Part literary suspense/part family drama about two children from the same family who go missing a decade apart. It felt at times like the author leanePart literary suspense/part family drama about two children from the same family who go missing a decade apart. It felt at times like the author leaned a little too heavy into some of the misdirection and subplots as a way to keep readers guessing, in a way that I don't feel like always added a lot to the story. There were also some things that were withheld for the suspense that could have added much more to a more rounded picture of the family and its dysfunctions and the effect on everyone. Still, I flew through it quickly because I was invested in some of the characters and outcomes. (I wanted a little more insight into Barbara, for sure). I also felt like one of the ways the plot wrapped up was seen as a victory for one of the characters in a way that felt more convoluted (and potentially further messed-up) than it needed to be. 3.5 rounded up...more
After listening to the author in an interview, I was very curious to pick up this book. McCammon was raised evangelical in Kansas City, and now, havinAfter listening to the author in an interview, I was very curious to pick up this book. McCammon was raised evangelical in Kansas City, and now, having left the Church, covers politics for NPR, frequently covering the evangelical community's embrace of Donald Trump. McCammon's Church and school espoused very conservative social beliefs, and Sarah found herself protesting abortion clinics with her parents, reading textbooks that denied evolution, and espousing anti-LGBTQ beliefs. The latter is heartbreaking, as we learn, her own grandfather is gay. She only had limited contact with her grandfather as a child (at least her parents didn't cut off all contact), but instead was left fearing for the soul of her grandfather, which is a confusing and heavy weight to put on a kid.
But McCammon doesn't just share her own journey out of evangelicalism, she also interviews many other "exvangelicals" who have left it behind. Some have abandoned their faith altogether, some have found refuge in new Church communities, and some are still left with a void they haven't yet been able to fill. Each chapter focuses on different inflection points that were reasons for leaving: support for LGBTQ people, diversity, or women's rights; the damage of purity culture; the exposed hypocrisy of Church leaders; the evangelical community's embrace of Donald Trump. She also shares stories how, for many, leaving behind the Church also means leaving behind family, friends, and community who do not support them.
I was raised Catholic, with a lot of shared conservative beliefs in my religious spaces as the author, though not as extreme. I struggled with many of the same issues as the author and the people she profiles growing up: the frequency religion was used to judge others (or yourself), the damaging ways that purity culture cause you to feel about your body and your emotions, the insular and homogenous nature of it, questioning why people who happened to be born in different families and places who believe in slightly different fantastical stories were denied heaven (and in her case, in another tough scene, also feeling the pressure to have to convert and save them). One of my biggest inflection points was the patriarchal nature of Catholicism. But, at the same time, I also saw some of the most generous and loving people I know who were products of that same Church and whose faith was/is deeply important to them, too.
I do wish the book spent just a little more time with the exvangelicals she profiles covering not just what they chose to leave behind and why, but also what came after. We get a little bit of other communities or beliefs they found, but not in as much depth as I would have liked. Still, I would recommend this to others who are looking to understand the evangelical movement, or to those who similarly left behind religions and are still processing it.
Cristina HenrÃquez uses the backdrop of the building of the Panama canal to tell the story of a disparate group of people of all ages, classes, races Cristina HenrÃquez uses the backdrop of the building of the Panama canal to tell the story of a disparate group of people of all ages, classes, races and ethnicities. We get stories of a young woman from Barbados who travels to the Canal Zone to earn money, the Panamanian son of a fisherman who goes to work on the line, an American doctor and his wife who come to help eradicate malaria, a group of locals who protest, among many others. As each of these characters encounters another, additional stories are added to the mix.
There is not an overarching plot and some of the character connections are sometimes tenuous. However, I appreciated that this novel goes beyond the major players to share all the different people who either played a small part in the canal being built, or were impacted by its presence....more
Ciment was a teenager when she met her late husband in the 1970s. He was 47, married, and her art teacher. Now, after her husband's death and in the lCiment was a teenager when she met her late husband in the 1970s. He was 47, married, and her art teacher. Now, after her husband's death and in the light of a different time period, she looks back at their marriage and its beginning. Was theirs a love story or something much darker?
What I found most interesting about this memoir is its insight into memory and the stories we tell ourselves to protect us and those we love. Here, Ciment tries to explore this relationship in three timelines: when it happened, how she wrote about it in an earlier memoir when she was in her 40s, and how she sees it now, after her husband's death and in a post MeToo culture. She also tackled age-gap relationships in her fiction, too. The fact that she keeps circling back to this subject, as well as what she writes here, shows how complicated it is. Was it a happy marriage or was it predatory? Was it both?
I was most interested in this when she really interrogates her own memory, her own storytelling around her marriage, and the motives behind them, as when she talks about who kissed who first and how that memory and story has shifted over the years, with the obfuscation as much an attempt to protect herself as her husband. She also explores how the age dynamic shifts, with their roles reversed as her husband ages and she is left to care for and protect him.
Ultimately, I came away wondering if the author is asking herself these questions about her marriage and its origins because she actually questions them, or if she feels like she is *supposed to* now, with the benefit of hindsight and cultural changes....more
August 2024 Book Club Knoll takes inspiration from Ted Bundy's crimes, but brings the attention to the victims and the survivors (and the failings of lAugust 2024 Book Club Knoll takes inspiration from Ted Bundy's crimes, but brings the attention to the victims and the survivors (and the failings of law enforcement). The Defendant, as he is named here, is mostly present only through the trial, and Knoll goes to great lengths to dispel myths that painted him as charming, smart, etc.
The book jumps in time and perspective. Pamela was the sorority house president dealing with the aftermath of an attack at their house, with the death of her friend Denise. She is contacted by Tina because Tina believes the attack on the sorority house was carried out by the same man who killed her friend Ruth. We spend the most time in the perspectives of Pamela and Ruth after she first meets Tina.
It was infuriating the lack of support given to the women and how they were treated by law enforcement and the legal system. It also tries to critique the sensationalism that exists around violence against women, but is a bit undermined by a couple of scenes she chose to include that might have been better left off the page (at least for me). I think the present day timeline was the weakest and also could have been cut altogether, as those parts took me out of the rest of the story....more
This was, indeed, fun, as long as you don't think too hard about it. The Four saved the realm of Mythria ten years ago, and then parted ways after oneThis was, indeed, fun, as long as you don't think too hard about it. The Four saved the realm of Mythria ten years ago, and then parted ways after one of their own was lost on the quest. The remaining three reacted to the end of their quest and their hero status in different ways: Clare steps in as replacement hero, racking up endorsement deals, trading cards, and seeming to bask in the fame (while secretly housing hosts of insecurities). Elowen retreats into isolation. Beatrice opts for security in a boring marriage. But it's also clear all three miss both the adventure and each other, despite the miscommunication and grudges that exist between them. As the ten-year reunion of their quest approaches, they are summoned back by the Queen for her upcoming wedding. And, conveniently, as they are brought back into each other's company, the realm needs saving once again.
It's pretty clear this is a fantasy written by romance writers (Asher is the pen name for 3 of them). The magic seems to exist for plot convenience purposes, or to introduce tongue-in-cheek modernity to its medieval setting. We get a lot of modern-day equivalencies infused in this world (celebrity couple names, ubiquitous coffee shops, Sexiest Man Alive covers, versions of Uber and Doordash, endorsement deals) that add to the quirky, playful vibes, that are maybe a bit overdone. (There was a celebrity impersonator convention at the in-world Las Vegas equivalent that added some fun to a particular plot point). The quest itself is full of lots of waiting around and relationship angst before and between the action scenes.
That relationship angst comes from the two couples (Clare and Beatrice, and Elowen and Vandra, a former rival). Of the two, I preferred Elowen and Vandra. The three must also figure out their fractured friendship, as well as navigating their grief. I did enjoy the playful, tongue-in-cheek vibes and humor, but there were also heavier issues behind the humor and could have used more exploration, instead of repetition. The ending also wrapped up very neatly, with one particular element one I saw coming and dreading.
This sounds like I didn't like it, but I did really enjoy the reading experience, while also wanting more from the premise and characters....more
This was a joy to listen to. Amina al-Sirafi is a legendary female pirate, now retired. A woman tracks her down because her granddaughter is missing aThis was a joy to listen to. Amina al-Sirafi is a legendary female pirate, now retired. A woman tracks her down because her granddaughter is missing and convinces Amina to go on one last adventure to track her down. So Amina gets her ragtag crew back together and takes to the sea once again. Along the way, she encounters demons, magical islands, her ex-husband, and a magical Frank, while tracking down not only the missing young girl but some magical artifacts as well.
I listened to the audiobook and loved the narration. The story is framed by Amina telling her story to scribe Jamal, with some additional documents and legends interspersed. There are some fun moments with Amina turning away from the mic to tease or admonish Jamal that are fun. I really liked City of Brass, but did not return to the Daevabad trilogy. As with that series, Chakraborty also weaves in elements of Middle Eastern and Islamic folklore, culture, and history. This one not only makes me want to continue on with this series, but also go back to finish that Daevabad as well. ...more
Jane has been working on her second novel for a decade, and a sabbatical and a stint househunting at a fancy friend's LA house is the perfect place toJane has been working on her second novel for a decade, and a sabbatical and a stint househunting at a fancy friend's LA house is the perfect place to finish. She has grand ambitions about what her new novel will bring: success, acclaim, financial stability, a permanent spot in her coveted neighborhood. Except the finished product is met with a not very enthusiastic response by her agent and editor. Her novel was a sprawling epic about what it means to be biracial in America. Jane then turns to her friend's television agent and pins her hopes on a possible collaboration with a producer who is the "next big thing", to produce the "great mulatto comedy" -- an untapped audience ready to explode.
Like her career, Jane's marriage to her artist husband has also seen better days. Stimied by her circumstances, Jane makes some questionable choices. You can feel the reckoning coming, even as you root for Jane to get out of the hole she's dug for herself. This was sharp and sometimes funny. There were a couple of developments at the end that seemed underdeveloped and out of place, but I enjoyed it overall....more
The Expanse series is high on my list to read and watch (but so many pages/hours by this point!). So I was excited to see the authors had a new seriesThe Expanse series is high on my list to read and watch (but so many pages/hours by this point!). So I was excited to see the authors had a new series and wanted to jump in at the beginning. Our main characters are an elite scientific research team on Anjiin, which humanity settled so long ago no one exactly remembers how or why they came to be there. Soon Anjiin is invaded by another alien civilization, the Carryx. Some humans are killed, but the best and brightest are swept up on ships and sent to the invaders' home. There it becomes apparent that the humans of Anjiin are just one of many species taken over by the Carryx empire. The researchers are put to work on a scientific task.
Each of the research team have different responses: eagerness to prove their usefulness, refusal to work for the captors, boredom, fear. Only Dafyd, the junior on the team, tries to understand the Carryx, who seem to operate with motives and communication that differ significantly from the humans. His curiosity might be their key to survival. Another possible key, not just to survival but destruction of the Carryx, has also infiltrated the Carryx in the form of a swarm.
Other than Jessyn, who struggles with depression and worries how the loss of her medication, her supportive brother, and the dangerous circumstances they find themselves in will affect her mental state, the characterization is pretty thin. (Especially frustrating was the portrayal of Else, who is of course the object of desire for two of the male researchers.)
After an opening set-up, the plot moves quickly with the Carryx invasion and journey, bogs down a bit in the middle, then picks up a lot of speed and momentum once we start to learn more about the Carryx. Despite some flaws, I am intrigued by the world that is set up and curious to learn more about the world of the Carryx and their designs, and definitely plan on picking up future installments. ...more
Still catching up on 2024 reviews I missed. I enjoyed the audiobook of this one, which follows the contents of a Little Free Library, whose innocuous Still catching up on 2024 reviews I missed. I enjoyed the audiobook of this one, which follows the contents of a Little Free Library, whose innocuous and wholesome books are swapped out with banned books hidden beneath their dustjackets. It follows various members of the community who are changed by the books they encounter. The author explores the timely topic of book banning with humor and an ode to the power of books (even if some things feel a little too neat). ...more
Middle books of a trilogy can be tricky, but I enjoyed this one even more than The Three Body Problem (with the exception of one subplot). The first bMiddle books of a trilogy can be tricky, but I enjoyed this one even more than The Three Body Problem (with the exception of one subplot). The first book (spoilers for that one ahead) introduced the Trisolarans and humanity has a 400-year heads-up on their coming invasion. However, they have sent ahead sophons to spy on humanity and also to halt their scientific progress.
How does humanity respond? That is what made this one fascinating for me. To various factions and at various times, the results are defeatism, escapism, extinction, (let's beat you to it, Trisolaris!), and confident resolve. Trisolarans are clearly superior, with the block on science preventing humanity from catching up, but they have one weakness: susceptibility to deception. So four Wallfacers are appointed with the daunting task of saving humanity, given mostly unlimited resources, while not being able to explain their plans to anyone in order to avoid detection by the Trisolarans. I loved everything about this plot and wish it went on a bit longer even. (here's where the exception comes in. Does one of the Wallfacers use this ability to procure his dream woman? Why yes, yes he does. Is she given any bit of characterization or agency? Of course not.)
We also have a significant time jump that also brings in new complications with an ending that has me eagerly awaiting the third book. What I like about this series so far: I never really know where it is going. I also really like sitting with the questions it raises. The Dark Forest is an apt title, because there is a lot of darkness, which makes the glimpses of light that do occur more meaningful. ...more
This collection of interconnected short stories all center around a serial killer in Australia in the 1990s. Rather than focus on the killer or victimThis collection of interconnected short stories all center around a serial killer in Australia in the 1990s. Rather than focus on the killer or victims, the stories reflect people on the periphery of the case: a woman who suspects her boyfriend might be the killer, a couple who tell the story of the woman they helped who might be a victim, an actor who plays the killer on film. Even stories that reflect someone more central to the case, like one featuring a detective, often focus on a different event in their lives. The result shows a kind of ripple effect and how people twice, or 100 times, removed still felt an impact from the case. For some this was fascination, others fear, loss, grief, or a thrill at a connection, no matter how small, to something so sensationalized.
My favorite stories were "Demolition", "Hunter on the Highway", and "Wake". ...more
Started out strong, but I became increasingly frustrated as the book went on. I wanted more exploration of the grief and healing aspect, more of the wStarted out strong, but I became increasingly frustrated as the book went on. I wanted more exploration of the grief and healing aspect, more of the writing room dynamic, and less of everything else I got instead. I never really got a full sense of the characters or their growth. ...more
Sophia has written a play about a summer spent in Italy with her famous writer father. Her father's reputation has also taken a hit, as his brand of mSophia has written a play about a summer spent in Italy with her famous writer father. Her father's reputation has also taken a hit, as his brand of masculine (misogynistic?) writing (and behavior?) have undergone a reevaluation by society. And his standing as a father is also being reconsidered, in the form of Sophia's play. The novel jumps back and forth between Sophia's father's experiences watching her play for the first time, and Sophia's conversation over dinner with her mother, while awaiting to meet up with her father after the performance. We get some excerpts of the play itself and flashbacks to the summer Sophia is writing about. I was very intrigued by the concept, but the execution was a bit muddled with all the time and perspective jumps. I did appreciate that the story caused you to question all three of the characters, their memories, and motives, instead of becoming the one-sided takedown it could have been. ...more
I think the subtitle does a disservice to the book and its readers. This is not a salacious or suspenseful read, as the title might indicate; instead,I think the subtitle does a disservice to the book and its readers. This is not a salacious or suspenseful read, as the title might indicate; instead, it is a much more introspective one. Rika is a journalist fascinated by a female serial killer, Manako Kajii, awaiting a retrial. Kajii gained infamy by luring men on dating sites through her lavish meals, draining their funds, only to have them die under mysterious circumstances (based on a real-life serial killer in Japan). Rika's attempts at an interview are rebuffed until her friend convinces her to talk about food and recipes with Kajii.
As Rika and Kajii develop an uneasy relationship built around food (Kajii often implores Rika to experience a meal or flavor she no longer can under detention, so Rika can vicariously describe it to her), Rika herself is also changed. There are a lot of threads about expectations placed on women (body image, relationships, caretaking), self-image, and the role food plays in our lives. ...more
In a conversation between two characters in Jandy Nelson's forthcoming YA novel, one of them says when he reads a book or watches a movie, he moves inIn a conversation between two characters in Jandy Nelson's forthcoming YA novel, one of them says when he reads a book or watches a movie, he moves in. And that was my experience with this book: I was fully engulfed in the minds, hearts, joys, and sorrows of these characters—and enraptured by Jandy Nelson’s prose---for the 3 days I was reading it. This is primarily the story of three Fall siblings—Wynton, Miles, and Dizzy—and how they are all changed by the appearance of a newcomer to town, Cassidy. But it’s also the story of the Fall family through generations, specifically a family curse that affects various generations of Fall brothers. At one point, it poses this question:
“If people bear the trauma of their ancestors, doesn’t it follow they also bear their rhapsodies? If there is generational pain passed down, mustn’t there also be generational joy? If there are family curses that drop through time, mustn’t there also be family blessings that do the same?�
There is definitely trauma throughout these pages—misunderstandings, heartbreaks, loss, one of the characters even chooses to tell their story through a series of four betrayals.
But there is also joy and hope and love in these pages as well: the excitement of first love, of feeling understood, of reunions, of connection, of insight. The title comes from this quote: “I do believe now that when the world tips over, joy spills out with all the sorrow. But you have to look for it.�
As in I’ll Give You the Sun, Nelson makes you feel deeply for these characters immediately: the Falls are a family of misfits, dreamers, outcasts, overthinkers and overfeelers :
This is Wynton, well Wynton under the influence of some substance ...more
This was a riveting work of narrative nonfiction about the space shuttle program and the various forces that aligned to create the tragedy of the ChalThis was a riveting work of narrative nonfiction about the space shuttle program and the various forces that aligned to create the tragedy of the Challenger mission. Higginbotham does an excellent job of weaving in history, science and engineering details, political and societal context, and the personalities involved seamlessly into a coherent picture of the disaster and the many ways it could have been averted.
It was also fascinating to read this as the story of a huge bureaucracy and how organizational culture and outside influences affected what went wrong. The whole thing can be read as a cautionary tale of political pressure, budget cuts leading to untenable compromises, failures in organizational communication, and decision-makers who lack the necessary expertise to understand the repercussions of their choices.
I definitely plan on going back to the author's Midnight in Chernobyl....more
This was the only book I read in the midst of a month-long reading slump, and I'm not sure if it was the cause of the slump or if my mood affected my This was the only book I read in the midst of a month-long reading slump, and I'm not sure if it was the cause of the slump or if my mood affected my thoughts on this one. The Magicians is very polarizing among my reading friends: I have a couple who loved it and a couple who really did not (I have not read it or watched the series). I also haven't read a lot of Arthurian fantasy so came in with the broad strokes of these characters and storylines but not the finer details.
The Bright Sword mostly takes place after the death of Arthur, with only a few of the lesser-known and minor Knights of the Round Table remaining. Into their midst comes Collum, an outcast himself who has dreamed of Camelot as his ideal and redemption, only to arrive after the glory has gone. There is a somewhat interesting story here about the future of Britain, about the tensions between the gods of the past and Christianity, about chosen ones and legacies. I wish it would have leaned into one of those themes harder instead of trying to touch on them all while also having these episodic adventure/quest sequences, and giving all of the knights modern backstories. (The backstories of the characters were some of my favorite parts, but they weren't integrated into the main story very well).
Because we are focused on the remaining knights and particularly Collum's perspective, some major events like the whole Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot storyline are told at a remove, missing a lot of details and perspective that would have rounded out those stories. This one felt both overstuffed and underdeveloped. ...more
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