2 Graphic Novels and a Graphic Memoir

I have fallen behind on my book reviews and read lots of great graphic novels/memoirs last month (including Snapdragon), which means quick reading time but lots of books to review! So, I am combining three of those reviews here today, for a 3-for-1 on fun graphic novels and memoirs--the perfect solution when you are struggling to concentrate or want to read something quick but satisfying! Below are reviews for The Phantom Twin by Lisa Brown and Go with the Flow by Lily Williams and Schneemann, both wonderful graphic novels for teens/YA (but each very unique), and Go To Sleep (I Miss You) by Lucy Knisely, a warm and funny chronicle of her first year as a new mother.

The Phantom Twin by Lisa Brown is a unique coming-of-age story set in the early part of the 20th century in a freak show. Conjoined teenaged twins Isabel and Jane were abandoned to the freak show when they were young, but they have found a family there, among the other freaks, both born and made. When a surgeon offers to separate them, Jane is enthusiastic and ready to live her own life, but Isabel is happy with the way things are. The surgery kills Jane, and Isabel is left alone for the first time in her life, having not only lost her beloved sister but also the arm and leg that they shared. Jane's not entirely gone, though, since Isabel can still see and hear her ghost at her side. In town one day with the tattooed woman, Isabel meets a kind young man named Tommy who is a talented tattoo artist. He uses his artistic talents to make realistic-looking prosthetics for her, and it is clear that he likes her. The circus comes up with a new role for Isabel, as the "living doll," featuring her new prosthetics, though it's not as big a hit as the conjoined twins were, and she knows she needs to earn her keep if she stays. Tommy wants to make a life with her, but Isabel isn't sure if she can leave the only family she has ever known.

Sample page from the beginning of The Phantom Twin

 I loved The Phantom Twin! It's such an original premise but based in part on historical research the author did on circus freak shows and the people in them. Readers see a whole world behind-the-scenes that is unfamiliar and fascinating. At the same time, this is a warm and sweet love story and ultimately, a coming-of-age account about figuring out who you are and what you want to do with your life.

206 pages, First Second

You can purchase The Phantom Twin from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

You can also buy through indie bookstores using Bookshop.

Or you can order The Phantom Twin from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

Go with the Flow by by Lily Williams and Schneemann is an entirely different graphic novel for older middle-graders and teens, set in the modern world (and with no ghosts!), a story of friendship, activism, and ... periods! Brit, Abby, and Christine have been best friends for a long time and are excited about their sophomore year. They meet the new girl, Sasha, when she suddenly gets her period for the first time, in front of everyone and while wearing white pants! Oh, yeah, it's every girl's nightmare. While everyone else is taunting and teasing her, the three best friends sweep in to help Sasha and usher her into the girls' bathroom. Abby is appalled to find that the sanitary products machine in the restroom is empty, and after they help Sasha, she goes to talk to the principal about it. He just shrugs and says there's no budget. Abby is furious that this isn't considered a necessity and wonders about girls who maybe can't even afford period products, even if they were available in school. She begins to blog about these problems. The four friends end up trying to make some changes and break the taboo against talking about menstruation. This warm, inspiring story is a fun tale of friendship that also touches on some serious issues and empowers girls to make a difference.

Sample page from Go with the Flow

333 pages, First Second

You can purchase Go with the Flow from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

You can also buythrough indie bookstores using Bookshop.

Or you can order Go with the Flow from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

I am a long-time fan of Lucy Knisely and her graphic memoirs like Relish: My Life in the Kitchen and Something New: Tales from a Makeshift Bride. Her latest, Go To Sleep (I Miss You): Cartoons from the Fog of New Parenthood is all about the ups and downs of being a new parent. Through her engaging drawings, readers have followed her life through planning a wedding, getting married, and being pregnant, and this book is the next step.  Through adorable, relatable single-page cartoons, Knisely shares the joys and stresses of being a new parent, from sleep deprivation to constant worries to first smiles, perfectly capturing the stark contrasts of that magical and exhausting time. Warm, fun, and entertaining as are all of her graphic memoirs, anyone who has been a parent will be able to relate and feel her love for her baby come off the page and into your heart. This would be a great gift for a new parent or parent-to-be!

Sample page from Go To Sleep (I Miss You)

177 pages, First Second

You can purchase Go To Sleep (I Miss You) from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

You can also buy through indie bookstores using Bookshop.

Or you can order Go To Sleep (I Miss You) from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

Nonfiction Review: Greek to Me

One of the selections for Booktopia 2020 (now a series of virtual author events--you can join in, too!) was Greek to Me by Mary Norris, a writer for The New Yorker. This combination of memoir, essays, and travelogue is an interesting exploration of Greek language, customs, history, and geography.

The author begins by describing how she developed a love for all things Greek and began learning the Greek language by taking classes while working for The New Yorker. She delves into the history of both the Greek and English alphabets and how one influenced the other (my college sorority experience came in handy), which I found surprisingly fascinating. Much of the book covers her many trips to the Greek isles, describing a geography and culture completely unfamiliar to me (though I love the food!). In between her travels to Greece, she continues to study both classical literature and the Greek language, so her descriptions of the places she visits include plenty of history, literature, and mythology references. These are not your typical vacations to fancy Greek resorts or tourist areas but intricate investigations into Greek culture and history. She often travels alone--apparently a rarity for women in Greece. Here, she describes why she prefers to travel solo and what benefits it brings:

"When you travel alone, you are forced to engage with people. Otherwise, you're stuck with whatever random song was running in your head when you woke up--the theme from Mister Ed, say, or Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini. When you're with someone from home, it is too easy to stay comfortable, in your own idiom and daily regimen and character. You never have the feeling of alienation that is so formative to an experience in a strange place. Living in Greek was a relief from my interior monologue. Because my Greek was limited, I concentrated on saying only things that were direct and essential. There was no place for small talk. Back at home, I was terrible at small talk. In the Mediterranean, no one knew that. I could make myself up as I went along."

I struggled with this book a bit at first but ultimately enjoyed it and am glad I read it. I have always wanted to visit Greece, so I was curious about the travel aspects of the memoir. I have to admit, though, that many of her frequent references to classic literature and mythology were completely unfamiliar to me. I know many people who find mythology fascinating (including my son), but I've just never been very interested in it. Since I don't share the author's obsessions in these subjects, some passages were a bit slow or boring to me. And I was completely lost with all her New Yorker name-dropping. I can see, though, that those who are interested in classic literature, mythology, and Greek history would be fascinated by her deep dive (and the outstanding reviews for this book reflect that). Overall, though, there was plenty here that I enjoyed, particularly in the second half of the book, which focuses more on her travels. And I definitely want to visit Greece! The author will be talking and answering questions tonight at 5 pm online through Northshire Bookstore, and I look forward to hearing her speak.

222 pages, W.W. Norton & Company

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, read by the author, here and/or download it from Audible. I always enjoy hearing memoirs read by the author.

You can purchase Greek to Me from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

You can also buythrough indie bookstores using Bookshop.

  

Or you can order Greek to Me from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

TV Tuesday: The Good Fight

My husband and I have recently been enjoying some new-to-us streaming TV shows, including The Good Fight. This spin-off of The Good Wife is a legal drama that tackles timely issues but is also hilariously funny, with an outstanding female-centered cast.

Christine Baranski stars as Diane Lockhart, a character from The Good Wife. In the first episode here, Diane has announced her retirement from her law firm when she discovers that she no longer has a retirement fund, thanks to a Ponzi scheme run by her financial advisors, the Rindells, who also happen to be good friends of hers. In fact, Diane is the godmother to their only daughter, Maia (played by Rose Leslie), who has recently started at the firm as a new associate. Diane asks to be reinstated as partner, but since her firm is run by the ruthless David Lee (infamous from The Good Wife), she is forced to find a new job. She hires on with an all-black firm run by her good friend, Adrian Boseman, played with great style by Delroy Lindo. Diane asks if Maia, who is suffering from her parents' wrong-doing, can come with her, and Adrian agrees. Several other lawyers at the firm are familiar from The Good Wife, including Julius Cain (played by Michael Boatman), the only Republican in the left-leaning firm, and Lucca Quinn (played Cush Jumbo). One of our favorite characters is back, too: Marissa Gold, played by Sarah Steele, the sassy, go-getting, intelligent assistant/investigator, who also comes along to the new firm with Diane. In later episodes, Audra McDonald joins the cast as Liz Reddick-Lawrence, Adrian's ex-wife and a top-notch lawyer in her own right. Adrian's firm is very different from David Lee's cut-throat one that Diane is used to, with a focus on social justice and doing the right thing (though they are still a very high-level and successful law firm).

We both loved The Good Wife but weren't so sure about trying The Good Fight--it just wouldn't be the same without Alicia Florrick--but this show is just so much fun! Its creators have captured a kind of magic formula with the excellent cast, the outstanding writing, and the interesting, twisty plots. Each episode usually revolves around a new legal case, but there are plenty of continuing storylines about the main characters, including Diane's now-shaky marriage to conservative firearm forensics expert, Kurt McVeigh (played by Gary Cole); Maia's ongoing problems with her parents' ruinous financial scheme; and Lucca's steamy affair with the Assistant DA, which makes for some awkward courtroom moments. Familiar faces from the original show--like judges and other lawyers--keep popping up to our delight, though you absolutely do not have to have watched The Good Wife to enjoy The Good Fight--it stands on its own. Every single episode is interesting, gripping, and usually hilariously, laugh-out-loud funny. We often watch some sort of darker mystery/thriller show first in the evening, but I love to end our TV session with a humor-filled episode of The Good Fight. We are into season 2 now, and it just keeps getting better and better!

The Good Fight is a CBS All Access (CBS' streaming service) original show, so it is available there, as well as through Amazon (where you can also sign up for CBS All Access). Though we resisted signing up for new streaming services, we did sign up for CBS All Access this winter, for just $5 a month, so my son and I could watch NCIS, but we are finding that their original shows, like this one and their Star Trek shows, are excellent and well worth the price.

The trailer outlines the premise of the show but doesn't capture its humor:

It's Monday 5/11! What Are You Reading?

Hope everyone had a nice Mother's Day! Mine was lovely. My college son came home for the entire day (keeping his distance, of course - I am missing hugging him!), and we called the Grandmas, took a hike at the local nature center, and ate some amazing meals, including take-out dinner from a local favorite restaurant. I was treated to soft shell crabs, roasted Brussels' sprouts, and delicious chocolate mousse cake for dessert, plus a pile of wonderful cards and gifts from both sons and my husband. I was stuffed right up till bedtime! A very nice day spent with my family.

A Mother's Day walk with our son!

And today is my mother's birthday. I know she's been upset that we can't all be together--we usually spend this weekend all gathered at her house--but my sister (who only lives an hour away in the same state) was able to drive down with her two kids for a walk at the park and some socially-distanced take-out, so that made my mom very happy!

Celebrating my mom's birthday back in circa 1991

It was a busy, hectic weekend, but we always find time for our books. Here's what we're all reading this week:

I finished Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett, a Christmas gift from my husband. This novel was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critic's Circle Award! It's a drama about a family of five that struggles with mental health issues, including severe depression. John, the husband, was hospitalized for depression while he and Margaret were still dating, and despite the lack of information at the time, Margaret loved him and decided to stay with him. They marry and have three children: Michael, Celia, and Alec. Michael also struggles with some of the same issues as his dad, which affects everyone in the family. Each family member gets their own voice, as chapters alternate between them. I was immediately pulled into this immersive novel. Some parts are difficult to read, though the self-descriptions of mental illness from John's and Michael's perspectives are also enlightening. I can see why it was nominated for so many awards (and won some, too).

Next, I needed to go back to something fast-paced and gripping, so I chose a thriller, The Last One by Alexandra Oliva, about a survival reality TV show gone wrong. A woman nicknamed Zoo by the show's producers is competing with eleven other contestants for a million dollars. They are told this show will do things that have never been done before and that they may not see anyone else for days at a time while surviving on their own out in the woods. It starts out predictably enough, with some team challenges and solo challenges, lots of crew in the shadows, and a couple of people dropping out early. But several days into a solo challenge, Zoo notices strange things: towns and neighborhoods completely devoid of people, a notice of a deadly pandemic (no, I didn't realize this when I started the book!), and even dead bodies. She just assumes that it is all a part of the elaborate charade (and that the show must have a huge budget), but in truth, while she was hiking through the woods, almost everyone really died of this pandemic. When will she finally realize this is real? What happened to the other contestants? I gave this novel to my husband as a gift, and I am loving it! It's just what a needed, with an original story and fictional world so engrossing that I've been staying up much too late at night reading it.

I started a new audiobook last week, Lakewood by Megan Giddings, one of the selections for Booktopia 2020 (which was cancelled but they are scheduling virtual author events now - click on Events to join the fun!). This is an unusual novel plot so far. A young woman named Lena has just lost her beloved grandmother who raised her. Though she is still in college, responsibility for Lena's mother, Desiree, with her many health problems, now falls to Lena. When she stumbles across a potential job as a highly paid medical research subject, she jumps at the chance to earn so much money and ease her family's problems. Within a few days, though, Lena starts to realize this is a very strange arrangement. She's given a fake job and is required to lie to her family and friends about it, and some of the experiments are not just strange but frightening. It's an intriguing (and scary) story so far, and I am interested to see where it goes.

Just last night, my husband, Ken, finished reading one of the oldest books on our TBR shelves, 13 Steps Down by Ruth Rendell, which we bought at a used bookstore about 15 years ago and neither of us had read yet. Yeah, we have a problem, I know. Rendell is the author of over 80 books, including many mysteries written as both Ruth Rendell and as her pseudonym, Barbara Vine. This one sounds like a classic British mystery, featuring an obsessed and strange lodger and his equally strange elderly landlady. We've heard great things about Rendell for many years; I'm glad he's finally tackled this one! He said it was very British and quite a bit slower-paced than the thrillers he's used to. He enjoyed it but wasn't blown away by it.

Our son, 25, finished reading Warlord, book 6 in the The Sanctuary Series by Robert J. Crane, one of his recent favorites. 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 last month. 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, he has returned to another favorite author, with a spin-off series from one of his old favorites. He's reading Flamecaster by Cinda Williams Chima, book 1 of the Shattered Realms series, which he described to me as a companion to The Seven Realms series, which he read years ago and loved. This newer fantasy series is set in the same world but a generation later, so in that way, it continues the stories begun in The Seven Realms and gives readers a look at what comes next (and what avid reader doesn't want that from a favorite series?). Amazon describes it as "a breathtaking story of dark magic, chilling threats, and two unforgettable characters walking a knife-sharp line between life and death." Sounds good!

Blog posts from last week - 3 excellent novels that I would recommend:

Middle-Grade Review: Notorious by Gordon Korman - fun mystery about history and friendship

Fiction Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer - an unusual boy goes on a mission across NYC after losing his father on 9/11 - moving, warm, quirky, and very funny

Fiction Review: Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore - thoughtful, twisty novel about a woman time-jumping each year and living her life out of order

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: Oona Out of Order

As regular readers of this blog know, I love any kind of fictional plot that plays with time: time travel, alternate universes, jumping through time, etc. So, when I heard about Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore, in which a woman lives her life out of order, jumping to a different year (and age) every New Year's, I knew it was for me! I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this delightful and thoughtful novel on audio.

Oona Lockhart is celebrating New Year's Eve 1982 at a loud party with her boyfriend (and bandmate), Dale. At midnight, Oona will turn nineteen, and she has her whole exciting life ahead of her. Currently, she is trying to decide between accepting a new offer to open for another band and go on tour with her band next year or going ahead with her plans to study Economics in London with her best friend, Pam. Then, it's midnight, everyone counts down, and ... Oona faints. When she wakes up, she's in a plush, quiet house she doesn't recognize with an unfamiliar man. He kindly explains that his name is Kenzie, and he is her personal assistant and friend. He also explains that it is not 1983 but 2015, and she is not nineteen ... she's 51 years old. This is the first of many annual time jumps, when Oona is suddenly thrust into another year, another age, and another body. She spends much of that first year just trying to adjust to the idea, with Kenzie and her mother by her side, the only two people who know of her "condition." She approaches each year differently but finds it especially challenging to be a teen suddenly thrust into a middle-aged body and to have left all of her friends--and her exciting future--behind. She never knows where--or rather when--she will end up at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.

Oh, this was such an intriguing and twisty novel! It was fun to read but also had emotional depth to it, as Oona struggles with issues of coming-of-age (in a 51-year-old body), aging, life choices, relationships, and more. One of the reasons I love novels that play with time is that they are endlessly thought-provoking, and Oona's unique situation in living her life out of order provides lots of this. Would you still start that love affair with the wonderful guy if you know it will eventually end in divorce? Will you follow the instructions left by yourself in the future if every instinct tells you not to? Oona's challenges are unique and fascinating, and it's great to go along for the ride with her, bouncing from one decade to another. The pop culture references are fun, too, providing a nostalgic background to the time-jumping story (especially since I was almost the same age as Oona in 1982!). I thoroughly enjoyed this original novel filled with warmth, humor, and insights into human nature.

352 pages, Flatiron Books
Macmillan Audio

If you also enjoy time-twisting tales, here are some others to try (my reviews at the links - no spoilers!):

Replay by Ken Grimwood is one of my favorite novels ever, about a man who keeps reliving parts of his life. I've read it three times (so far) and find it endlessly thought-provoking.

The Many Lives of John Stone by Linda Buckley-Archer is a YA novel about a man who has seemingly lived for centuries and the young girl who begins to figure out his secrets. It mixes historical fiction with a modern setting.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger is perhaps one of the most well-known time-jumping novels, and another book that is on my favorites of all time list! I've read it twice and loved it both times, and sobbed my heart out both times.

Here and Now and Then by Mike Chen - one of my recent favorites, this one is more classic time travel, but with a lot of heart and a great sense of humor, about a time-traveler from the future who gets stuck in 1996. A wonderful novel (and the author has a new one out now, too).

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 excellent audiobook here and/or download it from Audible. The sample is from the beginning of the novel, with eighteen-year-old Oona at her New Year's Eve Birthday party, having no idea of what is ahead!

You can purchase Oona Out of Order from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

You can also buythrough indie bookstores using Bookshop.

  

Or you can order Oona Out of Order from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

Fiction Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Many years ago, my husband and I enjoyed the movie adaptation of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, starring Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock, so when I saw the novel, written by Jonathan Safran Foer, in a used bookstore, I snatched it up. That was also many years ago, but the pandemic has helped me to dive deep into my waiting-to-be-read shelves! I loved this warm and funny novel populated by likable, quirky characters that is all about grief, love, and healing.

Nine-year-old Oskar lost his dad in 9/11 more than a year ago, and he is still grieving deeply for the loss. He misses his dad's help with his many inventions, the "missions" he would send him on out in the city, and the stories he would tell Oskar at bedtime. Oskar is a very imaginative child with a huge vocabulary and a lot of anxiety. He doesn't have many friends--kids tend to think he's strange--but he has his mom and Grandma, and he seems to be on a first-name basis with everyone in his neighborhood from the doorman to the mailman to the guy who runs the locksmith shop down the road. One day, searching through his dad's closet and embracing all the memories it holds, Oskar finds a mysterious key at the bottom of a blue vase that looks out of place on the top shelf. He's never seen a key like it before, and Oskar decides that it's a mission his dad left for him. His only clue is the word "Black" written on the tiny envelope the key is in. Oskar comes up with a plan to visit every person in the NY metro area with the last name Black: that would be 472 people, at 216 different addresses. He sets out to visit each and every one of them (in alphabetical order), to try his key in their locks and ask them if they knew his dad. His adventure takes him to every corner of the five boroughs and to many, many people, some of whom become new friends. This journey begins to help Oskar heal.

In alternating chapters, the stories of Oskar's grandparents are told, slowly unfolding bit by bit. They met in Germany when they were teens during WWII, but Oskar has never met his grandfather. He left before Oskar was born ... and, in fact, before Oskar's father was born. His story is told through a series of letters, written beginning in 1963 and titled Why I'm Not Where You Are, sharing his childhood, adolescence, and meeting and marrying Oskar's grandma. She gets her own voice, too, told in a series of letters to Oskar, written in 2003 from the airport and detailing her own life, from Germany to NYC to the present. Oskar and his grandma are very close, and the story of her past and his grandfather have always been a mystery. In this way, the slow unraveling of his grandparents' story is also an integral part of Oskar's story.

It's not just the story and the characters that make this such a unique novel; it is also written in an original way, integrating Oskar's first-person narration in the present with letters from each of his grandparents, referencing and filling in the past. The book also contains photographs, presumably taken by Oskar with his grandfather's old camera, which he carries around his neck, and a few written items from Oskar's life. The author plays a lot with form and presentation, providing a multi-media way of slowly learning about the main character and his family and following Oskar's adventures around the city. There are plenty of heart-breaking references and remembrances to the events of 9/11 (after all, that's understandably on Oskar's mind a lot). As such a precocious child, he understands far more than most nine-year-olds probably would, though he is still naive about certain things. That dark theme is countered by plenty of humor. The world is an amusing place when seen through Oskar's eyes, with his mix of worldliness and innocence. Many of these funny moments took me by surprise, causing me to suddenly laugh out loud. Reading this novel is a unique experience: an original story peopled by quirky characters, carrying both heartbreak and hope. I would definitely like to read more from Foer (this was my first of his), and I'd like to re-watch the wonderful, uplifting movie adaptation of this novel, too.

368 pages, Mariner Books
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 sampleof the audiobook here, with three different narrators, and/or download it from Audible. The sample provides a good glimpse into Oskar's strange, funny narration.

You can purchase Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

You can also buy through indie bookstores using Bookshop.

 

Or you can order Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

Middle-Grade Review: Notorious

Last month, in need of something light and fun in my book life, I listened to the latest middle-grade novel from Gordon Korman, Notorious, on audio. It fit the bill perfectly! Like most of Kormon's novels, it is an interesting, warm, suspenseful story with plenty of humor, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to it.

Twelve-year-old Keenan has lived an exciting life, moving from one continent to another with his mother and his step-father, who both teach at international schools around the world. He was enjoying their latest home in Shanghai when he contracted tuberculosis ... yeah, really! He moved back to the U.S. to recuperate at his father's house. Only his father's house is just barely in the U.S., on an island called Centerlight located right on the U.S.-Canadian border. So, his dad's house is in Michigan, but the neighbor a few doors down lives in Ontario. It's even stranger in the middle of town, where the international border zigzags through downtown, with double post offices, police forces, and other government services and no official border crossings. While resting in his dad's backyard (TB leaves you with no energy), a girl named Zarabeth--but known as ZeeBee--comes into the yard and introduces herself. ZeeBee has all the energy Keenan is missing and talks a mile a minute, but she's interesting and entertaining. She knows all about (is maybe even a little obsessed with) the island's unique history; being located on the border and isolated on the island, it was a hotspot for smuggling during the Prohibition era. And she is convinced that her dog, Barney, was murdered by one of the many people on the island who hated the large, aggressive dog. She considers Barney 2, her new dog, a seriously-lacking replacement. Over the course of the summer, as Keenan begins to heal, the two friends investigate Barney's death and learn more about the island's history, as the stakes get higher and higher.

Notorious is a wonderfully complex and twisty mystery, with plenty of surprises in store, but this delightful novel offers more than just action and suspense. It is also a story of friendship and family, with plenty of warmth and humor woven in. I also found the history in the book fascinating, filled with gangsters and criminal activity from the 1920-30's. Both Keenan and ZeeBee are fun, likable characters that you want to root for. This was the perfect audiobook for me right now, and I'm sure both kids and adults will enjoy it--it's a great book for families to read or listen to together.

320 pages, Balzer + Bray

I also recommend Kormon's wonderfully exciting and action-packed sci fi thriller trilogy, Masterminds, that features his same warm, witty suspense with realistic kid characters. 

Listen to a sample of the excellent audiobook, read by multiple narrators, here and/or download it from Audible. In this sample, Keenan describes the island and his current situation.

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

You can also buy through indie bookstores using Bookshop.

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

It's Monday 5/4! What Are You Reading?

Happy Monday!

We are still riding a rollercoaster here: of weather, of health, of stress. Whee! Last week was another cold, wet week, and I felt awful most days (my husband thinks there's a connection there). I was supposed to have a video chat interview with another chronic illness blogger for my new book, but first we had to reschedule when she wasn't feeling well, and then we lost power here for 24 hours! I am a dinosaur who does not have a smartphone or tablet (or any data plan to go with it - my husband, either), so with no wifi, I was stuck. We made the best of it, brought in some lanterns from the camper, cooked on the propane burner on our grill ( a must-have!), and watched DVD's on my laptop in the evening.

What a lovely campsite!

Everything turned around on the weekend! Our power came back on about noon Friday, the skies cleared and the sun came out, and somehow, I woke up Saturday morning feeling great. So, we went camping ... in our driveway! We moved the cars back and set up our pop-up camper in the driveway. We went for a local hike (gorgeous day), ate a picnic dinner with our son, enjoyed a socially-distant campfire in our new firepit with some good friends, and slept snugly in our camper. Sounds silly, I know, but it was a nice break from routine, and we really enjoyed our "camping trip." We capped it off with some take-out lattes and scones Sunday morning before resuming normal, busy life.

Enjoying a campfire in the driveway

For me, camping also means some extra reading time, so I took advantage of that Saturday, too. Here's what we've all been reading this past week:

I am still reading Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett, a Christmas gift from my husband. This novel was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Book Critic's Circle Award! It's a drama about a family of five that struggles with mental health issues, including severe depression. John, the husband, was hospitalized for depression while he and Margaret were still dating, and despite the lack of information at the time, Margaret loved him and decided to stay with him. They marry and have three children: Michael, Celia, and Alec. Michael also struggles with some of the same issues as his dad, which affects everyone in the family. Each family member gets their own voice, as chapters alternate between them.  I was immediately pulled into this immersive novel. Some parts are a bit difficult to read, though the self-descriptions of mental illness from John's and Michael's perspectives are also enlightening. I can see why it was nominated for so many awards (and won some, too).

I just finished listening to a teen/YA audiobook, Bent Heavens by Daniel Krauss, the author of Rotters, which I also enjoyed on audio. This sci fi thriller is about a teen girl named Liv who's infamous at school because her dad, who was the high school English teacher, claimed to have been abducted by aliens, had a serious breakdown while directing the school play, and then disappeared. That was two years ago, and Liv just wants to get through her senior year and get on with her life. Her childhood friend, Doug, believed all the crazy stuff her dad told them, and the two teens helped her dad set traps all over their yard before he disappeared. Liz just went along for her dad's sake, but the two of them have continued to check and maintain the traps these past two years. Now, though, Liz goes out back one day and finds an inhuman creature in one of the traps. Was her dad telling the truth? Could he possibly still be alive somewhere? This was a suspenseful, action-packed story, though it was a bit dark and violent for my taste (I should have remembered this from Rotters!). I did enjoy it overall, and there are some seriously unexpected twists here.

My husband, Ken, is still reading one of the oldest books on our TBR shelves, 13 Steps Down by Ruth Rendell, which we bought at a used bookstore about 15 years ago and neither of us had read yet. Yeah, we have a problem, I know. Rendell is the author of over 80 books, including many mysteries written as both Ruth Rendell and as her pseudonym, Barbara Vine. This one sounds like a classic British mystery, featuring an obsessed and strange lodger and his equally strange elderly landlady. We've heard great things about Rendell for many years; I'm glad he's finally tackling this one! He says it is very British so far and a bit slower-paced than the thrillers he's used to, but he seems to be enjoying it.

Our son, 25, finished reading The Sixth Strand by Melissa McPhail, book 5 in her A Pattern of Shadow and Light series - yay! He loves this series and even gave his dad book 1 for Christmas last year, so he could share it with him. This is another giant book (900 pages) for him, so it's took him a while to read it, but he is enjoyed every minute of it. There's nothing like diving back into a favorite fictional world. Now, he's been busy shopping with his Amazon gift cards (we put one in his Easter basket!), choosing both old favorite series and new books to try.

Now, Jamie is returning to another favorite series, Warlord, book 6 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 last month. The series is epic fantasy about a world called Arkaria and features dragons, titans, goblins, and more. He loves the series, and is thoroughly enjoying this next book now.





Blog posts last week:

TV Tuesday: Better Call Saul - Need some bingeable TV with suspense and humor? We're loving this one!

Fiction Review: The Late Show by Michael Connelly - great start to a new thriller series featuring a female detective

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?

Reading while "camping" this weekend

Fiction Review: The Late Show

Last month, as distracted as everyone else right now, I indulged in a fast-paced thriller by a favorite author to hold my attention: The Late Show by Michael Connelly. I have read many books in Connelly's Harry Bosch series (and we love the TV adaptation, Bosch), and I'd been wanting to read this first book in a new series since I gave it to my husband for Christmas in 2017! I enjoyed getting to know Connelly's new female detective, and this twisty mystery kept me guessing.

Renee Ballard is a detective in LAPD's Hollywood division, working what is not so affectionately known as "the late show," the midnight to morning shift. As you might have guessed, this is not a coveted position, though how Renee ended up there is not immediately clear. She and her partner, Jenkins, respond to calls for detectives throughout the night, writing up reports and turning the cases over to their daytime colleagues for follow-up each morning. It's a frustrating job since they never get to see a case through to its resolution. Tonight, though, they pick up two cases that both pique Renee's curiosity, after a slow start to the night. They begin with an elderly woman whose credit cards have been stolen; these kinds of crimes are hard to solve, but they assure the woman the LAPD will try. Next, they are called to a brutal assault. A transgender woman has been savagely beaten, dumped in an empty parking lot, and left for dead. This case really bothers Rene since the beating was particularly horrible and senseless. Finally, an unidentified person shoots five people in a night club, and Renee is still at the hospital when the fifth victim, a cocktail waitress, is brought in. She was still alive at the club but has died en route. Renee heads to the crime scene of the shooting, where she notices some things that don't make sense to her. She asks to follow-up on the transgender beating, an unusual request to stick with a case for the late show, but it is granted. She is also intrigued (obsessed?) with certain aspects of the shooting, but she's been specifically told to stay away from that case, from the head detective who has a vendetta against her. With the victims in mind, though, and her clever mind working overtime, Renee secretly follows up on clues that only she has.

This novel has everything you want from a mystery/thriller: interesting and unusual cases, lots of unexpected twists and turns, and a detective you want to root for, in spite of her flaws (much like Bosch). It's clear right from the start that Renee has a history and some issues (and you learn more as the story continues), but you can also tell that she's a good person and a good cop who cares about the truth and the victims she is helping. I love the way that a good mystery drops breadcrumbs throughout the novel that all eventually come together, and Connelly is a master at that. I really enjoyed immersing myself in the gritty nighttime world of the LAPD again, and now I am extra-eager to read the next book in this series, Dark Sacred Night (which I also gave to my husband as a gift!), in which Ballard and Bosch team up. Can't wait!

405 pages, Little, Brown and Company

Listen to a sample of the audiobook here from the start of the book, read by Katherine Moennig, and/or download it from Audible.

You can purchase The Late Show from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

You can also buy through indie bookstores using Bookshop.

Or you can order The Late Show from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.

TV Tuesday: Better Call Saul

As many of our favorite network shows are wrapping up for the season (some earlier than planned because they ran out of new episodes), we have turned to streaming services for some old favorites, like Bosch (on Amazon), and are trying some new shows. One that we liked immediately is Better Call Saul, a funny, suspenseful Breaking Bad prequel spin-off that stands on its own.

Jimmy McGill, played by Bob Odenkirk, is a two-bit lawyer, struggling to make an honest living. His office is in the backroom behind a nail salon, he drives an old car that is literally falling apart, and he works hard as a public defender to earn a measly $700 per defense. Jimmy puts on a good show in front of others, but it's clear he is a decent guy who cares about his clients and wants to succeed. He also cares deeply for his brother, Chuck, played by Michael McKean. Chuck is a partner in a high-powered, slick downtown law firm, but he's currently trapped in his own home, helpless, as the victim of his own mental illness. After a lifetime of big brother Chuck bailing out (sometimes literally) screw-up baby brother Jimmy, their roles are now reversed. As Jimmy scrambles to make a living, sleeping on the pull-out couch in his tiny office, he also takes good care of Chuck, bringing him newspapers and groceries and following his rules to keep all electromagnetic radiation away from him. But life is never easy for Jimmy: even as he leaves the courthouse where he toils so hard for so little, he always gets stopped by the parking attendant, Mike (played by Jonathan Banks and delightfully familiar to Breaking Bad fans), for not having his card properly validated. Through a complex scheme-gone-wrong to earn a few extra bucks, Jimmy ends up tangled up with criminal Nacho Varga, played by Michael Mando. Somehow, eventually, Jimmy will end up transformed into slick lawyer Saul Goodman, who plays a role in Walter White's drug business in Breaking Bad.

First, you do not need to have seen or know anything at all about Breaking Bad to enjoy Better Call Saul. The show completely stands on its own, as the prequel story of one side character from Breaking Bad, but fans of that huge hit will delight as familiar characters (like Mike) show up here and will wonder how Jimmy eventually becomes Saul. We were reluctant to watch this spin-off for a while, in part because we didn't really like the Saul character all that much, but Jimmy in this earlier incarnation is great fun to root for and a much more complex character. He's smart and hard-working and caring but clearly the underdog. It's a fast-paced show with plenty of intrigue and suspense through the cases that Jimmy gets involved with, and it's got a great sense of humor that keeps things light. So far, we haven't seen any of the darkness that so permeated later seasons of Breaking Bad (which was still funny). We're loving this show so far and are looking forward to seeing where Jimmy's career takes him and how he will eventually make the transformation to Saul Goodman.

We've watched just the first six episodes of season one so far, but there are five seasons out, with more planned, so this is a great one for binging! Season five just finished airing on AMC, so it is available On Demand through your cable provider or you can see some episodes for free at the AMC website. The first four seasons are available on Netflix, so season five will probably end up there, too, in due time.