Woah, 2018 is starting off suuuuuper-slow on the reading front, but I've got all year to pick up the pace and fill this list to the brim with fantastic reads. Tradition is tradition, and since this has been going on since 2008, I just don't think I can stop now. And over the years of 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, I've looked back at the lists on many an occasion since I'm lacking strength in the memory department.
Here's to a new year of captivating books!
The Wonder Down Under: The Insider's Guide to the Anatomy, Biology, and Reality of the Vagina by Nina Brochmann and Ellen Støkken Dahl
Like most nonfiction, this took me a long time to read, only because I'd put it down in favor of novel after novel, not because it wasn't interested, but because I'm a sucker for novels. Anyway, I buckled down and wrapped it up just before the end of the year, figuring that of all years for me to end by finishing a book about the female anatomy, the year of my hysterectomy and pelvic floor reconstruction surgery would be the perfect one. This is a fantastic resource for all women to learn in an easy-to-read format meant for the average reader. The authors covered a ton of topics, but they did it well with just enough depth to inform and educate. I highly recommend to young women, especially!
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah
I'm so glad I finally got around to reading this one, and though I haven't been a devout watcher of The Daily Show since Trevor Noah took over, I do consider myself a fan. After reading this, I like him even more. I admired the tone of this memoir, which was straightforward and not overly sappy, even though Noah would get a pass from me if it had been, considering the challenges he's faced in his life. I'm a bit embarrassed to admit how little I knew about apartheid, and I appreciated the informational text he provided prior to each chapter that gave background on the history of apartheid as well as a clear perspective of what life was like under its horrendous rule.
I Can't Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I've Put My Faith in Beyoncé by Michael Arceneaux
I was looking for humorous memoirs with which to end the calendar year, and I put this book on hold at the library simply because the title and cover made me chuckle and it was among books that were recommended based on my previous searches. I wasn't aware of who the author was or what the book would be cover beyond the hilariously descriptive subtitle, which ended up being perfectly representative. I enjoyed Arceneaux's perspectives, because he's clearly an innately funny person and because his perspective represents one-- that of a black, gay man-- that I don't experience a lot in my own life. I'm not saying I think this one individual guy is speaking for all the black gay guys out there, but his life has been informed by these identities and the perception of these identities by others. After doing some Googling, I discovered I have read Arceneaux before in different online publications, and I appreciate his voice. In this book, he gets incredibly personal and open about his familial relationships, which are complex. I found it difficult to understand his acceptance of some family members based on my own personal experiences of cutting off people who I have found to be too much to bear, but I respect his thoughtfulness about his choices. Read this one for the humor and humorous linguistic fun, as well as one person's take on identifying in two groups that are too often marginalized in our society.
John Woman by Walter Mosley
I'm not exactly sure what I just read. I mean, I could give you a basic plot outline with the main points of action placed on a timeline, but there's so much of the protagonist and the meaning behind some of the plot points that I just couldn't understand, at least not beyond a superficial point. That probably says more about me than the novel, and is by no means an indication of Walter Mosley's skills. Clearly this author is made of talent, but the style in which he wrote this novel left me frustrated (with myself) and often confused. You know the feeling of having a word or thought 'on the tip of your tongue'? That's how my understanding was of some of the main points of argument in this story, most especially those about our acceptance of 'history' as fact. I could *almost* start to feel my understanding gain structure but it never fully solidified.
An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Oh, how fun this was! I wasn't quite sure if this was YA when I first picked it up, but I think that association was simply from the family name. I'd categorize this more as contemporary fiction, but it's definitely accessible to teens, as well. There's the adventurous and mysterious plot to appeal to folks who love a fast-paced romp, and there's also some significant character study as the protagonist struggles to figure out her own identity, most especially in the face of social media, and eventually, world fame. The narrative style is interesting, too, presented in a vaguely forlorn past tense that leaves readers wondering what could possibly happen by the conclusion of the novel. The ending left me a bit confounded, until I read that this was a two-book deal and that Green is working on the sequel right now. PHEW!
The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Wow. Yes, just wow. There was an otherworldly tone to this novel that I couldn't have known to expect and still struggle to even describe. I was prepared for a unique setting, what with the story taking place in 1920s Alaska, a time and place I've never even thought of existing together. But then add in a fairy tale-like figure, who I still couldn't exactly figure out by the final pages, and it's all so overwhelmingly lovely. Magical realism in the snowy north instead of the steamy Caribbean where I've always known it to dwell. I loved every damn thing about this novel, from its deeply emotional character voices to its description of a world previously unimaginable to me. Gorgeous on every page.
Sam & Ilsa's Last Hurrah by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
I went into this book not expecting much. I had grabbed it off the library shelf for my teenage son simply because it was a cute cover. He tried to read it-- twice, apparently-- but never got very far. It's a pretty short novel, so I thought I'd give it a go before dropping it back in the library bag. Were the characters a bit pretentious? Yeah. Were some of them almost unbelievably weird or horrible? Yup. Did that make me hate the book like so many other reviewers on goodreads? Not at all. I was entertained, and I was even touched at times. These characters clearly had more backstory than the authors cared to flesh out, and whether or not that was the 'right' decision, they still filled a short novel with emotions and experiences, with which I was happy to spend a couple hours.
Becoming by Michelle Obama
As I read these words on the page, Michelle Obama's voice came alive in my head. She poured her heart into this book, and her authenticity and honesty kept me enthralled. She embodies class and honor, and she doesn't hold back when giving her perspective, which I appreciated. It was fun to read about the behind-the-scenes of major events that I watched on TV, such as the inaugurations, but it was even more telling to hear the reality of what it's like to live in the public eye for a decade. I didn't agree with every decision her husband made as POTUS, but Michelle Obama absolutely made the most of her influence as FLOTUS. While I miss her energy and dedication in that role, I'm thankful for her service and happy that she is getting time now to live a bit more privately.
44. 11/17/18The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
2nd reading:
My 12 1/2 year old read this in a couple days just a month or so ago. On my re-read, I was reminded just how tough this damn book is, and that's because of the reality for so many that it represents. For my daughter, this was likely pretty foreign, for even if she lived her first ten years of life in a neighborhood and school mostly populated by African-American people and African immigrants, she has no first-hand experience with gun violence, poverty, or the fear that comes with living in an environment that deals with either or both of those issues. She may have better understood the concept of code-switching as Starr feels she has to do between the two 'worlds' in which she lives, because my daughter has always had friends from a variety of different backgrounds and cultures, though many times they still occupied white-majority spaces in their daily lives.
For me, it was a reminder of how privileged I am as a white woman raising white children, for of course, I often feel pulled toward the parent characters in YA literature. Starr's parents amazed me, tapping into strength and faith. I'm looking forward to discussing this at book club tomorrow, though it will admittedly be a vast majority of white participants who likely have not had shared experiences with these characters.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
At first, I really struggled to get into this novel, and I soon realized that my usual style of reading quickly wasn't going to fly for this book. Individual sentences often hold significant amounts of explicit and implied information, and the complexity level is high, making readers have to work to digest what's on the page. It didn't take too long until I was absolutely engrossed, tuning out the real world for long stretches of time to just be with and in the book. The emotion and weight of this story was almost too much to take at times, and I'd need to put it down and purposefully go do something light and inconsequential for some relief. But, damn if this wasn't a gorgeously composed novel that will stick with me for a long, long time.
The Lessons (Off-Limits #1) by Elizabeth Brown
Well, this is a new genre for the old bookshelf. I can't remember the last time I read anything that resembled a "romance" novel-- my teen years? This was more explicit than what I remember reading back then, but it was also funny, light, and enjoyably predictable. Apparently, reading a racy novel is something I enjoy!
Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks: A Librarian's Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life by Annie Spence
Okay, gotta get this outta the way right off the bat-- why didn't I think of this premise?! Brilliant and simple, totally nerdy and full of heart. Well done, Annie Spence, kudos to you. I read this in one sitting on a dark gray evening when I didn't want to turn the television on (because: noise) but still wanted to be entertained. Just as the friend who recommended this book had predicted, I was hella entertained. Loved it. So much fun, just the right amount of profanity, lots of books I have read, many more that I've not, some I've never even heard of. Hilarious, truly, and the perfect gift for the bibliophile in your life.
Little Panic by Amanda Stern
So much of this memoir spoke to me, intimately, in the deepest parts of my emotions and memories, and I gotta admit, I was alternately relieved and freaked out. While I didn't have experiences that were exactly like Stern's, throughout my childhood, my anxiety went undiagnosed. It may not have impeded my academic performance, but my emotional development was surely messed up in ways that were impossible for me to articulate when I was young, and that I still struggle with today as an adult. Reading this at this time, though, was particularly affecting, because my anxiety is bubbling up more than it has in the last decade or so, as I wait for a scheduled surgery to happen in just over two weeks. Again, I don't know if it was a good idea to read this memoir at this time-- was it affirming or triggering? Who's to say?
Specifics that reached me:
-her need for a plan for all the 'what if' questions that constantly swirl around
-"There is a way to be and I'm not being it, and I don't know how to change." (p.167)
-doctor's description of her difficulty with spatial understanding and need to physically experience something vs. trying to read it on a map
-her growing anxiety while riding a bus and the stop not being exactly where she expected
"Since I was small, I've had one foot in the future, never fully present with the time and space inside which I'm standing." (p.371)
Kismet by Luke Tredget
"BLACK MIRROR meets BRIDGET JONES" is the description on the inside of this book, and I immediately put it in the library bag upon seeing that. I guess I was hoping for more BM than BJ, but beyond a basic concept, the ratio was definitely the other way. There was a level of predictability to this novel that made me wish it was shorter and got to the resolution quicker, because sometimes being with the protagonist made me want to bang my head against a wall. But other times there were moments of revelations and insights that suddenly popped up and pulled me back in.
Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Yes, this novel was nothing short of amazing, in every sense of the word. That's not to say that I actually consistently enjoyed reading it, for there were scenes that were so graphically violent or terrifyingly descriptive, so that my stomach turned and my heart raced. It was an emotional reading experience, and I was pushed out of my comfort zone several times. But, Ward's writing blew me away. There was a definitive style to it that placed me immediately in this world, feeling the sticky air, the weight of the sorrow. I found myself dog-earring page after page just so I could return to a passage that punched me in the gut with its ferocity or portrayed love in an undeniable manner. I'm looking forward to the discussion about this book at tomorrow's book club meeting, and I'm glad I was pushed to read it, even if I was left hollowed out by the end of the book.
Ordinary People by Diana Evans
There was so much that I absolutely loved about this novel, but I also found it terribly difficult to get into for the first 100+ pages, and some of the content threw me for a loop near the end. All in all, this brilliantly depicted the simultaneous joys and despairs that are a part of a long-term romantic relationship. Commitment through thick and thin is hard, and some of that 'thin' can be fairly universal. The two couples at the center of this story are both in a typically challenging stage of a partnership-- over a decade in, parenting young children, experiencing significant life changes (death of a parent, a location change)-- and their perspectives are incredibly relatable. I especially enjoyed the writer's style of setting a scene by quickly alternating between both partners' perspectives, sometimes multiple times within one sentence. And then adding another layer of realism, each character could be prone to questioning his or her own opinion, so that the uncertainty was palpable. The four characters also seemed to be made more or less sympathetic in different chapters, so that I, as a reader, kept questioning my own judgments of them. There was a strange and mysterious element to the story near the end of the novel that didn't feel like it fit the tone of the rest of the book, and it went unexplained. This ethereal and supernatural side plot did not match the hyper-realism of the novel, and I could have done without it, personally. The writer's style was deeply intelligent and complex, and I had to force myself to read more slowly and thoughtfully than usual.
The Penderwicks at Last by Jeanne Birdsall
Well, we've come to the end of our time with the delightful Penderwicks, and sadly, this one took A LONG time for my 10-year-old son and I to read aloud, which hadn't been such a problem with the previous books in this series. This one didn't have quite the same magic as the others, I think. Perhaps it was just too much responsibility to lay at one child's feet primarily, and Lydia, even when she was with her new friend Alice, just wasn't as interesting as the whole crew of her older siblings. But, that was a super-high standard, to be fair, and this is no by means an uninteresting book. It was fun enough, and we're both happy to see all the Penderwick and Penderwich-adjacent children growing joyfully in their own individual lives.
Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Thematically, this book was incredible and perfectly suited to a YA audience, perhaps one on the younger side of the genre. The perspective of the young black male protagonist goes through some lots of self-reflection and soul-searching, leaning on the important people in his life in different ways, and is a mature and thoughtful character through which to read the world. That being said, as an adult reader, I had some challenging moments during the book that bugged me-- adult characters who didn't read as realistic in specific situations as I would expect, and one particular exchange between Justyce, the protagonist, and one of his peers that I thought really missed the mark and showed an ally character behaving in a super-selfish and inconsiderate manner without any actual reaction or consequence. But, big picture? This is a powerful story and perspective that makes an interesting companion read with THE HATE U GIVE.
The Furies by Natalie Haynes
I knew nothing about this book going in, only choosing it off the "new releases" shelf at the library because of the cool vibe on the cover. I enjoyed the slight suspense, though it became pretty obvious what kind of ending was inevitable. I enjoyed the formatting of storytelling through flashbacks, and the inclusion of one character's "diary entries" helped to develop one arc of the narrative quite well. Overall, it was a fast read that provided an intriguing distraction from real life.
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl by Issa Rae
I'm not sure how much my reaction to this book was influenced by the fact that I listened to it rather than read it in print, but I had chosen that option because it was read by the author and she's a known funny person, so I figured that would be a bonus. Unfortunately, I didn't find it as funny as I'd hoped, and I was routinely finding myself disliking the author by her own descriptions of how she thinks about and treats people. Overall, it was just a meh for me.
Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" by Zora Neale Hurston
There's no way to "review" this book in the traditional sense of passing judgement, because when you read this book, you are simply expected to listen, absorb, and be witness. Oluale Kossola, who was renamed Cudjo Lewis while enslaved, shares his devastating story of being taken captive, ripped from his homeland, and sold into slavery. He also describes his life in slavery in the U.S., learning of his "freedom," and his significant role in the creation of Africatown in Alabama after their emancipation. His story, collected by author Zora Neale Hurston, is told in his voice and her transcription of his dialect. This helped me to try to hear it in a way that he would have spoken. The horrors he described were unimaginable to me, showing my privilege. His telling of the warring groups in Africa revealed that the cruelty and inhumanity of enslaving other humans has no color lines, but is simply an act of grabbing power and money. This read is steeped in sadness, but is also a testament to what humans can survive and live to report. Kossola was an incredible man, no doubt.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Moments ago, I finished this novel for the sixth time. My face is still tear-streaked, and my nose is completely clogged, and I'm not certain that the tears have stopped for good. I read it this time prompted by book club, though I've had a longing for at least several months to revisit it. (I did, however, wait five days to finish the last 66 pages, knowing that it needed to be just the right time since I'd be inconsolable afterwards.) I cannot explain why I'm drawn to this book again and again, though I do love the beauty in that. In fact, re-reading it is a bit like time traveling, for I vividly recall the first time I finished it back in 2004, devastated and reduced to sobs on my living room couch. In re-reading it, I am a bit like Henry, returning to moments I've experienced before, knowing what is to come and being unable to stop them even when I know the horror they contain. Though I am re-devastated with each read, I cannot stop myself from returning to this text. Niffenegger has created a world and two characters that hold everything for me-- all emotions, all sensations, all stages of a love. All of it, all at once, over and over again.
Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Lisa Damour, Ph.D.
This book is everything. Seriously. As our daughter begins her adolescence, this book will be my parenting manual. It's already helped me rethink some of my approaches, and I know that I will be referencing this book more and more in coming years. My daughter has even picked it up and told me about a situation she read about in it and wanted to discuss how she felt about it. Yes, this book is incredible.
America for Beginners by Leah Franqui
Though it took me a little bit to get into the story, by about 1/3 into it, I was hooked. I think in the beginning, there was too much focus on secondary characters that I was confused about which people were the most important. When the focus clearly shifted to the three primary ones-- when the trio began their cross-country journey-- the attention was more equally doled out to the primary characters, their backgrounds, and their paths of personal growth. I quite liked the characters' distinctions, for they were truly unique and incredibly interesting. The author tackled the common juxtaposition of cultural and religious beliefs with social issues, and gave the characters some realistic viewpoints and opinions. Overall, I quite enjoyed this novel and highly recommend.
One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Okay, I gotta say it -- I loved this book. Having seen THE BREAKFAST CLUB several times over the years, I immediately pictured Nate as Judd Nelson, though the other characters weren't as perfect matches as him. I loved having hunches and then getting those hunches knocked down, and though I didn't figure out the mystery exactly, I had a few solid gut feelings that were on the right track. I enjoyed the rotating first person narratives, and the character development took four (actually, five) pretty stereotypically presented teenagers and slowly built their stories in a way that gave each them more depth and more humanity as you continued reading. This was a perfect read-it-quickly-and-keep-thinking-about-it-when-you-are-forced-to-put-it-down kind of book.
How to Walk Away by Katherine Center
Well, I think I had higher hopes going into this than I should have. While I enjoyed it just fine and read it over the course of a day and a half, it lacked the depth that I was hoping for. The plot was predictable from the very beginning, and I was frustrated with the protagonist's inability to see several important things in her life that were painfully obvious from the start. There was more fawning over the state of other people's emotions and feelings than her own for the main character, which was annoying considering that she was recovering from a catastrophic life event. It sounds like I disliked this book a whole lot, but it's just that I had so very much loved Center's EVERYONE IS BEAUTIFUL that I had expected something more complex than this novel. But, it served its entertainment purpose and kept me reading away.
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
Well, I'm thinking I must have loaned my first copy to a friend years ago, because when I went looking for it among my books, it was nowhere to be found. Thanks to Amazon, I have another copy, this time embossed and checked into my library. :) I loved this re-read just as I did before, for its cleverness and originality, and most especially for its playfulness with language. There's so much here for word-lovers and it never gets old for me to read. ADORE.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows
Oh, how I lose memories in just nine short years. I hadn't forgotten reading this book, and I did indeed remember adoring it, but I hadn't remembered that I had even written a longer review post of it! Apparently, I had loaned out my copy of it at some point years ago, because though I had a vague memory of owning it, it is no longer in my collection (along with another favorite epistolary novel ELLA MINNOW PEA, so perhaps I loaned them together as a theme?!). I purchased another copy (of EMP, as well), and I've filled it with sticky notes all over again like I had apparently done all those years ago. Anyway, I adored everything about this book-- the format, the characters and the way the reader gets to know them, the setting, the heart. There is profound sadness present here, but there is so much joy and humor that triumphs, even in the face of horrors unimaginable to most of my generation. I'm so thankful that my wine book club chose this novel so I could revisit it and enjoy its stories all over again.
Florida by Lauren Groff
Wow, was this ever a powerful collection of short stories. A sense of foreboding and dread hung over every story, each with their unnamed protagonists. This heaviness was emotional and physical, with storms recurring in many stories, the fear before their arrival and the devastation after their fast departure literally and figuratively defining what ailed each character. A life of motherhood, and the sense of failing at it, also appeared in multiple stories, with conflicting emotions, of course, but also a sense of detachment from the experience itself. I'm not exactly sure if any characters recurred in stories, but I had the feeling that at least one did. (Off to Google that next.) I'm also not sure that I got everything that I could have out of this reading, because I believe it required more attention than my distracted car-ride-reading could give it, so this should probably be a re-read in the near future.
Calypso by David Sedaris
Oh, David Sedaris, you've truly outdone yourself this time. This collection of essays is tied together with a unique type of sentimentality, one that is both realistic and tender. The Sedaris family members feature prominently here, and while topics such as suicide, aging, and death play big parts in the stories, there's a gallows humor that remains to keep one laughing through misty eyes. This may very well be my favorite of all of Sedaris' books, and somehow he continues to find new stories to share that reinforce his originality. Damn, I loved this one so much.
Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
My twelve-year-old daughter has been asking me to read this book for a little while now, so when I had some down time, I picked it up and was totally captivated. So, so well done, Telgemeier beautifully captures the magic and love of El Día de los Muertos, along with the love between siblings, especially when one is chronically ill. I can see why both of my younger kids adore all of Telgemeier's books!
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
I read this novel many years ago, probably close to when it was published in the late 1990s, and though I didn't remember a ton from the story, I did remember that I was quite taken with it back then. I re-read it for this month's book club and I'm thrilled that it was chosen. The storytelling in this novel is fast-paced and emotional, and I think I was just as drawn in this time as originally by the female-centric perspectives. I certainly don't take any of these biblical stories to be even close to factual, but I can imagine that the details of daily life and culture were pretty close to the time period. I read this in less than a day, as a wonderful distraction from other stuff on my mind, and it gave a needed emotional release.
So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y'all Don't Even Know by Retta
Well, I think I expected to laugh more. Or just laugh out loud a little. It's not that I didn't enjoy the read, it was pleasant enough. It was entertaining for a little poolside reading, and it's certainly a quick read so it's a well-timed summer release.
Lust & Wonder: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs
So, I've long been a fan of AB's writing, and even though I flew through this book in about a day, I can't say that I enjoyed spending the time with him nearly as much this time through. The focus of this book being on relationships surely made it prone to negativity, as it was two pretty awful examples of romantic couplings, but it also didn't make AB himself sound like a nice person at all. Yes, I probably shouldn't expect plain niceness from this guy who has had such a rough life, but still, he came off more and more like a jackass than anything else, and in his own words, nonetheless.
I'm Just a Person by Tig Notaro
Well, I was already a Tig fan for her comedy and her show One Mississippi, and I was already familiar with the basics about her year from hell that is described in this book, but after reading it in a few sittings, I'm an even bigger fan and in complete fucking awe of this woman. Honestly, she is a storyteller of immense talent, and her voice is so damn unique and engaging. What she experienced over the course of a few months was utterly unbelievable-- and even more so that someone can come out of it all with a completely intact sense of humor. This was the perfect quick read on a couple hot summer days in which I just wanted to lose myself in someone else's story. What a powerful one.
Rebound by Kwame Alexander
Oh, Kwame Alexander, you are a freaking genius. This novel in verse just sings, quick and loud, its story touching and tender and oh so real. I understand why my daughter brought it to me with tears still fresh in her eyes and told me I simply had to read it. Then, there I was, reading it in public and wiping at my own wet cheeks. Alexander brings a boy to life on these pages, full of bluster and heart, along with his family and friends who help him find joy again after the death of his father. Just beautiful and perfect.
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
Meh. If I was allotted only one word for a review of this book, that would have been it. There were parts that made me chuckle, but definitely fewer than I had expected going in. I found some of the historical and natural facts interesting, but overall, I just wanted to be finished spending time in the woods with this too-often mean-spirited and cranky old man. I wasn't inspired to go for a hike on any trail, let alone the Appalachian Trail after reading this, and I was disappointed that Bryson didn't seem to different at all at the end of the book than at the start. Meh.
Not That Bad edited by Roxane Gay
I don't feel that there's any way to actually "review" this book, because how would one judge the worthiness of individual, highly personal testimonies on the broad topic of rape culture? Each essay was unique, yet they all were woven together with similarities and common themes, especially the titled reference to questioning if one's trauma/assault/rape was "bad enough" to warrant a story/sympathy/legal action. This was fucking hard to read. For me, I found myself revisiting memories and shadows of memories to evaluate how much I did or didn't have in common with some writers, which isn't a terribly enjoyable process. This is an important text for people of any gender identity to read, attempt to process, and use as encouragement to consider their own behaviors. Painful and ugly and so fucking important.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
I just read this last year for the first time, after having watching the film adaptation several years ago, but when it was announced as my book club's April pick, I was excited to revisit it again, even so soon. I think I was moved to even more compassion in this repeat read, knowing what I knew and getting to think again about Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy. These characters give readers a unique opportunity to think about what it means to be human. I think this is quite brilliantly written for those with zero idea of what to expect, and I wish I had read the book first some years ago. I'm looking forward to discussing it!
The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton
I don't even know how to begin to react to this book. A friend shared the audiobook file with me, so I listened to this painful testimony for hours and hours, crying in public as I walked down the street listening. I'm left astounded, wholly and utterly astounded, by Hinton's will to survive and faith that justice would be served. THIRTY YEARS. He served thirty fucking years on death row in a tiny cell by himself for 23 hours a day for a crime he did not commit. That is incomprehensible. This is beyond inhumane. The justice system that put him there did so knowing he was innocent, knowing and not giving one fuck. Even rejoicing in his imprisonment because even if he didn't do it, he was another black guy they got off the streets. But he survived, and Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative worked for years to push his case through hoop after hoop of the appeals until he was finally set free. Hinton's story is beyond heartbreaking, and he, an incomparable human being.
Good Neighbors by Joanne Serling
You know how in some suspense novels, you have to question the reliability of the narrator? Well, in this one, I questioned the narrator's basic well-being even above her reliability, for right from the beginning, almost every opinion or observation she shared was immediately rebutted by the exact opposite expressed by her as a, "but what if?" Maybe I think this, or perhaps it could be this. Sometimes the sentiments were somewhat relatable-- am I too harsh of a parent or does my child need to hear a decisive 'no' sometimes? But this practice became so consistent it was annoying and made me dislike the protagonist more and more as the book continued. I read it quickly, and I really wanted to know what happened to the young child at the center of the suspenseful storyline. But, honestly, all the characters had very few positive or redeeming characteristics, rich and privileged and seemingly incapable of true friendships or relationships. If this was meant to be a commentary on this portion of today's society, I'm thankful my middle-class self has a very different reality.
11. 3/24/18
Denton's Little's Still Not Dead by Lance Rubin
Well, I was disappointed in this follow-up, even though I quite enjoyed the first book. There were just too many instances of ridiculous happenings and plot holes that were conveniently plugged. The dialogue felt less smooth and authentic with this one than I remember feeling about the first, as well. I was still invested in the story, but then the ending was too over-the-top for me with little actual resolution toward the entire plot of governmental control.
10. 3/20/18
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Holy. Freaking. Moly. This was absolutely unlike anything else I've ever read. I did follow the advice given by a friend at book club when this was announced as the next selection, and I listened to the (AMAZING) audiobook, but read the paperback along with it, since I usually don't do so well with only auditory input. Though I had to make a marked effort to slow my visual reading to match the pace of the audiobook, it was an incredible experience because it was like listening to a movie while watching the words go by on the page. THAT CAST WAS PHENOMENAL. This whole story evoked so much... and by the end, I was crying without being able to stop. Not sobbing, per se, but the tears were flowing like a faucet down my face. At the heart of this story was loss, for both the living and those who couldn't quite yet admit they were no longer among them. There was so much humanity in this novel, my heart was breaking while I knew I needed to keep reading. Amazing book.
9. 3/14/18
In Praise of Difficult Women: Life Lessons from 29 Heroines Who Dared to Break the Rules by Karen Karbo
Whether I had previously known of the woman profiled or not, I was absolutely captivated by her profile in this fantastic collection. Sure, I was happy to see some specific familiar names, notably Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Amelia Earhart, and Josephine Baker, while others were introduced to me through this book. Yes, some of her inclusion choices could be questioned (Lena Dunham, I'm looking at you... I find you interesting but heroic, not so much...), but that would be said with any group of women selected. Either way, the author makes a case for how each individual has made her mark in the world with her own way of 'difficult' behavior. Some of the women have serious challenges and personal flaws, yes, and not all of their behavior is meant to be celebrated, per se, but acknowledged. I found this entire read to be fascinating, and I've passed it along to my almost-12-year-old daughter. There's a lot to be discussed here!
8. 3/8/18
Speak No Evil by Uzodinma Iweala
This is the first book to blow me away this year... probably a lot longer than that! It's slim at just over 200 pages, but it packs a huge story in its pages. Hugely emotional, hugely impacting, hugely telling about identity for people of color and LGBTQ folks. I haven't read Iweala's debut novel, Beasts of No Nation, but I want to now after being drawn in by his unique style and voice. It took a little adjusting to his nontraditional formatting, the lack of quotation marks to offset dialogue, for example. But somehow this kept the flow of the story going at a pace that marked the urgency of the character's first-person narrative. When I realized that the book shifts perspective about 2/3 of the way in, I was disappointed at first. But when I got to that point, I understood the need for the shift and what it offered to the telling of the story. I absolutely loved this book, as devastating as it was.
7. 3/2/18
We Are Still Awake by Billie Nichols
So, I'm pretty sure that this was well-written, but I'm honestly questioning my standards because I don't know if I was just taken by the plot. This story is obviously a barely-disguised take on a worst-case scenario possible after the Trump election. Thankfully, it's already 2018 and there's still a resistance movement that hasn't been squashed by forced intake of opiates, so there's that. But whether or not this is quality writing, I was absolutely enthralled. I hope that the author continues this series, for however long until I get some resolution to this awful world they've created!
6.2/23/18
Six Days Earlier by David Levithan
Well, in a for a penny, in for a pound, right? As I read the other two books in this YA series so far, when I saw that there was a short collection that gave a little more taste of A's life of bouncing around from body to body, I knew I had to read it. I didn't realize how short it would be, though I probably should have considering the title and all. I quite liked this "extra" look at A and how they have become the person they are. Levithan has created a really original voice in this character, and I'm happy to have spent some time with them.
5. 2/22/18
Another Day by David Levithan
While I like the idea of retelling a story from another character's perspective, I can't say that I enjoyed this one as much as the original. I think it's mostly Rhiannon's character, who just doesn't vibe with me the right way, even though I've tried to like her. Compared to A, she's pretty shallow and certainly less compelling as a person, as a being. That being said, I do want to know what happens next... so I'll be reading #3, no doubt.
Every Day by David Levithan
I really liked this unique and clever novel, and like much YA, I read it in a day and thought about it when I wasn't reading. The characters were intense, fitting for sixteen-year-olds, and I liked the escape to their world. The addition of the inexplicable waking-up-in-a-different-body-every-day plot was an interesting vehicle through which the teens could explore their perceptions of others. One chapter, though, left me with a really bad taste in my mouth and disappointed with Levithan for his lack of depth. When A wakes up in an obese teen boy's body, his immediate reaction and his continued perspective all day is nothing but judgemental. The character of the boy, as seen through his bedroom, home environment, and school peers, is shallow and one-dimensional, playing on pretty much every stereotype of a fat person. I expected more from an author who works hard to present multi-dimensional characters of various gender identities and sexual orientations.
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson
I gotta say- for a book that I ended up really liking, I was quite annoyed for at least the first half of the book. I couldn't get past what I perceived to be the author's show-offy tone. He used seemingly archaic words again and again, or at least ones that were much too high-brow for me, making me have to google way more frequently than any other book I remember reading. His writing style of closing chapter after chapter on cliffhangers got annoying, especially when he gave so little information to even try to remember to look for an answer later. I could have used fewer details on the planning and construction of the Exposition, but that's probably just me. If all of that sounds intensely negative, let me reiterate that I really did end up enjoying this book... enjoying in the sense that I learned a ton that I had no idea about, and I was truly fascinated in a macabre way with the story of H.H. Holmes. I'm left with a sense of awe at the whole story and just as much awe with the amount of research Larson had to conduct to pull these stories together.
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
I know I read this book years ago, though I didn't remember much beyond the basic skeleton of the story. While I didn't come even close to finishing in time for my book club discussion a couple weeks ago, I did enjoy hearing everyone's perspectives on the primary characters and especially on the Western lens through which this novel was written. Though Golden wrote it based on actual interviews with a former geisha, his perspective clearly comes through, making it a questionable presentation, of course. I find it an interesting read for its beautiful language and literary devices, while the content gives me more to consider about female roles across cultures and time.
Fools & Mortals by Bernard Cornwell
I wanted to be enamored with this novel, but it took me much longer to get into the story than I had anticipated. It probably says more about me than the book when I report that every time I picked it up, I started to fall asleep. Once I finally became more invested in the fictitious story of William Shakespeare's younger brother's attempt to get in his playwright brother's good graces, the reading pace picked up. Cornwell's writing was beautiful and his portrayal of the time period was lush and vivid, and not always in a flattering way. I did quite enjoy seeing two beloved Shakespeare works 'come to life' as it were, as he was creating them and putting them on stage for the first time. I think I may have just crossed paths with this novel at a bad time for me, so I hope to give it another chance someday in the future.
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