February book reviews

The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory
I LOVED this book. It's funny, steamy, endearing, and has a refreshing perspective and plot. This is a very strong debut by Guillory, and I look forward to more from her. 

As someone who endured a 3,000 mile/3 hour time difference long-term long-distance relationship, I sort of rolled my eyes and the hardships of a Berkley/Los Angeles relationship (that's an hour and a half flight - please). This small quibble aside, I highly recommend this book. 

We Are Never Meeting in Real Life. by Samantha Irby
This was a book club selection that I doubt would have ever picked up on my own. I judge books by their cover, and this one features a cat (sorry, cat-loving friends :). 

This author is incredibly open and forthright, but also very hard on herself. I ended up checking out her Wikipedia page because the early essays rarely mentioned writing, and I was curious how she ended up with a book deal? I was very surprised that this isn't her first book. 

Irby certainly succeeds in exposing the reader to a unique perspective, but I won't be delving further into her catalog. 

Surprise Me by Sophie Kinsella 
This book surprised me first by appearing on my Kindle (because I'd forgotten I pre-ordered it). 

I have consistently greatly preferred Kinsella's stand-alones to the Shopaholic series -- the characters are much more likeable than Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) (though that's a low bar). This one rang true to that assessment. 

If you haven't read any of Kinsella's books, I would start with Can You Keep a Secret? (my very favorite of hers), My Not So Perfect Life, or Finding Audrey.

A Separate Peace by John Knowles  
I recall really liking this book when I read it in ninth grade, but was underwhelmed this time around. It makes sense that a book set at a boy's boarding school would lack any significant female characters, but there are only wives of teachers, mothers of fellow students, and ... that's it? 

I was also completely distracted by the apparent mental health issues of Phineas (and arguably Gene); without any significant adults oversight, or even involvement, said issues being addressed seemed extremely unlikely. 

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
I only made it through one Penguin Drop Cap Challenge selection this month (oops) and struggled through it. The bits of books that I typically love - descriptions of the towns, homes, food, clothing - did not particularly interest me this time. For a book that is famous for obscenity, there's (by modern standards) not a lot of obscenity. 

Emma Bovary is not a likable character and yet her central trait - never being satisfied with the life you have and always looking for something else - is something that so many of us fall prey to. Though I suppose many of us are not terribly likable either? 

The Unmasking of the President 2016: How FBI Director James Comey Cost Hillary Clinton the Presidency by Lanny J. Davis 
Davis makes a compelling case that Comey's letter to Congress just days before Election Day was a "key determining factor" in the 2016 election. Davis' backgrounder on Whitewater, email server management, and Comey's highly unusual behavior is worth the read. 

The epilogue explores the impeachment process. I was initially less interested in this part (it's not what I expected from the book's description), but I learned quite a bit. 

As with all books about the 2016 election, a lot in this is hard to read. But because those last few weeks of the election moved so fast, folks missed a lot of the details for the big headlines. This is a good way to understand more of what happened. 

How to Store Your Garden Produce: The Key to Self-Sufficiency by Piers Warren
In the past, I have not included the many cookbook, gardening, food storage, and general homesteading books I read, but thought - why not? 

This is a good primer if you are just getting started with a garden or food storage. I checked it out from the library to see if I wanted to purchase for future reference, but decided not to. I am personally much stronger on the food storage (canning, etc) vs. the growing part, but always have more to learn in both areas. 

How to Roast Everything: A Game-Changing Guide to Building Flavor in Meat, Vegetables, and More by America's Test Kitchen 
I adore America's Test Kitchen. My kitchen cabinets would have much more room and my savings account would be larger had I not discovered ATK. But I'd wager I also would not have explored so many new recipes or had as much fun cooking without it. 

I've been looking forward to this release for awhile and snagged my reserved copy at the library the day after it was released. I read every recipe cover to cover, tried out the pork tenderloin and chicken breast recipes, and then ordered my very own copy. Because this is a hardback, it's a little more expensive than most ATK books (hence the checking it out from the library first), but has so many recipes, I think it's worth the investment. 

I was especially fortunate that I picked up my library copy on the same day my very own brand new range was delivered - the perfect excuse to try several new recipes in a row. I don't know if it's the book, the range, or the very talented cook, but every recipe I've tried from this one has been delicious. 

January book reviews

Middlemarch by George Eliot

It took me about 500 pages to get into this story, which is at least 400 too many. It also took me 28 days to get through it -- granted, I finished several other books in this time period, but my reading pace usually matches my level of interest. So, that last 400 or so pages went much faster than the first 500.

I was primarily invested in Dorothea's storyline. In the second chapter, Dorothea offers to organize her uncle's papers for him: "I wish you would let me sort your papers for you, Uncle. I would letter them all and then make you a list of subjects under each subject." He, of course, rejects this idea, because why would anyone want to be able to easily find what they are looking for??

My favorite line: "And, of course men know best about everything, except what women know better."

Next up in my Penguin Drop Cap Challenge: Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary.

The Book of Mormon: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical by Trey Park, Matt Stone, & Robert Lopez

I read this in anticipation of seeing the show for a second time, and it reminded me to pay attention to the lyrics in "I Believe" that mention the recently deceased president of the LDS Church Thomas Monson: "I believe that the current president of the Church, Thomas Monson, speaks directly to God." When I saw the show last week, the lyrics were changed to: "I believe that the former president of the Church, Thomas Monson, spoke directly to God." The new president of the LDS Church is Russell Nelson - same number of syllables.

**The next FIVE reviews are Pride & Prejudic/Austen continuations/knock-offs. I'm almost embarrassed that I read this many in one month, but I know I'm going to end up posting a review every time I start a book, so I really have no one to blame but myself. I enjoy P&P continuations, especially of minor characters that are made more likable when fleshed out. And reading silly books that you can finish in an evening.

Mary and the Captain: A Pride and Prejudice Continuation by Nancy Lawrence

Mary Bennett is not my least favorite of Elizabeth's sisters (obviously Lydia), but would break the tie for second if one was forced to choose between her and Kitty. Lawrence's expansion of Mary's character made me more sympathetic to her shyness and inopportune additions to conversation. And her habit of hiding in the corner/behind a book. Not great, not terrible.

Charlotte (Pride & Prejudice Continues #1) & Rosings (#2) by Karen Aminadra

These are both Kindle Unlimited reads, and I think I would have been much more disappointed (and not read the second), had I felt like I paid for them. Charlotte is much better than Rosings. I enjoyed seeing a happier life for Charlotte than Austen leaves her with. And [spoiler alert] some redemption for Mr. Collins.

Rosings is a continuation of the de Bourgh family's story. I read a much better continuation, Darcy and Anne, that focuses more on Anne (and removes her from her abusive mother), and I couldn't help but compare the two. Both contend that Anne was not actually sickly (but made to believe so by her mother), not an entirely implausible line, but it would be nice to see a version in which Anne takes ownership of her health and overcomes the obstacle, rather than having the impediment removed completely without any effort. This may exist -- I have read a very small selection of the thousands of Austen continuations.

Like many Kindle Unlimited selections, I noticed quite a few punctuation and grammar errors, which are always distracting. Aminadra has release two more "Pride & Prejudice Continues" books, but I think I'll pass.

The Austen Escape and Dear Mr. Knightly by Katherine Reay

I read The Austen Escape first and was very close to the end when I realized: this is Christian Fiction [SPOILER ALERT: No one's having sex]. I do not include this as a condemnation, but as information -- I didn't notice if they were overtly marketed as such. Dear Mr. Knightly is much more obviously Christian-themed -- there is an older couple that introduces a Christian outlook on life (though not the priest character, which is interesting) and an indication that a hope for sex before marriage is offensive (when no communication regarding expectations has been had).

I enjoyed The Austen Escape much more. The heroine is much more likable and relatable. And the inclusions of Austen references make more sense with the plot and setting. The author has released several more literary knock-offs, but I'm not sure if I'll keep going through her catalog.

November & December book reviews

Penguin Drop Caps 

I have a bit of pretty book obsession (in addition to just generally purchasing more books than I can read). After six or so months of saving up Amazon Rewards points and carefully tracking the ever-changing price, I purchased my very own long sought after set of Penguin Drop Caps, "a series of twenty-six collectible hardcover editions of fine works of literature." And after six or so months of them looking beautiful in my living room (and acknowledging that I've only previously read three of them), I decided to set about reading them all. And by reading, I likely mean listening to audiobook versions while the expensive pristine copies stay on the shelf. They are too new, and I spill too much. 

First up is one of my all time favorites (and one I've reread too many times to count), Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. It's still wonderful, and I shortly read it again. I highly recommend the audiobook version narrated by Rosamund Pike. 

Next up, Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. This was my first Bronte novel, and I GET IT. I want to read them all. Thandie Newton's narration is excellent.   

C is for Willa Cather's My Antonia. I took several American West history courses in undergraduate/graduate school, but don't recall preciously reading any of her work. My Antonia is the third of Cather's pioneer trilogy, but I didn't feel out of place reading out of order.  

D is for Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. This is the second time this year I've reread a book that I first read for ninth grade literature, and the results were similar. I didn't care for Great Expectations (or Catcher in the Rye) as a fourteen or fifteen year old, and I felt the same twenty years later. Silver lining: my annoyance with Pip inspired some faster times on the rowing machine. 

--

Breaking Free: How I Escaped Polygamy, the FLDS Cult, and my Father, Warren Jeffs by Rachel Jeffs

I am a regular reader of the 'escaped from polygamy' genre, and though this one isn't the best I've read (The Sound of Gravel sets a very high bar), it is especially emotionally engaging. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author, and of course came to the most graphic description of sexual violence inflicted upon the author by her father as I was shopping for Thanksgiving dinner at Costco (sorry to my fellow shoppers for my grimaces - they were not directed at you). 

Collusion: Secret Meetings, Dirty Money, and How Russia Helped Donald Trump Win by Luke Harding 

This book is a good compilation and analysis of what we know (and what we don't) from a reporter with experience in Russia. It's informative, clarifying, infuriating. 

Lord John & the Brotherhood of the Blade, Lord John & the Hand of Devils, and The Scottish Prisoner by Diana Gabaldon 

I finished the Lord John series while new episodes of Outlander were still airing and upon finishing the Season 3 finale regretted that I didn't save it for #Droughtlander. Season 4 feels far away and may require some rereading, as I have now exhausted Gabaldon's catalog. 

Harry Potter

I finished HP #4-7 in November, reread Cursed Child, and had every intention to not start all over again until a moment of weakness on Christmas Eve when I opened Sorceror's Stone. Again. I saw a Twitter conversation few months ago about returning to books you find comforting/relaxing/etc. when the outside world is creating anxiety and stress, and several folks cited returning to Harry Potter over the last year or so. Apparently I'm not alone in retreating and refueling at Hogwarts. 

September & October book reviews

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

As someone who devoted most of their working life to preserving and interpreting history, I agree with Snyder's assessment of American exceptionalism: "Americans risk of stressing its uniqueness is that it allows people to dismiss any learning from history." This work is a significant step towards rectifying that deficiency, with twenty lessons we can use to preserve our union. 

This is a short read (128 pages), so it felt a little dishonest to count towards my Goodreads Reading Challenge (but I did anyway). This is a book I know I will return to, and one that I strongly encourage you to read. 

Al Franken: Giant of the Senate by Al Franken

I listened to most of this on a very long road trip with my husband and the last few chapters on my own. I have enjoyed Franken's tv appearances and speeches, appreciated his Judiciary Committee questions, and read one of his earlier books, but didn't know that much about why he ran for the Senate or really anything about Minnesota politics. There's a good mix of politics, personal biography, and campaign drama.  

What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton

I finished this book in four days (started it at midnight the day it was released) and honestly, I'm still processing it (just as I'm still processing the election, almost a full year later). I needed this account -- not only to have so many things I felt echoed by the author, but to hear the reflections of the first woman (and the only person) to have had this experience. I'm going to one of her book tour events in December, and will hopefully have something cogent to say by then because we're MEETING HER. It's a focused, funny, raw, and engaging read, and I highly recommend it.

Manson: The Life and Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn

I read Guinn's most recent book, The Road to Jonestown, and was so impressed with his writing that I picked up Manson. I knew very little about Manson and the related homicides going into this book and was pleased that the work focuses not just on Manson and the Family, but the cultural context to the events. 

Written In My Own Heart's Blood (Outlander #8) by Diana Gabaldon 

According to my Goodreads account, I started this book on June 10, 2014 and got through about half of it before running out of steam. I picked it back up in September (not remembering a ton of detail about where I left off) and finished this October. The ending is strong and left me looking forward to the next book -- whenever that may happen. But for an eighth book of a usually 800+ page per book series, there are now a LOT of characters of which to keep track. And a lot of characters that might not be your favorite, but you have to get through to get back to the good ones (Claire). 

Seven Stones to Stand or Fall by Diana Gabaldon

As I was so enchanted by reentering Gabaldon's world, that I immediately started her most recent (June 2017) collection of short stories. I had read a few of these as individually released novellas, but was happy to be introduced to Lord John as a stand-alone character (he hasn't been one of my favorite characters in the Outlander series). Which then, of course, led to me starting the Lord John series of novels. 

Lord John and the Private Matter by Diana Gabaldon

While reading this book at bedtime, I laughed out loud at a mention of a "privy member," and my husband asked what had made me giggle. So of course, this book is now known as "Lord John and the Privy Member" in my house. And all subsequent Lord John books (I'm currently reading the second in the Lord John series). Sighs. 

Since Labor Day, I finished the Harry Potter series, and then started it over again -- I'm on Goblet of Fire. Again.  ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Summer Reading

Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West 

This book is brilliant, funny, thoughtful, and thought-provoking. Upon finishing the audiobook (narrated by West herself), I was honestly tempted to start again from the beginning (something I thought when I finished Tina Fey's Bossypants, which I've now read multiple times). I highly recommend it. 

The Sound of Gravel: A Memoir by Ruth Wariner 

I've read a lot of raised in polygamy memoirs (seriously), and this is by far the best. It is beautifully written, the story is heartbreaking, and the ending is hopeful. This is one of the best memoirs I've ever read. 

Who Thought This Was a Good Idea?: And Other Questions You Should Have Answers to When You Work in the White House by Alyssa Mastomonaco

I learned, when I was almost finished, that I am NOT the target audience for this book (women 18-25) and concurred -- this was not a good book for me. I love Mindy Kaling's writing, and though this book is very obviously modeled on Kaling's style, it falls short (for me). 

The Case for Impeachment by Allan J. Lichtman 

I finished this book in early June, and in what is our new normal feels like a lifetime ago (administration-wise). It felt out of date at the time and would feel even more so at this point. If you've been avoiding current events and don't know much about past presidential impeachments, it is an informative read (though out of date). 

Attempting Elizabeth by Jessica Grey 

This book was included in my KindleUnlimited subscription (that I have since cancelled because I don't think I was using it enough to justify the cost), and I don't think I would have read it otherwise. As always, I enjoy Jane Austen spinoffs, and this premise is unlike others I've read. A silly, fun read. 

How to Be Married: What I Learned from Real Women on Five Continents About Surviving My First (Really Hard) Year of Marriage by Jo Piazza

My husband and I listened to this audiobook during our five week twenty-one state RV road trip (a trip our marriage very happily survived). I enjoyed the premise (traveling the world to learn about how different cultures approach marriage), but felt the book lacked the deep cultural dives I was expecting and relied too heavily on the author's personal experience. My husband was happy when it ended. 

We are almost finished with Al Franken, Giant of the Senate and are nowhere close to finishing The Eye of the World (which I'm even further behind on, as husband has read it before and I kept falling asleep ... :\). Next road trip! 

I've been re-reading the Harry Potter series (again. For the ?? time) and finished Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, and Half-Blood Prince between Memorial Day and Labor Day. 

May book reviews

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger 
I read this book twenty or so years ago, and I did not care for it at all. Upon this (re)reading, I can appreciate the writing, but remain underwhelmed. No book can be for everyone. 

Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance 
I finished this book a few weeks ago, and I'm still conflicted on how I feel about it. Vance is a compelling narrator for his life story, but is perhaps not the best messenger to contextualize the larger cultural experience. Or as Alec MacGillis notes in The Atlantic, "his passages of general social commentary could have benefited from longer gestation, and are strongest when grounded in his biography." If his book were simply memoir, I would have taken more away, but it tries to be more and read "like works in progress." 

Hero of the Empire: The Boer War, a Daring Escape, and the Making of Winston Churchill by Candice Millard 
Millard's first book, River of Doubt, is much-beloved by my NY book club, and I was happy to come across her latest release. I will readily admit that the bulk of my exposure to Winston Churchill has been limited to his role in World War II and his characterization in The Crown. I knew nothing of his military or writing career. In Hero of the Empire, Millard writes an adventure story of Churchill's capture and escape during the Boer War. 

I listened to the audio version, and was happy to hear the familiar voice of Simon Vance. Many will recognize him as the narrator of Steig Larsson's Millennium Series, and I spent the first few hours wondering when he was going to describe Winston Churchill procuring a coffee or sandwich. 

The Plot of Hack America: How Putin's Cyberspies and WikiLeaks Tried to Steal the 2016 Election by Malcolm Nance
This book has been sitting on my Kindle since its release date (10 October 2016), but I just recently compelled myself to read it. I will be digesting it for awhile. The background on why Russia chooses certain individuals as targets and how they are recruited (knowingly or not) is incredibly instructive in our current climate. And the seemingly prescient nature of Nance's larger message is ... terrifying. 

April Book Reviews

The Polygamist's Daughter by Anna LaBaron ** (2/5) 
I've read a lot of raised in polygamy memoirs at this point, so my lackluster reaction to this one may have more to do with the inherent repetition of the genre vs. something lacking in this particular story. It is the first I've read by (spoiler alert) someone who escaped as a child and avoided entering plural marriage herself. It is well written, but there are better works in this genre.  

Darcy and Anne by Judith Brocklehurst *** (3/5)
I enjoy the occasional Pride and Prejudice continuation, and this one is one of my favorites. It is told from the perspective of Anne de Bourgh, a quiet character in P&P who is fully fleshed out and endearing in this jaunt. A quick, easy read for Austen fans who are okay with breaks from canon. 

How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids by Jancee Dunn **** (4/5)
This read may seem like putting the cart before the horse re: my lack of kids (this is not an announcement), however, I think this book includes good advice for anyone cohabitating with your partner and navigating the (hopefully) shared burden of maintaining a household. The author is in an opposite-gendered couple, and the book is written from that perspective. 


The Destruction of Hillary Clinton by Susan Bordo ***** (5/5)
This book was on one hand painfully infuriating (much like the 2016 presidential election) and on the other, cathartic. I was struck by Marcie Bianco's take, so I will share part of it here: 

In culture, controlling the narrative is key to gaining authority. That is why women have historically been denied the right to control their narratives, along with their lives and bodies. Hillary Clinton’s experience was all women’s experience, magnified on a national scale. The problem is that the people who should read Bordo’s book are the very ones who will not read it—no matter how seductive the title appears to misogynists and the Hillary-haters chanting “lock her up.”

In this regard, Bordo’s book is bound by the same sexist constraints that hemmed in Clinton: Falling back on mindless misogynist tropes and narratives is economically more efficient than actually paying attention to, and deconstructing, them. Throughout the election, people did not judge Hillary Clinton for themselves, but let the misogynist media do it for them

The Road to Jonestown: Jim Jones and Peoples Temple by Jeff Guinn **** (4/5)
Because the one thing that most folks recall about Jonestown is to "not drink the Kool-Aid," the best use of my public history degree here is to note that the drink brand used was Flavor Aid, not Kool-Aid. And that some family members of those who died in Jonestown find that joke hurtful, something I had never considered before. 

This focus of this book is rightfully on the life and work of Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple leading up to their ultimate demise. Years ago, I saw a good documentary on Jonestown that briefly introduced this aspect, but focused on the more dramatic harrowing last day. I didn't know about the group's commendable social contributions in Indiana and California (elderly care facilities, drug rehabilitation program, and more). I had also only seen the characterization of Jim Jones at the end of his life, before he was consumed by power and heavy drug use. I mention these things not to discount the ultimate destructiveness, but to note the fullness of this portrayal. 
I enjoyed Guinn's writing style and now have his book on Charles Manson on my to read list. 

Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly ***** (5/5)
I saw the film Hidden Figures before reading this book, and though I typically hate seeing a film version before reading the original work, in this case I don't think the order detracted from either. I am sometimes distracted by historical inaccuracies in movies, so this may have been the right order for this one (for me).