List: 5 Mood-Boosters

I sort of notoriously prefer books on the darker side, but occasionally I want to read something that doesn’t leave me disturbed for three days after finishing it. Here’s what to read when you need a boost.

And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie | The premise of this incredible classic is well-known by now (a group of strangers on an isolated island are killed, one-by-one, leaving the survivors choked with suspicion and desperate for escape), but the genius of Christie’s writing bleeds through in a way that’s thoroughly delightful and leaves me grinning. Sure, it’s a murder mystery, but it’s a witty, enjoyable and fun murder mystery sure to leave you amused and satisfied. Amazon | Goodreads

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Emma by Jane Austen | I had an English Literature teacher in high school who swore that if you read 15 minutes of Austen every day, your writing would improve tenfold. Emma is a particularly easy one, and it’s ridiculously relaxing to read about the protagonist’s exploits as she navigates the world of matchmaking, sheds her naivete in the face of adulthood and discovers a love of her own. Amazon | Goodreads

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Every Heart a Doorway by Seanan McGuire | I cannot say enough about this magical novella. The young inhabitants of Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children are unusual - they’ve each traveled through a door to a magical world and back again - and struggle to re-establish a sense of identity in the wake of such journeys. This book really made me feel the possibility of magic again, in the way that Harry Potter did when I was a kid. Amazon | Goodreads

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The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien | The coziest adventure story of all time. Thrilling, creative and full of heart, this book is so therapeutic to me when I’m stressed. Amazon | Goodreads

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The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison | This quiet political fantasy follows a young half-goblin forced into the role of ruler when his father, the king, unexpectedly dies. Maya is one of the most kind hearted, well-intentioned protagonists I’ve ever encountered, and it is truly a pleasure to read his coming-of-age story. In an age of political uncertainty thanks to an elected Toad President and his Toad Supporters, I absolutely revelled in this vivid, imaginative, uplifting book. Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue

4 stars. Aww, how cute! Simply adorable! For some reason this was much more lighthearted than I expected, and much more ... adventurous. The stakes are never that high and the angst is a bit, well, angsty, but I really enjoyed this humorous little book.

I loved getting to know Monty, who begins about as far away from a fearless hero as you'll find in literature, his brave sister and his quietly noble travel companion / best friend / love interest. There are so many shenanigans I could hardly keep up - thievery, drunken debauchery, piracy, alchemy, numerous delicious illegal acts and just a hint of magic. They all add zest to this extremely heartwarming 18th century coming-of-age story.

I know it's shouted from the rooftops these days, but yes, representation matters. We have a bisexual protagonist in love with an epileptic biracial man - more stories like this, please. And take note - the representation here is done well. This isn't diversity for the sake of diversity, this book's message is folded with extreme care into its extremely well-written pages. The incredibly painful subjects of child abuse and chronic illness are handled with so much delicacy its almost breathtaking.

I docked a star because I suffer from really horrible secondhand embarrassment and couldn't stand Monty's many missteps in the first half of this book. I also find True Love tiresome. But seriously - read this book. I really, really enjoyed it, and I will read it again and again. After all, "what's the use of temptations if we don't yield to them?"

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue on: Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Valley of the Dolls

3 stars. Well, isn't this just the tangy, sour glass of lemonade I've been looking for since spring turned to summer.

At first glance, this book, which follows three women as they navigate a merciless and drug-fueled entertainment industry in the 40s and 50s, feels very ahead of its time. The men and the women are equally complex and equally capable of heartfelt good and destructive evil. It explores gender and identity and relationships with a sharp and witty voice that felt especially relevant in the wake of the #metoo movement (yes, fifty years later and not much has changed). I'm not surprised Susann's painfully realistic depiction of sex and sexuality was labeled as "dirty" and slapped with censors. 

Yes, it's mesmerizing, entertaining, witty and rings very true. When the publisher gave the manuscript to his wife to read, she famously said, "I feel like I picked up the phone and I was listening in on a conversation of women talking about how their husbands are in bed. Who would hang up on a conversation like that?" I totally reveled in the juicy bits and enjoyed the lightly-veiled references.

But overall it wasn't, for me, a particular fun or enjoyable book to read. I absolutely adored it and I am in awe of the unusual plotting, but I felt tight with tension throughout the first three quarters, vibrating like a plucked string or taut rubber band. I believe this is because, as a woman, I could feel that under the polka dots and the champagne and the boisterous appeal of show business in the 50s, I was watching a tragedy unfold.

Back before the age when all of us women heaved a collective sigh and admitted, with a combination of fear and relief, that we can't indeed "have it all," there were many Annes, many Jennifers, and many Neelys. Chewed up and spat out by the world - by the men of the world, in most cases. But this is not the tragedy to which I refer. The tragedy is that many of these women, knowingly or unknowingly, jumped into the mouth themselves. 

Valley of the Dolls, much to the delight of its fame-hungry author, will have a legacy as long as its in print. I think it very admirably says a lot, almost unintentionally, about ... well, a lot. But I can't ignore the simmering anger I felt upon finishing. Men are rats. Fleas on rats. And so are women. The end.

Valley of the Dolls on: Amazon | Goodreads

Retro Review: My Brilliant Friend (The Neapolitan Novels #1)

When I started this blog, I had been posting reviews on Goodreads for about 6 months. In the interest of having all of my book writing in one place, I will post one of these old reviews every Friday. They weren't written with a blog in mind, so please forgive the lack of summary and off-the-cuff tone.

5 stars. Visiting art museums as a child, I always preferred narrative art over portraits and landscapes. I liked putting together the visual clues, drawing inferences from the content, and using my imagination to fill in the rest. Like a typical child, I was attracted to the excitement, the illustrations, the battle scenes, the hidden elements that truly tell a story. Very occasionally, though, I'd come across a portrait that mesmerized, or a landscape that took my breath away. I remember viewing Whistler's Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl at age 10, and being totally and completely captivated. She's so pretty, so magnetic, and I saw layers and layers of personality in her face. Just as Whistler's portrait held surprising depth for me at age 10, this book is, perhaps, one of the most unexpected page turners I've ever encountered.

A lot happens in My Brilliant Friend. Many things occur. And yet it doesn't feel action-packed. I'm aware that some readers give up halfway through this book, frustrated with the lack of forward movement. Sometimes it dragged for me, too. But as I really consider this story and its complexities, I realize that it is, in fact, a narrative portrait - not thrilling at first glance, but layered and personal, allowing the reader a very intimate and very in-depth look at a somewhat unreliable narrator's portrayal of her childhood, her family, her surroundings, her development, her education, and her closest friendship.

Most importantly, her friendship. The most precious and terrifying relationship in her life. This is a novel truly about Elena's friendship with Lila. She's painfully aware of the impact this friendship has had on her life, on her formative years, and how this friendship has shaped her attitude and her priorities and her idea of success, and she spends a lot of energy attempting to capture the details. From anyone else's pen, this might be repetitive, cliche, or boring, but coming from Ferrante and her incredible translator, the story is engaging, wonderful, and from my perspective, easy to relate to.

Yes - to be a woman is to compete with other women. At least, in my experience. The "frenemy" concept is real. The constant comparison is real. The jealousy, the manipulation, the drive to be better, the validation that comes from the approval of your friend. The roller coaster of feeling superior only to be dashed by her inevitable success. The race to be first - first at anything. All real. I don't know about other women, or other men, but all of this was commonplace in my childhood and adolescence. And while I suppose I've matured, and those around me have grown up as well, thinking about it - remembering - brings up the same intense emotions as it did back then. The same anger and fear and the need to be better.

My Brilliant Friend is beautiful. It's a work of art. It moved me and made my heart beat faster. It's full of fascinating details about Naples and poverty and politics and religion and tradition. And I can't finish without addressing the fact that this book includes as much about masculinity as it does femininity. Elena's observations are honest and strong.

My Brilliant Friend on: Amazon | Goodreads

List: 5 Personally Defining Series

This is one of the best lists ever. Cultivated straight from my childhood, the following five series inspired my lifelong love of reading. I will turn to them again and again.

Harry Potter. I first heard HP read aloud to me in school - 2nd grade. I’ll never forget it. My teacher pronounced it “Her-moy-nee” and was as into it as the kids were. Like many others, HP had an impact on my reading habits; my standards for literature; my life. My favorite: a tie between Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, because I like beginnings, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, because I loved the chapters about the Quidditch World Cup. Amazon | Goodreads

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Dear America. These books fueled my interest in history and my obsession with diary books. Published before diversity and inclusion were loudly considered paramount, the Dear America books expanded my worldview in ways for which I am so grateful. I still see Colonial America through the eyes of Patience Whipple and thanks to her and the other girls I developed - almost unknowingly - a greater understanding of Big Concepts like slavery and war and colonialism at a young age. My favorite: A Journey to the New World, the Diary of Remember Patience Whipple. I also remember (so fondly it hurts) the Royal Diaries spin-off series (Amazon | Goodreads), my favorites of which included the ones about Cleopatra VII, Anastasia and Lady of Ch’iao Kuo. Amazon | Goodreads

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Nancy Drew. I find these almost unreadable as an adult (after awhile you get tired of chapters ending with “...and everything went black.”). But I fully devoured and appreciated these as a kid. I walked away from every library trip with at least one ND book in my pile and loved the simple pleasure of watching such a badass, intelligent, fearless woman fight evil. I loved Carson and Hannah and Bess and George and “special friend” Ned. My favorite: The Hidden Staircase. Also highly recommend the Her Interactive computer games for people of all ages - my sister and I would stay up all night long playing them during the holidays. Amazon | Goodreads

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The Princess Diaries. Ah, young adulthood. The worst. Meg Cabot though, what a gift. Clever, funny, amazing and on-point with her messaging. I consider this series personally defining because I definitely read them before I should have (I blame the aforementioned obsession with diary books), and it therefore served as a highly entertaining way to learn about … things (lol). My favorite: The Princess Diaries. Meg Cabot is prolific and her other series are just as great. The movie adaptation is fantastic as well and the only movie in which I can stand Anne Hathaway. Amazon | Goodreads

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Sammy Keyes. Speaking of on-point messaging, oh my goodness Sammy Keyes! If I had half of her courage and heart I’d be so lucky. I was - still am - so drawn into Sammy’s twisted, insane world. My favorite: Sammy Keyes and the Hollywood Mummy (so fucked up beyond belief in all the right ways). And I still have a crush on Casey Acosta. Amazon | Goodreads

Review: The Seventh Sense

2 stars. I think the most surprising thing about this book for me was that … it wasn’t actually all that surprising. I don’t know if it’s because I read it after the 2016 election or after the Zuckerberg testimony, or maybe because I’ve really never known a world that’s unconnected, but it really wasn’t all that … enlightening. 

Now, I grew up during a time when a lot of technology was emerging in the average household, and I, like everyone else my age, asked for a cell phone, asked for a screenname, asked for internet time and was told absolutely not – I was taught, essentially, not to trust it. My parents were always vocal about the risks and the threats out there.

So the idea that the connected nature of the world must be considered at all levels of decision-making, analysis, problem-solving, etc. was not particularly groundbreaking to me. I also felt, as someone who is not interested in managing another person let alone world domination, there weren’t many actionable takeaways for an average consumer who understands the nature and the implications of this networked world and enjoys it anyway. 

I was impressed with the writing, I appreciated the historical context and the references and the quotes and the pithy phrases – it’s very accessible – and I certainly enjoyed learning and flexing my philosophical muscles – but it didn’t spark anything in me. If anything, it just reinforced something that I’ve always known but perhaps never could never articulate – to me, the author tried to package an existing thread of mainstream thinking as a revelation. The fact that the evolution of networks is omniscient, constantly evolving and should be remembered … considered … recognized everywhere is an important diagnosis, but an unoriginal one.

The Seventh Sense on: Amazon | Goodreads

Retro Review: The Secret History

When I started this blog, I had been posting reviews on Goodreads for about 6 months. In the interest of having all of my book writing in one place, I will post one of these old reviews every Friday. They weren't written with a blog in mind, so please forgive the lack of summary and off-the-cuff tone.

4 stars. What could I possibly say about The Secret History that hasn’t already been said? There’s so much in Donna Tartt’s writing - so much detail, so much exposition, so much meticulous plotting. One of her gifts - truly - is that she includes all this in a way that feels completely natural. It’s brilliant, and weird. It left me feeling worn out maybe a little confused, in a good way.

I mean … it’s completely incredible, deeply intellectual and … full of first world problems. It epitomizes the use of sophisticated language and smacks you in the face with privileged stupidity. It’s carefully fleshed out and sharply thorough and somehow the lack of character development feels okay. What am I even saying? How can I even describe it? Like I said, it feels natural. It’s wrong and it’s right.

The Secret History is a smooth, robust, heavy book written without any obvious effort; the words birthed from a mind soaked in literary thinking.

The Secret History on: Amazon | Goodreads

List: 5 on Mythology (Part 1)

There is something alluring about the oldest stories on earth. I’d hate to neglect the fact that every country, race, region, religion, etc. has mythology of its own, so I’ll return one day to list more.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman | When a man named Shadow is released from prison, he finds himself in the service of a god - older and more powerful than he could ever imagine. Shadow is thrust into a great conflict involving this old god and, to his chagrin, many others. I love the TV show - better than the book, I think - so do check it out. But the written story has plenty to offer from a man who recognizes that ancient stories are playful, beautiful, and full of lessons that shouldn’t be forgotten. Amazon | Goodreads

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Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton | A must-read introductory collection for anyone interested in ancient myths and stories. “Timeless” is right. Amazon | Goodreads

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Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman | I apologize for including two by one author on this list, it’s not usually my style but I recently read Norse Mythology and couldn’t put it down. Gaiman modernizes these short tales and injects his characteristic aforementioned playfulness with style and grace. I can’t speak to the accuracy or weight of these myths but … they made me smile. Amazon | Goodreads

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The Odyssey by Homer | There’s a bit of buzz about this epic poem thanks to Emily Watson’s fierce and groundbreaking translation - and I fully support making room for all interpretations of this exciting adventure story. It primarily covers the journey of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, as he travels home after the fall of Troy (covered in the equally dense-but-entertaining epic The Iliad). Don’t be intimidated - this piece of work is fundamental to the development of modern literature and explores universal themes big and small. Also - I highly recommend Wishbone’s version. Amazon | Goodreads

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The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller | Miller beautifully paints from a new perspective in this portrait of Achilles; she draws through the eyes of Patroclus, his deepest companion and lover. While some criticize this book for “eroticizing” the traditional myth, it is my opinion that Miller gives the reader access to these ancient heros with an unprecedented sense of intimacy and heartbreak. At the very least, it’s an interesting take. Amazon | Goodreads

Review: Behind Her Eyes

5 stars. Hahahahaha. Awesome. 

Quick, super high-level summary: A lonely single mother, Louise, has a drunken encounter with a man in the bar, only to discover that he's her new boss. And married. To a beautiful, intriguing, seemingly-perfect woman named Adele. Soon, as she gets to know both of them, she begins to uncover secrets ... upon secrets ... upon secrets.

There's a lot that made this book successful. At first glance I was annoyed with the author for trying to channel Gillian Flynn (everyone tries to channel Gillian and everyone fails, because she writes stories that are thrilling, not thrillers ... but that's a story for another day). I felt hints of Paula Hawkins and Jane Harper, too, so I was annoyed and frustrated and all set to mock this book into oblivion for feeling so derivative. It appeared, in every sense of the word, to play by the rules.

And then things took a turn.

And then things took another turn.

And I was so into it.

Things I loved:

Sarah Pinborough's knack for writing different voices. I've read books that switch POV unsuccessfully because the author can't write more than one reliably believable tone and the characters are virtually indistinguishable. Here we have two/three individuals with their own quirks, interests, personality accents. It's wonderful and fresh and impressive.

The fact that despite very weird, wild, far-fetched, almost-maybe-supernatural events moved the plot forward, the characters behaved almost exactly like I'd expect them to - that is to say, realistically.

Pinborough's absolute, unwavering commitment. This wouldn't have worked had it been half-assed. I know there are complaints about the characters acting in ways that are ... expected, perhaps, reinforcing a caricature. But that's partly what made the puzzle pieces here fall into place - because they all fit the way they're expected to. That's a little abstract and might not make sense, but it really, really worked for me.

I know, I know, that ending (it's true - #WTFThatEnding). Sick. So sick. And somehow so satisfying in a crunchy, tangy way that hurts in all the right ways. Like taking a shot. I'm really, really blown away. The writing is good AND the plot is good AND the characters are good and I highly recommend this as a soul-sucking book that's worth your time. Convincing? No, maybe not. But just let ... it ... go and let yourself be entertained.

Behind Her Eyes on: Amazon | Goodreads

Retro Review: Sleeping Giants (Themis Files #1)

When I started this blog, I had been posting reviews on Goodreads for about 6 months. In the interest of having all of my book writing in one place, I will post one of these old reviews every Friday. They weren't written with a blog in mind, so please forgive the lack of summary and off-the-cuff tone.

3 stars. I suppose it's nothing I haven't seen before (epistolary sci-fi is weirdly popular these days), but I really enjoyed Sleeping Giants. This could have been a philosophical tome about humanity's place in the universe, but it turned out to be a quick read with simple characters and a fast-moving plot.

I got vibes: Battlestar Galactica vibes, Transformers vibes, and Illuminae Files vibes, which I didn't hate, but they definitely lessened any sense of originality, subject matter-wise.

There's something really fun about the way the chips fall into place here, though. The fast pacing was really appealing - normally I'd complain about the spotty character development but I found myself racing to the end because reading about an alien technology robot weapon is so cool. And surprisingly thought-provoking.

Points for making a predictable ending super entertaining. I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Sleeping Giants on: Amazon | Goodreads