May reading roundup #1

The Importance of Being Seven, Alexander McCall Smith
The sixth Scotland Street novel finds Matthew and Elspeth expecting triplets (!), Angus and Domenica traveling to Italy on holiday, and Bertie struggling, as ever, with his overbearing mother, Irene (and longing to turn seven). Fun and philosophical and gently satirical, like all the other books in this amusing series.

The End of Night, Paul Bogard
Our night skies are disappearing, due to the increasing brightness and volume of man-made light. Bogard visits a wide range of bright and dark places – from the dazzling Las Vegas Strip to Acadia National Park in Maine – to explore the effects of light pollution on our health, our public spaces and our society. His deep love for the night is infectious, and his interviews with folks ranging from astronomers to night-shift workers are fascinating. To review for Shelf Awareness (out July 9).

Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake, Anna Quindlen
I loved this warm, witty book of essays, in which Quindlen touches on everything from the importance of girlfriends to the profound changes wrought by the women’s movement during her lifetime. She writes wisely and often humorously about marriage, motherhood, family and aging – it felt like I was sitting across the table, listening as she shared her wisdom. Wonderful.

Someday, Someday, Maybe, Lauren Graham
Aspiring actress Franny Banks came to NYC after college, determined to make it big in three years – and she’s got six months left. Graham (whom I loved on Gilmore Girls) has created a fun first novel, full of New York moments, sly humor and wonderful mid-90s details (answering services, high-top sneakers, pay phones). Franny is funny, smart and full of spunk, and I rooted for her the whole way. The ending was a bit abrupt, but this was a wonderful ride.

The Romeo and Juliet Code, Phoebe Stone
After leaving England, 11-year-old Felicity is dropped off at her grandmother’s house in Maine while her stylish, mysterious parents return to Europe to pursue their secret work. When Felicity’s uncle starts receiving top-secret letters from her father, Felicity and her new friend Derek investigate. I found Felicity naive and bratty at first, but I did enjoy the story, and I eventually warmed to her. Fun weekend reading.

Calling Me Home, Julie Kibler
African-American hairdresser Dorrie is surprised when her favorite (white) client, Miss Isabelle, asks a big favor: she wants Dorrie to drive her from Texas to Cincinnati for a funeral. As the women travel north, Isabelle shares her story of falling in love with a black boy as a teenager in 1930s Kentucky. Meanwhile, single mom Dorrie is dealing with her own problems, and wondering whether she can trust the new man in her life. I found 1930s Isabelle a bit naive and selfish, but I liked both Dorrie and present-day Isabelle, and several plot twists kept me turning the pages.

Mrs. ‘Arris Goes to Paris, Paul Gallico
I loved this spunky, sweet tale of a British charwoman who saves her money for years so she can jaunt over to Paris and buy herself a Dior gown. The gown is exquisite, of course, but the people Mrs. Harris meets, and the connections they forge, are the best part of the story. (Also: the flowers.) Recommended by Jaclyn. Similar to Miss Pettigrew, shorter and simpler but just as charming.

The September Society, Charles Finch
Victorian gentleman detective Charles Lenox returns for a second case, investigating the death of a young man at Oxford (his alma mater). I loved the visits to 1860s Oxford, different from and yet so similar to the Oxford I know and adore. And I like Lenox, a thoughtful and principled detective, and his circle of friends. Great fun.

Ready for a Brand New Beat, Mark Kurlansky
Released at the beginning of the “Freedom Summer” of 1964, “Dancing in the Street” became the anthem of an unsettled generation. Kurlansky delves into the history of music in mid-century America, the origins of Motown, the civil rights movement and the continuing life of the song, which endures today. Fascinating and well-researched, with plenty of outsize personalities. To review for Shelf Awareness (out July 11).

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November books, part 3

Listening for Madeleine: A Portrait of Madeleine L’Engle in Many Voices, Leonard S. Marcus
I wrote my master’s thesis on Madeleine’s memoirs, with nods to A Wrinkle in Time and its sequels. So I found this collection of 50 interviews, with Madeleine’s family, colleagues, students and friends, fascinating. Some people praise her to the skies, while others seem determined to prove she had feet of clay. While Madeleine was wise and brilliant, she was no saint: she could be stubborn and demanding. Recommended for fellow L’Engle fans.

Excellent Women, Barbara Pym
Mildred Lathbury, thirtyish English spinster, meets her new neighbors (a rather eccentric, glamorous couple) and gets drawn into their marital troubles. Meanwhile, she provides comfort, a listening ear and cups of tea to various friends (all of whom assume she has “nothing better to do” since she’s single). Some amusing moments, but overall I found the story rather dull. Set in the same era as Miss Read’s tales, but not nearly as much fun.

The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen, Mitali Perkins
When Sunita’s grandparents come to visit from India, she struggles to reconcile her family’s traditional roots with her modern, California teenage life. (Mitali is herself an Indian transplant to the U.S.) I loved Sunita’s wise grandfather, Dadu, and her straight-talking best friend Liz, though Sunita came off a bit bratty sometimes. A sweet, thoughtful exploration of feeling caught between two cultures.

Renegade Magic, Stephanie Burgis
Kat Stephenson, 12-year-old Regency-era magical Guardian, returns. After Kat’s enemy Lady Fotherington nearly ruins her oldest sister’s wedding, Kat’s stepmother packs the family off to Bath, hoping to find a fiance for Kat’s other sister before any scandal can leak out. But Kat senses “wild magic” in the air around the Baths, and both her new friend Lucy and her foolish brother Charles get caught up in a dangerous game. I like Kat’s spunk, though her magic is not very well explained. Still an enjoyable story. (Second in a trilogy.)

The House on Willow Street, Cathy Kelly
In the tiny Irish town of Avalon, four women – sisters Tess and Suki, postmistress Danae, and Danae’s niece Mara – help one another navigate personal crossroads. Tess’ marriage and antique shop are both struggling; Suki is fleeing a dirt-digging biographer; Mara is healing from a broken heart and Danae wonders if it’s time to tell the secret she’s kept for 18 years. A heartwarming story with charming small-town characters – cozy and hopeful. To review for Shelf Awareness (out Jan. 8).

On the Map: A Mind-Expanding Exploration of the Way the World Looks, Simon Garfield
I love maps, and I found Garfield’s book utterly fascinating. He covers ancient maps (as much theology as geography), the age of exploration, the American Civil War, polar voyages, traveling by map in the movies (from Casablanca to The Muppets), GPS, guidebooks, even mapping the brain. Crammed with interesting facts, but written in a witty, compelling style. Garfield also muses on how maps reflect our perceptions of ourselves, and our quest to find our place in the world.

House of Light, Mary Oliver
I love Oliver’s work, and enjoyed this slim collection of quiet, luminous poems. It contains “The Summer Day,” which I already adored, but I found some new gems, including the end of “The Ponds”: “Still, what I want in my life / is to be willing / to be dazzled.” Lovely and honest scenes from nature, and musings on our “place in the family of things.”

The Lost Art of Mixing, Erica Bauermeister
A gorgeous sequel to The School of Essential Ingredients (which I adored), about chef Lillian and the people whose lives intertwine at her restaurant. Sous chef Chloe and dishwasher Finnegan are both healing from heartbreak of different kinds; Isabelle is struggling against memory loss; accountant Al takes refuge in numbers as his marriage falls apart; and Lillian herself faces a new, unexpected challenge. Luminous writing, and characters I wanted to meet. To review for Shelf Awareness (out Jan. 24).

Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
I’d never read this classic, and finished it in a day. An odd, dark, yet hopeful story of censorship, war and preserving the written word against all odds. I didn’t connect deeply with any of the characters, but the message is powerful (and oddly prescient, considering it was written in the 1950s). Not a favorite, but I’m glad I read it.

What are you reading lately?

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May books, part 2

Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion, Elizabeth L. Cline
Cline traces the rapid rise of “fast fashion” chains, which sell billions of pieces of shoddy clothing to Americans every year. She visits factories, talks to industry insiders and takes a long, hard look at her own closet, vowing to shop less, and shop more sustainably, in the future. Made me want to examine my closet and either a) never buy clothes again, or b) do a lot more research before I plunk down any money on my next shopping trip. To review for Shelf Awareness (out June 14).

The Royal Treatment, Lindsey Leavitt
This sequel to Princess for Hire, which I read recently, was even better than the original. Desi’s work as a “sub” for princesses when they go on vacation (or want to avoid tough situations) has emboldened her to try out for – and win a starring role in – a school play. She begins to suspect her bosses at the sub agency aren’t telling her everything (she’s right), and she handles a few sticky situations rather well. Hilarious, with such a sweet ending. Book 3 comes out next month!

Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, Gustavo Arellano
As a Texan, this book made me salivate (and decry, again, the sad lack of Mexican food here in the Northeast). Arellano tells the tale of how Mexican food, from chili to tacos to salsa, has spread across the U.S. He focuses on California (where he lives), but he does chronicle the journeys of various Mexican food items and restaurant chains around the country. (Abilene, birthplace of Taco Bueno, got a mention – though he left out Rosa’s, my favorite homegrown Tex-Mex chain.) From World’s Fair expositions to canned tortillas to salsa and chili cook-offs, this book was fascinating and hunger-inducing.

Dying in the Wool, Frances Brody
Kate Shackleton, World War I widow, takes on her first paid investigation: trying to locate a friend’s father, who disappeared several years ago. The setting – Yorkshire’s woolen mills – was interesting and the mystery was fairly plausible, but somehow this book felt a bit lackluster to me. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by Maisie Dobbs and Bess Crawford; Kate was certainly less subtle and less engaging than either of them.

Summer of the Gypsy Moths, Sara Pennypacker
Stella loves the quiet routine of living with her great-aunt Louise on Cape Cod (while her mom goes off to “find herself”). Tough, snarky foster kid Angel is the only sour note. But when something happens to Louise, the two girls band together to live on their own and manage a few vacation cottages, while clinging to the hope that they’ll finally belong to a real family. The writing is quietly evocative, and I ached for both these girls to find a real home at last. Lovely.

An Irish Country Girl, Patrick Taylor
Mrs. Maureen Kincaid, housekeeper to the two doctors of Ballybucklebo, recounts a story from her childhood in County Cork to a group of wide-eyed children and becomes immersed in her own memories. Lots of Irish mythology here, and I loved learning Maureen’s story – everything from her family life to how she received the gift of second sight to how she met the man she loved. Warmhearted and evocative. (I love this series.)

The Boy Next Door, Meg Cabot
Told entirely in emails, this is a fun New York love story involving a case of mistaken identity, hilariously nosy coworkers and a 120-pound Great Dane. The protagonist, Melissa (a small-town Midwestern girl), is sweet and funny and completely believable, and while a few of the other characters are stereotypes, they’re still a lot of fun. Frothy but smart – a great intro to Cabot’s books. (For the Meg Cabot read-along over at Book Club Girl.)

The Storytelling Animal: How Stories Make Us Human, Jonathan Gottschall
The human race has always thrived on story, and Gottschall sets out to explain why. His main point is that we are “wired” for story: it is integral to the way we think of ourselves, shape our societies, choose careers, relate to others, and fall in love. (He didn’t have to convince me, and I did get a little sick of him hammering the point home.) Some of his examples were fascinating, and others seemed chosen primarily for shock value. He does touch on various fields as they relate to story: neuroscience, psychology, religion, the book and film industries, even role-playing games. Interesting, if a bit heavy-handed at times.

The Thread, Victoria Hislop
A gorgeous, sweeping, richly detailed story of Greece in the 20th century, from two world wars to civil unrest to massive population relocation (Jews and Muslims), featuring two natural disasters that devastated Thessaloniki. I loved the crowded, colorful, multicultural neighborhood where main character Katerina lives; it’s peopled by wonderful characters. Lovely descriptions, and though the plot is often heartbreaking, it gave me a deep admiration for the Greek people. To review for Shelf Awareness (out July 10).

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March reads, part 2

(I know March isn’t quite over, but I couldn’t wait to share my latest crop of reads with you. Enjoy, and happy weekend!)

A shy shadow by the bookshelf

The Chocolate Pirate Plot, JoAnna Carl
The 10th installment in a fun, fluffy mystery series, set in small-town Michigan (the protagonist runs a chocolate shop, hence the name). The mystery fell a bit flat, but I enjoyed revisiting familiar characters (scatterbrained Texas girl Lee, sweet Aunt Nettie and their husbands and friends), and spending a little time in Warner Pier. Nice to relax with, before bed.

168 Hours: You Have More Time Than You Think, Laura Vanderkam
Vanderkam insists – as do many time-management experts – that we all have time to do everything we need to do. And after reading this book, I’d tend to agree with her. She claims most people have a poor sense of where their time goes, and encourages readers to keep time diaries to see how they’re spending their 168 hours, so we can figure out how to reclaim the “lost” ones. She admits she’s speaking from a privileged standpoint (as am I), but she has lots of practical suggestions for spending your time more mindfully, efficiently and usefully.

Garden Spells, Sarah Addison Allen
Christy recommended the story of the Waverley women, who all have a bit of magic in them. When prodigal sister Sydney returns to their small town, reserved homebody Claire has trouble letting her back in – but they gradually come to trust each other again, and while Sydney pushes Claire to take a few risks, Claire provides the safety Sydney craves. A wonderful family story, with a dose of magical realism.

The Uncommon Reader, Alan Bennett
I’d been meaning to read this little novella for a long time, and thoroughly enjoyed it. The Queen stumbles onto a mobile library on the Buckingham Palace grounds one day, feels duty-bound to borrow a book, and becomes an avid reader. Which of course throws a wrench into her usual packed schedule, and upsets everyone from her husband to the prime minister! Wry, literary and oh so much fun.

The Time it Snowed in Puerto Rico, Sarah McCoy
I loved Sarah’s latest, The Baker’s Daughter, so I checked out her debut novel and enjoyed it too. Eleven-year-old Verdita, growing up in 1960s Puerto Rico, struggles to find her place: will she be a tomboy or a proper senorita? Puerto Rican or American? Lovely, lush details (McCoy has family in Puerto Rico and has visited there many times), and a satisfyingly open ending.

Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow, Nathan Bransford
I read Nathan’s excellent blog regularly (and if you’re interested in the publishing industry, you should too). I enjoyed his wacky middle-grade tale of Jacob, defeater of substitute teachers, and his two best friends, who fly off in a silver spaceship and wreak havoc on the universe. Good fun (and I bet I’d have liked it even more if I were the target audience!).

Reasons to be Happy, Katrina Kittle
Hannah, plain teenage daughter of two movie stars, is struggling to fit in at her chichi new school while her mother fights cancer. She used to keep a list of reasons to be happy (see title), but turns to an eating disorder when all the other reasons seem to disappear. A graphic description of bulimia, but a powerful story of trying to fit in, fight your demons and learn to ask for help. (And that list – which eventually returns – is wonderful. Kittle’s keeping her own list on her blog.)

Seabiscuit: An American Legend, Laura Hillenbrand
I tore through Hillenbrand’s latest, Unbroken, and I thoroughly enjoyed Seabiscuit’s story too. A wonderful evocation of Depression-era America – our huge industry of escapism largely dates from that time – and a fascinating story of three men (owner, jockey and trainer) who helped a runty horse rise to fame. Hillenbrand is a meticulous researcher and a talented storyteller. Highly recommended.

An Irish Country Doctor, Patrick Taylor
I loved this first installment in a series about Barry Laverty, brand-new apprentice doctor to crotchety Dr. F.F. O’Reilly, serving the people of Ballybucklebo, Northern Ireland. A cast of quirky village characters (including a beer-guzzling dog and a demon-possessed cat), a pastoral rural setting (though political issues hover in the background), and strong overtones of both James Herriot and Jan Karon. So, so much fun.

The Taliban Cricket Club, Timeri Murari
When the Taliban briefly decide to promote cricket in Afghanistan, journalist Rukhsana (who learned to play cricket in Delhi) begins coaching her brother and cousins to play in the national tournament. Winning will mean a chance for them all to escape to Pakistan and a better life – and for Rukhsana, escaping a Talib minister who wants to marry her. Well written and compelling, and also a tender family story. To review for the Shelf.

The Dressmaker of Khair Khana, Gayle Tzemach Lemmon
A fascinating nonfiction account of women working as entrepreneurs (in this case, five sisters starting a sewing business in their home) under the Taliban’s rule. (I’d gotten it from the library before the above novel arrived – but these two stories complement each other perfectly.) Lemmon tells the story of Kamila, who starts a business to support her family and ends up providing work for dozens of other women. A testament to the courage and ingenuity of Afghan women.

What are you reading these days?

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Reading in February (part 1)

Little Town on the Prairie, Laura Ingalls Wilder
Things are finally looking up for the Ingalls – the long, hard winter is over; the claim is growing into a real little farm; Mary goes away to college and Laura enters into the social life of the town. And – though she’s rather oblivious – that handsome Mr. Wilder is starting to take notice. I love the descriptions here of simple home life, pretty dresses and springtime on the prairie.

India Becoming, Akash Kapur
India is a country of deep contradictions. And when Kapur moves back to his home country from the States, he has a strong, ambivalent reaction to what’s happening in his homeland. India’s urbanization, its technology boom and its burgeoning culture of entrepreneurship stand alongside urban decay, extreme poverty and the breakdown of village life. As Kapur talks to villagers and city workers, he shows the contrasts of the new India and the old. To review for Shelf Awareness.

These Happy Golden Years, Laura Ingalls Wilder
I’d forgotten the hardships that begin this book – the frigid sleigh rides in the dead of winter, and that crazy Mrs. Brewster. But after the nightmarish first few weeks, things begin to look up. Laura grows into a young lady, gets engaged and then married – and on her last evening at home, Pa plays all the old tunes on the fiddle, one after the other. Gorgeous (if a little bittersweet).

Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth, Patricia Clapp
Several readers recommended this story after I read The Witch of Blackbird Pond. I enjoyed Constance’s adventures as she struggles to make a life in Plymouth with her family. She’s spunky, bright, opinionated and hardworking – just the way I like my heroines – and of course she finds love in the end. Well written and fun.

Nothing Daunted: The Unexpected Education of Two Society Girls in the West, Dorothy Wickenden
Two Smith graduates, on a lark, head to the frontiers of Colorado to teach in a country schoolhouse for a year. Decades later, one of their granddaughters found her grandmother’s letters from that year, and decided to write a book. This is a fascinating look at the American West during the World War I era – railroads, coal mining, homesteading and some wonderfully plucky folks who stuck it out. The teachers, Dorothy and Ros, are delightful characters, and the book is well-researched and engaging. Wonderful.

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
I’d never read Gatsby before. (Bethany, and others, had been urging me to read it for years.) I was blown away by the sheer beauty of the sentences (as everyone predicted). The last few paragraphs are particularly lovely. But – I confess – I was underwhelmed by the plot and the characters. Perhaps my expectations were too high – but I didn’t like any of these people, and found it difficult to truly care what happened to them.

Death at Victoria Dock, Kerry Greenwood
Phryne Fisher returns for adventure #4, involving anarchists, spiritists, kidnapping and a convent. Entertaining, as usual – and a compelling glimpse into Australia’s politics and city life during the 1920s.

My Life in Pink & Green, Lisa Greenwald
I picked this up at the Booksmith on the strength of a staff rec, and enjoyed it. While working at her grandmother’s pharmacy, Lucy Desberg helps a homecoming queen with her hair crisis, and suddenly becomes the town’s makeup artist – while trying to save the pharmacy from going under and deal with her best friend’s first crush (and later, her own). Sweet, spunky and funny – though it ended rather abruptly, before I had time to savor the heroine’s triumph.

A Duty to the Dead, Charles Todd
The first in another World War I mystery series – with a nurse-turned-detective, similar to (but not the same as) Maisie Dobbs. Bess Crawford delivers a message for a dead soldier, but finds herself drawn into a web of scandal that has plagued his family for years. Fascinating, horrifying (not graphic, but dark in parts) and utterly compelling. Book Club Girl is hosting a Bess Crawford read-along soon, and I’ll be joining in.

Northanger Abbey, Jane Austen
Another classic I’d never read, but I loved this one. Catherine Morland is so sweet (albeit naive), and I enjoyed her adventures in Bath and at the titular abbey. Austen is so witty – she satirizes Gothic tales brilliantly with this story. And, of course, all’s well that ends well, despite false friends, tyrannical fathers and things that go bump in the night. Such fun.

Midnight in Austenland, Shannon Hale
I love everything Hale writes, and this sequel-of-sorts to Austenland was so much fun. (Even better since it’s inspired by Northanger Abbey, which I’d just read.) The characters are such fun and the situations hilarious – and the heroine’s dialogue with her Inner Thoughts was amusing. And, like any good Austen-esque tale, it ended so, so well.

Robbie Forester and the Outlaws of Sherwood Street, Peter Abrahams
A middle-grade spin on the Robin Hood story set in modern-day New York (with a bunch of teenagers as the “merry men”). The plot requires a serious suspension of disbelief – and I was left wondering about a few things – but since this is the first in a new series, the author will probably explain those points later. Fun premise and entertaining characters.

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the may books, part 2

The Penderwicks on Gardam Street, Jeanne Birdsall
I’m a sucker for a fun, well-written children’s story – and I loved The Penderwicks, which begins the chronicle of Rosalind, Skye, Jane and Batty. So I picked up the sequel, and loved it too. From spying on the new neighbors to writing plays about Aztecs to setting their father up on dates, the girls are always thinking up new adventures. The Penderwicks simply don’t believe in dull moments – and there aren’t any.

Seeds, Richard Horan
A fun idea for book and nature lovers – a scavenger hunt for the seeds of trees beloved by famous American authors, or located near their homes. I admire Horan’s passion and tenacity, though I got fed up with his verbose, self-consciously clever writing style.

Picnic, Lightning, Billy Collins
Collins is probably my favorite poet – so this was pure pleasure reading. The best of these poems are also collected in Sailing Alone Around the Room, but it was fun to revisit them. (I also love his collection The Trouble with Poetry.)

The Little Women Letters, Gabrielle Donnelly
I’m a longtime Little Women fan, so I’m a bit protective of Jo March and her sisters. Anyone attempting to piggyback off their story – much less write in Jo’s voice – had better do it right. And Donnelly does – the letters from Jo sound awfully like her. And I loved her modern-day characters – sisters Lulu, Sophie and Emma, who are supposedly Jo March’s great-great-granddaughters. Such a fun, heartwarming, spunky read. Loved it.

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Aimee Bender
I had high hopes for this one – and the writing is beautiful. But I found it hopeless and empty, much like the lemon cake of the title. When it comes to food and magical realism, I think Joanne Harris (Chocolat, Blackberry Wine, etc.) does it better.

The Penderwicks at Point Mouette, Jeanne Birdsall
This third Penderwick story is another fun ride – this time to Maine, for an eventful summer vacation. I missed Rosalind, the oldest sister, but loved watching Skye, usually second in command, rise to the occasion as the OAP (Oldest Available Penderwick). Lots of fun beach adventures and a sweet subplot involving a long-lost father and son.

Winona’s Pony Cart, Maud Hart Lovelace
This was the only Deep Valley book I hadn’t yet read – it was a pleasant way to spend my morning commute. I like spunky, sassy Winona (though she is a bit spoiled), and this was a fun trip to a fictional town I love. (Also: it’s always interesting to see Betsy Ray from her friends’ perspective.)

A Vintage Affair, Isabel Wolff
Lush descriptions of vintage clothes, a little romance (with the wrong guy and then with the right one), and a long-buried World War II secret both heartbreaking and lovely. I quite enjoyed this feel-good story. (And – as always – I love me some British spellings and expressions. Happy sigh.)

The Saturdays, Elizabeth Enright
I hadn’t read this in years…until a blog reader reminded me of how much I’d loved it (thanks, Allison!). The story of Mona, Rush, Randy and Oliver Melendy, and their Saturday adventures in New York City, is so fun and utterly charming.

The Four-Story Mistake, Elizabeth Enright
This sequel to The Saturdays is equally charming…the Melendys move to the country, into a large, rambling house with a cupola, a cellar and a hidden room (!). And they have more adventures, beautifully written and lovingly detailed.

Then There Were Five, Elizabeth Enright
The Melendys continue their adventures, which include meeting a lonely orphan boy named Mark and taking him to their hearts, literally and figuratively. So fun to see each child pursuing his/her interests, from Mona’s radio show to Rush’s piano compositions to Randy’s dances and drawings to Oliver’s fascination with bugs and moths. They are growing up, but not yet too grown up, thank goodness.

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