Whitewavedarling asks: What's in a Title?

Converses2015 Category Challenge

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Whitewavedarling asks: What's in a Title?

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1whitewavedarling
Editat: des. 29, 2015, 3:23 pm

This year, I puzzled and puzzled over what I wanted to set my categories around. Finally, I hit on titles. The last few months, I've found myself noticing how rarely I notice titles or give them much thought, partly because I've hit on some books where the titles are either misleading (as with The Professor and the Madman) or, on the other end of the spectrum, point the readers toward a central idea of the text (as with To Kill a Mockingbird). So, finally, I've decided to build my challenge around forcing myself to give more thought to titles. Once I came up with the idea, I got more and more excited--so, while I have no idea how it will go or whether I'll succeed (and I'm so close, but still so far, in 2014), I'm excited to announce my goals :)

My plan is for 15 categories, and I'll hope/plan to read 2,015 pages in each category, at least. I've never kept track of pages before, so it's anyone's guess whether I'll have crazy success or insane failure, but either way, I've attempted to make broad categories in which the titles will fit, with one catch-all category. I'm putting the categories below, along with a quick description of each category. I'll then have one message for currently reading to keep track of monthly goals/challenges/books, and one message for each category where I'll keep an ongoing list. Here goes...

A. Animals (408/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles which mention animals, real or imaginary.

Possibilities: Black Unicorn, Kraken, Moon Tiger, Book of Beasts

B. Abstracts (1,247/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles that include abstracts like love, hate, fear, etc.

Possibilities: All the Truth is Out, Ignorance, Fear Nothing, Fear House, Obsession, Fear

C. Names (786/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles that feature names of people or characters.

Possibilities: Elizabeth Costello, Joseph Anton, Edward Adrift, Doctor Zhivago, Sybil, Billy Bathgate, Therese Raquin, MaddAddam

D. Organs and Bodies (918/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles that feature bodily organs, bodies, or body parts...

Possibilities: Bone Quill, Vile Bodies, The Freudian Body, Big Breasts and Wide Hips, Shake Loose My Skin, Goldbeater's Skin, The Hand of Isis

E. Contact...Touch...Senses (179/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles that reference the senses or touch, or else directly evoke the senses...

Possibilities: Through Wolf's Eyes, With Eyes at the Back of Our Heads, Touch the Water, Touch the Wind, The Sound of Things Falling, The Innkeeper's Song

F. Natural Objects (1,353/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles that feature/include natural objects such as trees, rivers, stones, etc....

Possibilities: War for the Oaks, Between Two Fires, Crooked River Burning

G. Poetry of Phrase (1,618/2015 pages read)

This category will be for poetic titles...

Possibilities: In the City of Shy Hunters, A Shiver of Light, All the Light We Cannot See, Slave of My Thirst, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress

H. Self-Referencing (788/2015 pages read)

This category will be for self-referencing titles such as guides, handbooks, collections...

Possibilities: The Mammoth Book of Fantasy, Monstrous Creatures: Explorations of Fantasy through Essays, Articles, and Reviews, I Know Some Things: Stories About Childhood by Contemporary Writers

I. Man-Made Objects (924/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles that feature man-made objects...

Possibilities: The Razor's Edge, Predator: The Secret Origins of the Drone Revolution, From a Buick 8, Who Put That Hair in My Toothbrush?, Library Card

J. Locations (1,423/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles that feature locations...

Possibilities: Nebraska, Forms of Heaven

K. Numbers (1,245/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles that feature numbers...

Possibilities: NOS4A2, One Bullet Away, Me Talk Pretty One Day

L. Mysteries, Searches, the Unknown... (779/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles that feature words of mystery, such as 'search', 'lost', 'unknown', 'mystery'...

Possibilities: X Stands for Unknown, Lost Soul, Mystery Walk, Lost Boy, Lost Girl, Medicine Quest: In Search of Nature's Healing Secrets

M. Time (1,008/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles that reference time or the passage of time...

Possibilities: Darkness at Noon, The Day Before Midnight

N. Working Titles (1,353/2015 pages read)

This category will be for titles that I find out are working titles--ie. in reading the book, you discover that the title adds meaning, hints at larger themes, or helps uncover a central idea of the book. I won't know these books until I happen upon them, though I may have some guesses based on the intricacy of the title...

Possibilities: ????

O. Other... (1,519/2,015 pages read)

This category will be for the titles that simply don't fit elsewhere...

Possibilities: The Last Man

This year, like last year, I won't be double-listing titles...

2whitewavedarling
Editat: des. 29, 2015, 3:27 pm

In this message, I'll keep an ongoing list of books I'm currently reading and goals for months coming up (to help me keep track of and perhaps even meet separate challenge goals)

Currently Reading:
Wonderbook
The Feeling of What Happens
Magic Mountain
All the Truth Is Out

ALPHABET CHALLENGE TRACKER:

Alphabet by first letter of title:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M _ O P Q R S T _ V W _ _ Z

Alphabet by first letter of author's last name:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P _ R S _ _ _ W _ _ _



3whitewavedarling
Editat: ag. 14, 2015, 11:36 am

A. Animals... 408/2015 pages read

1. T-Rex and the Crater of Doom by Walter Alvarez (185 pages, 1/13/2015)
2. Lightning Bug by Donald Harington (223 pages, 8/13/2015)
3.
4.

4whitewavedarling
Editat: set. 5, 2015, 10:32 am

B. Abstracts... 1,247/2015 pages read

1. Extant Shamanisms by j/j hastain (36 pages, 3/8/2015)
2. The Odds by Stewart O'Nan (179 pages, 5/10/2015)
3. It Doesn't Make Any Sense (Cori Rubio Book 1) by Jennifer Ariadne Park (322 pages, 4/10/2015)
4. People Have This Thing Called 'Free Will' (Cori Rubio Book 2) by Jennifer Ariadne Park (367 pages, 5/15/2015)
5. Deliverance by Zach Bohannon (169 pages, 9/1/2015)
6. Considering Hate: Violence, Goodness, and Justice in American Culture and Politics by Kay Whitlock and Michael Bronski (174 pages, 9/2/2015)
7.
8.

5whitewavedarling
Editat: feb. 15, 2015, 7:48 pm

C. Names... 786/2015 pages read

1. Zofloya by Charlotte Dacre (255 pages, 1/22/2015)
2. Doctor Sleep by Stephen King (531 pages, 2/15/2015)
3.
4.

6whitewavedarling
Editat: oct. 19, 2015, 10:57 am

D. Organs and Bodies... 918/2015 pages read

1. With Eyes at the Back of our Heads by Denise Levertov (74 pages, 1/28/2015)
2. Empty Bodies by Zach Bohannon (218 pages, 1/18/2015)
3. The Face of Fear by Dean Koontz (306 pages, 8/22/2015)
4. One Arm and Other Stories by Tennessee Williams (211 pages, 9/10/2015)
5. Teeth by Aracelis Girmay (109 pages, 10/12/2015)
6.
7.
8.

7whitewavedarling
Editat: ag. 25, 2015, 9:48 pm

E. Contact...Touch...Senses... 179/2015 pages read

1. Gasps and Sighs by Richard Skolek (30 pages, 1/3/2015)
2. A Sound of Crying by Rodie Sudbery (149 pages, 8/25/2015)
3.
4.

8whitewavedarling
Editat: des. 29, 2015, 3:06 pm

F. Natural Objects... 1,353/2015 pages read

1. The River Midnight by Lilian Nattel (414 pages, 5/25/2015)
2. The Great Los Angeles Blizzard by Thom Racina (358 pages, 9/24/2015)
3. Bone Quill by John Barrowman (290 pages, 10/28/2015)
4. Island of Lies by Pamela Laux Moll (291 pages, 12/29/2015)
5.
6.
7.
8.

9whitewavedarling
Editat: ag. 23, 2015, 12:17 pm

G. Poetry of Phrase... 1,503/2,015 pages read

1. Riding the Bubble by Scott Benjamin (394 pages, 2/8/2015)
2. Searoad: Chronicles of Klatsand by Ursula K. Le Guin (193 pages, 6/13/2015)
3. Starve the Vulture by Jason Carney (286 pages, 6/17/2015)
4. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (244 pages, 7/3/2015)
5. Gridiron Glory by Kevon Brown (386 pages, 7/15/2015)
6. Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (115 pages, 8/23/2015)
7.
8.

10whitewavedarling
Editat: oct. 20, 2015, 4:08 pm

H. Self-Referencing... 788/2015 pages read

1. The Body and the Book:Writing from a Mennonite Life by Julia Kasdorf (207 pages, 2/28/2015)
2. Crazyball: Sports Scandals, Superstitions, and Sick Plays by Barry Wilner & Ken Rappoport (217 pages, 5/24/2015)
3. A Moveable Feast: Sketches of the Author's Life in Paris in the Twenties by Ernest Hemingway (211 pages, 10/7/2015)
4. Place Not Race: A New Vision of Opportunity in America by Sheryll Cashin (153 pages, 10/02/2015)
5.
6.
7.
8.

11whitewavedarling
Editat: des. 28, 2015, 9:59 pm

I. Man-Made Objects... 924/2015 pages read

1. The Angel of the Garden by Scott Ely (159 pages, 3/19/2015)
2. Ribbons: The Gulf War by William Heyen (56 pages, 5/5/2015)
3. The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (292 pages, 5/8/2015)
4. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster (256 pages, 9/8/2015)
5. Open Roads by Zach Bohannon (161 pages, 12/29/2015)
6.
7.
8.

12whitewavedarling
Editat: set. 5, 2015, 9:13 am

J. Locations... 1,423/2015 pages read

1. Tehran at Twilight by Salar Abdoh (236 pages, 3/3/2015)
2. The Madmen of Benghazi by Gerard de Villiers (260 pages, 5/3/2015)
3. Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and The Battle for Modern New Orleans by Gary Krist (396 pages, 5/19/2015)
4. Journey Through the States by Jennifer Ariadne Park (292 pages, 5/20/2015)
5. Vietnam: A Traveler's Literary Companion edited by John Balaban and Nguyen Qui Duc (239 pages, 9/4/2015)
6.
7.
8.

13whitewavedarling
Editat: des. 29, 2015, 3:24 pm

K. Numbers... 1,245/2015 pages read

1. Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Relin (231 pages of 338, begun in 2014; 1/21/2015)
2. Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (333 pages, 3/22/2015)
3. A Kingdom in Crisis: Thailand's Struggle for Democracy in the Twenty-First Century by Andrew MacGregor Marshall (230 pages, 6/6/2015)
4. 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz (451 pages, 12/29/2015)
5.
6.
7.
8.

14whitewavedarling
Editat: abr. 27, 2015, 11:00 am

L. Mysteries, Searches, the Unknown... 779/2015 pages read

1. The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann (339 pages, 4/8/2015)
2. Shots in the Dark: The Wayward Search for an AIDS Vaccine by Jon Cohen (440 pages, 4/26/2015)
3.
4.

15whitewavedarling
Editat: oct. 19, 2015, 1:42 pm

M. Time... 1,008/2015 pages read

1. Queen for a Day: Selected and New Poems by Denise Duhamel (103 pages, 3/8/2015)
2. After the Quake by Haruki Murakami (147 pages, 4/24/2015)
3. Independence Day by Richard Ford (451 pages, 8/30/2015)
4. The Last September by Nina De Gramont (307 pages, 10/18/2015)
5.
6.
7.
8.

16whitewavedarling
Editat: set. 1, 2015, 10:13 am

N. Working Titles... 1,353/2015 pages read

1. Infernal Devices by K.W. Jeter (381 pages, 1/27/2015)
2. Tarnish by J.D. Brink (383 pages, 3/8/2015)
3. The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro (317 pages, 4/30/2015)
4. Lines of the Devil by Zach Bohannon (272 pages, 7/15/2015)
5.
6.
7.
8.

17whitewavedarling
Editat: des. 7, 2015, 11:00 pm

O. Others... 1,519/2015 pages read

1. Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link (330 pages, 1/31/2015)
2. The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury (280 pages, 2/15/2015)
3. The Witness by Zach Bohannon (192 pages, 3/02/2015)
4. The Vanishing by David Delaney (204 pages, 3/10/2015)
5. Empty Bodies 2: Adaptation by Zach Bohannon (210 pages, 4/7/2015)
6. Project Child: Awakening by Robin Deeter (303 pages, September)
7.
8.

18-Eva-
nov. 22, 2014, 8:33 pm

That's a great theme! Looking forward to seeing how you do with the page-counting - I have a feeling it could be a great way to keep track.

19majkia
nov. 22, 2014, 10:42 pm

Interesting! Hope it works well for you. I might have to steal it!

20DeltaQueen50
nov. 22, 2014, 11:09 pm

Great idea. Will be looking forward to seeing how it all fits together.

21whitewavedarling
nov. 22, 2014, 11:22 pm

>19 majkia: and >20 DeltaQueen50:, thanks :) It took me forever to come up with something I could get excited about, but now I'm really anxious to see how it goes!

22dudes22
nov. 23, 2014, 6:38 am

I've done this as part of almost every category challenge since I started here, I think. You've come up with some great variations and I'll be hoping not to take too many BBs next year.

23rabbitprincess
nov. 23, 2014, 10:03 am

Excellent idea! Looking forward to seeing all the interesting titles you find (especially the Working Titles!).

24sturlington
nov. 23, 2014, 11:55 am

I really like this theme! I may have to steal this idea in a future year...

25Poquette
nov. 23, 2014, 1:09 pm

Hi! I'm new to the category challenge this year, and to make my theme relate to 2015 in some way I also resorted to page count to keep score. Like you, I have no idea whether I've set the bar too high or too low. Remains to be seen. At any rate, your theme is intriguing and I'll be following along with interest!

26whitewavedarling
Editat: nov. 23, 2014, 3:16 pm

Hi everyone! I'm excited to see how it goes too :) I haven't made it around to many threads to start exploring, mostly because of NaNoWriMo--come December, I'll be wandering around here and oohing and aahing at all of the threads, taking book bullets before the year even starts I'll bet!

>22 dudes22:, I wonder if I took note of this from one of your threads and subconsciously tucked it away without realizing it? I may very well have, and if I did, I have to thank you for it lol :)

27LittleTaiko
nov. 23, 2014, 8:56 pm

Will be following along as usual. Curious to see how the page count goal works out for you.

28MissWatson
nov. 25, 2014, 4:54 am

That's a very interesting concept!

29mamzel
nov. 25, 2014, 10:03 pm

Clever, indeed! Have fun with your challenge!

30whitewavedarling
nov. 27, 2014, 12:31 pm

Hi all--thanks for visiting already :) I have no idea how it will work out, but we'll see! I looked at my titles for January plans to help me decide, and some of my tbr shelves, but that's not much in the whole scheme of things. Meanwhile, my November plans this year are already by the wayside--NaNoWriMo is just taking over my life too much to allow for more than snippets of reading at a time! Here's hoping your goals and plans are all coming along nicely!

31cyderry
des. 2, 2014, 11:17 pm

interesting, very interesting....

32lkernagh
des. 25, 2014, 3:19 pm

A titles theme is a great idea. I will admit I cringed just a teeny tiny bit when I say the Organs and Bodies category but I can get past that. ;-)

Looking forward to seeing which books fill out your categories.

33whitewavedarling
gen. 1, 2015, 10:45 am

>31 cyderry: and >32 lkernagh:, welcome! And, Happy New Year, Everyone!

As for last year, I actually came a lot closer than I'd expected... I set up 14 categories, setting an ideal goal of 8 books for each. I read 127 books, so I would have finished the challenge if they'd been better spaced, but alas that wasn't the case. I was left still reading a book that would have finished off one category, and one book shy of another. As for my alphabet challenge, I was also two books shy--I didn't get around to reading a book with the author's name beginning with Q, or a book with the title beginning with Z. So close!

Meanwhile, though, I'm thrilled to start the reading this year :)

34dudes22
gen. 2, 2015, 7:18 am

If you're doing an alphabet challenge again this year and need a Q author, Spencer Quinn has a series of Bernie and Chet mysteries that are told from the dog's point of view. I've read the pre-quel and the first one. They're quick light reads.

35whitewavedarling
gen. 2, 2015, 10:12 am

>34 dudes22:, thanks! I could have used something like that, probably... I did have two 'q authors' picked out, but both books were over 400 pages...definitely not quick or light!

36VivienneR
gen. 5, 2015, 8:57 pm

>34 dudes22: I second Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie series. I'm in love with Chet.

37whitewavedarling
gen. 6, 2015, 3:57 pm

>36 VivienneR:, Good to know :)

38Dejah_Thoris
gen. 11, 2015, 10:42 am

Your use of Titles for Categories is intriguing - I suppose I don't give enough though to titles, either!

BTW, I'm waiting on T-Rex and the Crater of Doom from the library - I'm looking forward to it. I hope you're enjoying it!

39whitewavedarling
gen. 11, 2015, 8:28 pm

>38 Dejah_Thoris:, I am enjoying it! I wish I had a bit more background in geology, but this has the first work that's ever really begun to get me interested in the subject. I'm about 2/3rds of the way through, though, and really glad to have stumbled across it! If work weren't keeping me so busy, I would have been finished days ago :)

40whitewavedarling
gen. 15, 2015, 11:50 am

A. Animals #1: T-Rex and the Crater of Doom by Walter Alvarez

How I Picked it Up: I've been meaning to read this for ages. I loved hearing about dinosaurs when I was little, and my interests got re-ignited in the last few years when some of the kids at my summer camp (where I teach creative writing and drama) started calling me the dinosaur lady before they learned my name--I have a bronze triceratops necklace which I tend to wear quite a bit :) I also have a skirt with dinosaurs all over it... So, if you have any dinosaur books you'd recommend, I'm just coming back to this childhood interest, and I'd love the book bullets! (This was also, as a sidenote, picked up or the HistoryCat and AlphaCat timing.)

Full Review:

In the last quarter of the 20th Century, Walter Alvarez was one of a select few scientists who had a close hand in discovering the truth about how and why the dinosaurs disappeared some 65 million years ago, and this book recounts that long journey. Detailing what was once believed, and seemingly understood, and moving on to the theories and discoveries that changed those understandings completely, Alvarez takes readers through the earth-shattering change of moving from a sure belief in gradualism--the world changing gradually, including in regard to extinctions--to the point at which he and others came to have faith, instead, in the Impact Theory.

Beginning with the tragedy of the mass extinction of T-Rex and so many of the other dinosaurs which called earth home 65 million years ago, Alvarez moves through what is essentially a scientific mystery, exploring and explaining the false starts, the twists, and all of the assumptions, understandings, and discoveries which eventually led to not only faith in the impact theory, but to the discovery of the site of the impact at the Chicxulub Crater.

This is more than a book for people who have a lingering fascination for the dinosaurs they learned about as children. This a book of science, discovery, and patience--and, more than anything, a journey to discover one of our longest-standing mysteries.

Recommended, of course.

41Dejah_Thoris
gen. 15, 2015, 12:28 pm

>40 whitewavedarling: Thumbs up on your review! I've really got to get to this one.....

42whitewavedarling
gen. 15, 2015, 3:24 pm

>41 Dejah_Thoris:, thanks :) It took me forever to get around to reading it, but I'm so glad I finally did! It even managed to get me interested a bit in geology--and, much as I love reading science-related texts, that's a first!

43whitewavedarling
gen. 21, 2015, 10:21 am

E. Contact...Touch...Senses #1: Gasps and Sighs by Richard Skolek

How I Picked It Up: The author hired me as a copy editor, and I enjoyed the collection so much that I told him to get in touch with me once the book came out, so that I could help with publicity by putting some reviews out there. This isn't something I always offer, but this book deserves readers, and I truly enjoyed it!

This is my first poetry ebook, and it's one I whole-heartedly recommend, to longtime poetry lovers or anyone who simply wants to dip in. You can find it through:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Richard_Skolek_Gasps_and_Sighs?id=Sh...

Full Review:

Richard Skolek's newly translated collection is a brief selection of works which are not only thoughtful, but fresh. Balanced between observation, humor, each poem pairs together moments of humanity with moments of wisdom, making for a compulsively readable collection which is not only worth brief exploration, but worth re-reading and sharing.

The poems in this collection are approachable and worthwhile, those rare species of poems where readers can wander through quickly and enjoy their time, or read and re-read, finding something new to enjoy with further thought. As such, it really is a lovely collection, albeit a short one, and one for poetry readers to take notice of, enjoy, and pass on.

44whitewavedarling
gen. 21, 2015, 9:07 pm

K. Numbers #1: Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

How I Picked It Up: I picked this up years ago, immediately drawn to it because of my dual interests in NGO work and education, and then simply didn't get around to it. Now, I'm only horrified that it took me so long to read it. In all honesty, upon finishing it, my first thought was this: How did I get through high school (graduating two years after this was published), four years of undergraduate education, and four years of graduate classes, without having been asked--or rather, TOLD--to read this. Everyone should read this. It really is that simple.

Full Review:

Greg Mortenson's journey to become a great humanitarian was all but accidental, but his example is now a phenomenal model for the way in which one human being can quite literally make the world a better place, infecting thousands of individuals with a drive for education, for peace, and for understanding. The account of this journey given in Three Cups of Tea, artfully delivered by Mortenson himself and David Oliver Relin, is nothing less than required reading for any individual who feels strongly that this world--and the people who call it home--is worth believing in, and worth effort.

By tracing Mortenson's journey from grief-stricken and hapless mountaineer to humanitarian miracle-worker and educator, this work brings to life the educational and peace-driving efforts of Mortenson and his Central Asia Institute, based in Montana and working tirelessly for the education and improvement of individuals in some of the world's most dangerous environments. And yet, through conflict, through logistical nightmares, through violence, and through a lack of resources, Mortenson has managed to create a magnificent effort, and the achievements to match.

Simply, this book should be required reading for everyone, regardless of age or location. It's an inspiring account, and more than that, a representation of efforts and engagements which must be shared, understood, and celebrated. In all honesty, the world will be a better place with each single person who reads this work.

Absolutely recommended.

45VivienneR
gen. 21, 2015, 11:38 pm

>44 whitewavedarling: There is a lot of controversy about Mortenson's book. I'm not familiar with all the details, but know he admitted to lies. His co-author, David Relin committed suicide in the aftermath. Very sad.

46whitewavedarling
gen. 22, 2015, 12:18 pm

>45 VivienneR:, I didn't know Relin committed suicide--I did remember (and look into) the controversy, but it looks like it primarily comes down to bookkeeping more than anything else, and Moretenson having too much control over what was legally considered a charitable organization. The book is pretty straight-forward about him not having experience in business, etc., and a lot of what I found in the media comes down to him not having receipts to account for purchases, not keeping track of exact donations and how they were spent, etc., and also to his having a board of directors that, essentially, let him put money where he saw it was most needed, without any more official process of voting, review, proposal and acceptance, etc.

It does appear that there were problems after the book was published--that Mortenson had promised a certain portion of the sales would be donated elsewhere or back into the organization, and that he kept more of those royalties than he'd promised. And, having just looked into it, it looks like Relin's suicide was a result of clinical depression, but that that itself was probably influenced by his career as an author being tainted by allegations about lies in Three Cups of Tea--that said, it doesn't look like there have been any clear presentations of what lies critics talk about, other than that timelines are fluid and sometimes condensed (which the authors admit to in the work, and is pretty clear to readers, in my opinion).

But, all that said, the book focuses on the process and the reasoning of building the schools, the CAI's mission, and how the movement grew from being a single promise into a large-scale operation educating thousands of individuals and doing an incredible amount of good work. Looking into it, I never found any allegations that the CAI wasn't building the schools and educating students in the manner it proclaimed, or that the organization wasn't a worthwhile and wonderfully successful move in education and in peace-keeping.

I think, probably, it comes down to the fact that one single man ended up, very simply, with far more money and control than he'd ever planned for, or even imagined, and as that happened, some of that money ended up unaccounted for. The most serious allegations seem to be that Mortenson was given honorariums for things like flights to speaking engagements, which the organization also paid for--knowing how that sort of thing can work, I don't doubt that he bought the tickets, that the honorariums were meant to compensate for that money, and it then wasn't earmarked as being either repaid or accounted for, whether it was or wasn't.

In any case, the truth is that the book is incredibly inspiring, and the heart of the events in the book aren't connected to the controversies which arose after publication. Even if timelines are off, I'm really not sure that it should matter in what month a visit or particular school was finished, or how many schools he re-visited on any one given trip. Nobody has yet argued about the value in what the organization has managed to accomplish, and since that's what is at the heart of this book, I hate to think readers will avoid it because of the controversy over funding, etc., though I'm sure they do.

In any case, this is a really long-winded reply--I appreciate your reading the review and commenting! I suppose I perhaps should have said something about the controversy in my review, so maybe I'll go back to it, but the truth is that nothing I've said or felt about the book is actually affected by what came out afterward. True, the book sets Mortenson up as a sort-of perfect hero, and nobody's perfect, but he's done so much good as the founder and heart of the CAI that, allegations withstanding, he's still far closer to a sort of hero than not!

47mamzel
gen. 22, 2015, 12:22 pm

I'm afraid I gave up half way through Three Cups of Tea - purely a personal reason - I get impatient with people who voluntarily place themselves in extreme danger and consequently put others' lives in peril to rescue them. I would recommend instead, Mountains Beyond Mountains, which is about Dr. Paul Farmer and his fight against tuberculosis in places likes the mountains of Haiti and men's prisons in Russia. Maybe not as glamorous a locale as the Himalayas, but an effort no less impactful.

48whitewavedarling
gen. 22, 2015, 12:34 pm

>47 mamzel:, Thanks! Mountains Beyond Mountains is on my tbr. I don't have any patience for what you're talking about in terms of mountaineering and etc.--it made me wonder early on if the book was for me either! (At least, I'm guessing you're talking about the mountain-climbing, that that's what you're talking about?). Once it moved onto his actually working to get the money and materials for the schools, and build them & interact with the folks he was trying to help, that's when I actually became interested.

I am curious if you're talking about the mountaineering, as I'm guessing, or the fact that he was working in a dangerous part of the world where he was putting himself in danger, simply by being there, even if with the goal of education/diplomacy--?

49whitewavedarling
gen. 22, 2015, 5:40 pm

C. Names #1: Zofloya by Charlotte Dacre

How I Picked This Up: I bought this back in 2008 when it was a recommended text on the syllabus of a gothic lit. class I was taking. By the end of the course, though, I was so fed up with gothic romances that this got put on the shelf, all but forgotten. It wasn't that I hated the gothics we read--it just seemed that, for the most part, it was the same thing over and over and over again...and with far too much fainting involved! This one sounded more interesting than others, though, and I'd heard it compared to The Monk by Matthew Lewis, so I kept it around and planned on getting to it eventually. This month, the horror challenge drove me to pick it up, and while I can't say that I loved it (I'm not sure I'm capable of loving another gothic after that horrid class, truth be told), I am rather glad to have stumbled across it. I tried to be as objective as possible in the star-giving, and ended up giving it a four star rating.

Full Review:

Kind of strange and wonderful and horrible, in the fashion of The Monk by Lewis, Zofloya is full of murder, betrayal, jealousy, simply horrid intentions. And, as a gothic text, there's a fair bit of lust, fainting, sighing, and exclamation points to be had as well, not to mention a number of melodramatic twists, and a great deal of stabbing...

All told, this isn't a book for everyone, but it will provide entertainment to lovers of the gothic and fans of early horror. And, probably, to fans of soap opera-like plots, played out on the page. Dacre's characters are far from sympathetic, and fairly superficial, but the book moves fairly quickly once it gets going, and has enough to distinguish it from other more popular gothics that, in truth, I'm glad to have read it, and would rather have read this than some of the more well-known ones I encountered in a class on the subject. The melodrama of the plot carries it with it a certain horrifying charm (admittedly more like watching a car accident than reading a fairy tale), and the fact that one reviewer was driven to call The Monk a chaste text in comparison says quite a lot for what you'll encounter here.

One caveat is that it takes on a rather slow start, but for interested readers, there's enough here to warrant following through on the full read...

50cammykitty
gen. 22, 2015, 10:00 pm

Don't all of those 19th century (it is 19th?) gothics have a slow start? Sorry the class burnt you out on them! Last gothic I read was Melmoth the Wanderer. Yup, melodrama. I expected to see a cameo appearance of Snively Whiplash.

51whitewavedarling
gen. 22, 2015, 10:40 pm

>50 cammykitty:...lol, I almost commented in the review that all the gothics have a slow start, but I was afraid I was being a bit too harsh, at least for a review as opposed to a discussion :) And, of course, I was having to fight myself to stay objective and not let that class influence my review too harshly!

Ah well--I'm very very glad to have it off the mount tbr, and really, I enjoyed it more than I expected to!

52BookLizard
gen. 22, 2015, 10:50 pm

Let me know when you decide to read War for the Oaks. I have it on my Kindle. Was a SantaThing present last year. It sounds like something I'd like, but I always have so many library books to read, I never get around to reading books I own.

53whitewavedarling
gen. 22, 2015, 11:33 pm

>52 BookLizard:,

I shall! It's on my short tbr pile... I think I picked it up at a used bookstore because I fell so in love with the cover, and it seemed right up my alley. I am curious about it--it's one of those that, based on reviews, people seem to adore or abhor...

54Robertgreaves
Editat: gen. 23, 2015, 1:55 am

>46 whitewavedarling: Very interesting. The media do love to build somebody up and then tear them down again, don't they?

55whitewavedarling
gen. 23, 2015, 11:00 am

>54 Robertgreaves:, It is what it seems to come back to! Of course, all this discussion has also answered the question of why the book waited for so long to be read--I remember buying the book, then hearing about the 60 minutes report, forgetting about both rather, etc. Now, I'm glad I went on to read the book one way or another, having forgotten about all of it and just wondered why it took me so long lol.

Meanwhile, I'm on to more 'fun' reading now, leaving behind both the serious nonfiction and the gothic! Currently reading: Infernal Devices (my first steampunk attempt) and Kelly Link's short story collection, Magic for Beginners :)

56VivienneR
gen. 23, 2015, 2:13 pm

>54 Robertgreaves: That's a pretty accurate summary!

>55 whitewavedarling: I'll watch for your review of Infernal Devices. Steampunk is a genre I haven't tried yet either.

57Dejah_Thoris
gen. 24, 2015, 5:36 pm

Relin also wrote Second Suns: Two Doctors and Their Amazing Quest to Restore Sight and Save Lives which I very much enjoyed. I believe it was the last book he wrote. You might want to give it a try.

I hope you're having a terrific weekend!

58whitewavedarling
Editat: gen. 27, 2015, 6:17 pm

>56 VivienneR:, Here's the review!

>57 Dejah_Thoris:, I'm planning on it :) I actually looked it up and found a used copy just about as soon as I finished Three Cups of Tea, so it's firmly situated on my Mount TBR!

Meanwhile...

N. Working Titles #1: Infernal Devices by K.W. Jeter

How I Picked It Up: For the Fantasy/Sci-Fi cat, I decided to jump all the way in and try my first steampunk! When I looked into some of the works which were considered foundational and browsed among some of the authors at a book store, Jeter's work stuck out to me, so that's where I landed! Originally, I thought this would fit in my category for man-made objects showing up in the title, but the more I thought about it, the more it seemed that the title really does set and reinforce a tone for the work; as a result, it made sense to put it here...

Full Review:

This is a fun ride of a book, set with the tone of a Sherlock Holmes mystery and beautifully detailed. It isn't hard to imagine how Jeter's vision here ended up being foundational to steampunk as a genre. The way he's mixed Victorian culture with noir-ish atmospheres, technological progress and mis-steps, and humor with suspense, the work ends up being an incredibly entertaining mix of settings, genres, and characters.

All told, the book's narrator is a bit more formal and unemotional than the ones I'm normally drawn toward, but that said, his personality is so much a part of the book -- and so important to the book -- that it ends up working rather well. I can't say that the characters here are the most engaging of the fantasy and sci-fi I've come across, but they are believable and fascinating, and the plot moves so quickly that that is the driving force.

In the end, I'm glad I picked this up as my first foray into steampunk--I'll likely be looking into more of Jeter's work and more steampunk in general.

If this sounds up your alley, or if you're interested in ducking your head into steampunk, I certainly recommend this. It won't be for nearly every reader, but I imagine anyone who feels something of an interest won't end up being disappointed!

59VivienneR
gen. 28, 2015, 3:09 pm

>58 whitewavedarling: Excellent review! I'll put it on my list of recommendations. Sounds like a good introduction to the genre.

60whitewavedarling
Editat: gen. 28, 2015, 4:12 pm

>59 VivienneR:, Thanks :) And yep, I think it is a very good intro!

And meanwhile...

D. Organs and Bodies #1: With Eyes at the Back of Our Heads by Denise Levertov

How I Picked It Up: I've been a long-time fan of Levertov, and this just seemed like a good choice while I was in the mood for a brief collection of poetry. And, of course, it had been on my Mount TBR for far too long anyway!

Full Review:

Though this collection doesn't quite live up to the standard set by some of Levertov's other more well-known works, her voice and style are still so clear and striking as to make it a wonderful read. Grounded in images of nature, all of the poems are enjoyable, and some of the works are so striking as to bear immediate re-reading.

Even the casual poetry reader will discover poems and lines well worth their time here, and whether readers are looking for works to provoke thought or works to simply enjoy and absorb, the collection is worth wandering through.

Recommended.

61whitewavedarling
feb. 1, 2015, 10:19 am

O. Others... #1: Magic for Beginners by Kelly Link

How I Picked it Up: I've been a fan of Kelly Link for some time, and relatively speaking, this one hadn't been sitting on Mount TBR anywhere near as long as a lot of other works. At the immediate moment, this one got picked up because I was in the mood for short stories and because it fit the January RandomCat Challenge.

Full Review:

My introduction to Kelly Link was actually through "Stone Animals", one of the stories in this collection, and that story combined with one of her readings left a lasting taste in my mouth for both her writing and the work put out by Small Beer Press. This collection, which I finally got around to reading in full, didn't disappoint.

The stories, as a whole, are strange and sort of wondrous affairs, sometimes moving so quickly and strangely that it's hard to keep up (admittedly), and other times progressing at a more expected pace, but with just as much fantasy involved. My favorite stories in the bunch are, without doubt: "The Faery Handbag", "Stone Animals", "Some Zombie Contingency Plans", and "Lull". Some of the shorter short stories fly by too quickly for a reader to sink into their atmosphere, but these slightly longer ones ("Faery Handbag" being the shortest at 28 pages and "Stone Animals" being the longest at 50+ pages) allow a reader to engage with the stories with more depth, and get used to the fantasy involved enough to grow accustomed to the world, at least enough to be swept up by the story and feel connected to the characters.

All together, these really are some crazy-wonderful stories of speculative fiction, and anyone who enjoys the strange, the fantastic, or the weird in their literature will be swept up by nearly all of them.

Recommended.

62Dejah_Thoris
feb. 1, 2015, 10:25 am

>61 whitewavedarling: Magic for Beginners sounds intriguing! Thanks for the review.

63whitewavedarling
feb. 1, 2015, 4:01 pm

>62 Dejah_Thoris:, you're welcome :) It is, absolutely, a fun read!

64whitewavedarling
feb. 3, 2015, 10:26 am

D. Organs and Bodies #2: Empty Bodies by Zach Bohannon

How I Picked It Up: This came to me as an early review copy last month, but it went live for sale today :)

Full Review:

Bohannon's Empty Bodies is a fast-paced tale of a post-apocalyptic world where perceptions are constantly changing, characters are pushed from day-to-day-normality into survival mode, and strangers become the greatest confidantes. The book sucks readers in with page one, and as a new take on so-called zombies, it immediately turns into a fun and entertaining read. The characters are engaging, Bohannon's writing is well worth the time, and the story itself is frighteningly believable.

All together, this really is a thrill of a book, and comes absolutely recommended!

65whitewavedarling
feb. 15, 2015, 1:30 pm

O. Others #2: The Illustrated Man by Ray Bradbury

How I Picked It Up: I love reading about tattoos, and I've always intended to read more Bradbury, so of course I ended up picking this up... I'd been meaning to read it for some time, but this month, the AlphaCat challenge and the Sfffcat challenge together pushed me up to pick it up now rather than later :) -- But, by the way, for readers who might not be as fascinated by tattoos as I am, they're a small part of the book and really primarily central only to the main idea/frame of the work, and not so much the page by page progression of the stories.

Full Review:

Bradbury's vision is something both horrifying and wonderful, played out in this collection of fantastic and futuristic stories and held together by the tenuously changing and tortured skin of an illustrated man. As a framed and connected collection, its powerful is wonderful, but even on their own, the stories hold such wonder, heartbreak, and beauty that they're each worth exploring in and of themselves.

Absolutely recommended.

66whitewavedarling
feb. 15, 2015, 7:49 pm

C. Names #2: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King

How I Picked It Up: How could I not?

Full Review:

King is nothing short of brilliant in this slow-coming beautifully-building follow-up to The Shining. It is, without a doubt, a fully different book, following up on the life of Dan Torrence (who we first met in The Shining), but it also carries on with the exploration of themes related to addiction, legacy, and enduring suffering...and in a masterful fashion.

There's no doubt that this work was percolating for years, and it does indeed live up to King's earlier work. I read the last 300 pages in less than 24 hours; it is frightening, wonderful, and all-consuming. Fans of King will find him at his best here, and the readers who've been waiting for this book will, I've no doubt, find everything they feared and wished for.

Absolutely recommended. Read The Shining if you haven't already. And then, read This.

67whitewavedarling
feb. 28, 2015, 11:49 pm

H. Self-Referencing #1: The Body and the Book: Writing from a Mennonite Life by Julia Kasdorf

How I Picked It Up: I enjoyed some of the author's poetry when I happened onto one of her readings, and since my own studies intersected with body theory while I worked toward my ill-fated phd, this seemed like a good fit... In the end, I suppose it ended up being a bit pedestrian compared to what I'd expected. Perhaps it's because it is written for an academic audience (I think?), or perhaps it's because I've already mulled over so many of the artistic questions that occupy the heart of the book (so that, for me, the discussions are not new, even if here tied to Kasdorf's Mennonite background), but I truly just expected more.

Full Review:

This book is many things, but more than anything, it focuses on the path of an artist or individual working to come to terms with their own cultural identity, a society's expectations, and their devotion to writing. This may sound fairly broad, for a book apparently focused on 'writing from a Mennonite life', but while Kasdorf's concerns and questions all revolve around her place within (or outside of) the Mennonite community, the questions at the heart of the book are questions which I think every writer or artist faces in some context and moment, if not consistently. As such, this book is both more than and less than what I'd hoped for. It speaks to a broader artistic and individualistic experience against the backdrop of society, but in that almost global nature of concern, it also comes across as far more familiar, and far less unique, than what I'd actually expected. And, in all honesty, couched as it is in academic concerns and an ultra-awareness of the work it is attempting, it has far less immediacy and power than other works which tackle similar questions.

There are moments where Kasdorf focuses in specifically on Mennonite history and cultural trauma, and those are probably the most striking moments in the work. She is a gifted essay writer, smoothly melding together memoir, history, poetry, and supposition, but at many points, the essays are almost too objective and logical to be as potent as I would have expected, given her poetry.

All together, I enjoyed the read. At the same time, though, it came across as more academic than conversational or narrative, and I simply expected more based on my experience with her poetry. However, if you're looking for essays on Mennonite identity or artists, literary authority, or cultural identity, this may very well be a collection worth picking up.

68whitewavedarling
març 3, 2015, 10:51 pm

J. Locations #1: Tehran at Twilight by Salar Abdoh

How I Picked It Up: I've become a fan of Akashic Books, and the book's blurb drew me in; luckily, I won a copy from the LT Early Reviewer's Group...

Full Review:

Abdoh's Tehran at Twilight is smart and artful, centering on a jaded academic who is both transplanted Iranian and American translator & professor. His interweaving of politics with intrigue, day-to-day frustration with basic emotion and common sense, and jadedness with idealism, make it a frighteningly realistic book, one which follows a man who does his best to remain impartial and jaded, and is still, irrevocably, swept up.

The book's sole failing is that, if anything, protagonist Reza Malek is portrayed too believably as he moves between the chaos of Tehran and the stale politics of his barely-retained job at a small university in America. He is, absolutely, jaded and detached from all about him, and believably so given his position. The untenable position of the novel, though, is to make a character such as this engaging and human, and in a short span of time. Abdoh succeeds at the task, but it isn't a quick journey. As such, the first half of the book proceeds as something of a testimonial to events with Malek as the witness, but his lack of emotion puts the reader in a similar position--it's difficult, at best, to engage with the humanity behind the book. Yet, for readers who follow through, drawn on by the plot, the second half of the book is all but a one-sitting read, as Malek is forced to reckon with the fact that impartiality can only take him so far, and that his two countries will, very simply, force him to make choices and acknowledge his own humanity, and that of his family and friends.

Simply, he cannot remain impartial and entirely detached in a world that refuses to view him as such.

In the end, the book is powerful, but it is also a slow-burner. I went into the second half of the book acknowledging that it was well-written, but all the same, ready for it to hurry and finish. And then, after having plodded along slowly for more than a week, I couldn't put the book down for those last 115 pages. Call it political noir or a thriller or a drama or anything else you wish--this book truly does defy boundaries; and while it is, if anything, too realistic to move quickly in the beginning, it is also unfailingly impressive by the end.

No doubt, I'll be looking for more of Salar Abdoh's work in the future, and if noir or the politics of a chaotic world could entice you to read anything...well, this comes recommended. Wander through the beginning, I'd say, and then hold on until you reach the end.

69whitewavedarling
març 8, 2015, 10:06 pm

N. Working Titles #2: Tarnish by J.D. Brink

How I Picked it Up: After I edited one of Brink's more recent works, I couldn't help but to search out more of his fiction. As it turned out, the word 'tarnish' was something I couldn't help thinking about as I read the book--and in the end, it reflected in my thinking about the book on a regular basis--so it fit perfectly here. It also didn't disappoint--I'm really glad I searched this out, and I've just made a point of ordering another one of this works...

Full Review:

J.D. Brink's Tarnish is adventure-fantasy at its finest, and the layered narratives within make it an incredibly fun read. His characters are as distinct as they are engaging, and their realistically flawed natures are an added bonus which make the book feel as realistic as fantasy could.

Part of the appeal comes from the book not simply being any one thing---part coming-of age tale, part quest narrative, and partly an exploration of storytelling and storytellers, the book has a depth and complication that make it, very simply, compelling. With the characters being a group of wildly-varied and beautifully rounded out characters, on top of that depth of plot, the book becomes worth every moment you spend with it--and nearly each of those moments is not only engaging, but visual and exciting...not to mention enjoyable.

Absolutely recommended.

70whitewavedarling
març 8, 2015, 11:06 pm

M. Time #1: Queen for a Day: Selected and New Poems by Denise Duhamel

How I Picked It Up: I picked up two of Duhamel's collections a year or two ago at a used bookstore, having come across and enjoyed some of her poems in isolation. Simply enough, I picked it up this month because I was in the mood for some poetry, and because I needed something to fit the 'Q' alphacat...and, of course, it was waiting on my mountainous tbr shelves. (I think it stayed there stagnant because I liked neither the title nor the picture, and I have too much to choose from--alas, though I don't remember how much/little I paid for it, I should have left it on the shelf of that used bookstore, despite the promising start of it.)

Full Review:

When I began reading this collection, I found myself sucked completely into the world of each poem--I found pleasure and surprise and admiration, and something to think about. And then I read the next few sections, which I found a bit flat...but that was okay, as I was still on a high from that first section, looking forward to what would come next. And then the next few sections were overly crude, and a bit boring, followed by one interesting poem...followed by sections full of poems weighted down by self-conscious name-dropping and diary-entry-sounding poems that read more like notations of ideas or emails than fully wrought and considered poems.

So, overall, the book was sincerely disappointing. By the end, I felt more like I was reading the author's correspondence, unfiltered, than a book of poems meant for a reader who doesn't know her personally, or care who she knows, so much as they would care about her work and what she had to say. It may be that I'll pick up the first book poems were excerpted from here, written in 1993, though I don't think that's the one already on my shelf. And/or, perhaps I'll read that one, or perhaps I won't.

As I said, by the end, this was more and more disappointing, I'm afraid. Not something I'd recommend, though I know I've enjoyed some of her works in the past, and I did enjoy some of those first few. They didn't make up for the whole of the book, though, simply enough.

71whitewavedarling
març 9, 2015, 9:27 am

B. Abstracts #1: Extant Shamanisms by J/J Hastain

How I Picked It Up: I believe I picked this up at AWP when I found out it was a chapbook made up of a single long poem--I was specifically looking for chapbooks like that, or else made up of a single sequence. I can't think why else I would have picked this up since I usually read at least a poem or two from a chapbook before buying it, but that would have been impossible in this case. Oh well--I'm sure I got a good deal on it, at least...

Full Review:

There are lovely flashes of language here, but on the whole, meaning is--at best--ephemeral and hard to come by. I have no doubt that the author has a clear idea of what they've communicated, but I'm not sure there's enough direction here for a reader to reach those same ideas.

Perhaps, if I re-read the book over and over again, or examined each fragment in turn for minutes upon minutes, I'd see more to appreciate here than the plays of language and the sounds, but there's nothing here to draw me in to giving it that much time and energy. I generally really enjoy the focus that can come with a strong and compact chapbook, but this one was a big disappointment.

72whitewavedarling
març 9, 2015, 9:28 am

(And, by the way----I REALLY DO LOVE POETRY! These last few have just been duds. But, I packed up the poetry section of my tbr over the weekend, so I'll have a natural break now, and hopefully come back to poetry with more luck in April!)

73whitewavedarling
març 14, 2015, 9:36 pm

O. Others #3: The Witness by Zach Bohannon

How I Picked It Up: Another one by one of the authors I've discovered through all of the editing work I've been doing :) I hate that it's not showing up in touchstones, but if you search his last name on this site or any other, you'll find it easily!

Full Review:

Bohannon's newest work of horror is built perfectly for fans of the classic horror movies like Halloween and Nightmare on Elm Street. Besides being creepy and original, it moves with plenty of turns,not slowing for a moment once it gets started. If you want a great piece of horror that proves itself a fast and scary read, this really is a perfect choice.

Recommended!

74whitewavedarling
Editat: març 15, 2015, 12:03 pm

O. Others #4: The Vanishing by David J.Delaney

How I Picked It Up: Another work I discovered through the job (among, by the way, many books which I have Not felt the need to review!) This one, obviously, I wanted to share with all of you :) It's not out in paperback yet, but you can find it on amazon, and get it on kindle whenever you want!

Full Review:

Delaney has written a great series beginning here--it's got all of the suspense and police procedural you could ask for, as well as depth and truly engaging believable characters. Balancing between a set of vastly different characters, the plots are woven together expertly, and there's a surprising depth here. In truth, the book rather sneaks up on you--coming off as a casual entertaining read at first, and slowly becoming something that you simply can't walk away from, and with characters you care about seeing through.

If you like suspense or detectives who go beyond their badge to show up as real people in the books you read, you'll enjoy this one. I'm looking forward to the second in the series already...

So, yes, absolutely recommended!

75BookLizard
març 15, 2015, 12:18 am

I hope you have better luck in Poetry Month.

76dudes22
març 15, 2015, 6:05 am

>74 whitewavedarling: - that sounds interesting, but when I clicked on the title, the touchstone went to a book by a different author. Just so you know.

77whitewavedarling
març 15, 2015, 12:03 pm

>75 BookLizard:, thanks!

>76 dudes22:, yep--I shouldn't have typed the brackets at all when I couldn't get the touchstone to work :( If you look up his name and/or the book on librarything or amazon, though, you will find it!

78whitewavedarling
març 20, 2015, 10:06 pm

I. Man-Made Objects #1: The Angel of the Garden: Stories by Scott Ely

How I Picked It Up: I think I picked this up at a used book store at some point, drawn in by the cover...

Full Review:

These are hard stories. The characters are engaging, the material is engaging, and the plots are compelling...but the reality of them is, very simply, hard.

Ely's subjects are so believable as to be swept from real life, whether dealing with small-time con-men, individuals who can't tell their past from their present, or men who've been so affected by life as to feel that it is, practically, unlivable. And in each manifestation of life, the stories are harshly real--too simple to seem fictional, and with no easy answers.

There's no question that Ely has mastered the form of the short story and is a talented writer. At the same time, I'm torn as to whether or not to recommend them. Well-written as they are--beautifully written as they are, in fact--they are hard to enjoy, too much like the simple tragedies that we know from our own lives and neighbors and wanderings. I'm not sure they're something I'd ever want to read about, so much as things which I want to escape from.

For realistic short stories, these are masterful renditions, and you'll enjoy them. That's as much as I can say, I'm afraid.

79whitewavedarling
març 25, 2015, 1:41 pm

K. Numbers #2: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

How I Picked It Up: I was interested in this book the moment I heard about it. A friend of mine got it for me for Christmas, and so it was a sure bet I'd read it sooner than later!

Full Review:

Station Eleven is a compelling look at what dystopian fiction can be and accomplish. In maneuvering between very different characters, and between past and present, Emily St. John Mandel sets up a beautiful look at humanity and at life. Instead of the situation of an apocalyptic vision taking over the whole of the reader's concentration, placing the characters at the forefront allows readers to see paths more clearly, and see the background of each place and time just so much as they get wrapped up in the vision of the 'present' world. More than any other dytsopic fiction I've come across, it felt 'real', and potentially believable/familiar in a way that was actually jarring, something I haven't felt before. In the end, the style of this work made it incredibly powerful, and I'd recommend it to nearly any/every reader.

80whitewavedarling
març 25, 2015, 2:08 pm

G. Poetry of Phrase #1: Riding the Bubble: The World of Housing is a Wild Ride by Dr. Scott Benjamin

How I Picked It Up: I worked with Scott as an editor, having applied to work with him because I really was interested in the subject--my husband and I watch a LOT of HGTV lately, and we're looking to buy a house later this year or early next year, so this seemed like ideal timing for me to look into the subject, much as my husband and I have gotten interested in the potential of 'fixer-uppers'. In the end, I learned a ton, and was glad to have read the work! I should note that I read and worked with Scott on a slightly earlier version than the final--I probably didn't see some of the explanations he added in in explanation, and there may have been some small amount of extra repetition I saw, and recommended he take out, but in general, I'm assured that what I read is a pretty exact representation of what's been published, with some few additions in explanation and a few deletions, but no major changes!

Full Review:

Besides just being informative, this is a fascinating look into what it takes to get involved in real estate and make money. On a step-by-step basis, Scott Benjamin documented his journey into real estate and becoming a millionaire through the same. By having set up this book as a journaling project from the very beginning, he allows readers to get a glimpse of his mindset from Day One on. Readers get to see the ups and downs, the risks and the calculated guesses, and look directly into the math of how everything works out with buying and selling, 'flipping' homes, and making a fortune through real estate.

If you're curious about the ins and outs of real estate, and what it could take for you to get into the game and make some money--either a little or a lot--I can't recommend this book enough. It's built for the average reader with a keen interest in the potential profit (personal, professional, and monetary!) they could find in real estate, and the author's awareness of the personal gains (family time, vacation allowances, etc.) alongside the risks makes this read all the more worthwhile.

If you're interested in the subject, this is worth the time. It's not a short book because he does go into the pain-staking details of both the money and the risks...but then again, if you're interested, that's exactly what you want.

Recommended.

81whitewavedarling
març 25, 2015, 2:09 pm

By the way--I just love the title Riding the Bubble ! The touchstone isn't working here on LT, but if you type the book's title into the search feature here or on amazon, you'll find it!

82whitewavedarling
abr. 8, 2015, 11:17 pm

L. Mysteries, Searches, The Unknown #1: The Lost City of Z by David Grann

How I Picked It Up: This right up my alley--exploration, jungles, wildlife, mystery... and truth be told, I enjoyed it, though it wasn't quite as compelling as I'd expected. I picked it up at this particular moment in time to meet the history challenge's theme, but just wasn't able to finish it in March.

Full Review:

In truth, this book is the culmination of many obsessions centered on the Amazon. From men who lost their lives or disappeared while searching for a lost civilization, on through the men who themselves lost their lives or disappeared while searching for the explorers who came before them, the searching for something or for someone is at the center of the heartbreaks and mysteries chronicled in this work. Masterfully, the author moves from past to present and back, exploring the dangers of the Amazon and its inhabitants as well as the paths that led so many men on to their deaths. Yet, for all of this, the book is something of a journey in itself, and the paths chronicled are so similar that they blend together into what one might well call a single out-of-control obsession for knowledge.

All told, I didn't find this to be a quick read, but it was fascinating. For readers interested as much in mystery as in the many natural dangers of the rainforest, and wondering about the biographies and the men which ended in the Amazon, this is an ideal work of exploration and engagement.

83rabbitprincess
abr. 9, 2015, 4:52 pm

I read The Lost City of Z for the GeoCAT last year and also found it fascinating. One thing I hadn't thought of before was the contrast in skill sets required to explore the Amazon and the polar regions, as illustrated by one of Fawcett's party, who had experienced both extremes. I wonder how those types of explorers would compare with a mountain climber like George Mallory.

84whitewavedarling
abr. 12, 2015, 7:30 pm

>83 rabbitprincess:, That hadn't occurred to me either until reading it--I think one of my favorite things about the book was actually the author's attention to little bits of biography and individuals' pasts as they affected their identities as explorers. I imagine a mountain climber would fair somewhere between the two extremes (?), but I wonder if someone venturing into the amazon has to be depending just as much on determination as anything else? It seems like knowledge and skillset only take you so far in terms of that environment, based on the various histories and people presented, whereas that extra element of obsession/determination are almost necessary to make a party move forward and hold together.

I don't know--the book gave me a lot to think about. I always thought it was a place I'd love to venture into (if only in a more civilian/tourist-friendly and more superficial manner)...but during and after reading, I'm not so sure I can imagine doing so anymore... (And this is coming from someone who adores snakes and doesn't mind insects!)

85rabbitprincess
abr. 13, 2015, 5:35 pm

Yeah, an explorer would have to be pretty obsessive to want to persevere in the face of all those insects and other creatures! (I lost it at the bees that lick people's eyeballs. So gross!) Meanwhile, I am thankful for authors like David Grann, who let me experience the dangers of the jungle from the comfort of my favourite armchair.

86whitewavedarling
abr. 15, 2015, 4:33 pm

87whitewavedarling
abr. 25, 2015, 1:43 pm

M. Time #2: After the Quake by Haruki Murakami

How I Picked It Up: I'm a long time fan of Murakami's, so this has been sitting on the shelf for a while. I picked it up yesterday because I was headed to the beach and have been a reading slump, so I wanted something I could read in short bites if need be, and still really enjoy. As it turned out, I finished it last night...

Full Review:

Murakami's stories are masterful, as playful as they are believable. Where magical realism slips int, particularly in "Super-Frog saves Tokyo", there's also an element of adult-type wonder that isn't easy to find with other authors. It makes Murakami's work all the more special and memorable.

And though these are short stories, none particularly long, it's not difficult to get sucked in to each world. Much as the themes might overlap, the characters are as various as the plots, and nothing here is repetitive. Simply enough, you'll be hard-pressed to not read this short collection in one sitting.

Absolutely recommended.

88whitewavedarling
abr. 27, 2015, 11:03 am

L. Mysteries, Searches, The Unknown #2: Shots in the Dark: The Wayward Search for an AIDS Vaccine by Jon Cohen

How I Picked It Up: One of the books I picked up in relation to my abandoned dissertation... This is one I started some time ago but didn't get very far into, and made a point of reading consistently this month.

Full Review:

Examining and explaining the history of HIV/AIDS vaccine research, from its beginning rounds on up through 2000, just after which the book was published, Cohen's work explores the individuals, the politics, the bureaucracy, the funding, the scientific processes involved in vaccine research, and even past vaccine developments--all in an effort to untangle the spiderweb of developments, and more often non-developments, that accounted for work toward a vaccine over the first few decades of the world's awareness of HIV/AIDS.

Throughout the book, what is frightening clear is how many different personalities and forces did as much to hinder the process as to help. From average slow-moving politics to individuals and companies who could see only their way of doing things and refused to accept options, and on to parties who were unwilling to accept that the traditional paths of research wouldn't work in the case of HIV/AIDS, research was more spastic and half-hazard than clearly directed toward a unified purpose. Cohen at one point describes the various efforts in terms of a child's soccer game, where a team's many members are gathered in an organized fashion, all flailing and kicking in the direction of the ball so that it eventually, more by chance than direct effort of a team, shoots out into some unpredicted direction...and very rarely hits the goal. Similarly, the description above isn't to say that many smart and dedicated individuals weren't directing their efforts toward the search for an AIDS vaccine--it is to say that many of them were working at cross-purposes, or at best, working on niche goals that weren't conceived or clearly understood in relation to other efforts.

Cohen's work is meticulously researched, and includes material not just from publicly available documentation, but from personal interviews, observations, and access to personalities and documents generally kept private by the research and/or government offices involved in the research and politics at the heart of this subject. His writing is clear and detailed, giving a careful view to the race for an HIV/AIDS vaccine.

On the whole, the book is hard to read not because of Cohen's writing or because of the subject---he's done an admirable job of making the material accessible and allowing readers into the world depicted here, both in terms of science and in terms of politics--but because it is all too clear that the bureaucracy of it all, and the fear of making a mistake, has far more to do with failure than success. In fact, reading Cohen's work and putting together the different pieces makes it seem rather a miracle that our society has ever managed vaccines or scientific developments that depended on more than the power of one individual. Simply, cooperation isn't in the vocabulary of too many people who were directly involved in the work discussed here, and as a result, it is a frustrating read.

All told, Cohen's work is an admirable one, depicting a maze of research and personalities which is difficult to accept, but utterly too real. I'd recommend the work to anyone interested in the processes involved in scientific research related to inter-agency or government cooperation and/or funding, or interested in the beginning years' progression of research which is still working toward establishing some level of dependable vaccine for HIV/AIDS.

89-Eva-
Editat: abr. 27, 2015, 11:44 pm

>87 whitewavedarling:
I've only read one of his books, but it made me immediately put all of his works on the wishlist.

90whitewavedarling
abr. 28, 2015, 10:25 am

>89 -Eva-:, that's about what happened to me, too, when I read Kafka on the Shore :) This was my fourth, and none have disappointed! I think I'm going to end up picking up another sooner than later...

91AHS-Wolfy
abr. 29, 2015, 8:06 am

There's a group read for Murakami scheduled for September if you feel like joining in.

92whitewavedarling
abr. 29, 2015, 3:09 pm

>91 AHS-Wolfy: I've been planning on it, though honestly, I completely failed at my April reading goals! I'm going to chalk that up to unpacking and organizing a house and getting used to my husband's new work schedule, though... hopefully, I'll be more on track with pleasure reading time by September :)

93whitewavedarling
abr. 30, 2015, 10:06 pm

N. Working Titles #3: The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

How I Picked It Up: I adore Ishiguro's writing, and the moment I saw the first editing of his first novel in a decade, I couldn't wait to buy and it and read it. In fact, I couldn't tell you the last time I picked up and then so immediately read a new release.

Full Review:

In the beginning, this is a simple and quiet book, building layers upon mysteries and absent emotions as it begins. For Ishiguro fans, it will be both familiar and strange--there's that beauty of language, that simplicity of emotion, and that twist of character...but the interior is oddly apart. Of course, there's reason for it.

Like a legend or the journey of a knight, this is a wandering tale. There's battle and heartbreak, legend and myth, hope and deceit. In the beginning, it is somewhat slow-going. In the last portion, it is impossible to ignore, impossible to walk away from, impossible to forget. Truth be told, a bit into this book, I was wondering whether Ishiguro had lost his touch, or done something so apart from past works (and so apart from my usual tastes) that I simply couldn't get foothold enough to be drawn in. Or perhaps I just wasn't in the mood? And then, there was a turn.

Without realizing it, I reached a moment when the characters were more real than friends and loved ones, and when the book felt more real than all the tales of Arthur and his knights which I've heard and read and re-read so often. There reached a point when I couldn't walk away, and now I'm a bit heartbroken for the world and the characters, a bit entranced, and wondering. I'm hating Ishiguro for what he mastered and created, and at the same time believing it to be perfect.

Simply enough, this is a book to wander into, and then fall into. It is one of those rare books which I have to conclude will never leave me behind, though I may never reread it, and which deserves to be read.

94whitewavedarling
maig 4, 2015, 10:51 am

J. Locations #2: The Madmen of Benghazi by Gerard de Villiers

How I Picked It Up: I got this from a free book giveaway.

Full Review:

A fast-paced espionage novel, moving from scene to scene and country to country incredibly quickly. If anything, it was a bit too fast-moving, details flying by with a number of characters (mostly the 'bad guys', admittedly) moving through too quickly to get a feel for them. All told, I would have liked a bit more depth to character as opposed to the every maneuver of everyone, but it was a fun fast read. I think I'm going to read one of the earlier ones in order to see whether I want to put the time into more of the series as a whole.

95whitewavedarling
maig 5, 2015, 3:01 pm

I. Man-Made Objects #2: Ribbons: The Gulf War by William Heyen

How I Picked It Up: I have an ongoing interest in both poetic sequences and war-related literature, so when I discovered this at a used bookstore, I couldn't resist picking it up...

Full Review:

Often reading like something of a poetic journal more so than a poem, this work has some striking moments and comes across as frighteningly current & relevant--even more than two decades after publication. Heyen's blend of nature, 'current' events/war, and personal understanding is impressive, and a fairly powerful example of what a long poetic sequence is capable of when focused in to a particular exploration.

All told, this isn't a simple read, and it's also not as dated as it should be given the current conflicts. If you're interested in poetry that attempts some reconciliation of personal understanding with war, or at poetry which will both take you back to the Gulf War and also telescope you forward into now, this might very well be worth picking up.

96whitewavedarling
maig 9, 2015, 10:47 am

I. Man-made objects #3: The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley

How I Picked it Up: I read McKinley's Beauty ages ago, and so enjoyed it that I then picked up what more of her work I could find from a used bookstore. For one reason or another, I never got around to picking one of them up until now, but I'm positive I'll be picking up more of her work sooner than later. This was simply wonderful.

Full Review:

This was only my second Robin McKinley book, but it won't be my last. Though it took a few chapters to get pulled into it, primarily because there are so many characters introduced so quickly, the story was impossible to walk away from once it got started. Full of atmosphere, engaging characters, and compelling turns, the story was simply wonderful. Notably, McKinley's descriptions are gorgeous, but she also proves herself a master of writing about animals believably, both as they behave naturally and as they interact with humans.

Simply, the book made me feel rather as if I'd been sucked into a fairy tale all over again, and it was wonderful.

Recommended.

97whitewavedarling
maig 10, 2015, 11:25 pm

B. Abstracts #2: The Odds by Stewart O'Nan

How I Picked It Up: I discovered Stewart O'Nan when he was giving a reading at my school some years ago, and fell in love with his writing when I first picked up his A Prayer for the Dying. This is my second work of his since that first read. Neither have been as compelling or fascinating as A Prayer for the Dying, taking on and exploring more pedestrian subjects. But, that said, his writing is just lovely, and so the book was still a lovely escape and more than enjoyable.

Full Review:

O'Nan's writing is compelling and believable, as are his characters. True to form, The Odds is beautifully written and smartly paced, moving through a struggling couple's weekend with both grace and humor. If anything, the couple and the plotting are too believable--familiar, pedestrian, and so easy to accept. Yet, O'Nan's style and flawless language make the read a fast and interesting one, translating life onto the page so simply that there's nothing there to be doubted.

All together, the story perhaps isn't one that will stick with me, but I'm left (as always) with an appreciation for O'Nan's care for language.

98christina_reads
maig 13, 2015, 10:41 am

>96 whitewavedarling: YESSS, so glad you enjoyed The Hero and the Crown! Robin McKinley is one of my favorite authors, so I definitely encourage you to read more! I'd recommend The Blue Sword first, as it has a couple of the same characters as The Hero and the Crown. Some of my other favorites by her are Spindle's End and The Outlaws of Sherwood.

99whitewavedarling
maig 16, 2015, 5:44 pm

>96 whitewavedarling:, Good to know :) Those other recs aren't the ones I already have on my shelf, but I'll plan on picking them up... My husband and I have just moved, and I desperately need to find a used bookstore in the area. I haven't gotten around to it yet, but picking up more of her work is my sooner-than-later excuse :)

100whitewavedarling
maig 17, 2015, 7:24 pm

B. Abstracts #3: It Doesn't Make Any Sense (Cori Rubio Book 1) by Jennifer Ariadne Park

How I Picked It Up:

I've edited a lot of books that I haven't enjoyed much (and which I haven't reviewed here), but this book was an incredibly refreshing and fun surprise. True, it's rather heavily derivative of the Harry Potter books and the trend of YA fantasy series where young protagonists find out about a new world and go off to learn about it and themselves, but in all honesty, the choices/twists made here make it feel incredibly new, and really refreshing. (And, it's nice to read about a protagonist who grew up knowing about this world instead of suddenly discovering it!) Simply, I really loved this first book, and I loved the sequel when I got to read it last week. I can't wait for the third book, and I'm really anxious to hear what other readers think about this work and the series as a whole. The touchstone above doesn't work, but if you type it into kindle or amazon, it should come up without a problem :)

Full Review:

I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this for review, and found it to be a wonderfully fun surprise that left me anxious to read the rest of the series.

Park's first book about Cori Rubio is a refreshing twist on the young magician learning about both himself and his changing world, but rather wonderfully, he doesn't see himself as the masterful student or the hero of the story. He sees himself as the guy who's going along for the ride, and who can only make sense of things by thinking, simply, that they don't make any sense. And yet, for readers who enjoy fantasy, new worlds, and young protagonists, this book makes rather perfect sense.

Recommended as a fast and absolutely enjoyable read!

101whitewavedarling
maig 19, 2015, 4:37 pm

O. Others #5: Empty Bodies 2: Adaptation by Zach Bohannon

How I Picked it Up: As you know, I'm Zach's editor, so I get to read his works early :) That doesn't change the fact that I adore them, and I'd be reading them whether I worked for him or not, now that I've discovered them!

Full Review:

I received an early copy of Adaptation to read, and found that Bohannon did a stellar job of following up the first installment in the Empty Bodies series. This was a fast-paced sequel that did a phenomenal job of following up on the characters who readers grew so attached to in Book 1, and then sweeping readers along for a twisting plot forward.

The one warning is that readers probably won't want to jump into this one without reading the Empty Bodies 1, so if you've just stumbled onto Bohannon's work and are thinking about reading this one first, just order books 1 and 2 at once so that you can get to know the characters and what's going on in Book 1 before jumping into this story :)

On the whole, the book is a lot of fun, so if post-apocalyptic action or horror is in your alley of interest, with or without zombies, I absolutely recommend it!

102whitewavedarling
maig 19, 2015, 11:07 pm

J. Locations #3: Empire of Sin: A Story of Sex, Jazz, Murder, and the Battle for Modern New Orleans by Gary Krist

How I Picked It Up: I got this from a Goodreads Giveaway, having signed up for it because I love the South, and I love New Orleans. I'd also heard good things about Krist's writing, and I wasn't disappointed!

Full Review:

Krist's examination of New Orleans as it developed from around 1890 to 1920 is fascinating and detailed, examining how a city developed and how tides turned repeatedly. From immigration and race relations to prostitution and crime, and of course right on to jazz and politics, the book focuses in on various chapters, issues, personalities, and drives forward into what eventually became the city we now know. Besides being a fascinating account with meticulous research, Krist's work is clever and gracefully written, displaying a masterful balance of analysis and objective detail.

On the whole, this really is a fascinating ride of a book. Journeying from the New Orleans of 1980, where the greatest problems revolve around Italian immigrants and rivalries, and where interracial marriages are all but expected (and certainly expected and accepted), on to the New Orleans where so-called vice (from gambling to prostitution) is accepted as long as you're within the confines of a given district, and finally on to the New Orleans of 1920, where race relations have disintegrated back into what we might expect of late nineteenth century and early twentieth century cities in the south, and where vice is hidden, and jazz just the same.

All told, Krist's book is both fascinating and fast-moving. Whether it's an interest in jazz, in American history, or in New Orleans itself that drives you to pick up the book, I truly doubt you'll be disappointed.

Absolutely recommended.

103whitewavedarling
maig 24, 2015, 7:43 pm

H. Self-Referencing #2: Crazyball: Sports Scandals, Superstitions, and Sick Plays by Barry Wilner & Ken Rappoport

How I Picked It Up: It sounded really interesting and fun, and I had the thought that I'd buy some more copies to use as gifts next Christmas if I enjoyed it. And, of course, I lucked into an early review copy...

Full Review:

Much as I was looking forward to this book, it ended up being incredibly disappointing. Full of one-liners and fast overviews of material that most sports fans will already know, there's just not much content here.

Three very telling facts: A) I don't really follow either golf or basketball, but even I knew about many of the anecdotes that related to those sports. B) I consider myself a casual sports fan, and yet, I could give you more detail on some of the scandals and flubs detailed here. C) Perhaps most telling of all: The longest chapter of the book is a collection of sections summing up and outlining highlights from favorite sports movies. (That's right--the longest chapter in a nonfiction book about sports is related to summing up comedies that any reader will have already seen.)

The authors obviously enjoy sports, but when it comes down to it, this book is a running-through of headlines and one-liners, and has very little depth. It's written in more the style of a coffee table book that would sell itself through tons of pictures and the occasional graphic overview of statistics. But those things are missing because it's printed as a traditional book--and, as such, it's a disappointing affair.

On the whole, I just can't recommend it. It might be an entertaining read for the average middle school boy who likes sports, but doesn't know much about past craziness, but for an adult reader who enjoys sports.... well, again, there's just not much here.

104mamzel
maig 25, 2015, 2:48 pm

Thanks for your views on this book. I will definitely avoid it.

105whitewavedarling
maig 25, 2015, 9:14 pm

>104 mamzel:...absolutely :(

Meanwhile, though, the one I finished tonight was simply magical...

F. Natural Objects #1: The River Midnight by Lilian Nattel

How I Picked It Up: You know, I have no idea what drew me to this work or how I acquired it. The description doesn't sound at all like something that would attract me. The cover is rather haunting, though, so my best guess is that I picked it up at a used book sale because of that, and because of an incredibly low price. I'm so glad I did. I hope you pick this one up on a whim, too--it's one that ought to be read.

Full Review:

As much a look into history as it is a piece of transporting entertainment, Nattel's The River Midnight brings to life the men and women of a shtetl northwest of Warsaw. Weaving small-town gossip with frightening politics, the concerns of a small town with individuals in hope and in mourning, and half-dreamt magical realism with hard-pressed reality, the novel is a layered masterpiece, and well worth reading.

In Blaszka, this fictional village of Polish Jews, everything is paramount. Meticulously detailed, the novel moves effortlessly between characters, teaching history even as it entertains. On some level, there's a pregnant midwife named Misha who is at the center of everything. On another level, she is less important than the village community, and only as important as the young men and women who are around her, accepting or rebelling against changing politics and a seemingly shrinking village.

All together, it's difficult to say anything at all about this work. More than any historical fiction I've read in recent years, this book manages to balance daily life with historical care while still treating issues of the time which go beyond the day-to-day, and there's something magical about the way it all comes together.

Simply, this is one of those novels that is worth reading. Call it literary fiction or magical realism or historical fiction or whatever you like--it tells a wonderful story, with both grace and humor, and it is, very simply, powerful.

Absolutely recommended.

106whitewavedarling
maig 29, 2015, 6:20 pm

B. Abstracts #4: People Have This Thing Called Free Will (Cori Rubio Book 2) by Jennifer Ariadne Park

How I Picked It Up: The second in the Corio Rubio Series, I edited this one soon after the first. If you like the first, you'll enjoy the second, so your best bet might be to review the review I posted of the first, up above :)

Full Review:

As a sequel to the first book about Cori Rubio, this is a lovely follow-up, delivering just what readers might have expected after reading the first book in the series, and still finding some shocking and creative twists. There's a lot to be admired here, in the story itself and in the characters, and the adventure is a fun one to follow. Park adeptly maneuvers between adult socio-political themes while writing believable young characters, and the end result is really worth enjoying.

As was the case with the first, I absolutely recommend it!

107-Eva-
Editat: juny 2, 2015, 6:37 pm

>102 whitewavedarling:
Great to hear - I'm getting this from LTER (well, barring any mail-out issues...) and am really looking forward to it. New Orleans is such an amazing city!

108whitewavedarling
Editat: juny 2, 2015, 8:16 pm

>107 -Eva-:, It was a lot of fun, I thought, so I hope you enjoy it! Also, have you read The Sound of Building Coffins? It's one of my favorite novels--dark, historical, a bit of magical realism, and really gives the atmosphere of New Orleans. I think I enjoyed Krist's work all the more because I'd read that book in the past.

109-Eva-
juny 2, 2015, 8:22 pm

I've never even heard of it before, but it's on my wishlist now. :)

110whitewavedarling
juny 6, 2015, 3:17 pm

>109 -Eva-:, I'm glad :) I discovered it through the Early Reviewer Program, years ago, and everyone I've recommended it to so far has enjoyed it once they've picked it up! It's wonderfully creepy and atmospheric, and the writing is just gorgeous.

111whitewavedarling
juny 7, 2015, 5:23 pm

J. Locations #4: Journey Through the States by Jennifer Ariadne Park

How I Picked It Up: Another book that Jennifer hired me on to edit, and while I can't say I enjoyed this as much as the Cori Rubio series, it's probably just because that's more my cup of tea. This has a sort of On the Road Kerouac feel, but as a dystopian work, and I've never much been a fan for On the Road, though I did enjoy this. It doesn't show up with touchstones here, but you should easily be able to find it on amazon or kindle if interested.

Full Review:

Journey Through the States is a clever look at a United States fractured by religion, disgruntled politics, and economic chaos. As a dystopian work flavored by innocence and religious variety, it's got a flavor of On the Road and moves along at a fast pace. Readers will find a lot of depth in this work, both as a story of entertainment and as a piece of social commentary. It's got humor to spare, and characters who make you curious about what will come next.

All told, I have to recommend it to any reader who takes a look, and can't help but wondering...

112whitewavedarling
juny 7, 2015, 6:30 pm

K. Numbers #3: A Kingdom in Crisis: Thailand's Struggle for Democracy in the Twenty-First Century by Andrew MacGregor Marshall

How I Picked It Up: I received this book from the Librarything Early Reviewers Program. Why did I sign up for it? More and more, I feel like I don't know enough about politics in other parts of the world, and while I've read a number of novels set in Thailand, and even a few memoirs that wandered through the country, I know very little about the country itself, outside of some little bit of knowledge I had regarding nature/wildlife and crime/drugs in the country. As a result, this book stood out as a potential addition to all of that, and I'm glad I took a chance and signed up for it. It may be that this would have too much basic information for a reader who is already very familiar with Thailand or the country's politics/history, but for me, it was perfect, and incredibly engaging/readable.

Full Review:

Marshall's work is an invaluable summing up and examination of the political upheaval present in Thailand, from last century on through immediate history. Describing the balance of power (or rather, the sometimes lack of balance) between the people and the monarchy, and between what is said versus what actually happens, along with the frightening lack of freedom of speech, Marshall moves through recent history with an eye toward analyzing the current political crisis which has been ongoing and is now heightening as the country prepares for what will come with the current king's death, something which may not be far off, given his ill-health. With instability in the country likely to rise and with royal succession under heavy discussion, all of the matters this book tackles have been discussed only rarely because of Thailand's lese majeste law and the utter disconnect between what is said to be happening and what is actually occurring. This author, and this work, has cut through that confusion to attempt an in-depth analysis.

For any reader interested in current global politics, in free speech, or in struggles for democracy, this is worth reading, and of course, it will be of interest to readers who want more understanding of the political and cultural climate in Thailand. Marshall's work is smart and well-researched, and his style is both engaging and clear. He carefully documents the peoples' ignored struggles for democracy here, just as he explores the reason that it is still a struggle, and political crisis so clearly in view.

All together, this is a stunning and engaging piece of journalism, and well worth the time for anyone interested.

113-Eva-
juny 7, 2015, 6:43 pm

>112 whitewavedarling:
I'm taking a BB for this one - I have family members who live in Thailand and I always feel I should have a better idea of what goes on there.

114whitewavedarling
juny 8, 2015, 10:03 am

>113 -Eva-:, I'm glad to hear it! I knew when I wrote the review that this one would only appeal to specific audiences, but I'm personally really glad to have read it, and I'm not even in your position! It really is readable, so I hope you end up being glad you picked it up! It's part of a new 'Asian Arguments' series, and I plan on picking up more from the press/series when I get a chance--it impressed me that much.

115-Eva-
juny 11, 2015, 11:50 pm

>114 whitewavedarling:
I've been asked to come visit (but it's such a long flight from California) and I'll definitely pick this up before I go!

116whitewavedarling
juny 13, 2015, 3:36 pm

G. Poetry of Phrase #2: Searoad by Ursula K. Le Guin

How I Picked it Up: I adore Le Guin's writing, so it was only a matter of time until I found my way here...

Full Review:

Le Guin's writing is magnificent, and the characters here are as carefully drawn as any you'll find. That said, while I enjoyed her writing and the various snippets of life here, the work didn't suck me in as Le Guin's work usually does. I read as much mainstream literary fiction as I do fantasy and science fiction, though I found Le Guin through her fantasies, but this just felt a bit more languid and disjointed than I would have preferred. Some of the usual magic was there, but then again, some wasn't.

All in all, Le Guin readers will enjoy her normal grace of language and character, but this isn't one I'll remember as one of my favorite works of hers. In fact, beautiful as the language was, this collection probably falls somewhat at a lower level than either the poetry or the fiction I've read from her in the past. A relaxing read with utterly gorgeous language and detailed believable characters...but not one that will stick with me, though the first few stories in the book may well remain with me for a while and bear coming back to.

117whitewavedarling
juny 18, 2015, 12:32 am

G. Poetry of Phrase #3: Starve the Vulture by Jason Carney (6/17/2015)

How I Picked It Up: I love poetry, and I often enjoy memoirs, so I signed up for this and won it through the Librarything Early Reviewers Program. I'm so glad I did. Full Review Below.

I'm tempted to recommend this to everyone, but it's not for every reader. Glancing over the reviews will tell you this much. More than being graphic, it's unflinching in its views of sex, drug use, stereotypes, and mental illness. As a result, though, it's not your average memoir. And it's also incredibly impressive and artful.

This was my biggest surprise of the year so far, and absolutely a five-star read.

Full Review:

Carney's memoir is a something that is lyrical and brisk, a something that announces itself loudly, and stands somewhere between poetry and memory, memoir and sculpture. There's a sort of inertia to the structure that makes it both more immediate and more extreme than either what you'd expect from fiction or memoir--in fact, I have to think of my reading experience in terms of a cohesive collection of poetry that draws you along, exhausts you, and forces you to keep going to see what comes next. Though poetry itself is a small part of this (though Carney does include four or five of his poems), Carney's carefully structured work--fragmented as it is--reads like an extended song or collection or poetry. As such, it's impossible to put down.

I'm positive, even as I write this, that the work may not satisfy the reader who searches out memoirs and expects certain guidelines to be met. Carney leaves holes open, jumps in time and jars the reader out of their expectations constantly, and leaves many questions un-answered. He doesn't self-analyze so much as you might expect, and you don't see every step on the path. You see pieces and fragments, points along the way, described beautifully in all of their occasional sweetness, horror, gore, and humor.

If you want an artful book, and a book that might re-arrange what you think a memoir is meant to accomplish, this is what you're looking for. And if you want a book which is simply a fast-moving, raw and touching read, then you're also looking for this one.

In other words, whether you read memoirs or not, whether you like or have any interest in reading about poets or not, you might very well find something to admire in this book.

118whitewavedarling
jul. 4, 2015, 2:30 pm

G. Poetry of Phrase #4: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

How I Picked It Up: Alice Hoffman has been one of my favorite authors ever since I discovered her writing, but this book kept on getting put off. I saw the movie when it first came out, and didn't enjoy it at all. Though I don't remember it, the distaste stuck with me, and so I kept on putting off this book even after I found a cheap used copy. In the end, I did enjoy it, though not as much as I usually enjoy her writing. It's possible that my strong reaction to the movie still colored my enjoyment of the book, but one way or another, I'm glad to have read it. As always, her writing was entrancing.

Full Review:

Hoffman is masterful when it comes to tails of family which include just a bit of the supernatural, and this story is no exception. I can't say that I enjoyed it as much as many of her others, as it almost felt like some of the characters blended together rather than stood on their own, but I did enjoy it.

119dudes22
jul. 4, 2015, 2:56 pm

I was introduced to Alice Hoffman by someone I used to work with and I still have quite a few of hers in my TBR that I need to get to. I think this was the first book of hers I read and I hadn't seen the movie so it didn't have any influence in my reading. I like that there's just a touch of "magical realism" in her writing.

120whitewavedarling
jul. 4, 2015, 8:57 pm

>119 dudes22:, I love that as well. I've still got more of hers on my TBR that I'm anxious to read--I really do just find her writing to be something I can just fall into.

121-Eva-
jul. 13, 2015, 9:58 pm

>118 whitewavedarling:
I liked the movie and picked up the book because of it. It was a really long time since I read it, though, so I don't remember what I thought. :) Clearly it needs to go on the to-reread pile.

122whitewavedarling
ag. 12, 2015, 10:51 pm

G. Poetry of Phrase #5: Gridiron Glory: Scrambling, Looking Deep for Purpose by Kevon Brown (if you search the title, you will find it on librarything--the touchstones just aren't working!)

How I Picked It Up: Again, a work that found me through my work as an editor, but again I repeat, I don't recommend on to LT even a quarter of what I read. If you or someone you know likes football, though, and likes to read, this is worth searching out...

Full Review:

Brown's Gridiron Glory is a fast-moving thrill ride for football lovers who also love a good book. Readers who love a great story with engaging story will be able to get into the book and relate to the characters on a non-football level while readers who are also sports fans will also get sucked into the passion and pressure of a professional football season. From start to finish, the characters and scenes are woven together in a way that fleshes out the world Brown creates while still allowing for depth in plot and character. Whether you're passing time until the next game starts, just looking for a good book, or a long-time fan of inspirational sports movies built around engaging teams and characters, you'll find something to pull you into this book.

If it sounds at all appealing, I can't recommend it highly enough. It has a little bit of everything, genre-wise, and moves so quickly that it's nearly impossible to put down.

123whitewavedarling
ag. 14, 2015, 11:40 am

A. Animals #2: Lightning Bug by Donald Harington

How I Picked It Up: Years ago, I discovered the author, Louis Maistros, through LT's early reviewer program, and just fell in love with his work. At some point, he recommended this author (either through exchanged messages or through my following him on facebook--I can't remember which anymore), so I made a point of finding a couple of Harington's books. On a side note, they're from Toby Press, which is the Press that released the Maistros book I first fell in love with--I've never Not been impressed with this press's releases. And, if you haven't guessed already, I'll be searching out more of Harington's work.

Full Review:

What a strange and entrancing read this was. If Truman Capote and William Faulkner had come back from the dead to contemplate what a real love story might look like, and then written something together in the last ten years or so as a result of that drunken and zombie-ish conversation, I'm betting it would look something like this. Harington's depiction of a small town and a long, strange friendship (romance?!?) is weirdly innocent, and sort of wonderfully fresh at the same time. His humor brings every page to life, and yet, the frantic nature of the narrative is never lost because of his careful weaving back and forth from past to present, calm to craze.

No doubt, some of you may read this review, and then read the book, and be a bit horrified that I called it--even in passsing--a love story. And admittedly, I didn't think about it in just those terms until I began thinking about what to say in reaction to this book. The unpolitical, uncomfortable truth is, though, that not all love stories look the same, or look innocent, or even look like love. Some just look like life, oddly lived, and that's what Harington has delivered here. So, don't pick this up because I called it a love story. Pick it up because you love strange southern lit., good books, or books where the plots twist in so many little ways that you can't stop reading, and where the characters pull each moment of its place and turn it around for their own pleasure.

124whitewavedarling
ag. 22, 2015, 1:22 pm

D. Organs and Bodies #3: The Face of Fear by Dean R. Koontz

How I Picked It Up: This is just one of those paperbacks that had been lying around in my tbr for ages, waiting for me to get to it. I wanted a fast and scary read, so...

Full Review:

Fast-moving and engaging, the suspense delivered here is among Koontz's best. Although the pacing sometimes feels a bit off, moving somewhat repetitively in the middle sections of the book and then ending incredibly quickly, the book is for the most part a fun and fast read. Enough so for a distracting and relaxing thriller to provide some entertainment and escape? Absolutely.

125whitewavedarling
ag. 23, 2015, 12:18 pm

G. Poetry of Phrase #6: Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

How I Picked It Up: Since discovering Marquez, I've adored him. I had this sitting on a shelf, waiting for a day when I wanted his language as an escape.

Full Review:

An unexpected and disarming story, this is one of those tales that exhibits Marquez's talent for sucking a reader into the unknown, and holding them without fail. And somehow, foreign as the many moments and characters are in age and behavior and attitude, the emotions and the engagements are so familiar as to be magical.

Simply, Marquez is unmatched in his ability to tell a strange and wonder-full love story, and this work is worth falling into.

Recommended.

126whitewavedarling
ag. 25, 2015, 9:50 pm

E. Contact...Touch...Senses #2: A Sound of Crying by Rodie Sudbery

How I Picked It Up: This was in a stack of free books being given away by the school where I spend my summers, and the sort of haunting cover combined with the lovely title simply drew me in. I usually veer more toward YA than MG when I'm picking up a non-adult book, but I'm rather glad I stumbled onto this one.

Full Review:

It's funny how a book can rather sneak up on you. In the beginning, my impressions of A Sound of Crying weren't particularly positive--the dialogue and characters seemed distractingly dated, and the children were so formal as to seem entirely unchildlike. It was easy reading, but nothing I could pull myself into. And yet. At some point, the story here became something I couldn't walk away from, with characters who felt real and true to their own world, no different from children I might happen across in reality. The story came to life, frightening me and making me wonder. And, in the end, I was charmed.

I'm glad to have found this little book--it's one I'll remember, and very likely pass on to young readers who have the patience for an old-fashioned ghost story.

Recommended.

127whitewavedarling
ag. 30, 2015, 12:19 pm

M. Time #3: Independence Day by Richard Ford

How I Picked It Up: This was actually the one book which was assigned to me when I was getting my Masters, but which I never finished. In fact, I only got about half-way through it, and given that it was the only unfinished one, and one assigned by my mentor, and someone who usually handed me books that I ended up loving... well, it became a point of pride to Eventually go back and read the whole darn book. So, almost a decade after the fact, I did. I feel accomplished for having done it, though time didn't really make a difference in how much I enjoyed the book, I'm afraid...

Full Review:

I can appreciate Ford's writing and characterizations, but in many ways, too much of this book felt like a drawn-out character sketch or an incredibly detailed zooming in on something of a half-engaged-in mid-life crisis. I had more patience for the book now, ten years older than I was when I first tried to read it, but not much--I'd hoped time would make something of a difference, but the truth comes down to the fact that I didn't find much to care about here, or much to engage with, and so as pleasurable as the writing was, the story itself left me uninterested and a bit bored.

I'm glad to have finished it--there were moments of beauty and thought that I found worthwhile--but I'm afraid it's not one I'd recommend. And, truthfully, being glad to have finished it probably has more to do with my determination to finish books than anything I found worthwhile in the book itself...

128whitewavedarling
set. 1, 2015, 9:59 am

B. Abstracts #5 Empty Bodies: Deliverance by Zach Bohannon

How I Picked It Up: This is the third/final installment of the Empty Bodies trilogy by Bohannon. I loved the first two, and the trilogy is absolutely worth picking up if you want some fast horror reads or you want to see a bit of a twist on the zombie genre.

Full Review:

Finishing out the Empty Bodies trilogy, Deliverance is a fast-packed and incredibly satisfying read. As the characters move forward in what becomes a roller coaster of a conclusion, their stories are more engaging than ever, driving a plot that is almost impossible to look away from. And, as the ending to the series (I believe), this serves admirably--loose ends are tied up, but without anything being too easy, and with twists to keep readers second-guessing.

All together, this is a fast and action-packed read, and readers who enjoyed the beginning of the series will love this installment.

Absolutely recommended.

129whitewavedarling
set. 1, 2015, 10:15 am

N. Working Titles #4: Lines of the Devil by Zach Bohannon

How I Picked It Up: This is my favorite of Zach's work yet. I don't care if I'm his editor--this horror novel was the most fun I'd had reading in a very long time. I actually read it back in July, and was so busy with work that writing a review slipped my mind, but it wasn't for lack of enjoyment!

Full Review:

Lines of the Devil centers on a tattoo artist whose talent has moved beyond the artistry he's known for. Suddenly, those same people who have been coming to him for ink are being horrifically murdered, and the horror behind what's happening is something almost impossible for him to accept.

From start to finish, this is one of those books that pulls you in and just drags you further into the story. And for readers like me, who have a few tattoos and can't help but be distracted by everything that goes along with them, the story has some extra power inherent in the clever way Bohannon writes about the art.

Simply, I loved it.

130whitewavedarling
set. 5, 2015, 9:16 am

J. Locations #5: Vietnam: A Traveler's Literary Companion edited by John Balaban and Nguyen Qui Duc

How I Picked It Up: A few summers ago, I was volunteering a lot of time at a pop-up bookstore in Pittsburgh where we were selling books from a number of independent presses. This particular press (Whereabouts Press) sent a number of their books, and readers who bought one were often coming back for another. I bought the book for Spain for my mother, who loved it, and bought this one for myself because I realized I so often read lit. dealing with the Vietnam war, but wasn't really familiar with any Vietnamese authors, let alone non-war-related literature. I'm glad I picked this up, and I plan to look into getting more books from the series. I did eventually buy the Ireland book for my husband, so that may be the next one I get my hands on...

Full Review:

The stories here are full of atmosphere, containing some gems of characters and language. Each one brings in a different perspective and a slightly different take on location, so there's a great variety within the book, even with the focus on Vietnam and Vietnamese authors. The most powerful pieces are actually the ones that have less of a concentration on physical place, though, as these tend to be the stories that evolve with more attention to complex characters within the larger social or political scheme of things.

All together, though, this is a step away from the average collection, and certainly something of a trip in itself. I'd recommend it to interested readers, and I'll certainly be looking up more books in the 'Traveler's Literary Companion' series.

131whitewavedarling
set. 5, 2015, 10:35 am

B. Abstracts #6: Considering Hate: Violence, Goodness, and Justice in American Culture and Politics by Kay Whitlock and Michael Bronski

How I Picked It Up: I got this from the LT early reviewers program, having signed up because I am interested in philosophical and/or historical discussions of hate and violence, as well as American culture.

Full Review:

In a nuanced look at history, hate, and perceptions of hate, Whitlock and Bronski present their case for thinking about changing the way we talk about hate and use the idea of hate, let alone the word, discussing how our use of the idea of hate actually affects our ability to think about and approach issues of crime and violence. Through discussions of everything from famous 'hate crimes' on to discussions of popular culture (particularly film) and changes in socio-political culture, the authors give an unflinching look to what has changed and what hasn't changed, as well as what must change.

Thoughtful readers will find a great deal to admire here, and a great deal which is capable of provoking thought. Whether you disagree or agree with their points, this is one of those books which should be read, and which will provoke discussion. There are, of course, no easy answers in the pages, but there may well be worthwhile suggestions for how we can disrupt the current and seemingly fruitless discussions, and move on to progress real change.

Recommended.

132whitewavedarling
set. 8, 2015, 12:20 pm

I. Man-Made Objects #4: The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

How I Picked It Up: This is one of the few movies/full-length cartoons that I would watch over and over and over again as a kid. I simply loved it, so I couldn't help being curious when I realized it was a book... It took me forever to pick it up even after I bought it, honestly, because I thought it couldn't help but disappoint, magical as I found that cartoon to be. Nevertheless... I loved it.

Full Review:

What an absolutely wonderful and fun book.

I admit, it took me ages to get around to reading it because I grew up watching the movie/cartoon, and I wasn't sure I wanted to change that experience in any way, or that a book of the same could be half so entertaining. (Though, even as I write that sentence, I admit that's not nearly how I usually think of books vs. their movies, and is really only the case here because I grew up with it.) Nevertheless, this was such a wonderful and fun read, and I can't wait to share it with young readers I know.

Simply, the book is pretty magical.

133whitewavedarling
set. 10, 2015, 11:12 pm

D. Organs and Bodies #4: One Arm and Other Stories by Tennessee Williams

How I Picked It Up: You know, I don't know how I ended up with this book. I had to read The Glass Menagerie so many times, between English classes and Drama classes, that I have to admit I just about grew to hate the sound of his name, and I always hated that play to begin with! Yet, somehow, I ended up with this collection of short stories in my TBR. It's a used copy, and I'm inclined to think that I was simply curious upon discovering it, not really having registered that he ever wrote short stories. One way or the other, it was a wonderful surprise.

Full Review:

Williams may be known best for his drama, but his short stories are simply brilliant, and I fell in love with his writing here on a level which was far beyond that I've experienced with his drama. I picked up the collection on a whim, and quickly discovered that his characters in prose are all-together more alive and more engaging than those I've found in his drama. In these sweeping short stories, he pulls together worlds that are simple as they are vibrant, and worth falling into with nearly every page. In fact, the flattest of the stories -- for me, at least -- was the one which touched back to the characters from his Glass Menagerie. The others, one by one, pulled me in and engaged my thoughts with every move and emotion. His flare for simple and natural language, buffeted by believable an all-too-real characters made this a collection that I wished wouldn't end.

Absolutely recommended.

134whitewavedarling
set. 25, 2015, 2:11 pm

F. Natural Objects #2: The Great Los Angeles Blizzard by Thom Racina

How I Picked It Up: I picked this up at a library book sale a few years ago, more on whim than anything. It looked like it would, very simply, be a nice-nonthinking adventure escape at some point. Then, because it's a hardback and was so thick, it sat and sat and sat on my shelf--and honestly, I've been reminded of that reasoning repeatedly this week, having been lugging it to two separate doctors' offices and also trying to hold it up while the cat sleeps in my lap (or rather, her bed). But that said, occasional sore wrist or not, it was indeed an enjoyable escape, and I'm glad ti picked it up. This was just what I needed this week!

Full Review:

Racina's vision of a major blizzard in Los Angeles is almost comedic in its beginnings, but fast becomes more real, and all the more terrifying. And, of course, that's likely how it would begin, with jokes about snow moving into terror and the unknown. His blending of short sections focused on climatology with engaging characters and a slow progression of intensity makes for a fast read, and while the book is clearly dated, for contemporary readers (having been written in 1977), Racina's focus on simply telling a fast-moving and character-driven story easily overcomes that question of period.

Altogether, this was a pleasant surprise. As a character-driven disaster novel, it had a lot to offer in terms of thought and escape, and it was an incredibly quick read. Having spent some time in Los Angeles, and having dealt with being snowed in on more than one occasion, and for more than a week at a time, it was sometimes too easy to imagine just how believable the panic would be, and how dangerously such conditions would escalate in an unprepared city like LA.

So, in the end, I have to say I'm glad I stumbled across this. It was a relaxing escape, and moved so quickly that it was, at plenty of moments, too hard to put aside or ignore.

135-Eva-
set. 27, 2015, 5:48 pm

>134 whitewavedarling:
I think I'll have to put that one on the wishlist - the temperatures here in LA have been around 90°F the last few weeks and we're meeeelting. I could use a novel about a blizzard! :

136whitewavedarling
Editat: set. 28, 2015, 9:38 pm

>134 whitewavedarling:, lol--well, I'm be curious to hear what you think if you do. Reading it, I was actually glad my husband and I hadn't moved to LA (which was a discussion at one point, before we moved to FL), as I was thinking I'd rather not be reading it and living in the location it was based around! But yep--being so hot here in FL may have influenced the timing of my picking it up when I did...

137whitewavedarling
oct. 7, 2015, 12:28 pm

H. Self Referencing #3: A Moveable Feast: Sketches of the Author's Life in Paris in the Twenties by Ernest Hemingway

How I Picked It Up: I received this as a gift, and I do love Hemingway's writing, but given that it was nonfiction, it took last month's Hemingway focus to finally push me into picking it up. I'm so glad I got around to it.

Full Review:

Reading Hemingway's sketches is a journey backward, and a wonderful one. With the intimate glimpses into his life that the book provides, and his beautifully simple language, each sketch of a chapter takes on a beauty of its own. Any reader of Hemingway should at some point find their way here, to this simple and lovely book.

Absolutely recommended.

138whitewavedarling
oct. 19, 2015, 11:02 am

D. Organs and Bodies #5: Teeth by Aracelis Girmay

How I Picked It Up: I was first exposed to Girmay's poetry when she and I were hired in 2009 to develop a summer creative writing curriculum for a two week performing arts camp. Until then, the camp had only invited students in dance and orchestra, but they were looking to expand into creative writing. We 'met' over the phone, and then officially met only a day or so before we met our summer students. Teaching with her was a wonderful experience, but I also grew to be a real fan of her work. Even in reading this, I have to say that I think her work is meant to be spoken, and suffers some from being here presented on the page instead of in her voice, but nevertheless, it's a wonderful collection.

Full Review:

Girmay's poems are varied and aware, wandering into different territories and balancing smoothly between language-play and observation. In many of them, there's such power that a reader is hard-pressed to not stop, consider, and reread the same poem once again--not because of a lack of clarity, but because there's a drive to re-experience it, and gain some more drops of meaning and emotion. It's true that not every poem lives up to this description--a few are oversoaked in description or expansion--but most of the poems here will be well worth the time for poetry lovers who want their poetry to come with an awareness of the world, and not only self-awareness.

All told, I truly enjoyed this one, and have to recommend it on to anyone who enjoys dipping into contemporary poetry; it's a lovely, thoughtful read, with much to appreciate and consider.

139whitewavedarling
oct. 19, 2015, 1:44 pm

M. Time #4: The Last September by Nina De Gramont

How I Picked It Up: I signed up for this through the Early Reviewers Program because it sounded like it would be right up my alley...

Full Review:

I received The Last September from Librarything's Early Reviewer Program, and while I've had excellent experiences with their matching me up with books before, it was a struggle for me to finish this one.

The book advertises itself as something of a love story, something of a murder mystery. It advertises itself as a book where the woman at the center is examining her life, trying to make sense of her husband's murder and whether or not she may have been complicit. The books is said to be 'moving and unpredictable'. All told, though, I'd say that none of this is true.

The protagonist, Brett, is so incredibly self-involved that it's impossible to care for her, and while the back cover of the book proclaims that she loved her husband from the first day she met him...well, as the book presents the story, she might have been infatuated with him or in lust, at best, but it certainly wasn't love. And when she apparently gets involved with another man, and then engaged (out of what? boredom?), she then simply wanders away from him, at their engagement party no-less, to her ex-lover. From the beginning, I'm afraid she's painted as a conceited and immature graduate student, with little awareness of the real world or what it means to be in love, and as a result, much of the inertia that the book could have held is lost in her endless references to Emily Dickinson and her never-ending self pity. The last straw for me, personally, which probably guarantees that I won't pick up another De Gramont work, comes with Brett declaring that hers is a more powerful and extensive grief than that of another character (who is far more sympathetic)--after all, she has a child, and he never had one, so hers must be more powerful. Never mind the fact that we've seen no evidence of real connection between she and her husband, that they were estranged and cheating on one another before he was murdered, or that the other character has ever remained faithful to just the memory of his life and still speaks of her with what is clear love.

Can you tell that, by the end of the book, little as I wanted to finish, I truly wanted the other characters to leave helpless and annoying Brett to her own devices, rather than taking care of her as if she were a five year old? Perhaps this isn't a bad portrait of a wannabe academic whose life isn't what she envisioned, but she's not anyone I want to spend five pages with, let alone 300.

Simply, there's very little of a murder mystery here until the last ten pages, when that portion of the book is almost laughingly crammed in--and no, I'm afraid there's no surprise or twist there, either. De Gramont's characters may be believable, as is the plot, and her writing may be graceful and beautifully-delivered, but none of that makes up for the fact that we're presented with a boring story about characters who are unsympathetic, and closer to pathetic than interesting

Obviously, I'm afraid that this isn't something I'd ever bother recommending.

140whitewavedarling
oct. 20, 2015, 4:18 pm

H. Self-Referencing #4: Place Not Race: A New Vision of Opportunity in America by Sheryll Cashin

How I Picked This Up: I got this from early reviewers on LT, and it truly was a fascinating read that I'd recommend.

Full Review (still in progress):

Cashin makes a smart argument for re-vamping affirmative action in a way that would take into account a student's background as a whole instead of focusing on race, with particular attention to students' access to education, opportunities, and family income. This is something I'd absolutely recommend to any readers interested in socio-political concerns, education, or the state of the US. Certainly, parents of children who'll be going to college in the US should be aware of the issues discussed here and take a look at Cashin's work. On the whole, it's thought-provoking and carefully researched, and well worth the time for any reader who takes an interest.

141whitewavedarling
des. 7, 2015, 11:01 pm

O. Other #6: Project Child: Awakening by Robin Deeter

How I Picked It Up: recommendation...

Full Review:

Project Child: Awakening is a fast-paced start for a series, and I'm anxious to see how things develop. The book had a lot intense and gripping moments, and the characters sucked me in immediately. Deeter's writing is a nice blend of being descriptive and fast-paced also, which seems rarer and rarer these days. Altogether, this exceeded my expectations as the start to a series, and had enough twists and surprises that I imagine the series is only going to get better from here.

142whitewavedarling
des. 28, 2015, 10:00 pm

I. Man-Made Objects #5: Open Roads by Zach Bohannon

How I Picked This Up: This is the continuation of the Empty Bodies series by Bohannon, and I've grown so attached to the characters that there's no question I'll read each installment as it comes...

Full Review:

As the fourth installment of Bohannon's Empty Bodies series, Bohannon's Open Roads takes the series to a new level that will impress all readers who've already been hooked on the series. Delving further into the histories of established characters while upping the ante and the tension, Open Roads is impossible to put down. True to the series, it delivers twists and action within an incredibly paced parceling out of horror, and shows Bohannon to be a master storyteller.

143whitewavedarling
des. 28, 2015, 10:26 pm

F. Natural Objects #3: Bone Quill by John Barrowman

How I Picked It Up: The first book in the Hollow Earth series was the best YA or MG fantasy I'd read in years, and I couldn't wait to move onto this second book. I'm saving the third book for a day when I can devote a full day to reading it, without having to put it down once...

Full Review:

Bone Quill picks up where the first book in the series left off, delivering just as much excitement. The characters in this series are so engaging that it's almost impossible to put the book down--all told, it's exciting, engrossing, and a wonderful wandering into meditations on the powers and intricacies of imagination and art.

Absolutely recommended.

144whitewavedarling
des. 29, 2015, 3:08 pm

F. Natural Objects #4: Island of Lies by Pamela Laux Moll

How I Picked It Up: Recommended through work... It sounded interesting, though I don't read much romance. I may or may not follow up by reading the sequel--it was a quick read, though.

Full Review:

A fast-paced romance with a bit of intrigue to keep things interesting. Exotic settings and a number of twists are also a constant, setting up a series that's clearly going to be balanced between romance and suspense.

145whitewavedarling
des. 29, 2015, 3:26 pm

K. Numbers #4: 77 Shadow Street by Dean Koontz

How I Picked It Up: I used to read Koontz quite a bit when I was in high school, and then sort of grew out of him. This one caught my eye because, admittedly, I love stories about haunted houses, haunted buildings, evil structures, etc. This sounded right up my alley... Unfortunately, in trying to make it stand out from other stories about haunted/evil buildings, I think Koontz sort of lost focus on holding this together as a really compelling story in and of itself.

Full Review:

In the beginning of 77 Shadow Street, I was really sucked in. The characters and the atmosphere were gripping, and I couldn't put the book down. Atmospherically, it was right on pace with what I'd hoped for, and the characters were so engaging that I couldn't believe it took me so long to pick it up.

And then, unfortunately, it stalled. About midway through the book, things simply slowed down. Too much jumping around with not enough depth made me feel like I'd rather lost touch with both the creepy atmosphere I'd been enjoying and the characters who I'd been most engaged with. In a way, it rather felt like the book lost focus, moving almost from horror into sci-fi territory, but also--really simply--losing focus and sort of wandering. I lost interest, and ended up not even bothering to take it with me on vacation, opting instead to start something else.

In the end, I finished this today, but compared to how I felt in the beginning, it ended up being a somewhat disappointing read. The ending picked up a bit, and I was glad to read through the resolution, but I think Koontz just tried to pack in too many ideas and twists into this one. Oddly, it was both sort of predictable and sort of confusing at different moments, which I have to attribute to a lack of focus, and a really off-kilter pacing.

All told, this likely isn't one that I'd find reason to recommend, I'm afraid.