When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain

When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain by Nghi Vo, 125 pages

Anthropologist/archivist Chih is traveling through the countryside when they happen upon a trio of tigers at the way station where they had hoped to stay the night. In a desperate attempt at survival, Chih offers up the human version of a traditional story concerning the marriage of a young scholar and a vicious tiger. As Chih tells the story, the tigers continually interrupt, correcting them with the "true" version of the tale. Chih can only hope that their story will last long enough for help to arrive... or that the tigers find them intriguing enough to not make a meal of them.

The second book in Vo's Singing Hills cycle (though it certainly stands alone), this again finds Chih learning about their cultural history in a deceptively simple story. There's a lot to think about with this short book, including how stories, and the lessons to be learned from them, change depending on who's doing the telling. An excellent quick read.

The Kitchen Front

The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan, 406 pages

In the midst of World War II, while the men are off fighting, the women of England are making do the best they could on rationed food, clothing, and other necessities. To keep up morale and suggest some tasty ways to use those rationed foods, the BBC creates a cooking contest pitting four local women — an exhausted widow, an uppity lady from a manor house, the uppity lady's kitchen maid, and a displaced Cordon Bleu-trained chef — against one another, making appetizers, entrees, and desserts over the course of three months. As the competition continues, the women get to know one another and realize that while they're all suffering in some way, none of them are alone in their struggle.

This was a charming WWII story that doesn't have any of the blood and guts and violence that so often occurs (no Blitz! no bombs!). It's also a wonderful reading suggestion for fans of the Great British Baking Show. The characters aren't all necessarily likeable, but they are relatable, and I ended up caring so much about all of them. A lovely story.

Hench

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots, 403 pages

This is my second time reading this AWESOME book, and I'll defer to my original post for my overall thoughts. Why did I read this again in such quick succession? It was our Orcs & Aliens discussion title this month, and it warmed my heart that my lovely Orcs & Aliens loved this as much as I did. Discussing it with them only increased my opinion of this book. READ IT!

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting

The Gentle Art of Fortune Hunting by KJ Charles, 286 pages

Robin Loxleigh and his sister Marianne are new to the London marriage market, and they're on the hunt for some wealthy spouses. While they're perfectly lovely to everyone, nobody knows that they're poor grifters aiming at wealthy, and gullible marks. But when Robin sets his sights on John "Hart" Hartlebury's naive niece, her uncle's protective nature takes over and Hart begins investigating. What Hart doesn't count on, however, is for Robin to back down right away...or to become his lover.

Romances set in the London season are always fun, what with all of the polite society politics and scandals, and this is no exception. Adding to the intrigue is the potential ruin both Robin and Hart face if their affair is discovered. I had a few misgivings with how their affair began, but I think their chemistry and the stories of those surrounding them are strong and compelling.

Good Company

 

Good Company / Cynthisa D'Aprix Sweeney, 310 pgs.

Flora has the world by the tail, happily married, good friends, a lovely daughter...but then she makes a discovery.  The wedding ring that her husband claimed to have lost while swimming in a pond is actually in an envelope in their file cabinet.  This can't be good, can it?  He made a big deal of losing it in the pond and people spent time looking for it.  Of course, it isn't good news.  But in addition to shining a light on his duplicity, Flora discovers that her best friend Margot also knew about this.  Now Flora is on verge of losing them both - or choosing to ditch them both.  This book highlights the issues that arise even with something that occurred in the distant past. I like the way the author reveals enough of each character that we really understand where they come from.  The supporting crew here, Ruby, the daughter and a former therapist are fantastic even though they are briefly included.  

A People's Future of the United States

 A People's Future of the United States edited by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams, 432 pages.

This anthology, inspired by Howard Zinn's similarly titled A People's History of the United States, brings together a very diverse group of authors to write speculative fiction about different ways that America could be. Some of these futures are bright, many of them are not. 

Like most anthologies, I found the quality of the stories within wildly variant. Many of the stories almost feel flat to the point of caricature, and several others are just incomprehensible. However, there are also a number of truly fantastic short stories that were so good they prompted me to put novels by the authors on my to-read list immediately. "Give Me Cornbread or Give Me Death" by N.K. Jemisin, "The Synapse Will Free Us from Ourselves" by Violet Allen, and "Good News Bad News" by Charles Yu were personal favorites of mine.

White Sand Vol. 2

 White Sand Vol. 2 by Brandon Sanderson, 160 pages.

In this volume Kenton is working to save the Sand Master's diem, in a legal sense, and himself, in a physical sense. Most of the volume is diplomacy and assassination attempts, with an amount of other plot throughout.

After finishing volume two of three I am still not overly impressed with this series, which is surprising of any work from one of my favorite authors. The plot feels a little slow and the magic system is less elaborate than what I've come to expect from Sanderson. More generally, the whole work is less elaborate than I've come to expect, and I am overall finding the series somewhat underwhelming.  

Early Morning Riser

 Early Morning Riser by Katherine Heiny (2021) 317 pages

Jane moved to Boyne City, Michigan to teach second grade. She falls in love, meets people, deals with her mother's visits, and more. Jane meets Duncan soon after she moves in, and despite the fact that he has slept with almost every other woman in Boyne City and says he's not the marrying type (at least not anymore, since his marriage to Aggie ended), she sets her sights on him. Also prominent in the story is Jimmy, a sweet, but somewhat mentally deficient man whom Duncan employs in his woodshop.

The story follows Jane for 17 years; it's comforting to watch someone go through real life, appreciating the cute things that her second graders say and do, going through emotional ups and downs without being a drama queen, and coming into her own. Numerous "slice of life" bits in the story make it so endearing.

Persepolis

 Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi, 153 pages.

This graphic memoir recounts the childhood and early teen years of Marjane Satrapi, who grew up in Tehran in the upheaval of the 1980's. She was the daughter of politically active parents, and witnessed firsthand much of the social and political upheaval that happened in Iran during these years.

I think that the most exceptional thing about this book is how effective it is at never letting you forget that the horrific things being described are happening to a child. Her favorite uncle is executed, friends of her parents describe how they were tortured as political prisoners, and a neighbor is killed in a bombing. But these are all interspersed with almost equal weight with childhood hijinks like skipping school and trying to get posters in Iran after the Islamic Revolution. This memoir does a really fantastic job capturing what it is to live through a historic moment. A lot of the events are unbelievable tragedy, but they are also, to her, just life. This is a very moving memoir and a quick read, I would definitely recommend it.

Outlawed

Outlawed by Anna North, 261 pages

Ada's life in a small western town looks good in 1894: she's married to a young man, and her future is bright. But after a year without becoming pregnant, the superstitious residents of her hometown are ready to blame her barrenness on witchcraft. Facing possible hanging, Ada flees, first to a convent, and then to the Hole in the Wall Gang, a storied and ruthless group of outlaws led by the notorious Kid. Imagine her surprise when she discovers that the group is made up of other barren women and finds a home with them.

This is a short historical fiction novel, but one that is fully realized and three-dimensional. Ada's skills and concerns are relatable, and North sinks us into a world where women's issues are heightened and highlighted. It's an excellent book, well worth reading.