Kelly's life is going fine, or at least fine-adjacent, until her 29th birthday. That's the night she ducks into a restroom and finds herself in a diffKelly's life is going fine, or at least fine-adjacent, until her 29th birthday. That's the night she ducks into a restroom and finds herself in a different life: married, living close to her hometown, having given up her art for the high-school sweetheart she never had. Memories of both lives compete in her head, sometimes with a third set like deja Vu. Who is this Kelly? Where did her old life go? And why is every duplicate memory stemming from the same moment when Eric asked her out in high school?
Compulsively-readable thriller with time-travel, sci-fi AI elements. I don't think tech will get to this point, but it's good to have the cautionary tales in case it does....more
Lena has grown up terrified of touch--because any human contact with her skin means a horrible, gruesome death for that person. She was cursed by a wiLena has grown up terrified of touch--because any human contact with her skin means a horrible, gruesome death for that person. She was cursed by a witch before she was born, and her father has done everything he could to keep her safe. Everything except tell her the truth. Lena's need to find her truths bring her on a journey she never imagined through a magical world she never knew existed. After being lied to and shielded for so long, it's nearly impossible to know who to trust, and who will betray her.
This is, primarily, a Sleeping Beauty retelling, but it's important to note which version. This is not the Princess Aurora, sanitized Disney version. This is closer to the Charles Perrault version, or the Grimm Briar Rose version, with the darkly haunting visuals of Trina Schartt Hyman's illustrations. Consistent rules for magic and other worldbuilding details add to the experience. Highly recommend....more
Excellent story, engaging mystery, still a bunch of racism even with the title changed multiple times over. I appreciated the epilogue, explaining how Excellent story, engaging mystery, still a bunch of racism even with the title changed multiple times over. I appreciated the epilogue, explaining how the whole thing was carried out, but it did feel like a cheat. ...more
I saw an exhibit of Jona Frank's photography a the Bowdoin College of Art, and it hit me in ways that really surprised me. I hadn't been prepared for I saw an exhibit of Jona Frank's photography a the Bowdoin College of Art, and it hit me in ways that really surprised me. I hadn't been prepared for the gut-punch that photos of a suburban childhood would deliver. In this book, which expands on Frank's exhibit, Frank talks about her childhood: her distant mother whom she always wanted to please; the complicated relationships with each of her brothers; her attempts to be what everyone else wanted and expected of her while questioning what--or if--she herself wants. ...more
The screw of the Scholomance has turned further, grinding El and her friends down to the bottom floor with the rest of the seniors. This is the year tThe screw of the Scholomance has turned further, grinding El and her friends down to the bottom floor with the rest of the seniors. This is the year they should be preparing to the run the graduation gauntlet, hoping to be just a little bit faster, stronger, better than their classmates so they can be among the few who make it out alive. But El has a different idea: what if the Scholomance could somehow be beaten, and everyone could get out? Not just the senior class, but the juniors, sophomores, and even freshmen? El never meant to become a revolutionary, much less the leader of the revolution, but that's the role she's been thrust into, and if the school is going to stop her, she's going to go down swinging....more
I listened to an interview with the author on the Depresh Mode podcast, and the combination of mental health, crafts, and a generally accident-prone lI listened to an interview with the author on the Depresh Mode podcast, and the combination of mental health, crafts, and a generally accident-prone life sucked me in. The author has a somewhat self-deprecating tone, but even in making light of some of her struggles, the seriousness still comes through. It's real and raw and vulnerable. There are some things that I wonder about (the specifics of a falling-out with a friend group, for instance), but I recognize that she doesn't owe the reader anything, and she can keep private whatever she wants, and that's okay. I'm not entitled to her story, and I am appreciative and touched by all she was willing to share with her audience....more
Ah, the classic, more-or-less locked-room mystery! Somehow I'd never read this one, and it was excellent company for the six or so hours of listening Ah, the classic, more-or-less locked-room mystery! Somehow I'd never read this one, and it was excellent company for the six or so hours of listening time. A fully-booked overnight train, a murder, a snowstorm blocking the tracks, and several red herrings that might not be red or herrings at all....more
While the early parts of this memoir focus on the author's sexual history (sometimes in great detail), it's the latter part that really got me--where While the early parts of this memoir focus on the author's sexual history (sometimes in great detail), it's the latter part that really got me--where it stops being about the who/what of bisexuality and digs more deeply into the why and what it means, at a personal level and in the wider world. They are privileged (white, cis) but don't pretend to have always been aware of that--they freely admit to ignorance and the efforts they've made to correct it, while still recognizing that they are a work in progress. Overall, I appreciated the honesty in this memoir. This is someone who is a flawed person trying to do better, and really, who among us isn't?...more
A layover on a less-desirable planet turns into a prolonged visit for several travelers, each hoping for a swift passage through the wormhole. UnfortuA layover on a less-desirable planet turns into a prolonged visit for several travelers, each hoping for a swift passage through the wormhole. Unfortunately, the explosion doesn't care what plans anyone has, and has grounded all ships. The Aeluon on her way to a secret rendezvous with her long-time lover. Speaker, the Akarak trader eager to return to her sister hovering in their ship above the planet. The Quelin Roveg, who is hoping to make an appointment that will allow him to return to his home and reunite with his son. And Ouloo and Tupo, the Laru mother and son determined to be good hosts and help the stranded travellers. Some form unlikely bonds, while other pairings are far more strained, but they manage to work together when it matters....more
What do you do when you've agreed to nanny an old friend's stepkids for a summer, and then find out that they burst into flame when agitated? With nowWhat do you do when you've agreed to nanny an old friend's stepkids for a summer, and then find out that they burst into flame when agitated? With nowhere else to go, you gulp and teach the kids about meditation, keeping one's temper, and being loved for who they are, even when your dad is a senator and acknowledging your existence wut be political suicide for him.
Lillian really needs this--needs a way out of her dead-end town--a town she had a ticket from, years ago, before she got expelled for a crime that wasn't hers. She also needs to learn about managing emotions and loving and being loved.
This was a quick read, with a lot of humor and depth. A couple of the characters were thinly drawn (looking at you, Senator), but others show unexpected depth (hi Mom)....more
Really promising premise regarding a housemate the family doesn't realize they have, as they're all absorbed in their own issues. But ultimately, the Really promising premise regarding a housemate the family doesn't realize they have, as they're all absorbed in their own issues. But ultimately, the book lived up to its premise in the tedium of sleeping through the days in a crawl-space under the house....more
A mother who knows she does not love her child, and her concerns that this is the reason for his crime. We know from the start that Kevin murdered sevA mother who knows she does not love her child, and her concerns that this is the reason for his crime. We know from the start that Kevin murdered several classmates; the bulk of the story is exploring how it happened, tracing the path from Kevin's birth through the inevitable trajectory. ...more
Has a bit of a techno-thriller feel, like William Gibson's Pattern Recognition, only with the added element of everyone immediately forgetting about HHas a bit of a techno-thriller feel, like William Gibson's Pattern Recognition, only with the added element of everyone immediately forgetting about Hope when they don't see her....more
I stumbled on this at the library and have zero regrets. A would-be bank robber attempted to rob a cashless bank, and in escaping, accidentally walks I stumbled on this at the library and have zero regrets. A would-be bank robber attempted to rob a cashless bank, and in escaping, accidentally walks into an apartment showing. Everyone present has their own baggage, and the bank robber is no exception.
Similar to Britt-Marie Was Here, Backman shows great character growth among realistic people--the characters are who they are, warts and all, and each is treated with compassion. Also this book is very, very funny....more
Marjorie's been acting strangely, and her family has noticed. Her 8-year-old sister Merry tells the story of her sister's descent into either schizophMarjorie's been acting strangely, and her family has noticed. Her 8-year-old sister Merry tells the story of her sister's descent into either schizophrenia or demonic possession, and the reality show that was made about them. Present-day, adult-Merry narrates the story to a reporter who is writing a book about the family. But in some places, the memories don't line up with the filmed evidence, and we are left wondering what really happened vs what Merry believes happened vs what 8yo Merry believed happened.
I had expected this to be a suspenseful thriller, and it did keep me turning pages, but it was mostly sad to see a family in crisis, virtually powerless to stop it....more
In The Martian, my biggest complaint was that Mark Watney could do anything, and this narrator is more of the same. He's on his spaceship, coming out In The Martian, my biggest complaint was that Mark Watney could do anything, and this narrator is more of the same. He's on his spaceship, coming out of a coma after a lengthy trip into far space, when he discovers the rest of his crew is dead. As his memories slowly return, the enormity of his task comes into focus: finding and neutralizing tiny organisms that are literally eating the sun.
But he's not alone out there. There's another scientist, another ship. Another being whose crew died on the journey. The two can't exist in the same atmosphere, but they manage to communicate and collaborate.
There's almost nothing this team can't do, which eliminates some of the tension, but the book still speeds along, its focus more on the buddy-movie relationship than the looming apocalypse....more
With each book, Lawson gets more open about her mental and physical health struggles, but still retains her she's of humor. While nothing will ever toWith each book, Lawson gets more open about her mental and physical health struggles, but still retains her she's of humor. While nothing will ever top her story of Beyonce the giant metal chicken, her frankness continues to make me laugh. At this point, though, she seems less interested in entertaining her readers than in connecting with them. Her anecdotes and stories have an undercurrent of hope to them, a "we're in this together" vibe....more
Some parts were very funny, but I had a hard time shaking the feeling that Birbiglia was still a reluctant dad--that he loved his daughter but still sSome parts were very funny, but I had a hard time shaking the feeling that Birbiglia was still a reluctant dad--that he loved his daughter but still sort of wished it were just his wife and cat....more
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