Historical Fiction: This Motherless Land by Nikki May

The last historical fiction post for 2024 will discuss a book that takes readers between Nigeria and England over a 20-year stretch. This Motherless Land by Nikki May looks at the lives of two young girls who are connected as family, but often separated due to events that happened before they were born, and the people in their lives that cannot seem to let go.

The Situation: Funke was happy with her life in Nigeria. Although NEPA (the National Electric Power Authority in Nigeria) routinely shut off their power, and it was obvious that her little brother was her dad's favorite, Funke had little to complain about. Even with her mother being a teacher at her school, Funke preferred that embarrassment over the daily slights she now feels living with her mother's family in England. She loved listening to her mother's stories of this place when she was young, but the reality is not quite as enchanting as she imagined. Her one bright spot is her cousin Liv. Lively, full of joy, and fiercely protective, Liv has her own struggles, but still resolves to be Funke's protector, and the two girls grow up as best friends.

The Problem: The only thing that could possibly come between Funke and Liv is the members of their own family. Liv's mother has long held resentment against her sister, Funke's mother, over decisions made long ago. Now as a bitter and angry woman, she is determined for Funke to not receive the same benefits that her own children would. And after a terrible night of conflict, and misunderstanding, which all leads to the two being separated again, it seems that there will not be anything that can bring them back together. As they move into adulthood, each woman is determined, though neither one is living the life they imagined for themselves.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel that begins in 1978 when Funke is ten years old and still enjoying a childhood in Nigeria. When she is sent to live in England after a terrible tragedy, she cannot help but make note of all of the differences, and not just between the two countries. There is a difference, and disconnect, between the England her mother told her about, and the England she now sees. There is also the difference in her lodgings, how she is treated by her own family, and how people look at her. As the story continues over the next 20 years, both Funke and Liv will struggle with identity, while reconciling their own privilege in both settings, and what it means to be a family.

My Verdict: The premise is intriguing. The plot is interesting and full of twists and turns, but not so much to be exhausting or ridiculous. The settings are bright (even when they are not) and easy to see. And the characters feel like real people, each one reminding the reader of someone they knew or still know. If there was any issue I had with this book, it was the pacing in certain points. Sometime things seemed to move way too quickly, while the ultimate (and almost predictable) conclusion seemed to approach at a snail's pace. But the juxtaposition between Nigeria and England is handled so well, and I simply wanted to read more. I wanted to continue moving back and forth between the two and reliving the different experiences. It is an excellent read full of heartache and triumph.

Favorite Moment: There is some discussion of the difference between a "stipend" and an "allowance," mostly in how that difference is very small (at least in the way the words are used in this book). Liv gets to make this point in the end, and it is wonderful.

Favorite Character: Funke and Liv's grandmother is a good woman, but she has her flaws and regrets like everyone else. Ultimately, she wants to do the right thing, and even manages to hold out against her stubborn daughter on some things.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Maame by Jessica George.

Graphic Novel: Adulthood Is a Gift! by Sarah Andersen

The fifth collection of comics in the Sarah's Scribbles series by Sarah Andersen is Adulthood Is a Gift!, which once again contains always humorous, often insightful, and sometimes thought-provoking illustrations about life and what it is to survive in the world today. I am always thrilled to pick these up and laugh at life, and at what I find in these comics that reminds me of myself.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a collection of comics that follows 2021's Oddball. Andersen once again tackles familiar territory of adventures at social events as an introvert; the stress and uncertainty that comes with being an artist; and what cat ownership really entails. Also included are more topical comics dealing with the changes to Twitter, the rise of TikTok, the return of early 2000s fashion, and even the obsession our society has with true crime and serial killers. Near the end, Andersen reflects on the last ten years of her career, how it started, and how she got here. Included are some of her earliest comics, as well as a few pages dedicated to showing how each comic goes from an idea to a finished product. And a delightful inclusion with this book is a page of stickers at the end, because as one of my friends recently pointed out, no one truly ages out of the ability to have fun with stickers.

My Verdict: I have enjoyed all of the collections in the Sarah Scribbles series, but this one may be my favorite. They have all made me laugh out loud, and shake my head, and occasionally roll my eyes and some of the more painful truths. But this one shows more maturity (which makes sense as it has been 10 years since Andersen started this journey), while still being funny and remaining true to what brought such a large audience to Andersen's work in the first place. And her thoughts and reflections at the end of the book provide an interesting look at her process, growth, and some of the lessons she has had to learn along the way. I am happy to be able to slide this one in next to the others on my bookshelf, and am excited to see what follows.

Favorite Comics: There is one comic that employs the phrase "Christian Autumn Girls" and I laughed out loud, because that is certainly a thing. And then there is the comic where a minimalism advocate is stressing the importance of clean lines and empty spaces, while Andersen's character expresses exactly what those of us with large and very full bookshelves think of that kind of advice. But the winner for me - the one that made me laugh out loud the longest and hardest - would be a comic where an aging Andersen with a walker is talking to Death, and his response is so perfect and classic that I may end up printing out this comic and pinning it on my board at work.

Recommended Reading: I of course recommend every book in the Sarah Scribbles series, but also the work of Kate Beaton, and the graphic novel A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat.

Young Adult Fiction: The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow

As someone who completely missed the train for 2016's Girl in Pieces, I am glad to have picked up this year's The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow. With addiction and alcoholism at its center, I expected a story full of intense situations, big emotions, and hard conversations, and that is exactly what is in this book.

The Situation: Fifteen year-old Bella's previously good grades are starting to slip, and she knows the last thing her mother needs is to deal with her daughter's suddenly poor academic performance. If her job does not have her working odd hours, then there is Bella's younger sister, Ricci, to worry over, not to mention the crazy aftermath that comes from divorce. Bella's dad needs her to be normal too, as well as helpful and agreeable. What Bella needs and wants is the ease and comfort that came from hanging out with her grandmother, but her recent passing has removed that option, leaving an empty house where Bella can do the one thing that has brought her any form of comfort lately.

The Problem: For Bella, drinking is no big deal. First of all, everyone does it. Even her grandmother did it. Her friends certainly do it, and why wouldn't they? It makes everything better. And easier. Including high school, which is a feat in and of itself. Even when Bella starts missing assignments and having arguments with people who have always been her friends, some of whom she would drink with, Bella does not think alcohol is the issue. But everything changes when Bella wakes up in the hospital after a party with a fractured face, and a few painful and embarrassing memories of what happened. She is only given one option, and it is rehab, which feels to Bella like an ending, but the real journey has only begun.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction book set mostly in and around modern-day Tucson, Arizona. Bella is a 15 year-old girl who lands in rehab after a night of partying that ends in a hospital visit. There are many things that lead Bella to look for a bottle of vodka to add to her Sprite; or a hidden bottle of rum to steal sips from; or even a bottle of NyQuil from someone's medicine cabinet to chug from for a quick fix. There is the grief over her grandmother's death; her parent's divorce and their constant fighting; her dad's inability to communicate effectively; and of course, the general nightmare that is high school. Glasgow admits in the author's note that she writes from experience, and that the stories in the book may be fiction, but they are common.

My Verdict: Like pretty much any story about addiction, this one was difficult to read in many places. Decisions are made; things are said; and events happen that we wish were pure fiction and had no correlation to real life, but they do...even for 15 year-old girls. What I appreciate about Glasgow is the respect that she shows not only for the subject matter, but to the characters, and not just Bella. The reader will meet kids with different issues, and the story is thoughtfully planned out and not gratuitous in its telling. There is careful thought behind every scene, allowing for a story that feels honest, and not contrived or pandering.

Favorite Moment: Something that Bella deals with when it comes to her parents is this constant feeling of "Bella do it." There are things that her parents should do, but they don't, so Bella just takes care of it herself, sometimes when they ask, and sometimes on her own. This plays out perfectly in a scene involving her little sister when they are staying at her dad's house for the week. It is actually a pretty tough scene, but it perfectly displays the "Bella do it" issue and how her father so easily employs this, while actually doing and saying very little.

Favorite Character: There are a few here, but I will go with Bella's friend Amber, who makes it very clear where their friendship will stand if Bella keeps drinking. There is also Tracy from the rehab, who has clearly seen enough teens in trouble to not be at all bothered by one more angry/scared/hurting resident. 

Recommended Reading: Jeff Zenter's Colton Gentry's Third Act is a novel for adults that follows a man attempting to piece his life together after a regrettable tirade he had on stage while drunk.

Winner of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards

The results are in, and it is time to announce the winners of the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards.

Of the 22 DSNs that were originally nominated across the various categories, I am pleased to see that two of them won! 

Kristin Hannah's The Women won by a landslide for Favorite Historical Fiction, with Percival Everett's James coming in second. And Kaliane Bradley won for Favorite Science Fiction with The Ministry of Time. 

Every year the competition is incredibly fierce, and I am always amazed that any DSNs are nominated. With the omission of many well-loved authors who have had nominations in the past, this year has proved that just because someone was included in a previous year (or years), it does not mean their book will make the cut again. There are always surprises in the list of nominations, as well as the list of winners.

I once again look forward to next year, and will be looking into some of the nominees that I may have missed.

Historical Fiction: Songs for the Brokenhearted by Ayelet Tsabari

Historical fiction readers know that reading books in this genre is a great way to learn about the past. Even though the main story may be fiction, or even fictionalized using real figures from history, the opportunity to learn is there, and I have often become curious enough to do more research and find out more. This was the case with Songs for the Brokenhearted by Ayelet Tsabari, a story set in mid-1990s Israel, while also telling the story of two would-be lovers in the 1950s.

The Situation: Before Zohara received a phone call that changed everything, she was a graduate student in New York, fast approaching burnout as she struggles to finish her dissertation. This is why she is actually vacationing in Thailand when she answers her sister Lizzie's call, the one that informs her that their mother, Saida, has died. Zohara quickly packs up and flies home, reuniting with a sister she has felt distant from; a now nearly adult nephew, Yoni; and a house full of memories of both of her parents, and the tension she always felt growing up there. 

The Problem: Returning home to grieving family and friends, while also attempting to manage her own grief and complicated feelings about her mother, is a difficult task. It seems Zohara can never say the right thing to her sister, and while cleaning out her mother's house, she begins to find small items and clues about her mother's hidden past, specifically from when she first came to Israel from Yemen, including a series of tapes where Saida recorded herself singing. Meanwhile, tensions outside of the house rise as peace negotiations commence, but car bombings and other terrorist activities increase. Zohara is not sure she is prepared for the answers to all of her questions, especially as they begin to contradict everything she thought she knew.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set in Israel, mostly around Tel Aviv in the the mid-1990s, while also telling the story of a young Yemeni Jewish man in the 1950s, shortly after Israel became a nation, and he and his family came into the country from Yemen. For Zohara, returning home means confronting the things about her childhood that caused her to leave her home country, including her feelings of abandonment when she was sent away to attend an elite boarding school as a teenager. But things become more complicated when what Zohara remembers turns out to not be the full truth. Meanwhile, protests continue as the Israeli-Palestinian peace process continues, and Saida's early days in Israel are revealed through chapters told by Yaqub, bringing to light a complicated past that Zohara never knew.

My Verdict: As I mentioned in the introduction, I enjoyed learning more about the history of Israel, especially in the context of a young Yemeni Jewish man, as well as a 30-something woman returning home after her mother has died. The way the story behind the story unfolds is masterful and keeps the reader engaged. And the same can be said for the history of Israel and the conflict with Palestine as it leads up to key historical events. While Zohara, Yaqub, and Yoni's stories all have their interesting points, I often found myself annoyed when the narrative switched from one to the other, as is often the case when a book has more than one character as the focus. But overall, historical fiction readers will enjoy this one.

Favorite Moment: There are several moments when Zohara is confronted with her own selfishness, but there is one in particular where someone (who is not her sister, who calls her out often) is direct with her, pulling no punches, and it proves to be effective.

Favorite Character: Nir is a local shop owner who helps Zohara with some translation, and he is not only helpful, but also honest without being mean.

Recommended Reading: The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan is another historical fiction novel set during World War II as Japan was invading Malaysia, and explores one woman's desire to be more than a housewife, and a decision that helps bring conflict and oppression to her country.

Goodreads Choice Awards 2024 Final Round

The final round of voting is now open for the 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards. The choices in each award category have been cut down from 20 to ten, and it is time for readers to put their support behind their favorite titles...granted they are still in the running.

Unfortunately, it looks like Danzy Senna's Colored Television did not make it to the final round for the Favorite Fiction category, but both I Hope This Finds You Well and Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop did, so my vote for the former remains.

For Favorite Historical Fiction, five of the seven DSNs that were originally nominated remain, which means half of the options available are books covered on this blog...I am thinking for the first time ever. While The Bullet Swallower and The Storm We Made did not make the top ten, Xochitl Gonzalez's Anita de Monte Laughs Last did, and I have given it my vote once again.

In Favorite Science Fiction, I will have to pick a different book to vote for as Beautyland did not make the final round, and neither did Cebo Campbell's Sky Full of Elephants. So I will put my support behind Scott Alexander Howard's The Other Valley, a book that takes an interesting look at time travel. 

It seems that Vanessa Chan's The Storm We Made and Cebo Campbell's Sky Full of Elephants also did not garner enough votes to make it to the final round for the Favorite Debut Novel category, along with Morgan Talty's Fire Exit. But just like with the Favorite Fiction category, Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop is holding strong. 

For the two young adult categories, Bethany Baptiste's The Poisons We Drink is no longer in the running for the Favorite Young Adult Fantasy category, but both Where Sleeping Girls Lie and The Reappearance of Rachel Price remain in Favorite Young Adult Fiction, and I have voted for the former.

And when it comes to nonfiction, looks like I can no longer vote for There's Always This Year in the Favorite Memoir category, or Madness in the Favorite History & Biography category. Oh well, such is the nature of the competition.

Of the original 22 DSNs that were nominated, only 13 remain, and a few have a decent chance of winning their categories.

The final round of voting closes this Sunday, December 1st, with the winners being announced Thursday, December 5th. Happy voting!

Contemporary Fiction: Colored Television by Danzy Senna

After reading the premise for Danzy Senna's Colored Television, I knew the journey through this book would most likely be bittersweet and maybe hit a little too close to home, especially in its exploration of the writer's journey and how lonely, tedious, uncertain, and also unforgiving it can be. Add to that the subject of being biracial in America, and I assumed this novel would be full of moments of uneasy tension, but with the potential of rewarding revelations.

The Situation: To see it on paper, Jane is living the Hollywood dream. She lives in one of the architectural marvels of Los Angeles with her artist husband, Lenny, and her two kids, Ruby and Finn. She is a non-tenured faculty member at a local college, but once she turns in the manuscript for her second book - which has been ten years in the making following the success of her first one - she is sure to be promoted. But if anyone were to peel back the layers on Jane's life, they would see that the house her family is currently living in is not theirs, and neither is the wine collection she and her husband keep drinking from. While Lenny keeps insisting on making unsellable art, the family can only afford to stay housed for short periods, with this year in one place being a welcome moment of stability. But after using her teaching sabbatical to work on her book, she is ready to turn it in, and perhaps finally move into the stage of life she has been dreaming of.

The Problem: Unfortunately for Jane, the book does not turn out to be quite the saving grace she was hoping for. But living and working in Los Angeles means she can do what so many writers have done before her, and that is turn to Hollywood. When she manages to secure a meeting with Hampton Ford, a major figure in the producing world, things are looking up as they begin working on a TV comedy series all about being biracial. A contract for the show could mean finally living in her dream neighborhood, while also putting an end to Lenny's idea of moving the family to Tokyo, where he feels his work is really understood. As Jane searches for her voice as a writer for TV, things seem promising, right up until it becomes clear that they are not.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of fiction set in and around modern-day Los Angeles. Jane is a biracial woman who married Lenny, a Black man, and the two are raising a family, reaching for both stability and success, while also holding onto their own integrity as artists. While Jane certainly envies the success of the man whose house she is currently living in, she and Lenny both look down on those who turn to Hollywood for their golden ticket to fame and relevance. But Jane finds herself doing exactly that after all of her hard work on her book does not pay off as she hoped. With thorough exploration of the biracial identity, including the struggle to fit in, and the tendency to adopt the speech and interests of those around her, the book also portrays Jane's struggles as a mother, wife, teacher, and writer.

My Verdict: Some readers may have the desire to put this book aside after the first 50 pages or so, as I did, but I encourage them to push through it and continue. For me, both Jane and Lenny were pretty unlikable (judgmental, self-righteous, condescending), and it was to the point that I wondered if this was a case where the protagonist was actually the villain. However, as the story progresses, it becomes an interesting look at one woman's struggle to follow up the considerable success of her first novel with what her husband has called her "mulatto War and Peace." The book showcases not only the frustrating subjectivity of the publishing world, but also the uncertainty and vulnerability of writing in general, as well as how easy it is to claim the label of "misunderstood" for yourself, while vilifying anyone who does not appreciate your work, along with those who do find success.

Favorite Moment: In nearly every meeting Jane has with Hampton Ford, she attempts to go for a certain look with her outfit, but always seems to get it wrong, perhaps showcasing how out of her depth she is. 

Favorite Character: Jane's son Finn is a delight, and might be the only truly misunderstood character in the book.

Recommended Reading: I recommend R.F. Kuang's Yellowface, or Rainbow Rowell's Landline. 

Nonfiction: First in the Family by Jessica Hoppe

The full title of today's book is First in the Family: A Story of Survival, Recovery, and the American Dream. In this book, Jessica Hoppe explores in detail her journey through addiction and ongoing recovery, and what it took as the Latinx daughter of immigrants to openly face, and be able to talk about, what was happening.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that opens with Hoppe admitting to being an unreliable narrator, and that the story will come in fragments. She will talk about her birth in San Antonio, Texas, but also reach back even further to her mother's early life in Honduras and how her parents met in the U.S. The details of her addiction and relationship with Alcoholics Anonymous (commonly known simply as AA) also comes in fragments, as does her complicated relationship and feelings about her story, her family's story, and the struggle to acknowledge it all, much less talk about it openly. Hoppe rounds everything out with research and the history of AA, as well as America's war on drugs, and also colonization.

My Verdict: This book is all the things a memoir should be: honest and with a great deal of research behind it. Hoppe did the work of going through her family's history, as well as interviewing those still living, even if the memories may be uncomfortable. The book confronts both the lack of stories from diverse voices regarding addiction and substance abuse, and the narrative this country has written regarding minorities and the war on drugs. There are moments early on in the book that felt less honest and genuine: moments when it seemed that the flawed idea of "the American Dream" and the myth of the exceptional minority were to hold all responsibility for Hoppe's experience. Later, there is deeper discussion of the research and history Hoppe discovered, even into the founding of AA, that is interesting and probably not widely known. 

Favorite Moment: At several moments, Hoppe points out just how easy it is to tell lies about yourself, and at the time, whole-heartedly believe them. 

Recommended Reading: When Crack Was King by Donovan X. Ramsey is an in-depth look at the crack epidemic of the 80s and 90s, as well as a reevaluation of what happened. 

Goodreads Choice Awards 2024

It is certainly one of my favorite times of the year, even though this year this event totally snuck up on me.

It is time for the annual Goodreads Choice Awards! Yes, it is the time when readers cast their votes for their favorite books of the year, and there are always surprises, upsets, and quite a few "oh yeah, of course" wins. First things first, we gotta take a look at who has been nominated.

In the Favorite Fiction category, there are three DSNs who have earned a place among the nominees. If there was a sub-category for workplace fiction, both I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue, and Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-Reum would fit into it. They have made the cut, along with Danzy Senna's Colored Television (blog post coming later this month). All three are certainly worthy, and after much deliberation, I will give my vote to Sue's I Hope This Finds You Well. Anyone who has ever worked in an office will relate to many parts of this book.

For the Favorite Historical Fiction category, this blog may have a record with seven DSNs nominated. This is always a tough category, and this year will be no different with Kristin Hannah's The Women, Xochitl Gonzalez's Anita de Monte Laugh's Last, Percival Everett's James, Vanessa Chan's The Storms We Made, Kate Quinn's The Briar Club, Elizabeth Gonzalez James' The Bullet Swallower, and Silvia Moreno-Garcia's The Seventh Veil of Salome all nominated. It is a stacked list for sure, and I only choose Anita de Monte Laughs Last after the most careful of considerations. Quinn's The Briar Club is a close second, and Hannah's The Women is not to be brushed aside either. 

There is one DSN that made it into the Favorite Fantasy category, and that is Meg Shaffer's The Lost Story. Two young boys get lost in the woods, only to emerge six months later, completely changed. Only one remembers what happened, but it changes the course of both of their lives. Personally, I hoped for more from this story, but I understand why it is popular. 

I gotta say, I am proud of myself for managing to have five DSNs nominated in the Favorite Science Fiction category, as it will always and forever be a genre I struggle to connect with. Beautyland by Marie-Helene Bertino, The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard, Annie Bot by Sierra Greer, Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell, and The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley all made the cut. For me, the winner would be Beautyland, but it will certainly have a hard fight against Jeff VanderMeer's Absolution. 

Five books made it into Favorite Debut Novel category, four of which are already nominated in somewhere else. Joining Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop, The Storms We Made, Sky Full of Elephants, and The Ministry of Time is Morgan Talty's Fire Exit. This time I will be voting for Hwang Bo-Reum's novel, set in a neighborhood bookshop in South Korea.

The only DSN to make it into Favorite Young Adult Fantasy is The Poisons We Drink by Bethany Baptiste, and intense and imaginative story set in a world where brewing love potions may be a lucrative business, but also a dangerous and illegal one. And for the Favorite Young Adult Fiction category, we have The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson, and the dark academic mystery Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. It may not be my favorite YA of the year, but I will give my vote to Where Sleeping Girls Lie, mostly for its inventive and intriguing boarding school setting. 

Only one memoir from the blog made the cut to be nominated as a Favorite Memoir, and it is Hanif Abdurraqib's There's Always This Year. And I am thrilled to see Madness by Antonia Hylton earn a place in the Favorite History & Biography category, as it is as fascinating as it is informative. 

And there we have it readers. Twenty-two DSNs stand proud and ready to receive your votes as you pick out your favorite books for this year, at least from those listed by Goodreads. As usual, I am surprised by a few omissions, as well as a few inclusions. And then there are those authors who I am used to seeing be included, but are not, despite having a book come out this year. Readers are always looking for their next favorite author, and I certainly will be investigating some of the nominees that I previously failed to take notice of. 

With voting for the opening round closing on Sunday, November 24th, be sure to make your voice heard. 

Science Fiction: Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell

Being able to squeeze in at least one more science fiction novel before the end of the year is a win for me, as I know it is a genre I can often neglect. Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell first grabbed my attention due to its title, and the premise, as you will soon understand, was more than a little interesting, and I had to know where it would lead.

The Situation: Up until a year ago, Charlie Brunton was serving time in prison for a crime he did not commit. Now, he is a professor of electric and solar power systems at Howard University. His situation is certainly strange to believe, but what is stranger are the circumstances that allowed it to happen. Before Charlie made it out of prison - where he was broken out, not released - every white person in the U.S. suddenly walked into the nearest body of water. And what remains is a very different country, with a population of people that encompass a wide range of reactions and feelings about what happened. Charlie enjoys being a professor, and would have continued to do it if not for the letter he received from the biracial daughter he never got to meet.

The Problem: Sydney has spent the year since "the event" isolated in her home in Wisconsin, after the rest of her family walked into the lake. While she does not know him, or trust him (or even like him), Charlie was the only person she could think of to reach out to. He is the only person she could look to for help in reaching a place where she believes other members of her family now live. But as the two of them travel south, neither of them is truly ready for what they find. Every region and city operates a little differently, and when they reach what is now the Kingdom of Alabama, Charlie and Sydney will have to re-evaluate what they know about America, the event, and themselves. 

Genre, Themes, History: The book has been tagged as science fiction, speculative fiction, dystopia, and even fantasy, while also including a decent amount of magical realism. Naturally, race is a theme as the book attempts to imagine what this new world looks like, how it operates, and how people would feel. But the reader also gets to see stuff like what Campbell imagines airports and air travel would look like, something I was certainly interested in as someone who loves to travel. Even everyday things like a trip to the local Wal-Mart is a different experience, as is a day trip to a beach. And then there are the people, whose reactions are as diverse as they are, as everyone continues on in various ways. While Charlie has his own complicated feelings, Sydney struggles even more, and must make her own difficult journey regarding grief and identity.

My Verdict: With such an ambitious (and for many, incredibly contentious and uncomfortable) plot, I was surprised to find that this book was less than 300 pages. Granted, it would be impossible to include every imagined or possible scenario following an event like the one suggested here, but I wanted to see even more of the different parts of the U.S, and see more communities and industries and how they operate. Campbell's style of writing is lyrical at times, and then overelaborate in others, with the story and plot coming second to character deliberation. But what is certainly clear is that being alive in this suddenly 'post-racial' country is a complicated matter, and that the struggle with identity continues, as does the desire for community and connection.

Favorite Moment: The description of the Mardi Gras festivities is fun and illuminating, and wonderful picture of joy and community.

Favorite Character: Sailor, a pilot, is on a mission and will not be deterred, although he is not as stubborn and cold as he first appears to be.

Recommended Reading: I recommend James by Percival Everett, which is a retelling of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. 

Young Adult Fiction: Sunrise Nights by Jeff Zentner and Brittany Cavallaro

It is no secret on this blog that I am a big fan of Jeff Zentner's books, so it should not be a surprise that I have finally come around to talking about Sunrise Nights, a young adult novel he cowrote with Brittany Cavallaro. A mixture of poetry and prose, the book follows two teens across three separate nights, over the course of three years.

The Situation: Jude Wheeler loves photography, and has since he was a young kid. He has a good eye, and it is the one thing that allows him to feel in control. With his parent's splitting up, retreating to his camera gives him solace, and it is the reason he is attending Harbor Arts Camp in Michigan. It is also where he meets Florence, a girl who loves dancing, and knows she is good at it. Thing is, she is losing her eyesight, and it is all but certain the her time as a dancer is limited. When the two meet, they proceed to spend the entire last night together - known at the camp as Sunrise Night - by exploring the town, only parting at sunrise after they make a pact: no contact for the next year. Not even through social media. And they will meet up next year at camp.

The Problem: Both Jude and Florence manage to stick to their agreement, but simply meeting up the next year at camp proves to be more complicated than it sounds. Quite a bit has happened to both of them over the last 12 months, and neither of them is ready to be completely honest about it. When a misunderstanding threatens to undo the bonding they have managed to do in just the handful of hours they have known each other, it is not clear what the next 12 months will do to their relationship, and what their last Sunrise Night at camp will bring. 

Genre, Themes, History: This young adult fiction novel is a collaboration between Zentner and Cavallaro, and takes place over three separate nights, each one 12 months after the previous one. Split almost equally between poetry and prose, with the prose being mostly conversation, Jude and Florence proceed to get to know each other exclusively during what is known as Sunrise Night at the Harbor Arts Camp in Michigan. Since the campers are allowed to stay up past their usual curfew, though they must check-in at predetermined times, Jude and Florence explore the city, ending up at a bowling alley, diner, coffee shop, arcade, and even a Target. As they take turns being the first person narrator, Jude and Florence tell their story, while they also learn about each other.

My Verdict: I opened this book at a time when I was kind of lamenting my inability to find YA books like this in 2024. Clearly, I am either not looking hard enough, or my search method is flawed, because this book is exactly what I was hoping it would be. The format is a welcome change, and while I am always quick to admit my struggle in reading and understanding poetry, what is found in this book is accessible, fun without being vapid and cliched, and the conversation is smart, witty, but also believable. Jude and Florence are two teenagers whose worlds are changing a little quicker than they may like, and they only get to catch up with each other for one night of the year. It is an interesting concept that the authors pull off well. 

Favorite Moment: There is a reoccurring character that shows up at one point during each of the Sunrise Nights, and every encounter is funnier than the last. 

Favorite Character: Jude Wheeler is a lot braver than he thinks he is, as he never would have met Florence if he had not gathered up the courage to approach her on that first Sunrise Night. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend Zentner's In the Wild Light, his most recent solo YA novel.

Historical Fiction: The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Today I am discussing the fifth book I have read by popular and well-loved author Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The Seventh Veil of Salome is partly a Bible story, and also part historical fiction set in 1950s Hollywood, as a young actress is offered the role everyone wanted.

The Situation: The movie is The Seventh Veil of Salome, and things would be going much smoother if they could just find someone to play the lead role. It is bad enough that the director is hard to work with; rewrites are still happening; and there are certain things that the censors simply will not allow, but the role of Salome still needs to be cast. When the completely unknown Vera Larios is given the part, many cannot believe that a no name from Mexico has landed the coveted role, especially the young and hopeful Nancy Hartley.

The Problem: With the sudden move from Mexico to Los Angeles, Vera finds herself in almost as much confusion and turmoil as Salome, the young woman in the movie who must choose between her loyalties to her family and the throne, and her love of a bold but doomed preacher. Vera is not even sure she wants to be an actress, but the pressure from her mother and the desire to do a good job keep her going. Hollywood is difficult to navigate, but having a few new friends close by may be enough to help Vera hold onto the opportunity she has been given. Meanwhile, Nancy is not quite ready to accept defeat, and is willing to do whatever it takes to be a star. But desperation can be a very dangerous thing.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set in 1950s Hollywood, but also tells the story of Salome, the woman who asked King Herod for the head of John the Baptist after dancing for him. Vera Larios arrives in Hollywood and comes face to face with both racism and jealousy, but she is determined to perform the role she was hired for. But she also must be willing to deal with insistent and entitled male co-stars, demanding directors, and the relentless gossip columns. Vera, Nancy, and Salome are the main focus, but other interested side characters offer their viewpoint on what occurred.

My Verdict: For whatever reason, I felt immediately detached from Salome's story, perhaps because I was already familiar with the version that appears in the Bible. I was much more interested in what was happening with Vera in Hollywood, as a naive young actress trying her best to navigate an often hostile industry, at least for a young actress from Mexico. Her growth over the course of the novel was executed well, and Nancy's resentment over her career not going how she thought it should was displayed in a way that somehow still made her a three dimensional character. Perhaps Salome's story deserved its own book, apart from those who hope to use it to make their careers.

Favorite Moment: There is a moment when we get to meet Nancy's father, and the reader gets a glimpse into her past and why she views Hollywood the way she does.

Favorite Character: Vera is incredibly naive, especially in the beginning. But she slowly begins to speak and stand up for herself, even against her own pushy mother.

Recommended Reading: Brendan Slocumb's Symphony of Secrets is a different kind of historical fiction novel, this time focusing on a young composer hoping to make it big, but no one is interested in the music he comes up with on his own.  

Contemporary Fiction: Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell

I am a long-time adorer of Rainbow Rowell. Her YA novel Fangirl remains as one of my all-time favorites, and is one of the few times I have truly felt like I could just read a book for forever. So I did not hesitate to pick up her most recent book, Slow Dance, a contemporary novel written for adults.

The Situation: Shiloh is a single mother of two, now living with her own mother, and doing her best to co-parent with her ex-husband, Ryan. Once a self-assured teenager who was great at making decisions, Shiloh now feels like every decision she has made has led her wrong. But today she is deciding to attend the wedding of one of her best friends from high school, Mikey, even though that means making small talk with strangers and former high school classmates. But the chance of running into her other best friend from high school, Cary, is something she must take advantage of. Sure, it has been 14 years since they have seen each other, and Shiloh is not sure what will come of this meeting. It could be great, but it could also be a disaster.

The Problem: Attending Mikey's wedding turns out to indeed try Shiloh's patience, as well as threaten to completely drain her social battery. But Cary is there, just as she both hoped and feared, and the two manage to reconnect. But has it been too long? Back in high school, everyone thought they were together, but they never were. And now Shiloh feels like their moment may have passed. When she went off to college, and Cary enlisted in the Navy, they promised each other that nothing would change, that they would each stay in touch. But a combination of miscommunication, lack of communication, and of simply not recognizing what was happening has allowed the two of them to lose track of each other. And now it feels like they are starting all over.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a contemporary fiction novel set mostly in modern-day Omaha, Nebraska, but also moves back and forth through time between Mike's wedding and the months after, and when the three friends were in high school just trying to survive adolescence. It seemed clear to nearly everyone back in high school that Shiloh and Cary were interested in each other, but Cary has always been hard to read, and the most Shiloh can manage is to awkwardly poke him, punch him, kick him, pinch him, basically touch him just enough to be annoying. The novel gives the long and full history of Shiloh and Cary's relationship, and how two kids who were clearly in love in their teens, are now attempting to reconnect in their 30s.

My Verdict: Shiloh and Cary's story is interesting enough, and the 'will they won't they' of it all is enough to keep the story engaging while it moves along, reaching back in time while also moving forward at a steady pace. However, the much more interesting story of Cary's family steals the show for me. It is as if the opening band at a concert put on a better show than they headlining act (which does indeed happen), and left the crowd wanting more. More details regarding Cary's family history are given, but I found myself wishing that the book was only about that. Cary's family is given so much background that I would have loved a 500-page saga about them, John Steinbeck East of Eden style. The story of Shiloh and Cary is endearing; the story of Cary's family seems utterly captivating.

Favorite Moment: Shiloh's mother may not have always been the best parental figure, but there is a moment when she breaks into a disturbance between Cary and his family and proves she is no one to mess with.

Favorite Character: Junie (short for Juniper) is Shiloh's oldest child, and while she may be five years old when the novel starts, I enjoyed her overly dramatic reactions to everything, as well as her wild-eyed observations and declarative statements. 

Recommended Reading: I will always recommend Fangirl for those interested in YA, as well as Attachments for the adults. 

Door Stop: Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

The time has come to tackle another door stop. On this blog, a 'door stop' is essentially any book that is 500 pages or more, and this week, it is Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. In this tale, Dickens tackles poverty, debtors' prisons, and bureaucracy and red tape in 19th century England.

The Situation: Life inside of the Marshalsea debtors' prison is the only life Amy Dorrit, or Little Dorrit, has ever known. She was born in the prison, and after her mother died when she was very young, she has spent her life being of service to her father, older brother and sister, and their uncle. William Dorrit entered the prison over 30 years before, and has become known as the "Father of the Marshalsea," while trying to hold onto the class and status in which he was raised. Though it would anger her father if he knew, Little Dorrit works as a seamstress for various individuals, one of which is the stern and harsh mother of Arthur Clennam. Arthur suspects that his family may have something to do with William Dorrit being in the debtors' prison, and resolves to find out and right any potential wrong.

The Problem: It is clear that Arthur's mother is holding back on some vital piece of information regarding Arthur's deceased father, so he must make his own investigation, while also entering into a business partnership with a local inventor. Meanwhile, the kind and good-natured Mr. and Mrs. Meagles worry over their spoiled daughter's potential attachment to a young artist who does not make much money, and who is also friends with a mysterious and potentially dangerous man known only as Blandois. Throughout the story, Little Dorrit remains sweet, and good, and hard-working, and while it is clear some take advantage of her goodness, including her own father, she would never hear of going against any of them, and remains a true and faithful servant.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a story of fiction written by Dickens and was published in 19 monthly installments, beginning in December of 1855. Little Dorrit may be the title character, but there are large chunks of the novel when the character disappears completely, while the story focuses not only on Arthur, but also the Meagles, Blandois, and a few other key characters. One major theme is that of imprisonment, as several characters end up bound to their locations for various reasons. Another heavily explored subject is that of government bureaucracy, as the narrator talks at length about the Circumlocution Office and their specialty of not getting anything done. And then there are several characters who experience sudden and severe turns of fortune.

My Verdict: This book is long...like Bleak House long. If there was ever a reason to be thankful for jury duty (and in my mind, there are few), it is because of the long stretches of time in which it allowed me to make headway with this book. The character of Little Dorrit is indeed incredibly good, and sweet, and pitiable, but she is also frustratingly naive, and good to the point of not wanting to cause anyone trouble, including those who do her wrong. Those familiar with Dickens will recognize the style of writing, the fun character names, and the dialogue that often feels to be going in circles (and sometimes it is). If I had to give it a ranking among the other Dickens books I have read, I would have to put it somewhere between Bleak House and David Copperfield, with A Tale of Two Cities still being my favorite.

Favorite Moment: Little Dorrit's older sister Fanny takes advantage of her younger sister's good nature, much like her brother and father. But even with all of her bluster and boasting, there is a moment when even she seems to admit that her situation is not ideal, though she does not do so with words.

Favorite Character: Mr. Pancks is a rent collector who, naturally, is viewed as a villain by those he has to collect rent from, but also enjoys a sort of side hustle as someone who restores people's lost inheritances, therefore helping to reverse the fortunes of a few characters. 

Recommended Reading: Middlemarch by George Eliot is even longer, but also follows a variety of characters in 19th century England. 

Contemporary Fiction: The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer

Reader's absolutely adored last year's The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, so this year I went ahead and picked up the follow-up, The Lost Story, which was inspired by C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, specifically The Silver Chair. Shaffer leans even more into the magical realism for this story, offering up a fantasy book for adults who are not too old for fairy tales.

The Situation: Jeremy Cox has a seemingly supernatural ability to find lost girls and women. He is known all around the world for the people he has found, and is currently appearing on a documentary TV show as a special guest, which is where Emilie Wendell meets him. She desperately wants to meet Jeremy to see if he will help her find her sister, who went missing 20 years ago. The thing is, Emilie's sister went missing in the Red Crow State Forest of West Virginia, which is the same forest Jeremy himself went missing, along with his best friend Ralph 'Rafe' Howell, 15 years ago. Both boys emerged six months later, mostly physical okay, but definitely different. Only Jeremy remembers what happened during those six months, and if he is to return to Red Crow to find Emilie's sister, he will need Rafe's help.

The Problem: Even though Jeremy remembers where he and his friend were while they were lost, he has always refused to tell Rafe anything about it, who cannot remember a thing. In fact, the two of them have not spoken in years. While Jeremy has become a famous missing persons investigator, Rafe has become somewhat of a reclusive artist, mostly emerging from his home to protect his property and the animals on it from poachers. But if Jeremy is to find Emilie's sister, it means telling Rafe the truth. A strange truth about the magical land they were in while they were gone. It was a world full of beauty and magical creatures, but also incredible dangers, and haunting memories. Emilie is not the only one looking for something she has lost, and Jeremy and Rafe will have to confront their shared past to find it.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fantasy book set primarily in West Virginia, specifically the fictional Red Crow State Forest, but also the magical realm of Shanandoah. Nearly half of the book is set in the world we know, and the other half in Shanandoah, where evil and mischievous entities known as the Bright Boys cause havoc, but are almost always outdone by the queen and her Valkyries. Occasionally, the book's storyteller will interrupt to provide background, or let the reader know that certain details are being skipped intentionally, or to even give props to the reader for noticing specific details. The book also confronts the pain of traumatic memories, and considers if beauty and love are worth it if they bring pain, sorrow, and grief along with them. 

My Verdict: The part of the story that involves Jeremy, Rafe, and Emilie moving around in our world has moments that are incredibly compelling, and help build the mystery about Shanandoah. The part about the magical place with unicorns and insects with wings of fire is enchanting and wonderful. But for some reason, the bringing of the two worlds together does not quite work for me, and I do not know what the disconnect is. It is like two separate stories smashed together. Also, I will admit to not being a fan of the interrupting storyteller, as I did not fully see any added value in the mechanic. Fantasy lovers may still enjoy the adventure, and it seems there is a chance there will be more in the future.

Favorite Moment: There are two horses in Shanandoah who are incredibly loyal and helpful, and come in clutch when dealing with an enemy.

Favorite Character: Rafe's mom will not let him into her house unless he shaves. But once he does, she feeds him and his friends, and together they are able to deal with what happened when Rafe was a child.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Shaffer's previous book The Wishing Game, and also the entire The Chronicles of Narnia series.

Young Adult Fiction: Such Charming Liars by Karen M. McManus

Another year seems to mean another YA thriller from author Karen M. McManus. This time it is Such Charming Liars, set in a remote New England town where a jewelry heist plot goes terribly wrong, and two teenagers with a complicated past must work fast to solve the puzzle.

The Situation: Sixteen year-old Kat has always considered her and her mother Jamie to be a team. For as long as she can remember, it has been the two of them sticking together through everything. And after a career of being a jewelry thief, Jamie has decided that life is no longer for her. One more job, and the two of them can move on to some sort of normalcy. Liam has never considered himself and his serial con artist father Luke to be a team. And it is no surprise when Luke seems to have designs on the daughter of a wealthy man, whose birthday party they are attending at the family's compound. But what is a surprise is the appearance of Kat and Jamie, the latter of which was once married to Luke for 48 hours, 12 years ago, and whose latest jewelry heist assignment is at the same compound. 

The Problem: The 48 hours that Jamie and Luke were married are full of memories that neither Kat nor Liam care to revisit, but they still manage to treat each other as something closer to step-siblings, even after all these years. And when a murder takes place on the compound, throwing everything and every plan into chaos, Kat and Liam must stick together. Even with security on high alert, it becomes clear that the threat of danger is still very real, and the newly reconnected stepsiblings may now be targets. Kat's past experience and street smarts will come in handy, and Liam is just charming and naive enough to be endearing, but it may not be enough to save them, or at least help them solve an ever-growing mystery.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult thriller novel set mostly in and around a small town in Maine. The majority of the action takes place on the Sutherland Compound, where billionaire Ross Sutherland's birthday party is to take place. There are two narrators, though Kat is allowed more chapters than her former stepbrother Liam. While Kat has essentially been raised by a jewel thief, who has worked for years for a woman who has used a cleaning business as a front for a theft ring, which meant having to move often, Liam was raised by his mother, before her death meant moving in with his scam artist father. The story is similar to McManus' other thrillers, but this time being centered more around a jewelry heist, and moving away from the usual setting of a high school or camp.

My Verdict: No matter how many twists and turns a McManus book takes, I always remain invested and interested in seeing where everything ends up. Each twist and bend in the story may be slightly more ridiculous than the last, but it is never quite enough where the believability goes completely out of the window...though I will say that this book got closer to that point than any of the seven McManus books that came before it. The story is exciting and intense, the setting is refreshing, and I think YA thriller lovers have another fun book to explore.

Favorite Moment: Kat's lockpicking skills are impressive, and they come in handy more often than they probably should. 

Favorite Character: From the beginning, it is clear that Liam knows exactly the kind of man his father is, and even takes active steps to ruin many of his plans.

Recommended Reading: For a different sort of YA thriller, I recommend Holly Jackson's Five Survive. 

Historical Fiction: The Briar Club by Kate Quinn

Author Kate Quinn has become one of my favorite historical fiction writers in recent years, so I was excited to pick up The Briar Club, her latest book set in Washington, D.C. in McCarthy's America, when some of the population was scared of communists, while others lived in fear of being accused as one.

The Situation: It is Thanksgiving of 1954, and two detectives have arrived at the Briarwood House to find a dead body on the top floor. The Briarwood House is a fairly ordinary boarding house for women, run by the penny-pinching and nosy Mrs. Nilsson, and her young son Pete. But since Mrs. Nilsson was out at her bridge club, the detectives must look closely at the other residents and some of their guests. There is the policeman's daughter Nora, who is wanting to create a life away from her family and past; Reka, the older woman who came to the U.S. to escape Hitler; Fliss, an English woman and mother who is somehow always so frustratingly put together; Bea, a former baseball player; Claire, a woman who dreams of a house of her own; Arlene, the one no one likes but is desperate for everyone's approval and attention; and then Grace, the mysterious newcomer who says little about herself, but whose apartment it is in which the dead body was found.

The Problem: The story begins four years ago, when Grace March first arrived at Briarwood House and agreed to rent out the available room on the top floor. As the fateful night of Thanksgiving 1954 approaches, each resident of the boarding house tells their story and how they got to be where they are. They each have their own views on what McCarthy has done, and their own feelings about communism, and they all certainly recognize that the young Pete deserves a better fate than the one Mrs. Nilsson has carved out for him. While they are all different, what they now have in common is that they are all being looked at as suspects, and each one must decide what truth they will tell.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction book with the majority of the action taking place in Washington, D.C. between the years 1950-1954. Along with the young Pete Nilsson, each female guest at the boarding house gets their own chapter and the chance to tell their story and how they ended up at the Briarwood House. In between the chapters, the story returns to where it started, Thanksgiving night of 1954, when the police find a dead body in Grace's room. As each resident tells their story, time moves forward, slowly revealing a full picture of how it came to this, all against a backdrop of the McCarthy era and the paranoia of post-World War II America. 

My Verdict: Sometimes, stories told by multiple narrators suffer that fate of having some characters be less interesting than others. What is smart about The Briar Club is that instead of switching back and forth between the different narrators, each one simply gets their own chapter, giving the readers the details for that specific point in time, and then moves on to the next character. Each chapter has its own sense of closure, while also continuing the story, and allowing room for the story to continue. And while readers will certainly have characters they like more than others, none of them are boring, and each detail has a purpose and a payoff. Quinn has weaved together yet another intricate and intriguing story with several strong women at the forefront of the action. 

Favorite Moment: Ever Thursday night, the ladies of Briarwood House meet in Grace's room for dinner, which is how the term 'Briar Club' comes to be. Included in each chapter is one or two recipes that are relevant to the story, and I am usually a sucker for food details in almost any story.

Favorite Character: Baseball player Bea may be obsessed with a sport that I have never had the patience for, but she is tough, knows what she wants (to play baseball, be around baseball, and be involved in all things baseball), and her enthusiasm for the sport may be grating to some, but is endearing to some of the least likely people in the book. 

Recommended Reading: I recommend both The Nightingale and The Women by Kristin Hannah. 

Contemporary Fiction: One of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon

As a long-time fan of Nicola Yoon's young adult novels, it was easy to decide to pick up and cover her first offering for adult readers, One of Our Kind. With a description that likened the plot to Get Out, and a promise that it would appeal to lovers of Paul Beatty's The Sellout, I was more than intrigued and interested to see where this story would go.

The Situation: Jasmyn Williams is a public defender, committed to helping young Black men stay out of the system. With one young son, and another one on the way, Jasmyn is certainly interested in creating the best possible life for her growing family, but that does not mean she is completely sold on moving to Liberty, California, the so-called utopia that is 100% Black. Not only are all of the residents Black, but so are the teachers, the service industry workers, even the cops. Even the 'modest' houses are large and expensive, and Jasmyn's husband, King, is convinced this is the right move for them. Since affording it is not a problem, especially with King's career taking off, Jasmyn pushes down her feelings of abandoning her roots and the people she serves and makes the move.

The Problem: Residing in a house with three living rooms may take some getting used to, but what Jasmyn is having the hardest time getting used to is some of the other residents. Being that Liberty was created to be a safe haven for Black people, she expected to find like-minded individuals just as interested in activism and the fight for equality as she is. Instead she is met with blank and apathetic responses to the latest shooting of an unarmed Black person, and comments that not only leave her perplexed, but angry. When she fears that King is becoming a little too comfortable with the Liberty way of life, she decides to dig deeper into the city's history, but what she finds may destroy everything.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of fiction, set in the made up town of Liberty, California, a place that was built specifically for Black people, granted they are wealthy enough to be able to afford to live there. Jasmyn fears that moving there will turn her 'bougie,' only giving in to her husband's wishes when taking into consideration the kind of safety a place like Liberty could give her husband, her young son Kamau, and the baby boy she is due to have in a few months. Divided up into five parts, there are excerpts from various articles and interviews that give more information on the founding members of Liberty, some of its other important residents, and also a few current events. The book looks at the wide range of opinions on police brutality, protesting (peaceful and otherwise), and even black hair care.

My Verdict: This is a pretty fascinating premise: A young and growing Black family moves into what is supposed to be a Black utopia, but the wife has a feeling that something is not quite right. It is a great set up for a thriller; unfortunately, the execution is more than a little off. I have to admit to being almost immediately turned off by the protagonist within the first 15 pages. Jasmyn is incredibly judgmental, and mostly of other Black women, and to the point that her assertions of someone else not being enlightened ends up showing how unenlightened (and insecure) she is. The protagonist is unlikeable and tiresome, and the constant mentions of police brutality and the suffering of Black people was heavy-handed and unnecessary. Instead of providing a good story, the plot got lost, and the book became cumbersome and almost hard to take seriously.

Favorite Moment: From the beginning, it is amazing how Jasmyn begins to accept her upgraded life, despite how critical she likes to be of others 'not doing enough.'

Favorite Character: Jasmyn's friend Tricia does not show up much in the book, but she is pretty much the only one to mention the positive aspects of being Black. She does what Jasmyn constantly fails to do, and that is look for the joy.

Recommended Reading: The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson is a YA thriller and a re-telling of Carrie by Stephen King. 

Nonfiction: The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum by Margalit Fox

While some readers will flock to any book about a serial killer or cult leader, I have always been more interested in con artists and organized crime. The title of today's book by Margalit Fox immediately caught my attention: The Talented Mrs. Mandelbaum: The Rise and Fall of an American Organized-Crime Boss. A hopefully in-depth look at a little known figure from America's crime history certainly sounded exciting to me.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that looks into the life of Fredericka Mandelbaum (who was also referred to as "Marm" Mandelbaum, "Mother" Mandelbaum, "Ma" Mandelbaum, and even "Mother Baum"). She would arrive in New York City, after leaving what is now central Germany, in 1850. But by 1870 she would be the picture of wealth and status, even though it was well-known by many around her how that wealth was accumulated. While chronicling Mrs. Mandelbaum's rise to prominence as an underworld figure, the book also explains what her role as a "fence" would entail; explores the lives of the men and women of the time who helped her grow her empire; gives detailed explanations of what it would take to successfully rob a bank in mid-19th century America; and lists all the reasons why Mrs. Mandelbaum was able to do what she did at that particular point in history. 

My Verdict: As is common with many nonfiction books out there, this one often feels like it is a magazine article that has been stretched out into enough pages so that it can be printed and sold as a book. With actual content that makes up only 206 pages - followed by 70 pages of references - not all that much of those 206 pages is actually about Mrs. Mendelbaum and her life. What I was hoping would be more of a biography of the woman's life is more of a look at how fences operated in the middle of the 19th century in New York City. The details concerning her inevitable fall from prominence are indeed fascinating, along with the lengths officials went to in order to catch her. But it felt like something was missing from the whole account, or perhaps maybe there was not quite enough material to fill out the book.

Favorite Moment: Included in the book are many illustrations and photographs, my favorite of which were diagrams of certain buildings and schemes that were important to how Mrs. Mandelbaum's enterprise operated.

Recommended Reading: I recommend Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead, a work of fiction whose main character is a reluctant fence operating out of his own furniture store.