Monday, December 31, 2018
Q4 book reviews
FICTION
Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle
Five, Six, Seven, Nate! by Tim Federle
Nate Expectations by Tim Federle
I picked up Better Nate Than Ever in the most delightful way one can receive a book recommendation - walking through Powell's with a friend (since pre-school) who is also an author (have you read my friend's book? You should. The Role). As a former theatre kid, I loved Nate, an aspiring Broadway actor from Pennsylvania who rides an overnight bus to NY for an open casting call for E.T.: The Musical. Folks who moved to New York from elsewhere will especially enjoy Nate's initial impressions, misperceptions, and delight in the city. Upon finishing Better, I read the next two in quick succession.
The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
I think one of my greatest reading pleasures of 2018 has been the discovery of Jasmine Guillory, a new favorite author. After finishing her debut, The Wedding Date, in an evening, I was eagerly awaiting her second book, which features a character we met in Wedding Date. This book is even stronger and more enjoyable, and her next release (set in the same universe), The Wedding Party, is pre-ordered.
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
This book is so good and haunting and real. And I loved it. But I should not have tried to finish it (audiobook) while decorating my Christmas tree. Ward's voice echoes so many Southern writers from my childhood and adolescence - Faulkner, Walker, Morrison. Her palpable love for the South, and the voice she gives to the legacies of racism are so stark.
Voyager by Diana Gabaldon
Drums of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
I finished Drums of Autumn in anticipation of the current season of Outlander, though I wonder if I would have noticed how much is different in the TV adaptation (which is fine - the books are the books, the tv show is the tv show) if I hadn't so recently re-read the source material? A question to which I will never know the answer.
NON-FICTION
Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger by Rebecca Traister
Traister is another author who automatically gets a pre-order from me. That the release of a book about women's rage would be bookended by Dr. Ford's testimony and Kavanuagh's confirmation ... of course that's what happened.
From a NYT interview with Traister:
I was thinking that I might write a book if Hillary Clinton had won. I’d felt the rise of racism and misogyny during the presidential campaign. The pop culture backlash: the fury of the all-women Ghostbusters and Star Wars jedis who weren’t white guys. I felt like we were in the midst of an extremely punishing moment. And that’s what I guessed I might be writing about throughout Hillary Clinton’s administration, if there was one. And then there wasn’t one. But in early 2017, I was walking with my husband, and I felt like my brain was going to boil. I was telling him how it was hard for me to think because I was so angry. He said to me, “Well maybe that’s your book: anger.” I was like, “Of course, that’s my book.”
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
I'd had this book on my to-read list almost all year and was very pleasantly surprised when it was selected by my neighborhood book club (a group of mostly white upper-middle class ladies who I'll admit I was surprised chose it). And I'm so glad that group read this book. I think there is something in here for everyone, especially folks who don't think they are racist (we all have bias. And we are all works in progress). Oluo writes in such a clear and thought-provoking voice; this one is a must read.
Evil Has A Name: The Untold Story of the Golden State Killer Investigation by Paul Holes, Jim Clemente, Peter McDonnell
Audible has recently begun releasing "Audible Originals," that are hybrid audiobook and podcast series that I'm not sure really should count as books I've read (West Cork anyone?). And yet they are on Goodreads ... I'm conflicted. But also really enjoyed this production, especially as a fan of Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark. And Paul Holes. If you have yet to read I'll Be Gone, I'd read that first and follow up with Evil Has a Name. This may be, unfortunately, the closest we get to the followup to McNamara's work and has a lot of the behind the scenes information and some closure to the Golden State Killer case.
The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston
This is an interesting story (a best-selling author gets caught up in the investigation of Italy's most notorious serial killer) and terrifying and compelling case (seriously creepy), but was just an OK read for me.
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Q3 book reviews
NON-FICTION
I have never delved much further into the Romanovs than what we covered in AP European History, Anastasia, and assorted documentaries. Hearing the story from the sisters' perspective, "the most photographed and talk about young royals of the early twentieth century," was an especially engrossing and disheartening one. Reading historical works where you know the ending, but don't know everything that happens along the way is sometimes frustrating, but ultimately rewarding.
The Romanovs: The Final Chapter by Robert K. Massie
After finishing The Romanov Sisters, I almost immediately dove into The Romanovs, which covers what happens after the executions (and is as intriguing as their lives). I had previous read Massie's Catherine the Great and Peter the Great, and found his writing to be as compelling and clear as in previous reads.
Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright
I read this book when it was released in 2013 and thought it was worth revisiting after reading Russell Miller's Bare-Faced Messiah, the ultimate Hubbard biography. I think both books are worth reading, but if you absolutely must limit yourself to one book on Scientology, I'd read Wright's, if only to hear what has happened since Miller's book was released in 1987 (so a lot).
Sex Object by Jessica Valenti
I have read and appreciated much of Valenti's short form work and have had this and her earlier The Purity Myth on my to read list for some time. It's an uncomfortable read (as many unflinching memoirs are), but one that I think is worth it.
Text Me When You Get Home: The Evolution and Triumph of Modern Female Friendship by Kayleen Schaefer
I was probably more excited about the premise of this book (celebrating lady friends! A whole section on Galentine's Day!) than the reality was going to deliver, and though I think it is a good book, I was ultimately a little underwhelmed. Schaefer brings together the work of a lot of authors I admire, but made me wish I was re-reading the books she references instead of the one I was reading. If one were to chose between this and Rebecca Traister's All the Single Ladies, which also celebrates women friends, I'd go with Traister.
Speaking of Rebecca Traister, I'm so looking forward to her new book (release date: Tuesday!), Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger. Who could have predicted the RAGE immediately preceding the release of such a book.
FICTION
I read the entire Harry Potter series again, but made no progress on my Penguin Drop Cap Challenge. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
This book was first described to me as the next Gone Girl or Girl on the Train, which I understand the comparison, but think this is something quite different. The first chapter is masterful; the rest of the book is good, but doesn't quite live up to the high bar of introduction. I like to like the protagonists of books, which I understand isn't always possible or probable, but that is often the first thing I think of when considering if I liked the book or not. This is a limitation on my part as a reader. I do recommend this if you enjoy thrillers and suspenseful stories.
Austenland by Shannon Hale
I read this book many years ago (probably pretty soon after it came out in 2007) and recently watched the movie for the first time (how I'm just now seeing a movie with Keri Russell and Bret McKenzie is a question for another day) and piqued my interest to revisit the book. As far as Austen spin-offs go, it's a pretty cute one. Not the best, not the worst.
Emma by Jane Austen
Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen
This marks the second reading of both of these this year. I would not have revisited them so quickly had I not wanted to listen to Audible's new versions. Rosamund Pike narrates Sense and Sensibility and matches the excellent performance she previous gave to Pride & Prejudice. This new version of Emma is "An Audible Original Drama," featuring Emma Thompson (narrator) and Joanne Froggatt (Mrs. Weston). I'm not always a fan of dramatized audiobooks vs. traditionally narrated ones (why so much music?), but this one is pretty good. It does have music at the end and beginning of every chapter, which I hate.
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon
I have read the early Outlander books several times at this point and started thinking about re-reading Drums of Autumn before the fourth season of the TV show starts in November. But why just re-read #4 when you can re-read them all? Exactly.
I find re-reading series to be a comfort when the outside world fills one with anxiety (and fury). Just as I've already escaped to the magical world twice this year, I find Claire's overly dramatic life to be a comfort.
CANNING/COOKBOOKS
One-Pan Wonders: Fuss-Free Meals for Your Sheet Pan, Dutch Oven, Skillet, Roasting Pan, Casserole, and Slow Cooker by America's Test Kitchen
I am probably getting close to having too many ATK cookbooks, but I'm not there just yet. A legitimate criticism of many ATK recipes is their fussiness and that they require SO MANY bowls, utensils, pots, etc. As someone who preps mise en place about 98% of the time (and has a dishwasher. And nothing gets the kitchen messier than canning), I am less concerned about getting everything in sight messy, but some days ... I'd like a more streamlined process. This is a good book to pick up for those days.
Sous Vide for Everybody: The Easy Foolproof Cooking Technique That's Sweeping the World by America's Test Kitchen
I snagged a ChefSteps Joule Sous Vide for $119 on Prime Day and though I was pleased with the recipes available on the Joule's app, I was looking forward to this book's release. I have an Instant Pot, but have never been an super IP fan. I am ALL in with sous vide. I've long been hesitant to try expensive cuts of meat that I love, but didn't want to mess up. Sous vide takes the guess work out, and we've eaten a lot of steak and scallops in the last two months. Hooray. I also recently got a kitchen blow torch, so we'll be enjoying sous vide creme brûlée very soon.
Modern Pressure Canning: Recipes and Techniques for Today's Home Canner by Amelia Jeanroy
I pre-ordered this book a few months before its release because I've wanted to delve into pressure canning, but have been hesitant (the risks feel MUCH higher than water bath canning). It provides a good overview, equipment recommendations, and recipes. I expect to refer back to it often. I was surprised, however, to see so many recipes that I've been making utilizing water bath canning (pickles, peaches, cranberries). I'm not sure I see the point of pressure canning things that are safe for water bath canning. The book may be worth the price simply for the bacon jam recipe.
The Complete Guide to Pressure Canning: Everything You Need to Know to Can Meats, Vegetables, Meals in a Jar, and More by Diane Devereaux
This pressure canning book had the small misfortune of being released shortly after Modern Pressure Canning. Had it been the first dedicated pressure canning cookbook I had read, I probably would have been super impressed.
Preserving with Pomona's Pectin: The Revolutionary Low-Sugar, High-Flavor Method for Crafting and Canning Jams, Jellies, Conserves, and More by Allison Carroll Duffy
I got this book a little late in the season to fully utilize it this year, but hope to use it more next year.
Preserving by the Pint: Quick Seasonal Canning for Small Spaces by Marisa McClellan
I hesitated getting this book because a) I'm really not lacking for space and b) canning is a lot of work, so I prefer to get larger yields out of my effort. However, I really enjoyed the recipes in McClellan's other two books and figured I could double (or more) recipes than the yield felt too skimpy. I think this is a good starter for folks who'd like to dip their toes into canning and/or have limited space (hello New York friends!). I also really like that the recipes are organized seasonally. If you are new to preservation, it's especially helpful to know when items are fresh and easy to get.
WECK Small-Batch Preserving: Year-Round Recipes for Canning, Fermenting, Pickling, and More by Stephanie Thurrow
I have not tried using Weck jars yet (they are expensive!), but this book was $1.99 on Kindle, and I was curious. The book is aesthetically very pleasing, but nothing jumped out or inspired me to run out and get new jars. For folks who love Weck, this will be a great resource, but this is a book I think I can live without.
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Q2 book reviews
FICTION
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
I listened to the audio version, and though I understand why the same narrator was cast for this and the Skeeter sections of The Help, her performance of somewhat similar characters (a young white woman and several middle age African American women with SOUTHERN accents) are almost identical; this is very distracting if you've previously listened to the other. Bees and The Help were released on Audible within three months of one another. I'm not sure when they were recorded, but the choice both makes sense and is odd.
Aside from that, the book is wonderful. I stayed up late several nights because I couldn't put it down. This is my third favorite of the Penguin Drop Caps I've read so far.
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
I read several of Steinbeck's novels and short stories in school (Of Mice and Men and The Pearl), but this was the first of his works I've read without knowing I'd be tested on the symbolism, etc. Steinbeck's style is not my favorite, but his characters are always compelling. The residents of the Row were no exception.
Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Sense & Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, & Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
I started reading Pride & Prejudice again for the ?? time (I've lost count) and upon finishing it subsequently read five more of Austen's novels - Sense & Sensibility (amazing - I love it more every time I read it), Emma (I know she's often terrible, but I truly love her), Persuasion (Austen's best payoff??), Mansfield Park (ugh, the cousins are the worst), & Northanger Abbey (my least favorite). I've read these all previously at least once, Emma and P&P many times. This likely won't be the last time.
NON-FICTION
Educated by Tara Westover
This one is a tough read, even in the Mormon memoir genre. Though Westover was raised in a mainline LDS church, the mental health issues of the patriarch of her immediate family created an extreme home environment more often seen in fundamentalist Mormon culture.
Westover's story is gripping, her voice is engaging, and her perspective as an historian writing a memoir is brilliant. However, it is difficult to not feel that Westover is still so close (in time and healing process) to the trauma of her family. I'm curious what a bit more distance (and therapy) might have lent to her perspective.
As an historian, I loved that Westover cites the primary source material that documents her experience (her contemporaneous journals and emails) and talks about how that helped ground her in her experience. As much as I was immersed in Westover's narrative, I felt a little left out of what could have been compelling parts of her journey (though I understand privacy-wise why the reader doesn't get to hear about the progression of her current romantic relationship. I am, perhaps, too nosey :).
An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew by Annejet van der Zijl
This was one of Amazon's free Kindle book selections for April and was a delightful surprise. I'd never heard of Tew and was immediately drawn into her story. I've joked that part of being an archivist is getting paid to read other people's mail. Biographies often offer the same (though without pay for the reader), though limited to excerpts selected by the biographer (because most of it isn't terribly interesting). Anyone who marries four times (including to royalty) is likely to have some choice excerpts from their correspondence.
Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook by Debbie Stoller
I can't read on car/RV rides, planes, and trains and travel quite a bit, so I've been wanting to learn to knit for awhile. I asked a book club friend what she recommended, and this was her quick reply. Stoller has made YouTube videos that helpfully supplement the book (I wasn't going to get there with illustrations alone).
FOOD/COOKBOOKS
Pressure Cooker Perfection by America's Test Kitchen
I pre-ordered this one hoping it might reignite my interest in my Instant Pot. It hasn't. The recipes all look great, and I'll dive in at some point, but I'm more of a slow cooker cook.
Gluten-Free Cooking for Two: 125 Favorites by Carol Fenster
My husband and are NOT GOOD about eating leftovers, and I've been throwing away too much since we've been back to a two-person household. I haven't tried the recipes that require smaller baking pans (we don't seem to have a problem with leftover dessert ;), but like the others that I've tried.
Food Swap: Recipes and Strategies for the Most Irresistible Gourmet Foods to Barter and Share by Emily Paster
I heard an interview with Paster on a homesteading podcast and immediately ordered both of her books. This book has two sections: an overview of how to set up a food swap and recipes. I wasn't super interested in the first part (Portland has a well-established food swap), but was very interested in the recipe section. I have batches of limoncello and sauerkraut fermenting and will be making salted caramel sauce very soon.
The Joys of Jewish Preserving by Emily Paster
Reading this book made me so hungry. In addition to mouth watering recipes and beautiful photographs, Paster provides an introduction to Jewish holidays, culinary history, and tradition. That this was a labor of love is evident on every page.
I have a list of plum recipes from this book to try when my plum tree harvest is ready. I tried the slow cooker peach butter recipe - amazing.
Prepping 101: 40 Steps You Can Take to Be Prepared by Kathy Harrison
This pre-order purchase was also inspired by hearing a podcast interview with the author. I really like the author's approach to prepping (this is not the extreme doomsday prepping you are thinking of) - start small and build up. If you are prepared, more resources can be devoted to more vulnerable populations and you can be a resource to those in your community. Harrison provides simple steps (gather your important documents, repackage your store-bought food) and moves up to more complex ones (rainwater collection and more things I'll probably never get to).
Food in Jars & Naturally Sweet Food in Jars by Marisa McClellan
It's difficult to get very far into canning & food preservation online without coming across Marisa McClellan's website foodinjars. I flipped through Food in Jars (her first book) at Powell's a time or two when I first started canning and passed over it because it focuses on small-batch preserving. Lots of practice has made cannier easier (though still work), and I'm more inclined to try smaller batch recipes. I harvested this season's first batch of blueberries this week, and I'm too excited to try McClellan's Slow Cooker Blueberry Butter recipe. YUM.
I'm especially interested testing out recipes from McClellan's most recent book, Naturally Sweet. Traditional jam recipes require a lot of sugar, and I'm looking forward to trying some recipes with honey, maple syrup, and coconut sugar.
The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
I listened to the audio version, and though I understand why the same narrator was cast for this and the Skeeter sections of The Help, her performance of somewhat similar characters (a young white woman and several middle age African American women with SOUTHERN accents) are almost identical; this is very distracting if you've previously listened to the other. Bees and The Help were released on Audible within three months of one another. I'm not sure when they were recorded, but the choice both makes sense and is odd.
Aside from that, the book is wonderful. I stayed up late several nights because I couldn't put it down. This is my third favorite of the Penguin Drop Caps I've read so far.
Cannery Row by John Steinbeck
I read several of Steinbeck's novels and short stories in school (Of Mice and Men and The Pearl), but this was the first of his works I've read without knowing I'd be tested on the symbolism, etc. Steinbeck's style is not my favorite, but his characters are always compelling. The residents of the Row were no exception.
Pride & Prejudice, Emma, Sense & Sensibility, Persuasion, Mansfield Park, & Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
I started reading Pride & Prejudice again for the ?? time (I've lost count) and upon finishing it subsequently read five more of Austen's novels - Sense & Sensibility (amazing - I love it more every time I read it), Emma (I know she's often terrible, but I truly love her), Persuasion (Austen's best payoff??), Mansfield Park (ugh, the cousins are the worst), & Northanger Abbey (my least favorite). I've read these all previously at least once, Emma and P&P many times. This likely won't be the last time.
NON-FICTION
Educated by Tara Westover
This one is a tough read, even in the Mormon memoir genre. Though Westover was raised in a mainline LDS church, the mental health issues of the patriarch of her immediate family created an extreme home environment more often seen in fundamentalist Mormon culture.
Westover's story is gripping, her voice is engaging, and her perspective as an historian writing a memoir is brilliant. However, it is difficult to not feel that Westover is still so close (in time and healing process) to the trauma of her family. I'm curious what a bit more distance (and therapy) might have lent to her perspective.
As an historian, I loved that Westover cites the primary source material that documents her experience (her contemporaneous journals and emails) and talks about how that helped ground her in her experience. As much as I was immersed in Westover's narrative, I felt a little left out of what could have been compelling parts of her journey (though I understand privacy-wise why the reader doesn't get to hear about the progression of her current romantic relationship. I am, perhaps, too nosey :).
An American Princess: The Many Lives of Allene Tew by Annejet van der Zijl
This was one of Amazon's free Kindle book selections for April and was a delightful surprise. I'd never heard of Tew and was immediately drawn into her story. I've joked that part of being an archivist is getting paid to read other people's mail. Biographies often offer the same (though without pay for the reader), though limited to excerpts selected by the biographer (because most of it isn't terribly interesting). Anyone who marries four times (including to royalty) is likely to have some choice excerpts from their correspondence.
Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook by Debbie Stoller
I can't read on car/RV rides, planes, and trains and travel quite a bit, so I've been wanting to learn to knit for awhile. I asked a book club friend what she recommended, and this was her quick reply. Stoller has made YouTube videos that helpfully supplement the book (I wasn't going to get there with illustrations alone).
FOOD/COOKBOOKS
Pressure Cooker Perfection by America's Test Kitchen
I pre-ordered this one hoping it might reignite my interest in my Instant Pot. It hasn't. The recipes all look great, and I'll dive in at some point, but I'm more of a slow cooker cook.
Gluten-Free Cooking for Two: 125 Favorites by Carol Fenster
My husband and are NOT GOOD about eating leftovers, and I've been throwing away too much since we've been back to a two-person household. I haven't tried the recipes that require smaller baking pans (we don't seem to have a problem with leftover dessert ;), but like the others that I've tried.
Food Swap: Recipes and Strategies for the Most Irresistible Gourmet Foods to Barter and Share by Emily Paster
I heard an interview with Paster on a homesteading podcast and immediately ordered both of her books. This book has two sections: an overview of how to set up a food swap and recipes. I wasn't super interested in the first part (Portland has a well-established food swap), but was very interested in the recipe section. I have batches of limoncello and sauerkraut fermenting and will be making salted caramel sauce very soon.
The Joys of Jewish Preserving by Emily Paster
Reading this book made me so hungry. In addition to mouth watering recipes and beautiful photographs, Paster provides an introduction to Jewish holidays, culinary history, and tradition. That this was a labor of love is evident on every page.
I have a list of plum recipes from this book to try when my plum tree harvest is ready. I tried the slow cooker peach butter recipe - amazing.
Prepping 101: 40 Steps You Can Take to Be Prepared by Kathy Harrison
This pre-order purchase was also inspired by hearing a podcast interview with the author. I really like the author's approach to prepping (this is not the extreme doomsday prepping you are thinking of) - start small and build up. If you are prepared, more resources can be devoted to more vulnerable populations and you can be a resource to those in your community. Harrison provides simple steps (gather your important documents, repackage your store-bought food) and moves up to more complex ones (rainwater collection and more things I'll probably never get to).
Food in Jars & Naturally Sweet Food in Jars by Marisa McClellan
It's difficult to get very far into canning & food preservation online without coming across Marisa McClellan's website foodinjars. I flipped through Food in Jars (her first book) at Powell's a time or two when I first started canning and passed over it because it focuses on small-batch preserving. Lots of practice has made cannier easier (though still work), and I'm more inclined to try smaller batch recipes. I harvested this season's first batch of blueberries this week, and I'm too excited to try McClellan's Slow Cooker Blueberry Butter recipe. YUM.
I'm especially interested testing out recipes from McClellan's most recent book, Naturally Sweet. Traditional jam recipes require a lot of sugar, and I'm looking forward to trying some recipes with honey, maple syrup, and coconut sugar.
Saturday, March 31, 2018
March book reviews
I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
It's been awhile since I've read any true crime books, and I'd been looking forward to this book since hearing about it.
McNamara died before finishing the book, and her research assistant and an investigative journalist used her notes and research to complete it. I admire the completed work, but mourn what might have been - McNamara's sections are the strongest in the book. She has a knack for seemingly effortlessly weaving together an intimate but respectful portrayal of the victim's experience with her own memoir of her quest. It's an impressive work, and hopefully we'll hear news of the capture of the Golden State Killer sooner than later.
I know I'm late to this party, but I recently began listening to the My Favorite Murder podcast. I started one night when I couldn't sleep (this was a poor decision), but I recommend it for daylight hours.
Bare-Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard by Russell Miller
This book has been on my "to read" list for some time, as every other book about Scientology references this work as the authoritative biography of L. Ron Hubbard (LRH). Lawrence Wright covers much of the same ground in Going Clear, but I enjoyed reading it from Miller's perspective. He conducted exhaustive interviews and archival research. I'm curious how much about LRH's life has been uncovered since Bare-Faced Messiah's publication in 1987. I finished feeling like Miller uncovered every stone.
I've been interested in Scientology and assorted cults for several years, partly because I'm so curious about how people end up joining groups that require such extreme sacrifice (of time, money, and often your friends and family). I presume that I'm a bad cult candidate, though don't we all??
Speaking of cults, I recently tore through Wild Wild Country, a 6-part documentary on Netflix about the Rajneesh movement's attempted to take over of Wasco County, Oregon. My husband grew up in Oregon (though he was born a few years after these events), and had not heard of this group. It's an addictive series, so be ready to watch a few episodes when you start.
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
I had very good intentions to finish Chernow's Hamilton biography before seeing Hamilton: An American Musical (the book was the inspiration and source for the show). That's why I started a year ahead of time. I did not succeed (the week after is close, yes?).
The book is excellent (and LONG) and gives you enough information to notice the "historical liberties" Lin-Manuel Miranda takes in the musical. They do not detract too significantly from the larger story (and if it gets people more excited about/ interested in history, I'm almost always for it).
Little Fire Everywhere by Celeste Ng
I listened to this book and found myself a) starting an extra load of laundry or prolonging a task so I could keep listening and b) thinking about the book even when I wasn't listening (a sign of a good book). I delayed the end for a bit because even though I was aching to know what happened, I didn't want it to be over.
This was a book club selection and sparked a long discussion about the book - there was a lot to talk about! Ng's 2014 book, Everything I Never Told You, is on my to read list.
Penguin Drop Cap Challenge:
My sister decided to join me in reading the Penguin Drop Caps, and just like an older sibling was ahead before I even began. Because I was rereading ones I'd previously read and was getting stuck on going in order (the opposite of my sister's approach), I decided to skip Lord of the Flies (I can't imagine it being more pleasant a second time around and as an adult) and jump around the list. This month, I read:
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
I struggled with poetry all through school, and I continue to not especially enjoy reading poetry.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
This story was so familiar to me, I feel like I might have read it (or part of it) in college, but I don't remember it well enough to know for sure.
It's been awhile since I've read any true crime books, and I'd been looking forward to this book since hearing about it.
McNamara died before finishing the book, and her research assistant and an investigative journalist used her notes and research to complete it. I admire the completed work, but mourn what might have been - McNamara's sections are the strongest in the book. She has a knack for seemingly effortlessly weaving together an intimate but respectful portrayal of the victim's experience with her own memoir of her quest. It's an impressive work, and hopefully we'll hear news of the capture of the Golden State Killer sooner than later.
I know I'm late to this party, but I recently began listening to the My Favorite Murder podcast. I started one night when I couldn't sleep (this was a poor decision), but I recommend it for daylight hours.
Bare-Faced Messiah: The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard by Russell Miller
This book has been on my "to read" list for some time, as every other book about Scientology references this work as the authoritative biography of L. Ron Hubbard (LRH). Lawrence Wright covers much of the same ground in Going Clear, but I enjoyed reading it from Miller's perspective. He conducted exhaustive interviews and archival research. I'm curious how much about LRH's life has been uncovered since Bare-Faced Messiah's publication in 1987. I finished feeling like Miller uncovered every stone.
I've been interested in Scientology and assorted cults for several years, partly because I'm so curious about how people end up joining groups that require such extreme sacrifice (of time, money, and often your friends and family). I presume that I'm a bad cult candidate, though don't we all??
Speaking of cults, I recently tore through Wild Wild Country, a 6-part documentary on Netflix about the Rajneesh movement's attempted to take over of Wasco County, Oregon. My husband grew up in Oregon (though he was born a few years after these events), and had not heard of this group. It's an addictive series, so be ready to watch a few episodes when you start.
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
I had very good intentions to finish Chernow's Hamilton biography before seeing Hamilton: An American Musical (the book was the inspiration and source for the show). That's why I started a year ahead of time. I did not succeed (the week after is close, yes?).
The book is excellent (and LONG) and gives you enough information to notice the "historical liberties" Lin-Manuel Miranda takes in the musical. They do not detract too significantly from the larger story (and if it gets people more excited about/ interested in history, I'm almost always for it).
Little Fire Everywhere by Celeste Ng
I listened to this book and found myself a) starting an extra load of laundry or prolonging a task so I could keep listening and b) thinking about the book even when I wasn't listening (a sign of a good book). I delayed the end for a bit because even though I was aching to know what happened, I didn't want it to be over.
This was a book club selection and sparked a long discussion about the book - there was a lot to talk about! Ng's 2014 book, Everything I Never Told You, is on my to read list.
Penguin Drop Cap Challenge:
My sister decided to join me in reading the Penguin Drop Caps, and just like an older sibling was ahead before I even began. Because I was rereading ones I'd previously read and was getting stuck on going in order (the opposite of my sister's approach), I decided to skip Lord of the Flies (I can't imagine it being more pleasant a second time around and as an adult) and jump around the list. This month, I read:
Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman
I struggled with poetry all through school, and I continue to not especially enjoy reading poetry.
Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
This story was so familiar to me, I feel like I might have read it (or part of it) in college, but I don't remember it well enough to know for sure.
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
February book reviews
The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
I LOVED this book. It's funny, steamy, endearing, and has a refreshing perspective and plot. This is a very strong debut by Guillory, and I look forward to more from her.
As someone who endured a 3,000 mile/3 hour time difference long-term long-distance relationship, I sort of rolled my eyes and the hardships of a Berkley/Los Angeles relationship (that's an hour and a half flight - please). This small quibble aside, I highly recommend this book.
We Are Never Meeting in Real Life. by Samantha Irby
This was a book club selection that I doubt would have ever picked up on my own. I judge books by their cover, and this one features a cat (sorry, cat-loving friends :).
This author is incredibly open and forthright, but also very hard on herself. I ended up checking out her Wikipedia page because the early essays rarely mentioned writing, and I was curious how she ended up with a book deal? I was very surprised that this isn't her first book.
Irby certainly succeeds in exposing the reader to a unique perspective, but I won't be delving further into her catalog.
Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella
This book surprised me first by appearing on my Kindle (because I'd forgotten I pre-ordered it).
I have consistently greatly preferred Kinsella's stand-alones to the Shopaholic series -- the characters are much more likeable than Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) (though that's a low bar). This one rang true to that assessment.
If you haven't read any of Kinsella's books, I would start with Can You Keep a Secret? (my very favorite of hers), My Not So Perfect Life, or Finding Audrey.
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
I recall really liking this book when I read it in ninth grade, but was underwhelmed this time around. It makes sense that a book set at a boy's boarding school would lack any significant female characters, but there are only wives of teachers, mothers of fellow students, and ... that's it?
I was also completely distracted by the apparent mental health issues of Phineas (and arguably Gene); without any significant adults oversight, or even involvement, said issues being addressed seemed extremely unlikely.
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
I only made it through one Penguin Drop Cap Challenge selection this month (oops) and struggled through it. The bits of books that I typically love - descriptions of the towns, homes, food, clothing - did not particularly interest me this time. For a book that is famous for obscenity, there's (by modern standards) not a lot of obscenity.
Emma Bovary is not a likable character and yet her central trait - never being satisfied with the life you have and always looking for something else - is something that so many of us fall prey to. Though I suppose many of us are not terribly likable either?
The Unmasking of the President 2016: How FBI Director James Comey Cost Hillary Clinton the Presidency by Lanny J. Davis
Davis makes a compelling case that Comey's letter to Congress just days before Election Day was a "key determining factor" in the 2016 election. Davis' backgrounder on Whitewater, email server management, and Comey's highly unusual behavior is worth the read.
The epilogue explores the impeachment process. I was initially less interested in this part (it's not what I expected from the book's description), but I learned quite a bit.
As with all books about the 2016 election, a lot in this is hard to read. But because those last few weeks of the election moved so fast, folks missed a lot of the details for the big headlines. This is a good way to understand more of what happened.
How to Store Your Garden Produce: The Key to Self-Sufficiency by Piers Warren
In the past, I have not included the many cookbook, gardening, food storage, and general homesteading books I read, but thought - why not?
This is a good primer if you are just getting started with a garden or food storage. I checked it out from the library to see if I wanted to purchase for future reference, but decided not to. I am personally much stronger on the food storage (canning, etc) vs. the growing part, but always have more to learn in both areas.
How to Roast Everything: A Game-Changing Guide to Building Flavor in Meat, Vegetables, and More by America's Test Kitchen
I adore America's Test Kitchen. My kitchen cabinets would have much more room and my savings account would be larger had I not discovered ATK. But I'd wager I also would not have explored so many new recipes or had as much fun cooking without it.
I've been looking forward to this release for awhile and snagged my reserved copy at the library the day after it was released. I read every recipe cover to cover, tried out the pork tenderloin and chicken breast recipes, and then ordered my very own copy. Because this is a hardback, it's a little more expensive than most ATK books (hence the checking it out from the library first), but has so many recipes, I think it's worth the investment.
I was especially fortunate that I picked up my library copy on the same day my very own brand new range was delivered - the perfect excuse to try several new recipes in a row. I don't know if it's the book, the range, or the very talented cook, but every recipe I've tried from this one has been delicious.
I LOVED this book. It's funny, steamy, endearing, and has a refreshing perspective and plot. This is a very strong debut by Guillory, and I look forward to more from her.
As someone who endured a 3,000 mile/3 hour time difference long-term long-distance relationship, I sort of rolled my eyes and the hardships of a Berkley/Los Angeles relationship (that's an hour and a half flight - please). This small quibble aside, I highly recommend this book.
We Are Never Meeting in Real Life. by Samantha Irby
This was a book club selection that I doubt would have ever picked up on my own. I judge books by their cover, and this one features a cat (sorry, cat-loving friends :).
This author is incredibly open and forthright, but also very hard on herself. I ended up checking out her Wikipedia page because the early essays rarely mentioned writing, and I was curious how she ended up with a book deal? I was very surprised that this isn't her first book.
Irby certainly succeeds in exposing the reader to a unique perspective, but I won't be delving further into her catalog.
Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella
This book surprised me first by appearing on my Kindle (because I'd forgotten I pre-ordered it).
I have consistently greatly preferred Kinsella's stand-alones to the Shopaholic series -- the characters are much more likeable than Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) (though that's a low bar). This one rang true to that assessment.
If you haven't read any of Kinsella's books, I would start with Can You Keep a Secret? (my very favorite of hers), My Not So Perfect Life, or Finding Audrey.
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
I recall really liking this book when I read it in ninth grade, but was underwhelmed this time around. It makes sense that a book set at a boy's boarding school would lack any significant female characters, but there are only wives of teachers, mothers of fellow students, and ... that's it?
I was also completely distracted by the apparent mental health issues of Phineas (and arguably Gene); without any significant adults oversight, or even involvement, said issues being addressed seemed extremely unlikely.
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
I only made it through one Penguin Drop Cap Challenge selection this month (oops) and struggled through it. The bits of books that I typically love - descriptions of the towns, homes, food, clothing - did not particularly interest me this time. For a book that is famous for obscenity, there's (by modern standards) not a lot of obscenity.
Emma Bovary is not a likable character and yet her central trait - never being satisfied with the life you have and always looking for something else - is something that so many of us fall prey to. Though I suppose many of us are not terribly likable either?
The Unmasking of the President 2016: How FBI Director James Comey Cost Hillary Clinton the Presidency by Lanny J. Davis
Davis makes a compelling case that Comey's letter to Congress just days before Election Day was a "key determining factor" in the 2016 election. Davis' backgrounder on Whitewater, email server management, and Comey's highly unusual behavior is worth the read.
The epilogue explores the impeachment process. I was initially less interested in this part (it's not what I expected from the book's description), but I learned quite a bit.
As with all books about the 2016 election, a lot in this is hard to read. But because those last few weeks of the election moved so fast, folks missed a lot of the details for the big headlines. This is a good way to understand more of what happened.
How to Store Your Garden Produce: The Key to Self-Sufficiency by Piers Warren
In the past, I have not included the many cookbook, gardening, food storage, and general homesteading books I read, but thought - why not?
This is a good primer if you are just getting started with a garden or food storage. I checked it out from the library to see if I wanted to purchase for future reference, but decided not to. I am personally much stronger on the food storage (canning, etc) vs. the growing part, but always have more to learn in both areas.
How to Roast Everything: A Game-Changing Guide to Building Flavor in Meat, Vegetables, and More by America's Test Kitchen
I adore America's Test Kitchen. My kitchen cabinets would have much more room and my savings account would be larger had I not discovered ATK. But I'd wager I also would not have explored so many new recipes or had as much fun cooking without it.
I've been looking forward to this release for awhile and snagged my reserved copy at the library the day after it was released. I read every recipe cover to cover, tried out the pork tenderloin and chicken breast recipes, and then ordered my very own copy. Because this is a hardback, it's a little more expensive than most ATK books (hence the checking it out from the library first), but has so many recipes, I think it's worth the investment.
I was especially fortunate that I picked up my library copy on the same day my very own brand new range was delivered - the perfect excuse to try several new recipes in a row. I don't know if it's the book, the range, or the very talented cook, but every recipe I've tried from this one has been delicious.
Wednesday, January 31, 2018
January book reviews
Middlemarch by George Eliot
It took me about 500 pages to get into this story, which is at least 400 too many. It also took me 28 days to get through it -- granted, I finished several other books in this time period, but my reading pace usually matches my level of interest. So, that last 400 or so pages went much faster than the first 500.
I was primarily invested in Dorothea's storyline. In the second chapter, Dorothea offers to organize her uncle's papers for him: "I wish you would let me sort your papers for you, Uncle. I would letter them all and then make you a list of subjects under each subject." He, of course, rejects this idea, because why would anyone want to be able to easily find what they are looking for??
My favorite line: "And, of course men know best about everything, except what women know better."
The Book of Mormon: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical by Trey Park, Matt Stone, & Robert Lopez
I read this in anticipation of seeing the show for a second time, and it reminded me to pay attention to the lyrics in "I Believe" that mention the recently deceased president of the LDS Church Thomas Monson: "I believe that the current president of the Church, Thomas Monson, speaks directly to God." When I saw the show last week, the lyrics were changed to: "I believe that the former president of the Church, Thomas Monson, spoke directly to God." The new president of the LDS Church is Russell Nelson - same number of syllables.
**The next FIVE reviews are Pride & Prejudic/Austen continuations/knock-offs. I'm almost embarrassed that I read this many in one month, but I know I'm going to end up posting a review every time I start a book, so I really have no one to blame but myself. I enjoy P&P continuations, especially of minor characters that are made more likable when fleshed out. And reading silly books that you can finish in an evening.
Mary and the Captain: A Pride and Prejudice Continuation by Nancy Lawrence
Mary Bennett is not my least favorite of Elizabeth's sisters (obviously Lydia), but would break the tie for second if one was forced to choose between her and Kitty. Lawrence's expansion of Mary's character made me more sympathetic to her shyness and inopportune additions to conversation. And her habit of hiding in the corner/behind a book. Not great, not terrible.
These are both Kindle Unlimited reads, and I think I would have been much more disappointed (and not read the second), had I felt like I paid for them. Charlotte is much better than Rosings. I enjoyed seeing a happier life for Charlotte than Austen leaves her with. And [spoiler alert] some redemption for Mr. Collins.
Rosings is a continuation of the de Bourgh family's story. I read a much better continuation, Darcy and Anne, that focuses more on Anne (and removes her from her abusive mother), and I couldn't help but compare the two. Both contend that Anne was not actually sickly (but made to believe so by her mother), not an entirely implausible line, but it would be nice to see a version in which Anne takes ownership of her health and overcomes the obstacle, rather than having the impediment removed completely without any effort. This may exist -- I have read a very small selection of the thousands of Austen continuations.
Like many Kindle Unlimited selections, I noticed quite a few punctuation and grammar errors, which are always distracting. Aminadra has release two more "Pride & Prejudice Continues" books, but I think I'll pass.
I read The Austen Escape first and was very close to the end when I realized: this is Christian Fiction [SPOILER ALERT: No one's having sex]. I do not include this as a condemnation, but as information -- I didn't notice if they were overtly marketed as such. Dear Mr. Knightly is much more obviously Christian-themed -- there is an older couple that introduces a Christian outlook on life (though not the priest character, which is interesting) and an indication that a hope for sex before marriage is offensive (when no communication regarding expectations has been had).
I enjoyed The Austen Escape much more. The heroine is much more likable and relatable. And the inclusions of Austen references make more sense with the plot and setting. The author has released several more literary knock-offs, but I'm not sure if I'll keep going through her catalog.
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
November & December book reviews
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| Penguin Drop Caps |
I have a bit of pretty book obsession (in addition to just generally purchasing more books than I can read). After six or so months of saving up Amazon Rewards points and carefully tracking the ever-changing price, I purchased my very own long sought after set of Penguin Drop Caps, "a series of twenty-six collectible hardcover editions of fine works of literature." And after six or so months of them looking beautiful in my living room (and acknowledging that I've only previously read three of them), I decided to set about reading them all. And by reading, I likely mean listening to audiobook versions while the expensive pristine copies stay on the shelf. They are too new, and I spill too much.
First up is one of my all time favorites (and one I've reread too many times to count), Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It's still wonderful, and I shortly read it again. I highly recommend the audiobook version narrated by Rosamund Pike.
Next up, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. This was my first Bronte novel, and I GET IT. I want to read them all. Thandie Newton's narration is excellent.
C is for Willa Cather's My Antonia. I took several American West history courses in undergraduate/graduate school, but don't recall preciously reading any of her work. My Antonia is the third of Cather's pioneer trilogy, but I didn't feel out of place reading out of order.
D is for Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. This is the second time this year I've reread a book that I first read for ninth grade literature, and the results were similar. I didn't care for Great Expectations (or Catcher in the Rye) as a fourteen or fifteen year old, and I felt the same twenty years later. Silver lining: my annoyance with Pip inspired some faster times on the rowing machine.
--
I am a regular reader of the 'escaped from polygamy' genre, and though this one isn't the best I've read (The Sound of Gravel sets a very high bar), it is especially emotionally engaging. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author, and of course came to the most graphic description of sexual violence inflicted upon the author by her father as I was shopping for Thanksgiving dinner at Costco (sorry to my fellow shoppers for my grimaces - they were not directed at you).
This book is a good compilation and analysis of what we know (and what we don't) from a reporter with experience in Russia. It's informative, clarifying, infuriating.
Lord John & the Brotherhood of the Blade, Lord John & the Hand of Devils, and The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon
I finished the Lord John series while new episodes of Outlander were still airing and upon finishing the Season 3 finale regretted that I didn't save it for #Droughtlander. Season 4 feels far away and may require some rereading, as I have now exhausted Gabaldon's catalog.
Harry Potter
I finished HP #4-7 in November, reread Cursed Child, and had every intention to not start all over again until a moment of weakness on Christmas Eve when I opened Sorceror's Stone. Again. I saw a Twitter conversation few months ago about returning to books you find comforting/relaxing/etc. when the outside world is creating anxiety and stress, and several folks cited returning to Harry Potter over the last year or so. Apparently I'm not alone in retreating and refueling at Hogwarts.
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