Review: Dirt by Cassia Leo

Dirt by Cassia Leo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm struggling a little with this review. I liked this book - it's a solid book. But, I didn't love it. I think it's partly because it's a very different read than I expected. It wasn't nearly as dark and twisty as I'd expected based on the overview of the story. The writing was good, the pacing was fine. I think what threw me most was that it was essentially the story of two people trying to make their relationship work and yet the story brings in a third person and I'm not entirely sure what his purpose was to the overall story. I suspect this third person will make more sense when I read the 2nd book based on the ending, but it was frustrating to get to know him but have it never really go anywhere. I just finished the novel feeling very underwhelmed. Which isn't much fun ... I think I'll ultimately be satisfied after reading the next book (based on what I've read) but this one, in and of itself, didn't wow me.

Note: The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book for an honest review.

Bookish Quote of the Week

If you read my post over the weekend about Little Women, it should be no surprise that I've chosen a quote this week written by Louisa May Alcott. I am definitely too fond of books ... and they have definitely turned my brain! If I was forced to choose, this just may be my all time favorite quote.

And so, my question for you is ...

what is your all-time favorite quote?

Bookish News: A Weekly Update

10 Most Famous Bookstores in the World

I loved this article on Literary Hub about the 10 most famous bookstores around the world. The best part is that I've already visited two of them ... the Strand in NYC and Powell's Books in Portland, OR. But, I'm adding many of the others to my bookstore bucket list!

National Book Critics Circle Winners for 2017 Announced 

The National Book Critics Circle winners for the 2017 publishing year were announced in New York on March 15th. There are some amazing books on this list so definitely take a look and be prepared to add many to your TBR list. 

Fiction: Improvement by Joan Silber 

Nonfiction: The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America by Frances FitzGerald

Poetry: Whereas by Layli Long Soldier

Biography: Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser 

Autobiography: Nine Continents: A Memoir In and Out of China by Xiaolu Guo 

Criticism: You Play The Girl: On Playboy Bunnies, Stepford Wives, Trainwrecks, & Other Mixed Messages by Carina Chocano 

Other awards included:

The John Leonard Prize was presented to Carmen Maria Machado for Her Body and Other Parties 

The Nona Balakian Citation for Excellence in Reviewing to Charles Finch

The Ivan Sandrof Lifetime Achievement Award to John McPhee

Stephen Hawking Passes Away

I'm sure you've heard about his death already but I wanted to be sure to mention it in case you weren't aware. I have yet to read any of his books so I thought I'd take the opportunity to tell you about one of his books. A Brief History of Time appears to be one of his most popular books. This book explains where the universe came from, how it works, where it's going. The best part? He uses non-technical terms to explain all of this so it's perfect for those of us who don't have a science background! He also has a memoir, My Brief History, which I've heard good things about. If you haven't read his work, this may be a perfect opportunity to pick one up and learn more about his work!

That is it for me this week ... Have you heard of other bookish news you'd like share with us? We'd love to hear about them in the Comments! 

For the Love of Books and Reading: Little Women Edition

Another new series for the blog ... this one is going to be FUN! For each of these posts, I'll pick a theme of some sort and show you all sorts of items related to that theme that might be of interest to you. This time I wanted to start with one of my favorites to get us started ... one of my all-time favorite books is Little Women. It was a book that really started my lifelong love of reading. My mom and I read it together - a little bit each night. I think that also makes the book all the more special to me.

And so, here we go with LOTS of fun things related to Little Women and Louisa May Alcott that you might want to check out ...

This enamel pin created by thecleverclove on etsy is just fabulous! I have a small collection of enamel pins but none related to Little Women. This just might be one that I will pick up for my collection! I love this quote from Little Women and this really unique and interesting pin is just screaming 'BUY ME!"

I am such a fan of literary prints ... and this one is right up my alley.  This is one of my favorite Little Women covers and I love what BookCoverArt has done with it. This would look perfect in my living room or dining room. Definitely putting this one on the wish list! And the price is right on this one! You can't beat it!

I can't do a post like this without including a piece of jewelry ... and this one is so pretty! lircu has created such a beautiful piece that is simple and elegant. And you can choose from several different colors for the flower that's added. LOVE this one!

I don't wear many scarves but this Little Women scarf may change that fact for me. l am in love with this one! I've seen literary scarves - mostly Jane Austen related scarves - but they never really appealed to me. But, this one has all my attention! 

I'm a sucker for a book related box ... but I've never seen one quite like this Little Women book box. This is the perfect gift for a friend who loves the novel (or for yourself as a treat)! There is something for any Little Women fan in this box!

I couldn't resist including one more print because this one is so special. Another one going on my Wish List! It's such a beautiful watercolor print. The really special thing about this product is that the buyer is able to customize the haircolor of the girls if they want to ... or you can get them in the traditional hair colors from the novel.  

I love a beautiful bookmark and this one is particularly special! If you're a Jo March fan, you don't want to miss out on this one. 

If you are a tea drinker, you may love this Louisa May Alcott inspired tea. This one is described as "a delighful light blend of green tea with a citrus lemon touch and a gentle aromatic perfume of rose petals." Yes, please! 

A shirt with one of my all-time favorite quotes is pretty much perfection! I think I'll close out today's post with this final product. SO COOL! 

I hope you enjoyed this post and all of the goodies I was able to find related to Little Women. I'd love to hear what themes you'd like to see in the future! Comment with your suggestions or send me an email via the email address on the right side of the blog. These posts are so fun but I want to be sure they include things of interest to all of you! 

Review: Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m struggling with this review. I read this one during a really busy time in my life and I’m concerned that accounts for my not loving it as much as I expected. I kept hearing so many great things but it didn’t quite meet my expectations. In the end, it all came together for me but it was slightly painful getting there at times. I almost put it down a few times but I kept coming back. I’m glad that I did. It is a fun read – kind of a glitzy soap opera sort of novel. The characters were really interesting and the story was also intriguing. The idea is that an American travels to Singapore with her boyfriend to meet his family and attend a wedding. However, she has no idea that he’s from one of Singapore’s most celebrated and wealthy families. And hijinks ensue … I ultimately struggled with the ‘over the top’-ness of the novel. It was so much coming at me … over and over and over again. And the meanness of some of the characters was just irritating to me. The political pulls and pushes were intriguing but I found them to all be too much sometimes. How much money can these people spend, how much expensive clothes and jewelry can they buy … it’s SO MUCH. It was enjoyable and it picked up for me at the end. I was surprised by the final ¼ of the book which was nice. It’s definitely a satire but at times it just felt like it was TOO MUCH for me. I’m eager to see the movie that’s being made – perhaps it will translate better on the big screen. I am going to give the second book a try to see if perhaps the busyness of life when I started the book maybe impacted my overall feelings. I definitely liked it enough to give the 2nd a shot. The reviews on this one are stellar. Almost all of my bookish friends loved it so I do recommend it … my final feelings on it may be an outlier!

Recent New Releases

New Releases for Tuesday, March 13, 2018

The Flight Attendant by Chris Bohjalian
This novel tells the story of an alcoholic flight attendant who wakes up next to a dead body.

Anatomy of a Miracle by Jonathan Miles
I am hearing amazing things about this novel and I'm excited to pick it up!

Women of the Resistance: Poems for a New Feminism
This is a collection of poems by 41 contemporary poets who take a stand for civil and reproductive rights.

Our Father: Reflections on the Lord's Prayer by Pope Francis
Explores the traditional prayer.

My Shot: Balancing It All and Standing Tall by Elena Delle Donne
The memoir of the 2015 WNBA MVP and 2016 Olympic gold medalist.

Don't Bullsh*t Yourself!: Crush the Excuses That Are Holding You Back by Jon Taffer
A new self-help book full of advice around motivation.

Paperback Releases for Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Can It Happen Here?: Authoritarianism in America by Cass R. Sunstein

The Force by Don Winslow

All Grown Up by Jami Attenberg

Never Let You Go by Chevy Stevens

The Shadow Land by Elizabeth Kostova

New Releases Coming on Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Every Note Played by Lisa Genova

I have really enjoyed her novels in the past so I'm eager to pick this one up which focuses on ALS.

The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan

I am hearing AMAZING things about this one. It was a Book of the Month selection and many of my bookish friends have been raving about it. It's a debut novel about grief, love and family.

The Broken Girls by Simone St. James

This is a suspense novel that was also a Book of the Month selection that's getting a lot of praise from people I know who read a lot. 

Paperback Releases for Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Our Short History by Lauren Grodstein
This book was one of my favorites of last year. It just slayed me ... in the best way possible. I'm picking this one up for my home library!

End Game by David Baldacci
This is the 5th book in the Will Robie series.

Mr. Rochester by Sarah Shoemaker
A historical fiction novel that tells the story of Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre.

Are you planning to pick any of these up this week or next?

Review: Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

Secret Daughter by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really, really enjoyed this book. The focus of the story is adoption, family, cultural impacts and more. This is a really compelling look at adoption, secrets and family. The exploration of the difficult and complex aspects of family and cultural expectations was so well done. The weaving of a great story and the nuanced exploration of family and culture came together in this novel in such a beautiful way. I liked the way everything came together throughout the story. The exploration of cultural differences and the impact on all of the characters in the story really spoke to me. It was a captivating look at adoption that I really enjoyed. I definitely recommend it …

Review: Blurred Lines: Rethinking Sex, Power, and Consent on Campus by Vanessa Grigoriadis

Blurred Lines: Rethinking Sex, Power, and Consent on Campus by Vanessa Grigoriadis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

As someone who worked with sexual assault survivors early in my career, I was really interested in this book and seeing what Vanessa Grigoriadis explores as she takes a look at sex, power, and consent on college campuses. There are a broad set of issues explored in this one. It’s got a pretty good overview of the positions of the various players dealing with this issue of rape on campus – students (the survivors and the accused), school administrators, parents, researchers, attorneys and more. It felt fairly balanced for the majority of the book. There were a few areas that I felt weren’t explored in an open and honest way. But, overall, it was a solid book. It’s been a long time since I was in college and the issues have changed quite a bit due to the cultural shifts over the last 20 years. It was interesting for me to read this as a mother of a 13-year-old girl and boy who will one day go off to college and experience the impacts of some of these issues. All in all, I’m glad I read this one and it did give me quite a bit to think about as a mother and a citizen. The author has a very distinct voice and has said some things in this book and in the media that I didn’t love but I think, overall, this book is a good exploration of sex and consent on campus.

Bookish Quote of the Week

I would agree 100% that my own personal paradise would be a library (or an independent bookstore). It feels like I've walked into HOME every time that I go to a library or bookstore. It's a safe place, a comforting place ... a place where I am surrounded by something that truly makes me happy - books!

What is your version of paradise? 

Would it also involve books and reading? 

Bookish News: A Weekly Update

The Women's Prize for Fiction 2018 Longlist

The Women's Prize for Fiction's 2019 long list has been announced and it's a fantastic list. I've read only three of them but at least four others are on my list to read already. I'm excited to go take a look at the novels I've never heard of and check them out. 

H(A)PPY by Nicola Barker

The Idiot by Elif Batuman

Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon

Miss Burma by Charmaine Craig

Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan

The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

Sight by Jessie Greengrass

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife by Meena Kandasamy

Elmet by Fiona Mozley

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy

See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt

A Boy in Winter by Rachel Seiffert

Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie

The Trick to Time by Kit de Waal

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Diversity in Romance Publishing

The Ripped Bodice released their second annual Diversity in Romance Publishing report.  This report focuses on racial and cultural diversity in romance publishing and it's really quite eye-opening. I highly recommend taking a look at their report. 

The Story Prize 2018

Elizabeth Strout's short story collection, Anything Is Possible, is the 14th winner of the Story Prize, a $20,000 prize awarded annually to the author of the short story collection named best of the year by a paneled jury. The book must be written in English and first published in the U.S. The other finalists this year were authors Daniel Alarcón for The King Is Always Above the People and Ottessa Moshfegh for Homesick for Another World, each receiving $5,000. You can learn more here. 

That is it for me this week ... Have you heard of other bookish news you'd like share with us? We'd love to hear about them in the Comments! 

Review: Discovering Your Personality Type: The Essential Introduction to the Enneagram

Discovering Your Personality Type: The Essential Introduction to the Enneagram, Revised and Expanded by Don Richard Riso
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great starting place for learning more about the Enneagram. It’s not super complex or detailed but it gives you a good solid overview of the system and the various types. The Enneagram can seem overwhelming but I think this book was a great introduction that gave me solid information but didn’t overwhelm me with details. I’m definitely a 9 … without a doubt. I really enjoyed learning about my own type as well as the system as a whole. I have a huge stack of Enneagram books that I’ll be reading soon as I dig in deeper with the system.

Author Spotlight: John Irving

I thought it might be fun and interesting to begin introducing you to some of my favorite authors. Some will be well known (such as this post's author) but I'll also try to introduce you some less well-known writers as well. In addition to introducing you to each author, I'll also tell you about their books that I have loved and why. I hope you enjoy this series and will let me know what you think.

My first choice for an Author Spotlight is quite well known, even to those who aren't into books and reading. Many of his books have been made into movies and his name is in many circles a household name. John Irving is definitely one of my all-time favorite writers. I have loved (almost) everything of his that I've read and he's an automatic buy for me. The moment I see a new Irving novel, I know it's coming home with me!

Who is John Irving?

John Irving published his first novel, Setting Free the Bears, in 1968. He has written thirteen novels over his career. Nine of the thirteen books have been international bestsellers. It was his fourth novel, The World According to Garp, that made him a household name. This novel won the National Book award in 1980 and became his first international bestseller. Many of his novels have been made into films including The World According to Garp, The Hotel New Hampshire, and The Cider House Rules. His best known novel is probably A Prayer for Owen Meany which is often cited as an American classic! 

Where Should You Start?

Most people would tell you to start with A Prayer for Owen Meany which is one of his most beloved books ! I've heard so many readers that I admire answer the question of what is your favorite book with this title! However, I am not a fan of this one ... it's one of the only Irving novels I've read that I just could not seem to connect with. I haven't given up on it and will try it again in the future but it isn't where I recommend that you start. 

I think a good place to start with Irving is The World According to Garp which is a classic for a reason. This was my first Irving novel and it marked the beginning of my love for John Irving and his writing. The book is at its most basic a coming of age story about one of the most interesting characters that I've encountered. One of my favorite things about John Irving is his ability to create characters that are so complex and interesting. They are almost always quirky and memorable. 

Some of my other favorites are The Hotel New Hampshire, The Cider House Rules, and A Widow for One Year. But, honestly, I've read eight of his novels and I recommend them all (except Meany - but I appear to be an outlier on that novel). The more of his work you read, the more you see the complexity of his characters and the interesting way he explores some of the same themes but in very different ways. One of my favorite parts of reading an Irving novel is looking for what I like to think of as 'Easter eggs' - the things you see over and over in his novels - such as bears, wrestling, writers, absentee fathers, studies of sexuality, and more! 

  

Why Is He One of My Favorite Authors?

After finishing The World According to Garp and The Hotel New Hampshire, I knew that I'd found an author that I connected with in such an intense way. I'd finish his novels and be sad to be finished. It's almost as if the characters were my friends and I was having a hard time letting them go. His work just seems to engulf me and my imagination to the point that I cannot forget his books or how they make me feel! He is so talented! His characters and the worlds he creates come alive for me in each and every book. I am always eagerly awaiting the next Irving novel! 

Now it's your turn ... Have you ever read a John Irving novel? If so, which one(s) and how did you like them? What is your favorite of his novels?

Review: An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole

An Extraordinary Union by Alyssa Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Civil War romance with a person of color as the heroine … yes, please! I don’t think I’ve read a romance that takes place in the Civil War but I loved reading about that time and place. As someone born and raised in Richmond, VA, I loved that the book primarily took place in Richmond so I loved hearing about the differences in the city during the Civil War. Alyssa Cole tells a great story … the characters are well developed, the story is well written, the pacing is superb. Overall, it was a wonderful book. I love how strong the heroine was, fully capable and independent as her own person. And that the hero loved these characteristics about her made it all the more fantastic. A fantastic (feminist) romance that I think many readers will enjoy. There is so much good here! I definitely recommend it … even if romance isn’t your thing. I’d say this book has a lot of aspects of good historical fiction which may work for some readers who don’t traditionally read romance. This is book one in the Loyal League series and I’ve already got A Hope Divided (book #2) on my TBR. And a 3rd is coming in the fall. I can’t wait to continue with this series!

Review: Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett

Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I initially heard about this book from the Bookshelf podcast when Annie talked about it and was intrigued. I’m so glad that I picked this one up. This is one of those books that take you by surprise – it’s definitely a quirky and unusual read but it really has heart! And Elvis, the 10-year-old narrator, is so wonderful! I loved having the book led by her … she gave it so much charm and delightfulness. She may be one of my all-time favorite narrators. It isn’t a happy book but it also isn’t maudlin. There is sadness but there is also quite a bit of lightness and humor. The book is difficult to describe well but it’s really about a 10-year-old and how she’s managing her grief after her mother dies. Her journey is really compelling and it was interesting to read about grief from a 10-year-olds perspective. There were moments that made me think ‘hmmm, I hadn’t thought of that but can see why a 10-year-old might think that way.’ I highly recommend it. It’s very unusual and quirky but full of heart and wonder. It will be a long time before I forget Elvis … she’s quite a character!

Review: The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani

The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is one of those books that I should have loved but it didn’t connect with me as I’d hoped. I hadn’t heard much about the book so perhaps I went in with some sort of preconceived notion of what it was about based on the cover. It appeared to be a thriller but it definitely wasn’t that. I’d say it’s more of a character study. If I’d come into the book expecting that perhaps I’d have enjoyed it more. This is definitely an intense read that really feels very closed off & claustrophobic as well as disturbing. It almost felt like I was watching the story unfold from the outside … I never felt I was a part of the world, rather I felt like an observer only. There was a distance between the story and me as a reader that was definitely unsettling. The writing was solid but sometimes it felt overwritten. I liked this one but didn’t like it a lot. I kept waiting for something (anything) to happen and it just never really delivered in terms of plot. I’m not sure if some of these feelings were due to it being a translation or if that was the intent of the novel itself. I don’t need a happy ending or all of the characters to be likable but I do need to feel a connection to the story or the characters. That just never happened for me with this one. I wanted MORE of everything. The ending didn’t satisfy me. All in all, worth picking up but go in expecting a very focused character study rather than a thriller!