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.