World Lessons With Little Solutions or Hope

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
Publication Date:  September 4, 2018
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Yuval Noah Harari is a well-known historian who focuses on the intersection of biology and history.  The focus of this book is what will happen as AI technology overtakes the human economy.  This book frustrated me in ways that I am not sure I can articulate.  It felt like regurgitation of the same gloom and doom issues with no real solutions or hope.  While the author writes in an accessible style and I do realize that it is super important to consider these topics as we head to the future, I just did feel like this added too much to the conversation.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Reading Life

Book Girl: Journey Through the Treasures and Transforming Power of a Reading Life

By Sarah Clarkson

Publication Date – September 4, 2018

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This author has a beautiful relationship with the act of reading and uses this book to both promote the restorative effects of reading and list the books that have meant the most to her.  I found the writing extremely comforting and the reading of this book quite meditative.  This is a spiritual book and while not all the books she list are of a Christian focus, the author and some of her reading lists are Christian.  Not only did my reading pile explode, this book made me feel a call to be more mindful and deliberate in my daily reading.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Weekend Reading

If You Love Me:  A Mother’s Journey Through Her Daughter’s Opioid Addiction

By Maureen Cavanagh

Publication Date – September 4, 2018

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Maureen Cavanagh’s world upended when her twenty-two year old daughter’s dependence on heroin was revealed.  Her heartbreaking attempts to help her daughter inspired her to come out of hiding, speak up about substance abuse disorder and create an online community where others could go for help.  Along the way she realized that as long as her daughter knew she was loved, she could never force her to get help.  This is a really important book in the growing number about the opioid epidemic.  It is important to read these accounts because it is so easy to dismiss this growing population of sick people.  Personal stories like these humanize the epidemic while also providing a glimpse into the heartache behind it.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Review

The Man I Never Met:  A Memoir by Adam Schefter

Publication Date – September 4, 2018

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Adam Schefter, a current reporter for ESPN, found himself approaching forty as a somewhat depressed, single, childless man.  His luck changed when he met his future wife Shari and the story of their unusual family is hopeful and heartrending.  Shari lost her first husband, Joe, in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.  She was left bereft with a young son who would grow up to not know the larger than life man that was his father.  When Adam met Shari, he had to cope with not only the start of a new relationship but with the looming shadow of her former husband.  This book is simply written but is a heartwarming story of starting over, making peace with the past and accepting a family life that doesn’t fit the normal pattern.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Beginning with a Confession

How it Happened by Michael Koryta

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I think this is one of Koryta’s best books to date.  The book was inspired by a case in Indiana that I am familiar with and was curious to note the similarities of which there were a few.  Rob Barrett is a FBI agent who specializes in confessions and when he is the only person to believe the testimony of a known drug addict, he puts his job on the line.  Dealing with small town life, the heroin epidemic and the complications in dealing with confessions, this is a great mystery and character study.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Common Sense Approach to Writing

The Byline Bible: Get Published in 5 Weeks by Susan Shapiro
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To be honest, I enjoy reading about writing much more than I actually write which is why it is not my dedicated profession.  This book by an accomplished essayist and author, is probably the most common sense and practical approach to writing that I have ever read.  Focusing on nonfiction pieces, this pulls the experience of the author, her students and editors to provide very good advice, not only on writing but making money from writing.  So even though I probably won't start writing a publishable piece anytime soon, I will be checking out more of Susan Shapiro's writing.  I received a complimentary ARC of this book through BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review. 

In the Mood for Fantasy

Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett

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I used to read much more from the fantasy genre but as I age and as the political climate becomes more depressingly chaotic, I find fantasy to be too dark, therefore my fantasy reading chops are rusty to say the least.  This book appealed to me because the synopsis reminded me of the Mistborn trilogy, which I enjoyed.  The setting of this is a world dominated by a handful of merchant compounds and a magic system that uses sigils written on objects to manipulate their purpose so that it eventually resembles modern technology.  The story centers on Sanchia, a young woman who is the only known human to be scrived with sigils which causes her to hear other sigils commands.  If this sounds complicated, it is at first, but becomes easier as the book progresses.  The characters were well developed and interesting.  My biggest problem with the book, and this could be due to my decreased fantasy reading, is that it involved more action than relationship building which felt really lacking and made connections to the characters hard to form.  Overall, though, this is an interesting start to a fantasy series and I will probably keep reading.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Feminist Essays

Feminasty: The Complicated Woman’s Guide to Surviving the Patriarchy Without Drinking Herself to Death

By Erin Gibson

Publication Date – September 4, 2018

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Feminist essays are becoming a popular genre of writing lately, and some are definitely better than others.  I, personally, would put this in the better category.  Her topics are all clearly explained and some of them are so obvious and yet things that I have never considered.  She makes clear-headed, hard-hitting points and when the humor is on target, the writing is amazing.  At times, though, the humor somehow undercuts the point she is making.  For example, we need more females in STEM positions so, as she jokingly suggests, they can perfect the dosage for pot brownies.  Obviously, I get that this is a joke, but still…  Regardless, this may be one of my favorite current essay collections.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Review

American Fix: Inside the Opioid Addiction Crisis-and How to End It
by Ryan Hampton
Publication Date - August 28, 2018
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Ryan Hampton spent ten years of his life addicted to Opioids, beginning with treatment for an ankle injury. Within that time he went from a successful job in politics to burning bridges as his prescriptions for pain medication evolved into a Heroin addiction.  He has since been in recovery of his substance use disorder and he is using his experience to educate others on the reality of drug addiction.  I recently read Dopesick by Beth Macy and was curious to read a more personal account of the Opioid epidemic.  It is easily apparent from reading this book that Hampton is a gifted public speaker because most of this reads just like hard-hitting oration.  Because of this, it can at times also be repetitive and the narrative could have been tightened up, but I think this is a much needed addition to the national conversation of the Opioid epidemic.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Friday Review

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Publication Date - August 14, 2018
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Well, this book sort of ruined me for a little while.  It's been a while since I've read a book that I have been as invested in a fictional character as I was in Kya, the Marsh Girl.  Abandoned by her family in her North Carolina marsh home as a young girl, Kya is a remarkable and resourceful girl who is bullied by the nearby townsfolk into isolating herself.   I liked Kya so much that at times this book can be stressful, as she does not have an easy existence but the writing is so beautiful that I could not put it down.  I loved everything about it!  I received a digital ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Extraordinary Dinner Guests in This Unique Book

The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle
Publication Date - September 11, 2018
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Sabrina, named after an Audrey Hepburn movie, has arrived to a birthday dinner party with five very different and unusual people.  She has until midnight to have this dinner and converse with her guests. As the hours tick by, she also examines her past and especially her relationship with Tobias and all of its ups and downs.  This novel is extraordinarily unique in the way the plot is done and the conversations between the dinner guests not only provide drama but also insight into the main character and the motivations behind her decisions.  I didn't find the characters very relatable but I admired the intricacies of the plot and the overall message.  I received an ARC of this book through BookishFirst in exchange for an honest review. 

Upcoming Book Review

Our Homesick Songs by Emma Hooper
Publication Date - August 14, 2018
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The haunting landscape of Newfoundland and it's hardy citizens has been a backdrop for novels before.  Emma Hooper's new novel centers on one island and its vanishing inhabitants, focusing on one family and their sacrifices to stay.  Martha and Aidan grew up on the island, making their living on a fishing boat.  Once commercial fishing operations cause the fish population to disappear, the couple and their two children cope in different ways.  I loved the beautiful descriptions of the island and I think the way the lost fishing is described is perfect.  The story unravels at a glacial pace, though, and the plodding dialogue didn't help much.  So while I liked many aspects of this novel, it may just not be the right fit for my reading tastes.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Weekend Reading

An Uncommon Reader:  a Life of Edward Garnett, Mentor and Editor of Literary Genius
by Helen Smith
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This dense and comprehensive biography of Edward Garnett, a late nineteenth/early twentieth century reader for publishing houses, took a long time to read but is well worth the time and effort.  Most people (including myself) probably have not heard of Garnett but he worked with and promoted many prestigious authors including Joseph Conrad, John Galsworthy and D.H. Lawrence, among others.  This is very well researched and gives an in-depth look at the literary world at the time.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review. 

Repercussions of Not Reading

Reader, Come Home:  The Reading Brain in a Digital World
by Maryanne Wolf
Publication Date - August 7, 2018
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I wanted to read this book immediately after I saw it listed because I am a devoted reader and a fan of this author's other work, but to be honest, what I got out of  it instead was a wakeup call.  As the parent of three school-age children, I encourage reading and definitely lead by example, but the siren call of the IPad can at times overrule.  According to this book, we are definitely not alone with this dilemma.  Maryanne Wolf's writing is not always easy, and requires the deep reading that she discusses, but the message comes through clearly.  The way in which we digest information is changing and as we get used to reading smaller snippets online, we are losing the ability to empathize with others and form researched opinions.  Thankfully, the author does not have only the bad news to depart but offers concrete advice for using both the digital realm and books to create multi-faceted learning that promotes close reading, analytical thinking and empathetic decision-making.  I learned so much from reading this book and as a reader and a parent, it is extremely important information.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Upcoming Contemporary Romances

The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory
Publication Date - October 30, 2018
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The premise behind this romance novel is absolutely the best.  Nik's casual boyfriend of five months surprises her at a baseball game with a very public marriage proposal.  Shocked and horrified she turns him down to the disgruntlement of the entire crowd.  Noticing her trapped situation, Carolos, a pediatrician, and his sister come to her rescue and whisk her away.  They quickly become friends and then more as she deals with the fallout from the proposal.  I really like Nik, and her relationship with her best friends was my favorite part of this book. While the romance was nice, I think Carlos is a little too good and I would have loved to see more of the chemistry she shares with her friends.  I received a digital ARC of this book through Penguin's First to Read program in exchange for an honest review. 


Accidentally in Love with the Pilot by
Publication Date - August 13, 2018
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2

This funny, charming, contemporary romance novel is wish-fulfillment to the extreme for the reader.  A woman with a strange family finds herself automatically married to the hot, nice, fighter pilot that she met the night before.  I enjoyed this romance even though I would have like it to be a little longer and more fleshed out.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Midweek Review

the Victorian and the romantic: a memoir, a love story and a friendship across time
by Nell Stevens
Publication Date - August 7, 2018
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Nell Stevens spent the time writing her Ph.D. immersed in the life of Elizabeth Gaskell and her famous artistic friends in Rome while also juggling an intense long distance relationship.  In this memoir, she toggles between her own life a this time and imagined conversations with Gaskell.  I enjoyed the memoir portions of this book much more than the episodes featuring Gaskell and her friends, so I sometimes skimmed those chapters.  I think that Stevens is an excellent memoirist and I am definitely interested in picking up her earlier book.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.