kaylaraeintheway Reads in 2017

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kaylaraeintheway Reads in 2017

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1kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Jan 1, 2018, 8:20 pm

2017 let's GOOOOOOOOOOO

CURRENTLY READING

2kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Mar 31, 2017, 11:58 pm

January
1. Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton
2. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
3. Sun Moon Earth: The History of Solar Eclipses from Omens of Doom to Einstein and Exoplanets by Tyler Nordgren
4. Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick
5. We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
6. The Grownup by Gillian Flynn
7. The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
8. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
9. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
10. Lucky You by Erika Carter
11. Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
12. Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham

February
13. The National Parks: An Illustrated History by Kim Heacox
14. The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
15. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

March
16. To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
17. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
18. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
19. South and West: From a Notebook by Joan Didion

3kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Juin 14, 2017, 7:07 pm

April
20. The Unfinished World and Other Stories by Amber Sparks
21. The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien

May
22. Road Trip USA: Route 66 by Jamie Jensen

June
23. My Life with Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues by Pamela Paul
24. The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien
25. Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America's National Parks by Mark Woods
26. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
27. The Planets by Dava Sobel
28. Marlena by Julie Buntin
29. Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley

4kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Oct 3, 2017, 6:35 pm

July
30. Touch by Courtney Maum
31. Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
32. Land on Fire: The New Reality of Wildfire in the West by Gary Ferguson
33. Shadowbahn by Steve Erickson
34. Lentil Underground: Renegade Farmers and the Future of Food in America by Liz Carlisle
35. Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan
36. Gloryland: A Novel by Shelton Johnson
37. New and Selected Poems: Volume One by Mary Oliver

August
38. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
39. Universal Harvester by John Darnielle
40. Sex and Rage by Eve Babitz
41. Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight days on the John Muir Trail by Suzanne Roberts

September
42. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
43. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling
44. Matilda by Roald Dahl
45. Fire Season: Field Notes from a Wilderness Lookout by Philip Connors
46. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling
47. Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech
48. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

5kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Jan 1, 2018, 8:20 pm

October
49. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
50. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
51. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
52. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
53. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
54. Turtles All the Way Down by John Green
55. Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

November
56. The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur
57. The White Album: Essays by Joan Didion

December
58. A Passion for Books edited by Harold Rabinowitz and Rob Kaplan
59. The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
60. Winter: Five Windows on the Season by Adam Gopnik

6kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Sep 10, 2017, 6:46 pm

Litsy A to Z Challenge

Wherein I read 26 books that each start with a different letter of the alphabet

A: Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail by Suzanne Roberts
B: To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey
C:
D:
E: Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley
F: Fire Season: Field Notes from a Wilderness Lookout by Philip Connors
G: Gloryland: A Novel by Shelton Johnson
H: Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly
I:
J:
K:
L: Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick
M: Marlena by Julie Buntin
N: The National Parks: An Illustrated History by Kim Heacox
O:
P: The Planets by Dava Sobel
Q:
R:
S: Sun Moon Earth: The History of Solar Eclipses from Omens of Doom to Einstein and Exoplanets by Tyler Nordgren
T: Touch by Courtney Maum
U: Universal Harvester by John Darnielle
V:
W: The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
X:
Y:
Z:

7kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Sep 17, 2017, 4:03 pm

Retro Rereads Challenge

Wherein I read 12 books that were favorites in the past to see how they hold up in the present

Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech
Matilda by Roald Dahl
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Atonement by Ian McEwan

8kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Sep 22, 2017, 1:05 pm

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge

Wherein I read diverse books and expand my literary horizon

A book about sports:
A debut novel: Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton
A book about books: My Life With Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues by Pamela Paul
A book set in Central or South America, written by a Central or South American author:
A book by an immigrant or with a central immigration narrative:
An all-ages comic:
A book published between 1900 and 1950:
A travel memoir: Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America's National Parks by Mark Woods
A book you've read before: Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
A book set within 100 miles of your location: Lucky You: A Novel by Erika Carter
A book set more than 5000 miles from your location: Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan
A fantasy novel: The Two Towers by JRR Tolkien
A nonfiction book about technology:
A book about war:
A YA or middle grade novel by an author who identifies as LGBTQ+: Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst
A book that has been banned or frequently challenged in your country: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
A classic by an author of color: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
A superhero comic with a female lead:
A book in which a character of color goes on a spiritual journey: Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler
An LGBTQ+ romance novel:
A book published by a micropress: A Strange Community by Leanna Oen (Greying Ghost Press)
A collection of stories by a woman: The Unfinished World and Other Stories by Amber Sparks
A collection of poetry in translation on a theme other than love:
A book wherein all point-of-view characters are people of color:

9AnnieMod
Déc 24, 2016, 9:36 pm

>6 kaylaraeintheway: *cough* 26... :)

Interesting challenge in >8 kaylaraeintheway:. :)

10kaylaraeintheway
Déc 24, 2016, 10:48 pm

>9 AnnieMod: oops, thanks for catching that! :)

I'm hoping to stick with this challenge and read some interesting books this year.

11The_Hibernator
Jan 1, 2017, 9:07 pm

12brodiew2
Jan 2, 2017, 7:00 pm

Happy New Year, kaylaraeintheway! I look forward to following your thread again this year. I hope all is well with you. :-)

13kaylaraeintheway
Jan 3, 2017, 1:53 am

>11 The_Hibernator: Happy New Year to you too!

>12 brodiew2: Happy New Year! I hope to be more active on my thread this year, so thanks for stopping by!

14valkyrdeath
Jan 3, 2017, 6:15 pm

Looking forward to following your reading again this year. You've got some interesting challenges set. Hope you have a good year!

15wandering_star
Jan 3, 2017, 7:44 pm

I'm especially interested in your retro re-reads challenge - some old favourites of mine there too!

16kaylaraeintheway
Jan 4, 2017, 10:29 am

>14 valkyrdeath: Same to you! One of my goals is to post frequently and engage more on other's threads, so hopefully I can stick to it

>15 wandering_star: I'm really going to enjoy the challenge. I started Walk Two Moons last night and I'm already transported back to my 4th grade English class!

17kaylaraeintheway
Jan 4, 2017, 12:09 pm



Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton


I'm so excited that my first read of 2017 turned out to be a 5-star read! Brooks-Dalton's debut novel (she previously wrote the memoir Motorcycles I've Loved, which I'm going to get my hands on ASAP) is about two people - one an astronomer at a research facility in the Arctic Circle, the other an astronaut voyaging back to earth after a trip to Jupiter - and how they face a sudden and total communication shutdown from the rest of civilization after an unknown global event.

I devoured this book. The writing is lovely, and each person's reflections on loneliness is heartbreaking and beautiful. Brooks-Dalton deftly moves between the barren landscape of the Arctic and the vastness of space, while at the same time imbuing each with a sense of beauty and wonder. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

. . .

This book fulfills the Read Harder Challenge "Debut Novel" category

18valkyrdeath
Jan 4, 2017, 5:24 pm

>17 kaylaraeintheway: This one sounds great and is going straight on my list. It seems like quite an unusual variation on the post-apocalypse story. I love the title too, though having looked it up I realise it's far from unique to that book.

19bragan
Jan 5, 2017, 5:26 am

>17 kaylaraeintheway: Well, there's my first Club Read-inspired wishlist addition of the year, then. :)

20kaylaraeintheway
Jan 5, 2017, 12:01 pm

>18 valkyrdeath: It was a refreshingly unique take on the genre, for sure! I realized the title was popular when I had to go back and correct all of the touchstones haha

>19 bragan: Glad I could help you out :)

21brodiew2
Jan 5, 2017, 2:09 pm

>17 kaylaraeintheway: Excellent review, kaylaraeintheway! I'll be checking this one out as well.

22arubabookwoman
Jan 5, 2017, 2:59 pm

I'm adding Good Morning Midnight to my wishlist as well.

23kaylaraeintheway
Jan 6, 2017, 7:52 pm

I woke up to a winter wonderland today! Which is a pleasant surprise in my area of Arkansas. We got 2 inches overnight, and it was perfect stay at home and read weather...but alas, the university I work for remained open, so I had to go into the office. Luckily I also work for the outdoor education department, which was all the excuse I needed to walk the nature preserve on campus.



Even though the snow will probably melt tomorrow, it will still be a great weekend for staying indoors and reading! Happy Friday everyone!

24ELiz_M
Jan 7, 2017, 8:55 am

>17 kaylaraeintheway: I was kind of hoping you had read/reviewed Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys but this one looks interesting.

>23 kaylaraeintheway: That is the best way to experience snow -- a beautiful surprise that only lasts a day or two. Enjoy!

25kaylaraeintheway
Jan 7, 2017, 4:32 pm



Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

Don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins.

This was a re-read, part of the Retro Rereads Challenge (check out the group on Goodreads!). I first read this book in 4th grade, and the only thing I remember about it (besides really liking it), was that the main character - Salamanca Tree Hiddle - went on a road trip with her grandparents to bring her mom back home. I completely forgot about the underlying story of Sal's friend Phoebe Winterbottom and her family. It was so much fun reading this book again some 16 years later; I got so much more out of it this time around. Sal, Phoebe, their families, and other supporting characters are so well written, and speak with such distinctive voices. I found myself underlining several sentences and phrases as I read. It's funny that I didn't realize/remember what happened to Sal's mom back in 4th grade, and re-reading it now it was pretty clear. But I guess I was like Sal back then, "fishing in the air' and trying to push away the bad. I finished this book feeling elated, a sure sign of a lovely and special book. It is a great story not only for middle grade readers, but adults as well.

"It seems to me that we can't explain all the truly awful things in the world like war and murder and brain tumors, and we can't fix these things, so we look at the frightening things that are closer to us and we magnify them until they burst open. Inside is something that we can manage, something that isn't as awful as it had first seemed. It is a relief to discover that although there might be axe murderers and kidnappers in the world, most people seem a lot like us: sometimes afraid and sometimes brave, sometimes cruel and sometimes kind."

26mabith
Jan 8, 2017, 4:05 pm

I read Walk Two Moons in 2015 when I was going through some Newbery winners and it is definitely a good one. I don't remember ever hearing about when I was a kid, though I was the right age when it came out.

27kaylaraeintheway
Jan 10, 2017, 12:49 am



Sun Moon Earth: The History of Solar Eclipses from Omens of Doom to Einstein and Exoplanets by Tyler Nordgren

This was such a fascinating book! Astronomer, professor, and supernerd Tyler Nordgren writes about the beauty and majesty of total solar eclipses in a way that gives me goosebumps. I loved reading about his personal experiences travelling to all corners of the Earth to witness totality during an eclipse, an experience I hope to have myself when the next solar eclipse happens on August 21st. This event is the main reason why Nordgren wrote this book when he did: this August will be the first time certain people in the US will be able to experience totality since the 70s. Nordgren offers helpful tips for viewing an eclipse (safety first, kids!), as well as a few charts that show the path of totality. I'm sure millions of people will be flocking to the best places along this path this summer.

Another thing I loved about this book was the fascinating and thorough history of eclipses, from the formation of Earth and the moon, to the ancient Aztec people, to Renaissance astronomers and astrologists; Nordgren did a great job of talking about everyone's contributions to the understanding of eclipses (and our universe), not just Western perspectives. True, at times the science went a little over my head and I did not always understand what I was reading, but despite some confusion I never got frustrated or found my attention wandering while I was reading.

This is a great book, and I learned so much from it. Most importantly, though, I was inspired.

"The secrets of the universe have been revealed by shadows stretching over the light-years between stars. Because of these shadows, we now have a galactic context in which to understand how common planets may be, while realizing, as we look around at our own solar system, how utterly inhospitable most planets are. While we may not be alone in the universe, we are still precious, as is the world that sustains us. All this we see when the Sun disappears behind the Moon and for a brief moment each one of us is aligned with the heavens."

28AnnieMod
Jan 10, 2017, 5:59 pm

>27 kaylaraeintheway:

Wonderful review (and on my list the book goes)

29mabith
Jan 12, 2017, 1:55 pm

Definitely adding Sun Moon Earth to my list. Great review!

30kaylaraeintheway
Jan 12, 2017, 9:01 pm

>28 AnnieMod: >29 mabith: Thank you both! It certainly was a fascinating book. I hope you both enjoy it whenever you get the chance to read it :)

31kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Jan 14, 2017, 11:19 am



Last Train to Memphis: The Rise of Elvis Presley by Peter Guralnick

Peter Guralnick certainly did his research for this book! He details the first half of Elvis's life, from early childhood growing up in Tupelo, Mississippi to his mother's death and his deployment to Germany during his stint in the army. Guralnick offers a fairly complete portrait of Elvis Presley as a polite, eager-to-please Southern kid with a penchant for loud clothes, nice cars, and pretty girls. Elvis's rise to fame happened pretty quickly (or, at least faster than I had originally thought), and the descriptions of the pandemonium that followed him wherever he went were wild. Also, the "Colonel" Tom Parker was the worst. The only downside to this book is, ironically, the extreme attention to detail - at times I got confused trying to keep all the people straight. I look forward to reading the second volume of this biography, detailing "the fall of Elvis Presley".

32ursula
Jan 14, 2017, 11:41 am

Ah, I see you're doing the Litsy A to Z challenge too! I haven't finished any books for it yet, but I'm currently working on a couple.

33valkyrdeath
Jan 15, 2017, 7:04 pm

Sun Moon Earth sounds great for the history of eclipses. I've already added it to my list. (And was sure I'd commented here about it a couple of nights ago but apparently not.) That sounds like a good Elvis biography too, though I'm not sure I want to read one right now. I'm not a huge Elvis fan but it seems like there could be an interesting story there.

34kaylaraeintheway
Jan 15, 2017, 11:45 pm

>33 valkyrdeath: The Elvis biography also has a lot of cool information about the early history of rock and roll, and how records were made "back in the day". I definitely learned a lot more than I thought I would while reading this book!

35janemarieprice
Jan 17, 2017, 4:42 pm

Also adding Sun Moon Earth to my wishlist. I'm really looking forward to the eclipse this summer.

36kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Jan 19, 2017, 11:05 pm

This weekend is one of my favorite bookish events: the 24 in 48 Readathon! I'm going to immerse myself in blankets and good books to combat the icky feeling tomorrow's inauguration will bring. Check out the link above if you want to learn more, or to sign up and participate! There will be contests and prizes throughout the event.

Follow my journey on Litsy @ kaylaraeintheway. I'll also be posting my reviews here as I (hopefully) finish some books.

37kaylaraeintheway
Jan 22, 2017, 12:51 am

Halfway through the 24 in 48 readathon! Got a lot of reading done today (12 hours!), in between my enthusiastic perusal of social media to see the Women's Marches happening all over the world. My eyes are quite tired, so I will post up some reviews in the morning.

38auntmarge64
Jan 22, 2017, 10:54 pm

>17 kaylaraeintheway: Good Morning, Midnight sounds like just my cuppa. And my library has a copy!

39kaylaraeintheway
Jan 23, 2017, 10:51 am



We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Not much needs to be said about this excellent speech. Required reading.

You can view the original TEDtalk speech here

40kaylaraeintheway
Jan 23, 2017, 11:07 am



The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

Any short story that begins with "I didn't stop giving hand jobs because I wasn't good at it" is bound to be a good time. Gillian Flynn writes about her unnamed, no nonsense narrator with wry humor and a cynical eye. She's a grifter, a sex worker turned fortune teller/con artist, when she meets Susan, a meek, rich housewife who wants her help getting rid of the evil in her house. This story, barely 70 pages, packs a punch.

41kaylaraeintheway
Jan 23, 2017, 11:11 am



The Wild Robot by Peter Brown
5 stars!!

I absolutely LOVED this book! This is a story about a robot, Roz, who finds herself on an island with no other company but the animals that inhabit it. Through observation and her robot programming, she learns about each creature and begins to adapt to her environment. After initial wariness from the creatures, Roz proves herself to be invaluable to the animals, and becomes a part of their lives. Peter Brown, in his first novel for children, brings up some interesting points about adaptation, the wilderness/environment, and the nature of artificial intelligence; pretty impressive, when considering this is a middle grade book. I found myself pondering these themes, laughing out loud, grinning at the adorable illustrations, and even tearing up a time or two. I'll be keeping this on my shelf to come back to every so often, and I hope Peter Brown continues writing for young readers.

42mabith
Jan 23, 2017, 12:27 pm

The Wild Robot sounds like so much fun! Definitely going on my list for me to read and as a good gift for the nieces and nephews.

43kaylaraeintheway
Jan 23, 2017, 1:53 pm



Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Janie Crawford longs for independence, her own identity. She doesn't find it with her first husband; it is squashed with her second. But when Tea Cake enters her life, she is able to start living her life as she wants to. But even with this younger, happy-go-lucky man, Janie is still burdened by her gender and her skin color (she is part black/part white). This classic novel by Zora Neale Hurston gives voice to the voiceless in a way that had not been done before she came along.

44kaylaraeintheway
Jan 23, 2017, 1:56 pm



Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

This is a classic for a reason, even if it is at times overly sentimental and "lesson-of-the-week" in its delivery. The themes of love, respect, kindness, and duty to your family, even of they make you angry or you'd rather be doing something else, are admirable. As someone with 2 younger sisters, the March sisters and their relationship struck a chord with me. I was pleasantly surprised to note a good deal of humor, and even some progressive (for late 1800s) thoughts on women and marriage. I'm sure I would have loved this book even more had I first read it when I was younger.

45kaylaraeintheway
Jan 23, 2017, 1:58 pm



Lucky You: A Novel by Erika Carter

This debut novel by Erika Carter present us with 3 women, friends from college stuck in the same college town in Arkansas in 2008. They each have their (many) flaws, and each are spiraling, whether knowingly or not, into increasing self-destruction. Ellie is an alcoholic and sleeps with strangers, married men, and musicians. Chloe is still haunted by her mother's madness (and may have some of it herself), and Rachel, who changes herself with every new guy she dates, is currently living a sustainable, healthy lifestyle in the Ozarks mountains with her boyfriend Autry. Eventually Rachel convinces Ellie and Chloe to join her for the Project, a year-long commitment to leave the Old World of "unhealth" and start a new, carbon-footprint-free life. Autry is the mastermind, and his ultimate goal is to write a book and start a movement. However, the women's demons still follow them, no matter how off the grid they try to be. No one in this book is particularly likable. They fall into the same harmful patterns and routines, and soon the women begin to realize that Autry is full of sh*t. I don't know if I can say I enjoyed this book, but it did make me think about people my age and how, even though they long for connection, they still are able to alienate themselves so completely from everyone else. Cool side note: this book takes place less than 100 miles from where I live!

46RidgewayGirl
Jan 23, 2017, 5:35 pm

You've had a long stretch of good reading! Lucky You sounds interesting.

47kaylaraeintheway
Jan 26, 2017, 10:03 am



Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

When the story starts, Lauren is a 15-year-old girl living in Southern California in 2024. She has hyperempathy syndrome, a condition caused by the drugs her birth mother abused while pregnant with Lauren. Because of this, Lauren can feel others' pain (if she can see them directly). In a future where climate change has caused massive droughts, the economy is on the verge of collapse, the rich hold themselves up in large compounds with protection while the poor (and the people people of color) have to fend for themselves in walled communities while fighting starvation, disease, thieves, murderers, rapists, and "pyros" who set fires for the thrill, Lauren is determined to survive. She knows that to do so, people need to accept that "God is Change"; thus begins her spiritual journey with Earthseed, a religion that she is slowly discovering/creating as she observes the despairing world around her.

Octavia Butler is truly a master of her craft; she depicts a failing country with an unflinching eye toward the violence and danger, yet also depicts moments of great beauty and human compassion. Most of her characters are people of color, and she was a proud feminist, which makes for a great, strong lead in Lauren.

This book may feel a little too timely, given the current political climate. But that just means it is all the more important.

48valkyrdeath
Jan 26, 2017, 5:43 pm

Octavia Butler is one of the writer I've been meaning to get to for a while. All I've read of her is a very short posthumous collection of two previously unpublished stories, which I feel isn't going to be showing her at her best. I'm planning on reading Kindred this year. Parable of the Sower might be added as the next up after that considering your review.

49kaylaraeintheway
Jan 26, 2017, 10:44 pm

>48 valkyrdeath: Kindred is really great! Fledgling is also good (a vampire story)

50kaylaraeintheway
Jan 27, 2017, 12:16 am



Talking As Fast As I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls (and Everything in Between) by Lauren Graham

I want Lauren Graham to be my best friend. She is funny and charming, but also really sincere in a way that not a lot of actors (or "regular" folks) are. While she talks a lot about her early days as an actress trying to make it in New York and her life before and after the initial run of Gilmore Girls, it is the sections devoted to the original and reboot series that I enjoyed the most (and I enjoyed pretty much this whole memoir). I laughed, I cried, I gained a whole new appreciation for the show and its place in popular culture.

51auntmarge64
Jan 28, 2017, 10:14 am

>17 kaylaraeintheway: So glad you recommended Good Morning, Midnight, which I'm about halfway through and simply loving.
>43 kaylaraeintheway: I read Their Eyes Were Watching God many years ago and remember it fondly. I never found her other work as compelling, although I read quite a bit of it as I recall. But this one was superb.

52auntmarge64
Jan 28, 2017, 10:17 pm

Just to follow up: I finished Good Morning, Midnight and you're right, it's exquisite. A huge 5 stars. I'm so glad I saw your review.

53kaylaraeintheway
Jan 30, 2017, 12:26 am

>52 auntmarge64: Yay!! I'm so glad you liked it! I hope more people discover the book and spread the word:)

54kaylaraeintheway
Jan 31, 2017, 12:59 pm

January Wrap-Up

Well, I'm off to a pretty solid start, if I do say so myself! I read 12 books this month (about half of those during the 24in48 readathon), and pretty much all of the books I read were 4 or 5 star reads!

I haven't read much this last week and a half, but I'm looking forward to kicking off February with some good books for the challenges I'm participating in this year.

And speaking of challenges, I was happy to see Book Riot is hosting their own instagram challenge for the month of February! I love a good bookish photo challenge :)

55auntmarge64
Jan 31, 2017, 8:08 pm

Great start!

56mabith
Jan 31, 2017, 8:26 pm

I hadn't seen the Book Riot Instagram challenge. I might have to take that on myself.

57kaylaraeintheway
Fév 8, 2017, 12:13 am



The National Parks: An Illustrated History by Kim Heacox

A gorgeous history of the National Park Service, the units contained within it, and the influential people who helped protect and preserve some of the most beautiful lands and important historical events/people in America. I teared up several times reading Heacox's beautiful words about the beauty and impact of these spaces. This book (published to celebrate the NPS centennial in 2016), has inspired me to find and read even more detailed histories of the national parks and the NPS.

58kaylaraeintheway
Fév 19, 2017, 11:46 am



The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

This is, I think, the 4th or 5th time I've read this. With each re-read, I appreciate the wit and clever word-play more. This book, about a boy named Milo, a watchdog named Tock, and a blustering Humbug on a quest to return the princesses Rhyme and Reason to the kingdom of Wisdom, is a delightful read - a true classic for all ages.

59kaylaraeintheway
Fév 19, 2017, 9:38 pm



Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders

I'm finding it hard to describe George Saunders' moving, utterly unique, semi-historical tale about the death (and afterlife) of Willie Lincoln, son of the 16th President. I don't want to attempt a lengthy and eloquent review, so I'll just go with this: It is a wryly funny, often emotional rumination on the fear of death (and what comes after) and what it means to have lived a good life. I read this in one sitting, as I could not bear to put it down until I read very single word. Truly a masterpiece, in my opinion.

60auntmarge64
Fév 19, 2017, 11:02 pm

>59 kaylaraeintheway: The reviews for Lincoln in the Bardo look really good. I am adding it to my TBR list.

61valkyrdeath
Fév 20, 2017, 7:41 pm

>58 kaylaraeintheway: I've just checked and it's been 8 years since I last read Phantom Tollbooth. Such a fun book, you've made me want to reread it. I enjoyed the film too.

>59 kaylaraeintheway: This sounds a very curious book. I'm definitely tempted!

62kaylaraeintheway
Fév 21, 2017, 12:10 pm

>61 valkyrdeath: I had no idea there was a movie! I'll have to search for it...

63valkyrdeath
Fév 21, 2017, 5:51 pm

>62 kaylaraeintheway: It was a fun film, animated by Chuck Jones but with live action scenes too. Apparently the author hates the film though. Then again, authors are notoriously terrible at judging whether films based on their own books are any good.

64kaylaraeintheway
Mar 2, 2017, 12:02 pm

February Wrap-Up

Even though I didn't read nearly as much this month, I really enjoyed the 3 books I did read (plus 3 other books that I started in February but haven't finished). March is looking to be incredibly busy for me (conferences, job searching, leading a 6-day spring break trip for 20 students), but I am still hoping to get some good reading time in.

I will definitely be finishing Hidden Figures soon, since Margot Lee Shetterly will be giving a lecture on the 23rd at the Clinton Foundation Center in Little Rock, which is SUPER EXCITING! She is doing a signing as well so I will even get to meet her!

65kaylaraeintheway
Mar 4, 2017, 12:39 am



To the Bright Edge of the World by Eowyn Ivey

A lovely, haunting book about the physical and psychological limits humans can endure when traversing an unforgiving landscape; whether that's the wilds of Alaska or the confines of gender roles. Eowyn Ivey, a native Alaskan, writes about the Last Frontier in a beautiful way, with her now-signature touch of magical realism. The fantastical elements the explorers encounter are so grounded in myth and legend that they seem real. Sophie Forrester, meanwhile, finds comfort in creating her own adventures discovering the new art of photography while her husband leads the party up north. Told through diary entries, letters, newspaper clippings, and photographs, To the Bright Edge of the World slowly pulled me in to a world of ice canyons and darkrooms and did not let go, even after the final page.

66Cait86
Mar 12, 2017, 11:05 am

>65 kaylaraeintheway: This is the second review of To the Bright Edge of the World that I've read in this group, and I definitely want to read it!

67japaul22
Mar 12, 2017, 11:26 am

>65 kaylaraeintheway: I'm #1 in the ebook queue at my library for this one. I'm looking forward to it! I didn't read her first book, but if I like this I might try that one too. Did you read it? The Snow Child

68kaylaraeintheway
Mar 13, 2017, 11:37 am

>66 Cait86: I hope you get to it soon!

>67 japaul22: I haven't read it yet, but it's at the top of my list after finishing To the Bright Edge of the World!

69kaylaraeintheway
Mar 17, 2017, 2:39 pm



Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

I'll be honest: I saw the movie first. And while I liked the movie, I knew that it had embellished some things for the sake of drama and good storytelling. But the book was very strong on its own, and was able to go more into not only the 3 "main" ladies, but others as well. Shetterly writes about these women and the civil rights events of the time with clarity and emotion. I am so excited I will be able to hear her lecture soon!

70kaylaraeintheway
Mar 30, 2017, 5:29 pm



A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

I loved this book when I first read it many years ago, and love it still. Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin are whisked across galaxies to rescue Meg's father and defeat the Black Thing, which tries to destroy all that is good in the universe. Of course, they all learn important lessons along the way, especially Meg, who learns to find herself and use her flaws in positive ways. I am incredibly excited for the movie adaptation, directed by the great Ava DuVernay.

Also, a quote that I love, which seems appropriate in these troubled times:

"'Stay angry, little Meg', whispered Mrs. Whatsit. 'You will need all your anger now.'"

71kaylaraeintheway
Avr 2, 2017, 7:22 pm



South and West: From a Notebook by Joan Didion

Joan Didion, in notebooks from decades ago, writes about her travels through the South and her experiences in California. Both were intended to result in separate pieces about each respective place, but, in the end, nothing came of her notes. I'm glad that this was my first foray into Joan Didion's work. She writes with a clarity of time and place that gets to the heart of wherever she is writing about. I found myself underlining several passages - having lived in both California and the South, I was struck by how much resonated with me, even years after her own experiences.

72dchaikin
Avr 3, 2017, 2:36 pm

>71 kaylaraeintheway: Interesting. She published her notebooks? I could certainly read that.

73kaylaraeintheway
Avr 22, 2017, 6:06 pm



The Unfinished World and Other Stories by Amber Sparks

I heard nothing but good things about this short story collection, and I'm pleased to say that it lived up to the hype! Amber Sparks has a way of writing beautiful sentences, full of passion and meaning, whether talking about a lonely janitor on a space station, a resurrected hero, a family of murderers, or a broken boy. Sometimes, when I read short story collections, they all seem to run together in the end. With The Unfinished World, however, Sparks's stories individually stand out in my mind. I hope she continues to write intriguing stories.

74kaylaraeintheway
Avr 27, 2017, 12:52 am



The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien

The first time I read this book (or rather, the whole trilogy), I was in 8th grade and was easily confused by all the strange names and the many songs scattered throughout. Now that I am older and have watched the movies several times (yes, I love the films, and no, I don't care what you think about that), I have a better grasp on the stories, and I can picture the places and maps in my head. I really enjoyed re-reading Fellowship; since I had read it only once before, it was almost like reading it for the first time. Tolkien's epic tale, unlike other fantasy novels which try (and fail) to emulate him, focuses on the emotional side of what it means to take a grand adventure, especially when you may not appear to be the best person (or hobbit) for the job. And while the female representation is lacking, I appreciate that not all the main heroes are beefed-up manly-men without flaws who only like to stab things and rescue maidens. Aragorn pines for his love, Sam is unafraid to express his affection for his dear friend, Pippin and Merry are brave for the sake of their friends, Boromir does and says all the wrong things, and Legolas and Gimli are the definition of BFFs. And Frodo...dear Frodo. Courage is indeed "found in unlikely places".

75valkyrdeath
Avr 27, 2017, 6:23 pm

>73 kaylaraeintheway: That's another book that's going straight on my list! I'm always looking for good short story collections.

>74 kaylaraeintheway: I still haven't been able to decide whether I want to try LOTR again. I loved The Hobbit but when I tried reading it years ago I ended up giving up about half way through The Two Towers since I found it hard going. But I did love the films and maybe I'd enjoy the books more now.

76kaylaraeintheway
Avr 28, 2017, 10:43 am

>75 valkyrdeath: I liked the LotR books when I first read them, but I remember it took me a long time to get through all the books. This time though, I blazed through Fellowship, and I think it partly has to do with my love for the movies. I say give it another try!

77kaylaraeintheway
Mai 24, 2017, 5:07 pm



I'm stuck in a reading limbo; I have been "in the middle of" the same few books for the past month and a half. And it's mainly because I have been busy with work (end of the year residence hall closing is no easy task) and gearing up for my next move to Missoula, Montana for a new job at the end of June (in case anyone is curious, I ended up filling 35 of those U-Haul book boxes).

I will have about 3 weeks in between leaving my current job and starting my new one, which should be a good opportunity to get some serious reading done. However, I will need all of my self-control to stay away from the local bookstore, since saving money will be a top priority for me next month.

Here's to good weather and great books!

78Oandthegang
Mai 25, 2017, 1:59 am

Good luck with the move and the new job!

79kaylaraeintheway
Juin 2, 2017, 11:29 pm



Road Trip USA: Route 66 by Jamie Jensen

A small but mighty travel guide for the famous Route 66! Superbly detailed with state-by-state directions to great eats, awesome attractions, and of course all the classic kitschy Americana you can dream of. I will definitely be using this when I (someday!) drive the Mother Road.

80kaylaraeintheway
Juin 2, 2017, 11:36 pm



My Life With Bob: Flawed Heroine Keeps Book of Books, Plot Ensues by Pamela Paul

"We pass our lives according to our books - relishing and reacting against them, reliving their stories when we recall where we were when we read them and the reasons we did. ... Even if we don't keep a physical Book of Books, we all hold our books somewhere inside us and live by them. They become our stories."

I LOVED this book! Pamela Paul writes about her life and the books she's read along the way (documented in her Book of Books aka "Bob") with such refreshing honesty and frightening relate-ability. I consider myself a voracious reader, but Pamela has read so much and so broadly (aided by her desire to travel around the world) that I can only hope to one day have a Book of Books as full as hers. I laughed aloud several times, nodded along in agreement with her many insights on the power of books, and cried with her when reliving her grief for a lost loved one. I cannot recommend this book about books enough!

81kaylaraeintheway
Juin 3, 2017, 12:21 pm



The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkien

This was a re-read. I really enjoyed the Aragorn/Legolas/Gimli and Merry/Pippin storylines, but found it hard to get through the Frodo/Sam part (mainly because I'm not a fan of Gollum). I think Tolkein made an interesting choice to write the books not in chronological order, but one group at a time. It forces the reader to think back as to what was happening with the other group while the second half is going on, and made it somewhat confusing for me to keep the timeline straight. Despite these little complaints, I still enjoyed the book as a whole, and I'm looking forward to wrapping up my re-read of LotR with Return of the King.

82mabith
Juin 4, 2017, 9:18 am

Certainly adding My Life With Bob to my to-read list.

83kaylaraeintheway
Juin 5, 2017, 9:10 pm



Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America's National Parks by Mark Woods

Mark Woods decided to got one National Park (or memorial, or recreation area, or monument) a month during the Centennial of he National Park system. His goal was to address one aspect of the parks that could affect their future (pollution, over crowding, climate change, etc.). However, shortly into his project, his mother, the woman who helped nurture his love for the outdoors and national parks, was diagnosed with cancer. Despite this, Mark continued his travels, sometimes with family members, sometimes with friends, mostly alone. He talked with many park rangers and park goers, each one with their own special stories and connections to the places they live and work. Soon, Mark realized that his project was. not only about the uncertain future of the parks, but his uncertain future as well - one that would soon not include his mother.

I really loved this book. I initially picked it up because I too love the national parks and worry about their future in a world (and country) that seems to be caring about them less and less. As I was reading this, though, I gained a renewed sense of hope as Mark told of his encounters with the people who are working to improve and preserve these spaces. But more than a reflection on the outdoors, this is a book about acceptance, adaptation, and moving forward. Mark Woods writes about the sights and sounds of nature as eloquently as he writes about the rage and sadness of dealing with death. In the final chapter, as he is standing in the Haleakala Crater in Hawaii watching the last sunset of the year, he recounts the tale that leads to the title of the book, and it (and the connection of it all) took my breath away.

(My only complaint is that my copy, for some mysterious reason, had 30 pages missing)

84kaylaraeintheway
Juin 6, 2017, 7:43 pm



To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Ho-ly cats, what an amazing book! This is a classic for a reason, and more important than ever. I wish I had paid more attention (and actually did the reading) when this was assigned in high school. I blazed through this in an afternoon, and found myself underlining so many poignant passages. I teared up quite a few times, too. But what I was most surprised about was how funny it was! Little Scout Finch has no shortage of sass, and the southern ladies could dish out a jibe as well as anyone. Atticus is, of course, a shining example of what it means to be a good human, and Boo Radley is heartbreaking. All the other characters who populate the story each serve to bring life and authenticity to Harper Lee's narrative (unsurprising, since the book is based in part on her experiences in small-town Alabama). This is a book I will cherish and pass along to my children, without a doubt.

85japaul22
Juin 6, 2017, 8:22 pm

>84 kaylaraeintheway: I'm so glad you loved To Kill a Mockingbird - it's one of my favorites too! I love Scout's voice. It was so smart to address all of the adult issues in the book through the eyes of a child.

86valkyrdeath
Juin 6, 2017, 8:53 pm

>84 kaylaraeintheway: I was about to say I read this recently for the first time too, but it turns out it was 3 years ago. Which shows what an impression it had on me since I still remember pretty much all of it very clearly. I wasn't really expecting to love it like I did when I started it, but it really is an amazing book.

87mabith
Juin 6, 2017, 11:20 pm

My first read of To Kill a Mockingbird was also quite recent (four or five years ago, I guess). In a trunk of papers I have an essay my mom wrote on the book in 1964 or 1965 for school. I guess I should finally read it one of these days.

88kaylaraeintheway
Juin 9, 2017, 10:42 pm

>85 japaul22: I agree! Some of the most heartbreaking passages for me were the ones where Jem was overcome because he couldn't believe the outcome of the trial. Like Atticus said, "They've done it before and they did it tonight and they'll do it again and when they do - it seems that only children weep."

89kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Juin 9, 2017, 10:44 pm



The Planets by Dava Sobel

What a great book! Dava Sobel writes about the 9 planets (yes, Pluto is included - this was written in 2006 after all), plus the sun and the moon, in a way that is both lyrical and scientific. I learned a lot about the origins and compositions of the celestial bodies of our solar system while at the same time gaining an understanding about the absolutely bananas way scientists, astronomers, and explorers figured out what the heck was going on in our universe with super basic tools and knowledge. Sobel could have just written about these things like in a textbook, but instead she brings a creative non-fiction style that enabled me to just blaze through this; she explores the origins of Mercury through mythology, the composition of Venus through the poets who rhapsodized about her beauty, the understanding of Earth through cartography, the evolution of Mars as "told" by an actual Martian rock that fell to Earth, and the song of Saturn's rings through music. I love space and the beauty of the written word, and this book combines the best of both!

90kaylaraeintheway
Juin 13, 2017, 4:54 pm



Marlena by Julie Buntin

Tell me what you can't forget, and I'll tell you who you are.

Books like this make me terrified to have children (I'm only half-joking). Cat and her brother and mom move to Silver Lake, Michigan following a divorce. Almost right away, Cat begins to form a friendship with Marlena, the girl next door who is a little older and a lot more experienced in the ways of sex, drugs, and self-destruction. However, this isn't just a "drugged-up teenagers" book; Julie Buntin tells the story of Cat and Marlena's intense relationship with sensitivity and honesty. For a lot of people, the first breakup with a best friend can be more heartbreaking than losing a boyfriend or girlfriend. Even though I never personally went through the things that these two girls did, I can still relate to the desperate need to find your person, and how much they can mean to you, and how badly it can hurt when they start to pull away. Buntin allows adult Cat (now living in New York and usually drunk by 4 PM) the chance to reflect on that year with Marlena, with more clarity on what it was like for Marlena as an addict. No one in this story is particularly likable, but they are true, full people. I find myself thinking more and more about this book as the days go on.

91valkyrdeath
Juin 13, 2017, 6:20 pm

>89 kaylaraeintheway: The Planets sounds like something I would love! I've read two books by Dava Sobel and they were both excellent, so I really need to get to that one.

92kaylaraeintheway
Juin 14, 2017, 7:06 pm



Elvis and Me by Priscilla Presley

Hooooo boy, this was a doozy. Now, I'm a huge Elvis fan - I have his name tattooed on my arm for Pete's sake. But I know that he had his own problems and demons, and that he never wanted to actually address those problems, which contributed to his downward spiral and death in 1977. What I didn't fully know were the details of Elvis and Priscilla Presley's courtship and marriage. Of course, it goes without saying that I took Priscilla's account with a grain of salt - not that I think she was outright making things up, but I'm sure there are things that were embellished or left out for the sake of the story, and for the sake of Elvis's memory.

Even so, their relationship - and Elvis himself - were not always presented in the best light. Priscilla admits that their relationship (while filled with love), was not healthy. First of all, they started dating when she was 14 (he was 24), and that's just weird. Elvis was able to mold Priscilla into his perfect woman, train her to be the perfect wife (one who was there for him whenever he needed her, had no other job or hobbies to distract from him, offered no opinions, and who always looked her best). Then there was the pills: sleeping pills, diet pills, uppers, all which contributed to Elvis's declining health and mental state (Priscilla said she took those pills as well, but claimed to have stopped after one particularly frightening, pill-fueled encounter with Elvis). Despite all the bad times (and there seemed to be mostly bad times), Elvis did have his moments of genuine love, affection, and generosity.

All that I have read so far about Elvis has been taken from biographies or accounts from members of his Memphis Mafia. It was interesting to see him from Priscilla's point of view, someone who met him and was deeply in love with him at such a young age, then had the veil lifted from her eyes as the years of manipulation and emotional turmoil continued. It's a shame that someone so talented just could not get out of his own way.

I am going to start the 2nd part of Peter Guralnick's Elvis biography Careless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley and see what matches and what doesn't from Priscilla's account.

93kaylaraeintheway
Juil 15, 2017, 8:48 pm



Touch by Courtney Maum

When I first heard about this book (through the Belletrist social media book club), I wasn't so sure I would like it. However, I found the story of Sloane, a trend forecaster who predicts the rise of touch and togetherness as opposed to a further reliance and interest in technology, to be really touching while at the same time retaining a biting satirical wit. Courtney Maum writes about trends, objects, feelings, etc. in a very compelling and lyrical way. And it got me thinking about how I use technology and social media and why. A very intriguing read!

94kaylaraeintheway
Juil 24, 2017, 11:15 pm



Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst

My youngest sister has long lamented the lack of LGBTQ romances in YA fiction (and in general), so when she came across this book a few months ago, she was super excited and read it in a day. I was touched that she wanted to lend it to me, since it meant so much to her. And while it wasn't my favorite thing that I have ever read, it was fun and exciting and had several well written characters. The story centers around Dennaleia, a princess who has been betrothed since infancy to the future king of a neighboring kingdom. There's just one small problem (or two, really). One, she has an Affinity, a magical ability to create fire, which is most inconvenient as magic users are being persecuted. And two...she starts to fall for her fiance's sister, the headstrong Mare. It was refreshing to read about a blossoming love between two strong females instead of the usual prince/princess, bad boy/good girl stuff that gets quite repetitive in YA fiction (and written by a LGBTQ author as well!) Representation is important in fiction, and I'm glad there has been a steady increase in diverse books.

95kaylaraeintheway
Juil 24, 2017, 11:31 pm



Land on Fire: The New Reality of Wildfire in the West by Gary Ferguson

I first picked up this book because I'm a sucker for a good cover. I was happy to discover that amazing photographs of the terror and beauty of wildfires were on almost every page, and, more importantly, that Gary Ferguson writes about the science behind the creation, expansion, and necessity of wildfires in the west in a lyrical way. There were a few points that sort of confused me (science is hard), but it was still informative. Living in Montana, I have been introduced to the fire season that means smoky skies and fire weather warnings almost daily. With this book, I am more knowledgeable not only about the why of wildfires, but the many people who work to contain them.

96kaylaraeintheway
Juil 24, 2017, 11:40 pm



Shadowbahn by Steve Erickson

HOLY. CATS. How do you describe a book that's about the sudden reappearance of the Twin Towers, unblemished and whole, in the Badlands of South Dakota 20 years after 9/11? How do I even begin to talk about a story that centers around Jesse Presley, the stillborn twin of Elvis, who wakes up on the 93rd floor of one of the towers only to escape and move through a world where one of the greatest entertainers of all time never existed? How can one possibly write coherently about a novel that follows two siblings as they drive across a country torn asunder, towards two towers that seem to sing, each person who stands in their shadows hearing a different song? Answer: you can't. Solution: read this. Read this unique, bonkers book. You'll be thinking about it long after you finish the last page. I know I will.

97kaylaraeintheway
Juil 24, 2017, 11:49 pm



Lentil Underground: Renegade Farmers and the Future of Food in America by Liz Carlisle

All incoming freshmen at the University of Montana (where I work) are assigned a book to read and discuss during their first semester. This year, it's Lentil Underground by native Missoulian Liz Carlisle. Having known nothing about organic farming (or farming in general), I was unsure how I would like this book. However, because of Liz's easy to follow and conversational writing style, I was able to follow along with the story of the farmers who started the organic farming revolution in Montana (and it all started with lentils). I thought the processes she described were fascinating, and I learned so much! I hope that most of the students enjoy the book as well, and gain a new understanding and respect for those who work the Montana land. I'll be keeping an eye out for Timeless Seeds products in the grocery stores around town!

98kaylaraeintheway
Juil 25, 2017, 12:16 am



Bonjour Tristesse by Francoise Sagan

Call me silly, but I'm a sucker for stories about rebellious, laissez-faire teenagers that end in tragedy. Add in the fact that Cecile (the amoral star of the book) is French and was written by an actual French teenager in the 1950s, and I'm hooked. There was nothing too terribly surprising or revolutionary about this book (at least to my 2017 mind), but I still found several passages that were striking, and I can see how this became essential reading for many self-absorbed teenagers around the world. It's funny, when I was reading this, I pictured Jean Seberg as Cecile in my head; it wasn't until the day after I finished the book that I discovered that Jean did, in fact, play Cecile in the movie version.

99kaylaraeintheway
Juil 25, 2017, 12:32 am



Gloryland: A Novel by Shelton Johnson

I absolutely LOVED this book! Shelton Johnson, a park ranger at Yosemite, presents this fictional memoir of an African American/Indian man named Elijah Yancy who leaves his home and family in South Carolina and ends up joining the army in the late 1800s. After travelling around the world fighting and killing those who just want freedom (a moral dilemma whose tragic irony is not lost on Elijah), his Calvary unit is assigned to patrol and protect the relatively new Yosemite National Park. Is it here that Elijah is able to fully come face-to-face with who he is and who he can be. Shelton's writing is simply superb, and you can feel his reverence for the Yosemite land in every word. There's also terrible tragedy amongst the beauty, as Elijah is repeatedly confronted by racism and violence. This is a very important book, not in the least because it tells the story of the buffalo soldiers, a sadly under-taught part of American history. My fingers are crossed that the next time I visit Yosemite, I cross paths with Ranger Johnson.

100kaylaraeintheway
Juil 30, 2017, 6:34 pm



New and Selected Poems: Volume One by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver is one of my favorite poets, and this collection of many of her greatest poems is like a master class in capturing the natural world in words. There's nothing like laying in the grass or sitting at the top of a mountain and reading about her encounters with birds, trees, life, and death. Her poems, even the melancholy ones, are full of life.

101kaylaraeintheway
Août 2, 2017, 9:34 pm



The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman

This is the 3rd time I've read this book, and each time I've gotten something new from it. When I first read it as a kid (about 8 or 9), I didn't grasp what Pullman was trying to say about Dust/original sin, innocence and experience. I was just caught up in the cool adventure story of a girl (who looked similar to me in my imagination) who gets to venture across the North with armored bears, witches, and Texan aeronauts. When I revisited it again in high school, I thought myself more clever and knowing, and had raging internal debates about sin and the church. Now, I have reached a midway point between those two views; The Golden Compass is an elegant statement on childhood and adulthood and the various moral quandaries that arise from navigating those strange planes, both metaphorical and literal. But, equally as important, it is a fantasy about a young girl and her daemon. I love this book, and I'm eager to read Pullman's next installment in the saga.

102dchaikin
Août 3, 2017, 7:20 am

enjoyed catching up. Marlena has come up a few times in CR, your comments leave me interested. Several others left me interested too. Reading through these reviews, it seemed like being in Montana has left some impression on your reading. ??

103kaylaraeintheway
Août 7, 2017, 12:29 am

102Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean. And every bookstore in town (Missoula is a great place for literary folks) has a great Montana/local section and many author events.

104dchaikin
Août 7, 2017, 10:28 am

One of my favorite books is A River Runs Through It. :) Haven't read Young Men and Fire.

105kaylaraeintheway
Août 20, 2017, 11:41 pm



Sex and Rage by Eve Babitz

This was a very interesting book. Eve Babitz seems to perfectly capture the culture of late 60s southern California/L.A./Hollywood/surfer life in a way that makes me glad I never lived there myself (that's a compliment, trust me). Jacaranda Leven is a born and bred California surfer girl who gets caught up in the late-night, drinking and drugs with beautiful people culture that young ladies seem to be so susceptible to (the subtitle for this book - "ADVICE to YOUNG LADIES EAGER for a GOOD TIME - is peak Babitz toungue-in-cheek irony). But Jacaranda is more than a doomed plaything for the rich and famous; she actually has potential as a writer, which is reason enough for those who claim to love her to abandon her to her high and mighty ways. The tragedy here is that Jacaranda was caught up in the scene for so long that she believes she is less than, only good for a laugh when she's 14 cocktails in. It takes a literary agent and trip to New York for Jacaranda to begin to put the pieces of her life back together.

Eve Babitz is a fantastic writer. Her sentences jump around like thoughts in a self-conscious alcoholic's head, poetic ruminations on the sights and sounds of the L.A. scene. It is a tale told by a woman, full of sex & rage, signifying everything.

106kaylaraeintheway
Août 20, 2017, 11:57 pm



Almost Somewhere: Twenty-Eight Days on the John Muir Trail by Suzanne Roberts

Why do we go outside? Why do we look at a huge mountain or long trail and say, "Yeah, sure, why not?" Why do we push the limits of our physical and mental stamina? There may be many answers, depending on who you ask. For Suzanne and her two friends (Erika, the athletic, bossy mastermind and Dionne, the fragile but kind bulimic), their reasons for hiking the 211-mile John Muir Trail may differ, but the central driving force is the same: to prove they can. While they occasionally have male companions, in the end, it's the three of them who eventually push themselves to continue their trek on their own terms, by the strength of their own legs. At first, I was annoyed with Suzanne as a narrator (this memoir is taken from her journal entries while on the trip in the 90s). She seemed overly concerned with needing male company and approval, and was constantly in contest with the other two ladies. However, I came to realize that this aspect of her personality, as a recent college grad in her early 20s, that she was working to over come - even if it took her years later to recognize that. And then I realized: I was annoyed because I saw myself in her. The need for approval, especially from men, is something that I know I have battled with, even now on occasion. Suzanne, guided by a man (John Muir) in a quest to conquer wilderness and wildness, was looking for a way to feel comfortable in it as a woman. It's quite a brilliant rumination on gender and the outdoors, one that makes me want to hike the entire JMT to see if I, too, can feel at home in wildness.

107Cait86
Sep 1, 2017, 8:02 am

>106 kaylaraeintheway: I'd never heard of Eve Babitz before, but I was super intrigued by your review of this book, so I did some reading on her this morning. Fascinating! I think I need to read this!

108kaylaraeintheway
Sep 6, 2017, 11:33 am

>108 kaylaraeintheway: That's great! I hope you enjoy reading it :)

109kaylaraeintheway
Sep 9, 2017, 12:29 pm



Matilda by Roald Dahl

I know I read this book when I was younger, but all I could remember was the movie version. I completely forgot that in the book, Matilda and everyone else is British (the Brits are way better at clever name-calling, btw), but the story is still the same. A very smart little girl loves books and learning, is ignored by her awful, ignorant family (all complete caricatures), and is befriended by a kind teacher. Ms Trunchbull, the headmistress, is completely bonkers and quite terrifyingly abusive for a children's book. Everything happens rather quickly in the book, from the revelation of Matilda's powers to the resolution of Miss Honey's problems. But all in all, it is a cute story.

110kaylaraeintheway
Sep 10, 2017, 6:45 pm



Fire Season: Field Notes from a Wilderness Lookout by Philip Connors

I got this book over a year ago, and while it's always been near the top of my TBR list, I didn't pick it up until wildfire season really kicked into high gear here in Montana a few weeks ago. For the past month, almost every day there has been smoke in the air, and air quality levels have reached hazardous levels more times than I can count.

Reading about Philip Connors's time as a fire lookout in the Gila mountains made me realize how much we rely on human observation to save or forests (or allow nature to take its course). Connors waxes poetic and philosophical on wilderness, loneliness, and the vastness of nature in the same vein as his heroes Aldo Leopold, Jack Kerouac, and Gary Snyder (wilderness lookouts all), but with a distinctly 21st-century bent.

At times I found myself wanting to spend 100 days in a lookout tower with nothing but books, smoke, and the occasional hiker to keep me company. At other times, though, I recognized that it takes a special kind of person to choose this kind of seasonal work. In addition to his experience as a lookout, Connors also delves into the history of the Wilderness Act, wildfires, and lookouts of the past, giving the reader an informational as well as a personal narrative. Connors references Norman Maclean (Montana's favorite author) and his book about the Man Gulch Fire tragedy - that book is now at the top of my to read list.

111kaylaraeintheway
Sep 17, 2017, 4:02 pm



Chasing Redbird by Sharon Creech

Sharon Creech has a way of writing about seemingly ordinary life events (moving, a death in the family, first crush, annoying siblings) that resonates with readers, whether they are the same age as the main characters or well beyond it but can still remember what it's like. I last read Chasing Redbird sometime in middle school, and while I enjoyed it, I think I like it more now because I understand more. Sharon Creech's books are ones you can come back to again and again and get more from them each time.

112kaylaraeintheway
Sep 22, 2017, 1:04 pm



The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

I love Margaret Atwood, so I can't explain why it's taken me so long to finally read this book. I'll admit that the Hulu adaptation's several Emmy wins inspired me to pick it up at last, and hoooooooo boy I'm so glad I did! I devoured this book in 2 sittings. Atwood build a not-too-distant future that, like many today are saying, doesn't feel too far out of the realm of possibility. Women's bodies are highly regulated in this Christian theonomy/military dictatorship, and Handmaids (like the narrator Offred) serve only as breeding vessels for the elite. I can't do justice to Atwood's beautiful writing, so suffice it to say I was marking passages left and right and found myself having to stop for a minute after particularly insightful ruminations on freedom and fear. The jarring (in a good way) ending leaves just the right of ambiguity for the reader to have the space to explore their own versions of what happened then, now, and in the future of this tale. I will definitely be reading this amazing book again...right after I binge-watch the series.

113kaylaraeintheway
Modifié : Oct 1, 2017, 10:17 pm

Montana Book Festival 2017



This weekend was the Montana Book Festival in Missoula, and I was working as a volunteer throughout the whole event. I got to run info/author check in tables at a couple different bookstores, introduce panels, help work the larger evening social events, and basically be around fellow book lovers for 3 days straight. The best part, though, was discovering so many new authors, especially Montana authors (the stack of books on the right are all the ones that I was able to get signed by the authors). I also got to meet the festival headliners, Jane Smiley, Donald Ray Pollock, and local hero William Kittredge. I had a great time, and can't wait to see who will be here next year!

114kaylaraeintheway
Oct 22, 2017, 4:21 pm



Turtles All the Way Down by John Green

I think the summaries for this book are a little inaccurate: yes, 16-year-old Aza Holmes and her friend Daisy try to figure out what happened to the disappeared billionaire father of Aza's friend Davis, but the emotional core of the story is about Aza herself and the thought spirals that consume her life, thanks to her OCD. This may very well be my favorite John Green book. Maybe it's because there are several Star Wars references; maybe it's the fact that Daisy, in the role of the fast-talking witty best friend, is not at all annoying like the characters who occupied similar roles in past Green novels; but I think the main reason why I felt myself frequently tearing up and mentally underlining passages is because John Green is writing from a place of understanding, of living first-hand with these very same thought spirals. It is agonizing and eloquent and beautiful and painful. But, as I'm sure Aza and John will attest, isn't that just like life?

John Green has gotten a lot of crap in recent years (mainly through the anonymity of the internet), and I really don't understand why. He writes really compelling stories and offers any heartfelt observations about the world via his characters...perhaps the reason is because those characters are teenagers? Who knows.

115dchaikin
Oct 22, 2017, 6:50 pm

Maybe he was thrown under the anti-young adult bus. ?? I haven't read him, but my daughter loved The Fault in Our Stars.

going back a bit:

>111 kaylaraeintheway: Fire Season sounds terrific...and timely : (
>113 kaylaraeintheway: Yay! Sorry, that was my first reaction to seeing you just read this for the first time.
>114 kaylaraeintheway: Festival sounds like it was lovely. Great stack of books.

116kaylaraeintheway
Oct 30, 2017, 6:49 pm



Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

Practical Magic is one of my favorite movies. It took me a while to realize it was based on a book, and even longer to finally start reading it. I was surprised at how different the movie is from the source material, and while I was uncertain at first if I would like it, I found myself enjoying the book as I kept reading. Alice Hoffman certainly has a unique and captivating way of writing, and I loved all the moments when she would briefly explore the future or the past of a person or thing before getting back to the story at hand. Much like with the movie, I will be coming back to this book often.

117auntmarge64
Nov 14, 2017, 6:23 pm

Well, you've definitely given me a few additions to my reading list:
Shadowbahn cuz, well, it could be great or horrible,given the ratings on LT, but what the hell.....
Gloryland - never heard of it, sounds right up my alley
Turtles All the Way Down sounds delightful
and maybe Practical Magic

118chlorine
Nov 19, 2017, 1:56 pm

I've slowly caught up with your thread.
There were a lot of interesting reviews, thanks for these!