Even More December Reading

The Inheritance Games by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This is the quintessential 'potato chip' book...completely addictive, no nutritional value, utterly delightful. The premise is outrageous - teenage girl Avery Grambs lives a rough life with her sister, occasionally protecting Libby from her abusive boyfriend, playing chess with the homeless guy in the park, and sometimes sleeping in her car. Yet one day Avery learns she is the sole heir to a billionaire's estate. Realistic, right? But honestly, who cares when the story is this addictive?! Avery then has to live In the Texas family mansion for a year, residing with the four grandsons and other family members who have been summarily disinherited. So yeah, let the games begin! Book two in this series cannot be released quickly enough.

A Sky Beyond the Storm (An Ember in the Ashes series) by Sabaa Tahir

This YA fantasy series snuck up on me four years ago, starting out with An Ember in the Ashes introducing the three main characters and the premise which is loosely based on the fall of the Roman Empire. I questioned how strong Laia, the slave girl, the Scholar, truly was - could she carry this series? I heartily disliked Helene, a Mask, a killer, a member of the aristocracy. And Elias, a soldier torn between the Tribes and his fellow Masks and his love for Laia, was he intriguing enough? Yet this four book series builds purposefully, showing how life experiences strengthens each character, how hatred of the 'Other' destroys a republic from within, and details the slow, insidious march of how a society falls (yes, it is rather topical and prophetic to the times we live in now). Tahir is a masterful storyteller, as well as a woman of color who deliberately peoples this series with characters of all colors, religions, sexual and gender identities, and cultural and socioeconomic background variety. THIS is the series we have all been looking for, after the righteous complaints of the very white-centric YA fantasy series popular in today's world. Highly highly recommend diving into this world - you won't be disappointed. (And if you've never tried YA fantasy, this one would be a great place to start!)

Memorial by Bryan Washington

Here was another book that had so many mixed reviews. On one hand, it was so critically acclaimed, yet many readers seemed torn by their feelings around the story line. It is a simple plot line - partners Mike and Benson have lived together for four years and now, Mike leaves for Japan to see his dying father, while Ben stays in Houston with Mike's mother Mitsuko. The characters, however, are far from simple, nor are the themes of loss, relationship struggles, how the past impacts our present, how family expectations form our psyche. I chuckled at the snarky quips from Mitsuko as she taught Benson how to cook, I cringed at some of Ben's decisions with another man, and I wept for Mike as he struggled with a relationship with a father he had not seen in fifteen years. I was uncomfortable many times, wondering 'How do I relate to this book?" But isn't that the point of reading? I admired Washington's ability to dig deep into each of these two men's souls, and to force me outside my box with a unique writing voice.

The Lions of Fifth Avenue by Fiona Davis

A book about a book? Yep, I'm all in. Told in two perspectives, in two differing time periods, this is the story of the New York Public Library. Laura Lyons is the first occupant of the apartment in the library when it opens in 1914; a wife and mother, Laura has other dreams that are fed by her studies at Columbia as well as her entry into the life of suffragettes in Greenwich Village.  In 1993, her granddaughter, Sadie, is curating the new exhibit at the library and stumbles upon her grandmother's past. I enjoyed the mystery of the stolen books and the work of the early feminist movement, but could have cared less about Sadie and her love life. The writing style is fairly simplistic, making it a quick read, but ultimately, I wondered how memorable this book would be? Perhaps if Davis had focused solely on the earlier story, the beginnings of the research library, the struggles to make it as a female journalist, acceptance of a chosen lifestyle, I would have been more enamored? 

Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart

“𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦-𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩.”Beautiful book at the wrong time? Or not my style? Whatever it is, I struggled with this Booker Prize award winner. Partly, I think the title threw me off as I didn’t find it truly about a little boy named Shuggie. To me, it was more of a deep look into life in the Glasgow slums during the 1980’s, a time when mines were closing, working class people were struggling, gender inequality was rampant, and drinking away one’s problems was the best solution. I admired the writing, was depressed by the bleakness, and ultimately found myself wanting a deeper dive into Shuggie and his mother, Agnes, wanting to know the motivations, the ‘why’s’ of it all. Or maybe 2020 just had me in its grips and the wrenching sadness blinded me to the beauty of Shuggie? Admittedly, books like this with so little light (ie. Betty) are problematic for me. I understand it may be more realistic but hard for me this year. 

Eyes to the Wind: A Memoir of Love and Death, Hope and Resistance by Ady Barkan

Looking for some inspiration amongst the sadness, I highly recommend this audio book, from LibroFm, narrated by Bradley Whitford. I remember Ady Barkan, the man in the wheelchair who confronted Jeff Flake during the tax bill debate, who toured the halls of Congress during the ACA repeal debate, who suffers from ALS but does not let it define him. THIS is his story. It shows that Ady was a hero long before any video of him went viral, who fought for the people who most need a hand up, who pushed constantly at the powers who control all the levers, who loves his his family and shows us every facet of his life in this incredible memoir. High recommend!

More December Reading

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline

Back in 2011, I fell madly in love with Ready Player One, especially the audio read by Wil Wheaton. The sequel continues the dystopoic tale of a world in decades in the future, ruined by climate change, socioeconomic disparity, and an addition to the virtual reality world called the Oasis, invented by two super dorky computer nerds from the 1980's. Once again, Wade Watts, the 'winner' of the world in the first book, has to play hero to save the world. Yet, this time around he is not as sympathetic, but more of a spoiled, rich brat who thinks he can rule the world ('cause he kinda does!). The best part of the book, as before, is all the amazing 80's pop culture - yes, I wanted to just remain in the world of John Hughes movies and hang out with Ferris Bueller. Occasionally, the author gets a bit stuck in the techie weeds, as well as the video gaming quests that I found less than compelling, but...I am glad I read it. It is a pretty worthy finish to a highly creative story.

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

HOW did it take me so long to read this book, the book that so many high school kids tried to get me to read when I was still in the classroom, the book they said spoke to their heart like no other, and the one that spoke to my heart as well? Shame on me. This is a story of two teens, a boy and a girl who don't fit into the neat little boxes adults want to put them in, and the circumstances of life that wants to separate them. Yep, it's that simple, and yet this book is so powerful in its simplicity and so real in its authenticity. Highly recommend as a gift to a young adult:)

The Reckoning (Maeve Kerrigan #2) by Jane Casey

I always wonder if the second in a mystery series will live up to the potential in the first? The first book, The Burning, introduced the murder squad in a London police department, particularly Maeve Kerrigan, the young newbie detective. Could Casey build on that? The answer is a resounding, YES, with this second one being even better than the first. This time, as Maeve continues to struggle with her personal life and a creepy living situation, they search for a serial killer picking on men accused of being pedophiles. Not the most sympathetic victims, yet there is much more than the eye can see. This was a solid page turner, and book number three is definitely on my list for next month.

The Chanel Sisters by Judithe Little

I do love a good historical fiction story, and one set in France, with high fashion, family drama, and a little love sprinkled in? Yep, this book was a winner. Three Chanel sisters grew up in a convent school, and this story is told by the youngest, Antoinette. We see the sparse life, harsh punishment, and lack of love in their early years, years that influenced Coco Chanel's fashion choices in the future. How the elder's sisters illness impacted them all, how Coco and Antoinette began their fashion business, how their love affairs influenced the direction of their lives, and most importantly for me, how their childhood poverty and struggles became a drawing board for one of the biggest fashion icons of the 20th century. I enjoyed this story immensely.

The Dead Are Arising: The Life of Malcolm X by Les Payne

Winner of the National Book Award this year, this book is a tour de force of research and history. To be honest, I knew little of the factual information on Malcolm X, relying in the past on movies, television shows, and pop culture to fill in what I didn't know. I am grateful to finally have the real deal, to have learned Malcolm's past, his childhood, his ancestry, his journey. While I listened to the audio, I would not necessarily recommend it - too many names and incidences where I wanted to flip back chapters and reread. Les Payne digs deep into this icon of Black culture, revealing both the bigness and the small things of Malcolm's life, and shows us every piece of how Malcolm Little became Malcolm X. 

A Burning by Megha Majumdar

This book was a conundrum for me. Mixed reviews - some critics loved it, some national book clubs picked it, some readers I respect loved it, while others not so much. I wondered what I would think as I picked up this debut novel, written in three different points of view, about a terrorist event in India? Some thoughts...first, I didn't love the writing style as it felt choppy and simplistic in my brain. Yet, I totally understand the choice as each voice fit each of the three narrators. The premise started out dark as a young girl from the slums is wrongly accused of a horrific act, it stays dark as the former gym teacher and aspiring Bollywood star question their own behavior toward the accused, and it grows even darker in the end. However, am I glad I read it? Yes. It gave me a slice of life in India. Did it disturb me, provoke me, anger me? Completely. Will I pick up another book by this author? Definitely. Did I need to read a light fluffy book afterward? For sure.

 

Best of 2020

 Best Book of 2020: Caste by Isabel Wilkerson 

"Once awakened, we then have a choice. We can be born to the dominant caste but choose not to dominate. We can be born to a subordinated caste but resist the box others force upon us. Caste is a disease, and none of us is immune. A world without caste would set everyone free." A historical overview of the four hundred year old caste system in America, this is the Must Read book of 2020.

Best Literary Fiction: Valentine by Elizabeth Wetmore

A character study of life in Odessa, Texas, as women's lives are examined through the lens of a rape of a young girl, this debut novel still haunts me. 

Runners Up: A good neighborhood, Normal People, In Five Years, Writers & Lovers, The Unseen World, Long Bright River, A History of Loneliness, Heft, Saving Ruby King, Anxious People, Homeland Elegies, Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan, Dear Edward

Best Historical Fiction: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett AND Greenwood by Michael Christie

A march back and fourth through the history of a Canadian family, what a brilliant family saga

Runners Up: The Mountains Sing, Hamnet, The Stationery Shop, The Book of Longings, Rodham, Hum if You Don’t Know the Words, Greenwood, The Lost Queen,, If You Want to Make God Laugh, The Exiles, Against the Loveless World, Your House Will Pay

Best Mystery: The Searcher by Tana French

Ireland, a bond, and a missing brother, the deliberate plotting and writing is stunning

Runners Up: the Louise Penny series, Winter Counts, Ellison Cooper series, Take It Back, The Burning, 

Best Thriller:  The Last Flight by Julie Clark

Two women, a plane ride, and a page-turning mystery, the one thriller that satisfied in 2020

Runners Up: We Are All the Same in the Dark, The End of October, Blacktop Wasteland, When You Disappeared, When No One is Watching, Dear Child

Best Humor: Minor Dramas & Other Catastrophes by Kathleen West

A crazy PTA mom, social media, and a school setting, this book gives some very pointed laughter

Runners Up: Shit Actually, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires, 

Best Modern Day Classic: A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

The classic story of a friendship, a mother, and life, I could read this book every year.

Runners Up: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Kindred, Stoner, The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon

Best Non-Fiction, History:  His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of

Hope by Jon Meacham, John Lewis

The story not only of John Lewis and the march in Selma, but the history of how we arrived in this moment and where we are capable of going now

Runners Up: Death in Mud Lick, Wandering in Strange Lands, The Splendid and the Vile

Best Non-Fiction, Memoir: When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter

Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Asha Bandele

A woman's life growing up in urban Los Angeles, her family, and the beginning of a movement

Runners Up: All boys aren’t blue, My Vanishing Country, The Girl Who Smiled Beads

Best Non-Fiction, Social Commentary: Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope by

Nicholas Kristof, Sheryl WuDunn

An deep look at working class neighborhoods across America, and the devastation as well as the hope found there

Runners Up: How to be an Antiracist, The Undocumented Americans, A Knock at Midnight, 

Best Audio:  The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 by Garrett M. Graff

A chilling account of September 11, 2001, and the thousands of people involved and impacted by it

Runners Up: Mercy House, Saving Ruby King, We Are Not from Here, The Death of Vivek Oji, Poet X

Best Adult Fantasy/Dystopia: The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

An inspector, some magical children, and an orphanage, this is a heart happy book I want to read every year

Runners Up: The Midnight Library, Wanderers, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

Best YA:  Dear Justyce by Nic Stone

A boy, a prison cell, racial injustice, a friendship, this book delivers everything

Runners Up: All American Boys, The Boy in the Black Suit, the Burning, Dear Martin,Truly Devious series, Clap When You Land

Best YA Fantasy: Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas

The finale of the Throne of Glass series, best finish to a series EVER

Runners Up: House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1), Serpent & Dove, 

Best Middle Reader: Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Roades

A young boy guided through death by Emmett Till, the is a book for all ages

Runners Up: Track series by Jason Reynolds, They Called Us Enemy, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, March

December Reading

 Take It Back: A Novel (Zara Keel #1) by Kia Abdullah

I love a good courtroom thriller and this debut novel delivers, as well as introduces us to a fabulous new female. Zara Keel is a complicated woman; she is a talented lawyer who leaves firm life to become an advocate for victims of violence. Add to that, Zara is also a Muslim woman who left her arranged marriage, has multiple family dramas, and chooses a life of independence,  and it spells success for the subsequent series. In this first book, Zara is faced with a young girl, suffering from a physical disability as well as a traumatic home life, who has accused four young Muslim boys of rape. The subsequent trial and media circus  is gripping, making this book very difficult to put down. And when you think you have it all figured out, trust me, you don't. Can't wait for Book #2!

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden

This book, plain and simple, is fantastic. Set on a South Dakota native reservation, written by a Lakota tribe member, this thriller hits all the right marks: First, a fantastic lead character in Virgil, a reservation strong man with a troubled past and a moral compass; thoroughly developed and compelling supporting cast, especially Virgil's love interest; fascinating setting on Pine Lakes reservation, giving the reader enormous new knowledge of native life and its troubling relationship with the federal government; and a mystery that will keep one reading until the final chapter. I could not put this book down, and will be first in line for Weiden's second novel. (And yes, I am keeping my fingers crossed for a Virgil sequel!)

Homeland Elegies by Ayad Akhtar

If you want to be kicked HARD out of the box you live in, read this book. If you want to be blown away by brilliant writing, read this book. And if you want to know what it is like to live as both a first and second generation immigrant, then yes, read this book. Akhtar smoothly weaves together autobiography and fiction to tell his tale of a father who emigrated to America from Pakistan, stepping back from devout Muslim faith but never leaving it entirely, and the complex relationship this father has with his son. Bouncing amongst many, many topics, there were times I wondered if all the detail as necessary? And then realizing, yes, it was, as Akhtar explores their world post 9/11, his search for value as a writer, his observations of marriages and relationships between Muslims as well as mixed culture marriages, his mother and her views of America vs. Pakistan, a court trial that sheds light on big corporations in healthcare, etc. So many topics are addressed, yet as it comes down to the end, the one question that is consistently asked is "What makes us American?" Brilliant book - I won't forget it anytime soon.

Pale Morning Light with Violet Swan: A Novel of a Life in Art by Deborah Reed

An Oregon author, a book I had never heard of, what would this story be? Magical, that's what, just unbelievably magical. This is a book that has not yet found a wide audience, and deserves one so very much. A story of Violet Swan, a woman in her nineties, a famous artist, resident of the Oregon coast, dying of lung cancer, and who has a story to tell, and what a life story it is! I loved the author's style and voice, the way she interspersed small moments of the past in an authentic manner, as tiny incidents sparked a memory for Violet., pulling us back to her past, yet also making connections with her life of today. The threads of the many decades of Violet's life, as well as her art, are woven together in a manner I will not soon forget. I so loved this book.

We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin

After the heaviness of some very serious books, I needed a good thriller to get lost in and this book did the trick. As many of you know, thrillers have been mostly 'miss' this year, with few 'hits,' but this tale of family secrets, murder, and police knocked it out of the park. I don't want to give anything away so here's the brief premise: ten years prior, Wyatt's sister and father disappeared, never to be seen again, with Wyatt blamed, becoming the Texas town pariah. When Odette, his ex-girlfriend becomes a cop in town, still obsessed with the sister's disappearance, the mysterious happenings escalate once again, dragging everyone into the mystery. Creatively plotted and well-written, this is a thriller that thoroughly satisfies.

The Cipher (Nina Guerrera, #1) by Isabella Maldonado

It's a rare FBI profiler-type mystery series that doesn't pull me in, but not every one of them satisfies - this one definitely deserves all the accolades it is receiving. Written by an ex-police trained in FBI tactics, Maldonado shows her deep knowledge in the creation of her main character, Nina Guerrera, as well as how the police and FBI interact and develop a plan to catch a serial killer. Nina's own past as a victim has pulled her into the latest kills of a very creepy killer, one that can give nightmares so don't read this in the dark. The twists and turns are plentiful, while the action consistently builds tension, leading to a page-turning finish. I loved the variety of characters created, with diversity in culture and gender. I will definitely be picking up the second book in this series when it comes out.

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

Oh, how I loved his first book The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, and could not wait to get my hands on this one. Almost 500 pages later, I was sadly left with feelings of 'meh.' It is the story of a boat, sailing back from Indonesia to Amsterdam in the 17th century. Populated with a wide cast of characters (take notes - there's a ton of people!), a lot of weirdly evil stuff happens on this ship. Plus, the most interesting character to me, the Sherlock Holme-ish detective, was kept imprisoned most of the time when I wanted him in the story more. Don't get me wrong - the plotting is creative. Yet it is also confusing at times, extraordinarily drawn out with many unnecessary details, and the ultimate denouement fell a bit flat for me. Considering all the pages it took to get me there, yes, I was disappointed. 

More November Reading

 The Burning by Jane Casey

I am always on the lookout for a great detective-murder mystery and Jane Casey delivers. Honestly, it was like watching a well done BBC series. As always, I have to start from the beginning, back with the first book written in 2011. We meet Maeve Kerrigan, the newbie homicide detective, trying to make a name for herself with the boss, dealing with the rampant sexism within the department, and getting entangled with a fellow detective. And all while trying to figure out if the fifth victim of the serial killer nicknamed the Burning Man, was a copycat or the real deal. I loved how it uses a few different viewpoints, consistently sending me down rabbit holes as I chased Casey's red herrings. And yes, I already have Book #2 in my hands!

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

The story of young Betty, a child of Ohio Appalachia, daughter to a half-Cherokee dad and a mentally ill mother, this story was one of unrelenting sadness, trauma, and tragedy. From the moment Betty is born into this sprawling family, she takes the place of her father's favorite, the child who looks most Native like her dad, the one who listens to his myths of the land and the sky, who sits in the middle of numerous brothers and sisters, who watches as each child moves to their foreshadowed destiny. The writing is lyrical, beautiful, evocative, yet it was hard to continue at times. The one ray of light was the father, Landon, and his incredible relationship with Betty; would that every child could have one person in their live who loves them unconditionally and irrevocably. 

Jackpot by Nic Stone

Having read both Dear Martin and Dear Justyce, I am a huge Nic Stone fan. She has an uncanny ability to capture not only young adults and their attitudes/outlooks/realities, but also important issues in our world in a very authentic way. This time around, Stone looks at a young adult relationship in their senior year of high school - yes, the boy is white and the girl is biracial, but more important to the story is the economic inequality between these two. Zan is the white boy who comes from great wealth, who has never known 'want,' who is handsome, popular, kind, thoughtful, yet ignorant of need. Rico is the girl who works after school to help pay rent, whose brother was brought home to a homeless shelter, who worries about doctor bills w/no insurance, and who does not see any way out of her life. When she and Zan team up to locate a woman who has a winning lotto ticket, their worlds collide. This would be a fantastic book for students, middle school through high school, to be taught, as well as an adult book club, as we often focus on the easily seen issues of today, and not the vast economic divide tearing us apart. Yep, I loved this book.

Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1) by Rebecca Roanhorse

This is the buzziest sci-fi/fantasy book of 2020, and it lives up to all the hype. It combines Native mythology with an earth where unique, and sometimes magical groups of people, live in different cities, have different faith systems, and whose cultures war against one another. The entire story revolves around the axis of a solar eclipse, as well as the return of Serapio, a young boy who has been turned in a god. Yeah, it's complicated, and there's a million characters, but wow, it is creative, unique, and all together fascinating. I listened to it, and while the narration is fantastic, I think I would have been better off having a physical copy so I could keep names and places in better order.

American Royals by Katharine McGee

This is what I call a bag of potato chips - nothing healthy, but all together addictive. After having my heart shredded by the sadness and trauma of Betty, I needed a palate cleanser and this silly book did the job perfectly. It is alternative history in the most implausible manner, with George Washington accepting the kingship at the end of the Revolutionary War, and handing out titles and duchies like they were candy. In today's royal family, the story follows the three young adult children of the Washington royal family, with the daughter prepping to become queen someday and the twins wreaking havoc as the 'spares.' Throw in young hot love, a perfectly evil nemesis of an ex-girlfriend, and friendship drama, and yep, the perfect escapism can occur. Well done!

You (You #1) by Caroline Kepnes

What. Was. That??? Hmmmm, let’s see - a lot of sex (like a LOT), a sociopathic male lead, a shallow unlikeable young woman, a LOT of murder, some gratuitous sexism, and not a lot of karmic justice. YET...a really talented narrator on audio. I’ll still never get back those 12 hours, nor all the showers I felt I needed after listening. This book was just NOT for me.

November 2.0

Dear Justyce (Dear Martin #2) by Nic Stone

I adored Dear Martin, five star read, but I’m pretty sure Dear Justyce has my heart. In this sequel, a young Black teen named Quan sits in jail, awaiting trial for allegedly killing a policeman. The same policeman who killed Justyce’s best friend and Quan’s cousin. Yeah, it’s complicated. As Justyce and Quan exchange letters, we see how Quan’s childhood led him to this prison cell. It will anger you, make you weep, and inspire you to see the people who give Quan the chances he needs. If I was still teaching high school, I would do ANYTHING, to use both Dear Martin and Dear Justyce in my classroom. These two books are eye opening, life changing, and vitally important to read as we all continue to open our eyes to the INjustice in our justice system.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

“𝘐𝘧 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬, 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵?” This is an oft told tale, of selling one’s soul to the devil in exchange for eternal life, and then, of course, regretting it. But wait...VE Schwab has a few twists to that old cliche.What if the ‘victim’ hasn’t read the fine print? What if she’s a strong badass woman who won’t be pushed around by the devil? What if she tries to ‘work the system’?! And most tantalizing, what if the devil is fire hot?! While it took about fifty pages for this story to gel for me, once it did, I could not put it down. I loved the deep character development, the beautiful writing, and the unique plotting.  It should provide some provocative conversation in any book club.

The Cold Millions by Jess Walter

Let me preface this review with the fact that I am a huge Jess Walter fangirl; I've read three of his books and adored them. Yet this one fell a bit flat for me. The premise pulled me in as it takes place in the PNW (Spokane, WA in the early decades of the 20th century), two brothers, one actress, and a plethora of many, many other characters, and all these things woven together with union organization, racial and class inequality, and family ties. It is gorgeously written - I truly admired Walter's syntax and language. Yet often I was bored with the unending trials and tribulations of the union, even as it addresses legitimate and ongoing societal issues. Perhaps I was just tired of politics? Regardless, while I admired this book, I didn't really love it.

The Space Between Worlds by Micaiah Johnson

I have teased my family for years, that in a parallel universe, I have puppies not kids, or I'm a world-famous neuroscientist, or an astronaut, or a photo-journalist. You get my drift - other lives I think I'd like to experience. In this book, debut author Johnson brings us just this idea, with a few twists. In Earth Zero, a Steven Jobs-type of guy has invented the technology so we can go to these other worlds, with one caveat - only if our other self has already died. Yet Cara, our multiverse traveler, runs into a few problems. Big problems. World ending problems. Life ending problems. Within this book, there is love, family, society issues that will remind you of today, mystery, murder, power plays, yep, everything in life. I loved this book, and I am not normally a big sci-fi fan. Highly recommend if you want to get out of your box a little bit.

Goodnight Beautiful by Aimee Molloy

I'm confused by the love for this book honestly. It just seemed like a rip-off of Misery by Stephen King (he did it better) but maybe I am missing something? Annie, college professor who is willing to give up NYC and her home and her life just to follow her husband Sam to  a small town upstate (don't even get me started on the sexism in this book), is looking for her husband. The book goes back and forth amongst multiple viewpoints, narrated by at least one rather unlikeable voice in the audio. Bottom line, I've read better thrillers but I know some people who liked this one - I just wasn't one of them.

Heart Berries: A Memoir by Terese Marie Mailhot

A heart-wrenching memoir of a Native woman, battling past traumas, family issues, and mental illness herself, this was a rough book for me. Maybe it was the time in which I read it, but it just seemed like trauma overload. There was very little light and I just was depressed by the end. The audio is beautifully narrated, yet the stream of consciousness style of writing was challenging to follow the story line. 

November Reading

 The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

“𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩...𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦.” This book is literally perfect for this season - it’s got witches, suffragettes, voting rights issues, and MAGIC!New Salem in the late 19th century is a hot mess with women fighting for their voting rights as well as their rights for economic and domestic justice. Harrow shows her writing chops by creating three disparate yet compelling sisters, a diverse group of fellow witches who form their own sisterhood, and a  villain who has stood the test of time, literally. While this book took its time to pull all the plot strings  together, it is well worth it. The final 150 pages are exciting and magical, making this book impossible to put down. Alix Harrow has become an auto-buy author for me after this one and 𝘛𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 (ahem, I am still waiting for that sequel!)

Your House Will Pay by Steph Cha

“𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘳, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘢 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯. 𝘕𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘸. 𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩.”Wow. No seriously, WOW. After being on my TBR list for months, I finally read it in just 24 hours. This book is earth shattering. Based on the true story of a young Black girl killed by a Korean shop owner in 1991 Los Angeles, author Steph Cha uses that incident to juxtapose it with the racially charged world of today... the world of systemic racism, of segregated neighborhoods, of families torn apart, of generational anger, of marches and protests and the lack of justice for brown and black people. This book will blow your mind. Do NOT miss it. 

Down Along with That Devil's Bones: A Reckoning with Monuments, Memory and the Legacy of White Supremacy by Connor Towne O'Neill

Do you like history and all kinds of interesting historical trivia? How about an inspiring story about fighting to rid Tennessee of all kinds of statues and monuments of Nathan Bedford Forrest? (Yes, the namesake of Forrest, Forrest Gump!) My goodness, the stuff I learned that I knew utterly nothing about was beyond fascinating: the pivotal Confederate battles and losses, the background of General Forrest (trust me, it's not pleasant), the reasons behind the monuments and their artists, and how hard so many people had to work to convince government and college officials to take them down (yes, it made me want to scream). 

Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa

How does society form a terrorist? Is it the neighborhood, religious beliefs, family, friends, lovers, circumstance, poverty, racism, war? Or a combination of all these things? Is a terrorist evil or sympathetic, born or made, guilty or blameless? Is Israel right or wrong? Is Palestine? Is there an answer? Or is there grey area in all these ideas? A book that makes me question and provokes conversation is always a winner for me, and this book does just that. We meet Nahr, the pivotal character, at the 'end,' as she lives in solitary confinement in an Israeli prison. As she recounts the journey of her life and what led her to this place, we experience the journey with her. Nahr is complex, rather hateful at times, selfish at others, sometimes devoted, sometimes kind. There are no black and white answers in this book, which is what I loved about it. This would be an amazing book club choice as there is so much to chew on.

Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

What a beautiful book showing a completely unique side of the Latinx community, and rather perfect as the Day of the Dead comes up this weekend. In this young adult novel, we meet Yadriel, a transgender boy who lives in a cemetery in East Los Angeles, who desperately wants his father to accept him as a brujo, a Latino who can help the dead find their way to the underworld. Yads is the most amazing character - funny, loving, smart, loyal - you will adore him, as you will his best friend, Maritza, who really can't stand the idea of being a bruja due to the animal blood needed and her vegan lifestyle. These two have to deal with a ghost named Julian, who needs their help and earns their friendship, all while solving a mystery of missing young men in their community. A bit long in parts for me, but ultimately a wonderful story of family, acceptance, and the spiritual world.

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

This is one of the most authentically voiced story of a young adult Black woman, searching for where she belongs in her world and the world in which she lives. Portland, Oregon is the setting, a supposed bastion of progressive thinking, but with a long history of racially segregated neighborhoods and biased laws. Attending a mostly-white school on scholarship, Jade has many people who want to 'save' her, but...does she need saving? The laser focus on the subtle racism everywhere in our world - schools, department stores, mentors, support programs - is powerful and eye opening. This would be a fantastic book to use in a classroom.

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

This was just a weird book for me. Granted, it's a very 'buzzy' book, with lots of people reading and talking about it. However, in my typical 'outlier' attitude, I just honestly did not see what the big deal was? Here's the premise: wealthy white NYC couple rents Long Island home with their two teenage kids, a blackout in the city occurs, thus the Black couple who owns the home return and hang out with the renters. Yes, there is tension. Yes, it is creepy in subtle and overt ways. Yes, it gives no answers but provokes many questions. But at the end of it all, I was left just feeling 'meh.'