Review: Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Title: Fingersmith 
Author: Sarah Waters
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Riverhead
Publish Date: October 1, 2002
Source: Owned

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "London 1862. Sue Trinder, orphaned at birth, grows up among petty thieves - fingersmiths - under the rough but loving care of Mrs Sucksby and her 'family'. But from the moment she draws breath, Sue's fate is linked to that of another orphan growing up in a gloomy mansion not too many miles away."

My Two Cents:

"Fingersmith" is the story of Sue, a young woman in Victorian England who gets tied up in a scheme to help an evil man marry an heiress, abandon her, and then get her inheritance. He promises that Sue can share in the spoils. Sue has had a hard life on the streets and easily agrees to participate. What will follow is a series of events that will let you think you know where the story is going only to have everything turned on its head. This is a strong story that will keep you on the edge of your seat to see where the pieces fall.

There isn't a lot to like about the characters in this book at first but that is exactly what makes it fun to see how the characters change throughout the book. Sue originally joins in the scheme to defraud Maud without any care in the world. Maud, the heiress, plays her cards as a pathetic, sheltered heiress but she's hiding secrets that shape how everything is turned on its head. These two have more in common than it first seems. Both of them are really products of their origins and I loved seeing how their origins continue to shape them. It seems that it is their tragic beginnings that push them together in a lot of ways throughout the book.

The setting of the book was great. I really thought that Waters did a great job of capturing both the lower classes and upper classes in Victorian England. This is a very atmospheric book with a lot of historical detail that brought the action to life!

This is my first book that I have read by Sarah Waters. I really like the way that she writes to take the reader in one direction before totally changing course. This book had a lot of twists and went in a completely different way than I expected. While not a mystery, this book almost had a mystery-like feel to it because of how the action drives towards figuring out what was going on. I know this won't be the last book I read by Waters!

 

Review: Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health by Rick Smith, Bruce Lourie

Title: Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health
Authors: Rick Smith, Bruce Lourie 
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Counterpoint
Publish Date: January 2010
Source: Library

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "The most dangerous pollution has always come from commonplace items in our homes and workplaces. Smith and Lourie ingested and inhaled a host of things that surround all of us all the time. This book exposes the extent to which we are poisoned every day of our lives. For this book, over the period of a week - the kind of week that would be familiar to most people - the authors use their own bodies as the reference point and tell the story of pollution in our modern world, the miscreant corporate giants who manufacture the toxins, the weak-kneed government officials who let it happen, and the effects on people and families across the globe. Parents and concerned citizens will have to read this book.

Key concerns raised in Slow Death by Rubber Duck:
• Flame-retardant chemicals from electronics and household dust polluting our blood.
• Toxins in our urine caused by leaching from plastics and run-of-the-mill shampoos, toothpastes and deodorant.
• Mercury in our blood from eating tuna.
• The chemicals that build up in our body when carpets and upholstery off-gas.

Ultimately hopeful, the book empowers readers with some simple ideas for protecting themselves and their families, and changing things for the better."

My Two Cents:

"Slow Death by Rubber Duck" is a entertaining take on why we need to care about the chemicals that we use and are around on a day in, day out basis. In plain language, the authors showcase information in an easy to understand way that is accessible to all. The book covers everything from plastics to antibiotics (the antibiotic and germ chapter was my personal favorite).

The writing of the book was good. I think that many readers fear picking up books like this if they don't feel well-versed in science but this book is accessible to those without science backgrounds. Throughout the book, the authors conduct experiments to show how all of these toxic chemicals that we may not even think about can affect us (and most striking for me: how QUICKLY they can affect us) were really well explained and really interesting.

This book depressed me, like really depressed me. It's a great book but it makes me feel the way that watching old "West Wing" episodes makes me feel. This book was written almost 10 years ago and there is still so much in this book that we haven't fixed or that we've fixed and now it seems like we're rolling things back under the new presidential administration. I hate that we're dealing with the same problems that we were dealing with almost a decade ago but here we are. The fact that we are still dealing with the same problems shows why books like this are still relevant almost a decade after having been written.

Overall, this is a good book about why we need to be more aware of chemicals. As one author says at the end of the book, the book is not anti-chemical (some chemicals are necessary and needed) but awareness is key and inclusion in various products we use should be well thought out.

 

TLC Book Tours: Just Sit: A Meditation Guidebook for People Who Know They Should But Don't by Sukey Novogratz, Elizabeth Novogratz

Title: Just Sit: A Meditation Guidebook for People Who Know They Should But Don't
Authors: Sukey Novogratz, Elizabeth Novogratz 
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Harper Wave
Publish Date: December 26, 2017 (Today!)
Source: TLC Book Tours

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "We’ve all heard the reports about meditation: that it helps us relieve stress and anxiety, improve our moods, lose weight, and sleep better. We know that it can make us healthier, nicer, a kinder parent, a better coworker, a more thoughtful spouse. But there’s a catch—you actually have to do it.

Written for the many, many people whose schedule or skepticism has kept them from trying meditation, Just Sit is an approachable and visually engaging beginner's guide. Assuaging fears, answering questions, and providing real-world information to demystify the process, Sukey and Elizabeth Novogratz provide a hands-on look at what meditation really is, what is does, and how to do it. The authors make clear that meditation doesn't have to be complicated or follow a specific protocol. The most important part, to "just sit," can lead to a lifelong practice, tailored to anyone's lifestyle."

My Two Cents:

 "Just Sit" is exactly what the subtitle says; it's a book for those that have thought about meditating even briefly but haven't taken the plunge. I try to meditate but for some reason, even finding five minutes in which to be quiet and do it seems hard many days. I was looking for this book for a little inspiration and this book had it in spades!

Meditation has so many benefits. Not only will it help you manage emotions more effectively but it can make you happier and healthier. Unfortunately as the authors point out, meditation is still one of those things that seems like some kooky thing for the fringe to participate in. The authors tackle that notion head on. The authors do a great job of making meditation feel like it's something you may want to actually do and like it's accessible to all!

The book also has a lot of tips that helped me, even as someone who is not exactly new to meditation (I just need to be better)! This book is great for those looking to start to their practice or those who are looking to reinvigorate their practice. It is a great reference book and I know that I will go back to it when I need a little inspiration. It's also a very pretty book and I love the illustrations in it!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas to those that celebrate! May your holiday be warm and cozy. May it be filled with loved ones and great books!

Review: Prince in Disguise by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Title: Prince in Disguise
Author: Stephanie Kate Strohm
Format: ARC
Publisher: Disney- Hyperion
Publish Date: December 19, 2017
Source: Publisher

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Life is real enough for Dylan—especially as the ordinary younger sister of Dusty, former Miss Mississippi and the most perfect, popular girl in Tupelo. But when Dusty wins the hand of the handsome Scottish laird-to-be Ronan on the TRC television network’s crown jewel, Prince in Disguise, Dylan has to face a different kind of reality: reality TV.

As the camera crew whisks them off to Scotland to film the lead-up to the wedding, camera-shy Dylan is front and center as Dusty’s maid of honor. The producers are full of surprises—including old family secrets, long-lost relatives, and a hostile future mother-in-law who thinks Dusty and Dylan’s family isn’t good enough for her only son. At least there’s Jamie, an adorably bookish groomsman who might just be the perfect antidote to all Dylan’s stress . . . if she just can keep TRC from turning her into the next reality show sensation."

My Two Cents:

"Prince in Disguise" is the story of Dylan, a girl who would rather be in the background than standing out. She leaves the spotlight for her older sister, Dusty, former beauty queen who is about to marry a Scottish laird... on television. Dusty is ready for her happily ever after in front of a television audience and while Dylan wants to be there for her sister, she'd rather not make an appearance on the screen herself. Little does she know that she might be getting her own happy ending and it's one she never expected!

There is a reason that books that have a fairytale feel to them are so popular! This book is definitely a modern fairytale and perfect for when you're looking for a comforting book with a swoonworthy and sweet romance. Dylan is a no nonsense teenager that hasn't gone on a date, not that she's looking to date. She would much rather run a race than be trapped in a cold castle in Scotland. Then she meets Jamie, her future brother in law's groomsman. Jamie is actually taller than Dylan - a tall order (haha!) and he's charming and funny. Dylan doesn't expect it to go anywhere but perhaps her sister isn't the only one that will get her fairytale ending.

Not only does this book have a sweet romance, it is also very funny. Dylan's friend, Heaven, shows up from home and creates chaos with the other groomsman, Kit. Dylan keeps meaning to be perfect in front of the cameras she can't escape from and fails miserably many, many times!

This was such a fun read about first loves!

 

Review: When You Were Here by Daisy Whitney

Title: When You Were Here
Author: Daisy Whitney 
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Little, Brown
Publish Date: June 4, 2013
Source: Library

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Filled with humor, raw emotion, a strong voice, and a brilliant dog named Sandy Koufax, When You Were Here explores the two most powerful forces known to man-death and love. Daisy Whitney brings her characters to life with a deft touch and resonating authenticity.

Danny's mother lost her five-year battle with cancer three weeks before his graduation-the one day that she was hanging on to see.

Now Danny is left alone, with only his memories, his dog, and his heart-breaking ex-girlfriend for company. He doesn't know how to figure out what to do with her estate, what to say for his Valedictorian speech, let alone how to live or be happy anymore.

When he gets a letter from his mom's property manager in Tokyo, where she had been going for treatment, it shows a side of his mother he never knew. So, with no other sense of direction, Danny travels to Tokyo to connect with his mother's memory and make sense of her final months, which seemed filled with more joy than Danny ever knew. There, among the cherry blossoms, temples, and crowds, and with the help of an almost-but-definitely-not Harajuku girl, he begins to see how it may not have been ancient magic or mystical treatment that kept his mother going. Perhaps, the secret of how to live lies in how she died."

My Two Cents:

"When You Were Here" is the story of Danny, who loses his mother to cancer. All he has left is his mom's best friend (Kate), her daughter (Holland), and his dog. He is trying to deal with loss but it feels like the odds are stacked against him. When he inherits his mom's apartment in Tokyo, he flees to Japan, a place of happier memories in order to figure out his mother a little more. He will end up unraveling even more mysteries than he ever expected.

This was a strong story but there was so much going on with it. There is Danny trying to figure out what his mother was going through before her death. There is Danny's relationship with his adopted sister who originally came from China and in Danny's view all but abandons the family to find her roots rather than helping the family first mourn their father and then Danny to mourn their mother. There is Holland and Danny's relationship, which has a lot of twists and turns that I won't go too far into in order to save the surprise for you. All of these stories are great and could have made up a book themselves so the book sometimes felt rushed as all of the ends were tied together.

I loved the parts of the book that are set in Tokyo. Not only do you have an exotic setting with a lot of interesting characters, Tokyo also represents Danny coming to terms with being on his own but also that he has a lot of people in his corner if he will let them in. I really liked the growth that we see in Danny throughout the book. Overall, I enjoyed this story; I just wish that there would have been a little more room to stretch out some of the stories.  

 

Review: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks

Title: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
Author: Max Brooks
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Crown
Publish Date: September 12, 2006
Source: Library

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors from those apocalyptic years, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. "World War Z" is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years.

Ranging from the now infamous village of New Dachang in the United Federation of China, where the epidemiological trail began with the twelve-year-old Patient Zero, to the unnamed northern forests where untold numbers sought a terrible and temporary refuge in the cold, to the United States of Southern Africa, where the Redeker Plan provided hope for humanity at an unspeakable price, to the west-of-the-Rockies redoubt where the North American tide finally started to turn, this invaluable chronicle reflects the full scope and duration of the Zombie War."

My Two Cents:

"World War Z" is not my normal kind of book. While I do like dystopian fiction, I like it to be realistic and believable. Zombies are a little questionable to me but after hearing such good things about this book from some trusted book recommend-ers, I decided to give this book a chance. I love being proven wrong about my book tastes (it stretches my reading life in so many different ways and gets me out of my comfort zone) and this book definitely did that for me!

I really liked this book! The premise is that it's a bunch of interviews with people all over the world after a zombie apocalypse and then a subsequent war. We see the many different fronts of the war and how people are trying to survive when there is still so much that is unknown about the enemy (how did they turn into zombies? what can they do? how do you get rid of them?). I liked the tactic of using interviews with so many different people. It gives you a lot of different perspectives that allow you to see the scope of what is happening in the world.

I really liked the world building in this book. From all of the different perspectives, you get a good picture of what the zombie apocalypse means and what goes into fighting the zombies. World building in dystopian is always really important to me in getting lost in the book and you definitely get that from this book. Overall, I was pleased and surprised by this book and loved that my gamble was successful.  

 

Review: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

Title: Anne of Green Gables
Author: L.M. Montgomery
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin
Publish Date 1908 originally (this version: 2017)
Source: Publisher

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "L. M. Montgomery's novel Anne of Green Gables recounts the adventures of Anne Shirley, an 11-year-old orphan mistakenly sent to a pair of siblings who intended to adopt a boy to help work on their farm in Prince Edward Island. Yet Anne's quirky personality and good-natured spirit causes the siblings to grow to love her anyway, and soon the entire town falls for the precocious little girl with bright red hair. 

Cherished by both children and adults, Anne of Green Gables is a celebration of fierce individualism, and the families we create, rather than the ones we are born into."

My Two Cents:

"Anne of Green Gables" is the classic childhood tale of Anne, the orphan girl who is mistakenly brought to Marilla and Matthew, two siblings who live on a farm together. It's one of my childhood books and I was looking forward to reading it again. I was interested to see how my perspective would change once I was an adult. The good news is that this book stands the test of time and was a great, comfortable re-read!

Anne is the patron saint of little girls who ask too many questions and have wild imaginations (this was me once upon a time on both accounts). It is easy to see why this book still remains extremely popular. Anne is good at getting herself into scrapes but she is so endearing that even as an adult, you just want to give her a hug. While I had (and still have!!!) a very wild imagination, it was mostly as a rich inner life for me. Anne tells you exactly what she is thinking. She is impulsive and doesn't think everything through but she has a good heart.

I still appreciated Anne very much but one thing I picked up in this re-read is how rich the secondary characters are. Marilla is tough on the outside but also has a very good heart. She goes through a transformation of sorts throughout the book, which was so fascinating. I loved Matthew in this book! He is such a gentle spirit and although he is quiet and Anne can talk circles around him, he really cares for her and tries to show her in his own way.

This was such a good reread for me! It made me smile to read through old favorite scenes as well as the scenes that I had forgotten about. With this snazzy new cover, now would be a great time to go back to Prince Edward Island!

 

Review: Best Day Ever by Kaira Rouda

Title: Best Day Ever
Author: Kaira Rouda 
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Graydon House
Publish Date: September 19, 2017
Source: PR

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "Paul Strom has the perfect life: a glittering career as an advertising executive, a beautiful wife, two healthy boys and a big house in a wealthy suburb. And he’s the perfect husband: breadwinner, protector, provider. That’s why he’s planned a romantic weekend for his wife, Mia, at their lake house, just the two of them. And he's promised today will be the best day ever.

But as Paul and Mia drive out of the city and toward the countryside, a spike of tension begins to wedge itself between them and doubts start to arise. How much do they trust each other? And how perfect is their marriage, or any marriage, really? "

My Two Cents:

"Best Day Ever" is the story of Paul and Mia. From the outside, their lives look pretty perfect. Paul is a successful ad exec who prides himself on his mind and body. Mia is the perfect wife and mother. The story opens when Paul is taking Mia to their lovely lake house for what promises to be a weekend to remember.

This is a thriller with an interesting character study on top of it. You can see where the story is going (the ending didn't really surprise me). Paul is fascinating. The story is told from his point of view, which worked really, really well here. Paul only thinks about himself. If he does something nice for someone else in the book, it is only because it has something in it for him as well. He is absolutely terrible to everyone in the book, including those that he loves. He is cold and sees everyone else as flat characters waiting to do his bidding. 

The writing and the character study of Paul took this book far for me even if the plot was a little bit predictable. The author does a good job of dropping little hints through Paul as to what kind of person he really is and where things are going. Paul definitely gave me the heebie jeebies throughout the book, which I loved. I love when books can make me feel strongly, positively or negatively! If you like characters that will frighten you, this is a good choice.

All I Want for Christmas!

It should come as no surprise that a major part of my Christmas wish list is made up of books. Here's what my list looks like right now!

What books are you asking Santa to bring you?

Review: Christmas in London by Anita Hughes

Title: Christmas in London
Author: Anita Hughes 
Format: Paperback
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publish Date: October 3, 2017
Source: PR

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "A charming, glamourous love story set at Claridge's in London during the magical week before Christmas starring a sweet NYC baker and the Cooking Channel Producer who could change her life.

It’s a week before Christmas and Louisa Graham is working twelve hour shifts at a bakery on Manhattan's Lower East Side. When a young cooking show assistant comes in from the rain and begs to buy all the cinnamon rolls on her tray, she doesn’t know what to do. Louisa is just the baker, and they aren't hers to sell. But the show burned the rolls they were supposed to film that day, so she agrees.

The next morning, Louisa finds out that her cinnamon rolls were a hit, but the star of the show was allergic, and the whole crew is supposed to leave for London that afternoon. They want Louisa to step in for their annual Christmas Eve Dinner TV special at Claridge's. It’s a great opportunity, and Digby Bunting, Louisa’s famous baking idol, will be there. Even if he does seem more interested in her than her food."

My Two Cents:

"Christmas in London" is a warm story about food and romance in the coziest season of the year. A chance break lands fledgling baker Louisa on a huge cooking show in London. She is whisked away to London, a city that seems to be made for the holiday season. Louisa finds herself in the lap of luxury and with a potential love match in Noah, the man who discovers her baking talent and lands her the show. There is also Kate, the television producer who may rekindle an old flame in London.

This is a confection of a story; exactly the kind of story I'm looking for in the cozy season upon us now. I really liked both of the romances in the book. Louisa and Noah get off on the wrong foot and then the wrong foot again and then the wrong foot again as they try to figure out each other. Kate and Trevor are old flames with a bunch of misunderstandings between them themselves. I was a little more interested in the history between them a little more. There were some swoon-worthy moments!

The major draw for me to this book was the setting. London is one of my very favorite cities in the world and this book made me want to visit London during the Christmas season. The characters hit all of the major sites. Harrod's at Christmas sounds wonderful. Some of the characters get to go to a royal reception at Buckingham Palace - swoon!

The writing was okay. There were a few sticky parts where the narrative got hung up with saying too much and not showing enough. Overall, this was a sweet read.

 

HFVBT Review: There is Always a Tomorrow by Anna Belfrage

Title: There is Always a Tomorrow
Author: Anna Belfrage
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Matador
Publish Date: November 5, 2017
Source: HFVBT

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "It is 1692 and the Colony of Maryland is still adapting to the consequences of Coode’s Rebellion some years previously. Religious tolerance in the colony is now a thing of the past, but safe in their home, Alex and Matthew Graham have no reason to suspect they will become embroiled in the ongoing religious conflicts—until one of their sons betrays their friend Carlos Muñoz to the authorities.

Matthew Graham does not leave his friends to rot—not even if they’re papist priests—so soon enough most of the Graham family is involved in a rescue attempt, desperate to save Carlos from a sentence that may well kill him.

Meanwhile, in London little Rachel is going through hell. In a matter of months she loses everything, even her surname, as apparently her father is not Master Cooke but one Jacob Graham. Not that her paternity matters when her entire life implodes.

Will Alex and Matthew be able to help their unknown grandchild? More importantly, will Rachel want their help?"


My Two Cents:

"There is Always a Tomorrow" is yet another installation to Belfrage's The Graham Saga. It is the ninth book in the series but largely works as a standalone. I caveat with "largely" for just one major reason that I will detail below. It's the late 1600s in the colony of Maryland and religion seems to be a major factor throughout the colonies. Religious tolerance does not seem to be so easy to find these days.

This book is a family saga. While it focuses on one couple: Matthew and Alex, our attention is split with the whole family. This book is truly a family saga and it is the relationships between the family members that really drives the action. While the Graham family has mostly seemed to be very happy, all of that happiness is threatened by one of the main couple's (Matthew and Alex) sons who has turned out to be so serious about his religion that he seems to forget about everything and everyone else, even when it threatens to upend his whole life. It was interesting to see why he would do this and more importantly, how his family copes (or does not cope in some cases).

I was especially interested in the setting. I live in Maryland but much further north and closer to Washington, D.C. than the characters did. It was so interesting to see what my state was once like. I really liked all of the historical detail the author infuses into the book about this.

It can be dangerous territory to jump into the middle of a series but for this book, it works pretty well. We do catch on that Alex is not from the time period and instead somehow travels back in time to this time period but it is never explained why and seems to be taken for granted by the other characters. That being said, this isn't a huge distraction but instead left me wanting to go back and read the other books.

Review: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

Title: Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
Author: J.D. Vance
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Harper
Publish Date: June 26, 2018
Source: Library

What's the Story?:

From Goodreads.com: "From a former Marine and Yale Law School Graduate, a poignant account of growing up in a poor Appalachian town, that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of America’s white working class. Part memoir, part historical and social analysis, J. D. Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy is a fascinating consideration of class, culture, and the American dream.

Vance’s grandparents were “dirt poor and in love.” They got married and moved north from Kentucky to Ohio in the hopes of escaping the dreadful poverty around them. Their grandchild (the author) graduated from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of their success in achieving upward mobility for their family. But Vance cautions that is only the short version. The slightly longer version is that his grandparents, aunt, uncle, and mother struggled to varying degrees with the demands of their new middle class life and they, and Vance himself, still carry around the demons of their chaotic family history.

Delving into his own personal story and drawing on a wide array of sociological studies, Vance takes us deep into working class life in the Appalachian region. This demographic of our country has been slowly disintegrating over forty years, and Vance provides a searching and clear-eyed attempt to understand when and how “hillbillies” lost faith in any hope of upward mobility, and in opportunities to come."

My Two Cents:

"Hillbilly Elegy" is a memoir of sorts by J.D. Vance. It talks about his childhood and his family in Appalachia where the term "hillbilly" seems to be a name to take pride in. I will admit that I had heard a ton about this book in the aftermath of the election in order to help "explain" some of Trump's base. There are many different factors but this book definitely explains some of those factors and is fascinating in that regard. Vance grew up in Ohio and Kentucky in areas marred by economic and often social despair so he if very familiar with the subject.

The best books for me are the ones that force you to chew things over and to think long after you close the book. This is one of those books for me. It makes you go from understanding to trying to mull over fixes to being bewildered about what you're reading. Even after reading this, there is a confusing juxtaposition present. On one hand, this group will push away outsiders without a second glance but drop everything to help others in the community if needed. They want help but claim to be against receiving anything called a hand out. It's a complicated issue and anecdotally, Vance seeks to give us a little insight into how this happens.

Many in the community that he grew up in will not have the chances that Vance had. Vance joined the military and went to school and was able to start a good, solid career through having support but also a lot of luck. The differences between his personal story against the stories of many of the people in his family and friends that he grew up with are especially stark.

This book did leave me with the question of what do we do to overcome the obstacles in this book. While I feel like I understand a little bit better, I still have a lot of questions. For me, it's not a question of how you get people to feel differently and to therefore vote differently but it's more of a question as to how you fix the ills that the people in the book face. By attacking those problems, you start to change mindsets but this book really doesn't address that. This book is very much a good picture of a place that was unfamiliar to me.  

 

Reading Challenges 2017 - November Check In!

Here's where I am with my reading challenges! 

Here's where I am with my reading challenges! 
Here is the original post about all of the reading challenges I'm taking on. The date listed after each book is the date I completed the book. 

PopSugar Monthly Challenge

• January (A book with one of the four seasons in the title ): Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell (1/25)
• February (A book by a person of color): Dragon Springs Road by Janie Chang (2/15) 
• March: A book about an interesting woman: Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick (3/25) 
• April (A book with an unreliable narrator): We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (4/6)
• May (A novel set during wartime ): The Baker's Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan (5/6)
• June (A book involving travel): News of the World by Paulette Jiles (6/18)
• July: A book set in two different time periods : The Cottingley Secret by Hazel Gaynor (7/27) 
• August: A book set in the wilderness: American Wolf by Nate Blankslee (8/27) 
• September: Keep Me Posted by Lisa Beazley (9/2) 
• October: A book with a mythical creature: Mermaid by Carolyn Turgeon (10/26) 
• November: A book about food: Sourdough by Robin Sloan (11/15) 

 PopSugar Ultimate Reading Challenge Basic

•  A book recommended by a librarian: The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt (1/19)
• A book you loved as a child: Matilda by Roald Dahl (1/12)
• A book with a subtitle: Caught in the Revolution: Petrograd, Russia, 1917 – A World on the Edge  by Helen Rappaport (2/3)
• A book that's published in 2017: The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak (2/5)
• A book with a red spine: Stalin's Daughter by Rosemary Sullivan (2/8)
• A book of letters: 100 Love Notes by Hyong Yi (2/13) 
• A book about food: A Square Meal by Jane Ziegelman, Andrew Coe (2/27)
• A book written by someone you admire: The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher (3/1) 
• A book by an author from a country you've never visited: Havana Real by Yoani Sanchez (3/5)
• A book where the main character is a different ethnicity than you: Burn Baby Burn by Meg Medina (3/5) 
• A novel set during wartime:The Orphan's Tale by Pam Jenoff (3/10) 
• A book set in two different time periods: A Bridge Across the Ocean bySusan Meissner (3/12)
• A book with a cat on the cover: A Few of the Girls by Maeve Binchy (3/14)
• A book by or about a person who has a disability: The Secret Life of Ivan Isaenko by Scott Stambach (3/14)
• A book about an interesting woman: Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton (3/22)
• A book with pictures: Shockaholic by Carrie Fisher (3/28)
• A book by a person of color: Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (3/31)
• A book with a title that's a character's name: The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith (4/1)
• A book from a nonhuman perspective: Watership Down by Richard Adams (4/13)
• A book involving travel: The Gods of Tango by Carolina de Robertis (4/19)
• A book set in the wilderness: The Wolf Road by Beth Lewis
• A book with multiple authors: I Hate Everyone but You by Gaby Dunn and Allison Raskin (8/23)
• A book that's been on your TBR list for way too long: Girl in Translation by Jean Kwok (9/26) 
• A book that is a story within a story: Glow by Megan E. Bryant (10/5) 
• A book with one of the four seasons in the title: Summer Island by Kristin Hannah (10/8)
• A book with an unreliable narrator: We Can't Be Friends by Cyndy Etler (10/8) 
• A book set in a hotel: The Frangipani Hotel by Violet Kupersmith (10/13)
• A bestseller from a genre you don't normally read: Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land (10/22)
• A book involving a mythical creature: A Sea of Sorrow by The H Team (10/24)

Pop Sugar Ultimate Reading Challenge Advanced 

• A book about an immigrant or refugee: The Radius of Us by Marie Marquadt (1/23)
• A book about a difficult topic: Windy City Blues by Renee Rosen (3/2) 
• A book with an eccentric character: Eggshells by Catriona Lally (3/14)  
• An audiobook: Identical by Ellen Hopkins (5/1)
• A book recommended by an author you love: Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (6/28) 
• A book from a genre/subgenre you've never heard of: Perilous Undertaking by Leanna Renee Hieber (7/12) 
• A book that's more than 800 pages: A Column of Fire by Ken Follett (10/15)  
• A book that takes place over a character's life span: The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman by Ernest J. Gaines (11/18) 

Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

• Read a debut novel: The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee (1/6)
• Read an all ages comic: Scenes from an Impending Marriage by Adrian Tomine (1/14)
• Read a book you've read before: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (1/19)
• Read a book about war: Stolen Beauty by Laurie Lico Albanese (1/29)
• Read a fantasy novel.: Wintersong by S. Jae-Jones (1/31)
• Read a book that is set within 100 miles of your location.: The Wicked City by Beatriz Williams 2/9)
• Read a book that is set more than 5000 miles from your location: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (3/11)
• Read a YA or middle grade novel by an author who identifies as LGBTQ+.: Our Own Private Universe by Robin Talley (3/23) 
• Read a book about books: A World Between Two Covers by Ann Morgan (3/26) 
• Read a book published by a micropress: Concepcion and the Baby Brokers by Deborah Clearman (4/6)
• Read a travel memoir: Schadenfreude by Rebecca Schuman (4/18)
• Read a book published between 1900 and 1950: I Change Worlds by Anna Louise Strong
• Read a book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative: Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
• Read a book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of color.: China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan (5/5)
•  Read a collection of poetry in translation on a theme other than love.: Odes to Common Things by Pablo Neruda (5/12) 
• Read a book about sports: Moneyball by Michael Lewis (6/6)
• Read a book that has been banned or frequently challenged in your country.: Farhenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (11/15)
• Read a collection of stories by a woman.: Paris and Other Stories by Jojo Moyes (11/25)
• Read a classic by an author of color.: Beloved by Toni Morrison (11/27) 

Curious Iguana's Read Broader (COMPLETED OCTOBER!!!)

• Peek into the Past: Putin Country by Anne Garrels (1/7)
• Justice for All: Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance (2/1)
• Justice for All: Excellent Daughters by Katherine Zoepf (2/6)
• Choose Your Own Category (Global Voices): The Chosen Maiden (3/5) 
• LGBTQ+ Perspectives: Becoming Nicole by Amy Ellis Nutt (3/20)
• Choose Your Own Category (Global Voices): The Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George (3/20)
• Choose Your Own Category (Justice for All): One Child by Mei Fong
• Choose Your Own Category (Justice for All): Half the Sky by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
• Armchair Adventures: Kindred by Octavia Butler (5/7)
• Global Voices: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (6/1) 
• Small Press Works in Translation: Before the Feast by Sara Stanisic (6/5)
• Choose Your Own Category (Peek Into the Past): Bears in the Streets by Lisa Dickey (6/15) 
• Armchair Adventures: Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian (7/1) 
• Collections Near and Far: Whatever happened to interracial love? By Kathleen Collins (7/22)
• Peek into the Past: The Black Calhouns by Gail Lumet Buckley (7/23)
• Global Voices: The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez (7/24)
• LGBTQ+ Perspectives: The Life and Death of Sophie Stark by Anna North (7/25)
• Collections Near and Far: Sidewalks by Valeria Luiselli (7/26) 
• Small Press Works in Translation: The Party Wall by Catherine Leroux (10/15)

Challenge Totals:

• January: 10 books
• February: 9 books
• March: 19 books 
• April: 11 books
• May: 5 books
• June: 6 books 
• July: 8 books 
• August: 2 books 
• September: 2 books
• October: 9 books
• November: 5 books 

How did it go?

Steady progress, one month to go!