Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Book 10 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from January 27 - 31

Will Grayson, Will Grayson

by John Green & David Levithan

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2010

It's not that far from Evanston to Naperville, but Chicago suburbanites Will Grayson and Will Grayson might as well live on different planets. When fate delivers them both to the same surprising crossroads, the Will Grayson find their lives overlapping and hurtling in new and unexpected directions. With a push from friends new and old - including the massive, and massively fabulous, Tiny Cooper, offensive lineman and musical theater auteur extraordinaire - Will and Will begin building toward respective romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history's most awesome high school musical.

My Opinion

4 stars

Even though I knew there were two Will Graysons it still took me a minute to realize that the chapters alternated between their points of view.  If I didn't know the premise of the book I would've been thoroughly confused; instead, I caught on after a few chapters and was only mildly confused in the beginning.

This book gave me an escape and was a reminder of all the best parts of reading. Even though the teens were too eloquent to be believed and Tiny was too good to be true at times, the dialogue was so quote-worthy that I was all in and loved the ride.  What made it a 4 star (still really, really good) read was that it was a bit too much in both directions - the drop at the end was sudden and ruined the "young love" buzz that was feeding my endorphins.  

Quote from the Book

"The English language has a long and storied history. And in all that time, no one has ever asked a "random question" about "epiphanies" for "no reason." "Random questions" are the least random of all questions."

Obama: An Intimate Portrait

Book 9 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read on January 29

Obama: An Intimate Portrait 

by Pete Souza

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2017

Pete Souza served as Chief Official White House Photographer for President Obama's full two terms. He was with the President during more crucial moments than anyone else - and he photographed them all. Souza took nearly two million photographs of President Obama, capturing moments both highly classified and disarmingly candid.

Obama: An Intimate Portrait reproduces Souza's most iconic photographs in exquisite detail, more than three hundred in all. Some have never been published. These photographs document the most consequential hours of the Presidency - including the historic image of President Obama and his advisors in the Situation Room during the bin Ladin mission - alongside unguarded moments with the President's family, his encounters with children, his interactions with world leaders and cultural figures, and more.

Souza's photographs, with the behind-the-scenes captions and stories that accompany them, communicate the pace and power of our nation's highest office. They also reveal the spirit of the extraordinary man who became our President. We see President Obama lead our nation through monumental challenges, comfort us in calamity and loss, share in hard-won victories, and set a singular example to "be kind and useful," as he would instruct his daughters.

The result is a portrait of exceptional intimacy and a stunning record of a landmark era in American history.

My Opinion

5 stars

I loved this book and it was a wonderful way to spend some time reminiscing.  I miss him and his administration so much.

As far as a review, there's not much to say.  If you're like me and would enjoy it the reasons why are obvious and if you know you wouldn't like page after page of Obama, nothing I can say would change your mind.

Forward

Book 8 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from January 24 - 27

Forward

by Abby Wambach

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2016

Abby Wambach has always pushed the limits of what is possible. At age seven she was put on the boys’ soccer team. At age thirty-five she would become the highest goal scorer — male or female — in the history of soccer, capturing the nation’s heart with her team’s 2015 World Cup Championship. Called an inspiration and “badass” by President Obama and "the soul of the United States team" by the New York Times, Abby has become a fierce advocate for women’s rights and equal opportunity, pushing to translate the success of her team to the real world.

As she reveals in this searching memoir, Abby’s professional success often masked her inner struggle to reconcile the various parts of herself: ferocious competitor, daughter, leader, wife. With stunning candor, Abby shares her inspiring and often brutal journey from girl in Rochester, New York, to world-class athlete. Far more than a sports memoir, Forward is a gripping tale of resilience and redemption — and a reminder that heroism is, above all, about embracing life’s challenges with fearlessness and heart.

My Opinion

4 stars

There are pictures included which is something I always note when reading memoirs as a personal plus.

She really puts it all out there regarding her strengths, weaknesses, and insecurities.  I read it very quickly because she writes in an accessible, digestible way even when discussing tough topics.  You don't have to be a soccer fan to get something out of this book because her dedication to her job as well as the overall betterment of girls/women applies to multiple situations.

It was nice reading this a few years after it came out knowing that she finds love, happiness, and success post-soccer since she wrote about the uncertainty and worries she felt about life after retirement.

Quote from the Book

"People don't talk about the hard transitions enough, the hard bits of life. Strength is a full gamut. You've got to be strong from top to bottom, but you also have to raise your hand and say, "I'm feeling weak right now. I need some help." There is true strength is being able to ask for help."

Watching You

Book 7 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from January 17 - 23

Watching You

by Lisa Jewell

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2018

Melville Heights is one of the nicest neighborhoods in Bristol, England. It's not usually the sort of place where people are murdered in their own kitchens. But it is the sort of place where everyone has a secret and prying eyes lurk behind every curtain. So who has been murdered - and who would have wanted one of their neighbors dead?

My Opinion

3 stars

The author has a very suspenseful writing style that drew me in right away.  I really enjoyed reading it but what took it down to 3 stars for me was the last half of the book when situations kept being added instead of any sort of resolutions happening...there could've been multiple books for ALL the characters having ALL the problems.  I'm being careful not to give spoilers but people who have read it will know what I'm talking about when I have to mention the extreme eye-rolling I did when one of the characters that was at the crime scene left an item there out of the blue that completely unraveled the whole thing.

Overall, not a bad way to pass time and I'd read the author again.

Quote from the Book

"It's an innocuous room, bland even. A kitchen like a million other kitchens all across the country. A kitchen for drinking coffee in, for doing homework and eating breakfast and reading newspapers in. Not a kitchen for dark secrets of crimes of passion. Not a kitchen for murdering someone in."

I Am C-3PO

Book 6 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from January 17 - 23

I Am C-3PO: The Inside Story

by Anthony Daniels

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2019

Actor Anthony Daniels first set eyes on the droid that would change his life in George Lucas' office in 1975. This encounter would lead to the role of a lifetime and the creation of an icon.

Daniels tells a riveting, humorous and often moving tale of life on (and off) the sets of all nine Star Wars movies, including Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, giving fascinating new insights into that galaxy far, far away.

Working with George Lucas and J.J. Abrams, encounters with legends like Sir Alec Guinness and the experience of being enclosed in a hard shell for countless hours - Daniels' story promises insights even ardent fans have never heard before.

My Opinion

3 stars

I can't speak to the claim on the book jacket of "insights even ardent fans have never heard before" because I'm nowhere near an ardent fan. I'm not even a casual fan because I've never seen the movies.  I haven't actively avoided seeing them but I'm not much of a movie watcher in general and my husband, a huge fan, has friends who share his passion and he would much rather share those experiences with them.  That being said, I haven't been living under a rock my entire life so I was familiar enough with the people and scenes to picture what he was talking about.  Plus actual pictures helped - there were so many photos included which is always a personal plus for me when reading a memoir.

The parts about the first trilogy were really interesting.  The parts about the second trilogy dragged for multiple reasons.  He was jaded and liked that experience the least and it was all digital so there wasn't much to say about the performance anyway.  The parts about the third trilogy were an improvement over the second but not as good as the first because of all the talk about merchandising and him sounded pretty entitled about the character.  I guess it would come naturally after playing a part for 40+ years, especially when he wasn't appreciated for all of his physical work during the first trilogy, but I can imagine him being a little insufferable on the set sometimes.

The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek

Book 5 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from January 13 - 17

The Lost Causes of Bleak Creek

by Rhett McLaughlin & Link Neal

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2019

It's 1992 in Bleak Creek, North Carolina, a sleepy little place with all the trappings of an ordinary Southern town: two Baptist churches, friendly smiles coupled with silent judgments, and a seemingly unquenchable appetite for pork products. Beneath the town’s cheerful façade, however, Bleak Creek teens live in constant fear of being sent to The Whitewood School, a local reformatory with a record of putting unruly teens back on the straight and narrow—a record so impeccable that almost everyone is willing to ignore the mysterious deaths that have occurred there over the past decade.

At first, high school freshmen Rex McClendon and Leif Nelson believe what they’ve been told—that the students’ strange demises were all tragic accidents. But when the shoot for their low-budget horror masterpiece, PolterDog, goes horribly awry—and their best friend, Candice Boykins, is sent to Whitewood as punishment—Rex and Leif are forced to question everything they know about their unassuming hometown and its cherished school for delinquents.

Eager to rescue their friend, Rex and Leif pair up with recent NYU film school grad Janine Blitstein to begin piecing together the unsettling truth of the school and its mysterious founder, Wayne Whitewood. What they find, with Candice’s life hanging in the balance, will leave them battling an evil beyond their wildest teenage imaginations—one that will shake Bleak Creek to its core.

My Opinion

4 stars

I have a passing familiarity with Rhett and Link but my son really likes them so I'd had this book on my radar for him and decided to give it a chance myself when I saw it at the library.  I didn't realize it was fiction until I started reading it which changed my entire outlook; I'm glad I didn't pass it by thinking I didn't know enough about them to read it.

The pages passed quickly, the early 90's references were great for my age, and the story moved along at the right pace.  It's an adult fiction novel but it reads like well-written Juvenile Fiction.  That's not an insult, what I mean is that younger readers would enjoy and be able to follow the plot but it's still entertaining for adults as well.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Book 4 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from January 10 - 17

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

by Heather Morris

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2018

In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.

Imprisoned for more than two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.

One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.

My Opinion

3 stars

I received this book for Christmas and chose to read it right away because my 13 year old daughter is very interested in it and I wanted to read it first.  I was a little confused going in if this was fiction or non-fiction so I looked it up and the author said it was historical fiction because characters have been combined and not all events happened in that exact order but it's based on her conversations with Lale himself and the dates/places of his recollections seem to match up with historical records.

The writing was beautiful.  It read like a testimony and it almost called for me to read it aloud.  My daughter can definitely read it and she might enjoy it more than I did.  The main characters had things work out for them inexplicably time and time again; I'm not saying I was looking for more sorrow but so many situations work out for him with so many different people that he must've been the luckiest man alive.  If I was treating it as a novel I would have more to say about that but I'm going treat it as the recollections of an elderly man and not pass judgement on how he looks back on his life.

Make sure to read through to the end for pictures, a postscript from the author, and a note from Lale's son.  I had the paperback just in case these things aren't in every edition.

The Other Side of the Coin

Book 3 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from January 5 - 13

The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser, and the Wardrobe

by Angela Kelly

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2019

When Angela Kelly and The Queen are together, laughter echoes through the corridors of Buckingham Palace.

Angela has worked with The Queen and walked the corridors of the Royal Household for twenty-five years, initially as Her Majesty’s Senior Dresser and then latterly as Her Majesty’s Personal Advisor, Curator, Wardrobe and In-house Designer. As the first person in history to hold this title, she shares a uniquely close working relationship with The Queen.

In The Other Side of the Coin, The Queen has personally given Angela her blessing to share their extraordinary bond with the world. Whether it’s preparing for a formal occasion or brightening Her Majesty’s day with a playful joke, Angela’s priority is to serve and support. Sharing never-before-seen photographs – many from Angela’s own private collection – and charming anecdotes of their time spent together, this revealing book provides memorable insights into what it’s like to work closely with The Queen, to curate her wardrobe and to discover a true and lasting connection along the way.

My Opinion

3 stars

I was given this book as a gift because of my fascination with the Royal Family.  Even though she did a good job honoring the confidentiality of her job there were more "behind-the scenes" stories than I expected and I was pleasantly surprised at the new information I learned.  Her love of the job comes through in the stories and in the thought she puts into each outfit; there is so much to consider to make sure The Queen is appropriately dressed in multiple weather/culture scenarios.

I don't have a huge interest in fashion but the details were interesting.  There were lots of little things that I'd never thought of before concerning both the making of the garments and the logistics of The Queen needing to change clothes for multiple events in a day.  It also made me think of just how many people shift their lives completely to work for The Queen, especially considering the travel responsibilities.  The author conveyed her love for her children and grandchildren but I'm sure there were many sacrifices made over the years for her job.

The author mentioned in her acknowledgments recording an audio version of this book and I don't think that would be a good option in this case because of all the photos involved that add so much to the stories.

Quote from the Book

"It's at a moment like that - sharing a joke with Her Majesty while on a visit to one of the most beautiful countries in the world - that I truly appreciate how lucky I am to work for someone with such a great sense of humor."

When the Killing's Done

Book 2 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from January 1 - 10

When the Killing's Done

by T. C. Boyle

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2011

Alma Boyd Takesue is a National Park Service biologist who is spearheading the efforts to save the islands' endangered native creatures from invasive species such as rats and feral pigs, which, in her view, must be eliminated. Her antagonist, Dave LaJoy, is a muscular, dreadlocked local businessman who, along with his inamorata, the folk-singer Anise Reed, is fiercely opposed to the killing of any species whatsoever, and will go to any lengths to subvert the plans of Alma and her colleagues.

Their confrontation plays out in a series of escalating scenes in which these characters violently confront one another, contemplate acts of sabotage, court danger and tempt the awesome destructive power of nature itself. Boyle deepens his story by going back in time to relate the harrowing tale of Alma'a grandmother Beverly, who was the sole survivor of a 1946 shipwreck in the channel, as well as the tragic story of Rita, who in the late 1970s lived and worked on a sheep ranch on Santa Cruz Island.

My Opinion

3 stars

I picked this up on a whim at a used book sale because I thought the title was cool and then when I started to read I discovered it was a signed copy - unexpected bonus.

I'll admit when I picked it up I thought it was going to be a mystery so I was wary reading the description.  Time jumps, multiple characters, and lots of conflict can make a very convoluted story but luckily that was not the case here.  The characters were distinct, the point-of-view switches were clear, and it helped that the sections for each time period were long enough to settle in and get a full story before moving to something else.  This was the kind of book that I enjoyed reading while I was reading it but felt no pressing need to pick it up again once I'd set it down.  I'm not sure how long it would've taken me to read it if I wasn't committing to reading a certain number of pages every day this year.

I didn't agree with all of the characters but there was only one where I didn't at least understand why they made the choices they did.  Dave LaJoy wasn't ambiguous at all and was the "bad guy" from his introduction as someone yelling at waitresses and bums to the end of the book where there was no redemption.  Even his partner Anise earned a little sympathy when hearing her backstory but LaJoy never did.

Over the Top

Book 1 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from January 1 - 4

Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love

by Jonathan Van Ness

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2019

Who gave Jonathan Van Ness permission to be the radiant human he is today? No one, honey.

The truth is, it hasn’t always been gorgeous for this beacon of positivity and joy.

Before he stole our hearts as the grooming and self-care expert on Netflix’s hit show Queer Eye, Jonathan was growing up in a small Midwestern town that didn’t understand why he was so…over the top. From choreographed carpet figure skating routines to the unavoidable fact that he was Just. So. Gay., Jonathan was an easy target and endured years of judgement, ridicule and trauma—yet none of it crushed his uniquely effervescent spirit.

Over the Top uncovers the pain and passion it took to end up becoming the model of self-love and acceptance that Jonathan is today. In this revelatory, raw, and rambunctious memoir, Jonathan shares never-before-told secrets and reveals sides of himself that the public has never seen. JVN fans may think they know the man behind the stiletto heels, the crop tops, and the iconic sayings, but there’s much more to him than meets the Queer Eye.

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll come away knowing that no matter how broken or lost you may be, you’re a Kelly Clarkson song, you’re strong, and you’ve got this.

My Opinion

4 stars

Memoirs are generally easy to review because it's going to be pretty clear going in if this is a person you're interested in learning about and I don't judge people's life experiences.  So the only question for a review is if it's well-written and if they actually give out information that makes the read worth it.  The answers in this case are yes and yes.

I'm not a fan of audiobooks because my mind wanders too easily and I read to get away from voices speaking to me but in this case his voice was in my head the entire time I was reading it anyway and I bet the audio version is really good as well.

One thing I will say is that there were things revealed in his memoir that he hadn't talked about publicly beforehand.  However, I'm reading this late enough in the game that I already knew them thanks to following him on social media and/or listening to interviews with him about the book (which tended to focus on the most salacious details as most interviews will).  I'm glad I did because he goes into so much more detail on those other platforms, especially regarding U=U.  So I recommend listening to him further on some of those revelatory topics, both for the information and because he has a lot more to say than these pages covered.  

Quote from the Book

"Letting go of that idea that I needed to be normal or that I somehow wasn't normal just because I needed to prioritize self-care to be healthy is the biggest gift I've given myself."