Review 365: I Served the King of England

I Served the King of England by Bohumil Hrabal
My rating: 2.75 of 5 stars


Likely closer to 2 stars, the book was absurd, and meant to be, but it was difficult reading. I barely continued reading, but went ahead since it was highly rated. The last portion of the book did redeem it. The author is a Czech, written during that time when occupied by the Russians, so there's a lot going on under the surface.

I read a few glowing reviews and I understand their affection, but I found the novel too absurd, gross, pitiful and outrageous. It is a wonder I did continue and finish the book, but this is one of those cases where the last portion makes it all worthwhile. The main character redeems himself slowly but surely.

It is ridiculous and meant to be that way, often where the unbelievable came true.

Review 364: The Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard

The Autobiography of Jean-Luc Picard by David A. Goodman
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

This was a fun read.

I did find it hard to "hear" Captain Picard's voice as I knew it from TNG, but as we got into that era it seemed to come out better.

There was a lot of glossing over events later in the book, letting the tv series and movies do the heavy lifting. If you haven't seen Star Trek this book likely wouldn't do much for you.

Review 363: Station Eleven

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I liked that the horrors of what people had to do at first to survive were left alone, not described, and some characters didn't remember those times. The counting of years was post the major event, the flu that wiped out the mass of population.

This was a book I wanted to read for a long while, happy to have finally gotten to it. Of course, during the recent pandemic I wasn't sure I wanted to explore this fictional world. Happily the real world wasn't nearly as devastating.

With the number of major characters and jumping around in time, it made the book feel there were masses of pages left on the cutting room floor. This easily could have been a much longer work. I kept wondering why the focus was around Arther lealand, the actor who dies of a heartache on stage the day the virus hit? But you need to have an anchor somewhere.

Review 362: Our Little World

Our Little World by Karen Winn
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The setting takes place in the 80s, with the narrator looking back. There was a mystery, but the book is more about sisters. A neighbor girl vanished at the lake one day with so many people around, what happened? It's not something that's tried to solve directly, instead we have a junior high narrator. It reminds too well about all the anxiety of that age. oh, the awkwardness of junior high!

The story was just okay.

more tags: Sisters, missing persons, Death in the Family, Middle School, Family

Review 361: Alone on the Wall

Alone on the Wall by Alex Honnold
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is a book about climbing for other climbers. I'm not, and there was so much technical climbing language and jargon it was difficult to really grasp some of these feats. Not sure if the book was for the mainstream or not.

The layout of the book was awkward, with two writers one being Honnold in the first person the other with David Roberts adding in more info or context, although most the time it was just odd. But of the two I like his presentation better as Honnold was deep with the jargon.

Alex Honnold is the guy who was featured in the film Free Solo, which okay I understand that term now, meaning climbing alone without any ropes or hardness, nothing. Maybe I'll watch the film now, maybe.

Review 360: The Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom by Russell Banks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Russell Banks can write. Was fully engrossed with the story, feels so believable and yet it is only fiction. More thoughts on this soon.

----------a while later--------------

Finished reading this book over a month ago, and not sure how I missed posting my review, as I really enjoyed the book. Russell Banks is one of the author’s that I would like to read the entire cannon.

The frame of the story is the author (a fictional Banks) found these tapes and he edited them for this story, which is an old man telling about his youth.

Harley Mann came of age in a Shaker community in Florida, where he fell in love, which was forbidden. She was older and sick with tuberculosis, and of course this not going to end well. It was told so realistically that it felt as if true. Good storytelling! Good narration too.

This is one of my favorite reads of the year.

Thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

However, I listened to the book via audio from my public library. A great way to read this book. Great narrator voice!

Review 359: Bacon and Beans From a Gold Pan

Bacon and Beans From a Gold Pan by George Hoeper
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



One of my top favorite reads of the year!

Wasn't expecting to be so engaged with the stories told here. It's written like an autobiography, as a first person account, but a different person wrote the book. Set during the depression, a young couple head to the Sierras, to the Mother Lode to earn their meager living by mining for gold. They call it being a sniper, along the rivers getting the fine gold flakes that the '49ers left behind as not worth it.

It's not the best written book, and wasn't expecting that. It certainly was entertaining with the tales, and in a few instances can see how society has changed. Often people helped out each other, and when a forest fire came through, everyone pitched in to help.

Review 358: Gilded Mountain

Gilded Mountain by Kate Manning
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Really enjoyed this one.

An historical fiction, set around a marble quarry mining town in the mountains of Colorado in the early 1900s. Sylvie Pelletier is our narrator who tells the story of her life that was formed in that town of Moonstone. With her schooling finished there, she soon takes on a job working for a woman printer of the local newspaper. Then was offered a summer job working as a social secretary for the wife of the mine owner.

Quickly Sylvie finds herself conflicted with being attracted to the mine owner’s son and the labor union organizer leader. This is far from a romance, as many social issues are addressed, but not overtly. I found it a fascinating and well told tale. 

I listened to the audiobook. What a great way to read the book, the narration was wonderful. Made the experience of the book more immersive. 

Review 357: Unsettled Ground

Unsettled Ground by Claire Fuller
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars



Quite a sad story about 51-year old twins still living with their mother. Jeannie can't really read, as she stayed at home so much during school years. Her mother Dot said she had a heart condition and really had to watch herself to not let it beat too hard. The book opens with Dot's death and the twins have to figure out how to manage since her death caused a cascade of secrets flowing out, many with owing money. 

There's a bit of a twist as the book goes along. Dot, well her brother too, were frustrating characters. I'd say Dot was more aggravating, but then again, she didn't get the education and socialization that she should with her mother keeping her at home as she was growing up. 

Review 356: The Ecopoetry Anthology

The Ecopoetry Anthology by Ann Fisher-wirth
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Reading this book was my year-long project, although I finished a bit quicker than expected, reading it over just under ten months. I’m happy there is a book like this, yet I didn’t love it as much I hoped. 

It was nice to have a large selection of poets, and limiting the more well-known poets to a few, when their works could take much more space. Coming across a name of someone I’ve read and enjoyed before was like finding a friend in a crowded room with strangers, a moment to feel comfortable before heading off to meet new people.

I do wish the editors included dates the poems were written or published, as these poems span over decades and a date would help place the moment in which they were conceived. Breaking the book into two parts – historical and modern, was a good way in, but each section was organized differently; historical was chronological while the modern was alphabetical by last name. My preference would be for both sections to be organized the same, actually - chronologically.

A few of my favorites, but by no means all that spoke to me:

Stephen Vincent Benét : Metropolitan Nightmare 

Julianna Baggott : Living Where They Raised Me  

Peter Gizzi : Human Memory is Organic 

Louise Glück : Witchgrass 

Mary Oliver : Wild Geese  (a longtime favorite)

Ed Roberson : To See the Earth before the End of the World 

Ira Sadoff : I’ve Always Despised the Wetlands 

Gary Snyder : Riprap 

Historical section:

Stephen Vincent Benét : Metropolitan Nightmare – long but amazing!

Modern section:

Julianna Baggott : Living Where They Raised Me  (this poem spoke to me as it mentioned a film she saw as a child that affected her, and me as well…about a woman with no arms and making do, going to the grocery store, writing checks, etc. In the poem the author says she tried to do the same “practiced the barefoot art/of turning pages, scrawling my name.”  And yes, me as well, in only that I used to try to write with my feet.)

Peter Gizzi : Human Memory is Organic (maybe) doesn’t speak to me strongly today, but I do like it. Likely it stood out among the other poems before.

Then – Louise Glück : Scilla – on the opposite page of Gizzi, and okay, the next one that scrolls over to the following page – Witchgrass is good too.

Mary Oliver : Wild Geese – ah, homecoming. This poem I should memorize. I have read it many times and enjoy it every time. I feel at home with this one. A friend in the weeds of strangers.  (her other poems are good too!)

Ed Roberson : To See the Earth before the End of the World – now this is sad, and quite modern (where is the date??) and I really connected with this poem. “people chasing glaciers” and “watched ice was speed made invisible, / now –  it’s days, and a few feet further away,”  Sad! On many levels.

Ira Sadoff : I’ve Always Despised the Wetlands – funny one

Gary Snyder : Riprap – well, I’m not completely on the Snyder team…his poems are somewhat revolutionary for the time, being so placed in nature and the environment, and he has such specificity of place names and names of nature, but he has a side that I don’t like much. The selections here are good, this one I enjoyed the most of the group.

Review 355: Other People's Rejection Letters

Other People's Rejection Letters: Relationship Enders, Career Killers, and 150 Other Letters You'll Be Glad You Didn't Receive by Bill Shapiro
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read over one day: Sunday, November 6, 2022

Wasn’t feeling too well that day and read it off and on over the day.

Is it sad to have enjoyed reading these rejection letters other people received? Some were truly sad, but others a bit funny, and a couple a bit shocking. The book is very colorful, images of the original letters. I've wanted to read this book for a long while, and glad I finally did. It was a short read.

Review 354: Liberation Day

Liberation Day: Stories by George Saunders
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Initial thoughts: Not sure why it took me so long to read that last story, it wasn't very long. Anyway, a few thoughts on the collection:

This is a collection of nine short stories. About half of the stories are fairly short, while the others are much longer, taking up most of the book. A few feel a bit gruesome, and may make one shudder with the contents, this is not due to gore, but for how humans may treat other people.

There is a bit of variety, and the author portrays different characters easily with just a few lines. All are intriguing providing a different way of looking at being human, living life in your own way.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review: 353 Time Out of Joint

Time Out of Joint by Philip K. Dick
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Not a very long book. This is about a man who seems to be going insane. But then we find out yes, he is a lunatic. And his perceptions, asking what is real or not....oh so classic Philip K Dick.

Review 352: Queen of Dreams

Queen of Dreams by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Glad I stuck with the book. I almost stopped reading several times, really disliked the main character. But around the half-way point something dramatic happened, then later "9/11" happened, and the main character changed. This is one of those books where there is definite growth of a person.

Review 351: The Imperiled Ocean

The Imperiled Ocean: Human Stories from a Changing Sea by Laura Trethewey
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A set of essays, where so far most is about the humans and not the ocean. The title is misleading, it should be called something closer to Humans and Water Interact. Hopefully my next listen will be stellar

This was okay, but not really what it claimed to be. Yes, human stories, but very little on how that relates to a changing sea. It could be stories for any time on the ocean. I bought this audio book in January 2020. Finally working on some of my owned audio for this year. Hoping to finish one more today to end the month, fingers crossed.

Review 350: The Glovemaker

The Glovemaker by Ann Weisgarber
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An okay story, but had a lot of repetition. The characters kept repeating what was already known. This is a slow story, but also told in a simple way.

Takes place in the 19th century over several months in 1887-1888, in a small community in Utah. A woman, Deborah, is alone, waiting for her wheelwright husband Samuel to return. Meanwhile some trouble comes to them bringing a Marshall from Tennessee.

Listened to the audio book that had two narrators, one for Deborah the other for her husband's stepbrother Nels. Both narrators were decent.

Review 349: Mad Honey

Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The book is told in two parts – one is with time going forward and the other timeline going backwards. I find it odd when a book is told backwards in time. The main story line is about a teenage romance, which ends up with the young girl dead. Most of the book is the trial, with the boyfriend being accused of her death. We are sure he didn’t do it, but maybe, and if not him, who or how did she die? So, a little bit of a mystery.

Like Picoult’s other books this one has a strong social awareness aspect, but it felt over the top with this one. Several times (three at least) we are told how and why a person is as they are, and it was too much. Once, maybe even twice if it was short, but no it went on, and this preaching at me really detracted from the book. I appreciate the thoughts and understanding behind the book, but it would have been a better story without this. The book itself seemed to be going on and on, and easily could have eliminated many pages.

I liked all the information about bees and honey contained in the book, that was a nice touch. There are many issues thrown into this book, which sometimes felt heavy-handed, but life can be like that too. Just wished for less lectures, and wished the authors trusted their readers more.

Thanks to Ballentine and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book. Although I did listen to the audiobook version of the book and the narrators did a great job.

Review 348: Half a King

Half a King by Joe Abercrombie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Book 1 in the series: Shattered Sea

Listened to this book in two pieces...started it in June, then put on standby for longer than expected, while I listened to some library audiobooks I had on hold that came up. I returned to the book in September. 

 It's a good book, first in a series, and it ended where things are tied up, but yeah, can see there is more too. Not sure I'll continue the series since I have soooo many other books.

The book is a hero's journey type book. A sheltered boy, more like a teenager, who was raised in the castle, his father being a king, had his life turned upside down. After his father's unexpected death his Uncle tried to kill him. Somehow, amazingly he survived beyond all odds for what happened, but ended up being caught as a slave. He was made to row a ship along with other oar-mates. Thus begins his journey back to his home as the rightful heir to the throne.

Review 347: The High Sierra

The High Sierra: A Love Story by Kim Stanley Robinson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I keep talking about this book with people I know who like to hike or enjoy the mountains. There's a lot of surprises in the book, such as the way it's organized, but way more than that. Anyway, I should gather more thoughts and words and put them here....be back momentarily.

--------------------------further thoughts:

What a book! It’s long, probably too long (sorry, so are my thoughts here), but it does cover a wide variety of topics. It is partly autobiographical, with a strong focus on Robinson’s life hiking and spending time in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range with leaving out most of his childhood, except brief mentions of how athletic he was, and continued to be during college. It was in college when one of his good friends took him and several other friends on an experience that would transform their lives. They went on a backpacking trip into the Desolation Wilderness area of the Sierras. He fell in love.

Other parts of this book include a history of people, such as the beginning of the Sierra Club, John Muir (of course) and a few other historic events and people. He talks about geography a bit, and something he calls psychogeology.

There’s quite about the names of things in these mountains, how there are some bad names and some good ones, as well as many suggestions for new names. I have to agree with his statement, why does one generation (mostly white men) get to name everything, and have it never change?

Robinson talks about routes and areas, of course, and this does take up a good portion of the book. The backpacking and camping experiences they had, with some of the mishaps that happened, the exciting times.

There does seem to be some pieces missing, such as not much talked about the Pacific Crest Trail, and not much about Yosemite, and that’s likely because he avoids these places, also Mammoth. The places that people already know about and go to he avoids, so it becomes understandable that he doesn’t discuss that.

Robinson includes a significant amount about the Swiss Alps, as he and his wife lived in Switzerland for a couple of years. It feels out of place, but if you look at the book as an autobiography it becomes understandable, and it does serve as a comparison to the Sierras.

I found that Robinson is quite opinioned about the way to do backpacking. It works for him, but definitely won’t work for everyone. Not taking established trails, well is that good advice? Wouldn’t that end up creating some major issues if that’s what everyone did, go off-trail?

When I first started reading the book it created such a strong longing in me to go to the Sierras, to go hiking. While I could possibly do that, it won’t be anytime in the near future. It was tempting to stop reading until I could relieve that desire, but I continued on with the book, pushing past that desire. Is this one of Robinson’s goals? Not sure but it did feel often he was writing to the younger people, collage age like those he teaches.

I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by Robinson as well, and he does a wonderful job with that. In fact he was the best choice as his enthusiasm comes through even more so. But I missed out in seeing all the photos that are included in the print book. I did manage to get hold of a copy, but late in my reading, and really it’s better to view the photos while reading.

Post note:   despite this long review I didn't mention how this book was written by an author of many science fiction books, several of which I have read.  There is a series of three books that I really enjoyed, read a couple of them twice.  Hopefully I can get back here and link to those books I've read of his.

Review 346: The Revivalists

The Revivalists by Christopher M. Hood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

With a name like “The Revivalists” you’d expect this cult to be the center of the book, but that is not the case. Instead, we have two parents attempting a cross-country rescue attempt of their daughter. But since this is a post-apocalyptic world, where a devasting virus wiped out nearly everyone this is not an easy task.

There is a long set-up with the main characters, Bill is our narrator who was, or is a psychologist. His wife Penelope went into deep hibernation, barely doing anything other than sleeping and eating for many months, maybe close to a year? Until they heard from their daughter who was caught in California when the virus hit, while they are in New York.

As one may expect in a post-apocalyptic world going cross country they meet a variety of characters, and quickly have to deal with an entirely new world.

The writing was good, and it kept up the momentum where you want to keep reading, finding out what happens next. Although there are parts that bog down, with backstory and occasional social commentary. I had wanted more about the cult, was it formed before or after the devastating virus? How did their daughter get there?

Many questions remain, and the book ended a bit abruptly. Perhaps leaving and opening for a part two. If you’ve read a lot of cross-country travel in a post-apocalyptic world this book may not bring much new to that genre. I’ve not read a lot, but it felt familiar enough. There was enough here to say I’m glad I read it.

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

Review 345: The Bookseller

The Bookseller by Cynthia Swanson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book had an interesting premise with a fascinating dream life. It was as if Kitty was living a double life, as Kathryn that was a sort of what if scenario. By day Kitty owns a bookstore with her best friend Frida. She never married, which is what women did in the late 50s/early 60s. Now she’s resigned in being a spinster in her early 30s. By night, while dreaming she becomes Katharyn who is married to a wonderful man with piercing blue eyes, and two wonderful children. In a later dream the twins become triplets! And unfortunately, something is wrong with the third one. The more dreaming as Katharyn the more that world doesn’t seem so perfect.

While these seems interesting the story wasn’t written very well. There were all these unnecessary details, bogging the narrative down. I was getting bored reading this book. Not a good sign! But I stuck with it and get engrossed in the story and forgot about how poorly written the book was. Ended up enjoying the book more than would’ve thought, but it’s still not a great book. Mediocre at best.

Review 344: There Is Never Anything But the Present

There Is Never Anything But the Present: And Other Inspiring Words of Wisdom by Alan W. Watts
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Alan Watts is someone I’ve heard before; listened to hours of his lectures and read a few of his books. I was interested when I saw something by him on NetGalley, not realizing it was only a collection of quotes.

While the quotes are good, and interesting on their own, I will say that his full lectures and books are better if you want to understand what Watts is about, his philosophy and take on the world. Also, Watts has a fantastic sense of humor, and it doesn’t seem to come across with these short sections. While I was reading, I had to remind myself of his voice, his way of speaking, then in hearing that I was able to feel the humor and lightness.

The book could easily be read in a day, being small, but I didn't, nor would I recommend that method. These quotes are something to ponder and sit with a while. Good for contemplation, not racing through.

Review 343: Hester

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book. Days after finished reading I still wished I could remain in that time period, still follow our main character, Isobel. Instead, I will have to see what else this author wrote.

The book is a fictional origin story of how Nathanial Hawthorne came to write his classic book The Scarlet Letter. The woman in his book Hester Prynne, being modeled after our main character, Isobel Gamble. As a child she learns that colors with words are not normal and you may be labeled a witch, so it is a secret she must hold onto. This synesthesia runs in the family, by the women, and her maternal grandmother was indeed accused of being a witch but escaped before being put to death.

Quickly Isobel is grown, marries, then after a misfortune, they sail to the new world, landing in Salem, MA to begin anew. Here Isobel becomes herself, a woman, and where most of the story takes place.

I enjoyed how this book was written, how the story took place. We have snippets of another timeline for a brief page or two between each chapter. It ends up switching characters further along in the book, which lead to the reader knowing much more than the characters. Not sure I liked that, but the only aspect that really bothered me with this book.

A great read for Nathanial Hawthorne fans, who of course, don’t mind the inventions about his life.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

First thoughts:

I wish the book hadn't ended, I want to read more.
Instead I will have to see what else this author wrote.

Review 342 : Devil Sent the Rain

Devil Sent the Rain by Lisa Turner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not my usual book, a detective story taking place in the south, although it's not uncommon either. It just isn't my typical go-to type book. Generally, I don't like these kings of books, nor series.  

This was okay, not great. I didn't love the writing or anything. 

Turns out this is book 3 in a series called Detective Billy Able. It didn't hurt not to have read any previous books in the series.  Don't think I'll read any more in the series either. 

Why did I read this?  I picked this book as it fit in trying to read from each of my bookshelves in my home, and I've had it awhile. One of my goals this year has been pulling books out of a variety of the shelves I have. Generally I stick to one or two main bookshelves.  I got the book in June 2016 at a library conference.

Review 341: My Time Will Come

My Time Will Come: A Memoir of Crime, Punishment, Hope, and Redemption by Ian Manuel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



This was a heart-breaking book, but unfortunately not all that well written. Occasionally the time line is confusing, although generally it is a linear account of his life in prison. Ian Manuel committed a crime, a robbery with a gun and shot a woman in the face, although she did not die, when he was 13 years old. He wasn't alone, but his sentence was beyond the pale for someone so young. Worse yet is the treatment in prison, being in solitary confinement or CM, close management.

One positive note, the US Supreme Court ruled that giving life without parole sentences to juveniles that commit crimes without homicide is illegal.

Manuel intersperses some of his writing with his poetry, and his words to the court are more polished than the book. His story would be better served with more editing, or someone to help with the writing. Nonetheless, an important book to learn about life behind bars in Florida.

Review 340: Site Fidelity

Site Fidelity: Stories by Claire Boyles
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quite enjoyed these stories. Nearly half were with the same characters, although years or decades later. It was almost like a novella sprinkled throughout. I will keep an eye out for what Claire Boyles writes next.

Originally had tagged Nevada - but only one or two stories had that location, most took place in Colorado.

Review 339: Joan

Joan by Katherine J. Chen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a retelling of Joan d’Arc/Joan of Arc from the 15th century during the English and French war. One might say a story inspired by the real person.

Instead of this historical girl who was visited by angels and spiritual visions, we have a girl who is beaten by her father nearly daily. Jacque d’Arc curses and wishes she were never born, her only crime not being a boy when she was born. He had lost a bet on that, and now will never forgive her.

Joan learns how to take the beatings, she learns how to fend for herself, living off scrapes of food, or sleeping in the forest to escape more brutal beatings. This childhood taught her the strength and fortitude to go to battle against the English in the name of taking back France and give the crown to its rightful King.

The God Joan talks to isn’t the saintly spiritual type one may expect. She demands things of God, or tell God what will happen. How Joan becomes super strong and accurate and seemingly well trained as a soldier does appear to be miracles granted by God.

The general outline of the book, once Joan leaves her family village, somewhat follows the true story of the historical Joan, but it still has much fiction within.

Going into this book expecting a realistic fictional account of Joan will lead to frustration. I admit I kept thinking of what I knew of her story and expecting this to come up in the book, but that made me not fully appreciate the story we have here. It is a well-written story that I got wrapped up into.

I listened to the book and the narration was pleasing to listen to, a good way to read this story.

Review 338: The Edge of Everything

The Edge of Everything by Jeff Giles
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



A different sort of book than my usual, that's for sure. Paranormal - romance for teens. I'm definitely not the target audience.

There is some humor, but I think I rolled my eyes way more than chuckled.  Slightly annoyed at the ending. Of course there is a book 2.  No, I won't be reading it.

Review 337: We Were Beautiful

We Were Beautiful by Heather Hepler
My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A mediocre book aimed at young adult. Mia's sister died in a car crash, and Mia feels responsible. Is she though? She doesn't remember what happened. Of course this is going to affect you!  The parent hardly talk to her so send her off to grandma's for the summer.  

So this is her, Mia dealing with the aftermath.  With teenage romance and new friends thrown in. And the somewhat mystery of what did happen.  The ending wraps things up nicely, but overall a forgettable book.

Review 336: Fuzz

Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by Mary Roach
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is about the human-animal encounters, mostly when they are nuisance, but sometimes when they harm or kill humans, yeah that's a nuisance. I enjoyed the humor Mary Roach puts into her topic. It helps particularly when the topic is a bit gruesome.

I’ve already found myself quoting how many deaths by animals in other countries from this book! It’s amazing how things are handled throughout the world, different policies in different countries. Mary Roach took on some questionable adventures in seeking the full story, even going where her guides were feeling it was too dangerous. Glad to have gone along the ride while sitting in my armchair!

Although I have to say there were many stunned moments for me, how callous farmers are for birds or other species. Certainly, hope these practices of outright killing “pests” to extension will no longer be the mainstream viewpoint.

This was the first Mary Roach book I read, although I've wanted to read others, happy to have finally finished one.

Review 335: Upgrade

Upgrade by Blake Crouch
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Having read this book some months ago, I found it has stayed with me. While part of the premise of the book may be similar to “Flowers for Algernon” it is a vastly different book. One may say the question this book is attempting to answer is: what happens when humans become super-intelligent?

The book is fast-paced, and I read it quickly. There is a bit more “preachiness” than one would want, and there are some similar tropes, or formula to the overall arc of the book. Yet, there are a couple of themes that can be pulled out and are concepts worthy of deeper consideration. 

The obvious one, yes, what if humans become super smart, would we lose our humanity, our emotional connection to others? This may be pertinent as we approach technological advances, with computer AI and possible integrating humans with computers. Also, one could ask: why allow something to happen to others that would vastly change their life without their consent? Even if it is for the better? And ultimately, is it better?

The end may leave an opening for a sequel, but we shall see. If there is one, I will definitely grab that book.

Read in March, review posted in July.

Review 334: Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World

Embrace Fearlessly the Burning World by Barry Lopez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The approach Lopez takes towards the natural world is of observation: listening and paying attention. He talks about this in some of the early essays in the collection.

Further along in the book the essays become more autobiographical, more personal to him, what his life was like growing up, the sexual trauma he endured, his house, and finally his health.  

In the earlier sections he writes about people he’s met and who made a great impression on him, friends and other naturalists, native peoples he was honored to spend time with, mostly in the far north in Alaska. Lopez has travelled around the world, but always says the place he most wants to be is at his home. His home is in deep in a forest, near a large river with many acres of woods in Oregon. 

I haven’t read his entire cannon, but I suspect these personal biographical essays are the only ones he writes deeply about himself. He does share his childhood trauma and states that he told very few people about this. 

This will be the last book from Lopez, as he passed away, and the essays he included in this book have that sense of leaving his last words, his legacy. Although, perhaps some of these essays were published elsewhere, as there is some repetition of the material, particularly one right after another. 

I listened to the audiobook version of this title, and the narrator was a perfect fit for these essays.

Review 333: She Is Not Invisible

She Is Not Invisible by Marcus Sedgwick
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

A quick read for me, as I read this in just a few hours. A young adult book with a blind 16 year old who takes her younger brother with her to New York City from their London house to find their missing father. He's a writer on a research trip in Switzerland but there was an email from someone who found his notebook of ideas in NYC. Mom is off to see her sister and couldn't be bothered, so impulsively Laureth goes to retrieve the notebook and find Dad.

It was refreshing to have someone blind as the main character and learning about her and how she gets around. BUT there's a bit too much of the author's maneuvering in the book, talking about coincidences and the number 354 that overall hurt the story line.

Read in one day: July 03, 2022

Review 332: Just One Look

Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The last portion of the book turned this around for me and I quite enjoyed the ending.

 An almost unreliable narrator in major stalker territory.

A quick read.

Read July 01-02, 2022

Review 331: TV

TV by Susan Bordo
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

 

Another book in the Object Lessons series that focuses on a single object, in this case television. The authors of the series can take this wherever they like, and in this case, the focus was on how TV has changed through the years. Bordo says she grew up as television did.

American values are presented in fictional shows and news programs, as the grounding of this book. It also is one of the only book about television that doesn't discuss sports (the author dislikes it). The book is is based in feminism and political critiques. I loved Bordo's writing style! And even if I didn't watch most of the tv shows covered in the book, enough details were provided to understand her points.

A good entry in the series.

Read June 29 to July 01, 2022

Review 330: How High We Go in the Dark

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This book surprised me. It’s almost a series of short stories, as every chapter begins with new characters, yet it is all the same world and time advances. It begins around 2030 with a father going to the artic where his daughter recently died, and an ancient girl was discovered. Unfortunately, the remains had a virus that ends up creating a pandemic.

Here is where I wondered if I should stop reading. Did I really want to read about a fictional pandemic while in the (hopefully) tail end of a real one? Well, the writing pulled me in, quickly connecting strongly with the characters.

Later as the years pass, decades, there may be a connection to previous characters, such as the father’s granddaughter is a main person in a later chapter. These recurrences and calls to previous chapters help knit the book together in an interesting way.

I will definitely look for and read what Sequoia Nagamatsu writes next. Maybe even read this one again.

Read June 27-28, 2022

Review 329: AI 2041

AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future by Kai-Fu Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Unfortunately, I had a hard time with the format of this book. It is part fiction and part non-fiction. The book addresses several different areas of artificial intelligence and how it will impact our lives in the future. While these may not happen exactly, there is the direction AI is going towards today. To help make these concepts more appealing there is a fictional story demonstrating a specific aspect of AI.

The format made for too much repetition for me, with one author proving the framework, then the fictional story, then a recap and further explanation. The stories were long and with the before and after it was too much redundancy for me reading this book straight through.

My library bought a copy of this book and I see the appeal for college students studying artificial intelligence. They could easily pick the chapters that interest them the most and read those sections.

One interesting final note, just in the last couple of weeks a Google engineer claims their chat bot has become sentient, is this the end goal of artificial intelligence?


Read April 01-07, 20, then June 08, 16 - 2022

Review 328: Outlandish

Outlandish: Walking Europe’s Unlikely Landscapes by Nick Hunt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A non-fiction travel book that takes place in the wilderness. Nick Hunt goes to four locations that are not what you may typically find in Europe. There is the Scottish artic, Poland’s jungle, Hungary’s steppe, and Spain’s desert. Hunt describes why these places are here, the environment but not in a highly scientific manner. We meet people along the way that help Nick or join him with his walks; as that is how he engages with these areas, he walks for hours and hours, days on end. Occasionally, he even ventures to where he shouldn’t or seems not very wise.

I enjoyed the book, the writing style, but was glad there were only four locations. The format for each location was similar, starting out jumping in the middle of this adventure, then backtracking to how he got there and the entire experience while in this unusual place. Happy to have gone along the ride with Nick Hunt.

Read:  June 16 to June 27, 2022

Review 327: Tree Thieves

Tree Thieves: Crime and Survival in North America's Woods by Lyndsie Bourgon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It should seem obvious that tree poaching, particularly protected ones is something that happens on a regular basis. Places that used to thrive with logging turned into tourism to survive or stall out, with no other viable industry in the area. This is what happened to Orick in Northern California after the Redwood parks were established. Here they often take the burls off the big trees or take cuttings off trees already felled. The poachers don’t understand that even these actions are harming the trees and forest, as burls are protection and even a logged redwood can regrow from the stump.

The book didn’t only focus on Orick and Redwoods, looking into illegal tree cutting further north in Canada, and elsewhere. As timber prices climb tree poaching increases.

Perhaps the book would have been stronger if remained focused on just the one location in Northern California, since the material gathered from the people who poach and those who go after them to stop was extensive.

I was quite engaged with this topic and information but found myself frustrated with how the book was organized. It was a little chaotic and not well formed out.

Hopefully this book will help bring more attention to this topic, as trees are extremely important resource in so many ways, and the more we leave standing, especially the older forests, the better the plant’s health will remain. It's shocking how little monetary value is placed on the trees illegally cut down. It's also sad that people who live in small towns that didn’t turn to tourism has to resort to illegal ways to survive.

Thanks to Little, Brown Spark and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Initial thoughts: Really connected with the material, but the organization was a bit chaotic at times.

Review 326: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Enjoyed this book!

This book made me miss playing video games! While gaming is a strong part of the story, at the heart of this book is relationships. There are three people, two guys and a gal. Sam meets Sadie while in the hospital, after not having talked for weeks after the car accident that killed his mother and shattered his ankle. They are kids who bond over playing video games. There’s a falling out and they reconnect in college, where the third main character enters as Sam’s roommate Marx. Eventually Sam and Sadie start making video games, and Marx becomes the everything else in supporting their coding and creations.

The novel isn’t told in direct linear fashion, and is mostly with Sam’s point of view, but not exclusively. While I enjoyed the book by the end, I was annoyed by both characters, and Marx a bit too, but not as much. Perhaps that made the characters seem more realistic, not being perfect.

This book is the first I’ve read by the author and won’t be the last.

Thanks to Knopf Doubleday Publishing and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 325: Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs

Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs by Beth Ann Fennelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What a surprise this book turned out to be. Somehow, I got mistaken on what the book was; thought it was a compilation of authors with Fennelly as the editor. Instead, it is all Fennelly’s own life, her memoirs. And with each entry a continuation on her life, it grew to be something bigger than the micro moments written.

Some entries are just a sentence or two, while others are longer covering several pages. The entire book can easily be read in an hour or two. The fact there is humor radiating out of every essay is what makes this book something I will read again.

Review 324: The Past Is Red

The Past Is Red by Catherynne M. Valente
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

After reading (listening) to this book I have since found this contains a short story and a novella.

The audiobook did not indicate this, and it should be announced so the reader/listener doesn’t have the confusion like I did.

The first part of this book we are introduced to our main character, mostly as a child, and where she lives in Garbage Town. We find out about how there is a community of several area on this huge pile of trash that’s floating about a world of water. There is a teasing and lead up to what she, Tetley, does that makes her shunned and alone by everyone.

Part Two now begins anew. It’s the same world but there’s retelling of what was just given before, but much more of the story as well.

As far as the overall story, I enjoyed Part two more than the first, it seemed like all the swearing was toned down, or less of it anyway, and the story arc was more appealing. There was quite a lot of things contained in these stories that was unbelievable, you really had to pretend this is plausible, which I generally don’t like in books. The world seems different, and yet not entirely new. It’s a mash-up of other science fiction that is out there. Yet despite all that I will say this story will stay with me for a while.

The best part of this story is the main character Tetley. She is one of the strongest characters out there.

Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an audiobook review copy of this book.

First thoughts: a bit odd, Part 1 and Part 2 of the book seem like separate novellas.

more thoughts on this soon.

Review 323: The Quantum Spy

The Quantum Spy by David Ignatius
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

This is a full-on spy novel, and not what I typically would read. I pulled this out of my bookshelves a few days ago looking for a quick read, and it definitely was that; fast paced and intriguing. Yet the language style felt somewhat stilted at times, more like what a reporter would write instead of a novelist. That said the realism of the spy world was totally believable.

The basis of the story is the Unites States and China both trying to get a working quantum computer first. The positive development in this area is firmly in the United States (according to this book), while Russia went down a dead-end and is still looking for a way out. China has been advancing due to a mole in the CIA. The small US/CIA team is trying to figure out and catch the mole, while also doing serious damage to the Chinese Ministry of State Security. One of the main characters is Harris Chang an American with Chinese ancestry, whose background plays an extremely important role.

For my own reading this book helped pull me out of a slight reading slump, which is exactly what I hoped for.

I received a free copy of this book at a library conference. I was not required to write a review, but felt like it and, of course, the above opinions are my own.

Review 322: Lost at Sea

Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries by Jon Ronson
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars



I didn't enjoy this collection as much as other books I've read by Ronson. All of them have been audiobooks narrated by himself. He has a unique voice, which he does briefly mention in this book. 

Some of these essays leave you with saying, and so?

Part I: Things we're willing to believe

ch.1 - Thinking inside the box

ch.2 - Doesn't everyone have a solar?

ch.3 - The chosen ones

ch.4 - A message from God

Part II: Rebellious lives

ch.5 - I looked into that camera. And I just said it

ch.6 - Have you ever stood next to an elephant, my friend?

Part III: High-flying lives

ch.7 - The name's Ronson, Jon Ronson

ch.8 - I'm loving aliens instead 

ch.9 - First contact

ch.10 - Citizen Kubrick

Part IV: Everyday difficulty

ch.11 - Santa's little consipirators

ch.12 - Phoning a friend 

ch.13 - Who killed Richard Cullen? 

ch.14 - The sociopath mind guru and the tv hypnotist

         ch.15 - Death at the chateau

ch.16 - I've thought about doing myself in loads of times...

ch.17 - The mystery of mingering Mike

ch.18 - You may know me from such roles as terrorist #4

Part V: Stepping over the line 

ch.19 - Blood sacrafice

ch.20 - I make it look like they died in their sleep

ch.21 - Is she for real? 

ch.22 - The fall of a pop impressario 

 Part VI: Justice

ch.23 - The big-eyed children

ch.24 - Amber waves of green 

ch.25 - The man who tried to split the atom in his kitchen

ch.26 - Lost at sea

ch.27 - The amazing adventures of Phoenix Jones

ch.28 - Frank: The true story that inspired the movie

Review 321: Avidly Reads Poetry

Avidly Reads Poetry by Jacquelyn Ardam
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I hadn’t come across this series Avidly Reads, before this book. The series is described as brief books about how culture makes us feel. There are only a handful of these books published, so far. This one takes on the topic of poetry.

The book itself is a bit of a poetry literature criticism class, with a touch of memoir all wrapped up into several long essays. There are four chapters with one short coda, all discussing poetry. The focus is on several types of poems, but the feelings aspect related to: wanting, learning, resisting, soothing and losing.

The first chapter is about the sonnet and wanting and perhaps provides the most autobiographical material as well, with the author talking about her entry into poems as a teenager. The later chapters had more of the literature criticism class aspect to them, with one in particular (documentary poems) discussing a class she held recently and what her students focused on and were taught.

Ms Ardam does not shy away from letting you know there are some poets she does not like, one of whom is a favorite of mine, Billy Collins. I like his poetry as it is accessible and filled with humor where too often poetry seems to be a Very Serious Business.

I don’t think I would have wanted a longer book on this topic, it was enough here to remind myself about reading poetry, while also providing insight into the more recently developments in that world. This one is heavily into diversity and inclusion within poetry, and shows how the entry point to poetry can be something other than the standard sonnet of historical literature classes. These types of poems may be off putting to people who could otherwise gain from experiencing poetry. I did appreciate the write up of how Ardam helped her students get into difficult poems, like avant-garde poetry.

Review 320: The Treeline

The Treeline: The Last Forest and the Future of Life on Earth by Ben Rawlence
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An investigative journalist, used to working in war zones or refugee camps, went out to investigate the furthest reaches of forest in the far north places, in six locations: Scotland, Canada, Norway, Alaska, Russia, and Greenland. Each place has one tree that dominates, such as the downy birch in Norway and the dahurian larch in Russia; spruce, Scots pine, poplar and ash are the other trees. The research is extensive, and so is his experience with visiting these places. The book is partly travelogue with the people Ben Rawlence meets and how he gets out to these far reaches in the forest.

While the focus is on the trees and the changing landscape, where climate change is more noticeable and effecting the local environment, he also talks about the people, descendants of native populations that have lived in these areas for a very long time. In Norway there is the Sámi people who lived in the far northern reaches for thousands of years, herding reindeer and hunting other animals. In Russia the native peoples, the Nganasan, were isolated from the world living in the far reaches of Siberia until very recently, in the 1930s when they became known to the Soviets.

Rawlence describes how they lived with the land and how the trees that grew there shaped their lives, and how they in turn helped shape the landscape. That humans and nature are intertwined, along with the other plants and animals in the area. And these far northern species of trees can help to restore where the climate is changing.

The book was intricate, with dense rich sentences. The language used was compelling and the topic even more so. While the focus is much on what is being lost, there is also a great amount of hope within the book.

The print book includes line drawings of the trees being discussed in each chapter. There is also a Glossary of Trees contained in the back of the book, with more line drawings and information included. This is a book to return to, read again, as there is so much and done beautifully.

Review 319: The Perfect Golden Circle

The Perfect Golden Circle by Benjamin Myers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's the summer of 1989 and two friends, Calvert and Redbone, create crop circles in the night, about one a month in rural England. Each chapter is about the crop circle they create, while interspersing something about the two men so we get to know who they are, both broken in different ways. The crop circles get more intricate with each iteration, leading up to the ultimate one, the Honeycomb Double Helix. At the end of each chapter a short news report provides a glimpse into how their crop circles are being viewed by the public.

Some farmers are not happy about their crops being disturbed, while others have taken the opportunity to showcase the circle and charge visitors to make a little extra money. No one knows who, or what, is creating these intricate designs, and the two boys have a code so they won’t be caught. Of course, UFOs and aliens, or supernatural beings, are talked about the most as how these are appearing so suddenly.

The book is mainly in exposition form, with very little dialogue. The focus is nearly entirely on the crop circles and the designs themselves. We do get a little on how each one of them live, but not an extensive look into their lives.

I really enjoyed the book but felt let down by the intrusion of climate change into the book. The further along in the story the more it took center place, and it felt forced for a book taking place over thirty years ago. This diminished the story for me. Also, I wished for a little more on their lives, what led these two to start doing this. We only know this summer wasn’t their first, and maybe not their last.

Thanks to Melville House Publishing and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 318: Alien Nation: 36 True Tales of Immigration

Alien Nation: 36 True Tales of Immigration by Sofija Stefanovic
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book seems perfect for audio, a compilation of personal short stories, tales of their lives that showcases being an immigrant. Some are humorous, some serious, many filled with poignant moments. I found they are just a little too short, these glimpses into their individual lives. Unfortunately, I did not have an audio copy, I read the print instead.

It’s easy to set the book down, I felt like I read enough about half-way through but would return now and then to read one or two more of the essays. I’m glad I did, because some of my favorite selections were near the end of the book. The illustrator for the cover is one of them, and he is the last entry.

There is an advantage to print, you can skip around easily. The book is grouped together in sections, seemingly tied together with a similar theme.

With my strong desire to hear the voices, not just what was in my head, I searched the internet and found a video with some of the included authors at a New York Public Library Live event reading part of their essays, which is found here: https://youtu.be/LmNjumtemEA

Sadly, these are even shorter versions, snippets of the short essays, but happily, they are the authors speaking. There are around twelve people showcased in the video compared to the 36 authors included in the book.

There is an audiobook version, that has two narrators, so it isn’t the writers themselves reading their works.

Review 317: Where No One Should Live: A Novel

Where No One Should Live: A Novel by Sandra Cavallo Miller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While there is a bit of a medical mystery at the heart of the book, what has more focus in the romantic interest of the main character, the doctor Maya. We see the lives of several doctors, but the main two are Maya and Alex. Maya works in the Arizona Public Health Department while seeing patients at the clinic on Thursdays. Alex works at the clinic, which also has a number of resident interns, and it seems that something odd is going on at the clinic.

This is not a fast-paced book, it is more of a day-to-day reveal, with the doctors going about their routine. Maya lives on her family ranch, with an elderly horse, visiting her folks on Sundays a few hours away.

The heat of the place is almost a character of itself, mentioned frequently. Along with other safety concerns that doctors, particularly those in public health try to protect the citizens. Some of Maya’s keen interests in trying to get a helmet law passed.

The book grew on me, although the writing style was one I had to get used to. This is not a particularly long novel, but it almost asks you to sit with it for a while, to embrace the slower pace.

Thanks to University of Nevada Press and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.

Review 316: A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching

A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching: Getting to Know the World's Most Misunderstood Bird by Rosemary Mosco
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I adored this little book! It is a half-sized book, yet full of all the information one needs to start to understand pigeons, which are also doves (same bird, two names). The author is extremely enthusiastic about this bird and trying to dispel many of the common misunderstandings about them.

The book is written in a light way, using puns and such that I felt happy while reading this book. It was such a joy!

We get a small amount of history, biology, info on different breeds, and much more. The book is exactly as it says, a guide to pigeon watching, and the best part -- it's full of these adorable drawings. So cute!

I wish there was a series of these type of books on various birds written in the same way. I’d want to read them all.

How about a fun little promo about the book. It's super short. 🙂