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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