End of summer…

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain:  I am an introvert and was intrigued by title and concept of the book.  I’ve never really thought about how my being an introvert affected my experience in school, college, relationships, work, etc.  I’ve thought about how individual components of my personality affect things, and often that contemplation begins when something doesn’t go quite right and I start thinking “Why do I always do XYZ?”  However, looking at my behavior, actions and responses as those of an introvert everything makes sense.  Even though I have always known myself to be an introvert, I never thought about it as an explanation or to rationalize my actions, and so behaviors that I know I like (i.e. staying in on a Friday or Saturday night), aren’t signs of me being antisocial or having something wrong with me – that’s just right for me.
Cain, an introvert herself, discusses how introverts have helped shape society, how they function in the high-power, fast-talking business worlds and how they function and learn in school environments.  All of which is both surprising and unsurprising.  She writes about how some of the most innovative artists and business people alike are introverts, and it’s the desire to work alone, uninterrupted, unhindered, and free from prying or judgmental eyes that can lead to wonderful creations and creativity.  We’ve all been in that college or professional seminar where discussion is dominated by the loudest or most aggressive, and often the most knowledgeable are ignored for being too quiet.  She writes about introverts who adopt and extrovert exterior in order to better fit in, especially those in environments, like business or finance, that seem to demand that persona.  Also important are the learning styles of different personality types.  Most striking to me was a study showing that extroverts seem to work just as well if not better when there is some noise or activity going on while introverts prefer a quiet atmosphere.  Immediately I recalled the kids who always swore to their parents that they worked better with the radio on – maybe they really do!   She examines the traits that each type prefers and how these can change when interacting with many personality types – small talk vs. intimate talk, going to a party vs. dinner with a friend.
There are so many fascinating studies and anecdotes that Cain brings into Quiet.  She never pushes to say one personality type is better than the other, but rather they compliment one another.  Both types are equally important and, when working together, can become quite effective.  This is a really well written and well researched work, that would be useful for educators and leaders to examine as well as anyone looking for insight into their introverted friend or themselves.

The Clash of the Demons, by Joseph Delaney:   Tom’s Mam has come home, only to take him to Greece.  Going with her to Greece are many of the Pendle witches, Alice and another Spook, Bill Arkwright.  She intends to take down the Ordeen and needs the help of anyone who can assist, whether they serve the light or the dark.  Mr. Gregory, firmly against ever using the dark, even for good, must reevaluate his principles for the sake of defeating the Ordeen and weakening The Fiend, who is still at large and after Tom.
Overall Assessment: Another solid installment of the series.  The incorporation of Greek mythology was a lovely added element, as was the return of Tom’s Mam.  The series continues to become a bit darker with each installment, but there is always the strong emphasis on hope and staying strong in defense of the light.
Will I Continue?  Somethings gotta go crazy for me to stop reading them this far in!

The Last Princess, by Galexy Craze:  This was actually my new book group’s first pick – at my suggestion – and it was not a good one.  Eliza is Princess of England in the not so distant future, and there were seventeen days when the Earth went nuts.  After that England has been cut off, people died, crops are hard to grow, former prisoners roam around eating people, food is scarce and of course rebellion grows.  Six years after the 17 days, the King is killed and her family is taken hostage.  Eliza makes some dumb decisions (i.e. enrolling in the rebel army with the intent of killing their leader on the first day, only to chicken out and train with the army for weeks or months, time was hard to grasp…or maybe it felt long).  Then she decides to waltz into the Tower and rescue her siblings, and apparently it’s easy to sneak into the tower.  Then ride to Scotland bareback while on death’s bed.  Then almost die of TETANUS.  Then have a Braveheart moment speech.  All while falling in love, only to (*spoiler alert*) be betrayed….or not?  It was just too much of everything – cliche, plot, storyline, plausibility, etc.  The timing felt like it was going so fast, but in reality I would think things take longer.
Overall Assessment:

Will I Read the Sequel? No.
The Longings of Wayward Girls, by Karen Brown:  This is a quiet novel that examines the lingering effects of of one particular summer.  Sadie is set to pass another summer in her idyllic small town in Connecticut, only it is still shadowed by the disappearance of Laura Loomis a few years prior.  However, a summer prank gone wrong and the lingering sadness and confusion of her mother turn the summer of 1979 into one that Sadie is still reeling from over 20 years later.
Brown’s writing is beautiful and the main characters well drawn, all adding to the mystery of that summer.  Some of the secondary, side characters feel slightly flat, but that’s also how they are in Sadie’s life.  The pacing did drag a bit in parts, but the overall mystery and changing atmosphere are enough to pull you through to the end.
Overall Assessment: Quietly engaging, this would be a nice one to curl up with and knock out on a plane ride (plus it’s in paperback – less weight!).

Lexicon, by Max Berry:  Preface – when I attempted to describe this book to Husband, he told me to stop, because my description wasn’t selling it.  Let’s see if I can to better here….  Imagine a school where students went to learn psychology, sociology, neuroscience and linguistics all to learn the art of persuasion.  Students learn to diagnose a personality end employ the proper persuasion techniques to get what they need.  And imagine there are certain words create a series a misfires in the brain, leaving it totally open to persuasion and being under the control of another.  This is the premise of Lexicon.  Told in dual narratives, we meet Emily, a street rat recruited by the Poets (those who run the persuasion school) and Will, who has been kidnapped by Elliot, a poet, who claims that Will is the key to a destroyed town Will has no memory of.
Obviously, there is a lot going on here, but Berry juggled the complex story lines and intricacies of the Poets marvelously.  The writing and pacing are taught and engaging to the end.  Berry keeps the twists and complexity moving to the end, and just when you think you know who the bad guy is and how things will turn out, you get another surprise.  The only negative, was some of the audio.   The story has two narrators, male and female, which was nice, but the female reader’s Australian accents sounded a bit off, almost Irish at times.  When she wasn’t doing the accents though, she was great and the male reader was spot on the whole time.
Overall Assessment: Fun read for anyone who likes mysterious societies, action books or complex mind games.

Book Challenge Update: I’m falling behind – eep!  I’ve read 109 books so far, but Goodreads is telling me that I am 1%, 2 books, behind schedule.  I’m not worried….

Paranormal Paranoia

The Last Werewolf, by Glen Duncan:  Jake is over 200 years old and the last werewolf.  In recent years the werewolf strain has stopped infecting, which means that no new werewolves are created.  At the same time, a group committed to wiping out the werewolves has killed  them all – except Jake.  Lonely and depressed, all Jake lives for is sex, alcohol and cigarettes.  All this changes with the cryptic phone message, a meeting with vampires and a chance encounter.
Duncan’s werewolf take was fun, fresh and sexy.  He has his own werewolf rules and mythology that suit the novel perfectly.  The Last Werewolf is smartly written and well paced. Occasionally Jake’s musings and thoughts meandered a little too far off course and it took a little work to refocus.  However, when the writing is tight and the tension is high Duncan takes you through unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing until the end.
Overall Assessment: For paranormal fans looking for a good writing, this is a great pick.  It does get graphic, so it’s probably not for sensitive/squeamish readers.
Will I Read the Sequel: Probably not.  I like this as a stand-alone.
My Labels: Paranormal, Fantasy, Horror, Adult Fiction, Popular fiction

A Clockwork Princess, by Cassandra Clare:  In book three of the Infernal Devices Clare ties everything together as well as sprinkling in a few more threads that are seen in The Mortal Instruments.  Tessa is engaged to a dying Jem, and Will is still the handsome, brooding, bad boy.  Mortmain is still a threat and the Consul is ignoring any leads that Charlotte gives him, even when Tessa is abducted.  The addition of Cecily, Will’s sister, and the Lightwood brothers, Gabriel and Gideon, to the Institute offer a few more Shadowhunters who are willing to help save Tessa, with or without the Clave’s help.
This was probably my favorite of all Clare’s novels.  The writing and pacing were fantastic.  The story never felt forced and it never veered too near to the semi-cheesy line that I think The Mortal Instruments toes at times.  Also, most important for a series – the ending was fantastic.  I was so happy with how Clare worked things for all the characters, in a plausible manner.  The skeptical grown-up me was happy, but so was the 13 year old girl in me.  I listened to this, and found the reader to be fantastic.  He caught the different accents wonderfully.
Overall Assessment: Loved it.  You definitely need to start with the first in this series (Clockwork Angel), but you don’t have to go through The Mortal Instruments too.
My Labels: Steampunk, YA, paranormal romance, series

Star Cursed, Jessica Spotswood:  The second novel in a series, when following an outstanding first book, usually confirms the first to either be a fluke or the start of something really good.  Luckily for me and other readers, Star Cursed is the latter.  It picks up with Cate in New London, now a Sister being trained in her skills.  She is still assumed to be the prophesied witch, despite her lack of visions.  For the safety of Maura and Tess, Cate reluctantly agrees to have them brought into the Sisterhood to have them develop their powers, and in case one of them is actually the witch in the prophecy.  Finn, now in the Brotherhood as also come to New London as the Brothers are tightening their hold and passing even greater restrictions.  Cate is now navigating the politics of the Sisterhood, the Brotherhood and her own sisters to find the best way to keep herself and her family safe while trying to do what’s best for the greater good.
Spotswood has created a brilliant alternative New England (and world!) of witches, visions, and creepy societies.  Cate is one of my favorite heroines because she is smart and capable and actually thinks before she does things without coming off as weak or indecisive.  She genuinely wants to do what’s best, and fully understands and weighs the consequences of acting and not acting, which is something you don’t see often.  The characters are all real, vivid and flawed and create a web of trust, deceit and secrets that add great tension.  The writing in engaging and Spotswood effectively plays with the tension as she pulls you through twists and turns.  My only complaint is that I don’t know when the next one comes out!
Overall Assessment:  Do I need to gush more?  Okay, I will: Awesome follow-up.  Second books can often be so disappointing–cheers to Spotswood for making a sequel that, is perhaps better than the already fantastic first book!  Huzzah!

Will I Read the Sequel?  Duh.
My Labels: YA, paranormal, series

Fairy tales, ghosts and sequins

  The Snow Child, by Eowyn Ivey:  Mabel and Jack left their old life behind and moved to the Alaskan wilderness, at a time when the government was enticing settlers to establish homesteads.  They are a middle-aged childless couple, who never fully recovered from the loss of their only child who died at birth.  On the evening of the first snow, they build a snow child only to discover it gone the next morning.  Soon after, they meet a mysterious little girl who lives in the woods, by herself with a fox.  The child visits them, but goes away every summer.  She becomes a part of their lives and the lives of their friends, but the mystery surrounding her appearance never ends.
Overall Assessment:  This was a really well done novel, and the premise is based on an Eastern European/Russian folktale.  Ivey’s novelization is lovely, and maintains the magic and feel of a folktale.  It’s very refreshing to read an adult novel without gratuitous sex, violence or swearing, while maintaining a sophistication and elegance of storytelling.
My Labels: adult fiction, popular fiction

  Twenty Thousand Roads: The Ballad of Gram Parsons and His Cosmic American Music, by David Meyer:  Those of you who are familiar with my musical taste know of my love of classic country, alt-country, folk, bluegrass and rock.  Naturally, I’m drawn to Gram Parsons one of the first musicians piece the sounds, themes and feel of classic country music and combine it with rock.  Meyer presents a thorough, well researched biography detailing Gram’s too short 26 year life.  He fully delves into Gram’s life, as well as those close to Gram who played pivotal roles in his life.  He analyzes the lyrics to some of Grams best songs putting them in context.  While Parsons grew up wealthy, never worrying about money, he had his share of hardships, from his father’s suicide to watching his mother drink herself to death.  Following his musical interests and evolution is fascinating, from his early interest in Elvis, to the folk scene, to country and gospel to finally creating his niche of melding country and rock.  He was a member of the Byrds, friend to Kieth Richards and discovered Emmylou Harris. While he’s not as famous as his peers, his influence on music was strong and lasting.  Perhaps most memorable, is the telling of how Gram’s friends stole his body before it could be sent to Louisiana for burial and burned it at Joshua Tree, one of his favorite places. 
Overall Assessment: Coming in around 500 pages, Meyers doesn’t skimp on the details of Gram’s short life.  For those unfamiliar with Gram, it’s still worth a look/skim even if it’s just for the stories of Gram and Keith Richards, Gram showing up late to play a show after having hit cow or taking LSD to get out of the draft.  Well written and researched Twenty Thousand Roads presents an honest and moving account of Gram’s life and an analysis of the music that he left behind too soon.
My labels: Biography, Music
If that’s not enough:  Gram wore nudie suits on stage, which are one of my favorite types of suits.  Doing a quick google search for a picture of Gram in his nudie suite, brought me to this article, that I wholeheartedly agree with.  Bring them back.   I would totally wear one everywhere I went.  Gram is quoted in the beginning of the book, “Just because we wear sequins doesn’t mean we think we’re great, it means we think sequins are great.”  Exactly.

If You Find Me, by Emily Murdoch:  This is a powerful story about two girls who are reintroduced to “civilization” after growing up hidden in a camper in the woods.  Fifteen year old Carey raised and cares for her younger sister Ness.  Their mother leaves camp on a supply run and never returns. She releases them to Social Services, who find them in the woods along with their father – whom Ness has never met and Carey barely remembers.
A bit slow at the start, but Murdoch slowly and surely builds the tension and draws out the mystery of what happened to the girls in the woods as well as how exactly they wound up there.  Hard to read at times because of the ugliness of their situation, but at the same time a must read.  I listened to it and found the audio to be okay.  The reader did a great job of catching the emotion, but I found the accent a bit off (the novel is set in rural Tennessee).
Overall Assessment: Really well done novel, probably best for high schoolers since there are some sensitive subjects that come up.  Strong characters, good writing and a moving story.
My labels: Young Adult, realistic fiction

In the Shadow of Blackbirds, by Cat Winter:  This ghost story incorporates a lot of  historical elements that make for an intriguing tale: the Spanish Influenza, WW I, spirit photography.  Mary Shelly Black (named for the famous writer) has been sent to San Diego after her father was arrested for possibly having German sympathies.  Her longtime childhood friend has gone to war, and his brother has become a spirit photographer.  Mary is forced to sit for him, setting off a chain of mysterious events.
This is a brilliant time period to write about because, while it is historical fiction, it has the dystopian/coming-apocalypse feel that is so popular.  Everyone wears a white gauze mask hoping to avoid a deadly illness, people are arrested for saying the wrong thing, neighbors spying on neighbors, etc.  The added paranormal element works well in this setting, where people are scared and distraught and looking to spirits for comfort.  Mary Shelly is a great heroine – she is smart, independent and clever.  The story is well developed, and you never can fully see where Winter is going, so the twists come as a surprise. 
Overall Assessment:  Great novel that makes for a quick read, because it’s hard to put down.  Perfect for fans of dystopia, paranormal or historical fiction novels.  
My Labels: YA, Ghosts, historical fiction