The Best We Could Do

Book 56 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from August 21 - 27

The Best We Could Do

by Thi Bui

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2017

This illustrated memoir is about the search for a better future and a longing for the past. Exploring the anguish of immigration and the lasting effects that displacement has on a child and her family, Bui documents the story of her family’s daring escape after the fall of South Vietnam in the 1970s, and the difficulties they faced building new lives for themselves.
 At the heart of Bui’s story is a universal struggle: While adjusting to life as a first-time mother, she ultimately discovers what it means to be a parent—the endless sacrifices, the unnoticed gestures, and the depths of unspoken love. Despite how impossible it seems to take on the simultaneous roles of both parent and child, Bui pushes through. 

My Opinion

4 stars

Adding the illustrations/graphic novel aspects to her memoir really enhanced the story.  Breaking it up into panels and not having a lot of words made it jarring and not entirely explained or wrapped up, which is how the author said she received the information she was able to get from her parents.

The ending brought me to tears.  It also reminded me this is a history I'm entirely unfamiliar with; I know very little about Vietnam and what I do know is through the American lens of the Vietnam War.

What Makes a Marriage Last

Book 55 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from August 6 - 24

What Makes a Marriage Last: 40 Celebrated Couples Share with Us the Secrets to a Happy Life

by Marlo Thomas & Phil Donahue

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2020

What makes a marriage last? Who doesn't want to know the answer to that question? To unlock this mystery, iconic couple Marlo Thomas and Phil Donahue crisscrossed the country and conducted intimate conversations with forty celebrated couples whose long marriages they've admired - from award-winning actors, athletes, and newsmakers to writers, comedians, musicians, and a former U.S. president and First Lady. Through these conversations, Marlo and Phil also revealed the rich journey of their own marriage.

What Makes a Marriage Last offers practical and heartfelt wisdom for couples of all ages, and a rare glimpse into the lives of husbands and wives we have come to know and love. Marlo and Phil's frequently funny, often touching, and always engaging conversations span the marital landscape - from that first rush of new love to keeping that precious spark alive, from navigating hard times to celebrating triumphs, from balancing work and play and family to growing better and stronger together. At once intimate, handed, revelatory, hilarious, instructive, and poignant, this book is a beautiful gift for couples of every age and stage.

My Opinion

5 stars

I loved this book because it was conversational people-watching at its best.  The story of each couple was stand-alone so reading here and there throughout the day was easy and left me with a good feeling.  I was sad when it was over.  Random fact: there were a collective 1,252 years of marriage (as of the time of publication) in this book!  I'm assuming that only refers to the current marriages because a few of them took a few tries to get it "right", haha.

The pictures of each couple from their wedding were amazing and the format of them doing the interviews in person as a foursome (like a double date), usually in the comfort of their own homes, led to natural, spontaneous conversations.  Even when it turned to difficult or sad topics, there was still an undertone of hope, probably because I knew they wouldn't be in the book if they hadn't made it through.  I liked how the authors sprinkled their own story throughout but didn't steer the narrative too much; much of the book was just transcripts of the conversations rather than their interpretations/recollections.

They made audio recordings of every conversation and if they had done video I would watch it!  This would be a great short-form, YouTube series.  Random fact: the only couples to "double-tape" (the interviewed couple taped the conversation as well) were Jesse and Jacqueline Jackson and Bob and Else Woodward.

It had a wide variety of people and their stories were interesting even if I wasn't familiar with them.  The authors also made a point to include same-sex couples because even though their years of marriage may not qualify in a typical "longevity" book, that was because of the legalities and not because of a lack of commitment.

Island of Shipwrecks

 Book 54 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from July 25 - August 21

Island of Shipwrecks

by Lisa McMann

Book 5 of the Unwanteds series

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2015

Alex and his friends barely survived the harrowing journey over the waterfall. They're lost at sea with a damaged ship and a seriously injured cremate. Before they can fix anything, a sudden hurricane destroys their ship - their only way to get back to Artime.

Now they're stranded on an island full of mysterious remnants of other lives and histories...and they're not alone. They soon discover surprising connections to the world they know, leading to intriguing new questions. None of it will matter, though, if Alex can't find a way to get his people back home.

Back in Quill, Aaron's power base grows as he aligns himself with an unlikely ally. Together, the two enact a drastic, risky plan to finally conquer Artime - a plan that could ultimately leave everyone in Artime and Quill in far more danger than Aaron could have ever imagined.

My Opinion

2 stars

This one was definitely my least favorite in the series so far.  My daughter is the one that recommended the series to me and I had to ask her if it's just this book or if the whole series takes a turn and she reassured me the things I didn't like were just plot development in this book and to keep going with the series.  I'll trust her judgement, especially since I really liked the series before this.

I didn't like it because nobody was together or talking to each other.  I really want them to get back to discovering new things about Artime and focusing on their island of Quill and Artime.  I missed the teamwork and dynamic between the characters.

I did really like the new characters from the island that were introduced in this book and hope there's a way to see what they're up to in future books. 

I Can't Sleep

 Book 53 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from August 12 - 17

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

I Can't Sleep

by J.E. Rowney

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2020

“I can’t sleep.
Not since June 16th, 2018.
Not since what happened…”

Traumatised by the events of her past, exhausted by insomnia, Becky Braithwaite believes that a new start will help her to recover.

She leaves home to fulfil her brother’s dreams, and honour the life he never had…
but she soon finds that escaping from the past is not as easy as she imagined.

Is her fatigued mind playing tricks on her, or is danger really lurking in the shadows?

This unputdownable psychological thriller will keep you turning the pages to find out the truth.

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 it**

This book was a good length with great pacing.  The details were sprinkled throughout but it also didn't give a million hints before any payoff.  This was the kind of book that I thought about when I wasn't reading it.  The ending had a good resolution but also didn't answer all questions.  

Tomboyland

 Book 52 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from July 7 - August 12

Tomboyland

by Melissa Faliveno

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2020

Flyover country, the middle of nowhere, the space between the coasts. The American Midwest is a place beyond definition, whose very boundaries are a question. It’s a place of rolling prairies and towering pines, where guns in bars and trucks on blocks are as much a part of the landscape as rivers and lakes and farms. Where girls are girls and boys are boys, where women are mothers and wives, where one is taught to work hard and live between the lines. But what happens when those lines become increasingly unclear? When a girl, like the land that raised her, finds herself neither here nor there?
In this intrepid collection of essays, Melissa Faliveno traverses the liminal spaces of her childhood in working-class Wisconsin and the paths she’s traveled since, compelled by questions of girlhood and womanhood, queerness and class, and how the lands of our upbringing both define and complicate us even long after we’ve left. Part personal narrative, part cultural reportage, Tomboyland navigates midwestern traditions, mythologies, landscapes, and lives to explore the intersections of identity and place. From F5 tornadoes and fast-pitch softball to gun culture, strange glacial terrains, kink party potlucks, and the question of motherhood, Faliveno asks curious, honest, and often darkly funny questions about belonging and the body, isolation and community, and what we mean when we use words like woman, family, and home.

My Opinion

3 stars

I read this book through the Amazon First Reads program for Prime members.  I don't know if that needs a disclosure but since I downloaded it for free I wanted to mention it just in case.

I didn't realize it was non-fiction until I started reading it, with essays both about herself but also about her community.  They were also on the "long" side of "short" stories and it took me more than one sitting to read most of them.  I have a few notes on each individual essay.

The Finger of God: it was good writing but since it was the first one I was still getting over my surprise of a) it being non-fiction and b) the longer lengths.  This one was mostly about other people.

Tomboy: This one was about her but also compared her individual circumstances to historical context and her more global community which I really liked.  Since I'm reading the e-version of this I haven't even looked at the author photo and I'm not familiar with her work so it felt strange to know nothing about her but such incredibly intimate details.  Not strange in a bad way but just something I noted.

Of A Moth: this was the only one I read in one sitting.  It still felt a little long for the topic, moth non-fiction, but it was a good length for an essay.

Switch-Hitter: My favorite one.  This was so descriptive and personal, I felt like I was on the field too.  This felt the most personal and again, had the mix of her stories with historical context that added depth. 

Meat and Potatoes: This one held my interest from start to finish and had the most unexpected directions with the stories.

Gun Country: She was able to mix her viewpoints in with the differing viewpoints of her friends and family without making fun of them.  Really interesting read.

Motherland: I really liked this one.  It was honest but not defensive.

Driftless: Short and sweet with the right amount of nostalgia.

First Dads

 Book 51 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from July 2 - August 6

First Dads: Parenting and Politics 

from George Washington to Barack Obama

by Joshua Kendall

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2016

Every president has had some experience as a parent. Of the 43 men who have served in the nation's highest office, 38 have fathered biological children and the other five adopted children. Each president's parenting style reveals much about his beliefs as well as his psychological make-up. James Garfield enjoyed jumping on the bed with his kids. FDR's children, on the other hand, had to make appointments to talk to him.
In a lively narrative, based on research in archives around the country, Kendall shows presidential character in action. Readers will learn which type of parent might be best suited to leading the American people and, finally, how the fathering experiences of our presidents have forever changed the course of American history.

My Opinion

3 stars

I thought this was an unique take on looking at the presidents.  Overall, it emphasized how little I actually know about most of the presidents beyond name recognition.  While this book was well-researched I also took things with a grain of salt since a lot of history relies on subjective assessment, either by themselves or someone else.  Same with the scandals, especially concerning possible illegitimate children; it was probably my favorite section but I know those things are impossible to know for sure.

It was also interesting to compare the public vs. private persona - things that would be strengths as a president can be weaknesses as a parent.  For example, Grover Cleveland didn't form close relationships which isn't great as a father but helped keep his administration small (he didn't feel a compulsion to appoint friends or keep people around for loyalty).  Or many successful presidents were successful because they were so focused on their career, not leaving as much time for a home life, especially in the early days when travel was difficult.

This would've been a good book for my pre-pandemic lifestyle where I spent a lot of time waiting in the van to pick up or drop off kids.  Even though I'm not driving anywhere I still read it in that way - short snippets here and there.  The book is not set up chronologically but instead grouped the presidents together by their parenting style.  This kept it interesting and easy to follow, especially when I could compare the style to the eras, but since I wasn't reading it quickly there were some points where I had to re-read something to orient myself.  

I chuckled at the sentence, "Until America's entry into the Great War, [Woodrow] Wilson rarely worked long days. He...set the record for presidential golf outings with one thousand."  Since this was published in 2016 I'm guessing there might be a new record holder.  *eye roll*

Fun fact: Franklin Pierce's 7-member cabinet is the only one that stayed together for the full presidential term.

Any Man

 Book 50 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from July 8 - 25

Any Man

by Amber Tamblyn

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2018

A violent serial rapist, who goes by the name Maude, is on the loose. She hunts for men at bars and online - he place doesn't matter, neither does the man. Her victims then must grapple with the aftermath of their assault - doubts from the police, feelings of shame and alienation from their friends and family, and the haunting of a horrible woman who becomes the phantom on which society projects its greatest fears, fascinations, and even misogyny. All the while, the police are without leads, and the media hounds the victims, publicly dissecting the details of their attack.

As the years pass, these men learn to heal by banding together and finding a space to raise their voices. Told in alternating viewpoints, signature to each voice and experience of the victim, these pages crackle with emotion ranging from horror to breathtaking empathy. 

My Opinion

4 stars

Each of the characters were so separate and vivid, I knew who was speaking immediately even with the different viewpoints and formats.

I don't usually remember my dreams but I had a dream about this book while I was reading it so it must've stayed on my mind.  It wasn't a scary dream, it was about the legalities of reporting.

While the subject added to my interest, I really liked the author's writing style and would read anything else she wrote.

16 Ways to Break a Heart

 Book 49 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from July 6 - 8

16 Ways to Break a Heart

by Lauren Strasnick

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2017

Natalie and Dan were electric from the moment they met. Witty banter and sizzling chemistry made falling in love easy—even inevitable. He was in awe of her subversive art and contagious zest for life; she was drawn to his good-guy charm and drive to succeed as a documentary filmmaker.
But that was before. Before hot tempers turned to blowout fights. Before a few little lies turned to broken trust. Before a hundred tiny slights broke them open and exposed the ugly truth of their relationship.
And now Natalie wants Dan to know just how much he broke her.
Over the course of one fateful day, Dan reads sixteen letters that Natalie has secretly, brilliantly hidden in places only he will find. And as he pieces together her version of their love story, he realizes that she has one final message for him. One that might just send his carefully constructed life tumbling down.

My Opinion

3 stars

Huh.  Similar to the roller coaster the characters went through, I went through a roller coaster of emotions as I read it.  It helped that I'm old enough to be past the 'craziness' of teen angst; I definitely wouldn't want someone younger to read this and think it's a great, romantic idea.

The people were awful yet I couldn't stop reading it.  It was also good I read it quickly because the multiple dates, people, and formats took some thought, especially when they happened on the same page.

I was very, very concerned about where it was going but was happy that there didn't end up being too many life-altering things.  Everything felt monumental to them but they didn't hurt anyone else or cause collateral damage.

I knew girls like Natalie which made me uncomfortable.  I didn't go to her extremes but I'll admit there may be an ex or two of mine out there that may describe me as a little...unstable.

The book was a good length, not drawn out.  And now that I'm done reading it, I want to shower and get these characters away from me. 

Three Daughters

 Book 48 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from June 12 - July 7

Three Daughters

by Letty Cottin Pogrebin

Summary (via the book jacket)

published 2002

The Wasserman sisters couldn't be more different, but somehow they must find a way to come together. Shoshanna, the control freak, watches her world turn to chaos as an impending big birthday forces her to reevaluate her contented life. Leah, brilliant English professor, crusading feminist, and passionately conflicted wife and mother, now faces the prospect of losing the husband she has always taken for granted. Rachel, who has papered over her losses with an athlete's discipline and a pragmatism bordering on self-sacrifice, watches her world crumble but finds her destiny in the ruins. Confronting old wounds and forging new bonds, these three daughters of a complicated, charismatic father slowly unite as a force to be reckoned with as they struggle to break their parents' silence and understand their past.

My Opinion

3 stars

I loved this description about something difficult yet necessary: "Yet Shoshanna felt about her lunches with Leah the way she felt about her period: it gave her cramps but she'd be miserable if she missed one."

Having one of the characters laying in bed reviewing her life while unable to sleep was a great way to introduce some backstory, particularly some of the mundane things (she imagined each object in her childhood home as her personal way of counting sheep) that added depth but could be awkward to add in somewhere else.

I rated it 3 stars because I was interested while I was reading it but didn't really miss it when it was over.  I would probably read the author again though.

A Few Quotes from the Book

"If only. In the futility of hindsight lies proof that one can never control everything. It's the choices we make without thinking, the coincidences, the accidental confluence of person, place, and time, that chart destiny's detours. Only after the fact can we see how many minor decisions, how many small moves and tiny turns led us to the point of crisis."

"Each of the Wasserman daughters had used marriage to recover from her childhood."

Island of Legends

 Book 47 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

read from June 10 - July 6

Island of Legends

by Lisa McMann

Book 4 of the Unwanteds series

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2014

When hundreds of lights appear across the sea during Artimé’s first annual masquerade ball, the party is over. Artimé is under attack, and Alex, the magical world’s young mage, must prove he can handle his newfound leadership.
Alex receives no help from Aaron, his scheming twin brother. Instead of rallying Quill to help defend their island, Aaron disappears and happens upon a dangerous secret hidden in the jungle—one with the potential to give him the power he desperately desires.
Even in the midst of battle Alex hasn’t forgotten his promise to rescue his new friend Sky’s mother from the volatile Pirates Island, a rocky volcano that randomly spits fire and sinks beneath the ocean’s surface with little warning. Once the rescue team is on the way, friendships are tested and the stakes are high. Ultimately the team discovers there are more creatures than they ever imagined in the waters surrounding their island chain—and not all of them are friendly.

My Opinion

4 stars

I really liked this installment of the series.  There was enough conflict to keep the story moving but the problems didn't feel insurmountable like some of the other books.  This was definitely lighter and it ended on a great cliffhanger so I'm ready to jump right into the next one! 

Beautiful On the Outside

 Book 46 of my 2020 Reading Challenge

 read from June 24 - July 1

Beautiful on the Outside

by Adam Rippon

Summary (via Goodreads)

published 2019

Your mom probably told you it's what on the inside that counts. Well, then she was never a competitive figure skater. Olympic medalist Adam Rippon has been making it pretty for the judges even when, just below the surface, everything was an absolute mess. From traveling to practices on the Greyhound bus next to ex convicts to being so poor he could only afford to eat the free apples at his gym, Rippon got through the toughest times with a smile on his face, a glint in his eye, and quip ready for anyone listening. 

Beautiful on the Outside looks at his journey from a homeschooled kid in Scranton, Pennsylvania, to a self-professed American sweetheart on the world stage and all the disasters and self-delusions it took to get him there. Yeah, it may be what's on the inside that counts, but life is so much better when it's beautiful on the outside.

My Opinion

4 stars

I've been reading a lot of memoirs/biographies during this pandemic for a few reasons.  First, I'm a big library user so when the libraries are closed and I'm reading from my "home shelves" I don't have as many options for non-fiction.  There is no shortage of fiction books for me to choose from but most of my non-fiction options are memoirs/biographies.  Second, my pandemic reading has led me to seek out "lighter" options; with so much uncertainty in the world, I can't tax my brain with more information.  Third, it's a little bit of a copout as far as my workload.  I generally don't judge memoirs when reviewing them and only talk about the writing style/presentation so reading a lot of them means I don't have to put as much thought into what I want to say here.  Yet I still managed to get behind on publishing my reviews.  It happens every year!  

So that was a lot of writing to say this...I like Adam Rippon's interviews and was able to hear his voice as I was reading it.  He didn't hold back and I learned a lot, even if some of the tougher times were glossed over in an "all's well that ends well" kind of tone.  But that's also his overall vibe which is why it felt authentic...experience it, make a snarky joke about it to ease the tension, and try to move on.

Quote from the Book

"That summer I also dyed my hair purple, which meant that it now clashed with my red-and-yellow costume, which meant I needed something new to wear to my competition. Yes, that is the gayest sentence in this entire book."