB_3FeD0jnHiMOuZQsWPJj8vSArq75yEMQkr/w400-h281/leap%20day%20reading.png" width="400" /></a></div>According to the stats, we obviously spent our Leap Day reading.<p></p><p>Byron: 2 books/629 pages</p><p>Jan: 4 books/1063 pages</p><p>John: 2 books/548 pages</p><p>Kara: 15 books/4475 pages</p><p>Karen: 6 books/2263 pages</p><p>Regan: 12 books/3684 pages</p><p>TOTAL: 41 books/12,662 pages</p>Kara Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936159861456474527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-82586362255110492502024-02-29T20:54:00.004-06:002024-02-29T20:54:53.561-06:00Black Birds in the Sky<p><i> Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre </i>by Brandy Colbert, 224 pages.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618407172i/56554639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1618407172i/56554639.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>This work of young adult nonfiction is about the Tulsa Race Massacre, but it also more broadly covers the history of racism in America, especially in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Being a young adult book, the writing is simple, and breaks the history up into quick to read and easy to understand chunks. It also handles very dark subject matter in a way that neither sensationalizes its darkness nor softens it for the younger audience. My only real complaint is that it sometimes felt a little unfocused and meandering. However, despite feeling a little disorganized, the book gives lots of context on it's subject matter, and is very thorough. Contextual topics that get a lot of focus include lynching, Jim Crow laws, and race riots. Colbert also spends the last chapter discussing the legacy of the Tulsa Race Massacre, both in terms of popular culture and academic representations and in terms of how Oklahoma has dealt with this legacy in the present day. Overall I would say this is a very good book for young people about a long hidden tragedy.<br /><p><br /></p>Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13400761704914324601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-36791400821500043422024-02-29T20:35:00.007-06:002024-02-29T20:35:57.581-06:00Shubeik Lubeik<p><i> Shubeik Lubeik</i> by Deena Mohamed, 528 pages.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1650494137i/60465407.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="544" height="320" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1650494137i/60465407.jpg" width="218" /></a></div><p>This Egyptian graphic novel takes place in a version of Earth where wishes are a real resource that can be mined, sold, processed, and regulated. Shokry has three first class wishes, inherited from his father, for sale at his little market stall. First class wishes are the kind of wish that can change the world (and carry less danger than lower class wishes), but Shokry cannot use them himself because of his religious convictions, and no one wants to buy them because a shop like his is not the kind of place where someone expects to get genuine first class wishes. The story follows Aziza, Nour, and ultimately Shokry himself as they are driven by pain and grief to find the right way to use these wishes.</p><p>This was a really excellent graphic novel. The characters were complex and engrossing, and I was completely captured by the story (I ended up reading the whole thing in one sitting even when I really should have gone to bed). It also felt like a story that was really strengthened by the medium it was in. I felt that Mohamed's art really helped capture the emotional weight of the story, and the fact that it wasn't all text kept it stark and efficient. I would highly recommend this book, as does <a href="https://ucplbookchallenge.blogspot.com/2023/12/shubeik-lubeik.html">Kara</a>!<br /></p><p><br /></p>Reganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13400761704914324601noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-48666556749167990372024-02-29T10:34:00.000-06:002024-02-29T10:34:21.880-06:00Cold Storage<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563753252i/43229556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="200" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563753252i/43229556.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><u>Cold Storage</u> by David Koepp (2019) 308 pages<p></p><p>I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla narrated by Chris Messina. This is a book I do not recommend. Perhaps if you have read every book by Michael Crichton and are desperate for another bioterror thriller this will fill your need. When I heard about this back in 2019 I had just read Crichton's <u>The Andromeda Strain</u> and its sequel <u>The Andromeda Evolution</u> by Daniel H. Wilson. Koepp has had a long career as a screenwriter, including often adapting books for Spielberg movies. In fact, Koepp adapted <u>Jurassic Park</u> and <u>The Lost World</u>. This is his first novel. I had high expectations that were not met. The first hour of the audiobook, which takes place back in the late 1980s felt the most like a Crichton sci-fi thriller. I didn't like most of the characters. I don't read horror often, so I was very disturbed by the disgusting, revolting, sickening fungal growth and explosions. There is something too cynical about the way the characters luck into saving the day.<br /> </p>byronbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12609799091013078866noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-67295640702305070522024-02-28T11:41:00.000-06:002024-02-28T11:41:06.414-06:00The Delight of Being Ordinary<p><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKDo5IoROH8MOQK18AQCyyncUP01Mms-_7VuqbyO-nTEIwQP2e-C723lQhPHggJvQhznsoZDTU1CZbUO_tWkm6MqZ8isGE5GIM3hBzjXuWg7AIOanpEItXybiBlzMHCcUNDWQ26TjmzIkoYWyQmMaWcE9NfAG5JLJsRk5Cf7cusyXufNjIssjRE9sT1E/s1200/27876291.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="746" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKDo5IoROH8MOQK18AQCyyncUP01Mms-_7VuqbyO-nTEIwQP2e-C723lQhPHggJvQhznsoZDTU1CZbUO_tWkm6MqZ8isGE5GIM3hBzjXuWg7AIOanpEItXybiBlzMHCcUNDWQ26TjmzIkoYWyQmMaWcE9NfAG5JLJsRk5Cf7cusyXufNjIssjRE9sT1E/s320/27876291.jpg" width="199" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><br />The Delight of Being Ordinary: A Road Trip with the Pope and Dalai Lama</i> by Roland Merullo 367 pp.</b><p></p><p>When the Dalai Lama makes an official visit to the Vatican, Pope Francis comes up with the idea of a secret, unsanctioned road trip around Italy, the vacation that he is not allowed. He saddles his personal assistant and cousin Paolo with making the arrangements in less than 24 hours. Paolo helps the two holy men escape from the Vatican without their bodyguards. Rosa arranges for them to get them professional, movie quality disguises and borrows a friend's Maserati SUV for the journey. There is no real itinerary for the trip other than some vague and similar dreams the Pope and Dalai Lama have been having. They dodge the authorities and media who believe Paolo has kidnapped the holy men against their will and there is a reward on their heads. Paolo is increasingly neurotic and upset about some of the situations they find themselves in and neither the holy men nor his wife can calm his worries. The Pope and Dalai Lama are having a great time on their illicit vacation. The end of the journey is handled in a satisfactory way although I still wish I could to shake some sense into Paolo for some of his idiotic attitudes. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-61034706977628014532024-02-27T12:25:00.001-06:002024-02-27T12:25:16.805-06:00Decline and Fall<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprhdHgVFW_xCDInRe4QCU8HprEysO0iikegTeFgUSTpdQCWYpHBEB7mrvNnclkgJih-ppyXv-MsdIY9jylvH8-ge0sDJxEzaRawejsIBXm5n5pGPqAivbjrDo9FriMX9GV6wZOJgbv6suYCbQLEK7OEBtcYekN5wy10F-WU16xO3dmWH3mITTq8HUUpY/s466/81n9wXkZS6L._SY466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgprhdHgVFW_xCDInRe4QCU8HprEysO0iikegTeFgUSTpdQCWYpHBEB7mrvNnclkgJih-ppyXv-MsdIY9jylvH8-ge0sDJxEzaRawejsIBXm5n5pGPqAivbjrDo9FriMX9GV6wZOJgbv6suYCbQLEK7OEBtcYekN5wy10F-WU16xO3dmWH3mITTq8HUUpY/s320/81n9wXkZS6L._SY466_.jpg" width="240" /></a></i></div><i><br /> </i><b><i>Decline and Fall</i> by Evelyn Waugh 293 pp.</b><p></p><p>Paul Pennyfeather gets expelled from his Oxford college through no fault of his own but that didn't matter to the powers that be. He ends up taking a teaching position at a boys boarding school with no experience in the teaching field, one being a chronic liar. That doesn't matter because no one else working there is any better at it than Pennyfeather is. The school is a marvelous parody of British public schools (what we call private). The antics of the staff rival the antics of the students, rowdy and mostly harmless, except in the case of young Tangent, whose minor injury during games day grows gangrenous and ultimately deadly. Pennyfeather becomes entangled with Mrs. Beste-Chetwynde, the widowed mother of one of the students. On the day of their wedding, while attempting to fix a business problem for his future wife, Pennyfeather is arrested. His conviction lands him a five year sentence in prison. Other of the teachers at the school have similar bad ends, including suicide, a conviction for bigamy, and various financial misfortunes. Although Pennyfeather eventually comes out okay the ending is left open to wonder what else can befall him as he studies to become a minister. This is Waugh's first published novel and is a wonderful satire of parts of British society in the 1920s. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-45424984662876115802024-02-26T13:45:00.000-06:002024-02-26T13:45:01.465-06:00The Curious Secrets of Yesterday<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCp5pnyafY4UZ_IwX64h135rDApr313UfmaxeQp58biWWmCdi56T4Cyaw1S6ALmtURQwnGc9IsrsLccOJjl8kEVpLG3T5QibG7r5SYmyXMhrvUrUbYl-mPrU3WKpNVcQlXF8piR9qd4dDbVF_m7cvc6rgCsPlo8oK3J6FmsZ0S7btKsN7rUAJOY2bp54o/s466/curious%20secrets%20of%20yesterday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="302" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCp5pnyafY4UZ_IwX64h135rDApr313UfmaxeQp58biWWmCdi56T4Cyaw1S6ALmtURQwnGc9IsrsLccOJjl8kEVpLG3T5QibG7r5SYmyXMhrvUrUbYl-mPrU3WKpNVcQlXF8piR9qd4dDbVF_m7cvc6rgCsPlo8oK3J6FmsZ0S7btKsN7rUAJOY2bp54o/s320/curious%20secrets%20of%20yesterday.jpg" width="207" /></a></i></div><i>The Curious Secrets of Yesterday</i> by Namrata Patel, 283 pages<p></p><p>Tulsi Gupta has been raised from birth to be the successor of her mother and grandmother in their spice healing business. At 30 years old, however, Tulsi still hasn't taken the final steps to take over her mother's role and allow her grandmother to retire. Why? Well, she's not so sure she wants the legacy, and while she doesn't know what her vocation should be otherwise, she knows she wants to travel and get experiences, and she's slowly been saving up so she can do those things as soon as she gets up the nerve to tell her mother and grandmother. Then two things happen to upset that particular apple cart: the shop suddenly has social media accounts that are blowing up BIG TIME (despite Tulsi and her family having no idea who's running the accounts) and a handsome ex-Marine has taken over the café next door (and much to the delight of her family, Tulsi seems to be hitting it off with him).</p><p>The writing was a bit clunky to begin with, and the story was a bit predictable, but if you can make it through the first 50 pages, this is a quick and satisfying read about secrets, family, duty, and love. Not my favorite book, but definitely not the worst I've read.</p><p><i>*This book will be published June 1, 2024.</i></p>Kara Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936159861456474527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-52789810720105883492024-02-26T13:31:00.002-06:002024-02-26T13:31:22.980-06:00The Woods All Black<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLoB7XVTHMyf0KsY6x9tUD4b4JAm7ZNBtuwBkcNEIPdel0e87o7c04UFsDBYYrkVjmzkQ-EIv-RSQMNTGI19sXI72GN9nqYtI5lcGbhVD4948GjCwiS2Q144Aev2RlFoBEOpxgpSZedx6bJh6ko6hFxJ_msCcGKLYnblXdWoxy_DEJPGaglUklEOuXPwE/s466/the%20woods%20all%20black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLoB7XVTHMyf0KsY6x9tUD4b4JAm7ZNBtuwBkcNEIPdel0e87o7c04UFsDBYYrkVjmzkQ-EIv-RSQMNTGI19sXI72GN9nqYtI5lcGbhVD4948GjCwiS2Q144Aev2RlFoBEOpxgpSZedx6bJh6ko6hFxJ_msCcGKLYnblXdWoxy_DEJPGaglUklEOuXPwE/s320/the%20woods%20all%20black.jpg" width="209" /></a></i></div><i>The Woods All Black</i> by Lee Mandelo, 160 pages<p></p><p>Before I get into the summary of this book, please scroll and check out the tags on this post. Then tell me if you think those elements don't have the potential to be 1000% terrifying.</p><p>OK, onto the summary. It's 1929, and Leslie has been sent by the Frontier Nurse Service to the small Appalachian town of Spar Creek, where he is to administer vaccinations and assist with childbirth and other women's health issues. We learn from the first page that Leslie is transgender (or an invert, as he refers to himself in the language of the day), and while the fire-and-brimstone preacher isn't too excited about modern medicine reaching into the town, he's particularly upset by Leslie's "determination to not be a proper lady." Turns out there's another young trans man in town, and Leslie's arrival doesn't seem to be helping his own survival prospects. Oh, and there's a vicious supernatural creature prowling the woods behind the town, which further sets everyone on edge.</p><p>The first two-thirds of this novella ratchet up the realistic tension and terror of close-minded people in powerful positions physically and psychologically torturing these trans characters. But the final third of the book takes a turn that's...well, I'm not sure how well it sits with me. Without going into detail, I'm not sure the author's intention of revenge plays out exactly how he wanted it to. And there's definitely a scene that was disturbing in a not-great way. So as much as I was looking forward to this book (Mandelo's <i>Summer Sons</i> was EXCELLENT), I can't say I particularly enjoyed it when all is said and done.</p><p><i>*This book will be published March 19, 2024.</i></p>Kara Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936159861456474527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2393870215552308255.post-52159194705879603732024-02-22T09:32:00.001-06:002024-02-22T09:32:13.274-06:00The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder<p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9U7tZDQJ-akSBWOu1Xxx5DkwebGvmuHXe01SzN8ko2q1mo7MAaFiXnGz6FD-kikJRHzAUOXeCptBYcmPgzvny347uP_ctMkJEQTcn-L5lxIc6ovqicaCNIXLtk9u2BUA39tGpmA3GLwR1PEei4jSxS7rM-KRb-DgcC0SP8JFknpLe-DZNB37zlsEp8Zy/s1000/antique%20hunter's%20guide%20to%20murder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="659" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9U7tZDQJ-akSBWOu1Xxx5DkwebGvmuHXe01SzN8ko2q1mo7MAaFiXnGz6FD-kikJRHzAUOXeCptBYcmPgzvny347uP_ctMkJEQTcn-L5lxIc6ovqicaCNIXLtk9u2BUA39tGpmA3GLwR1PEei4jSxS7rM-KRb-DgcC0SP8JFknpLe-DZNB37zlsEp8Zy/s320/antique%20hunter's%20guide%20to%20murder.jpg" width="211" /></a></i></div><i>The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder</i> by C.L. Miller, 287 pages<p></p><p>After a falling out with her mentor, Freya has been out of the antique hunting game for 20 years. But when that mentor, Arthur, turns up dead inside his antiques shop, Freya and her aunt Carole (who also happens to be Arthur's close friend) are tasked with solving his murder and bringing some antiquities forgers to justice. Or at least I think they're supposed to be doing that second part. Even after reading the book, it's hard to tell if that last bit was one of Arthur's assignments from beyond the grave. The plot's a bit murky, and several of the characters are a bit bland (though that definitely cannot be said of Carole, who is larger than life in the best possible way). This was definitely set up as a potential series starter, and I can only hope that the second book finds Miller on more solid ground.</p>Kara Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01936159861456474527noreply@blogger.com0