This month I plan to read quite a few books so I decided to break up my recent reads according to the various legs of the readathon, a readathon modeled after one of my favorite reality tv shows, the Amazing Race.
(One side note: I will not be reviewing my SCASL project books in this post. Those reviews will be in those dedicated posts.)
I had some frustration during the first half of the book because I could not catch hold of the through-line of this narrative. I think that part of the issue lay with how I read this first half, aka fighting to stay awake because apparently any sort of seated, comfortable reading position serves as a cue for my body to fall asleep. That being said, once the narrative finally clicked for me, I could see Borden’s clear skill in how she wove together
her chronicling of the different cults that have existed at various levels of prominence throughout American history. When read with a head clear of indoctrination (or at least leaning towards genuine information seeking) this book could help so many. For those desperate to understand the level of delusion of way too many currently, this book helps the reader understand how people have succumbed to cult thinking in the past which hopefully gives the aforementioned reader needed perspective. I definitely recommend this book.
This book was a lot of fun to read. I will admit, though, that some moments of distraction caused me to miss some plot elements and that the sheer number of books I have read since finishing this one has muddled a bit more which will make this review nowhere near as comprehensive as I would like. That being said, this book fit right in with many of the things that I enjoy in fantasy such as a main character who thinks
the world is normal only to have it flipped entirely on its head to a collection of characters who have made a found family, each with their own absurd quirk or oddity. I will definitely continue in this series as well as pick up Nix’s backlist near-classic, Sabriel.
Although this book is listed as number 1 in the series, it actually came out and was written after Code Name Verity which I absolutely loved. I really enjoyed this one as well. Wein writes compelling, tightly woven historical espionage novels and this one is no different. Even though I have read more than enough historical fiction set in the WWII era, when it’s written by authors as skilled as Wein and Sharon Cameron, I will always pick
those books up. In this narrative Wein takes a little bit of artistic license on real life events surrounding the discovery and eventual use of the Enigma machine while remaining respectful of historical accuracy. She has compelling characters and a strong narrative. I definitely recommend this book and the series.
I finally got around to reading this beloved YA murder mystery and really enjoyed it. Jackson made excellent use of the mixed media elements and the audio version of the book significantly enhanced those elements. I don’t know whether Jackson took inspiration from the Adnan Syed case but I could see distinct parallels which Jackson used effectively while avoiding a direct copycat. I do wish that Jackson’s American
publisher had left the setting alone and not Americanized it. I will definitely continue in the series even though I know that many who love this book were greatly disappointed by the concluding book in the series.
This book strikes right to the heart of what makes me so passionate as an educator. Rooks lays out the stark and harsh ways that attempted, legally-enforced integration (attempted because so many rich, white, so-called Christians have done to avoid doing what’s right) has actually done to nearly ruin public education for the marginalized. I have seen it firsthand in the ways that up until quite recently my own school district did to
the students for years at my school I have seen it in the opinions of others of my school and its so-called reputation. This book resonated with me on a deeply personal level both because I benefited – before I knew better – from education at a private, Christian school established after my current employer finally, in 1970, complied with Brown v Board and because of the aforementioned personal experience. I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. If I have the opportunity to serve as a mentor teacher for any student teachers in the future, I will definitely recommend and give this book to them
When I started reading this book, I did not expect to see my hometown and specific places I know quite well feature prominently in the first few pages where Payne describes his formative years. He also had a code name that just happened to be exactly the same as one of my high school teachers. I did have some glimmers of hope after reading that beginning portion. Unfortunately, this memoir stayed at an incredibly surface level.
I understand that due to the nature of his work, he could not have written a tell all. He could, however have included reflection on his work that lasted longer than a paragraph or two. The memoir ended up reading more like a retired cop regaling anyone who would listen about different ops he participated in. Let’s just say that I am far from the target audience for those types of stories. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this book.
Scott Lynch, with the characters of Locke and Jean, has created the best friendship I have ever seen depicted in any form of media. This book, after the heart-wrenching events of the first book, opens with Jean demonstrating that friendship by showing tough (yet painfully real) love to Locke by not letting him sink deeper and deeper into depression. They begin yet another con, this one somehow involving piracy and poison. While
the plot does not match the heights of book one (how could any of the sequels?), that friendship carries the day and leads well into book three.
This book serves as a powerful accusation against all those in history who have used racism to propel themselves higher by pushing down anyone who those in power consider other. Gayle does a masterful job in this concise historical narrative laying bare the heinous facts and loudly declaring that this history and all the people part of it will refuse to forget. My words pale in comparison. Read the book.
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