The Soul of an Octopus: A Joyful Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness

The Soul of an Octopus: A Joyful Exploration Into the Wonder of Consciousness
by Sy Montgomery
Atria Books, 2015. 261 pages. Young Adult Nonfiction.

Montgomery dedicated several years of her life befriending octopuses. Her regular encounters with these animals reveals more than their physical characteristics, but their vibrant personalities as well. Octopuses can solve problems and test boundaries. They are escape artists and caregivers. Montgomery grants readers a glimpse of her relationship with several of these unique animals. Her book joyfully represents what it means to see the soul of an octopus.

I've always been scared of large sea creatures, but after reading this book I am scared of small ones too. It was fascinating to learn how octopuses interacted and how smart they are. They are adorable but dangerous. I would not want to get between an octopus and it's lunch. I loved that the octopuses remembered the different caretakers even when they went several months without interaction. This book had a similar tone to that of Lab Girl by Hope Jahren and would be a good choice for those interested in a science-memoir mash-up.

HS

Don't Worry, It Gets Worse: One Twentysomething's (Mostly Failed) Attempts at Adulthood

Don't Worry, It Gets Worse: One Twentysomething's (Mostly Failed) Attempts at Adulthood
By Alida Nugent
Plume, 2013. 191 pages. Nonfiction.

Now what? That's the question Alida asked herself when she graduated college with no career trajectory and bills to pay. This memoir is about Alida figuring out life, overcoming setbacks, and making things happen. She needs to figure out living arrangements (living with her parents forever is not an option), career options (being unemployed doesn't pay all that well), and what her real views on life are (who knew a grilled cheese sandwich could change her opinion on body image?).

This wasn't my favorite book. However, if you ever feel like you're failing at adulthood, then give it a go. It will give you the reassurance that you are not alone and you are doing better than you think you are. Though I didn't agree with everything Nugent had to say, I did walk away from this book feeling more confident in my abilities to function as an adult. I like that this book was more a collection of vignettes from her life rather than a continuous plot. Though the tone dripped with harsh sarcasm, Nugent's personal revelations made it clear that you can move forward in life without having all the answers.

HS

Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass

Lumberjanes: The Infernal Compass
By Lilah Sturges
Boom! Box, 2018. 141 Pages. Young Adult.

This story follows the girls of the Roanoke cabin at Miss Quinzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet's Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. When the girls start to go missing during an orienteering activity, Molly knows something is wrong. Maybe her creepy glowing compass has something to do with it? Molly's insecurities grow with each disappearance until she's left all alone.

This book is a great starter for those wanting to dip their toes in the graphic novel genre. The writing and art styles pair well together to present an entertaining and concise read. . The gradual presentation of Molly's fears was beautifully executed and didn't dominate the story. I was impressed with how easily I connected with each of the diverse characters in such a short narrative. I would recommend this book to new and veteran graphic novel readers.

HS

How to Win Friends and Influence People

How to Win Friends and Influence People
By Dale Carnegie
Simon and Schuster, 1936. 299 pgs. Nonfiction

Have you ever wondered why you get passed up for promotions? Or why your relationships aren't improving? Carnegie gives techniques and advice to help the reader improve their relationships with others, which influences all other aspects of life. You can succeed when you know how to connect and interact with others.

Though most people would say Carnegie's advice is common sense, not very many people actually apply the principles he outlines. I like that he explained the principles and gave examples of how they look in practice. This makes application easier for the reader. His methods of dealing with conflict and building relationships are techniques I've seen in my favorite managers, friends, and former boyfriends. This is a book that one should read at least once and then periodically reread sections to refresh the knowledge of interpersonal skills. This book is a good choice for those who:
1) Want to improve their relationships
2) Want to respond instead of react to stressful situations
3) Want to gain good management skills

HS

Lies Jane Austen Told Me

Lies Jane Austen Told Me
By Julie Wright
Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2017. 315 pages. Romance

Emma loves all things Jane Austen. She believes Jane knows everything there is to know about love and romance. When Emma's boyfriend, Blake Hampton, invites her to his parents house for the weekend she expects to come home with a ring. Unfortunately, Jane Austen's assumption that a man with a good fortune must be in want of a wife is proven thoroughly untrue. Feeling betrayed by both Jane and Blake, Emma throws herself into her work and slowly finds herself attracted to her new coworker, Lucas. There's just one problem. He's Blake's brother.

This book popped up on my suggested books list a few times, so I decided to give it a shot. I liked that each chapter started off with a quote from one of Austen's novels that foreshadow what was to come. It follows the basic plot that Austen uses in her own books but modernizes it. I liked Emma and enjoyed her progress from getting over her ex to discovering new love. However, I occasionally rolled my eyes at her. Lucas was a gem. He gave the illusion of being a realistic man while still meeting the expectations of a fictional romantic interest. This romance was clean, happy, and light.

HS

Perfect Set: Game On

Perfect Set: Game On
By Melanie Jacobson
Covenant Communications, 2018, 215 pages, Romance

Bree Mercer is a sports reporter with one rule: never date a professional athlete. Ever. This rule helps her build credibility and avoid heartbreak. When she is assigned to write about Kade Townsend, a beach volleyball player, she knows it will be a tough job. After all, he hates reporters. But as she works to gain Kade's trust, she realizes that he is more than just a cocky athlete. He's kind, sincere, and persistent. Will he be the one she breaks her rule for?

I started off my holiday break by reading Perfect Set and I was not disappointed. I wanted a light, fun, and clean romance and Jacobson delivered. I liked Bree and Kade's relationship and that they both grew as the book progressed. The plot was predictable, but that's what you want and expect when you pick up a book like this. It's a great read if you want a lighthearted romance with a happy ending.

HS

Stranger Things Have Happened

Stranger Things Have Happened
by Jeff Strand
Sourcebook Fire, 2017, 289 pages, Young Adult Fiction

Marcus is a fifteen-year-old aspiring magician. When his great-grandfather, Zachary the Stupendous, gets Marcus roped into a bet, Marcus must plan and execute an incredible magic trick to protect his great-grandfather's honor. As if the situation isn't bad enough, he also deals with bullies, an evil magician, and a new precarious friendship. Who knew high school could be so stressful?

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a good laugh. The situations Marcus found himself in were a combination of terrifying and hilarious. Marcus's inner dialogue resonated with the sassy woman inside my head and the fact that the characters were all extremely different made the book a delight to read. I listened to this book on CD and the narrator was fabulous. If you are planning on a family road trip in the near future, then you should consider bringing this book along.

HS

Venetia

Venetia
by Georgette Heyer
Heinemann Books, 1958. 355 pages. Romance

Venetia is beautiful, clever, sensible, and firmly on the shelf. Her restrictive life in the country prevented her from experiencing a London Season and now her only marriage prospects are a puppy-like youth and an over persistent man. She thus resigns herself to spinsterhood. Then her neighbor, Lord Damerel, arrives. Though he is a notorious rake, she soon finds herself falling in love with him.

Richard Armitage. Do I have your attention?  Good. I listened to this book on the Libby app and Richard Armitage was the narrator. Now, Richard Armitage could read a phone book and I would listen from A to Z. That being said, his voice added a lot to the experience of this book for me. I was not particularly supportive of the love interest, but I didn't mind his offensive behavior half as much as I would have simply because the narration was amazing. This romance was a clean read and there were plot twists that kept me interested. As a general rule, I will always recommend Georgette Heyer. However, I highly recommend listening to this one for a Richard experience.

HS

The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go

The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go
By Amy E. Reichert
Gallery Books, 2018. 330 pgs. Fiction

The Optimist's Guide to Letting Go follows the life of Gina, a grilled cheese connoisseur. After the loss of her husband, Gina can barely keep her life together. Between running her own business, mothering a rebellious teenager, and placating her critical mother, she's not sure how she can go on without the support of her late husband. When her mother is unexpectedly hospitalized, an old secret surfaces that just might help Gina let go and move forward.

Honestly, this book wasn't what I expected. I picked it up without reading the synopsis and thought it was going to be a nonfiction guide to processing grief. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I realized it was an actual story with a plot. The characters were flawed, yet relatable, and the story was relationship driven (which I adore). The description of Gina's grilled cheese sandwiches had me salivating and resulted in me buying a lot of bread and cheese. The language was colorful at times, which was a turn off for me. As a whole, this book was well written and portrayed different manifestations of grief in a beautiful way.

HS

The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want

The How of Happiness: A New Approach to Getting the Life You Want
By Sonja Lyubomirsky
Penguin Press, 2008. 384 pages. Nonfiction

Lyubomirsky uses research to explain what true happiness is and how to obtain it. She provides a guide to improving personal happiness and assessments to measure where you are on your personal happiness scale. In addition, she includes different strategies and activities to help improve intentional living to increase joy in everyday life. The research in this book emphasizes that happiness can be created regardless of circumstances or genetics.

This is a good read for those who want a gateway book into the positive psychology realm. Lyubomirsky does a good job at creating a base of understanding for those new to psychology studies. The ideas in her book, though not ground breaking, are supported by research which gave more weight to her arguments. If you are new to self-help or positive psychology, then this is a good book for you.

HS