Month: June 2015

Top Ten Tuesday: Summer reading list

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Top 10 TuesdayThe seasonal TBR lists are some of my favorite Top Ten Tuesday topics. I love seeing what other people are reading! And normally it’s easy for me to come up with 10 books I’m planning to read within the next few months, since I tend to schedule my reading pretty far in advance. This year, though, I’ve been taking a less structured approach to reading, so I couldn’t come up with 10 strong contenders for my summer TBR list! Still, I did manage to decide on the following eight possibilities, in no particular order:

1. Kate Bolick, Spinster: Making a Life of One’s Own — I don’t read much nonfiction, but I’m intrigued by this book, which is supposed to be “a revelatory and slyly erudite look at the pleasures and possibilities of remaining single.”

2. Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility — This year I’m rereading all six of Austen’s major novels, and it’s been years since I’ve read S&S, so I’m really looking forward to revisiting it!

3. John Buchan, The Thirty-Nine Steps — Since I started doing the Vintage Mystery Challenge a few years ago, I’m always on the lookout for interesting mysteries and thrillers published before 1960. This one fits the bill (published in 1915!), it’s short, and Hitchcock made it into a movie, so why not?

4. Lauren Willig, The Lure of the Moonflower — I can’t WAIT for this book to come out in August! I’m dying to read Jane’s story, which will hopefully be the best Pink Carnation book of all!

5. Jennifer Salvato Doktorski, How My Summer Went Up in Flames — My OTSP secret sister gave me this book, which looks like an adorable summer read! I’m in a bit of a reading slump lately, so it’ll be nice to rejuvenate with some brain candy!

6. Deanna Raybourn, A Spear of Summer Grass — I’ve had this book for years and somehow never got around to reading it. But I really liked the first few Lady Julia Grey novels, so I’m sure I’ll enjoy this one too!

7. Mary Stewart, The Gabriel Hounds — I love Mary Stewart’s novels of romantic suspense, and this is one I haven’t read yet. It’s set in and around Damascus, which should be really interesting to read about!

8. Jean Webster, Dear Enemy — I LOVED Daddy-Long-Legs when I read it a few years ago, and this is the sequel, featuring Judy’s good friend Sallie.

What books are you desperate to read this summer? Which books should I add to my list?

Review: Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

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Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?Mindy Kaling, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)

This book is Mindy Kaling’s memoir of her journey from a chubby, awkward kid who adored SNL and Monty Python to a famous TV writer and actress (and, later, showrunner, although this book came out before “The Mindy Project” got going). She writes about being a relatively unpopular child whose friends’ interests didn’t quite align with her own, about moving to New York City and finding unexpected success with her Off-Broadway play “Matt & Ben,” about meeting Greg Daniels and landing her role as Kelly Kapoor on “The Office,” about her hatred of comedy roasts and her self-described uselessness as a writer (for a brief period) on SNL, and about her funny and frustrating experiences in Hollywood. There’s a little bit about romance, but mostly in the abstract; this book is not a tell-all, by any means. And while Kaling does address her identity as an Indian American, as well as her totally-normal-but-big-for-Hollywood size, these aren’t the focus of her book, and nor should they be. Instead, this memoir offers a fun, lighthearted look at Kaling’s life and career in television.

This book is exactly what you’d expect it to be if you’re familiar with Mindy Kaling’s persona and style of comedy. It’s as if your good friend, the one whose crazy escapades you like to live vicariously though, is chatting to you after a late night of drinking wine and watching romantic comedies. It’s very light and very funny, and I enjoyed it immensely; it would make excellent plane reading. One of my favorite sections was the chapter on “Types of Women in Romantic Comedies Who Are Not Real,” which debunks the myth of the beautiful klutz. (Because seriously, “klutzy” seems to be the go-to flaw for writers who still want their heroines to be cool and witty and gorgeous and without actual flaws. Do any of us really know smart, hot women who fall down the stairs on a regular basis?) I also loved the list of possible Hollywood movies coming to theaters soon, including “Crest Whitestrips,” “Untitled Jennifer Lopez Sonia Sotomayor Project,” “Street Smart,” and “Street Stupid” (“Street Smart” sequel). Some of them do sound frighteningly plausible! So, bottom line: this is a funny, enjoyable book by a woman who is both successful and relatable. If you like Mindy Kaling, you should definitely check it out!

Top Ten Tuesday: Need books now!

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Top 10 TuesdayAfter several years of writing about books on the Internet, I’ve finally started paying attention to things like release dates. 🙂 I’m not entirely sure this is a good thing, however, since knowing a book’s pub date only increases that impatient, anxious, “NEED BOOK NOW!” feeling. But I can’t seem to help myself, so here are 10 books with 2015 release dates that I can’t wait to get my hot little hands on:

1. Lauren Willig, The Lure of the Moonflower — I’ve been a fan of the Pink Carnation series since the very beginning, and the twelfth and final book is coming out this summer! I can’t wait to (finally!) read Jane’s story! Release date is August 4.

2. Ellie Marney, Every Word — I preordered this sequel pretty much as soon as I finished Every Breath! Mycroft and Watts make a great crime-solving duo, and Mycroft in particular practically leaps off the page! Release date (U.K./Australia version) is August 13; the U.S. hardcover will follow on September 8.

3. Kristan Higgins, If You Only Knew — Kristan Higgins is one of my auto-buy authors, so I definitely won’t be missing her latest romance…although this one looks like it has a healthy dose of family drama as well. I’ll be interested to see how it compares to her previous work! Release date is August 25.

4. Sylvia Izzo Hunter, Lady of Magick — This is the sequel to The Midnight Queen, which I really enjoyed. I hope some of the loose threads from the first book will be resolved here! Release date is September 1.

5. Seanan McGuire, A Red-Rose Chain — This is another series I’ve been following since the beginning, and the last book (The Winter Long) had some pretty huge plot twists, so I can’t wait to see where things go from here! Release date is September 1.

6. Kate Beaton, Step Aside, Pops — I don’t read many webcomics, but I LOVE Kate Beaton, and if you’re not reading Hark! A Vagrant, YOU SHOULD BE. This book is a collection of her comics from the site, probably with a few new ones mixed in. Release date is September 15.

7. William Ritter, Beastly Bones — This is the sequel to Jackaby, which was a very pleasant surprise when I read it last year. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more about the intrepid Abigail Rook and her mysterious employer, R.F. Jackaby. Release date is September 22.

8. Rainbow Rowell, Carry On — It’s no secret that I LOVE Rainbow Rowell, but I’m actually pretty nervous about Carry On. It’s a novel about Simon Snow, the fictional Harry Potter-esque character about whom Cath was writing in Fangirl. I’m concerned — and I will probably post something closer to the release date detailing WHY I’m concerned — but I’m also very curious! So I’ll definitely be reading the book when it comes out; release date is October 6.

9. Emma Mills, First and Then — The Goodreads description of this book calls it “Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights.” SOLD! Plus, the cover is completely adorable. 🙂 Release date is October 13.

10. Charles Finch, Home by Nightfall — Yet another series installment! I very much enjoy these Victorian-set mysteries featuring gentleman-detective Charles Finch. This latest one will be released on November 10.

Review: The Boy Next Door

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Boy Next Door, TheKatie Van Ark, The Boy Next Door

Maddy and Gabe have been next-door neighbors, best friends, and figure skating partners for basically their entire lives. They’re a talented duo, and Maddy is determined to make it all the way to the Olympics. She’s also determined to make Gabe wake up and realize that they would be perfect partners off the ice as well. But Gabe is a player, hooking up with lots of girls and ditching them after two weeks, often getting Maddy to dump them on his behalf. He cares deeply for Maddy — even more than he wants to admit to himself — but he’s trying to think of her as a sister, because he doesn’t want to mess up the relationship and partnership that they already have. Unfortunately, their skating coach is making them learn a new routine inspired by Romeo and Juliet, which only intensifies their complicated feelings for each other. As Maddy and Gabe struggle with the shifting boundaries of their relationship, they also worry about how a potential romance will affect their chances of success on the ice.

As you’ve probably noticed, I’m not someone who believes that adults should steer clear of young adult books. I read lots of YA, and lots of it is very good. But as I read this book, I couldn’t help feeling that I was a bit too old for this type of romantic angst. Despite Gabe’s initial protests, the romance between him and Maddy heats up very quickly, and by the end of the book, they’re even talking about getting engaged — while still in high school. The novel presents this as romantic, but to me, it made both characters seem so naive and immature. (I apologize if this offends anyone. I certainly do think it’s possible for high-school sweethearts to have healthy, long-lasting marriages. But in this case, let’s just say I wasn’t convinced.) I also think the author missed a few opportunities to add depth to her characters. In particular, it’s clear that Gabe isn’t as motivated to become an Olympic figure skater as Maddy, and at one point he expresses an interest in becoming an architect. Having him struggle more with his life path, and perhaps even having him argue with Maddy about it, would have made his character more interesting. Unfortunately, the book instead reduces both him and Maddy to flat characters who embody all the stereotypes of teen romance. It was a light, fast-moving read, but I was definitely less than impressed.

Review: French Leave

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French LeaveAnna Gavalda, French Leave (trans. Alison Anderson)

This book centers around four adult siblings — Simon, Lola, Garance, and Vincent — who don’t see each other as often as they used to. But when the eldest three reunite for a family wedding, they spontaneously decide to visit Vincent, the baby of the family, who has a job in the French countryside. Garance narrates the story and paints vivid pictures of her siblings. Simon, the eldest child, is the family’s golden boy, the responsible one, who grew up to obtain a good job and a suitable wife, Carine, whom Lola and Garance tease mercilessly. Lola and Garance are best friends despite their differences; as Garance notes, “She’s romantic, I’m pragmatic. She got married, I flitter and flirt. She can’t sleep with a guy unless she’s in love, I can’t sleep with a guy unless there’s a condom.” When they abandon their relative’s wedding to visit Vincent, the four siblings have a charmed weekend, reminiscing about the past and reevaluating some of the choices they’ve made in their lives.

This novella is like a bite of some frothy dessert, short and sweet. I don’t often read books where the main focus is on sibling relationships, but I enjoyed reading about Garance and her brothers and sister — especially because their relationships are generally good and pleasant rather than dysfunctional. I can relate to their situation somewhat: I only have one sibling, and we get along great, but because we are both adults who live far from each other, we don’t stay in touch as well as I’d like. I think this book captures that bittersweet aspect of adult sibling relationships very well. I also liked the evolution of Garance and Lola’s relationship with Carine; they sort of villainize her at first, but eventually they begin to see where she’s coming from and tolerate her a little more. There’s not much of a plot in this book, but it’s such a quick read that it doesn’t need many events to propel it forward. Overall, I found this book a pleasant diversion, and I’d recommend both it and Hunting and Gathering, a full-length novel by the same author.