Young Adult Fiction: What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez

After learning that author Isabel Ibañez would be appearing at this year's LibraryPalooza (though she sadly ended up having to cancel the appearance), I decided it was time to tackle her Secrets of the Nile series, starting with What the River Knows. A young girl learns about the deaths of her parents, and finds herself in the Egyptian desert chasing both forgotten magic, and dangerous secrets.

The Situation: On the surface, Inez Olivera has a life many would envy. As part of the upper society in Buenos Aires, Inez lives a life of luxury and relative ease, with little to worry about. Unfortunately, it is not the life she wants, as she has always dreamed of being able to join her parents in Egypt, where they have spent at least six months of every year for her entire life. After constantly asking if she can join them, and always being told "no" because it is too dangerous, Inez awaits the arrival of a letter that she hopes will finally have the answer she has always wanted. But the letter contains a different kind of news altogether: It seems her parents have perished in the desert, leaving her incredibly rich, but devastated. Against everyone's wishes, she decides to travel to Egypt herself and learn what happened.

The Problem: Inez manages to make it to Egypt, only to be told upon arrival that she must go back. It seems her archeologist uncle agrees with her parents' argument that Inez should not be in Egypt. But after managing to escape his watchful gaze more than once, which means frustrating and deceiving his handsome British assistant Whit, Tío Ricardo finally agrees to letting her stay after she proves to be useful, in more ways than one. Not only is Inez a gifted artist and can help sketch detailed depictions of what is found at the dig site, but she is sensitive to the magic that can still be felt in some of the places and items. This will help Tío Ricardo's team find what they are looking for, and hopefully before their rivals do. But the more discoveries Inez makes, both at the site and about her parents, the more the danger increases, as does her determination.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult historical fiction novel set mostly along the Nile River in 1800s Egypt. Starting in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Inez is living comfortably with her aunt and two cousins, the only thing missing from her life being the presence of her parents. Once she learns about their death, she defies everyone's wishes and leaves for Egypt, only to encounter resistance, and a seemingly endless amount of secrets. Her uncle knows something, but is not telling, which only makes Inez more determined to stay in Egypt and learn the truth. With her parents' deaths being Inez's main driving force, there is also the larger situation that was taking place in 1800s Egypt, which was experiencing colonial expansion and imperial rule, while artifacts and valuables were being taken from temples, monuments, and tombs. And then there is a subtle hint of magic underlying everything, and that serves as Inez's guide.

My Verdict: This book is a combination of adventure, magic, and romance that so many readers crave. Not only is the protagonist traveling up and down the Nile River in an attempt to find priceless artifacts, but those artifacts often contain magic, as do the places where they are found. And then there is the constant back and forth, and romantic tension between Inez and Whit. The secrets are endless, as are also the discoveries, and every new twist opens up more possibilities, and unanswered questions. Inez's stubbornness and resolve are at once delightful, while also frustrating, as she ceaselessly makes massive mistakes. Then again, feelings of desperation and neglect makes people do reckless things. Ibañez allows this story to go places, where many authors would probably have held back.

Favorite Moment: Whit attempts to put Inez on a return ship back to Argentina only moments after she arrives in Egypt. But she makes a big gamble and finds a way to stay, which both impresses and frustrates her uncle's assistant.

Favorite Character: This is tough, because everyone in this book is hiding something, almost no one can be trusted, and Inez cannot seem to keep herself out of trouble. Isadora is the daughter of a man Tío Ricardo hired as a sort of security guard, and while there is certainly more to her than what is shown, she seems to truly be on Inez's side and comes to her aid more than once.

Recommended Reading: On a Night of a Thousand Stars by Andrea Yaryura Clark is a historical fiction novel also set in Argentina, moving back and forth between the past and present.

Nonfiction: Bits and Pieces by Whoopi Goldberg

Actress Whoopi Goldberg has written several books, both fiction and nonfiction, but this is the first time I have picked one up. Bits and Pieces: My Mother, My Brother, and Me caught my attention because of its focus on Goldberg's early life, and her experience growing up with her mother, Emma Johnson, and her older brother Clyde. From what life was like as a child in New York City, to her rise in Hollywood, Goldberg share intimate, and sometimes painful memories of the people who helped shape her.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that mostly moves chronologically through Goldberg's life and career. Starting in the Chelsea projects in Manhattan, Goldberg describes her life living with only her mother and brother, while attending Catholic school (with the uniform and everything), and not having very much, although she did not realize she was poor, not when she was a kid. Her mother was the type of person who simply made everything work. Goldberg then moves through her teens and the start of her career, mentioning shows and movie titles that many will recognize. And eventually, the narrative talks about Emma's death in 2010, and Clyde's in 2015, and the grief that comes with having the two most important people in your life suddenly not be there. 

My Verdict: There is a lot packed into a book that is less than 250 pages. The book is not only a memoir detailing Goldberg's life and career, but also an exploration of who her mother was, what she taught her, and her belief that she owes her mother all the credit for what she has been able to accomplish. I found the entire narrative to be fascinating, especially the stories of when Emma met celebrities, and even one president. And of course, there are the high points and pivotal moments of Goldberg's career, such as when she won her Oscar, and how the lead for Sister Act was actually meant for Bette Midler. Finally, many will be moved by Goldberg's final thoughts on grief, and how it is different for everyone. I read the physical copy of this book, but may decide to listen to the audiobook as I am sure it is an incredible experience.

Favorite Moment: The story of when Whoopi, her mother, and her brother all met Marlon Brando is my favorite, though the moment she and her mother met Bill Clinton is a close favorite.

Favorite Quote: "Probably none of us had the childhoods we think we had." - the opening lines of the book.

Recommended Reading: One celebrity memoir that I cannot seem to recommend enough is Steve Martin's Born Standing Up. And I will also recommend Born a Crime by Trevor Noah. 

Contemporary Fiction: Definitely Better Now by Ava Robinson

Having too many options for books to read and then write about is ultimately a good problem to have, but it is still a problem. One recent decision I had to make between two new novels resulted in today's selection, Ava Robinson's Definitely Better Now, coming out on top. When a recovering alcoholic manages an entire year sober, she believes life will be less complicated, but somehow the opposite proves true.

The Situation: Emma has been sober for a whole year, 52 weeks, and she is now getting ready to attend her one-year celebration at Alcoholics Anonymous. For the past year, Emma has been making better decisions, and focusing on holding down her office job, and generally building a better life for herself. And now, with 12 months of sobriety added to her accomplishments, she feels like she is ready for new challenges, such as dating. And Ben, the IT guy at work, is not only cute, but also a little flirty. Unfortunately for Emma, having made it past the one-year mark does not magically make everything easier, or better. 

The Problem: While Emma wants to believe she is ready to date, what she is not ready for is the attention of one of her slimier coworkers, Mitch. But after a nomination from her supervisor, Emma not only has to work on the company 'Fun Team' (a.k.a. party planning committee), but the other members of that team include slimy Mitch, cute Ben, and an annoyingly gossipy woman from human resources. If the work drama was not enough to deal with, there is also Emma's distant father, her separation from which has defined much of her life. Not only has she known for a long time that he is also an alcoholic, but he has always denied it, and was not exactly a pillar of support when his daughter decided to stop drinking. The first 12 months of sobriety may have been difficult, but it does not look like the path forward is going to get any easier any time soon.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set in and around modern-day New York City. Twenty-six year-old Emma is one-year sober, but still very much taking everything one day at a time. There is a good amount of discussion about who Emma was before she decided to stop drinking and doing drugs, and how there are some things in life she is simply not sure how to do sober. And one of those is dating. She has managed to hold down a respectable job, stay committed to an AA group and sponsor, and has even started making new friends, but despite expectations, life has continued to get more complicated, and social situations more difficult to navigate. Emma's trials and journey will be relatable to many, with or without a history of addiction, as life is often messy, and impossible to control.

My Verdict: For me, this book was a little bit all over the place most of the time, but somehow managed to pull it all together in the end. There are the complications of dating; difficult relationships with parents; the struggle of making friends as an adult; dealing with cringey coworkers; and for Emma, being a recovering alcoholic in the middle of all of it. There were moments when I forgot about other aspects of the plot until they made a sudden reappearance in the story, as if the author briefly forgot about them too. And while I would not classify the ending as an ambiguous one, as everything comes to a mostly satisfying conclusion, there are still some loose threads and unanswered questions.

Favorite Moment: Emma's AA sponsor, Lola, means well, and does everything an AA sponsor is supposed to do. But there is a moment when Emma finds the need to stand up to her and stand firm in something, and it feels necessary.

Favorite Character: Cute IT guy Ben is a good guy. But not an overly sweet and unrealistic guy either. He seems like a real person, and someone worthy of one-year sober Emma who is doing her best.

Recommended Reading: I recommend The Glass Girl by Kathleen Glasgow.

Nonfiction: Custodians of Wonder by Eliot Stein

The naturally curious readers are the ones that will seek out books like Eliot Stein's Custodians of Wonder: Ancient Customs, Profound Traditions, and the Last People Keeping Them Alive. In this book, Stein tells the story of ten little known practices from all around the world that are on the brink of extinction. From Cuba to Germany to Japan, Stein takes the reader on a series on adventures, each a lesson in history and culture.

Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book set all over the world. Each chapter details a custom or tradition that is not only not very well known, but also in danger of disappearing forever, most of them due to the small number of people still living who can perform a specific skill. There are the women of Sardinia with the incredible ability to make su filindeu, a type of pasta that is so intricate and delicate and beautiful that it has been called "the threads of God." Then there are the djelis of Mali who play the balafon while narrating tales. And even movie poster painters in Taiwan, an art form that is dying out if only because of the increased use of digital printing and computer graphics. With each chapter, Stein gives a thorough history of not only the curious tradition, but the region and people's history, while also including personal stories from the people he was able to learn from.

My Verdict: With ten different traditions to explore, in ten different locations around the world, there are at least a couple of these chapters that each reader will find engaging and fascinating. It could even inspire would-be travelers to visit some of these places, though for a few of these locations, getting there will take some doing. I am personally curious about the "The World's Rarest Pasta" in Sardinia. While it is clear that Eliot visited each of these places and was able to interview a fair amount of people, it is also clear he did his research, and worked hard to look into traditions that were truly rare and not widely known. Putting ten of them in one book works well, but some of these may merit to have their own publication. 

Favorite Chapter: I have already mentioned "The World's Rarest Pasta" as one of my favorites, but my actual favorite is "The Only Democratic Job in Cuba," which talks about lectores, the people who read the news and even works of fiction out to the workers in the Cuban cigar factories. I also enjoyed "Scandinavia's Last Night Watchman."

Recommended Reading: I have not read many other books that travel the world like this one did, so I will recommend both The Impossible City by Karen Cheung, and Dancing with the Devil in the City of God by Juliana Barbassa.