Contemporary Fiction: The Imagined Life by Andrew Porter

Author Andrew Porter was one of the many writers featured at this year's San Antonio Book Festival, and I was fortunate to be able to hear him talk about The Imagined Life, his novel that follows a man attempting to learn more about his father, in particular his current whereabouts, and what happened to him after he disappeared from his son's life. And while searching, the man also reflects on his childhood, and the events that lead up to his father's disappearance.

The Situation: As a grown man, Steven Mills finds himself separated from his wife, but also on a strange and somewhat sudden trip to look for his father, whom he has not seen since he was 12 years old. While looking for him, Steven also goes back in his memories to 1984, the year his father disappeared. It is also the year his father was denied tenure at St. Agnes, an event that, on the surface, seemed to be the catalyst for his father's leaving. But looking back, Steven will remember the parties his parents would throw around the pool in their backyard; some of the mysterious guests; his father's increasingly erratic behavior; the rumors; and the often persistent sense that something was about to go very very wrong.

The Problem: While Steven continues to remember the past, he is able to compare his memories with what he learns from the people he is able to interview, people who knew and worked with his father. Many of his father's associates are honest, but guarded, often willing to say just enough for Steven to have more questions instead of less. Even family members are not willing to reveal all of what they know, even though Steven is now an adult and no longer a kid. But he stays determined in searching for his father, or at least in finding out what happened to him, though the information may be unpleasant. And as he continues to search, and remember, it becomes clear that his father was complicated, as is what happened to him.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of fiction set both in 1984, and in present-day California. With Steven as the first-person narrator, the reader is given a first-hand account of late night pool parties that eventually became a source of anxiety and tension for Steven and his mother. As his father began to unravel, so did his relationship with Steven's mother, something that was made more complicated by the near-constant presence of one of the party guests. It is tempting to point to his father's issues at work as the main problem, but Steven must confront all of the factors, which includes mental health issues, and be honest about how the experience has shaped his own life. 

My Verdict: With more focus on characters and relationships, this book is a slow burn. And while things are certainly happening, the scenes and events are given ample time to breathe, with every line of dialogue, every glance, every action, and every decision seeming like it was carefully considered. The book may be less than 300 pages, but within it, the main character fully examines the last few months he was in contact with his father, while attempting to track him down in the present. It is a complex and intriguing and powerful narrative about a young man growing up with a parent who is going through something he does not quite understand, but the events will most certainly shape the rest of his life. 

Favorite Moment: Near the end of the book, Steven makes a declaration to one of his father's friends about the music he likes that is so striking and moving, but also sad, considering his experiences, and the story he had been telling up to that point. It is hard to explain without spoilers, but Steven's statement left me stunned.

Favorite Character: Steven's mother is not perfect, but she did her best, considering the circumstances. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend Kazuo Ishiguro's The Remains of the Day, if only due to the reflective nature of both novels as the main characters look back and consider their relationship with someone close to them.

Nonfiction: Tequila Wars by Ted Genoways

Growing up, there was a period of my life, about nine years or so, when my father owned and operated a liquor store. Having bartended in his 20s, my father knew a lot about alcohol, alcohol sales, distribution, laws, etc. By proximity, I ended up learning a lot too, and would occasionally run the register at the store. And yes, it was strange for many of the patrons to walk up to the counter with their purchases and find a young girl standing there ready to ring them up. And despite not being much of a drinker now that I am an adult, I still hold on to a lot of that knowledge, which is what initially led me to look into Ted Genoways' Tequila Wars: José Cuervo and the Bloody Struggle for the Spirit of Mexico, as the author was part of this year's San Antonio Book Festival. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that mostly focuses on the life of José Cuervo, the man who inherited his family's distillery, and managed to nurture and cultivate it into the tequila empire we know the brand to be today. But as is detailed in Genoways' book, that growth did not come easily, as Cuervo's successes and setbacks were closely tied to the political turmoil of the country of Mexico during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As president's were elected to power, and then plotted to hold onto their positions despite the country's constitution not allowing for a president to be re-elected, leading to inevitable uprisings and rebellions, Cuervo had to be strategic about who he supported, ultimately needing to be sure that whoever was in charge would allow his empire to grow unbothered, and with few taxes. Little has been known about Cuervo, and while the general belief was that he was a nice man, but not terribly great at business, Genoways' account attempts to set the record straight.

My Verdict: This book not only gives the reader a lesson on Cuervo, but also on the disorder and unrest that was Mexico's politics during his lifetime. Specifically during the later chapters of the book, many pages will go by without any mention of Cuervo as the nation's political players literally go to war over who will hold key positions of power. Through thorough research, which includes accounts from Cuervo's niece, readers are given rare insight into the man whose name so many of us are familiar with, but little is known about. Even after reading this book, there is still an heir of mystery to the man, who clearly had to navigate a difficult landscape in order to keep his business afloat, and often also to keep himself and his family alive. Genoways offered a fascinating history, which may lead readers to do more research on their own.

Favorite Moment: The story of how Cuervo ended up marrying his wife Ana is pretty humorous, and attests to his careful and often hesitant nature when making big decisions.

Recommended Reading: For more nonfiction, I recommend Custodians of Wonder by Eliot Stein. 

Historical Fiction: The Eights by Joanna Miller

Happy 4th of July y'all, and welcome to a review of The Eights by Joanna Miller, which does not take place in the U.S, but instead in England at Oxford University in the 1920s. The historical university has finally admitted women, and the book follows four of them through their first year of college, when their country, and many of the people, are still recovering from the Great War.

The Situation: In Corridor Eight of St. Hughs, Beatrice Sparks, Marianne Grey, Theodora 'Dora' Greenwood, and Ottoline 'Otto' Wallace-Kerr are all settled into their rooms and ready to make history. As the daughter of a famous suffragette, and as a woman who stands over six feet tall, Beatrice is well versed is gaining and commanding attention, especially if it means advancing equal rights for women. Marianne is not sure she belongs at Oxford, especially considering her past, and while Dora feels the same way, it is for entirely different reasons. She lost both her brother and fiance in the war, and knows she has only been allowed to attend university in their place. And Otto is excited about social aspect of college life. Sure, she loves mathematics, but she also wants to put the war behind her and return to gaining men's attention and attending parties.

The Problem: Naturally, not everyone is excited that Oxford has decided to finally admit women. There are some students, and certainly some faculty, that are more than ready hold the new female students to different standards than the males, if only to help prove that the women do not belong there. But the four women from Corridor Eight have formed an unlikely though solid friendship, and when one of them is having a hard time, the other three are there to help her through it. They will have to deal with sexism, the threat of getting the flu, drafty rooms, and stern advisors. But if they manage to stick with it, they will be building a legacy for many women to come.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set primarily during the 1920-1921 academic year at Oxford University. The four women at the center of the narrative are all from different backgrounds and have different motivations, but are able to form an unlikely friendship that will help carry them through the difficult course work, frustrating pranks, and hauntings from their respective pasts. Having to attend a lecture by a professor that believes you should not be at the university is certainly a problem, but so is believing your new friends would not like you if they knew what you have done.

My Verdict: In between announcements, articles, letters, and bulletins is a story of four women all willing to be part of the first females officially admitted to Oxford University. With a third person narrator moving between the stories of each, the reader gets four different experiences from four different temperaments. The story is interesting enough, and the setting certainly had my attention from the beginning. If anything, it maybe would have worked better for there to be more focus on fewer characters. Or perhaps to have one of the women serve as a first-person narrator. Hard to say, but it is still an engaging story as it is, chronicling an academic year in the life of pioneering women. 

Favorite Moment: Otto is used to certain luxuries that her life in Corridor Eight simply does not have, but she finds a way to make it work (which mostly involves money), and her friends often benefit.

Favorite Character: Marianne, named after a Jane Austen heroine, may be the one in the group who is easy to overlook, but for me, she has the most interesting story.

Recommended Reading: The Women by Kristin Hannah is about a different war, but also looks at the attitudes around women showing up in a place that was historically reserved for men.  

Young Adult Fiction: Dear Manny by Nic Stone

When Dear Martin first appeared on shelves back in 2017 (same year as Angie Thomas' The Hate U Give), I had no clue that it would end up as the first book of a trilogy, and if the letter to the reader at the beginning of Dear Manny is any indication, neither did author Nic Stone. But here we are, and it could not feel more appropriate. I once had the pleasure of hearing Stone speak and having her sign two of my books, and I am thrilled to see her continue to tell stories, even difficult and challenging ones, aimed at younger readers. It is the perfect book for this last week of YA Fest.

The Situation: Jared Peter Christensen is being challenged. Sure, he is currently sitting in his Constitutional Law class, which is a class that is taught with the students and professor all sitting in a circle of bean bag chairs as they discuss, well, the constitution. The questions are challenging on purpose, as are the ensuing debates as the students' often opposing views are argued. But Jared also has to deal with a fraternity he is a part of, but does not particularly like; a father he knows does not approve of him, but whose approval he is not sure he wants; plus, the last few years have been pretty rough, beginning with the night his best friend Manny died. And now, it seems he has foolishly accepted Dr. Yeh's challenge by attending a meeting of the Undergraduate College Council, and becoming a candidate in the upcoming student elections.

The Problem: Enter Jared's next big challenge in the form of his opponent, John Preston LePlante IV. Like Jared, John Preston is a straight, white, wealthy legacy student, but his stance on the issues is incredibly different. Standing out and apart from him as an opponent should prove no problem, but when a third candidate enters the running, Jared is not at all sure what to think about Dylan M. Coleman. He has never met the guy and has no clue what he stands for. All Jared knows is that he has to win, and John Preston for sure has to lose. But in the coming weeks, Jared will have to wrestle with more than just campus politics. When he starts writing letters to Manny, Jared has to confront what really motivates him, what he actually stands for, and decide what kind of person he wants to be.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set at an Ivy League university where Jared is a student with the protagonist of Stone's first book, Dear Martin. Justyce McAllister is now not only Jared's close friend, but his roommate as well, even though in that first book, the word 'enemies' would not have sufficed to describe how they felt about each other. In this book, Justyce is someone Jared trusts, almost looks up to, and serves as a grounding force while he works through everything that is happening, including the campaign. Like Justyce, Jared is confronted with racial injustice and inequities, while also having to look honestly at his own privilege, and what he is willing to do about it, and with it.

My Verdict: Confession: I am, in general, not a person who looks for or enjoys confrontation. Facing and examining hard truths? Fine. Arguing about them with someone else? No, thank you. With that said, that mental exercise of readers putting themselves in the book and wondering how they would do? Pretty sure I would wither away in this one. If readers thought Stone 'went there' with Dear Martin, then for me, this book does something else entirely. But the things is, as uncomfortable as I often was, I am still glad I read it, and still looked forward to being able to read it until I finished. And, I am looking for reasons to gift it to those close to me. Yes, the book is challenging, but not in an obnoxious or heavy-handed way. It is simply honest, and having the focus be on Jared is a bold and brilliant move.

Favorite Moment: Witnessing the debate between the three candidates was both painful and fun. I will still avoid having to watch one between real political candidates, but the one in this book is worth suffering through. 

Favorite Character: Justyce is not present in this book a whole lot, but when he is, it is during moments when Jared either needs a reality check, or simply someone to talk to. It is nice to see these two become close, real friends after everything that has happened.

Recommended Reading: For some reason, my mind goes to James by Percival Everett as a good follow-up. It is not even remotely YA, but it is a great story, and deserving of all of the attention is has received. 

Young Adult Fiction: All Better Now by Neal Shusterman

What I love about Neal Shusterman's books is that they attempt to answer a seemingly impossible question, or maybe even a question we hope to never have to answer. His Arc of the Scythe series falls into the former category, as it asks what would life on earth be like if humans could live forever. His novel Dry falls into the latter category, as it asks what would happen if the state of California ran out of water. For his most recent book, All Better Now, and the third novel for this year's DSN YA Fest, Shusterman asks what would happen if another pandemic were to take place in the near future, only this time, the survivors of the disease experience utter contentment. Would people risk the odds of being one of the 4% of the population that is guaranteed to die from it for a chance at true happiness? And would the world fall apart as a result? 

The Situation: The name they have chosen this time is Crown Royale. That is the name of the virus that is known to kill at least one out of every 25 people who contracts it. But here is the thing: The other 24 people, the ones who survive, have the long-term effect of being utterly content with their lives. Billionaires who only served their own interests before are now giving up their fortunes and disappearing to live their lives in peace and with generosity. Both small and large communes and collectives are popping up everywhere to take in anyone who needs help, whether sick or healthy, recoveree or uninfected. While there is a race to develop a vaccine, most recoverees are ready to argue against the need for one, seeing the virus as more of a savior than a scourge. And this divide is the beginning of a much larger war.

The Problem: Mariel is used to a life on the streets, with only her mother to trust, but when they unknowingly check into an Airbnb that is managed by Rón Escobedo, the son of one of the world's richest men, the two teens are started on a path that will put them at the center of the fight. There are those who wish to spread the virus as far and as fast as they can, and those who will do whatever it takes to stop it, no matter how questionable. Those with the most to lose from a virus that can eliminate jealousy and greed will live and act out of fear, claiming to help humanity while possibly dooming it as well. Families will be split, friendships will be tested. But both sides believe they are right. And both sides insist they are saving the world. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of young adult fiction set in different locations all over North America and other parts of the world. At the center of the story are Mariel, a tough young woman who has been living on the streets with her mother for quite some time; Rón, the youngest son of a very rich man for whom contracting the virus may mean a slightly higher risk of death; and Morgan, a smart and shrewd young woman who has been chosen to help find a vaccine, even though her benefactor has had a change of heart. This novel brings up many of the questions and arguments that were brought forward during the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, only this time the recoverees experience a happiness and joy that some are eager to embrace and willing to risk death for, while others find the need to shut it down as soon as possible. Greed, fear, ambition, joy, and even pity (on both sides, for the opposing side) are all there.

My Verdict: When Shusterman asks an impossible question like this, he carries it out through all of the difficult moments and takes the reader along for the ride, showing his work along the way. Every characters' motivations are clear, and both the villains and the heroes of this book (if there truly are any) remain three-dimensional. Even those who recover from Crown Royale, who no longer feel anger or resentment or the need for revenge, are not immediately good (or even better) people. They are simply different, with new goals and reasons for what they do. My only real gripe is with the ending, which does make sense considering the impossible question Shusterman is trying to answer. But with a book that is already over 500 pages, a few more chapters would have been nice, if only for clarity.

Favorite Moment: There is a moment when the selfish and almost monomaniacal Morgan is face to face with her worst fear, and is shown that she is not as secure behind her money and masks as she thought.

Favorite Character: Dame Havilland is a recoveree who was once a very rich and spiteful old woman. She will spend the entire book attempting to fix one of her biggest mistakes, and is as delightful in her new life as she was hateful and vengeful in her old one. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend Dry, also by Shusterman, and for me, it is his most terrifying book thus far. 

Young Adult Fiction: Needy Little Things by Channelle Desamours

For the second week of YA Fest, I picked up Channelle Desamours' Needy Little Things. A young girl with the ability to hear the needs of others races against time when a close friend goes missing. But when her ability to hear people's needs refuses to go quiet, and others learn about what she can do, it becomes difficult to stay focused and follow the clues, especially as time seems to be running out.

The Situation: Seventeen year-old Sariyah Bryant's most useful possession might be her noise-canceling headphones. They may not provide complete protection against the needs of those in close proximity to her, but they do offer some relief. Sariyah has the ability to quite literally hear the needs of others around her. Usually it is small things like a hair tie, lip balm, marker, or nail file, and sometimes the need allows the receiver to do something silly, or even wasteful. The only needs Sariyah cannot hear are those of the people closest to her, which is both a relief, and infuriating. And when her friend, Deja, goes missing, what Sariyah needs is to be able to put all the clues together and find her, soon.

The Problem: Deja's disappearance mirrors two previous cases of a young girl going missing in her town. And while Sariyah wants to remain hopeful, those other cases did not end in the young girls being found alive. With other people's needs continuing to intrude, Sariyah and her friends Malcolm and Jude are not only doing what they can to keep Deja's disappearance at the front of everyone's minds via social media, but they are trying to figure out what exactly happened to her. Could she have run away? Who would want to hurt her? What was her life like at home? And then Sariyah does the thing she was always warned against, which is use her ability to make some quick cash, therefore drawing attention, and potentially making herself the next target.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set in and around modern-day Atlanta. Told exclusively through Sariyah's point of view, the book touches on several topics, such as depression, grief, guilt, caring for a sick sibling, and of course, the disappearance of young girls. Years earlier, Sariyah's friend, and Malcom's twin sister, Tessa, went missing, and the two of them cannot help but see similarities between that situation and this one. Malcolm is particularly focused on keeping awareness on Deja's disappearance, while acknowledging how difficult that may be since she is a minority. And then there is Sariyah's ability to know what those around her need. Unfulfilled needs have her playing the 'what if' game, but sometimes, what she gives people leads to a chain of events that has her questioning if 'need' is the right word.

My Verdict: This is a fast-paced and interesting story that does not take long to get into the action, while also taking the time to introduce characters, describe the settings, and build out the world and the relationships. Before Deja's disappearance, it is clear that Sariyah already struggles with her ability, and that there is some history when it comes to missing girls. After the disappearance, the urgent need for action can be felt coming off of the page, along with the sense that not everything is as it appears, and many people (most of them, actually) are not telling everything they know. The grand reveal of what exactly happened seems a little bit confusing and convoluted, while still managing to be tense and troubling.

Favorite Moment: At one point, Sariyah has to get someone away from her, quickly, and she manages to do it by essentially out-crazying them.

Favorite Character: Josiah is Deja's little brother, and while he lives with sickle-cell anemia, he is bright and funny and clever and full of energy, and also incredibly perceptive.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Monday's Not Coming by Tiffany D. Jackson, another YA thriller concerning a missing young girl. 

Young Adult Fiction: Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia

Welcome to the annual Door Stop Novels YA Fest! This year we are starting off with Mystery Royale, the debut novel of Kaitlyn Cavalancia. Set in an old estate, seven children are gathered together to participate in a series of deadly games, with a magical inheritance as the ultimate prize.

The Situation: Sixteen year-old Mullory Prudence has a routine: savor the mornings with a book and a gas station burrito, go to school, go to work at a crappy part-time job, and return home to take care of gran, all while ignoring the stares and whispers. Everywhere she goes, everyone knows who Mullory is: She is the girl whose mother burned their house down, before disappearing and leaving her daughter with one ominous warning, "Run if the strange finds you." When strange letters begin appearing in even stranger places - inside of her burrito, in a bag of pet food - Mullory is certain this is what her mother was talking about. But then one of the letters promises an estate and an inheritance that she could certainly use, should she win a mysterious game. And so despite her mother's warning, Mullory moves towards the strange instead of away from it.

The Problem: At Stoutmire Estate, nothing is as it seems. If Mullory is to claim the ultimate prize of the inheritance, she must play and win a game of Mystery Royale. Over the next nine days, a series of clues will be given to every participant, and the correct answer to the mystery must be declared before time runs out in order to win. But with the exception of one other person, Mullory is the only participant not related to the reclusive Xavier Stoutmire, the person whose estate and magic she is competing to inherit, and whose murder they must solve in order to win. It makes sense for Whitaker and Ellison Stoutmire to be here, the twin brother/sister duo, as well as their youngest sibling Lyric, even if he was exiled while very young. But Mullory has no ties to the Stoutmires, at least none that she knows of. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction book set mostly in the strange, mysterious, and magical estate of the deceased Xavier Stoutmire. Although there are seven participants in the game - Stoutmire relations Whitaker, Ellison, Lyric, Quinby and Martin, as well as Mullory and Mateo - only three of them serve as narrators for the reader. While Mullory provides the outsider's point of view, the uptight and orderly Ellison gives a view of what it was like growing up as a Stoutmire. She may have money and privilege, but it turns out that life as a Stoutmire was often nightmarish. And then there is Lyric, who resents his entire family because of something that happened years ago, and is determined to win the game no matter the cost. 

My Verdict: It took me a good 100 pages or so to find a rhythm and a groove with this book. At first, many aspects of the world and of the game were hazy and unclear, even while reading the chapters narrated by Ellison, who, of the three narrators, has maybe the clearest and most accessible view of what is going on. But once the games get under way and alliances begin to be made, the rules for both the Mystery Royale and the magic that runs in the Stoutmire family begin to make sense, and become vastly more interesting. And while some readers may be able to figure out the answer to the mystery, as well as how it will all end, the way it all unfolds is still a surprise, and I credit Cavalancia for giving readers a clear ending, instead of an open or vague one.

Favorite Moment: Mullory is timid and unsure of herself for most of the story, which makes sense given her background and the environment of the Stoutmire Estate. But there are moments when she makes up her mind to charge ahead and take action, come what may.

Favorite Character: Aunt Cecilia is an eerie figure who moves around the estate with a padlock around her neck, due to her ability to tell the future, and therefore potentially spoil the game. Like many of the people in this book, she speaks in riddles and knows more than she says, but she was an interesting character that I would have liked to have seen more of.

Recommended Reading: Hotel Magnifique by Emily J. Taylor is another YA story of mystery and magic, filled with characters that have strange and incredible abilities.