The A to Z of You and Me

 Book 67 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

The A to Z of You and Me

by James Hannah

4 stars

The A to Z game is suggested to Ivo by a nurse as a way to pass the time.  He's in hospice nearing the end of his life and playing this game in his mind is a way to reflect on his life and keep his mind occupied.

I was looking for a quick read I could get lost in while de-stressing from all the Christmas hubbub and this book fit the bill.  It was sad but also clear.  Ivo was an easy character to root for, even with all his faults.

A Room Called Earth

 Book 66 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

A Room Called Earth

by Madeleine Ryan

3 stars

A Room Called Earth takes place over the course of one evening in a young woman's life.  I didn't realize until just now that she literally doesn't have a name.  It's first-person so I didn't really notice but looking back, she never introduces herself or has a conversation that references her name.  And as I'm flipping through to verify that I realize nobody has names.  Interesting.

Anyway, she seems self-aware so it wasn't so bad reading her inner monologues but man, some of those conversations made me cringe!  The spacing also made it hard to distinguish who is talking, especially when she was speaking in a group of 3.

I loved the line, "Although she desperately wants to be seen, she doesn't want to take up space."

The Boy and Girl Who Broke the World

 Book 65 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

The Boy and Girl Who Broke the World

by Amy Reed

4 stars

Published in 2019, The Boy and Girl Who Broke the World is about Billy and Lydia, two loners who find friendship and other unexpected things when they start hanging out together.  

Although it took some time before we started getting answers about the strange things happening, it was really refreshing to read a teen book without a romance aspect between the two main characters. And "Rainy Day Knife Fight" is a great name for a band!

Quote from the Book

"Animals hide when they are wounded. They snarl at anyone who comes near."

Men Explain Things to Me

Book 64 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Men Explain Things to Me

by Rebecca Solnit

5 stars

Published in 2014, Men Explain Things to Me is a collection of essays with a theme of violence against women running throughout.  I wish it didn't read as though it could've been written in 2022; substituting more current names and situations would be the only changes needed.

I read this in one sitting but it's a book I will also revisit and share with those around me.

Quote from the Book

"Most women fight wars on two fronts, one for whatever the putative topic is and one simply for the right to speak, to have ideas, to be acknowledged to be in possession of facts and truths, to have value, to be a human being."

Stories from Quarantine

 Book 63 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Stories from Quarantine

by various authors

5 stars

An alternate title of this book is The Decameron Project.  In March 2020 the editors of The New York Times Magazine reached out to authors for stories about Covid-19.  Even though they're fiction stories they're pulled from experiences we all shared and are generating real reactions from me remembering.  I wish it wasn't still so familiar as I read this in 2022 but this book will also help with reflection when someday (hopefully) this is all a distant memory.

Hidden Power

 Book 62 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Hidden Power: Presidential Marriages That Shaped Our History

by Kati Marton

4 stars

This was published in 2002 and my first thought was that the Obamas would've made an excellent addition to these examples; I want an updated edition after a few more presidencies have passed!  

I also noticed how the way people view the Clintons has changed with time - the book being written shortly after Bill left office just as Hillary was being elected to the Senate paints a different picture than history now reflects.  

Looking at the marriages and partnerships instead of the individuals is an angle I haven't seen before but makes complete sense.  Of course the presidency is shaped by the president's home life.  All in all, a really interesting and well-researched book.

Darkest Mercy

 Book 61 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Darkest Mercy

by Melissa Marr

4 stars

Published in 2011, Darkest Mercy is the 5th and final book of the "Wicked Lovely" series.  I'm glad I checked all 5 books out at once so I could read the series quickly from start to finish.

The book had some new plots but mainly wrapped up the series and all of the characters had some sort of closure.  I was surprised and satisfied with the ending.  I'm also glad the series ended when it did instead of continuing to expand.

When I Found You

 Book 60 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

When I Found You

by Catherine Ryan Hyde

4 stars

Published in 2013, When I Found You is the story of Nathan, a man who finds an abandoned newborn in the woods and Nat, the boy he found.  I grabbed it on a whim from Prime Reading and I'm so glad I did.  I'm a sucker for stoic men with gruff exteriors (being a farmer is a plus) who unexpectedly find someone they can let their guard down with.

This book surprised me with its depth and simple emotional pull.  It may not touch everyone but it was the right book at the right time for me and I felt it.

The Stroke of Winter

 Book 59 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

The Stroke of Winter

by Wendy Webb

4 stars

I really enjoy this author so I grabbed and read this book right away when it was an Amazon First Reads option.  She paints scenes so well and since many of her books take place in cold and/or foggy places, I can always feel the chill as I'm reading.

It was a good read with an unexpected ending.  I also liked all of the characters and would read more about them (maybe a series with the ghost hunting club?)

A Treasury of Great American Scandals

 Book 58 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

A Treasury of Great American Scandals: Tantalizing True Tales of Historic Misbehavior by the Founding Fathers and Others Who Let Freedom Swing

by Michael Farquhar

3 stars

This is a lighthearted look at the humanness of historical figures.  He specifically mentions he focuses on individuals, not institutions, and leaves the heavy-hitting misbehavior to those writers who will give it the weight it deserves.  He also notes a conscious choice to not write about anything past 1980 to give history a chance to reflect (this book was written in 2003).

This was a quick way to pass some time and I'd read his other book (A Treasury of Royal Scandals) if I came across it.

Radiant Shadows

 Book 57 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Radiant Shadows

by Melissa Marr

3 stars

Published in 2010, Radiant Shadows is the 4th book in the "Wicked Lovely" series.  I'm still enjoying the series enough to read the 5th and final book right away but this book was darker and tenser than the other books and less fun.  There were so many moving pieces there wasn't as much time to focus on the personalities and interactions.  

I'm interested to see how this all ends.

The Best American Short Stories 1992

 Book 56 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

The Best American Short Stories 1992

by various authors

3 stars

All in all, these were quiet stories that passed by like little snapshots of life.  After finishing I realized they're listed in alphabetical order by author so similarities between a few at the end were coincidental.

The Last Lovely City

I was nervous while reading it because I thought it was going in a different direction.  After reflecting on it I realize how much of the scenarios playing out were in his own head and not what was actually happening around him.

Days of Heaven

That story made me uneasy.  Even though the people weren't being cruel to animals all the talk of hunting and natural death of animals around them in the woods made me sad.  

A Different Kind of Imperfection

I really liked the characters and would've read more of their story.  

Silver Water

I could feel all the emotions just below the surface in this story.  Mental illness is hard for the loved ones as well and it's frustrating to try and find care and help.

A Good Scent from a Strange Mountain

There were a lot of words for a short story and I had to re-read passages to remain grounded in what was happening.

Across the Bridge

The story was fine but felt long for a short story because of the actual number of pages but also because my mind kept wandering.  I wasn't super interested.

Same Place, Same Things

That story pulled me right in.  There was an underlying sense of how one poor choice could have catastrophic decisions but as I read I didn't know which choice (regarding the woman) would be the poor one.

Emergency

That was quick and readable even though I had no idea what was real and what was in the narrator's (drugged) imagination.

The Pugilist at Rest

This story was graphic and tough for me to read because my dad was injured in Vietnam and it affected him for the rest of his life.  

JunHee

BEST SO FAR.  That had the perfect waves of emotions threading through the story and ended at a perfect time.

Community Life

That was good but in an uncomfortable way.  The characters were well-written but cringey and unlikeable, the kind you want to yell at to make better choices.

Carried Away

It started really strongly but by the time it reached Arthur's perspective it was getting a little long and then the ending at the depot went off the rails entirely.

Is Laughter Contagious?

The story was difficult to read because everyone was awful.  

The Fare to the Moon

AMONG BEST.  Everyone was on the same page and even though there was pain, they were honest and there wasn't unnecessary pain due to miscommunication.  It was a good length and even though there were no resolutions now that I think about it, I felt satisfied somehow.

It's Come to This

Meh.  When I take breaks during a short story that's a sign it has not held my interest at all.

The Way People Run

That was unsettling.  It was fine for a short story but I would've tired of the main character if it had gone on much longer.

Forever Overhead

I'm familiar with this author and he always paints such a visceral picture with the details.  My palms were as sweaty as I imagine the main character's were as he was reaching the end of the diving board and deciding whether or not to jump.

Under the Roof

The ending was abrupt and confusing.  I feel like it was supposed to be an "Aha!" moment but I must have missed something because it didn't answer any questions for me.

The Golden Darters

Maybe it's me because this is another story I just couldn't get into.  

Firelight

That was a good story.  

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come

 Book 55 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come: One Introvert's Year of Saying Yes

by Jessica Pan

3 stars

Published in 2019, Sorry I'm Late covers a year of the author's life as she attempts activities outside her comfort zone and challenges her introverted tendencies.  I'm an introvert myself and while I can understand wanting to push boundaries a little bit, this was such a 180 I really struggled to understand why she would put herself through this.  I felt a lot of secondhand embarrassment and some of the things even extroverts would struggle with.

I noticed the author had some "not supposed to" responses to her natural inclinations, such as not bringing books or visiting museums on a trip.  It's fine to want to push yourself to explore more but why completely deny yourself things you enjoy?  Extroverts enjoy museums too.

I definitely want to listen to the podcast The Moth after reading about it, it sounds like something I'd really like.

Excuse Me While I Disappear

Book 54 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Excuse Me While I Disappear: Tales of Midlife Mayhem

by Laurie Notaro

3 stars

For some reason I keep trying this author so I gave this book 3 stars because I should've known it wasn't for me after giving two other books of hers 1 star and 2 stars.  I need to stop.

The story about being up at night and all the drugs and drinks was presented as funny and relatable but it was just sad. 

Fragile Eternity

Book 53 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Fragile Eternity 

by Melissa Marr

4 stars

Published in 2009, Fragile Eternity is the third book in the "Wicked Lovely" series.  As I mentioned in my review of Ink Exchange (the second book), I like that this series builds off of previous stories but makes different characters the main focus.  So they should be read in order and the reader does get updates about previous characters' lives but it keeps things fresh and new as new perspectives come in and the world expands.  

As for this book, I like that the conflicts are from situations and not unnecessarily complicated by a lack of communication (it's a big pet peeve of mine when pages are spent worrying about something a simple conversation could've fixed).  A lot of things kept happening but it made sense.  

I plan on continuing the series right away - there are two more books to go.

Accidental Presidents

 Book 52 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Accidental Presidents

by Jared Cohen

4 stars

Published in 2019, Accidental Presidents covers the 8 vice-presidents who became president upon the death in office of their predecessor and how they shaped history.  They are John Tyler (William Henry Harrison), Millard Fillmore (Zachery Taylor), Andrew Johnson (Abraham Lincoln), Chester Arthur (James Garfield), Theodore Roosevelt (William McKinley), Calvin Coolidge (Warren Harding), and Lyndon B. Johnson (John F. Kennedy).  

It was well-written and interesting.  I learned a lot.

I didn't realize the succession order wasn't officially made until 1947.  If John Tyler hadn't made the decision to succeed Harrison and there had been new elections (either by the people or by Congress), our entire system would be different.  I also didn't realize there was a vice-president that died in office (Garret Hobart in 1899); vice-presidents really do become lost in history.

Although Gerald Ford was briefly mentioned, his circumstances and challenges were obviously different than those mentioned above.

I can tell this was a passion project for the author; the bibliography of his sources was 18 pages of small print!

Quote from the Book

"Eight times a Vice President has become president upon the death of his predecessor - history altered by a heartbeat. This is the story of how these eight men, neither the voters' nor their party's choice, dealt with that power and changed history, for better or worse."

More Tales Behind the Tombstones

 Book 51 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

More Tales Behind the Tombstone: More Deaths and Burials of the Old West's Most Nefarious Outlaws, Notorious Women, and Celebrated Lawmen

by Chris Enss

4 stars

I've always had a fascination with cemeteries and obituaries so this book was right up my alley.  I'm glad women were included, especially women who were up to no good, because that doesn't often happen when looking back at the past.

While the photo itself of the shoes made from George Parrot's skin wasn't gross, the idea behind it is.  Why would someone ever do that?

Quote from the Book

"While cemeteries house the dead, the tombstones record not only their pleasures, sorrows, and hopes for an afterlife, but also more than they realize of their history, ethnicity and culture."

Stockholm

Book 50 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Stockholm

by Catherine Steadman

4 stars

Published in 2022, Stockholm is a short story from the "Getaway" series published by Amazon.  This one was a doozy.  The only way I can describe it is that it made my teeth hurt while I was reading it because I was so uncomfortable and nervous.  It was good as a short story but would've been too much as a longer book.

The Case of the Ugly Suitor

 Book 49 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

The Case of the Ugly Suitor and Other Histories of Love, Gender, and Nation in Bueno Aires, 1776-1870

by Jeffrey M. Shumway

2 stars

Published in 2005, the title alone lets the reader know this will be a non-fiction, textbook type of read but I was disappointed because of my expectations.  Based on the title and description, I thought the main focus would be individual cases or people with a backdrop of the country and culture as a whole that would help keep things in context.  However, the opposite was true and while there would definitely be an audience for this book, unfortunately that audience is not me.  The inserts helped add context and the author's interest in the topic showed in his writing and obvious research.

Basically, if the whole book had been more like Chapter 4, I would've liked it a lot more.  This rating is my personal preference though.  While typically that would lead me to a more neutral 3 star rating since I'm not the target audience, I'm lowering it to 2 stars in this case because I picked it up thinking I was based on the description.

Ink Exchange

 Book 48 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Ink Exchange

by Melissa Marr

3 stars

Published in 2008, Ink Exchange is the second book in the "Wicked Lovely" series.  I expected it to be building off where the last one left off but it was a pleasant surprise that characters that were side characters in the first book became the main characters in this one.  It still helps to read the series in order because the timeline picks up where the first book left off and previous characters are still there so we see how their stories continue.  

I liked the world building and will continue the series right away but the story arc specific to this book wasn't as intriguing to me as Wicked Lovely.  It was still a good read though.

His Happy Place

Book 47 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

His Happy Place

by Zakiya Dalila Harris

3 stars 

This short story is part of the "Getaway" series from Prime Reading.  The prologue helped explain the ending but also hurt the story itself.  Since I knew what was going to happen it made the character's waffling on if she was hallucinating or not unnecessary.  This format works in longer books because the reader kind of forgets or isn't sure what the journey to the ending will be but in a short story there aren't enough characters to muddle things up (so even in a first-person story it is clear who the narrator is and who the victim will be).

It Happened in Iowa

 Book 46 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

It Happened in Iowa: Remarkable Events that Shaped History

by Tammy Partsch

4 stars

As the title states, this book covers events in Iowa.  It's in chronological order and the chapters are short and succinct like a book report.  It was interesting and accessible and would be good as supplemental material for a class.

This was a book my husband and I read aloud together, an event or two at a time over the course of months.  We're both Iowa natives (and still live there) and the book had a good mix of events we'd heard of and new ones we learned about.

Now that we're finished with it I haven't decided yet if I'm going to keep it or donate it to our local library.

Wicked Lovely

 Book 45 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Wicked Lovely

by Melissa Marr

4 stars

Published in 2007, Wicked Lovely is the first book in the "Wicked Lovely" series.  Aislinn can see the faeries roaming the world even though most humans can't.  She follows specific rules to avoid recognition but when the Summer King decides she is destined to be his queen, everything changes. 

I really liked this book.  The story wasn't complicated by lying - everyone laid their cards out pretty quickly and the complications came from their reactions and disagreements on how to move forward, not more contrived miscommunication issues.

I plan on continuing the series but this book could stand alone if a reader decided it wasn't for them.  The main issues of this book were resolved by the end and I assume the continuation of the series will be expanding on what those resolutions mean.

Shell Game

 Book 44 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Shell Game

by Rumaan Alam

2 stars

This short story is part of the "Getaway" series from Amazon.  I didn't really understand the story itself and feel like I must be missing something because I also don't understand how it fit the theme of the series.  I don't normally look at reviews before posting my own but I did for this story and it makes me feel a little better that I'm not the only one that was a little lost after finishing it.

Catch Her in a Lie

 Book 43 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Catch Her in a Lie

by Jess Lourey

2 stars

This short story is part of the "Getaway" series available through Prime Reading on Amazon.  I didn't really like this one but can't fully explain why.  I think more backstory would've helped me care about the characters or be more invested in the ending but at the same time, I wouldn't have wanted this scenario to be drawn-out any further.  This just wasn't for me.

Belle Mer

 Book 42 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Belle Mer

by Luanne Rice

3 stars

This short story is part of the "Getaway" series published by Amazon.  I didn't see the big twist coming but it may have been a little too ambitious for a short story; some things were glossed over or rushed and not explained as well as they could've been.

Uncharted Waters

Book 41 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Uncharted Waters

by Sally Hepworth

3 stars

Uncharted Waters is a short story that takes place on a charter boat at sea.  Ella is unexpectedly alone after her husband can't make the trip, giving her the opportunity to discover new things about herself.  It is the first book in the "Getaway" series.

Since this was a short story everything developed very quickly.  The setting of the sea helped explain the immediacy of some bonds since this was a small group spending many waking hours together.  There were also seemingly very out-of-character moments that happened with little hesitation but everything happened so quickly I didn't really notice until it was over and I was reflecting.

I rounded up to 3 stars since it was a short story.  If it had been any longer or tried to expand relationships any further, I would've rounded down to 2.  All in all a quick read that was unpredictable and I will continue the series (which appear to be by different authors).

Mother of All Secrets

Book 40 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Mother of All Secrets

by Kathleen M. Willett

3 stars

Published in 2022, Mother of All Secrets centers around Jenn, a new mom who joins a moms' group hoping to regain some semblance of herself but instead becomes involved in a mystery when the group leader disappears.

I'd already chosen this book from Amazon First Reads but bumped it to the top of my list after a friend's review on Goodreads.  I like reading mysteries on my e-reader because I turn the page count off and having no idea how much is left of the book really helps keep me guessing when it comes to clues.

This is the kind of book that kept my interest while reading but doesn't really hold up to scrutiny when reflecting on it.  There were lots of coincidences and the characters had to interact in unusual ways to keep the story moving - not sharing basic information that would've revealed things earlier yet oversharing deep secrets at the same time to help move things along.

I would recommend it as a quick way to pass the time but don't overthink it when you're done.

XX

Book 39 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

XX

by Rian Hughes

3 stars

This book caught my eye as I was walking around the library because the title started with "X" and that's usually a hard letter to get on my A-Z challenge.  That was a risk considering the book is almost 1000 pages but luckily it didn't feel that long.  There were different formats and styles used throughout the book that broke it up so it wasn't just a slog of words.

Published in 2020, XX is about the aftermath of discovering and trying to decode a mysterious signal sent from space.  I gave up trying to understand it pretty early and when I decided not to overthink it and just watch the story as a bystander it zipped right along.  I really liked the characters and their group dynamic.

Vampires Never Get Old

 Book 38 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite

by various authors

3 stars

As the title states, this YA book is a collection of stories about vampires.  The bright pink book caught my eye while browsing at the library and it was a quick way to pass the time.  My overall rating is 3 stars because I enjoyed most of them but there weren't any stand-out wonders to raise my rating or any major duds to lower it. 

Black Enough

 Book 37 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America

by various authors

5 stars

Published in 2019, Black Enough is an anthology of coming-of-age stories about black teens in America.  It was an excellent read because of the stories but it also shifted my perspective.  Reading stories where it wasn't overtly pointed out that the characters were black but instead referenced a character's braids (as an example) made me realize how so many books start off with the assumption that the main characters are cis and white unless stated otherwise.  

Although some of the stories covered the heavier topics of the black experience such as interactions where being black (or judged for being black) is a main focal point, many of the other stories were just teen stories about experiences many people have.  I feel like my explanation sounds better in my head than on the page but the bottom line is I really liked this book.

Tales From Outer Suburbia

 Book 36 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Tales From Outer Suburbia

by Shaun Tan

2 stars

Published in 2009, Tales From Outer Suburbia is an offbeat illustrated book with snippets of the unexpected (often dark) side of suburban life.  The illustrations are great but I didn't really get into the stories themselves, and calling them stories is a bit of a stretch.  There weren't many words and everything was happening beneath the surface which is hard to convey when the stories were jumping all over the place without an obvious through line (other than "suburbia" which I'm not sure I would've picked up on as clearly without the title).

It wasn't awful it just wasn't the book for me.

If the Fates Allow

 Book 35 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

If the Fates Allow

by Rainbow Rowell

3 stars

This short story by a familiar author was a quick way to pass the time.  Setting the story in the holiday season during the early pandemic brought back memories - I'm lucky that my family was pretty much on the same page regarding restrictions but I've heard from others that had to have many tough conversations.

21 Proms

Book 34 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

21 Proms

by various authors

3 stars

Published in 2007, 21 Proms is a collection of stories by various authors that all center around the theme of Prom Night.  I picked it up at the library as a quick read and even though I'm many years removed from a high school dance, the stories were pretty much enjoyable.

I loved the line, "...I know that I'm not as alone as people here want me to think. I've got a whole world out there waiting for me, and they've just got each other" from the story "Mom called, she says you have to go to prom" by Adrienne Maria Vrettos.  It really captured the feeling of those who don't feel that high school will be the peak of their lives and look forward to moving on and out.

Whistling Past the Graveyard

 Book 33 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Whistling Past the Graveyard 

by Susan Crandall

4 stars

Set in 1963, Whistling Past the Graveyard is the story of a girl named Starla, a woman named Eula, and the way their lives are changed when their paths cross.

It was the kind of story I read with a nervousness about turning the pages because you just know the situation probably isn't going to go well.  When a white girl running away from home is picked up by a black woman in the South in the 1960's, things can go downhill very quickly.  But the pages kept turning and even though I didn't like all of the choices the characters made, I was satisfied with the story and the ending.

Evidence of the Affair

 Book 32 of my 2022 Reading Challenge

Evidence of the Affair

by Taylor Jenkins Reid

4 stars

Evidence of the Affair begins with a letter from one betrayed spouse to another and they continue to exchange letters commiserating as they work through their feelings about their spouses having an affair with each other.

Being told solely through letters adds to the situation of strangers discovering each other because all the reader knows about the characters is what they choose to share on the page.  It progressed well and I enjoyed it as a short story.  I could see this concept being the starting point of a novel as well.