Review: Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks: A Librarian's Love Letters and Breakup Notes to the Books in Her Life

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
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Dear Fahrenheit 451: Love and Heartbreak in the Stacks by Annie Spence is exactly that, a series of letters to books.  She pours out her feelings about a wide variety of books, many of which will be familiar to readers.  While her taste doesn't necessarily align with mine, I enjoyed her humor very much.  I certainly endorse anything that gets other people to read more.  Maybe someone will pick up a new book after reading her letter to it.  I'll admit that I enjoyed the breakup letters slightly more than the love letters.  Some books really are just terrible.  And some books are just not for you.  There is nothing wrong with acknowledging that and letting a book go.  Thanks for that message.

This book is also a bit of a love letter to libraries.  This is where I put in my shameless plug for people to support their local library and librarians.  Even if you aren't a big reader, your library probably has something that would benefit you.  Check it out!

Bonus points for mentioning Bunnicula, one of my very favorite series.  

Extra bonus points for including one of my favorite quotes!  “If you go home with somebody, and they don't have books, don't f**k 'em!” -John Waters  Such good advice, John!

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Review: The City in the Middle of the Night

The City in the Middle of the Night by Charlie Jane Anders
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I could have spent a lot more time in the world created by Charlie Jane Anders in The City in the Middle of the Night.  Not that this is a hospitable, comfortable world; far from it.  This is a place you go when you have nowhere else to go.  Yet, it captured my imagination, and I just wanted to know SO MUCH MORE.  I could read more books just about the history of this world.

There are so many elements of this story that I loved.  Sophie engaging with the Gelet when others consider them nothing more than animals is absolutely something I would do.  The concept of an "Anchor-Banter" is kind of genius.  It really helps explain why you keep getting thrown together with certain people against your better judgment.  I'm surprised we don't have a term for it too.  I could read a whole book about Mouth.   

I am not usually one for romance in my stories.  I'm old and jaded. I usually find romance annoying and worried early on that the relationship between Sophie and Bianca would ruin the story for me.  Turns out I had nothing to worry about.  Instead of being cloying, it was very familiar.  Love is complicated.    

Bonus points for my pleasant surprise at Merida references.  I loved living there (and the food!) and like to think the culture (and the food!) would survive even if our planet doesn't.    

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Review: Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age

Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age by Annalee Newitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My mom once told me she wished she could have been an archaeologist.  It seemed fitting to listen to Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age written by Annalee Newitz and narrated by Chloe Cannon as I drove her ashes to their final resting place in Illinois.  Our final road trip was an emotional journey.  Mom stoked my passion for far away places and Annalee's book was like a salve on the open wound of my heart, a reminder that nothing is ever truly lost.

Growing up in Illinois, I had heard of Cahokia.  I was surprised to learn that the pictures I'd seen of grass-covered mounds are not exactly historically accurate.  I remember being a little bit obsessed with Pompeii after reading a National Geographic article about it.  My mom helped me do a class project on the city, complete with stunning pictures of ashen remains.  Not surprisingly, the section on Pompeii was my favorite.  I still find that place fascinating after all these years.  I've heard plenty about Angkor and have friends that have visited.  My own planned trip was thwarted by avian flu, back when we thought that was one of the worst things you could get.  Maybe I will still make it there one day.  Çatalhöyük was new to me but really set the stage for the book.  

This book has a lot to offer to a wide variety of readers.  Annalee does a great job of explaining the science and technology used to uncover these cities in a way that someone without any background in the field can understand.  Travel, history, anthropology, and archaeology buffs will enjoy it.  

Bonus points to Chloe Cannon for pronouncing all those words without missing a beat.  Quite a feat!

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Review: New Yorkers: A Feisty People Who Will Unsettle, Madden, Amuse and Astonish You

New Yorkers: A Feisty People Who Will Unsettle, Madden, Amuse and Astonish You by Clifford Browder
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received a copy of New Yorkers: A Feisty People Who Will Unsettle, Madden, Amuse and Astonish You by Clifford Browder from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley.

As a fellow Midwesterner transplanted to such an iconic city as New York, I was interested in Mr. Browder's take on the experience.  Granted, he has lived in New York quite a bit longer than I have.  The book is a mix of travel guide, history, and social commentary.  I learned some really cool things and noted some places I need to check out as I get to know the city.  If you have a connection to NYC or just enjoy reading about it, check this book out.

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Review: Midlife Bites: Anyone Else Falling Apart, Or Is It Just Me?

Midlife Bites: Anyone Else Falling Apart, Or Is It Just Me? by Jen Mann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received a copy of Midlife Bites: Anyone Else Falling Apart, Or Is It Just Me? written by Jen Mann by wishing for it from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.  Wishes do come true!

This book couldn't have come into my life at a better time.  I'm turning 47 this week!  I've been yelling for years that nobody tells women what is really in store for them as they get older.  Has your body got some surprises in store for you!!!  Joy and happiness?  You might have to kiss those goodbye in exchange for...hello darkness, my old friend.  Get ready to be angry...a lot.  Yep, I want to punch people in the throat too.  Then here comes Jen Mann writing what has been inside my brain for certainly all of my forties and probably a chunk of my thirties.  She's not afraid to tell you the truth. Your body will betray you (sometimes in public).  She saw a need and created a Facebook group for women to find support as they navigate mid-life and beyond.  She exposed the secret that women have mid-life crises just like men only we don't buy fancy sports cars and run off with much younger women.  

If you find yourself on the cusp of 40 or any point after and nobody has had "the talk" with you yet, do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book.  You'll be glad you did.

Bonus points for Stan the Mann (Jen's dog).

Extra bonus points for accepting me into the Midlife Bites Facebook group.  I have found more of my people.    

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Review: Hell House

Hell House by Richard Matheson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to Hell House written by Richard Matheson and narrated by Ray Porter because that's the version that came off library hold first.  I probably would have preferred to read it because sometimes I had trouble distinguishing the voices and the female voices were not to my taste.  That said, Ray Porter is better at voices than I could ever be.  

I was in the mood for something scary, and I had heard this would fit the bill quite nicely.  It is a good haunted house book.  It has all the requisite features: a psychic, a skeptic, an innocent, and a cat.  They are on a mission to debunk or clear the haunting.  As you can imagine from the title, that is a challenge.  If you like haunted house stories, you can find out what happens.    

For those who are triggered by sexual assault or animal abuse, don't read this book.  

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Review: Never Say You Can't Survive

Never Say You Can't Survive by Charlie Jane Anders
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure: I received a copy of Never Say You Can't Survive by Charlie Jane Anders from Tordotcom via Netgalley in exchange for possibly providing my feedback.  Confession:  I had already started reading it when it was published as a series of articles on Tor.com, so getting a copy of the book was a bonus. 

I'm not a writer.  I'm a reader.  If you read my reviews, you know this.  I am not necessarily the target audience of this book.  HOWEVER, I am here to tell you that you don't need to be a writer or a want-to-be writer to enjoy this book.  I LOVE pretty much anything that Charlie Jane Anders writes and getting insight into her writing process was a fun experience.  I enjoyed all the behind-the-scenes details of her books.  And, all the nerdiness/geekiness warmed my heart.  It felt like have a conversation with a friend about good writing.  You don't have to be a writer to enjoy that.

Bonus points for Charlie Jane writing a book that makes you feel like you can conquer the world by just being you.           

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Review: I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are

I Want to Be Where the Normal People Are by Rachel Bloom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to I Want to Be Where the Normal People are written and read by Rachel Bloom.  I don't regret that choice because hearing it straight from Rachel with all the emotion and musicality is the way it should be read.  I laughed every time she announced a new chapter with such gusto.  

If you are already a fan of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the contents of the book are probably not going to shock you.  If you are not familiar with Rachel Bloom's work, you might be a little surprised by the book.  Rachel doesn't sugarcoat her life.  She's had horrible things done to her, and she's done some not-so-nice things herself.  Haven't we all?  The afterword about Adam Schlesinger made me sob.  Have tissues ready when you get there.  I think the main thing I came away with from this book is: if we are all a little bit (or a lot bit) weird, doesn't that make us all normal?  

Bonus points for an awesome throwback cover, a fun musical tie-in title, and the best acknowledgements section I have ever read or heard.  Seriously, you rocked those thanks, Rachel!  

Extra bonus points for a whole chapter told from her dog's perspective.

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Review: Severance

Severance by Ling Ma
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If the COVID-19 pandemic has you feeling overwhelmed or on the edge, you may want to take a minute (or a couple of years) before reading Severance by Ling Ma.  You've been warned.  I listened to the audiobook narrated by Nancy Wu.  

Mind you, Severance was published in 2018, and I put it on my To Be Read list a long time ago.  I did not recall what it was about.  I just knew I had been waiting for it to be available from the library FOREVER and was going to read it now that I finally had the chance. The main character is a single woman living in New York City during a global pandemic that originated in China.  Boy, was that familiar!  There are N95 masks, mask mandates, global travel bans, and teleworking mandates involved.  She ends up in another place I've lived and will be going to again this week, so still creepily familiar.  I almost had to stop listening because it was feeling too real and sad.  I stuck with it because I hoped Ling Ma saw the future for us and maybe there was some hope.  You'll have to read the book yourself to find out.

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