the age of miracles

Title: the age of miracles

Author: Karen Thompson Walker

Publisher: Random House

ISBN: 9780812982947

Length: 269 pages + "A Reader's Guide"

Obtained: Library book discussion copy

Comments:

This was a book discussion selection.  Unfortunately, I missed the discussion (one of the dogs was being tested for her CGC that night), so I don't know what the rest of the group thought.

Julia's life (as well as the life of everyone around her) is upturned when time begins to slow.  The day lengthens, the magnetic field (and gravity?) is altered.  Animals and plants respond poorly, and humans do not fare much better.  Response is varies, so people try to follow the standard 24 hour day, while others try to follow the daylight.  Sleep cycles, metal stability, physical balance and health are all at risk with these changes.  End of the world measures are taken by some while others try to live as normally as possible.

This is something of a dystopian, but it addresses the time of becoming and immediately after, rather than society after all changes are said and done.  It is also something of a coming-of-age story.  Julia recounts her life as an 11/12-year-old during the slowing - complete with puberty, a crush, changes in friendships and relationships, bullies, family drama, and death.  I mostly felt sad while reading this, and the deaths upset me, but I obviously didn't fully connect, or I would have been sobbing.

I finished it, it was okay, the premise was interesting... I just didn't love it.

Ginny Moon

Title: Ginny Moon

Author: Benjamin Ludwig

Publisher: Park Row Books

ISBN: 9780778330882

Length: 364 + Reader's Guide

Obtained: Library copy

Comments:

I had been interested in this book from the first I saw of it in the professional journals, but I had also been putting it off.  Then it was time to select a book club selection and I chose this.

I read it Monday, and I cried/sobbed through most of it.  I'm already pretty emotional and sensitive when it comes to the stories I read and watch.  But on top of that, Ginny is autistic and shares some characteristics with my oldest nephew.  Of course much of Ginny's story is very different from my nephews and that caused yet more crying.  She fears for her "baby doll" who was left behind when she was taken from her mother at the age of nine.  So she is trying to track down and get back to her birth mother - despite the extreme abuse and neglect she went through while under her mother's care.  But her adoptive "forever" parents are about to have a birth child of their own, and don't seem to know how to handle a teenage autistic girl who they worry will mistreat the new baby.

The emotions run high on all levels, making this a gripping read (I was tempted to skip to the end because the tension was so intense for me).  It also made for some interesting discussion in the book club.  No one said they disliked the story, quite a few said they wished they had read it sooner.  But there was some debate on which characters are most sympathetic and relate-able.

Pie

Title: Pie

Author: Sarah Weeks [Website][Twitter]

Publisher: Scholastic Press

ISBN: 9780545270113

Length: 180 pages

Obtained: Library book club copy

Why this book?:

Selected as one of the books for one of my book clubs.

Comments:

Cute, interesting, touching.  Ending was... mixed feelings.  If only I baked and didn't have a time schedule I might have tried some of the recipes.

Rocket Boys

Title: Rockets Boys aka October Sky

Author: Homer H. Hickam, Jr. [Website][Twitter][Facebook] aka Sonny

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Series: Coalwood, Bk 1

ISBN: 038533320X

Length: 368 pages

Obtained: Library book club copy

Why this book?:

For a book club.

Comments:

I found this very interesting.  It reminded me why I enjoy memoirs.  The rocket part was interesting, and I was rooting for the boys to succeed (I do like that kind of story), but I was especially interested in the coal mining town and family aspect.  I have some of that in my ancestry, and I found myself mentally picturing my relatives in this town (though it seemed like it may not exactly be the usual).

I checked out the next book, The Coalwood Way, though to be honest I don't know if I'll get to it soon.  Nevertheless, I definitely want to continue reading Homer Hickam's books.  I'm not sure if I want to see the movie or not... That can always be a scary prospect.

I've Got Your Number

Title: I've Got Your Number

Author: Sophie Kinsella [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Dial Press

ISBN: 9780385342070

Length: 433 pages

Obtained: Library book club copy

Why this book?:

For a book club.  I selected it for the book club because it sounded light and fun - a perfect pick-me-up for gloomy weather - and because the romance aspect would fit February.

Comments:

I read this early February, so my comments may be sparse.  This was fun and light-hearted, though I really wouldn't have reacted like either of the main characters to the situations they found themselves in.  I zipped through this, and found it difficult to get into another book after, hesitating to lose that feeling.

Wonder

Title: Wonder

Author: R. J. Palacio [Website][Twitter] aka Raquel J. Palacio

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

ISBN: 9780375869020

Length: 313 pages

Obtained: Library book club copy

Why this book?:

Picked as a book club book for one of the many book clubs I'm in.

Comments:

Auggie was born with severe facial differences and has gone through a series of corrective surgeries, but still looks very different from the typical 10-year-old boy.  His parents have decided it is time for him to go to school (rather than being homeschooled) for middle school.  This means learning how to navigate in the world where kids can be mean without the protection his family has always afforded him.

I found Wonder to be an interesting book.  Auggie was a very likable boy, occasionally being mopey and having "woe-is-me" moments, but he is only 10 (not to mention everything he had been through) so that made him more realistic.  The book offers great insight into how the phrase "it's the inside that counts" might be very true, so there is a moral to it all, along with issues of bullying, etc.

Auggie's family's dog, Daisy reminded me greatly of a dog we had... in all ways from the name to rolling over for belly rubs, to certain events in the book.  So much so that I don't remember how she was physically described, I just pictured my family's Daisy.

Anyway, at least one part had me sobbing, but I can't say what or why without spoilers.

I missed the book club, so I don't know what the others thought, but while writing this I was trying to remember who from Star Wars Auggie was compared to.  When I was looking in the book (I like Star Wars but I'm horrible with names) to see who it was and find a picture, I decided I want to re-read the book.  I figure that says something.

The Last Detective

Title: The Last Detective

Author: Peter Lovesey [Website]; Introduction by Louise Penny [Website][Facebook]

Publisher: SOHO Crime

Series: Detective Superintendent Peter Diamond, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781616955304

Length: 382 pages

Obtained: SOHO sent copies for my book club to discuss

Why this book?: See above.  But also, it sounded interesting and was the first in a series (always a perk).

Comments:

I enjoyed reading this story in a distant reflective way, I guess.  Peter Diamond doesn't feel like someone the reader gets close to any more than the men he works with (though I did like him).  I spent much of the story hoping he'd get past his pride and still make the break that solves the case.

As for the mystery itself, I wondered about the culprit, but had dismissed it.  I guess this is a procedural, which I read less of and have not adjusted to as much.  But the story was interesting when they had the various people of interest in for questioning.  I wonder how this became an extended series with how this one ended, so I would be interested in reading more.

Ready Player One

Title: Ready Player One

Author: Ernest Cline [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: B/D/W/Y

ISBN: 9780307887443

Length: 372 pages

Obtained: Library book kit copy

Why this book?:

Chosen for one of the book clubs I'm participating in.

Comments:

Well.  It's another future that I would like to avoid... very depressing and sad.  To an extent, though, I can see something like this happening with the current environmental concerns and overpopulation.  The technology is a bit more difficult for me to imagine despite some aspects of virtual reality already being out there.  I guess I'd like to think that people wouldn't all go the way of burying their heads in the sand and immersing themselves in a nonexistent world, though I know some do already.  The people of this future live their lives in virtual reality constantly, whether by gaming, movies, TV, ebooks, school, work, etc., while their physical worlds crumble and remain in drudgery.

As for the game, or contest, or quest - whatever you choose to call it - it was obsessive and another reason to avoid reality, and yet I could see some positives in at least having some sort of goal forthe future and persistence.

Anyway, I read it.  It caught me up for a time, and now it's over.

Unwind

Title: Unwind

Author: Neal Shusterman [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Series: Unwind Dystology, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781416912040

Length: 335 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

It was January's book for a new book club I'm joining.

Comments:

I realized this book is dystopian and immediately thought oh, boy, here we go.  Then I began learning the history of this world and how things are done, and I was shocked.  Shocked and horrified.  I'm going to try to explain with a minimum of spoilers, but I'm not sure that is entirely possible.

The background for this story made no sense to me (still doesn't)... how a group of people (pro-choice and pro-life, both) could agree that "unwinding" a child could be a reasonable solution to the issue of whether abortion (or capital punishment, though that is not a focus) should be permitted.  And the reasons for why a child might be "unwound" in this world are just as abhorrent.

But this isn't the only incredible difference in this world.  Other craziness includes "clappers" and what they represent.  And aging, fanaticism, organ donation, adoption, inequality (social, racial, etc.), and in some way - big or small - any other number of issues that exist today but have transformed to fit this new world.

So I was trying to come to terms with how outrageous this world is while following Connor, Risa, Lev, and others as they cling to survival through a version of an underground railroad... and a literal railroad as the case may be.

I couldn't decide if I liked or disliked the book; I was caught up pretty quickly.  I hadn't heard of this series before being told it was the next book being discussed.  The lady who recommended it was telling us how she told someone they had to read it and then he was telling everyone how they had to read it, and so forth.  I'm not sure I would go that far, but I was certainly telling several people about the background.  And it's certainly a book that lingers in your thoughts for some time after finishing.  Anyway, I'm seriously contemplating reading more in the series.

Shusterman is also the author of Challenger Deep which has received such wonderful reviews in the professional journals.  And I have an ARC copy of Scythe, Shusterman's November 29 release that I plan to read.

And Then There Were None

Title: And Then There Were None

Author: Agatha Christie [Website] aka Mary Westmacott

Publisher: Harper

ISBN: 9780062073471 and 9780061739255

Length: 247 pages

Obtained: Library book kit copy and Library eBook

Why this book?:

I was interested in the story, I enjoy Agatha Christie, I wanted to attend the book discussion that this was being read for.

Comments:

I've never read this before or watched the movie, and while I had a general idea that it had one person die after another, I was not aware of the ending.

The characters were interesting, though being who they were, some of their thought processes were unfathomable to me.  Also, I found the play on levels of guilt and whether the characters are really guilty of accusations or not fascinating.  The setting and poem/rhyme added a fun aspect to the mystery and how it was unfolded to the reader. 

I really enjoyed this story and trying to puzzle it out.  I have read one Hercule Poirot book, and two Miss Marple books, but now I know I need to pay particular attention to some of Agatha's stand alone novels as well.  I also enjoyed the discussion and will have to check out some of the movie variations, as they were frequently mentioned.

A Touch of Stardust

Title: A Touch of Stardust

Author: Kate Alcott [Website][Facebook]

Publisher: Anchor Books

ISBN: 9780804171984

Length: 290 + "Epilogue"

Obtained: Library book club copy

Why this book?:

This was my month-long book discussion pick.

Comments:

I chose this book initially thinking it sounded interesting, but when it came time to read it I was dragging my feet.  I was 2/3 of the way into the month with only one chapter read.  I finally actually dedicated myself to reading it and finished it in one swoop.

I enjoyed this, though it isn't necessarily in a usual genre of choice.  The time period and setting were interesting.  I've only watched Gone With the Wind once (during my grad school years because I felt it was a must-see), and I've never read the book.  I didn't care for the movie then, but now I might need to re-watch.  If I can build myself up to nearly 4 hours of a movie I could potentially still not like.  Maybe if I look at the actors instead of the characters?

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Author: Ransom Riggs [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Quirk Books

Series: Miss Peregrine, Bk 1

ISBN: 9781594744761

Length: 3489 pages + index of pictures and collection

Obtained: Library book club book

Why this book:

My discussion group was reading it, the movie is coming out, and I've wanted to read it anyway.

Comments:

This was a peculiar and enjoyable book.  The pictures were great additions, the story and characters and setting were all intriguing, and the overall atmosphere was a wonderful creepy/magical.

Jacob has always had a close relationship with his grandfather, but it has become more distant since Jacob has grown older and become less tolerant of his grandfather's fantastical tales.  But then he witnesses/experiences something tragic, and while coping with the resulting emotions, discovers a world bigger than he ever imagined.

I want to continue with the series (I already have the second book, Hollow City, checked out), but I'm hesitating because I don't know if I'd rather read it and experience the pictures, or listen to it (the audio is supposed to be great).

And the movie comes out today.  I don't know when I'll get to see it, but I'm excited.

Book Trailer:

 

A Test of Wills

Title: A Test of Wills

Author: Charles Todd [Website][Facebook] aka Charles Todd and Caroline Todd

Publisher: Harper

Series: Inspector Ian Rutledge Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780062091611

Length: 305 pages + "Questions for Discussion"

Obtained: Library book club book

Why this book?:

Chosen for a book club I'm in, mystery

Comments:

Because of my own family, the first thing that really struck me about this book was Ian's issues.  The origin may be different, PTSD rather than another type of mental illness, but I'm still not used to having protagonists who has auditory hallucinations.

Beyond that, though, we have a mystery that no one wishes to speak of or help solve.  Why smear the reputation of their small village?  Why not just have the murderer taken away and be done with it?  The majority of characters were burying their heads in the sand, and when Ian Rutledge kept jostling them from the comfort of denial, they responded with obstinate silence and the least cooperation they could manage.

It was very frustrating, because the end result meant going in circles.  In any case, I did not guess who the murderer was.  In fact, the suspense had built to such a point that I zipped right through certain events and with a "Wait. What?!?" had to backtrack and reread to follow what had just occurred.

I'm interested reading more of the series, though I don't know when I'll get to them.

Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness

Title: Cocktail Hour Under the Tree of Forgetfulness

Author: Alexandra Fuller [Website] aka Bobo Fuller

Publisher: Penguin Books

ISBN: 9780143121343

Length: 227 pages + "Nicola Fuller of central Africa: The Soundtrack" + "A Guide to Unusual or Foreign Words or Phrases"

Obtained: Library book kit copy

Why this book?:

It was chosen for a book club discussion, and I was determined to actually read the discussion book this time.

Comments:

Well, it was interesting.  Different.  I didn't really know what to expect, so I can't say it wasn't what I expected.  But it rather wasn't.  I did a bit of looking things up in the middle of the book - lists books by African authors, reviews for a couple of those books, reviews for this book, reviews for the author's first book Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight...

I read two other books set at least partially in Africa immediately before this, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency and The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden. And this book is rife with racial references, race had been a subject in The Girl Who Saved the King of Sweden, and is apparently a hot topic world-round.  I know the U.S. has been going through a lot, and the book community.  But I'll be honest - I'm one of those ignorant Americans, because while I had a vague idea of racial tensions historically in South Africa, was not aware of much of the history and racial perspectives and war demonstrated by some of the events and discussion of this book.  I knew pretty much nothing about Rhodesia/Zimbabwe.  So that was very educational for me.

Also interesting was the way mental illness was presented.  That's another subject I've been seeing more of in my reading - and it's a subject that hits much closer to home for me personally.  Alexandra seems to sometimes treat it as a joke, sometimes brushes it off, and sometimes presents it in the tragic way it can be.  I guess I can understand all of those reactions - I've certainly felt and had all of them - and still I wasn't experiencing these events the same way as Alexandra did as she walked the reader through them.

The third point, though, is actually something that was noted in one of the reviews I read on Goodreads.  That review referred to this book as a "love letter" to Alexandra's parents/family.  I was about half way in when I read that, and the thought stuck with me.  Even as Alexandra is describing parts of her life - things her parents (primarily her mother) have said, done, or experienced that seem horrible, sad, off-the-wall, etc., you can feel the love that she holds for them and that they hold for her.  I definitely think that reviewer got it right.

Overall, I thought this was a thought provoking book.  I'm still up in the air as to whether I might go back and read some of Alexandra's other books.  Perhaps someday.

Invincible, Indiana

Title: Invincible, Indiana

Author: Nate Dunlevy [Facebook][Twitter][Invincible, Indiana Facebook]

Publisher: Madison House Publishing

ISBN: 978-0984762408

Length: 256 pages

Obtained: Library book club copy

Why this book?:

I had chosen this book for my online discussion group.  I had to read it (I don't read all of my book club books), because I needed to scramble for discussion questions.

Comments:

I'm not a huge fan of basketball, but the overall story line was interesting (if a bit strange).  Some of the characters had more depth than others.

The main thing was built on a small town that celebrated mediocrity.  That in itself is baffling.  I might understand if that was their best, but they weren't trying their best.  They were shooting for the middle.  Quite frankly, if you look at it in (U.S.) grading terms, 50% is failing.  But the coach, Dale, seemed to do the best he could with the hand dealt and trying to convince, not only the team, but the whole town that they should want - and need - more.

And then the there are the racism issues that simmer through the book and then kind of erupt.  And then...   Small spoiler here...

There's a happy, learn right from wrong type ending.  But as to how believable that is?  I'd like to think it can happen.  I certainly think people are capable of change.  But I just don't know.

Anyway, I also was unsure about the ending.  In some ways I got it, and in some ways, it wasn't quite the HEA I'm generally hoping for.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir)

Title: Let's Pretend This Never Happened (A Mostly True Memoir)

Author: Jenny Lawson [Website][Twitter][Facebook]

Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books

ISBN: 9780399159015

Length: 313 pages + "True Facts"

Why this book?:

It was for a book discussion group.

Comments:

There is a lot of poor language (curse words and such) and, as someone in the discussion said, "crude topics".  I'm not a fan of either.  But if you looked past that (and I can see where it would be difficult to overlook, because it is frequent), then the book is SO FUNNY.  I snickered out loud as quite a few of the scenarios presented.  And despite a lot of real and pretty depressing topics discussed, I found myself really enjoying it.  It was a great pick-me-upper.  Which is interesting, because one of those pretty depressing topics discussed is mental illness, which usually hits too close to home, but wasn't an issue with this book.  I think that may have been at least partially due to how well Jenny conveyed what would have been horrible moments with humor and spunk.

I don't read memoirs often, but some of them are more enjoyable or interesting to read than other.  This was one of those.  So much so that I intend to read Jenny's second book, Furiously Happy.

Ape House

Title: Ape House

Author: Sara Gruen [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Publisher: Spiegel & Grau

ISBN: 9780385523226

Length: 336 pages

Obtained: Library book club kit copy

Why this book?:

It was the selection for the discussion I do.  I originally picked it because it looked interesting and I enjoyed Water for Elephants.

Comments:

Most of the people who read it for the discussion enjoyed it. (One didn't - she thought there was much more mention of sex, particularly where it concerned the bonobos, than necessary.)

I thought the story was okay.  The writing flowed very well.  I didn't dislike it, but I was okay setting it down and reading something else before finishing it.  I'm fairly sure I read Water for Elephants in one sitting, so I guess that means it wasn't as good?  Or maybe it just means I'm more easily distracted than I was 7 years ago?  I suspect the reason is a combination of those possibilities.

Anyway, I probably will read more by Sara Gruen.  I've heard pretty good things about At Water's Edge.

Letters from Skye

Title: Letters from Skye

Author: Jessica Brockmole [Website][Facebook][Twitter] ; Read by Elle Newlands [IMDb][Twitter], Katy Townsend [Website][IMDb][Twitter], Lincoln Hoppe [Website][IMDb][Facebook][Twitter], Adam Alexi-Malle [IMDb][Facebook], and Guy Burnet [Website][IMDb]

Publisher: Books on Tape

ISBN: 9780385367646

Length: Approx. 8 hrs ; 7 discs

Obtained: Library audiobook copy

Why this book?:

For my book discussion, but also because I've been wanting to read it since I first heard about it before publication.

Comments:

I have to say, I am so glad I read this in audio format - despite being a bit more romance than I prefer with my audiobooks.  Because the accents/voices  were GREAT.  I haven't listened to many multi-narrated books, but I loved how each character had their own voice.  They were very distinct and came to life in my mind.

I had mixed feelings about this story.  I had some moral issues with it, but beyond that it was nice.  At first every time Margaret's story came up I was eager to get back to Elspeth, but by the time Elspeth "disappeared" I was really into Margaret's side of the story.

Anyway, glad I listened to this.

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

Title: Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers

Author: Mary Roach [Website][Twitter] ; Read by: Shelly Frasier [Tantor][IMDb]

Publisher: W.W. Norton and Company / Tantor Audio

ISBN:  9780393050936 / 9781400100972

Length: 303 pages / 7 discs ; 8 hours

Obtained: Library copies (print from book kit, audio individually checked out)

Why this book?:

Started for my book discussion.

Comments:

As I read this book for my discussion I found it to be amusing and interesting in turn.  But like so many nonfiction books I didn't finish it quickly.  I did want to finish it though, so I decided audio may work better and checked that out.  Surprisingly, the audio took longer for me to get into - I don't know whether not all the sidebars were coming through or if it was the chapter being read in question, or if just took me a bit to be in the right mind frame and adjust.  Whatever the case, it did pick back up.  I ended up enjoying it.

Catch-up, Pt 3

Title: O Pioneers!

Author: Willa Cather [Willa Cather Foundation][Willa Cather Archive][PBS American Masters]

Read for a book discussion.  At first it very much felt like required school reading, but eventually I became more interested.  The last quarter was strange, IMO.

Title: Paradise (Second Opportunities, Bk 1) (re-read)

Author: Judith McNaught [Website][Facebook]

Re-read just because.  I admittedly skimmed some at the beginning.

Title: Remember When (Foster Saga, 2) (re-read)

Author: Judith McNaught [Website][Facebook]

After reading Paradise, I had a need to re-read this one.

Title: Tell Me No Lies (re-read)

Author: Elizabeth Lowell [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Ann Maxwell

This was in the same box as the Judith McNaught books and appealed.  I couldn't remember much of the story, just that I had liked it when I initially read it and the one time I re-read it before.

Title: Heroes Are My Weakness

Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

The title caught my interest.  But it turns out I enjoyed it.  I liked the ventriloquist thing.  And quite frankly I liked Annie.  Though the big bad secret from the past was weird (kinda horrible, really).  And I guessed parts of the history in question before it was revealed.  I wasn't especially happy about the other stuff going on, either.

Title: Breathing Room (re-read)

Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips [Website][Facebook][Twitter]

Re-read just because.  I admittedly skimmed some at the beginning.

Title: The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

Author: Jonas Jonasson [Website]

Read for book club.  This was my pick and I was so pleased to find it was hilarious.  I loved the historical elements.  Allan kinda struck me as a sociopath, but in such a way that I couldn't resist enjoying him and his exploits anyway.  Also, the author is Swedish.