Bookish Thoughts: Slaying Dragons by Sasha L. Miller

Devi was almost certain she wasn't going to be reprimanded at this outpost. ~ Opening to Slaying Dragons

Slaying Dragons by Sasha L. Miller

Less Than Three Press, 2015

Fantasy (Romance, LGBTQIA); 94 pgs
Source: From the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review

It is obvious what drew me to this particular story, just from that description alone. I enjoy novels about magic. Add in a dragon and two strong female leads, and it is obvious what made me pick this particular novella up to read. Devi is a Combatant assigned to fight dragons with the help of a mage. She does her job well but does not always play nice with others. Who would when the mages you are usually assigned to are cocky, out to make a name for themselves, or just plain dumb?  Knowing she is facing a formal complaint from the last mage she worked with, Devi has reservations when assigned to work with yet another one for her latest assignment. Noeme proves to be both nice and competent. She is a little green, however, when it comes to going after dragons.

I enjoyed this particular novella for both its fantasy elements and its romantic ones. Devi can be gruff and puts on a tough exterior, while Noeme is more of a bookworm, kind and ready with a smile. They say opposites attract, and in this case the saying is true. Although it's clear the two women are attracted to each other from the start, it isn't an instant romance. Both are cautious and unsure of the other's feelings. I did not get a real sense in this book as to whether a same-sex relationship is taboo in Miller's fictional world. I like the idea that it isn't necessarily.

Even though the book is only 94 pages long, I felt the author did a great job with setting up the world Devi and Noeme live in, including their roles as combatant and mage and the societal hierarchy. The reader gets a good idea for what Devi and Noeme are up against and the people they help. The story itself is a good one, from the build up to the showdown with the dragon (although I could have used a little more dragon time), to the romance, and everything else that follows. I wouldn't mind reading more about Devi and Noeme or their world. I definitely hope to check out more of the author's work in the future.


To learn more about Sasha L. Miller and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: North of Here by Laurel Saville

North of Here by Laurel Saville

Lake Union Publishing, 2016

Fiction; 257 pgs

From Goodreads: 

The sounds of unexpected tragedies—a roll of thunder, the crash of metal on metal—leave Miranda in shock amid the ruins of her broken family.  

As she searches for new meaning in her life, Miranda finds quiet refuge with her family’s handyman, Dix, in his cabin in the dark forests of the Adirondack Mountains. Dix is kind, dependable, and good with an ax—the right man to help the sheltered Miranda heal—but ultimately, her sadness creates a void even Dix can’t fill.  

When a man from her distant past turns up, the handsome idealist now known as Darius, he offers Miranda a chance to do meaningful work at The Source, a secluded property filled with his nature worshipers. Miranda feels this charismatic guru is the key to remaking her life, but her grief and desire for love also create an opportunity for his deception. And in her desperate quest to find herself after losing almost everything, Miranda and Dix could pay a higher price than they ever imagined.

Every Tuesday Diane from Bibliophile By the Sea First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros, where participants share the first paragraph (or a few) of a book they are reading or thinking about reading soon. It is also where I share my first impressions about the book I am sharing.

As Miranda moved through the house, putting away a load of laundry, picking up the glass her mother left in the living room the previous night, straightening the magazines on the coffee table, removing a few dead flowers from a vase, she found herself glancing out of each window, her view of him coming and going, her perspective on him a bit different from each vantage point. He was like a man inside a kaleidoscope to her, fractured bits and pieces coming together and moving apart and then coming together again in a slightly different form.

Every Tuesday, Jenn from A Daily Rhythm hosts Teaser Tuesdays at which time participants grab their current read, open to a random page, and share a couple or more "teaser" sentences from that page while avoiding any spoilers.

Teaser from 50% on my Kinde:

Then he smiled and his entire demeanor altered, an actor slipping into character. Somewhere deep inside her, Miranda recognized that he was giving a performance, and yet she did not care. It didn't seem to matter. She was willingly transfixed by the play.

What do you think? Would you keep reading? 


My Bookish Thoughts: 

I found North of Here . . . unexpected. The above description is a fitting one, but the novel took a turn I  hadn't expected--I feel it's safe to say that without spoiling anything.  This really is a novel about the characters in many ways, about the way their lives interconnect, and the consequences of their actions and inactions.

Although it is never said, Miranda is clearly depressed, feeling helpless and lost after everything she has been through. Raised in wealth, she has never wanted for anything. With all that now gone, she is forced to re-evaluate her life, only she is not in the mental frame to do it. She doesn't know what she wants, not really. She isn't sure what she needs. Laurel Saville has created a character in which her feelings, her grief and sense of hopelessness, seem so very real. She is like a wounded bird you cannot resist but want to help.

I liked Dix instantly. I am not at all like him myself, but I wish I was. He gets things done. He fixes things. He respects the land and lives a relatively simple life. People think of him as just another local, uneducated and simple. They would be wrong. He is the local handyman who goes out of his way to help Miranda, taking her under his wing. Perhaps his biggest strength and also his biggest weakness is that he takes things as they are and doesn't often ask questions or sweat the small stuff. While admirable on one hand, it makes one wonder if it also meant a lost opportunity or two.

Then there is David, aka Darius, who is lost in his own way. Dropping out of college, he wanders aimlessly in search of a purpose. He stumbles on land and envisions building a life there--not just for himself, but for wounded people and troubled teens. Armed with the knowledge he has gained from self-help books and his own ego, he is sure he is the one who can save them. His good looks and charisma made me wary of him, but not so the other characters in the novel.

Sally was more of an enigma to me. I did not much care for her at first. She is a social worker by trade, and owns the land Darius wants to buy.  She decides to stay on in the house with Darius, saying she wants to make sure he pays the mortgage. Perhaps loneliness drives her initially. That and Darius's good looks. I was disappointed in her as the novel continued, in her complacency particularly. She isn't dumb. She knows how the real world works, is a bit hardened because of her experiences, and obviously has a heart. By the end of the novel, she redeemed herself somewhat in my eyes.

As the novel progresses, the relationships of the characters evolve, and not always in the best or even expected ways. Perhaps this is what makes them so very human and real. You see Miranda's depression grow worse and her need to fill a void in her life grow. She ostracizes the one person who offers her a safe haven, turning instead to the false promise of The Source, the community Darius has put together which is made up of women and the occasional teen or two.

The novel is told in third person, divided into three sections. The narrative winds slowly along at times and speeds up at others, jumping days and weeks ahead. This sometimes can bother me in novels, but I felt it worked well in this one.  I found North of Here to be a quiet and unassuming novel, as well as quite compelling. I became emotionally invested in the characters and their stories. I have so many questions on finishing the book--about the characters, about the choices they made. I can see this one being a good one for a book club. There's certainly a lot here to discuss.


To learn more about Laurel Saville and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about North of Here on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. I selected this book as part of Amazon's First Program for Prime Members.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: My Sweet Vidalia by Deborah Mantella

My momma believes all babies to be gifts from God, no matter what. ~ Opening of My Sweet Vidalia
 

My Sweet Vidalia by Deborah Mantella

Turner Publishing, 2015

Fiction; 272 pgs

From Goodreads: 

On July 4, 1955, in rural Georgia, an act of violence threatens the life of Vidalia Lee Kandal's pre-born daughter. Despite the direst of circumstances, the spirit of the lost child refuses to leave her ill-equipped young mother's side.

For as long as she is needed―through troubled pregnancies, through poverty, through spousal abuse and agonizing betrayals―Cieli Mae, the determined spirit child, narrates their journey. Serving as a safe place and sounding board for Vidalia's innermost thoughts and confusions, lending a strength to her momma's emerging voice, Cieli Mae provides her own special brand of comfort and encouragement, all the while honoring the restrictions imposed by her otherworldly status.

Vidalia finds further support in such unlikely townsfolk and relations as Doc Feldman, Gamma Gert and her Wild Women of God, and, most particularly, in Ruby Pearl Banks, the kind, courageous church lady, who has suffered her own share of heartache in their small Southern town of yesteryear's prejudices and presumptions.

I was drawn to this novel because of the setting and the description: set in the South in the 1950's, it is a novel about a woman living a hard life. Vidalia Lee Kandal is kindhearted. She got good grades in school, but was a bit of an outcast. It made her easy prey for the likes of JB, a man with his own insecurities and leanings toward cruelty. The two eventually marry and Vidalia remains faithful to him despite emotional and physical abuse he heaps on her.

Domestic violence is an extremely important topic that deserves attention and needs to be talked about. The author does a good job of presenting a very realistic glimpse into the life of a victim of domestic violence. Although the novel takes place over sixty years ago, it could very well represent some situations today, sad to say. The times certainly played their part though. My heart ached for sweet Vidalia, who remains amazingly good-hearted despite everything, but even more so for her children. You have the people who help in limited ways: the doctor, the women from the local churches, and other townsfolk. It would be easy to wish Vidalia had left JB early on (I know I did), but nothing is every that simple, especially in a relationship involving domestic violence.

I had no sympathy or even empathy for JB. He is a despicable character. There was nothing good about him, no glimmer of remorse, or a kinder side to him. Although his mother annoyed me much of the time, I could understand where she was coming from. She loved her son, wanted to see and believe the best in him despite everything. I adored Ruby Pearl Banks, a black woman who takes Vidalia under her wing. Her own story intrigued me. I wish she'd made an appearance earlier in the novel. She's the only character I didn't want to kick some sense into. Even Doc Feldman, who did what he could to help Vidalia, should have done more, I felt.

What make this novel stand out is that it is narrated by Vidalia and JB's unborn baby, one which Vidalia miscarries. The spirit of the unborn child, Cieli Mae, hangs on, staying with her mother, observing and helping her through the roughest of times. I did not quite buy into Cieli Mae's role in the novel, as much as I wanted to. At times she seemed like a splinter of her mother because of Vidalia's stress and hopelessness. I might have bought that more easily.

My Sweet Vidalia is a very sad novel. Even with Vidalia's flicker of hope and Cieli Mae's efforts to keep that going, I found this to be a depressing read. At the risk of spoiling the novel, it doesn't stay that way. There is hope. There is redemption of sorts. And I was quite satisfied with the ending. I might have fist pumped the air at one point.

In the end, I have mixed feelings about My Sweet Vidalia. While pulled into the novel immediately, I found it slow going after awhile with not much character growth or story development. It does pick up, fortunately. Even despite my inability to completely buy into Cieli Mae as the narrator, I liked Deborah Mantella's writing. The story was rather predictable, but compelling just the same. This book may not have been the best fit for me, but it has garnered much praise from other readers, including several along the tour route. I hope you will check out their reviews before accepting my word for this book. I would be interested to try something else by the author.

To learn more about Deborah Mantella and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

I hope you will check out what others had to say about My Sweet Vidalia on the TLC Book Tours route!

Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson

Helena had heard, or perhaps she had rad somewhere, that people on the point of death were insensible to pain. ~ Opening of Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson

Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson

William Morrow, 2016

Fiction (Historical); 352 pgs

Source: Edelweiss

From Goodreads: 

It’s the spring of 1924, and Lady Helena Montagu-Douglas-Parr has just arrived in France. On the mend after a near-fatal illness, she is ready to embrace the restless, heady allure of the City of Lights. Her parents have given her one year to live with her eccentric aunt in Paris and Helena means to make the most of her time. She’s quickly drawn into the world of the Lost Generation and its circle of American expatriates, and with their encouragement, she finds the courage to pursue her dream of becoming an artist.

Moonlight Over Paris was just what I needed after reading two rather dark books one right after the other. Author Jennifer Robson's novel is the kind of book I want to escape into, losing myself in another time and place for a short while. One I know will leave me with a cozy and happy feeling in the end. Lady Helena Montagu-Douglas-Parr is recovering from a near fatal illness. She has a new appreciation for life and wants to live as fully as she can. Despite her family's reservations, she travels to Paris to stay with her widowed aunt where Helena is to study art. Her parents give her a year, and she plans to make the most of it.

Set in 1924, after the Great War, this novel is a quiet one. You won't find much in the way of suspense or unexpected twists and turns. It's like indulging in a delicious piece of chocolate cake. Helena is a thoughtful and caring person. She is intelligent and proper, and also forward thinking. She isn't stuck to convention they way others of her station might be. Helena is down to earth and easily makes friends at her school. Afraid her title might influence those around her, she prefers to keep it to herself.

Among Helena's friends is Chicago Tribune writer, Sam Howard, a veteran of the war. The two strike up an instant friendship, the attraction between the two obvious. Only, neither is quite ready to admit to it.  Sam was probably my favorite character in the book behind Helena's aunt. I found him to be the most interesting, both his job and his past.

I quite liked Helena and her friends, each of whom the reader gets to know over the course of the book. I would not have minded getting to know any of them a bit more. In fact, I think my only complaint about the book was that I wish there had been more time spent on several of secondary characters as I would like to have known more about each of them. I think that is more my greediness than the author's fault. She does provide them with interesting backstories; so much so I wanted more. I loved the brief appearances of familiar people--like the Hemingways and Fitzgeralds.

I enjoyed Moonlight Over Paris most for its atmosphere, the setting, including the time period, and the interesting cast of characters. I would not have minded a bit more tension and conflict, but, overall, I do not think the story suffered for it.

To learn more about Jennifer Robson and her books, please visit the author's Facebook Page. 

Challenge Requirement Met for COYER.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan

In the eyes of others, we're often not who we imagine ourselves to be. ~ Opening of What She Knew

What She Knew by Gilly Macmillan

William Morrow, 2015

Crime Fiction; 496 pgs

Source: Edelweiss

I vividly remember the few minutes that my husband and I lost sight of my daughter at Disneyland one afternoon. I thought she was with him; he thought she was with me. Panic filled both of us as we began to search and call for her. My husband found her just outside the shop we had been in. She had wandered over to the Rabbit's door for a closer look. She had not even realized anything was amiss. I can only imagine the fear and panic that would grip a parent in Rachel's shoes, her son missing, not just for a minute or two but not being able to find him at all. It's one of a parent's worst nightmares. I know it is mine.

Still struggling to overcome the break-up of her marriage, but trying to give her eight-year-old son some normalcy, the two often take walks through Bristol Park together. One day he asks to run ahead  to the tree swing, and she relents. It is a decision Rachel Jenner will regret the rest of her life. Her son disappears. A police investigation gets under way, led by Detective Inspector James Clemo, who is both excited to be leading his first big case, but also very aware of the seriousness of the situation. The longer Ben is missing, the less likely they are to find him alive.

Rachel's sister and best friend come to her aid as Rachel barely goes through the motions of making it day to day. She's beside herself with guilt and worry for her son. Author Gilly Macmillan captures the raw emotions of a mother suffering through the initial days of her child's disappearance. It would be easy to describe Rachel as whiny and unlikable, but given her situation, that we are catching her in her worst moment, is it really any wonder? She clearly has been suffering from depression given recent events in her life. Add to it a missing son. I wanted so often to offer some support to Rachel. Her feelings of hopelessness and guilt are palpable. She is angry and afraid. She does not know what to do with herself and how to help her son.

The author also does an excellent job of bringing to light the way public opinion can sway so quickly. At first sympathetic, some in the general public soon turn to accusations and blame of the mother as they jump to conclusions, scrutinizing her behavior and rumors they hear. A leak in the case doesn't help matters. Social media makes it easier to fan those flames; we see it in real life too--the shaming and blaming that goes around. This too has an impact on Rachel as well as the investigation.

The novel follows both Rachel and the lead inspector on the case. Rachel as she is experiencing the disappearance of her son and DI Clemo as he reflects back on the investigation during therapy sessions. To say the least, both are under a lot of stress. DI Clemo beats himself up over mistakes made along the way and wishes he had solved the crime sooner. I liked how the author was able to get across the bias that can impact an investigation based on past experiences of the investigators involved as well as the pressures of the job itself.

What She Knew was tense and had its share of red herrings--each of which could have been a viable option. No one is above suspicion, especially not Rachel. There were aspects of the ending that surprised me and others that did not. Overall I enjoyed What She Knew, although I was not quite swept off my feet the way some readers were. The resolution felt a bit rushed, but the ending was satisfying just the same.


To learn more about Gilly Macmillan and her work, please visit the author's website. You can also find her on Goodreads and Twitter

Challenge Requirement Met for COYER.

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 © 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: The Evening Spider by Emily Arsenault

HARTFORD, Sept. 5, 1878--The dead body of Mary E. Stannard, 22 years old, was found at Durham, hear the border of Madison, on Tuesday night. ~ Opening of The Evening Spider 

The Evening Spider by Emily Arsenault

William Morrow, 2016

Fiction (Psychological Thriller; 400 pgs

Source: NetGalley/Edelweiss

The Evening Spider is set in both the present and the past, following the lives of two women, both obsessed with uncovering the truth.

Frances Barnett has spent the last few years locked in the Northampton Lunatic Hospital. She shares her story with a visitor, telling of how she came to be there, including her marriage to a respected attorney, the birth of her daughter, and the events that followed. Frances has always been interested in science and logic, and has never been content to lead the traditional life expected of a woman during her time in the mid to late 1800's. She would rather examine things under her brother's microscope than cook a meal or sew. Her husband humors here to a degree, but she is still expected to perform her wifely duties in terms of maintaining the household. Frances finds pleasure in hearing about her husband Matthew's cases, especially the one involving a murder.

Motherhood does not come easy for Frances. She doubts herself and her abilities. Slowly we see Frances begin to go so far as to question her sanity. She becomes obsessed with the murder trial of a reverend accused of murdering a young woman, needing to know every detail. Her husband grows increasingly worried about her, calls in an outside doctor for advice, and from there, things only get worse for Frances.

In alternating chapters, the reader is introduced to Abby Bernacki, a young mother who has taken a year off from her teaching career to stay home with her baby. She's restless and a bit bored, but also feels anxious and begins to isolate herself. When her daughter suffers an unexplained injury, Abby begins to wonder if her house may be haunted. She's sure she heard someone in the room with her daughter when no one should have been there. As her paranoia increases, Abby seeks out the history of her house that once belonged to Matthew Barnett and his wife Frances.

I love stories like this, the kind that have you wondering if there is something supernatural at play or if it is something more reality based. Both Frances and Abby may have suffered from Postpartum Depression--some of the symptoms are there. It would explain so much. And yet. . . There is definitely more to it than that. Or so it seems.

The novel has a sort of Gothic, creepy feel to it, and I found myself glued to the book, wanting to know just what was going on. I liked how the two threads, the past and the present story-lines were laid out--seeing them come together as they did. As Frances looks into the real life murder of Mary Stannard, she also keeps a journal, a journal which Abby uses to help piece together Frances' life in the hopes of finding her own answers. Abby's own past comes to the fore during the book. The death of a roommate in college haunts her to this day. It seemed a bit out of left field in some ways, but the author manages to tie it in to my satisfaction.

Frances and Abby were both such interesting women. I really felt for Frances, having to go through all she did--not to mention how trapped she felt, a woman living in that time period.  It was her story I was most drawn to, as I often am in books with two time-lines. The historical story-line is often my favorite. I wasn't sure what to think of Abby initially. It took a while for me to warm up to her, but on some level I could relate to her, and, like her, I wanted to get to the truth.

There have been some readers who were quite disappointed in the end, and because I do not want to spoil it for anyone, I will only say that I can see where they are coming from. Still, I disagree. I liked it quite a bit. Sometimes big red bows do not belong on the final pages of a book.

The Evening Spider is a dark and suspenseful novel. A sense of dread hung over me throughout, as the tension built and the story unfolded. This was my first book by Emily Arsenault, but it will not be my last.

To learn more about Emily Arsenault and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads and Facebook.

Challenge Requirement Met for COYER.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: Angels Burning by Tawni O'Dell

The last time I was this close to Rudy Mayfield he was leaning across the seat of his dad's truck trying to grope my recently ripened breasts. ~ Opening of Angels Burning

Angels Burning by Tawni O'Dell

Gallery Books, 2016

Crime Fiction; 288 pgs
Source: NetGalley

I was first drawn to this book because it features a female chief of police, Chief Dove Carnahan. That and the Pennsylvania countryside setting.  Given my dad is from Pennsylvania originally and I still have family there, I enjoy reading books set in the state.

Chief Carnahan knows she and her small force are out of their league when a teenage girl is found brutally murdered in their jurisdiction. She does not hesitate to call in the State Police for help. And while she knows they will take lead on the investigation, she and her team work diligently to solve the crime. The victim is a member of the Truly family, a poor and extremely dysfunctional family. As the chief begins to poke her nose into the Truly family's business, she cannot help but think on her own similar childhood. It doesn't help when a man from her past, the man convicted of killing her mother several years before, is released from prison and returns to confront the chief and her sister. What follows is a dark and twisted look into human motivations, family secrets, and just how far someone will go when pushed to the limit.

Dove has had to work hard to get where she is, sometimes harder just because she is a woman. She is dogged in her approach to her work, rarely showing any outward vulnerability. She has a fierce loyalty to her family, both her sister and her brother. Her childhood has left her somewhat bitter, and has damaged her ability to have a healthy relationship. To say I liked her character would maybe be too much. I never was quite sure of Dove. I felt for her and could understand where she was coming from, but she isn't an easy person to get close to. It's clear she is good at her job and takes it seriously. She has had to make some hard choices in her life, for right or wrong.

I would like to have known more about Dove's sister who at times seemed more closed off than Dove. Her love for animals and preference over them to humans was something I could relate to to some degree.

The Truly family is at the heart of the novel in many respects. They are dysfunction at its worst. Poverty itself does not make dysfunction, but for the Truly family it certainly played a part. The more I learned about the Truly family, the more I found myself mentally backing away from them. I wish I could say families like them do not exist, but I know first hand they do. While the Truly clan was impossible to like for many reasons, the same can't be said for the young Derk Truly who, as wild as he is, seems to have some redeeming qualities. There were a number of times I wish I could have plucked him out of the book and dropped him into a much better--healthier and loving--environment.

O'Dell's Angels Burning was an intense novel, keeping me engaged throughout. The characterizations are raw--you really get a feel for just how desperate and frustrated the characters are. While I felt the murder investigation itself was wrapped up well, I wasn't quite satisfied with the way one particular thread was left. Still, overall I enjoyed this novel.

To learn more about Tawni O'Dell and her work, please visit the author's website. 

Challenge Requirement Met for COYER.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald

The strange woman standing on Hope's main street was so ordinary it was almost scandalous. ~ Opening of The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by by Katarina Bivald

Sourcebooks Landmark, 2016

Fiction; 400 pgs

Source: NetGalley

From Goodreads: 

Once you let a book into your life, the most unexpected things can happen... Broken Wheel, Iowa, has never seen anyone like Sara, who traveled all the way from Sweden just to meet her pen pal, Amy. When she arrives, however, she finds that Amy's funeral has just ended. Luckily, the townspeople are happy to look after their bewildered tourist—even if they don't understand her peculiar need for books. Marooned in a farm town that's almost beyond repair, Sara starts a bookstore in honor of her friend's memory. All she wants is to share the books she loves with the citizens of Broken Wheel and to convince them that reading is one of the great joys of life. But she makes some unconventional choices that could force a lot of secrets into the open and change things for everyone in town. Reminiscent of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, this is a warm, witty book about friendship, stories, and love.

This book has gotten quite a few mixed reviews. I happened to really like it. I loved the bookish references, could completely relate to the main character, Sara, and had such a fun time visiting with and getting to know the people of Broken Wheel. It is a light-hearted read, often funny, and a bit on the sentimental side.

I think my favorite scene in the novel was when the entire town stood outside the bookshop watching Sara read. For over five hours. Sara had not even noticed. Have you ever been in a reading trance like that, so lost in a book you block out everything around you? I have. I'm not sure it's been for over 5 hours, but still, I have been there.

My only beef with the novel, really, is the fact that if you just happen to not know much of anything about Jane Eyre, well, Bivald spoils the book nearly in its entirety. My husband says it does not matter--given the book is 168 old. (Do spoilers have an expiration date?). She has a lot to say about Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe too, but that didn't bother me quite as much.

I loved the town people of Broken Wheel from outcast Grace to the recovering alcoholic George, the proper-get-things-done Caroline to Andy and Carl, the local bar owners. I liked Tom too, his perseverance and stoicism. Amy was perhaps my favorite character who we only get to know through letters. (How I miss my pen palling days!) The way everyone came together to help each other, for each other, and to make Sara feel welcome was heartwarming--the way I wish it could be in the real world. Could the characters have been better fleshed out? Certainly, but this wasn't something that bothered me as I read. I simply found myself caught up in this improbable and yet delightful story.

The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend is a tribute to reading and readers and also to friendship and the strength of community. While maybe too idyllic at times, even with their various troubles, some of which were quite serious (a dying community, lack of jobs, poverty, alcoholism), I did not mind. I found Bivald's novel to be an enjoyable read--not too serious, funny, and a book that I finished with a big smile on my face.

To learn more about Katarina Bivald and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads.

Challenge Requirement Met for COYER.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary

From the backseat, Saki sent another desperate message on her phone. ~ Opening of The Night Parade

The Night Parade by Kathryn Tanquary

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2016

Fantasy (Middle Grade); 320 pgs

Source: NetGalley

I do not often read books that fall into the Middle Grade category, but this one intrigued me--and it came recommended by my friend and fellow blogger, Caspette of Narrative Causality. It was the setting (Japan) and the mention of Japanese mythology that convinced me to give it a try.

Saki is not happy about having to leave Tokyo and her friends to spend her break with her paternal grandmother. There is nothing exciting or worthwhile about spending time in a small village, preparing for an outdated ceremony like Obons, or so she believes. While in an effort to impress the village in-crowd, Saki bends to peer pressure and comes away from the experience embarrassed and bearing a death curse. She has three nights to lift it. Three nights, three spirit guides, and the Night Parade of spirits traveling to the ancestral burial site is nothing Saki has ever experienced before.

What a delightful book The Night Parade turned out to be! I loved every minute of it. I lost myself in the pages and wished I could join Saki on her adventures through the spirit world. The vivid descriptions, the sometimes quirky and always interesting characters, and the world Kathryn Tanquary has created had me under their spell as I read this novel. The story may seem simple on the surface, but it is quite complex when you look at it more closely.

Saki is about twelve or thirteen years old, I think, and on the verge of becoming a teenager and yet still with the innocence of childhood. Like many young and old, Saki is struggling to figure out who she wants to be, having to deal with peer pressure, family obligations, and being true to herself. She is also seeking to find balance between the old and the new: tradition/spiritual and modern times. Each of the obstacles Saki encounters along her path to life, including the curse, help her learn more about herself and choose the direction she wants her life to go.

The mythical beings and spirits are part of what make this novel such a great book, in my mind. I do not know much about Japanese mythology, but this book made me curious enough to do some research. I quite enjoyed getting a glimpse into this part of Japanese culture, finding it both fascinating and humbling.

As you can tell, I was quite taken with The Night Parade. I even read parts to my daughter, when she was willing to listen. I can see her reading it when she's older--and me again too.

To learn more about Kathryn Tanquary and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads and Twitter.

Challenge Requirement Met for COYER.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Bookish Thoughts: Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley

Charlotte Bronte dipped her pen into the inkwell and dabbed in on a blotter. ~ Opening of Worlds of Ink and Shadow

Worlds of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley

Amulet Books, 2016

Fantasy; 352 pgs
Source: NetGalley

From Goodreads: 

Charlotte, Branwell, Emily, and Anne. The Brontë siblings have always been inseparable. After all, nothing can bond four siblings quite like life in an isolated parsonage out on the moors. Their vivid imaginations lend them escape from their strict upbringing, actually transporting them into their created worlds: the glittering Verdopolis and the romantic and melancholy Gondal. But at what price? As Branwell begins to slip into madness and the sisters feel their real lives slipping away, they must weigh the cost of their powerful imaginations, even as their characters—the brooding Rogue and dashing Duke of Zamorna—refuse to let them go. 

Lena Coakley's Witchlanders was among my favorites the year I read it. I was blown away by the world building, the characters and the overall story. I have been anxiously awaiting another book by the author and so jumped at the chance to read Worlds of Ink and Shadow when it became available on NetGalley. I admit to being a little nervous about the subject matter. I do not generally gravitate towards fictionalized stories starring real-life people. But we are talking about the Brontë siblings, and a fantasy novel to boot. How could I resist?

Charlotte is the oldest of the four children, and very responsible and practical. Still, she is a romantic at heart. As the story progressed, I liked her more and more. And not just because she would go on to write one of my all-time favorite novels, Jane Eyre. The second oldest, Branwell, was more of a wild card, a definite risk taker. He was always trying to best his sister Charlotte. Both Branwell and Charlotte shared a friendly rivalry as siblings often do, but it was sometimes fraught with jealousy and pettiness.

I am surprised no one wanted to ring Emily's neck, given her rather dreamy and at times thoughtless behavior. This isn't to say I did not like Emily. She is such an interesting character, not to mention quite strong-willed and daring. I could not help but draw comparisons between her book, Wuthering Heights, and the Emily Lena Coakley has created. I was quite curious about Anne, the youngest. As much as I like outspoken heroines, the quiet ones often win me over the most. Anne was no exception. She was the voice of reason, and the one who tried to keep everyone grounded.

It is over the course of the novel, seeing the imaginary worlds or touches added by each sibling, that the reader gets a more complete view of just who the Brontës might have been in their younger years. It made the fictional characters the siblings created even more interesting in their own ways too.

The novel has a somewhat mythical quality about it, which reminded me a little of author Lisa Tuttle and her subtle style of weaving myth in with reality. Lena Coakley takes a similar approach, taking advantage of the setting and superstitions of the time and threading them into her story.

The novel is extremely slow in setting up; although I suppose the reader is given an opportunity to understand just the type of relationships the siblings shared as well as what their life was like while growing up. It really dragged for me though, and I seriously considered giving up several times early on. It wasn't until I hit page 97 or so that I knew I was in it for the long haul. The book picked up for me as details about the crossing over into the not-so-imaginary worlds created by the Brontë siblings began to solidify. I still have mixed feelings just the same. I was involved in the story and characters enough to want to know what happened, to see where Coakley would take me, the reader, but this isn't a book I came away loving, I am sad to say. I always felt like I was on the outside looking in. And I never quite got over the feeling of wishing it could be more than what it was--that something more would happen.

As a perpetual daydreamer, there was a part of me that wished I could do just what the Brontë siblings were able to do--create and step into the worlds my daydreams sometimes take me--become a part of the stories. Isn't that one of the reasons I enjoy reading and writing? It's probably best I stay on this side of the book and paper, however, especially given the experiences of the Brontës in this novel!  While this one did not quite live up to my expectations, I am curious what Lena Coakley will come up with next.

To learn more about Lena Coakley and her work, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.

Challenge Requirement Met for COYER.

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© 2016, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

Accepting The Triple Dog Dare and Taking On Two Challenges

This past year I did not participate in my favorite reading challenge, and regretted it. I did not want to make the same mistake again this coming year.  One of the things I enjoy most about the What's In a Name Reading Challenge hosted by Charlie of The Worm Hole is how open it is. The checklist is not long (only six books) and I can easily fit books I want to read into the categories--the only obligation is that the title contain one of the designated words or fit into the categories. It's fun to try to find books to fit each category. Creativity in matching categories is strongly encouraged.  

The challenge runs from January through December, offering me plenty of time to complete the challenge. Here are the 2016 categories along with some ideas from my own shelves I might want to read: 

A country (try not to use ‘Africa’!)
- The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly
- The Last King of Scotland by Giles Foden
- The Princess of Burundi by Kjell Eriksson

An item of clothing
- The Girl in the Red Coat by Kate Hamer
- The Dress Shop of Dreams by Mena van Praag
- The Girl in the Flammable Skirt by Ammie Bender

An item of furniture
- Curio by Evangeline Denmark
- Tolstoy and the Purple Chair: My Year of Magical Reading by Nina Sankovitch
- Smoke and Mirrors by Tanya Huff

A profession
- Within a Captain's Hold by Lisa A. Olech
- The Spymistress by Jennifer Chiaverini
- Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

A month of the year 
- June by Miranda Beverly-Whittemere
- The September Society by Charles Finch
- The Violets of March by Sarah Jio

A title with the word ‘tree’ in it 
-Under the Udala Trees by Chinelo Okparanta
-The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin
- The Walnut Tree by Charles Todd

Can you think of any books you would recommend that would fit in these categories?

Another challenge I am joining is the Clean Out Your E-Reads Challenge, otherwise known as COYER, hosted by Fantasy is More Fun, Because Reading Is Better Than Real Life, and Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My! The idea is to read e-books that are either free or nearly free that have been piling up in your e-reader. NetGalley, Edelweiss and I have become a little too well acquainted over the past few months, and what better motivation than to join this wonderful support group challenge? The challenge runs from December 19th to March 4th (Eeks! Just before for my daughter's 5th birthday!). I have gone back and forth about setting a number limit, but will refrain from doing so. Ultimately, I think the biggest challenge for me will be posting my reviews and linking them to the main site as required and in a timely fashion. That always seems to be my downfall with these challenges.

Just a small sampling of the titles I am looking forward to reading:
The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela
I'm Not Her by Cara Sue Achterberg
The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
Witches Protective Program by Michael Phillip Cash
World of Ink and Shadow by Lena Coakley
The Gulf of Time and Stars by Julie E. Czerneda
Moonlight Over Paris by Jennifer Robson

Are your e-books adding up in your e-reader, whether purchased, free or otherwise?

I must confess I have never been a big fan of the game Truth or Dare. I will almost always pick truth over dare. Actually, I cannot think of a time when I wouldn't. Of course, the dares were always more fun, weren't they? I have always been too much of a scaredy-cat to take part in the final The TBR Triple Dog Dare hosted by James of James Reads Books, but I decided to give it a go this coming year.  James is very clear that this is not a challenge, but simply a dare.

The TBR Triple Dog Dare: From January 1 to April 1, 2016, read only the books that were already in your TBR stack as of midnight December 31, 2015. These can include books you have ordered but have not yet received, and include e-books, print books, and audio books. Exceptions are allowed if participants state them up front. Readers can set their own goal length, from a month to all three or anything in between. This is not meant to be a book buying ban--although participants can do that too, if they want. Any books bought during the length of the dare, however, are not to be read.

After talking it over with James, my main focus will be reading the many review books I seem to have amassed because they sounded too good to pass up. Some of these are books coming out in the next few months, while others may be older titles. This ties in nicely with the COYER Challenge I am taking part in. I think the TBR Triple Dog Dare will give me added focus while at the same time not make me feel pressured to complete yet another challenge.

Along with the TBR Triple Dog Dare, I am also challenging myself to turn off the games and cut down on my social media time in order to spend more time actually reading books. I want to spend my time more productively.

As James allows for exceptions, I am making four:
1. Books I am already scheduled to review for an upcoming book tour but have not yet received (This actually amounts to one book. I have all the others already.)
2. Books I read for my Postal Book Club (which will amount to two books during the Dare's time frame)
3. Audiobooks (any I might listen to will have been purchased before 01/01, which meets the criteria, but will not be review books)
4. Books I read with my daughter (the TBR Triple Dog Dare is for my own personal reading, not including any reading I do with my daughter, which may include books she receives as gifts or we check out from the library during the Dare time frame)

How is your TBR collection looking these days? Are you brave enough to take on the TBR Triple Dog Dare? 

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© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.