Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

Book 35 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from April 24 - May 7

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry

by Neil deGrasse Tyson

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2017

What is the nature of space and time? How do we fit within the universe? How does the universe fit within us? There’s no better guide through these mind-expanding questions than acclaimed astrophysicist and best-selling author Neil deGrasse Tyson.

But today, few of us have time to contemplate the cosmos. So Tyson brings the universe down to Earth succinctly and clearly, with sparkling wit, in tasty chapters consumable anytime and anywhere in your busy day.

My Opinion

3 stars

The title and description of the book show that it's geared towards busy people who only have time for short, digestible chunks.  I read it that way, a chapter or two at a time, even though I have nothing but time at the moment.  Thanks Covid-19.

I thought it was fine.  The explanations of things were decent but a little dense for the audience it's aimed for (people with little knowledge which also implies not-avid interest).  There were interesting tidbits but nothing that made me want to research further.

Fun fact: Everything in our solar system except the sun adds up to less than one fifth of one percent of the Sun's mass.  That is mind-boggling to think about.

Quote from the Book

"We are stardust brought to life, then empowered by the universe to figure itself out - and we have only just begun."

The Unwanteds

Book 34 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from April 18 - May 3

The Unwanteds

by Lisa McMann

Book 1 of The Unwanted series

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2011

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their graves.

On the day of the Purge, identical twins Alex and Aaron Stowe await their fate. While Aaron is hopeful of becoming a Wanted, Alex knows his chances are slim. He's been caught drawing with a stick in the dirt - and in the stark gray land of Quill, being creative is a death sentence.

But when Alex and the other Unwanteds face the Eliminators, they discover an eccentric magician names Mr. Today and his hidden world that exists to save the condemned children. Artime is a colorful place of talking statues, uncommon creatures, and artistic magic, where creativity is considered a gift...and a weapon.

My Opinion

Re-read 2020: 
I decided to read it again since it had been so long and I want to continue the series. I'm letting my original review stand as is and am only adding this as a placeholder for accuracy in my yearly total.

Original review 2015: 
My daughter loves this series. She recommended it to me as soon as she finished the first one, and it's always among the first she mentions when asked the inevitable, "You're a reader, what should my kids read?" Which she loves being asked by the way, unlike me - giving recommendations gives me sweaty anxiety! Anyway, back to the book...

I absolutely loved it. This could be a movie with an Oz like shift to color when the Unwanteds meet Mr. Today for the first time. 

The author did a great job of keeping it at a J level but also making it intriguing for adults. Something else that was unusual and kid-friendly - there was enough action at the end that this could stand alone satisfactorily if they didn't love it or want to continue the series. 

Definitely recommended for someone looking for a read with their kids but be forewarned...I read it myself and this is one that I would've wanted to read ahead if I had been reading to the kids and they had to go to bed.

I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

Early to Death, Early to Rise

Book 33 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from April 19 - 25

Early to Death, Early to Rise

by Kim Harrison

Book 2 of the Madison Avery series

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2010

Madison Avery's dreams of ever fitting in at her new school died when she did. Especially since she was able to maintain the illusion of a body, deal with a pesky guardian angel, and oh yeah, bring the reaper who killed her to his untimely end. Not exactly in-crowd material. It's amazing that her crush, Josh, doesn't think she's totally nuts. 

Now Madison has learned that she's the dark timekeeper, in charge of angels who follow the murky guidelines of fate. Never one to abide by the rules, she decides it's time for a major change to the system. With the help of some unlikely allies, Madison forms a rogue group of reapers who definitely don't adhere to the rules of the heavens. 

But as she grapples with the terrifying new skills that come with being a timekeeper, Madison realizes she may not be prepared for what lies ahead —unless she gets some seriously divine intervention.

My Opinion

4 stars

You MUST read the first book (Once Dead, Twice Shy) before reading this because there is no recap and the story jumps right in where we left off.  I'm glad I read the first one recently and will look into getting the third one ASAP.

I lose myself quickly so it's a great distraction but that doesn't mean I loved it.  It relied too much on what I call the "Dan Brown effect"...it looks like a character is backed into a corner but turn the page and a brand-new character conveniently shows up to save the day.  The new characters convoluted the story a bit and took away from what I was looking forward to the most from the end of the first book (3 characters going to school in a fish-out-of-water situation).

The review is coming across more negatively than I felt about it.  I think it's because when I was enjoying it I was absorbed and not taking notes so the only things I jotted down were things that took me out of the story.  All in all, I'd recommend it to a YA audience or even a higher juvenile fiction reader; there is no swearing other than maybe a "damn", the fight scenes don't have graphic violence, and there is no sex.

Creative Types

Book 32 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from April 20 - 24

Note: I read an ARC provided from NetGalley (full disclaimer in my review)

Creative Types: And Other Stories

by Tom Bissell

Summary (via Goodreads)

expected publication: October 2020 

A young and ingratiating assistant to a movie star makes a blunder that puts his boss and a major studio at grave risk. A couple hires a partner for a threesome to rejuvenate their relationship after the birth of their child. An assistant at a prestigious literary journal reconnects with a middle school frenemy and finds his carefully constructed world of refinement cannot protect him from his past.

In these and other stories, Tom Bissell vividly renders the complex worlds of characters on the brink of artistic and personal crisis--writers, actors, and other creative types who see things slightly differently from the rest of us. Surreal, poignant, squirmingly awkward--and always just a little bit off--this collection is a brilliant new offering from one of the most versatile and talented writers in America today.

My Opinion

4 stars

**I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley and would like to thank the author and/or publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review this book**

I really liked the majority of these stories.  They were character-driven but in foreign places so it made them a little more exotic than typical "slice-of-life" stories.  They were unpredictable with varied themes throughout the stories so it didn't feel repetitive as some short story collections can.

I cringed multiple times while reading; that's not a bad thing but a description of when an author keeps you on your toes because you don't know what's going to happen and it's a little uncomfortable as you find out.  Sometimes it was intentional to the story, such as the realistic "foot-in-mouth" awkward conversations in "Creative Types".  Sometimes I'm not sure it was as intentional - "The Hack" read a little creepy to me since it was about real people and I'm not familiar enough with the author or actors to know if there's a backstory I'm missing.  Sometimes it was "so bad it's funny", such as some of the descriptions during sex scenes ("his cock was as warm as a mouthful of blood" - definitely descriptive but not expected or appealing).

I would definitely read this author again.