What I Read in October: Part I

I read 11 books in October, one of which was a DNF. Here are my brief thoughts on the first six; see my post on Monday for the remainder. The books are presented in no particular order.

Note that the following thoughts are also available on Goodreads. Thanks to the publishers and to Libro.fm for the print, digital, and/or audiobook review copies. "AFM" means you can find my thoughts about the audiobook production over on the AudioFile Magazine website.

Fault Lines by Emily Itami (Custom House, Sept.): This is the story of Mizuki who once dreamed of becoming a singer but is now a proper Japanese wife and mother who often feels invisible. When she meets a handsome, charming restaurateur who seems to really pay attention to her, she lets the friendship evolve into an affair. All the while she struggles to balance her love for her family with the need for something more. The novel includes beautiful descriptions of Tokyo--the sights, sounds, smells, and food. In the end, the was book only okay for me.

Audiobook: Lydia Wilson did a fine job with the narration, but her British accent was off-putting--the main character of the book is a Japanese native who became proficient in English after spending a few years living in New York. I would have preferred an audiobook narrator who had an American accent or who had a slight Japanese accent.

The Ballad of Laurel Springs by Janet Beard (Gallery; Oct.): Set in the mountains of Tennessee, this book follows the lives of several generations of women from the early 1900s into the 21st century. One common thread through time is the story told in the folk song "Pretty Polly" and the nearby Laurel Springs, where the murder outlined in the song took place. Generally, this is a "men do women wrong"--again and again--kind of book.

Audiobook: The audiobook was read by Jennifer Jill Araya, Andi Arndt, Robin Eller, Angel Pean, Candace Thaxton, Megan Tusing, and Nancy Wu, each of whom performed chapters told by different women through time. The performances were solid, with no weak links.

The Guide by Peter Heller (Knopf; Aug): Peter Heller is one of my favorite authors. This book is a followup to The River, his 2019 book. As always, Heller writes beautifully about the outdoors and about fly fishing. He captures the sounds, the moods, and the excitement. He also writes a good thriller. This story is set in Colorado, where Jack (one of the main characters in The River) was lucky enough to get a mid-season job as a guide at an exclusive resort. The fishing is good, and his client is a famous singer, who wants to spend some down time away from prying eyes. She's at home in the outdoors, so Jack enjoys the time he spends with her. The lodge is upscale, but Jack and Alison begin to notice that something's off--and soon their curiosity puts them in danger. Though this isn't Heller's strongest novel, it's well worth your time.

Audiobook: Mark Deakins is the voice for Heller's work. The performance is stellar.

When Two Feathers Fell from the Sky by Margaret Verble (Marinar; Oct): I liked this story of Two Feathers--the stage name of a Cherokee woman who pretty much grew up in the Wild West show arena. It's 1926, and she's one of the star attractions at a Tennessee zoo. Her act involves diving into a pool of water while on horseback. After an accident makes it impossible for her to perform, she begins to observe the goings on of her fellow performers and staff. There's a lot in this book about Two's uncertainty of where she fits in society, based on her skin color and her heritage. Among the other characters are a white World War I veteran who suffers from PTSD, a black man who didn't live up to his family's expectations, and a Native American ghost. The plot is sometimes bogged down with the serious themes and issues, but the book held my interest.

Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki (Tor; Sept.): This is one of those books that's difficult to explain. It's a mashup of fantasy, science fiction, and contemporary fiction. I'm not quite sure how or why this book works, but it does. There are three basic plot lines that converge and twist together. Katrina Nguyen is a trans girl who ran away from the parents who don't understand her to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Shizuka Salomi is one of the most famous and respected violin teachers in the world. What the public doesn't know is that decades ago she made a deal with the devil; in order to regain her own soul she must deliver the souls of seven brilliant violinists -- Katrina may be her key to freedom. Meanwhile Lan Tran, a starship captain, fled from intergalactic war to hide out on Earth with her family. They blend in with Earthlings by running a doughnut shop.

As improbable as it seems the stories of these three women work and tell a tale of self-acceptance and finding safety even in the bleakest of times. The major themes are love, friendship, family, and loyalty, and Aoki's descriptions of the power of music and the tastes and meaning of food are powerful. CW: Katrina's transitioning experiences are sometimes rough. AFM

My Monticello by Jocelyn Nicole Johnson (Holt; Oct.): Sharp, moving, thought-provoking collection of stories and the title novella. Johnson explores the legacy of slavery and ongoing racism in a variety of situations.

The title novella is set in the immediate aftermath of a white supremacy takeover of Charlottesville. A group of neighbors from a predominately Black neighborhood flee the violence and destruction, ending up at Jefferson's Monticello. Two of the characters are in fact direct descendants of the president and Sally Hemings. Besides issues of survival (including medical care), the novella explores relationships among the refugees and their sometimes uneasy connections to the estate, the house, and the artifacts stored there.

Audiobook: The unabridged audiobook is narrated by Aja Naomi King, January LaVoy, Landon Woodson, LeVar Burton, Ngozi Anyanwu, and Tomiwa Edun. Excellent performances all around.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: The Mega Review Edition

Hurray for opening windows and getting outside (if you ignore the pesky rain and ridiculous pollen levels). Spring is really, really here.

Even our outdoor farmers market opens this week. I'll be there every Tuesday afternoon from tomorrow all the way through to the end of October. I'm so ready to eat local!

Last Monday I was getting settled back to normal life after a four-day lacemaking workshop and just didn't have the energy to write my Monday review post. That has two consequences: (1) this post is covering a whole lot of books and (2) some of my thoughts are very brief.

Bakhita: The Saint of Sudan by Veronique Olmi, translated from the French by Adriana Hunter (Other Press, April 16). This novel is based on the life story of Mother Josephine Bakhita, who was kidnapped from her Sudanese village by slavers when she was a little girl. After being sold several times and unspeakably abused, she was eventually bought by an Italian consul, who took her back to Italy. There Bakhita worked for a wealthy family until she finally was freed by Italian courts. By that time, she had a calling from God and joined a convent, where she tried to find peace and acceptance. Her selfless good acts, despite the horrors she both observed and suffered during her childhood, earned her sainthood in 2000, almost fifty years after her death. This is not an easy book to read, but Bakhita's story is powerful and heartbreaking. Even with the nuns, she was not totally at rest--her scars and the memories of how she got them, her skin color, and her many losses weighed heavily on her. Nonetheless, Bakhita always worked to provide comfort and protection to those who lacked both, especially during the World Wars. Don't miss this story of an extraordinary woman who survived slavery in Africa to devote herself to God and the people of Italy. (Finished print copy provided by the publisher.)

Park Avenue Summer by Renee Rosen (Berkley, April 30). If you're of a certain age then you at least recognize the name Helen Gurley Brown and are probably familiar with idea of the Cosmo girl. In the mid-1960s, just after the British (music) invasion and at the beginning of the sexual revolution, Brown took over Cosmopolitan, becoming the first female editor-in-chief of a Hearst publication. This novel covers Brown's first months at the magazine and her fight to shift its audience from middle-class housewives to cutting-edge single women. The story is told through the eyes of her assistant, Alice, who moved to the city to pursue her dream of becoming a professional photographer. I  really liked both plot lines of Rosen's novel. Brown struggled against the male hierarchy and her own insecurities, but eventually headed one of the most-read magazines in the Hearst stable. Alice, a native Midwesterner, is exposed to all the city has to offer: hard work and career opportunities as well as love and betrayal. The period details (music, restaurants, clothes) and the behind the scenes look at Cosmo rounded out the story of Brown's eventual success and Alice's first summer in the city. Audiobook: The unabridged audiobook (Penguin Audio; 10 hr, 42 min) was nicely read by Kathe Mazur, who perfectly captured Alice's trajectory from city innocent to strong woman ready to face her future. (Finished copy, digital galley, and audiobook provided by the publisher.)

I'll Keep You Safe by Peter May (Quercus, March 2018). I've been on a Peter May kick this year, listening to some of his novels for the first time and revisiting in audio the books I had previously read in print. This mystery/thriller starts in Paris as Niamh and Ruairidh, childhood friends and now spouses and business partners, attend a fashion show to sell the unique wool cloth they design and manufacture in their native Lewis island, in the Outer Hebrides. After an argument in which Niamh accuses Ruairidh of having an affair, he leaves their hotel room to meet up with a fashion icon. Niamh runs after their car, only to see it explode in a burst of flame. The rest of the novel is set in Lewis, where Niamh must face the future without her husband and wait for the French police to identify the car bomber. May is a master of building up the background of his characters, carefully timing when to reveal past events as his characters work through their present. Niamh discovers just how few allies she has in the place she calls home, and we're left trying to figure out which unsavory relative or friend may have reason to do away with Ruairidh. I don't think this was May's strongest ending (to say the least), but frankly the solution to the murder usually takes a backseat to life in the Outer Hebrides, and that's just how I like it. Audiobook: The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio, 11 hr, 33 min) was alternately read by Anna Murray and Peter Forbes. Forbes performed the chapters told in the present, and Murray took on the chapters about Niamh's past. Although Murray did a fine job, Forbes seems tailor-made to read May's work, and his performance was the stronger. (Audiobook provided by the publisher.)

Heads Will Roll by Kate McKinnon and Emily Lynne (Audible Studios; 4 hr, 6 min). If you like fun, raunchy, and timely humor in the style of old-time radio drama or Firesign Theater you must listen to this Audible Original, written by and starring McKinnon and Lynne. The evil queen, Mortuana, and her BFF JoJo--turned into a raven by an old hag--work together to put down a peasant rebellion and the idea of social democracy while also individually coming to terms with who they are and who and what they want to be. The combo of current political references and pop culture nods with mythology and fairy tale tropes is just too much fun to miss. We have Sirens (played by Queer Eye's Fab Five), celebrity chefs, actresses, servants, comedians, rebels, gnomes, and a few squawking fowl. Original songs, sound effects, and great acting pull everything together. The full cast also includes Meryl Streep, Peter Dinklage, and Tim Gunn. This title is well worth one of your Audible credits or your cash. I know I'll listen to this more than once. (Audiobook in my personal library.)

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020 by National Geographic (May 7). I can't say enough good things about this fact-filled book for middle grade readers who have an interest in the natural world. Using National Geographic's signature gorgeous photos and colorful and easy-to-read graphics, the book covers everything from animal behavior to climate change, space exploration, history, and the sociocultural world. Besides informative text, the almanac includes activities, quizzes, and homework help. One of my favorite features is getting the chance to meet some of the National Geographic explorers and researchers (for example, archaeologist, filmmaker, pilot, ecologist). This is the kind of book (as you would expect) that you'll read in bits rather than cover to cover. I especially like the maps and the snapshot descriptions of each country. Pick a copy up for a curious kid in your life; it would make a great gift for the end of the school year. (Finished copy provided by the publisher.)

Birds by the Shore: Observing the Natural Life of the Atlantic Coast by Jennifer Ackerman (Penguin, May 7). This collection of nature essays is actually a reprint (with a new introduction) of a book published in the 1990s that primarily focuses on the Delaware shore. Although the title implies that Ackerman mainly observed birds, she also writes of other species, like turtles, fish, and butterflies. She has both a personal perspective and a wider ecological and sociological scope, and her thoughts are often supported by research. Woven throughout are memories of her childhood and parents, and visits to Cape Cod and other seaside environments. I loved this collection and am now kicking myself for not having read her The Genius of Birds. I plan to dig out my copy of that 2016 book later this year. The print copy includes maps and and black and white drawings by Karin Grosz. I alternately read the print book and listened to the audiobook (Penguin Audio; 5 hr, 4 min). Ackerman read her own book, and though she's clearly not a professional narrator, she was pleasant to listen to. I recommend reading in print so you don't miss the illustrations. (Print galley and audiobook provided by the publisher.)

• Death Threat by Vivek Shraya, illustrated by Ness Lee (Arsenal Pulp Press, May 7). If you are familiar with writer / musician Shraya, you shouldn't miss this graphic memoir that explores the author's exposure to disturbing transgender hate mail sent by a stranger. I really liked Lee's artwork and was, of course, horrified by the incident Shraya addresses. However, because I am unfamiliar with Shraya's work, I didn't connect as strongly as others might. (Finished copy provided by the publisher.)
• Home Remedies by Xuan Juliana Wang (Hogarth, May 14). This collection of short stories explores the life of contemporary Chinese new adults, focusing heavily on family and friendship. The settings are Europe, the United States, and China, and the book as a whole is an important addition to the #ownvoices movement. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Random House Audio, May 14) for a freelance assignment. Each story was read by a different narrator, and although some performances were stronger than others, all were easy on the ears. For more thoughts on the audiobook, see AudioFile magazine.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: The Giant Edition

Hold on to your hats, this is going to be a long post because it covers two weeks of my reading life. I had a post in good shape for last Monday; all I had to do was give it a final read through and then hit "publish." Well, best-laid plans and all of that.

Around midnight on Sunday night, after the Oscars, I lost electricity in a big wind storm. There was still no power in the morning, and in fact, we were in the dark for about 12 hours. Because I had to work on Monday and there was no telling when I'd get electricity again--the repair crews were dealing with numerous outages--I decided not to waste my laptop battery on my blog. The house was getting pretty dang chilly before the heat finally kicked on again.

Before I get to the reviews, note that I am giving away a digital copy of Disney's The Little Mermaid to one of my USA readers. Check out that post for information on how to enter for a chance to win a copy. (Thanks, Disney Studios!)

The Night Olivia Fell by Christina McDonald (Gallery Books, Feb. 5): This book is billed as a thriller, but I think it's more like a mystery or puzzle. The story is told in retrospect by a single mother and her daughter. When Abi's phone rings in the middle of the night, you know it's not going to be good news: Her only child, Olivia, is in the hospital in a permanent vegetative state after falling from a bridge into a shallow river. The state of Washington cannot turn off life support because Olivia is pregnant, and there's a good chance the baby will survive until term. The chapters alternate between Olivia's and Abi's viewpoints, covering the final months of Olivia's life. Olivia's chapters primarily cover the events that lead up to her accident (or was it murder?), and Abi's chapters focus mostly on her new reality. Both characters reflect on the past and the choices that lead them to their current situation. The underlying thread is what really happened to Abi on the bridge: Murder or accident or suicide? Was she alone? Among the suspects are a new girlfriend, an old boyfriend, a new boyfriend, and a lifelong best girlfriend, and the parents of these kids are not exactly out of the picture either. This was a solid average read: I liked the two viewpoints and I wasn't completely sure what happened to Olivia. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 10 hr, 45 min) read by Kelly Burke and Laurel Lefkow, whose performances captured the ages and emotions of their characters. There were a couple of minor mispronunciations, but nothing too jarring. (audiobook provided by the publisher)

Pay Attention Carter Jones by Gary D. Schmidt (Clarion Books, Feb. 5): Schmidt is one of my very favorite middle grade authors (Orbiting Jupiter; Lizzy Bright and the Buckminster Boy). Although his novels are indeed geared to young readers, they deal with real-life issues that are important to all of us. His characters are always believable, and he often uses humor at just the right moments to soften the more difficult topics. I loved his latest book and am looking forward to his next. Absolutely nothing goes right on the first day of sixth grade: Carter's mother is feeling blue, the dog gets sick, there's no milk for the cereal, his little sisters are cranky, the car won't start, and a British man wearing a bowler hat is ringing the doorbell. From there, Carter's life gets both worse and better all at the same time. The man, as it turns out, worked for Carter's late-grandfather in England, and he's a genuine butler! Although the solidly middle-class all-American Jones family has no experience with domestic help, the butler is not daunted; he's here to stay and intent on "civilizing" his new employers. Underlying the fun of getting used to a butler (and learning to play cricket!), Carter is also contending with a father who is on active duty in Afghanistan, the loss of a younger brother from illness, and a mother who is loving but having trouble coping with her grief and loneliness. Mixing humor with an exploration of common contemporary issues, Schmidt has written another winning and thoughtful novel. I mean it, you should be reading his books. (finished copy provided by the publisher)

This Much Country by Kristin Knight Pace (Grand Central, March 5): I didn't know who Pace was before I started reading her well-written memoir. I picked it up because it takes place (mostly) in Alaska and because she is one of the few women to have completed both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod sled dog races. Each race covers more than 1,000 miles of frozen wilderness and tests the physical and mental strengths of both the mushers and the dogs. Pace has always loved the outdoors, spending as much time as possible in the wild areas of the country, even when quite young. She is also a dog lover. At loose ends, she accepted an offer to spend a few months house sitting, hoping that by the end of winter she would have a clearer vision of her future. This wasn't just any house, though, it was a cabin near Denali Park, and it came with eight sled dogs. Pace, no stranger to fending for herself, thrived in the harsh Alaskan winter, learning not just how to care for the dogs but also how to work them. By the end of the season, Pace found her home, new friends, and a new passion. Pace's story isn't a fairy tale; she writes about her troubles as much as her successes. I can't imagine what it would be like to be on the starting line in -40F temperatures looking ahead to 1,050 miles of snow, ice, cold, and unknown environmental dangers, faced mostly all alone in the wilderness. It's just you, your supplies, and your dogs. Of course, there are checkpoints and other racers, but the Yukon Quest and Iditarod are extremely solo races. Pace has a masters in photojournalism and worked as a journalist, and her writing flows well. It's easy to picture the beauty and harshness of Alaska, her incredible relationship with her dogs, and the emotional journey that has given her a life fully led. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio, 8 hr, 41 min), read by the author. I usually avoid author-read audios, but Pace did a decent job. It's clear that she's not a professional, but her performance was engaging and heartfelt. The audiobook comes with a downloadable PDF which includes some photographs and maps of the races. (audiobook provided by the publisher)

The Waning Age by S. E. Grove (Viking Books for YR, Feb. 5): I really liked Grove's The Glass Sentence series and so I thought I'd give her latest novel a try. In a future world, people lose the ability to feel emotions as they mature. Currently, the age of waning is around 10, which means children feel sadness, happiness, love, and empathy but teens and adults feel only instincts. Thus a mother will care for her children, but true love is missing. If you have enough money, you can buy synthetic emotions; depending on the mix, the drugs allow you feel a full range of emotions from joy to depression. Since their mother's death, Natalia and Cal have been mostly on their own. Nat works as a maid in a Bay Area hotel while her brother attends school. Although Cal is already 10, he is not showing signs of waning and thus draws the attention of a powerful pharmaceutical company, which kidnaps the boy so researchers can figure out why he's retaining emotions. Nat uses her street smarts and meager connections to try to save Nat before he comes to harm. The novel is a mix of action/thriller and alternate history and explores the nature of emotions and how a world can become devoid of empathy. Grove leaves you with a lot to think about in terms of how technology and drugs could change the very nature of humanity. The unabridged audiobook (Listening Library; 9 hr, 51 min) was read by Kyla Garcia, Julio Sanchez, and Arthur Morey, who kept my attention, blended well together, and grasped the pacing of the story. (audiobook provided by the publisher)

Make This!: Building Thinking, and Tinkering Projects for the Amazing Maker in You by Ella Schwartz with photographs by Matthew Rakola (National Geographic Kids, Feb. 5): First, get the idea that this book is only for kids out of your head. Make This! is for anyone who is interested in how things work. The book takes the current artisan maker movement and turns it into an inspiring learning opportunity for those of us who want to know how to create useful and fun gadgets out of everyday materials. I love the maker culture and can't tell you how excited I was to find a book that is full of projects that pretty much everyone can complete. The projects in Make This! are divided into categories based on a STEM idea: machines, systems, optics, energy, acoustics, and so on. Each project is fun and easy and teaches a practical concept. For example, use a rolling pin to make a pulley and test how it makes it easier to lift heavy objects. Make your own Archimedes' screw and see how screws can move water uphill. Make your own musical instruments and learn about sound waves. Besides the projects, the book explains why things work, encourages us to think about how to apply the concepts to real-life problems, and helps us see the world in a new light. As a bonus, the photographs show young makers of different ages, colors, and body types, which is always appreciated. Both Mr. BFR (a real-life adult maker) and I are looking forward to making many of the projects in the book. Highly recommended. (print copy provided by the publisher)

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See (Scribner, March 5): I have always liked Lisa See's historical fiction set in China, so I jumped at the chance to listen to her latest novel for a freelance assignment. This time See takes us to the Korean island of Jeju, which has a unique history in terms of women. Families count on women to tend both the dry lands (traditional land-based gardens) and the wet lands, the collectively owned areas of the sea where the haenyeo (women divers) harvest seafood for sale and for feeding their families. The men, in turn, cook, watch the children, and "think deep thoughts." The diving collectives are a centuries-old tradition in which the women are strong and are the major breadwinners for the family. These women dive into cold ocean waters using only lung capacity and wearing minimal clothing; as a result they are able to withstand lower body temperatures than any other population on earth, including polar peoples. The novel follows two friends--one from a long line of strong haenyeo and one an orphan from a questionable family--from young childhood through to old age. Their story is also modern Korea's story, which includes invasion by the Japanese, occupation by the Americans, and a war between democracy and communism. This is a fascinating look at a vanishing culture, an emotional and complex tale of women's friendship, and tough look at Korean history of the last 70 years or so. Add this novel to your March reading list; it's an amazing story. The unabridged audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 13 hr, 22 min) was read by Jennifer Lim who did a terrific job capturing the emotional arc of the characters. (For more, see AudioFile magazine; review copy provided for a freelance assignment)

Stories, Other Books, and a DNF

• "The Paper Menagerie" by Ken Lui from The Paper Menagerie (Saga Press, 2016). I read and loved the title story from this speculative fiction collection. The story explored a mother-son relationship, immigration, regret, and empathy. Recommended, so far. (finished copy provided by the publisher)
• The Book of Delights by Ross Gay (Algonquin, Feb. 12). In 102 very short prose pieces, award-winning poet Gay recorded the small acts of kindness, humor, and beauty he noticed over the course of a year. Recommended for dipping into and for gift giving. (finished copy provided by the publisher)
• Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James (Riverhead, Feb. 5). An epic fantasy based on African myth and history that garnered tons of praise. After an hour of listening to the audiobook (Penguin Audio, 24 hr, 2 min) read by Dion Graham I had to put it aside. I just wasn't feeling it. From the little bit I heard, Graham's performance was awesome. (audio edition provided by the publisher)
• "Secrets" by Jessica Keener from Women in Bed (Story Plant, 2013). Keener is one of my go-to authors, and I liked the way this first story in the collection made me think about the relationships we have with the people we run into on a daily basis but never really know; in this case a waitress and a woman who was a regular for lunch service. Recommended. (review copy provided by the author)
• Death of a Dreamer by M. C. Beaton (Grand Central 2007). This is the 22nd book in the Hamish Macbeth series, and it didn't disappoint. Hamish's personal life, the characters in the village, his new cat, and of course the murders kept me entertained. Totally recommended, especially in audio (Blacktone Audio; 5 hr, 25 min; performed by Graeme Malcolm) (I bought the audiobook)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: A Great Reading Week

I've reached that point where cabin fever is starting to set in. The sleet or ice or cold or snow has kept me cooped up inside and made me miss way too many outdoor walks. It's driving me crazy!

We finally started the new season of True Detective. I like it but need to see a few more episodes before commenting. We finished the Netflix series You, which started out strong, but I was less enamored by the end. We also finally watched the movie Room, which I liked. It's been too long since I read the book to make detailed comparisons, but the young actor who played Jack did an excellent job.

Here's what I read last week.

The Raven Tower by Ann Leckie (Orbit, Feb. 26): I really liked this epic fantasy--told in a mix of first and second person--about gods and humans, sons and fathers, how power travels through the world. As other reviewers have noted, some of the plot lines are similar to Hamlet (a young man returns from war to find his father dead and his uncle on the throne), but much is unique. The god Strength and Patience of the Hill has witnessed eons of the world's history and the rise of humans. Through Strength's narration we learn about the ancient gods, how they gain (and lose) power, where that power lies, what they can (and cannot do), their relationships with each other, and their complex connections with people. At the same time, we are following the political and religious goings on in the kingdom of Iraden. I was intrigued by Leckie's take on the world of the gods, which is different from that of Roman and Greek mythology. In The Raven Tower universe, gods must think carefully before they speak, because their words have the power to change the world and to change their own fate. I was also caught up in the court politics and how the paths of the gods and the humans were intertwined. Don't miss this one. I listened to the unabridged auidobook (Hachette Audio; 12 hr, 2 min) read by Adjoa Andoh, who does a brilliant job conveying the emotional depth of Strength and Patience of the Hill and the god's reactions to all it witnesses throughout the millennia. (audiobook provided by the publisher)

Good Riddance by Elinor Lipman (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Feb. 5): In a fit of Kondo-inspired tidying up, Daphne Maritch throws her late-mother's annotated high school yearbook into the recycling bin. In 1968 in a small New Hampshire town, Daphne's mom, June, was a teacher and the yearbook adviser; from that time on, she never missed a reunion of that class, updating her copy of the yearbook with the juicy tidbits of gossip and facts she learned each year. After Daphne's documentary-filmmaker-wantabe neighbor retrieves the yearbook, Maritch family secrets begin to leak out. This is a light, fun contemporary story of a young woman trying to find her place in the world and in New York. Her widowed father, snobby older sister, and various apartment building neighbors have parts to play as Daphne learns that her mother may not have been perfect and that her parents' loving marriage may have had some cracks. Pop culture, humor, and desperate acts keep the plot moving. Unfortunately one of the principal motivators for the entire novel is based on genetics, and the author got those genetics wrong. If I hadn't been listening to this book for a freelance assignment, I would have quit right there. The non-geneticists among you will enjoy this lighthearted novel. The unabridged audiobook (Dreamscape; 8 hr, 7 min) was very nicely read by Mia Barron, whose expressive performance brought out the humor and tapped into the characters' emotional journeys. (audiobook provided for a freelance assignment).

The River by Peter Heller (Knopf, March 5): I love Peter Heller, and this novel was one of my most anticipated books of the year. I was not disappointed, and The River is now sitting pretty as the best book I've read in a long while. This is the story of Wynn and Jack, both outdoorsy and from rural backgrounds, who meet at college and become best friends. They spend as much time as possible canoeing rivers, fly-fishing, and camping. They have a natural and respectful interpersonal rhythm, and easily travel and work together. While on a canoe trip in Canada, they notice the signs of a not-so-distance forest fire and thus decide to make haste to their take-out point. On that foggy morning they pass two other sets of campers: a pair of drunken older men who mock the boys and a couple camped on an island who can be heard arguing. From that point on the trip takes a dark turn as the boys' safety seems to be jeopardized along more than one front. I love how Heller conveys what it's like to be on a wilderness river--the sights, sounds, work, conditions--and his obvious passion for and knowledge of fly fishing shines. Heller is a master at creating a creeping buildup of danger, holding it just out of sight so you never quite know where and when or if it will manifest. I was completely connected to Wynn and Jack and understood what moved them, what made them who they were. Do not miss this one. (copy provided for a freelance assignment)

Enchantee by Gita Trelease (Flatiron, Feb. 5): I already wrote about this nicely done alternate history look at pre-revolutionary France and the intrigues of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette's court. Camille has inherited the gift of magic from her mother and the printer's trade from her father, but her apprenticeships are cut off when both parents die from smallpox in the late 1780s. Her older brother fails to offer Camille and their younger sister protection, leaving the girls on their own in a Paris that isn't kind to the poor or to girls. Realizing she must use whatever power she has, Camille dons her mother's enchanted dress and infiltrates Versailles, hoping her magic will help her win at cards and rise from poverty. The only trouble is that the magic of the dress lasts only so long, life at court is much more complicated than Camille is prepared for, and she is not the only magician in the palace. In some ways Enchantee is a Cinderella retelling: through magic, a poor girl is transformed, goes to court, and turns heads; but she must leave before her disguise falls apart. I always like a fairy tale retelling and enjoyed those aspects of Enchantee. I also liked the historical facts and period details of Paris: the rumblings of revolution, the storming of the Bastille, the attitudes of the rich, the fashions of court, and the new technology of hot-air ballooning. There were few surprises in Enchantee, but the ending was both exciting and satisfying. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Macmillian Audio, 12 hr, 56 min) read by Justine Erye, who is one of my go-to narrators. She did an excellent job with the various accents and distinguishing among the characters. (print copy provided by the publisher; audio copy provided for a freelance assignment)

"Mercy" by Mandeliene Smith from Rutting Season (Scribner, Feb. 12). This week's short story comes from a debut collection. "Mercy" is set on a small family farm, where May is coping with sudden widowhood and the stresses of being a single mother solely in charge of keeping everything on track. The farm was her idea; her husband was a lawyer who gamely agreed to keeping animals, especially Pam's beloved horses. The emotional and dramatic aspects of the story were strong but realistic, and I could sense just how hard it was for Pam to move through her new reality while trying to present a strong and upbeat front for her young children. I will be reading more from this collection; the stories are billed as being about women and families on the brink of transformation. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: 7 Short Book Reviews

Happy Monday! I hope that everyone is ready to face the week, whether you're working, vacationing, or somewhere in between. I'm grateful to have a regular workweek ahead of me and am hoping to have the time to catch up on reading, straighten the house, and relax with some pleasure reading (or listening)

Since I last wrote about the books I'm reading, we've gone through the polar vortex, had some crazy warm days, fierce winds, and now we're on the brink of another snow storm. Starting Sunday night and heading on to Tuesday, we could see another foot or so of snow as well as an accumulation of ice. Have I mentioned lately that I'm so, so glad I work from home?

I missed last week's short story, but I read one over the weekend. I've been reading the first story in each collection, but at the end of February, I think I'll take a different tack and start reading the title story instead.

Here's what I read over the last two weeks. Many of them are audiobooks, because that's what I turn to when I busy editing.

At the Wolf's Table by Rosella Postorino, translated from the Italian by Leah Janeczko (Flatiron, January 29). This is a totally different take on the World War II story (at least for me) and was inspired by a true story. In 1943, Hitler was headquartered at the Wolfshanze (the Wolf's Lair), where he had a personal chef prepare his meals. Hitler's fear of poisoning ran deep, so he forced 10 local, German women to eat three meals a day at his country home. After they ate, they remained under SS guard for about an hour, to see if anyone got sick or died. Rosa Sauer, is one of the tasters. She is living with her in-laws, whom she barely knows, while her husband is fighting in the German army. The food tasters don't know each other before their assignment, but they soon develop uneasy friendships: some are proud to be Nazis, others (like Rosa) are not, but try to do what they must to survive. Some of the SS men are strict, others begin to ease up. No one is really safe. Because Rosa tells the story, we know she lives, but what we don't know is how or why. I was really interested what becoming tasters did to the women: they all lived with a constant fear of dying, and for the women like Rosa there was the further dilemma of being forced to protect Hitler while not believing in anything he was doing. Can Rosa ever have peace with herself; does she in fact really survive to have a full life? Even if you think you've read everything about World War II, you should give Postorino's novel a try. This would make a great book club pick because there is so much to think about. I don't want to give away what happens to Rosa, but I think about her choices, her interactions with the other people involved in the cooking and tasting, her relationship with her husband and his family, how we should think about her, and what her postwar life is like. This novel is all the stronger because it is based on the confessions of one of the real-life food tasters. (copy provided by the publisher)

Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird (St. Martin's Press, September 4, 2018). In one of those odd quirks, I ended up reading another book based on a true story of a woman in wartime, this time the American Civil War. Cathy Williams was born into slavery in the Deep South and "freed" by Union General Philip Sheridan, who needed an assistant for his camp cook. Cathy worked for Sheridan, learning to survive in a world of white men, all the while missing her mother who told her stories of Africa and the gods and her own mother, who was a queen. After the war, there were few opportunities for a black woman who wanted to escape the hate and violence of the defeated South, so Cathy disguised herself as a man and enlisted into the army under the name William Cathay. She thus became the first woman to ever serve in the peacetime U.S. Army. As a member of the cavalry, she and her fellow buffalo soldiers went west to fight the Indians and open the land up to (mostly white) settlers. Cathy's story is not a fairy tale: she misses her family, she is terrified of being found out and raped, she almost dies in the southwest desert, and she mourns the death of those she loved. I had never heard of Cathy Williams nor had I read much about the buffalo soldiers. Don't pass this by because you think you're not all that interested in the Civil War and the settling of the American West. This is the true story of a brave woman who tried to find a way to survive in a changing world. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Macmillan Audio; 16 hr, 31 min) brilliantly read by Bahni Turpin. Turpin's expressive performance brings Cathy Williams's story alive. The audiobook also includes an interview with the author. (copy provided for a freelance assignment)

From Twinkle, With Love by Sandhya Menon (Simon Pulse, May 22, 2018). This is a fun story about Twinkle Mehr, an Indian American, who dreams of becoming a filmmaker but thinks she has a million strikes against her. She lives in Colorado Springs, her parents can't afford to buy her good equipment and won't be able to pay for an expensive out-of-state college, and she's not a member of the popular group at school. To make things worse, her best friend is suddenly social climbing and the guy she's crushing on is not returning the feelings. When Sahil Roy--the twin brother of Twinkle's crush--offers her a chance to make a film for a local festival, Twinkle thinks all her dreams will come true. Not only will she be able to make a real movie but she'll have a chance to catch the eye of the cool kids. The novel is told through Twinkle's diary entries, with a few sections from Sahil's perspective, and is somewhat more than a cute contemporary teen rom-com. Twinkle's home life is difficult (for example, her mother suffers from depression) and she has many life lessons to learn about love and friendship and the dream of fame. I always enjoy Menon's take on Desi teen life. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 9 hr, 32 min) read by Soneela Nankani and Vikas Adam. Both Nankani and Adam did a fine job tapping into their inner teen, though Nankani occasionally went over the top with her emotions. Still, a decent audiobook. (digital and audio copies provided by the publisher)

The Chessmen by Peter May (Quercus, February 3, 2015): I finally finished up the Lewis trilogy by May. I don't have a lot new to say about this entry, but I love May's writing and I love how the island of Lewis (in the Outer Hebrides) is as much a part of the story as what happens to the characters. In this final Fin Macleod story, the ex-detective discovers a dead body in a private plane, which was exposed after a bog break drains a loch. His involvement with the cold case has links to his teenage years and one of his best lifelong friends. Meanwhile, Fin's personal life is not going as smoothly as it could, and he's feeling directionless since he returned to the island to restore his family's croft. The ending of this book was satisfying, though I was happy to see that the door has been left ajar, so maybe May will write more about Fin in the future (or maybe he's already done so; I need to check that out). If you want to try May but don't want to commit to a trilogy, check out his standalone novels. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 10 hr, 1 min) read by Peter Forbes. I love his skill with the several needed accents and much appreciate hearing the proper pronunciation of the Gaelic. (print and audio copies provided by the publisher)

The Overnight Kidnapper by Andrea Camilleri, translated from the Italian by Stephen Sartarelli (Penguin Books, February 5): This is the latest installment  in the wonderful Montalbano mystery series set in Sicily. Detective Montalbano doesn't like paperwork, loves to eat, and is the man you want on the case. In this outing, Montalbano is tasked with figuring out why two woman, both of whom work for banks, were kidnapped but then let go several hours later unharmed and untouched. Before the detective can get far with this case, another women is kidnapped, but she is found naked and injured. Meanwhile, there's an arson, a possible Mafia hit, and a missing person. As Montalbano works through all these strange occurrences, he wonders if any of them are linked. I love Montalbano's personality, the dynamics between the police detective and his staff, the wisecracking dialogue, and the undercurrent of the Sicilian Mafia. Although this series is long (I think this is the 23rd installment), you can probably jump in anywhere and not feel lost. Each book is a single case; though, as with all series, there are recurring characters who develop through time. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Blackstone Audio; 6 hr, 15 min) read by the wonderful Grover Gardner. I love Gardner's characterizations and how easily he handles the humor and quick dialogue. If you're an audiobook fan, this series should be listened to instead of read in print. (audio copy provided for a freelance assignment)

Renegade Women in Film & TV by Elizabeth Weitzman (Clarkson Potter, February 5). As I wrote on Friday, this book contains dozens of short biographies of women involved in making movies and television shows. Each woman was a ground-breaker on some level and on both sides of the camera. This is a book to enjoy over the course of a few days, reading a couple of biographies at a time. I really enjoyed meeting new (to me) women, such as Gertrude Berg, who was one of the early television creators and who paved the way for many of the family sitcoms that have formed the foundation of prime-time television. Each biography is accompanied by either a short interview or a pithy quote: "I want to be identified with the body of filmmakers, not just women. What will really  help women is if they show up everywhere" -- Shirley Clarke (1919-1997), filmmaker. Don't miss the beautiful portraits of each woman by Austen Claire Clements. I love the art! The book ends with a bibliography and with a list of must-see movies and television. (review copy provided by the publisher)

"Heroes of the Revolution" by Brendan Mathews from This Is Not a Love Song (Little, Brown, February 5). This story is about two participants in a three-month fellowship program in the Chicago area for foreign journalists: Edina from Bosnia and Vitas from Lithuania. On an apple-picking group outing organized by an American graduate student, Edina and Vitas (both middle-aged) have a moment to talk and get to know each other while walking through the orchard. At the end of the day, young Kristen, who has a crush on Vitas, tells a story from her carefree teen years, which prompts Edina to tell her own story--not so carefree in the war zone of Sarajevo. Vitas also has a story to tell, and we are left with the striking difference between the innocence of American youth and those who must deal with the horrors that people can inflict on others. I'll definitely be reading more of Mathews's stories. (digital copy provided by the publisher.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: Another Week of Mixed Success

I don't know about your part of the world, but winter is here with a vengeance. One way I cope is to cheer myself up by buying new winter clothes. Which I did. But I'm not a style blog (I can hear my family and friends laughing), so I'll step away from thoughts of wool blazers and new jeans to what you really care about: what the heck did I read lately?

My surprisingly busy January is winding down to sane levels (at least for the moment), but last week I managed only two audiobooks and one short story. I DNF'd a print book, put one print book on hold (more on that in a different post), and DNF'd an audiobook.

Either I've suddenly gotten really picky or I've had bad luck in my choices. In any case, the week ahead is filled with all great expectations. I'm forever optimistic when it comes to reading.

What I Liked

When I accepted Dorothy Butler Gilliam's Trailblazer: A Pioneering Journalist's Fight to Make the Media Look More Like America (Center Street, January 8) for an audiobook review assignment from AudioFile magazine, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. I like autobiography / noninspirational memoir and I knew who Gilliam was, but was her book going to be name dropping, a rags to riches story, or a snapshot of an era? Gilliam's story is all that (in a good way) and more. She was born black in a world ruled by Jim Crow restrictions and born female at time when women's choices were extremely limited. Even with two strikes against her, Gilliam remained determined to hit one out of the park. I was caught up in her transformation from preacher's daughter with a narrow future to first black woman reporter and, later, columnist for the Washington Post. Her life and career spans both the feminist and the civil rights movements and allowed her a front-row seat at some of American's most significant turning points. If you're a woman or a person of color (especially if you were born in the mid-20th century), her story will resonate on a personal level, depending on your age and situation. For anyone still facing socially sanctioned restrictions (in other words if you're not white, male, and Christian), you'll find so much of Gilliam's story to relate to. Don't miss Trailblazer, which would also be perfect for those looking for a Black History Month read. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 8 hr, 58 min) read by the fabulous January Le Voy. Her delivery of Gilliam's words hit all the right tones. If you're into autobiography and are an audiobook fan, read this with your ears. You won't be sorry. (audiobook copy provided for a freelance assignment.

Sob! I'm all caught up with Sebastien de Castell's Spellslinger series, though I can't complain too much because books 5 and 6 will be released this year. Soulbinder, the 4th in the series, continued to both amuse me (I love de Castell's sense of humor) and keep me glued to my (now wireless) earbuds. To recap for those who missed my earlier reviews (find them here) of the series, de Castell has created a unique fantasy world that has a Wild West flavor, a variety of creatures and cultures, lots of action, great bantering dialogue, and a wonderfully flawed hero who's easy to root for. Kellen is now about seventeen and still exiled from his home. Though he's getting better at living the outlaw life, he has a knack for getting himself into trouble and often needs help getting out of it. In this installment, he gains insight into his semi-estranged family and experiences a shift in how he sees himself and the life fate has granted him. Of the many things I love about about these books, I especially appreciate that, while sexual/love relationships could happen, Kellen is awkward, sometimes fickle, and isn't truly sure he's ready to take any friendship to next step. This installment also touches on LBGTQ+ issues in a causal, everyday way, which is how it should be. Soulbinder doesn't end on cliffhanger, but it does set Kellen off on an uncertain path, which makes me all the more impatient for book 5. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 11 hr, 36 min) brilliantly read by Joe Jameson. I've said it before: Jameson has the characters down pat and is great at delivering the quips, keeping the characters straight, adjusting the pacing to the action, and hitting the emotions. He had better be around for the next two books. (audiobook copy provided by the publisher)

This Week's Short Story

"Layla's Nose Job," by Nicoloa Barker, from The Three Button Trick and Other Stories (Ecco, November 2018): This is a story collection I've had my eye on for a few months because, as I wrote in November, the stories "embrace the strange and stretch reality to get at the truth of the human condition." I picked the first story in the collection, which was about a girl who was born with a truly larger-than-normal nose. Her whole life, Layla had to contend with people staring at her and teasing her and treating her as an outsider. After her best friend makes a blunder that reveals just how much Layla is defined by her nose, Layla tells her parents that she must have a nose job for psychological reasons. Thus, a few days after her sixteenth birthday, Layla undergoes the knife. What does she learn about herself and others once the healing begins? Barker's concept held my attention, and I was curious about Layla's fate, but the ending may have been a little too open for me. I liked the writing enough to give The Three Button Trick another chance, but I'm not sure if I'll read all the stories. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

What I Gave Up On

Talent by Juliet Lapidos (Little, Brown, January 22) had a couple of elements that should have pulled me right in. First it stars a graduate student struggling with her dissertation in literature, which is supposed to focus on what inspires writers to write. Second, the reviews and blurbs of Talent promised a bit of a psychological thriller. As the book opens, Anna (the grad student) helps a stranger in need, who then changes the course of Anna's life. I stuck it out for about 25 percent of the novel, but, frankly, I just didn't really care very much about Anna, her dissertation, or her relationship with the woman stranger to find out what ultimately happens. I read enough to know how the woman Anna helps can, in turn, help Anna with her research, but that still didn't pull me in. You may have better luck. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi (Wednesday Books, January 15). I had such high hopes for this book that I actively requested an audiobook copy (Macmillan Audio; 11 hr, 55 min). Thus I feel kind of bad that I just couldn't connect. I loved Chokshi's Aru Shah and the End of Time (my thoughts here), I'm a big fantasy fan, and I particularly like the alternate history subgenre. This book takes place in 1889 Paris and involves powerful families and an underground organization that is out to capture that power for themselves. There's an art thief and hotelier, a landscape artist, a cook/baker, displaced/disinherited people from widely diverse backgrounds, and the hunt for a piece of the Tower of Babel, which will give the owner prestige and power and estates. I wish I could explain the concept better but the plot was confusing and I wasn't really sure what was going on. I started the audiobook three times--that's how much I wanted to love it. I finally made it about a quarter of the way through before giving up for good. It wasn't the fault of narrators Laurie Catherine Winkel and P. J. Ochlan (though I thought Winkel's performance was stronger); their performances were fine. Was it my mood? I have no idea. Whatever the reason I just didn't click with the universe, the magic, or the characters. Kirkus gave it a star and it was Indie Next pick, so you'll probably love it.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: True Stories

Days like this I'm so happy to work from home. It's -1F out there, with a windchill of -21F. Yep, it's really, really cold. I'm also grateful for central heating and nice warm clothes.

We were supposed to get a ton of snow on Saturday, but in the end it was only about 6 inches, which for us is a nuisance but not all that big of deal. The bad part was how wet and heavy the snow was, which made shoveling hard.

I had a busy week last week, but still managed to get a little reading in, though I was very bad at visiting blogs. I'll make up for it in the days to come. If you're in the United States and have the day off work, I hope you're warm and toasty and have some relaxing indoor activities planned.

The Last Whalers: Three Years in the Far Pacific with a Courageous Tribe and a Vanishing Way of Life by Doug Bock Clark (Little, Brown, January 8): Investigative journalist Clark lived with the Lamalerans, a traditional hunter-gatherer people from the Indonesian island of Lembata, off and on for almost three years. The Lamalerans have a sea-based culture and the sperm whale is their principal prey, which they hunt from handmade boats powered by palm-leaf sails; they even make their own rope and harpoons. Only by obeying their ancestors will they be successful in the hunt, enabling their village to survive another year. This fascinating look into a vanishing culture is part ethnography and part reporting and focuses particularly on how the Lamalerans straddle two worlds. They have spotty electricity and no running water, yet some of the younger generation have cellphones and have worked or been educated in cities or at least bigger towns. They remain faithful to their traditional spirituality but are also Catholic. Clark focuses his account on a handful of families at different places in their lives and facing different dreams and frustrations, giving us both male and female perspectives. Although the Lamalerans' daily life is far different from our own, many of their concerns will be familiar. I listened to the unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio, 11 hr, 23 min), beautifully read by Jay Snyder, but also had a digital copy so I could see the photos. I believe the audiobook comes with a PDF, so look for that. I have no way of judging Snyder's pronunciation of the Lamaleran language, but I assume he consulted with Clark, who is fluent. Snyder was equally adept at conveying the action and danger of the hunt as he was at delivering the more personal accounts of the Lamalerans' stories. (digital and audio copies provided by the publishers)

Kid Gloves: Nine Months of Careful Chaos by Lucy Knisley (First Second, February 26): I've read every one of Knisley's graphic/comic memoirs and have loved them all. Her newest, out next month, is about her journey to motherhood. As with all of Knisley's memoirs, this one doesn't sugar-coat her experiences. The book is not always kind to some of her doctors or to the medical profession's attitude toward women in general. One of my favorite spreads shows a woman with symptoms of plague being told by her doctor that her obvious illness is all in her head. Knisely is also honest about her reactions to women who (at least outwardly) had no trouble getting pregnant or carrying a child to term. Her own experience was quite different and involved miscarriage, uterine surgery, a nightmare of a birth, and a scary hospital stay. I love her art and her candor and am happy to report that she and her husband have a healthy baby boy, who will be the subject of her always personal work in the future, though she has given him the comic book name of Pal to preserve a tiny bit of his privacy. I suppose I should give a trigger warning to this memoir because Knisley had a rough time of it and shares her grief over the miscarriage, her frustrations with the medical profession, and the true danger she was in after giving birth. She also lets us see the overwhelming love she has for her son and the love and support she receives from her family and husband. We know there's a happy ending right from the start of the book, though the path takes us through a dark forest. Don't miss this. (digital copy provided by the publisher)

"Spats" by Valerie Martin, from Sea Lovers (Nan A. Talese, August 18, 2015). This week's story comes from a book that I've had on my shelf for a few years. I started with the first one, which takes place in contemporary times and focuses on a woman who is coming to terms with the fact that her marriage is finally over. She has a plan of revenge, but is she prepared for the consequences if she carries it out? This story was nicely written and made me want to read more from the collection, though I wasn't as drawn to the woman's world as I could have been. Still, I'm keeping the book in rotation and will try another story later in the year.

Note on the short story project: I've been thinking about how to approach my commitment to reading a story a week and have decided to place five or six books into rotation, so you'll see the authors again throughout the year. I'm also going to try to sample new collections as they cross my desk.

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Stacked-Up Book Thoughts: The Good and the Bad

Happy Monday. Looks like winter is finally here--I'm happy to report that we have a little snow and the temperatures have dropped. I actually like snow and don't mind the cold. . . . At least for a little while. By the end of February, however, you'll hear me whining about the weather.

I didn't have a lot of reading time this week, because we spent way too much time watching the news. On Saturday we took a break to watch a movie, which turned out to be bust.

Hold the Dark (2018) is set in Alaska and stars Alexander Skarsgård (from True Blood fame) and Jeffrey Wright (from Westworld fame); it's billed as a mystery. It sounded like something we would love. Sigh. I'm not quite sure why we bothered to see it all the way through, because by 15 minutes we could tell this was definitely a B-movie. I've embedded the trailer at the end of this post, but trust me, just give this a pass.

Lewis Man by Peter May (Quercus, 2014): This is the second book in May's Lewis trilogy, set in the Outer Hebrides and featuring Fin Macleod who left his native Lewis Island to attend university. After dropping out, he joined the Edinburgh police force, eventually becoming a homicide detective. Note that I won't spoil this book, but may lightly spoil the first book, The Blackhouse, which I reviewed last month. In this installment, Fin has quit his job, signed his divorce papers, and returned to Lewis to restore his parents' croft. In the meantime, the body of a young man is discovered in the island's peat bog, and evidence points to a murder in the 1950s. The victim may have ties to people Fin knows from his youth, and the ex-cop can't help but follow through on the leads (though he keeps in contact with the local authorities). As with the first in the trilogy, this book is as much about Scotland and the Hebrides as is it about the murder. Fin's personal life also plays a major role. May's ability to create an atmosphere and to vividly convey his characters and the setting is always a pleasure. I think I'm going to spend this year catching up on May's backlist and maybe even doing some rereading--especially on audio. The unabridged audiobook (Hachette Audio; 10 hr, 54 min) was read by Peter Forbes, who (yay!) reads the whole trilogy. I love his accent and particularly appreciate hearing the Gaelic. Forbes has a real feel for May's style, and this is one of those author-narrator pairings that is, in a word, perfect. (Print and audio copies provided by the publishers)

The Waiter by Matias Faldbakken (Gallery, 2018; translated by Alice Menzies): I guess I should have known that a book compared to Remains of the Day (a book I ditched early on) would not be a good match for me, but because this story takes place in an Oslo restaurant, I was hoping for good food references and the hustle and bustle of the waiter's life. Instead, this was a quiet story of a career waiter in a European-style cafe/restaurant and his interactions with the establishment's regulars. Every day, the same people show up at the same time and are seated at the same tables, in our waiter's section. There's an actor, an elderly widow, a rich man and his companions, and the waiter's childhood friend with his daughter. All chugs along like clockwork, until the rich man invites a beautiful young woman to join his usual guests. From there, things seem to fall apart. Our usually impeccable waiter messes up an order, injures his hand, and becomes too involved in the customers' lives. This novel has won tons of praise and buzz, but it didn't work for me. It's the second book this year (only 14 days long) in which the ending made me say: "Huh? That's it?" You'll probably love The Waiter, I'm sure I'm in the very small minority. The unabridged audiobook (Simon & Schuster Audio; 5 hr, 31 min) was wonderfully read by Jacques Roy. Roy does a really good job projecting the waiter's inner life and his thoughts about the diners, the other restaurant employees, and the changes the woman brings to his routine. I sound like a broken record, but it's true: a great performance can't save a book that just doesn't click. (review audio copy provided for a freelance assignment)

“The Bookmaking Habits of Select Species” from The Paper Menagerie by Ken Lui (Saga Press, 2016): For this week’s short story, I picked the opening piece from Lui’s collection of speculative fiction stories. This story fits into the science fiction sphere and is written as a description of the different ways books are written and used by beings across the universe. I loved the premise of the story and especially was intrigued by the creatures whose books were kind of like recordings, allowing the “reader” to hear the voice of the author, almost literally. Lui’s writing is incredibly quotable, and I marked several possible passages to share in this story, though it’s only about nine pages long. Here’s one:

They have always had a complicated relationship with writing, the Hesperoe. Their great philosophers distrusted writing. A book, they thought, was not a living mind yet pretended to be one. It gave sententious pronouncements, made moral judgments, described purported historical facts, or told exciting stories . . . yet could not be interrogated like a real person, could not answer its critic or justify its accounts.

True, yes? The Paper Menagerie is going to remain on my short story list; I’m sure I’ll end up reading Lui’s entire collection. (review copy from the publisher)

And here’s the promised trailer for Hold the Dark:

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