Young Adult Fiction: Just Our Luck by Julia Walton

Fans of 2017's Words on Bathroom Walls are certainly pleased that Julia Walton has published a second novel, Just Our Luck. While the previous book focused on a young man with schizophrenia and his attempts to navigate high school, this one follows a young man with anxiety, who is also dealing with the grief of losing someone close to him.

The Situation: Leonidas "Leo" Ermou has been punched in the face, and as a result, his father wants him to take a super-hardcore, military-style, self-defense course. He also has to periodically sit in a room with Drake, the boy who punched him, while the school guidance counselor looks on in the hopes that something will happen that will allow them to better understand each other. Leo is content to sit quietly and knit while in the guidance counselor's office, ignoring all of Drake's attempts at conversation. But the military self-defense class was immediately a no-go, so Leo manages to get himself enrolled in the yoga course in the same building. Unfortunately, this causes two other problems: first, if his dad ever finds out he is taking yoga over a defense course, he will be less than pleased. Second, the girl sitting at the gym's front desk that made this switch possible is Evey Paros, and his grandmother always told him, "Leave the Paros family alone."

The Problem: Yia Yia, Leo's grandmother, is the one who taught Leo to knit. He also taught her grandson not to lie. For the most part, Leo does his best to follow all of his grandmother's advice, except now he owes Evey Paros a favor for her help in getting him out of military self-defense class. It is not long before he is receiving cryptic texts from her, asking him to knit specific things, and going with her to strange locations to take pictures. Evey does not deny that this is all part of an elaborate revenge plan against her ex-boyfriend, but Leo goes along with it anyway. Sure, part of it is that Evey is pretty, and confident, and he kind of likes being around her, despite not liking being around most people...anxiety makes that hard. But Leo also remembers the curse Yia Yia told him about, the one that the Paros' put on their family generation's ago. He may not be 100% sold on the idea of curses and bad luck, but his anxiety has made him believe that something bad is always on the way.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set in and around modern-day Los Angeles. Leo is a Greek-American teenager who lost his mother to cancer when he was young, and then also his grandmother a year before the events of the novel. He has diagnosed himself with both generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, and generally prefers to be alone, as well as left alone. In his view, it is because he was forced into a social situation that led Drake to hit him, which then led to both the visits with the guidance counselor, and his dad's belief that a military self-defense class is the answer. The story is mostly told through the journal entries Leo is made to make before and after the yoga class he is secretly taking, where he writes about his family's history, his anxiety, his constantly disappointed dad, school, and of course, Evey. Leo may be the center of the story, but it is Evey's strange behavior that will move him forward, even though he does not know what happened to make her act this way.

My Verdict: Leo is a complicated guy, but really not all that hard to figure out. His anxiety makes it hard for him to be around people; plus, he is still grieving both his mother and his grandmother. Oh, and he likes knitting, and photography, and recently took up yoga. It is the kind of character description that seems ridiculous when laid out like that, but the longer the story goes on, the more Leo makes sense as a human being, and a pretty delightful one. He is not a jerk, and is not unnecessarily mean to people, despite not caring for many of them. He is simply doing his best, and that is something that I know many readers of all ages can appreciate. There is a second part to this plot that is more about Evey, and while Leo's story is disconcerting for many reasons, her story will also be upsetting for many. Walton manages to bring it all together in a touching novel about grief, worry, and what it means to take control of your own destiny.

Favorite Moment: There is a point in the novel where it becomes understood that Drake is not a bad guy, and I love that moment.

Favorite Character: Drake is one of those people that would probably drive me crazy in real life. It is near-impossible for him to not talk, or move around and make noise all of the time. He feels the need to broadcast everything to everyone within earshot, with seemingly no idea how weird that is. Somehow, he works well as a friend for Leo, despite them being complete opposites.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Word on Bathroom Walls, as well as A List of Cages by Robin Roe.     

Science Fiction: Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

It is always a pleasure to read a book by Kazuo Ishiguro, and I am excited to talk about his latest novel, Klara and the Sun. There was quite a bit of excitement over this book before it even hit the shelves, and now that it is here, it seems to have impressed both readers and critics.

The Situation: Klara spends her days in the store, making sure she does what Manager says, and presents her best self to anyone who comes in. Her favorite days are when she gets a chance to sit in the front window and look out at the sidewalk and street. Despite being an Artificial Friend, or AF, Klara is able to notice and remember quite a bit about her surroundings and what she sees. It is her intelligence that makes many afraid of her and her kind, while Manager is sure that someone will be impressed with her, so much so that they take her home to their child. Doubts begin to creep in when the newer series of AFs are made and distributed, and it looks like Klara's window of opportunity has closed. But soon, one little girl, who would periodically visit and pay special attention to Klara, is able to convince her mother that she is the AF she wants. It is clear that the young girl has some illness, but Klara has been programmed and taught to be the best companion for the child that chooses.

The Problem: It does take some adjusting, but Klara soon finds her rhythm inside of Josie's home. She gets to know the routine of both Josie and her mother, as well as Melania Housekeeper, though she remains wary of Klara and clearly uncomfortable with the presence of an AF. Josie's best friend, Rick, is also wary of Klara at first, until he understands that she only wants what is best for his friend. From Klara's limited observation, Rick is a nice boy, though somehow not quite the same as Josie and some of her other friends. There is a fundamental difference between them, and not only could this difference potentially drive them apart in the future, but it is also the reason Josie is so sick and may not survive into adulthood. A decision was made that was presented to all children, and wanting what is best for Josie, her mother agreed to it, but it took her daughter's health. But Klara believes that the sun could help. It is what gives her power to do what she does every day, so surely, it could help Josie too.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction novel set in a not too distant future. In this future, AFs, or Artificial Friends, are a somewhat new thing, and like any new impressive technology, some want nothing to do with it, others are curious, and still others are ready to embrace it fully. Klara only wants what is best for the little boy or girl who chooses her, though while in the store, she is able to hear small snapshots of conversation around her that discuss some of the failings of other AFs. In Klara's world, artificial intelligence like her is not the only big difference between the reality in the book and our reality today. It also seems that children like Josie are given the opportunity, when they are younger, to become "lifted." Essentially, children can be genetically altered and become brighter and smarter. Those that are not lifted are looked down upon, while also being given less opportunities for success later in life. But there have also been advancements in surveillance, and education works slightly differently from what we know. It is a familiar world, but just different enough to feel alien.

My Verdict: This is a powerful book, but somehow not at all intense while reading it. This could easily be attributed to Klara the AF being the first-person narrator. She sees and observes everything objectively, just as it is, but she does not quite understand it. So the reader is given her thorough and accurate descriptions of everything, but the subtleties are lost on her. What is offered are observations about life in a store, and then observations about life in a family with a complex dynamic and history. And the plot of the book unfolds almost more like it would in a mystery novel. The clues are given out slowly, and the puzzle pieces of the world are gradually put together. It is clear that there is more to Josie's situation than her being both lifted and sick, but everything does not fall into place until Klara is able to observe more interactions, see more places, and meet more people. She may be the main character of the story we are reading, but she is not the main character of her own situation, which lends to an experience that is fascinating and revealing.

Favorite Moment: Any moment when Josie's mother is forced to contemplate what her past decisions may have done to her daughter.

Favorite Character: Rick's mother Helen is not present for the majority of the book, but she makes an impression. And despite her own issues, she holds on to her somewhat cheery disposition (much to her son's annoyance), and is not afraid to comment on issues most everyone else would like to ignore.

Recommended Reading: I recommend both Never Let Me Go and Remains of the Day.

Nonfiction: Dancing in the Mosque by Homeira Qaderi

Thanks to Goodreads for highlighting today's selection on their page for new releases back in December. I knew Dancing in the Mosque: An Afghan Mother's Letter to Her Son by Homeira Qaderi was not going to be an easy read, even though it clocks in at a little over 200 pages. Reading a first-hand account of a woman's experience in modern-day Afghanistan is almost guaranteed to be intense, but also enlightening.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book in which Qaderi writes a letter to the son she left behind in Kabul. Beginning when she was a child, when the Russians were fighting against the Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War, Qaderi tells her story of what it was like living in a land that was seemingly always in conflict, and never valued women equally to men. Though life during the war was difficult, and there was reason to celebrate when the Russians finally left in 1989, things got worse once the Taliban moved in. Now, all books, televisions, and radios are confiscated, women are not allowed outside of their homes unless they are escorted by a man, and even then, they have to wear full burkas. At age 13, Qaderi gets her first taste of rebellion when she teaches reading and writing to children, as the girl's schools were shut down, and women were forbidden to learn, much less teach. It is not until she gets married, when she leaves Afghanistan for Iran, that she witnesses a sense of freedom that women were never given in her home country. Even so, Qaderi will still face and fight the misogyny that will lead her to make the ultimate sacrifice.  

My Verdict: This book may be short, but it is powerful. Each chapter focuses on a certain time and aspect of Qaderi's life, and then ends with a short letter directed specifically at the son she has not seen since 2015. At times the details can get confusing, and it became easy for me to get names and locations mixed up, but the focus never waivers. Living in a war zone is terrifying, and even more so for a female. Qaderi conveys that fear, terror, and uncertainty in a matter-of-fact way that requires no embellishment. Even for those who know little about the Soviet-Afghan War, the Taliban, or Afghanistan, the book is both easy to follow and accessible. It may also serve as a starting point for many readers to learn more about what the author lived through.   

Favorite Moment: Some of the local boys, whose school's were still open after the Taliban took over, decide they would rather attend the illegal school that Qaderi is running for the girls over their own. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, a thorough history of the systematic racism in the U.S. and how similar its structure is to the caste systems in both India and Germany. Also, Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi would be a good follow-up.  

Historical Fiction: The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

The work of Agatha Christie is something I feel like I should be more familiar with. Unfortunately, I have only read one of her books, and it was And Then There Were None, which is fantastic. So I was drawn to Marie Benedict's The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, which speculates what happened when the up-and-coming mystery author disappeared in December of 1926, only to suddenly reappear unharmed ten days later. 

The Situation: It is 1912 and young Agatha Miller is at a dance where she meets Archibald "Archie" Christie, a handsome and somewhat intense man who insists on flouting nearly all social graces if it means he can be near Agatha. While she admits to herself that there is an attraction, Agatha must also keep in mind the young man with whom it was already settled that she would one day marry. Eventually, the increased love and passion she feels for Archie wins out, and the two enter into a marriage that already proves it will be anything but normal. Fast forward to 1926, and Mrs. Christie has received acclaim and renown for her mysteries. But on December 3rd, Agatha disappears, seemingly vanishing into the countryside, and all that is found is her car and some clothes. There is also the letter she wrote and left for her husband, the one he does not want anyone to see. It seems the relationship between Agatha and Archie was not what she thought it would be when they first married.

The Problem: Of course, the prime suspect is her husband Archie, with whom she was overheard having a heated disagreement earlier that morning. The story of their married life unfolds in one narrative, told from her point of view, where it becomes clear that Archie is not the man and husband Agatha thought he was. A second narrative told from Archie's point of view shows the progression of the investigation, and how no matter what he says or does, he manages to look incredibly guilty. Archie wants nothing more than to hide their marital troubles, including his affair, but every attempt to keep secrets hidden is thwarted, and the investigators seem intent on pinning everything on him. As the two timelines meet, the clues surrounding Mrs. Christie's disappearance only come together to point to Archie, and while he is desperate to escape any and all notice, he must play the part, if only to keep his secrets hidden.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel that focuses specifically on the ten days Agatha Christie went missing in 1926, as well as her marriage and relationship with her first husband, Archie. When the real Agatha Christie disappeared, the novelist reappeared ten days later, having remembered nothing. The event is not even mentioned in her autobiography, and doctors diagnosed her as having a genuine loss in memory. In the book, Agatha's disappearance is made to look like one of her novels by the author herself, and the main character, and suspect, is her husband. An investigation follows, the clues are slowly revealed, and what unfolds is something resembling the puzzles Agatha liked to have in her novels. With chapters alternating between her story of their marriage, and his story of the investigation, the book eventually reveals the full picture of their life together.

My Verdict: Basing a fictional story on a real event that happened to a real person in history, and a famous one at that, is a brilliant move. There is currently no definitive explanation to what happened to Agatha Christie during her disappearance, other than the unsatisfying explanation of memory loss. So I enjoyed being able to go along with Benedict in exploring what may have happened. Unfortunately, the resulting ending was much less interesting than I would have hoped, and I do not fully believe it is because it is only a speculation. Also, there is a certain disconnect between Agatha's story and Archie's story, and it would be easy to explain it away as part of the overall disconnect in their marriage, but that does not quite satisfy either. The book serves its purpose as an intriguing mystery, but the overall product leaves something to be desired.

Favorite Moment: I enjoyed any moment that proved to Archie that he is not as in control of the situation as he wishes to be.

Favorite Character: Charlotte's main job is to help take care of Rosalind, the Christie's only child, but she also serves as Agatha's secretary. She is a side character that does not feature too prominently, and while she is loyal to the family, and agrees to keep some secrets, she will only act in Rosalind's best interest, even if it means betraying the people who pay her.

Recommended Reading: I recommend And Then There Were None, as well as The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins if you are looking for a much darker mystery.