A Gathering of Shadows

A Gathering of Shadows

By V.E. Schwab

Tor Books, 2016. 512 pgs. Science Fiction

In an alternate world where parallel Londons exist – magicless Gray London, magically-balanced Red London, magical chaotic White London, and magic-overran Black London – there is only one magician left who can travel between the worlds, and that is Kell.

It’s been four months since Kell destroyed the mysterious obsidian stone, and his life has been purposeless since. The king keeps him on a short leash and Kell dreams constantly about dark magic and Lila, the enigmatic thief who walked away as soon as the stone was gone. But with the Element Games about to begin in Red London, she, along with some of their old enemies, won’t be able to resist the festivities, and Kell and Lila will be facing dark magic together once again.

This follow-up to A Darker Shade of Magic has a different feel than its predecessor but never falls into common middle-book pitfalls such as being filler or set-up for the final book in the trilogy. The games gave Schwab a chance to flesh out her Londons and the different races within them as well as giving the characters a chance to come into their own. Even without the cliffhanger, I will impatiently await the next book.

HSG

Queen of fashion: what Marie Antoinette wore to the Revolution

Queen of fashion : what Marie Antoinette wore to the Revolution
By Caroline Weber
Holt, 2006. 412 pages. Nonfiction, biography.


In a unique approach to biography, Caroline Weber applies Marie Antoinette’s interest in fashion to tell the story of her life. This tragic queen’s life is punctuated with interesting fashion choices and became both her means of expressing power and her ultimate downfall. Beginning with her arrival to Versailles as a young girl, and ending with her death during the French Revolution, we see Antoinette’s human and courageous side as she faces internal and foreign political opponents. This books adds a new facet to Marie Antoinette scholarship and tells her tale in a very approachable, almost novel-like readability.

I had a very skeptical view of Marie Antoinette before this book but Weber’s biography gives new light to why this French queen behaved as she did, and more importantly why she dressed how she dressed. I grew more sympathetic towards Antoinette and even though I knew she would be killed, I dreaded and mourned that outcome as the book progressed. Learning how fashion choices can shape culture and political outcomes is especially fascinating to me because it is an ever present undercurrent of society but so often discredited or forgotten. I would recommend this book to those interested in a more scholarly biography or an interest in fashion, French history, art history, or influential women.

LP

Forever and Forever: The Courtship of Henry Longfellow and Fanny Appleton

Forever and Forever: The Courtship of Henry Longfellow and Fanny Appleton
By Josi S. Kilpack
Shadow Mountain, 2016. 327 pgs. Romance

Fanny Appleton is nineteen and on a European tour with her upper-class family when she first meets Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. He is 10 years older than her and still grieving the death of his first wife. She enjoys the conversations she shares with him and the value he puts in her intellect but she does not let her heart feel anything more for him. She has suffered too much pain already because of the recent deaths of her mother and brother. Henry, on the other hand, is in love. He can't stop thinking of Fanny and wants very much to pursue a relationship with her. She makes it very plain to Henry that he is below her level of consideration for a future spouse and she does not want any kind of relationship with him. Henry does not give up easily though, and he is willing to wait patiently for Fanny to change her mind.

I enjoyed this most recent addition to the Proper Romance line of books by Shadow Mountain Publishing. I honestly did not know much about Henry Longfellow before this book. Josi Kilpack thoroughly researched her characters and provided a chapter by chapter explanation at the back of the book that tells what is fact and what she had to make up in order to carry the story forward. I love watching characters change over the course of a book and this is definitely the case in Forever and Forever.

AL

Eat That Frog

Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time
By Brian Tracy
Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2007. 128 pgs. Nonfiction

Brian Tracy starts this book by saying that there is no way to ever get to everything that we want to in life. The important thing is to prioritize your tasks and get the most important ones done first. I know that this is not anything new, but I liked the way he created a visual picture for the reader. He compared getting things done to knowing that you have to eat a frog every day. The best thing to do is to get up in the morning and eat the frog right away. That way, everything else you do the rest of the day will be easier and you won't waste as much time trying to avoid it.

There are a lot of books about procrastination. The thing I liked best about this particular book was that it was short and I was able to finish it quickly. I also liked that he didn't spend time on the psychology of procrastination, he just jumped right in to giving practical tips that I can apply to my life right now. This book, while not groundbreaking, is a great reminder of little things we can all do to become more productive. The tips have already made a difference in my life.

AL

Of Dice and Men

Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and thePeople Who Play It
David M. Ewalt
Scribner August 20, 2013 288 Pages Nonfiction

David Ewalt gives an historical account of the making of Dungeons and Dragons and the tremendous effect it has had on popular culture. He blends personal anecdotes of his own experience with the historical context of the game to illustrate the evolution of D&D from its origins in board and war games to the collaborative entertainment form it is today.

As someone who is new to gaming, I really enjoyed Ewalt’s perspective on D&D. His writing is entertaining, and translates the jargon of the hobby into understandable terms for the laymen. While I wish the historical analysis drove deeper, Of Dice and Men delivers a clear history of the hobby and sneaks in a brief history of gaming in general. The last chapter veered into autobiographical territory and discussed how Ewalt feels about his hobby, and it was nice to hear his perspective despite the tonal shift. This is a great read for those who are new to gaming or are just curious to find out more.

 JMS

Far From the Madding Crowd

Far From the Madding Crowd
By Hardy, Thomas
Oxford University Press, 2002. 433 pages. Fiction.

Bathsheba Everdene is a spirited, beautiful, independent woman who loves the attention from her three suitors, but needs to grow up and realize the consequences of an inconstant heart. Gabriel Oak, a shepherd, competes for her love against the debonair soldier Sergeant Troy and the respectable, middle aged farmer, Mr. Boldwood. Set in the rural countryside of 1870s Wessex, England,  Thomas Hardy tells the heartwarming coming of age story with rich descriptions of the beautiful countryside lifestyle, as well as modern sensibilities about relationships and social customs.

I had already seen and loved the BBC movie, and rarely does the book impress if I have not read it beforehand, but this is an exception! I really enjoyed Hardy’s lush descriptions of the landscape and the detailed perspectives, especially about the various suitors in this novel. It is fairly long but keeps a good pace as you meander through the countryside and the story line.  If you like 19th century England, strong independent female protagonists, love stories, or any sort of BBC classic then you will enjoy this title!

LP

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu: and their race to save the world's most precious manuscripts

The bad-ass librarians of Timbuktu : and their race to save the world's most precious manuscripts
By Joshua Hammer
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2016. 278 pages. Nonfiction.

A passionate collector and archivist, Abdel Kader Haidara, spent several decades journeying throughout Northern Africa to locate and purchase ancient texts in order to preserve the literary history of the area. He secured grants and established a conservation and preservation library with the abilities and technology of the most advanced institutions around the world, eventually amassing over 350,000 items.

When the region fell under the attack of Al Qaeda militants in 2012, the safety and security of the volumes was jeopardized as the jihadists threatened to burn and otherwise destroy the collection. Haidara amassed group of librarians and archivists to sneak all the manuscripts out of Timbuktu and into hiding in safe houses over 400 miles away in Southern Mali.

While I expected something different from this book, the author, a journalist who has visited the Mailian region several times over the past few decades, gives a broad account of the history of the jihadists in Africa and in the Malian region. It helped to emphasis the threat and the urgency of the situation, but I’ll admit hoped for more information about the actual collection and the preservation efforts. None the less, it was an engaging and enlightening read and I learned a lot about the global efforts to combat the extremists there, and the affect it has on the people and culture.

RC

Our Souls at Night

Our Souls at Night
By Kent Haruf
Alfred A. Knopf, 2015, 179 pages, General Fiction

In the fictional town of Holt, Colorado, Addie Moore pays an unexpected visit to her neighbor of forty years, Louis Waters. Her husband died years ago, as did his wife, and the two have lived alone ever since. Now Addie has a proposition: She asks that Louis come over every evening and stay with her in bed, just to get through the lonely nights. Louis is lonely too, so he agrees. Soon they find themselves talking of not just trivial things, but exchanging confidences and memories.

I heard Kent Haruf give an author talk a few years ago, and his talk was so engaging I’ve been meaning to pick up one of his books ever since. I find it ironic that my first Haruf novel is his last. All of Haruf’s novels are set in the small fictional town of Holt, Colorado, where everyone knows each other, and everyone has an opinion. This causes the driving conflict of the novel. While Addie and Louis are fine with the idea of sleeping in the same bed, not everyone understands their need for companionship, and everyone feels the need to share what they think.

Haruf’s writing is spare and eloquent, and while not much actually happens plot-wise, it’s the writing that will keep you reading. I listened to the audiobook version, and I loved the narrator, Mark Bramhall. His voice fits the character of Louis so well, and he read with just the right tones, inflections, and speed. I could listen to him read all day.

MB

Be Frank with Me

Be Frank with Me
By Julia Claiborne Johnson
William Morrow, 2016, 287 pages, General Fiction

Reclusive literary legend M. M. "Mimi" Banning has been holed up in her Bel Air mansion for years. But after falling prey to a Bernie Madoff-style ponzi scheme, she's flat broke. Now Mimi must write a new book for the first time in decades, and to ensure the timely delivery of her manuscript, her New York publisher sends an assistant to monitor her progress.

When Alice Whitley arrives at the Banning mansion, she's put to work right away--as a full-time companion to Frank, the writer's eccentric nine-year-old, a boy with the wit of Noel Coward, the wardrobe of a 1930s movie star, and very little in common with his fellow fourth-graders. As she slowly gets to know Frank, Alice becomes consumed with finding out who Frank's father is, how his gorgeous "piano teacher and itinerant male role model" Xander fits into the Banning family equation--and whether Mimi will ever finish that book.

This book was a lot of fun to read. Julia Claiborne Johnson’s wit shines through, setting up each joke then making you wait a moment before the punchline drops. Frank especially is a firecracker, acting adorably and precociously one minute, then getting into scrapes as only a young boy can the next. While this book is a comedy, each character is fully fleshed-out with flaws and private ghosts. Johnson does a great job of keeping some surprises for the very end. Like Alice, I too was fascinated by the different characters and the story behind how they found each other. Those who enjoyed Where’d You Go, Bernadette? will also enjoy Be Frank with Me.

MB

Etta and Otto and Russell and James

Etta and Otto and Russell and James

By Etta Hooper

New York : Simon & Schuster, 2015. 305 pages. Fiction.

Etta has never seen the ocean and abruptly decides to remedy that by setting out on foot, East across Canada. Her husband, Otto, understands her desire and does not go after her, but instead tries to fill his time on their farm and sends letters to her, although he doesn’t know her exact whereabouts and whether the letters will make it to her. Their long-time friend and neighbor, Russell, decides that an 83 year old woman with minor dementia should not be venturing across the country on her own, and attempts to track her, though leaving the comfort of his farm and the familiar is not something he is used to doing. 

Told from three different perspectives and in letters and flashbacks throughout their youth and into the present, this book masterfully and beautifully weaves the experience of the characters together. The story explores memory, self-exploration and fulfillment, and relationships in a wonderfully compelling and gratifying read. It has been a long while since I’ve enjoyed a book as much as this, or read anything as unique. I would highly recommend picking it up!

RC

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
By Ransom Riggs
Quirk Books, 2011. 352 pgs. Young Adult Fiction

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is the first of three books in the recently completed series by Ransom Riggs. In this book Jacob Portman starts out as an utterly ordinary boy. The most peculiar part of his life are the fantastic stories his grandfather tells -- stories Jacob used to be naive enough to believe. One day, Jacob's life takes an unthinkable turn when he witnesses a tragedy that causes him to question everything he thought he knew about his family. Jacob sets out to find answers by visiting an island off the coast of Wales that just might hold the key to his grandfather’s past.

When I heard this book was being made into a movie, I knew it was time to bump it to the top of my reading list. I am glad I did! I liked the low fantasy world that Riggs created and then crossed with a historical setting; it was the perfect balance for a reader like myself who doesn't read much fantasy. I listened to the audio book of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and while the narrator did a fantastic job I would recommend looking at a paper copy of the book so you don't miss all the creepy photographs.

CNC

Evolution: The Story of Life on Earth

Evolution: The Story of Life on Earth 
By Jay Hosler
Hill and Wang, 2011. 150 pgs. Graphic Novel

When Glargalian astronomers discovered Earth, they began researching the planet to understand how life evolved over billions of years so that they could better understand how their own species was changing. The scientist Bloort-183 has been tasked with showing the new holographic exhibit demonstrating Earth’s evolution to King Floorsh-727 and Prince Floorsh-418. Full of questions and answers, Bloort takes the King and Prince on a detailed journey of how life on Earth has evolved, and is still evolving.

When I first started this book I was a little skeptical. An alien species learning about Earth’s evolution because they don’t quite understand their own? It’s a little farfetched, but if you can put that aside it was actually a very interesting explanation of how life on Earth has changed and adapted to become what it is today. Clear visual representations and explanations make this book very accessible to a wide audience, and it’s great introductory material for the process of evolution. I especially appreciated the pop-culture references and puns. It made me laugh as I read. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would easily recommend it.

ACS

Shadows of Self

Shadows of Self (Mistborn #5)
By Brandon Sanderson
Tor, 2015. 383 pgs. Fantasy

Shadows of Self follows after The Alloy of Law in the Mistborn series. It picks up with Wax, Wayne and Marasi, as they continue to try to protect the citizens of Scandrial. The society is still not stable as technology and magic mix and four main religions vie for followers. Things become more unstable when strategic acts of terrorism threaten to stir up labor and religious conflicts. Wax must find the source of this unrest before the it puts a stop to all the progress Scandrial has made.

I liked seeing the further progress of Scandrial. I wish I would have reread The Alloy of Law again before reading this book because I had forgotten many of the characters and plot points that would have made this all make a lot more sense. There are many references to the original characters from the past society described in  Mistborn. Brandon Sanderson is a master of creating amazingly detailed magical societies and he doesn't disappoint with this book.

AL

The Conspiracy of Us

The Conspiracy of Us
by Maggie Hall
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2015, 330 pages, Young Adult Fiction

Sixteen-year-old Avery West tries to live under the radar. But when Avery discovers her long-lost father is part of a powerful and dangerous secret society called the Circle, and that she just might hold the key to an ancient prophecy, everything changes. Suddenly, Avery is drawn into a world of money, privilege, and power. Determined to figure out her place in this new world, Avery follows a trail of clues spanning from Paris to Istanbul and back. But the more Avery uncovers, the more questions are raised, and Avery isn’t sure who to trust.

This is a fast-paced, action-packed book with a bit of romance that a few reviewers have described as a Young Adult version of The Da Vinci Code. The description is apt, although The Conspiracy of Us focuses more on the glamor and power of the society Avery’s been dragged into than it does on following clues to the final mystery. In fact, as the first book in a trilogy, there are a lot of unanswered questions as well as an intriguing cliffhanger ending, and I was glad that the second book in the series, Map of Fates, has already been released, and that the third book is set to come out next year.

Fans of Keira Cass, Ally Carter, and Marissa Meyer will love The Conspiracy of Us.

The Court and the World

The Court and the World
By Stephen Breyer
Knopf; Reprint edition (September 15, 2015) 400 pages Nonfiction

Justice Breyer’s analysis of the effect on and by the American justice system and the Supreme Court involving foreign influences appeals both to historical and contemporary examples. His hypothesis is that the reality of globalization necessitates the reliance on foreign law in decisions reached by courts in the United States.

Given the premise of the book and the author, it is no surprise that The Court and the World is packed with dense legalese. Breyer tries to be objective in his presentation of events and his arguments; when he discusses decisions in which he played a part, he notes how he voted and respects the dissenting votes of his colleagues. However, he gives little credence to the opposing view that drawing on international laws for domestic issues threatens the doctrine of self-governance. The Court and the World is an interesting read for any who are interested in the Supreme Court or in international politics, but it is neither a comprehensive nor a balanced view of the issue.


In light of Justice Scalia's death, I found the account of FDR's court packing scheme (which raised the number of justices from 9 to 15) and other historical information about the court as interesting as the concepts they were used to illustrate.

JMS

The Long Earth

The Long Earth
by Terry Pratchett
Harper Collins, 2012. Science Fiction. 336 pgs.


In the first of four collaborative works, Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter weave a tale of exploration in the modern age. When a way to ‘step’ east or west into an infinite series of parallel earths is published on the Internet, it sparks a wave of pioneers uprooting their lives to explore and settle the Long Earth. A gifted stepper pairs with a new AI to explore the Long Earth and see what new dangers await humanity.

Pratchett and Baxter work well together to create a curious if sometimes dry hypothetical scenario. Pratchett’s dialogue will remind readers of the dry wit of his Discworld series while Baxter’s ideas keep the reader grounded in the plausible given the premise of the story. The outlook of the plot is based on a negative view of human nature; the main characters are more cynical than they need be throughout the book. In addition, the two British authors focus on primarily American politics when the topic is raised; the result is clumsy and erring on the side on arbitrary villain. Religious questions are handled slightly better, but scorn or indifference are the rule. The is intriguing and full of surprises, but the personal bias of the authors overshadows some of the character development.

I listened to the audio-book narrated by Michael Fenton-Stevens, and he rises to the challenge of multiple perspectives. He uses unique voices for each character and manages believable accents for the different regional backgrounds.

JMS

Station 11

Station 11

By Emily St. John Mandel

Knopf, 2014. 336 pgs. Fiction

Fifteen years after a pandemic flu wiped out most of civilization, Shakespeare lives on as the most requested playwright. Twenty-something Kirsten performs Shakespeare as a member of the traveling symphony, who tours the settlements of survivors throughout the US. She is asked often about her last real day before the pandemic hit, when famous Hollywood actor Arthur Leander died of a heart attack on the stage of King Lear. Kirsten would not have suspected that their stop in St. Deborah by the Water, home to a violent prophet, may be her last.

Station 11 is a quiet, meandering, and character-driven novel, contrary to how the plot summary may sound. Written in a nonlinear format, it alternates between the past, the present, and the perspectives of several different characters. The chapters are short and concise, and for the most part the transitions between them are seamless, although they didn't always hold my interest evenly.

The devastated world and the characters – all connected in some way to Arthur Leander and the graphic novel Station 11 - are strangely fascinating. For the most part I felt like it was a realistic interpretation of what a world without government, technology or electricity would look like. The loose ends come together poignantly at the novel’s conclusion, quietly proving the symphony’s motto: Because survival is insufficient.

HSG

Above the Waterfall

Above the Waterfall
By Ron Rash
Ecco, 2015. 252 pgs.  Mystery

Les is a retiring sheriff in a small Appalachian town.  Becky is a local park ranger who finds peace from a traumatic past through her love of nature and the wilderness she stewards.  Their relationship, tenuous and undefined already, is strained to a breaking point when a cranky mountain resident is accused of poisoning a trout stream.

Becky stands solidly behind the old man as he professes his innocence, but Les, having spent his life in the small community, understands better the deep resentments certain residents have for each other.  The small town is being torn apart by a flagging economy and a deadly crystal meth trade. Finding the truth will require all his years of experience.

Above the Waterfall was more of a detective story than I was expecting.  After reading Rash’s Serena and The Cove, I was expecting something a bit darker and more complicated, but still enjoyed the lovely prose and vividly described mountain setting.



CZ

Brooklyn

Brooklyn

By Colm Toibin

New York, Scribner, 2009. 262 pages. Fiction.

Set in 1950s, a young Irish girl, Eilis Lacey, is sent by her family to Brooklyn to seek an education and opportunities that she’d not be privileged to in her small Irish town. Though she’s not entirely keen on the move, and feels her older, more outgoing and adventurous sister might be better suited for the trip, she goes anyway. Eilis finds work in a storefront and enrolls in bookkeeping classes, and even meets a nice boy to spend time with. Things are going swimmingly for her, but as we know, it can’t always stay that way. 

The descriptions in this book were so engaging, they had a way of making the seemingly ordinary, even mundane aspects of life seem vibrant and vivid. Since much of the narration comes by way of Eilis’ thoughts, it was easy to feel connected to her and to commiserate with her coming of age tale, as she experienced life in a new place, far from the familiar. 

I was curious about this book as the movie adaptation was nominated for a 2016 Oscar. I’m glad I read the book first because I enjoyed it immensely. Now, to see if the adage “the book was better” holds up in this case as well.

RC

The Summer Before the War

The Summer Before the War
By Helen Simonson
Random House, 2016. 496 pgs. Fiction

Beatrice Nash, in mourning for her father, moves to the tiny coastal town of Rye, England in the summer of 1914 to work as a Latin teacher. A single, well-educated (some say overly-educated) young woman with limited income, she struggles against the limitations her status and gender place upon her. As the summer passes and war looms, she develops a close friendship with Agatha Kent, a prominent and free-thinking member of Rye society, and Agatha’s two adult nephews, Hugh and Daniel.

I loved this book. The witty and pointed social commentary, clever characterizations, subtle feminism, and small-town English setting reminded me of a Jane Austen novel, and I was sad to say goodbye to the characters as it came to an end. Helen Simonson’s wry humor was delightful, but she also depicts the horrors of war with heart wrenching clarity. Downton Abbey enthusiasts who miss the Dowager Countess or fans of Simonson’s earlier novel, Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand are sure to enjoy this new release.

SGR

The Happiness Project

The Happiness Project
By Gretchen Rubin
Harper, 2009. 301 pgs. Nonfiction

I've read several of Gretchen Rubin's books already and have enjoyed each one. I actually read Happier at Home, her follow up to this title a few years ago, but finally picked up The Happiness Project. I've particularly enjoyed listening to Gretchen Rubin's books because she reads them and I feel like that adds to the experience of reading the book.

Rubin talks about spending a year living specific resolutions she set for herself. Each month she adds additional resolutions and recounts her successes and failures. Bolstered by her experience, I'm anxious to start my own happiness project, not just think about it as I have over the past few years!

AMM

More Than the Tattooed Mormon

More Than the Tattooed Mormon
By Al Carraway
CFI, 2015. 150 pgs. Biography

Al Carraway who blogs at alfoxshead.blogspot.com tells about her conversion to the LDS church and the trials and blessings that came with that decision. She talks about how her appearance made her feel judged by some members of the church and how she overcame the loneliness associated with her family and friends not agreeing with her decision to be baptized.

I have read several of Al's blog posts and even heard her speak when I lived in DC. Although I'd heard much of her story before, this book gave me a lot to think about. Al intersperses scriptures with her conversion story and encourages the reader to strengthen their own personal relationship with God.

AMM