Two Truths and a Lie

Two Truths and a Lie by Cory O'Brien, 304 pages

Set in a futuristic waterlogged Los Angeles where information is literally currency, this debut novel follows combat-drone veteran Orr as he tries to sort out the details of a murder the cops assume he has something to do with (even though he isn't aware of it at all) and also track down an ex-lover, who may somehow be involved. While some of the ideas are intriguing and some of the scenes are entertaining (playing truth or dare with a bunch of people dosed with truth serums? Scandalously fun!), a convoluted plot and the odd noirish vibe of Orr's narration keep this one from really coalescing. Still, I'm interested to see what O'Brien comes up with in the future, assuming he's able to hone these fiction-writing skills.

Happy Land

Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez, 368 pages

Nikki hasn't seen her grandmother for decades, not since a falling-out between Nikki's mother and Mother Rita led to years of silence between them. But when Mother Rita calls with an urgent request for Nikki to visit her, she views it as an opportunity to mend fences and get to know her long-estranged grandmother. What Nikki doesn't anticipate, however, is learning that her ancestors were the founders of their own kingdom in the hills of western North Carolina and that her great-great grandmother Luella was their queen.

Told in alternating chapters focusing on Luella and her fellow recently-freed settlers, and Nikki and Mother Rita's fight to keep hold of the land 150 years later, this is a captivating story of legacy, identity, and family ties. It's also filled with all kinds of fascinating information about the very real Kingdom of the Happy Land and thorny property laws, which enhanced this already enchanting read. Highly recommended.

107 Days

107 Days by Kamala Harris, 304 pgs. 

On November 5th, 2024, the historic election between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump ended sadly for many. Looking back on her whirlwind campaign, and ultimate loss, Vice President Harris reflects on the 107 days between the announcement that incumbent Joe Biden would not be seeking re-election and the election itself. 

This book and VP Kamala Harris herself are very compelling. Each chapter represents a day on the campaign trail, and although the chapters are quite short, they are jam-packed with events and reflections and information. Reviews on Goodreads have noted that this book will likely not change readers' perspective on VP Harris:
"If you want to hate Harris you can find reasons to do so, if you want to be sympathetic to her you can do that too. You liking the book depends more on you than it does on the book.
    --review by Traci Thomas on Goodreads
However, for those looking to gain insight into how a campaign is run and all the messy particulars of this one, it is a great read. The end is still devastating, even though anyone who starts the book knows how it will end, and it does not leave off on as much of a hopeful note as her concession speech. But it is still a wonder that she ran such a strong campaign in such a short time. Kamala Harris has made history and will continue to do so.

Persepolis

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, 341 pgs. 

Marjane's childhood was full of changes. Not just in her own life--as she grew up and discovered new interests in terms of religion, music, and style--but also in the political situation of her home country, Iran. When Marjane was little, she did not have to wear a veil in public. She dreamed of being a revolutionary and a prophet, and she played with her friends in the yard. After the Islamic Revolution, she and her friends were subject to new rules, but that did not stop their rebellious spirits.

In this autobiographical graphic novel about growing up in Iran (and Europe) in the 80s and 90s, Marjane Sarapti illustrates for an audience of all ages the dualities of being a child in a sometimes dangerous political environment. She captures well the love she has for her country and the beauty in her life, as well as the very difficult dark sides of her experiences. This book is a great introduction to Iran and one girl's (now woman's) experience in her culture. 

So Far Gone

So Far Gone by Jess Walter (2025) 257 pages

Rhys Kinnick is a retired journalist. In 2016, he was at his daughter Bethany's home for Thanksgiving dinner, along with his ex-wife and her husband. He tried to behave, but finally couldn't help himself when his son-in-law Shane, who was strongly into Christian Nationalism and conspiracies, wouldn't shut up. Rhys tried to leave the house, and when blocked by Shane, he punched him and fled the house. Rhys ultimately exiled himself in a cinderblock house on property he inherited from his father in a rural area completely off the grid.

This story's action starts up when his grandchildren are at the door to his house 7 years later, brought by a neighbor of Bethany's. Bethany has disappeared, and her husband Shane has left to try to find her. Bethany had left a note explaining to the neighbor about how to get to her father's cabin. Later, when Rhys drives the children to the grandson's chess match in Spokane, two militia men from Shane's church show up and take the kids, after punching out Rhys.

Rhys turns to estranged friends to see if they can help him find Bethany, and now the kids. One is Brian, a Native American, along with his partner Joanie. Another is Lucy, a woman he was in love with years ago. A somewhat impulsive ex-cop Lucy had once dated gets involved, too. What ensues is a funny, yet terrifying trip to a well-fortified compound in Idaho to try to retrieve the children from the Christian Nationalist militia where they've likely been brought.

The story is layered with explorations of self, regrets, past joys, wishes to make everything better, and humor‒all this, plus action that keeps one wondering if the end is near. A perfect blend of suspense and humanity.

Ardent Violet and the Infinite Eye

 Ardent Violet and the Infinite Eye by Alex White, 452 pages.

This sequel to August Kitko and the Mechas from Space follows several months after the first book, as Gus, Violet, and the other conduits continue trying to find someway to stop the seemingly evil AI who nearly exterminated humanity with giant robots. But this time they have help! A whole lot of aliens with a shared enemy and giant robots of their own are here to help; although alien politics is a whole other complication, and one there isn't much time to solve.

This book is as self-indulgent and fun as the first one! I enjoyed the dual perspectives between Gus and nonbinary pop star Ardent Violet. The aliens were very creative and diverse, which is something I always enjoy with Sci-Fi. I do think the pace of this book dragged a little compared to the first book, and it definitely feels like the middle book in a trilogy. That being said, I am excited to read the conclusion and see how everything comes together! These books are a great example of the kinds of things space opera can do, and I would definitely recommend them for anyone interested in the genre. 

BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE

Burning Down the House: Talking Heads and the New York Scene that Transformed Rock by Jonathan Gould, 512 pgs. © 2025

Is it art? Is it music? For the Talking Heads it's probably both. This is a great book for music lovers. Probably the definitive book for the band but also a nice dive into the late 70's New York art scene and how influential it was for musicians trying to escape the old ways of traditional rock and roll, which was starting to become so bland that it was sometimes referred to as 'conservative' rock and roll. I live for this kind of nonfiction--it's well written organized, packed with great research. You come away with a greater understanding of how tight-knit the NY art community was and how this band come out of nowhere to carve their own unique niche in the new wave landscape. Gould did very well in this endeavor, even without interviewing anyone in the group today. Gave me a greater appreciate of Stop Making Sense, one of the greatest live concert docs of all time. 

Relish

 Relish: My Life in the Kitchen by Lucy Knisley, 173 pages.

Lucy Knisley was taught a deep appreciation for food from her earliest days, and this means she charts the course of her life in terms of food; what she was cooking and eating, forbidden foods, beloved foods, any foods where connection grew up. As the daughter of a professional chef and intense gourmet she had plenty of exposure to high quality foods, but just as many of the foods that made an impression were things like Mexican candy and the type of terrible culinary inventions that I think most people who have been to college are familiar with.

The blurb on this book was from Alison Bechdel, which feels appropriate because, despite the very different tone and subject matter, this book felt oddly reminiscent of Fun Home. I think it was the Knisley managed to write a biography that felt like it captured a child's perspective while retaining an adult's benefit of experience. I found this graphic memoir masterfully done, and the illustrated recipes at the end of each chapter felt like the cherry on top. This memoir feels like more than the sum of its parts, and I highly recommend it. 

Tress of the Emerald Sea

Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson, 369 pages

Regan has written about this one a couple of times, and I already wrote about it once, so I won't retread here. I will simply say that this was a lovely twist on fantasy adventure stories, and while yes, there are definitely things that would probably make more sense if you've read Sanderson's other Cosmere novels (I haven't...yet), it was a blast to read, and the Orcs & Aliens had fun with it.

The Heart of Winter

The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison, 368 pages

Abe and Ruth are the epitome of "opposites attract" from the moment they met. She's a free spirit, he's a straitlaced company man, but somehow, they've stuck together for more than 70 years, through times good and bad, with three very different children. Just as they're getting ready to celebrate their 70th anniversary, Ruth discovers that the loose tooth she's dealing with is a sign of something much more malignant. Suddenly, Abe finds himself caring for the woman who has kept everything running smoothly through their whole marriage, while Ruth struggles with her new diagnosis and reliance on others.

This sort of serious family crisis book really wasn't my cup of tea, and honestly, I kept wondering how these two very different people ever got together and stayed together. However, I also know a few people who absolutely loved it, so your mileage may vary.