The 16 books I read in January, ranked

In January, I read 16 books. I grouped the books in series together for expedience. Here are those books, ranked from worst to best:

January 2019's books, organized by color and not quality.

13.) Kingdom on Fire trilogy: “A Shadow Bright and Burning,” “A Poison Dark and Drowning,” “A Sorrow Fierce and Falling” by Jessica Cluess: A mediocre trilogy that leaned much too hard on older, better stories, which I thought about and wished I could have been reading while I was reading these books. The story didn’t take risks with characters, and there were too many secrets tied to too many flat characters early on for me to really care when things were eventually revealed.

12.) “Tower of Dawn” by Sarah J. Maas: I’ve been on the struggle bus with this series ever since the 4^th book (“Queen of Shadows.”) It should have been a trilogy, but on it slogs. I’ll get to the last book eventually, but the relationship dynamics of the series at large are super unappetizing. Like, “Twilight”-level gross.

11.) “Snow White Learns Witchcraft: Stories and Poems” by Theodora Goss: This was a funny little disjointed collection of poems and short stories. I’m absolutely a sucker for fairy tale retellings, but this one was a little out there for me.

10.) “Hidden Sun: Shadowlands Book 1” by Jaine Fenn: I’ve been on a sci-fi/fantasy kick for a couple months now. This one wasn’t what I was looking for. Ultimately forgettable.

9.) “The Fever King” by Victoria Lee: This was fine. It was about a virus that either kills the people it infects or gives them magic powers. LGBTQIAP+ themes made it unique.

8.) “Put Your Best Face Forward: The Ultimate Guide to Skincare from Acne to Anti-aging” by Sandra Lee: This was a really interesting medical text that was watered down enough for the regular person to understand. Only Sandra Lee with her Dr.Pimple Popper Youtube/TLC clout could pull this one off. I chose this to review for the San Francisco Book Review because I heard good things about it. It was fine, but it didn’t seem to know what kind of audience it was targeting: Dermatology students, or the average person who enjoys literally washing money down the drain via skincare?

7.) “Waisted” by Randy Susan Meyers: I wrote more about this book earlier this month. This also was fine.

6.) “The Beast’s Heart,” by Leife Shallcross: Like I said, I’m a sucker for fairy tale retellings. This one was a “Beauty and the Beast” retelling from the Beast’s point of view. While things got a little creepy, it was a unique story because it showed what Beauty/Isabeau’s family was doing without her. As it turns out, they were actually better off!

5.) “Lovestruck” by Kate Watson: This was a really cute book that draws on ancient Greek mythology. It’s about an immortal teen girl named Kalixta who wants to be a muse, but she’s stuck training as a cupid. I can imagine school librarians recommending something like this to kids who are bored studying the Greek pantheon in English class because I found it fun and relatable.

4.) “Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles” by Mark Russell: I am very happy that one of my Facebook friends is trying to read a comic a week and write about it. (Hi Robert!) I'm keeping an eye on this venture for a lot of reasons: I trust his judgment/taste, I don’t read enough comics, I want to understand more about comic books/graphic novels, and comics are a fun way to boost the amount of books I read because they’re quick and I want to read at least 100 books this year. A volume usually takes me about an hour. While “Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles” was set during the red scare in the 1950s, there were several thinly veiled references to the present day, which I always like. It was very sad, but I am very glad I read it. 

3.) “Thor: God Of Thunder Vol. 1: The God Butcher,” “Thor: God Of Thunder Vol. 2: Godbomb” by Jason Aaron: These were both delightful, but I was apprehensive at first because “The God Butcher” gave me “The Infinity Gauntlet” vibes, and I did not like “The Infinity Gauntlet” at all. In “Godbomb,” (how can you NOT read a comic book called “Godbomb?”) an evil, all-powerful alien guy named Gorr is butchering all of the gods in the universe. He chops them up and throws them into space where three Thors from three different time periods come across his carnage and their ship is attacked by starsharks. It’s wild and very dramatic, but the conclusion of the two books was kind of what I anticipated. Oddly, the comics I read this month were the only books I read that were written by men. Everything else was written by women. I’m hoping to keep it that way.

2.) “Coffeehouse Knits” by Kerry Bogert: My one and only knitting book. The patterns and essays were cute, but I prefer knitting patterns that are more difficult. I wrote about this book, and some of my favorite knitting books, here.

1.) “The Stone Sky” by NK Jemisin: I started listening to Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy on Audible last November. Where do I begin?

First of all, Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy won the Hugo award for best novel three years in a row, and she’s the only author to have done that. (“The Fifth Season” in 2016, “The Obelisk Gate” in 2017 and “The Stone Sky” in 2018.) I grew SO ATTACHED to the characters in her books that I’m still trying to get over them and I don’t think I can go on without them.

The world is just so beautiful and deep. The narrative spans millennia and addresses themes of racism, prejudice, suffering, oppression, environmentalism and survival. Part of it is written in second person, which was unique and immersive. I felt like I was part of the story. I’ve never read/listened to anything like it, and I don’t think I ever will again. The author herself seems like a certified badass.

There are a few, rare books I would call “vital reading.” The last book I felt this way about was Angie Thomas’s “The Hate U Give.” But you need to put down whatever you’re reading now and read this trilogy. It has some important things to say.

Coffeehouse Knits: In which I drink all of the coffee and screech about knitting

“As people leave, they take a little of the warm glow of the evening home with them, a reminder that even when the world outside is unyielding, dark, and unknown, there is always the bright spot that is knit night.”

"Coffeehouse Knits" is a collection of cozy patterns and essays that are approachable enough for beginner knitters, but still offer some more challenging projects for the intermediate-to-advanced knitter.

If you’re a beginner knitter who is ready to start reading and following your first real pattern, and you want designs that are wearable, choose this book. For me, as a reader, a knitter and a coffee drinker, it intersects many facets of my personality. The book’s hygge vibes made me almost (ALMOST!) miss places that experience cold weather. 

When I was younger, I spent my rare free time at Starbucks or Panera, drinking endless cups of coffee and knitting, and some of the essays in "Coffeehouse Knits" made me nostalgic for that time. Now, as a way to fit some self-enrichment into my day and commit to a daily ritual, I wake up early, brew a pot of coffee, and drink most of it while puzzling over a rigorous knitting project and listening to an audiobook. (I'm listening to "The Stone Sky" by N.K. Jemisin right now, in case you're wondering.)

As an advanced knitter, a lot of the patterns in "Coffeehouse Knits" were much too basic for my taste. That’s not to say they weren’t very beautiful, because they were! And I got the impression that while beginner knitters might face a challenge with a few of them, intermediate and advanced knitters could carry on a conversation while making any of the patterns. I’m guessing that was kind of the point. The three patterns I was attracted to were: the chocolate challah pullover, an interesting v-neck pullover with braided cables on the shoulders; the house blend cardigan, a dramatic, long, cozy cardigan with big buttons and deep pockets; and the marshmallow tee, a unique twist-front tee knit with thick-and-thin yarn for a rustic effect. The other, smaller projects, such as scarves, hats, cowls and mittens, I might choose if I needed a quick gift because they seemed to incorporate effortless colorwork and texture techniques.

The recommended yarns for "Coffeehouse Knits" patterns could be found in a well-stocked local yarn shop, as well as online stores, and lean toward mid-priced (Universal Yarns, Brooklyn Tweed, Quince and Co.) to luxe (Hedgehog Fibers, Lorna’s Laces, SweetGeorgia.) To make these patterns more economical or inclusive to those who don’t have a local yarn shop, I would recommend future books include some yarn options, such as Patons or Lion Brand, that can be found in big-box stores.

Advanced knitting books I love

"2-at-a-time Socks" by Melissa Morgan-Oakes: I always reach for this book for a quick kitchener tutorial. One of these days I'll start knitting my socks two at a time.

"Continuous Cables" by Melissa Leapman: If you've already mastered basic cables and cabling without a cable needle, axis cables and closed-ring cables are a good next step!

"Knitted Lace of Estonia" by Nancy Bush and "New Vintage Lace" by Andrea Jurgrau: Estonian bobbles, or nupps, make Estonian knitting fascinating to me because they can't be replicated on a knitting machine. They have to be created by hand. Whenever I reach the limit of a skill, in this case lace knitting, I want to see how far beyond the basics I can stretch that skill. Once you've mastered lace knitting, Estonian lace is the next step. In "New Vintage Lace," the Ghost Orchid shawl has an unusual hexagonal shape and lace motifs reminiscent of legendary lace knitter Herbert Niebling.

"Sock Innovation" by Cookie A., "Socktopus" by Alice Yu, and the sock patterns of Claire Ellen and Caoua Coffee: If you've mastered basic sock construction, the next step is to add a challenging design. Cookie A., Alice Yu, Claire Ellen and Caoua Coffee have some of the most stunning sock designs I've ever seen, and it just motivates me to stretch my knitting skills every time I see them. I might even let out an audible gasp when I see a completed pair. Some of Claire Ellen's patterns are inspired by Lord of the Rings, and Caoua Coffee is inspired by operas, which just increases their level of cool (or geekery, whichever you prefer... I say cool.)

"Tudor Roses" by Alice Starmore (yes, the reprint): I enjoyed this book and it inspires me to be a better knitter. Alice Starmore is known for her intricate colorwork motifs inspired by nature.

New-ish advanced knitting books on my radar (a.k.a. please buy these for me)

"Japanese Knitting Stitch Bible" by Hitomi Shida

"Glamourie" by Alice Starmore

"100 Knits: Interweave's Ultimate Pattern Collection" by Interweave Knits

I received "Coffeehouse Knits" from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Barbara Taylor Bradford's 'Master of His Fate' is about as suspenseful as a glass of milk -- and that's okay

This week, I have a few things to say about a book that was relatively unremarkable at first glance. I think the ability for a reader to enjoy “Master of His Fate” by Barbara Taylor Bradford depends entirely upon the usual variables that reviewers face when determining how to assess a book. I’ll get to those in a bit.

“Master of His Fate” is a sedate romance set in Victorian England that follows two story lines. The first is James Falconer’s story. James is a 17-year-old wannabe merchant who divulges to his grandparents his 5-year plan early in the book. James respects and strives to emulate his father who also is a merchant, and his family members do their best to set him on the right path for success. As James’ story unfolds, the author reveals James is somewhat of a genius with merchandising. On the side, James carries on an affair with a 30-year-old widow.

The second story line, and the more interesting one in my opinion, follows Alexis Malvern, a young woman whose father is a wealthy commercial realtor. Alexis is in her early twenties. She has no interest in getting married, and she opens a women’s shelter with a handful of her friends, including one other woman, Claudia. Claudia’s father, Sebastian, who is 40 years old, immediately falls in love with Alexis. Alexis, in turn, falls in love with Sebastian. They get engaged within days of meeting.

This book was one of the most unsurprising, literal, straightforward books I have ever read. Has there ever been a time when you wanted to read something uncomplicated? When you just wanted a story without twists or turns? This would be the one.

Every character in this book was uncannily honest, save for a few instances. When James’ rival, Albert, spreads the news of James’ affair with the widow, James lies to protect his lover’s honor, and everyone believes him, no questions asked. Alexis’ romance with Sebastian happens almost instantly. They see each other, they get a feeling they have a connection, they communicate their feelings accordingly, and they get engaged. The dialogue is open, formal and expository. It was odd that a book could have no foreshadowing or plot twists. The narrative was remarkably transparent. When someone dies later in the book (I won't spoil it,) readers will see it coming from a mile away.

Here is one very specific thing I expected from this book: Alexis and her friends make a big deal out of opening a women’s shelter. Partway through the book, when Alexis’ friend Claudia gets married, Sebastian takes Alexis aside during the wedding and insists they announce their engagement during Claudia’s wedding; a faux pas by any stretch of the imagination. Alexis was wearing her engagement ring on her right hand to avoid stealing Claudia’s thunder, and Sebastian insists she wear the ring on her left hand to show others she is engaged. He takes her to pick out tiaras for their wedding and he insists she wear his mother’s tiara. I felt strongly that Sebastian’s controlling behavior was a warning sign that pointed to future abuse. It was not. I was wrong.

I expected more tension between either Claudia and Sebastian or Claudia and Alexis because Claudia was only slightly younger than Alexis and Alexis was to become her stepmother. I expected that James and his much-older lover would be found out and forced to marry. I expected something tragic would happen to any of James’ family members.

I wanted this book to have teeth. To have more conflict, more drama, more feeling. These were my expectations. This book did not deliver on them, and that’s okay. It’s up to the author to tell the story she wants to tell, not me.

Not every book needs to be my cup of tea. This one just happened to be a cup of watery chamomile tea with warm milk when I’ve grown accustomed to strong, spicy chai. I’ll still drink the chamomile and enjoy it when I’m in the mood for it. I’ve been reading a lot of intense books lately. It’s been an intense year. What’s more, I read a lot of news every day, and it’s not all pleasant. When I’m used to my reading material dialing it to 11, and when I’m so used to being defensive and cynical about humanity and expecting the worst from everything, a book like “Master of His Fate,” which is so earnest and open, comes as a shock.

After I finished this book, I went on a long walk and I was able to think more about what this book was and my expectations. Too often, reviewers want books to be something else for them. We see this a lot with any fan culture. When was the last time you experienced a piece of pop culture where the fans of said culture insisted it was about them? When was the last time you projected your expectations onto something, knowing full well no one was asking you?

I can’t just say a book is bad because it wasn’t my taste. There is an audience for "Master of His Fate." The author has written dozens of books since the late 1970s that presumably have done fairly well for her. That said, this would be a 3-star book for me, simply because I felt it lacked conflict and the writing was a little weak. There was a lot of telling, instead of showing. The author seemed preoccupied with the characters’ clothing and the décor of the room instead of cultivating meaningful and realistic connections between the characters. It seemed like every character had the same speech patterns and mannerisms, the same pure thoughts and good intentions, and were, therefore, the same.

Someone who likes mild romances will love this book. That someone is not me.

I received “Master of His Fate” by Barbara Taylor Bradford from St. Martin's Press on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"If, Then" and the power of the slow burn

“There are an infinite number of possible worlds inside God’s mind, but only one actual world, which God chose as the most perfect of all possibilities.” (From "If, Then" by Kate Hope Day)

“If, Then” by Kate Hope Day is an eerie, beautifully written novel set in a small town in Oregon. In the shadow of a dormant volcano, ominously named Broken Mountain, a few of the folks in the town begin to experience hallucinations. It’s not immediately clear what these hallucinations are supposed to represent, but they’re disturbing enough to shake the characters who experience them into action. For Samara, who has just experienced her mother’s death, she sees her mother wandering around the neighborhood. Cass, a new mother at a crossroads between raising a child and pursuing her career, sees herself pregnant again. Ginny, an overworked surgeon, sees herself in a relationship with her coworker, Edith, instead of with her husband. Mark, a scientist studying animal behavior, sees himself paranoid, homeless and living in the woods.

The hallucinations prey on each person differently, causing them to reconsider the trajectories of their lives. Setting the story in a remote location only added to the individual characters’ isolation and the atmosphere of quiet panic throughout the novel.

Kate Hope Day has a knack for writing tense, domestic scenes, then adding some sort of mundane, yet terrifying occurrence to scare one of the characters. This book was genuinely spooky, and the characters were meticulously crafted, so not only was I scared, but I was invested. I wanted to put the book down, but I couldn’t look away.

The books I’ve been reading lately are on either end of two extremes. “If, Then” was slow-paced, the cast of characters was limited and the time frame of the novel was very short. I’ve also recently finished Katherine Arden’s Winternight Trilogy ("The Bear and the Nightingale," "The Girl in the Tower" and "Winter of the Witch"), which was sprawling, took place over years, but was fast-paced with a lot of Russian characters with multiple, confusing nicknames. I’m down for adventure/fantasy novels, but I almost always get hooked on a slow burn. I’m trying to decide which type of book I enjoy more, but I think it’s one of those things that depends on my mood.

I was eternally grateful to receive “If, Then” from Random House Publishing Group on NetGalley. I’m always glad when a publisher takes a chance on my little sliver of a blog on a minuscule corner of the Internet. "If, Then" will be published on March 12, 2019.

Other slow burn books I’ve read this year
“The Girl Who Never Read Noam Chomsky” by Jana Casale
“A Place For Us” by Fatima Farheen Mirza

Sprawling epics I’ve read this year
The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

You can see what I'm reading now on my Goodreads list, but take it with a grain of salt. I put books that have a deadline on there, but some books that I want to read but don't have a deadline have been sitting there for months. Not the greatest method of organizing books, I know.

Christmas in July: A feminist reading of a holiday romance novel

I have a few leftover romance novels from NetGalley I've been trying to get through.

I definitely burned myself out on that genre for a while. Consider this a "Christmas in July" situation.

Today I read "Believe in My Heart" by Maria K. Alexander. It's a short little dollop of a novella that features an icky boss-subordinate relationship. Here's my review.

Vinnie is Hope's boss at his family-owned restaurant. When she needs a place to stay after dumping her boyfriend and moving out, Vinnie offers her a chance to stay at his place. After a few days, a mutual attraction blossoms. Can they explore their relationship while keeping things professional at the restaurant?  

I was intrigued by this title because I was looking to explore holiday-themed romances. This one was not at all my cup of tea. Boss-subordinate relationships are unethical and can be dicey in the best of circumstances. Not only that, but I feel Hope sold herself short by not demanding a raise from her employer after taking on extra responsibilities. In addition, in order to become Vinnie's business partner, she basically needed to dump her life savings into his business, a risky move on her part. Vinnie had to make very few sacrifices when it came to Hope. She just had to be there and be willing to support his goals, shouldering most of the burden of their working relationship with her practical skills. 

I realize I'm likely taking the premise of this romance novella entirely too seriously, but if I'm going to read romance any more, I'd appreciate a more empowered heroine.

Soooo good riddance to that one, I guess? I used to love romance novels. I don't know what happened. I'm not writing off the publisher or the author by any means, I just won't read this book again or recommend it to any of my friends!

Moving right along, I took a trip to the library the other day and had quite a haul.

Normal, healthy behavior #books #morebooks #allofthebooks #checkouttheWHOLEseries #supportlibraries pic.twitter.com/eCUR8Ql4VI

— Caryn (@_Caryn_S) July 26, 2018

Initially I went to check out "Mechanica" and "Venturess" by Betsy Cornwell, but I found a few more books I was interested in. Why are YA book covers so enticing?

I'll write soon about some books I don't think you should miss. There were three I read so far this summer that were just phenomenal. What are you reading now?