Final October Reading

 Bewilderment by Richard Powers

“𝘓𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘔𝘺 𝘣𝘰𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘮. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.” This book is unsettling in the best possible way. It left me with more questions, more perplexities, more wonderment than it did answers. Not because of plot holes because for me, it was perfection, but because it examines ideas that have no answers…What does a special child need from a parent, from a school, from society? Can the veil of death be pushed aside? Why do we accept the poisoning of our planet? Where in space does other life exist? Is outrage truly impotent against shamelessness?Can humanity and Earth survive? This one slapped me in the face, then shook me upside down, and still resonates inside my brain - one of the best books of the year for me.

There is Nothing For You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century by Fiona Hill

You might know the author's name from her famously insightful testimony at Trump's first impeachment trial. Yet this book is so much more than a political-junkie book; in fact, very little existed about Trump's impeachment, relying on the fact that most of us already know her role in it. Instead, this is a memoir of a girl raised in the working poor of northern England, faced with social class prejudices and biases that worked against her at every step. It is about the helping hands she had from other humans as well as governments, and how Fiona Hill got to sit in the White House as a top adviser to three presidents. In the end, she gives us a historical perspective on how the democracies in both America and the UK have been crippled through income inequality and lack of opportunity. It is fascinating in every way. I highly recommend the audio because Hill's voice is simply sublime.

The Hidden Palace (The Golem and the Jinni #2) by Helene Wecker

This is a classic example of "Was a sequel needed?' I adored the first book, The Golem and the Jinni; it was highly creative, gorgeously written, and had a gripping plot with an evil villain who had to be vanquished. This time around, it still has the gorgeous writing and the two fantastic lead characters who are so complexly developed and compelling, yet it was missing a plot for me. It hinted at one, but did not really pick up until the final quarter of the book, and even then, meh. I did adore the setting in turn-of-the-century NYC but sadly, I think I could have been satisfied with a one-and-done. Rats.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Fun, silly, implausible, brain candy - and we all need that some time, right?! A college-age witchy couple have a mad summer affair, and when the young man spills that he's actually engaged to someone back in England, the young female witch says bye-bye. She also gets super drunk and hexes him. Fast forward eight years and these two hot witches are together again, trying to get rid of the curse that is causing some interesting issues around town. Like I said, silly but fun!

State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Rodham Clinton

This is the best political thriller I have read in a looooong time - as in, I could not put it down and finished it in just 24 hours. And not just because Louise Penny is one of my favorite mystery writers. And not just because Hillary Rodham Clinton is a human being I admire immensely. It’s just a damn good book! These two writers have created a Secretary of State we all want in our lives - smart, loyal, sassy, tenacious. And her bestie, Betsy, could be my favorite sidekick ever (I mean, this quote “Those who underestimated teachers did so at their peril!”) - their word plays to check their identifies is just sheer genius. In the space of 400 pages, we see how a former incompetent president set the world up for total destruction - yeah, it could happen. And yeah, shades of #45. Admittedly, some of this was too close to home and made the hair on my neck stand to attention. I also chuckled out loud more than once. And the piece de resistance were the cameos by beloved figures from Penny’s fictional village of Three Pines. I anxiously await a sequel. 

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

This is a case where the sequel is even better than the first in the series! Each book revolves around four senior citizens who all live in the same retirement community in the English countryside; each one of them is delightfully wonderful, in their singularly unique way. My personal favorite is Elizabeth, the former MI5 secret agent who is pretty much a badass boss. This time around they've got a former husband, some stolen diamonds, a mugging, and of course a few murders all mixed in together that must not only be solved, but vengeance must be had. I laughed out loud more than once and turned pages voraciously. Can't wait for book three!

October 2.0

 Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout

“But who really knows the experience of another?” As a teacher, I spent decades trying to figure out students - what baggage they carried with them into my classroom, how their past influenced their present, how their prejudices, biases, passion impacted their behavior and interests. Elizabeth Strout has that same curiosity and has spent three books exploring these ideas through the character of Lucy Barton and the peripheral people in her life. In this finale of her Amgash series, we meet Lucy’s husband William in all his complexities and sorrows embedded in his past. We see how this relationship, both when they are married and once they are divorced, affects both their lives. This is not a plot driven book so if you’re looking for a hard driving thriller, this isn’t it. For me, it is a gorgeous study of humanity in all its messiness. It is authentic and real, and it struck me deep into my core. Do you need to read all three books in the series? IMO, yes, you do. Without My Name is Lucy Barton, I would not have understood the depth of poverty from which Lucy rose. Without Anything is Possible, I would not have seen the broad connections in Amgash, of the friends and family that tie Lucy to her past. Both of these books shine the light of brilliance even brighter on Oh William!

Voices From the Pandemic A Year of Crisis and Courage in the Time of Covid-19 by Eli Zaslow

I believe, to the bottom of my heart, that all adults in America should read this book. For the same reasons we visit the Anne Frank house, or the Holocaust museum, or the Vietnam War Memorial - to honor the dead, to honor the suffering, to honor the heroes. This book contains forty interviews from Americans who experienced 2020; it is an amalgam of society, pulling people from every walk of life, to see how they experienced this modern day pandemic. At just 200 pages, I read it in less than 24 hours, my heart and emotions gripped relentlessly. If you thought you knew Covid, think again - I was shocked, enlightened, horrified, saddened, inspired. The whole "It's too soon" just doesn't work - I believe we must listen, learn, and yes, HONOR, what we have all experienced. 

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi, Yusef Salaam

Written in verse, this audio is not to be missed. It is the story of a young black man, falsely accused of assault, found guilty in a juvenile court, and sent to a facility for teenage boys. Amal is an artist so his story is told through poetry, through his painting, through his interactions with his teachers, his friends, his foes. It is the story of so many young Black men, as evidenced by the co-writer, Yusef Salaam, who spent seven years falsely imprisoned as one of the Central Park Five. This book broke my heart, yet also inspired me. It is the perfect companion book to many of the powerful YA books used in classrooms today - do not miss it.

The Corpse Flower by Anne Mette Hancock

Do you like a dark Scandinavian tale? If so, you might want to check this book out but be prepared - it was a bit stomach churning for me. The premise got me from the start: Heloise, a Danish reporter, is contacted by a young woman who was video-taped leaving a murder victim's apartment and yes, she looked a tad guilty (covered in blood, taunting the camera). So what is this murderer's story? Did she do it? If so, why? And what the heck does Heloise and her own past have to do with it? I found this mystery to be well-plotted / a secondary plot of government corruption was extraneous and unnecessary for me. Be aware tho - there is child abuse, child pornography, and other truly vile crimes committed. So yeah, it is DARK.

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

Brain Candy - sometimes we just need to be entertained. I did not need a cerebral read, one that made my brain hurt, just a book to thoroughly enjoy. Lisa Jewell always fits the bill and her latest book was perfection for my mood. She strings together two time lines flawlessly: a cozy mystery writer comes to live at a school with her head-teacher boyfriend and discovers a real-life mystery / a year ago, two teen parents disappear, leaving behind their one year old son and a grieving parent. Tons of different rabbit holes to go down, some twists and turns (not always plausible but I could've cared less), and a thoroughly satisfying finale. Solid thriller that yes, actually thrilled me. 

The Five Wounds by Kirsten Valdez Quade

A pregnant fifteen year old granddaughter, a thirty-something year old alcoholic unemployed son, and a mother dying of brain cancer - this Hispanic family, living in a small New Mexico town, is in crisis. Yet it has been for generations so how does one dig out of a hole when the shit just keeps piling in? This was an engrossing story that really shines a spotlight on at-risk teens, and why they are at-risk. As a former teacher, I found it mesmerizing to be the fly on the wall, watching bad decisions by the characters, and then realizing how judge-y I was being. This book doesn't give you any pat answers, but it sure makes you mull over what is wrong in our country and to wonder how the heck we got here. (I also could not helping thinking what the pandemic did to families already teetering on the edge - catastrophe, is my guess). Provocative story line and compelling characters all wrapped up in beautiful writing - highly recommend. 

My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson

A collection of short stories plus the titular novella, this is one of the best audio books I have listened to in a long while. It begins with a bravura performance by Levar Burton; if I hadn't been in my car, I would have given him a standing ovation. Each story revolves around the idea of belonging and the questions inherent in that idea, particularly in American for people of color. The finale, My Monticello, is just jaw-dropping in its intensity as a small group of people finding refuge from violent white supremacists in Jefferson's famous home. I felt at times like I was listening to Amanda Gorman read me a poetically written tale. What a stunning debut - highly recommend the audio.

October Reading

The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers

“For the original transgression of this land was not slavery. It was greed, and it could not be contained.” Let’s be real - 790 pages is darn intimidating. It might stop some people (honestly, a lot of people) from picking up this book. Don’t let the fear dissuade you - it is worth every single solitary page. This is an EPIC family saga that covers over 400 years of history. It is the history of Georgia, of slavery, of Jim Crow, of connections amongst Black and Native people, of sexual abuse, identify, and passion, of dreams deferred and dreams fought for, of one family whose threads spread through the fabric of one community for generations. It is breathtaking in its scope, gorgeous in its lyrical writing, and truly impossible to put down until that very last page. This book will live in my head and my heart for a very long time.

Aristotle and Dante Dive in the Waters of the World by Benjamin Alire Saenz

I fell madly in love with Aristotle and Dante when they explored the universe in their first book. So I was worried…would I love them as much the second time around? Let me put your worries at ease - these two young men, their love and their lives, will once again wrap tightly around your heart.  Ari and Dante have so much life to navigate in this new book: a new sibling, attending different high schools, expanding and understanding their love for each other, incorporating other friends into their circle, experiencing unimaginable grief, and confronting their past. And lest we forget, this all takes place in the 80’s, where hatred and prejudice toward gay people is real and ugly and oh so sad. Be aware - it’s a slow start, wrapped up in stunningly beautiful writing. Yet at the very essence of this tale, it is a love story and the author slowly brings us back into the boys’ lives. But damn, the journey is so worth it. Some laughs, some tears, some anger, some hope, some inspiration - this book has it ALL! Please put this book into every kid’s hands who struggles with who they are, or who has been bullied or made to feel less than, who has struggled with connections or depression, or a person who has been indoctrinated into a life filled with hatred of the ‘other.’ Let Ari and Dante show everyone their hearts and their journey through rough waters - it will forever change each reader in profound and beautiful ways.

The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

I mean what’s not to love about this extraordinary sequel to 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘐𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘎𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘴…It’s got family secrets that involve billions of dollars, some death threats, and hormonal teenagers that will sneak into your heart, plus a wonderfully sassy voice that made me smile as I turned pages. And I literally couldn’t eat (I mean read) this bag of chips (I mean book) fast enough!!!!! Deeeee-licious! Need a big kick in the hiney out of your reading slump??!! This series will do it, trust me!

Fifty-Fifty by Steve Cavanagh

Eddie Flynn, the smartass conman-turned-lawyer, is baaaaack in book number 5. This time around he's defending a young woman accused of viciously killing her father (be prepared - the perpetrator likes her knives). The twist? Another newly independent lawyer with her own intriguing back story, is defending the other sister. Yep, they've pointed the finger at each other and let the chips fall where they may. Looking for some brain candy? This book will keep you turning pages - extremely entertaining.

A Spindle Splintered by Alix Harrow

Who doesn't love a re-telling of a fairy tale, but with a feminist twist, some dark humor, and a super-sassy voice?! Bonus - it is told by one of my favorite new fantasy writers who knows how to write strong, smart, independent female characters. I might have squealed in delight when I received this book from the publisher and it did NOT disappoint. Harrow takes the tale of Sleeping Beauty (and it is a seriously messed up, super misogynistic tale that kinda gave me the creeps anyways) and spins it on its head. Zinnia, a young woman who is not supposed to reach her 21st birthday due to an undisclosed disease, is taken through a portal to a fantasy world where Sleeping Beauty is trying to avoid a few things - her unwanted fiance, that stinking spindle, and pretty much the entire life laid out for her by her parents. This story is creative and funny and enraging and completely amazing. Highly recommend:)

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr

My brain hurts. So do my ears, after listening to the audio (excellent narrator for 90% of book, narrator for the myth was…discordant). Five narrators tell the tale of a lost Greek myth and how this myth connects them all, attempting to illuminate the place storytelling has in our history and our current world. My hat is off to Doerr for his creativity and his beautiful writing. Yet if you asked if me I enjoyed this book, the answer would be a soft “No.” Not resounding, just No. It felt overly verbose to me, redundant at times (did it really need FIVE narrators?), and it skips around so much which is what hurt my brain. Each time I became invested in a particular story line - boom, it shifted. And then I had to listen to the harsh voice of the myth-teller. Ugh. I am sure Doerr had a wonderful time writing this - it is very cool. Just not my cup of tea. (And Yes, I read All the Light You Cannot See and loved it - this is very very different)

Women of Troy by Pat Barker

Cassandra: “I’ve learnt not to be too attached to my own prophecies. They’ve only ever been believed when I could get a man to deliver them.” …said every woman EVER. I do love these reimaginings of Greek mythology. You know, the ones where women are given a voice, a role, some authority, some gumption, some “F-U isms” to the so- called Greek heroes. You know, the muscly guys who, in the original tellings, “save” everyone by being cruel,selfish, arrogant jerks?! Geez, I wish I’d had all these books when I was busily teaching the Odyssey every year to high schoolers - I definitely would have done things VERY differently! So, read this book if you loved Silence of the Women (I did!), if you’re super into Greek mythology, if you kinda like to see the men taken down a few pegs in realistic fashion. It is legit Greek mythology tho so skip it if you’re not a bit of a nerd as I am about that stuff. 

The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne

Anyone else like to read the book before the movie comes out?! And YES, this thriller is filming now in Canada with Daisy Ridley (aka Ren of Stars Wars fame) as the lead! This book was a huge hit a few years ago and I see why - I turned pages ferociously fast. It’s a mix of Room, Dear Child, My Absolute Darling, and true-life stories of kidnap victims held for years. In this case, it is the story of Helena, born of rape, kept in captivity with her kidnapped mother for a dozen years, and now married with children of her own. When her father escapes from prison, it’s time for Helena to go on her own hunt, this time for dear ole dad. Fair warning, this story is dark, with so many conflicting emotions around this father/daughter ‘relationship.’ I can understand with Daisy Ridley jumped on this role - Helena is a badass and owns every part of this tale. I can’t wait to see it on the big screen!