books

Playing Catch Up on my Spring Reading – Books #18-22

Leave a comment

After last month’s lengthy and much needed blog post, I realized I needed to play catch up in other regards as well.  I would like to spend more time on the creative, personal, as well as fun, but I cannot do that if I let these older reviews I put off clog my blog space.  Not to short change any of them, mind you, but after so much time, I cannot do them much justice in their own lengthy posts anyway.  So, here are some short rundown’s on 5 of the books from my Spring Reading.

Really, all I need to say here is that I have yet another example of a book that just really isn’t quite up my alley.  Tananarive Due’s The Good House is not a bad book, but it isn’t really my style. In short: Angela Toussaint hopes that returning to her Grandma Marie’s house, the house of her youth, will bring her some peace, but tragedy follows. Five years later, she returns, hoping to face the demons of her son’s death and let them go.  But ghosts and real demons follow, and Angela is left to puzzle out the pieces and solve the mystery her son’s death.

A haunting tale, with horror and mystery, you would think I’d embrace it.  But truthfully, I didn’t connect to the characters or story as much as I thought I would.  I know this is more me than the quality of the writing or the story itself. It is an interesting tale, but it is a little predictable with too nice of a bow on top.  It reads more as ghost-story written for the NON-ghost crowd rather than them being the primary audience.

Next up we switch to a very different genre, young adult fantasy.  Stolen Songbird, by Danielle L. Jensen is a bit of a misleading title. On the eve of leaving her home town to study music with her mother, Cecile is kidnapped and forced to marry the Prince of the Trolls.  Trapped under the mountain, where a powerful witch has cursed them, the trolls hope the marriage between human and troll will lift their 500 year old curse.  When it doesn’t, Cecile is thrust into a confusing world of politics, betrayal, and unexpected love.

With such a summary, it is no wonder I picked it up: fantasy, music, politics…wooo! However, it is also still a young adult novel…I should have kept that in mind.  Music, or singing, has VERY little to do with the novel, and the annoying romance tropes of “pretending to hate each other” play out here.  But, the politics and intrigue are interesting. The world is interesting, if a little flat, and while I want to see where she takes her version of “trolls,” I’m not necessarily sure I like it.  I might read the rest of the series eventually, but I’m not in a rush.

The next book, #20, was a bit of a surprise for me.  Rysa Walker’s Timebound was one of those free E-books I picked up on a whim. It took me about a year to actually decide to read it, and I didn’t expect much.  However, I was incredibly impressed.  Is it great literature? Definitely not. But, it does embrace originality.  Kate is given a strange glowing medallion and told that she has inherited the ability to travel through time. She doesn’t believe it for a second until her world is turned upside down with time shift.  Kate must then travel to 1893 to prevent a murder that threatens her entire future without altering it further.

Overall, it’s a quick, fun read that doesn’t over complicate (or over simplify) time travel and it’s theoretical problems.  Plus, through in a little YA romance, historical fiction, and good old adventure/mystery, and you can’t go wrong.

I know I said I’d NEVER read Jim Butcher, but I gave in since one of my very best friends kept recommending it. So for #21, I gave in and tried Storm Front, book #1 of the Dresden Files.  Harry Dresden is a Wizard for hire, a Paranormal Investigator. The Chicago PD comes to him for help with a dark double murder where black magic is involved, and it’s up to Harry to stop him

Honestly, with my preconceived notions of this series, it wasn’t quite as bad as I thought it would.  However, I’m still not a huge fan. I’ve been told it gets better, but Dresden is a bit misogynistic, having a thing for the damsel in distress.  I’ll give Butcher some credit though, his women aren’t necessarily weak and the world is intriguing.  I’d like to understand more of his method of urban fantasy.  Still, the story is fairly flat and not really my thing. Eventually, I’ll probably try some more (see Cort…I keep my promises eventually)!

I picked up this book basically because it was an Audible Daily Deal, but I am SOOOOOO happy I did.  Chris Taylor’s How Star Wars Conquered the Universe: The Past, Present, and Future of a Multibillion Dollar Franchise, is not only incredibly informative, it’s a well written analysis of our popular culture.  Essentially, it’s a biography of the Star Wars franchise, not just one person but the entire dream, development, cultural obsessions, fandoms, etc.  It embraces all aspects and doesn’t shy from questioning the creative vision when needed. Really, it’s a lovely balance of fact, fun, and analysis.  If you like Star Wars at all, I HIGHLY recommend it.

More coming soon….I promise!

Book #16 – On Immunity: An Innoculation, by Eula Biss

Leave a comment

A little outside my norm, but Eula Biss’ book, On Immunity: An Inoculation, is well worth the deviation.  Biss takes on the highly publicized Anti-Vaccination movement that has been sweeping the US, and yet she does so in a non-agressive, completely approachable way.  I cannot recommend this book enough! Whether you simply want to know more about vaccines and their history, or you’re really debating to vaccinate your children, Biss provides answers.

As a mother herself, Biss talks directly to the audience most directly affected by and directly causing the current vaccine/no-vaccine issues: The Parents.  She points out the fears of parenting: the worrying over what is right and wrong, what will cause your children harm, what will save them…where do you draw the line?!  These are natural, normal, and completely understandable. Just because you want the best and safest route for your children does not make you crazy for worrying over things you’ve been told may harm them!  However, Biss does not shirk her responsibilities: sometimes, the reward FAR outweighs the risk, as in the case of vaccinations.

Biss’ main thesis is that vaccinating is far safer and effective than not vaccinating, but it is alright to have questions and be cautious.  She sprinkles in history, science, ethics, and the moral issues surrounding vaccinations.  All of these serve to not only inform but to hopefully show the doubting reader an answer: choose vaccines, because even with the worries, they’re worth it.

My review may be short and glowing, but I can’t talk too much without telling you her entire book. In short, I recommend it for those interested in understanding how vaccines developed and why people fear them. More importantly, I definitely recommend it for those afraid of vaccinating their children. Biss really does a stellar job of targeting her audience without alienating them.  Give this book to anyone you know who doesn’t understand why vaccinations matter!

Top Ten Books From my Childhood Currently Still on my Shelf

5 Comments

8a00a-toptentuesday

Another week, another list from The Broke and the Bookish! This week was a freebie, so I had to think it through a little bit. So, my freebie list is a little bit lengthy in description, mostly because it’s difficult me for me to make up my mind on these things!

For this week, I looked on my shelf of young adult/children’s books, one’s I actually read sometime between the ages of 8 and 14 (or somewhere around there), which I still regularly return to. Knowing where my reading interests are now, it might be surprising how very little fantasy sits on those shelves (or made it to this list). Instead, it’s filled mainly with historical fiction, with a smattering of others mixed in!

1.  Jacob Have I Loved, by Katherine Paterson, has been around since 1980, and it won the Newberry Medal in 1981.  More importantly, it is an amazing story! A classic book, I fell in love with it at a pretty young age. I reread it regularly, and I cannot recommend it enough.

2.  One More River, by Lynne Reid Banks introduced me to conflict in the Middle East at a fairly young age.  I was obsessed with World War II and all the different aspects around it. This followed naturally into the founding of Israel and the formation of kibbutzs.  Lynne Reid Bank really gets the point of view of a young adult while giving some striking perspective on life in Israel and the war with Jordan.

3.  Afternoon of the Elves, by Janet Taylor Lisle will long remain one of my favorite books.  It is about imagination, friendship, and the importance of seeing through to what people need and where they are hurting.

4.  Sarah Bishop, by Scott O’Dell.  So, I know this “historical fiction” is really just fiction.  However, the strong independent woman living in the woods fighting off the witch accusations certainly captured my imagination.  O’Dell always excels survivalist stories!

5.  The Giver, by Lois Lowry.  What can I say about this book that hasn’t been said already? A classic, well loved by many, it certainly has had an impact on young adult literature and probably the life of many a child, including me. I admit, I haven’t read the rest of the series, partly because the first one means so much to me.

6.  In My Father’s House, by Ann Rinaldi.  Okay, so there are actually a LOT of areas in history I loved as a kid…this one is the Civil War. No wonder I now work at a historic site…this is all starting to make sense

7.  The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare.  So, I obviously also had an obsession with the witch trials. Hell, I still do. Maybe I should do a list just on those books…Anyway, this is fairly light fair even for the subject matter, but it is still gripping.

8.  I am Regina, Sally M. Keehn.  Okay, okay…the pattern continues…now we’re onto stories of Indian Captives. This one is supposed to be based on fact, but I know much of it is pretty much just imagination. Still, the themes for my younger self are here as well.

9.  Horror at the Haunted House, by Peg Kehret.  Finally we break the cycle!  A piece of fluff sitting on my shelf!  Simple, short, mystery (with a hint at the ghostly).  Perfect little popcorn tale, then and now.

10. Ozma of Oz, by L. Frank Baum.  Alright, so I have only read a random few of the massive series that is Baum’s Oz.  I love this one the most, and that is in large part due to the AMAZING film Return to Oz.  I love the 1985 film. I even have a chicken ornament named Billina.  Yes, this is my life and I’m proud of it! I really do recommend the book (not just the movie).

**Bonus, because not currently on my shelf for some odd reason…

The Big Lie: A True Story, by Isabella Leitner.  The list made me rethink this missing book in my library. This was my first book on the Holocaust, which I read in Second Grade. I can’t find my copy! What happened!!! While I have many, and I do mean MANY, books on the Holocaust (I did mention my WWII obsession), this one was definitive largely because it was the first, and it was perfectly written for a young audience.

Top Ten Authors I Want to Meet

4 Comments

8a00a-toptentuesdayIt’s that time again, brought to us by the wonderful folks at The Broke and the Bookish, and after last week, I’m glad I can spend some time fawning over authors!  This was honestly a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.  There are so many authors I would enjoy meeting, narrowing it down to those who mean the most, the ones I would stand in front of and struggle not to cry, that took me a bit.  I think what is listed below, is the elite of authors for me…my own personal collection of Jimeny Crickets (my consciences on my shoulder).  So…short and sweet…well…for me…

1.  Jane Yolen.  Can I fawn over her enough? She may not be a big popular shiny new author, but I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, she changed my life as a reader and as a woman.

2.  Charlotte Bronte.  This is another non-shocker.  Bronte’s Jane Eyre changed my life as much as Yolen’s work.

3.  Ursula Le Guin.  I have only read two of her books, but Le Guin is the queen of science fiction and to meet her would be to meet a legend.

4.  Neil Gaiman.  I fell in love over his comics, and I’ve stuck around to fall in love with the rest.  I should add Amanda Palmer here as well since they are a dynamic duo, but independently I also find them awesome! They are both amazing, creative, and just plain likeable. I feel like meeting them, especially Amanda, would be like meeting long-lost friends.

4.  Patrick Rothfuss.  I’m a newbie to the Rothfuss fan club (in comparison to his millions of devotees).  However, not only is he a stellar writer, he seems to be one of the most likeable and human people out there. Plus, he kissed a llama. HE HAS MY VOTE!

5.  Virginia Woolf.  Talk about another huge impact on my life. Mrs. Dalloway remains one of my all time favorite books.  Woolf dealt with a lot, and meeting her would be an honor.

6.  Gertrude Stein & Alice B. Toklas.  Okay, another one where it should be TWO, but I’m stretching it here. Really, authors or not, I would adore meeting both of these incredible and iconic women.

7.  Brandon Sanderson.  I have yet to read a book by him that I do not love.  World building, magic systems, religion, politics…yes please!

8.  Libba Bray.  Again, I’m fairly new to the Libba Bray fan club, but I love her writing style, her originality, and, of course, her sense of humor. She comes across as the crazy cool cousin that you see once a year and ask yourself why you don’t talk more.

9.  Mark Twain.  Okay, so I generally am not a fan of classical American tomes. However, meeting Twain would be an honor on many levels. One: I’m from Missouri…gotta love a Missouri author. Two: Huckleberry Finn is one of my favorite books.  Three (and most important): Twain was outspoken for his time and had a major impact on literature as a whole. How could I pass on meeting him!

10.  Hildegard von Bingen.  Okay, so most people own’t know who she is. If you do, it might be as a canonized saint.  Really, I fell in love with her when I read her 11th century Physica and Causae et curae back in college when I started my fascination in folk cures and the evolution of medicine.  In a time when women were rarely recognized or remembered, Hildegard was writing about theology, science, medicine, and music. I cannot help but be eternally impressed by her and grateful for her example.

Ten Books (or Authors) I Will Probably Never Read

6 Comments

8a00a-toptentuesdaySo, I’ve slacked on my Top Ten Lists. Time to pay another visit to The Broke and the Bookish for this week’s list filled with fury and disgust (or rather just the knowledge that these are NOT books for me).  It is supposed to be about ten books I’ll never read, but I’ve expanded some to the author in general.

I’m honestly not really so hateful, but like most readers, I do form strong opinions and that includes some books or authors I just can’t bring myself to get into.  However, I realize saying you don’t like something is often fighting words for most avid book lovers, so be warned!

1. 50 Shades of Grey, by E.L. James. I just can’t even….I made myself read (or skim) Twilight, so I could understand the hype and argue why the series is just so maddening.  This one, I can’t even justify that little bit.

2.  Middlemarch, by George Eliot. This may not need to be on my NEVER list.  Indeed, I’ve read part of it, and hated it.  Still, the parts I did read caused enough of a strong reaction in me to make me never finish and want to never pick it up again.  I know it’s a classic, but it might just be the ONE English classic I can’t stand (besides Wuthering Heights).

by Gemma Doyle

3.  Anything by Cassandra Clare  (besides the first City of Bones, which I’ve already read).  I disliked her first hit SO much, I just can’t read anymore. Her writing may in fact improve, but I find her uncreative, and her online bullying in the fan-fic community is just a shame.

4.  Anything else by Stephenie Meyer.  As I stated earlier, I read Twilight to be able to fight against the series with clear arguments. I don’t want to suffer through read her stuff again honestly.

5.  Under the Dome, by Stephen King. I like King, but I couldn’t make it beyond the first few chapters of this book.  I’ve tried twice.  It doesn’t help that there is tons of imagery of people being sliced in half or losing limbs when the dome falls…and I tried to read this (the first time) only a few months after I sliced off my own finger and almost lost it completely. Bad Idea.

6.  James Patterson is another author I just have no desire to read.  I’m not much into straight mystery or what I sometimes not so lovingly call generic fiction.  He easily fits that category for me. Just boring.

7.  Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher.  This is more of a probably because my friend has been begging me to give the series a try.  I just don’t like the sounds of it.  We’ll see if I ever give in to her request.

8.  Any book (or movie) by Nicholas Sparks.  Just. No.  *shudder*

9.  The rest of The Caster Chronicles by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. I read Beautiful Creatures and it was okay, but it was also enough to let me know I don’t really need to read the rest.

10.  Lastly, Game of Thrones, by George R.R. Martin.  I do love the show, but I don’t feel the desire to read the books.  Maybe one day, but I think there are plenty of other books out there I’d rather read first.

Ten (well, almost ten) Inspiring Quotes from Books

3 Comments

8a00a-toptentuesday

I haven’t felt much like writing lately, but I hope that another Tuesday with The Broke and the Bookish will serve as a bit of inspiration.  This week is inspiring quotes from books.  I’ve gathered at least a few that stick out for me, even if I’m not quite up to ten.

1.  Do you think I am an automaton?-a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched form my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! – I have as much soul as you – and full as much heart!   And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you.  I am not talking to you now through the medium custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh: it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God’s feet, equal – as we are!”  —Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte always takes the cake.

2.  “But you know, Matilda, you cannot pretend to read a book.  Your eyes will give you away.  So will your breathing.  A person entranced by a book simply forgets to breathe.  The house can catch alight and a reader deep in a book will not look up until the wall-paper is in flames.  For me, Matilda, Great Expectations is such a book.  It gave me permission to change my life.” —Mr. Pip, by Lloyd Jones.  This was the last Christmas present my Uncle Bob gave me before he died (though I’m sure my aunt had a hand in the purchasing). However, this quote summarizes the impact of reading on the reader, quite nicely.

3.  When movement has been banished from a nature that seeks its continuity, when it becomes renegade and remarkable by virtue of its very discontinuity, it attains the level of esthetic creation.  Because art is life, playing to other rhythms. —The Elegance of the Hedgehog, by Muriel Barbery as translated by Alison Anderson.

4.  Whatever happens. Whatever
     what is is is what
I want. Only that. But that.       —“Prayer”,  by Galway Kinnell.

5.  “No. This is where I have always been coming to.  Since my time began.  And when I go away from here, this will be the mid-point, to which everything ran, before, and from which everything will run.  But now, my love, we are here, we are now, and those other times are running elsewhere.”  —Possession: A Romance, by A.S. Byatt.

Top Ten Characters You’d Like to Check in With

Leave a comment

8a00a-toptentuesday

One more Top Ten Tuesday from The Broke and the Bookish.  There are far too many characters in the world of books for me to choose! These few are some I’ve felt like I could be friends with, and I wouldn’t mind visiting with them again.

1. Bitterblue  from Kristin Cashore’s Bitterblue.  I know Cashore might return to this world still, but as it stands, we don’t know how Bitterblue is doing as she continues to mature into a young ruler. I’d love to see her grow up more!

2. Paloma from Muriel Barbery’s The Elegance of the Hedgehog.  A lot of people don’t really care for this book, but it had a powerful impact on me.  I want to see Paloma as a young woman after what she learned in this book

3. Neville & Luna from J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.  I’m sure plenty of people will choose someone from this series. It’s such an iconic one after all, for millions of people young and old.  Out of all of the characters, these two are the ones I miss the most (and I choose to consider them together… always…even if they’re not…I love them both).

4. Tamir/Tobin from Lynn Flewelling’s Tamir Triad.  The world skips her time as queen and goes into a much later tale (when she is reduced to legend).  Well what else goes on in the kingdom? How does she rule? I NEED TO KNOW!

5. Chava & Ahmad from Helene Wecker’s The Golem and the Jinni.  If you haven’t read this book yet, do yourself a favor and DO!  Lovely historical fiction with amazing characters.  I’d love to see where it is exactly that they go in the world.

6. Alanna of Trebond from Tamora Pierce’s Song of the Lioness quartet.  Technically, we get to see her again in Pierce’s world.  However, I’m interested in the in between time.

7. Aza from Gail Carson Levine’s Fairest.  Most people are more familiar with Levine’s  Ella Enchanted (the book, not the goofy movie) which takes place in the same world just before this book. However, Fairest is quite a different book and seeing Aza as an adult would be interesting.

8. Stuart & Fran from Stephen King’s The Stand.  This book doesn’t really need more fleshing out (it is over 1000 pages long after all), but I’d like to peek in on these two especially after all the chaos.

9. Charlotte Doyle from Avi’s The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle.  One of my favorite book’s as a kid.  Spoiler alert: I want to see her back on the seas, years down the road, after she’s abandoned the elegant life for good.

10. Richard Mayhew & Door from Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere.  Really, who CAN’T get enough of this world?!

Book #12 – Ancillary Justice, by Anne Leckie (or Guess Who Found a New Favorite Book)

4 Comments

Another winning recommendation from Annie.  Anne Leckie’s Ancillary Justice deserves all the awards and commendations it has received and then some. It won’t be up everyone’s alley, but for me, I can easily put it in my top dozen favorite reads.

Briefly, Leckie’s website summarizes the book as follows:

On a remote, icy planet, the soldier known as Breq is drawing closer to completing her quest.

Breq is both more than she seems and less than she was. Years ago, she was Justice of Toren–a colossal starship with an artificial intelligence linking thousands of corpse soldiers in the service of the Radch, the empire that conquered the galaxy.

An act of treachery has ripped it all away, leaving her with only one fragile human body. And only one purpose–to revenge herself on Anaander Mianaai, many-bodied, near-immortal Lord of the Radch.

Basically we have an epic, lovely space opera with a militaristic society, complex AI, and an absence of gender (as we see it).  Breq and the entire Radch society only use feminine pronouns (she, her, sister, daughter, etc.).  Now, there are indeed different sexes, but it simply does not matter to the main civilization. It is only through interactions of other races that gender becomes an issue (really more of an issue of propriety but little else).

Special Edition Artwork by Lauren Saint-Onge

Now, you may think this means the entire novel is about gender, but really it is more powerful that gender isn’t an issue at all.  Leckie’s real power is her storytelling, her ability to create a complex society within a detailed universe seemingly thousands of years old filled with developed characters who struggle with their own sense of identity and purpose and the morality of their choices.  She tackles really deep existential concepts, that moment of self-awareness and “becoming,” and she does so artfully for both the more advanced as well as the common reader of sci-fi.  In the end, gender doesn’t matter to what is an overall incredible and meaningful story.

These themes of identity, meaning, and morality are what stand out to me the most.  Of course, the single gender pronoun grabbed me and the concept presents great ideas for discussion, but Breq (or Justice of Toren) is more importantly an example of self-reflection and growth, of facing down destiny, and of learning how we can operate as individuals as well as part of a community (and how important both things are).

I’m not sure any of this makes sense unless you delve into Ancillary Justice.  For me, it took me back to some of my favorite philosophical discussions, and I hope my saying so doesn’t deter potential readers. Leckie’s work just hit me that hard.  I will be reeling from it for months and years.  If you like well written sci-fi, you’ll enjoy this book.  After all, there is a reason Ancillary Justice is the first book to receive all three major awards-The Hugo, Nebula, and Arthur C. Clarke awards-for Best Novel.

Book #11 – The Legend of Drizzt: The Collected Stories, by R.A. Salvatore

Leave a comment

This review will be short and sweet, just like one of these collected stories! Okay…they’re short…but not sweet.  I mean, they’re perfectly good stories, but anything by Salvatore is pretty action packed with little time for what I would call “sweet.”

I’ve never read R.A. Salvatore before this, but I’ve seen his name and books all over the place.  He’s pretty much a standard in the fantasy writing world, especially for anyone who may play Dungeons & Dragons. He pretty much invented the Dark Elf hero (aka Drizzt).  If you’ve ever played a game of D&D or World of Warcraft, these books might be up your alley.

The collected stories are probably better suited for anyone who has read the series since these pieces follow main characters or link to big plot lines.  However, I picked it up as a free Audible deal thinking it might be a good intro to the series without too much of a commitment on my part. PLUS, the audiobook is read by various celebrities: Felicia Day, David Duchovney, Weird Al, Danny Pudi, Wil Wheaton, etc.

It certainly served as a good introduction, and it was a lighthearted change from my normal fair; a good break in between the longer texts where I usually live.  The readers were great for the most part, though sometimes celebrities just shouldn’t read audio books (I’m talking to you Ice-T…seriously).  Wil Wheaton was phenomenal as a reader, and he certainly had one of the BEST stories to display is range.  Having played D&D myself, I also really felt like one of our late night campaigns had come to life in Salavatore’s work. In that regard he succeeds!

On the other hand, it’s really just not my type of book.  No real depth or character development, and yes, I realize these are short stories so that happens.  But the battles, monsters, action tales, while good for a late night role playing campaign with a bunch of friends and some D20s aren’t really what I consider my ideal reading. I like more “uumph” more “meat” more…”MORE.”  I definitely recommend these books for a certain audience. They are fun, well written, and extremely detailed.  However, the introduction is probably enough for me.

Though I kind of miss playing D&D now…

Top Ten Books Recently Added to My TBR List

2 Comments

8a00a-toptentuesdayI’ve been off my writing game lately. Busy week/weekends, work, and life all distract. I even passed on last week’s Top Ten! For Shame!!  So, briefly, I’ve compiled this week’s list from The Broke & The Bookish which is Ten Books recently added to my TBR List. I’d love to hear your suggestions!

1.  On Immunity: An Inoculation, by Eula Biss.  I just picked this audiobook up on a whim, so it will be one of my next listens.  She has good reviews for what appears to be a well rounded discussion/argument for vaccines.

2.  A Madness So Discreet, by Mindy McGinnis. Historical Fiction Thriller set in 1890 following a main character struggling with her own sanity. McGinnis’ book isn’t out until the fall, and I cannot wait!  Plus, look at that lovely cover art!

3.  Angelfall (Penryn & the End of Days Book #1), by Susan Ee.  Another blogger recommended this series to me and warned me not to be put off by the angels.  Since I love post-apocalyptic fiction, I decided to listen to her suggestion!

4.  Partials (Partials Sequence #1), by Dan Wells.  More Post-apocalyptic YA and another blogger recommended read.  The blurb had me at “for fans of The Hunger Games, Battlestar Galactica, and Blade Runner.”  It piqued my interest further with the concept of war between humans and genetically engineered beings.

5.  Ancillary Sword (Imperial Radch #2), by Ann Leckie.  I just finished the first one in this series, and I can safely place it somewhere in my all time favorite top ten books.  Good sci-fi with themes of culture, identity, social norms, and gender.  I’m looking forward to the second with the third due out sometime this year.

6.  Blood Red Road (Dust Lands Trilogy #1), by Moira Young.  More post-apocalyptic fiction with strong female characters. I’ve had two different people recommend this book to me recently, so it should probably be tackled sooner rather than later.

7.  Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality, by Christopher Ryan & Cacilda Jetha.  Yes, this one totally switches gears! I love studying gender, relationships, and how/why we are built the way we are.  After a good discussion with one of my friends, she told me about this book which she too had just put on her To Be Read list.

8.  Shift (Silo #2), by Hugh Howey.  I reviewed Wool about a month ago. This is the follow up, though it is more of a prequel.  I already have the audiobook, so it’s just a matter of time before I listen to it.

9.  The Good House, by Tananarive Due.  This was one of those “on a whim” purchases on Audible (it was on sale). It looks good though! Supernatural thriller…haunted house…good reviews…I’m in!

10.  Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, & the Body, by Susan Bordo.  I’ve read selections from this book. Correction, I’ve TAUGHT a selection from this book.  However, I am ashamed to say I’ve never read it! I forgot about this one until recently, and so, I’m making it my goal to read it before the year is out! Bordo always has a good way of analyzing culture and the body, both male and female.