A Wizard of Earthsea

 Tell me a story... about making up prideful mistakes

A Wizard of Earthsea (Earthsea Cycle #1) by Ursula K. Le Guin

Published date: 1968

Date read: September 15, 2021

In his youth, Ged - also known as Sparrowhawk, because giving out your true name is dangerous - discovered that he had a gift for magic. While training in Roke to become a sorcerer, his pride and arrogance get the better of him when competing with a fellow student, and he attempts a spell that he never should have tried. He accidentally unleashes a Shadow onto the world of Earthsea, one that will hunt him until he can learn its true name and finally defeat it. 

I’m not quite sure how I feel about this book. It wasn’t one of my favorites, but I have to acknowledge the time it was written - 1968 - and the originality at that time. A lot of the young adult fantasy that we have today is as a direct result of this book series. 

This is not a fast-paced fantasy read, but is actually a lot more about introspection and understanding who you are and want to be. There is some action, and when the action scenes are there, they’re actually quite good. There’s even a fight with dragons! But if you’re looking for a high octane fantasy story, this isn’t it. 

I thought that Ged was pretty well developed, but a lot of the side characters really needed more depth. I wanted to care about these people more than I did. I will read the next book in the series, just because I’m curious to see how it all plays out for Ged, but I’m not bumping it to the top of the list or anything. 

I’m just not sure why this book didn’t work for me. Maybe I would have enjoyed it more when I was younger - closer to Ged’s age. Maybe I would have liked it more as a read rather than as an audiobook - the narrator was actually a little too enthusiastic for my tastes, although I could see how someone younger would appreciate the energy. In the end, I appreciate this book for what it was at the time and for its influence on recent fantasy, but it just wasn’t for me. 

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Under the Whispering Door

Tell me a story... about life after death

 Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

Expected publication date: September 21, 2021

Date read: September 13, 2021

Wallace Price is a high-powered attorney who doesn’t have time for friends, family, or really anything but work. After a Reaper comes to collect him at his funeral, he expects that he might really be dead. But instead of bringing him to some afterlife, the Reaper brings him to an out-of-the-way tea shop, run by a man named Hugo. In addition to owning a tea shop, Hugo is also a ferryman, guiding souls to the afterlife. But Wallace isn’t quite ready to give up the life he barely lived, and, with Hugo’s help, he begins to learn about all the thing he missed out on in life, like family, friendship, and even love. 

I recently finished - and adored - The House in the Cerulean Sea by this same author, and I was curious to see how this book would stand up. Well, if you liked Cerulean Sea, this book does not disappoint. They have a different feel to them - Under the Whispering Door is darker, as any book with death as its main subject matter pretty much has to be. It’s still definitely by the same author, though. Even serious topics are handled in an almost whimsical way. And the love story is just as adorable. 

I thought that the characters in this book were wonderful. Hugo is a very complicated character and must have been difficult to write - he has to be charming and sweet and grounded while also being surrounded by death and duty. He is one of the most interesting characters I’ve read in a long time. Wallace, I feel, might have been an even more difficult character to put down on the page, but for different reasons: his character started out as a total jerk. After the first chapter I wondered how we were ever going to end up rooting for this guy. But I shouldn’t have worried. The other characters were also wonderful in their own ways; I especially loved Mei, the Reaper, who might have been my favorite of the bunch. 

This book also has its really dark and serious moments. There are some truly scary and/or loathsome characters. There is frank discussion of death - natural, murder, and suicide. There is a character who deals with panic attacks. And there is the underlying question behind the whole thing - what is waiting on the other side. 

Even after reading Cerulean Sea and being familiar with Klune’s style, I was not expecting this book. He found a way to make the afterlife both serious and funny, never stepping too far in either direction. And I worried that a love story between a living man and a ghost would get cringy, but I was pleasantly surprised by the direction it took. 

This book is not for everyone - you need to be comfortable with a fair amount of magical realism in your stories. But I think it was a beautiful way of looking at death and regret and it made me laugh and cry just pages apart. One of my favorite books of the year. 

Rating: 5/5 stars

Trigger warning: death, sexual harassment (and joking about it)

Meet Me in Another Life

 Tell me a story... about how we’re meant to be together 

Meet Me in Another Life by Catriona Silvey 

Publishing date: April 27, 2021

Date read: August 16, 2021

Thora and Santi meet as university students in Cologne and immediately hit it off, each recognizing the other as a kindred spirit. But only a few days later, a tragedy will tear them apart. This is more or less how it always happens. They’re always important to each other in some way (lovers, friends, teacher/student, brother/sister…), but always in Cologne. And always, after their lives are over - whether their lives are long or short, whether they die at the same time or decades apart - they start again. What they can’t figure out is why this is happening. Or how they can make it stop. 

This book is obviously a bit confusing, but it’s meant to be. The reader is figuring things out right along with the characters. When they’re confused, we’re confused. And as they begin to remember things and find clues, we learn a little more. It’s hard to do this book justice while also keeping it spoiler-free, so I’ll just say that the reader’s confusion shouldn’t take away from the enjoyment - it’s more like a murder mystery where we figure out clues along the way. 

I thought the main characters, Thora and Santi, were very strong - and they had to be, since they were 90% of the story. I didn’t always like them in every iteration of their lives, but that’s okay. I thought they were well-written and strong even when they annoyed the hell out of me. 

I can’t really write a whole lot more about the book without dipping into spoiler territory, so I’ll just say that if you’re a fan of science fiction, especially time travel or multi-universe stories, this book is probably right up your alley. (That’s not saying this is a time travel or multi-universe story, just that the feel is similar). This is a very creative take on the genre that I really enjoyed. Highly recommended. 

Rating: 4.5/5 stars 

Trigger warning: death of spouse, death of parent, suicide, murder

You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey

 Tell me a story… about everyday racism 

You’ll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey: Crazy Stories About Racism by Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar

Publishing date: January 12, 2021

Date read: July 19, 2021

Comedian and Late Night with Seth Meyers writer, Amber Ruffin, teams up with her sister, Lacey Lamar, to share absurd anecdotes about their everyday experiences of racism. As Amber admits, living in New York, she experiences a different level of racism as does Lacey, still living in their home state of Nebraska, where Lacey is often the only black person a person might know or work with. And you'll never believe her stories...

This book was amazing. It's hard to reconcile the humor and how much I laughed during this book with the serious topic, but it really works. I can understand where the complaint that some people have is coming from, that this book undermines the serious nature of racism and might make readers not take that racism seriously, but I don't agree with it. For people who deal with stressful situations through humor (as Amber obviously does), I found it a good way to make the stories accessible to a wide audience (aka white people) without being flippant about the situations. I personally found myself laughing out loud, but also being horrified by some of what was being said. 

I also highly recommend the audiobook, which is read by both sisters, but mostly Amber. Her enthusiasm while telling Lacey's stories (often laughing herself) just made it so much better. Yes, you will miss out on a few pictures (all of which Amber explains well enough that I didn't mind too much), but you get to hear Amber sing and demonstrate the secret JCPenney's employee knock, among many other gems. 

As great as the humor in this book is, though, it is also a book about a really serious topic, and the writers don't hold back. Some horrible stories are told: both Amber and Lacey have had guns pointed at them in their lives, and Lacey has lost more than one job due to racist bosses. Why I loved this book so much, is that Lacey and Amber were able to tell their stories in a way that made me appreciate what they have been through, but also in a way that the stories will stick with me. Using humor to tell stories about bad situations isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially when you want everyone to listen.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Trigger warning: racism, racial profiling

Caution: language

The Inheritance Games

 Tell me a story… about a family mystery 

The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publishing date: September 1, 2020

Date read: July 10, 2021

Avery Grambs has never had much of anything... until a mysterious billionaire includes her in his will, and gives her almost his entire fortune. As far as she knows, she's never even met Tobias Hawthorne, let alone done anything to deserve his money and estate. The one catch is that Avery has to live in Hawthorne House for one year... with the family members that Tobias barely left anything to, including his four grandsons. The grandsons inform Avery that if Tobias loved one thing, it was puzzles, and they think that Avery is just one more piece of his last, great puzzle. 

This is just a fun mystery that I really enjoyed following. While it does wrap up pretty well (no spoilers), I found that the mystery itself was the fun part. I almost didn't care where the clues were leading - I just enjoyed searching for and following the clues. 

I thought that Avery was a good, strong female lead and held her own well against the strong males in the story. It is YA, so there was a fairly cliche love triangle thrown in that made me roll my eyes a few times, but I didn't hate it. It didn't take away from the overall effect of the story and Avery at least managed to stay a strong character and not a puddle of hormones. 

Not a perfect book by any means, but really a lot of fun if you like puzzles. Reminded me a bit of The Westing Game in that respect. I also liked that the immediate plot wrapped up to the point where you don't have to read the next book, but it still left enough of a mystery that the next book is a draw - I'll definitely be reading it in the near future. A fun, light mystery read. 

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Trigger warning: death of a family member (off page)

Your Heart My Sky

 Tell me a story... about the Special Period in Times of Peace

Your Heart My Sky by Margarita Engle

Published date: March 23, 2021

Date read: September 4, 2021

After the Soviet Union fell, Cuba lost their aid, resulting in el periodo especial en tiempos de paz, or the special period in times of peace. This is what the government called these years in the 1990s - to the citizens of Cuba, it was merely a time of starvation and isolation. Many citizens fled into the ocean, hoping against the odds that they would survive and make it to Florida. Others illegally scavenged the land and the sea, bought what little food there was on the black market, or attempted to grow their own vegetables (also illegal). In their small village, Liana and Amado refuse to report for their summer of "voluntary" farm labor, and instead opt to stay at home, risking the repercussions, to scavenge and attempt to provide for their families. When these two teenagers meet and begin to fall in love, they must decide together the best way to survive el periodo especial. A novel in verse.

This novel, told all in verse, uses these two young people and (oddly enough) a dog - I know, it's weird, but go with it - to tell the story of Cubans during the 1990s. The characters of Liana and Amado are fictional, but the backstory is all based on truth.

I was alive during this time - when the Soviet Union fell in 1991 I was 9 years old. Not exactly watching the news every night, but I was in school. And after all of my years of schooling following this period, I had never heard of the Special Period in Times of Peace until picking up this book. I knew that Cuba was basically our enemy in the 90s, but that was it. This book, while already being relatively short (only 224 pages) and told in verse, is able to pack a lot of information about this time in Cuba in a very small amount of words. It's powerful and a little heartbreaking, and it honestly makes me a little bit ashamed that I wasn't even aware of it before now.  

The main characters were well-written and mostly enjoyable. For main characters, they were a little underdeveloped, but I feel that was because the time period was really more important than the characters - they were being used to tell the story of all Cubans, so their individual stories were not as interesting. (Does that make sense?) This isn't to say that I didn't like them or their love story. Just that if you're going into this book looking for a love story, you're going to be disappointed, because it really isn't the point of this book.

Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's an easy read, language-wise, although a very difficult read, subject-wise. But if you, like me, were completely unfamiliar with this period before this book, it's a really fascinating read. I love learning new things through fiction, and in that sense, this book really didn't disappoint. 

Rating: 4/5 stars

Trigger warning: starvation

Angel of Greenwood

Tell me a story… about something we never learned in history class

Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink

Publication date: January 12, 2021

Date read: June 19, 2021

1921. Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Wilson is known throughout his neighborhood of Greenwood, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as a troublemaker. But he is also an avid reader and a secret poet, and loves the writings of W.E.B. Du Bois, who believes that black people should rise up to claim their place as equals. Sixteen-year-old Angel Hill is a loner and a church-goer, mostly disregarded by her classmates. She loves the writings of Booker T. Washington, who believes that black people should avoid conflict and through peace they will eventually reach their place in the world. When these two kids are thrown together on a library project, they first fight over the right way for their people to gain equality. But on May 31, a white mob storms Greenwood, resulting in what is today known as the Tulsa Race Massacre. On that day, Isaiah and Angel, and the rest of the neighborhood, must put aside their differences and work not just to survive, but to save the home that they love.

I, like many people, did not learn about the Tulsa Race Massacre (formerly referred to - unjustly - as the Tulsa Race Riots) until 2019 when it was depicted in the first episode of the HBO series Watchmen. 

Most of the characters in this book - including the two main characters - are fictional, but the depiction of the events of that night are based in the facts available about that day. It's brutal and, while not exactly graphic in a blood-and-guts way, some of the descriptions are difficult to read. Most of the book is a lead-up to the massacre, telling the story of these two characters, which is a sweet read that actually taught me a few things about the time and about Washington and Du Bois that I didn't know. The book also goes into the tensions between the white communities and the Greenwood neighborhood, although not in too much depth, as the story is being told from the point of view of two teenagers. I liked, but didn't love, the story of Isaiah and Angel - I wanted a little more from it, honestly - but I thought what was on the page was well done.

I learned a lot while reading this book, and it made me go back and read a little non-fiction about the day in order to learn more. It's an important story to tell, and I think that the author did a good job of giving the facts while also telling an interesting story about two people. I would definitely recommend this book, especially as a starting point for people who want to know more about the history of racial tension in this country, but who are a little too intimidated to start with the big non-fiction works.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Trigger warning: racism, racial violence and murder, fire, parental illness and death

The Princess and the Fangirl

 Tell me a story… about happily ever after

The Princess and the Fangirl (Once Upon a Con #2) by Ashley Poston 

Publishing date: April 2, 2019

Date read: July 24, 2021

This book is the sequel to Geekerella, so a (non-spoiler) backstory is needed. In Geekerella, the reboot movie version of a popular sci-fi series - Starfield - is being cast, and blogger Elle Wittimer is horrified to see that soap opera star Darien Freeman has been cast as the star. But when a costume contest is announced, where the winner will get tickets to the premiere, Elle is still determined to compete. Darien might just be a pretty boy to some, but he's been a Starfield fan for his whole life. Can he prove himself to the fanbase? A Cinderella retelling.

In The Princess and the Fangirl, Darien's costar in the Starfield movie - Jessica Stone - takes center stage. At the first sci fi convention since her movie premiered, Jessica is tired of the intense fandom attached to the movie and, specifically, her character. All she wanted was to use this role as a stepping stone to more "important" films, but she's terrified that the movie is doing well enough for a sequel and that she'll be locked into a contract. At the convention she meets Imogen Lovelace, who bares a shocking resemblance to Jessica, and all she wants is for her favorite Starfield character - Jessica Stone's character - to have a run in the movies that is worthy. When a script for the sequel leaks, and all signs are pointing to Jessica, the girls hatch a plan to switch places so that Imogen can deal with the fans while Jessica hunts down the leak. A The Prince and the Pauper retelling.

Okay, I know that was long. But thanks for bearing with me. 

This book was just a fun break from other serious books I was reading, and I flew through it. I loved Imogen, and enjoyed her chapters more than Jessica's because of that, although both characters did things that made me want to scream at them. But overall the plot was fun and I enjoyed spending time with the characters. These books are romances set in the world of sci fi conventions, which I find to be such a fun environment. (I can't wait to get back to the Cons again.) The plot was fairly predictable (except for the script-leaking aspect - I didn't guess that point), but you don't really read a romance retelling for the original plot. It's a fairy tale - things are going to go wrong, but in the end, everyone will live happily ever after. 

It was a fun and a fast read and I liked it. It wasn't as good as Geekerella, in my opinion, but definitely enjoyable. I loved the Con setting, complete with insider references to real movies/series/podcasts. I will be reading the third novel soon as well, and will be posting a review when I finish. 

It is not imperative to have read Geekerella before reading this book, but if you have any plans to read the full set, I recommend going in order, since plot points of Geekerella will be spoiled in this one. 

This book is not for everyone, and I know that readers who aren't into science fiction and/or ComicCons are not going to enjoy these books as much as fans will. But if you like a cute romance, and enjoy the sci fi convention world, these are certainly a good choice. You won't be disappointed. 

Rating: 4/5 stars

What Made Maddy Run

 Tell me a story… about depression, anxiety, and mental health 

What Made Maddy Run: The Secret Struggles and Tragic Death of an All-American Teen by Kate Fagan

Publishing date: August 1, 2017

Date read: July 7, 2021

Madison Holleran was the kind of girl who was successful at everything she tried. She was smart, beautiful, popular, and good enough at both soccer and track to be recruited by colleges. Her social media pages showed a happy 19-year-old, enjoying her freshman year at the University of Pennsylvania. But Maddy was struggling - both to keep up with her teammates on the track and with her undiagnosed depression. This book takes a look at not only Maddy’s struggles, but at the countless young adults today who face pressure to appear perfect to their peers online, even when they’re falling apart inside. 

This is one of the most important books I’ve read in a long time. A lot of people look at the “Millennials” generation as a joke - young people who spend all their times on their phones and who don’t know how to survive in the real world. (I use the "Millennials" definition loosely here, as many people include "Gen Z" in the definition as well, and this book is focused more on Gen Z, although the author falls into the Millennial generation.) But young adults these days have never known a life without the internet, and with that comes a social media persona. The pressure to always post good pictures and happy memories and smiling faces is ever-present. And the people looking at those pictures often feel the need to compete, showing only their own "happy" lives as well. For someone with depression, the pressures to fit in with what they're seeing on their friends social media can be daunting. 

Kate Fagan is probably one of the best people to be writing this book. She herself was a college athlete battling anxiety and depression, and only by having a coach that recognized her struggles as what they were did she avoid the same fate as Maddy. She presents Maddy's story, and the story of so many young college athletes, honestly and from an insiders perspective. There is no negative talk about "kids today" or talking about social media in a negative light. She just discusses how the lives of high school and college-age kids today are drastically different now from the way they were even a generation ago, and why this makes certain things harder and leads to an increase in cases of mental illness. 

I'm actually really glad that I read this book, because it gave me a good look at the way that young kids today are growing up in a digital world and how this changes the way they perceive the world and their place in it. As a mother of young children, I'm grateful for the perspective that it gave me into their lives going forward. 

I'm not going to lie - this is also a hard book to read. Fagan doesn't place any blame for what happened to Maddy. It was a number of factors, all leading up to her fateful decision to end her life. She had a lot of supportive people in her life, which makes her suicide all the more shocking and - I'm sure - difficult for her friends and family. This book was written with the blessing and assistance of Maddy's family, including interviews with friends and family members. It's heartbreaking at times, but it's an important story to hear. 

Overall, one of the most important books I think I've ever read, and very well-written. I give a lot of credit to Fagan for presenting Maddy's story in a way made a compelling book without sensationalizing anything. I'd recommend this book to anyone high school or college-aged, as well as the parents of anyone of college-age or younger. It gave me a lot to think about, and it's a story that will stick with me for a very long time. 

Rating: 5/5 stars

Trigger warning: suicide (on page, but not graphic)

The House in the Cerulean Sea

 Tell me a story… about not judging by appearances

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune

Publishing date: March 16, 2020

Date read: August 25, 2021

Linus Baker lives an ordinary life. He works for the Department in Charge of Magical Youth (D.I.C.O.M.Y.) as a case-worker, overseeing the well-being of magical children placed in state-sanctioned orphanages. One day he is summoned by Extremely Upper Management for a highly classified job: to look into the Marsyas Island Orphanage and its caretaker, Arthur Parnassus. When he arrives at the home, he discovers the reason this orphanage has been classified - it houses only what the government deems as highly dangerous children. But while Linus is there to just do a job, he begins to realize that people are more than what they appear on the surface, and that home is more than just the place you live.

Full disclosure: I LOVED this book. So my review will be mostly glowing. It's just the way it is. I read a lot of serious books, and this was like a grown-up magical fairy tale that just gave me big happy feelings all around.

This story takes place in a world that is not our world, but that has a sort of 1950s feel to it - the local community has a very quaint feel, it's a big deal when an adult character says "damn", that sort of thing. And prejudice against magical beings is not subtle. The magical beings and the prejudice against them are an obvious allegory for the treatment and discrimination of the gay and non-white communities. But because of this black-and-white-movie feel that the book has, there is also the impression that things will all work out in the end -  everyone is appreciated for who they are, no matter their faults, and love will conquer all. It's a fairy tale, but a wonderful one. 

I also liked how the author made the choice to make any differences, other than a person's magical abilities, a non-issue. Homosexuality is not only accepted but is not even remarked upon in any way. It just is. (The blurb on the cover of my book says "It is like being wrapped up in a big gay blanket.", which I think is a wonderful quote.)

Overall, I found this story touching, honestly funny at times, and just adorable. The child characters felt real, despite their magical abilities, although some were more developed than others. I thought that Chauncey and Lucy were the best child characters and just wanted to give them big hugs and take them home with me. And the relationship between Arthur and Linus was just the sweetest thing ever. 

I know this story isn't for everyone. It's highly in the fantasy genre - not only because of the magical children, but because of the perfect fairy tale nature of the plot. But if you're looking for something sweet and funny to read after a long day in the real world, I couldn't recommend this book enough.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Trigger warning: discussion of child abandonment/physical/emotional abuse

Eat a Peach

 Tell me a story… about the life of a chef 

Eat a Peach by David Chang and Gabe Ulla 

Publishing date: September 8, 2020

Date read: August 21, 2021

David Chang started out in Virginia, the son of Korean-immigrant parents. He had trouble figuring out what he wanted to do with his life, and ended up working in a restaurant, which he honestly wasn't very good at. But in 2004, he opened the Manhattan noodle restaurant Momofuku, and has since become one of the most well-known chefs in America. 

I'm so torn on this book. I had to wait a few days after finishing it before writing anything down so that I could think about it. On the one hand, I did find the business aspects interesting. I'm always fascinated to read about jobs that I could never do. (I could never work in a kitchen - I'd be crying in the corner within 20 minutes.) And I expect some amount of bragging about accomplishments in a memoir of this type, and rightfully so, he's earned it.

But at the same time, I found Chang to be almost completely unlikable in this book. The tone he took when discussing his accomplishments and how he ran his businesses seemed a cross between humble brag and cocky. I found myself comparing his storytelling style to Marcus Samuelsson in Yes, Chef. I came out of that book really liking Samuelsson, a lot more than I liked Chang here. I don't doubt that all chef/restaurant owners have at least a bit of dickishness to them, but Chang just didn't sit right with me.

I did like the frankness of his discussion about mental illness. I think it's important to speak open and honestly about these subjects so that they lose their taboo. But I thought that while he seemed to acknowledge that his behavior was often wrong, he didn't seem all that apologetic about it. He wrote in a way that it seemed like he knew that the way he treated employees in his restaurants was wrong, but then would other times go on to brag about the way he acted. I did like the way that he spoke about how women are treated in the kitchen, though, and he really did seem to feel that he needed to do better there - it's probably the apology that felt the most honest from him.

I had listened to a few interviews with him before, and I did not get this same feeling from him, which is why this book threw me off so much. I listened to the audiobook, which he read himself, so I can't even say that the tone of the book was me misunderstanding it. I definitely want to watch an episode or two of Ugly Delicious to see how I feel about him there.

I still found the book interesting overall and I'm glad I read it. I just feel very conflicted with how I feel about Chang after the whole thing.

Rating: 3/5 stars

Trigger warning: mental illness, suicide/suicidal thoughts, chemical use

Home is Not a Country

 Tell me a story… about feeling out of place 

Home is Not a Country by Safia Elhillo 

Publishing date: March 2, 2021

Date read: June 10, 2021

Nima doesn't quite feel like she belongs in America. She wonders if things wouldn't have been better if her mother had stayed in her home country and chosen the other name that was considered for her - Yasmeen. She sometimes imagines who she would have been if she had been born Yasmeen instead. But be careful what you wish for...

This novel is written in verse.

I don't want to give too much away with this review, which really makes it hard to describe. I think the less known about the plot the better with this one. It's a short novel - just over 200 pages, but told in verse - so a lot happens in a little time. The one thing that I will give away, that I myself was not expecting, is that this book takes a sharp turn into magical realism about halfway through. It's done incredibly well, and I loved the turn, but I definitely was not expecting it. 

I loved the character of Nima. I thought that her fears and doubts were incredibly realistic and made her feel like she was a real person. This helped a lot as the magical aspects started making the book itself feel a little less grounded - in a good way. 

I dislike giving such a short and vague review, but it's so hard to review this book without giving things away. I'll just say that I thought that it was beautiful and had me hanging on to see how things would all play out. I'll definitely be checking out more by Elhillo in the future.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Trigger warning: racism