nomadreader

book review: The Intercept by Dick Wolf

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The backstory: Dick Wolf, perhaps most famous for creating all of the Law & Order series, as well as my beloved Chicago Fire. The Intercept is his first novel, presumably of a series, given the subtitle: a Jeremy Fisk novel.

The basics: Jeremy Fisk is an NYPD officer who works in the Intelligence Division to combat terrorism. When a terror attempt on a commercial flight is disrupted days before July 4, when One World Trade Center is set to be dedicated, Fisk and partner Krina Gersten work to figure out who was behind the attack and what they might be planning next.

My thoughts: As much as I adore all things Law & Order (and Chicago Fire), I was somewhat skeptical about this novel. Does Wolf have novel-writing chops? Having brilliant ideas for television shows isn't easy, but it's also not necessarily the same skill set as writing a well-crafted terrorism thriller. My fears were soon put to rest, as Wolf skillfully developed characters and mixed it with a compelling and smart terrorism plot. The Intercept succeeds initially because it is so close to reality. Osama bin Laden is a character, and Wolf pulls the traditional "ripped from the headlines" stories you'd expect from the Law & Orders. The more you already know about these current events will likely heighten your enjoyment of this novel. Things are shocking and provocative, but they're logical, which makes it even more frightening:

"For every terror plot that arose organically, which is to say without domestic law enforcement interference--the underwear bomber in a jetliner over Detroit, or the planned attack on Fort Dix, New Jersey--two others originated with the prodding of undercover federal agents. Not unlike actual terror cell leaders, they radicalized vulnerable Muslim suspects by fomenting anti-American dissent and supplying the conspirators with dummy materials, such as fake C-4 explosive or harmless blasting caps. These paper conspiracies were then passed off as major law enforcement victories, vanquished threats to say that the FBI had instigated more terror plots in the United States since 9/11 than Al-Qaida."

Wolf also manages to write from the point of view of terrorists eerily: "They must be made to believe we repeat ourselves out of a desperation to act." My biggest problem Andre Dubus III's Garden of Last Days was that the voice of the terrorist wasn't believable. Wolf manages to bring understanding, if not quite empathy, to the mind of a terrorist. I said to more than one friend who pondered "who could do this?" after the Boston Marathon bombing: read The Intercept. It may not fully answer the question, but it gets quite close.

Favorite passage: "I have not lost God, Miss. What I have lost is the idea that I can ever know what God is. That is why religion has become a curse on the earth. Nobody can know. But everybody presumes. Many are willing to kill without knowing. Without even thinking."

The verdict: The Intercept is a confidant, smart, and thrilling debut. Jeremy Fisk is a fascinating and flawed character, and I eagerly await his next adventure.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: December 26, 2012 (it's out in paperback Tuesday!)
Source: publisher via Edelweiss

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy The Intercept from an independent bookstore, the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

Thursday TV: On giving up satellite

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

When we moved into our new house, Mr. Nomadreader and I made the choice to get rid of our satellite television package. I love television, but the rising prices became untenable for me, particularly as more and more is available streaming for free or very reasonable subscription fees. There are certainly things I'll miss, but I'm actually enjoying the change.

Binge watching is like binge reading
I adore binge watching shows, just as I adore binge reading entire series of books in a short amount of time. Even with satellite tv, I frequently let 3-5 (or more) episodes record and then watched them in spurts. I love devouring entire seasons of shows in a few days. Given that I prefer to watch shows in large doses, it made sense to abandon an increasingly dated television system. Although I broke up with Grey's Anatomy years ago, I began watching it from the beginning the week before we moved. I started season 3 last night, and that's in two weeks I've been packing, moving and unpacking.

DVR anxiety should not be a thing
If you're like me, your TBR pile is filled with more books than you can actually read in a given year. I'm the same way with a DVR: I fill it with shows, documentaries, and films I genuinely want to watch, yet I can only spend so many hours a week watching television. Our DVR regularly hovered around 90% fill. Trips out of town meant tough decisions about what to delete unwatched. DVR anxiety is the ultimate first-world problem, and my DVR should not be a source of stress in my life.

Aligning my tv life with my reading life
Ultimately, it comes down to quality of my leisure life. Some nights, I feel more like watching tv than reading. Other nights I just want to read. Other nights I'm in the mood for movies. Giving up satellite means I can be more intentional about how I use my leisure time. Far too often I got in the habit of coming home, seeing what had recorded on the DVR, and letting that plan my night. Now I come home and ponder what I most want to do with my time. Most nights, it starts with a glass of wine and reading on my deck. When Mr. Nomadreader is home, we opt to grill out. Then I spend a little time unpacking (it's almost done!) and wandering around the house imagining the short term and long term changes I want to make. Then I end the night with a couple (or five) episodes of Grey's Anatomy and another glass of wine. This routine is nice, but I'm sure it will ebb and flow as the seasons change and I run through the lists of tv shows I've been meaning to watch that are also available streaming.

Now tell me: what tv shows should I rush to watch first?

book review: Relish by Lucy Knisley

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The backstory: After adoring French Milk, Lucy Knisley's graphic memoir about traveling to France with her mother in 2004, I was eager to read her newest graphic memoir.

The basics: Relish is a memoir of Knisley's life told through food. As the daughter of foodies, Knisley traces her relationship with food from childhood to today.

My thoughts: Lucy Knisley has a wonderful ability to share the emotions she felt with her readers. It's not simply a matter of her signature art, although her visual aesthetic certainly contributes to it, particularly the way she uses space. At the heart of what I love about her work is her raw honesty. She doesn't hide, and that inhibition draws me right in. Knisley isn't just showing and telling her story, she's inviting her readers to share it.

Relish is obviously perfect for foodies. The images of Knisley tasting her first foie gras at a dinner party as a child and proceeding to ask every grown up at the table if they had any extra brought tears to my eyes. When she visited Alinea, I shared her excitement (and was filled with jealousy.) While I loved the food moments individually, collectively this graphic memoir is much more than simply a life of food. Knisley's journey, which she marks with food, is the real treasure.

The verdict: Relish is a more ambitious graphic memoir than French Milk, and it succeeds on more levels because of it. It's a graphic memoir I'll return to re-read again and again over the years, as I, too, form more new food memories.

Rating: 5 out of 5
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: April 2, 2013
Source: library

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy Relish from an independent bookstore, the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book review: The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Mon, 20 May 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The backstory: I read Elizabeth Strout's last book, Olive Kitteridge, for book club a few years ago. I liked it, but I didn't love it, mostly because I wanted more of a novel than interconnected stories. I was curious to see how I would far with her latest novel, The Burgess Boys.

The basics: The Burgess Boys is about three adult siblings from Maine. Jim and Bob now live in Brooklyn, but Susan remains in the town where they grew up. When Susan's son Zack gets in trouble, she turns to her brothers for help.

My thoughts: What I liked most about Olive Kitteridge was Olive herself. Strout has a way of developing characters beautifully, and The Burgess Boys begin with detailed glimpses into each of the Burgesses, plus Jim's wife. The set up was glorious. I devoured Strout's writing and character building and could not bear to put this novel down. After all this set up, I was ultimately disappointed. The last half of the book fell flat for me and was laborious to get through. The plot meandered and the characters who seemed so richly developed, complicated and intriguing in the first half became less fascinating and often dull. Although the second half was both unsatisfying and not enjoyable, I still am fond of the first half of this novel. I wish that charm and fascination could have carried through the rest of the novel too.

The verdict: Strout's beautifully detailed prose and richly developed characters weren't enough to salvage the meandering second half of this novel for me.

Rating: 3 out of 5
Length: 337 pages
Publication date: March 26, 2013
Source: publisher

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy The Burgess Boys from an independent bookstore, the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

Sunday Salon: I've Missed It Here!

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Sun, 19 May 2013 12:27:00 +0000

Hi, y'all! I feel like I haven't seen you in ages. I've missed you and your comments. I've missed blogging. I've missed our Twitter conversations. I've missed reading other blogs. I've missed reading (or finishing) actual books. Here's what I've been up to in these far-too-quiet last few months:

Remember when I said Mr. Nomadreader and I bought a house? Well everything came through, we closed, and moved. FOR THE LAST TIME. EVER. (That tiny red triangle in the top right corner says SOLD!) I've moved six times in the six years I've been blogging. I've moved nine times since I graduated from college (just over ten years ago.) Sheesh. And as much as I love our house, and still find myself wandering from room to room marveling that it's ours, part of me is ready to resume 'normal' reading, blogging, Tweeting and blog reading. Hello, lazy days of summer, I'm so glad you're here! Once the last of the major things to do around the house are tied up this week (just in time for our first out-of-town visitors and our housewarming party), I'm looking forward to a summer full of Mondays off. Yes, Mr. Nomadreader and I will finally have a day off together each week (at least for two and a half months!) House pictures will come when more is put away. Sneak peak: we're arranging our books by color, and I cannot wait!

While I haven't been blogging or even reading other blogs, I have been spending thinking about why I blog and what I want out of my blog. I haven't reached many conclusions, but for now I want to once again make blogging a priority in my life, just as I want to make reading a priority. I always come back around to what I love most about blogging about books: I'm an extrovert who loves to read, so having an outlet to share my thoughts on books with other readers matters to me. I also want to return to blogging more about other entertainment media, specifically film and television. Look for more of those posts in the future.

I'm spending today unpacking, finishing up Michael Harvey's fourth Michael Kelly novel, We All Fall Down, and binge-watching Grey's Anatomy (I'm in the middle of season 2.) I find alternating house chores with relaxing makes me accomplish far more (or at least not resent chores interrupting my lazy Sunday nearly as much!)

I hope this week will be a return to my normal posting schedule and help me get caught up on reviews. Now tell me: what have you been up to?

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book review: Pain, Parties, Work: Sylvia Plath in New York, Summer 1953 by Elizabeth Winder

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The basics: As the title indicates, this biography of Sylvia Plath takes a narrow scope: the summer of 1953, when she was a college intern for Mademoiselle magazine and lived in New York City with other interns from around the country.

My thoughts: 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of Sylvia Plath's death. Despite her fame and talent, I'm ashamed to say I know more about her infamy and death than her life. Still, there's something that has always fascinated me about Plath, so I welcomed this opportunity to dive deeper into her back story. From the earliest pages of Pain, Parties, Work, however, I realized I was as fascinated by Sylvia's time in the summer of 1953 as I was her colleagues. While Plath drew me to this book, the other women kept me turning the pages.

Winder's research for this book is remarkable. The book is laid out much like a magazine. There are frequent text boxes featuring details and quotations. Thankfully, these boxes enhance the narrative rather than distract from it. They allow Winder to demonstrate a depth of detail that could bog down the narrative; instead they provide a deeper glimpse into certain scenes.

Although I was as fascinated by the other women as I was Sylvia, this book is very much about Sylvia. Many of the other women's actions revolves around Sylvia and their recollections of her. The emphasis at this point of Sylvia's life is enchanting: she is very much on the verge of self-discoveries. By glimpsing Sylvia's life at this point, it's haunting to imagine the different paths her life might have taken from the summer of 1953.

The verdict: Pain, Parties, Work is a fascinating glimpse into the life of Sylvia Plath as a young woman, but as much as I enjoyed this part of Sylvia, I was as drawn to the other young women just as much. This book is a window into one summer in the lives of many remarkable women. That one of them was Sylvia Plath is not nearly as impressive as I expected it to be.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Length: 288 pages
Publication date: April 16, 2013
Source: publisher via TLC Book Tours

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy Pain, Parties, Work: Sylvia Plath in New York, Summer 1953 from the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

Want more? Check out the entire tour schedule.

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book review: Red Sky in Morning by Paul Lynch

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 05:00:00 +0000

The basics: In 1832 in Donegal, Ireland, Coll Coyle wakes with dread. He and his family, including a pregnant wife and young daughter, are being evicted. An unfortunate series of events put Coyle on the run.

My thoughts: The book opens with a sense of dread, and Coll Coyle is never able to really shake it. Lynch's prose is sparsely lyrical, and it sets the tone of the novel by matching the mood of Coyle and thus novel as a whole. I first tried to start reading this novel on the bus, and it didn't work. When I picked it up again at home with a full Saturday in front of me, I started it over and didn't pause until I'd read the last page.

There's a quiet haunting to this novel that begs the reader to give the novel your undivided intention. There's a magic in its subtlety that demands a close, careful reading. Although Red Sky in Morning is somewhat of a thriller, it's not a novel to be raced through to see how it ends. It's a slowly paced thriller, but the real star of this novel is Lynch's writing. The plot is an intriguing journey, but it's Lynch's writing, and how the writing mimics Coyle's mood, that is this novel's real star.

Favorite passage: "The first days pass and he dreams dark, sickness deepening into him, and he lies between two worlds. They eyes of strangers he sees bunked in the shadows and he know the look of suspicion, knows that a man's sickness is not to be meddled with. He turns throughout the day, days becoming night twisting like a knife and night darkening into some kind of void that puts a hold on time."

The verdict: Red Sky in Morning is a tense, lyrical novel of a chase. Lynch's prose never eases up, just as Coyle is never truly able to relax. The intensity of this novel makes it one to be read in one sitting and without interruptions.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: April 25, 2013 (UK)/November 5, 2013 (U.S.)
Source: publisher via The Book Depository

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy Red Sky in Morning from the Book Depository.

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book review: Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The basics: When Kate, a successful lawyer, gets a call during an important client meeting that her daughter has been suspended, she's in disbelief. By the time she arrives at the school to pick Amelia up, Amelia is dead, apparently from jumping off the school's roof. As more information emerges, however, it becomes clear all is not as it seems with Amelia.

My thoughts: Billing Reconstructing Amelia as this year's Gone Girl, a marketing device I typically avoid, doesn't do this novel justice. While it does share some similarities with Gillian Flynn's blockbuster (my review), it reads like an utterly original mash-up of Gone Girl, Where'd You Go, Bernadette? and Gossip Girl. The novel taps into a sense of "wait, what's real?" and immediately gives the reader the sense she doesn't know exactly what she should believe. In terms of plot, however, I was struck by the similarities to Maria Semple's divine comedy Where'd You Go, Bernadette? In Reconstructing Amelia, the mystery is much darker, and it's Kate, the mother, left to piece together Amelia's life through the messages she left behind.

McCreight's writing shines throughout this novel. As the novel unfolds in alternating chapters with Kate and Amelia, I was amazed how well-formed each character was. Each woman has a distinctive, authentic voice from the novel's first pages.There's always a joy encountering characters who love books as much as I do, and Amelia is one of those characters: "Clothes were to Sylvia what books were to me: the only thing that really mattered." Writing the inner thoughts of a fifteen-year-old is challenging, yet McCreight manages to both nail it and keep Amelia's sections from reading like a young adult novel.

The verdict: Reconstructing Amelia is an addictive thriller combined with a moving story of the relationship between a mother and teenage daughter. That McCreight manages both stories equally well is a testament to her writing and character development.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: April 2, 2013
Source: publisher via TLC Book Tours

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy Reconstructing Amelia from the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

Want more? Check out the entire tour, visit Kimberly McCreight's website, follow her on Twitter, and like her on Facebook.

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

Loving the Des Moines Life: Cheryl Strayed

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:01:00 +0000

Loving the Des Moines Life is a periodic series highlighting the things, bookish and non-bookish, I most love about living in Des Moines.

Last night marked the beginning of Des Moines Public Library's 2013 AViD (Authors Visiting in Des Moines) series. The series is a big deal in the city of Des Moines because we are never a stop on a book tour unless the author lives here or grew up here (hello, Bill Bryson and John Shors!) Many authors stop in Iowa City, which is two hours from and rarely a round trip drive I want to make after work. I did a terrible job of attending AViD events last year, but this year I committed to attend all six to support the literary community in town. It was extra fun to have my friend Jessica, who blogs about fitness at Miss FitGab, join me. First up: Cheryl Strayed!

I adored Wild when I read it last summer (my review) and have been meaning to read her novel Torch, which was written before Wild, and her collection of wisdom Tiny Beautiful Things. After seeing her speak last night, my enthusiasm for Cheryl is even stronger. It also warmed my heart to see so many people spilling out of the room and sitting on every piece of available floor. Way to represent, Des Moines!

Local author Jennifer Wilson (Running Away to Home) introduced Cheryl beautifully. Cheryl spoke in a way that felt like it was the first time she was telling her story. Even though I knew the story from reading the book and even though I knew she's been touring for this book for more than a year, she infused a freshness in her words that made the moment feel incredibly special. She read a short passage from Wild, and although I'd read those words before, there's an intimacy to hearing Cheryl's cadence and reflection in them. To close, Cheryl read one of the columns collected in Tiny Beautiful Things, which prompted me to laugh out loud and tear up. I immediately bought a copy for my Kindle and look forward to diving in and savoring each one.

The night ended with an excellent Q&A session moderated by Jennifer Wilson. Audience members could pose questions via Twitter and in print. The quote of the night came in response to a question if Cheryl ever saw her article in the hobo publication. Her answer: "No. It turns out hobos are really bad at archiving."

If you have a chance to see Cheryl on her current tour, I highly recommend it.

The rest of this year's AViD series includes Karen Thompson Walker, Ayana Mathis, Michael Perry, Mary Jane Clark, and Amy Tan.

Sunday Salon: On taking the nomad out of nomadreader?

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:03:00 +0000

Why hello there! Things have been mighty quiet around here lately, and I'm finally ready to tell you why. After moving four times in the six years I've been blogging (yes, I opted not to celebrate my 6th blogoversary this March!), Mr. Nomadreader and I are once again moving. But this time may very well be the last time. Ever.

We're under contract on a house and cleared all of those important hurdles of inspection, appraisal and loan application. For the past six weeks I've been afraid to say too much because until we actually close and the keys are in our hands, part of me is still waiting for something to go wrong. It's a sign of our first-time home buyer jitters, but it's also a sign of how much I love this house (and how good of a deal we're getting on it--thank you, buyer's market!) With three weeks to go until closing, I have almost accepted it isn't too good to be true. Now if only fairies would come move and unpack all of our things so I could get back to reading at my normal pace!

Reading (and listening)
I have been reading, but as our cleaning and organizing shifts to packing, I'm finding myself with more time for audiobooks. I'm currently enjoying My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor. It's a fascinating story of her life up to the point she becomes a judge, and I'm finding it particularly poignant to listen to as we prepare for this major life change of home ownership.

I'm also really enjoying Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight. It's one of those books you just want to sit and read until you finish, which is not having a good impact on my packing and cleaning this weekend. I'll have a review for you on Thursday.

Coming up on the blog
Somehow despite my slower reading pace, I've still accumulated thirteen books I've finished and need to review. I hope I can (finally!) get caught up by the end of April. I've been on a bit of a mystery kick this spring and have three 5-star mystery reviews in the pipeline. Look for a few new reviews this week.

I've also been finding a great sense of joy in watching films again. One of the changes we're making when we move will be to get rid of satellite television, which I love, but I do not love enough to continue to justify the pricetag. Truthfully, as much as I love my DVR for remembering when to record my favorite shows when I don't have to, I prefer to binge on entire seasons at once (with a few notable exceptions.) This habit frequently leaves our DVR 90% full. I'm looking forward to a life of Netflix and Amazon Prime. When I'm feeling overwhelmed at the size of my TBR pile and the length of my to do list, there is something incredibly gratifying about the ability to watch an entire movie in a single sitting (a luxury I can rarely manage with a book.) I've been particularly enjoying films the past few weeks as a way to end my day, and I hope to have more regular film reviews on the blog again soon.

The Backlist Book Club
After giving it lots of thought, I will be bringing back The Backlist Book Club this summer, but in a slightly different format. Keep your eyes posted for more details after our big move.

Now tell me: what have you been up to lately?

book review: Dark Tide by Elizabeth Haynes

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The basics: Genevieve dreamed of leaving her high-stress London sales job behind and living on a boat. After taking a second job as a dancer at a private gentleman's club for several months, she saved up the money and is living her dream. On the night of her boat-warming party, however, the first time she attempts to bring together her London friends, from both her pre-club and club days, and her new boat friends, her friend and fellow dancer Caddy washes up dead next to Genevieve's boat.

My thoughts: Dark Tide initially builds tension quite slowly. If you were to open up the book without looking at the cover, you could almost mistake it for a Katie Fforde novel: a young woman starts her life over and looks forward to new adventures. Soon, however, elements of tension and suspension begin to wind through the novel. Genevieve isn't always entirely honest with the reader. As details of her life are slowly revealed, I began to question some of her choices. Most notably, when her friend Caddy's body washes up next to her boat, Genevieve decides not to tell the police she knows Caddy.

While this decision is curious at best, it makes Genevieve even more intriguing. From that point, the novel transitions into a psychological thriller. Even as I questioned, doubted and was intrigued by Genevieve's decisions, watching her decisions was fascinating. As the novel meanders more to a romantic suspense, my interest waned. Aside from Genevieve, the other characters weren't as well developed or as interesting, and I couldn't muster much enthusiasm for Genevieve's love interest. The narrative shifts between Genevieve's days working in the club and the present, and while I typically enjoy this technique, at times it highlighted how little was actually happening in Dark Tide.

The verdict: Dark Tide is a compelling character-driven mystery, but it falters as the romantic elements take center stage over Genevieve, who is the most interesting character in the novel. The suspense in the novel is intriguing more due to Genevieve's perception of events rather than the reader's perception, yet her perspective was intriguing enough to keep me reading to the end; I just wish the ending would have come a bit more quickly and without as much romance.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: March 12, 2013
Source: publisher via TLC Book Tours

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy Dark Tide from the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

Want more? Check out the entire tour, visit Elizabeth's website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

interview: Wendy Wax

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:00:00 +0000

After reading and enjoying Wendy Wax's latest novel When We Were Watching Downton Abbey (my review), I jumped at the chance to interview her.

Who is your favorite Downton Abbey character?

It has changed over the seasons. Alas, some of my favorites are now no longer breathing, but I have a very soft spot for Mrs. Hughes, who has a great deal of warmth and common sense and survived her cancer scare. Now that Edith is becoming empowered, I am finding myself completely on her ‘team.’ Go, Lady Edith!

I adore Edith too. Other than Downton Abbey, what else do you enjoy to watch on television?

I’m an occasional Dancing With The Stars viewer, and I really enjoy Smash and Nashville. I also turn to old favorites like House Hunters, Property Brothers, and Income Property on HGTV as well as American Pickers and Pawn Stars on the History Channel – I can, and have, watched Mike and Frank in back to back episodes, but am very glad to see Danielle playing a bigger role! Speaking of the History Channel, sometimes I can’t help watching Swamp People and am really grateful for the subtitles! : )

Now that is an eclectic list! My husband and I are in the process of buying a house and have really gotten into HGTV shows, especially Property Brothers, lately. To switch from television to books, what's the best book you've read lately?

Hmm… that’s really rough. Happily, I’ve read a lot of really good books lately. I recently had a chance to read advance copies of Claire Cook’s Time Flies (out in June 2013), Susan Crandall’s Whistling Past the Graveyard (out in July 2013), Karen White’s The Time Between (also out in June 2013), and Erika Marks’ The Guest House (also out in June 2013). I highly recommend all four.

Those all look fabulous. I'm adding all four to my summer reading stack! As I read While We Were Watching Downton Abbey, I kept picturing Edward as Downton Abbey's Carson, even though your descriptions of him weren't anything like Carson. Did any of the characters in the novel stem from Downton characters?

Yes, Edward Parker, the British concierge of the historic Atlanta high rise where WWWWDA takes place and who brings everyone together for weekly Downton Abbey screenings, was definitely inspired by Downton’s butler Carson though he’s thoroughly modern and has George Clooney’s looks.

Samantha Jackson Davis, who has married old Atlanta money to protect her younger siblings, faces the same kinds of responsibility to her family that Lady Mary does. I’m sure Downton Abbey fans will notice other similarities and inspirations, but While We Were Watching Downton Abbey is a contemporary novel. You don’t have to have seen a single episode of Downton Abbey to enjoy it.

Lastly, a wild card: what do you wish I had asked you?
How about, ‘Did you intend to write what may be the first novel about fans of a television series?’

And the answer would be, no, not exactly but I’m really glad I did! : )

I'm glad you did too, Wendy! I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with your characters and am glad to have discovered your books through our shared love of Downton Abbey.

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy While You Were Watching Downton Abbey from an independent bookstore, the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book review: While We Were Watching Downton Abbey by Wendy Wax

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The backstory: You may noticed I'm quite enamored with Downton Abbey and have let my love of the show inform several of my reading choices this year. When I heard about Wendy Wax's new novel, about characters who are watching the show themselves, I immediately wanted to read it.

The basics: Set in The Alexander, a chic condo building in Atlanta, While We Were Watching Downton Abbey is the story of its inhabitants who forge unlikely friendships once building concierge Edward, whose ancestor was a British country house butler, begins screening Downton Abbey on Sunday evenings.

My thoughts: Going into While We Were Watching Downton Abbey, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. It was my first experience with Wendy Wax, but she's an author with whom I was already familiar. As both a big fan of Downton Abbey and the city of Atlanta, where I spent almost half of my life (and met Mr. Nomadreader), I was curious to see how Wax used both the city and the show as backdrops. As I read, I found myself perfectly able to picture the Midtown Atlanta setting the characters inhabited.

I first jumped onto the Downton Abbey bandwagon over Christmas break. I marathoned the first two seasons and impatiently waited to devour the new episode each Sunday. The entire series was still fresh in my mind as I read this novel, yet I still found myself watching along with the characters. Wax incorporates so much detail into the first few screenings as the characters have impassioned discussions, and I ended up almost feeling like a character in the book. Our shared love of Downton Abbey really helped me connect with the different characters early on in the novel. As the novel progresses, Wax shifts the emphasis to the drama of her characters, but Downton still provides a nice backdrop throughout the novel.

The verdict: While We Were Watching Downton Abbey is a delightful novel of unexpected friendships and bonds. Downton Abbey first brings the characters together, but it's not what keeps them together. Similarly, I read this novel because of the Downton Abbey connection, but I ended up enjoying it for its own characters.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: April 2, 2013
Source: publisher

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy While We Were Watching Downton Abbey from an independent bookstore, the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

Want more? Come back tomorrow for my interview with Wendy Wax!

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book review: Leaving Everything Most Loved by Jacqueline Winspear

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:13:00 +0000

The backstory: Leaving Everything Most Loved is the tenth Maisie Dobbs mystery novel. Here are links to my reviews of the first nine books: Maisie Dobbs, Birds of a Feather, Pardonable Lies, Messenger of Truth, An Incomplete Revenge, Among the Mad, The Mapping of Love and Death, A Lesson in Secrets, and An Elegy for Eddie. (There may be some minor spoilers from earlier novels in this review.)

The basics: When Usha Pramal is found dead in London, the police soon run out of clues. When Usha's brother arrives in London two months later, he is dismayed at the lack of progress in the case and enlists the help of Maisie to help solve his sister's murder.

My thoughts: Reading a Maisie Dobbs novel feels like spending time with an old friend. I'm particularly fond of Maisie as a character, and I appreciate how much changes in her life over the course of her books. Leaving Everything Most Loved raises the stakes and follows through on numerous storylines in the lives of Maisie and her assistants that have been building for the last several books.

As Maisie investigates Usha's live and death, she struggles to understand Usha's motivations for journeying from India to London and seeks to unlock the secrets of what kept Usha in London so long. Both the mystery at the center of the novel and Maisie's personal life share themes of travel, love, loss and family.

The verdict: In Leaving Everything Most Loved, Maisie shines brightly. Solving Usha Pramal's murder is satisfying, but the heart of this novel are Maisie's internal struggles. Not only is Leaving Everything Most Loved the most emotional Maisie novel yet, it represents a dynamic turning point for the series, and I can't wait to see what Winspear cooks up for Maisie next March.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: March 26, 2013
Source: publisher via TLC Book Tours

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy Leaving Everything Most Loved from the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

Want more? Check out the entire tour (it features reviews of all ten Maisie novels!), like Jacqueline Winspear on Facebook, and visit her website.

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

The 2013 Women's Prize for Fiction longlist: A U.S. Reader's Guide

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:56:00 +0000

The ~~Orange Prize~~ Women's Prize for Fiction longlist is here! I'm not quite as obsessed as I have been in last years, but I still awaited the longlist with excited anticipation. I won't attempt to read the longlist before the winner is announced this year, but as most of the titles were already on my TBR, I will begin working through them, and I think I will attempt the shortlist once it's announced next month.

The Ones I've Already Read:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (Kindle edition) 4.5 out of 5
The Red Book by Deborah Copaken Kogan (Kindle edition) 4 out of 5
Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple (Kindle edition) 4.5 out of 5

The Ones Available in the U.S. Now:

Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson (Kindle edition)
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel (Kindle edition)
Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver (Kindle edition)
Honor by Elif Shafak (no Kindle edition)

How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti (Kindle edition)
Ignorance by Michele Roberts (Kindle edition)
Lamb by Bonnie Nadzam (Kindle edition--currently $3.49!)
May We Be Forgiven by A.M. Homes (Kindle edition)

NW by Zadie Smith (Kindle edition)
The Forrests by Emily Perkins (Kindle edition)
The Innocents by Francesca Segal (Kindle edition)
The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman (Kindle edition)

The Marlowe Papers by Ros Barber (Kindle edition)
The People of Forever Are Not Afraid by Shani Boianjiu (Kindle edition)

The One Coming Soon to the U.S.:

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (Kindle edition)--coming April 2, 2013

The Ones We Hope Make Their Way to the U.S.:

A Trick I Learned From Dead Men by Kitty Aldridge
Mateship with Birds by Carrie Tiffany

My thoughts: I'm pleased to see such a diverse list of established and debut authors. I'm thrilled eighteen of the twenty are available in the U.S.

Most intriguing: Will Barbara Kingsolver or Zadie Smith be the first woman to win the Prize twice? Will Hilary Mantel win and become the first woman to win the Booker and Women's Prize for the same novel? Will another debut novelist win (the last two winners have been debut novelists)? We'll know more when the shortlist is announced next month.

Now tell me: Which title are you most excited about? Which one should I read first?

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book review: A Thousand Pardons by Jonathan Dee

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The backstory: After loving Jonathan Dee's last novel, Pulitzer Prize finalist The Privileges (my review) so much it made my Best of 2011 list, I was ecstatic to hear he has a new novel out.

The basics: A Thousand Pardons is the story of Helen and Ben Armstead. The Armsteads live in Rensselaer Valley, an upstate suburb of New York City, with their adopted daughter Sara. When Ben's actions bring scandal to the family, their marriage ends, and Helen must find a job.

My thoughts: A Thousand Pardons is a slim novel composed of seven lengthy chapters. The novel's first chapter pulled me into this family and the narrative and left me stunned. It's a fascinating and bold set-up for the novel, but it also lulled me into thinking this was a different sort of novel than it turned out to be. The second chapter slowed the narrative's pace, and while I settled into the rest of the novel, I wondered if Dee would return to the pace of the novel's first chapter.

What propels the novel into action is a scandal. Dee crafts a wonderfully ordinary scandal for Ben. In our scandal-obsessed culture, it would be easy to think, 'that's it?' When you stop to think about the reaction his actions would have on those around him, however, and the scandal is at once ordinary and shocking:

"I mean, it goes both ways," Sara said. "I understand you too. I get why you'd just wake up one day and say, Is this really my life? How did I even get here? And if you can't answer that question, you might start to act a little crazy."

A Thousand Pardons feels both small and large. It's ultimately the story of a family, but there are also numerous subplots. It's partially a coming of age story for Sara:

"You have to start seeing your parents as real people at some point."

It's a story of Helen's career resurgence in public relations, which underscores the themes of mistakes and forgiveness. It's the story of connections from long ago and forming new ones. Not all of these storylines are as satisfying as others, but A Thousand Pardons is a novel I enjoyed while I read it, but my appreciation for its scope came after I turned the last page.

Favorite passage:"That was it: she hated this place because she believed that some earlier, embarrassing version of herself still lived here."

The verdict: A Thousand Pardons is a satisfying read, but in its title and ending, Dee makes it clear it's a novel meant to be more than the sum of its parts. It's engaging plot and intriguing characters are enjoyable, if sometimes meandering, but its ending will keep me thinking for some time.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: March 12, 2013
Source: publisher via NetGalley

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy A Thousand Pardons from the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book review: The End of the Point by Elizabeth Graver

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 10:00:00 +0000

The basics: Spanning three generations of the Porter family and fifty years of their relationships with their hired help, The End of the Point focuses on the family at four different times in history, beginning in the 1940's. Much of the novel takes place at their summer home in Ashaunt, Massachusetts.

My thoughts: Reading The End of the Point made me realize how much I love present-future narrators. As the story of the Porter family unfolds, the reader gets hints of how things are now, even though the story is told in the moment:

"If things had turned out differently, she would have begun the story here--or no, Smitty would have told it; unlike Bea, he loved an audience, he'd have made it funny, drawn it out."

These moments aren't frequent, but as I encountered each one, it felt as though I was unwrapping a present. We don't have the certainty of the future in our own lives, but literature can provide us with one for these characters. It's a testament to Graver's writing and character building that this technique feels so real. I was utterly absorbed in this family that kept growing in number as the generations increased. Graver infuses so much richness into each of them, it's astonishing the novel is as short as it is. It feels more epic than its number of pages, and it feels like a complete story of the people in their time and place. Ashaunt is a character itself:

"She loves her house with a tenderness that makes it feel almost human."

I pictured it so vividly and delighted in seeing how the bedrooms changed hands over the years and depending on which siblings and cousins were there on a given weekend. In fact, as the narrative moved forward to the next moment in time, the house provides the structure, both literally and figuratively, as the reader takes stock of what has changed since the last moment in time.

As I read the last pages, I wept openly and publicly in the airport terminal. When I turned the last page, I was immensely satisfied, yet sad to say goodbye to these characters who felt like family in the two short days I spent with them. Most of all, I wondered how I had not heard of Elizabeth Graver until this, her fourth novel.

Favorite passage: "Largely, now, it was not anger he felt, but rather a kind of bone-scraping, quiet, ever-present sorrow. To come to the place that was supposed to stay the same, to come and find it changed. Dr. Miller had warned him against what he called the "geographic cure." You can't fix yourself by going somewhere else, he'd said. You'll always take yourself along."

The verdict: The End of the Point is a beautifully written, deeply moving portrait of three generations of the Porter family and the their evolving relationships with their servants and caregivers.

Rating: 5 out of 5
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: March 5, 2013
Source: publisher via TLC Book Tours

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy The End of the Point from the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

Want more? Check out the entire tour schedule, visit Elizabeth Graver's website, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book review: The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

My thoughts: I'm not one to be easily shocked or made to blush (at least in the privacy of my own home. I fully confess to many blushing incidents on public transportation while reading), yet The Death of Bees had my jaw dropping, cheeks blushing, and my interior monologue saying "she's how old?" All of this is to say, The Death of Bees is not for the faint of heart, but it is a beautiful, haunting, coming of age tale that far more sad than salacious. While it may shock many readers, it's end point isn't the shock value; there's a deep, affecting story at the heart of The Death of Bees.

The Death of Bees is a difficult novel to classify. There are elements of mystery from the novel's first lines:

Eugene Doyle. Born 19 June 1972. Died 17 December 2010, aged thirty-eight. Isabel Anne Macdonald. Born 24 May 1974. Died 18 December 2010, aged thirty-six.

Today is Christmas Eve. Today is my birthday. Today I am fifteen. Today I buried my parents in the backyard.

Neither of them were beloved.

From here, the story unfolds as part mystery, part contemporary fiction, and part coming of age tale. Marnie and Nelly navigate their lives in some ways quite similar to how they have already been. They must outsmart their neighbors and those searching for their parents. They must learn who to trust. As Marnie and Nelly alternate first-person narratives, the reader slowly learns what happened to Eugene and Isabel. Some days feel quite ordinary for them as teens who can do what they like, while others test their loyalty, strength and will.

Favorite passage: "Of course every girl wishes she could be one of those pop star babes who wave their hands in the air yelling about being survivors but when love sits on one side of you and loneliness on the other, it's hard to stop the touching and the kissing."

The verdict: The Death of Bees is glimpse into the difficult, and often comfortable, grey areas of adolescence, family, friendship and loyalty. Marnie and Nelly enchanted me with their bravery, fierceness and ultimately false bravado. O'Donnell has written a darkly comic novel that utterly enchanted me, and I'm already eagerly awaiting her next work.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: January 2, 2013
Source: publisher via Edelweiss

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy The Death of Bees from the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

young adult book review: Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

The basics: Level 2 is the story of Felicia who died when she was seventeen and is stuck in Level 2, which is a sort of limbo between life and afterlife. In Level 2, drones can access their memories, but they also serve as a type of currency: if others watch your memories, it generates credits for you to watch more memories. When Felicia recognizes Julian, someone she knew in her life, and he tries to break her free from Level 2, she begins to learn more about what exactly Level 2 is.

My thoughts: From the first pages, I was fascinated by the world of Level 2 and by Felicia's story. She's a young woman who lived in and traveled to many cities and countries. She's articulate and loyal. Appelhans smartly tells Felicia's story in concurrent narratives: the reader is plunged into the world of Level 2, which Appelhans adds detailed observation into as the novel continues. The emphasis is on plot and character building rather than dystopian world building, yet the details of Level 2 are fleshed out a slow and satisfactory pace.

The reader gets to know Felicia and her past as she accesses her memories. I was struck by the haunting details of each memory. Appelhans includes metadata in the form of user tags (and metadata makes this librarian swoon.) Also included are the video owner's rating and viewer ratings. It's at times heartbreaking to see the difference between those two ratings.

The verdict: Level 2 is an inventive dystopian novel and a fascinating glimpse into memories and their meanings. It balances the puzzles of Level 2 with strongly developed characters who would not be out of place in any world. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing Felicia's journey with her, and I look forward to the next installment of The Memory Chronicles.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Length: 290 pages
Publication date: January 15, 2013
Source: Nicole from Linus's Blanket was kind enough to send me her copy

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy Level 2 from the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book review: Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

The backstory: Although I didn't love Maria Semple's first novel, This One Is Mine, I did love parts of it (my review.) I liked Semple's humor and writing enough to eagerly read her latest novel, Where'd You Go, Berndadette?

The basics: Bernadette Fox is a legend, in good ways and bad, depending on the group. She's an enigmatic world-renowned architect who hasn't worked in years. She's a object or ire and ridicule to her fellow private school mothers in Seattle. She's something of a curiosity to her fifteen-year-old daughter, Bee, and her husband, who works at Microsoft. Bernadette has become agoraphobic and employs a virtual personal assistant from India rather than perform simple tasks herself. When Bee achieves a perfect report card, she asks for her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. When Bernadette disappears, Bee tries to solve the mystery by putting together emails, letters, and other pieces of evidence.

My thoughts: Y'all, Maria Semple has arrived. This novel is a treasure of brilliance, humor, and curiosity. In theory, I'm a huge fan of epistolary novels, but in practice, I'm often disappointed. Semple modernizes and transforms this storytelling method brilliantly. She combines emails with secret messages, invoices, and other odds and ends to create a seamless narrative.

This novel defies conventions in so many ways. At different points in this novel, it can be described as satirical, mysterious, delightfully preposterous, emotionally compelling, and a haunting contemporary family drama. Throughout this novel, however, it is always engaging, enjoyable and thought-provoking. It's a novel I read in less than twenty-four hours. I couldn't wait to finish this journey with (and without) Bernadette, but I also didn't want it to end because it's impossible to know when the next novel this creative, inventive, smart and enjoyable will come along.

The verdict: Where'd You Go, Bernadette? isn't a perfect novel, but it is a perfectly enjoyable one. Semple takes risks big and small, and while almost all of them pay off, a few nagging details kept this novel from being a 5-star read, but it's one I wholeheartedly recommend to just about everyone. Once again, I can't wait to read what Maria Semple writes next.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: August 12, 2012
Source: publisher

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy Where'd You Go, Bernadette? from the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version--grab it while it's only $8.89!)

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book reviews: Upstairs & Downstairs and Below Stairs

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

The backstory: My ~~obsession with~~ love of Downton Abbey has inspired me to learn more about the period and customs of British country homes at that time.

The basics: Upstairs & Downstairs: An Illustrated Guide to the Real World of Downton Abbey is part nonfiction, part coffee table book about typical life in an Edwardian country home.

My thoughts: Most of what I know about this time, I've learned from Downton Abbey. I was curious to learn more about the time, in part to better assess how true Downton is to history. Upstairs & Downstairs was an informative, engaging look into life at the time. Divided into sections based on a typical day. This structure allowed author Sarah Warwick to examine the roles of those upstairs and downstairs simultaneously.

There was much that was familiar from Downton, but I also learned many things that added more nuance to my understanding of the servant's roles on the show. What I enjoyed most about this book, however, were the pictures and illustrations. Visually, the book is both beautiful and fascinating. Through a combination of photographs from the time, drawings, and diagrams, I gained much appreciation for the visual elements on Downton. Ultimately, the visuals in this book are the most enjoyable pieces, but the extensive outline of the general roles, qualifications and pay for servants was quite illuminating.

The verdict: If you're already familiar with the historical detail of this period, there likely isn't much new here. If, however, you want to learn more about the period and its customs, Upstairs & Downstairs is a visually interesting, informative work.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Length: 128 pages
Publication date: September 4, 2012
Source: library

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy Upstairs & Downstairs: The Illustrated Guide to the Real World of Downton Abbey from the Book Depository or Amazon (no Kindle version.)

The basics: Below Stairs, originally published in 1968, has been reissued with the Downton Abbey craze and the new subtitle "The Classic Kitchen Maid's Memoir That Inspired Upstairs, Downstairs and Downton Abbey." There are glowing quotes from Julian Fellowes and Dame Eileen Atkins (co-creator of Upstairs, Downstairs) on the cover.

My thoughts: From the first pages, it's clear Margaret Powell is not actually writing a conventional memoir. while she tells the story chronologically, it read more like a transcript than a memoir. It's clear she's dictating her life thoughts on her life, including many years in different kitchens. I did appreciate Powell's thoughts and candor, but despite being told so conversationally, if I had not watched Downton or already read Upstairs & Downstairs, I would not have understood as much of the power dynamics present. Powell throws around different names of servants without providing the context explaining the differences. Knowing the different role these servants played, it was interesting to compare the houses in which she worked.

The verdict: While the story is interesting and I appreciated Powell's candor, the writing lacked finesse, which hindered my enjoyment of the tale. If you're looking for insight into the downstairs life in Edwardian times and don't mind conversational writing, then you'll likely enjoy Below Stairs and its authenticity. Below Stairs is a quick read, but it's far from a literary masterpiece.

Rating: 3 out of 5
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: May 1968 (reissued January 3, 2012)
Source: library

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy Below Stairs from the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

book review: Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 11:00:00 +0000

The backstory: When Girls in White Dresses started showing up on several Best of 2012 lists, I was surprised. I had dismissed it as chick lit based on the cover. As Rachel Fershleiser (are you following her tumblr? You should) said best, Girls in White Dresses is a great women-processing-their-shit book.

The basics: Girls in White Dresses is the story of three young women and close friends: Isabella, Mary and Lauren. Together and separately, they navigate the years following college, while some friends are getting married and having babies, while others are losing jobs or single or lacking direction.

My thoughts: From the moment I started reading this novel, I was in love with both Close's writing and these beautifully developed characters:

"New York in September was busy, like everyone was in a hurry to get back to real life after the lazy summer. Isabella liked the feeling of it, the rushing around, and she let herself get swept along the sidewalks. She walked quickly, trotting beside the crowds of people, like she had somewhere important to be, too, like she was part of the productivity of the city, when really she was just going to Bed Bath & Beyond to get a shower curtain." (page 6)

Close immediately took me back to my early twenties. She captures the joys, fears and hope of those years perfectly. There are quiet moments and loud moments. The duality of being happy for your friends and yet scared or sad for yourself is beautifully rendered here:

"Kristi’s third shower was thrown by her fiance’s groomsmen. It was a couples’ shower to stock the bar, and everyone was supposed to bring a bottle of liquor and glasses. “What kind of groomsmen throw a shower?” Lauren asked. “Are they gay? I’ve never heard of such a thing. And you know what? I’m not going. I’m not in a couple, and I need the liquor more than she does.” Lauren ended up going to the party and drinking almost the whole bottle of liquor she’d brought. “I need it more,” she kept saying."

Ultimately, what makes this book amazing are the flaws of the characters. In this way, Girls in White Dresses reminded me of These Days Are Ours (my favorite read of 2012.) Both feature young women fresh from college navigating the world of adulthood, but more importantly, both feature flawed young women I can relate to. They have problems and insecurities, yet Haimoff and Close write them with a rawness and honesty that is brave and refreshing.

Favorite passage: "She could feel herself getting sentimental, which she always was. Sometimes she missed people before they even left her, got depressed about a vacation being over before it started."

The verdict: Girls in White Dresses was one of my favorite reads of 2012 and one of the most surprising, largely because the cover, while charming, misrepresents the novel. This novel is a moving tale of young adulthood, the beautiful complexities of friendships, and the uncertainties of forging your own path in life, love, work and time. Thinking Girls in White Dresses is about weddings was as foolish as thinking Sex and the City is a show only about sex. Both find their groove by combining realistic and easy-to-relate-to tales of friendship with humor and without shying away from the parts of ourselves we'd rather hide or forget. Jennifer Close made a fan out of me, and I'm now eagerly awaiting the release of her second novel, The Smart One, in April.

Rating: 5 out of 5
Length: 304
Publication date: August 9, 2011
Source: library

Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy Girls in White Dresses from the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

Sunday Salon: San Diego and reading goals

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 12:27:00 +0000

San Diego, I quite like you
Good morning! I'm coming to you this morning from sunny San Diego, California. I'm heading back to Des Moines in a few hours, but I've quite enjoyed a bit of respite from the snow. I'm here for a conference, where I got to present a poster session Friday night. It's been a wonderful time of professional development and relaxation, but I'm ready to get home to Mr. Nomadreader.

Travel and reading
Long flights do have the benefit of giving me more time to read than I usually get. On the way here, I read Leaving Everything Most Loved, the latest Maisie Dobbs mystery novel, which will be published March 26. Look for my review on March 29. It was divine to read it in mostly one sitting. Traveling with Maisie was like traveling with an old friend. I've missed her. I'm just finishing up Elizabeth Graver's newest novel, The End of the Point (out March 5). I'm loving it and can't believe I wasn't familiar with Graver's work before now (look for my review March 11.) I was thrilled to see The Lewis Man, the second in Peter May's Lewis trilogy arrived for me from the UK just before my trip. I'll be reading it on the flights home today. The first in the trilogy, The Blackhouse, was my favorite read of 2013 (so far.)

On making (and breaking) reading goals
March is off to a wonderful reading start, which is a welcome change after February somewhat fizzled. Since college, I've accepted (more or less) that I cannot possibly read all of the books I would like to. Yet I continuously make unrealistic reading goals in an attempt to read so many. Remember my declarations for February? I only managed three from that list (and eight overall, which I'm pleased with.) I still want to read all of those titles, but I'm letting myself respond to my reading whims more. I've found myself craving mysteries lately. When I alternate mystery titles with literary fiction, I find I read more. I'm also reading more library books. When I looked at the sources of my reading in 2012, I was shocked with how few were from the library, particularly given the average number of books I have checked out from the library.

Still, the list of titles coming out this month and next, both by authors whose work I've adored in the past and those I have not yet read, is far too long to actually manage. What is there to do but read as many as I can? My latest goal is to spend less time planning out my reading and more time actually reading (and sharing my thoughts with you.)

The ~~Orange~~ Prize for Women's Fiction
It's also that magical time of year: the Prize for Women's Fiction will announce its longlist on March 15th. I'm not currently planning to attempt the 20-title longlist as I did last year, but I am eager to see which titles will be honored. I expect a few titles from my TBR to rise to the top when they make the list. And I hope to discover some titles and authors that are completely new to me. The Orange Prize, more than any other literary prize, has introduced me to titles and authors I adored and would not have discovered on my own.

As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog!

audiobook review: Bossypants by Tina Fey

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 03:26:00 +0000

The backstory: As a huge fan of Tina Fey's work in television and film (I miss you like crazy, 30 Rock!), I was eager to see how her memoir/advice/humor book would fare. On the recommendation of Florinda at The 3 R's blog (among others), I opted to listen to the audio version, which Fey narrates herself.

The basics: Fey recounts her life and work with humor and a few tips for women.

My thoughts: One of the things I loved most about Tina Fey's performance reading this books were the little ways she adapted the text to clearly reference the audio. At times it was less obvious, such as when she referenced the audiobook you are listening to rather than the book you are holding. At other times, though, Fey would clearly deviate from the book to offer audio listeners an aside, particularly when referencing the photographs (which you get as a pdf with the audiobook.

Fey is often prone to self-deprecating humor, but in Bossypants she reserves most of that humor for her childhood and teenage years. When she speaks of her time in comedy, particularly in the more recent days of 30 Rock and Sarah Palin, there's a boldness I welcomed. Instead of making fun of herself, she turns the humor onto the masses, and I enjoyed these parts most.

The verdict: As someone who watched 30 Rock from the beginning and despaired its lack of popularity (particularly when compared to the comedies on television that are popular), I most enjoyed the behind the scenes glimpses into the show. I most respected the way Fey infused feminism with humor; too often feminism is quite serious, but as she does so brilliantly, Fey makes arguments for feminism with wisdom, absurdity and grace.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Length: 288 pages (5 hours 35 minutes of listening time)
Publication date: April 5, 2011
Source: free promotion at Audible

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book review: The Blackhouse by Peter May

noreply@blogger.com (nomadreader) — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:17:00 +0000

The backstory: The Blackhouse is the first mystery novel in Peter May's Lewis trilogy. May is also the author of two other mystery series: The Enzo Files and The China Thrillers.

The basics: One month after the death of his son, Fin Macleod is not eager to get back to work as a detective in Edinburgh. When a man is murdered on the Isle of Lewis, Fin's remote home village, the grisly crime scene details are similar to a murder Fin worked in Edinburgh, he's ordered back to the Isle of Lewis, where he hasn't visited in twenty years.

My thoughts: The Blackhouse is satisfying in two very different ways. First, it's a compelling police procedural, a genre of which I'm particularly fond. Second, it's a fascinating character study of both Fin Macleod and the residents of the Isle of Lewis. May masterfully interweaves both storylines and timelines in a way that enhances both elements. As a reader, I was always eager to uncover clues to both Fin's past, both through flashbacks and current conversations with locals, and solve the pressing crimes.

The verdict: The Blackhouse is a deeply satisfying literary mystery infused with strong elements of ethnography and fascinating character development. As soon as I turned the last page, I ordered the second volume of the trilogy, The Lewis Man from the Book Depository (no official news of a U.S. release yet, but I'd expect it in fall 2013, about a year after The Black House was published.)

Rating: 5 out of 5
Length: 401 pages
Publication date: October 2, 2012
Source: library

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