Fiction Review: Doomsday Book

I am usually a bit behind in writing my reviews, but I just finished Doomsday Book by Connie Willis, and I loved it so much that I couldn't wait to tell you about it! This novel is a part of her Oxford Time Travel series, though the books are loosely related by setting and characters and do not have to be read in order. I previously read--and enjoyed--To Say Nothing of the Dog. In Doomsday Book, which won both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, an Oxford historian travels back in time to the Middle Ages, while epidemics rage in both the present-day and the past.

In 2155, Oxford's time travel expertise is well-known, and they periodically send historians back to particular time periods to study them first-hand. This time, a young undergraduate student named Kivrin is being sent back all the way to the Middle Ages. Her mentor, Mr. Dunsworthy, is against this trip because he feels that they have not yet adequately prepared for it. It will be the farthest back in time they have ever traveled, by far, and much less is known since few people could write at the time, so there is little recorded history. The university has been excavating a nearby Medieval village, and Mr. Gilchrist, as head of the Middle Ages history department, is ready to send Kivrin back to that village in 1320. Kivrin is excited because this will fulfill a dream of hers.

Things begin to go wrong right from the beginning, though. Just hours after sending Kivrin back to the 1300's, the time travel technician, Badri, suddenly collapses with a high fever and is rushed to the hospital. Before he passes out, he tells Mr. Dunworthy that something went wrong, but from then on, he is either unconscious or barely lucid and unable to further explain. Mr. Dunworthy, who was worried about this trip from the start, can not convince Mr. Gilchrist to reopen "the net" to retrieve Kivrin. Meanwhile, though her preset-day colleagues have no idea, the reader knows that Kivrin also fell ill after arriving in the 1300's. She arrived in the middle of a forest and is saved by a priest and a servant from a nearby manor house. They take her to the home, where the master is away, but his wife, two daughters, and mother are caring for the house and village, with a small group of servants. As sick as Kivrin is, things get even worse for her when she realizes that she can't understand the contemporaries--nor them her-- in spite of the languages she studied. Meanwhile, back in Oxford, the infection that knocked Badri out spreads rapidly, even in light of 22nd-century medical technology that has eliminated most infections, and doctors and scientists race to figure out what caused it and how to treat it and stop its spread.

The novel moves back and forth from the 22th century to the 14th century, with epidemics raging in both places, making for doubly-intense suspense. Both stories are equally compelling, with almost unbearable tension, as characters in both times struggle for their lives. I always enjoy time travel stories for how thought-provoking they are, with endless "what ifs," but here, the questions go even further: Where did the modern-day infection come from? How can Kivrin possibly survive a serious infection in the Middle Ages, before germs were even thought of, with horrible sanitation and no medications? The further the story goes, the more convoluted--and compelling--both stories become, with unexpected twists and turns throughout. I could hardly bear to set the book down! I so wanted to tell my husband all the details while I was reading, but I refrained so that he can read it next.

In addition to the gripping plot, the characters in this novel are fully fleshed-out, in both the present-day and the past, making you care about them. I both laughed out loud and cried while reading this outstanding novel--be forewarned that there are two epidemics raging in two different times in this story, so both despair and hope are involved. The historical aspect is always interesting in a time travel book, but it was especially fascinating here, as the Middle Ages is a particularly mysterious and distant time. The historical details of daily life are riveting. This is a fast-paced, enthralling rollercoaster ride of a story, and I loved every minute of it. I never wanted it to end and had a terrible book hangover when I finished it. I will definitely be reading Fire Watch, Willis' first book in the Oxford Time Travel world.

578 pages, Bantam Books

Recorded Books

NOTE: Yes, I once again read a novel about a terrible epidemic during our own pandemic--that makes three so far this year, and I swear it was not intentional! Be aware that there are similarities between this fictional world and what is currently going on in our own world. The novel was written in 1992, but masks, quarantines, and vaccine development all play a role here. Obviously, with the time travel element and half of the story taking place in the Middle Ages, there are plenty of differences, too, but if you are feeling particularly fragile about current events, you might want to wait to read this one.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases from these links provide a small commission to me (pennies per purchase), to help offset the time I spend writing for this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Listen to a sample of the audiobook here and/or download it from Audible.

You can purchase Doomsday Book from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

You can also buy through indie bookstores using Bookshop.

Or you can order Doomsday Book from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

Fiction Review: Convenience Store Woman

My first request from my library when they re-opened for curbside pick-up was Convenience Store Woman, a Japanese novel by Sayaka Murata, translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori. One of my favorite book podcasts, Book Cougars, chose this novel for their summer readalong, so I joined in the fun. Their discussion will be available on August 4 at the link. I enjoyed this slim novel featuring a unique main character and some thoughtful musings on the culture in our world today.

Keiko never felt like she fit in with the rest of the world, until she found her place: as a worker in a 24-hour convenience store called Smile Mart. There, among the rigid rules and procedures of the store chain, Keiko finally feels at home. In the rest of her life--even among her friends and family--she is never quite sure what to say or how to act, and she always feels out of place and has to work hard to observe others and try to replicate their behaviors to appear "normal." But in the florescent glare of the store, where things never change, and all interactions are spelled out in the employee manual, Keiko shines. She complies perfectly with all rules and regulations, and is outstanding at her job, always thinking of what's best for the store and its customers. Other employees come and go, often not taking the job seriously, but Keiko is Smile Mart's most dependable employee. Keiko is happy with the life she has built for herself and loves her job. The problem is the rest of the world; after 18 years at the store, her family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers tell her she should want more for her life. Everyone is pressuring her to find a husband and have a family or at least a "serious" job with a solid career path. Should Keiko stay in the world she loves or listen to everyone else and comply with societal norms?

"The normal world has no room for exceptions and always quietly eliminates foreign objects. Anyone who is lacking is disposed of.

So that's why I need to be cured. Unless I'm cured, normal people will expurgate me.

Finally I understood why my family had tried so hard to fix me"

The thoughtful ethical dilemma in this novel is clear from this simple summary, but what is harder to convey is how unique and endearing Keiko is. Her confusion over "normal" behaviors and inability to read others' emotions made me wonder if she is on the autism spectrum. She reminded me somewhat of Eleanor in Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, another character I loved. And, of course, surrounding this intriguing character is her moral predicament: conform in the way that society and culture are pushing her or listen to her heart and do what feels right for her? I did think that perhaps the pressure to conform is slightly more prominent in Japanese culture. Though certainly, high school was like that back in the 70's and 80's, but it feels like our society today has more room for people who don't fit in--perhaps because the outcasts of the past can now find other like themselves in online communities. In any case, this brief but impactful novel provides much food for thought and was very entertaining as well. I was rooting for Keiko to find her own path to happiness. I can't wait to listen to the Book Cougars discussion next week!

163 pages, Grove Press

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases from these links provide a small commission to me (pennies per purchase), to help offset the time I spend writing for this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Listen to a sample of the audiobook here and/or download it from Audible. This sample includes Keiko working in the store and a brief glimpse into her childhood. I read the book in print, but the audio sounds great!

 

You can purchase Convenience Store Woman from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

 

You can also buy through indie bookstores using Bookshop.

Or you can Convenience Store Woman from Book Depository

TV Tuesday: Lie To Me

As I mentioned in my Summer 2020 TV preview, our son recommended a show to us that my husband and I are loving so far. Lie To Me is a unique crime show about a consulting group that can tell if someone is lying, based on the science of micro-expressions, by studying subtle changes in their facial expressions.

British actor Tim Roth stars as Dr. Cal Lightman, who has devoted his life to studying the science of using facial expressions to tell when someone is lying and when they are telling the truth. He runs an independent consulting firm with his business partner, Dr. Gillian Foster, played by Kelli Williams, and their firm is often hired by various law enforcement officials, including the FBI, to assist with cases. Eli Loker, played by Brendan Hines, also works for the firm and has a rule to never lie, which makes working with him interesting! Rounding out the team is a new hire, Ria Torres (played by Monica Raymund), who is what they call "a natural" and has an innate ability to tell when someone is lying, though she is gradually also learning the science from the others. Always knowing when someone is lying makes relationships interesting, as when Cal's teen daughter, Emily (played by Hayley McFarland) tells him she is sleeping over at a friend's house, and he can clearly see that she is lying. Cal has learned there is a time and a place to call someone on a lie, though the younger members of the team are just learning that. In each episode, the team is hired for a case (sometimes two cases, and the four of them split up), where telling truth from fiction can provide crucial information to law enforcement or private clients. Early cases range from a drug kingpin in prison up for parole who says he is reformed to a high school student accused of killing a teacher who swears he's innocent to a congressman accused of having an affair. Sometimes, they discover the accused or the witness is lying but perhaps not about what the police think.

We are really enjoying this entertaining and unexpected show so far. Each case and each episode is unique, with twists we don't see coming, plus as with most crime shows, the personal lives of the characters come into play as well. There is a bit of a Mentalist feel to the show (an all-time favorite at our house), except the focus here is on science rather than tricks and mental maneuvering. One fun aspect to the show is that when one of the experts is explaining how a certain facial tic denotes lying, they often show photos of historical figures illustrating the rule! The characters are all interesting, and the acting is excellent. The combination of suspenseful mysteries, great characters, and a sense of humor has made this show one of our current favorites, in our regular rotation.

Lie to Me originally ran for three seasons, from 2009 to 2011 on Fox. It is available on Amazon or free through IMDB (use the Amazon link to see the free option).

It's Monday 7/27! What Are You Reading?

Whew, another week flew by! Still super-busy here, with family stuff, working on my Amazon Ads course, a bunch of medical appointments (ugh - now that things have reopened, I have a flood of postponed appts!), and the usual crises. I apologize for shirking my blog visiting responsibilities--I;m missing many of your wonderful posts! I am just about finished with my coursework and hoping life slows down this week, so I can get back to making the rounds the way I like to.

I was still pretty exhausted and stressed most of the week, but I managed to enjoy a birthday celebration with my husband and two sons Thursday evening! It had been a rough day, but we had a lovely evening together. We actually went OUT for dinner (our first time since early March), and enjoyed delicious food on the outdoor patio of a wonderful microbrewery. Then, we came back to the house for fabulous cake from a local bakery, and they spoiled me with a pile of presents. It was very nice to take a little time out for fun, for a change.

My family and I out for my birthday dinner.

Of course, some books were included among my gifts, as always! I can't wait to read all of these, and David Copperfield is going to be next up for my Big Book Summer Challenge reading. There's still time for you to join the challenge, too!

Birthday Gifts!

Meanwhile, here's what we've all been reading this past week:

I am still reading my latest Big Book, one I've been wanting to read for a while: Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. I love time travel plots, and this book is part of her Oxford Time Travel series, which also includes To Say Nothing of the Dog, which I enjoyed very much. This time, in the near future, a young female student, Kivrin, has traveled back in time all the way to the 1300's, in England's Middle Ages. It's the first time they've sent anyone back that far, and there are all sorts of concerns since so little was recorded about that era. Hours after Kivrin leaves, though, a contemporary emergency occurs when one of the techs working on the project comes down with a devastating virus, and says that something went wrong just before he passes out. This shouldn't happen, given the high-tech medical precautions used in this future (no one even gets colds), so there is a scramble to figure out what the virus is and where it came from. Meanwhile, the team at Oxford doesn't realize it, but the reader knows that Kivrin arrived in the Middle Ages with the same debilitating symptoms. This book is so amazingly good--I am loving it! What a premise--a contemporary woman horribly sick in the Middle Ages and all alone. The action goes back and forth between the present-day and the past, and the suspense has been incredibly compelling. The mystery in the present and the happenings in the past continue to evolve and intertwine. I am loving every minute!

On audio, I have been listening to The Dutch House by Ann Patchett. The audiobook is read by Tom Hanks, and it is incredibly soothing and entertaining to have Hanks reading a story to me in my earbuds in his familiar voice. It's about a boy, Danny, and his sister, Maeve, growing up in a big house originally built by Dutch immigrants and known in town as the Dutch House. Their mother leaves when they are young, so it is just the children and their somewhat distant father, plus the two women who care for the house. But when their dad remarries a woman who clearly does not like them (and the feeling is mutual), their lives change in unexpected ways. The story is told by Danny as an adult, so parts of it are told in the past, as he experienced things as a boy, and parts as he and Maeve look back on their childhood and the house that meant so much to them. I'm enjoying it so far, and it is extra-special read by Hanks.

My husband, Ken, is still reading one of his new Father's Day gifts from me, The Dry by Jane Harper. I've been meaning to get him started on this super-popular new thriller author for a while now. This was her debut novel. As with all of Harper's books, it is set in Australia. A Federal Agent named Aaron visits his hometown for the first time in decades to attend the funeral of his childhood best friend, Luke. Years ago, Aaron was accused of murder, and Luke provided his alibi. Now, there are questions about Luke's death, so Aaron teams up with local law enforcement to investigate. The more they find out, the more small town secrets they dig up. So many of my friends have loved this novel, and now Ken is, too! He is normally quite reticent about his reading ("how was it?" "good"), but he was raving over how great this novel is last night. Score!

Our son, 25, is trying out a new-to-him fantasy series, The Mageborn, starting with book 1, The Blacksmith's Son. Here's the description from Amazon: "Mordecai’s simple life as the son of a blacksmith is transformed by the discovery of his magical birthright. As he journeys to understand the power within him he is drawn into a dangerous plot to destroy the Duke of Lancaster and undermine the Kingdom of Lothion. Love and treachery combine to embroil him in events he was never prepared to face. What he uncovers will change his understanding of the past, and alter the future of those around him." Sounds like another good one for him! He's enjoying it so far. He's away this week with his girlfriend, but I am guessing he's been moving along in this series.


This week's blog posts:

TV Tuesday: Atypical - Loving this show about a young man with autism and his family!


Fiction Review: Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King - really enjoyed this first book in a mystery/thriller trilogy

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

You can follow me on Twitter at @SueBookByBook or on Facebook on my blog's page.   

What are you and your family reading this week? 

Fiction Review: Mr. Mercedes

After reading Stephen King's The Outsider last fall (and loving it), I realized that one of my favorite characters, the quirky, awkward Holly Gibney, was also featured in his Bill Hodges trilogy, so I took advantage of my Big Book Summer Challenge (Stephen King books are almost always Big Books!) to read the first book in the trilogy, Mr. Mercedes, which won an Edgar Award for Best Novel. I can always count on King's novels for a fast-paced, suspenseful ride, and this one delivered.

As the novel opens, retired detective Bill Hodges is rotting away in his recliner in an Ohio city. Retirement doesn't suit Hodges, who is divorced and rarely sees his adult daughter. He's bored, feeling like he's outlived his useful life, and even taking his father's gun out of its drawer and staring at it, thinking of the possibilities. Then, he receives an unusual letter in the mail, signed The Mercedes Killer. This refers back to a case left unsolved, one that has bothered Hodges for years: a huge 12-cylinder Mercedes was driven into a tight crowd waiting for a job fair, killing eight and leaving more wounded. The killer got away, though aspects of this unsolvable crime have nagged at Hodges ever since. Now, he's received a long, taunting letter from someone claiming to be the perp (though the letter-writer miswrites it as perk) that Hodges just can't ignore. Retired cops are not supposed to go off solving crimes on their own, but suddenly, Hodges feels alive again. He'll just investigate a few loose ends and clues unwittingly left in the letter and then turn it over to his old partner. But--you guessed it--the deeper he gets into the case, the harder it is to let go. Hodges engages the help of the very smart, computer-savvy teen boy, Jerome, who helps with his yardwork, and eventually, Holly appears on the scene as a highly unlikely third partner. As they close in on the identity of the Mercedes killer, the danger grows, both for them personally and for the city. Will he strike again, with something even deadlier?

As is typical for King's novels, the tension here is off the charts, right from the start. It sounds cliche, but King really does make me stay up way past my bedtime, flipping pages, thinking "just one more chapter." Hodges is a curmudgeonly but likable guy, Jerome is clever and entertaining, and Holly is just as quirky and fun as she was in The Outsider (more so here, as you can see her break out of her shell and come to life in the presence of Bill). Both she and Bill are given a new sense of purpose in their lives in tracking down the killer (Holly has a personal reason for wanting to find him). King's dialogue and details add realism and interest, as always. This is not a horror or supernatural story, as many of his are, but a straight-up mystery/crime thriller with super-fast pacing and almost unbearable suspense. I loved every page, and now I can't wait to read the next book of Bill and Holly's adventures, Finders Keepers.

436 pages, Gallery Books

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases from these links provide a small commission to me (pennies per purchase), to help offset the time I spend writing for this blog, at no extra cost to you.

You can purchase Mr. Mercedes from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

You can also buy through indie bookstores using Bookshop.

Or you can order Mr. Mercedes from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

TV Tuesday: Atypical

As I mentioned this week in my Weekly Inspiration post (Lift Up Your Spirits), my idea of comfort TV is shows about teens and young people. I don't know why, but I love watching a show set in high school or college (or shortly after), especially in stressful times. Maybe it's because their problems are so very different from my own, and I already successfully survived that stage of my life. In any case, I have a new favorite show in this genre that also touches on the world of chronic conditions/disabilities: Atypical. I am completely obsessed with this show about an 18-year old boy with autism and his family.

Sam Gardner, played wonderfully by Keir Gilchrist, is an 18-year old with autism who is in his senior year of high school. His mother, Elsa, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, has built her whole life around helping Sam overcome challenges, fighting battles to get him the rights and accommodations he needs, and making sure that Sam and his teen sister, Casey (played by Brigette Lundy-Paine), have perfect childhoods. She has a color-coded calendar on the wall, stacks of Post-Its at the ready, and she is generally super-mom in every respect. Her husband, Doug, played by Michael Rapaport, works as an EMT and loves both of his kids, though he's been far less involved in Sam's life than Elsa has. Sam's therapist, Julia (played by Amy Okuda), encourages him to take steps toward independence, and when Sam says he wants a girlfriend, Julia is supportive. Sam's newfound independence, though, completely disrupts Elsa's life, leaving her to wonder what her role is now. Sam gets questionable (hilarious) dating advice from his best--and only--friend, Zahid (played by Nik Dodani), who works with him at the local electronics store. Meanwhile, Casey struggles with the decision of whether to leave her public high school when she is recruited by a fancy private school for their track team. Through the three seasons (so far), Sam takes increasing steps away from dependency into his adult life, while the rest of the family tries to adjust and deals with their own issues.

I love everything about this show! Though I was unfamiliar with any of the actors other than Jennifer Jason Leigh, the entire cast is outstanding, and I like all of the characters. Gilchrist is particularly convincing in his portrayal of a young man with autism (I was actually surprised to find on his IMDB page that he's not autistic himself). The relationships between the characters and especially the family members are warm and lovingly portrayed, including the inherent paradox for Sam and Casey of her sometimes have to take care of her older brother. The show is by turns moving, thoughtful, and funny. From my role as the parent of (at one point) two kids with chronic illnesses, who required accommodations at school, much of the show--and especially Elsa's role--are very true-to-life and an accurate representation of how one person's condition can affect the whole family (don't worry--I understand that autism is not an illness, but many of the challenges in life are similar; there is a lot here I could relate to). On the other hand, I am also learning a lot about autism specifically, which has been very enlightening. It is dealt with honestly, openly, and, from what I understand from others, accurately. I love this family, and I love this show! I am now into season three and dreading when I finish it (though I see that a fourth season is planned).

Atypical is a Netflix original, so it is available on Netflix.

Check out the trailer to see a glimpse of the family dynamics and the fabulous humor in this show:

It's Monday 7/20! What Are You Reading?

Whew, another rough week here, though there were some high points, too. We are still working to get help for my father-in-law. It looks like he will have to go into Assisted Living, even though we were dead set against it because they are all still on lockdown. His new in-home care started today, for 3 hours, 5 days a week, but that's just temporary. It's too expensive (on top of his high rent for Independent Living) for him to afford for very long, and the VA assistance didn't pan out (you have to be on a VA pension to qualify). So, the in-home care will take some pressure off for now, but we need to take a closer look at the Assisted Living options nearby and compare prices and visitor policies. Unfortunately, the one closest to us (and brand-new) is both the most expensive and the most locked-down.

On the good news front, our youngest son started his full-time job last week! We celebrated with a crab feast (love those Maryland blue crabs), and he's enjoying his job so far, though the realities of adult life are setting in (he has to get up at 5:30 am every day!). We are very happy for him and excited that he is embarking on this new stage in life.

Crabs to celebrate - yum!

In the midst of a super-busy week, I was also signed up for an online course on Amazon ads (for my book), which turned out to be incredibly frustrating! I struggled to find time for the coursework and was a few days behind but managed to get 12 ads up (like everything at Amazon, it's incredibly complicated and illogical), and ... all 12 were rejected by Amazon's automatic censors. The problem? Apparently, I can not use the words "chronic illness" nor target readers with chronic illness in trying to sell my book about living with chronic illness. Crazy, right? Even the course leaders thought it was ludicrous; apparently Amazon just recently cracked down on these rules. Anyway, as of this morning, I finally got 2 ads accepted (5th time's a charm!)--I'm not thrilled with ad copy that finally worked, but it's a start.

So, a long, frustrating, exhausting week for me (with a bad relapse day in the middle). Books, as always, provide a welcome respite and comfort in stressful times. We are all still enjoying Big Book Summer (you can join the fun, too--details at the link). Here's what we've been reading this past week:

I took a break from Big Book Summer to read a very short novel, Convenient Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, translated from Japanese by Ginny Tapley Takemori. This is a readalong for July for the Book Cougars podcast, one of my favorite book podcasts, hosted by two Booktopia friends. I enjoyed this brief, unusual novel about a woman named Keiko who struggled to fit in with the world until she took a job in a convenience store. The strict rules and routines of the store are perfect for her, and she becomes the best convenience store worker she can be and stays there for 18 years. Though the rest of the world and even her friends and family are often confusing to her, she feels at home in the world of the store. However, increasing pressure to comply with social standards and get married or have a "worthy" career causes problems in her quiet, peaceful life. My interpretation was that Keiko was probably autistic. She's a wonderful character--quirky and likable, despite her lack of understanding of the world around her. I enjoyed it and am looking forward to discussing it online and listening to the Book Cougars' episode about it in early August.

Now, I have dived into another Big Book, one I've been wanting to read for a while: Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. I love time travel plots, and this book is part of her Oxford Time Travel series, which also includes To Say Nothing of the Dog, which I enjoyed very much. This time, in the near future, a young female student, Kivrin, has traveled back in time all the way to 1320, in England's Middle Ages. It's the first time they've sent anyone back that far, and there are all sorts of concerns since so little was recorded about that era. Hours after Kivrin leaves, though, a contemporary emergency occurs when one of the techs working on the project comes down with a devastating virus. This shouldn't happen, given the high-tech medical precautions used in this future (no one even gets colds), so there is a scramble to figure out what the virus is and where it came from. Meanwhile, the team at Oxford doesn't realize it, but the reader knows that Kivrin arrived in the Middle Ages with the same debilitating symptoms. I'm only about 100 pages in, but I am already loving this book! What a premise--a woman horribly sick with a 21st century virus in the Middle Ages and all alone. The action goes back and forth between the present-day and the past, and the suspense is already compelling.

I finally finished my first Big Book on audio (no listening time with a full house here!), The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. You've probably heard about this one, since it is getting a LOT of attention right now. It's the prequel to The Hunger Games, and it begins at the start of the 10th annual Hunger Games, while the war is still a recent memory. The story focuses on Coriolanus Snow, a teen-aged boy, who readers of the series know will eventually become President of Panem. Here, though, he is a self-conscious boy from a great family that has fallen on very hard times. He's trying to hide the fact that the remaining members of his family--him, his cousin, Tigris, and their grandmother--are barely surviving, eating cabbage and lima beans and unable to keep their family home if the rumored property tax is truly put into place. He feels like he has one chance to prove himself: as a mentor to one of the contestants from the districts. He is assigned to mentor a girl from District 12 named Lucy Gray, a girl who creates quite a stir on Reaping Day with her colorful outfit and beautiful song. As Coriolanus gets to know her better, his role in her life becomes more and more complicated, causing him to question the Hunger Games and the Capitol's role in it. I really enjoyed this book (you can read my review at the link), and as always, Collins has provided such thought-provoking, morally complex subject matter.

My husband, Ken, finished reading a book I put in his Easter basket, The A List by J.A. Jance. It's a thriller about a woman named Ali Reynolds who used to be a broadcast journalist. The last story she did before her career ended was about a man who needed a kidney, which spiraled into a massive medical scandal. The doctor at the center of it went to prison for murder. He is now bent on revenge, even from prison, and Ali is on the list of those he blames for his demise. Ali and her cybersecurity team must race against time to stop the doctor's continuing murder spree before Ali is next. My husband said that the first half was a bit slow, but the action really picked up in the second half, and he enjoyed it. Not bad for a drugstore choice while everything else was closed this spring!

Ken is now reading one of his new Father's Day gifts from me, The Dry by Jane Harper. I've been meaning to get him started on this super-popular new thriller author for a while now. This was her debut novel. As with all of Harper's books, it is set in Australia. A Federal Agent named Aaron visits his hometown for the first time in decades to attend the funeral of his childhood best friend, Luke. Years ago, Aaron was accused of murder, and Luke provided his alibi. Now, there are questions about Luke's death, so Aaron teams up with local law enforcement to investigate. The more they find out, the more small town secrets they dig up. So many of my friends have loved this novel! I hope Ken will, too.

Our son, 25, returned to an old favorite series and read Legend, book 8 in the The Sanctuary Series by Robert J. Crane. We gave him book 1, Defender, for Christmas 2018, and he loved the series so much that he quickly read books 2, 3, and 4, also. So, this past Christmas, we gave him book 5, which he read this spring, moving quickly onto book 6 and then book 7 two weeks ago. The series is epic fantasy about a world called Arkaria and features dragons, titans, goblins, and more. He loves the series, and he flew through this latest book on his Kindle.

Now, our son is trying out a new-to-him fantasy series, The Mageborn, starting with book 1, The Blacksmith's Son. Here's the description from Amazon: "Mordecai’s simple life as the son of a blacksmith is transformed by the discovery of his magical birthright. As he journeys to understand the power within him he is drawn into a dangerous plot to destroy the Duke of Lancaster and undermine the Kingdom of Lothion. Love and treachery combine to embroil him in events he was never prepared to face. What he uncovers will change his understanding of the past, and alter the future of those around him." Sounds like another good one! He's enjoying it so far.





Not much time for blogs last week (sorry I am behind on visits, too!). Just one new post:

Teen/YA Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins - I enjoyed the prequel to The Hunger Games

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

You can follow me on Twitter at @SueBookByBook or on Facebook on my blog's page.   

What are you and your family reading this week? 

Teen/YA Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

With so little time to myself these days for audiobooks, it took me more than a month to finally finish listening to my latest (and a Big Book), The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. It is a prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy, which takes place decades before that famous story. As with all of Collins' novels, it was suspenseful, surprising, and thoughtful.

As readers of the trilogy know, Coriolanus Snow ends up being President of Panem ... and he is pretty evil by then, fully committed to the barbaric Hunger Games and to keeping the Districts under the control of the Capital. But here in this novel, only ten years after the war, Coriolanus is just a teen-aged boy whose once-important family has fallen on hard times. There are only three of them left: Coriolanus, his teen cousin, Tigris, and their Grandmam. Everyone else was killed during the war (and his mother was killed in childbirth). They survived the war period on a diet of lima beans and cabbage, while Corilanus' father was a hero, off fighting the Districts, and they could very possibly lose their beloved family home, if the rumors about imposing a property tax in the Capital are true. Thanks to his family connections, Coriolanus attends the prestigious Academy, but he will have to win awards and scholarships in order to continue onto college. He works very hard to keep up appearances at school, and Tigris, who is a gifted seamstress and close friend to her cousin, helps him to look his best, to keep their poverty a secret.

Into this quiet, routine life of behind-the-scenes struggle comes the 10th Annual Hunger Games. For the first time ever, the Capital is assigning Academy students to mentor the tributes from the Districts. On Reaping Day, one tribute stands out: Lucy Gray from District 12. While initially disappointed he wasn't assigned a big, strong boy, Coriolanus quickly sees the positive aspects of his own tribute, in her outrageously cheery and colorful dress, with her beautiful singing voice and haunting song. At first, Coriolanus helps Lucy Gray in his own self-interest, so that he can get a scholarship for his role in helping her win the Games. Soon, though, he gets to know her as a real person, and the two become friends ... and maybe more. Coriolanus becomes confused and pulled in different directions: he's supposed to be a proud member of the Capital, but how can this be right, forcing sweet kids like Lucy Gray to fight to the death? The evil Game Master, his classmates, and his headmaster all play roles as Coriolanus fights internally to decide what to do and how far he will go to protect Lucy Gray.

As always, Collins has provided thought-provoking, morally-complex subject matter that is set in a wholly different world but somehow also reflects our own issues. I love this about her writing (we were huge fans of her Gregor the Overlander series long before The Hunger Games), and I thoroughly enjoyed this new novel, as well ... until the end. I struggled with the ending. I was thinking (as all readers will) throughout the book, "What will happen to Snow to make him turn him from this tormented teen into the evil President of Panem someday?" But when that moment came, it didn't feel quite believable to me. I had one of those moments where I thought I missed something on the audio and rewound a bit to listen again, but I hadn't missed anything. All that said, that sharp turn in Coriolanus' life comes in the very last chapters of this long book, and I very much enjoyed all the rest of it. Lucy Gray is a wonderful character, the other characters and setting are richly developed, and I enjoyed learning Snow's backstory.

528 pages, Scholastic Press

Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher in return for an honest review. My review is my own opinion and is not influenced by my relationship with the publisher or author.

Note: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases from these links provide a small commission to me (pennies per purchase), to help offset the time I spend writing for this blog, at no extra cost to you.

Listen to a sample of the audiobook here, as Coriolanus talks to a friend and worries about the proposed tax, and/or download it from Audible.

You can purchase The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

You can also buy through indie bookstores using Bookshop.

Or you can order The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

It's Monday 7/13! What Are You Reading?

We are still mostly in crisis here, but managing and getting through it day by day. Our week was again focused on my father-in-law (who's 95 and recently had a sharp decline cognitively) and trying to line up the help he needs. We've made some progress on a few fronts, but we are still in the midst of some serious stress. We found out this weekend that he does have a mild UTI, so that's good news. After just 24 hours on antibiotics, he was vastly--shockingly--improved at lunchtime Sunday. After weeks of barely being able to get him out of bed and ready for meals, he was sitting up in his chair when my husband arrived, already dressed, ready for lunch, and even had a list of things he needs from the store! Unfortunately, by dinnertime, he was out of it again, and he called about 10 times in the middle of the might (he has his days and nights mixed up and time has lost all meaning lately), but we did see that glimmer of hope, and we are hoping he will at least come back to his baseline of about a month ago.

Meanwhile, while my husband has been running back and forth, I've been on the phone. We decided against assisted living for now because we wouldn't be able to see him at all--they are all still on total lockdown in our state. Losing contact with us would just push him over the edge. We're arranging for 3-4 hours of in-home care each day, which should help a lot, but we were worried about the cost. Then, we found out there is a VA program to provide assistance for in-home care or assisted living, and he's a vet! So, we need to apply for that program for him: more phone calls and forms to fill out!

That's pretty much our life right now. And, of course, we are all still enjoying our books and Big Book Summer here--reading is a wonderful escape! There's still plenty of time to join the fun: you only need to read one book of 400 or more pages by September (and, of course, you can read more if you want).

Here's what we have all been reading this past week:

I finished my next Big Book, one we inherited from my dad, Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King. I've wanted to read this trilogy ever since I read The Outsider last fall because I loved the character of Holly Gibney. In this novel, retired Detective Bill Hodges gets an anonymous letter from one of "the ones who got away," a man dubbed the Mercedes Killer who killed eight people when he drove into a crowd a few years ago. It's one of the cases that has always bothered Bill and has never been solved. Now, the killer himself has written a Bill a letter, filled with tantalizing details, taunting his inability to catch him. Bored by retirement, Bill suddenly feels like his life has purpose again and begins to re-investigate the case, using some of the clues from the letter and digging into details that bothered him at the time. Eventually, as I anticipated, weird, neurotic, lovable Holly joins him, along with the super-smart teenager who takes care of his yard, Jerome. I loved it just as much as I expected to; as always, King's suspense is almost unbearable ... and delicious. I am tempted to jump right into the next book, Finders Keepers, but I need to tackle some other books first. I'll be starting something new later today.

I was hoping to report that I had also finished my audiobook (it's taking me forever to listen to a Big Book on audio, with a full house here!), but I am still listening to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins. You've probably heard about this one, since it is getting a LOT of attention right now. It's the prequel to The Hunger Games, and it begins at the start of the 10th annual Hunger Games, while the war is still a recent memory. The story focuses on Coriolanus Snow, a teen-aged boy, who readers of the series know will eventually become President of Panem. Here, though, he is a self-conscious boy from a great family that has fallen on very hard times. He's trying to hide the fact that the remaining members of his family--him, his cousin, Tigris, and their grandmother--are barely surviving, eating cabbage and lima beans and unable to keep their family home if the rumored property tax is truly put into place. He feels like he has one chance to prove himself: as a mentor to one of the contestants from the districts. He is  assigned to mentor a girl from District 12 named Lucy Gray, a girl who creates quite a stir on Reaping Day with her colorful outfit and beautiful song. As Coriolanus gets to know her better, his role in her life becomes more and more complicated, causing him to question the Hunger Games and the Capitol's role in it. I am loving this book, and as always, Collins has provided such thought-provoking, morally complex subject matter.

My husband, Ken, is still reading a book I put in his Easter basket, The A List by J.A. Jance. It's a thriller about a woman named Ali Reynolds who used to be a broadcast journalist. The last story she did before her career ended was about a man who needed a kidney, which spiraled into a massive medical scandal. The doctor at the center of it went to prison for murder. He is now bent on revenge, even from prison, and Ali is on the list of those he blames for his demise. Ali and her cybersecurity team must race against time to stop the doctor's continuing murder spree before Ali is next. My husband says that so far it's not quite as fast-paced as he had hoped, but it's got an interesting and unique plot that he's enjoying. Not bad for a drugstore choice while everything else was closed this spring!

Our son, 25, returned to an old favorite series and read Heretic, book 7 in the The Sanctuary Series by Robert J. Crane, which he is loving. We gave him book 1, Defender, for Christmas 2018, and he loved the series so much that he quickly read books 2, 3, and 4, also. So, this past Christmas, we gave him book 5, which he read this spring, moving quickly onto book 6. The series is epic fantasy about a world called Arkaria and features dragons, titans, goblins, and more. He loves the series, and he flew through this latest book on his Kindle and immediately moved onto book 8, Legend.



Blog posts from last week:

Movie Monday: I See You - super twisty thriller filled with surprises that we loved!

Fiction Review: Vera Kelly Is Not a Mystery by Rosalie Knecht - 2nd in a great series about a girl spy/detective in the 1960's

Fiction Review: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller - WWII classic that highlights the humor, absurdities, and horror of war

My Summary of Books Read in June - a Big Book Summer month!

What Are You Reading Monday is hosted by Kathryn at Book Date, so head over and check out her blog and join the Monday fun! You can also participate in a kid/teen/YA version hosted by Unleashing Readers.

You can follow me on Twitter at @SueBookByBook or on Facebook on my blog's page.   

What are you and your family reading this week?