Nonfiction: Good and Mad by Rebecca Traister

I was absolutely blown away by Rebecca Traister's 2016 book All the Single Ladies. Even so, when I saw the title of today's focus, Good and Mad: The Revolutionary Power of Women's Anger, I was both excited and apprehensive. I was excited because this is something I had been thinking about for years now and knew that the anger of women was something that could create significant and lasting change. But of course, I was also apprehensive because I knew what Traister would be discussing on the pages would not only cause me to be angry, but also feel a bit hopeless and afraid. Also, I knew Traister would approach the subject with unabated intensity and honesty, which is why she is the perfect person for the job.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book in which Traister explores the complicated and intricate history of how women have been able to enact significant change simply by allowing themselves to be angry, and to show it. While pulling examples from history, Traister also looks at the 2016 presidential election and the wave of rage, coupled with disbelief and despair, that took hold of women across the country. But the history lesson does not stop there; in fact, Traister continues into 2018, with much of what she talks about still going on now that the year is almost to a close, and 2019 is less than four days away. With chapters titles such as "The Circle of Entrapment: The Heavy Price of Rage," "How Minority Rules," "Trust No One," "Sympathy for the Devils," and "The Exhilaration of Activism," the book is not simply a collection of events, followed by women getting angry and protesting. Traister looks at why women expressing their anger can be a complicated and tricky thing; how race plays a huge part in who gets listened to and why; who women are getting angry at (and how it often includes other women); why men are so uncomfortable with a woman's anger; and of course, the powerful force that is the #metoo movement. With information backed up by facts and figures, as well as personal interviews and examples, it is a comprehensive account of why women in this country are so angry, and the change that can come from it.  

My Verdict: With unflinching honesty, Traister lays it all out there, whether people like it or not, and the timing could not be more perfect. What I especially love is that Traister is mindful to acknowledge that black women have long been outraged about the injustices in this country, and that the majority of white women are pretty late to the party. As pointed out by Andre Johnson, the lead character in ABC's family comedy Blackish - and in the episode that dealt specifically with the 2016 presidential election - black people in America are used to being disappointed with a system that continually lets us down. There is information in this book that is hard to read, and even harder to acknowledge. But unless we move forward, and ultimately continue to be angry as well intent on creating change, the things women are so angry about will continue to happen, and those who are responsible will continue on their course unchallenged. Incredibly informative, but ultimately inspiring, it is the kind of book I want to recommend to everyone, knowing that very few have the stomach for it.

Favorite Historical Figure: Former Governor of Texas Ann Richards campaigned on behalf of the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. Like many marriages at the time, hers ended in the early 1980s, during the tumult and changes around women's roles. 

Favorite Quotes: "Black women have long been the backbone of our political and progressive past...Yet they've been only barely represented in leadership of the political parties they've bolstered; their participation has long been taken for granted. And when white women have caught up to where black women have been for a long time, the work of black women has often been appropriated, ignored, and uncredited by those with greater economic, cultural, and racial advantage." - from the chapter "How Minority Rules."

"Women who are willing to defend white patriarchy and its abuses - usually women with proximity to powerful men and the chance to gain from it, and who are therefore themselves often white - have historically found reward from those powerful men, in the form of sexual or romantic attention, marital alliances, as well as jobs and stature, in exchange for their defense of the very power structure from which they benefit." -  from the chapter "Collateral Damage."

"What [Martin Luther] King commanded we too must command: that this not get written off as a summer storm, an aberration or fad or period of hysteria until our demands are met. We must insist on our discontent, not permit it to be muffled or put behind us swiftly." - from the chapter "Conclusion."

Recommended Reading: All the Single Ladies, also by Traister, explores the fascinating trend of women in the U.S. deciding to marry later in life, if at all, and how it has changed and shaped this country. 

Young Adult Fiction: Sadie by Courtney Summers

My first introduction into the YA novels of Courtney Summers was with her zombie thriller This is Not a Test, back in 2012. Since I am not into most things zombie-related, my enjoyment of the book came as a surprise, and also spoke to Summers' storytelling, as well as her ability to keep me reading when I was not at all excited to know what was coming next. Almost the exact same thing happened with All the Rage in 2015, though without the zombies, so that brings me here. Sadie also promised to be tense and intriguing as it starts, as many stories do, with the body of a dead girl.

The Situation: Radio personality West McCray gets a phone call about a missing girl. Sadie Hunter is a 19 year-old girl from Cold Creek, Colorado, the kind of declining small town that West covers on his show. At first, West blows the call off. Girls go missing all of the time. But when his boss presses him to take the assignment, West begins a journey through several small towns in Colorado, all in various states of economic health, looking for the girl who disappeared after the death of her sister. Thirteen year-old Mattie Southern's body was found in an orchard just outside of Cold Creek. With the cause of death being blunt-force trauma to the head, and with witnesses saying the last time they say her she was getting into a truck with an unseen driver, Sadie is sure she knows what happened to her sister. With only a few clues, little money, and the essentials in her trusty green canvas backpack, Sadie sets out to seek her own justice against the man who took her sister's life.

The Problem: West's primary source of information is May Beth, the woman who owns and lives in the trailer park where Sadie and Mattie grew up. But even with May Beth able to supply the sisters' history - how Sadie basically raised Mattie; how Mattie was Sadie's entire world; how their mother abandoned them, and when she was there it was clear she favored Mattie - West is still a few too many steps behind Sadie. Through the podcast he has created specifically for this heartbreaking case, West chronicles his journey through Colorado, the people he meets, the places Sadie goes, and who she is looking for. May Beth fears they may already have another dead girl on their hands, but Sadie is not interested in dying. She is determined to find the man she knows killed her sister, and who is also responsible for one of the worst years of her life. As determined as she is, Sadie may be in over her head, and West may be too many steps behind to find her in time.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel with two mysteries to solve. The first is the matter of who killed Mattie, and will Sadie be able to find him. The second is where exactly Sadie has run off to, and will West be able to find her. In alternating chapters, the story is told through both the transcripts from West's podcast, simple titled "The Girls," and Sadie's adventures as she hunts down one of her mother's many former boyfriends. Even without what happened to her sister, Sadie's life has not been easy. Born with a stutter that has earned her mostly stares, winces, and taunting, she struggles to communicate. Add her mother's troubled history of alcoholism, drug abuse, and neglect, as well as her tendency to bring home men that were not the kind to have around her young daughters, and Sadie also has a hard time trusting, feeling like she needs to be constantly on her guard. She is beyond determined to find the man she is looking for, but she also lacks resources and forethought, often running into dangerous situations without thinking them through. West's difficulties are different, as many people are not interested in speaking with him, and it could be that he is too late. It is a novel about what can happen when someone is forced to grow up too soon, with little support, and only for everything to be taken from them. 

My Verdict: One thing Summers has never done, at least in the three books of hers I have read, is hold back, or shy away from the hard stuff. This book is full of the kind of thing we are all sick of seeing on the news. What is nice is Summers' ability to approach these topics honestly, but without gratuitous details that would turn the reader off completely. Some of it is still hard to read, but with well-rounded characters, vivid small-town settings, and Sadie's determination moving everything forward, the difficult parts are well-supported, and if anything, add to a desire for justice, if not full-on revenge. With the switching timelines and narrations, the story could become confusing and hard to follow, especially as there are some things we know for sure because of Sadie, while West is trailing behind and has not made certain connections yet. Also, with a mystery this good, readers can end up unsatisfied with the ending we're given. And I initially thought the podcast format was going to be problematic, but it turned out to be a creative and different way to unravel a mystery. Fans who have been following Summers' work will appreciate this latest addition.

Favorite Moment: When one of the towns Sadie visits receives long deserved justice.

Favorite Character: Javi is a young man Sadie meets in the small but prosperous town of Montgomery, Colorado. He is somewhat shy, but manages to earn Sadie's trust, and even makes a difficult decision despite the problems it will cause. 

Recommended Reading: Of the two previous books I have read by Summers, I recommend This is Not a Test. But I will also recommend The Collector series by Dot Hutchison.

Historical Fiction: Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

I need to read more Latina writers, and Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras is a great addition to DSN. I actually had the opportunity to visit Bogotá, Colombia in 2006 on a mission trip, and while we were given a brief rundown of how dangerous the city is, a 10-day stay is no comparison to someone having lived and grown up in such a place. Plus, the book is set during the years of Pablo Escobar, and chronicles the many horrific crimes committed by the guerrillas. I knew there was a possibility I would have a hard time reading this, but I forged ahead anyway.

The Situation: Young Chula lives with her mother and her older sister Cassandra in early 1990s Bogotá, Colombia. For the most part, Chula and Cassandra's childhoods are typical for any little girls. They go to school, they play, they watch TV, and they look forward to when their father is able to come home from the oil site. Meanwhile, their mother stays busy running the house, which includes making sure the new maid, Petrona, knows her place and knows her duties. When Petrona first arrives at the house, she is a bit shy and reserved, and never seems to answer or respond to anything said to her in more or less than six syllables. This girl from the city's guerrilla-occupied slums becomes an object of fascination for Chula, and the two of them will form an unlikely bond that will complicate both of their lives.

The Problem: Chula's fairly typical and carefree childhood plays out in a time when drug lord Pablo Escobar seemed unstoppable. Whether you supported the guerrillas or not, everyone was in danger as there were near-constant threats of kidnappings, car bombs, shootings, and assassinations of those who dared promise to make everything better. While the dangers were more pronounced in the slums where Petrona and her family lived, it did not necessarily mean Chula was safe in her comfortable and guarded neighborhood in Bogotá. As Chula learns more about Petrona, it also means there is more she must keep secret from her sister and mother if she wants to keep her friend employed, and out of trouble. But what she does not know is that Petrona may already be in trouble, as the situation in the slums is seemingly hopeless and endlessly dangerous.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel that I decided to place under historical fiction due to the events taking place in Colombia in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Contreras notes that while the book is a work of fiction, it was inspired by real events she experienced growing up in Colombia. Plus, the terrifying and seemingly endless reign of Pablo Escobar, as well as some of the car bombings and assassinations carried out by his followers, were also real events that killed many and put people on edge. Most chapters are told from Chula's point of view, which is very much that of a child who is vaguely aware of the danger outside of her neighborhood, but cannot imagine or consider the full reality of it until it affects someone close to her. The remaining chapters are told by Petrona, and this is where the reader gets a vivid picture of a life that is under threat of being taken over by guerrillas. It is a story of impossible choices, often made out of utter desperation, and the seemingly unlivable consequences that follow.

My Verdict: This is a story. Contreras managed to capture the feeling of being a child in a dangerous world, but those dangers are minimized due to either their distance, or the feeling of safety provided by a home and an attentive family. But opposite Chula's limited view is that of Petrona, who has no choice but to acknowledge the dangers of her world because they almost constantly show up at her front door. The descriptions of even the smallest movements and motions were able to put me on edge. And any journey Chula and her sister made outside of her home felt risky, even if they were going to the residence of a family member. However, probably what put me on edge the most was how connected Chula was becoming to Petrona. Contreras portrayed all of the dangers masterfully, showing the situation for what it was, without getting lost in the details or overwhelming the reader with brutality. 

Favorite Moment: When Cassandra and Chula were able to find two girls in the neighborhood to play with. For the most part, the other kids avoid them because of who their mother is.

Favorite Character: I did not have an older sister, but if I did, I would want her to be like Cassandra.

Recommended Reading: Star of the North by D.B. John is another book that deals with a dangerous country where the citizens are under near-constant threat of violence. 

Young Adult Fiction: An Authentic Experience by Kelly Wittmann

I am always thrilled as well as incredibly humbled to be asked, either directly by the author or their publicist, to review a novel, as opposed to picking one out on my own. I will always do the latter, no matter how many requests I get, because I want to read what I want to read. Also, I can't say yes to everyone. But I did say yes to reading and reviewing An Authentic Experience by Kelly Wittmann. It is no secret to anyone who even halfway follows this blog that I love YA books. And not only does An Authentic Experience fall into that category, but it is about the daughter of two ex-musicians who is trying to find her own way, and that was enough for me to be interested.

The Situation: Silvera "Silver" Abelli is a 15 year-old girl living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. With both parents being ex-musicians from the punk rock era, Silver's music education is well-rounded, if a little biased. Silver's mother, Nicola, has worked hard to make sure her regular education is also well-rounded and complete, as she has always home schooled her, despite Silver wanting more than anything than to attend a "normal" school. Silver's divorced parents do not agree on much, but they do both agree that home schooling is the way to go. Even Nicola's surgery to remove a brain tumor does not derail this idea, though it does mean Silver has to temporarily move in with her father, Renz. Neither parent is currently a performing musician, but Renz still pines for his glory days, as well as the musician's lifestyle. Until Nicola is better, Silver will have to manage a somewhat chaotic existence under Renz's roof.

The Problem: It will be trying living with Renz, and dealing with Nicola's recovery will be no picnic either, though some things make everything better. There is Silver's cousin and best friend Natalie; her grandparents, whose bakery she often works at; and then there is Jake. Football star and all-around popular guy at the local high school, Jake is someone everyone knows. So when it he actually notices Silver at a party and the two begin hanging out, Silver cannot believe her luck. She has only been wanting this exact thing for forever. But even the attention of the most popular boy in class is not enough to ward of the pain and effects of an incredibly traumatic experience. Afraid to upset her mother, and thinking her father does not care, Silver attempts to keep it all together on her own, only for everything to keep falling apart. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult novel set in and around present day Milwaukee. With Nicola and Renz as Silver's parents, there is much discussion regarding music and music appreciation. Renz even has his own podcast with a faithful following, though it is not as large a following as he would like. Silver herself sings and plays the guitar, but her main focus is on being as "normal" a teenager as she can possibly be, given her circumstances. Not only are her mother and father former musicians (with band names Lift and Separate, and Wide Swath, respectively), but they insist on home schooling her. Also, they divorced when Silver was very young. She may live with her mother, but her father is only a few blocks away on the same street. After Nicola's surgery, Silver's grandparents move Nicola in with them in order to aid in her recovery, but this means Silver has to live with Renz for awhile, which is a less than ideal situation. It ends up being a summer where Silver has to deal with her obnoxious father, her sick mother, and an incident that would leave anyone, much less a teenage girl, question who they are and what in their past led them to here.

My Verdict: The characters in this book are solid. Silver is interesting, and complicated, but still very much a teenage girl. Her parents drive her crazy in the way parents always do, and Nicola's illness simply makes matters even more complicated. Even the grandparents are well thought-out, as are the other teenagers in the book, such as Natalie and Jake, and the exchange students Luis and Monique. I do wish that the general pace of the book was a bit slower and not so hurried. Maybe it is the world of teenagers that I am so far removed from, but everything in the story unfolds at an incredible speed, allowing little room for reflection. Also, it becomes obvious in certain areas that there are specific issues Wittmann wanted to tackle and points she wanted to make. Some scenes seem shoe-horned into the plot if only to bring up a current societal problem, while others are handled in such a way that make it clear where the author stands, which can feel like a cheat. At some points it becomes an issue of showing versus telling. Overall, Silver's story is one worth getting invested in and following through to the end.

Favorite Moment: When Nicola proved more than capable to be there for her daughter when she needed her.

Favorite Characters: Gramps and Dita are Nicola's parents and they own Tomasino's Bakery where Silver sometimes works. They are arguably the most stable force in their granddaughter's life and are willing to do anything for her.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride, another YA novel involving the effects of divorce, and how teenagers often have to act like the adults in the family.       

Winners of the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards

So it has come to this. 

The voting is over, and the ballots have been counted. The winners of the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards have been selected by you, the readers. Sure, some hearts will be broken, and there is always at least one upset, but the utmost congratulations goes to all winners, as well as the nominees. And of course, my question is always whether or not any of the DSNs that were nominated made it through to the end.

I am sure it comes as a surprise to very few readers that Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone has managed to triumph in the Best Historical Fiction category. Hannah did the same thing with The Nightingale back in 2015, and clearly has not lost her touch. In my opinion, both were well-deserving of the honor, and it makes me excited to see what she comes up with next. 

Another DSN to get the win, this time for Best Nonfiction, is I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara, the late wife of comedian Patton Oswalt. This book is a must for any lover of true crime, and is a testament to McNamara's devotion to her research and her work. 

Tara Westover's Educated is one of those painfully honest memoirs that would be hard to read for some, but incredibly worth the struggle in the end. I am pleased to see it win Best Memoir & Autobiography, and hope that the recognition it has received spurs more people to bravely tell their stories. 

For the third year in a row, Sarah Andersen has taken the win for Best Graphic Novels & Comics, this time with Herding Cats, her third installment in her Sarah Scribbles collection. Clearly, Andersen has found her rhythm, and her audience. There is something about her timing and her humor that resonates with many of people. 

While I am not surprised, seeing Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone in the winner's spot for Best Debut Author made me want to jump around and scream...which would have been awkward given that I am at the office right now, and not by myself. If there was any one book in any particular category that I was pulling for the most, it would be this one. And while it may not have been able to snag the top spot for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction, it came incredibly close, coming in second behind Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas. Well done indeed.  

And finally, I have saved the Best of the Best category for last, and I could not be more delighted to announce that The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas has taken home the highest honor. Well over a year after its release, this young adult novel remains on the New York Times Bestsellers list, and a favorite of many. Clearly, this is an instant classic that has resonated with readers everywhere.

It may be hard to believe, but another year is done for the Goodreads Choice Awards. As always, it has been fun watching which novels got nominated, which ones made it to the finals, and of course, which ones came out on top. Out of the 21 DSNs that were nominated, 17 made it to the finals, and six came off as winners. I will spending a ridiculous amount of time going through many of the categories and discovering new books to help me start 2019 off right. I hope you do too, and I cannot wait to see what the new years brings.
 

Science Fiction: Mem by Bethany C. Morrow

Ever searching for science fiction that is not too above my head, I stumbled upon Mem by Bethany C. Morrow. Set in the 1920s, Mem explores a question: What if we as humans could erase, or extract, our memories? I was curious to see which direction Morrow would go in with this idea, as there are many, and how it would all turn out.

The Situation: Dolores Extract No. 1, or Elsie as she prefers to be called, is a Mem. At the age of 19, Elsie's Source, a woman named Dolores, had her first memory extracted. After a traumatic experience, Dolores signed up for the controversial procedure, and even opted to keep her first Mem with her after it was done. Unfortunately, this proved to not be a good idea, and eventually Elsie was returned to the Vault: the place where all Mems are kept until they expire. All procedures are more or less the same, and as most Mems that are extracted are unpleasant memories, they often expire quickly, causing the scientists in the Vault to scramble in their attempts to study them before there is no longer anything to study. They did not have that problem with Elsie, as she has proved to be different from other Mems. All other Mems seem to only have the one memory they are supposed to embody. But Elsie remembers the first 19 years of her Source's life, and is also able to create more memories. Plus, it does not look like she will be expiring anytime soon.

The Problem: Because of how different and extraordinary she is, Elsie is allowed to live her own life in Montreal. She is given many special privileges, and ever her own apartment in the city, away from the Vault. Elsie enjoys her independent life, until the day she is called back to the Vault. Naturally, there are many ethical, moral, and legal questions that surround the practice of extracting memories. Also, it appears that taking painful memories out of human beings does more than simply relieve the Source of a bad experience. And while Elsie is different from others like her, she is still a Mem, and still considered the property of Dolores and her family. Back inside the Vault, Elsie will once again encounter other Mems, and be under the scrutiny and study of the scientists, or "bankers," all while questioning why she was called back, knowing that it will most likely not result in her once again being released into society.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel that can also be considered historical fiction as it is set in 1920s Montreal, Canada. Morrow noted that she picked this era in a city she adores because it was a time when many of Montreal's wonderful buildings were constructed. Narrated by Elsie, the reader can benefit from seeing the world from a Mem's point of view, albeit an exceptional Mem who does not function like the others. For one, she knows she is a Mem, and she can seemingly live her life as any ordinary human would. Upon returning to the Vault, she will once again face the discomfort of those who know what she is and therefore are not quite sure how to act around her. Plus, there are legal issues that have come up since her time away, resulting in her return, and threatening her continued existence as she is. One thing about Elsie that does not seem to give people pause is her black skin. There are no instances of racism or prejudice against either Elsie or her Source, Dolores, in the entire book, and Morrow does talk about this in her author's note. While she laments the common practice in Canadian history of omitting the reality of racism in the country, she decided to not have it be part of Elsie's narrative, allowing the Mem to focus on other aspects of her existence.

My Verdict: If there was one issue I had with this book it is that it is too short. At only 178 pages, all of the loose ends may be wrapped up by the last page, but there are so many potential directions for the premise that the ending still feels premature. With that being said, there is still a lot that is covered in those few pages. We get to know Elsie and how she came to be who and where she is now. We get to know what it means to have a memory extracted and the potential complications of such a practice, of which there are many. We even meet the man who invented the procedure, the people who work for him, and the type of people who sign up for such a thing. Morrow gives an answer for one of the many major "what if" questions human beings like to ask, and we are treated to the answer through an incredibly introspective, thoughtful, smart, independent, and often clever Mem. Also, while the length may be my primary issue with the book, it does make it an easy selection for a quick trip into an alternate history.

Favorite Moment: When Elsie manages to put Dolores' husband in his place.

Favorite Character: Ettie is a nurse at the Vault who does not quite know how to act around Elsie, at first, but eventually the two become friends

Recommended Reading: Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty takes place far in the future and follows six clones after what appears to have been a mass murder of their previous forms.        

Young Adult Fiction: The Storyteller by Traci Chee

It is finally here! The third book in Traci Chee's Sea of Ink and Gold series has arrived (though it says "Book Three of the Reader Trilogy on the cover...weird). The Storyteller is the much anticipated final installment in Chee's fast-paced epic tale of magic, war, loss, intrigue, and ultimately, the power of the written word. And as with any series, a huge spoiler alert must be issued for anyone who has not read the first two books.

The Situation: "Once there was, but it would not always be." This is how the story begins, with an entry from the Book that Sefia has come to regard with both reverence and suspicion, believing it to be both a guide and an enemy. She knows reading it can give her answers and let her see what she desperately wants to see. But the Book has a motive of its own, and what is written must always comes to pass. The story reads that a boy will command an army, turning the tide of the bloody Red War, but at the sacrifice of his own life. Sefia knows that boy is Archer, but the Book has already taken so much from her, she refuses to let it take him too. How will Sefia defeat fate, especially when the best tool at her disposal is the one thing she cannot trust. 

The Problem: After the completion of a few side quests, and once some of their friends are rescued from the enemy, Sefia reasons that she and Archer will be able to make it to a neutral island and ride out the end of the war. This way, the war happens, but Archer does not get involved, meaning he will get to live. Unfortunately, there is plenty that still stands in their way. The Alliance is fast-closing in on the Outlaws as it continues to claim the remaining kingdoms of Kelanna. If all five kingdoms fall, the Guard will rule all of Kelanna, and crews aboard ships like the Current of Faith will no longer be able to live the free life of exploration that they all cherish. Even worse, the Guard is the group of people responsible for the death of Sefia's father, and now they are after her too, as well as the Book. But even after the Guard, the Red War, and the Book, Sefia finds there is another force to contend with, and it has been with her the entire time.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fantasy young adult novel that takes place in the fictional world of Kelanna, which is comprised of five kingdoms, each with its own industry, customs, people, and alliances. At the center of the story, once gain, are Sefia and Archer. While Sefia gets better at wielding her powers and continues to learn, she is also becomes more unsure of herself, and of what the Book shows her, while growing increasingly fearful of the future. And Archer may be a born fighter and killer, but his past is beginning to haunt him, and while he would love to share Sefia's vision of avoiding the war completely, he knows he would never be able to sit back and watch everyone else fight and die. Also returning to the story are Captain Cannek Reed and his crew aboard the Current of Faith, as well as Tanin and the rest of the Guard, who are still bent on finding Sefia and the Book as they attempt to bring all of Kelanna under their control. The power of the written word, and the importance of stories, remain a constant theme through to the end of this third book, as what is written must come to pass, and stories have the power to allow people to live forever. And something else The Storyteller looks at is the power of the reader: those of us who decide to pick up a book, for whatever reason, and explore what's inside. 

My Verdict: As expected, this book is a ride, pretty much from beginning to end. If the reader is not following Sefia as she teleports from land to sea, fighting off the Guard while also protecting Archer, then there is Captain Reed and his crew to keep up with, or Ed and his misadventures with his new ragtag group of friends. Despite everything going on, the book is very clearly leading to an epic conclusion involving a war. It is a conclusion that has been written, that no one can avoid, but that does not mean the characters, and also the reader for that matter, are any less surprised by what takes place before, during, or after. Chee is able to portray the feeling of knowing a certain outcome is coming, and still being completely unprepared when it happens. The beautiful scenery, imaginative lands, quirky and lovable characters, and uniquely powerful kingdoms are all wonderful and well-done, but it is that theme of fighting fate or destiny, and the futility of it, that makes The Storyteller the illustration it is. Sefia is fighting against words that are already written, but the written word is powerful, and it is made powerful by those that read them. 

Favorite Moment: When Ed, the Lonely King, decides to reclaim what is his at a crucial moment in the war.

Favorite Character: There are many wonderful characters in this trilogy. But for the previous two books, I picked Captain Reed, and I will do so again here. I had been wanting to see more of him since the first book, and The Storyteller has granted me my wish. 

Most Heartbreaking Moment: Okay, there are moments that are much more heartbreaking than this one, but I am choosing it anyway. Anyone who knows the feeling of trying their absolute best, only to fail anyway, will understand it:

"'He can't die. I can't let someone else die because I couldn't - because I wasn't strong enough to - because I  -'
Because I'm not enough." - Sefia facing the possibility of another one of her friends dying.

Recommended Reading: If you need more young adult fantasy in your life, I recommend Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, which will also be a series, with book #2 due to be out in early 2019.

Horror Fiction: Foe by Iain Reid

Both horror and science fiction are two categories I always struggle to find books that I am interested in, so with today's selection, I went for a little of both. Iain Reid's Foe takes place in a not so distant future, where humanity is getting ready for its first settlement away from planet Earth. However, the actual action of the story never takes place in space, and has everything to do with how people relate to each other on our own planet.

The Situation: Junior and Henrietta, or Hen, live a quiet life in an unnamed city. And when I say quiet, I am not just using the word as an idle descriptor. Junior and Hen live away from the city, away from people, on a plot of land where they rarely get any visitors, until one day they do. When Terrance shows up as a representative of OuterMore, a company that is working on setting up a habitat for human beings somewhere far away from Earth, the quiet life that Junior and Hen have built themselves shifts. Even before it is a guarantee that Junior will be selected for the first phase of the "transition," his and Hen's relationship is altered, causing her to be distant and anxious, and him simply wishing things would stay as they were before Terrance showed up. And when it becomes certain that Junior will be leaving, the couple receives the news that Hen will not be left alone in the house.

The Problem: Junior did not sign up to be part of the project, but there does not seem to be any getting out of it. After his departure becomes a guarantee, Terrance returns to the house to begin preparing. And while the work is being done to prepare Junior for his trip, there is even more focus on preparing his replacement. His identical replacement. OuterMore will be supplying Hen with what they assure the couple will be an exact replica of Junior. Technology has advanced far enough to where artificial humans can look, act, and even think and feel like real human beings. Naturally, Junior is not exactly okay with the idea, and neither is Hen, but again,  they do not have a choice. And as Terrance's tests and interviews, as well as his presence, become more intrusive, Junior gets more suspicious and paranoid that things are not as the OuterMore employee says. Why is Hen acting so strange? What does Terrance need to talk with her alone so much? Why does anything have to change?

Genre, Themes, History: This is a book I have designated as horror, but has also been designated by others as science fiction, or even thriller/suspense. Set in an unknown city and in a year not mentioned, it is a time when self-driving cars dominate the road, people spend more time on their tablets than anything else, most farmland has been taken by big corporations, and human beings moving to outer space has become a reality. That is most of the science fiction stuff. The horror comes into play the moment Terrance first shows up, because with him comes an immediate sense of unease and tension, a sense that something is not right and could in fact prove to be dangerous. Add in Terrance's announcement that Hen will be left with an exact replica of her husband once the real Junior leaves, and things get turned up a bit. The only thing more unsettling to Junior than Terrance's presence is Hen's behavior and reactions to everything that has happened. This is not the Hen he knows, and he desperately wants it to be.

My Verdict: This book is more fascinating than it is scary. Yes, it is tense and suspenseful, and Terrance's presence and methods made me uneasy. But ultimately, I just really wanted to know what was going to happen, and if Junior's suspicions were going to be unfounded. With only three real characters throughout the story, Reid managed to make all three if them incredibly interesting, while keeping Junior just clueless enough to where the reader would not be sure if his worries were unfounded or not. It would be easy for the almost constant setting of the house that Junior and Hen share together to become stale or boring, but Reid pulls it off, instead making the setting almost like a fourth character. I would not necessarily recommend this book as a horror title, or even science fiction. But it is certainly a study in human behavior and relationships.

Favorite Moment: When Hen confronts Junior with the truth behind why she plays the piano. 

Favorite Character: It is hard to get at Hen's true character when everything is being told through Junior's point of view, but that may be the point. 

Recommended Reading: Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty is a different sort of science fiction/suspense novel, instead taking place in the space between planets as opposed to here on Earth.

Goodreads Choice Awards 2018 Final Round

Today is the day we enter the home stretch for the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards. It is the final round of voting, which also means that the field has been cut in half in each of the categories. Even the Best of the Best category has been cut down to ten finalists. I am sure there are a few favorites that will now be missing due to a lack of the necessary votes, so this can be a heartbreaking round for many, even more heartbreaking than the day the winners are announced should your choice not be the one to come out on top. But also, this is the last chance for readers to make their voices heard, so let's see what we have.

When it comes to the Best Historical Fiction category, sadness has come to me as Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras is no longer in the running. However, Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone is still holding strong, which means it will now receive my vote.

Six DSNs remain in the Best of the Best category, and they include Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, and Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I voted for The Hate U Give in the two preceding rounds, and I will continue to do so now.

And it looks like neither DSN that was nominated for Best Horror received enough votes to make it into the final round. Both Foe by Iain Reid and The Summer Children by Dot Hutchison are missing, which may not be entirely surprising, but it does still sting a little.

The hits keep coming with Springfield Confidential by Mike Reiss being the next to fall from Best Humor. It is joined by Wires and Nerve by Melissa Meyer, which was cut from the Best Graphic Novels & Comics category, though Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen remains. And this may sound mean to say, but I am okay with Hank Green's An Absolutely Remarkable Thing not making it to the final round for Best Debut Author. To be fair, it is still in the running in the Best Fiction category. The same cannot be said for Contreras' Fruit of the Drunken Tree, as Best Debut Author is the second category from which it has been cut.  

The final blow to DSNs come from the Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction category: Stephanie Garber's Legendary failed to make it to the finals, which is a bit surprising given the overall popularity of the series. But the competition in these awards gets tougher every year; authors and series that had books easily make it through to the finals before are not guaranteed a spot the following year.

There were initially 17 DSNs nominated, and then four more were added in the semifinal round. Now 15 remain in the running in various categories, and I am excited to see what happens.

Voting for the final round ends Monday, November 26, which gives readers plenty of time. The winners will not be announced until Tuesday, December 4. So until then, here's to hoping your favorites come out on top. 

Contemporary Fiction: The Italian Teacher by Tom Rachman

Let's face it, we have all judged a book by its cover. That is certainly the case with me when it comes to The Italian Teacher by Tom Rachman. The cover is absolutely stunning, and after having been drawn in by the swirling colors, I read the book jacket and was more than intrigued. Art is something I always feel I should know more about than I do. And stories about children living in the shadow of a famous parent are always interesting to me.

The Situation: Charles "Pinch" Bavinsky remembers wanting only one thing from his life, and that is the attention, admiration, and approval from his father. Bear Bavinsky is an incredibly popular painter, and due to the high standard he holds to his work, he paints almost twice as much as he actually shows the public, ultimately burning the works that don't make the cut. When not painting and making new art, it seems Bear is endlessly forming new relationships, and he has the ex-wives and children to show for it. Born in 1950, Pinch is the son of Bear and his second wife Natalie, a Canadian ex-pat who moved to her husband's studio in Italy, before he was even her husband. As Pinch grows up, one constant in his life will be his desire to make his father proud, make his father notice him for something remarkable he has done. Unfortunately for Pinch, it seems anyone in Bear's circle will always come second to the man himself.

The Problem: Early in his life, Pinch comes to the conclusion that he will never be an artist, despite his mother telling him he has real talent. What he does have an extraordinary knack for is languages, and is able to pick them up as easily as most adults seem to struggle with them. But this is not enough to gain Bear's attention, the one thing Pinch has always wanted. To make matters worse, Pinch struggles to relate to most people as he gets older, causing a level of loneliness that is almost painful. He may be smart as well as talented, but what didn't pass to the younger Bavinsky was the magnetic personality and charm that makes Bear the center of attention wherever he goes. Pinch wishes to do something significant in his life, but is forced to accept mediocrity and dullness at almost every turn. If he wants to do something big, he'll almost have to do it without anyone knowing it was him.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel that begins in Rome in 1955, when Pinch is five years old. From here, the reader will follow Pinch through the course of his life as he spends his childhood in Rome before moving with his mother to London. There are the college years in Canada, and the eventual return to Europe where he will spend most of his adult life as a teacher of Italian. No matter where he ends up, there are always trips to Bear's studio in France, where there is a collection of Bear's work that the painter refuses to sell or show. Throughout the story and his life, Pinch will have a complicated relationship with his father that is equal parts unhealthy hero worship, and a mixture of bitterness and rage at being forgotten, pushed aside, and ignored. It will end up a well-established fact that Pinch is the favorite of all of Bear's children, but that does little to make Pinch's life better, or allow him to live a life that gets him noticed, by anyone. Only when Pinch decides to stage his own quiet, but dangerous rebellion does he show signs of moving away from his father's shadow, though he'll never outshine it. In this book is a man who must confront the awful reality that he may live a life that is utterly unremarkable.   

My Verdict: Seeing the current rating this book has on Goodreads, I did not expect much, and perhaps that aided in me being pleasantly surprised. Now I think a few of the readers were a little unfair, and that this book does not receive enough credit. This is an interesting account of a man who wants to make his mark on the world, but lacks the personality, as well as physical features, that would allow anyone to care. Standing next to the great Bear Bavinsky, no one notices Pinch unless his father points him out. It is an admission that sometimes brains and talent are not enough, and its an admission that most people would rather go unsaid. Poor Pinch tries his best, and while it is certainly easy to remain hidden while Bear takes up the spotlight, Pinch also blunders continually in his personal interactions. Rachman offers a history of a man who is only interesting because of who his father is, and somehow gets the reader to care about him. Occasionally, the reader may even want to act like the characters in the book and look past Pinch in order to see what Bear is up to. I think those fascinated, or even just interested, in the world of art and art collection will enjoy this book.

Favorite Moment: When Pinch makes a serious blunder with a fellow teacher. With the slightest bit of forethought and observation, the whole thing could have been avoided.

Favorite Character: Marsden McClintock is Pinch's friend from college who will come in and out of his life throughout the book. He is a bit silly and cannot quite commit to a path, but he is a good friend and is there when Pinch needs him.

Recommended Reading: For more fiction that deals with the art world, I recommend An Object of Beauty by Steve Martin.

Goodreads Choice Awards 2018 Semifinal Round

And just like that, we are already in the second round of voting for the 2018 Goodreads Choice Awards. We already saw 17 DSNs nominated in the initial round, and now that an additional five books have been added to each category (except for Best of Best), it'll be fun so see what other titles will make an appearance.

Immediately, with Best Fiction, we have the addition of Hank Green's An Absolutely Remarkable Thing, but I will be sticking with my original choice of An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. While I am not surprised at the addition of Green's debut novel, I can't say I believe it to be one of the best books of the year. More than likely it stems from my severe dislike of the main character, but there we are.

I am thrilled to see that Dot Hutchison's The Summer Children has been added to the Best Horror category. I will certainly be giving it my vote, as this series is one of the best horror series going today. However, it is not for the faint at heart as it often deals with horrific crimes against children.

Another wonderful additional is Gone Rogue, the second in the Wires and Nerve series by Marissa Meyer. I may be sticking with my initial vote for Herding Cats by Sarah Andersen, but Gone Rogue is a wonderful story that branches off from Meyer's wildly popular The Lunar Chronicles series.

It looks like Green's An Absolutely Remarkable Thing has also been added to the Best Debut Author category, and again, I get it (sort of), but I am sticking with my original choice. Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is, for many, the book of the year, and I happen to agree.  

I had a feeling Legendary by Stephanie Garber would show up in the Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction category. In fact, I was shocked it did not appear in the first round, but these categories get tougher every year, and competition is always stiff. With that being said, I will once again stick with Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone.

So there we have it. Four more DSNs have been added across five categories. The semifinal round of voting will close Sunday, November 11, with the third and final round opening on Tuesday, November 13. So get to voting! In the next round, each category will be cut in half, so make sure to show up and vote for your favorites.

Young Adult Fiction: Legendary by Stephanie Garber

Finally! I have managed to pick up Legendary, Stephanie Garber's second book in the wildly popular Caraval series. This book promised to have as much drama, as many twists, and even more vivid and imaginative scenes as the first one. Readers looking for another fun ride through the magical world of Caraval have been waiting for this book to come out, and now that it is here, the level of anticipation has only increased as we all wait for the third and final installment. And of course, a spoiler alert, must be issued for anyone who has not read the first book, Caraval.

The Situation: Caraval, the magical game that takes place once a year, is over. Scarlett Dragna was the winner, and while her younger sister, Tella, should be celebrating with her, she can't. Everything that happened during the tumultuous game comes rushing back to Tella after she wakes up, outside, after a night of partying. She knows her adventure is far from over, and there is still one prize she is searching for. Ever since her mother disappeared seven years ago, Tella has wanted to find her. Now it seems the information is within her reach, but first she must obtain the impossible, Legend's true name. Not only is it impossible to get the information out of the man himself, but even those close to him aren't speaking. Tella will not find her mother without it, so she must throw herself into the game of Caraval once again.

The Problem: This Caraval will prove to be much different from all of the ones before. Not only is it the second one in less than a year, but the location has changed to the capital city of Valenda in celebration of Empress Elantine's 75th birthday. Something both Scarlett and Tella have always known is that believing what happens during Caraval is real only leads to madness. Tella has always been confident in her ability to remember that this is all a game, but that is until the choices and bargains she makes start having very real consequences. While believing herself to be in control, Tella ends up making a deal that could end her life, and failing to deliver Legend's true identity will cost her more that the permanent loss of her mother. Also, winning this game may mean more than receiving a prize, as powers beyond what the players can see - powers that can control the world - are incredibly interested in how everything turns out.     

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fantasy novel that immediately follows the events of the first one. Scarlett and Tella are back again, as are Julian, Dante, and many of the other performers Legend employs during every Caraval. This time, while there is still a third-person narrator, it follows Tella's actions instead of Scarlett's. While Tella also goes through more than her fair share of adventures, it is with a much more playful, yet also determined and stubborn tone that what was found with Scarlett. Tella is the sister who is not afraid to take risks, break rules, and keep secrets; although, there are more than a few moments where Tella suspects that Scarlett is now doing the same. In an effort to keep her sister out of unnecessary danger, Tella does not tell her everything, even when the physical consequences of her actions become hard to hide. This sequel is full of even more secrets, more mysteries, more twists, and also more enigmatic characters than the first book. The game is as mind-bending as ever, but the danger seems more real, and the consequences are even greater.

My Verdict: What I love about both Caraval and Legendary is that Garber absolutely does not hold back. She just goes for it, and it makes for a fun, interesting, often confusing, but ultimately enjoyable ride. What is so great about this series is how easy it is to get caught up in everything. Sure, the plot twists can make things confusing, and the whole blurring between what is real and what is part of Caraval can make it hard to hold onto the thread of the overall story. But at the end of it all, the book is pure fun, so any anguish over the plot is quickly forgotten. And while I had a difficult time with Scarlett as the main focus in the first book, I found it much easier to follow along with Tella in this one. When this girl makes a choice, even when she knows it could be a bad one, she makes it and she owns it, come what may. Tella has a goal, and she will continue towards it until logic, or experience, prove to her that she is on the wrong path. Lovers of the first book seem to be loving this one too, and I certainly see why.

Favorite Moment: When Tella meets Empress Elantine and the older woman is not like what she thought she would be.

Favorite Character: I actually liked Tella a great deal, much more than I did Scarlett. She is foolish and headstrong, but given the circumstances, I don't at all blame her.

Recommended Reading: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi is a different kind of fantasy story, but it is the kind of different that has been needed for a long time. I recommend it to anyone looking to dive into a new YA series.

Goodreads Choice Awards 2018

It may be hard to believe, at least it is for me, but it is once again time for the annual Goodreads Choice Awards. Readers everywhere will have to make some tough decisions, choosing their favorite books across 21 different categories. And to make matters even more difficult, five additional books are added to each category for the second round of voting, but I am getting ahead of myself.

Two DSNs have made it into the Best Fiction category. Both An American Marriage by Tayari Jones and Every Note Played by Lisa Genova have made the cut, but they will be going up against such powerhouses as The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer and Killing Commendatore by Haruki Murakami. Personally, I think I will have to go with Jones' An American Marriage, though both books are certainly worthy of distinction.

For Best Historical Fiction, it is actually a pretty tough decision for me. Choosing between Kristin Hannah's The Great Alone, and Ingrid Rojas Contreras' Fruit of the Drunken Tree (scheduled to appear on DSN in December) is no easy thing. Hannah is once again masterful in her descriptions and character development. But ultimately, it is Contreras' portrayal of Colombia through the eyes of two young women that will win my vote.

As someone who struggles to find science fiction books to cover that I think I will actually enjoy, I am always thrilled when even one of my choices makes it into the Best Science Fiction category, let alone two. This year, The Oracle Year by Chris Soule, and The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor have made it in, neither of which is any surprise to me. But as the third and final installment of the critically acclaimed Binti series, The Night Masquerade is the kind of imaginative science fiction that I would like to read more of. Her world-building is impressive, and Binti's adventures are incredibly creative and imaginative, especially for a book that is only a little over 200 pages. 

I have to say that when it comes to this year's Best Horror category, I am both thrilled and saddened. Included is Foe by Iain Reed (scheduled to appear on DSN in mid-November), but absent from the list is The Summer Children by Dot Hutchison, the third in her The Collector series. Both The Butterfly Garden and The Roses of May managed to be nominated in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Maybe The Summer Children will make it in via write-in votes, but I was pleasantly surprised by Reid's Foe, which is why I will go ahead and give it my vote.

Springfield Confidential by Mike Reiss is everything I wanted it to be. As a long-time lover of the The Simpsons, I could not wait to read the long and fascinating history of the show, written by someone who has been so close to it for the majority of its run. Springfield Confidential was funny, insightful, and filled with the kind of comedic timing that only a true humor writer could accomplish. However, Best Humor will be a difficult category for the book to win as it has to go up against the likes of Calypso by David Sedaris, and The Last Black Unicorn by Tiffany Haddish.  

Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark is a thorough look into the terrifying reign of, and long search for, California's Golden State Killer. Tragically, McNamara died two years before the book's publication, and the serial killer's capture. I recommend the book to any lover of true crime. I also recommend Ijeoma Oluo's So You Want to Talk About Race to any one who...well...wants to talk about race. Short and to the point, Oluo highlights the stumbling blocks many encounter when attempting to discuss this often difficult topic. So which one gets my vote for Best Nonfiction? It's a tough choice, but I think I will go with McNamara. Her coverage of the Golden State Killer bordered on obsessive, and the results are proof of her determination. 

If you are looking for a fascinating but true account of one woman's journey from a background where formal education was discouraged, and abuse had become the norm, to a future where she would obtain a PhD from Cambridge, then Educated by Tara Westover is for you. Honest and unflinching, this book was often difficult to read, but the struggle was worth it. Not at all surprising that it has been nominated for Best Memoir & Autobiography. 

This may be the first time I have covered a book that has been nominated for Best History & Biography. Even if it is not, it is certainly not something that happens every year. But Zora Neale Hurston's Barracoon is certainly worthy. Often using his own words and vernacular, Hurston tells the story of man who was on the last known slave ship to make it from African to the U.S. for the purpose of trading slaves. At less than 200 pages, Hurston easily and succinctly reveals why she was such a master at what she did.

It is no surprise that Sarah Andersen's Herding Cats made it into the Best Graphic Novel category. That makes it three years in a row for her Sarah Scribbles collection. Once again, she captures the complicated issues facing the introverted artist through simple but spot-on observations. My only issue with any of her collections is that they are too short, but still worth picking up. 

Contreras' Fruit of the Drunken Tree makes its second appearance in the Goodreads Choice Awards, this time in the Best Debut Author category. But it is joined by Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, and The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X.R. Pan, both of which are YA titles, and we all know how much I adore YA. So my choice? Definitely Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone.  

Pan's colorful novel about a young girl attempting to navigate her own grief makes another appearance in the Best Young Adult Fiction category, meaning I will have to choose between The Astonishing Color of After, and Courtney Summers' Sadie (scheduled to appear on DSN in December). Ultimately it will be Sadie that will win my vote; Summers once again manages to convey the trials and pain of a young but determined girl faced with an impossible situation.

And naturally, Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone has also made it into the Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction category. It easily wins my vote for the second time, though Neil Shusterman's Thunderhead also deserves its nomination. I expect both novels to make it into the semi-final, and even final round, with no problems.

New this year is the category of Best of the Best. This category includes every book that has won a Goodreads Choice Award in the past ten years, making the choice nearly impossible, at least for me. Even so, I have made my decision, and I stick with it. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas may be one of the more recent entries on the list, but it has certainly earned its place, and I think it has a good chance of coming away with the award. 

So there we have it. Not counting the entries in the Best of the Best category, there are 17 DSNs that have been nominated for Goodreads Choice Awards this year. I have made my preferences clear, but let me know if I should reconsider. Or even more importantly, please let me know which books I have not read that deserve more attention. And of course, be sure to vote and make your own voice heard. The opening round of voting closes Sunday, November 4.

Nonfiction: Springfield Confidential by Mike Reiss

My favorite television show of all time has been and probably always will be The Simpsons. Sure, it is a popular thing to be down on the show and say it should have ended years ago, but I don't care. I still love it. I still watch it. And I'll most likely continue to watch it as long as it remains on air (honestly, I am kinda hoping it outlives me). So it was an easy decision to pick up Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for The Simpsons by Mike Reiss, a man who has won four Emmy Awards for his work on the show. 

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that begins, appropriately, with Reiss explaining one of the many hidden jokes that appears in the opening credits of the show. From here, Reiss will talk about the birth of America's longest-running prime time television show, how he got started in comedy, how he ended up on The Simpsons staff, why he eventually left, and then why he returned. In between, Reiss introduces the reader to the other showrunners, the characters, the cast, the fans, and even tells stories about a handful of the many guest stars that have been on the show. Reiss also answers eight "burning questions" that he often gets from people, possibly the most popular of which is "Where is Springfield?" (the answer: it isn't real...also, Oregon). The book is an insight not only into how The Simpsons works and how the show is run (which seems like a brutal and hellish process), but how comedy works - or sometimes doesn't - and the inner workings of network television, as well as movies and even children's literature. It would possibly have made more sense to write this kind of book after the show ends, but as The Simpsons is about to air its 30th season, and shows absolutely no signs of stopping, this is as good a time as any. Also included are Reiss' thoughts on fan theories (they are fun but always wrong), how Lisa became the heart of the show, and his own insight into why the show has lasted for so long.

My Verdict: Reiss is a wealth of information and experience, as well as laughs. It is difficult for a book to have the comedic timing of a television show. It is even more difficult for a nonfiction book to have the comedic timing of a television show, especially one as fast-paced as The Simpsons. But Reiss pulls it off, managing to have me laughing out loud at several moments throughout the story, a few of which I probably wasn't supposed to find funny. I even think someone who is not all that big a fan of the show would enjoy this book. There are some many people that Reiss name drops that every reader would find at least one anecdote to be funny or interesting. My personal favorite, of course, was Michael Jackson. My only quibble is with Reiss' assertion (albeit it was made in jest...probably) was that the people of Texas don't read. First of all, how dare he. And second, I'm still laughing.     

Favorite Joke: On having attended Harvard University: "I spent four years at Harvard and I hated the place. I'm not alone: In a 2006 poll, the Boston Globe ranked schools in terms of fun and social life. Harvard came in fifth...from the bottom. Amazing. I couldn't imagine four schools less fun than Harvard. But then I saw the list. The four schools ranked below us were:
Guantanamo Tech
Chernobyl Community College 
The University of California at Aleppo, and
Cornell."

Favorite Quote: On Internet trolls who complain about the show: "One fan complained, 'In Season 8, Homer smuggled beer. Then in Season 27, he smuggled snakes. Rip-off.'
Yes, we did two vaguely similar stories, nineteen years apart. But the fan who complained was only fourteen years old - we hadn't even repeated ourselves in his lifetime!"

Favorite Photo Caption: Included in chapter 7 is a picture of the author with Dan Castellaneta, and a statue of a pig between them. The caption reads, "(Left to right:) Dan Castellaneta, Harvey Weinstein, and me." Well played.

Recommended Reading: Reiss and I both agree that Born Standing Up by Steve Martin is an excellent memoir.

Contemporary Fiction: Star of the North by D.B. John

In general, I try to avoid books about war, and stories labeled as "thrillers" that involve spies, political intrigue, government conspiracies, etc. So when I picked up Star of the North by D.B. John, I was certainly going against my better judgment. With the three different story lines moving and converging against a North Korean backdrop, I knew I was potentially in for a hard time as this book seemingly contained exactly the type of story elements I avoid. But instead of a lot of anxiety and heartache, I was surprised with genuine curiosity and delight.

The Situation: Jenna Williams has spent her academic career studying North Korea. She knows the language, is half-Korean herself, and has a more personal reason for getting to know a country that many consider to be the most dangerous place on Earth. In June of 1998, Jenna's twin sister disappeared from a beach in South Korea. While she has since been declared dead with drowning listed as the official cause, a body was never found, and Jenna has managed to hold onto the belief that her sister was abducted, and may still be alive. Meanwhile, back in the North Korean capitol of Pyongyang, Colonel Cho has just received an impressive promotion and will be traveling to New York City to oversea negotiations with the U.S. And Mrs. Moon, a poor peasant in a province of North Korea, has found a balloon carrying banned products from the west. After some smart dealing and quick thinking, she is able to become a major player on the Korean black market.

The Problem: Jenna has a usual day of teaching college students interrupted by the appearance of a high-ranking official. Apparently the CIA thinks she would be better suited for their organization than to the life of a tenured professor. At first she declines the offer, believing she isn't CIA material. But when the albeit small chance to use CIA resources to find her sister takes place in her mind, she finds herself accepting the position and entering the training program. This decision will propel her into events she never imagined she could be a part of, while also bringing her into close proximity with Colonel Cho, whose life is also about to change. Despite being incredibly successful in his trip to New York City, the worst thing imaginable has happened: a terrible family secret has been found in Cho's past. This revelation could not only result in the loss of his job, but also his family, his status, and ultimately, his life. And while Mrs. Moon may have found nominal success on the black market, for every two steps she makes forward, the North Korean government forces her and her community three steps back, causing her to make decisions that endanger what little freedom she does enjoy.

Genre, Themes, History: The is a fiction novel that has also been placed under the heading of thriller. I could even argue for the heading of historical fiction despite the main action occurring in 2010-2011. What John does is take real events the took place at the time in North Korea and add his own characters and situations. Also, he takes some of the elements of real life in North Korea and uses them in the book. Telling the difference between what is fiction and what was drawn from real life is not easy, mostly because what often happens in North Korea is much stranger than fiction. But the The Abductions Program was real: a program where people were abducted off of beaches in Japan and South Korea and were taken to North Korea for a life of various forms of slavery and eventual death. The Seed-Bearing Program is also real, where North Korean women were sent out to become pregnant by men of various races. These children would grow up to be trained as spies with the hope that the way they look could help them better infiltrate other countries. Also real in John's book is the way North Korea treats Christians and Christianity. The only religion allowed is the worship of the Dear Leader; essentially nothing else is tolerated, much less a religion that is often associated with the U.S. John uses these real situations and institutions as backdrops for his fictional characters. Jenna Williams gives us a look at an intelligent half Korean, half African-American woman who would do anything to locate the sister she is convinced is still alive. Colonel Cho is a loyal North Korean, right up until his country is no longer loyal to him. And Mrs. Moon is a feisty sexagenarian who is not afraid to fight for her own survival, as well as that of the people she loves, come what may.

My Verdict: Clearly, something drew me to this book despite my default setting of avoiding this kind stuff. Perhaps it was the interweaving story lines, which I am always a sucker for when it is done well, and John certainly does it well. It is not forced, but instead the plot flows smoothly as details are given freely without becoming tangled or burdensome. Naturally, North Korea makes for a harsh and intense setting, but John does the seemingly impossible and places the reader within the country without scaring you away from the story. Even when it is clear danger is on the way, or at least watching and waiting, the compelling characters and situations kept me turning the pages. There were plenty of political details that were over my head, but I never felt lost or even bored. From the beginning, even knowing where the book was headed and what kind of situations I could end up reading about, I knew I was going to enjoy this book, and I was never disappointed at any point along the way.

Favorite Moment: When Jenna passed one of her CIA tests by fighting her way out of an interrogation. 

Favorite Character: Mrs. Moon is a tough woman who has not had an easy life, but she continues to work hard, and even manages to outsmart many in her attempt to provide for herself and those she cares about. She is even willing to take considerable risks to her own life if it means saving someone she loves.

Recommended Reading: Like I said, I do not read many political thrillers, so I recommend the nonfiction title Age of Ambition by Evan Osnos, which explores life in modern China.