Books and puzzles July - August 2022

 

I finished 2 fun puzzles this week. All the cats, with a cat! 

-by George Saunders

I am late to the game on this author, but finally got there.  I listened to all the short stories as audio, read by him-highly recommended.

Fox 8:  This is the one I will remember.  Saddest short story I've heard/read in a long long time. 

Lincoln In The Bardo:  This is the most popular one.  I appreciated the unique style and liked it well enough.

Congratulations, By The Way:  A graduation speech, but I didn't know that when I picked it up.

Spiderhead:  This has been made into tv, so maybe people love it a lot, but my least fav.  Not sure what that means!

A Swim in the Pond in the Rain:  Why does a short story work?  This is like taking a class, but you don't have to do the assignments.  But written so it doesn't feel painful.  Of course it might help that I am not actually trying to be a writer.  Really well written.

500 pieces of doors

-by Louise Penny

A Rule Against Murder:  Next in the Gamache series.  This one is at a lakeside BnB, crabby family, nice twist.  On to the next one! :)

-by Terry Pratchet

Lords and Ladies:  The witches take on elves.  (Read this one out of order that lead me to read the others)

Equal Rites:  We meet Granny Weatherwax, the rest of the witches and the little town part of Discworld.

Wyrd Sisters:  The witches meddle in the business of the kingdom.  The power of theater.

Witches Abroad:  The power of stories.

Maskerade: On to the opera and a lovely mocking of Phantom of the Opera

-by Glennon Doyle

Untamed:  Picked up randomly because I needed an audiobook.  Self help with a good message.  A bit repetitious, but since I listen at 2x speed it's ok.  Not a lot of specific practical advice, but I liked it anyway.

-by Kat Cho

Wicked Fox:  YA, supernatural young love.  So many feelings, not enough communication, reasonable twist. This might have become a DNF except I could listen at 2x.  I think I have been reading too much YA.  I like to complain they all need editing, but maybe they just are not written for me.

-by Linda Holmes

Flying Solo: Part rom com, part story of life.  Good turns and realistically written.

-by TJ Klune

The House in the Cerulean Sea:  Lots of folks love this book, but I liked his other one better.  It felt a little too simplistic and the plot has zero surprises, for me anyway.  But I did finish, not a difficult read.

-by Becky Chambers

A Prayer for the Crown Shy (#2 in the Monk and Robot series):  Straightforward simple style, but brings up big thoughtful topics.  

-by Oprah and Dr. Perry

What Happened to You?:  When kids (and adults) act out, rather than ask what is wrong with you, we should be asking what happened to you.  All your experiences make up your reactions to the world.  The actions are happening for a reason that makes sense to the world the person lives in.  A touch of neuroscience, insightful anecdotes, and an easy conversational style make this a great book.

Graphic Novels

-by Kat Leyh

Thirsty Mermaids:  Story of mermaids that become human...because they want to drink alcohol.   Adult topics, funny and sweet.

-by Tillie Walden

On A Sunbeam:  Coming of Age, in space.  I love this author, even reading this on the phone was good.

-by Ngozi Ukazu

Hockey, #1 in a series:  An figure skater turned hockey player, first year college.  Cute, but I don't feel compelled to read more.  

DNF

-by Dana Schwartz
Anatomy:  YA, Frankenstein's monster adjacent.  I was about 2/3 through when I could see where it was heading and didn't love it.  Read a summary and did not need to read the rest.

-by Ryka Aoki

Light From Uncommon Stars:  Tons of people LOVE this YA, but I thought it needed serious editing.  Too much telling us the same thing the same way.  It sounds like a fun idea and it is lovingly full of diversity.  But once you get the people, the story does not move forward at a good pace.