Play Book Tag discussion
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2016-19 Activities & Challenges
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Trim the TBR—September Planning and Reporting
My number 3 is Brave New World Revisited. Very much looking forward to this one as I loved Brave New World.
I opened the Buddy Read thread for Beartown. It has an awesome first line!
My #3Upstream / Sharon Butala
3.5 stars
Chloe is ½ French and ½ English, and she grew up in Saskatchewan. When her husband heads to Scotland to work on his PhD, she discovers he has been having an affair. Not knowing what to do about her marriage, she travels for a bit with a friend, then heads to her father’s French town in Sask. for a while. While there, she learns about being French in Saskatchewan and comes across her grandmother’s diary.
Unfortunately, there were no likable characters in this book. That almost brought my rating down to 3 stars (ok). However, I got much more interested in the second half of the book when Chloe started reading her grandmother’s diary – about having to move from Quebec to Saskatchewan and starting over in an English province (though in a French town). I am not French, but I grew up in a small, primarily French, town in Saskatchewan, so I found this really interesting: the history of the Fransaskois (French-Saskatchewanians). The town this was set in was not near the town I grew up in, but it was close to Batoche, famous for the battle during the Rebellion where Louis Riel was defeated.
#3 - also fits monthly tagA Certain Age by Beatriz Williams
4 1/2 stars
This is another great Beatriz Williams novel. It takes place in the 1920’s. This time period in New York City is exciting. People are enjoying themselves even as they try to get over both personal losses and those from the First World War.
The story is told from two points of view. They are from a nineteen year old girl named Sophie and a forty year old woman socialite, Theresa. Another main character is a young man who was a pilot during the war, Octavian. Sophie comes from new money, and she becomes engaged to Theresa’s brother. However, she soon realizes he may not be right for her.
The book also reveals that there is unsolved murder from long ago in Connecticut. Someone is charged with the killing and the novel blends elements of the trial with the main characters very nicely. There are a few unexpected turns and the second half of the book was especially hard to put down. I enjoyed William’s storyline and her writing style.
September -book #3An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny by Laura Schroff
3stars
pp. 274
An Invisible Thread: The True Story of an 11-Year-Old Panhandler, a Busy Sales Executive, and an Unlikely Meeting with Destiny by Laura Schroff is one of those books you might call heart-warming. Laura Schroff is a busy and successful sales executive when an 11 year-old begs for money from her because he is hungry. She takes Maurice to McDonald's and thus begins their friendship, as she says:
"You see, I am a woman whose life runs on schedules. I make appointments, I fill slots, I micromanage the clock. I bounce around from meeting to meeting, ticking things off a list. I am not merely punctual; I am fifteen minutes early for any and every engagement. This is how I live; it is who I am—but some things in life do not fit neatly into a schedule. Rain, for example. On the day I met Maurice—September 1, 1986—a huge storm swept over the city, and I awoke to darkness and hammering rain. It was Labor Day weekend and the summer was slipping away, but I had tickets to the U.S. Open tennis tournament that afternoon—box seats, three rows from center court."
They meet every Monday for years and she guides him and helps him understand other ways to do things besides what his precarious existence would dictate.
Both Laura and Maurice are needy and what cannot help but question their motivations.
In the long run they now look at each other as family and have enriched each other's life.
The story was interesting and eye-opening in someways, but not stellar.
Cross posted to Trim, this is my #3. Does not fit the tag.I would have given this little ditty three stars, if the author had honored my request to let me buy or send me a copy. Available only through kindle, or iBooks, this tiny 129 page book is the story of a young man, visited by the younger version of the ghost of his beloved Grandmother recently passed. It is a story that moves from jocular to premonition. It includes a terrorist, and ultimately a love story. That's enough said. If that entices you, go for it. I didn't love it. But it might appeal to someone else.
Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty - 4 stars
Cross-posted to Other Books because I can't be bothered to check all 191 pages of tags for cultural, although I think it should be tagged as such!
465 pages in my edition, as I don't trust Amazon or Goodreads (sorry admins!)
I think most people have either read the book or seen the tv series, so I'm not going to blurb the book, as I am probably late to the party.
I really enjoyed my first Moriarty and I'm definitely on the lookout for more (luckily the villa I'm currently staying in has The Husband's Secret!). I didn't get the twist. I read A LOT of crime novels but never read ones where you don't discover who's been killed until the end before, and I definitely appreciated this as it kept me guessing throughout the book. (view spoiler)
I also didn't see the killer coming, I really thought it would be one of the three main female characters.
Cross-posted to Other Books because I can't be bothered to check all 191 pages of tags for cultural, although I think it should be tagged as such!
465 pages in my edition, as I don't trust Amazon or Goodreads (sorry admins!)
I think most people have either read the book or seen the tv series, so I'm not going to blurb the book, as I am probably late to the party.
I really enjoyed my first Moriarty and I'm definitely on the lookout for more (luckily the villa I'm currently staying in has The Husband's Secret!). I didn't get the twist. I read A LOT of crime novels but never read ones where you don't discover who's been killed until the end before, and I definitely appreciated this as it kept me guessing throughout the book. (view spoiler)
I also didn't see the killer coming, I really thought it would be one of the three main female characters.
Geez - forgot the name of my book. It’s The Angel in My Well by Kevin Asboro.
Jenny wrote: "465 pages in my edition, as I don't trust Amazon or Goodreads (sorry admins!).."Hi Jenny,
The guidelines for this challenge is that the page count is the number of pages in the hardcover edition as posted on Amazon or GoodReads or, if there is no hardcover edition, then the original publication format.
If you would like to edit your post to have the page count that reflects that (which is the number of pages anyone else who has read/will read this book will get) then I will be sure to enter the page count into the challenge spreadsheet. Otherwise, unfortunately, I will not record the number of pages read for this one.
With so many editions of books with varying page counts, this is the method the admins came up with in order to keep the challenge as fair as possible! So that everyone who reads the same book gets the same page credit, regardless of whether you picked up the mass market paperback at an airport bookshop or got the hardcover from your library.
Thanks!
Hi Nicole and the other admins! Page ciunt for big little lies is 460 according to Goodreads. I'm not that fussed about the page count unless it gives me voting points for the next tag, so I'll leave it up to you whether you include it or not! :-)
Jenny wrote: "Hi Nicole and the other admins! Page ciunt for big little lies is 460 according to Goodreads. I'm not that fussed about the page count unless it gives me voting points for the next tag, so I'll lea..."If GR says 460 then we will totally count it! Thanks for looking it up!
Jenny wrote: "*count, not ciunt!"and I missed the "i" when was reading it...........LOL
Finished my Trim #3 for September:Ship of Ghosts: The Story of the USS Houston, FDR's Legendary Lost Cruiser, and the Epic Saga of Her Survivors by James D. Hornfischer
Does not fit tag
Hardcover has 530 pages (my Kindle version had 546)
4 stars
Non-fiction account of one of the lesser known events in WWII: the sinking of the USS Houston, covering the history of the ship itself, first-person accounts of its battles, and the crew’s harrowing experiences as prisoners of war after its sinking. The ship was part of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in 1942, when the Allies were organizing into a joint fighting force of American, Australian, British, and Dutch. While navigating the Sunda Strait, the USS Houston and HMAS Perth interrupted a large-scale Japanese invasion of Java, were involved in a terrifying night-time battle, and were both sunk. The bulk of the narrative then follows the survivors, who are eventually captured and sent to various POW camps. Many are used as forced labor to build (by hand) the Thai-Burma Railway. The final portions of the book cover the end of the war and how the remaining survivors fared upon returning home.
Hornfischer excels at describing the sounds, sights, smells of the battle scenes:
“The Houston took her first hit when a projectile struck the forecastle, starting fires in the paint locker that danced brightly for about a quarter of an hour. The night air was rancid with cordite. Though the winds were still, the wisps of gray-white muzzle smoke flying from the Houston’s guns fell quickly away, left behind like an airborne wake covering her trail of foam.”
He brings the fears of the sailors to the forefront as they struggle to survive the sinking:
“Lungs burning, Gillan felt himself bump up against the ship’s rail. He was finally free of the enclosed torpedo space. The cord to his miner’s lamp snagged momentarily on the rail, but then he was floating again, being washed up and down, unsure of which direction the surface was. He felt currents whirlpooling around him. The sensation evoked an amusement park ride before the flashing of red, green, and purple lights marked the possibility that his brain was starving for oxygen as he drowned.”
He vividly describes their horrific ordeal on the Thai-Burma Railway, where they endure forced labor, starvation, disease, brutality, and the perils of the jungle:
“Pressured to perform five years of work in twelve short months, they would be given over to the jungle and left to wrestle it toward civilization. They would contend with all its elements—its hardwoods, rocks, and vines, its predators both mammalian and bacterial, under the lash of their enemy and assault from the elements. The work would harden some and consume others. They would forget all but the most basic memories of home, picking their way through a life in captivity that would become the grist for sleepless nights ever afterward.”
Hornfischer has assembled a cohesive and compelling narrative based upon official documents, a compiled library of participants’ voice recordings, and the author’s own interviews many years later. Both the small details of personal stories and the larger context of military strategy are covered. I appreciated the author’s inclusion of insights into how these courageous captives survived such inhumane conditions. The account becomes more fragmented as it progresses. It may have been more cohesive if the author had focused on a more limited number of personal stories in each section. It could also have benefitted by the inclusion of more photos and maps. This book is an absorbing tribute to the men of the USS Houston. Though it can be gut-wrenching to read about the horrors of war, it is ultimately a testament to the triumph of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity.
Link to My GR Review
My #3 BookStardust by Neil Gaiman
Stardust
4 stars
238 Pages
Does not fit monthly tag
What a great book!
I love Neil Gaiman, and have never been disappointed in any of his books.
This book has been described by the author as a fairy tale for adults, and most of the story takes place in a parallel world known as "Fairy", where fabulous creatures and events are common place and expected.
The story opens in the small English town of Wall. It becomes clear that this town is situated right next to the wall between "reality" and "fairy". There is a doorway in the wall that is guarded night and day. No one may pass through the doorway, with one big exception.
Every 9 years, there is a "market" in the meadow on the fairy side of the wall. During this market, people from both sides of the wall mix freely, sometimes with life-changing consequences.
Without giving any spoilers, the story is about true love, ambition and power, the quest for eternal youth, good and evil, murder and treachery. There are many characters and threads and twists and turns to the story, and the author brings them together in very satisfying ways.
#3 - We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson - 4 starsDoes NOT fit the monthly tag "cultural"
paperback 160 pages
mass market paperback 176 pages
Kindle edition 162 pages
(The only hardcover shown on Amazon is a leatherbound that did not list the number of pages)
Review: Mary Katherine Blackwood lives with her older sister Constance and their invalid Uncle Julian in a house on the outskirts of a small New England village. They are a strange, reclusive family, feared and hated by the insular villagers because of a tragedy in their past. Young Mary Katherine, or "Merricat" as she is called, is our narrator, and the reader can see from the start that no one in this household is quite right in the head.
I can see why this is a classic! It's brilliantly written, and the author weaves an atmosphere that is strange, creepy, and in many parts bordering on horror - it has quite aptly been described as American Gothic. This has been on my TBR for some time but had never really been a high priority for me, so I'm glad that this challenge finally made me read it! Highly recommended.
Amy wrote: "Geez - forgot the name of my book. It’s The Angel in My Well by Kevin Asboro."LOL! I was going to peruse through the rest of the posts, then ask if no one else had (or, if you hadn't noticed!)
OK - my #3 is LessStars ****
I admit that I read this last month, but at least its close, right?
The protagonist is Arthur Less, a gay man who goes on an adventure to avoid the wedding of his 9 year "casual" partner. The story starts with him believing he is as his name says - less. By the end he learns that he is anything but, to himself or to those around him.
I didn’t love this one K. Glad you loved it more.
Trim #3
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
Fits September Cultural Theme -- YES!
Pages: 231
This is a deceptively simple story, one of a young man named Saeed attracted to a young woman named Nadia while taking an evening class in an unidentified city in the midst of a civil war. A love story against the backdrop of war and immigration for survival, how both affect the budding relationship. And yet...with great finesse, while the author takes us along with Saeed and Nadia through magical portals to new places in their quest for safety, he also takes the reader's mind preconceptions on a different journey using the magic portal of his writing. It is exciting and scary, hopeful as well as a little sad. It's marvelous!
Hamid keeps everything deceptively simple. This is a dystopian tale, but one drawn on the individual and small community in times of war and its aftermath. He uses magical portals as a means to introduce the topic of borders and what happens with the artificiality of borders disappears. He shows you not just people escaping through portals, but also how portals can be used as a direct means of transport. He shows you several different relationships - parent/child, lovers, husband/wife - and how they all fit into a world with no borders, civil war and survival.
Hamid plays with the reader's perception by using language that gently has that reader suddenly go 'ah ha!' or 'oh' or 'hadn't thought of it this way'. One example for me is at the very beginning of Chapter 3 where he has a few sentences describing a cellphone as antenna. It reminded me of something a college professor (anthropology) said: even the simplest acceptable act -- a man shaving -- when written and described in the simplest, most basic descriptive language, will sound like a strange exotic custom. Today we refer to that as 'spin' -- and every society and every individual can and does tell their story to impress, to advance, to instill fear ... or not. There are many more moments like that, written with great delicacy and deadly accuracy, most often addressing the concept of distance and space, and even time.
It also brings to mind recent history. While not identified, Saeed and Nadia clearly live in a country/city that is in the middle east or some other hot dry region with fundamentalist religion (like Islam) at war with a more western leaning social and political structure. The countries they escape to through the portals are identified by name, all western cultures now coping with massive and ethnically diverse numbers of refugees. In a few short chapters, Hamid effectively shows the different levels of acceptance of refugees the different cultures provide -- something we are seeing debated and changing in own country during the current political administration. And he simply but effectively challenges our instinctive judgment of someone by appearance (view spoiler)..
It's still with all that an excellent story.
Amy wrote: "I didn’t love this one K. Glad you loved it more."Its all about where you are. I have been feeling a bit "less" so it was nice for me to see someone win.
Exit West by Mohsin HamidFits September Cultural Theme -- yes
Pages: 231
Saeed and Nadia meet in class in an unnamed city presumed to be in the Middle Eastern in the midst of a violent civil war. Seeking to escape their dangerous situation and in hopes of finding relative freedom the couple seek out a door, one of many all over their country and the world, that will transport them to another location. From there Exit West is about their experience as immigrants, how they adapt to their new environment as individuals and how that is at times in conflict with each other.
Very unique premise and plot device, beautiful writing, and a short time investment totally worth the time. I was a little disengaged at times, but it's still a great story with a lot to unpack so highly recommend to all readers.
Beartown by Fredrik BackmanFits September Cultural Tag - yes
#3 Trim the TBR
418 Pages
Beartown was my Trim book for this month, and it turned out to be a very good pick for the cultural tag. The book deals with culture at multiple levels - from the culture of the team, the hockey club, the town, and to a lesser extent the country of Sweden. It also deals with issues that are common to many sports – the culture of winning, and the culture of silence. See the Buddy read for some of the quotes in the book on culture, and additional comments.
I enjoyed the writing, the characters, the story, and I learned something too. Some of my favorite parts involved the friendships between the kids (you never have friends like you did when you were 15), the relationships between the parents and kids, and how the characters changed throughout the year.
I was initially interested in the book because I was a hockey mom. I lugged around sticks and equipment in my minivan, drove my kids to 7am practices and games, and watched and waited in cold arenas. When necessary, I graded papers while sitting in the stands, trying to tune out the mad dads who loved to yell. It was sometimes intense, but ultimately, hockey was just a game. However… To the people of Beartown and many other small towns in Sweden, hockey is everything. The town is struggling due to some job losses, and they are pinning all their hopes (economic and otherwise) on their Junior hockey team. The whole town takes a proprietary interest in the Beartown Ice Hockey Club (and ice rink) and when a crisis hits, they all want a say in what happens next.
[Note - At first I thought this was Junior Varsity hockey, but this is much more competitive. The age range is about 16-18, and the best players are only a few steps away from a career in the NHL in Canada or US. I read about one town in Sweden that has a great track record of developing players to export to the National Hockey League.]
The first half of the book focuses on the hockey club and the Junior team. It was surprisingly engaging for me (a non athlete) to read about some of the challenges faced by the kids, and various ways that coaches, parents and teachers can help. There is a lot about achievement and teamwork that could be applied to other settings.
I gained a new respect for Backman as a writer. (I already liked him because of A Man Called Ove.) I liked that he was able to find small nuances that helped to bring life to characters. The kids became more than stock characters. I especially appreciated that many of the mothers had their own stories and actual personalities! That shouldn’t be so miraculous, but I remember seeing a lot of books and tv shows written for boys, where all the mothers were little more than props in the kitchen. The character development is uneven in a way that makes me think the author was making a statement. Some of the smaller characters are well developed and have emotional depth (especially the bar owner), while others (e.g. the President of the club) aren’t even given a name.
There is a shift in the second half of the book that challenges the culture.
"Culture is as much about what we encourage as what we actually permit.”
Culture is about values, norms and the expectations we have of one another. What happens if violations of the rules and values are permitted or ignored? What happens when the star player of a team is accused of rape? [In my opinion, this is where a culture of winning can result in denial (she’s lying), and a culture of silence. It can erode a team from the inside.]
Alert (not a spoiler): There is a rape of a teenage girl in the book about midway. It’s not graphic, and I think it does a good job with the relevant issues. It partially explains why a girl might not report it right away* and may provide some insights on blaming the victim. I think it’s suitable for teenagers and might generate some good discussion. The second half of the book deals with what happens next to all the characters in the book. There are some interesting dynamics between the town and the donors of the hockey club, and some very memorable moments. Some of these issues might not be of interest to younger readers. The very end felt rushed to me, and might lead to a slightly lower rating. It seemed that the author was both typing up loose ends, and segueing into the next book.
[Training/Me-too notes. *The fact is that many women/girls don’t report harassment and rape, and it’s hard for some people to understand why. Last year’s me-too movement led many women to finally speak up about a rape in her past. I saw hundreds of quotes on twitter by women explaining “Why I didn’t report it.” These were very powerful, and I think they can really impact empathy and understanding. I would recommend using some of them in discussions or training programs about rape and harassment.]
what happens if you want to DNF your stupid book? LOL
Nicole D. wrote: "what happens if you want to DNF your stupid book? LOL"Well, you don't get kicked out of PTB-LOL-you just do not get the points for this month-I look at this way: it is still off of your TBR! I am in the same situation this month-but I figure I have 2 weeks or more left, so I am going to leave it on the night stand and see if I can finish it-I am only 2 chapters in, so it may get better- one can only hope!
Joanne wrote: "Nicole D. wrote: "what happens if you want to DNF your stupid book? LOL"Well, you don't get kicked out of PTB-LOL-you just do not get the points for this month-I look at this way: it is still off..."
That's a very good way to look at it! If you want to DNF there is not point keeping it on the TBR.
This is the first year I am unabashedly DNFing books.
Like is too short and the TBR is too tall.
September - #3Beartown by Fredrik Backman
Fits the Cultural Tag - Yes
418 pages
4 stars
My review is not going to be near as comprehensive and extensive as some of the other amazing reviews that others have given.
For me this wasn't a 5 star book... I know it was for a lot of others. For me it wasn't 5 stars because there were a couple of places that it got bogged down. I get that he was trying to set the stage that hockey is life for the team but I feel in a couple of spots I started to get bored. It got too slow for me about 3/4 of the way through.
I was also frustrated with the resolution of the Benji/Benjamin story. I feel like either leave out a piece of it or resolve it fully. I personally don't like some of the decisions that were made around that one, like it started to get flushed out and then he realized the book was as long as it was, so he just wrapped it up quickly.
I will say that he does a great job getting you to connect with the different characters and the way the town treated Maya made me so mad that I almost put down the book. I'm glad that he shed some light on rape culture because it still happens so often today and I like that he made us think about it.
Aside from highlighting rape culture he also digs into other cultures including: sports, small towns, rural towns, Sweden and many more. I think it really fits the tag because he explores and brings to light so many cultures that exist in the world that some people may not be aware of.
Great book!! My first Backman and I'll definitely be reading more.
Aaarrrgggh .... just realized I did NOT bring my trim book with me on vacation. All this time to read and I left my trim book at home on the desk ....... S*I*G*H
Book Concierge wrote: "Aaarrrgggh .... just realized I did NOT bring my trim book with me on vacation. All this time to read and I left my trim book at home on the desk ....... S*I*G*H"I feel your pain. I hope this doen't mean the troubles I have been having, like losing my print copy of Exit West the day I started it, are infecting others!
My #3 is:
Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, & Baking Biscuits by Reese WitherspoonI've just started reading and I am thoroughly enjoying the relaxed feel good style of the book. There is no way I would ever qualify as a 'Southern Girl' in my attitudes and lifestyle, but I'm finding the concepts and ideas amusing and the pictures are delightful.
My #3 is:Cross-posted with September 2019: Other Books
5 stars
Cary Elwes gives a behind the scenes look into what was going on with the making of The Princess Bride. Such a fun, interesting book to read with a nice selection of pictures in the middle. I like the fact that it has snippets from Rob Reiner, Andy Scheinman, Billy Crystal, and William Goldman, to name a few. The Princess Bride is one of a hand full of movies I could watch over and over.
If you are a fan of the movie this book is a must-read and I highly recommend it.
September: #3Silent Joe by T. Jefferson Parker
341 pages
does not fit monthly tag
3 stars
24-year-old Joe Trona carries multiple scars, the most glaring of which is half of his face. When he was just a baby his father threw acid in Joe's face leaving deep, red furrows of skin that would eventually heal but not fade. His father was put in prison and his mother abandoned him to an orphanage where he was eventually adopted by charming Orange County politician Will Trona and his beautiful wife Maryanne. Joe works at the jail as a guard, putting in his 5 years until he is able to be promoted to the regular police force. But Joe's main job is to protect Will from the many enemies he has made throughout the years in his political career. One foggy night Joe is unable to keep Will safe from a group of men who have been sent to kill him. Feeling guilty about his failure Joe sets out to avenge Will's life. Complicating matters is the case of a kidnapped 11-year-old girl who was taken by her mentally unstable brother to extort money from his wealthy but hated father. Will was acting as a go-between when he was murdered and now the young girl is missing.
I enjoyed this novel and the intricately woven plot. It was clear from the outset of the murder scene that Joe knew exactly who killed his adoptive father but he just needed to find the person behind the scenes. Joe is likable, unfailingly polite, and vulnerable, but he carries a dark side that he can barely contain at times. It was a good thriller.
#3Death at Daisy's Golly by Robin Paige 3 stars
does not fit tag
there is no listed hardcover edition. the paperback version is 272 pages.
PBT note I think this fits cultural for the depiction of life in Victorian times but it isn't tagged that way so it doesn't count for extra trim points
Daisy Warwick is having a house party including Prince Bertie,her known lover. A stable boy and then a royal member of the party are murdered. Fortunately Charles Sheridan, soon to become a baron, and the writer Kate Ardleigh are on hand to help solve the case. The book goes quite a bit into the lives of servants during the later years of Queen Victoria's reign and the anarchist movement. Some of the chapters going into this seemed shoved into the book and didn't have much to do with the main plot. There were also a lot of potential suspects and I couldn't keep them all straight. I do like the two main characters so I plan on continuing the series.
Marlon Bundo’s A Day in the Life of the Vice PresidentBy Charlotte Pence, illustrated by Karen Pence
3 stars
I love the name Marlon Bundo for a pet bunny. I discovered it was Charlotte Pence (an adult daughter) who named him. Sadly, I also discovered in this children’s book that the vice president has offices in two buildings.
The book is a short story to read to a child with broad facts of the vice-presidency related through the BOTUS (bunny of the United States.) Neither woman would have been able to get a publishing deal without their connections, but that’s true of most politicians and all their family members. If a child likes bunnies and the book is at the library, go for it.
A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
By Jill Twiss, illustrated by E. G. Keller
3 stars
Trim the TBR #3
This was the book I saw that introduced me to Marlon Bundo, who I was delighted to find out was real. This book feels like a response to the Pence book, but they were published at the same time so it must have been a response to the idea of the Pence book. That meant I had to read them together.
Another book to read to children. It might work better as it has more characters, more color and silly names. The artwork is professional and more detailed, though not excellent. The story is cheerful, but I don’t think anything was actually written for kids. The rhymes were awkward, the jump into gay marriage and elections was probably too fast and not descriptive enough for the age they supposedly should be targeting. It’s also not quality satire if the authors were trying to appeal to adults. So again, if a child likes bunnies or an adult enjoys hating Mike Pence or religious conservatives and the book is at the library, go for it. Since the proceeds are being donated to a non-profit... donate directly to the non-profit instead.
#3 - 'Young Jane Young' by Gabrielle Zevin 5 stars
Does not fit the tag
There is a Kirkus Review on the back of my copy of ‘Young Jane Young’ that I think nailed it:
“This book will not only thoroughly entertain everyone who reads it; it is the most immaculate takedown of slut-shaming in literature or anywhere else. Cheers, and gratitude, to the author’.
The writing is very accessible, which isn’t to say ‘simple’ - in fact, it’s clever and witty - and the characters are well drawn out, even though this book is not necessarily what I would call a character study. Loosely based on the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky 90s scandal, ‘Young Jane Young’ gives a modern spin to a similar, fictitious scandal with aplomb. Told through the eyes of four women, each pivotal to the scandal in their own way, Zevin writes, in many ways, the universal story of the power imbalance between men and women and the double standards that continue to besiege the latter. Each of these women have a uniquely humorous voice. Strangely, this works really well to convey these large, and often infuriating, themes wryly and makes the feminist argument woven throughout land even more punchily, right to the very end.
I have already recommended ‘Young Jane Young’ to most people I know and will probably be doing so for a while. Please add this to your TBR list if it’s not already on there - you will not regret this read!
TRIM # 3 - September (Crossed posted to "Other")The Eulogist 4 stars
PBT NOTE: This book was a replacement, in July, on my TRIM list. The only reason I can think I put it there, is that I was trying to cull some of the "Big books" I so carelessly placed on "My 36" at the start of the challenge. Thank goodness-the replaced book was 629 pages.
Well, another surprising read! The Eulogist tells the story of a Plantation of Ulster family(Ulster, an area in Ireland, was colonized by the British and Scottish Protestants who were loyal to the Crown. Here is more information on that):
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantation_of...)
Our protagonist, Olivia, is one of three children who emigrate to The New World with their parents. They arrive in America in 1819 and settle in Cincinnati. The story follows Olivia and her two brothers for 70 years, as each of them takes a different path in carving out a life for themselves. One of the main topics being abolitionists and the river that separates free men on the Ohio side from slavery on the Kentucky side.
I was at a firm 3 stars through out most of the story. The story was well told, the characters well formed. Still something always seemed to be missing for me. Then I got to the closing chapter. The last 5 pages of the book brought everything together-all the pieces I thought were missing had been there all along. Bravo! Terry Gamble Bravo!
TRIM #3: Beartown by Fredrik Backman 4.5*Fits Cultural TAG for September - YES
Pages: 415
I so enjoy the writing of this author. His style and ability to capture and present the truest human mind and its thoughts, emotional challenges and abilities to learn, share and affect change is incredibly sensitive and effective. The story of a town and its inhabitants as it struggles to survive through the use of a junior hockey team carries such an impact that you are drawn into it before you know it. The moral and ethical issues that are raised and the questions these prompt, as to what makes men approach women with entitlement and who is to be at fault for their errant behavior, is thought provoking posing internal exploration as well as the communal culture.
While these questions arise in your mind it doesn't distract from a highly enjoyable story of struggle and life's constant presentation of conflict. I understand that the next book ' Us Against Them' picks up where this one left off and has me looking forward anxiously to continuing the story.
Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah4 Stars
TRIM - #3 - September
304 Pages
The compelling, inspiring, and comically sublime New York Times bestseller about one man’s coming-of-age, set during the twilight of apartheid and the tumultuous days of freedom that followed.
Trevor Noah’s unlikely path from apartheid South Africa to the desk of The Daily Show began with a criminal act: his birth. Trevor was born to a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother at a time when such a union was punishable by five years in prison. Living proof of his parents’ indiscretion, Trevor was kept mostly indoors for the earliest years of his life, bound by the extreme and often absurd measures his mother took to hide him from a government that could, at any moment, steal him away. Finally liberated by the end of South Africa’s tyrannical white rule, Trevor and his mother set forth on a grand adventure, living openly and freely and embracing the opportunities won by a centuries-long struggle.
This is a book that had been on my list for a while, and when I had a chance to listen to it on audio I jumped at the chance. I listen to audiobooks on a regular basis, and as such, there are times I regret listening to the audio version as the book loses some of the beauty. Then the are times like this one where I am extremely glad that I chose to listen to the audio version because so much is added to the book. Trevor Noah is the reader of his own book and because of that you get all of his comedic performance. The impressions that Noah does of the different characters that come in and out of his life were a truly great bonus to listening to this book.
In listening to this book I was again reminded of how our perspective as Americans is so skewed. Certainly, in some areas were fool ourselves into thinking we are so much bigger and better. But likewise, as Americans we think the mistakes we make are unique and are uniquely awful. This is true with slavery and racism. Americans often think slavery is a uniquely American problem and that racism was far worse here than anyone else could have done. Listening to Noah's life in post-apartheid South Africa was a stark reminder of just how bad racism can be.
I was struck throughout this book by the thought that anyone, with assistance, can overcome their circumstances no matter how bad they are. Noah even points this out. That assistance is not a handout, it is often just a tool that is missing in order to allow someone to overcome. We that can provide that assistance need to keep that in mind. Providing little acts of service, such as donating books, can often provide others with the tools they need to overcome what appear to be insurmountable circumstances.
Overall, I really enjoyed the mixture of humor, insight, and learning that this book brought to me.
Trim #3 - Onyx and Ivory by Mindee Arnett4 stars
500 pages
Review: Kate has an affinity with animals, a 'wilder' trait in fantasy world, Rime, punishable by death if discovered. And Kate's father was executed for attempting to assassinate the King getting her driven from her home.
Now Kate is a Relay rider delivering messages between cities. On her latest run she comes across her childhood love, Prince Corwin, and his caravan destroyed by daydrakes, monsters who thirst for flesh. These monsters previously only attacked at night. Corwin is rescued by Kate and returned home. Despite Kare's past the two must work together to save the Kingdom and find out who is behind releasing the monsters.
Meanwhile Corwin must battle his brother for the throne and Kate must keep her talents hidden while discovering why her father was accused and executed.
A fast paced fantasy with an intriguing plot. Looking forward to the second and concluding volume.
September #3The Black Prism - Brent Weeks
Does NOT fit the tag
629 pages (Hardcover edition according to Goodreads)
3 1/2 stars
The Black Prism is the first in an epic fantasy series by Brent Weeks. There are a few plot threads introduced in this first book that were set up for future conflicts in future books. The main story in this book was that the magical leader of the world is trying to do good things in the little time he has left as leader despite having some serious secrets that, if revealed, could lead to his downfall. When an uprising occurs he must go protect the people from this danger while keeping his secrets and protecting the people he loves.
I was intrigued by the world - its religious, political, and magic systems have a lot of potential. If you are someone that doesn't like being thrown into a story with no explanations about the world or its magic systems, this is not the book for you. I usually like this style of fantasy, but even I found my self frustrated about not understanding what was going on at times. The characters were pretty good. Although the 15-year old boy protagonist did annoy me a bit. I hope he matures in future books. There are a lot of battle scenes in this book - if you like that type of thing this is a good book for you. Personally, it was a bit more than keeps my attention (I am the type of person that will fall asleep during a car chase in a movie because I find it boring). I would have preferred more political maneuvering than descriptions of fighting on the battlefield.
Overall, I thought this was a promising first book. I was not blown away, but I am intrigued by many of the plot threads that were just hinted at that will continue in future books. I liked the magic system and world and I am curious where the author will go with the story. I will probably continue with the series.
September Trim the TBR #3Five Smooth Stones - Ann Fairbairn - 5 Stars and a Favorite
933 Pages
Does Not Fit the Cultural Tag
Five Smooth Stones starts out in New Orleans in 1933. Times are hard, money is scarce, and the acceptance of Jim Crow separates black people from white. Li’l Joe Champlin and his wife, Geneva, have suffered hardship and the unwritten laws of blatant discrimination. When their son dies, and then his wife dies in childbirth, they decide to raise their grandson, David, and promise to give him the best education possible. Li’l Joe is befriended by Bjarne Knudsen, who becomes David’s mentor and surrogate father through high school, college, and law school. David, a brilliant scholar, falls in love with Sara, a white artist. Sara sees their love without a color barrier. David knows what their future holds and doesn't think she would be able to bear it, especially when David makes the decision to lead a fight for civil rights.
This is a huge novel, over 900 pages, but I was completely spellbound. The characters are so vivid and realistic. The author did a wonderful job of detailing their personalities and takes you into the minds of both black and white characters. It's a love story combined with an in-depth description of life and the civil rights struggles in the South during the 1950s and 1960s. At first I thought the beginning was a little slow, but later realized it was building the foundation for everything that happens later. The love story of David and Sara is one of the most beautiful I've ever read.
Ann Fairbairn wrote this in 1966 and the story must have been very progressive at the time. The Civil Rights Act had just been passed and vicious, horrible things were happening all across America. I can remember my mother telling me this was one of her favorite books and encouraging me to read it. Even though she's been gone for 35 years, I hope she knows I finally read it, loved it and will recommend it to everyone. Five Smooth Stones is an intense, heartbreaking and emotional story that shouldn't be overlooked.
September Trim - # 3Fits monthly tag "Cultural" - YES (tagged by 2 people)
Pages - 368
Quentins – Maeve Binchy – 3.5***
I came late to the Binchy fan club, but better late than never. I really like her style of every-day drama – the kinds of ups and downs we all experience in life. Many of her books feature the same ensemble cast of characters, but they don’t have to be read in any particular order. This book starts with Ella Brady and her lover Don Richardson, but quickly encompasses Brenda and Patrick who run the upscale restaurant Quentins and all the many patrons and trades people who support it. Reading a Binchy novel is a bit like visiting with old friends.
LINK to my review
I'm enjoying reading all of your Trim reviews, but am a little jealous. Because my Trim book for this month - Sarum by Rutherfurd … is kicking my butt! I deliberately chose the longest books on my TBR for this challenge because I kept overlooking them for shorter books. Sarum is 898 pages long (in hardcover and the trade paperback version that I'm reading). I'm OK with long books, but this one is really DENSE. Small type and long chapters. The chapter that I'm on right now is 125 pages long. I am glad that I'm reading it though, because it is a good overview of British history - from 10,000 BC to current.However, I'm going to take a short break to read an Outlander book - The Scottish Prisoner - because I need to read it for an upcoming Outlander retreat and because I really need a palate cleanser. Will jump back into it in a few days and power through!
Doughgirl5562 wrote: "because I need to read it for an upcoming Outlander retreat ..."Ummm, I need to know more about this Outlander retreat....
Nicole R wrote: "Doughgirl5562 wrote: "because I need to read it for an upcoming Outlander retreat ..."Ummm, I need to know more about this Outlander retreat...."
There is a small lodge in the Colorado mountains (close to Estes Park) that hosts an Outlander Retreat twice a year. It's a true retreat - 30 avid Outlander fans talking, eating, drinking and bonding for three days :-) Each retreat is focused on one of the Outlander books. This retreat focuses on The Scottish Prisoner, which is actually one of the Lord John books, but Jamie is a main character so many consider almost it a part of the main series.
Outlander has become so popular - both the show and the books - that there are now numerous conventions and cons also. My favorite convention is the Thru the Stones convention, which is held every other year.
Beartown by Fredrik Backman 5 stars
also fits the monthly tag - Cultural
Excellent audio. Excellent story. This was the second time I started this book and the audio version was the charm for me. I'm glad I went back to it because this was very good and will probably be among my favorites for the year. With a book that starts with "Late one evening toward the end of March, a teenager picked up a double-barreled shotgun, walked into the forest, put the gun to someone else's forehead, and pulled the trigger. This is the story of how we got there." From that point on, as you are introduced to each character, you think, oh please don't let it be him or her. As the story goes on Bachman mentions the future and you think, of good, that character didn't die.
I know nothing about hockey but this was very enlightening. Amazing what a big win would have meant for Beartown; its the emotional investment of everyone in the town. The social leveling of the players from the rich to the poor based on ability was an interesting idea and it seems to be unique to hockey or, perhaps, youth sports in general. However, the story was so disturbing with what happened to Maya and the way that turned against her was very disturbing. I was almost ready to stop this book - i think my blood pressure was up. I had to stop the book to catch my breath, that happened a couple of times. That, to me, is a great writer. The ending was satisfying if not "perfect" - but then that's human nature isn't it?
This book was about culture - not of Sweden as much but rather of Hockey. The word culture is used often in the book. There are posters up that we are made aware of that say culture in relationship to hockey. "Culture is an odd word to use about hockey." Muses the character Sune about the banner over the Beartown rink. Its the club's motto "Culture, Values, Community." Which all get challenged in this story.
I'm ready to read the next book in the series.
Trim #3 We Never Asked for Wings by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Pages 320
I didn't see that it fit the tag
3.5 stars
A somewhat absent mother is forced to take care of her kids. I thought it was a fair storyline, but felt it was rushed and the end. The end left you hanging of not know what I happened. I hope what I think should have happened did.
Just completed my September TBR read ‘Whiskey in a Teacup’ by Reese Witherspoon. I gave it 4 stars. I found it a lovely relaxing read with lots of yummy recipes, pretty photos and fun stories about growing up and living in Southern America. A lovely coffee table book read. I’m planning to purchase it for myself because I really loved some of the recipes and it’s a book a girlfriend would enjoy picking up if she was visiting and I left the room to do some chores or sort out a meal.
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Play Book Tag
Books mentioned in this topic
The Forever War (other topics)Whiskey in a Teacup: What Growing Up in the South Taught Me About Life, Love, and Baking Biscuits (other topics)
Less (other topics)
The Forever War (other topics)
Brave New World Revisited (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Dan Brown (other topics)Vanessa Diffenbaugh (other topics)
Ann Fairbairn (other topics)
Brent Weeks (other topics)
Terry Gamble (other topics)
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Time for a little fantasy