Review 249: Body of Stars

Body of Stars by Laura Maylene Walter
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Belabored at times. Repetitive.

Slowly as the chapters unfold, we come to the arc of the story contained in the book. This is a different world, one where only the females have marks on their bodies that can foretell the future, of not only themselves, but others in their family, such as a brother or father. Women’s bodies are examined, at least twice a year, perhaps once they are adults not so much, but it is an invasion, and particularly when the change happens.

Our main character Celeste finds an aspect of her future told on her body which she wants to stay hidden from her family as the future is grim. This becomes a belabored point in the story. And one she has nearly no control of keeping hidden.

There were moments when it seemed the narrator Celeste didn’t know herself. She would be surprised by herself, her actions or nonaction and what she said. It was odd reading these. As she became more confident that type of writing changed as well. Perhaps it was part of being a changeling, but it kept pulling me out of the story, finding the believability and suspension of belief difficult.

The book is about women’s control over their bodies, as they have very little. It is a world I would not want to live in, perhaps dystopian, but definitely patriarchal.

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

Review 248: Wicked Plants

Wicked Plants: The Weed That Killed Lincoln's Mother and Other Botanical Atrocities by Amy Stewart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Briony Morrow-Cribbs (Etchings)

Jonathon Rosen (Drawings)

This book is a good October read, and not only for the mention of the witch trials. Crazy illustrations, although not enough details of the plants.

Not a typical format where you must read from beginning to end (but I did). Instead it is a reference guide, a to z listing of some interesting and dangerous plants. It was interesting enough, and not super long. Got a bit repetitive at times. Occasionally had a short story of how the plant related in history, those were the interesting parts.

Crazy drawings through most of the book. 

Definitely one that is a better read in print than audio as you'd miss all the graphics. It did get a bit repetitive after a while. 

Review 247: Bewilderment

Bewilderment by Richard Powers
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars




I’ve read two other books by Richard Powers and this one is about half the size, if not even smaller. Like the other two, I’m surprised by the book. Sometimes the writing has a way of being a little quirky, perhaps a bit difficult to follow, but that settles after a while into the book.

Bewilderment had that quality as well, with the father Theo describing invented planets to his son Robin, which is written as if it exists, and they are visiting. As Theo is an astrobiologist it makes sense this is one of the nighttime stories told to Robbie. They both are grieving for they lost the third in the family, the mother and wife Alyssa. Robin has been diagnosed “on the spectrum,” has difficulties. Perhaps Robin’s main issue is he is “too sensitive” toward animals, much like his mom.
The species collapse means way too much to Robbie. And as the book progresses it is hard not to ache for him, trying to come to terms with what we all do, going about our day.

There is so much sadness in this tale, and yet joy as well. Robbie is certainly a delight, particularly after the neuro-treatments he starts to undergo. It calms him and he becomes so focused, he becomes smarter. Theo does all he can to keep up with his kid, trying not to make too many mistakes, which sometimes he cannot avoid.

Alyssa is put on a pedestal, being too perfect, which could happen when the person is no longer living. This attempt to have her still present is a constant in the book. There are few aspects that I had a little trouble with, it is a modern-day retelling of Flowers for Algernon. And when you forget about that, Powers brings it back up and reminds you. I could have done without that part. This is one book that will stay with you long after finishing reading.



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

Review 246: Once There Were Wolves

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I enjoyed this novel, despite it being somewhat dark. I didn’t expect a mystery, but that happened when a dead body shows up, maybe killed by a wolf, maybe a human.

Init Flynn is leading a rewilding effort in Scotland, bringing back wolves, which should also restore the forest. Her team is facing a community that is strongly against the wolves with the most vocal being a man who appears to abuse his wife. The dynamic of spousal abuse, of what it does to the victim is, one of the main components of this book. The story of the wolves is just the backdrop.
The author McConaghy shows her deft writing. I felt immersed in this story, as if it was true, despite that the story takes place in the near future, or some other timeline. The mystery unwinds, what happened in Init’s past, with her twin sister? How about Duncan’s past, the town sheriff who Init hooks up with? And of course that dead body, the man who abused his wife.

One other aspect that I liked about this book was the hope given for wild animals, that we could come back from the collapse of species failure. I will be looking out for what McConaghy writes next.


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

Review 245: The Guide

The Guide by Peter Heller
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



A continuation of the character Jack from Peter Heller’s previous book: The River. It’s not necessary to read the first book, maybe even better if you haven’t as there is information from the first book that is repeated. But if you did read the first book, you’ll want to read this one.

We find Jack sitting on a small cabin porch nearby a small river, creek really, where he will be a guide to the ultra-rich in their fishing adventure during their time at the Kingfisher Lodge. Jack thinks he could sit here and watch the stream for the rest of his life.

Well, quickly he finds things are a bit “fishy” and not all as they seem. Why the cameras, the fences, and neighbors that are so unfriendly they will either shoot at you or send a raving pack of dogs? Jack is assigned to Alison K, someone nearly perfect for him, except being too famous. She knows how to fish, how to settle and focus, something Jack appreciates. As we get further into the oddness of the compound, Alison wants to know just as much as Jack, what is this place really about? It doesn’t look like it’s fishing and the other cover story of being a detox place isn’t holding much water either.
It was surprising to find the pandemic and coronavirus as part of the plot points in the book. I almost wished it wouldn’t be there, but it did help to add to the tension at a pivotal moment.

I like Heller’s way of describing the setting, I felt myself there in the woods, hearing the birds and the water over the stones. Nearly smelled the pine.

One issue that really bothered me was we had Jack's point of view for nearly the entire book. But then we get moments, mostly near the end when it switches to Alison. A stronger book would have stuck with the one viewpoint. In any case, an improvement over the previous.


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