Whitewavedarling's 2020 Challenge

Snak100 Books in 2020 Challenge!

Bliv bruger af LibraryThing, hvis du vil skrive et indlæg

Whitewavedarling's 2020 Challenge

1whitewavedarling
jan 27, 2020, 1:10 pm

I didn't quite make it to a hundred books in 2019, but I'm excited to try in 2020!

I've got some catching up to do in the way of reviews... I've already finished reading

1. The Silver Wolf by Alice Borchardt
2. The Outsider by Stephen King
3. Mother's Child by Michael Conant and
4. Shtum by Jem Lester

...but still need to write the reviews. Hopefully, that'll happen this week, and I'll post them here. Meanwhile, I'm already about halfway through The Golem of Hollywood by Jonathan Kellerman and The Changeling by Philippa Carr, so I just have to stay on track and not let myself fall behind in reading, as happened last year!

2whitewavedarling
Redigeret: jan 1, 2021, 9:55 am

I'm not really going to participate in the category challenge this year, though I've also kept track of my reading there over the last few years. I am, though, going to keep doing the alphabet challenge I've set for myself, and keep track of it here in this post. With that, I'll aim to read at least two books for each letter of the alphabet--one where the book's title starts with each given letter, and one where the author's surname matches up with each given letter. I'll only write the books/letters into the alphabet once I've finished a review.

Alphabet by Titles:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Alphabet by Authors:

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

3whitewavedarling
jan 28, 2020, 10:02 am

1. The Silver Wolf by Alice Borchardt

Borchardt's storytelling is lush and detailed, and the writing and characters sucked me into this book immediately. Bringing together what felt like more contemporary treatments of fantasy with the Roman Empire was a masterful move that made for a compelling story, and I couldn't help but be fascinated. The one fault of the novel, perhaps, is that it tries to do so very much--ranging from more paranormal suspense to historical and political intrigue on to paranormal romance and historical fantasy. I think it's as a result of this ambition that some pieces of the book do lag, depending on the aspects of the story you're most engaged in. For me, the political intrigue took over the book at a certain point, and to its detriment--I wish the book had been a little bit less ambitious, actually, or that the story here had been spread over a few books in order to give all of the aspects adequate attention on an ongoing basis.

In the end, I didn't end up enjoying it nearly as much as I thought I would based on the first hundred pages or so, but I'm glad to have stumbled upon it. I'd certainly read more of Borchardt's work, as well, should the story catch my interest.

4whitewavedarling
jan 31, 2020, 9:05 pm

2. The Outsider by Stephen King

On one hand, I really enjoyed this book, but I love Stephen King too much to rave over it. King has put out some amazing novels over the years, and I'm afraid this one just didn't quite live up to the standard set by earlier works, or even by the earlier books that, character-wise, paved the way for this one with Mr. Mercedes and the follow-ups. I suspect that it was just too long, and that some of its energy went in the wrong direction.

The beginning was fantastic, and I couldn't put it down, and then a twist came, and the middle of it got bogged down--partly because one of the elements and suspense-related concerns I was most interested in was eliminated with the death of a particular character. By the time the book's momentum picked back up for me, it felt like I was on a roller coaster ride till the end, and the genre of the book felt like it was being pulled in so many different directions that it was hard to know how to feel about the story at some point. Normally, I'm a fan of genre mash-ups, but I fear this book testified to why they can be frustrating--as soon as I was engaged in one aspect or piece of the puzzle, the book pulled me toward a different one and left the other one in its dust.

I adore Stephen King, and he's written some of my favorite books, but this one suffers by comparison in a lot of ways. I've rated it four stars because I think that, had it been written by someone else, I might not have held it to such a high standard.

5whitewavedarling
jan 31, 2020, 9:19 pm

3. Mother's Child by Michael Conant

There's an important story at the heart of this book--it's centered on parenthood and an imperfect system which is far too fallible to human error and misjudgment. And the plot, careful and horrifying as it is, compels a reader through the book in a powerful testament to those subjects and to the human emotions tied to them.

At the same time, I do think the book could have been a lot stronger if it were shorter and had been through a bit more editing and revision, and I'd be remiss if I didn't say so. The main character was sometimes hard to sympathize or engage with on any level But parenthood, and there were points when the writing really slowed things down, to the point that an editor who was willing to cut or suggest some real cuts--sometimes by paragraph and sometimes by page--could have done the book a lot of good. With those issues on top of some over-the-top choices and cliches, the book simply felt like it needed more editing in order to do justice to the story it was working to tell.

All told, I'd read another book by Conant, but I'd likely have a difficult time recommending this one unless a reader was specifically interested in the exact subject examined or in portrayals of parents being pitted against childhood disease and/or child services operations.

6whitewavedarling
feb 9, 2020, 7:49 pm

4. Death is My Shadow by Edward S. Aarons

Dated as this may be, I really enjoyed falling into it for a brief escape from reality. It's got all you'd expect from a piece of 1950s fiction focused around small-town corruption, gang activity, and a hero who's a small-town boy made good via business and military, fighting for his livelihood and the girl next door who he loves. Just from the description, you know it's dated... but it's also a nice escape. I'll certainly pick up more of Aarons' work to save for the right mood if I can come across it.

7whitewavedarling
feb 9, 2020, 7:51 pm

5. The Golem of Hollywood by Jonathan Kellerman and Jesse Kellerman

I'm a big fan of Jonathan Kellerman, and this was an interesting departure from the norm. It felt like a blend of myth, suspense, crime, and horror, all pulled together into a story that was more steeped in religion and layers than I'd expected from it. All told, there were moments where I was frustrated with the structure and felt some lagging in where the focus was spent, but I did really enjoy it. I think I might have enjoyed it more if I'd had fewer preconceived expectations based on prior experience with Kellerman's work, but I'm glad to have read it and I look forward to the next book in the series.

Recommended.

8whitewavedarling
feb 9, 2020, 7:57 pm

6. Balook by Piers Anthony

Piers Anthony is one of the authors I fell in love with while still in middle school--his books are a big part of what made me fall in love with fantasy and never look back. I also love dinosaurs and animals in general, so you'd think that I'd have loved this book... and I didn't Not love it. There were moments--and the illustrations, especially--where I was totally enthralled with it. At the same time, it had the feel of too many of those books and films about friendships between animals and children--you didn't know whether to dread what was coming or assume there'd be a predictable good ending. At one point, I actually couldn't resist flipping to the end of the book to make sure that I'd get the ending I wanted, and I don't remember ever doing that before... in any case, I finished reading the book after I did that, and I'm glad I did.

I enjoyed the book--it's by no means going to stand out as one of my favorites, and it's more in the lines of young adult than I'd expect from Anthony, but I'm glad to have finally gotten around to reading it. If you love animals and dinosaurs, in particular, then the book is worth digging up for the illustrations alone.

9whitewavedarling
apr 6, 2020, 6:06 pm

7. Stone of Sorrow by Brooke Carter

Stone of Sorrow is a marvelous start to a new YA Fantasy series, but part of what makes it so brilliant is that it doesn't allow itself to be held down by the expectations of that genre and market.

With the careful development and world-building of a more adult fantasy series, Carter's series takes its inspiration from the author's Icelandic heritage and creates a set of characters who meld and develop so naturally that it's hard to believe this is the first book in the series. The main character, Runa, is everything a reader wants in a YA Fantasy, but brought to life with an eye toward world-building and development more so than anything. The effect is what feels like a straddling of YA Fantasy and Adult Fantasy, offering both heart and adventure.

As an avid reader of both adult and YA Fantasy, I have to say that I loved the extra depth and seriousness that Carter brought to this story by allowing it to take on the shape it demanded. I wish it had been a bit longer, in truth, but the details here are gorgeous. The only caveats I have to give, and the reason I'm spending this much time mentioning YA vs. Adult, is that the beginning will be a slow build for some YA readers, and what's more of note than that is there are moments here which feel more adult than what I might normally expect in YA Fantasy--separations and deaths, for instance, that are a bit more real than you'd get from another author, and which speak directly to the body of legend and history that influence this work.

Yet, this little book is so packed and powerful, I didn't want to finish it, and now I can't wait for the remainder of the series to be released. Without a doubt, I'll be looking for Carter's other previous works, but it's the sequel to this one which I'm going to be most excited for.

Absolutely recommended.

10whitewavedarling
Redigeret: apr 6, 2020, 6:31 pm

8. Talion Book Two: Tooth for Tooth by J.K. Franko

Tooth for Tooth is a fantastic follow-up to Eye for Eye, bringing back the intoxicating voice and intrigue of the first book in the Talion series.

This is one of those books that builds piece-by-piece, so it's almost difficult to review without offering spoilers, but what I love about this book (beyond the writing and intrigue!) is that it takes an unusual vantage in the way it tackles a suspense series. There are so many great series out there that follow a detective or agent of some sort, making them the center-piece, but this series works to encompass a whole cast of characters and crimes while remaining true to the genre and to the details that made the first book in the series so powerful. In doing that, it accomplishes a great deal, and it's no small thing to say that the book still manages to be full of twists, surprises, and moments of intrigue that will only engage a reader all the more.

This is a powerful piece of story-telling, and with Franko's attention to suspense, psychology, and criminal behavior, it's also impossible to put down. The one caveat? Make sure you read the first book first if you want to get the most out of this one!

11whitewavedarling
apr 6, 2020, 6:24 pm

9. Pandemonium Rising #05: Valley of the Free by Michael Sliter

Michael Sliter has fast become my favorite writer of grimdark fantasy with his Pandemonium Rising series, and this novella in the series is a fantastic installment.

Ferl was one of my favorite characters in the first book of the series especially, and so I was thrilled to see Sliter put out a novella focused on his life leading up to the major books in the series. The attention the author brings to world-building and character is something special, and what's more, this little novella will be a great read for readers who are venturing into the series anew or discovering the novella after reading the fuller books. It's got the adventure and the humor that follow this character throughout the larger series, as well as the seriousness and the detail that make these books so special.

Truly, my only complaint is that I'd love to see novellas for all of the characters, or see longer works of them--because I hated to finish this one, and it felt like it ended nearly as soon as it began. That's not to say the book isn't what it needs to be; truly, it is. But the story and the writing are that good, you just don't want it to end.

Absolutely recommended for readers of grimdark, as well as epic and dark fantasy.

12whitewavedarling
apr 7, 2020, 1:35 pm

10. The Forgotten by David Baldacci

This is a fast read, and I loved the characters, but I can't say that this one pulled me in as much as some other Baldacci novels. Something about this one just felt more predictable and formulaic, so although it was a nice escapist read that I could get sucked into and enjoy, it wasn't particularly powerful or memorable, and it felt like it had more potential and promise than what actually showed up. I suppose I set a high bar because I so enjoy Baldacci's work that I expect more than escape, and this one delivered on some of the promise, but I'd expected more.

I think Baldacci readers will enjoy it, and it is a nice escape... but it's not his best, and not what I'd recommend to someone just trying him out for the first time.

13whitewavedarling
apr 7, 2020, 2:04 pm

11. The Changeling by Philippa Carr

This was my first dip into trying Philippa Carr (or Victoria Holt, for that matter), and it was hit and miss for me. On one hand, I enjoyed the characters and the historical element--it felt a bit like a predecessor to VC Andrews, who I used to read in high school, if a more mature version in some ways. At the same time, a lot of the drama felt forced and manufactured in a way that took away from the believability of it, even given the expected melodrama, and there were more than a few times when I couldn't help rolling my eyes at the characters' behavior or the way the plot progressed.

So, for what it is, I enjoyed it well enough, but it was something I had to be in the mood to pick up, and it was rarely the page-turner I'd been led to expect the author's works to be. I imagine I'll try another at some point--I've got a whole stack that a friend gave me--but it might be a while.

14whitewavedarling
apr 7, 2020, 2:09 pm

12. The Hour of Maximum Danger by James Barlow

It took me a long time to finish this one.

The characters and the plot were interesting enough, but the broken up structure and the sort of detached writing style made it hard to engage with either the plot or the characters. In some ways, it felt like plot and intrigue were prioritized to such an extent--over character, style, and writing--that the characters were little better than place-holders, as if the writer would have preferred telling the book as a sort of quick history of events instead.

All told, there's not much chance I'd consider giving the writer another try, and I wouldn't recommend this book. There were moments where I grew really interested by way of a character and their story, but then the book would skitter away from them for seventy pages, so that they were barely remembered once it came back to them, and that made the read more frustrating than anything. Honestly, I'm not really sure why I finished it, which I suppose says everything that needs to be said.

15whitewavedarling
apr 7, 2020, 2:36 pm

13. Bad Love by Jonathan Kellerman

This was the first time in a while that I'd read an Alex Delaware novel, and it immediately reminded me why I've so enjoyed them in the past. The characters are fantastic, and Kellerman has a way of blending intrigue with the day-to-day and suspense that I love. This book was no exception, and it also kept me guessing, which I can't say for the last few big-seller thrillers I've read. I'd obviously suggest reading the Delaware novels in order if that's an option, but it's not actually necessary, and this is a good one.

16whitewavedarling
apr 7, 2020, 2:46 pm

14. So I Married a Sorcerer by Kerrelyn Sparks

This book is just fun--there's no other way to put it. If you enjoy paranormal romance with a dash of humor, it's just a fun read.

Sparks' characters are fantastic, and this combines the wonder of the first book in the series with swashbuckling pirates, a cruel king right out of an adult fairy tale, and all of the magic and action and romance you could ask for in a paranormal romance. I do think that the magic system and characters might be unclear for anyone who didn't read the first book, so I'd absolutely recommend starting there even though I think this one is a different flavor and more entertaining in a lot of ways, but these books are just sort of lovely escapes, and I can't wait for the next one.

Absolutely recommended.

17whitewavedarling
apr 7, 2020, 4:06 pm

15. Santa Fe Noir Edited by Ariel Gore

I've read a number of the Akashic Noir books, but this one stands out as my favorite at this point. On top of giving a powerful and varied view of Santa Fe, the collection features outstanding writing with a clear intention of honoring diversity. This diversity not only comes across in the cross-section of authors featured and their varied stories, but in the inclusion of LGBTQ characters and related storylines which together make this feel like the most progressive and diverse collection I've read in the series so far. Noir can sometimes feel dated (to my eye, anyway), but nothing in this collection feels dated, and the editor's attention to varied tones and atmospheres allows the noir feel to shine without the collection ever being repetitive or all of the same flavor.

If you're thinking about trying the Akashic Noir books, this is the first one I'd point you to. I've found stories I've enjoyed in each one, but this whole collection is pretty fantastic, and nearly every author is one I've marked down to follow and find other works from.

18whitewavedarling
apr 9, 2020, 11:15 am

16. The Hundred Secret Senses by Amy Tan

This was my third Amy Tan book, and while it was entertaining, I have to say that it just didn't quite live up to the standard set by the others I've read.

The characters were wonderful and believable, and the sense of mystery offered through Kwan especially was really engaging, but somehow the book as a whole just felt off-kilter. I had trouble staying engaged through the transitions between sisters, the voices were so totally different in terms of both voice and mood, and moving from section to section sometimes felt like a bit more whiplash than anything. This was especially the case at the end, where the last twenty pages or so left me a bit shocked by the progression and change... and not in a good way.

I suppose, all in all, a lot of things added up to hurt the read for me. Entertaining as it was, I didn't like the main character as much as I wanted to, and was far more interested in Kwan. The pacing felt choppy, especially when moving through the jumps in POV, and the mood of the book changed so much that sometimes it was hard to know what I was sitting down for... which led to my not finishing the book nearly as quickly as I would have otherwise, had I known what to expect (in terms of mood/genre) from chapter to chapter. And then there was the end, which I can only describe as surprising and off-putting.

Amy Tan's writing is gorgeous, and her characters are believable and engaging, but this book just didn't live up to the others I've read by her. I think there's something here to be appreciated by a lot of readers, and her fans especially, but if you're new to Amy Tan, this isn't the book I'd recommend starting with--I'd point you instead to The Bonesetter's Daughter or The Joy Luck Club. Meanwhile, I'll look forward to reading more of her work.

19whitewavedarling
apr 9, 2020, 12:02 pm

17. Shtum by Jem Lester

It's taken me an embarrassingly long time to sit down and write this review--because this is one of those books that it's difficult to put words to, no matter how much I believe it should be getting widely read. The cover compares it to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, and I'll be honest in saying that the comparison put me off--I wasn't such a big fan of that work, though I appreciated what the author was trying to do. In my opinion, what Jem Lester has done in Shtum is beyond that comparison, and something entirely different. Both works of literary fiction that deal with autism, they may be, but this is something else.

Lester's work is partly built from his own experience raising an autistic son--and not the kind of autistic individual that's portrayed in Incident and so many other recent works. It's built from heartbreak, the pain of navigating a system that barely knew how to help his son and his family, and the challenges involved in the parenting, the responsibility, and most of all--above and beyond--the love. The book is telling, heart-wrenching, and funny from page to page, and it is also weighted with the unavoidable and impressive weight of reality lifting up the characters into being something more than characters.

This is why this review is difficult... the book is difficult to read, but it is also wonderful, and Lester's style and talent are gifts that tell the story and transport the reader into another reality which is far more real than we might want it to be, wonderful and horrible as that is.

I hope you read the book, and I hope you review the book, and I hope you share the book. It's one I'll never forget, and as trite as it may sound, I think I'm a better human for having read it, and I'll probably read it again some day, expecting it to make me cry and laugh and wave it around in frustration all over again.

20whitewavedarling
apr 21, 2020, 10:40 am

18. Monster by Jonathan Kellerman

This was everything I expect from a Jonathan Kellerman--fast-paced, plenty of twists and intrigue, and character and psychology to go around. It was a wonderful escape from the real world, with just enough plotting and complication to be a keep everything interesting while still being a pretty easy read to sink into.

For lovers of suspense and thrillers, I'd absolutely recommend the Alex Delaware series, and this book among the group of them.

21whitewavedarling
apr 29, 2020, 12:57 pm

19. The Pumpkin Eater by Penelope Mortimer

I suspect this would have been a powerful book when it was first written, and it's a fast read, but I have to admit that I wanted more from it. Though there were parts that I found really engaging and worthwhile, it felt like style and intention overtook any real depth in story or character, both of which I wanted more of. There were times when I felt the book could have been stronger if lengthened and given that depth, and other times when I felt it really should have been much shorter, given the author's apparent intentions. It's possible that that's a signal of the times--and that it needed to be this length to make its point, upon first publication--but in any case, I can't say that this really lived up to my expectations or made me want more from the writer. I can see it being something studied in English classes, but not something I'd be likely to recommend outside of to readers looking for a very specifically feminist and satirical novel of its time. It just fell flat for me in too many ways.

22whitewavedarling
maj 5, 2020, 10:55 am

20. How to Love a Country by Richard Blanco

In this collection of poems that are as powerful as they are timely, Blanco's work manages to marry hope for a better future with critiques of the present. Some of these poems come like a steel-toed kick to the gut, even as lyricism gives way to clever--and sometimes painful--truth, while others are quieter, but no less powerful for that apparent peace.

This is a timely collection that is worth reading, teaching, and sharing, and it's one I'll come back to. Absolutely recommended.

23whitewavedarling
maj 5, 2020, 11:05 am

21. The Likeness by Tana French

This novel starts out deceptively, quietly, but by midway through, it's got the feeling of a runaway train.

Don't get me wrong--I enjoyed the first half of this novel. French's writing is fantastic, her characters are believable and wonderfully flawed, and there's really nothing not to like as far as I'm concerned. But this novel is very different from the first in the series. Where the first felt like a more traditional suspense novel, at least in terms of focus and trajectory, this one quickly gets wrapped up in a lengthy undercover operation. I can see it frustrating some readers who want a faster suspense novel, but as someone who loves novels that get wrapped up in characters and the psychology thereof, I adored it. And then... at some point... I couldn't put the book down. What had been an almost casual investigation became more, and I'm not quite sure I could say when or how, but I couldn't look away.

That's how the second half of this book unfolds--you know what's coming in many ways, and yet you really don't know if you want to because the ride is so fantastic. On one hand, I didn't want to keep reading because I didn't want it to end and didn't want to see it all fall apart. On the other hand, I couldn't not keep reading.

This book was unlike any suspense novel I've read in the past, and may be too 'literary' and deceptively casual for some readers, but I absolutely adored it.

If you liked the first book in the series, read this one. I can't wait to read the third.

24whitewavedarling
maj 5, 2020, 11:22 am

22. Fire Logic by Laurie J. Marks

Fantasy sometimes has a peculiar way of delving into utterly fantastic worlds and landscapes while still speaking truths about the world we're living in. I think Ursula K. Le Guin comes most to mind when having that discussion -- at least for me -- and I've always loved her books for it. Now, I'll love Laurie J. Marks' books for the same reason. High praise? Absolutely. But also true.

Fire Logic begins the Elemental Logic series with a powerful and war-torn novel that focuses on a tight set of characters who feel as real as they are fantastic. War, addiction, faith vs. hope, magic, heartbreak... it's all here, alongside fantastic story-telling. The blurb for the fourth book in the series (which is now sitting on my desk) calls the series 'exciting, thoughtful, queer, diverse, politically aware, complex, and timely'--and all of that applies to even this first book in the series, which I suspect I'll be recommending to readers for years to come. It is smart, powerful, and full of meaning, while being carried along on lush, gorgeous writing and characters who come to life nearly from page 1.

For fantasy readers, I can't recommend this enough. Personally, I can't wait to dive into book 2.

25whitewavedarling
maj 10, 2020, 11:48 am

23. I See By My Outfit by Peter S. Beagle

I bought this book because of the author, and then I ignored it for ages because, when it came right down to it, the idea of it reminded me of On the Road--which I couldn't stand. And I HATED the idea that I'd read this and hate it, as well, having so loved Beagle's other works. I suppose I was afraid that the picture of Beagle offered in this book would somehow tarnish all of the novels, and I don't know what finally led me to pick it up... but I'm so glad I did.

It's lucky I didn't come across this book in high school, or my family might have been horrified and my life might have been very different, but that's the only caveat for this book. Dated as the actual journey and slang may be, there's something unutterably fresh and wonderful about this book. The fashion in which Beagle tells it--with equal beats of hope and dismay, naïve trust and skepticism in the future, and simple fascination with the world--at times reminded me of the nature writing of Edward Abbey, and made me want nothing more than to go back in time and join along for this journey. Reading the book is, of course, as close as we can come... but it is a rather wonderful adventure.

Read it.

26whitewavedarling
maj 11, 2020, 9:29 pm

24. Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

I tried to finish this book, but I just couldn't do it. When it got to the point where I found it far more annoying than anything, I had to call it quits, and for what it's worth, that was around the halfway point.

First of all, I am positive this would have been a better book if the author had stuck to the past and written a more traditional piece of historical fiction. The history this book is loosely inspired by is as fascinating as it is heartbreaking, and I imagine I really would have enjoyed the book if it had kept more to the past, or even simply been a history book about that past. Instead, the jumps into the present ruined it for me, and to be honest, it's hard for me to understand why so many people have praised the book as they have. Perhaps if the book had chosen a genre--historical fiction Or romance Or women's fiction Or drama Or mystery--it would have been better, but as is, I just find that I'm rather disgusted with it.

The book goes back and forth between a child's past in 1939 and an adult woman's present in the present day, and I can't tell you what a problem that is. The present-day sections are so trite, so ridiculously over-the-top in what the author is trying to do, and the characters so flat and stereotypical, it's a little bit infuriating. The present-day sections do nothing less than cheapen the history and the sections told in the past. And here's the thing: I grew up in the south. I've spent a fair amount of time in the towns that this author chooses to use as her setting for the present day... and this book feels like it makes a mockery of them, offering some odd ideal of what an upper-class woman must be in that world. Much of what comes across practically bleeds not just sentimentalism and casual racism, but a stereotype of the south which is the very stereotype most Southerners recognize only as Hollywood stereotype. Add in the casual higher-than-thou attitude and the over-the-top focus on thoughts of feminism vs. tradition alongside self-absorbed righteousness, and it's all just too much to take.

Halfway through the book, I didn't want the narrator of the present-day sections to find a way out of her loveless, society-approved relationship and find closure about her family and her grandmother. I wanted her to walk into the ocean and disappear from the book so that I could just enjoy the chapters written from the child's voice in 1939. I imagine you'll ask why I didn't just keep reading those chapters, and skip the others--and the truth is I thought about it. But in all reality, I wasn't enjoying them so much as I wasn't annoyed by them, and I'd much rather read a history book to get any insight into the history touched on here--and, for me, that's not normal.

So, no, I wouldn't recommend this book. I couldn't finish it, and I'll be sure to never pick up another book by Wingate. Regardless of the awards--which I can only guess were awarded by people who had a very particular idea of the South that was mostly driven by wishful nostalgia or stereotype--I don't think much of anything of this book, and I'm sorry to have spent money on it.

27whitewavedarling
jun 3, 2020, 6:29 pm

25. Winter Rose by Patricia McKillip

McKillip's prose is undeniably gorgeous. She paints worlds and scenes which a reader can fall into and breathe in fully, and the effect is wonderful. I'd agree 100% with the reviewers and readers who compare her work to fairy tales in scope and tone--from beginning to end, that what Winter Rose feels like. At the same time, there's a part of me that things that that element exactly, wonderous as it is, is what holds back her books from being five-star reads for (or has so far, anyway). Much as I love the language and the worlds, the characters don't always feel quite real--it's as if they stepped out of fairy tales as they are, unchanging, and without quite the depth that normally makes me feel for and love a character. I suppose it's a matter of feeling like the plot and language are prioritized over character, to the point that all of the depth falls there rather than in either the protagonists or antagonists, and that alone keeps me from truly falling in love with the books vs. the language.

I'm sure I'll keep reading McKillip, waiting to fall in love with characters like I fall in love with her imagery, but this book did (like others) leave me wanting more in a not entirely good way, much as I enjoyed swimming through the world itself.

28whitewavedarling
jun 3, 2020, 6:34 pm

26. The Murder Book by Jonathan Kellerman

I'm really enjoying the Alex Delaware series, and this book didn't disappoint. What made it my favorite so far, though, is the way Kellerman delved into Milo Sturgis' character and brought him to life in a new and more careful fashion, so that we got more of his backstory and persona than I'd really seen before. I'm sure some readers might disagree and feel that the balancing between Sturgis and Delaware was a disappointment, as it did make for a different book than others in the series, but I thought it was a fantastic choice which offered a change of pace while still delivering on all of the story, depth, and character I've come to expect from this series.

29whitewavedarling
jun 3, 2020, 6:39 pm

27. The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie

This is one of those rare books that I picked up because of the cover--I just couldn't resist--and although it took me some time to get to it, I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the second in the series.

Abercrombie's grimdark style is probably too dark for some readers, but I found it a really refreshing change of pace. The focus on in-depth characterization and unflinchingly honest flaws in those characters made for a read that engaged me almost immediately, and though I wondered where it was going in the beginning and felt it to be a little unfocused, I ended up fully engaged and wanting more. The flaw in the book is, without doubt, a prioritization of characterization over plot, and there were moments where I wished that that ratio were a bit more in balance, but Abercrombie achieved a lot with this novel, bringing together some of the realest characters I've seen in fantasy, and against a fully realized world.

I'd absolutely recommend it.

30whitewavedarling
jun 12, 2020, 6:29 pm

28. The Looking Glass by Isabella Gardner

Some of these poems, such as "Nightmare", are surreal and full of impact, with lines that one can't help but read over and over again. Others are more anchored in nature or experiment, and at least for me, these felt more Pound-ian, a little bit more experimental and less enjoyable on the whole, though I could appreciate them on a more poetic/language level. I suspect that, because of the stylization and the sense informing so many of these poems, they'll probably come across as a bit unwieldy and/or dated to many readers, but I think poets who know a bit of the history/progression of twentieth century poetics will probably find a lot of moments to fall in love with and appreciate.

Not a collection I'd give to readers who aren't long-versed in poetry and already love the form, but a collection I'm glad to have stumbled upon and read.

31whitewavedarling
jun 12, 2020, 6:34 pm

29. The Sunken Lightship by Peter Makuck

There are some gorgeous poems in this collection. The deceptively casual, conversational style of them makes for a calm and measured collection which is anchored in nature, nostalgia, and personal reflection. I suspect this is one of those collections that some readers will zoom through, it does seem so simple on its surface--and, indeed, there were times where I had to force myself to slow down and take in the poems one by one, piece by piece--but there's a lot of beauty and thought here, with room for perspective and pleasure throughout.

32whitewavedarling
jun 12, 2020, 6:39 pm

30. Letters: Poems 1953-1956 by Robert Duncan

Although many of these poems and pieces contain imagery that can all but freeze a reader's breath, I fear it's not a collection I could really recommend. As a whole, the collection feels more experimental than powerful, and as much as I love poetry, I didn't find myself enjoying much of this read. I'm not the biggest fan of Duncan's work, though I read him enough in poetry courses, but this collection left me less engaged even than others, and although I could appreciate the works, I simply didn't get any real enjoyment from them.

33whitewavedarling
jun 13, 2020, 11:50 am

31. Textbook Illustrations of the Human Body by George Estreich

This is one of those collections that I've come back to again and again. Estreich's maneuvering between gorgeous language, complex images and feelings, and powerful reflection makes for a collection that never fails to strike me as being worth revisiting. Many of the poems--such as the first in the collection, "Codes"--feel like they have something new to offer each time I revisit them. New levels, new impressions, new impacts. The juxtapositions he finds, and the layering of meaning, feel timeless and refreshing, so that these are poems I can revisit and spend as much time with as I like, and poems which I can share with students again and again, always finding something new.

This is one of my favorite collections, and I'm sure it will remain so. Absolutely recommended.

34whitewavedarling
jun 13, 2020, 3:08 pm

32. Keeping Lily by Izzy Sweet and Sean Moriarty

I ordered this at the same time as I picked up another of the author's books which sounded like it would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, this one was a disappointment just as that other was, so this was my last try at reading these authors.

Aside from everything about the characters and storyline being the subgenre's exact cliché, delivered without real depth Or originality, the characters themselves weren't believable. I think this subgenre of romance especially requires a bit of a suspension of disbelief, but the characters themselves--as real, breathing people--simply weren't believable, and there's no other way to say it. When you add in editing mistakes, over-the-top writing that was more telling than showing (outside of the relatively well-written sex scenes, which I suspect got a lot more attention than other aspects of the book), and characters that were nothing more than stereotypes who were (both in presentation and in picture on the cover) far too immature for what we're told to believe is their station in life, the book is just a shadow of what it really should be.

Simply, I won't be trying this author team again, and I wouldn't recommend that anyone else bother.

35whitewavedarling
jun 28, 2020, 3:28 pm

33. The Vault by Emily McKay

First, I have to note that I never would have read this book if I hadn't bought the trilogy all at once--the first book was just horrendous, and although the second book was a bit better, it didn't make suffering through the first book worthwhile. That said... continuing the trend, book 3 was better than book 2 or book 1, in large part because the whiny protagonist of book 1 wasn't so front-and-center. That said, I'm still largely unimpressed with this author. The story, characters, and pacing desperately needed more serious editing and revision--with overdramatic characters, obvious plot issues, and tons of plot threads which were never tied up, this book made it clearer than ever that the writer was interested in pursuing teenage drama and romance on a backdrop of vampirism, vs. telling a complete and finished story. With all of the overblown drama, overwriting, and repetition, I can honestly say this book would have been a hundred times better if it were about a hundred pages shorter, which again points to either a lack of editing or, at least, a lack of willingness on the author's part when it came to doing the hard work of revision.

I think, at heart, there was a great concept to set up this series, and great characters, as well. Unfortunately, the execution of the trilogy and the lack of editing failed both story and characters pretty completely. There is, I'm afraid, zero chance that I'll pick up another book by this author or ever find cause to recommend this series. It sounds great, and I thought I'd love it, but I have to say: Do yourself a favor and bypass it.

36whitewavedarling
jun 28, 2020, 3:38 pm

34. The Guardian's Playlist by J. Powell Ogden

This book is a good example of why I rarely put a book down before finishing it--I'm always hopeful that a book will get better... and this one did. I don't think I'll be continuing with the series, but I am glad I finished up this first book.

Ogden's characters and story are solid, and I actually really enjoyed the writing style for the most part. The problem is more one of pacing. Lots of scenes and subplots are overwritten to the extent that the book gets weighed down by them, and I think an edit aimed at cutting wordcount by 10-15% would have done the book a world of good. At the same time, what gets the most development isn't always the most interesting thread within the book--the paranormal and 'guardian' side of the book didn't get nearly enough attention and development, with so much attention being focused on family drama, teenage romance/drama, and the everyday, to the extent that the paranormal/fantastic side of things (which was the truly interesting part) consistently felt underdeveloped and pushed to the side.

I really wanted to like this book, but in the final analysis, it just doesn't feel like it was quite ready for publication. I'd give this writer another try some time in the future, but probably only if a book were published traditionally vs. self-published since the fatal flaw here seemed to be a lack of content editing.

37whitewavedarling
jun 29, 2020, 10:07 am

35. Blind Faith by Rebecca Zanetti

I enjoyed seeing the continuation of this series, but I can't say I was able to escape into and engage in this book as much as the first two in the series. The plot felt a little looser, with pacing sometimes feeling off when it came to the non-romance element of the book, especially. It also, admittedly, began to feel repetitive of the first two books, so similar in structure that everything was just a little bit too predictable from chapter to chapter. I'm sure I'll finish out the series, but I'm not sure how anxious I'll be to pick up another series by the author after the way this one has progressed. There's nothing wrong with this book compared to the earlier ones--it's just too much more of the exact same without enough variation in either plot or character. Romance is, of course, often pretty predictable, but that's one of the reasons I like romantic suspense--there's more variation and more story to support the romance. But if you get the same plotting/story to support the same romance four books in a row, with variations on the same exact twists... well, it's all just a bit too predictable, no matter how likeable the characters may be.

38whitewavedarling
aug 20, 2020, 4:50 pm

36. Life for Life by JK Franko

This third book in the Talion series brings together elements of psychological suspense, murder mystery, and legal thriller in a tightly wound follow-up that I'm positive is going to satisfy readers who loved the first two books. The one caveat: Make sure you read the first two books in the series first. The characters and the story build so tightly from those early books, it's a fantastic follow-up, but I suspect that a lot of the life would be lost from the book if you skip straight to this one. Otherwise, just pull up a chair and expect to get pulled in -- this book is a fantastic ride, and I can't wait for the next JK Franko work.

39whitewavedarling
sep 3, 2020, 12:56 pm

40whitewavedarling
sep 3, 2020, 1:51 pm

More catch-up:

40. Total Surrender by Rebecca Zanetti

41whitewavedarling
sep 4, 2020, 2:18 pm

41. Authority by Jeff Vandermeer

Whereas the first book in the series sucked me in immediately, it did take longer for me to feel truly engaged with this one--but, once I did, I couldn't put it down. The flavoring of the book is entirely different from the first in the series (most notably in relation to character and setting), but it adds to the story in such a way that you can feel it building upon the first book's set up without repeating the same emotion or territory in any way. It almost feels like a distortion of the first book, but in a good way--so, although it wasn't at all what I expected, I came to really enjoy it. If readers set aside any expectations they have for the series and/or first book's set-up, I think they'll really enjoy this one. I'm looking forward to seeing what the third brings.

42whitewavedarling
sep 4, 2020, 2:26 pm

42. I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

I Know This Much is True offers stories within stories, and although the book offers as much heartbreak and character analysis as humor and plot, it is such an incredibly clever and careful exploration of a person's story that it's kind of wonderful, and very often difficult to put down. Although it dragged for me when it got to the manuscript excerpts in the middle/second half of the book, even those were such an interesting snapshot of character that I was never inclined to skim or skip them--I just couldn't be anxious to get back to the voice that held this book together. Because it is the voice that is so powerful, and which makes this book.

The novel was actually recommended to me when I asked for recommendations from friends/colleagues on social media, asking that they tell me of the best contemporary book they'd read which was in first person. With most of my friends being readers, writers, and teachers, I expected some phenomenal recommendations, and this one didn't disappoint. Lamb's writing offers everything one could ask from a novel, and more. It is not a short read or an easy read, but it is worth every moment.

Absolutely recommended.

43whitewavedarling
sep 8, 2020, 5:31 pm

43. Ines' Words by Haidji

I received this book in exchange for an honest review, and while I'd love to be able to offer a positive one, I simply can't.

As someone who adores poetry based on real life persons and stories, I truly looked forward to getting this book, but it feels like the author threw it down on paper in one afternoon and then hit 'publish'. It is, much as I hate to say it, the type of book (in terms of professionalism and publication-readiness) that gives self-publishing a bad name. There are typos that appear as early as the first page of the introduction, and formatting is a distraction throughout the book. The writing itself, if you ignore the typos and questionable formatting, is wildly abstract and repetitive, and although there are plenty of lovely sounding phrases, there are far too many cliches, and I generally got the impression that the writer loved to hear/see her own words and work toward flowery prose, but was paying more attention to sound than meaning... and not interested in revising or offering any depth.

Simply put, this isn't a book I'd recommend, and although I'm the target audience for this book, I was utterly disappointed. I won't be trying out anything else by this author, and I hope she'll hire a professional editor before publishing her next work.

44whitewavedarling
sep 8, 2020, 9:39 pm

44. The Darkest Hearts by Nelson George

As much as this book proclaims itself to be an urban mystery, this is one of those books that transcends genre in a way that's both enriching and aggravating. Mixing critique of culture, hip-hop, and politics with characters whose dialogue bleeds reality and street-smart business, George's prose moves along in a way that pays far more attention to ideas and to character than to plot. And that's not to say that there are issues with the plot, but the plot simply isn't primary. While there are some action-oriented moments, the book is far more concerned with the day-to-day thoughts of its protagonist, D Hunter, and it's no exaggeration to say that the plot often seems secondary to the ideas the author wants to explore and the flow of the prose. Admittedly, that is what's aggravating at times--the plot will seem to be there, picking up, and then it will get lost in a string of back-door deals and concerns. Really, I'm not so sure there's a primary conflict/mystery here, vs. the ongoing story that must have begun with book 1 and continues on through this work. That sounds like damning praise, but it's an enjoyable book, if not a traditional mystery in any way.

The biggest weakness of the book is, to my eye, a pretty extreme dumping of backstory that comes in the beginning of the book. How much of that is spent summing up earlier books in the series vs. being new to the series, I'm not sure, but most of it just isn't required for this book, which makes it difficult (and annoying) to get through. After that, the book picks up and it's almost impossible not to be swept up in the life of D and the few other characters chapters revolve around.

Will I pick up another Nelson George book? I'm not sure. Will I read one, and likely enjoy it, if it happens into my hands? Probably.

45whitewavedarling
sep 17, 2020, 1:07 pm

45. A House is a Body by Shruit Swamy

Swamy is undoubtedly a talented writer, and a few of the stories here are wonderfully powerful, but on the whole, this is one of those collections that make me consider avoiding award-winning stories and collections full of stories that have been featured in respected literary journals. It's not that the writing isn't wonderful--it is--but the brand of MFA fiction that seems to prize art, writing, and concept above story and meaning isn't anything I really care to read a full collection of.

There are short story collections full of 'MFA' or literary fiction which I adore, but in this case, it felt like more of the stories prized language and 'literariness' over quality of story. Some of the stories here stood out as being both powerful and memorable--notably, the last two in the collection ("A House is a Body" and "Night Garden") and the more novella-length "Earthly Pleasures", which was the first story in the collection that I can really say I enjoyed, despite the fact that it appeared about halfway through the collection. In these stories, there was a depth of character and concept that gave real life to the stories, vs. having them be quite so formed and overly artful. They felt alive, and they connected to me in a way that none of the other stories managed.

One of the blurbs here reads, 'The perfect book for lovers of short stories', and I'd amend it to say that this may be 'the perfect book for lovers of MFA-driven short stories'--which, admittedly, is somewhat damning praise. I enjoy literary fiction, and I love short stories--the short stories of Nathan Englander, Anthony Doerr, and Jhumpa Lahiri are the very reasons I fell in love with their writing--but short stories still require depth and life, and too often, it felt like these stories were aspiring to be literary more so than to be enjoyable or engaging.

I may very well take a look at any novel Swamy writes in the future if the description strikes me, but I'm afraid I can't really recommend this collection to anyone other than readers of literary collections and MFA students who want more MFA fiction or to see what some of the big lit. journals are really looking for (which, I suppose, this offers a sample of based on the publications listed for these stories).

46whitewavedarling
sep 17, 2020, 1:19 pm

46. Earth Logic by Laurie J. Marks

Although I'm not sure that the magic of this book stood up to the first book in the series, I still absolutely adored it. Marks' prose and the world she's created here are intoxicating, and although there were moments in this one where I found it tough to keep track of all of the intricacies of plot and character, I still loved just about every minute of the reading experience. The blend of in-depth characterization, world-building and story-telling here is hard to beat, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

The one caveat: The reading experience here absolutely depends on the first book--this is a book that's meant to be read soon after the first one, and I imagine the next book will be the same, so I'd recommend interested readers plan on devouring the series all at once, book to book, rather than taking breaks from the world in between the books in the series.

47whitewavedarling
okt 27, 2020, 8:20 pm

47. Killing Moon by Rebecca York

I haven't read many books about shifters--either in paranormal romance or horror, for whatever reason--but I really liked the way this author handled that element of the work. Without having it totally take over the story, it also wasn't simply taken for granted, whereas it often seems like the paranormal really is taken for granted in this genre. This was also a pretty balanced book with just enough twists to keep it from quite being predictable from moment to moment, and the characters weren't just engaging and likeable, but smart.

I'd certainly recommend this to readers of paranormal romance or folks who want to dip their toe into shifter romance, and I imagine I'll be keeping an eye out for more of York's books since this was a relaxing escape.

48whitewavedarling
okt 27, 2020, 8:34 pm

48. NOS4A2 by Joe Hill

My previous experience with Joe Hill's writing came only through Twentieth Century Ghosts--which I adored. That collection of short stories may be my favorite single-author collection of horror stories to date, so I had high hopes for this novel, especially considering who the author is and that I'm a big of his father Stephen King's writing. I say all that because, having finished the book, it's hard for me to know whether or not my final reaction would be the same if I hadn't had such high expectations here.

I enjoyed the book, for the most part--and I can't even really say that it dragged--but as much as the concept fascinated me, I often found myself wandering into other books rather than sticking to and finishing this one. That's not normal for me, especially when it comes to horror novels, but there was something about this one that just didn't quite compel me in any given moment to come back to it. I think, on reflection, that it comes back to the main character. Much as Vic is sympathetic, believable, and engaging, there's a certain fatalism to her character, and to the extent that I can put my finger on why I didn't care about her as much as I want to, I think it comes down to the fact that it often feels like she doesn't care about herself. She cares about her family, and even about the world and strangers... but it often feels like she doesn't care about herself. This isn't a matter of her being suicidal or anything else that would require some trigger warning beyond what the very nature of this book would suggest, but it's difficult to really care about someone when, from the moment you meet them, you feel like they don't quite care about or take themselves seriously enough, and in the end, that's my impression.

There are other, smaller things that bugged me, but this is where I think we come back to that question of expectations. I had incredibly high expectations for this book. So, while I can nitpick and say that maybe we spent a little bit too much time with the bad guys as the novel progressed, or say that Hill was a bit heavy-handed at times and didn't quite have the instincts to just let something go when it could have been more impactful/powerful (vs overdone), I do think those are criticisms that wouldn't have occurred to me if I'd had no expectations going in. I adore his father Stephen King's writing (and I'm sure he personally probably gets sick of being compared to him), and you can absolutely see the influence; the big difference, for me, is that I don't yet trust all of Hill's instincts and trust him not to gut me like some horror writers do in who they kill and when--and to be honest, I trust him even less after reading this book--and that I do think some of the gore and some of the passages were just, for lack of a better way of putting it, somewhat over the top.

The last variable is, truly, one of marketing as much as anything. Given the title, I really went into this looking for a vampire read. I expected a book about vampires, and it's kind of that simple. Instead, while there's a connection... this is not a book about vampires. I can see where the license plate comes from, and I can see how it's clever, and I can see why he and others might have thought it was a good title... but to be honest, it's not a good title. For one thing, it just doesn't fit. Even if Hill's version of vampires is at the center of this book, them being vampires has nothing to do with anything. Giving the book this title almost sets up readers for disappointment, in my opinion. I can think of a dozen different titles that would have been more appropriate and not set up an expectation that was doomed to fail, but here we are, and yes, this annoys me. Because if I hadn't wanted a vampire read, I would have picked up some other horror novel, and I would have gotten to this book eventually/sooner than later when it would have better met my tastes/expectations.

So, all in all, would I recommend it? It's hard to say. It's nowhere near as good as Hill's collection of short stories, and it's got its weaknesses. On the other hand, when I picked it up, I generally kept reading for a few hours and it certainly provided an escape. I will be reading more of Hill's novels, but if I could go back, I probably wouldn't start with this one.

49whitewavedarling
nov 2, 2020, 10:14 am

49. Red Water by Kristen Mae

This book doesn't easily fit into genre categories, and while I normally don't consider that an issue, I think it is for this book. Right off the bat, the marketing of this one is off-kilter. When you take a look at the atmospheric cover (which is gorgeous) and read the blurb, you're not entirely sure of genre, but it seems like it must be along the lines of romantic suspense or erotic suspense. There's a suggestion of some mystery involved, and with the lead line of 'He was trying to kill her, too,' you wouldn't be out of place in expecting some mystery. Certainly, you expect some intrigue mixed with some romance.

Instead, there's really no suspense or mystery at all. In fact, there's not even what you could exactly call a romance. When I was about a third of the way through it, I went back to the blurb to see if it fit--and while I had to admit that I could see how it fit, the blurb and the cover are also, in terms of genre, incredibly misleading. The problem with that is the fact that I wasn't even remotely in the mood for this type of book when I picked it up, and I'm sure other readers have probably DNF'd it for similar reasons.

So, what is this book? For the most part, it's a character study. It's fairly well written, but it's basically a character study of a girl suffering from mental health issues going off to college for the first time, and getting wrapped up in a guy who takes advantage of all of her insecurities and issues. That's kind of it. Now, Mae does a FANTASTIC job with the psychology of the main character--I'll give her that. But that's the biggest thing the book has going for it. The characters around the main character are basically stereotypes, and toward the end, their characters aren't particularly consistent--I suspect because Mae wanted to amp up the tension and elevate this above a predictable character study. Either way, the book had me wanting to throw my hands in the air over the last fifty pages or so, where it simply became unbelievable in terms of both character and plot, and in a way that seemed to really undermine all of the careful attention she'd given to character up until that point.

And, unfortunately, I have two other gripes that are big enough they can't go unmentioned. First, following up on that last point, this book is incredibly predictable. In fact, if you forget any expectations of genre, you can literally predict everything that's going to happen (barring the weird and unbelievable climax) from beginning to end. You know where the main character is going to end up (and how), and you know most of the details of how she'll get there. That's obviously not good. On top of that, although the word 'erotic' is used in blurbs on the front and back of the book, most of the sex in the book comes closer to being pornographic than erotic. Putting detailed sex on the page doesn't in itself make for erotic prose, but that seems to be the expectation here.

So, all told, although I can admire Mae's deftness with creating a believable main character, and give her a lot of credit for the detailed attention she gave to the psychology of that main character, this book isn't one I'd recommend, and I don't see myself ever picking up another book by Mae. Even leaving aside the off-base marketing, there just wasn't much to this book. For readers of New Adult mainstream fiction who just want to read about the day-to-day of a complexly written freshman college student, maybe it will strike the right chord, but for me, there just wasn't enough here.

50whitewavedarling
nov 2, 2020, 10:20 am

50. The Great Abraham Lincoln Pocket Watch Conspiracy by Jacopo Della Quercia

I'm actually not sure how this book ended up in my collection--it may have been a gift--but I'm so incredibly glad that it did. I can't remember when I've last read a book that was so much fun.

Quercia's blend of history, adventure, and steampunk fantasy is brilliant, and once I began reading the book, I couldn't stop. If I were more of a history buff, I'm positive that I would have enjoyed this even more, but as it is, I just adored it. I'd recommend it to anyone.

51whitewavedarling
nov 4, 2020, 10:16 am

51. Absolute Brightness by James Lecesne

I'm struggling with what to say about this one. For 75% of the book, I thought it was phenomenal. Great, believable, and engaging characters with powerful, worthwhile themes and scenes. Fantastic writing and pacing. I couldn't put it down, and didn't want to.

And then, in the last portion of the book, that shifted. All of a sudden, it felt like the story was being pulled in a lot of different directions, and the pacing was more frenetic and rushed than engaging. I also got less comfortable with the story--it was believable, but what had felt so natural to the first half of the book felt almost... left behind? As if what the reader cared most about and most engaged with was being pushed aside as less important. It's difficult to write about this without giving away the plot, which I don't want to do, but I can only compare it to the feeling when you're watching a beloved tv show, and all of a sudden the focus leaves one of your favorite characters behind in order to focus on someone else who you find a lot less engaging, interesting, or worthwhile. It's not that the turn isn't believable, but it's a certain weighting of priorities that might come across as annoying, or might, as it does here, come closer to feeling slightly offensive.

There's no other way to say it than for me to state simply that I was uncomfortable with the direction of the ending, and the way priorities/themes were showing up. It wasn't that it all wasn't believable... but it was disappointing.

At the same time, for 75% of this book, I couldn't get enough, and I'm sure others will read the ending differently (and more positively) than I did. I'll absolutely read more of Lecesne's work, and this book will stay with me for a while.

52whitewavedarling
dec 14, 2020, 10:31 am

52. Watering the Dead by Jason Irwin

These poems took me to the times and places they centered on--dying factory towns, rust belt cities, and kitchen tables and taverns and porches nursing broken dreams--which is in itself something impressive. In fact, the details here are so grounded in setting and culture, in particular time and place, it's almost impossible not to be transported by them. And there are moments scattered through these poems which struck me in the moment, and demanding re-read after re-read.

I'd like to read more by Jason Irwin, though at the moment I'm not sure how I feel about the collection. There's a grounded power to it, but (a lack of?) editing also distracted me, perhaps adding to the impression that some of the more poetic moments felt more forced, as if the scenes offered here were meant to be vignettes just so much as poems, with line breaks somewhat forced on them to take them away from being prose. As a result, even as I could appreciate how Irwin brought the people and scenes here to life, I wanted more from the poems themselves, which made for something of a disconnected reading experience.

Still, there's a lot here to admire, and I'd certainly want to read more by Irwin.

53whitewavedarling
dec 14, 2020, 10:36 am

53. Jane's Warlord by Angela Knight

Perhaps I should have guessed from the cover and the title, but this one was a little over-the-top for my taste. I really enjoy creative and well-written paranormal romance, but this one was just a bit... much. My favorite parts focused on the side characters, who were wonderfully humorous and real, but the two main characters were just too much the stereotype of what we'd expect from MCs in this genre, so that they didn't feel particularly real. With the thin plotting and the insta-love added in, on top of some truly awkward dialogue and rushed pacing, I found myself glad to finish this one. It might be a light and humorous escape read for folks who love PNR, but I really needed more to enjoy it and I don't particularly expect to try the author again.

54whitewavedarling
dec 14, 2020, 10:46 am

54. Urban Poetry by Carolyn Gibson

There's not a lot to be said about this poetry collection. As professional as the work appears, the poems read more like first drafts of poems than professionally polished works ready for publication. Most of the poems here needed quite a bit more depth, and wouldn't stand up to poetry published by contemporary journals and/or presses--for very good reason. There's just not enough weight or care to them, and even without the press's emblem, it would be clear the work was self-published.

I wouldn't recommend this book, and I'd only pick up another book by the author if it came from a traditional press and some of the poems had been published in respected journals, as the poems here clearly needed quite a bit more time and work than they received.

55whitewavedarling
dec 14, 2020, 10:51 am

55. Zorro by Isabel Allende

Although it took me some time to really fall into and engage with this book, I'm glad I stayed with it. There's a sort of timelessness to Allende's prose here, and the way it brings Zorro to life offers a particular power to the story that befits the legendary quality. Reading the book took me back to watching the black-and-white television series I enjoyed as a child, but with a depth that made this book feel more like a journey than a novel in many ways. I'm glad to have read it.

56whitewavedarling
dec 20, 2020, 10:23 am

56. The Centaur by John Updike

Updike's prose is so artful, this story is gorgeously told, and there are scenes that will stay with me for some time. Yet, for whatever reason, this book existed as a sort of gray area for me--I wanted more myth or less, and firmer footing in one realm or another. Because although the movement between viewpoints added to the book, there was something about the emotional context and characterizations that kept me at such a distance from the story, I never quite got the impact that I've gotten from Updike's other works.

I may read this again, when my mind has more bandwidth for the complexity, and I'm sure I'll recommend it to particular readers, but this isn't the Updike work I'd start with if you're new to his prose.

57whitewavedarling
dec 20, 2020, 10:47 am

57. The Queen of Bedlam by Robert McCammon

In this sequel to Speaks the Nightbird, McCammon offers such a breathtaking mix of suspense, historical fiction, and even sprinklings of horror, it's a bit breathtaking. As a character, Matthew Corbett is as real and flawed as he is entertaining, and it's wonderful to travel with him through the branches of this novel. More than in any of McCammon's other works, I found myself guessing as to how all of the threads could possibly come together, but of course they did. I read the last 200 pages of this one in one sitting--it was impossible to do otherwise--and the book has been a reminder of how entrancing McCammon's worlds are.

Absolutely recommended.

58whitewavedarling
dec 27, 2020, 8:02 pm

58. The Moon is Always Female by Marge Piercy

This is a readable and relaxing collection, exploring the casual in graceful and head-turning language. Mostly narrative in style, the poetry here has a constant eye to the feminine experience, to the place of the artist, and to individual independence from society and gender roles. At times, the poems seem deceptively simple, but many of them have a depth that invites further consideration and gives a nod to the irony embedded in everyday experiences.

I found this collection relaxing and straightforward, refreshing in its humor and quiet depth. I'd recommend it to poetry readers, with the single warning that the first half of the book is undoubtedly the stronger portion of the book, so that while the whole work Is worth reading...the end is somewhat disappointing and plain in comparison to the beginning. Still, highly recommended.

59whitewavedarling
dec 27, 2020, 8:09 pm

59. Chemistry and Other Stories by Ron Rash

Ron Rash's short stories have a fullness and heft that seems incredibly rare in short stories. With most collections, I can enjoy all of the stories, but still move from one to the next without feeling like I need to take a breath in between; Rash's stories, though, so often carry the weight of novels. Each one is a full world unto itself, so that you want to pause after reading even the short ones and consider the characters/world you've just been allowed to fall into.

And beyond the undoubted reality of the Appalachia portrayed in these stories, there's a gorgeousness to the prose that can't be denied. It's worth sinking into even as it stuns with simple truth.

I don't have favorites in this collection--so many of the stories are worth not just reading, but re-reading. I'd absolutely recommend it; this is the best of what short story collections should be.

60whitewavedarling
dec 27, 2020, 8:17 pm

60. The XMas Effect by Virginia Johnson

I enjoyed the story here, and the movement of the structure, but the unfortunate thing was that the story desperately needed editing. The complexity of the story could itself cause confusion, but that was compounded by regular tense issues which should have been addressed in editing, and other small editing issues were a distraction throughout. The editing was such an issue, in fact, that when the story seemed to begin doubling back on itself and re-covering territory explored earlier, I at first thought it was an editing mistake vs. a structural/stylistic move--and that tells you just how distracting the editing was.

I'd love to say I could get past that issue and really fall into the characters/story, but as it is, I struggled with this one.

61whitewavedarling
dec 28, 2020, 10:12 am

61. You Belong To Me by Colin Harrison

The cover of this book drew me to it when it first came out, and I simply couldn't resist it. Then, it sat on my shelf all this time because the description just didn't seem quite as entrancing as the cover... until I began reading.

Harrison's depiction of a map-collecting New York immigration lawyer, along with the city itself and the all-too-real characters around him, is marvelous. At first, I wasn't even quite sure what sort of story I was reading, but within a few chapters, I couldn't put it down. The tightly wound story is so beautifully written and drawn with such care that it's impossible to call this either suspense or literary fiction--or even anything in between. There's suspense, certainly, as well as crime, romance, and such a deft hand with character that even the smallest of characters seem utterly real.

I'd recommend this to anyone who'd care to be drawn into an intelligent New York story hovering between suspense and literary fiction, and I'll be picking up the rest of Colin Harrison's work now, as well.

62whitewavedarling
dec 29, 2020, 9:23 am

62. Lyric Poems by John Keats

Containing thirty poems, this is one of those little collections of classics that's worth having at hand for reference and re-reading. There's no explanation, so this is meant for the reader who's already comfortable with Keats' language/reference points, but the power of the poems comes through as much today as ever.

63whitewavedarling
dec 29, 2020, 9:34 am

63. A Case of Two Cities by Qiu Xiaolong

Xiaolong's Inspector Chen series offers a fantastic blend of character, atmosphere, and mystery, with all of the books being anchored in poetry and attention to the details of Chinese culture in Shanghai, especially when it comes to food and custom. This is the fourth book in the series, and was somewhat of a departure from the earlier books in the series. Where earlier books felt more centrally focused on a mystery, this one ranged across multiple cases/concerns (multiple continents, even), and seemed just as focused on attending to Chen's character and the literary aspect of the series. That took some getting used to, I admit--it wasn't exactly what I'd expected upon picking up the book--but I ended up enjoying it. And, as always, Xiaolong's inclusions of poetry made the book that much richer, even if it sometimes stretched believability that they'd come so easily to the characters' minds.

I would say that, so far, this book is an outlier in the series, and that readers would definitely want to start with the first three books. The other caveat is that it feels like this book ends on less firm footing than normal, and leads directly into the next book--to the extent that it almost feels like this is a two-parter more than a stand-alone in some ways. I'll be making a point of picking up the next book sooner than later because of it, but regardless, I certainly recommend the series.

64pamelad
dec 29, 2020, 6:05 pm

>63 whitewavedarling: Death of a Red Heroine has been on my wish list, aka black hole, for a while. Your recommendation for the series encourages me to read it.

65whitewavedarling
dec 31, 2020, 5:09 pm

>64 pamelad:, The series really is pretty fantastic; they're quiet books, but they're so rich that I adore them.

66whitewavedarling
dec 31, 2020, 7:50 pm

64. Smoke and Gravity by Win Neagle

This is such a strange book, but it's also kind of wonderful. Zany, entertaining, and filled with the absurd as well as with love, it's just kind of... well, adorable. Bringing together a whole cast of strange characters, and written in a jumping, fast style that makes it feel almost like a collection of vignettes more than a novel in some spots, this book feels as if it was written in short bursts by Christopher Moore and Douglas Adams and Kurt Vonnegut all together--maybe over a big pitcher of Red Bull and Vodka--and then sent back in time to be touched up, flavored, and edited first by F. Scott Fitzgerald and then by Flannery O'Connor.

I don't know how this book came into my collection. I don't know how else to describe beyond saying what I just have. It's short, strange, oddly sweet, and well worth reading. I truly wish I could just go buy the author a beer.

Absolutely recommended.

67whitewavedarling
jan 1, 2021, 9:56 am

65. On Tour with Rita by Nicholas Christopher

Nicholas Christopher's poetry has a surreal quality to it, keeping one foot set in concrete reality and another in the strangest (in a good way) of images. While I'd say that the first half of this book is stronger than the first, the whole of it is well worth reading, and such a journey to fall into and explore.

Absolutely recommended.