Review 266: The Spirit Photographer

The Spirit Photographer by Jon Michael Varese
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review 265: The Hunt for Vulcan

The Hunt for Vulcan: . . . And How Albert Einstein Destroyed a Planet, Discovered Relativity, and Deciphered the Universe by Thomas Levenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Review 264: Unwind

Unwind by Neal Shusterman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A dystopian world where a twisted solution to outlawing abortion, which would mean that between the ages of 13-18 the parents, or guardians, could elected to unwind the child. This means that teens become, not killed, but used for parts for other people, and all parts of their bodies. Someone has an issue with their eyes, well new eyes would come from an unwound. This has the solution of people being in good health, and the kids that don’t quite cut it, with behavior problems or whatever, then get parted out. The kids going to be unwound are told they are not dying, but living on in pieces with other people, so not to look at this as an end of life. Only those people growing up as a tithe to the church, who grow up knowing that at 13 they would become unwound as part of a spiritual offering look forward to this parted up way of being.

Naturally the story focuses on several kids that are told they are to be unwound. We follow their refusal, running away when given a small chance, and they take a tithe with them, who is not happy at this turn of events. There is an underground railroad that moves these kids who rebel to a place of safety, until it falls apart. 

It’s a fairly fast paced book, and I found it hard to put down, so read the book quickly. This is a gruesome premise and world, and this is the first in a series. This book sets up what would happen next fairly well. I listened to the audiobook which was well done narration.

Review 263: Mountains and Rivers Without End

Mountains and Rivers Without End by Gary Snyder
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars



Enjoyable poetry book. I could see myself returning to this, reading the poems again and again, getting something new with each reading. At first I felt distant from the text, but found in the back some background information on some of the poems. This helped, it grounded me further in, particularly those where my personal knowledge does not match Syder’s in regard to Japanese or Chinese culture and history. The poems I enjoyed the most conjured up imagery of the environment, mountains and trees, using specific language. And these were most since it is about mountains and rivers.

Review 262: The Spectacular

The Spectacular by Zoe Whittall
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

The book did not live up to its name. It did start out strong but the second half of the book somewhat lost it for me. The premise was about three generations of women striving for real freedom. But what does that mean? In this book it came down to children.

The youngest is Missy, a musician who starts off the book on tour and definitely does not want kids, wants the same freedom of the male counterparts in her band. The doctors won’t tie her tubes, claiming later in life she may change her mind. And in the later part of the book she does, well…she’s on the fence. One day, yes, another day maybe.

One issue that bothered me was the transformation Missy undergoes from the first part of the book to the second. It was a jump in time, but also in her character. We never get the growth, how did it come to be this way?

We don't have much of the oldest generation, the grandma of either parent. Her mother we have some, but it is mostly Missy’s story here, which wasn't very strong throughout.

I got the sense the writer had an agenda with this book, and that made for a weaker read. Perhaps the real freedom wasn't the question of children but sexuality? If so, this book missed the mark on that aspect as well.

Thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 261: The Senator's Children

The Senator's Children by Nicholas Montemarano
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Silly me, I thought this book was going to be about a kidnapping, or some thriller, mystery or crime. Well, a social crime was committed, adultery and a child born out of that. It ruined the Senator’s chance at becoming president.

A book about a senator running for president in the early 1990s, gets into an affair, which ruins his election. A child is born of this affair. In 1984 his wife and son get into a car accident, the child dies. It propelled his election becoming a senator. The focus is more on Avery, the elicit child than Betsy, the one from marriage. 

The book is about the children, who are three, as well as the wife, Danielle. David Christie is the Senator. He has two children by his wife. When Betsy was young maybe four or five her mom has a car accident, and her brother Nick dies. Nick is a young teen or preteen. Later Danielle becomes sick with cancer, and this is while David is running for president. Somehow during this time he ends up having an affair. One wonders her motives, we never find them out, but she obviously did things in hopes of being caught. She ended up having someone take her picture with the Senator thus revealing the affair. 

Also want to note there were a few moments of oddness, I guess that’s what to call it, how a character dealt with things. Such as Betsy she would close her eyes tight and try to feel the light that would be her brother, a feeling would come over her. 

The time line isn't straight forward, but dates are given for each chapter. Fairly lukewarm about this book. Not what I expected.

PS: I read a reviewer say this book was modelled after John Edwards. I didn't realize this while reading.

Review 260: Environment

Environment by Rolf Halden
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

This was a depressing book. The words used were particularly dire and full of doom. Extreme language. And yet very informative, particularly about chemicals invented and used, then subsequently banned, although not all. 

Is this the way to change behavior? I’m not sure people want to listen to just the negative side…what are the solutions? How do we improve?  There was barely a mention, a few sentences is all, and not nearly enough. 

We are the environment, it is us, not separate from. The plastics we love are now us as well. 

How do we move forward? Where do we go from here?

I waited entirely too long to read this book but I almost didn’t read it entirely due to the language, the negativity is seeping. Yes, we’ve done stupid things are a society, continue to do so, but also have done great things as well. There are solutions, people are working on this, I want to hear about some of that.

This book is in the Object Lessons series.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Academic and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 259: Big Damn Hero - Firefly

Big Damn Hero by James Lovegrove
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed returning to Firefly and this universe. Makes me want to get the next one right away...but other books are needing to be read. Not a whole lot new for firefly fans, but still, it was kinda peachy.

I listened to the audio book which was a good way to return to this verse that was.

Review 258: Here We Are

Here We Are by Graham Swift
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This one didn't work for me very well.

The book was about a magician, his friend and his assistant turned fiancée. I kept hoping it would improve, but for me it didn't take, maybe it was the style of the book, not being linear, going back and forth. There were sections I did like, but not overall. 

Review 257: Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’s amazing to think at how quickly this book was written. The book setting is during the Coronavirus pandemic that is still here with us, not yet under control worldwide. The book takes place at the beginning of the pandemic for the United States, March 2020. Admittedly it is a little strange reading about pandemic times when not quite done with it.

The main character, Diana and her boyfriend Finn are about to take a two-week trip to the Galapagos Islands, where Diana suspects a proposal will take place. But the pandemic strikes New York City hard. Finn is a doctor, well nearly, a resident surgeon, but all focus is shifted to the battleground as they live in New York city. Finn suggests Diana go on the vacation without him, as he can’t leave the country, the hospital needs him.

The book is about more than the virus, or about having your life upended and vacation plans changed. It’s also about learning something about oneself when having to take the moment to pause, at least if you’re not a hospital worker.

I enjoyed the book, despite our not being completely through this yet. It is more about the beginning stage, hopefully we are now at the ending stage.

If you can read about the pandemic, this is a good one to get.

Thanks to Ballantine Books/Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 256: Lessons from Plants

Lessons from Plants by Beronda L Montgomery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A highly informative and readable book that is scientific without becoming overly difficult. It is a good book for an entry into learning about how plants work, cooperatively and individually. The author also compares this to human systems, to ourselves, which was a fascinating way to learn the concepts.

While I listened to the audiobook, I did not have a problem with the narrator as other reviews mentioned. But I would suggest reading the print or eBook copy as well. My library bought copies of this book and there are nice line drawings with a quote between chapters.

If you want to learn more about how plants work, this would be a good book to help in that endeavor.