I Read: Lending a Paw

Lending a Paw by Laurie Cass

(Book one in the Bookmobile Cat Mysteries)

Of course I picked this up because cat. And books. How could I resist?

The cover is cute and tells you what you need to know about the story - if you don't like book stories, and cats, then there's no point in reading. The cover is what initially got my attention. Of course. 

Working my way through the story was a little more difficult than the cover might give the impression of. It feels simplistic, but there are complex and honestly just silly moments that throw the story off track. 

I Read: The Twits

The Twits by Roald Dahl

Unfortunately, this one may be one of my least favourite Dahl stories. There's a lot to it, with monkeys and birds and really not nice people. And the introduction to the characters is pretty intriguing, but overall it's not a pleasant book. It's funny, but not fun. I like that the meanies get their just desserts at the end, but it's still a tough story to justify.

But it's a super quick read, and worked nicely as a filler between longer, more attention heavy reads. 

#99-2020

I Read: Whiskey in a Teacup

Whiskey in a Teacup by Reese Witherspoon

Part cookbook, part memoir, part instruction manual for how to "be more Southern", this is a great representation of who I think Reese Witherspoon is. Quirky, but practical with some very Southern sensibilities. 

I'm enjoying the idea of actually creating some of the recipes she's included, and while I will never be a hostess or entertain in the sense that she speaks about in the book, I still like reading about it and imagining going through the planning of it. 

The little bits and pieces of personal stories that she throws in really make this a more personal story, as if she truly is sharing her family stories and even secrets with you as you travel through the pages with her. 

There's nothing monumental here, but there are some great little tips and tricks for making things more or less formal, and doing it easily or at least more easily than you might imagine they could be. I'm looking forward to trying several of the recipes because they sound like they'd be wonderfully simple and yet feel like a treat. 

#98-2020

I Read: a collection of children's books

Lifetimes: A Beautiful Way to Explain Life and Death to Children by Bryan Mellonie
Grandma's Yarn by Lynne Pickavance
The Giraffe, the Pelly and Me by Roald Dahl
I Don't Mind Being Short by Slavica Popadic
When Will I read? by Miriam Cohen
Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl
Little Ones Listen to God

I had a pile of picture type books on my shelf that I finally took a moment to zoom through, with the end of the year on us. I should have done it months ago. No cover photos for these, since there are a bunch of them, but there are things to say for a few of them.  All of them came from my mother's collection of books that we've gone through to find out which to keep or transition into new homes. These represent a small collection of what I couldn't bear to part with. 

I Read: Danny the Champion of the World

Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl

Another wonderfully ridiculous Roald Dahl offering. Ridiculous of course, but with a lesson to be had. I don't know how he managed to make things silly and serious at the same time. His books are a wonderful break from the real world while remaining planted firmly within it. 

#90-2020

 

I Read: Always Looking Up

Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist by Michael J. Fox

I've always been a Michael J. Fox fan, from the days of Family Ties. I remember staying up "late" at the time in order to be able to watch the episode each week. I followed his career after and managed to always catch up on bits of it. But I've gotten very behind on his books. 

Years ago, I read Lucky Man and thoroughly enjoyed the way that his writing comes across as if he's having a conversation with the reader - this book is no different. It's almost as if you can hear his voice. 

I Read: The Smell of Other People's Houses

The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock

I enjoyed this book - I wasn't sure it would be one that would go in that category. The title intrigued me, which is why I choose to read it in the first place. The story is definitely intriguing, following the lives of several teens in Alaska at the time of the territory becoming a state. The stories of those teens mingle together in interesting ways and teach a number of lessons while doing so. 

The subject matter isn't really pleasant, but it is real and wanting to know how the stories are completed is what keeps the reader interested. 

I Read: Finding Audrey

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

This was surprisingly poignant, considering it's written by the same author as the Shopaholic series. I wasn't expecting that. I enjoy the casual nature of Kinsella's writing here, even though she's writing about some serious stuff. And I like that it's relatable, even if we haven't all gone through anything similar. 

The character of Audrey is well developed, and I think that very much helps us to understand how and why she's in the situation she's in. And how she can get out of it. Some of the moments could have been stronger had there been a little more focus on them, and though we get a picture of what she went through, I felt a little bit like I would have been more sympathetic with some more detail. But the vague-ness fits perfectly with the character and the story. 

I Read: Eats, Shoots and Leaves

Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss

Not really going for a review on this one - but for anyone interested in language and the usage and transitions that punctuation has gone through, and continues to go through this is a must-read. There are cute stories and anecdotes about the comma, and semi-colon as well as other highly misunderstood punctuation marks. 

#86-2020 

I Write: Mystery or Thriller?

I wrote a short story for my Writing Mysteries and Thrillers class. It was the final assignment and I had some serious trouble getting traction on an idea to start. When I got the idea and started writing, I wasn't sure how it would go, whether my idea actually would make sense to anyone but me. 

But I wrote it, and in the interest of calling myself a writer, here it is: 

(EDIT 12/17/2020 - I just received my grade for the class - 100%. I must have been doing something right.)

She snaps a fresh glove down over her wrist, the sound echoing in the nearly vacant room. Surveying the scene, she narrows her eyes. She holds herself erect, her face a blank slate. There’s no room for emotion here. She doesn’t take any joy or pride in this particular part of the job. But it needs to be done. 

Her right hand fists at her hip, pushing back the right quarter of her suit jacket, exposing the pocket of slim-fitting pants. With the turtleneck underneath, the suit she wears is a stereotypical look - if she were a man. But she enjoys it. She is far from typical. 

I Read: 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl

13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad

This book was not at all what I was expecting when I picked it up. And that is not at all a bad thing. I didn't check the back for a description; I bought it based on the title. 

For some reason, I expected short stories about different girls. Instead, this is a journey through the life of a "fat girl" and her experiences at different stages of her life. It's not even always through her perspective. I'm not even going into any more detail than that. This book deserves to be read, to give people a perspective they may not have, and to maybe urge people to talk about things they otherwise might not. 

I really enjoyed it. It's thoughtful and thought-provoking.

#85-2020

I Read: A Bone to Pick

A Bone to Pick by Charlaine Harris

(Book 2 in the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries series)

I'm glad to have found the Hallmark movies of the Aurora Teagarden series before reading the books. I am a fan of Charlaine Harris in general; her writing style is adorable, if quirky and she creates characters that you just want to take under your wing. They're a little silly, and at times annoyingly impractical, but they are very "Southern girl" stereotype so genteel is a great word. 

Book 2 in the Aurora Teagarden series follows along as per type, and Aurora is involved in another mystery, not of her making. She gets caught up in the situations, and always makes a couple of questionable choices that further the story but makes you just shake your head at her. 

They're easy and fun to read, and keep you guessing at least a little bit from beginning to end. They're no real drama or trauma, just a cute little mystery to solve with some eccentric characters to make it fun. 

#84-2020

I Read: Real Murders

Real Murders by Charlaine Harris

(Book 1 in the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries)

I'd watched a number of the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries from Hallmark channel before I realized that there were books. Then to learn that the books are written by Charlaine Harris of True Blood fame was a bonus. I already enjoy her writing, and the Teagarden movies are enjoyable so I've started hunting for the novels. 

This is the first in the series, and as such is the introduction to Aurora Teagarden and her little town.  And her club that studies famous murders. I won't deny that when I'm reading I picture Candance Cameron Bure because of having seen the movies first, but the books don't disappoint. There is a lot more to Aurora and her town than portrayed in a 90-minute movie. The situations she finds herself in are almost ridiculous, but because everything about the story is riding on that edge of unreal it all makes sense. 

I Read: Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator

Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl

The continued story of Charlie and Mr. Wonka takes Charlie's entire family on an out of this world journey in the great glass elevator. True to Dahl-form there are made up words, and characters and entirely implausible scenarios that seem entirely reasonable within his story. It's what makes reading Dahl fun. 

If you enjoyed Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I'd recommend reading this to continue the tale. There are even more Oompa Loompas. And buried in the middle are some lessons to learn. Fun!

#82-2020

I Read: Weird things Customers Say in Bookstores

 Weird Things Customers Say in Bookstores by Jen Campbell

This book is a collection of weird things that booksellers have heard from their customers - just as the title would suggest. 

Some things you can't imagine someone would even think, never mind actually saying it out loud. But there is the occasional thing that I shook my head and thought to myself (never out loud!) that I might have said in a particularly blonde moment. 

Others are just examples of people being people. Typical, self-centred people. It's a quick read if you're just in it for a laugh, or two. 

#81-2020

I Write: Virtual Trip

The assignment for Writing Mysteries and Thrillers this week was to take your reader on a virtual trip to a place that is not your hometown. It could be somewhere you've been, or somewhere that you've just researched.  The second part was to guess whether we'd been there or not. 

My piece is below - of course, I talked about a bookstore - El Ateneo Grand Splendid in Buenos Aires. If you haven't heard of it, please google it. It's beautiful. 

I Read: Let it Snow!

Let It Snow! by Maureen Johnson, John Green and Lauren Myracle

No secrets here - I enjoy young adult books. One of the authors I especially like is John Green. I hadn't read any Maureen Johnson until this past year, but I've very much enjoyed her online presence for several years already. 

I picked this up solely because John Green was included in it. And I had aspirations of actually reading Maureen Johnson, so I thought a short story might be the way to start. Thankfully I had read a couple of novels before I read this. 

I Read: Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: And Other Questions About Dead Bodies

Will My Cat Eat My Eyeballs?: And Other Questions About Dead Bodies by Caitlin Doughty

I literally picked this book up because I thought the title was funny. I didn't even really pay attention to what the content was going to be. I only knew that it was in the non-fiction section. 

As I started paying more attention, I had a few misgivings - did I actually want to read this book? Am I too close to a significant death in my life to be able to read this and take anything interesting or fun out of it?

I Read: The Plant Paradox

The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in "Healthy" Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain by Steven R. Gundry, MD

I picked this up and actually started reading it a couple of years ago when several celebrities were touting Dr. Gundry's techniques. I'm interested in different perspectives on how food affects the body so it was a natural fit for my reading list. 

I am definitely not a biology person, but I know that different foods affect different people differently and that no one "diet" will work for everyone because of that. 

I Read: Notorious RBG

Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon & Shana Knizhick

Sadly, I wasn't motivated to read this book until after Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death this year, but I'm still amazed at how influential and inspiring her life was. She didn't go out there intending to change the world or to blaze a trail, but just in the very things, she was interested and capable of doing she did. 

Anyone who's interested in reading about strong, capable women who make life easier for other women should take an interest in Ginsburg's story. This telling is very personable and applies the activities of her life to the things she was able to accomplish. 

I also have a book written by Ginsburg on my shelf waiting for me to read it, but I wanted to read someone else's perspective of her life before reading her own. I feel that she will not be as proud of her accomplishments as someone else will be. 

#77-2020

I Read: Clanlands

Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other by Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish

When talk first started swirling about Sam & Graham having gone on a road trip and filmed it for a TV series a lot of people were pretty excited. When we found out the release of said TV series was going to be longer than we'd hoped we were disappointed - until we learned there was going to be a book!

There was no doubt that I was going to read this from the minute I found out about it. I was intrigued by the characters they'd played on Outlander, and have become even more interested in their other appearances and ventures. Both are very interesting people. And in this book, they're also talking about a country with a really interesting history - part of which is my history. 

I Read: Fantastic Mr. Fox

 Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl

Another quick but amusing read from Dahl. This one also has a great story to it, about humans not respecting the world we live in. And how the animals will get us in the end. 

I like that there's a sense of justice to Dahl's work.  It teaches a lesson in a way that we can't imagine actually happening, but that we know is actually just. It's not just silliness, there's truth buried in it. 

Another recommendation - and a wish that I'd read some of these much, much sooner.

#74-2020

I Read: The Magic Finger

The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

Okay, so I just have to say that this title is a little problematic. It brings to mind a lot of things that should never be associated with a book for kids. 

HOWEVER, the book is actually a really great learning tool about the way we should treat the world and all the creatures in it. It's a super simple read, and I'm glad that I picked it up as a palate cleanser this morning. 

Roald Dahl definitely has a way with words, and I don't think I will ever regret reading anything of his. 

#73-2020

I Read: High Heat

High Heat by Richard Castle

(part of the Nikki Heat series - based from the ABC series Castle)

This will be short - I'm still missing the show Castle, and I'm still trying to finish the series of books that went along with it. It's been far too long that these books have been sitting on my shelf, and as I read them I remember how they weren't quite as satisfying as watching the show, even if I can imagine the actors from the show playing the characters in the book that they're supposedly based on. 

The story behind this book is good - I enjoy the angle, but like all the Richard Castle novels, I feel like the writing is somewhat lacking. That could be because Castle was supposed to be a pulpy, super popular writer, or it could just be the invisible writer behind the fictional character's style. I choose to think it's a choice by the invisible writer to make the writing not as good. I haven't picked up the invisible author's actual work, and I don't intend to. I want to imagine that he's actually better than Richard Castle. 

I Write: Mysteries & Thrillers (NaNoWriMo & continuing education)

It is of course November 1, and that means NaNoWriMo starts today.  Coincidentally and very fortunately, I am also taking another continuing education course in pursuit of my Creative Writing certificate titled Mysteries & Thrillers. 

Mysteries and Thrillers have never been a genre that I thought I was interested in writing about, but only one week in I have all of these ideas bustling around in my head and I'm very, very excited about it. I'm including my first assignment below as it also pertains to my NaNoWriMo project because really, if I have ideas for class, and it's Nov. 1 why shouldn't I use the ideas for both things!?  Right?  RIGHT?!?

I Read: The Meaning of Mariah

The Meaning of Mariah by Mariah Carey and Michaela Angela Davis 

Mariah Carey has always been a bit intriguing - she's been a media darling, and media trash. At times it seemed like she really knew how to work the system, to get the publicity, and at times it really looked like she was getting blown away by it all. 

I picked up this book to see how much truth I could glean between her own story and my exiting perspective. Above all else, I think I learned that she's never really been anything but herself. And she's not really apologetic for anything, nor should she necessarily be. 

I Read: Sanditon

 Sanditon by Jane Austen

This is an unfinished work by Jane Austen. I started reading because PBS was showing a mini-series and I was interested to see what had inspired it. Now that I'm completed it, I'm intrigued and wish I could know where Austen was planning to go with it. 

It's a typical Jane Austen style novel, and I'm sure she was making social commentary on the women and their lives, or the way that life was conducted. But with only 12 chapters completed, it's hard to know exactly what that was. The characters are many in this work, and I did find myself very much more attached to some than others. Some didn't seem to have much point at all. 

The estimate is that what is available is about 1/5 of the completed novel as Austen would have written it. I'm not sure that another 4x this much would have enlightened me much further, but I would have loved the opportunity to know where she was taking this story. 

I haven't completely read much of Austen's work to this point. I used to get very tied up in the language and her use of the larger and more foreign words in older style English. But I have come to an appreciation of that language at this point, and will try to read at least one of Austen's work per year from here forward. 

#70-2020

I Read: Dear Martin

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

I don't really even know where to start talking about Dear Martin. It's poignant, especially currently, but it's not hard to read, which makes it easier to spend time thinking about. 

The fact that there's no shock to the events of this book, that I read it just taking it as if it was completely logical pains me. The world should not work the way it does in this book.  But I can't deny that it does. I may not be the target audience, nor do I relate personally to any of the events in the book, but it's very clear that this is based in truth. 

I Read: Wild Storm

 Wild Storm by Richard Castle

I realized recently that while I was lamenting the loss of the show Castle, I still had several of the novels based on the work of the character on my shelf to read. So I thought what better time to read them! (I could also re-watch the show, the DVDs might exist on my shelf too.)

Honestly, I've always kind of felt the books were a bit lacking. Especially the Derrick Storm ones. But that could be because I'm less attached to that character - it isn't based on anyone from the show, just on Richard Castle's back catalogue when we join the show. There isn't anything about Storm that really made me excited to read about him, but the books aren't bad either. 

I Read: The Lost Book of the White

The Lost Book of the White by Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu

Second in the Eldest Curses series

I have a weird connection to Cassandra Clare novels. They're definitely not written for someone of my age, but I still love them. There's something about the characters that makes mort of them either incredibly endearing or relatably dislikeable. And since I am entirely a reader who is fascinated by character-driven stories, that's perfect for me. 

The stories themselves, are not always the best they could be, but based on the character creation they don't seem completely far-fetched. Like I said, even the characters who I don't end up liking that much or I don't understand, I still enjoy the way they're written. Which is why I buy each book almost as soon as it's out. Sometimes even pre-ordered. I like getting books the day they're released. Occasionally I even manage to get them before the official release date, which is always a treat.

I Read: Little Box of Happiness

Little Box of Happiness by Meik Wiking
contains: 

The Little Book of Hygge

The Little Book of Lykke

The Art of Making Memories

There truly is happiness to be had in this little box set. Written by researcher and founder of the Happiness Research Institute, Wiking manages to make the reader feel as if it's truly possible to find more happiness in simple, everyday things and actions, without spending money. 

I Read; Travel Guide to Port Charles

 Travel Guide to Port Charles - no attributed author

According to the show, General Hospital, this book was written by Lucy Coe. And it is written as if it's somewhat of a remembrance, or memoir for her. I had intended to buy this when it was first available, but I lost my chance and it became unavailable, so when it showed up again earlier this year, I snagged it. I was truly interested in how they had chosen to write it. 

Unfortunately, while this is cute, and creatively written, it doesn't really tell the stories that it should. It repeats itself, and shares only surface details about specific characters and storylines. I know it would be difficult to cram everything about all the major stories over the show's history into one book, but any long-time fan of the show is going to be left wanting more with this effort. 

#65-2020

I Read: Howard's End

Howard's End by E.M. Forster

I was prompted to finally read this because of the mini-series on PBS. I haven't watched it yet, even though it aired months ago, because I was trying to finish the book first. Maybe I'll watch it this weekend. 

As of now, my impressions of Howard's End. The clearest things about this are it's evaluation of the class system, and how or when people should be thinking for themselves. The main characters are women who in the designated time frame should really not be running their own lives. But they are and are managing to do a decent job of it. They get caught up in weird fascinations, and strange human situations due to their unique take on human nature. 

Money is an abstract concept to them sometimes, but in others, they are very clear that without money people are nothing. The entire story centers around a house that the main characters don't even own. We don't even find the house until partway through the story, and then it features only in fairly minor ways except to skim along in the background until nearly the end. We know details about it that the main characters do not, and it is fairly significant to some of the actions of some characters but the home at Howard's End is never really a very major part of the story until the very end. 

It's an interesting story, and I was intrigued to find out where it was going, but I found myself having to read passages over and over in order to fully grasp what the story was trying to tell me. Sometimes the logical was quite flawed, and in order to understand the actions, you needed to have a handle on the thought process that wasn't necessarily clear. 

I can't say I didn't enjoy the story though when all is said and done. It''s not something that I will ever endeavour to read again, I think but it wasn't wasted time. 

#64-2020

I Read: Make Room for Joy

 Make Room for Joy by Vanessa Joy Walker

I am no stranger to books that try to explain a better way to deal with the struggles and concerns of life. Anxiety, depression, grief, shame - I've read about all of them. Some of them resonate more than others. This one is a great book for anyone looking for a way to lean into faith for the answers. 

When I began, I wondered if I would find it a bit too "preachy" because it is very much faith-based. But I found myself intrigued by the choice of passages and how they related to things in my own life. Knowing someone else's perspective on particular Bible verses can sometimes open your eyes to new interpretations and meanings.

I Read: The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell

 The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell: Tales of a 6' 4", African American, Heterosexual, Cisgender, Left-Leaning, Asthmatic, Black and Proud Blerd, Mama's Boy, Dad, and Stand-Up Comedian by W. Kamau Bell

I know W. Kamau Bell from his television series, United Shades of America on CNN. I consider it one of my favourite television programs. If you haven't seen it, please do: Sundays at 10:00pm. Currently in its third season. 

If you have seen the show, you know that Bell is funny, but also blunt and knowledgeable in a lot of situations that you wouldn't necessarily expect him to put himself in. The CNN description of the show is "'United Shades of America' follows comedian and political provocateur W. Kamau Bell as he explores communities across America to understand the unique challenges they face." The book is really no different.

I Read: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

I don't know what I can say about this book that hasn't already been said. It's unique, and profound, and simple but complicated and really so easy to follow and understand that everyone should read it to get a little bit of perspective. 

This is not fiction, Maya Angelou did not make this up. It was her life. She's sharing her experiences. She led an amazing life and managed to spin extreme situations into something that elevated her and motivated her without being bitter or angry about anything. She learned from her experience and chose to share those experiences with others to expand other people's knowledge. 

The version I read has an introduction written by Oprah - another voice with similar experiences to Angelou. While my own experiences are not at all similar, the way that each of them expressed their feeling and experience makes it easy to relate to. To understand why they chose their paths, and to admire their willingness to share those experiences.

If you haven't already, read this. It's the beginning of the story of a remarkable woman. 

#59-2020

I Read: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Who doesn't love the story of Charlie, Mr. Wonka with Oompa-Loompa's and, of course, lots of CHOCOLATE! I'm not sure this was ever a real favourite of mine, but I definitely enjoy it every time I read it. Or watch it in one of its several incarnations on film. 

The fact that the downtrodden in fact do win at the end gets overlooked so often in this story in favour of the silliness of the story as a whole. Charlie is gifted the chocolate factory at the end - solely for the reason that he is still standing at the end of the tour, and that Mr. Wonka is old and must leave it to someone. 

Really, how could anyone turn down ownership of a chocolate factory!? I know I wouldn't. I know the continued story of Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is still upcoming in the Roald Dahl set that I am reading, so I'll look forward to that in the not-distant future. 

#58-2020

I Read: Three Women

Three Women by Lisa Taddeo

I picked this book up because I read a description of it by someone hosting an online book club. I have no intention of joining an online book club, but the passion with which she wrote about the book was inspiring so I did a little research and decided it was something I would be interested in. I'd never heard of it previously, but she had apparently read it several times. 

I'm not sure what I was expecting going on, but there were a lot of reviews that through around the words empowering, and strong. And while I agree that the women featured in this book are strong, I'm not sure that I'd say their stories are empowering, except in the telling of them. They definitely didn't feel empowered within their stories to me.

I Read: James and the Giant Peach

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

This will be short. I purchased a Roald Dahl box set a few months ago, and have decided to work my way through it in chronological order as filler between some of the heavier reads that I'm working on. Dahl has a way of working important messages into amazingly silly stories that is impressive. And James and the Giant Peach is no surprise there. 

The story is fantastical and whimsical and yet somehow a teeny, tiny part of you wonders if somewhere, somehow it isn't possible. That maybe it happened. The reader gets lost in the story, the details and almost hopes that it could be real. 

Of course, Dahl is respected and well-read for a reason - if you haven't read it lately, go try it. It's a great break from the real world. 

#56-2020

I Read: Slay

Slay by Brittany Morris

I really, really enjoyed this book. I'm not even sure what made me pick it up, but it's a really well thought out story, with lessons and realizations peppered seamlessly in. 

The first couple of chapters took me a little bit to get into. I wasn't sure where it was going, and I felt out of place which made my reading a little slow. I'm not a gamer; I don't know that world at all. But there was something about the character of Kiera that made me want to know what story she was telling.

I Read: Every Step She Takes

Every Step She Takes by K.L. Armstrong

Though it's listed as K.L. Armstrong, this is yet another from my favourite author Kelley Armstrong. Adult mystery-ish fiction. 

I'm always amazed that no matter what genre Armstrong seems to go for, she does it just as well. Likely because her strength lies in creating characters the reader can believe in and has them doing things that you can believe they'd do. In this style, they do tend to get caught up in crazily dramatic situations but that's part of the fun, really. 

I Read: Fangirl

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Full disclosure, this is a bit hard to write. Fangirl has been on my TBR for a while, and I've been looking forward to read it, having read several of Rowell's other novels previously. I'd finally started it and was about halfway through when some uncomfortable issues were made clear to me about Rowell's novel Eleanor & Park, which I initially enjoyed. It made me rethink finishing Fangirl. But I had so far enjoyed it, so I kept reading. 

I'm going to say very clearly right here that I don't choose every book I read based on what it can teach me about the world. Sometimes I just want a book that's going to give me warm fuzzies, or that I can read as if I'm binge-watching a ridiculous TV show. Sometimes it's just pure entertainment and I don't have big expectations. To me, that's what Rainbow Rowell writes. Her stories have potentially real-world situations in them, but I don't read them thinking I need to learn something. I'm just reading, and I don't have to put a lot of thought into it. So on that score, Fangirl is a winner.

I Read: The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

Reading Toni Morrison has been on my list of things to accomplish for quite a while. I'll admit that I picked this up because I was prompted by the various calls to diversify the voices of those we read. I didn't know why Morrison to read so I actually have three, including this one, which was the earliest of the three I picked up.

I was intrigued by the synopsis description of this one and had heard it touted as highly influential by a lot of those who spoke of it. I tend not to rely too heavily on other people's opinions because writing/reading is so subjective, but given the number of people saying it was a great novel, I decided to pick it up. 

I Read: Love, Stargirl

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

I didn't love this as much as StarGirl. I don't know why, but I think it's because by having StarGirl as the narrator, she loses some of her mystery. She's still quirky and unique and learning to find herself and how she fits in the world, but when you can see how her mind works, and why she chooses the things she does, it takes some of the interest away from her character. 

This is written like a journal, or more specifically a really long, expanding letter to former boyfriend Leo. StarGirl says in the beginning that she'll never send it, so it's really functioning much more like a journal than a letter, but she is definitely writing it to someone. 

I Read: Stargirl

Stargirl by Jerry Spinellio

This book joined my TBR by way of a Facebook post series. I was nominated and then in turn nominated folks to post 7 favourite books over 7 days. One of my nominees is also a book lover and decided to go for 3 (or was it 4?) different sets of books, based on genre. Amazing dedication.

Anyway, this one was on his list. I'd honestly never even heard of it, but for some reason immediately decided I needed to pick it up. And I am absolutely not sorry for that. 

I Read: All About Love

All About Love by bell hooks

This is another of the books from Trevor Noah's recommendations on Goodreads. I don't know what I was expecting from it, but what it is was not it. That's not a negative, I found it very interesting, but it was not what I was expecting. 

I feel like I picked up a lot of random nuggets that I can use throughout life. I'd never thought to consider love and why people can't express it, or feel like we don't have it. This read a lot like a journal I would have studied when I was taking psychology at University. A thorough examination of the origin of the feelings of love. Why we can't feel it, why we don't try. That kind of thing. 

I'd recommend it to anyone looking to learn more about their own emotional journey. There's a lot to digest in it. The text makes a lot of assumptions about the person choosing to read, but not in a way that turns the reader away. The points are relatable, no matter who you are or what you come from. 

If you're into self-study. Pick it up. (No stars on this one - I might drop that system to a simple note of whether I'd recommend it or not. Or who I'd recommend it to. Some books just don't fit into a rating scale.)

#44-2020

I Read: A Song of Wraiths and Ruins

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

I picked this up based solely on the recommendations of some random other book readers on Twitter. I'm not kidding. It hadn't even come out yet, and people were in love with this book, and the author seemed like a super-fun person, so I ordered it. 

It took me a while to read, through no fault of the story or the writing, but because the political climate of the world has been insane, and I haven't had any attention span to read at all. Real-world burn-out, I guess. 

But, I am very glad that I read this. It's something I may not have picked up without those random recommendations, even though it's a similar genre style to what I've been reading for the last couple of years. 

I Read: The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and six more

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and six more by Roald Dahl

I remember Roald Dahl from when I was in school. And of course, he's the genius behind Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I've always been amused by the way his mind works. 

My mom found this book as a set of three book recommendations from Trevor Noah on Goodreads. We both respect and admire Trevor Noah and so we decided to pick up the books. This one was the most surprising of the recommendations so of course, I read it first. I kind of always assumed that Dahl was a white, North American flavour, rather than being globally known. I still don't know any different - Trevor could have found the book once he was already in the US. But I still found it an interesting choice. 

I Read: The Gryphon's Lair

The Gryphon's Lair by Kelley Armstrong

(Second in the Royal Guide to Monster Hunting series)

Once again, another Kelley Armstrong book. I make no apologies for being a fan of her writing, reading everything she puts out, and pre-ordering most of the time to make sure that I get it in short order. Even when it's a fantasy novel intended for kids, which is the case for this one. 

If it's not obvious I want to tell everyone that if they haven't read Kelley Armstrong yet, please, please do.  It doesn't have to be her teen, or young adult stuff, but everything she writes comes with the same attention to character and story. Her characters are believable and they grow within the story. Even the minor ones. 

I Read: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

(Prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy)

This is the "long-awaited" follow-up to The Hunger Games trilogy.  I put that in quotes, because I wasn't particularly waiting for it. Sure, I pre-ordered it, but I didn't really feel like I needed it before I knew it existed. There wasn't anything missing in the original story for me. I didn't need any backstory in particular to feel the story was complete. I only needed it in the sense that I'm a completist, so I had to have it to complete the set.

But I understand the concept of following up on that kind of success with something that might bring that back. And Collins is a good writer. It's a well-written book. I enjoyed it. It took me longer than it should to read but that was more a function of what was going on in the world and finding time to read it, than not wanting to read it. 

Commentary

I am a white woman. I've had the advantage of that my whole life, without even knowing about it. I've known I've lived a pretty easy life. I don't, and have never denied that. But I've always said it was because my parents, and their parents worked hard to give their children those advantages. It never really occurred to me that even hard work can't erase systemic disadvantages. 

I haven't liked the term white privilege. I feel like it lumps us all in the same bucket. But I can't, with an conscience, deny that it's true. There is a certain privilege to being born white. Even more so, if you're born white and male. More than that if you're born white, male and rich.  

But I digress. Events in the US right now have been widening my eyes to how things work in that country, and by extension in my own. The system really is broken. It's been broken for a long time. And those it's broken for have been telling us for a very long time. It's time we actually paid attention. Because those of us who reap the greatest advantages from that system are the best ones to fix it. We have to change our mindset in order to change the system that our blindness has supported. 

I've been racist because I've taken advantage of my privilege without questioning it. I grew up in a small town where almost everyone was like me. I live in a city that's pretty similar. I have a very small social circle; at first glance it's very homogeneous - not by design but because it's small and I don't go out of my way to meet any new people. I've had connections with BIPOC but not all friendships/relationships are meant to be lifelong. I've never had any personal experience that has led me to hold judgements against individuals who look different from myself. I've always hoped (and believed) that I judge each person based on their character, and not their physical appearance.

I'm choosing to listen and learn and educate myself in order to make sure that I am being the best advocate (ally?) that I can be. I'm going to do what I do best, and read about the history of injustice in order to own the part I play in it. I am going to stop being offended by BIPOC complaints against "white people." If I am doing nothing wrong, I have no need to feel guilt or shame. But doing nothing isn't right. I pledge to be anti-racist - to point out racism and do whatever I can to quash it whenever I can.

I've learned in real terms why Black Lives Matter is really only the beginning of that sentence. It's really that Black Lives Matter just as much as every other life.  All lives can't matter until all life matters the same. I've learned how deeply the world is flawed for some people, statistically. And how we all learn these behaviours, so we have to make the effort to un-learn them. 

I don't really have anything to contribute to the larger conversation, which is why I'm leaving this here. I needed to write it, as part of my own process. To acknowledge the problems, to make sure that I do whatever I can. I do not have any power, except over my own actions, but I will do what I can to support the human race, in all it's glorious shades.

"There's only one Race. The Human Race."

The most important seven words that I have heard this week.

 https://janeelliott.com/

I Read: Broken Genius

Broken Genius by Drew Murray

Alright, so this one is a little different. The author this time, is the instructor I had for the Science Fiction/Fantasy course I took at the beginning of the year. I  enjoyed his class, and he talked about his writing and publishing journey, and despite the fact that this is not generally what I would read, I was interested.

Short review - it's a good book. I enjoyed it. It was suspenseful, and kept my attention. There are some annoying character things, and a few things I think an copy editor should have picked up on, but might just be language preferences. And I'm just going to put it out there that I hate that every kind of book has to have some kind of love/sex/romance piece to it. Can't it just be a mystery/thriller for it's own sake?  Anyway...