Review: The Castle on Sunset: Life, Death, Love, Art, and Scandal at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont

The Castle on Sunset: Life, Death, Love, Art, and Scandal at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont by Shawn Levy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I listened to The Castle on Sunset: Life, Death, Love, Art, and Scandal at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont written by Shawn Levy and read by Mike Chamberlain because I could only get the audiobook version through my library.  Fortunately, this is the kind of book that lends itself well to both written and audio formats.

The Chateau Marmont is iconic.  If you've ever read or listened to anything about Hollywood, especially gossip, you have probably heard mention of it.  What is it about this eccentric hotel that attracts so many celebrities?  I'll admit that I wanted to know and that's what drew me to this book.  The hotel has been around since 1929.  Whether you are a fan or old or new Hollywood, there is something in here for you.  The book follows the hotel's history almost chronologically through its various owners, managers, and most famous guests.  What you learn is the thing that draws people to the hotel is how well it can keep a secret.  I found it a delicious read.    

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Review: Catfishing on CatNet

Catfishing on CatNet by Naomi Kritzer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Catfishing on CatNet is the first book in the CatNet series by Naomi Kritzer.  I just started the second book and suggest you read them in order.  Plus, they aren't unusually long and go by fast, so there is no reason not to read them in order.

There is a lot going on in this story, so I will do my best to avoid spoilers.  A teenage girl and her mother are on the run.  They end up in small town Wisconsin.  Been there.  Because they move so frequently, she develops most of her friendships in an online community called CatNet.  I loved everything about CatNet.  The name, the Clowders, the trading of animal pictures....purrfect!  But you can't read a book about a girl on the run without life ultimately catching up to her.  You'll have to read the book yourself to find out what happens. 

Bonus points for stray cat rescue, all the birds, and They Might Be Giants.  

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Review: Unlikely Animals

Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Full Disclosure:  I received an advanced copy of Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett from Ballantine Books via NetGalley.

I had heard about this book on the Nerdette Podcast. Everything about it called to me.  Adult woman returns to small hometown and becomes a substitute teacher.  I've done that.  Even though it is set in New Hampshire, I couldn't stop visualizing it as Wilmington, IL.  On the drive to move back home, she picks up a stray animal and brings it home with every intention of keeping it.  Yep, done that too.  So much love for animals in this book!  Needed that.  There are stories within the story related to the naturalist, Ernest Harold Baynes and his own animal adventures.  Love epistolary story-telling!  And finally, an unconventional narrator....Nailed it!  If you are looking for something a bit quirky with a splash of dark humor but still leaves you feeling uplifted, this is a great choice.  

As an aside, I got real George Saunders vibes from this book which is a compliment from me.  Fox8 is one of my favorite short stories.  

Bonus points for a cute cover and having amazing animal characters!  I would read The Adventures of Rasputin and Moses.  

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Review: Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen

Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen by Mary Norris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I listened to Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen written and read by Mary Norris because audiobook was the only version I could get from the library.  On the one hand, it was useful because I learned how to pronounce all these Greek words.  On the other hand, I would have preferred to read it to really absorb the words and their meanings.  If you are an aural learner, the audiobook will be great for you.  

I like language learning.  I've been to Greece.  I've even learned a little Greek from a Greek friend.  For all those reasons, this book really appealed to me.  I liked finding out that even more English words have Greek roots than I realized.  I never knew we all have a seahorse in our brains.  How did I not know that????  I also enjoyed hearing of Mary's travels in Greece.  Greek men haven't changed much between the time she went and the time I did.  Funny that.  Did inspire me to want to go back or at least find some delicious Greek food ASAP!

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Review: Master of the Revels

Master of the Revels by Nicole Galland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Master of the Revels by Nicole Galland is the sequel to The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O. by Neal Stephenson and Nicole Galland.  You will definitely want to read these books in order.  D.O.D.O. is one of my favorite books by Neal Stephenson, so I was ecstatic when I went to see him promoting Termination Shock and he mentioned a sequel to D.O.D.O.  I had to read it!

In case you are wondering, I thought it was just as good as the first book.  It continues with the same cast of characters and adds a few more.  It is told in a similar style, through letters, transcripts, and journal entries.  It is a time investment at 552 pages but moves along at a good pace.   The Shakespeare plot was very fun for me.

Dare I hope for a third book?

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Review: Shockaholic

Shockaholic by Carrie Fisher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can't help but always want to listen to the audiobook versions of anything by Carrie Fisher. Therefore, I opted to listen to Shockaholic written and read by Carrie Fisher rather than read it. At this point, I've read them all. Not gonna lie. It made me sad that we will never have another book by her. I love so much how she bares it all, beautiful and ugly and doesn't shirk from her mental health and addiction issues. Also, come on, she was the best one to dish on celebrity gossip! Maybe some people are above that, but I'm not. Of course, most of the people she dishes on are long gone and probably not even names some people would recognize. I, however, was a Debbie Reynolds fan long before I knew her connection to Princess Leia. I remember going to see her perform with my mom. She was an incredible performer. The whole business with Eddie Fisher and Elizabeth Taylor was quite the scandal. How dare they do that to such a treasure? All that aside, give this a listen. We all need a little Carrie Fisher in our lives.

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Review: The Elementals

The Elementals by Michael McDowell
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Elementals by Michael McDowell is more than just a haunted house book.  It's almost like a soap opera with very dysfunctional families.  Even though it is the middle of winter in New York, I could feel the humid, swampy, summer heat of the Gulf from the evocative writing.  I swear I was ready to break out in a sweat.  The characters are unique, and I couldn't quite decide if I liked them.  There are weird family traditions and weird family disappearances that really make you wonder what is going on.  I didn't find it as scary as it is hyped to be, but it was still pretty spooky.  

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Review: 12 Bytes: How We Got Here. Where We Might Go Next

12 Bytes: How We Got Here. Where We Might Go Next by Jeanette Winterson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

12 Bytes: How We Got Here.  Where We Might Go Next by Jeanette Winterson is a collection of 12 essays on tech and AI.  One of my favorite things about the whole book is how Winterson points out the oft overlooked contributions of women in the creation and evolution of technology.  I could read about Ada Lovelace all day (and have!).  I enjoy how she embraces technology while eschewing the way corporations may try to use it for their own interests and not necessarily for the good of humanity.  Zone Three about sex and love in the time of AI is fascinating.   I also had never really considered how Gnosticism might relate to these topics, but it makes total sense!  A great read for those who want to do some deep-thinking about what technology means to us.

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