Nonfiction: Into Siberia by Gregory J. Wallance

It felt more than appropriate to read Gregory J. Wallance's Into Siberia: George Kennan's Epic Journey Through the Brutal, Frozen Heart of Russia when I did, which was during a hard freeze in my area back in mid-January. Granted, the temperatures and conditions I dealt with are nothing close to what is talked about in the book. Not only does the book describe harsh weather conditions, but it takes a close look at Russia's exile system as it existed in the late 19th century.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that centers around the life of journalist and explorer George Kennan, a man who would come to devote his life to enlightening Americans about the brutality of Russia's exile system. As a young man, Kennan sought out adventure, and would eventually journey through Siberia for the first time at the young age of 20, as part of a group exploring a possible route for a telegraph line. Kennan travel throughout the frozen region two more times in his life, the last of which is the primary subject of the book. During his exile investigation in 1885, Kennan would encounter harsh weather conditions, but also the realities of a system that he had formerly defended to the American people, and even have a meeting with literary legend Leo Tolstoy. His new views on the issue would become the subject of many articles and lectures that would aid in the unraveling of the formerly friendly relationship between the U.S. and Russia.

My Verdict: This book not only delivers on the promise of detailing Kennan's adventures through Siberia, but it also adds much more in the way of historical context, such as the political and social climate of post-Civil War America, and why the American people would be so ready to take up the cause of Russian exiles half-way around the world. There is the first layer, with plenty of mention of snow storms, lack of food, illness, and even injury. Then there is the second layer of the atrocious treatment of the Russian exiles. And then there is the last layer, where Wallance acknowledges the issues that our own country was dealing with at the time. Many may know about the Russian Revolution, as well as Russia's part in World Wars I and II, and the Cold War. But many will be interested to learn about Kennan's findings and how his discoveries would effect U.S./Russian relations.

Favorite Moment: I appreciated the inclusion of several pictures that were sketched by artist George Frost, as he accompanied Kennan on his exile investigation.

Recommended Reading: Between Shades of Grey by Ruta Sepetys is a young adult novel that follows a young girl and her family as they are exiled to Siberia during World War II. Also, for lovers of the classics, I recommend Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky.  

Historical Fiction: The Women by Kristin Hannah

Readers are rejoicing as author Kristin Hannah returns with another historical fiction book, this time focused on the Vietnam War, and more specifically, the women who served. The decision to read The Women came easily, and having read three of Hannah's other novels, I knew to expect nothing less than an engaging story stacked with fully-realized characters.

The Situation: It is 1966 when 21 year-old Frances 'Frankie' McGrath hears four words that had never been said to her before: "Women can be heroes." At her brother's going away party before he is sent off to fight in Vietnam, Frankie stands in her father's office, looking at his "Hero's Wall," and makes the decision to put her newly acquired nursing degree to use in the war. Her parents may not agree with her decision, but Frankie stays resolved, and after excelling in basic training, Frankie lands in Vietnam, greeted by the noise, smells, and near-constant chaos that is life as a nurse in an area that is often under attack. Frankie realizes that her nursing degree did not quite prepare her for this, but she must catch up and learn quickly.

The Problem: As trying as serving in Vietnam is, it is only the beginning of Frankie's story. After coming face-to-face with missing limbs, unimaginable burn scars, and bullet wounds that make her faint, as well as sick and wounded Vietnamese, many of them children, Frankie comes home to hostility and anger. Her parents are still upset with her for deciding to serve, but it seems the rest of the country is as well. When she is not experiencing outright hostility, then she is ignored, with her own fellow servicemen declaring "There were no women in 'Nam." For Frankie, the fighting does not stop when she returns home, and there may be no returning to the person she was before.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel that focuses on the Vietnam War, beginning in 1966, and continuing through 1982. The first part details Frankie's time as a nurse in Vietnam, after she decides to sign up and follow her brother's example. The second part involves Frankie's return home after serving for two years, and the less than welcoming greeting she receives from the public, including her own family. For many, Frankie was part of the war that America wanted to forget. After witnessing incredible horrors over seas, Frankie returns to protests and resentment, as well as a lack of resources for women like her who served. Her struggle to return to some sort of normalcy is exactly that: a struggle. And there are moments when it looks like she may not make it.

My Verdict: This is the fourth book I have read by Hannah, and so far she has taken me through France in World War II; the darkness of the Alaskan winters in the 1970s; the Dust Bowl of the 1930s; and now the Vietnam War. This book is an incredible account of one woman's noble, and also naive, decision to serve her country, and everything that came from that decision. The descriptions of Frankie's time in Vietnam are vivid and often disturbing, while not being unnecessarily gruesome, and the hurt and anger she feels when she is pushed aside upon returning will resonate with anyone whose contributions and sacrifices for a cause have been forgotten, especially women. Hannah mentions in the author's note that this was a labor of love, and I am certainly glad she decided to stick with it.

Favorite Moment: For some reason, I appreciated the descriptions of Frankie's living quarters when she was in Vietnam. I have been overseas many times, and it is amazing how quickly someone can get over a less than ideal living situation when there is work to do.

Favorite Character: Barb is another nurse who serves in Vietnam with Frankie, and the two remain good friends even after returning home. Barb shows up for Frankie and helps her through nearly every major crisis, despite living across the country and taking a different path after serving.

Recommended Reading: Of the four novels I have read by Hannah, I still think the best is The Nightingale, but my favorite is The Four Winds.

Historical Fiction: The Wildest Sun by Asha Lemmie

The decision to read Asha Lemmie's second novel, The Wildest Sun, was not an easy one, despite having read her first novel, Fifty Words for Rain, when it came out back in 2020. Ultimately, the premise proved to be too intriguing for me to pass it up: A young girl decides to embark on a journey to find her father, whom she believes to be none other that Ernest Hemingway.

The Situation: Delphine Auber loves Paris, her hometown for all of your young life. She loves it even more now that the war is over and the Nazis have been defeated. But when tragedy strikes, she finds herself fleeing to New York to stay with friends, Blue and Delia, while also believing this may the opportunity for her to find the man her mother always said was her father: Ernest Hemingway. Delphine clings to the idea that Hemingway is her father - despite the doubts of those around her - almost as much as she clings to her dream of becoming a writer. And while Hemingway may be a well-known literary figure who is not too difficult to track down, the journey will take her years, and to places she never thought she would visit.

The Problem: Looking for Ernest Hemingway may be the goal, but staying away from Paris is also part of the plan, as Delphine believes she can never go back, not after what happened. And even though she finds safety and comfort with old friends of her mother's in New York, it is not long before Delphine finds herself in another difficult situation with a new friend. When she hears that Hemingway is in Havana, Cuba, she makes her way down there, determined to find him, not knowing that the Cuban Revolution is only a few years away. Regardless, Delphine is willing to take the risk to find the man she has idolized since childhood, the man she believes holds the answers to who she truly is.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a historical fiction novel set in various locations, beginning in 1945, and ending 1964. Delphine's adventure will take her from her hometown of Paris, to a family friend's home in New York, to Havana, and then to Key West, Florida. Delphine's focus is devoted to two things: finding literary legend Ernest Hemingway, whom she believes to be her father, and becoming a writer herself. Throughout her story are letters to and from another family friend who remains in Paris, Louise, who is a nun that Delphine's mother had always trusted. Louise attempts to bring Delphine back home, and also closer to God, but the protagonist resists both options, holding onto the stubbornness that has both served her well, and also gotten her in trouble.

My Verdict: Characters that travel to various locations throughout their lives always appeal to me, for whatever reason. It could simply be because I also love to travel, or because having characters in different settings allows for different experiences with different types of people. And in this book, it was easy to justify Delphine's traveling, even to somewhere like pre-revolution Cuba, because she is literally searching for Ernest Hemingway. I admit to being dubious about this part of the story and how believable it would be, but it works out well, and Lemmie does not rely on it to carry the entire novel, even though it is Delphine's main motivation. There are some details that caused the narrative to feel a little clumsy in places, but overall it is an interesting and enjoyable story.

Favorite Moment: I love food, and I love to cook. The brief mention of Delia's southern cooking and how it was adding pounds to Delphine's body made me so unreasonably happy. 

Favorite Character: It would be a tie between Delia and Louise. Both are doing their best to help Delphine, riding the line between being encouraging, but also honest and realistic.

Recommended Reading: I recommend On a Night of a Thousand Stars by Andrea Yaryura Clark.

Young Adult Fiction: Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood

In addition to having won the 2023 Goodreads Choice Award in the Best Young Adult Fiction category, Ali Hazelwood's Check & Mate has been recommended to me several times, and as a lover of YA, I finally gave in to see what all of the fuss is about. With the world of competitive chess at its center, the story follows a young woman as she negotiates her love/hate relationship with the game, and what it would mean for her to truly consider what she wants for her life.

The Situation: Mallory Greenleaf has done the impossible. She has just beaten the #1 ranked chess player and current world champion, Nolan Sawyer. No one is more stunned than Mallory, especially since she begrudgingly showed up to a charity chess tournament at the urging of her best friend, before said friend goes off to Colorado for college. Since everything that happened with her dad, Mallory has kept chess at a distance, despite the fact that she was  - and apparently still is - incredibly good at it. Now she has the chess world's attention, including an organization in New York that is offering her a year-long fellowship. But she also has Nolan's attention, and she is not sure how she feels about either situation.

The Problem: Ever since it has been only her, her mom, and her two younger sisters, Sabrina and Darcy, Mallory has made it her mission to make sure her family has what they need. She has managed to keep the mortgage paid (at least partially), cover Sabrina's roller derby fees, and keep Darcy's guinea pig fed. But the chess fellowship that she is at first so intent on not taking pays well, and some of the chess tournaments she enters have substantial cash prizes. Mallory tells herself it will only be for a year, and that chess is not going to once again become her whole world. She also tells herself that she has no interest in Nolan Sawyer, not even to play against him. But that is exactly what he wants, and as Mallory continues to climb the ranks and become more entangled in the game she tried to leave behind, she may have to admit that the things she has been telling herself are simply not true.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set in and around modern-day New York and New Jersey, with occasional trips being taken to places like Philadelphia, Toronto, and even Italy for various chess tournaments. Though Mallory had once sworn off chess after an unfortunate incident involving her father, she finds herself back in it. This means going over old games; reading books on chess theory; dealing with sexist comments and beliefs about a woman's ability to compete in the sport; even sticking to a new exercise regimen; and trying to keep it all a secret from her mom and sisters. Guilt may be what is driving her forward, but it is undeniable that she is good at the game, and no one seems to see that more than Nolan, the current champion.

My Verdict: This one was a bit of a roller coaster for me, but I certainly see and understand the appeal. For one, the whole rivals-to-lovers trope has a large following, and while it may not be my personal favorite, I do get it. And it also helps that Nolan is moody and brooding, but also smart, thoughtful, and still not without his flaws. While the rivals-to-lovers plotline is not new, the story itself is its own thing, with quirky but realistic characters, and details about chess that are informative without being boring. Finally, Hazelwood confronts the sexism and misogyny in the chess world, even citing a real study that was done concerning the stereotype that women are not as good as men at the game. On paper, it seems hard to believe, but a story involving high-ranking games of chess can be fun, romantic, and even thought-provoking.

Favorite Moment: At one point, it becomes clear to Mallory that what we think we know about someone - particularly how they feel about us - is often not true. And it is near impossible to be sure of something like that if we never reach out. 

Favorite Character: Oz is a fellow chess player at Zugzwang, the organization where Mallory has her fellowship. He is incredibly serious and no-nonsense, but also has some of my favorite dialogue in the entire book. He is just not in the mood, for any of it, and I adore him for it.

Favorite Quote: "What happened?" I ask.

"My wedding planner is out of peonies. What do you think happened? I lost." He glares. "This entire tournament could have been an email." - courtesy of my favorite character: Oz.

Recommended Reading: Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis would be a good follow up.