kaylaraeintheway Reads (a lot) in 2016

I read books! These are them.

Currently Reading


January
1. Equilateral by Ken Kalfus
2. Slade House by David Mitchell
3. Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

February
4. Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell
5. The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
6. Tree Girl by T.A. Barron
7. Star Wars: Journey to the Force Awakens: Before the Awakening by Greg Rucka
8. Star Wars vol 1: Skywalker Strikes by Jason Aaron
9. Star Wars vol 2: Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon by Jason Aaron
10. Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own by Kate Bolick

March
11. Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
12. Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster
13. Star Wars: Dark Disciple by Christie Golden
14. Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne M. Valente

April
15. All Over but the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg
16. Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda
17. Sex Criminals Vol. 1: One Weird Trick by Matt Fraction
18. Sex Criminals Vol. 2: Two Worlds, One Cop by Matt Fraction
19. Bluets by Maggie Nelson
20. Bitch Planet Vol. 1: Extraordinary Machine by Kelly Sue Deconnick
21. Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry by Leanne Shapton
22. The Wicked + the Divine Vol. 1: The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen
23. East of West Vol. 1: The Promise by Jonathan Hickman

May
24. Equivocation by Bill Cain
25. When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice by Terry Tempest Williams
26. Bloodline by Claudia Gray
27. The Time it Takes to Fall by Margaret Lazarus Dean

June
28. The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America's National Parks by Terry Tempest Williams
29. Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub

July
30. Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson
31. Another Man's Moccasins by Craig Johnson
32. The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey
33. Men Explain Things to Me by Rebecca Solnit
34. Star Wars: Shattered Empire by Greg Rucka
35. Saga Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples
36. Saga Vol. 2 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples
37. Saga Vol. 3 by Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples
38. An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield

August
39. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by Jack Thorne

September
40. Here by Richard McGuire
41. Edgar Huntly, or Memoirs of a Sleepwalker by Charles Brockden Brown
42. The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

October
41. We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

November
42. Walden by Henry David Thoreau
43. Every Hidden Thing by Kenneth Oppel

December
44. The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
45. Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver
46. The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher
47. Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson

2015 Reading Wrap-Up

In 2015, I read a total of 49 books (11 non-fiction, 38 fiction). My favorite reads were:
Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea by Barbara Demick
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
The Fever by Megan Abbott
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
The Interstellar Age: Inside the Forty-Year Voyager Mission by Jim Bell
Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix
Leaving Orbit: Notes from the Last Days of American Spaceflight by Margaret Lazarus Dean *best read in 2015

I'm looking forward to another year of great reading. I made some bookish resolutions for myself, which include keeping up with my book blog and Instagram account (@fromthelibraryof), reading from my tottering TBR pile, and reading more diverse books.

Equilateral by Ken Kalfus
4 out of 5 stars

This is a novel about a British astronomer (Sanford Thayer) in the late 1800s who designs and oversees the construction of a giant equilateral triangle in the middle of the desert in order to contact intelligent beings on Mars. Based o this description, I thought this would be a science fiction novel, but it turned out to be more (and less) than that.

Kalfus paints a picture of a refined genius and his patrons who are all convinced they are working to achieve the greatest feat in human history; there is no way the African and Middle Eastern workers who slave away building the triangle can even comprehend the magnitude of what they're trying to accomplish. But, of course, the opposite turns out to be true. Thayer, increasingly becoming more self-deluded, is almost manic in his conviction that there is intelligent life on Mars and that they must be contacted. His secretary tries to hide her feelings for him while at the same time keeping an eye on the servant girl whom Thayer covets.

I thought this book was an excellent and strange look into the minds of humans who think themselves the epitome of intelligence (at least on Earth), and who are almost comically ignorant of their own follies.

Slade House by David Mitchell
4.5 out of 5 stars

This is a weird, unsettling, and delightful novel about a haunted house in England that may or may not actually be there. People find themselves drawn to it, and upon entering, are never seen again. Each section is told from the perspective of one of those people, and the ending had me staying up half the night to finish. I'm keeping this review very short and vague on purpose because I don't want to give anything away! I really loved this book, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Mitchell's work.

I'm glad you enjoyed your introduction to David Mitchell. I thought Slade House was a lot of fun, too.

I can tell I'm going to have to read Slade House and Leaving Orbit, and I can't wait to read about your thoughts on Welcome to Night Vale. Do you listen to the podcast? I listened to a couple of episodes, but it just didn't click with me, yet I've had the uncomfortable sense that I just didn't give it enough time.

>7 kaylaraeintheway: Slade House was where I started to realize how tied together Mitchell's novels are. I am planning on going back and rereading what I've read before with this novel(la) in mind. I hope you enjoy the rest of his work!

>9 theaelizabet:: I love the podcast! It also took me a few episodes to really get into it, but once I did I binge-listened until I was all caught up. I highly suggest giving it a second try. So far, the book is as creepy and nonchalantly unsettling as the podcast, which is fabulous.

>10 cabegley:: I want to read The Bone Clocks next since that phrase is mentioned at the end of Slade House

I'm about a third of the way through the Night Vale podcasts and am loving them. I'm planning to get to the book within the next month or two myself and am really looking forward to it. I'm also hoping to read something by David Mitchell at some point this year, though I'm not sure where I'm going to start.

>12 valkyrdeath:: I actually bought Cloud Atlas a few years ago and could not get into it, but Slade House gripped me right from the start, so I highly recommend that as a jumping off point.

>13 kaylaraeintheway: Slade House would probably suit me as a starting point, since I love haunted house stories in general anyway. I think I'll put that one on my list. Cloud Atlas is one I'd definitely have to be in the right mood to even attempt and then I'm not sure if I'd like it.

>11 kaylaraeintheway: I haven't read The Bone Clocks yet, but expect to this year. I highly recommend The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet.

P.S. Cloud Atlas is excellent as well. It's worth the effort at the beginning.

Cloud atlas is one of my top 10 books. I just loved it, the idea, the voices, the links, the lot. I also enjoyed The thousand autumns of Jacob de Zoet and reading Black swan Green was a bit like I'd been transported back to my teens - not the story, but the detail and background atmosphere.

The thing I find most impressive is how different they are. Some people struggle to write convincingly in one voice, he can write convincingly in very many different voices. Not tried Slade House or The Bone Clocks, must get round to them and not get distracted by new authors.

>15 cabegley: >16 Helenliz: Well that settles it, I'm going to give Cloud Atlas another try this year!

Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
5 stars

Read this. Now.

I'm a white woman and will never understand what it means to be a black man in America, but this amazing book (Coates' letter to his young son), so full of pain and regret and anger and beautiful explorations of what this societal construct calls race means for black bodies, has allowed me to glimpse into the life and mind of a father who does not want his son to live in fear. I can offer no other insightful thoughts, except to reiterate the necessity of reading this. As Toni Morrison says in her cover blurb: "This is required reading."

I keep hearing that about Between the World and Me. It's a group read over in the category challenge group in February, so I'll read it next week.

I have this on hold at the library - hoping to read it in February with the group read Kay mentioned.

I agree completely with your assessment. Plus, the man can really write.

>18 kaylaraeintheway: a great book.

>18 kaylaraeintheway: I've had this book sitting on the TBR shelves for a while now. I keep thinking I should really read it next, or at least very soon, but then thinking that I'm not sure I'm up to handling how intense I expect it to be just at that moment, and putting it off. I really need to stop doing that soon.

Can't wait to see your thoughts on the Welcome to Night Vale novel! My copy is in the mail, so I'm hoping I get to read it soon. I've heard nothing but good things and I love the podcast, so I have some high expectations.

>23 bragan: I felt the same way, but when I decided to just sit down and read it, I finished it in a couple of hours and couldn't put it down. It was intense and hard to read at times, but it is so important and incredibly poignant that I knew I needed to get in in my brain. I'm so glad I did! I'm passing around my copy to my RA (Resident Assistant) staff and telling practically everyone I know about it.

>24 trisarahdactyl: I'm slowly but surely making my way through it! It's been fun to read so far

Lafayette in the Somewhat United States by Sarah Vowell

I want to start of this review by saying that pretty much the whole time I was reading this, I had the Hamilton soundtrack stuck in my head, specifically the line: "Everyone give it up for America's favorite fighting Frenchman!"

Anyway...

I picked up this book because I wanted to know more about the young man who willingly (and very eagerly) left his wife and child behind to fight a war for another country's independence. I was a little surprised when I started reading to find that Vowell's book was not so much a biography of the Marquis de Lafayette, but an examination of the American Revolution as a whole. This is the first book by Vowell that I've ever read, and it took me a while to get used to her time-jumping, sarcastic style (which was not unwelcome, just unexpected). By the end of the book, I felt like I got a good feel for the major players in the Revolution, but not as complete a picture of Lafayette as I wanted. The last few pages on the statue of Lafayette in the park across from the White House, however, gave me all kinds of patriotic feels, so the impact that he made on our country (though many have forgotten it) can still be felt.

I'll conclude with one of my favorite passages:

"Parliament would abolish slavery in the British Empire in 1833, thirty years before President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. A return to the British fold in 1778 might have freed American saves three decades sooner, which is what, an entire generation and a half? Was independence for some of us more valuable than freedom for all of us? As the former slave Frederick Douglass put it in an Independence Day speech in 1852, 'This is your Fourth of July, not mine.' You know your country has a checkered past when you find yourself sitting around pondering the humanitarian upside of sticking with the British Empire."

I've loved any of the books I've read or listened to by Sarah Vowell. Her voice may take a little getting used to on the audio versions (unless you've heard her on NPR), but her sarcastic humor is quite enjoyable.

Excellent review of the Vowell book!

>26 kaylaraeintheway: Great review! I love Sarah Vowell and I've been eyeing this one.

>26 kaylaraeintheway: Interesting review, makes me a little curious about this one though I think maybe I want something with a little more info on Lafayette himself.

The Argonauts by Maggie Nelson
4 out of 5 stars

A beautiful (if sometimes hard to follow) personal account of a woman in a queer relationship (her husband is Harry Dodge, an artist and fluidly-gendered). Maggie Nelson ruminates on everything from love to gender roles to politics to parenting, and while her forays into queer and feminist theory are at times slow-moving, how she applies her studies of these topics to her life as it is now is fascinating. I'm simplifying things, but that is only because I cannot adequately describe or discuss the things she sets forth in this book. I recommend just picking it up for yourself and giving it a go.

The last 20 pages were my favorite, as she juxtaposed her account of giving birth with Harry's experience of watching his mother die. Maggie is very forthcoming and unashamed of her insecurities. I'm glad that she wrote this book, and I'm glad that I read it.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: Before the Awakening by Greg Rucka
4 out of 5 stars

This slim book offers quick, but significant, glimpses into the lives of the 3 heroes of Star Wars Episode VII before we meet them in the film: empathetic stormtrooper Finn, loner scavenger Rey, and hot-shot pilot Poe Dameron. While a relatively easy read, I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about each character - the inclusion of other minor and major characters form the film was also a welcome surprise. I love when I'm able to tell how much an author loves Star Wars merely from their writing, and such is the case with Greg Rucka.

Star Wars vol 1: Skywalker Strikes & Star Wars vol 2: Showdown on the Smuggler's Moon
4 out of 5 stars

This comics series takes place right after the events of Episode IV and follows the continuing adventures of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca, 3P0 & R2. The artwork is awesome, and the dialogue (especially the banter between Leia and Han) is enjoyable and I can almost hear Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford in my head.

There were some good twists and surprises, but, as is the nature of comics, I have to wait a bit before the next collection comes out to find out what happens next.

Spinster: Making a Life of One's Own by Kate Bolick

"Whom to marry, and when will it happen - these two questions define every woman's existence."

So begins Spinster, a fascinating and personal and historical look at why women choose to remain unmarried. Using her own life experiences, along with her "five awakeners" - columnist Neith Boyce, essayist Maeve Brennan, social visionary Charlotte Perkins Gilman, poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, and novelist Edith Wharton - Kate Bolick explores how she and the convention-defying women who came before her came to live the "spinster" life. I was incredibly happy to discover that Bolick is a staunch feminist (not only that, but one who understands that as a white woman, she has a distinctly different experience than, say, a single woman of color - something she says could be an entire book unto itself...someone please make that happen!), and that she was unapologetic in presenting her lifestyle choices. I love me good feminist critique, and combine that with social and literary commentary and I am one happy reader!

As a single woman who recently ended a 5+ year relationship living in the South (where students I supervise and people I work with are either getting married and starting families or have already done so years before), I thought this book would be a good remedy to my uncertainty, and I'm pleased to say it was. Through Bolick and her awakeners, I found kindred spirits. And while I may not be a famous writer or social critic, there was a lot I could take away from their experiences. I'm glad this book came to me when it did, and I will happily pick it up again should I ever need a reminder that it is okay to be a spinster.

I'll end this brief review with a quote by Mary Oliver, whom Bolick sites at the end of her book:

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

I've had Spinster on my library wish list, but hadn't decided whether or not to read it. You've made me want to read it.

And yes, everyone gets married so early in the south! And then they have kids right away. When we first moved there and I'd see someone my age at a parent event at the school, I'd introduce myself and discover that they were there with their grandchild.

>35 RidgewayGirl: Glad I could help with your decision! I hope you enjoy reading it.

I have a few cousins who live close by - all of them are younger than me (21 - 23), and they all are married and have kids/are about to have kids. Meanwhile I'm over here with my cat...

>32 kaylaraeintheway:, 33 You have a very interesting thread going here, kaylarae. I have been a long time fan of star wars and its expanded universe. I have listened to older X-Wing books, and enjoyed the new comic books coming from Marvel. You are right in saying that the writing and art in the comics is fantastic. I am also a fan of John Cassiday, the artist on the comics.

>1 kaylaraeintheway: I am also interested in seeing your thought on Welcome to Night Vale. I am on the fence about and also looking for new opinions.

>35 RidgewayGirl: Yep, my female friends in LA were all married within 1-2 years of college. And my mom was always an 'old mom' because she had me at 32.

Excellent review of Spinster: Making a life of one's own It is good to be reminded that there are other life choices apart from the norm.

Vengeance Road by Erin Bowman
4.5 out of 5 stars

While this YA Western may seem similar to a certain other teen-girl-on-a-quest-to-avenge-her-father story, I'm happy to report that it has a beautiful, sweeping, and more violent, life of its own. Erin Bowman writes about the American southwest in the late 19th century in a way that is both romantic and gritty. She does not shy away from the harsh realities of living in a desert community where murderous gangs and dangerous Apache live.

Kate, a girl (disguised as a boy) thirsting for revenge for her father's killers and a hidden cache of gold, is a great character; she is tough, no-nonsense, determined, stubborn, and maybe a little selfish in certain ways. She joins up with the Colton brothers, who may have an agenda of their own. They get into several scrapes along the way, and learn things about themselves and each other before their adventure is over.

I really loved this book. The way Bowman writes about the landscape is great (and made me more determined than ever to go visit New Mexico/Arizona). I also appreciated the research that went into writing this book, as she included several historical figures and events. She is writing a companion novel to this book, and I'm eagerly awaiting its publication.

Also, this is one of my most favorite book covers.

Star Wars: Dark Disciple by Christie Golden
4 out of 5 stars

This novel is based on un-aired episodes of the Clone Wars TV series. I'm kind of bummed that the show was cancelled before these could air, but I'm glad the powers that be decided to make a novel out of the scripts, and that Christie Golden was chosen to write it. Based on my past experiences with Star Wars novels written by guys, the romance (and, let's be honest, sometimes the whole book) tends to be written terribly. In Golden's hands, though, the story of Master Jedi Quinlan Vos and ex-Sith apprentice turned bounty hunter Asajj Ventress is an emotional story about the all-consuming power of love - and the dark paths it can take you down. Asajj Ventress was always very interesting to me, and this story really explores her character in a way the TV show never did. I also found the exploration into Jedi/Sith mentality and rationale fascinating; what do you do when the group you belong to starts going down a path that goes against everything you believe in?

While there were aspects of the book that seemed too predictable, Golden knows her way around both action scenes and emotional ones, so I was always held captivated. More lady writers for Star Wars novels, please!

Star Wars: The Force Awakens by Alan Dean Foster
4 out of 5 stars

This is the novelization of Episode VII. As such, I knew pretty much everything that was going to happen. However, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a few scenes that were not in the film were in the book; we learned what happened to Poe after he crash-landed on Jakku. We got a few scenes with Leia and the Resistance fighters at their base (I'm always here for more sassy C-3PO). And of course, we get internal dialogue from Rey and Finn. I thought this novelization was pretty well-written (as compared to the often cheesy novelizations of the original trilogy, which could be attributed to George Lucas's knack for writing cheesy dialogue, bless his heart). In all, a nice addition to any Star Wars fan's library.

>41 kaylaraeintheway: I've had my eye on this one for a while, but have yet to pick it up. I have been a long time fan of Quinlan Voss from his introduction in the Dark Horse Star Wars comic book series. Ventress is interesting as well. I remember her being linked to Obi-Wan more, but her run ins with Voss while he was infiltrating Dooku's separatists were volatile. I'll get to it eventually.

Thank you for your thoughts.

Six-Gun Snow White by Catherynne M. Valente
5 stars!

Valente takes the classic fairy tale of Snow White and transports it to the Old West. Snow White, mockingly named by a cruel stepmother for the half-Crow skin that will never be white, leaves her home, her gun Rose Red on her hip, after spending too many years under the hateful gaze of her stepmother and her unsettling mirror. Snow White is a lonely, hard, tough, and bitter young woman who enjoys drinking whiskey and fighting with the men who are foolish enough to try to cop a feel. Eventually she comes upon a village populated by independent women of various ill repute (including the 7 who run it).

This story follows the basics of the fairy tale, but there is a very dark and angry addition that comes from the racism, misogyny, and fear that was prevalent in the Old West. The Western dirt, blood, and gold mixes with the stepmother's East coast mud and magic to create a haunting retelling. There are so many beautiful sentences and paragraphs, they need to be read to be believed. Valente writes like she cut out her heart and dripped words on the page.

>44 kaylaraeintheway: Sounds great and went straight on the wishlist!!

>44 kaylaraeintheway: Excellent review!

Chilling review that doesn't mention any dwarves or a Prince Charming. I guess I'll have to check it out to see if they appear. I am intrigued by these female driven westerns which feature hardened women battling a hardened time in history.

The way you describe Valente's writing, it is hard not to go check it out immediately. I appreciate your high praise of this author and book.

Another great cover as well. Snow looks as beautiful as she should and equally dangerous.

All Over but the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg
5 stars

I was lucky enough to hear Rick Bragg speak last month at the University where I work. He's so personable, and a natural-born storyteller. I was rather delighted to discover that, as a Californian in a room full of Southerners (I live in Arkansas now), Bragg made several jokes that caused those around me to howl with laughter, while I sat there unsure of what just happened. It really cemented how different the South really is from everywhere else in the U.S., for good or bad. Afterwards, when it was my turn to meet Bragg at the book signing, he immediately caught on that I was not from around here. I told him I was from the Bay Area of California, but my grandma lived "up the road a ways" (i.e., 20 minutes down I-40), which was part of the reason I took the job in the first place. He smiled and simply said "Then you're home. As long as you have family near, you're home." I walked back to my apartment that night clutching his book to my chest and smiling like a loon. I started reading it right away.

Bragg's sincerity, charm, and wit - on full display during his talk - is doubly prevalent in his memoir about growing up in the South. But his memoir is about so much more than that; it's about the people and a place that you can never fully leave, even when you're in another country writing newspaper articles about the horrors you witness. Bragg frames his memoir around his "momma", a strong, sacrificing woman who did not leave her Alabama town until she accompanied Bragg to his Pulitzer Prize dinner (and you best believe I got teary-eyed at that bit).

There's so much to like about this book and I can go on and on about its merits, but instead I'll just encourage everyone to give it a read. I can think of no better way to try to understand what it means to be a Southerner than to read this book. Amazing, heartbreaking, lovely.

Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter
5 stars

Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?

This question is the central theme of Hamilton, Miranda's hip-hop/rap musical about America's "$10 founding father without a father" (and recent recipient of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, yay!). He, along with MCCarter, write their story of the inception, creation, and explosion of the musical from the early scribblings in notebooks to opening night on Broadway. Each of the main actors get a chapter dedicated to their talents, in combination with the historical figure(s) they play. The ensemble cast get full-name shoutouts as well, which I thought was a great thing do to. The complete book (lyrics) of the musical is included, as well as many full-page photos from the musical itself, and candid photos of the cast.

I have loved this musical since I first heard the cast album (and with each subsequent listening, I love it even more). I will probably never get the chance to see the show on Broadway with the original cast, so I was so happy when this book arrived in my mailbox. I laughed at the behind-the-scenes anecdotes, I marveled at the genius of Miranda (and Hamilton), and I cried unashamedly when I came to the chapter devoted to "It's Quiet Uptown".

This book has been dubbed the "Hamiltome" by fans, and I can see why; it's almost 300 pages and surprisingly heavy. But that's because it's filled with the love and dedication of each person involved with the making of the show. This musical has undoubtedly changed the way people view musicals, rap/hip-hop and what it can do, and the memories of Alexander Hamilton himself. I'm so excited that I get to experience this revolution, even from afar.

Six-Gun Snow White sounds like something my daughter would really enjoy. I'll have to get a copy for her.

Nice story about your meeting with Rick Bragg

>48 kaylaraeintheway: This sounds like one for the wishlist.

>49 kaylaraeintheway: All my coworkers are entering the daily drawing for free Hamilton tickets. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

>52 janemarieprice: I will!! Fingers and toes crossed!

With the madness of the last few weeks of school, including many end-of-the-year awards ceremonies and dinners, graduation, and almost 200 students to check out of the residence halls, I got way behind on reviews! I'm still recovering from the mayhem (and allergies - thank you Arkansas and your ever-changing weather), so I'm just going to write a few quick blurbs about stuff I've been reading over the past couple of weeks.

COMICS



Sex Criminals vol 1 and Sex Criminals vol 2 by Matt Fraction & Chip Zdarsky
Bitch Planet vol 1 by Kelly Sue Deconnick
The Wicked + the Divine vol 1 by Kieron Gillen
East of West vol 1 by Jonathan Hickman

I loved every single one of these trade collections! The stories they tell are so unique and unlike anything I have seen/read before. From time-stopping sex to a futuristic prison planet for "non-compliant" women, to gods being reborn as pop stars and an apocalyptic futuristic western, I found myself totally immersed in each world.

LYRICAL ESSAYS & REFLECTIONS



Bluets by Maggie Nelson & When Women Were Birds: Fifty-four Variations on Voice by Terry Tempest Williams

Two essay collections from two very different and utterly brilliant female writers. Nelson and Williams use seemingly simple objects (the color blue; 54 blank journals) to reflect on many aspects of their lives. Every sentence is beautiful and full of meaning. Williams' thoughts on women, sex, and birth were particularly poignant, and made me cry for a good 5 minutes.

A PLAY & A CATALOGUE



Equivocation by Bill Cain & Important Artifacts and Personal Property from the Collection of Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris, Including Books, Street Fashion, and Jewelry by Leanna Shapton

I first saw Equivocation at it's world premiere in 2009 at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and I have not stopped thinking about it since. Most of the actors play several characters, both in and out of Shakespeare's plays, to the amazing culmination of the same guy playing Macduff and King James at once (the play, put simply, is about King James charging Shakespeare to write the "truth" of the Gunpowder Plot via a play - what emerges instead is Macbeth). It's pure genius.

Important Artifacts and Personal Property... is the story of a relationship in various artifacts, presented as an auction catalogue (complete with object measurements, selling price, and photographs). It's a very unique and visually pleasing way of examining the beginning and the end of a romantic relationship. It unexpectedly struck a chord with me, seeing some of my past relationship woes reflected back to me.

AND FINALLY...STAR WARS



Star Wars: Bloodline by Claudia Gray
5 stars!

This is by far my favorite Star Wars book. Claudia Gray gives Leia her due in this novel that takes place about 10 years before The Force Awakens. Leia is becoming disillusioned by the Senate and politics that don't seem to do any good, despite the victory over the Empire 20 years before. Gray presents Leia as a strong, determined, but also flawed, individual who just wants to do right by the people. While some familiar characters do make appearances, the focus (as it should be) is on Leia and how she ultimately creates the Resistance (the force she commands in Episode VII). It's so, so good, y'all.

>54 kaylaraeintheway: Glad to hear about those comics, as they're all ones I've already got but haven't read yet! Looks like I've got some good reading ahead.

The Important Artifacts book sounds intriguing. I wonder how likely I am to run across a copy...

>56 RidgewayGirl: I got my copy from thriftbook.com, and I think they have a few more available there

The Time it Takes to Fall by Margaret Lazarus Dean
5 stars!

I absolutely loved this book! Margaret Lazarus Dean (who also wrote an amazing book about the last flights of the American space shuttle program: Leaving Orbit) tells the story of Dolores Gray's coming-of-age during the time of the shuttle heyday. America is still in love with space, Dolores's father works for NASA, and she dreams of becoming an astronaut like her hero Judith Resnik. Then Challenger explodes shortly after liftoff, and Dolores - and the country - find themselves reeling from the tragedy.

What I loved most is that the Challenger disaster, while the central moment in the book, is not the most important. Dolores and her actions are the heart. We are with her before the shuttle explodes, and we follow her after the event changes everything for her and her family. It was a fascinating journey through the mind of a smart, conflicted, selfish, familiar young girl. Dean writes with such honesty and love for every character. Highly recommended!

The Hour of Land: A Personal Topography of America's National Parks by Terry Tempest Williams
5 stars!

Terry Tempest Williams - writer, activist, conservationist, and all-around amazing human - writes about several national parks through the lens of her experiences with them. Whether she is talking about hiking with her father, the history of the national park system, the battle between the government and the native Americans for their land, finding kin on a small island, or experiencing a raging forest fire up close, Terry Tempest Williams uses her considerable gifts as a writer to instill a sense of majesty and urgency in the reader about these wonderful places. I will be re-reading this book many times in the years to come...especially as I travel to more national parks and monuments. This is a very important book for all those who love nature and the outdoors, and even more so for those who do not understand the magic of it.

Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub
4 stars

I first picked up this book because I saw the AMAZING trailer for the new Shonda Rhimes show of the same name that's premiering in the fall (I believe). Seriously, go watch it now! I'll wait...

Looks good, right?! Anyway, this book, a continuation of Romeo & Juliet, finds the city of Verona once again in turmoil: unknown assailants defile Juliet's statue and kill Montagues and Capulets alike. A glooming peace indeed. The Prince, in an attempt to bring the feud to a close once and for all, demands that Rosaline (you know, the girl whom Romeo loved so dearly before Juliet came into the picture) and Benvolio, Romeo's BFF marry.

Surprisingly, this does not go well.

I was completely drawn into this book, and I devoured it in two sittings. Rosaline is pretty badass, Benvolio can marry me any day of the week, and characters both familiar and new bring a lot to the table in this tale of love and revenge. Melinda Taub writes her dialogue in a way that honors Shakespeare's language, and the vocabulary of the time, without being cheesy or annoying.

Basically, I stayed up until 2:30 AM last night finishing it and now I'm falling asleep at my desk but I don't care, because it was totally worth it.

Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson
4 stars

I really love Craig Johnson's Longmire Mysteries series. The characters are just the best - really fleshed out and funny in their own ways. This book (the 3rd in the series) finds Wyoming sheriff Walt Longmire in Philadelphia on a trip to visit his daughter Cady, a lawyer. Longmire's best friend Henry Standing Bear joins him (for which I am very thankful, as Henry is definitely one of my favorite characters. That may or may not have to do with the fact that Lou Diamond Phillips plays him on the show, and I picture him when I'm reading...). Of course, Longmire can't have a quiet vacation, and the first night in town someone attacks Cady. This leads Longmire, Henry, and a few friendly faces both old and new on a quest to find out who attacked Cady and why.

Johnson writes about places with beautiful detail (and lovingly depicts Longmire's longing for the mountains of Wyoming while stuck in the Big City). The dialogue is sharp and engaging, and I just adore the tough sheriff's knowledge of everything from opera and wine to guns and vehicles. I have already started the next book in the series!

Well, I haven't been able to do much reading in the past month, and I'm about 8 reviews behind...such is life when the new school year starts and you work in Student Affairs.

Now that things are starting to (hopefully) wind down, I'm looking forward to catching up on my reading (and actually finishing the 10 or so books I've started). It's the first day of fall - not that you would know if from the almost-100-degree weather we have here in the South - which means it's time for crunchy leaves, cloudy days, and burrito blankets aka prime reading weather!!

I may or may not get around to writing little blurbs about the books I read in July...

Every Hidden Thing by Kenneth Oppel
4 stars

Two paleontologists, both alike in snobbery, in the dangerous badlands where we lay our scene.
From forth the prideful loins of these two foes, a pair of star-crossed lovers...

Well, I don't want to spoil anything. Suffice it to say, I really liked this story about Rachel Cartland and Sam Bolt, the offspring of the dueling scientists, and their adventures in the unsettled territories of the American West, on a quest to find the greatest dinosaur of all. This made me want to read more about the Bone Wars and the actual scientists on which Cartland and Bolt were based. I appreciated how Rachel was portrayed most of all; she is smart, determined to prove herself in a "man's field", and does not possess a single romantic bone in her body. Sam, bless his heart, is thoroughly in love with her, but still sometimes falls victim to the restrictive gender norms of the time. Throw in social commentary on the conflict between the Native Americans and the destructive "new" Americans, and you have a recipe for a fun, thoughtful read.

Upstream: Selected Essays by Mary Oliver
4.5 stars

A great collection on nature and literature from Mary Oliver, who is fast becoming a favorite of mine. Her essay on an injured gull she took in made me cry on the plane, and the essays on Poe, Emerson, and Whitman warmed my English-major heart (and made me wish I could write a final paper like that). A small and lovely collection from one of the best.

Also: just look at that cover!!

The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher

I was reading this book when my mom told me that Carrie Fisher died. I couldn't believe it. Out of all the celebrity deaths that happened this year, hers hit me the hardest; I sat on the couch and cried. I grew up watching Star Wars. Princess Leia was one of my idols growing up, and as I got older, I became a fan of Carrie Fisher as an author. She was always so unashamedly herself. The world is a little less bright without her.

When I got the news, I was just about to start the section that held her reprinted diary entries written during the filming of A New Hope and her affair with Harrison Ford. This was hard to read, if only because looking at such a life event through the eyes of a self-conscious 19-year-old with self-esteem issues and an incredibly dry wit was tough. Her insights and poetry are beautiful in their pain. But again, Carrie is (was?) Carrie, and she presented that time of her life with a 40-years-later outlook and a new appreciation (maybe even fondness) for her time as Leia, hair buns, metal bikinis and all. I certainly can't imagine Star Wars, or my childhood, without her, as I'm sure millions of others can't. She was a true original, and I'm glad she was able to give us this small look into her life before she left.

>65 kaylaraeintheway: It is good to see you posting again, kaylarae. I'm sorry it under such sad circumstances. This a lovely, heartfelt review. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

Walk on Earth a Stranger by Rae Carson
4.5 stars

One final book/post for 2016!

Leah Westfall lives in Georgia with her parents. They have a good, quiet life; she hunts and rides with her dad, and her mom is a strong support for the family. Oh, and Leah can also sense gold whenever it's near. This helps keep her family in comfort, but her secret must be kept at all costs. Then, news of gold in California arrives, and everyone is in a hurry to go West. Leah's best friend Jefferson sets out on his own to escape his abusive father, and after a terrible tragedy and the appearance of a gentlemanly but vengeful uncle who somehow knows about Leah's ability, she decides to disguise herself as a boy and meet up with Jefferson to make the journey to California.

This was quite an exciting book. I was expecting it to be more about her "witchy powers", but instead (and much to my delight), it was an adventure story, about Leah and Jefferson, and the people they travel with via horseback, flatboat, and covered wagon train that become their family. Rae Carson certainly did her research, and her depiction of life on the hard road to California was rich in detail and fraught with peril. At the same time, she does a great job of developing the characters in the traveling party, from stuffy Mr. Joyner to the kind German Hoffman family. Leah herself is a great heroine; brave and resourceful, but also realistic in her struggle with gender roles and wanting the respect she deserves. I have the second book in the series, and can't wait to continue reading about the adventures of Leah Westfall.