Alyssa Goodnight's Blog, page 4
September 30, 2014
October’s Book Review Club
It seems almost no time has passed since I posted my last Book Review Club selection, but evidently September flew by, and now October–the month of pumpkins and mums and bats and candy–is upon us! That means, it’s time to chat about another book. True to my habit of selecting a book based on my love of its cover, I’ve chosen
Jana Bibi’s Excellent Fortunes
by Betsy Woodman
Barrie Summy’s Book Review Club has been going on for years now, and if you’ve been reading my reviews for any of that time at all, you know that I tend to rave about the books I feature. Well, I’m not exactly going to rave about this one. Don’t get me wrong–I enjoyed this book very much. This book carried me through a flight with my teenage son to Colorado, a few (lovely!) solitary afternoons reading, and a flight home with my pre-teen son, both boys extraordinarily chatty. It absolutely kept my interest, but I wasn’t obsessively, compulsively reading, which is normally the case with the books I recommend here. This was more a getting-to-know-you read, like the first in a cozy mystery series, set in a tiny English village, where you’re not quite sure about the detective, but you’re willing to give him/her a shot. The difference being that this book was the first in a series set in Hamara Nagar, India, in the fifties. And Jana Bibi is not a detective.
I’ll let you read the blurb from Amazon and then explain a bit more what I mean…
Janet Laird’s life changed the day she inherited her grandfather’s house in a faraway Indian hill station. Ignoring her son’s arguments to come grow old in their family castle in Scotland, she moves with her chatty parrot, Mr. Ganguly and her loyal housekeeper, Mary, to Hamara Nagar, where local merchants are philosophers, the chief of police is a tyrant, and a bagpipe-playing Gurkha keeps the wild monkeys at bay. Settling in, Jana Bibi (as she comes to be known) meets her colorful local neighbors—Feroze Ali Khan of Royal Tailors, who struggles with his business and family, V.K. Ramachandran, whose Treasure Emporium is bursting at the seams with objects of unknown provenance, and Rambir, editor of the local newspaper, who burns the midnight oil at his printing press. When word gets out that the town is in danger of being drowned by a government dam, Jana is enlisted to help put it on the map. Hoping to attract tourists with promises of good things to come, she stacks her deck of cards, readies her fine-feathered assistant—and Jana Bibi’s Excellent Fortunes is born.
Jana Bibi’s Excellent Fortunes is all about character development: Meeting and understanding Ja
net Laird, her overprotective son Jack, her mischievous parrot Mr. Ganguly, her companion/cook/helper Mary, and all the people she meets when she decides to move from a nawab’s palace, where she’s giving violin lessons, to a Himalayan hill station house she’s inherited from her grandfath
er. It’s a book about adapting and making your way, fitting in and, eventually, thriving. It’s about all life’s challenges–some great and some small–and all the joy and sorrow that is invariably encountered along the way.
Janet Laird is a feisty fifty-eight year old woman who thinks nothing of starting over, staying in India when her only family is in Scotland, bravely facing whatever life might throw at her. This book, in my mind, was her finding her feet in Hamara Nagar with the help of some wonderfully quirky and lovable new friends. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series. I suspect Jana Bibi will have come into her own.
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September 21, 2014
Meet My Character!
Okay, so, I was again invited by the super quirky Stacey Graham to participate in another meme! This one’s theme? Meet My Character! (Who hears game music? Is it just me?)
Anyway, I’m not totally ready to share the characters from my WIP, so I thought I’d go back to my most recent pubbed book: AUSTENSIBLY ORDINARY. I miss those guys!
So, here we go with… MEET THE CHARACTER!
1.) What is the name of your character?
Cate Kendall, but at one point in the story, she’s going by Cat Kennedy. She has her reasons.
2.) Is he/she fictional or a historic person?
Totally fictional. She is loosely based on Jane Austen’s Emma Woodhouse, who is also a fictional character.
3.) When and where is the story set?
The story is set in modern day Austin, Texas, with a short side trip into the Texas Hill Country.
4.) What should we know about him/her?
Cate is a high school English teacher who lives in an apartment above her divorced mother’s garage. She plays Scrabble every Sunday night with fellow high school teacher, Ethan Chavez, who manages to find something wrong with every guy she’s dating. She yearns for excitement and romance…and a big boost out of the rut she thinks she’s stuck in.
Her wish is about to come true, courtesy of fairy godmother Jane Austen.
5.) What is the main conflict? What messes up his/her life?
Cate discovers a magical journal that channels the matchmaking spirit of Jane Austen. Basically it writes back to her, offering up life and love advice. Yeah, it’s a lot. And she struggles.
Initially, she doesn’t have a clue about the Jane Austen or matchmaking components. In fact, she ridiculously assumes that the messages in the journal are involving her in some sort of cloak and dagger situation. But eventually, it all works out.
6.) What is the personal goal of the character?
Her overarching goal is to find her own Mr. Darcy. (Mixing allusions: Emma/Darcy, I know, but it all works out in the end. Trust me.)
Smaller goals include trying to ferret out the secrets coworker/Scrabble God Ethan Chavez is keeping, injecting a little excitement into her life, and sleuthing out the mysteries of the magical journal.
7.) Is there a working title for this novel, and can we read more about it?
There’s actually a done-deal title, and it’s AUSTENSIBLY ORDINARY. (FYI…that is not the correct spelling of the word ‘ostensibly’.)
8.) When can we expect the book to be published or when was it published?
AUSTENSIBLY ORDINARY was published at the end of January 2013, so a little bit ago. It’s still available though…
And it’s chock full of Jane Austen and Hitchcock allusions, ghost-hunting, spy talk, scheming, plotting, mystery and adventure! And (of course!) a healthy dash of romance. So what are you waiting for??
Here’s a short excerpt to pique your interest…
Sitting here under the brightly decorated Japanese lanterns I’d convinced my mom we should string up under the oaks, the possibilities seemed endless, the world glowing—I just needed to hold on to this feeling and find a way to have a little adventure. It couldn’t be anything too risqué—one amateur videographer with a camera phone was all it took for things to get very hairy indeed. A good friend of mine had learned that the hard way. I needed a buffer, a way to keep my real, respectable everyday life separate from a little after-hours adventure.
An alter ego would be perfect…sort of a secret identity. I could be the kind of girl who would wear red lipstick and a secret smile and agree to a “friends with benefits” arrangement without batting an eye. Or maybe batting them madly…
“Want me to order the pizza?”
My gaze whipped back to Ethan, his face fringed in shadow as he searched his phone for the number of the pizza place. I blinked rapidly, trying to get my thought processes back on track, hoping the darkened twilight hid the flush in my cheeks and the nervous whites of my eyes.
“Knock yourself out,” I finally agreed.
As we waited for the pizza and I considered, and discarded, a number of ‘alternative’ options, opportunity e-mailed an invitation.
Derring-Do and Savoir Faire…
presented by Pop-up Culture
Join us for an evening inspired by the films of Alfred Hitchcock.
Suspense, my dears, is key, and so the evening’s menu must remain a mystery…
The cast of characters: charismatic men, intriguing women,
And glamorous, grown-up drinks.
When? Sunday, All Hallow’s Eve, 9:00 p.m.–midnight
Where? Location to be revealed on confirmed reservation
Entrée? $40, suggested donation
RSVP to this e-mail address by Tuesday, October 26
Chills edged up my arms as I scrolled through each consecutive line. This was it! A perfect departure from my bookish, Darcy-obsessed self.
Pop-up Culture was the current business venture of my good friend/bad influence Syd Carmelo and fellow food junkies Olivia Westin and Willow Burke. It was a sort of culinary underground, hosting über-cool, invitation-only “pop-up” events all over the city. Austin was cooler than ever. I’d been on the mailing list from Day One, but had yet to make it to an event—I had either a parent conference, a family commitment…or a long-standing Scrabble match. I ended up getting the details with the rest of the city in the paper’s Lifestyle section. Halloween was only a week away. And this time, I was going.
Not as myself, though. I was in the mood for a little “mysterious.”
Maybe I’d be a Hitchcock blonde…with a long, slow smile and a whiff of suggestion. The blond aspect, I had covered. The rest might require a little practice. I hurried to RSVP before I could lose my nerve. Next Sunday… I glanced at Ethan, who was randomly arranging tiles on the Scrabble board. Sundays were currently reserved for my “friend sans benefits.” I could either ask him to go with me or I could strike out on my own. Chances were we’d be done with Scrabble in plenty of time for me to transform myself into a blond bombshell.
And now, passing the torch, I’m tagging Beth Cato, who has a new book out!! And Barrie Summy who will shortly have a new book out! Whoo-hoo! Both look awesome, so definitely check them out! Beth and Barrie will be posting their Meet the Character chats on September 29th. Here’s a little bit about them…
Beth Cato’s the author of THE CLOCKWORK DAGGER, a steampunk fantasy novel from Harper Voyager. Her short fiction is in InterGalactic Medicine Show, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and Daily Science Fiction. She’s a Hanford, California native transplanted to the Arizona desert, where she lives with her husband, son, and requisite cat.
Barrie Summy is the author of the I So Don’t Do mystery series starring thirteen-year-old detective Sherry Holmes Baldwin. She’ll be blogging about Raine, the protagonist in her next middle-grade mystery, The Disappearance of Emily H.(May 12, 2015, Delacorte Press). Barrie lives in Southern California with her husband, their four children, two dogs, a veiled chameleon, and a fish. There was once a dwarf hamster, but let’s not go there. You can visit her online at barriesummy.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.
September 2, 2014
Book Review Club
It seems I have taken yet another hiatus from this blog, given that it has been three months since I last posted. And my previous post (as this one is also destined to be) was a Book Review Club post. It seems the Book Review Club–and my need to keep you informed of my reading discoveries–is the only thing keeping this blog on track… So without further ado, I give you this month’s selection:
The Outsmarting of Criminals
by Steven Rigolosi
A brief summary, from Amazon:
After being mugged in New York City, Miss Felicity Prim decides to leave the big city and purchase a home in the country, where she will be safe from the dangerous criminals who call New York home. A devoted reader of crime fiction, Miss Prim believes that her reading experiences have given her the skills required to become an amateur sleuth in her new home of Greenfield, Connecticut. She gets her chance to prove her mettle when she finds a corpse in her basement. As Miss Prim searches for the victim’s identity and killer, she finds her father’s old journals, which create a crisis in her family. Meanwhile, Miss Prim’s young friend, Dolly, has become involved in a dangerous situation and needs Miss Prim’s help. Can Miss Prim, with her insights into human behavior and her steadfast refusal to rely on forensics and databases (which she considers the crutches of lazy investigators), save the day and bring everything to a happy resolution? Of course she can.
I am quite fond of the cozy mystery. On condition that I like the amateur (or not so amateur) sleuth doing the detecting. This one, I liked. Quite a lot. Miss Felicity Prim is retiring and has big plans to become one of those amateur sleuths she so admires with no more significant training (beyond some beginner self-defense) than a lifetime spent reading crime fiction!
(This reminds me of myself. Once upon a time, I imagined that I could write a Regency historical romance novel after having avidly read hundreds of novels of the genre. Very little research was involved. But I did it!) As such, I applaud Miss Prim!
She recognizes every element of the genre in her own personal mystery, even going so far as to pigeon-hole the people she meets into recurring characters in her burgeoning cozy mystery world. For example, she identifies her wacky neighbor Loraine as the perfect zany sidekick after only moments of chatting. This outlook provides a very humorous satire, while ensuring that the author includes all the elements cozy mystery fans expect. The mystery itself was also quite clever and unexpected–solving it was quite a coup for Miss Prim!
I enjoyed getting to know all the characters in Miss Prim’s new hometown, and I expect she will shortly be ready to hang out her shingle as a sleuth for hire. Definitely recommended.
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@Barrie Summy
May 6, 2014
Book Review Club ~ A Snicker of Magic
Back again to share a truly stellar book that I just want to brag on (even though I have no connection to this book or the author) It’s A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd. I don’t read a lot of middle grade books, and my kids are mostly getting too old for them, but I did love Three Times Lucky… Not to mention its sequel… And I heard so much glowing praise for this book that I just had to see for myself whether it was well deserved.
Well, it was. Now let me try to convince you…
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From Amazon:
Introducing an extraordinary new voice—a magical debut that will make your skin tingle, your eyes glisten . . .and your heart sing.
Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart.
But when she arrives in Midnight Gulch, Felicity thinks her luck’s about to change. A “word collector,” Felicity sees words everywhere—shining above strangers, tucked into church eves, and tangled up her dog’s floppy ears—but Midnight Gulch is the first place she’s ever seen the word “home.” And then there’s Jonah, a mysterious, spiky-haired do-gooder who shimmers with words Felicity’s never seen before, words that make Felicity’s heart beat a little faster.
Felicity wants to stay in Midnight Gulch more than anything, but first, she’ll need to figure out how to bring back the magic, breaking the spell that’s been cast over the town . . . and her mother’s broken heart.
It received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus, and School Library Journal, and, what the heck, from me too!
It’s charming and whimsical, with all the trademarks of a great story. A magical town? Check! A quirky, never-say-die, lovable main character? Check! A trusty sweetheart of a sidekick? Check! A twisted, mysterious history? Check! A desperate, important task? Check! Crazy ice cream flavors? Check, double check! (You get the idea.)
And there are so many words–so many wonderful words–scattered everywhere throughout this book! Because Felicity Juniper Pickle is a word collector. And not only that, she can actually *see* words hovering, swimming, swooshing around people. Words they’re thinking, words they’re feeling, words that describe them. And she collects her favorites in a little blue book. Talk about a lovable quirk!
Felicity’s perspective is just, quite simply, wonderful. It’s factofabulous, to use a word from the book.
“The letters were made of melted sunshine. They dripped down the window glass, warm and tingly against our faces. Believe is a powerful word to see and to say. But that morning, I felt it. And feeling it was the best of all. I knew something wonderful was about to happen to me. I didn’t know what, or why, or how. But I believed.”
“The base of the sky was turning orange and pale pink. I figure that was the sun’s way of yawning and stretching before it puts its hands on the hills and pushes on up into the sky.”
So much goodness! You need to experience it for yourself. Read it, read it, read it!
April 1, 2014
Book Review Club ~ The Diviners
The facts are these… (I’ve been watching Pushing Daisies on Netflix).
It is once again the first Wednesday of the month, and thus time for Barrie Summy’s Book Review Club.
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I’ve actually done quite a bit of reading, much of it from authors I’ve already featured here on the blog (mostly as a part of the Book Review Club).
I read the latest Flavia de Luce mystery and gave it five stars on Goodreads. This one might be my favorite in the series so far!
I read the latest Vish Puri mystery and gave it five stars as well. Love these India-set mysteries!
I also read City of Jasmine by Deanna Raybourn. I gave it four stars just because I thought the heroine went a little too hard on the hero. She was kinda mean…
Finally, I read all 500+ pages of the Rita-nominated The Firebird by Susanna Kearsley. It was excellent, but I gave it four stars because I wanted more of the framework story.
All in all, I’ve read some really excellent books lately! However, I’ve not quite finished reading the one I’m reviewing here, namely THE DIVINERS by Libba Bray.
From Amazon:
“Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City–and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult–also known as “The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies.”
When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer–if he doesn’t catch her first.”
This summary doesn’t really touch on the scope of this novel. Evie may be the main character, and one of the Diviners: individuals with special powers to do things like step into dreams, learn a person’s secrets merely by touching something that belongs to them, become “invisible” to people at will, etc, but this story is told from many viewpoints, and there are plenty of side stories feeding into the central one–the murders.
What do I like about this novel so far?
The writing is, at turns, wonderfully lyrical and conversationally spot on.
It feels important, intense, urgent, as if every page is speeding you towards a conclusion you’re quite desperate–but a little afraid–to read.
There are plenty of fascinating characters. Until this morning I would have said that only one of them left me feeling a little ‘meh,’ but suddenly, he has a secret past, and for now, I forgive him. Evie is quite the spunky heroine–I fear she might soon get her comeuppance…
1920′s Manhattan is a character all its own.
The knowledge that this is a series. It makes me think that these Diviners, who do not yet know about each others’ abilities, will come together gradually, sort of
like a set of young Avengers whose powers deal in the supernatural. The next book in the series, Lair of Dreams comes out in August this year!Those covers!!
So…1920s…Manhattan…murder…supernatural…occult…bright young things…coming of age…glamour…mystery…
If you have a penchant for any or all of these things, this book might be for you.
I leave you with a little sample from the beginning:
“Outside, the wind lingers for a moment at those lighted windows; then, with a gusty burst of energy, it takes its leave and scuttles down the sidewalks. It twines itself briefly around the cloche hats of two fashionable young ladies gossiping about the tragic death of Rudolph Valentino as they walk a poodle along the East River. It moves on, down neon-drenched canyons, over the elevated train as it rattles about Second Avenue, shaking the windows of the poor souls trying to sleep before morning comes…”
(Don’t forget to click on the typewriter for the rest of this month’s reviews!)
March 15, 2014
FREE!
So go get it! :)
http://www.amazon.com/Unladylike-Purs...
March 4, 2014
Book Review Club ~ The Rosie Project
Back again for Barrie Summy’s monthly Book Review Club. This, of course, means that it’s the first Wednesday of the month, and it also happens to be Ash Wednesday today, so today begins Lent and plenty of good reading, should you take the advice of my fellow reviewers…
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This month, I’m reviewing The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, which, it turns out, is a #1 International Bestseller. I had no idea that this was the case. The book was recommended by a fellow blogger, Anne Bogel, and as it sounded quirky and unique, and had a $1.99 price tag, I couldn’t pass it up. I was not disappointed!! (As of the date of this post, it is still a bargain on Kindle at $1.99, so jump on this!)
I couldn’t resist including all these other covers–they remind me of Jenny Crusie covers, which I love–but the most recognizable cover, at least in the U.S., is the red one, with the heart. Perfect.
So, let’s get started. From Amazon:
MEET DON TILLMAN, a brilliant yet socially challenged professor of genetics, who’s decided it’s time he found a wife. And so, in the orderly, evidence-based manner with which Don approaches all things, he designs the Wife Project to find his perfect partner: a sixteen-page, scientifically valid survey to filter out the drinkers, the smokers, th
Rosie Jarman is all these things. She also is strangely beguiling, fiery, and intelligent. And while Don quickly disqualifies her as a candidate for the Wife Project, as a DNA expert Don is particularly suited to help Rosie on her own quest: identifying her biological father. When an unlikely relationship develops as they collaborate on the Father Project, Don is forced to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that, despite your best scientific efforts, you don’t find love, it finds you.
e late arrivers.
Arrestingly endearing and entirely unconventional, Graeme Simsion’s distinctive debut will resonate with anyone who has ever tenaciously gone after life or love in the face of great challenges. The Rosie Project is a rare find: a book that restores our optimism in the power of human connection.
So, this, my friends, is a mainstream romance. It’s also a romance by a man–an Australian–so I think this is a definite first for me. It is sweet and intelligent and HILARIOUS! I do not know if I have ever laughed out loud so much while reading a book. If you are familiar with the character of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory, then you have a bit of an idea of the sort of character that Don Tillman is.
He’s the sort that adheres to a rigid menu every single week. The sort that times absolutely everything, so that if he is drawn into a thirty minute conversation with someone, he must decide whether to run somewhere instead of walk, skip his workout, or go to sleep later than he’d intended, which is likely to have an impact on the following day. He doesn’t like physical contact, doesn’t believe he can fall in love, and doesn’t have a lot of patience for the emotional situations that both stimulate and plague the rest of society. In short, he has Asperger’s syndrome, but based on an early scene in the book, where he lectures on the condition, is not aware of it.
The criteria of his Wife Project are hilarious, but the Father Project is much more interesting–fascinating really. And then there’s the Rosie Project, which is sweet and sad and just perfect. You really must read it for yourself!
For more great reviews, click on the typewriter above!
February 4, 2014
Book Review Club ~ The Rithmatist
Holy Moly! It’s been two months since I last posted! Well, lots has been going on…here is the Cliffs Notes version:
1) There was Christmas (obviously)
2) We recently purchased a vacation rental with another couple and have been working on doing some renovation/modernization/decorating. It is almost finished! (What a relief!) So, if you’re looking for a lovely rental in the Asheville, NC area that sleeps 14-16, give me a shout!
3) I’VE BEEN WRITING! Hardcore–seriously. I’m spending more hours a week than I ever have, and I’m making good progress I think. It won’t be too long before this current book is done!
4) I entered Austensibly Ordinary in the RWA Rita contest this year, and because they were only accepting a certain number of entries, and because they give priority to anyone who judges, I decided to judge. So, I received five books to read by March 7th, and I am on 4/5. Because I’m not allowed to reveal which books I’m judging, I find myself without a book to review this month. (Because these books are consuming ALL of my reading time.)
Once I’m finished with the judging, I’m looking forward to reading this book, which came out yesterday. (I LOVED Three Times Lucky) –>
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My twelve-year-old has been reading voraciously, so I asked him if he’d like to review a book he received for his recent birthday, The Rithmatist by Brandon Sanderson, and he agreed. So, this month, you’re hearing from him. And I will admit, this book has piqued my interest. I may just read it next…
From Amazon:
More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings—merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.
As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing—kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery—one that will change Rithmatics—and their world—forever.
Bestselling author Brandon Sanderson brings his unique brand of epic storytelling to the teen audience with an engrossing tale of danger and suspense—the first of a series. With his trademark skills in world-building, Sanderson has created a magic system that is so inventive and detailed that that readers who appreciate games of strategy and tactics just may want to bring Rithmatics to life in our world.
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2013 A New York Times Book Review Notable Children’s Book of 2013
From Alex:
The Rithmatist was a great book because it had mystery, fantasy, and action all wrapped up into one book. There are other great books, but if you want a “keep me up all night reading so I can find out what will happen next” book, then this is the one. The Rithmatist is a book about a kid who really wants to be a rithmatist, a person who can draw lines that become animated. To be a rithmatist you need to be really good at drawing circles, know all of the defenses, be good at drawing chalkings (pictures that come to life to aide you, and know the lines. Plus you have to be able to do all of it in chalk, and this boy can. This boy wants to be a rithmatist because they are looked upon in awe, and have special powers. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be a series, so once you’re finished with the first one, you’ll be able to read the next. This book is a great book over all, and I would read it again if my mom allowed rereads.
-Alex Goodnight
For the record, I do allow re-reads. I just frown on excessive re-reads. There are simply too many wonderful books out there to justify them.
December 3, 2013
Book Review Club: Bomb
It’s December! Chocolate-filled Advent calendars are in use in my house, and I’m scrambling to catch up after being gone the entire week of Thanksgiving. Naturally, my holiday decorations are not up–they’re not even down from the attic!–but I hope to remedy that this week, or this weekend at the the latest.
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This month, I’m reviewing Bomb: The Race to Build-and Steal-the World’s Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin. I’ve had my eye on this one for a while, mostly for my boys, but eventually, I decided to break with personal tradition and read this middle-grade nonfiction book myself. I was not disappointed! This was one fascinating read, and I agree with the book’s School Library Journal review which raves that it “reads like an international spy thriller.”
The blurb, from Amazon:
In December of 1938, a chemist in a German laboratory made a shocking discovery: When placed next to radioactive material, a Uranium atom split in two. That simple discovery launched a scientific race that spanned 3 continents. In Great Britain and the United States, Soviet spies worked their way into the scientific community; in Norway, a commando force slipped behind enemy lines to attack German heavy-water manufacturing; and deep in the desert, one brilliant group of scientists was hidden away at a remote site at Los Alamos. This is the story of the plotting, the risk-taking, the deceit, and genius that created the world’s most formidable weapon. This is the story of the atomic bomb.
The book was a 2012 National Book Awards finalist for Young People’s Literature, and a 2013 Newbery Honor book.
This book succeeds on many levels. First off, it covers a wide span of inter-related occurrences from 1938, through the end of the second world war in 1945, and even a bit afterwards, slotting them all together like puzzle pieces in this tangled, complex web of history. It’s fascinating to read about the birth of such a impactful idea and all of the individuals and events that contributed to its eventual success, as well as those that contributed to its theft. In all the stories about WWII heroism, the men and women of this tale are largely unsung. Whether or not you agree with the creation of the bomb–it is impossible not to respect the patriotic contributions of The Manhattan Project team of scientists who worked tirelessly towards success in order to bring about the end of the war.
Secondly, and most significant to me, Sheinkin humanizes all of it. The “characters” are presented with the fears, uncertainties, and misgivings of the project’s failure as well as its success, and thus, the book transcends a typical historical account to become a collective biography of those involved with the bomb. Even the spies are written sympathetically.
Finally, this book is very accessible. I honestly feel like I now know a good bit about the uranium, plutonium, and hydrogen bombs, all without subjecting myself to a dry historical text. There are only 236 pages in this book, and these pages have plenty of white space and lots of cliff-hangers. The story touches on lab discoveries, experimental trial and error, recruitment for The Manhattan Project, spy development, Presidential commentary, military perspective, and Soviet and Japanese bomb progress. And all of it is pretty riveting. You get caught up in the urgency the players in this story were feeling seventy plus years ago.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the atomic/nuclear bomb, any WWII history buff, and anyone looking for a true-story action adventure.
November 30, 2013
Guest Blogging & Giveaway
I’m guest blogging on Deanna Raybourn’s website today. Swing by to find out what else is going on in December, besides the holidays.
I’m also giving away a copy of one of my books. You can choose either AUSTENTATIOUS or AUSTENSIBLY ORDINARY, either paperback or audiobook. How’s that for choices?
To enter, simply leave a comment telling me your favorite December tradition, and I’ll pick a winner on Friday.
Good luck!
