The Final Countdown

Twerp, by Mark Goldblatt:  Julian made a mistake, and his English teacher decides to have him write about his life and hopefully, the incident that led to his suspension.  The result is an amusing story of boys growing up in  Queens in the 1960s.  Amusing is about as far as I can go with describing Julian’s tale.  Everything just felt a little bland, characters and storyline.  The only time it really picked up and caught my attention was in the final chapters where he finally reveals “the incident.”  Unfortunately, at that point, I just wanted the book to be done.
Overall Assessment:

Bomb:  This was a fantastic look at the development of the atomic bomb.  The science is accessible, Sheinkin does a fantastic job of breaking down the discoveries and process of creating the bomb.  But even more fantastic are the espionage stories involved with the atomic bomb.  The description of the Norwegians scaling the rock wall, climbing in vents read like something out of a movie and made the book hard to put down.  I agree that all the jumping around made things a little tricky to follow, but certainly not impossible.   The pictures of the major players at each chapter was helpful for keeping everyone straight.  The main problem with this is getting it into kids’ hands.  Once they start though, I think many readers will enjoy this.
Overall Assessment:

The Uncoupling, by Meg Wolitzer: A chill slowly works its way through the women in a small idyllic New Jersey community – a chill that makes women stop wanting to have sex with their husbands.  The story focuses on the Langs, Robby and Dory, a seemingly ideal couple with a teenage daughter, Ella.  The chill, actually a spell, works its way throughout the community, in particular those in the high school, where the Langs teach and their daughter attends.  At the same time, (is it coincidence?) the high school is performing the play Lysistrata, a Greek play where the women decide to stop having sex with the men, until the Peloponnesian War ends.  As the spell spreads to other teachers and students, Wolitzer provides detailed glimpses into their lives as the women are affected by the spell, which in turn affects their husbands, boyfriends, etc.

This was an enjoyable read.  It had the feel of a fairy tale throughout, which the audiobook narrator captured perfectly.  Wolitzer is great with the details and descriptions that make the characters come to life.  My main qualm was the pacing, which had a tendency to drag at times.  The story itself was unique and took an interesting, and amusing look at sex and the power it has in our lives.
Overall Assessment:

Flora and Ulysses, by Kate Dicamillo:  What happens when a squirrel gets sucked into a super-powerful vacuum?  He becomes a superhero squirrel, naturally.  This is what happens to Ulysses the squirrel, who is befriended and protected by Flora Belle Buckman, a self-professed cynic with a love of superheroes.  Flora’s crazy mother, is not crazy about having a squirrel in her house and concocts a nasty scheme involving a bag and a shovel.  She becomes what every superhero needs – an arch nemesis.  The novel is full of eccentric characters, wacky situations, and squirrel poetry.
The narrator for the audiobook did a superb job of capturing the voices, excitement, and silliness of this book.  Unfortunately, she couldn’t save the rest of the book.  The charm and heart that you normally feel from Dicamillo just never fully came through.  The characters felt a little flat (although the reader did a great job of giving them life).  The story, which had so much potential, felt a bit ho-hum.  It felt like an eternity to read, even though it is short, but I just wanted it to be over and done with.
Overall Assessment:

Allegiant, by Veronica Roth:  Tris and Four are back in the conclusion to the Divergent trilogy.  Yay?  Hmm.  Evelyn is trying to control the city and is enforcing a factionless state.  Naturally, those who were always factionless become assholes to the people who still feel tied to their faction (because changing your whole life happens overnight is totally cool, right?).  Four is Evelyn’s second in command, while secretly dating Tris (whom Evelyn hates and tries as a traitor).  Tris wants to follow the message uncovered at the end of Insurgent, and go out into the world.  They escape the city to find the truth about the factions and their societies.  What they find, isn’t the wonderful solution they hoped for, however.
I just couldn’t get excited about this.  The whole time I couldn’t stop thinking about how they didn’t know there was a whole world out there?  They are a very intelligent and learned community, but we never even heard wondering about what was beyond the wall.  Isn’t that something a Dauntless at least would say?  So what were they told about the rest of the world?  That really bugged me throughout, and I needed to know.  Pushing aside these qualms, the book was okay.  It was fun and full of action, but it wasn’t very exciting.  The new characters were fairly stereotypical, and the old characters keep making the same stupid mistakes.  By the end, however, you do see definite growth and change in the characters.  The plot and situations felt similar to the other books, just with a different enemy and in a different place.   Maybe it was me, but I just found the conclusion to be pretty lackluster.
Overall Assessment:

Insignia, by SJ Kinkaid:  Thomas, a 14 year old gamer has been recruited by the military for his gaming skills and killer instinct.  He is outfitted with a brain chip to make him faster and smarter and begins rigorous military training that involves programming, PT and lots of war games.  Throw in some really slimy characters, crazy corporation politics, crazy tech, fighting over the solar system, and some good old fashioned backstabbing and you have yourself a sci-fi action adventure.
Sound familiar?  It does indeed remind of Ender’s Game, but Kinkaid does a good job of building her own world and futuristic vision.  She did an excellent job of creating witty and realistic banter, and fleshing out her main characters.  Most of her bad guys, Karl, Dalton, are pretty stereotypical, but they are so hate-able it’s hard to really fault her for that.  Some of Tom’s and his friends’ actions could be frustratingly stupid, but, they are also 14 years old.  The politics could be a bit confusing at times and some of the tech explanations left me scratching my head, but not so much that it took away from the story. Good pick for boys and sci-fi fans.
Overall Assessment:

I used this one recently, but appropriate in this case.

Will I Read the Sequel? Maybe, but doubtful.  I’m sure I would become absorbed, but I wonder if it would be more of the same.

Reboot, by Amy Tintera:  In a future Texas, a deadly virus has spread that causes teens to reanimate after death.  The more time between death and reanimation means the less human-like the individual.  These “reboots” are made into an army by the corporation that now governs Texas.  Reboot 178 (they are marked by the minutes between death and reboot) is the toughest reboot, but all of that changes when she meets lowly 22.  She begins to feel and experience things she hasn’t in a long time, and finally begins questioning and, ultimately rebelling against the enslavement of the reboots.

Reboot is a unique combo of zombie/dystopia/post-apoc all rolled into one, which means definite readership.  The main characters are well defined and the story moves along nicely.  I think the best part of the novel is the growth and changes that 178 makes; her growth and change never felt forced.  There are some cliches (evil, twisted scientists and corporations), and a few plot issues I wondered about, but again, not enough to take away from the story.
Overall Assessment:

Will I Read the Sequel? Probably not.  The ending is satisfying and stands alone well enough, that I would rather leave off there. Plus, I need less sequels in my life.

Only 5 more books needed to reach my goal of 150 books! Totally doable!

Weekly Round Up

The Language Inside, by Holly Thompson:  I had a hard time getting through this, to be quite frank, I found it brutally boring.  I just didn’t care about Emma…she felt pretty bland to me. It also seemed to meander a lot with all the story lines (volunteering, dance, tsunami, breast cancer, etc.).  The author seemed to have too many ideas, but not enough editing.  All this I found quite disappointing, especially because I enjoy novels in verse.

Overall Assessment:

Forgive Me Leonard Peacock, by Matthew Quick:  Now this was an intense novel.  Leonard is planning to kill his enemy/bully and then himself on his 18th birthday.  The novel goes through what he plans as his last day alive.  He goes through his last day bringing gifts to his few friends and describing their importance in his life. He also slowly reveals the story of why Asher Beal, his former best friend, became his tormentor.

    This is a raw and intense story.  The characters are well developed and realistic.  Leonard’s emotions are raw and tangible.  I think the sensitive topic will alienate some readers and I’m not sure if everyone who picks it up will finish it.  Those that pick it up and finish it, are sure to be moved.

Overall Assessment:

Fallout, by Todd Strasser: What if the Russians did drop the bomb in the 60s?  What if the crazy neighbor who actually built the bomb shelter was right?  In Fallout, this is exactly what happens.  The novel is told in parallel narratives – one telling of what happens from the moment the sirens sound.  The rush to the shelter, the neighbors clamoring to be let in, and the two week wait for radiation levels to drop.  The other tells the events leading to the creation and building of the shelter and take us up to the moment that the sirens sound.

I love alternate takes on history and Strasser doesn’t disappoint.  He captures the cramped, uncomfortable, tightness of living in the shelter and contrasts it with growing up in the 60s.  He offers kids a taste of how it was to grow up in this time, and captures the worst fears of the time as well.  The book was well written and executed, not all the characters were well developed, but you got a strong feel for the main characters.

Overall Assessment:

Boxers & Saints, by Gene Luen Yang:  Each of these graphic novels stand alone well and individually each makes for a compelling story, but together they make for a powerful compelling look at an interesting and sad time in China.   Boxers tells the story of the Boxer Rebellion, the Chinese who want to take back their country from the foreigners who are trying to take over their country while looking down upon it’s inhabitants.  Saints tells the story of an unwanted girl who finds refuge in Christianity.  They are both smart, funny and thought provoking.  Yang’s portrayal is fascinating because he is able to clearly tell both sides of the story, neither side is a footnote.  Readers get to see the good, bad and ugly of each side, which, I find is one of the best ways to examine history.  The graphics, color and illustrations are spot on, and enhance the story and setting.  The characters and story are well developed and the story moves briskly along.  Great pick for any reader – even those who don’t care for the graphic novel format.  Plus, I LOVE the two books side by side!

Overall Assessment:

The Teleportation Accident, by Ned Beauman:  This was my book club’s November pick, and it certainly provided a lot of discussion.  The book follows Egon Loeser from Berlin to Paris to LA as he follows his dream chick, with the hopes of getting laid (seriously).  Throw in a possible teleportation machine, the rise of WW II, espionage and a lot of self absorbed characters and you have the book.

The writing was pretty dense, especially at the beginning.  The first couple chapters (at least 40 pages each) were difficult to get into and fully follow (BC agreed on this count), but if you can make it though, the second part becomes pretty interesting and easier to read and understand.  The writer was  philosophy major, which explains the denseness of some of the writing and his inclusion of philosophy bits here and there.  There were a lot of characters, but they were all pretty well developed, but none were particularly likable.  The book was interesting and had a lot of cool plot points, but ultimately it was a bit much for me and could have used a little more editing.  However, it makes for an excellent book club choice because it was definitely fun to discuss the characters, their evolution (or lack thereof), what happened (or didn’t happen), our interpretations (because there are many) and trying to figure out what actually happened.

Overall Assessment:  Hmm, this was hard, but I think I found a way to sum it up that makes sense to me:

Other readers of the book?  Does this work?

The Little Book of Sloth, by Lucy Cooke:  I confess, this is a kids non-fiction book that I am counting towards my total (I don’t normally include books this short or with so many pictures!), but it is so awesome it defies the rules.  Cooke introduces us to the sloths residing in a sloth sanctuary, and I want to pack my bags and go move in with them.  They all have names, personalities, toys, etc. and I don’t think these sloths take a bad picture!  It’s cute overload!  Cooke provides a lot of information on sloths in a fun, conversational tone that doesn’t make it feel like a non-fiction book.  She integrates a lot of humor and warmth into the book and you can tell how much Cooke loves these animals.  Lower grade teachers, should take note, this is a fabulous book that kids would love to see.  Think the boys wont care too much?  Wait till she talks about potty training sloths and how they need a poo pole.  Wonderful introduction to these adorable animals.

Overall Assessment:  That wasn’t enough?

Yoga Competition?

Coming up in December, I have my two year Bikram yoga anniversary.   My practice has changed quite a bit in such a short practice time and I thought I would celebrate that by competing this year.  Plus, as a teacher, I encourage students to compete, so I thought I should at least give it a try.  A lot of folks find the idea of a yoga competition strange, and I admit, that I first thought it was too.  The idea behind the yoga competition is to share your love of the yoga.  And going on stage, in a crowded mall, in a leotard is something that does require a deep love of yoga.  Since I really do love doing Bikram yoga (all types of yoga are can compete), because it has helped and given me so much, that helped motivate me into getting on stage to show and share how much I love it.   In this way, it spreads awareness of yoga and can inspire others to start their own practice, especially with competitors of all ages, shapes and sizes doing the exact same postures.  You can read more about yoga competitions by checking USA Yoga.  The main point I stressed to my students, and myself, is that it has to be a fun enjoyable process.

Taking my own advice (for once), I kept it fun by not stressing myself out and chose postures that I could already do reasonably well, pigeon and archer.  (There are five mandatory postures: Standing Head to Knee, Standing Bow Pulling Pose, Bow Pose, Rabbit Pose and Stretching Pose, plus two optional postures of your choosing)  I played around with a few harder optional postures (full camel and sleeping yogi), but wasn’t too concerned about really getting them.  Just by practicing them, I was helping my other postures.  I went through my whole routine maybe once a week starting a few weeks before competition.  After each class, I usually just practiced my optional poses, figuring I already practiced the five mandatory ones in class.   Plus, whenever I practiced SHTK or SBPP either in class or for competition practice I usually fell out of one at some point, and I didn’t want to frustrate myself or psyche myself out.  I can hold them, and I chose to partially rely on that knowledge and confidence, rather than continually try and try again until it’s not fun, I’m angry and frustrated.

On competition day, I took a lovely 8am class at Bikram Yoga Hartford (which was eye opening because I usually teach at 8am, and it’s been a while since I took one, so it was a good reminder of what my students feel that early!).   At the mall, getting ready for competition, there was a really nice camaraderie amongst the competitors, encouraging comments and advice and the all important sharing of hair and make-up items.  When the routines started, you could see all the competitors really pulling for the yogi on stage.  When someone fell out, or didn’t quite make a tricky posture you saw sympathy rather than glee, when someone’s hand was so close to where it needed to be for Full Wheel , you could see people’s hands twitching like they wanted to grab and everyone whispering, “You’re so close, you’ve got it!”  Without doubt, I found the senior division most inspiring – I want to be like them when I grow up!

So, how did it go?  Not bad!  My main goal was don’t fall out, and I did not fall out!  I am actually quite surprised that through out the entire experience, I never felt very nervous.  When I was finally called to the warm-up area I began to experience the butterfly feeling in my stomach, the rush of adrenaline, and the sweat that accompanies this feeling of nervous excitement.  My routine was definitely one of the shorter ones, but I’m also never comfortable with being center stage.  As for my routine, I really don’t remember much.  I don’t remember hearing anything or seeing anything other than my focus points in each posture, like the corner of the stage staircase in SHTK and SBPP, my big toes in Bow and Stretchting and my stomach in Rabbit, etc.  A friend, quite astutely pointed out to me that it was because I was probably focusing and concentrating so hard that I tuned everything out, which is, of course part of the goal and reason we practice yoga.   I was quite proud of my concentration and my postures.   I met my main goals, so what else was there to do, but get fro yo?

As far as next year goes, well see.  It depends on how busy I am, where the competition is held, how I’m feeling, and if I even feel up to it.  I can now encourage students to compete, having actually accomplished what I’m encouraging.  Competition certainly helped me improve my postures as well as deepening my understanding of the mechanics of the postures.  It was a fun learning experience that I am certainly glad to have done.

Book Backlog Round Two: Grown Up Reads

I hate to say adult books…..it sounds so dirty!  Anyway, I finally managed to find time to briefly review the adult fiction/non-fiction I’ve been reading.  I still have quite a few more to review and I am working on gathering my thoughts on yoga competition this year.  More to come soon!

Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, by Therese Ann Fowler:  This moving novel follows the life of Zelda Fitzgerald, wife of F. Scott Fitzgerald, as she goes from southern belle to high New York, European society girl.  The Fitzgerald’s marriage had it’s ups and downs (to put it nicely), and that alone makes for an interesting subject, but adding in the artists, writers, painters and poets with whom they spent their time in France, Italy and New York add so much interest and history to the novel.  While it is fictionalized, the writer clearly did her research and felt a need to share Zelda’s unique voice.  Zelda was spirited, but also intellectual.  She was a writer, painter and ballet dancer in her own right.  I listened to this on audio, and the reader did a wonderful job of capturing Zelda’s Alabama accent as well as the European accents of their friends.  The novel is beautiful, moving and heartbreaking.

Overall Assessment:

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End, by Manel Loureiro: Zombies!  A strange occurrence in Russia, leads to quarantines, and media blackouts.  Soon, reports of strange illnesses and behaviors filter out from places that have had contact from Russia.  The situation gradually becomes worse and news reports become stranger, scarier, and violent.  Watching and recording this from the safety of his home is our narrator, a young lawyer grieving his wife’s death, accompanied by his faithful feline Lucullus (I love a hero who loves a cat…).  At first he blogs about the situation, but as the world and society deteriorate, he switches to a journal.  He records the events of his inevitable escape from his house and the survivors and horrors he finds afterward.

  I get excited about every zombie book I pick up, and Apocalypse Z did not disappoint.  The book never wants for dull moments, Loureiro jumps right in, sets the stage, introduces thecharacters and gets the action moving.  Granted, there were a lot of factors in our narrator’s life that were really quite convenient for surviving the apocalypse, but I can let that go because I he was well developed as a character.  Originally published in Spanish, this is a translation, but the translation is smooth (the last couple translated books I read were a bit clunky, so it’s always worth noting).  It had action and gore, but without that feel of gore overload.  Most important, it had heart to accompany the strong, brisk moving plot.  This was a really great zombie adventure, a must read for fans of the genre.

Overall Assessment:

Will I Read the Sequel? Absolutely!

Bonus Points for Cat Loyalty!

Night Terrors: Sex, Dating, Puberty and Other Alarming Things, by Ashley Cardiff:  All topics mentioned in the title are very alarming things, and Cardiff handles them with honesty, humor and wit.  She discusses the dreaded, meeting of parents, where, in her case, she found constant judgement and comparison.  Public hair, or lack thereof, meeting creepers in bars, and other entertaining stories and anecdotes I can see being told on a girls night out – with the right girls.  She captures the awkwardness of dating and relationships, and everything else they entail, while offering wit, snark and opinion.  This isn’t a book of rants and stories, Cardiff offers a little more and digs a little deeper, offering insights and thoughts that only come through hindsight and reflection.
Interesting, humorous and thoughtful collection of essays that make for an enjoyable read.  Towards the end I was getting ready for things to wrap up, there was a little bit of tedium and repetition, but not enough to detract from the overall book.

Overall Assessment:

Hark! A Vagrant!, by Kate Beaton:  This graphic novel has been on my list for ages, and after many library checkouts and returns, I finally checked it out and read it.  As usual in cases like this, my first thought was, “Why did I wait so long?”  Hark is fun comic romp through history and literature, along with Beaton’s own characters along for the ride.  The entire book isn’t a continuous story; some stories are spread over multiple pages, others only a strip or two.  However, this still feels like a book, rather than a collection.  It feels full and cohesive, with the added bonus of being able to read a strip, fold some laundry, come back read another couple pages, then load the dishwasher.  Beaton’s illustrations are charming and delightful and the stories are goofy, fun and smart.  Absolutely fantastic.

Overall Assessment:
Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies, by Chris Kluwe: Another essay collection, this time by Chris Kluwe, punter in the NFL.  Kluwe’s essays range from gay rights, to time travel, the Pope and Twitter, the second Amendment, and anything and everything in between.  His essays are funny, articulate and passionate, with some profanity sprinkled in just to keep things entertaining.  Since I agree, for the most part, with his opinions, I found most of his essays entertaining and agreeable.  Those who don’t agree, will, with an open mind, be entertained and hopefully informed, because, Kluwe comes across as well informed and read in topics he is passionate about.  Like Night Terrors, I did wish the book was a little shorter, because the essays did become a bit repetitive after a while, but perhaps it felt that way because I’ve been reading lots of essay books lately.  Also, as others have noted, it is quite refreshing to see a football player in a different and positive light.

Overall Assessment:

Book Backlog: YA Fiction Edition

I have quite the book backlog after missing a couple weeks of updating, partially because I was prepping for NE Regional Yoga Competition (more to come on that…), seeing David Sedaris, going to Disney World (for the first time!  Weee!), and partially I was busy and/or lazy (you know what I mean, right?) the rest of the week.  I decided the best way to address them was to divide them into YA and Adult Fiction, and write slightly shorter reviews – with gifs, because no one likes long winded reviews.

Book Backlog:  YA Fiction Edition

Darius and Twig, by Walter Dean Myers:  This is a realistic look at two boys trying to make something of themselves and get out of Harlem.  Darius, our protagonist, is thoughtful, observant and a talented writer.  Twig is a star runner.  The two of them clash with family expectations and letdowns, classmates who don’t want anyone to succeed, and a system that often seems to have the cards stacked against them.  Their friendship is a perfect fit and admirable: when Twig gets down Darius gets him though and Twig helps Darius even when he’s skeptical about what Darius wants.
I didn’t really get into this one until about halfway through, but that might be me (something about Walter Dean Myers’ writing style always seems to do that to me).  The writing was clear and accessible and the characters were well drawn.  Even some of the typical “thug” characters were given a little more depth, allowing their motives to be understood.  It was a realistic portrayal of boys living in Harlem and the things that they see.  The few “F bombs” were appropriate to the story and, like others have commented, probably not that shocking to readers of this genre or readers who live in similar settings.
Overall Assessment:

The Program, by Suzanne Young:
Teenage suicide is considered an epidemic and The Program was instituted to help save teenagers.  When a teen is flagged or reported they are sent to The Program and when they come out they basically remember nothing from their old lives.  Sloan and James are trying hard to stay out of the program but they can only fight for so long, when The Program is always watching and Sloan’s parents are terrified of losing another child.  Part love story, part fighting the system, The Program is a really taught, well told story.  The characters are well developed  and the story is really engaging.  However, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the implausibilities, gaping holes in the explanation of this society and some of the practicalities that weren’t explained to my satisfaction and I found that very frustrating.  Maybe some of this will be answered in the sequel, which I still might read because The Program was pretty absorbing, but I still can’t fully get behind it.  Still, this is a popular title that has a lot of appeal.

Overall Assessment: I think Ron would be as confused as I was….

Will I Read the Sequel?  Eh, if I don’t have anything else to read and I needed something immediate that I could easily read on say, a plane ride, when I really don’t have anything else.

Somebody Up There Hates You, by Hollis Seamon: Richie has been through chemo, radiation, the whole 9 yards and now is in hospice where he and Sylvie are the only teenagers.  Life has been hard on Richie and Sylvie and together they try to live it up as best you can when your body is breaking down.  Richie is honest and likable, and I couldn’t help cheer him on when he’s sneaking out and trying to have some semblance of a teenage life.  Both Richie and Sylvie want to get in those key moments in life before time is out.  It was heartbreaking, hopeful, funny and realistic.  There is some sex (with super awkward results), and other content so probably best as high school.These types of books usually don’t appeal to everyone, but there is certainly a niche that enjoy the downer topics (myself included!).. It will certainly appeal to, and remind readers of The Fault In Our Stars, which was written better, but I didn’t feel as emotionally manipulated at the end as I did with TFIOS.  The writing and pacing were well done, but again not exceptional.  Overall though,it was a good one.
Overall Assessment: 

Orleans, by Sherri Smith: New Orleans and the Gulf region were battered by hurricanes causing bringing increasing amounts of damage and illness to the area, resulting in the secession and cutting off of the Gulf states.  The main reason being the outbreak of Delta Fever – a highly contagious and deadly disease.  The states are literally cut off by a wall that divides them from the rest of the states.  Life in the Gulf has become unrecognizable – people live in tribes according to blood type and must avoid blood hunters and other perils.  Fey is just trying to survive when she meets Daniel, a scientist who sneaked over the wall in the hopes of finally curing Delta Fever.
An interesting premise for a novel, especially with Katrina and now Sandy still so prevalent in our minds.  The characters were well drawn and interesting.  Some plot elements were a little weird, but worked, for the most part, in this setting.  There were a few bumps when things dragged, but overall not bad at all.  I think there is appeal for a lot of readers.
Overall Assessment:

Will I Read the Sequel? Probably not.  I just don’t care enough about the crazy Delta.

This is What Happy Looks Like, by Jennifer Smith: This was a super cute book, and I’m surprised at how much I liked it because I normally don’t do super cute.  Superstar Graham accidentally emails small town Maine girl, Ellie, and the two form a connection.  When Graham manages to get his movie filmed in Ellie’s town they finally get an opportunity to meet.  But dating a superstar isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and Ellie has secrets of her own that make dating in the spotlight difficult.Again, really cute story, with good characters (and a beagle*  named Bagel!) and writing.  There was a bit of cliche in there and a bit of predictability, but not enough to detract from the book.  Fans of Statistical Probability and Sarah Dessen will certainly enjoy this.

*I just decided that whenever the word beagle appears in a posting, we’ll take a beagle pause and look at a picture of one of my beagles.  Beagle pause!

Overall Assessment:

If You Could Be Mine, by Sara Farizan:  Iran is a tough place to be a woman, for extra difficulty, add being a lesbian.  Sahar has been in love with her best friend Nasrin for years.  The girls steal away whatever moments they can, until the day it is announced that Nasrin’s marriage has been arranged to a well-to-do doctor.  Sahar discovers that while the government considers homosexuality is as a crime, it views transsexuals as a mistake nature made and will assist in paying for reassignment surgery.  Sahar becomes convinced that this might be the only way she and Nasrin can be together, the biggest problems being that Sahar is not transsexual and she is unsure if Nasrin will accept her as a man.
This was a fascinating book about a problem, that unfortunately, has no good solution.  It was eye opening with respect to the Iranian government’s view of transsexuals.  The treatment of women, gays and lesbians, while expected, is still hard and frustrating to read about.  The main characters were fairly well developed and the plot moved along nicely.  However, there were some characters, scenes and plot developments that I would have liked to see flushed out a bit more, because it occasionally felt a bit hurried.  That said, this is still a quality and moving book, that sheds light on issues and areas of the world that teens, and the rest of us, need to pay more attention to.
Overall Assessment:

The Fear Factor

I’ve never considered myself an overly fearful person.  I don’t ever think about physically getting hurt, in accidents, sick, being attacked or anything like that.  I have a healthy respect for all of these things, and do not  and seek out trouble by not washing my hands or driving with my eyes closed, but fears about a lot of everyday things don’t cross my mind.  Now, this is mainly in a physical sense, social fears are a whole other basket full of nerves.  However, in that last month or so, I have been noticing a small fear voice creeping in, during two activities: yoga and bike riding.

As a kid I rode my bike a lot.  I didn’t even wear a helmet or knee pads or any other kind of protection kids are supposed to wear these days (in all fairness, I only remember a couple of kids ever wearing any of those things, and quite frankly, they looked dorky).  I would fearlessly ride my bike at crazy speeds throughout neighborhoods, down main the sidewalks of main roads, attempt to ride no handed, ride on the handlebars, etc.  Around high school I stopped riding my bike and it wasn’t until recently I started riding again.  My town isn’t overly bike friendly, but doable, with wide shoulders on the road or, when things get tight, a sidewalk to hop onto.  I have two placed I ride my bike to – the gym or work.  But now, when I ride down the road, I don’t have the same free and euphoric feelings I had as a child, rather, I’m constantly nervous.  I envision flying over my handlebars, getting hit by a car, running over something and falling.  I’m actually considering getting a helmet (which will have an unflattering effect on my hair!).  To some, okay, most, folks who ride their bikes to work, my route probably seems fairly tame and quiet.  It’s really only the intersections and the stretch with very little shoulder that scare me, but still, it’s scary!

I’ve been training for the regional yoga competition, so I’ve been trying to amp things up.   I started really working full camel, which I’d been attempting to get into for a while.  I’d even been told by a friend watching an early attempt that I was basically there, I just had to do it.  But I was holding myself back, scared I wasn’t going to be able to get out and scared I wasn’t ready.  I was, and often still am, unable to trust my body.  After learning a few more techniques and really working at it, one day I finally got it – twice!  I did it once, and then decided to set up my phone to take a picture, just in case I never got in again.  Maybe I jinxed myself, but I haven’t gotten it again.  Fear of not getting it again, combined with bending all the way back start to lock me up.  For a while I would go back, come up, start again, and cycle through that a couple of times before actually getting back, but when I actually do get back I can’t quite get my heels.  As I’ve continually practiced it, going back has smoothed, but, alas, no heels.

I suppose the fear is part of what keeps me trying and riding again.  Having something fearful, but attainable to conquer is a thrilling challenge.  But I’d like to think it also has a higher purpose, to keep you aware and in your body and mind.  When I’m on a nice stretch of my ride I’m really enjoying myself.  It’s about 20 minutes where it’s just me.  I don’t put on headphones, because that seems like trouble.  Occasionally play music on my phone that sits in the basket, but I don’t lose myself the way I do with a run, or even the way I do listening to a book in the car.   I’m still aware of every sound and bump and movement that I make.  I can tell you where there were deep water puddles I had to go around and that troublesome, bumpy stretch by the baseball fields finally got some attention.  My fear keeps my mind in the moment, and as someone who tries to do 5 things while thinking about 9 more, it’s 20 minutes of focus and relaxing an overactive brain.

Fear is also playing a similar role in the yoga room.  It keeps me aware of what I’m doing, and it makes me careful.  It helps generate a healthy respect for yoga, which is important.  As I’ve told students, the yoga is a tool to help your body, and with any tool, it must be used appropriately and with care.  I could hurt myself if I’m not careful, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t attempt it, mindfully.  And so I do, and the more I try, the more I understand my body and the posture.  Fear also keeps the ego in check.  It keeps me from getting cocky and flinging my body and arms around.  It helps tell you what your body may or may not be ready for.  I’m pushing myself, and the fear is a reminder to be careful.

Fear is a reminder, it keeps you present and it keeps you aware.  But most important, it serves as a challenger.  It can scare you into not playing, or it can keep you playing and keep you fresh.

Villains and Magic Abound

Night School, by C.J. Daugherty: Allie’s brother is gone, making her parents distant and remote.  What else is there to do except get yourself arrested a couple of times until your parents ship you off to some weird private school no one has heard of?  At Cimmeria Academy there are secrets abound, the most intriguing being the super-duper secret Night School.  Then attacks start taking place all around Allie and no one seems willing to tell her the truth of anything, including why she is there.  Now, add in a cute French boy and a cocky, moody Carter and you have yourself a novel.
Overall the book was fun, but not entirely what I expected.  Daugherty took her time with setting the scene and background, so the  book didn’t really take off until about halfway through.  But once it took off, it was action packed, with good surprises, and a breadcrumb trail to lead into the second novel (a series, of course!).  There were some clichés and contrived scenes that were blatant set-ups, and the writing was okay.  What Daughtery lacks in those areas, she makes up for, by creating  and building an overall intriguing mystery.
Will I Read the Sequel?  We’ll see.  The pull of the breadcrumbs isn’t that strong.  I needed a little more action and bit more of a reveal to be enticed to learn more.
Overall Assessment:

Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo:  So, I’m about a year late to this bandwagon, so please indulge, a moment…ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod this was so good!  Seriously, I hate when I’m this late to a good book party!  Alina was raised in an orphan home with her BFF Mal, who is conveniently hot and she naturally lusts over.  They are now serving time in the army, she as a cartographer and Mal as a tracker.  When their unit attempts to cross the Shadow Fold, a realm of darkness full of monsters, Alina discovers that she is actually Grisha.  The Grisha are an elite group who serve Ravka through their magical powers.  Alina’s powers are exactly what Ravka and The Darkling, the head of the Grisha, need to defeat the darkness.
Bardugo’s tale is imaginative and well told.  Her characters are complex and multifaceted.  For a brief period after Alina arrives at the castle, the story slows as she struggles to understand her powers.  However, it serves as nice respite between the breakneck chase of her arrival and her discoveries at the castle.  Lots of action, mystery and suspense and, of course, romance.  I listened to this one, and the audio was spot on, with the accents and pronunciations lending to the Russian/Eastern European feel of the novel.
Will I Read the Sequel? Yes, yes, yes!  The only reason I haven’t yet is that I’m giving it a little time to come out on audio….
Overall Assessment:
                                                       

MaddAddam, by Margaret Atwood: The conclusion to MaddAddam trilogy is just as imaginative, intense, funny and dark as the first two.  Atwood picks up where the first two left off, with Toby, Jimmy and the Crakers all going back to the safe house full of MaddAddamites, and former God’s Gardeners.  Here, they work on getting Jimmy back to health and helping Amanda get over the Painballer attack.  With Jimmy ill, Toby becomes the Crakers new storyteller, and the stories she tells focus on Zeb’s history and how his tale intertwines with Crake’s and other characters throughout the trilogy.   All the while the house is on edge, fearing attack by the Pigoons or the Painballers.
The dystopian world Atwood has created is funny, skewed and scary.  The vibrancy of the characters and the complexity of the tale, seamlessly weave together to form a thoroughly engrossing tale of what happens when society and science take a mad turn.  The conclusion, while not fully satisfying for me, fits the story.  Atwood ends by giving the readers not what they want, but rather, what the book needs, so I can’t argue it.  It’s a novel where you become so wrapped up in the characters, that no matter what ending, you still go through the stages of grief and denial.
Overall Assessment: Fitting end to a great series.  Farewell my friends!

I Wear the black Hat, by Chuck Klosterman:  Many will know Klosterman from his 2003 essay collection Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs, a book that tackles the intricacies of Saved by the Bell, the Celtics/Lakers rivalries and Billy Joel, among other topics.  Since then he’s written other collections as well as a few novels.  I Wear the Black Hat is a return to nonfiction, this time exploring the concepts of villains, why we hate them, why we love them or why we cheer for fictional versions  but still loathe the real life versions (i.e. drug dealers).  He paints thorough backgrounds and dissects the public perception and reaction of people (or characters) like OJ Simpson, Walter White and Bill Clinton.
Like Klausterman’s previous work, Black Hat is thoughtful, perceptive, logical and,most important, rational.  I found myself agreeing with a lot of his conclusions.  My favorite chapter dissected the Clinton/Lewinsky scandal and how the key players were perceived both then and now, of course I was only 7 or 8 at the time, so my understanding is really only one way; examining the scandal through the villain lens was interesting.    There were a few times where the detail and analysis became a bit much for me and I skimmed a bit (usually only over football things), but overall a very thoughtful and interesting read.  Plus its clocked in at 199 pages, so it is still fairly concise and succinct.
Overall Assessment: A round of applause from my current favorite villain.

I’m still a bit behind now on my reading goal – eep! – at 112.  According to Goodreads I should be at 114, but I’m not too worried.

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