Saturday, December 31, 2022

Best of the Bunch (December 2022)

Best of the Bunch header

Today I'm sharing the best book I read in December.

It was an OK reading month. Of the 8 books I read this month, I didn't have any 5-star reads and I had one 4.5-star read, so that's my Best of the Bunch.

It took me a bit to get into Radio Silence, but in the end, it was exceptional. It's a beautiful depiction of platonic friendship love and queer found family and the way that academic pressure and the myth of the Only Good Life Path can wreck people's lives and how people who make beautiful things (like art and stories) have an important impact on other people and their endeavors should be valued. I genuinely wasn't sure what was going to happen to any of the characters, which made the plot that much more compelling and the ending that much more rewarding. I'm very glad I finally read this, and I'd definitely recommend it.

What is the best book you read this month? Let me know in comments, or write your own post and link up below!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Never Split the Difference, Grumplets and Pests, and To the End of June
Five years ago I was reading: Sophie's Choice and Americanah
Ten years ago I was reading: The First 90 Days

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Monday, December 26, 2022

Top Ten Nonfiction Reads of 2022


I'm linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for another Top Ten Tuesday.

This week's theme is actually about books we've added to our book collections recently, but I'm opting instead to share the first of my overall top ten lists for the year, as I've done in past years. As I'm currently in the middle of a few works of fiction that will take me through the end of the year, I'm sharing my favorite nonfiction reads of 2022 first. To read more about why I liked them, you can search for them on the blog or check out my Goodreads! (To see my favorite read every month, I encourage you to check out — and link up with — the Best of the Bunch linkup.)
1. The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
2. Because Internet by Gretchen McCulloch
3. Burnout by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski
4. Can I Recycle This? by Jennie Romer
5. Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman
6. Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide by Patrice Banks
7. Good Talk by Mira Jacob
8. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty
9. So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
10. Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride

What were your favorite nonfiction reads of the year?

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Never Split the Difference and To the End of June
Five years ago I was reading: Sophie's Choice and Americanah
Ten years ago I was reading: The First 90 Days

Thursday, December 15, 2022

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee: This was a fun read, pretty much the queer YA historical romance romp that I expected it to be. There's a lot that's unbelievable about the plot, but you just kind of have to be along for the ride.

The Seven Dials Mystery by Agatha Christie: This was fine but I didn't enjoy it as much as the first Superintendent Battle book. The story itself was entertaining enough to keep me invested, but I didn't find the solution as satisfactory as some others.

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver: I first read and loved this book in high school, and aside from some elements that have aged poorly, the book still has the heart that made me love it that first time. The characters feel like real, three-dimensional people who are muddling through life the best that they can.

Go to Sleep (I Miss You): Cartoons from the Fog of New Parenthood by Lucy Knisley: This was a compilation of sketches the author had previously posted to Instagram showing snapshots of her life as a new parent. A few got a chuckle from me, but mostly I just responded with, "Yep. And?" Maybe if there had been more narrative or commentary around the drawings, I would have had more of a response to them.

The Lady's Guide to Celestial Mechanics by Olivia Waite: This was a lovely historical sapphic romance with a large dose of feminists kicking butt. Although everything worked out a little too easily and conveniently in my opinion, there was something nice about two queer women forming a relationship without too many obstacles and then joining forces to smash the patriarchy.

Check, Please! Book 1: #Hockey by Ngozi Ukazu: This was a cute graphic novel. The storytelling makes good use of the comic format, and the characters each have their own unique personalities while all seeming like college kids. The romance, unfortunately, worked less well for me here, but it wasn't as central to the plot as I expected.

Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones by Ngozi Ukazu: I really enjoyed this, even more than the first volume. I liked the romance better, and just given that we get to see the main character across four years of college, when it's his turn to go through the senior year and graduation rituals, they pack an emotional punch. I recommend reading through both volumes of this series.

The Lazy Genius Way: Embrace What Matters, Ditch What Doesn't, and Get Stuff Done by Kendra Adachi: I'm glad this book has been helpful for so many people. I did not find it personally that revolutionary. The main benefit, I guess, was affirming most of what I'm already doing. But I had to sit through a lot of unrelatable examples to get there.

Why Fish Don't Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller: I didn't find this book as life-changing as many people seem to have, but it was interesting and provided some nice frameworks for thinking about life and purpose.

Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy: This was a very quick read, but it was good. Through a fictionalized story of her freshman year of high school, Fahmy depicts the identity exploration that happens at that age. I'm not entirely sure what this graphic novel adds to the other works of teenage identity exploration out there, but it's engaging and relatable and overall I enjoyed it.

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome: This classic children's book was hard to get into at first, but the plot picked up in the second half. I can understand how this has been beloved by children of generations past, but given some of the outdated ideas and language in this book, I'd pass on sharing it with kids today.

Dragons Never Die by Cara J. Stevens: This continues to be a series my 7-year-old enjoys. From my perspective it's not particularly engaging or original, but it's also coherent and entertaining enough that I didn't mind reading it with them every night. We plan to continue the series.

The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee: This was enjoyable, if uneven. I liked it as much as the first one but for different reasons. I thought the pacing was off a bit in this one, and I have a lot of unanswered plot questions, but that was more than well balanced by all the great messages Lee managed to work into the plot.

Murder Is Easy by Agatha Christie: This is technically a Superintendent Battle book, but only barely — he makes a brief appearance at the end. This isn't a standout by any means, but it was entertaining enough and the mystery hung together in a satisfying way, which is what I go to Christie for!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Shalom and the Community of Creation, Unicorns and Germs, and To the End of June
Five years ago I was reading: Sophie's Choice and The Stand
Ten years ago I was reading: The Pox Party

Monday, December 12, 2022

Top Ten Books on My Winter TBR


I'm linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for another Top Ten Tuesday.

It's that time again! I read all the books on my fall TBR, and here are ten of the books I plan to read this winter.
1. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
This book hasn't stopped being recommended since it came out, and the insistence to prioritize this grew even louder during Native American Heritage Month last month, so I'm finally deciding to make sure I read this during the next few months.
2. Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
It seems that not having read the Locked Tomb series makes me the odd one out in the queer book clubs I've recently joined, and at least one of the groups is planning to read the next book in the series when it comes out, so I figure it's time for me to get caught up!
3. How to Be a Normal Person by T.J. Klune
Hearing a panel discussion Klune participated in recently made me interested in picking up more of his books (I've only read The House in the Cerulean Sea), and this one was already on my list for having ace representation and for being set in Oregon, so this is the one I'm going to read next!
4. In the Wild Light by Jeff Zentner
I don't know anything about this, but the online book club I've been part of for a decade has picked it for our next discussion, so I'm looking forward to reading and discussing it.
5. The No-Show by Beth O'Leary
It's been a while since I read one of O'Leary's books, and this is her new one that came out this year. I haven't heard much about it one way or another, but I'm interested to pick it up and see how it stacks up against some of her earlier works that I really enjoyed.
6. The Nobleman's Guide to Scandal and Shipwrecks by Mackenzi Lee
I've now listened to and enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy, so I might as well finish up the series!
7. Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver
I recently reread The Bean Trees for the first time in 20 years, and I never read this sequel to it, so now seems like a good time to pick it up.
8. The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Acevedo is one of those authors I can't believe I still haven't read, and this is the book of hers I'm most interested to pick up.
9. Radio Silence by Alice Oseman
I'm continuing my read through the Osemanverse, and in the loose chronology into which all her books fit, this one is next. I've also wanted to read it for a while regardless, even before I read the Heartstopper books and learned that all her books are based in the same universe.
10. Towards Zero by Agatha Christie
I'm continuing to make my way through Christie's complete works. I'm on the fourth Superintendent Battle book now, and this one is the fifth and final of the Superintendent Battle books.

What do you plan to read this winter?

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Shalom and the Community of Creation, Unicorns and Germs, and Apples Never Fall
Five years ago I was reading: Sophie's Choice and The Stand
Ten years ago I was reading: The Pox Party

Monday, December 5, 2022

Ten More Classics I Haven't Read


I'm linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for another Top Ten Tuesday.

This week is a freebie! I decided to share books considered "classics" (at least by some people — I understand the category is debatable) that I have yet to read. The last time I covered this topic was almost seven years ago, and I've since read all ten of those books. Here are ten more!
1. Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
2. Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
3. The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
4. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
5. The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
6. Inferno by Dante Alighieri
7. The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells
8. Passing by Nella Larsen
9. Swann's Way by Marcel Proust
10. The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

Which of these should I prioritize reading? Which "classics" have you never read?

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Shalom and the Community of Creation, The Pod and the Bog, and Apples Never Fall
Five years ago I was reading: The New Jim Crow and Stranger in a Strange Land
Ten years ago I was reading: The Pox Party

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Best of the Bunch (November 2022)

Best of the Bunch header

Today I'm sharing the best book I read in November.

It was a good reading month! Of the 14 books I read this month, I had three 5-star reads.

Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide by Patrice Banks

The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker

Check, Please! Book 2: Sticks & Scones by Ngozi Ukazu

I feel pretty confident this month in which one I want to recommend as my Best of the Bunch!

The Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide is a super-accessible guide to car ownership (for everyone, not just women). It's valuable both as a book to read cover-to-cover and as a reference guide to keep in your car. Banks earned my confidence early on when she said that she didn't recommend most people do their own oil changes; this isn't a book on how to avoid mechanics, but how to incorporate regular visits to one into your general care of your car. She walks through every part of the car and provides a table of what problems you're likely to see when in the life of the car and what the typical cost is for fixing it. There's guidance on how to change a tire, of course, but also how to know when it's time to trade in your vehicle for a new one. I would definitely recommend this for everyone who drives and/or owns a car. (It's geared toward readers in the United States, but much of the advice is universal.)

What is the best book you read this month? Let me know in comments, or write your own post and link up below!

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Shalom and the Community of Creation, The Pod and the Bog, and Apples Never Fall
Five years ago I was reading: The New Jim Crow and Stranger in a Strange Land
Ten years ago I was reading: The Pox Party

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Monday, November 28, 2022

Ten Cozy Reads from the Past Four Years


I'm linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl for another Top Ten Tuesday.

This week's theme is cozy reads. I did this topic four years ago, so I decided to see what I've read in the past four years that could fit this category. I'm not sure exactly how to define "cozy," but these would all be great choices when you just want to curl up with a blanket, a cup of tea, and a book that will leave you a little happier or a little calmer by the end.
1. 84, Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
This is a compilation of two decades of correspondence between Hanff and a bookshop in London. The sense of drama she infuses her book orders with — and her over-the-top reactions to the copies she receives — make this an entertaining read throughout. It's also heartwarming to see how she spent her hard-earned money on gifting the bookstore employees with food they couldn't get during wartime rationing.
2. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
Although this book starts out depressing, as the main character is bullied by her family, it quickly turns satisfying and even hilarious after a shocking diagnosis leads Valancy to scandalize everyone whose opinion she previously valued by doing exactly what she wants with whomever she wants. The book then settles into a more peaceful tone, with beautiful descriptions of nature, as Valancy makes a gentle life for herself and appreciates everything the world has to offer.
3. Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
The two schoolboys at the center of this adorable graphic novel series are just the sweetest cinnamon rolls you could imagine. If you want a heartwarming depiction of young love and friendship, look no further than these books.
4. The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
This is a story of found family among outcasts, a group of children who have been shunned by society at large for their magical abilities but who are all just doing the best they can. It's also the story of a by-the-book government worker finding love and questioning the system in which he works. And it all takes place on a colorful island in a beautiful, sunny location, perfect for escaping from the winter blahs.
5. Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
As the title suggests, this book is structured around the main character, at 85 years old, taking a walk around her beloved New York City and reflecting on her life. Based on the real-life Margaret Fishback, Lillian Boxfish is a curious, confident, open-hearted woman with a generally delightful outlook on the world. Although she deals with challenges in her life, I think you'll finish this book with a sense of peace and hopefulness.
6. The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
This is my favorite of the Chronicles of Narnia, and it apparently took Lewis the longest to write, which isn't surprising given the care that seems to have been put into this story. It's charming and whimsical and at times quite poetic, and there's a satisfying sense of justice in the way things shake out for the characters. If you've read The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, it's especially fun to see Lewis' imaginings for the origin of things like the wardrobe and the lamppost.
7. The Mysterious Howling by Maryrose Wood
This whole series, of which this is the first book, is both ridiculous and delightful. A proper English governess must care for three children who were raised by wolves, which turns out to be less difficult than you might think, but soon mysterious happenings seem to follow them everywhere and they must figure out what's happening. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy the wonderful absurdity of this story.
8. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
Chambers is the queen of "hopepunk," science fiction that imagines a better, more inclusive world. This slim book, the first in a duology, is here to encourage you to listen to your heart and body, to seek out something new — even if you feel like you should be grateful for what you already have — or to just sit and enjoy a cup of tea and let yourself rest.
9. The Shell Seekers by Rosemunde Pilcher
There are, admittedly, some hard things that happen in the course of this book, but it nonetheless left me feeling peaceful and refreshed. There are no villains here; every character is trying their best, and sometimes their values or priorities conflict with one another, but no one is truly malicious. The detailed descriptions of scenery and people's lives mean this isn't one to read in quick snatches but rather to pick up when you have time to get cozy and really invest in the world of the book, and it will pay off.
10. The Switch by Beth O'Leary
I've described this as "a Hallmark Christmas movie if it were in book form and took place in the spring." A grandmother and granddaughter switch places for two months — the grandmother moving to London, the granddaughter to the countryside — to try to reset their lives after some major life events. It's silly, sweet, and just plain fun.

What cozy books have you read in recent years?

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Shalom and the Community of Creation, The Pod and the Bog, and Apples Never Fall
Five years ago I was reading: The New Jim Crow and Stranger in a Strange Land
Ten years ago I was reading: The Pox Party

Monday, November 14, 2022

What I've Been Reading Lately (Quick Lit)

Today I'm linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy's Quick Lit to bring you some short and sweet reviews of what I've read in the past month. For longer reviews, you can always find me on Goodreads.

As Good As Dead by Holly Jackson: This book was very different than the first two of the trilogy in many ways, but I ended up enjoying it nearly as much. (Just allow for some suspension of disbelief, especially in the American version.)

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski and Amelia Nagoski: The Nagoski sisters balance individual, communal, and societal factors in exploring how stress affects us (particularly women) and what we can do about it. It includes solid research, practical suggestions, and helpful example stories.

The Heartstopper Yearbook by Alice Oseman: This was a cute addition to the world of Heartstopper, basically a tour through Oseman's years of creating the universe and the iterations of art that happened along the way. I would have liked a little more from it, but it was a fun snapshot of the different characters and how they came to be.

The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab: I liked but didn't love this. The premise is interesting, the writing is evocative, but I never bought the central love story, so it was hard to get fully invested in the emotional drama.

Greywaren by Maggie Stiefvater: The best elements of the series were present in this conclusion to the Dreamer trilogy, even if the world-building got a little too fuzzy around the edges for me. The ending tied everything up in a lovely way.

The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett: I liked this slightly better than the previous book — still a heavy dose of magical realism, but a tiny bit more deduction and decision-making on the children's part here. I liked the interpersonal dynamics between the characters the best.

Feeding Littles and Beyond: 100 Baby-Led-Weaning-Friendly Recipes the Whole Family Will Love by Ali Maffucci, Megan McNamee, and Judy Delaware: I think the author's general advice about feeding kids was helpful, but unfortunately none of the recipes come close to working for my family's needs. The authors assume, possibly correctly, that most kids like the same specific foods: pizza, burgers, chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, etc. Thus, many of the recipes are designed to build on those taste palates while incorporating more vegetables or introducing some other variety. So if that's your kids, you may find this more helpful than I did.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson: This was good, but I expected more from it after how often I'd heard it recommended. It was a bit creepy, but I was expecting more of a twist that never came.

The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie: If you account for the fact that this was 1920s Christie and therefore incredibly racist, this was a nice change of pace from some of her detective-heavy books, still full of suspense and plot twists.

Creepers Crashed My Party by Cara J. Stevens: I had a hard time remembering the characters' motivations for the various plans and secrets happening, but my 7-year-old liked it and has wanted to continue with the series for now.

Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide by Patrice Banks: This is a super-accessible guide to car ownership (for everyone, not just women). It's valuable both as a book to read cover-to-cover and as a reference guide to keep in your car.

The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya Parker: This was an excellent guide to every aspect of designing a gathering, from determining its purpose to ending the actual event well. I feel like I now have a valuable framework to guide my own reflection and planning before I host my next gathering.

Looking back:
One year ago I was reading: Wholehearted Faith and An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States
Five years ago I was reading: To Sir, With Love and The World According to Garp
Ten years ago I was reading: A Year of Biblical Womanhood