Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: A Trio of Recommended Books

Just when I thought I was free to read and read and read for pleasure I get a work offer I can't pass up. This is a good thing for me and my wallet, but not so good when it comes to making my way trough my reading stacks.

At least the weather turned cold again, so it's not like I'm missing time in the garden or on the deck. All the rain has meant very little time outside.

In any case, I managed to get through two audiobooks and a graphic novel. Nothing else going on at the moment. I'm working hard over the next few days so I can spend time with my mother this coming weekend.

What I Read Last Week

This Fight Is Our Fight: The Battle to Save America's Middle Class by Elizabeth Warren (Metropolitan Books; 2017): In this well-presented and very easy to understand treatise, Warren outlines the rise and fall of America's middle class over the last 80 years or so. She uses stories from her own life and stories from the lives of struggling working families to illustrate just what's wrong with our current economic system -- minimum wage, healthcare, taxes, Wall Street, trickle-down economics, education, and more. At the end of the book, Warren lists a series of actions we can take right now to turn things around. It's an inspiring book that will make you want to get involved (or more involved). The unabridged audiobook (Macmillan Audio; 10 hr, 44 min) is read by Warren herself, who is expressive and passionate. Her conversational tone makes it feel as if she were talking just to you. Highly recommended -- for readers on both sides of the aisle. (Full audio review found at AudioFile magazine.)

The Rose and the Thorn by Michael J. Sullivan (Orbit; 2013): This is the second book in the second series (the Riyria Chronicles) about thief Royce and swordsman Hadrian. I love getting to know more about the pair's background and their early days of working together. As I said on Litsy, if you like good action, complex plotting, epic fantasy, good humor, and realistic characters you'll love Sullivan's books. It's been a really long time since I binged listened to a series, and I just can't enough of these books. Thank goodness Sullivan has a third series, which (Game of Thrones and Outlander people take note) is already written and is being released one book a summer. Thank you, Sullivan for not making us wait years between installments. The unabridged audiobook (Recorded Books, 11 hr, 59 min) is read by Tim Gerard Reynolds, who has narrated all of Sullivan's books. Reynolds brings the characters to life, tapping into each one's personality just perfectly. His spot-on pacing and consistent characterizations make these a must listen. Highly recommended -- in print or audio (I bought the books in both media!)

The Big Bad Fox by Benjamin Renner (Fist Second, 2017): Exactly what the doctor ordered! I laughed my way through this fun graphic novel about Fox who just can't seem to manage to scare anyone, not even little song birds and certainly not the hens in the hen house. He seeks advice from Wolf, but that plan backfires in a delightful way. The tough hens, the adorable chicks, the bumbling guard dog and his gang, the  mean wolf, and the  completely unintimidating fox will change your ideas of barnyard life. The graphic novel is illustrated in watercolors rendered by the author; the art is expressive and conveys the action and highlights the humor. I'm not at all sure of the target audience of this graphic novel, but it can be enjoyed by readers of almost all ages. Read this when you need a little break from life; read this to your youngsters, who will likely ask you to read to them again. Younger readers may not get all the jokes, but they'll find a lot to laugh at as Fox tries his best to be the scariest guy on the farm. Highly Recommended -- for the whole family. (Thanks to First Second for the review copy.)