Review: The Memory Box

The Memory Box by Eva Lesko Natiello
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to the audiobook version of The Memory Box by Eva Lesko Natiello and narrated by Cassandra Campbell.  I wouldn't recommend the audiobook version to someone who doesn't have time to pay attention to the details, read the book instead.  There is nothing wrong with the audiobook, but this is the kind of story where details are important.  It is fast-paced, frantic even, and you can easily get lost if you aren't paying attention.  

I don't want to give anything away.  This didn't end the way I thought it would.  Memory is a funny (weird not haha) thing.  Kind of made me want to Google myself and also made me afraid to at the same time.

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Review: The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale

The Greatest Gift: A Christmas Tale by Philip Van Doren Stern
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you've ever seen It's a Wonderful Life, you will know the story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern.  It's a Christmas classic.  If you haven't seen the movie or read this story before, the idea will still feel familiar.  It's the ultimate "be careful what you wish for" tale.  

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Review: Polaris Is Where You'll Find Me

Polaris Is Where You'll Find Me by Jenny Han
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Polaris is Where You'll Find Me is a short story by Jenny Han.  Apparently being adopted by Santa and raised at the North Pole is not always as fun as it sounds.  Elves are very cliquey.


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Review: Christmas Eve: Illustrated Edition

Christmas Eve: Illustrated Edition by Jim Butcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christmas Eve is a short story by Jim Butcher.  While set in the Dresden Files universe after the 17th book, this is a standalone story that can be enjoyed even if you've never read those books.  If you are reading the series, you may want to wait until you've read book 17 in case of spoilers.  It's a sweet story that may ignite your own holiday memories.  

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Review: Christmas or The Good Fairy

Christmas or The Good Fairy by Harriet Beecher Stowe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christmas; or, The Good Fairy is a short story by Harriet Beecher Stowe.  Another great holiday read because it really gets at the spirit of this time of year.  The lesson really digs into the importance of charity and why selfless acts are the greatest gifts.

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Review: Sins of the Bees

Sins of the Bees by Annie Lampman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an audiobook copy of Sins of the Bees by Annie Lampman (narrated by Cassandra Campbell) from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

Let me start by saying that this would probably be a five star review had I read the book instead of listening to it.  There were parts I really wanted to savor but couldn't because of the format.  There were also parts that made me really, really sad, and I couldn't skip over them because of the format.  Maybe that's a good thing for me to confront, but it was also sort of excruciating.  If you like audiobooks, don't let my issues deter you.  Check this out!

What I really loved about this book was all the bee stuff.  There are very few fiction books that really delve into bees with the kind of detail you find here.  If you love bees like I do, you will want to give this a read.  But it is not just bees, there's a cult!  If you need more than bees and a cult, this book is beautifully written, and the author clearly has a strong connection to nature.  

Bonus points for so much love for animals.  I have a soft spot for characters who love animals nearly as much as I do.   

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Review: 'Tis the Season

'Tis the Season by China Miéville
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

'Tis the Season is a short Christmas story by China Miéville.  If you have strong feelings about the commercialization of holidays, especially Christmas, I would definitely include this on your holiday reading list.  Hopefully, you will find this story as delightful as I did.    

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Review: The Fir Tree

The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen is another classic Christmas fairy tale.  I have very mixed feelings about real Christmas trees, and this story did nothing but make me firmly plant myself on the side against them.  There are other important lessons in the story, but I wouldn't recommend reading this out loud in the woods.   

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Review: The Star

The Star by Arthur C. Clarke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Star is a short story by Arthur C. Clarke.  Clarke blends science and religion to give us a different kind of origin story.  I don't want to say much more without giving away what I thought was a nice surprise.  A great Christmas read for the science fiction fan.

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Review: Christmas at Red Butte

Christmas at Red Butte by L.M. Montgomery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Christmas at Red Butte by L.M. Montgomery is a short story that may feel familiar when you read it.  It reminded me of The Gift of the Magi in a way.  It's a sweet story that will warm your heart during the holidays.    

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Review: Matchless

Matchless by Gregory Maguire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Matchless by Gregory Maguire is a retelling of The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen.  Gregory Maguire is a master at taking a story everyone knows and giving it a uniquely new perspective that invites the audience to indulge again in a classic.  The story is just still too sad for me, and yet I've read it twice!


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Review: The House of Long Ago

The House of Long Ago by Steve Berry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The House of Long Ago is the fourth short story in the Cassiopeia Vitt series by Steve Berry and M.J. Rose.  You can read this story at any point.  It won't spoil anything in this or the Cotton Malone series.   I really like Cassiopeia and enjoy that she has her own series of short stories so that we can learn more about her.  In this story, we learn more about her family, especially her father, and about the art the Nazis stole from the Jews during World War II.  I don't think we can be reminded enough that some of that art still hasn't been returned to its rightful owners.  

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Review: The Haunting of Beatrix Greene Episode 1

The Haunting of Beatrix Greene Episode 1 by Rachel Hawkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full disclosure:  I received a free copy of The Haunting of Beatrix Greene by Rachel Hawkins, Ash Parsons, and Vicky Alvear Shecter from Serial Box via NetGalley.  

Don't let the picture fool you, I got the full story not just Episode 1.  Each "episode" is written by one of the three authors.  It is always impressive when you have multiple authors and yet they manage to write a really cohesive piece.  I can't imagine how much work goes into that.  But that's not the real reason you are reading this.  Let's get to the good stuff.

I love a haunted house book.  Always have.  Throw in a medium, a skeptic, and a seance...I'm in spooky reading heaven.  But wait, there's more!  Literal manifestations of toxic masculinity!  Bad ass women to the rescue.  The moral of the story:  if a ghost tells you not to go somewhere, you should listen.      

Bonus points for cameos by Arthur Conan Doyle and Harry Houdini.  Sure, you never mention Houdini, but I saw what you did there.   

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Review: Once Upon a Time in Silver Lake

Once Upon a Time in Silver Lake by Mindy Kaling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Once Upon a Time in Silver Lake is part of the Nothing Like I Imagined essay series by Mindy Kaling. Unlike some of the other essays in the series, this one is just a retelling of something that happened to Mindy while she was pregnant.  That makes it sound insignificant when the event was anything but.  It will make you wonder what you would do if confronted with the same scenario.  But also, it is a really weird thing to have happen! 

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Review: Cold Wind

Cold Wind by Nicola Griffith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Cold Wind by Nicola Griffith is a haunting fantasy short story.  It's a great winter read.  If you are looking for tidings of good cheer and happy endings, look elsewhere.  I thought it was rather delicious.

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Review: A Stolen Christmas

A Stolen Christmas by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Stolen Christmas is a short story by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman.  I'd place this firmly in the traditional Christmas story camp.  If A Christmas Carol is too long for you, switch it out for this.  You still get the class differences, the moral lesson, and the Christmas spirit.

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Review: Brass Canaries

Brass Canaries by Gwendolyn Clare
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brass Canaries by Gwendolyn Clare really moved me.  I feel a strong desire to buy up all the delicate brass canaries now.  

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Review: Little Brother™

Little Brother™ by Bruce Holland Rogers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Little Brother™ by Bruce Holland Rogers is exactly what I look for in my holiday stories or in most science fiction really.  I like an AI with personality.  

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Review: In The Late December

In The Late December by Greg Van Eekhout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In the Late December is a short story by Greg Van Eekhout.  In it, you learn just how important Santa's job really is.

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Review: Please Like Me [But Keep Away]

Please Like Me [But Keep Away] by Mindy Kaling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Please Like Me (But Keep Away) is part of the Nothing Like I Imagined essay series by Mindy Kaling.  As an introvert that people think is an extrovert,  I really related to this essay.  It is easy to think someone in the spotlight enjoys being the center of attention and surrounded by people.  Not always the case.  I'm not sure I appreciated her giving away all the tricks we use to avoid people.  Now, they know how to thwart us like B.J. did to you on his 40th birthday, Mindy!  If you're an introvert or have social anxiety, this one's for you.  

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Review: Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy: A Memoir

Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy: A Memoir by Christopher R. Hill
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't read many non-fiction books about my work.  I like fictionalized accounts about the State Department and diplomacy because I enjoy seeing how much they get right or wrong.  It's always funny to read an outsider's impression of your life.  I'll admit that I bought Outpost: Life on the Frontlines of American Diplomacy by Christopher R. Hill because I've met him (around Chapter 16).  Ok, I didn't just meet him.  I spent several days with him while he was on official business in Chengdu, China.  Organizing his visit and going to meetings with him was like being the roadie for a true rock star.  I'm kind of sad he didn't even mention me as I'm sure I had a lasting impact on his life.  Certainly eating Sichuan food so spicy to be deemed "inedible" is as memorable as negotiations with North Korea.  

Chris Hill is an impressive guy with a sense of humor.  Plus, he's nice.  Those are not qualities you find in every senior government official.  Maybe one.  Maybe two.  But all three?  Chris Hill is a unicorn.  His book didn't disappoint me either.  This is not a dry, wonky read.  It's engaging and accessible to the non-diplomat.  You get a real sense of what life is like for those of us on the frontlines and a peek behind the curtain of diplomacy.

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Review: We Are Never Meeting in Real Life

We Are Never Meeting in Real Life by Samantha Irby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

While reading Samantha Irby's We Are Never Meeting in Real Life, one of my cats passed away.  Up until that point, I was really enjoying her humor and tell-it-like-it-is storytelling.  I like an author who keeps it real.  Like really real.  Like ok maybe that was too much information real.  But then I suddenly wasn't in the mood for comedy.  I was torn because I didn't have much of the book left and yet my heart wasn't really in it.  I decided to push forward, and it just happened that the next chapter up was about her own cat, Helen Keller.  I cried until I was so dehydrated that I couldn't produce another tear and finished the book.  

If you have Midwest roots but a razor wit, think people are the problem not their pets, are tired of societal beauty standards, or are just plain tired,  I recommend this to you.

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Review: Big Shot

Big Shot by Mindy Kaling
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Big Shot is part of Mindy Kaling's Nothing Like I Imagined series of essays.  In it, Mindy learns a great lesson about charity that I think many people could benefit from.  It was the perfect thing to read during the "giving season."  

Bonus points for the gift given to those of us who stay through all the credits.

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Review: The Last Odyssey

The Last Odyssey by James Rollins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Last Odyssey is the 15th book in the Sigma Force series by James Rollins.  You could start the series here because it doesn't require much knowledge from the prior books, but it might have less of an emotional impact.

As the title suggests, this story takes you on quite an odyssey itself while also drawing inspiration and exploring the mysteries from the epic poem by Homer.  There is so much packed into this book.  I thought the most intriguing mystery was going to be how a medieval boat from the Middle East got frozen into the ice around Greenland.  But it turns out, I am fascinated and terrified by ancient automatons.  It sent me down an Internet rabbit hole of looking those things up!  I really appreciate that James Rollins breaks down what is fact and fiction after the story is over or I might not sleep ever again.  And I don't know why, but I got some serious Jules Verne vibes while reading this.

Bonus points for including an adorably helpful monkey.   

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Review: The Lying Game

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ruth Ware got me again with The Lying Game.  I usually can figure out mysteries pretty quickly, so it is always a delight when I have to work for it.  The way she parcels out clues is masterful.  There's definitely foreshadowing but maybe you don't realize it is until much later.  If you like a slow burn that makes you think twice about what you think you know, check this book out!

I don't usually do trigger warnings, but I will say if alcohol, drugs, or abuse are a trigger for you, read a different Ruth Ware book.  They are significant in this book.

Side note:  If a woman's naked body and/or breastfeeding makes you uncomfortable, (first) grow up and (second) don't read this book.  

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Review: Searching for Coach Taylor

Searching for Coach Taylor by Mindy Kaling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Searching for Coach Taylor is a short story in the Nothing Like I Imagined series by Mindy Kaling.  You can read these stories in any order.

I'm not a single mom, but I am single, and this was so relatable.  There will be women out there that will deny the validity of Mindy's observations.  They're liars or delusional.  A quick, fun read.  I found it difficult not to highlight every line.  

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Review: Bohemian Gospel

Bohemian Gospel by Dana Chamblee Carpenter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bohemian Gospel is the first book in the Bohemian Trilogy by Dana Chamblee Carpenter.  Definitely start with this one.  

This was a unique departure from the typical historical fiction I read.  I wasn't expecting a slight supernatural twist.  And then there was the part where I said, "I didn't see that coming AT ALL!"  Otherwise, I felt like this was sort of a Cinderella story if the glass slipper shattered into a million pieces right before she got to try it on.  If you don't mind your historical fiction to be a little heavier on the fiction, give this a try.

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Review: Help Is On the Way

Help Is On the Way by Mindy Kaling
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Help Is On the Way is a short story in the Nothing Like I Imagined series by Mindy Kaling.  You can read these stories in any order.

I don't know what it is like to be a single mother, but I can imagine from what I've seen friends go through that it is no walk in the park.  I'm glad Mindy found someone to help her get through those initial scary times and develop the confidence to rock motherhood!

Also, I saw what you did there at the end, Mindy Kaling....Fortunately, it wasn't a spoiler!

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Review: The City We Became

The City We Became by N.K. Jemisin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The City We Became is the first book in the Great Cities trilogy by N.K. Jemisin.  Since this book sets up everything, you will want to start here.  Since I don't think any other book in the trilogy has been released yet, you have to start here.

This is the first book I've read by N.K. Jemisin who is a much lauded author.  I was a bit surprised to find I had difficulty getting into the book.  If I weren't living in NYC right now, I probably would have added it to my "did not finish" pile and moved on.  However, I did find the descriptions of the city and its inhabitants interesting.  And, I couldn't help going "I've been there!"  For that I stuck with it.  The writing is very good.  I just wasn't as invested in some of the characters as I felt I needed to be to really enjoy the story.

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Review: Stirring Up Trouble

Stirring Up Trouble by Juli Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stirring Up Trouble is the first book in the Stirring Up Trouble series by Juli Alexander.  Since there are only two books out right now, start with this one.  

This book was just an enjoyable read.  Witches?  Check.  Humor?  Check.  A dog?  Check.  Sure there was some typical teenage angst/drama, but it was wholesome escapism from the horror we see on TV every day now.  I liked that self-serving magic has visible ramifications.  The main character is sweet, and you'll have no trouble rooting for her.  

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Review: Crooked River

Crooked River by Douglas Preston
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Crooked River is the 19th book in the Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.   Don't start the series here.  You'll definitely want some previous context.

The mystery in this book reminds me of that unsolved mystery of the Salish Sea severed feet.  A bunch of shoes with severed feet in them wash up on a beach.  Where did they come from?  How could so many people lose their foot/feet at the same time and it not be newsworthy?  Since the Salish Sea mystery is still unexplained, I was really looking forward to Pendergast solving this case.  What possible (and plausible) explanation could there be?  I wasn't expecting this answer!  

Bonus points for making Constance a real badass.

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Review: The 20th Victim

The 20th Victim by James Patterson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The 20th Victim is the 20th book in the Women's Murder Club series by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro.  I don't recommend starting the series here.  One of the best parts of this series is getting to know the members of the Women's Murder Club.  I suggest starting from the beginning.  A 20 book commitment seems like a lot, but I swear the books are quick reading.  

I found the cases in this one not as compelling as usual, but there was some major character development.  There was some shocking, emotional news.  Some moral conundrums.  Joe steps into the spotlight for a change.  I also really appreciated the brief but poignant note about the important relationship between a woman and her dog.  Lindsay and I feel very similarly about that.  

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Review: Shit, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema

Shit, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema by Lindy West
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received a copy of Shit, Actually: The Definitive, 100% Objective Guide to Modern Cinema by Lindy West from Hachette Books via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

If you are the person who has to provide snarky running commentary while watching a movie, Lindy West gets you.  Lindy West rewatched some of the most popular films and provides a hilarious recap of each, rating them against the "best movie ever," The Fugitive.  I've seen most of the movies she covers and yet, she points out things that I don't even remember.  It almost made me want to rewatch them, but I've already got enough to watch.  Thanks, Lindy, for doing the work so I don't have to.  Lindy does an excellent job of capturing that love/hate feeling you can have with movies.  "This is so implausible, and yet, I LOVE it!"  Want to have a laugh over some of the most popular films of all time?  Get this book!

This book was written so recently it includes commentary on the COVID-19 pandemic and current American politics.  If you want to avoid those topics, this is not a good book for you. 

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Review: Hollywood Yesterday: A Hollywood Alphabet Series Thriller

Hollywood Yesterday: A Hollywood Alphabet Series Thriller by M.Z. Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Hollywood Yesterday is the 25th book in the Hollywood Alphabet Series by M.Z. Kelly. You can start the series here because there is a summary in the beginning that will bring you up to speed. However, you may not be as invested in the outcome if you do it that way.

For those of us who have been reading the whole series, we are getting close to the resolution we are waiting for. And dare I say, this might be one of the best books in the series. There is a horrific crime to be solved, carefully balanced with the end game storyline that has carried through the series. There is also some humor but not so absurd as to detract from the seriousness of the rest of the book. I'm looking forward to the last book, and the answers we've all been waiting for!

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Review: The Library of the Unwritten

The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Library of the Unwritten is the first book in the Hell's Library series by A.J. Hackwith.

I wasn't sure what to expect from a book about a library of unwritten stories located in Hell. It had never even occurred to me that Hell would have a library or that all the those potential stories in the world might be waiting somewhere. Heroic librarians, demons, literary duels, a quest, and a little bit of mystery make this quite an epic tale. I recommend this to book lovers, those of us who would fight tooth and nail to preserve literature in all its forms.

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Review: Lexicon

Lexicon by Max Barry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lexicon by Max Barry was a trippy read.  You're flashing between character storylines and timelines.  It started out very much an action thriller which wasn't what I was expecting for a book about words.  I almost put it down thinking I wasn't really in the mood for a high octane story.  But I stuck with it long enough to get to what I was looking for and ride it out to the end.  Words have power, and it is scary to think there might be a set of words out there that render you completely under someone else's control.  Not everything was as it seemed either which keeps you guessing throughout.  I like that in a book.

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Review: Heartbreaker: A Novel

Heartbreaker: A Novel by Claudia Dey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Heartbreaker: A Novel by Claudia Dey imagines a world stuck in the 80s, 1985 specifically.  For some of us, maybe that sounds pretty ideal.  But paradise doesn't come without a cost.  This society, one might even say cult, has some funky and dark social customs.  They regularly collect the blood of the young. Gender roles are very defined.  Clothing choices are regulated.  So when an outsider, Billie Jean, shows up one day out of nowhere, you know things are going to get interesting.      

What's really different is you don't learn Billie Jean's story from her.  You learn it from three different narrators, her daughter, her dog, and a neighborhood boy.  And because you see her story from these different perspectives, her mysteries are revealed slowly, and it takes time to connect all the dots.  A few things I was able to anticipate early but much of it left me thinking, "I didn't see that coming!" 

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Review: Around the Corner to Around the World: A Dozen Lessons I Learned Running Dunkin Donuts

Around the Corner to Around the World: A Dozen Lessons I Learned Running Dunkin Donuts by Robert Rosenberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full disclosure:  I received an advanced copy of Around the Corner to Around the World: A Dozen Lessons I Learned Running Dunkin Donuts by Robert Rosenberg from Harper Collins Leadership via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

If you are Dunkin Donuts aficionado and/or an entrepreneur, this book has something for you.  I'm not much of a business person, but I do work in a field that requires strong leaderships skills, and I love Dunkin Donuts, so I thought I would give this book a try. This could have been the type of book that makes your eyes glaze over, but I found the story of the company and the development of the donuts and coffee really interesting.  There's a really good reason why "America runs on Dunkin."

What surprised me most was how much I learned about franchising.  If I ever have a lot of extra money lying around, I just might try it!  I also appreciated that Robert Rosenberg doesn't sugar-coat his bad decisions.  We all make them, and it is an important part of development.  He also gives plenty of credit and praise to the people who helped make Dunkin a success.  

Fair warning:  You will want to eat donuts while you read this book.  I was craving Dunkin throughout and treated myself when I finished.

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Review: Inside 10 Rillington Place: The untold horror of my life with a serial killer

Inside 10 Rillington Place: The untold horror of my life with a serial killer by Peter Thorley
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Full disclosure:  I received an advanced copy of Inside 10 Rillington Place by Peter Thorley from Mirror Books via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.  

Part memoir, part true crime novel, Inside 10 Rillington Place is an attempt by the author to try and set the record straight about the horrific murder of his sister and niece.  Because Peter Thorley has first-hand experience with the people involved, his account carries  weight, and he is able to make reasoned arguments for who he believes really killed his sister and niece.  At the same time, you realize he is not completely unbiased.  There is a twist in the story that I won't give away here.  This is a good book for true crime buffs.

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Review: The Complete Bee Handbook: History, Recipes, Beekeeping Basics, and More

The Complete Bee Handbook: History, Recipes, Beekeeping Basics, and More by Dr Dewey M Caron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full disclosure:  I received an advance copy of The Complete Bee Handbook: History, Recipes, Beekeeping Basics, and More by Dr. Dewey M. Caron from Callisto Media via Net Galley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

You don't have to be a beekeeper or prospective beekeeper (I'm not) to enjoy this book.  I love bees.  If you don't already, you can learn to love them too.  Without them, we couldn't survive.  So I look for every opportunity to educate myself on how to help bees survive for their sake and ours.  This was a really great resource for doing just that.  I not only learned a lot just about bees in general but also many easy ways that I can help bees without having hives.  If you are crafty, there were even recipes for how to use bee products to make things like candles.  I liked that everything was very clearly written and explained so even a bee novice could understand.  If you want to learn more about bees and/or how you can help them, this is an excellent starting point.  

For the vegetarians and vegans who wrestle with the ethics of honey and beekeeping, I think you will find this book makes a case for why we should support local beekeepers.  Without their help, bees would be even worse off than they already are.

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Review: The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Goats: How to Keep a Happy Herd

The Beginner’s Guide to Raising Goats: How to Keep a Happy Herd by Amber Bradshaw
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full disclosure:  I received an advance copy of The Beginner's Guide to Raising Goats: How to Keep a Happy Herd by Amber Bradshaw from Callisto Media via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

My sister expressed an interest in goats, so when I saw this book, I thought I would read it and give her an idea of what she would be in for if she one day acquired some.  I would never recommend a person take on caretaking any animals after reading just one book.  However, if you are thinking about taking on goats, this book will give you a very good idea of what to expect.  I liked that this book is not super technical.  It truly is for beginners.  She provides lots of practical information, including an idea of how much things cost and step-by-step instructions on how to do things like build a goat manger.  It is a tremendous resource for a new goat parent.  

Bonus points for the cute goat photos.  

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Review: How Should One Read a Book?

How Should One Read a Book? by Virginia Woolf
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full disclosure: I received an advance copy of How Should One Read a Book? by Virginia Woolf from Laurence King Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

This is a standalone printing of Virginia Woolf's essay, How Should One Read a Book. This is an ode to books and the joy that reading brings. I've always enjoyed Virginia Woolf's writing, so it is not a surprise I would love her celebration of reading, one of my favorite things. If you like reading too (and if you are reading this, I'm guessing you do), pick this up and take a moment to revel in great writing.

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Review: The Midnight Circus

The Midnight Circus by Jane Yolen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full disclosure:  I received an advance copy of The Midnight Circus by Jane Yolen from Tachyon Publications via NetGalley in exchange for possibly writing a review.

The original fairy tales were seriously dark and morbid to reflect the time during which they were written.  They were meant to teach children the harsh realities of the world.  Obviously, they are no longer like that...unless you read Jane Yolen.  The fairy tales in this book are not going to be made into Disney movies.  These short stories and poems take place all over the world and involve mythical creatures like selkies and vampires.   You may recognize the bones of some of the stories as retellings of classics, but many are originals.  One of my favorites is about the race to the South Pole.  If you didn't think climate change was scary before, you will be terrified after this.   

If you like your fantasy dark and twisty, you'll want to check out this book.

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Review: The Future of Us

The Future of Us by Jay Asher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I devoured The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler.  Even though I was just finishing college in 1996, I could still relate to Josh and Emma and their high school drama.  I remember getting that AOL CD in the mail, and my parents not letting me install it because it was "just a fad."  Maybe it was a good thing they did because it is the very thing that triggers a whole mess of trouble for Emma and Josh.  

What would you do if suddenly you knew what your life would be like in 15 years?  Emma and Josh take radically different approaches.  I feel like I would side with Josh's more conservative approach and try not to make too many ripple effects.  Then again, if my life were the pits, would I feel the same way?  Add into that all the angst and pressure of high school and high school romance...ACK!  I could feel the hormones of my past.  Like Emma wanting to hit refresh every second, I couldn't wait to see what happened next.  

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Review: Randomize

Randomize by Andy Weir
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Randomize by Andy Weir is a short story in the Amazon Forward collection.  I was surprised at how much detail he could pack into so few pages.  It is hard to write much about this without giving it away.  I didn't read a description of it before I started, so I was surprised about where it went.  I found the information about random number generators and quantum entanglements really interesting.  He does raise a really intriguing question for the future of casinos.  Can they survive the advancements in computing?    

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Review: The Girls

The Girls by Emma Cline
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It took me a minute to get into The Girls by Emma Cline, but once I did, I could hardly put it down.  It is beautifully written.  The descriptions are rich to the point I felt I could smell them.  The main character, Evie, was not someone I really liked in the beginning although, as her story evolved, I began to have more sympathy and empathy for her.  I had to remind myself she's really just a kid and that's why she does the things she does.  She wants to be loved and accepted.  She wants to belong.  She's rebelling against her parents.  You can see why she gets drawn into this group that is essentially a commune.  It isn't until much later that she realizes her error.  If you've ever read Helter Skelter, anything about Charles Manson or pretty much any cult, you will see the eerie similarities.  This could easily be the story of any of the young people that get caught up in the whirlwind of a crazy, charismatic personality.  

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Review: Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own

Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own by Kate Bolick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As a middle-aged, single woman moving to New York (with cats to boot!), I may have found more to relate with in Kate Bolick's Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own than most people.  The book is part Kate's memoir, part biography of women she calls her "awakeners."  These are women who at one point or all points of theirs lives could have been described by "spinster."  I enjoyed that Kate takes this term and reclaims it from its negative connotations.

I already knew some of her awakeners, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Edith Wharton, and Edna St. Vincent Millay.  Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper and Herland have stuck with me since college.  It was great to meet more women who went against the grain in some way to forge a future in which women like me could do their own thing and not be defined/confined by their marital status.  Not to say things are perfect yet but certainly better.  I would definitely recommend this book to any single woman and also to anyone who really just wants to learn about some great writers.

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Review: The Music Shop

The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to The Music Shop written by Rachel Joyce and read by Steven Hartley.  It was a little hard for me to get into at first.  I think that was a downside to not reading it for me.  I absorb material better visually.  Once I did start to get into the story though, I could hardly turn it off.  I enjoyed all the music trivia, and the idea of finding the perfect song or album for a person at the moment they need it.  As someone with an extensive vinyl collection (and really resistant to move on to other mediums), I can appreciate Frank's stubborn loyalty to vinyl.  The story brings up a lot of emotions.  Be ready for that.  You may also want to pair this with some music, perhaps the music mentioned in the book, for full effect.

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Review: The Vatican Games

The Vatican Games by Alejandra Guibert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Vatican Games by Alejandra Guibert is another in the line of dystopian fiction novels I seem to be reading during the worst possible year to read dystopian fiction.  But hey, this one doesn't involve a pandemic!  Instead everyone in the world who drinks soda is poisoned. Not the slow poisoning that happens just from drinking sugar water either.  No, this is much more immediate.  Think about that the next time you reach for one.  

One child, Vera, survives against the odds and grows up to work on video games.  That's a character after my own heart.  It's a slow build-up to the real action just a little more than halfway through.  I don't want to give too much away, but people start dying and Vera is determined to find out why at any cost.  

Trigger warning for devout Catholics.

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Review: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told

The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Megan Mullally
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I don't often say that I think an audiobook is better than the actual book, but I think The Greatest Love Story Ever Told written and read by Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman is a worthy exception.  I loved it!  I loved it so much!  I'm also not supposed to tell you this, but there is a special surprise if you listen to the audiobook.  That's all I'm going to say.  

Nick Offerman grew up less than 30 mins away from me.  Or maybe I should say I grew up less than 30 mins away from him?  Hearing him talk about his family is like going back to my youth.  Mostly, it reminds me of high school sports away games in Channahon and Minooka.  Shout out to the Wilmington Wildcats!  But this is not Nick's story alone.  Megan's story is really fascinating.  Her life couldn't be more far removed from my own, and yet, I find her so relatable and accessible.  You can't help but be glad these two found each other and many years later wrote a book about it.

Bonus points for all the puzzle and animal love, two things so near and dear to my heart.  Buddy's story is just about the best thing ever.   

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