TV Tuesday: Star Trek: Picard

We finally gave in and subscribed to CBS All Access last month, using an Amazon gift card (you can sign up through Amazon). My son and I have a long-time lunch tradition of watching NCIS and NCIS New Orleans, going back to his high school years, 10 years ago! Alas, we got to the point where the rest of the seasons of NCIS (and all seasons of NCIS New Orleans) were no longer free on streaming, and I figured we were spending more money buying individual seasons of NCIS New Orleans. So, with this new service to explore with its own list of original shows, my husband and I have been watching Star Trek: Picard. This is like coming home for us, as Star Trek: The Next Generation (on which Picard is based) began in 1987, the same year we met, and we watched the show together (and loved it) for all seven seasons. This new show brings back not only Picard but some cameos from other TNG alums, in an entirely new story.

Jean-Luc Picard, played fabulously by Sir Patrick Stewart, was captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise-D on the show Star Trek: The Next Generation (taking place 100 years after the original series, with Captain Kirk). As the new Picard opens, we see Jean-Luc, ever the gentleman, retired at the end of the 24th century, in his gorgeous vineyard in France. He's been retired for 14 years, but one day he gets a strange visitor who brings the past back to him. A young woman named Dahj shows up, asking for his help, and Jean-Luc realizes she has an important connection to someone important to him from his Enterprise days. Surprising events and sudden dangers cause Picard to flee the peace of his vineyard, on a personal mission to find someone important to Dahj (and now, to him). He teams up with an old colleague, Raffi (played by Michelle Hurd), and they hire a rogue pilot named Cristobal, played by Santiago Cabrera. Their new crew is completed with Dr. Agnes Jurati, played by Alison Pill, a scientist who has something to do with Dahj and would like to find the same person that Picard is looking for. Off they go, where no man has gone before ... no, no, no - not this time! As you can imagine, things don't go smoothly on this quest with this ragtag (but entertaining) crew.

We are enjoying Picard so far. It has very much the same tone and feel as The Next Generation, with action, adventure, outstanding visuals, great characters, and a sense of humor to make it all the more entertaining. As old fans of the original, it is great fun to see old TNG characters make cameo appearances (though you don't have to have watched the original to enjoy this show--it's an entirely new storyline) and to hang out with the wonderful Jean-Luc again. The plot is twisty and engaging so far, also tying into old aspects of TNG in fun ways but with an entirely new story. We are very much enjoying The New Adventures of Old Picard!

We've watched 6 episodes so far of the 8-episode first season. There is also a second season, which we are already looking forward to. As a CBS Original, it is only available on the CBS All-Access streaming service, though you can watch for a week with a free trial (this one is easily bingeable in a week). After that, rates start at $5.99 per month. Note that Star Trek: The Next Generation is included with Amazon Prime, so if you missed it in the 80's/90's (or want to relive it!), you can use the link to watch.

Movie Monday: The Call of the Wild

In desperate need of a night out, my husband and I met up with good friends on Saturday for dinner and to go see The Call of the Wild, the latest film adaptation of the classic wilderness novel by Jack London. Of the four of us, my husband just read the novel last year, I read it in middle school so only remember it vaguely, and our friends hadn't ever read it. All of us enjoyed this entertaining story about a man and a dog who save each other in the wilderness of the Yukon and Alaska.

Buck is a lovable but unintentionally destructive dog, living a happy life with a family in California, when he is stolen one night and sent to Alaska, where there is an urgent (and profitable) need for sled dogs for the 1890's gold rush. Buck, a very large--though wholly untrained--dog is soon brought onto a team of mixed breeds who pull the mail sled through the remote Yukon territory. Perrault, played by Omar Sy, is a kind sled master who takes his responsibilities with the mail very seriously, accompanied by Francoise, played by Cara Gee. Although not used to discipline or hard work, Buck soon learns how to be a part of the team and eventually becomes the lead dog, earning the respect of both the other dogs and his masters through his brave and diligent efforts. When the mail is no longer carried by sled, though, and Perrault is sent home to Quebec, Buck is purchased by a cruel, wealthy man intent on finding gold. He works Buck and the other dogs relentlessly and pushes them way past their limits, also putting them in danger through his ignorance of the spring melt season and his greedy pursuit of gold at all costs. A man named John Thornton, played by Harrison Ford, finds Buck when he has been left behind, almost dead, and brings him back to his remote cabin. John has encountered Buck before and kindly nurses him back to health, though John's normal life is filled with nothing but sorrow and alcohol, having lost his young son to a fever years earlier. John and Buck take off into the wilderness together, in pursuit of what John's son would have called an adventure.

While the very basic outlines of the movie are based on the novel, the story has been seriously Disney-fied. In the novel, Buck endured far more abuse (and from far crueler men) before finally finding John. This is a kinder, happier version of Buck's story, clearly meant for families and to be appropriate for children (it is rated PG). But we all agreed that we really wouldn't have wanted to watch Buck be mistreated more, and we were all entertained by this 100-minute cinematic escape. This version has humorous escapades to counter the darker themes, but the essential relationship between John and Buck remains, along with the theme of Buck gradually shedding his domestic upbringing to listen to "the call of the wild." Ford is, as always, wonderful in his role, and the scenes of the Alaskan and Yukon wilderness are breathtakingly beautiful, making me yearn for camping season to start. It's an enjoyable diversion and a heartwarming story of a man and a dog finding healing and redemption with each other.

The Call of the Wild is currently playing in theaters (we saw it in a comfy recliner theater!). DVD and streaming release dates have not yet been determined.

Check your local theaters for dates and times:

It's Monday 3/9! What Are You Reading?

Busy, busy, busy last week! Medical appointments, errands, and even a massive stock-up shopping trip on the weekend (No, not because of the virus--we were just out of everything.) My book woes continue. I was finally able to jump all Amazon's hurdles and order a proof copy (which I had to pay for, including shipping). It looks great, almost perfect. I just need one more very minor adjustment to the cover; the spine is just 2 mm too narrow, so a bit of the front cover shows on the spine. The problem is that I sent a message to my cover designer Friday and haven't heard back yet. She was clearly getting fed up with the many rounds of changes the past few weeks, but I don't have the files or the software to fix this myself. Fingers crossed she will get back to me soon with this last revision! All this waiting is getting old.

We did manage to go out to dinner and to the movies (Call of the Wild) with close friends Saturday. Besides that, we get our comfort and escape from our books! Here's what we have all been reading this past week:

I finished my first book (prequel, actually) for Booktopia 2020! Regular readers know that each year, my mom and I attend Booktopia, a weekend-long event in Vermont in early May where readers and authors hang out together for two days. There are author sessions (that are more like book group discussions than typical author presentations), meals together, and even a rousing game of book trivia! You can read about Booktopia 2019 here--tickets are now available at the above link for this year's event. So, my first Booktopia 2020 book was Who Is Vera Kelly? by Rosalie Knecht. The author will be at Booktopia for her second novel, Vera Kelly Is Not a Mystery, so this is my Booktopia prequel reading. The novel is about a young woman in 1966 working as a CIA spy in Argentina, just before a military coup. Alternate chapters go back to her childhood, showing more about who she is and how she came to be in such a unique position. I enjoyed this engrossing and intriguing novel that is also thoughtful. It's less classic spy thriller and more in-depth examination of a fascinating character in a unique position. I'm looking forward to reading the second book.

I am now reading my next Booktopia selection (this will be a continuing theme for the next two months!), Black Is the Body: Stories from my Grandmother's Time, my Mother's Time, and Mine by Emily Bernard. This is a collection of essays by a college professor and author who has written several nonfiction books. She is a black woman, living in Vermont (i.e. a very white state!), married to a white man, and mother to two beautiful little Ethiopian girls they adopted. She also teaches courses in African American literature  and race relations to an almost-entirely white student body. As the title indicates, the essays are all about her experiences (and those of the generations before her) of race, covering everything from being a stabbing victim, to having white friends, to her girls' growing awareness and experiences with race (which are quite different from her own childhood in the South), and more. I am really enjoying the book so far. She is an excellent writer, a storyteller, and has a good sense of humor. She is examining difficult topics, that are often not talked about, in an accessible and entertaining way.

On audio, I am still listening to The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard, a novel about the women (and other young people) working at Oak Ridge in Tennessee during WWII. Oak Ridge was a hastily-built town to support top secret research (and production) of radioactive materials for the atomic bomb, part of the Manhattan Project. It's a fascinating inside look into a very secret place and time, from a variety of different perspectives, including June, a local farm girl, adjusting dials all day without knowing exactly what she is working on; Sam, a PhD physics professor from Berkeley brought in to work on the heart of the operation; and Joe, a black man who had to leave his family behind to work construction at the new facility in the deeply segregated South. I think I am getting close to the end (the U.S. just dropped the bomb on Hiroshima, so...), and it's been a very engaging story with interesting characters. It digs into the details of the characters and their relationships and experiences, as a way of examining the larger picture of the Manhattan Project and Oak Ridge's role in the war.

My husband, Ken, is still reading Shell Game by Sara Paretsky, book 19 in the popular V.I. Warshawski series, featuring a female detective (Kathleen Turner played her in a movie adaptation in 1991). We don't think either of us has read a novel in this series before, though who knows? This one was a super-early review copy I received back in 2018--have I mentioned how overflowing our TBR bookcase is? With all the stress lately, Ken wanted something fast-paced and escapism-focused, so he grabbed this one when he saw a blurb by Lee Child (his favorite author) on the front. This version isn't even bound like most ARCs; my husband says he feels like he's reading a movie script! He's enjoying it so far, and I think it is doing its job, providing some fun, mindless escape.

Our son, 25, is still reading The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams, book 1 in the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, one of the books he bought recently with a Christmas gift card. Sounds like this one features dark sorcery, an elf-like race, royals and servants, a deadly riddle, and plenty of swords--all right up his alley! I can't remember, but I don't think he's read this author before. He has been enjoying it very much, but life has been hectic for him lately, so it is taking him longer than usual to finish it.




Blog posts last week:

TV Tuesday: All Rise - an entertaining new legal drama

Teen/YA Review: Solo by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess - I loved this unique and powerful coming-of-age novel about music

Fiction Review: Saturday by Ian McEwan - an unexpected day-in-the-life of a London surgeon

My Summary of Books Read in February - a great reading 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?

Books Read in February

Bare branches and blue skies in February

Another good reading month for me, with lots of variety! Here's what I finished reading in February:

• State of Wonder by Anne Patchett (MN, Brazil) - adult fiction on audio
• An Indigenous People's History of the Unites States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz (adapted by Jean Mendoza and Debbie Reese) - YA nonfiction
• Hum If You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais (South Africa) - adult fiction

• Saturday by Ian McEwan (UK) - adult fiction
• Solo by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (CA, Ghana) - YA fiction on audio

That's five books total--not bad for a short month! I read one nonfiction book and four novels and listened to two of them on audio. Two of the five were teen/YA books, and the rest were for adults. My favorite has to be Hum If You Don't Know the Words, (a re-read), but since that was my favorite book read in 2019, it's not quite fair to the others! I enjoyed all five books, but Solo really blew me away, with its mix of poetry, a moving story, and music (which was especially good on audio). It's an outstanding book, though I would recommend all of these.

Progress in 2020 Reading Challenges:
You can see all of the reading challenges I am participating in and full lists of the books read for each at the link above. I have some fun ones going this year! Here's how February stacked up:

Mount TBR Reading Challenge 2020 - I only read 2 books from my own shelves since some of my "TBRs" last month were audios (which I am allowed to count, but I usually just focus on physical books taking up space on our shelves). But I think Saturday should count double since it's been on my shelves for over 10 years!

2020 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge - February was Seeing Red (red in the title or on the cover), so Solo works. 

Back to the Classics 2020 - no classics in January or February, but I am determined to do better than last year!

PopSugar Reading Challenge - this is a unique one! I fit all five of my books into categories last month, filling in 11 categories so far this year:

1. A book set in a city that has hosted the Olympics: Saturday by Ian McEwan
2. A book with a map: An Indigenous People's History of the Unites States for Young People by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz 
3. A book about a woman in STEM: State of Wonder by Anne Patchett (pharmaceutical research)
4. A book with a bird on the cover: Hum If You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais
5. Your favorite prompt from a past Popsugar Challenge (2019) - A book I meant to read in 2018: Solo by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess

2020 Nonfiction Reader's Challenge - An Indigenous People's History of the Unites States for Young People fit the History category.

2020 Diversity Reading Challenge - Four of my five books were diverse last month (all but  Saturday), and both Hum If You Don't Know the Words and Solo fit the Black/African American monthly theme.

Travel the World in Books Reading Challenge - Another global reading month, with books set in Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, and the UK.

2020 Literary Escapes Challenge - I read books set in two states: Minnesota and California.

And finally, Bookish Bingo hosted by Chapter Break - not really a challenge per se, but a fun game that I play each month! Stop by to print out this month's Bingo card and play along. In February, I filled 21 spaces on my bingo card--excellent for only five books!

Spaces Filled:

State of Wonder - free book, set in a small town, flowers, mystery, hidden treasure
An Indigenous People's History of the US for Young People - library book, read a physical book
Hum If You Don't Know the Words - candy, made you smile, best friends
Saturday - not in a series, shelf love, less than 400 pages, contemporary
Solo - red on the cover, audio book, romance, poetry, band, concert
Free Space

What was your favorite book read in February?

Fiction Review: Saturday

I had never read any of Ian McEwan's novels (though I did see the movie adaptation of Atonement), so when perusing my overflowing to-be-read bookcase last month, I chose Saturday, a McEwan novel that takes place all in one day. This book has been on my shelves for so long that it has a sticker on it from a used bookstore that went out of business at least 10 years ago (maybe 15?). I'm glad I finally got to this unique and intriguing novel about one very unusual Saturday in the life of a London neurosurgeon.

Henry Perowne has a good life in 2003. He lives with his wife in a lovely, huge London home within walking distance of the hospital where he works as a neurosurgeon, a job that he both loves and at which he is very skilled. Something wakes Henry early one Saturday morning before dawn, and he stands before the open window and witnesses a strange and unsettling sight. This is the start of what will turn out to be both a typical and very unusual Saturday for him. He plans to play squash with one of his colleagues, visit his elderly mother who has dementia at her nursing home, and buy ingredients for his famous seafood stew. They are planning an evening of celebration, with his musician son, his daughter who is coming back from Paris with her first published book of poetry, his lawyer wife, and her eccentric and famous poet father, also arriving from France. Henry is looking forward to these regular Saturday activities and to the warm family reunion this evening. Along the way, though, some unexpected incidents disrupt Henry's carefully planned-out day. Witnessing that odd thing before dawn is just the beginning.

This unique novel zeroes in on the details of one man's typical Saturday that turns out to be anything but typical. McEwan examines the mundane (like a description of Henry's weekly squash game) as well as the more extraordinary events of Henry's day side-by-side with equal attention. He zeroes in on the microcosm of one man's single day, but the novel also explores global events in this post-9/11 world that Henry lives in. There is a huge protest in the city against the UK's involvement in the Iraq war, and it's disruption of Henry's day (along with what he witnesses in the early morning hours) forces him to think about what is happening in the world, culminating in an argument with his daughter in the late afternoon. There were passages early in the novel that I found a bit dull, but that only made the surprises later in the novel all the more startling in contrast. I tabbed more than a dozen pages with quotes or passages I want to write down; McEwan has an incredible talent for thoughtful writing that resonated with me. This is a passage about Henry's young adult son Theo's perspective:

"On a recent Sunday evening Theo came up with an aphorism: the bigger you think, the crappier it looks. Asked to explain, he said, "When we go on about the big things, the political situation, global warming, world poverty, it all looks really terrible, with nothing getting better, nothing to look forward to. But when I think small, closer in--you know, a girl I've just met, or this song we're going to do with Chas, or snowboarding next month, then it looks great. So this is going to be my motto--think small."

Theo aptly sums up what could be the theme of this book--the micro-view of our lives consisting of family, work, and relationships versus the global view of what is happening in the world around us and how the two interact. This engrossing and unique novel gave me a lot to think about; I love that in a book! I am definitely looking forward to reading more McEwan novels--I have some catching up to do.

289 pages, Doubleday
Recorded 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.

Listen to a sample of the audio book from the start of the novel here and/or download it from Audible.

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

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

Teen/YA Review: Solo

The award-winning YA novel Solo by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess was published in 2017, and I heard nothing but rave reviews of it. I did add it to my want-to-read list, but in spite of all the praise, I kept putting it off. I'd heard it was a novel in verse, and I'm not a big poetry fan usually. I did absolutely love Brown Girl Dreaming (a YA memoir in verse) by Jacqueline Woodson, but still, I kept putting off reading Solo. Then, I downloaded an audio version of the book from SYNC and recently found the time to listen to it. I was completely blown away by this powerful, unique, musical novel about a teen boy trying to find his place in the world in the shadow of his famous father. The audio book, in particular, was outstanding.

Blade seems to live a charmed life from the outside. His father, Rutherford Morrison, is a famous rock musician, so Blade lives with him and his sister, Storm, in a huge house, with a pool and every possible luxury. But Blade lost his mother when he was only eight years ago, and his father is an alcoholic and drug addict who is even more famous these days for the trouble he gets into than for his music. Blade wants nothing to do with his escapades, his wild lifestyle, or his long trail of broken promises. Blade has inherited his family's musical talent, but while Storm and Rutherford are into hard rock, he prefers quieter, softer music. The bright spot in Blade's life is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her preacher father won't let her see Blade. He fears he will be a bad influence on his daughter because of what he reads about Blade's dad in the media. Blade and Chapel have to sneak around to see each other. Blade is doing his best to hang on until the fall, when he will finally be able to leave home, and he and Chapel will be attending college together. That hope for a brighter future is blown apart, though, when Rutherford (once again) ruins one of the biggest moments in Blade's life, his relationship with Chapel is turned upside down, and he learns some shocking news about his family. Emotionally destroyed, Blade takes off on the journey of a lifetime, to find his place in the world.

As I mentioned, this is a novel in verse, so the print book (which I got out of the library partway through the audio) looks like a series of short poems on the pages. Once you get into the book, though, you realize that this unique book incorporates conversations, texting, songs, and more. Some of Blade's own songs that he's written, describing his feelings and experiences, are interspersed throughout the novel, as well as tracks from a mix CD that Storm made for Blade (some of the songs well-known and others more obscure). On audio, all of these elements come across as a cohesive whole story. In fact, I forgot at first that it was in verse. The story, narrated by the author, just sounded impactful and rhythmic, with emotional depth. Listen to the audio sample on this page to get an idea of the feeling and flow of the novel; it includes Blade's memories of when he and Chapel first met. The audio book won the Audie Award for Young Adult in 2018.

Audio was definitely the right way for me to experience this beautiful novel, given my inexperience with (and I'll admit, bias against) poetry. I could just allow myself to fall into the details of the story, not even realizing it was laid out in verse. Additionally, because music is such a huge part of the story (and of Blade's life), I loved being able to not only read the lyrics but actually hear Blade's own original songs, sung by Randy Preston on the audio. I was fully immersed in the story immediately and completely engrossed, anxious to pick it up again anytime I had to set it down. The novel itself had far more depth to it than I expected, with Blade's pain and desire for meaning palpable. I was sorry when it ended and it was time to leave Blade but so inspired that I began playing the songs from the mix CD tracks that are mentioned throughout the book. This is an amazing, moving story told in a unique and powerful way. Highly recommended, especially on audio (or do what I did and experience it both ways!).

464 pages, Blink

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 sampleof the audio book, read by the author, here and/or download it from Audible.

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

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

TV Tuesday: All Rise

I haven't had much time lately for TV and movie reviews, so I have some catching up to do, starting with a new legal drama we began watching when it premiered in fall 2019, All Rise. It features a brand-new black female judge with a desire to do the right thing and a tendency to stir up trouble.

As All Rise opens at the start of season 1, it is Judge Lola Carmichael's (played by Simone Missick) very first day as a judge at the L.A. County Courthouse. Lola has recently been promoted after working for years in the prosecutor's office as an attorney. She is a direct, honest woman who wants to be a fair judge, even to those who are not always treated fairly by our justice system, which sometimes means doing things that upset the status quo. Her colleagues are mostly old white guys who are quite traditional, though her boss is a powerful woman judge named Lisa Benner, played by Marg Helgenberger. Luckily, Lola is not completely in unfamiliar territory. Her best friend from law school, Mark (played by Wilson Bethel), who still works in the prosecutor's office, is usually in the building and available for secret stairwell conferences when one of them is struggling with something and texts the other. The show also features other courthouse regulars, including public defender Emily Lopez, played by Jessica Camacho, who is always standing up for the forgotten and disadvantaged; Luke, played by J. Alex Brinson, the bailiff for Lola's courtroom who is attending law school at night; and uber-organized Sherri, played by Ruthie Ann Miles, who is Lola's assistant. The cast is filled out with other courtroom employees, as well as a rotating cast of attorneys and defendants, as each episode tackles different case(s). Cases often address hot issues from the real world, like immigration, cyber crimes, social media, and eco-terrorrism. There is also some fun stuff interwoven into the plot, like civil weddings and children's visits, plus some action-packed episodes dealing with natural disasters, violent defenders, and other kinds of emergencies.

We've been watching All Rise since its debut in September and are enjoying it, me probably a bit more than my husband (I like relationship-driven shows and he prefers more action!), though he likes it, too. In addition to the different cases in each episode to keep the show interesting, there are ongoing storylines about the personal lives of the main characters: Lola's sometimes volatile relationship with her mother, Mark's strained relationship with his criminal father, the budding friendship (or more?) between Emily and Luke, and even a possible romance for coolly efficient Sherri. The constantly changing plots and themes keep the show fascinating and evergreen, and I find all of the characters likeable and interesting--I look forward to spending an hour with them every week. Lola shakes things up a bit as one of the few women and only person-of-color judge in that courthouse but is determined to be fair to all and look at things in new ways, even when it puts her career in jeopardy. Best of all, in the midst of the drama, issues, and occasional suspense, the show also has a good sense of humor, a must for us! I think we just have one episode left to finish season one, but CBS has announced plans to move forward for a second season. We'll keep watching!

All Rise is currently airing on CBS on Mondays (just one show left in its 17-episode first season). Right now, the last three episodes are available for free on the CBS website, and the entire season is still available (for now) On Demand, if you have cable service. It is also available on Amazon for $1.99 an episode or $24.99 for the entire season or on CBS All Access  (CBS's own streaming service, which we recently signed up for)--you can sign up for a free trial week (and binge it!) through this link. After the free trial, the CBS All Access subscription starts at $5.99 per month.

Have you tried All Rise yet? Do you enjoy the legal antics of Lola and the L.A. County Courthouse?

It's Monday 3/2! What Are You Reading?

I thought March was supposed to "come in like a lion"?? It's 62 and sunny here today, and we have the windows open! While I have enjoyed the mild winter for being able to spend more time outdoors, I also find "the hottest January on record" more than a little terrifying (and fear for what August will bring!).

Enjoying the sunshine and warm temps today!

We enjoyed a wonderful Mardi Gras last week, enjoying our traditional Popeye's (yes, it's REAL Louisiana food!) with our closest friends who also lived in New Orleans when we did--lots of reminiscing, old stories, and laughs.

Otherwise, our lives continue to be extremely stressful, with continuing family crises. I took a little break from social media last week, and it did me a lot of good. Apologies once again for not visiting very many blogs last week--sigh--I do miss that and am hoping to get back to it this week (though I am already behind, writing this post at 6 pm on Monday!). But the break from being online did help me to restore some peace and recover a bit.

My book woes continue as well. I have now submitted my print book to Amazon 5 times, and each time, they tell me there is a tiny error with my cover. They gave an exact dimension the first time (12.657x9.250, to the hundredth place!), and I went back to my cover designer, and she adjusted it. Next time, Amazon said it needs to be 12.703x9.250!! You can't make this stuff up. I am currently waiting (again) for my cover designer to deliver the latest revision; fingers crossed that this one will be approved! Then, I need to correct whatever errors come up in the internal book formatting, but at least I can do that myself.

I am SO glad we have our books to comfort us and offer escape at times like this! Here's what we have all been reading this week:

I finished my first-ever Ian McEwan novel, Saturday (can you believe I've never read him before?). It describes, in detail, a typical Saturday in the life of a London neurosurgeon with a wife and grown son and daughter. It's interesting to read an entire novel within the limits of one day, though it includes his memories of the past, too. McEwan includes both the mundane details of any Saturday for the surgeon, as well as some really unusual and unsettling things that happen this particular day (with some big surprises), so it somehow manages to tackle both the personal and the global. It's a fairly slow-moving story, and some sections--like the very detailed description of his squash match, which I know nothing about (including the terminology)--felt boring to me. Other passages, though, really seem to hit on some intriguing thoughts or universal truths, so my copy has quite a few dog-eared pages with quotes I want to write down. Still other sections feature fast-paced, gripping plot twists. I enjoyed this unique and engaging novel.

Next, I was able to start reading (or pre-reading) for Booktopia 2020! Regular readers know that each year, my mom and I attend Booktopia, a weekend-long event in Vermont in early May where readers and authors hang out together for two days. There are author sessions (that are more like book group discussions than typical author presentations), meals together, and even a rousing game of book trivia! You can read about Booktopia 2019 here--tickets are now available at the above link for this year's event. So, I am currently reading Who Is Vera Kelly? by Rosalie Knecht. The author will be at Booktopia for her second novel, Vera Kelly Is Not a Mystery, so this is my Booktopia prequel reading. The novel is about a young woman in 1966 working as a CIA spy in Argentina, just before a military coup. Alternate chapters go back to her childhood, showing more about who she is and how she came to be in such a unique position. It's very good so far: engrossing and intriguing. I'm looking forward to reading the second book, as well.

On audio, I finished listening to Solo by Kwame Alexander with Mary Rand Hess. I have been hearing rave reviews of this YA novel for years, but for some reason, I didn't think it would be for me. I was blown away by it! It's about a teen boy named Blade whose father is a renowned rock star, equally famous for his music as for his addictions and outrageous behavior. It's a tough way to grow up, and Blade's mother died when he was only eight years old. His dad keeps saying he's changed, but then everything falls apart again. In addition, Blade is in love with a girl whose father hates him (because of his father). From there, the story takes some unexpected paths that made me like it even more. The novel is written in verse, which may be part of why I avoided it. I'm not a huge poetry fan, generally. But, on audio, I wasn't even aware of the way this was written; it just sounds impactful and rhythmic and tells a cohesive story with emotional depth. Even better, with his musical family, the audio includes music, including Blade's own songs, which adds greatly to the wonderful experience listening to it. I finished it last week, got the print book out of the library so I could see what it looked like in print, and am still thinking about it.

I finished Solo while I was away from home so scrolled through my iPod to see if I had any other audio books loaded that I hadn't listened to yet (I am old school--no smartphone!). I found The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard, a novel about the women (and other young people) working at Oak Ridge during WWII. Oak Ridge was a hastily-built town to support top secret research (and eventually production) of radioactive materials for the atomic bomb, part of the Manhattan Project. It's a fascinating inside look into a very secret place and time, from a variety of different perspectives, including June, a local farm girl, adjusting dials all day without knowing exactly what she is working on; Sam, a PhD physics professor from Berkeley brought in to work on the heart of the operation; and Joe, a black man who had to leave his family behind to work construction at the new facility in the deeply segregated South. It's very interesting so far, and I am enjoying the story.

My husband, Ken, finished a Christmas gift from me, End of Watch by Stephen King. This novel is the end of the trilogy that began with Mr. Mercedes and continued with Finders Keepers, so he said he wanted to read book three while the rest was still fresh is his mind from last fall. According to the blurb, it's about a serial killer with a traumatic brain injury who is in a persistent vegetative state. Behind his still body, though, his mind is working fast thanks to a new experimental drug, and he is scheming to get revenge on those who crossed him, including retired police detective Bill Hodges, the hero of the trilogy. After reading The Outsider last year and realizing that one of my favorite characters in that novel was from the Mr. Mercedes trilogy, I now want to read this series, too!

Ken is now reading Shell Game by Sara Paretsky, book 19 in the popular V.I. Warshawski series, featuring a female detective (Kathleen Turner played her in a movie adaptation in 1991). We don't think either of us has read a novel in this series before, though who knows? This one was a super-early review copy I received back in 2018--have I mentioned how overflowing our TBR bookcase is? With all the stress lately, Ken wanted something fast-paced and escapism-focused, so he grabbed this one when he saw a blurb by Lee Child (his favorite author) on the front. This version isn't even bound like most ARCs; my husband says he feels like he's reading a movie script! He's enjoying it so far, and I think it is doing its job, providing some fun, mindless escape.

Our son, 25, is still reading The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams, book 1 in the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn series, one of the books he bought recently with a Christmas gift card. Sounds like this one features dark sorcery, an elf-like race, royals and servants, a deadly riddle, and plenty of swords--all right up his alley! I can't remember, but I don't think he's read this author before. He's enjoying it so far, but life has been hectic for him lately, and this is a hefty one.





Blog posts from last week:

Celebrate Mardi Gras Today! - Mardi Gras is still over, but you can still enjoy these books, movies, TV shows, and foods from and about New Orleans

Fiction Review: State of Wonder by Anne Patchett - a twisty, surprising story set in the Amazon jungle

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: State of Wonder

I just finished listening to State of Wonder by Ann Patchett on audio. Somehow, I missed it when it was published in 2011 and recently found the audio files sort of hidden on my laptop and unlabelled--a pleasant surprise! I enjoyed this journey into the deepest reaches of the Amazon, with plenty of surprises along the way.

Dr. Marina Singh, a pharmaceuticals researcher in Minnesota, is tasked by her boss, with whom she is having a secret affair, with traveling to a remote area of the Brazilian rainforest. Another researcher at her company, Dr. Annick Swenson, has gone missing there and cut off all communication with the company. Marina's officemate and friend, Anders, was first sent down there to find Dr. Swenson, but he died under mysterious circumstances. With his widow's tearful entreaties in her ears and the sight of his three sons fresh in her mind, Marina agrees to make the trip. She figures it will take her about two weeks to find and talk to Dr. Swenson, who was Marina's teacher in med school years ago, get an update on her progress in developing a new fertility drug, and find out the details of Anders' death, maybe even bringing back his possessions (and some answers) for his family. Once Marina arrives in Brazil, though, she sees that it won't be that simple. There is no sign of Dr. Swenson in the hot, exotic, crowded city, and those who know her say they can not predict when she will show up. Dr. Swenson does eventually emerge from the jungle, though Marina doesn't learn much from her, so she decides to follow her old mentor deep into the Amazon to the remote village where the makeshift lab is set up, following the same frightening path that Anders did just months ago.

This novel has a gradual build-up at the beginning, but once it gets rolling (when Marina arrives in Brazil), it is twisty and unpredictable, with plenty of suspense and unexpected revelations. That beginning in Minnesota is necessary to build in-depth characters and relationships, as Marina and her boss get the shocking news about Anders, visit his widow, and flashbacks help to fill in some background on all of the characters. Most of the novel takes place in Brazil--and much of that deep within the Amazon jungle--which provides a fascinating and immersive sense of place that permeates the entire story. The audio book is narrated by talented and well-known actress Hope Davis (I recognized her distinctive voice right away), so it is excellent, with plenty of emotion imbued in the story through her voice. Every time I thought I knew where this novel was going, it took another surprising turn, making for an engrossing and entertaining listen. Now, I am excited to read more of Patchett's backlist, since I have missed many of her novels since loving Bel Canto many years ago!

384 pages, Harper Perennial
HarperAudio

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 audio book, narrated by actress Hope Davis, here and/or download it from Audible.

You can purchase State of Wonder from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

Or you can order State of Wonder from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

Celebrate Mardi Gras Today!

A Mardi Gras float heads down Canal Street - Mardi Gras 1988

Today is Mardi Gras day - we used to live in New Orleans, so this is a major holiday at out house! We had our annual party with a few friends (many of whom also lived in New Orleans when we did) on Saturday, and today, we will finish off the season with our annual tradition of Popeye's at a friend's house (yes, Popeye's is authentic Louisiana food!).

 

Want to join the fun today? Here is a collection of ways to celebrate Mardi Gras, New Orleans, and Louisiana today...including food, recipes, travel tips, movies & TV shows, and, of course, some great books! You can also check out my column in Shelf Awareness from last year that features books about and set in New Orleans, Armchair Travel: Destination New Orleans.

 

Great Adult Books Set In/About Louisiana (additional titles in my article linked above):

• The Crowning Glory of Calla Lily Ponder by Rebecca Wells, author of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood - I listened to Calla Lily's story on audio and laughed out loud & bawled my eyes out! It takes place in southern Louisiana, with plenty of local color.
• Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table by Sara Roahen - I loved this memoir about the food, history, people, and unique culture of New Orleans.
• Trail of Crumbs: Food, Love, and the Search for Home by Kim Sunée - although this food-focused memoir covers everyplace from Sweden to France to Korea, the author grew up in New Orleans, where the food culture impacted the rest of her life.
  

Middle-Grade and Teen/YA Books Set In/About Louisiana:

• Ruined by Paula Morris - a teen/YA mystery/ghost story set in New Orleans (the perfect setting for a ghost story!)
• The Freedom Maze by Delia Sherman - a compelling middle-grade historical fiction adventure (with a touch of time travel), where a girl from 1960 travels back to 1860 Louisiana
• Zane and the Hurricane by Rodman Philbrick - a middle-grade novel about Hurricane Katrina - powerful and gripping
• Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys - most people are familiar with her two YA novels set during WWII (Between Shades of Gray and Salt to the Sea), but this historical novel is set in New Orleans in 1950

Movies & TV Shows

• Chef  - a wonderful, uplifting movie about a family food truck that travels from Miami to LA, with a stop in New Orleans, of course! My favorite movie of the year in 2015.
• NCIS: New Orleans - though it's a crime show, it includes many scenes of New Orleans, mention of local restaurants and landmarks, and other local tidbits. They usually do a Mardi Gras episode around this time of year, so check your cable On Demand.
• You can also check out some classic movies and modern classics with New Orleans settings, like A Streetcar Named Desire and The Big Easy.
• Or tune in to watch parades and other scenes in New Orleans streaming live (or if you missed the parades, some great video clips) at www.mardigras.com.

One of the locals in Louisiana

Travel
All this talk of Louisiana making you want to visit? I have written articles about visiting New Orleans  and Exploring Cajun Country - check them out and start planning your trip (plenty of food recommendations in both!). I'm certainly ready to go back!

Crawfish!

Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!
Notice that many of the books and movies about Louisiana are focused on FOOD? Yes, Louisiana - and especially New Orleans - is known for its amazing, unique food. This blog post on how to celebrate Mardi Gras includes my own recipes for some classic Louisiana dishes, plus food you can grab locally today and webcams where you can vicariously experience Mardi Gras - there are plenty of suggestions in this post that you can still manage to do TODAY! Or save it for tomorrow if you like - we eat this food all year round. 

NOTE that Zapp's potato chips - which you absolutely MUST try) have been bought out by PA-chip maker Utz, so you don't have to get them by mail-order anymore. We can now find them in local stores like Wawa here in Delaware....though we still ordered a carton of assorted flavors for Mardi Gras! (Cajun Crawtator and Cajun Dill are the best.)

Me & my sons, about 10 years ago