I Read: Boy & Going Solo

Boy and Going Solo by Roald Dahl

(Two parts that become a significant portion of Dahl's autobiography)

I decided to post about these together because they easily could have been just one book. There's not really a close to the first piece and an open to the next. It's just a continuing memoir. 

Boy is Roald Dahl's story as a child. Or rather, his stories as a child. It's the start of his journey to becoming the crazy children's author he's known for, and it's easy to see where a lot of his inspiration comes from. Even the tiniest details became fodder for one thing or another. It's really interesting to read the autobiography after having read most of the novels because you can pick out the little bits that have become something bigger. 

Going Solo is the continued story, once childhood is passed and life has become more serious. He's gone to his first job, he's away from his family, and later he goes to war. His experiences are still extraordinary, but there's less to be pulled for amusing children's stories. There is definitely trauma and drama and it's amazing that Dahl was able to come through these experiences at all, never mind with his imagination and wonder still intact. 

#88-2021 & 89-2021

I Read: The Witches

The Witches by Roald Dahl

This is the Roald Dahl novel (besides Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) that I thought I remembered the most, but it turns out I didn't really remember it at all. This is actually pretty disturbing, and I can't imagine reading this as a kid and thinking it was entertaining. I would have been petrified as a child and would have likely been paranoid about Witches from that point on. 

Thankfully, I didn't really remember it, and it does follow the tradition of Dahl novels where the "bad guy" gets it in the end, in some way or another. And usually not in a way that you would necessarily guess. They always leave you with that slightly weird twist that makes you keep thinking about the story. 

#87-2021

I Read: Odin's Ravens

Odin's Ravens by K.L. Armstrong & Melissa Marr

(Book Two in The Blackwell Pages)

The second book in a series is generally pretty boring. They've set up the conflict in the first book and they finish with an epic battle/love story or whatever in the third book, but in the second book, you're kind of just plodding along picking up pieces. 

I can't feel much differently about this one, unfortunately. There are some interesting developments, absolutely there are. But for the most part, we're just setting up events for the third book - some interesting Norse mythology moments aside. 

#85-2021

I Read: The Boys

The Boys: A Memoir of Hollywood and Family by Ron Howard & Clint Howard

This is a beautiful memoir of a normal family in a crazy industry. Opie Taylor, Mark Wedloe, Leon, Richie Cunningham. The story behind the characters is even more interesting than the shows they appeared in. 

This book almost reads like its own television show. There is some drama and some antics (from Hee-hee man especially) and even a lesson or two sprinkled in for good measure. Written alternately in Ron's or Clint's voices in nice digestible chunks with the occasional sidebar to give us a glimpse at the still existing brotherly relationship. This is the Hollywood memoir that we needed. Even if we didn't know we needed it.

I Read: Harry Potter - a Magical Year

Harry Potter - a Magical Year by J.K. Rowling (Illustrations by Jim Dale)

This wasn't really much of a read. I got it for the illustrations, but it was nice to go back and revisit and remember the stories of Harry Potter through the quotations in this book. The quotes don't really relate to the days that they're attached to in any way but it's a neat way to remind us of the Harry Potter magic in short little bursts. 

It's not a necessary book, but it is pretty. Like a compilation of the best moments of the Illustrated editions, but without having the full series of the Illustrated editions. 

Great for a Harry Potter collector, not so useful for anyone else. 

I Read: The Storyteller

The Storyteller by Dave Grohl

 The Storyteller was a perfect title for this collection of incidents from the life and career of Dave Grohol. It feels as if this is what a conversation with Grohl would feel like - as if he's telling a friend the things he's been through. It reinforces the personality that he's built among music fans of being just a regular guy who's got a pretty irregular life. He's made some great music and some even greater musical connections and he's not in any way bragging when he tells you about them. He's actually as astonished as anyone else. 

I Read: Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper (and Katharine Howe)

In this book, we go on a historical journey of the Vanderbilt family. The Rise and the fall as the title suggests. There is a lot to unpack here because anyone who knows anything about the Vanderbilts generally knows that they're rich. But are they still? The book would tell you otherwise, because of their own mismanagement and behaviour. From the patriarch who built the empire to his children and their families, the Vanderbilt family is still interesting even while they may not remain powerful or influential. 

I Read: Some Things I Still Can't Tell You

Some Things I Still Can't Tell You by Misha Collins

Poetry has never really been my thing. I enjoy what I read, but it's not something I choose when given a choice.

But this is written by Misha Collins and given what I've seen of his personality through social media (and Supernatural fan event videos online) I knew this would be worth the read. 

There's a lot of emotion packed in this little book. Happy, sad, disappointed. It's all here, and in as few words as possible, Collins manages to flip between them all. There's the wit and humour that I expected as well but it's tempered by some real and relatable sentiments. 

So glad I picked this up. 

#80-2021