American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins – a Book Review

Posted on June 28, 2021 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

This book is the July reading selection for Read Between the Wines, my book club that has been going strong for more than a decade and which is, consequently, the only reason I still have friends as an adult. Love you guys! It also holds a place on my Reading Challenge as “a book everyone is talking about” at number 49. I will get into this a bit more later in the review. Honestly, this review may devolve into a succinct conversation mainly about the controversy, because there’s not really a good way around it.

Synopsis

After a family tragedy of incomparable proportions Lydia Quixano Perez and her son Luca find themselves fleeing their home in Acapulco for the safe haven of the United States. They join the ranks of countless other migrants who make the journey from various Central American countries fleeing violence and terror at the hands of the cartels. Lydia is personally targeted by the leader of one of the most vicious cartels in Mexico, Los Jardineros, which is a fictional cartel created by the author. His reach spans far and wide, and he will stop at nothing to find her. Lydia and Luca are thrust instantly from their comfortable middle-class existence into desperation and horror, leaving behind everything they’ve ever known for a chance at survival.

Review

This book is an absolute page turner, at least in the first 3/4 of the novel. It’s compelling and impressively crafted. The characters are strong and multi-layered and I felt incredibly invested in their journey. I felt the pacing lagged a bit near the end, especially when our group of migrants was slogging along in the final leg of their journey. However, perhaps this is a bit fitting. There’s really not a great way to do this. The journey of a migrant across an unforgiving desert is long, arduous and harrowing. It’s a kind of mental, emotional, and physical torture most of us couldn’t even imagine. Cummins couldn’t exactly skip over that with a flippant time jump. It would have lessened the power of the story.

So I’m going to get right to the elephant in the room, because I’m severely late to the American Dirt party, and a lot of talk has already been done. This book is a big deal. It has sparked a more than year-old controversy. For that reason, I took in a plethora of reviews, articles and youtube discussion videos about the controversy to provide myself a little context so I could really give a truly informed discourse into my own thoughts. I realize, as a middle class white woman from the Midwest, I have literally zero life experience that gives me any right to even enter this conversation. But as a reader and a reviewer, I owe it to my readers to give my own perspective, so I’ll do my best. I also feel like there’s a lot of emotion wrapped up in this discussion, and sometimes passion tends to drown out reason.

In case you’ve been under a rock, the issue surrounding this book revolves around the author also being a white woman who has never and could never experience the events she presents in her book. American Dirt has garnered a host of critics, the harshest of which is the woman whose original review sparked the initial controversy, Myriam Gurba. In her review she titled “Pendeja, You Ain’t Steinbeck: My Bronca with Fake-Ass Social Justice Literature,” she rails against what she sees as a white Trumpian agenda to present all Mexicans in a sterotypical lens. In amongst other vitriolic statements she asserts:

“Unlike the narcos she vilifies, Cummins exudes neither grace nor flair. Instead, she bumbles with Trumpian tackiness, and a careful look at chronology reveals how she operates: opportunistically, selfishly, and parasitically. Cummins identified the gringo appetite for Mexican pain and found a way to exploit it. With her ambition in place, she shoved the “faceless” out of her way, ran for the microphone and ripped it out of our hands, deciding that her incompetent voice merited amplification.”

– Myriam Gurba

Yikes…

Look… as I said, as white woman, I am absolutely not in the shoes of a Latinx person who has sat back for years and watched their peers struggle to get their own works about the Latinx and/or migrant experience published. I can completely understand why it’s difficult to see a white savior sweep in with a story she can’t own and make it to the bestseller list overnight thanks to Oprah and her powerful marketing team. I can not and I will not tell anyone they don’t have a right to feel bitter over that. But I do ask that we stop and consider whether this is a conscious grievance on the part of the author or if it points to a larger issue within the publishing world?

That being said, I feel this controversy took on a much too aggressive and vehement tone from the get-go, and the severity of the criticism seems completely unwarranted. What Gurba sees as harmful stereotyping comes across to me as the opposite. Sure, you have the violent gang members of the Los Jardineros, but we would be kidding ourselves to pretend that the cartels don’t actually exist. Do a quick google search and you’ll run across numerous stories such as this one about Acapulco’s place as one of the murder capitals of the world thanks to violence perpetuated by the cartels. Since when are we no longer allowed to portray something authentic simply because it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable? Migrants really do make harrowing journeys to escape the violence of gangs. The important factor is that these villainous characters are juxtaposed with Lydia and her family and many other characters along the way. Lydia is a college educated middle class business owner. Her husband is a well-known journalist in Acapulco. They live a nice, cushy life of privilege until Lydia is forced to abandon that life in order to save her son. Through the entirety of the novel, I saw a whole host of characters presented who painted a picture of Mexico as a country rich with diversity of culture, language, expertise, and character.

Frankly, even as a white woman, I had no trouble putting myself in Lydia’s shoes. I certainly didn’t see myself as above her. I thought about the emotions that would come with having to drag my children on a journey no person should ever have to be forced to make, much less a child who should be able to take time to grieve. I saw this story as a human story. It was a story about a mother and her child, about strength and perseverance. Also, there was no presence of the white savior in the novel. As a matter of fact, the only white person encountered in the book was extremely reluctant to help Lydia and Luca until her Mexican husband convinced her it was their duty as Christians to aid their fellow humans. Was Cummins necessarily the person who should tell this story? No. But did she do it just to capitalize on the trauma of her fellow humans? I don’t believe so.

Did she make some mistakes along the way? Yes. I can see that now after reading reviews. Things I didn’t notice while reading the book, like the sloppy way she handles the use of Spanish dialogue. This book was very obviously written for the white gaze. It’s meant to reach across the aisle to well-meaning white North Americans already sympathetic to the migrant cause but possibly not knowing much about Mexican culture. It was written for me, basically. I own that. I understand that. I make no excuses for that or for my response to it, because it wouldn’t do any good anyway. I absolutely understand that I didn’t pick up on the incongruities in this book because of my ignorance that comes from lack of experience.

What I can say is this…

There are enough real villains. There are enough angry red-blotched faces wearing red hats with their fists held in the air and AR-15’s slung across their shoulders. They clutch those guns, triggers at the ready while they chant their hateful gesticulations inspired by their favorite contrived messiah. Frankly, these people are also villains in the book. I’m not going to view this portrayal as a stereotype of a US citizen, but I’m not going to deny that they exist. And I won’t hate the book simply because they are mentioned. The US territory in this book was shown as being no more safe than the Mexican soil. It was just different armed thugs with guns, vigilantes who didn’t care that the faceless masses also had names.

Why would we turn away from the real threat and fight amongst ourselves? Maybe Cummins didn’t get everything right, but let’s have a real conversation about it. Don’t vilify her for well-meaning ignorance, but applaud her effort and provide something constructive. If we open up a respectful dialogue we can make sure that the next time around we do it better. We can ensure that we heal the fractures in the publishing industry that silence authentic voices and lend credence to the privileged ones. If this is one of the few books, or maybe the first book, you’ve ever read about the Latinx experience, go pick up one from Luis Alberto Urrea, Oscar Martinez or another who could present you with an authentic own voices story.

The result of the manufactured vitriol that came from a good place but fell short is that it spiraled out of control. Now the goodreads page for this book is peppered with reviews from people who didn’t read the book but piled on the hate. Is that constructive? Absolutely not. Frankly, getting angry because Cummins made money off this book is ridiculous. Maybe the story wasn’t hers to tell, but she told it anyway and she spent years researching and writing. She put in the work and it sold well, so good for her. I judge by the book and not by the author. And maybe it stings a little, but she really did have a good impact on advocacy.

I can tell you right now that there is some middle-aged white lady somewhere in the United States who has sat back and listened to loud voices railing against “the illegals” and “the rapists and murderers” coming from the Southern border. And she hadn’t really made up her mind yet, but what they all said gave her pause. She lived a little bit in fear because she didn’t know any better. Maybe she even voted for Donald Trump both times because he seemed to make good points when translated by the most unsophisticated and fear-driven corners of her mind. But then someone in her once-a-month suburban book club chose this book because Oprah said it was amazing and it opened her eyes to a perspective she hadn’t yet considered. And maybe now she finds herself feeling a little bit more empathy for her fellow human beings. I truly ask you, is that such a bad thing? That even one person who wasn’t previously an ally became an ally?

Anyway, this book review has become a bit more of a rant, but I do feel strongly about the fact that literature has a huge impact, but we control the narrative. If we go completely negative and drive the narrative to a place that’s no longer constructive, we will never improve things for other writers. Yes, there are negatives to this book, but I really feel like the potential positives outweigh the negatives. If anything, it caused us to talk about this. It has brought attention to the authors we SHOULD be reading who do lend authentic voices to sensitive subjects. And really, go out and read them. For some great ideas, you can visit this post by Christy Thomas through the Oakland Public library with 15 titles by Mexican, Mexican-American and Chicanx authors you should read.

Overall, though I know I didn’t really focus enough on the book as a whole, I do hope you at least give this a chance. I also realize I’m a full year and a half too late, but I’m usually behind thanks to my hectic life. American Dirt is a very exciting page-turner of a thriller, but it does have a great and important story to tell. I give it 4 stars.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Published January 21, 2020 by Flat Iron books. Hardcover. 459 pages.

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Reading Challenge Update – June 25, 2021 #52books52weeks

Posted on June 25, 2021 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

I figured it was about time to check in again with my reading challenge progress since June is coming to a close and half of 2021 is already behind us. OMG!! As you can see, I’ve once again shuffled some categories around and I’ve started doubling up since I’m a full 6 books ahead of schedule, so I figure I’m on track to tick off all the boxes with books to spare.

1. A Productivity Book – Stop Living on Autopilot by Antonio Neves – completed
2. Book Becoming Movie in 2021 – The Reincarnationist Papers by D. Eric Maikranz – completed
3. Goodreads Winner in 2020 – The Midnight Library – by Matt Haig – completed
4. Biography
5. About a Pressing Social Issue – The Garden of Burning Sand by Corban Addison – completed
6. A Book About Books – The Bookshop of Yesterdays by Amy Meyerson – completed
7. Set in the 1920s
8. An Author Who Uses Initials – The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – completed
9. Poetry
10. A 2020 Bestseller – Anxious People by Fredrik Backman – completed
11. Recommended by a Colleague
12. With a Number in the Title – Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut – completed
13. Bottom of Your To-Read List
14. Reread a Favorite Book
15. Own Voices Story – March by John Lewis – completed
16. Published in the 1800s
17. Local Author – Drifting by Steven Cross – currently reading
18. Longer Than 400 Pages – The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow – completed
19. A Book Turned Into a TV Series
20. A Book That Makes You Think
21. A WWII Story – The Willow Wren by Philipp Schott – completed
22. A Highly Anticipated Book – Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir- completed
23. Eye-Catching Cover – House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland – completed.
24. A Summer Read – The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary – completed
25. Coming of Age Story – Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi – completed
26. Bestselling Memoir – In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado– completed
27. Book Club Favorite – Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix – completed
28. A Book About Friendship – The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery – completed
29. An Audiobook – Walking With Ghosts: A Memoir by Gabriel Byrne – completed
30. Set in Australia
31. By a Nobel Prize winner
32. About an Immigrant – Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende – completed, In the Garden of Spite: A Novel of the Black Widow of La Porte by Camilla Bruce – currently reading
33. Time Travel Novel – Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi– completed
34. An Author You Love 35. Childhood Favorite
36. Classic Read in High School
37. Borrowed from the Library –Faye, Faraway by Helen Fisher – completed, Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson – completed
38. Nonfiction New York Times Bestseller
39. From an Indie Publisher
40. Fantasy – The Absolute Book by Elizabeth Knox – completed
41. A Sequel
42. Recommended by a Librarian
43. Psychological Thriller
44. Oprah Winfrey Book Club Pick – American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins – currently reading
45. A Book About Technology – The Future is Yours by Dan Frey – completed
46. Title with Three Words – Home Before Dark by Riley Sager– completed
47. Debut Novel of Famous Author – The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie – completed
48. Genre You Don’t Usually Read – Code of the Hills: An Ozarks Mystery by Nancy Allen – completed
49. A Book Everyone Is Talking About
50. You Own But Haven’t Read
51. Borrowed from a Friend – The Hypnotist’s Love Story by Liane Moriarty– completed
52. A 2021 New Release – The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner – completed

Completed 30 / 52 . In progress: 3 – 6 books ahead of schedule.

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The Reincarnationist Papers by D. Eric Maikranz – A Book Review

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

The Reincarnationist Papers is quite the surprising and worthwhile read from Indiana-based author, D. Eric Maikranz. From his bio on goodreads, it seems Maikranz has lived more than a typical lifetime of experiences as well, and that’s probably what contributed to the unique plot of this novel.

Synopsis

This novel is told in the form of three notebooks discovered by an omniscient researcher who has discovered them and occasionally adds his own footnotes to provide historical context. Evan Michaels has known for several years he’s different from anyone else. He remembers lives that aren’t his and can speak and read a language he’s never learned. His lonely and confused existence leads him to a life of risk as a paid arsonist. One night when a job goes awry, Evan finds himself at the door of a church against the barrel of a gun. On the other side of the gun is a woman who will change Evan’s life forever, a woman who knows more about Evan and his kind than he does, because she is one of his kind. She will bring him across the globe to a secret society of people he never knew he needed so that he can truly start his life of immortality.

Review

First of all, this is a very unique premise. I was impressed with both the character development and the writing. The prose is quite enjoyable, effortless and sophisticated without verging into pretentious. There’s a whole host of characters who are of a unique variety rarely put on the page. How does an author craft a character of many faces and names, a person of one body who contains many lifetimes of wisdom and experience? It takes a certain amount of skill to think through all the different variables, the different aspects of each personality that would alter the direction these characters pursue. Some of the people Evan meets take a much more Bacchanalian approach to life. Well, when we die we will come back anyway, so why not have a little fun? Honestly, this is totally accurate. Many people already live their lives this way knowing that nothing comes after this one. They still don’t care. If they knew they’d live forever, look out, because it’d be drunken orgy 24/7. Some characters in the novel still held onto their reverence for the more pensive aspects of life, a philosophical pursuit of some kind of meaning, a desire to simply be left to their own contemplative existence.

From the reviews I perused from other readers, I noticed that many people didn’t appreciate the shift in tone. It is true that the 1st notebook contains a lot more action and adventure and the pacing is much more rapid. In the second notebook, we follow Evan to Zurich where he begins his ascension to joining the ranks of his fellow reincarnationists. There is a lot of talking, a lot of introspection, and plenty of flashbacks to historical moments in the past lives of our various characters. The third notebook throws some exciting developments at us, and we’re thrust back into the world of risk and intrigue. Essentially, the first part could be considered a thriller, the second general/historical fiction, and the third part returns to being a thriller. For the average reader, this can be a bit jarring. For my part, this didn’t bother me. I rather liked the more philosophical overtones. I enjoy all manner of fiction and don’t shy away from more cerebral reads in favor of a little action. Essentially, I would say reader beware of your own expectations before entering into this one, because this book is very fluid in tone and timbre.

As I mentioned before, the characters are well crafted. That doesn’t mean I liked them all. By the end, I despised Poppy, which was disappointing because I started off wanting to like her. All of the characters were extremely layered. In an odd way, I see this book as a coming of age story. In a sense, Evan is still very young for an immortal. He’s reached his adolescent stage in which he’s just now coming to terms with what and who he is. He’s collecting the stories of his elders and translating that all into usable advice. And he’s making a shit ton of mistakes along the way, as all annoying teenagers do. The plot to this is perfect for a series, which is what I hope Maikranz is planning. I would love to see each subsequent life for Evan in its own novel form, as I’d love to see his transcendence from lonely, confused baby immortal to wise elder. And I think Maikranz has the skills to pull this off in a way that does justice to all the players involved. Honestly, the possibilities are endless! Overall, I give this 4 stars. The movie looks dumb, and I’m not even sure I want to watch it. From the trailer alone I can tell it’s not even close to the original plot with the exception of the reincarnation and the secret society tie-in. I hope Maikranz makes something off of it, because it doesn’t look like they used his story at all, and now he probably can’t sell it to someone who will make a movie based on what he actually wrote. BAH!

That being said, Maikranz can thank the movie’s existence on the fact that I even read his book. I chose it from a list of Books Becoming Movies in 2021 because I needed a book becoming a movie for my reading challenge. Oh, and I totally forgot to mention, I read the audio on this and it’s read by the brilliant golden-voiced Bronson Pinchot. You may remember him from his 80’s acting career in the physical buddy comedy, Perfect Strangers. These days you see him less on screen but can hear his voice on over 100 audiobook titles. I highly recommend this one, as he does an incredible job.

“DON’T BE RIDICULOUS!” – Bronson Pinchot as Balki Bartokomous in Perfect Strangers. Bronson reads the audiobook version of The Reincarnationist Papers

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Published May 4, 2021 by Blackstone Publishing. ISBN 1094154636. Runtime 13 hrs, 17mins. Read by Bronson Pinchot.

This post contains affiliate links. Purchases made using links from my site will result in me receiving a small commission at no cost to you.

Posted in Alternate History, General fiction, Historical Fiction, thriller, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

TBR Thursday – Episode 4: June 24, 2021

Posted on June 24, 2021 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

Last week I took a break from this task since I was on vacation. I did add a couple over the past couple of weeks for a total of 498 books at the beginning. So I’ve set my number generator to 498 and let’s get to it!

101

My Steve by Terri Irwin

Synopsis excerpt from goodreads: “Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter, Aussie larrikin, the man who brought wildlife to the world-this is how we saw him. In My Steve, Terri Irwin portrays her husband as he really was-a devoted family man, a fervently dedicated environmentalist, a modest bloke who spoke to millions on behalf of those who could not speak for themselves.”

Verdict: Even looking at this book makes me sad. I positively adored Steve Irwin when I was younger. He’s partially responsible for my love of animals and my interest in conservation and environmental protection. I definitely do want to read this memoir by Terri eventually, so I’m keeping it.

KEEP

55

Debating Science: Deliberation, Values, and the Common Good, edited by Dane Scott and Blake Francis

Synopsis excerpt from goodreads: “In this work, accomplished scholars and noted experts focus on ethical deliberation and the larger moral context surrounding the controversies over scientific research and technological innovations. The insightful and accessible original works emphasize deliberation rather than adversarial debate—that is, they encourage the development of mental habits that enable stakeholders to work comprehensively and systematically through challenging issues with others.”

Verdict: I added this one during a time when I was at a peak at my interest in more technical scientific resources, and frankly I’m just not really in that place anymore. This one seems a little bit more hard-core than I’m prepared for so I’m going to remove it.

REMOVE

452

Searchers in Winter: A Novel of Napoleon’s Empire by Owen Pataki

Synopsis excerpt from goodreads: “The year is 1806, and a new French Empire is rising from the shadow of the Reign of Terror. The citizens who shouted “Death to Kings” now chant “Vive l’Empereur!” for Napoleon, who is seeking to consolidate his power. While the peace and prosperity he promised is decadently enjoyed in Paris, fear spreads across Europe, and a new coalition has united against him… Inspired by the mysterious origins of the famed Rothschild’s fortune, the bloody battles of the Napoleonic wars, the notorious gangs of nineteenth century Naples, and the real-life mistress who charmed Napoleon into granting Poland a nation-state, Searchers in Winter sets a cast of unforgettable characters—against epic historical events—into thrilling motion from the opening pages.”

Verdict: Hmm… this book was only published in May. It has an incredibly interesting premise, and I do love historical fiction. I have also read very little about this time period. It’s getting really good reviews so far, so I think I’ll leave this one for now and check back in with it later.

KEEP

71

Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman

Synopsis from goodreads: “It’s been three years since the devastating accident… three years since Mia walked out of Adam’s life forever. Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard’s rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia’s home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future – and each other. Told from Adam’s point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.”

Verdict: I did read the first book in this series. I remember it being incredibly sad but not a whole lot about it since it’s been several years since I read it. I think I’ll keep this to remind myself to pick up the sequel one day.

KEEP

379

The Corset by Laura Purcell

Synopsis from goodreads: “The new Victorian chiller from the author of Radio 2 Book Club pick, The Silent Companions. Is prisoner Ruth Butterham mad or a murderer? Victim or villain?
Dorothea and Ruth. Prison visitor and prisoner. Powerful and powerless. Dorothea Truelove is young, wealthy and beautiful. Ruth Butterham is young, poor and awaiting trial for murder.
When Dorothea’s charitable work leads her to Oakgate Prison, she is delighted with the chance to explore her fascination with phrenology and test her hypothesis that the shape of a person’s skull can cast a light on their darkest crimes. But when she meets teenage seamstress Ruth, she is faced with another theory: that it is possible to kill with a needle and thread. For Ruth attributes her crimes to a supernatural power inherent in her stitches.

The story Ruth has to tell of her deadly creations – of bitterness and betrayal, of death and dresses – will shake Dorothea’s belief in rationality and the power of redemption.

Can Ruth be trusted? Is she mad, or a murderer?”

Verdict: First of all, this author’s work was recommended to me by a friend, and all of her books have really great reviews. Also, it’s victorian and dark, and that’s my jam. Definitely keep.

KEEP

And there you have it! That’s all for this week. I only removed one, so that brings me to 497. See you next week when we do it all over again.

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6 Degrees of Separation

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

I stumbled upon this participation post while visiting Jana @ Reviews From the Stacks. It’s hosted by Kate @ Books Are My Favourite and Best. In it, each blogger begins with the same book and then moves progressively down the line choosing a book that’s related to the prior one. Start at the same place as other readers and see where our imaginations and thought processes take us. What a fascinating and wonderful concept!

#1 – The Bass Rock by Evie Wyld

Have I read this book? No

This month, we begin with the book, The Bass Rock, by Evie Wyld. I have not read this book, but it looks pretty incredible. Here’s the synopsis from goodreads:

Surging out of the sea, the Bass Rock has for centuries watched over the lives that pass under its shadow on the Scottish mainland. And across the centuries the fates of three women are linked: to this place, to each other.

In the early 1700s, Sarah, accused of being a witch, flees for her life.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, Ruth navigates a new house, a new husband and the strange waters of the local community.

Six decades later, the house stands empty. Viv, mourning the death of her father, catalogues Ruth’s belongings and discovers her place in the past – and perhaps a way forward.

Each woman’s choices are circumscribed, in ways big and small, by the men in their lives. But in sisterhood there is the hope of survival and new life. Intricately crafted and compulsively readable, The Bass Rock burns bright with anger and love.

Wow, what an exciting and wonderful premise! In this one, I can think of one book that this immediately makes me think of, as there are multiple ties.

Connection themes: Witches, sisterhood, historical fiction featuring women’s issues.

#2 – The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

Have I read this book? YES! Read my review here.

This is a fabulous book that blends historical fiction and fantasy into something superb and timely. I loved everything about it from the setting to the characters to the amazing writing. Here’s a synopsis from goodreads:

In 1893, there’s no such thing as witches. There used to be, in the wild, dark days before the burnings began, but now witching is nothing but tidy charms and nursery rhymes. If the modern woman wants any measure of power, she must find it at the ballot box.

But when the Eastwood sisters–James Juniper, Agnes Amaranth, and Beatrice Belladonna–join the suffragists of New Salem, they begin to pursue the forgotten words and ways that might turn the women’s movement into the witch’s movement. Stalked by shadows and sickness, hunted by forces who will not suffer a witch to vote-and perhaps not even to live-the sisters will need to delve into the oldest magics, draw new alliances, and heal the bond between them if they want to survive.

There’s no such thing as witches. But there will be.

Connection themes with #3 – Three sisters.

#3 – Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty

Have I read this book? YES! Unfortunately, pre-blog…

Liane Moriarty always delivers something wildly entertaining. I didn’t like this one as much as her other work, but it was still good. This book has a pretty loose connection to Harrow’s historical fiction novel, as it’s an entirely different genre, but it sill follows three sisters trying to navigate the difficulties of life while clinging tight to their sometimes rocky relationships with one another. Both are extremely good reads. Here’s the synopsis:

Lyn, Cat, and Gemma Kettle, beautiful thirty-three-year-old triplets, seem to attract attention everywhere they go. Whenever they’re together, laughter, drama, and mayhem seem to follow. But apart, each is very much her own woman, dealing with her own share of ups and downs. Lyn has organized her life into one big checklist, juggling the many balls of work, marriage, and motherhood with expert precision, but is she as together as her datebook would have her seem? Cat has just learned a startling secret about her marriage — can she bring another life into her very precarious world? And can free-spirited Gemma, who bolts every time a relationship hits the six-month mark, ever hope to find lasting love? In this wise, witty, hilarious new novel, we follow the Kettle sisters through their thirty-third-year, as they struggle to survive their divorced parents’ dating each other, their technologically savvy grandmother, a cheating husband, champagne hangovers, and the fabulous, frustrating .

Connection theme with #4 – Australian setting.

#4 – In a Sunburned Country by Bill Bryson

Have I read this book? YES! Also pre-blog.

Bill Bryson is absolutely hilarious while still being utterly informative. Honestly, Australia is the only thing these two have in common, as this one is non fiction travel literature and there’s a lot more death, though many of them are quite humorous when you really think about it. Morbid, I know. Here’s a synopsis:

Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travel literature threatens to break out. His previous excursion along the Appalachian Trail resulted in the sublime national bestseller A Walk in the Woods. In A Sunburned Country is his report on what he found in an entirely different place: Australia, the country that doubles as a continent, and a place with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet. The result is a deliciously funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance by a writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiousity.

Despite the fact that Australia harbors more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else, including sharks, crocodiles, snakes, even riptides and deserts, Bill Bryson adores the place, and he takes his readers on a rollicking ride far beyond that beaten tourist path. Wherever he goes he finds Australians who are cheerful, extroverted, and unfailingly obliging, and these beaming products of land with clean, safe cities, cold beer, and constant sunshine fill the pages of this wonderful book. Australia is an immense and fortunate land, and it has found in Bill Bryson its perfect guide

Connection theme to #5 – Travel memoir

#5 – Wild by Cheryl Strayed

Have I read this book? YES! Again… pre-blog.

Admittedly, I was not in the majority of folks who fawned over this book. I didn’t really understand the hype and found Cheryl to be a narrator with whom I simply couldn’t connect. It is a travel memoir, like the previous book, but it’s a completely different tone from the Bryson book. Here’s a synopsis:

At twenty-two, Cheryl Strayed thought she had lost everything. In the wake of her mother’s death, her family scattered and her own marriage was soon destroyed. Four years later, with nothing more to lose, she made the most impulsive decision of her life. With no experience or training, driven only by blind will, she would hike more than a thousand miles of the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California and Oregon to Washington State — and she would do it alone.
Told with suspense and style, sparkling with warmth and humor, Wild powerfully captures the terrors and pleasures of one young woman forging ahead against all odds on a journey that maddened, strengthened, and ultimately healed her.

Connection theme to #6 – Grief and loss, journey of discovery.

#6 – American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Have I read this book? CURRENTLY READING!

This one is a bit of a leap, but bear with me. Cheryl chooses to go on an arduous journey as a way of discovering her way through her grief. Lydia and Luca, from American Dirt are forced to flee their family home in Acapulco to survive. They have lost literally every single person they love and they have to set aside that grief temporarily for the purposes of survival. Sure, that’s a very different kind of journey, but I still feel there’s a life altering connection there in both cases. Here’s a synopsis:

Lydia Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco. She runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while there are cracks beginning to show in Acapulco because of the drug cartels, her life is, by and large, fairly comfortable.

Even though she knows they’ll never sell, Lydia stocks some of her all-time favorite books in her store. And then one day a man enters the shop to browse and comes up to the register with a few books he would like to buy—two of them her favorites. Javier is erudite. He is charming. And, unbeknownst to Lydia, he is the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city. When Lydia’s husband’s tell-all profile of Javier is published, none of their lives will ever be the same.

Forced to flee, Lydia and eight-year-old Luca soon find themselves miles and worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence. Instantly transformed into migrants, Lydia and Luca ride la bestia—trains that make their way north toward the United States, which is the only place Javier’s reach doesn’t extend. As they join the countless people trying to reach el norte, Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to?

And there you have it, my first installment of #6Degreesofseparation! Where will your thoughts take you?

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WWW Wednesday – June 23, 2021 – #wwwwednesday #bookishmemes

Posted on June 23, 2021 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

Welcome to a new week of WWW Wednesday! You may notice I took a little hiatus from blogging last week, as my husband and I went away to Eureka Springs for our anniversary and I simply didn’t get much opportunity to read or blog. I’m back this week and have already posted two reviews which gets me caught up to now.

This meme is hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words. In it, we answer three questions and leave a link in the comments sharing our own posts for other bloggers to view.

The Three Ws are:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you just finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

What am I currently reading?

I have a lot of irons in the fire currently. I’ve gotten myself extremely backed up with my books and am doing my best to blaze through them as quickly as possible, and it’s not going extremely well except on audio. On audio, I’m listening to The Reincarnationist Papers by D. Eric Maikranz. This is a fascinating book with a very unique premise, and I chose it for my reading challenge in the #2 spot: Book Becoming a Movie in 2021. I’m not sure I should have, because I’ve seen the trailer. Let me tell you, from reading the book it sounds like someone optioned the rights to the book and then wrote a completely new script, changing the name, the plot, the characters. They pulled a “let’s not and say we did!!!” I positively hate it when they do that. No offense, Mark Wahlberg but I’m probably going to hate your movie.

I’m currently reading two books on paper. The first I’m very excited about, because I have my first author interview for my blog lined up. It’s a twisting psychological YA thriller called Drifting by Steven M. Cross. Cross is a local Missouri author and retired high school teacher who has pursued his writing dreams successfully upon his retirement. You can find several of his works on Amazon, and you can find Cross’s blog at The Old Goat. I look forward to finishing this book in the next couple of days and conducting my interview with Cross for posting next week.

Additionally, I’m working through the book club book for Read Between the Wines, American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I’ve been pretty slow going on this one but not because it’s not an engaging read. It is quite engaging and I’m enjoying it very much despite its incredibly difficult subject matter.

What have I just finished reading?

Reviews went up the past two days for The Mysterious Affair at Styles and The Soul of An Octopus, two very different books. I enjoyed both of them fairly well. Click on each to read my thoughts.

What Will I Read Next?

On audio, I will pick back up a book I started last week, as I had numerous things come available on audio at once. It is called In the Garden of Spite: A Novel of the Black Widow of La Porte, and is a fictional account of the life of Belle Gunness, a female serial killer in the Midwest in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Years ago, I saw a presentation on Gunness and found her story fascinating, so when I saw this novel I thought it would be an interesting read. This book was written by author Camilla Bruce.

In paperback I will pick up my choice for book from an Indie publisher for my reading challenge, The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree by Shokoofeh Azar.

There you have it! That catches you up to speed on what I’ve been up to this week with some very exciting books on my horizon. Take care and happy reading! Feel free to share with me your WWW update this week.

This post contains affiliate links. Any sales made through a link from my site will result in me receiving a commission.

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The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery- a Book Review

Posted on June 22, 2021 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

Perhaps because I live in an utterly land-locked state in the middle of the United States, I have a bit of a fascination with the ocean. I’m known to periodically pick up books on ocean ecology, watch programs like Jeff Corwin’s Ocean Mysteries, and click on any article even remotely ocean related. To this day, I can totally nerd out to the 1989 James Cameron movie The Abyss, the film that made me fall in love with both the ocean and Ed Harris in equal measure. You should go watch it as soon as you finish this review. Frankly, I find it so strange people are so obsessed with getting into space when there’s so much still to discover within our ocean ecosystems. There are vast expanses beneath the depths that are completely unexplored. Maybe that’s a good thing, because where humans enter comes eventual destruction, but the idea of the unknown is still utterly fascinating and more than a bit frightening to me. When I saw this book on Overdrive through the Springfield-Greene County Library system, I downloaded it since I was in the market for a new audiobook. It’s read by the author, naturalist Sy Montgomery, and chronicles her experiences visiting with several different octopuses at the New England Aquarium (and the author clears up the debate: octopi is incorrect). She later learns to dive and visits various destinations to connect with octopuses in their natural habitats.

Let’s get one thing straight right from the start. This is not really a science book. Sure, there are smatterings of scientific facts about octopuses and lots of discussion of their neurological makeup and their fascinating levels of intelligence. But more than that, this is a human story. It’s a story of growth and connection. Honestly, it’s a story of friendship. So much so that I’ve placed this one in my reading challenge as number 28: A Book About Friendship. It’s not just human to cephalopod friendship, though there really is a lot of that, but it’s also a story of human to human friendship. This book discusses numerous people whose lives were changed by their work in the aquarium and their acquaintance with the octopuses and the other people who cared for them as well. One of the most touching stories was a teenage girl with autism and a history of suicidal thoughts who found comfort and purpose amongst her 8 tentacled companions. Animals, in general, are incredible forms of therapy for people who find it difficult to fit in. Just last night I came across another book, this time a children’s book about a young boy with autism whose visits to the octopus tank at the aquarium make him feel more comfortable in the world around him. It’s called Leo and the Octopus and it’s by Isabelle Marinov and illustrated by Chris Nixon.

I also want to address the elephant in the room. I saw a lot of reviews on goodreads from people who were adamantly opposed to this book for its casual tone toward the treatment of the octopuses at the aquarium. It is true that the animals profiled were taken from the wild not because of illness or injury but were captured wild simply for their inclusion in aquarium exhibits. Frankly, I dislike this practice as well. In some cases, one incredibly tragic and disheartening story in particular, the animals were kept in very small barrels for much longer than they should have been until bigger habitats were available. I understand the point these reviewers make, and this didn’t really sit well with me either.

That being said, it is expressly stated in the book that the New England Aquarium increased the size of their habitats and, by the end of Montgomery’s tenure shadowing the staff and animals at the aquarium, conditions were so much better for the animals. Montgomery presented a picture of incredibly caring people who were doing the best they could and cared very deeply for the animals in their care. I detest for-profit institutions that are run for greed rather than for the purpose of conservation, preservation, and education of the public. However, in a great institution, an animal is given the chance to live out a long and healthy life in captivity free from predation. Additionally, humans who encounter them are able to grow their appreciation and understanding for these incredible animals and their ecosystems. This, in turn, teaches us how to be better shepherds for them in the wild with a much healthier respect for them and their boundaries. Montgomery spoke vividly about watching people visit the aquarium, their initial reactions to the octopus being one of fear and disdain but transforming to awe and something akin to love by the time they walked away. Yes, there are some unfortunate negatives, but I would argue the benefit these kinds of programs gift to the world is worth it. In some cases where humans have encroached so fully into an animals’ territory, zoos are the only thing saving some species from extinction. With that being said, I refuse to make villains of the people who are actually trying to educate others about the value of these animals to the natural world, but only if they are doing so in responsible and ethical ways.

Back to the book, as I previously mentioned, I listened to the audio version of this, and it’s read by the author. The first thing that struck me was that Montgomery simply oozes a kind of childlike glee and wonder. You can hear her passion and her enthusiasm for the octopus in her voice, sometimes to an almost annoying degree. Though, I’m cynical and easily annoyed by overly cheery people, so take that criticism with a grain of salt. The writing isn’t superb. In fact, I saw one reviewer positively skewering Montgomery for her overt overuse of the simile. For my part, I view Montgomery as a scientist first and a writer second and applaud her effort to share her research with the world, so I’m not going to quibble over the fact that she’s no John Steinbeck.

Overall, this book is an enjoyable read that will provide you a more intimate glimpse into the soul of the octopus. I give it 3 stars.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

The Soul of an Octopus. Published May 12, 2015 by Highbridge Audio. ISBN: 9781451697711. Runtime 9 hrs, 12 mins. Read by Sy Montgomery.

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The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie – a Book Review

Posted on June 22, 2021 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

To be honest, I don’t read a lot of murder mysteries. To date, this is only my 2nd Agatha Christie novel, and I chose this book because I chose Christie as my author for the reading challenge whose first published novel I would read. I knew I wanted to choose an author with a prolific writing history whose works are considered classic. Christie wrote this novel in 1916 while the Great War was raging, and it was published in the United States in 1920. I’m glad I chose this one, as it’s an important piece of literary history. It’s not only Christie’s first novel, but it’s the first novel featuring one of her most famous characters, Hercule Poirot.

Synopsis

Our narrator for this novel is a man by the name of Arthur Hastings who is visiting Styles court, the estate of the wealthy matriarch of the Cavendish family, Emily Inglethorp. One evening, Mrs. Inglethorp dies under very suspicious circumstances and there are a whole host of people on the property who may have been responsible for the heinous crime. Of course, Mr. Hastings knows who best to call, an eccentric Belgian refugee from the war who just happens to be a detective of high standing in his home country. Monsieur Poirot puts his retirement on hold to come to the estate to investigate, and this strange little man always closes a case. The result is a twisty tale full of red herrings that will keep you guessing till the very end.

Review

As I stated before, I don’t read a lot of murder mysteries. I do find them enjoyable, but they simply aren’t my go-to genre. This is an important novel, as it is the beginning of an incredible era, an era in which Agatha Christie continues to reign supreme as the Queen of Mystery. I mean, the woman has a mind-boggling amount of literary output. As debut novels go, I think this was a very solid piece of writing. By And Then There Were None, she had truly honed her craft to a fine art. That was my first introduction to her, and I enjoyed it immensely. I didn’t quite feel as invested in The Mysterious Affair at Styles, and I think that boils down to the rather silly nature of Hercule Poirot. Though he does have a certain amount of charm, he definitely is eccentric and prone to little fits of madness, which I know many people find endearing. He’s a little difficult to take seriously until you really begin to understand his thought process.

The writing is a bit dated, naturally, as this book is more than 100 years old. However, Christie very deftly employs the unreliable narrator trope, as Hastings is just a bit too dense and naive to believe the most obvious of truths but far too dramatic to refrain from jumping to incorrect conclusions, which is Christie’s clever little trick to lead readers astray. To make matters worse, Poirot is not above using actual deceit to make sure he reaches the correct final conclusion, playing with the mind of our hapless narrator and, subsequently, the reader, which is where some of our red herrings come into play. Christie has us hopping all over the place before she has Poirot sit us down for a big ole’ “WAIT FOR IT” reveal. It really was quite an interesting ride despite a few petty annoyances which are simply the result of my mind being programmed for a much more modern and less sophisticated type of suspense.

I didn’t really like any of the peripheral characters, to be honest, but this is purely intentional on the part of Christie. Everyone is a suspect, because everyone is a bit of an imbecile. I think that’s really quite typical of murder mystery novels, so I don’t necessarily see it as a minus. Overall, this is a charming book and an excellent piece of literary history, especially for enthusiasts of mystery novels. I’d hazard to think anyone could be a fan of the genre without an accompanying familiarity with Christie. It’s a novel that deserves our admiration if only for its vital place in the literary canon and its effectiveness at keeping us guessing. Overall, I give it 3 stars.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Published Oct 21 2002 by Deodand (first published 1920). ISBN: 0646418432. Paperback.

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TBR Thursday – Episode 3: June 10, 2021

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

Last week I managed to remove a couple of books from my TBR shelf and I miraculously have only added one this week, so let’s dive right into the task of clearing away. I’ve set my random number generator to 498 and we’ll see what we land on. First up…

338

Ageless by Paul Inman

Synopsis from goodreads: Imagine that you never aged that you would forever remain young and vital, impervious to the ravages of time. For Alessandra, a woman whose genetic code keeps her eternally young perhaps even making her immortal this fantasy is a reality. But it s not as idyllic as it seems. Her rare condition only leaves her feeling isolated and strange, fearful of what her circumstances really mean for her future. And Alessandra has every reason to be afraid. After many years in captivity as the subject of Nazi scientist experimentations in an underground lab, she s haunted by the memories of her exploitation and desperate to keep her identity a secret. This proves to be exceptionally difficult when impassioned CIA agent Mark Richards develops an unhealthy obsession with capturing her. Ageless is a thrilling journey that spans decades and asks the question: If you could live forever, would you want to?

Verdict: It would appear this is one that was added when I entered a goodreads giveaway. It’s an interesting premise, but reviews are kind of all over the place, and in an awkward twist there are some character assassination reviews of 1 star alluding to some nefarious things surrounding the author. Nothing I’ve verified but I think it’s best to let this one lie.

REMOVE

379

Frankenstein Diaries: The Romantics: The Secret Memoirs of Mary Shelley by Michael January

Synopsis from goodreads: “The inspiration for Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s most famous work, “Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus” has been debated for 200 years. In 1814, two years before the notorious “Gothic Summer” in Geneva, 16 year old Mary Godwin eloped to Paris with the 22 year old poet, Percy Bysshe Shelley, inviting Mary’s 15 year old step-sister Claire Claremont to go with them. They would walk across war ravaged France to Switzerland and up the Rhine River to a castle called Frankenstein.

Three years later Mary would publish the diaries she kept of that journey of two teenage girls and the poet of “free love”. In the published version of “A History of a Six Week’s Tour” she would tell where they went and what they saw, but she never revealed the true secrets of that trip, from where a later inspiration arose. Here now, for the first time is revealed the secret portions of that tour and beyond.”

Verdict: Hmmm… interesting. I don’t remember adding this book, but I am extremely interested in anything Mary Shelley and even have my own writing project about her planned. I’m going to keep this one, as during my research phase I plan on reading anything and everything I can about her.

KEEP

461

Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa

Synopsis from goodreads: “Julián Luna has a plan for his life: Graduate. Get into UCLA. And have the chance to move away from Corpus Christi, Texas, and the suffocating expectations of others that have forced Jules into an inauthentic life.

Then in one reckless moment, with one impulsive tweet, his plans for a low-key nine months are thrown—literally—out the closet. The downside: the whole world knows, and Jules has to prepare for rejection. The upside: Jules now has the opportunity to be his real self.

Then Mat, a cute, empathetic Twitter crush from Los Angeles, slides into Jules’s DMs. Jules can tell him anything. Mat makes the world seem conquerable. But when Jules’s fears about coming out come true, the person he needs most is fifteen hundred miles away. Jules has to face them alone.

Jules accidentally propelled himself into the life he’s always dreamed of. And now that he’s in control of it, what he does next is up to him.”

Verdict: This is a new addition from a goodreads giveaway. It has such good ratings and is receiving a lot of praise, so I’m going to keep this for when I want a feel good YA book.

KEEP

271

Before My Eyes by Caroline Bock

Synopsis from goodreads: Dreamy, poetic Claire, seventeen, has spent the last few months taking care of her six-year-old sister, Izzy, as their mother lies in a hospital bed recovering from a stroke. Claire believes she has everything under control until she meets “Brent” online. Brent appears to be a kindred spirit, and Claire is initially flattered by his attention. But when she meets Max, the awkward state senator’s son, her feelings become complicated.

Max, also seventeen, has been working the worst summer job ever at the beachside Snack Shack. He’s also been popping painkillers. His parents—more involved in his father’s re-election than in their son’s life—fail to see what’s going on with him.

Working alongside Max is Barkley, twenty-one. Lonely and obsessive, Barkley has been hearing a voice in his head. No one—not his parents, not his co-workers—realizes that Barkley is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. Until the voice in his head orders him to take out his gun.

Narrated in turns by Claire, Max, and Barkley, Before My Eyes captures a moment when possibilities should be opening up, but instead everything teeters on the brink of destruction.”

Verdict: This is another YA novel. And the synopsis looks extremely compelling and has a plot that’s extremely relevant in today’s political and social climate. I think in this case I’m going to chock it up to the average rating. at a 3.49 average. That doesn’t seem quite high enough to usually give me a lot of confidence. So, for now, I’m going to remove this one.

REMOVE

416

The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Synopsis from goodreads: Young Hiram Walker was born into bondage. When his mother was sold away, Hiram was robbed of all memory of her — but was gifted with a mysterious power. Years later, when Hiram almost drowns in a river, that same power saves his life. This brush with death births an urgency in Hiram and a daring scheme: to escape from the only home he’s ever known.

So begins an unexpected journey that takes Hiram from the corrupt grandeur of Virginia’s proud plantations to desperate guerrilla cells in the wilderness, from the coffin of the deep South to dangerously utopic movements in the North. Even as he’s enlisted in the underground war between slavers and the enslaved, Hiram’s resolve to rescue the family he left behind endures.

Verdict: This is an easy one. I actually did have this book from the library once and had to turn it in because I’d bit off more than I could chew and hadn’t even started it before it was due, but I definitely want to read it. I plan on doing it this year. I’ve already completed more than half of my 52 books for my reading challenge, so I can start to be a little lax with my categories and fit in some I just want to read. So it’s a keeper…

KEEP

There you have it. Two removes and three keeps. I now have a grand total of 496. Until next time, happy reading!

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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir – a Book Review

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Amy @ A Librarian and Her Books

This was by far my most anticipated book of 2021. I positively loved The Martian, even enjoying the movie adaptation, though not nearly as much as the book. I listened to both The Martian and PJH. Let me tell you, this is the way to experience these books. Both are first person narration by the particular astronaut who is stuck out in space by himself. Both have fairly similar voices, but the story lines are very unique and set apart from one another, and both are immensely worth it. I actually thought they may have been narrated by the same person, but they weren’t. The Martian was read by voice actor, R.C. Bray, and Project Hail Mary was read by Ray Porter. Granted, it had been a while since I listened to The Martian, so they probably sound pretty distinguishable but it’s just the character tone that made me think they were similar. Both of the voice actors are extremely talented. Honestly, I wondered if Porter was annoyed by how many different accents he had to do during the flashback sequences when the mission was being planned by a diverse coalition of international entities, but he did a fabulous job in my opinion.

Synopsis

Ryland Grace wakes from a coma to bad news, but honestly he doesn’t know how bad the news is. All he knows is he has no idea who he is, where he is, or why he is there, but he is the only survivor. His two crewmates, a man and a woman he can’t remember, didn’t survive their induced coma, so he is alone with two dead bodies and an irritating computer who is more than a little unhelpful. Things get worse when he soon realizes he’s not just alone, but he’s alone in space. IN ANOTHER SOLAR SYSTEM. Oh shit…

And that’s all the synopsis I’m going to give you, because I consider everything that comes after that to be a spoiler. Well, ok, you probably already know that Grace was sent to space on a very important mission to save humanity. If he fails, literally everyone and everything on Earth will die. No pressure. As the novel progresses, it bounces back and forth between flashbacks that are his memories of his past on Earth returning, and the present as he tries to troubleshoot issues he faces on his humanity-saving mission.

Review

This was positively divine. Everything about this book: the plot, the humor, the character development, the suspense. Everything is sheer perfection. I was on the edge of my seat for the entirety of this book and found myself needing to keep listening. Ryland Grace may not be a perfect man, as we do inevitably find him to be very flawed in a very human way, but he is a perfect character. He reacts to situations in a way very similar to the way I think many of us would in real life. He’s funny, charming and endearing, and the narration is extremely conversational in tone, which leads the reader to feel as if we are actually a part of all the action.

Andy Weir has an incredible gift. He’s a profoundly intelligent man, and he knows a lot of science stuff, but he writes about it in a way that’s very accessible for the average reader. Also, he just seems like the kind of guy I’d want to go grab a drink with, both intelligent and super fun. I’m a casual reader of science fiction and speculative fiction. I can grasp a concept but I can’t jump off into a lengthy discussion about astrophysics or quantum mechanics or other super complex scientific topic you might throw at me. I’d just give you the blinky blink and take another sip of my drink, because it’s obviously going to be a long night. But somehow, even with all the science talk in Weir’s books, I still manage to remain captivated, even understanding what he’s trying to say. This is all credit given to Weir for managing to make something so technical interesting through proper communication. I can’t critique the believability of his science. Not even close. I’m just taking his word for it that it all makes sense. Frankly, he has me convinced this is a super likely cosmic scenario, and that’s a bit more than moderately scary. Also, can we send Andy Weir to space if the space poop hits the fan? I think he’s the only one capable of actually saving humanity.

This book is incredibly well balanced. Sure, it’s a thrilling and amazing space adventure that allows us a bit of needed escapism, but it’s also a truly heartfelt story that inevitably makes us feel a bit warm and gushy inside. At least once my eyes leaked. It’s a human thing. I won’t say too much, but suffice to say there are some very touching moments in this novel that show us the importance of working together, of forging connections and bonds across barriers and individual differences that seem insurmountable. In today’s us versus them environment, I think that’s a very vital lesson for us all. No obstacle is insurmountable with a little faith in one another and a dash of selflessness in pursuit of the common good. Please read this book. I’m sad it’s over. 5 stars.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Published May 4, 2021 by Audible Studios. ASIN: B08GB2RLKM. Narrated by Ray Porter. This post contains affiliate links. I receive a commission for purchases made through my site.

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