Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

 

Pages: 304

"Ever since she was cursed by a faerie, Theodora Ettings has had no sense of fear or embarrassment - a condition which makes her prone to accidental scandal. Dora hopes to be a quiet, sensible wallflower during the London Season - but when the strange, handsome and utterly uncouth Lord Sorcier discovers her condition, she is instead drawn into dangerous and peculiar faerie affairs. 

If Dora's reputation can survive both her curse and her sudden connection with the least-liked man in all of high society, then she may yet reclaim her normal place in the world. . . but the longer Dora spends with Elias Wilder, the more she begins to suspect that one may indeed fall in love, even with only half a soul."

One store describes this novel as Bridgerton meets Howl's Moving Castle and I cannot agree more. With such a short story, there was a lot packed in with dealings with cruel fae, a slow burn romance with scheming mothers, and a mysterious plague that is somehow connected with Dora's condition. Definitely recommend as a feel good romance.

The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman

 Pages: 296

"Maus is a haunting tale within a tale. Vladek’s harrowing story of survival is woven into the author’s account of his tortured relationship with his aging father. Against the backdrop of guilt brought by survival, they stage a normal life of small arguments and unhappy visits. This astonishing retelling of our century’s grisliest news is a story of survival, not only of Vladek but of the children who survive even the survivors. Maus studies the bloody pawprints of history and tracks its meaning for all of us."

I am starting banned books week early this year with this difficult yet amazing graphic novel. The author does not hold back in describing the holocaust through his fathers experiences, and the experience of getting the story out of him. This is a book that I wish more people would read. It is so haunting and powerful in telling the duel stories, that of the holocaust survivor and their children trying to make sense of the past. 

The Dictionary of Lost Words

 The Dictionary of Lost Words

By Pip Williams

Pages: 400

"Esme is born into a world of words. Motherless and irrepressibly curious, she spends her childhood in the "Scriptorium," a garden shed in Oxford where her father and a team of dedicated lexicographers are collecting words for the very first Oxford English Dictionary. One day a slip of paper containing the word "bondmaid" flutters to the floor. She rescues the slip, and when she learns that the word means slave-girl, she withholds it from the OED and begins to collect other words that have been discarded or neglected by the dictionary men. As she grows up, Esme realizes that words and meanings relating to women's and common folks' experiences often go unrecorded. And so she begins in earnest to search out words for her own dictionary: The Dictionary of Lost Words. "

This was an interesting dive into how the dictionary was created and how historical events such as the woman's suffragist movement and WWII affected the creation and selection of words. Esme collects ones that are rejected from the formal dictionary, mostly written or said by women and minorities and turns them into her own dictionary and gives them a voice. I really enjoyed this book and I often do not read historical fiction, but the bookworm in me was intrigued by the title and I am glad I picked it up.

The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith

he knit
....I don't know which ship to root for.
Some of these witches...They must really like bees...
I has bad feeling.
oh fuuuuuuuu
sigh. I just like. I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed.
448 Pages

And I Darken by Kiersten White

And I Darken by Kiersten White
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay. Wow. Let's talk about this unusual YA fantasy/historical retelling (based on Vlad the Impaler and the Ottoman Empire) and how obsessed I became with this toxic triangle of love and loyalty that wrecks so much havoc.

I was really into the fact that Lada (yes, the Vlad of this story is female!) is brutal, ugly, confident, and fierce. She finds strength in that, while her brother, Radu is soft, gorgeous, charming, and clever, and he finds strength in that. This novel does a great job of comparing and contrasting different kinds of ways characters can be strong and can care about each other, and it does it all through showing, instead of telling. Which is glorious.

I'm especially pleased about the theme of feminism that runs throughout, the really beautiful and fascinating depictions of Islam, as well as the internal conflicts of the LGBT characters. I didn't really expect any of that when I picked up this story, which makes it even better.

Book one was an action-packed, highly emotional journey. I don't even know what I hope happens in book two at this point, other than that it cures some of incessant ache inside my heart, though I suspect that won't occur as sacrifice seems to be a main theme for all three of the most important characters.

I listened to this on audiobook, and Fiona Hardingham does an excellent job of bringing this story to life. She has a very gentle accent that really appeals to me.

Pages: 475

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have to confess that I'm a bigger fan of the deadly zombies than the entitled white rich folk of this story. One thing this book does do is make a lot of good points about social issues and social inequity but without ever pulling you away from the actual story. It's both a reminder of what progress has been made in regards to racial issues in America, as well as a slap in the face to remind us that we are nowhere near where we should be, considering it's 2019.

Also, Jane is one of the most badass YA characters I have ever met, and she manages to remain confident and badass at all times, despite the endless racial slurs and overall degradation that comes with her position (effectively an enslaved zombie slayer for the privileged elite).

This is a dystopia that occurs in the midst of the Civil War, when the zombies rise up, but it's more of a Historical Horror Dystopian blend, with both faux history (on the zombies rise up side) and real history (on the serious racial inequity and oppression side).

This would be great paired up with some of these other YA books for a specialized lit class to discuss race issues in America, and even though I've already read them all, I would definitely want to take that class:


I'm sure there are other great options, but I've only listed books that I've read and that I think would add something interesting to group discussions.

Pages: 455

Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth

Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a treasure. I accidentally did this backwards, because I saw the show first, before I realized it was based off of a book. Both are excellent, with their own sort of heartwarming charm that is just a bit different for each.

Pages: 340

Courting Darkness (Courting Darkness Duology, #1)

Courting Darkness by Robin LaFevers
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I loved what was delivered, but be aware that even at 512 pages, you’re only receiving 75% of a story. This takes you right up to the climax point and provides absolutely no resolution to anything. The last 25% of the story was hacked off, I suspect due to unnecessary length and also to create a cliff-hanger that will force readers (who aren't too frustrated) to pick up the next book.

Quite frankly, I like a well-developed, well-edited, and complete story, and that is what inspires me to read the next book that an author writes.

Now, that all being said, I absolutely adored the His Fair Assassin Series, and this partial story is equally well done. My only complaint is that everything is too drawn out and drags on for far too long. I would rather have had a bit of the excess cut away, so that there would have been time and room for the final expected elements of any story. This effectively stops right at ACT III. In fact, the final sentence would be what I consider to be the start of ACT III, so there is effectively no finale.

Beyond that, the writing is strong, the characters are oh so distinct and lovable, and it even brings back some of your favorite characters from the previous trilogy, with Sybella staring as one of the two major POVs for the novel.

Now, do I recommend that you read this despite it not being a complete story?

Absolutely.

Did I enjoy it up to the point where it abruptly ended?

Absolutely.

And am I still disappointed to have received only a partial novel, when the 3 previous works I’ve read by this author wrapped up so well?

Absolutely.

This book releases on February 5, 2019. I highly recommend that you read it, especially if you love the His Fair Assassin trilogy, but since this is a duology, you should consider your own personal reading preferences. If you struggle with issues of story structure or hate cliff-hangers that arrive before there is any real resolution (I actually love cliff-hangers. They are deliciously torturous, but first I want and deserve a bit of resolution and satisfaction), then it would be in your best interests as a reader to just wait another year until book two is published and read them both together. I think this was likely one very long novel, and instead of editing it down to fit publishing standards, it was chopped up into two parts.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing an ARC for my early review. This would be 5 stars if there had been any amount of resolution to any of the major plotlines of the story. Only one minor subplot involving Sybella’s siblings was resolved, and it was a subplot that honestly drug on far too long and was not really that interesting or necessary to the story. If that whole thread had been cut out, then we probably would have received a more fast-paced and complete story.

Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I wish someone had killed a few more darlings, because this could have been a far stronger novel if it had pushed the action forward with more determination. I didn't necessarily mind that it drug on and meandered about, because I enjoy the characters and world so much that I had limitless patience while reading. However, I do think I may have loved it even more, and even potentially excused the lack of ending, if some of the unnecessary scenes had been cut away to allow the story to move forward at a better pace.

I believe that readers like, want, and deserve a bit of payout, especially after reading 512 pages. When you spend all that time, desperate to know how all the major issues of the story are resolved, it's disappointing and frustrating when none of them are, not even in the most minor ways, which is why I've settled on 3 stars, even though some part of me wanted to be able to give it at least 4.  

Book 50 read in 2019

Pages: 512

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 2 is fabulous! I love this series so much. I think I could read these over and over again and still be amused. These stories are so creative, charming, hilarious, and absolutely lovable. Pair that with plenty of action and intrigue, and you'll find yourself reading this story straight through.

I adore this concept/series and hope it never ends. All the historical references and dated pop-culture references totally crack me up. This may have been written for teens, but it is absolutely perfect for adults, especially those in my age range (born in 1980).

I love this. I demand more.

Book 229 read in 2018

Pages: 464

Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History by Ben Mezrich

Thad Roberts is a genius, so how did he end up in prison? Thad Roberts one day decided to become an intern at NASA. He became known by his fellow pears as a thrill-seeking daredevil. One day he hears that scientists at NASA believe the moon rocks contained in the facility are considered "junk." After hearing this, Thad starts planning on how to steal the moon rocks. Little does he know that a potential buyer has connected with the FBI to try to catch Thad in the act. But selling "worthless" moon rocks couldn't possibly get Thad into trouble, right? Though everyone knows the end result, as the saying goes: "It isn't the destination; it's the journey."



I read this book as an audio book.
Narrator: Bill Delaney
Time: 9 hours, 21 minutes
ISBN: 9780385533928
Pages (Per ISBN connected with the book used to create audio book): 322

Hellhound on His Trail

Author: Hampton Sides
Audio Hours: 15.2 hours
Pages: 480


Cover blurb:
On April 4, 1968, James Earl Ray shot Martin Luther King at the Lorraine Motel. The nation was shocked, enraged, and saddened. As chaos erupted across the country and mourners gathered at King's funeral, investigators launched a sixty-five day search for King’s assassin that would lead them across two continents. With a blistering, cross-cutting narrative that draws on a wealth of dramatic unpublished documents, Hampton Sides, bestselling author of Ghost Soldiers, delivers a non-fiction thriller in the tradition of William Manchester's The Death of a President and Truman Capote's In Cold Blood. With Hellhound On His Trail, Sides shines a light on the largest manhunt in American history and brings it to life for all to see.


My take:
This is a great book. Vibrant and detailed without being too boring. I listened to the book and wasn't bored at any point. The author is thorough, he does a great job intertwining all the accounts and information without it being too cumbersome for the reader. Anyone will like this book, especially those with an affinity for history.

"Report of the State Librarian to the 42nd General Assembly for the Years 1901-02" by Thos. W. Hawkins

Published in 1903, this is the biennial report of the MO State Library by the state librarian.  It reports how much the state legislature appropriated for the purchases of books ($6,000) and "contingent expenses" ($1,500).  These amounts covered two years!  At the end of those two years, the library had a total deficit of $1,429.15.  The "law department" of the library contained about 20,000 volumes with another 20,000 volumes of "miscellaneous character" making up the rest of the collection.   The report lists by title books that the library purchased, had donated, and were "received on exchange account" as well as the number of volumes of each.  Most of the books purchased pertained to laws, legal cases, and court reports.  From what I've read about the history of the MO State Library, it was originally the MO Supreme Court library and this report confirms that.  32 pages, copyright 1903.

Theodore Rex

Author: Edmund Morris
Pages: 555

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Theodore Rex is the story—never fully told before—of Theodore Roosevelt’s two world-changing terms as President of the United States. A hundred years before the catastrophe of September 11, 2001, “TR” succeeded to power in the aftermath of an act of terrorism. Youngest of all our chief executives, he rallied a stricken nation with his superhuman energy, charm, and political skills. He proceeded to combat the problems of race and labor relations and trust control while making the Panama Canal possible and winning the Nobel Peace Prize. But his most historic achievement remains his creation of a national conservation policy, and his monument millions of acres of protected parks and forest. Theodore Rex ends with TR leaving office, still only fifty years old, his future reputation secure as one of our greatest presidents.

 

This book was fantastic, it showed TR's tender side, his high intelligence and his drive for success.

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The Accusers

by Lindsay Davis

Marcus Didius Falco has expanded his informing service, and now employs his wife's brothers to help with investigations. But they have only just returned to Rome, and are finding some difficulty in re-establishing themselves in the city after their stay in Britannia.

A potentially lucrative but risky case has Falco and Co. investigating what someone tried to pass off as a suicide that was committed in order to protect the family's wealth. If Falco gets it right, he and his associates will fare well. If they get it wrong, they will be bankrupt, and have to suffer the vengeance of a number of competing informers and spies.

audio: 10 hours
text: 368

The greater journey, by David McCullough

After reading the rave reviews of McCullough's other works and hearing of the subject matter of this history, I had built up great expectations for this book. Unfortunately, it did not quite live up to those expectations. Though the book as a whole did not resonate with me, there were some interesting parts.
I liked the chapters where McCullough discussed the medical students in Paris and the level of medical training to be found there. He also offered some interesting details about a city under siege, including the factors that contributed to cat meat being so much more expensive during the siege than horse or dog. (Apparently, it was "downright good eatin'".) McCullough also traced the introduction of new technologies throughout the period covered in the book: the telegraph and the improved telegraph, the introduction of Peugeot and Renault automobiles, and the great wonders of the Paris Exposition.
It wasn't entirely my cup of tea, but if you are interested in the histories and lives of notable American artists from that time period, this might be a good choice for you.
print: 576 pages
audio: 17 hours

Sword Song by Bernard Cornwell

This is the 4th in the 'Saxon Tales' series, which follows the struggle of King Alfred to drive the Danes out of England and establish a unified kingdom, in the late 9th century. The story is told by Uhtred, a Danish warrior and lord, who nonetheless has sworn to serve Alfred. Lots of action and swordplay, but I find the cultural conflicts between the Saxon Christians and Danish pagans most interesting. Well researched; the author gives some explanation in the endnotes of where he has followed history, and where he's added embellishments.
311 pages