Dysfunctional Family Holiday - April 26, 2017

Tell Me How This Ends Well by David Samuel Levinson
3.5 stars



It is the year 2022 and Israel has collapsed and the influx of immigrants into the United States has caused an increase in anti-Semitic activity.  Amongst this backdrop, a dysfunctional Jewish family is coming together for the holidays with lots a baggage and a nefarious plan in the works.  I actually enjoyed this book more than I thought I would.  It is darkly funny and the family dynamics are entertaining, however, it is just too long.  An entire section told from one perspective really could have been eliminated because the story, and especially the dialogue, just became so repetitive.  I appreciated  how realistic the lightly dystopic setting felt and as I said, did mostly enjoy the writing.  I received this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. 

Weekend Review - April 24, 2017

My Life With Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues by Pamela Paul
Publication Date - May 2, 2017
4.5/5 stars



When she was seventeen, Pamela Paul (editor of the New York Times Book Review), began a journal listing every book that she read.  She entitled the journal Bob, or Book of books.  Over the years, through every life milestone, she has faithfully recorded the books she read making this a memoir told from the perspective of the books that she was reading along the way.  Whether traveling alone in Asia, marrying, recovering from divorce or any other important part of her life, she read books to see her through.  Of course, any reader will highly relate to this memoir.  I listen to the author's weekly podcast and felt as if I could hear her voice as I read, which greatly added to the experience.  I will normally pick up any book that is about reading and books, and this one ranks near the top of my favorites list.  I received this through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review. 


The Fortune Hunter by Daisy Goodwin
3.5 stars



I appreciate Daisy Goodwin's historical fiction for the soap opera quality that she adds to real people's lives.  This one follows Empress Elizabeth (Sisi) of Austria during a sojourn to Victorian era England.  Sisi is an avid horsewoman and only wants to be surrounded by the best while out on her hunts, which is why Bay Middleton is asked to be her pilot.  Bay is a well-known womanizer who had hopes to change his ways by marrying sweet, unassuming Charlotte, an heiress and photographer.  The story is fascinating and as always, Goodwin's book is so easy to read quickly and hard to put down.  However, the characters in this one were a little harder to stomach and while I usually liked Charlotte, Bay never really redeemed himself and his behavior.  So, I read this book like candy even though it definitely had some issues.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Reviews - April 20, 2017

Clothes, Clothes, Clothes, Music, Music, Music, Boys, Boys, Boys by Viv Albertine
4.5 stars

The author was a member of the Punk band, the Slits and very much lived the late 70's punk lifestyle.  I found this book mesmerizing and the punk scene so fascinating and frankly a bit intimidating.  The second half of the book is more relatable to my life as it details her life post-punk.  Marriage, infertility, motherhood and trying to go back to herself amongst all that.   My only minor quibble is that it is told in a somewhat awkward present tense.  This may not bother most people, and it didn't much bother me, it just seemed a strange way to relay events that happened decades ago.  Overall, I really recommend if you like reading about the music scene.  


 

Tuesday Reviews - April 18, 2017

Asteroid Hunters by Carrie Nugent
4 stars



This is material taken from a TED talk which makes it a little hard to rate, but I was really interested in the steps, and history, of finding and tracking asteroids.  Asteroids went through a period of interest when Armageddon and Deep Impact came out in the theatre, leaving many to wonder how likely and what we would do if Earth suffered a direct hit from an asteroid.  This small book details the ways that scientists are trying to ease this concern by staying years ahead of the possibility.  At this point 95% of asteroids have been identified, turning these scientists into behind-the-scenes super heroes.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Golden State by Stephanie Keegan
4 stars



Natalie is not very surprised to learn her brother is a notorious and dangerous domestic terrorist, mostly because she is the one to turn him in.  This book includes some fascinating explorations in to mental illness and the family dynamics that continue to affect us into adulthood.  I mostly enjoyed this book, even when Natalie's selfish decisions became irritating, and read it very quickly.  Received through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Rapid Romance Round-Up - April 14, 2017

Never Trust a Pirate by Valerie Bowman
Publication Date - May 2, 2017
4 stars





I have read most of this series by now and these books hardly ever disappoint.  This time it is Rafe Cavendish's brother, Cade, who takes center stage.  Cade considers himself the black sheep of the family and does nothing to dispel his dissolute reputation. What his brother doesn't know is that Cade has a secret life that is full of danger and revenge.  While Cade crashes in his brother's townhome, he is introduced to Lady Daphne's new French maid, Danielle.  What I enjoyed most about this historical romance is that there were several twists that I didn't anticipate which is rare in this genre.  I liked both of these fiery characters and I am curious to see who the next book in this series follows. I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 






A Lady's Code of Misconduct by Meredith Duran
4 stars





This historical romance has one of the most interesting and well developed plots that I have read in a while.  Crispin Burke is a ruthless, cold politician who is doing whatever he can to become the next Prime Minister, even if it means supporting horrible public policy.  Jane has known Crispin for as long as she has lived with her equally crooked uncle, and despises him.  When Jane's uncle decides she needs to marry her cousin, she decides to go to drastic measures.  I don't want to give too much of this plot away because it really is well done.  I loved Crispin and how his deeply flawed, yet realistically redeemable character evolves over the course of the book.  I liked Jane too but wish she had been written with a bit of a sense of humor.  She is very serious which makes her somewhat unlikable at times.  Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to exploring this author's other writing.  I received this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.




Lord of Chance by Erica Ridley
4 stars





Anthony is an addicted gambler who finds himself desperately in debt, unable to fund his family's society lifestyle and possibly facing debtor's prison.  Charlotte is the daughter of a well-known London courtesan, traveling in Scotland to find her titled father.  After a disastrous bet, Anthony agrees to protect Charlotte for the evening and instead declares their marriage (apparently a legal way to wed at the time in Scotland).  I really liked these characters and their relationship which is why I rated this book so high.  At times the inner monologue was extremely repetitive but I really wanted to see these two characters find their happy ending.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 






A Perfect Gentleman by Candace Camp
3.5 stars





A common tale about an impoverished British earl who is forced to enter a loveless marriage to a wealthy, and uncouth, American heiress.  In this case the American, Abigail, leaves her husband the day after the wedding and stays away for ten years.  Graeme doesn't exactly miss her and is not exactly pleased when she reappears but he is also reluctantly intrigued.  This is an enjoyable book and the characters are likable with good chemistry.  There are a lot of ridiculous obstacles thrown in that made it drag a bit in parts but it was well-written enough to compensate for these short-comings.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 






Romancing the Rogue by Erica Ridley
3 stars







Rebecca is a young woman who lives behind the scenes in her titled uncle's castle, trying to stay out of the way while also helping when she can.  When her uncle dies, she is suddenly faced with the prospect of homelessness or a hasty marriage.  Daniel, an old friend, returns to hear the reading of the will and to reignite his friendship with Rebecca.   The set up for this novella is excellent but the romance was just okay.  Much of it was backstory, which I think is crucial in a novella, but it just wasn't explored quite enough.  I loved the gothic backdrop but overall just thought this should have been fleshed out more for a fuller story.  I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Moth Stories - April 13, 2017

The Moth Presents All These Wonders:  True Stories about Facing the Unknown
Edited by Catherine Burns
5 stars




This may be one of the most beautiful, inside and out, books that I have ever read.  First of all, the product itself is stunning.  Jacketless with gold inlay, it looks amazing and I am impressed with the overall physical quality of this book.  Inside is a collection of stories told during the Moth performances.  Including writers, actors, comedians and others not so famous, these stories encompass life experience.  One of my favorites, near the beginning, involves writer, Ishmael Beah, telling the story of his first paintball game after coming to America.  The story is both darkly funny and sad.  This is a wonderful collection that I am sure I will dip into in the years to come.  I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for an honest review. 

Off With Her Head - April 7, 2017

Young and Damned and Fair: The Life of Catherine Howard by Gareth Russell
4.5 stars




Catherine Howard had the distinction of being the fifth wife of Henry VIII, and the second to be beheaded.  I have read much about the Tudor family but this is the first nonfiction tome concerning Catherine that I have come across.  This was really well researched and the author did an incredibly good job at exploring prior information recorded as fact, that may not actually have been the whole truth.  Russell's portrayal of Catherine is well nuanced and he creates a completely human young woman who made mistakes but is also not the promiscuous vixen that is often portrayed in literature.  Sometimes, he includes supplementary information and side stories that might not have been needed and which drags down some of the sections.  Overall, though, this definitely added to my Tudor knowledge and provided a very informed account of a little known but infamous woman.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Writerly Advice and Critiques - April 4, 2017

Letters to a Young Writer by Colum McCann
Publication Date - April 4, 2017
4 stars



As someone who has not a single iota of ambition to write novels, I found this book surprisingly1q interesting.  Colum McCann write as if directly to a writer and it has the sound and feel of a well-written commencement speech.  Each short chapter begins with a quote from a prominent author and then covers a different topic.  This was short and to the point and even though I am not a writer, I found some really good advice for how to read.  I received this through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



Somebody With A Little Hammer:  Essays  by Mary Gaitskill
4 stars



I thought this a well put together of previously published reviews and critiques.  Most were short and really easy to work through.  I really enjoyed Gaitskill's view on books and movies and thought she was able to express her point clearly and quickly.  Her reviews cover topics ranging from Nabokov to Gone Girl to Linda Lovelace.  I haven't read any of Mary Gaitskill's fiction but will be moving onto it soon.  Received this book through Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.