I Crawl Through It by A.S. King

"Four teenagers are on the verge of exploding. The anxieties they face at every turn have nearly pushed them to the point of surrender: senseless high-stakes testing, the lingering damage of past trauma, the buried grief and guilt of tragic loss. They are desperate to cope, but no one is listening.

So they will lie. They will split in two. They will turn inside out. They will even build an invisible helicopter to fly themselves far away...but nothing releases the pressure. Because, as they discover, the only way to truly escape their world is to fly right into it.

The genius of acclaimed author A.S. King reaches new heights in this groundbreaking work of surrealist fiction; it will mesmerize readers with its deeply affecting exploration of how we crawl through traumatic experience-and find the way out."

Author, A.S. King

I started and finished I Crawl Through It by A.S. King within the span of a couple days. I found the characters all uniquely intriguing and I felt guilty every time I had to close the book to focus on something else (or sleep). The lives these characters lead every day are not contrived or redundant - I guarantee you've never met China before, the walking stomach who swallowed herself. But you'll love her - even when she's a walking tongue or rectum.

I Crawl Through It is sad, happy, weird and wonderful. And, of the three A.S. King books I've read, this is by far my favorite. I'd highly recommend this book to all for an entertaining read that'll leave you with that feeling of having made a new friend - or six.

I Crawl Through It by A.S. King on Amazon

Finding Masculinity by Alexander Walker and Emmett J.P. Lundberg

Finding Masculinity by co-editors Alexander Walker and Emmett J.P. Lundberg is a collection of short autobiographical essays on various topics relating to transitioning to male after being born and socialized as female.

The foreword speaks whole-heartedly of what great things can be gained from what can be a very challenging and difficult time for a transitioning person. "Transition taught me introspection and self-awareness, to honor the truths that live inside of me, and to recognize my fears and still leap." But the process itself, including the years of living as female prior to transition, can be extremely difficult. Even post-transition there are challenges. The first account is that of Harvey Katz. He explains:

"I have always existed as a whole but my life has been fractured into a schizophrenic retelling. When you're trans, to the people around you there will always be two lives: the one that you live, and the one that you lived."

Co-Editor, Emmett J.P. Lundberg

I hadn't previously thought of it, but one account in the book mentions how after they transitioned, Facebook friends would still tag old photos of them when they presented and/or identified as female which felt like an invalidation of who they knew themselves to be. It's hard to live a new life when the old one keeps bubbling up, perhaps "outing" you to people who wouldn't otherwise have known you were transgender.

Co-Editor, Alexander Walker

As I read this book on my kindle, I highlighted more sentences, phrases and paragraphs than I have in any other book. I found it humbling and amazing and exciting to be in the shoes of these brave men who have a life experience few of us can relate to. Mothers-turned-fathers, coworker/employer issues (and joys!), family turbulance (and joys!), church issues (and joys!), relationships etc. etc. etc. If there's anything you'll learn from this book it's that though each of its contributors was born female and transitioned to male, none of their stories are the same. They each struggled in their own ways, in their own groups and with different issues. They all have different backgrounds and interests. At their core, they're each incredibly inspiring men with touching stories we all could learn from.

Because I really want to share my six pages of highlights from the book, but because I also realize you have other things to do, I'll share just a few and trust you'll get your hands on a copy soon to experience the stories yourself. See my selections at the bottom of this post.

I would highly recommend this read. Finding Masculinity is perhaps one of the most genuine collective accounts of the human experience available. It's full of raw emotions, real people with real struggles and experiences who share in order to help others and inform the world around them. I'm pretty sure this book is full of heroes - at least that's how I see them.

You can borrow Finding Masculinity from a library near you or purchase it from Amazon.

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I understand the urgency felt by many trans folks to get this transition phase over with, for the fuzz of dysphoria to fade and for the reflection in the mirror to match the self-image. For me, I also found it important to recognize, honor, and treasure all the moments, the cringe-worthy and the affirming, during this heightened time of change.

- Nick Krieger

They also reassured me that my daughter would love me no matter what, and that for me to be the best parent I could be to her, first I needed to be happy. These fears stuck with me, but I knew that if I was going to be a stable parent I needed to be myself authentically.

- Gabe Pelz

It’s so easy to feel excited about living when your life feels like your own. After you’ve been trying for so long to make a square peg fit into a round hole, it’s utter liberation.

- Rae Larson

I knew without a doubt that my family loved me, but you can love someone and hurt them at the same time.

- Dylan Farnsworth

Despite being in a relationship, I knew I would never feel completely satisfied because something was missing in all my relationships: me.

- Ian Carter

By becoming an authentic version of themselves they were able to find a sense of inner peace that allowed them to and develop a happier sense of self.

-Editors Alexander Walker and Emmett J.P. Lundberg

It would be so much easier if I were born with the gender that my brain was configured with from the beginning, but I would have missed out on a perspective that has helped shape who I am today. I will always be happier that my story is a little different than the majority of folks.

- Will Krisanda

Through this process transitioning in the mental health field, I’ve come to learn to not be proud of what I do or earn for a living, but to be proud of my ability to overcome the darkest hours in my life and turn them into a beacon of light for someone else who is suffering.

- Ian Carter

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Please Ignore Vera Dietz was my second A.S. King novel. I had first read Everbody Sees the Ants and really appreciated the unique psychological element that came with the character's narration. Vera was no different. Though rather than having visions of ants here and there influencing your thoughts and actions, Vera saw Charlies. Thousands of Charlies. Charlie was (and is?) Vera's best friend. It had been that way for as long as either of them could remember. But with high school, drugs, alcohol and sex getting in the way they went different directions but maintained an unspoken dedication to one another.

Author, A.S. King

When Charlie dies and is blamed for arson, Vera is overwhelmed with guilt. Her major case of the coulda-woulda-shoulda's is silenced, however, by an upbringing that taught her to bottle it up and fly under the radar. No matter what she encounters she holds onto it which sometimes threatens her safety and causes her dad to further doubt her sense of responsibility.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a young adult novel that accurately portrays the struggles of friendship, community and loss. I felt the greatest lesson to be learned in the novel was to talk about things with those you love and trust and develop a sense of community. If you witness something bad, consider what would happen if you did nothing about it. Consider the lives that could be affected outside of your own. Just because you can walk or drive away from something safely doesn't mean the next person will be so lucky.

Read along and experience the story of Vera as she comes to terms with the past, the present and the future. Watch her develop a sense of responsibility and self-respect as she comes to terms with the loss of Charlie and begins to understand her dad better.

You can borrow Please Ignore Vera Dietz from your local library or purchase it from Amazon.

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick was an interesting, well-paced read. I listened to the audiobook while travelling and found the storyline to be engaging and intriguing.

The Silver Linings Playbook is written from the perspective of a mentally ill man named Pat Peoples. Pat is released from an institution and is living with his parents as long as he doesn't cause trouble. Unwilling to accept that he and his wife have been separated for several years, he holds onto the hope they'll reunite in the future - not even hope, though. He knows they'll reunite.

Author, Matthew Quick

In the meantime, he has some close calls with losing his temper. He sees a therapist who he bonds with over the love of Eagles football. He meets a strange girl, Tiffany, also scarred by loss and Pat struggles with his feelings toward her. Over time, she'll join him for runs, teach him to dance and become the closest person to him - or perhaps the most dangerous. Being unstable herself, will she set Pat off and be the cause of a return to a facility?

Tiffany was a fascinating character and I admired her intentions. When we first meet her, I was less than impressed and wished nothing more than to see her walk off stage right and fall down the steps. But I warmed up quickly to her dark yet charming character. And Pat, dangerously fragile, is also loving and adorable. His perception of the world around him and his eternal thoughtfulness kept me laughing, learning and thinking alongside him.

If there's one thing Quick knows how to do, it's create dynamic characters. By the end of the novel I felt like I had made new friends. I enjoyed them thoroughly and will carry them with me as a song in my heart.

I encourage you to check for The Silver Linings Playbook at your local library or purchase it from Amazon. You can also watch the film based on the novel on Netflix starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence or purchase it as well from Amazon. I have yet to see the film, but I've heard only positive reviews from those around me.

Wind/Pinball by Haruki Murakami

The debut short novels--nearly thirty years out of print-- by the internationally acclaimed writer, newly retranslated and in one English-language volume for the first time, with a new introduction by the author. 

These first major works of fiction by Haruki Murakami center on two young men--an unnamed narrator and his friend and former roommate, the Rat. Powerful, at times surreal, stories of loneliness, obsession, and eroticism, these novellas bear all the hallmarks of Murakami's later books, giving us a fascinating insight into a great writer's beginnings, and are remarkable works of fiction in their own right. Here too is an exclusive essay by Murakami in which he explores and explains his decision to become a writer. Prequels to the much-beloved classics A Wild Sheep Chase and Dance Dance Dance, these early works are essential reading for Murakami completists and contemporary fiction lovers alike. 

Goodreads.com description

Wind/Pinball is made up of the first two short novels Japanese author, Haruki Murakami wrote: Hear the Wind Sing and Pinball, 1973. No more than 125 pages each, both novels serve as a quick peek into the developmental stages of Murakami’s style. I’ve been a fan of Haruki Murakami ever since picking up the first novel I read by him, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and I appreciated reading some of his earlier work.

In Hear the Wind Sing, an unnamed narrator is home from college on summer break. He spends a lot of his time at a local pub called J’s Bar, listening to music and drinking – sometimes to the verge of alcohol poisoning – with his wealthy friend, “The Rat.” The narrator also tells about the women he’s been with, including a woman with only nine fingers.

Pinball, 1973 switches between the unnamed narrator, now out of college and working as a translator, and The Rat. The narrator lives with a pair of twin girls who are indistinguishable outside of the sweaters they wear (one has 208 printed on it, the other 209). He becomes obsessed with tracking down a spaceship pinball machine he used to play in college. The Rat is depressed and on the verge of leaving town. He struggles to break the news to his only acquaintance, the bartender at J’s.

Both novels - or novellas - are less plot and more character and journey driven. They may have limited appeal to anyone unfamiliar with Murakami’s work, but I’d still recommend Wind/Pinball for a good quick read.

Tin Man by Lisa Henry and Heidi Belleau

Tin Man is a quick read (one sitting) by authors Lisa Henry and Heidi Belleau. It focuses on the stories of Ace, a petty thief, and Soren, a member of the Anti-Terrorist-Unit or ATU. When Soren chases down Ace for not providing proof of employment or residence, things get heated in more ways than one.

I found that throughout the book, the word fuck was used so often it distracted from the story and really made the characters seem ignorant as if they couldn't express wonder, excitement, disappointment, stress or fear in any other way. At one point the line was, and I quote, "Fuck, fuck, fuck." I don't have any problem with profanity, especially when it reveals more about a character. But every character in this novel was fond of it and it really hindered their development.

I also felt that the writing didn't match the pace of the story. Multiple pages would become victim to expressing every thought, even if redundant, about whatever was occurring. I'd be so far along in some character's processing of a scene that I'd have to turn back to see what event had occurred to ignite this trail of thought. So rather than feel the drama of a quick pace, I felt the agony of dry dialogue and internal processes stretched to their limit.

That being said, I feel Henry and Belleau could nurture a great skill of creating a sexy scene if they could just cut back on over-analyzing every move, every moment. But sexy scenes don't reach their full potential if we can't really understand the characters and see the intended chemistry. And if you're not into near-stranger sex with a dominating, degrading top who calls the surprisingly submissive bottom a whore, then you probably shouldn't start this book.

Tin Man seemed to be 70% sex and tension (and unrealistic at that), 20% plot (an uncomplicated three-step concept) and 10% character development (which is generous). Through reading the entire work, I didn't run across a single profound character, complex situation or memorable setting. It was the story of two static characters who had potential but instead were pre-programmed on a safe track to a happy ending.

If you would like to give Tin Man a chance through your own perspective, you can purchase it from Amazon. To the right appreciative audience, I'm sure it would be a worthwhile and entertaining endeavor.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

I first heard of Anne Lamott through a recommendation made by my friend, Karin (who will also be reviewing for Book Savants). From the Facebook posts Karin would share with me, to the snippets I would read here and there, I knew I was in for a good read from the moment I opened Bird by Bird. And I wasn't disappointed. Bird by Bird is a realistic and honest account of writing and may be especially helpful for someone with tunnel vision set on publication.

The premise of Bird by Bird is, as its subtitle suggests, "Some Instructions on Writing and Life." The title comes from a time when her brother waited until the last minute (of a three month period) to begin working on an essay about birds. He was distraught at the kitchen table with unopened books and anxiety up to his ears. But their father encouraged him to just get started and take it "bird by bird."

Bird by Bird is a culmination of Anne Lamott's first-hand knowledge and experience of writing up to the point of its publishing. She offers tips and stories of the classes she's taught. She dispels myths about the process and offers real, undecorated advice that keeps the reader grounded. It's going to be tough, you'll probably suffer and in the end you might not get published. You might come so close to being published, but in the end be told to start over again anew. But the joy, Lamott suggests, comes in the writing process itself. You may not make a living writing, but you can learn to give wholly of yourself to the blank page. You can learn to appreciate the internal struggle of writing and committing to one story line versus another.

Author, Anne Lamott

For me, Bird by Bird was helpful in getting started. Lamott suggests focusing on a "one inch picture frame." Imagine a snapshot of a setting, or a character, or a small fraction of a scene and describe it. Just start writing. And if what you write tomorrow is totally unrelated, so be it. Eventually those snippets might reconnect in a plot that comes to you as you drive down the interstate or fly across the pond.

Also, dedicate time to writing. Every morning at 6 a.m. give it an hour. Or every evening at 9:00. Whatever you do, continue doing it. You might sit in agony for twenty minutes with a blank page and a busy mind but close your eyes, empty your internal voices and give it the time you've promised. Eventually it will become habit and trigger your mind to shift into its creative gear when you sit down.

Aside from the writing process, Lamott addresses the struggles writers go through with jealousy of other writers. Being a writer is more than producing written work. It's being human, experiencing the world, struggling with emotions and life and working hard to keep your chin up. And those struggles are often what can inspire our work, but we can't let them suffocate it.

Lamott's Bird by Bird has taught me a number of things, and I'm certain anyone who reads it will also walk away with something whether it be new motivation for writing or perhaps a different perspective on things. You don't have to be a writer to appreciate the lessons contained in Bird by Bird. And if you are a writer, I believe Lamott's advice that getting published isn't going to change your life and solve your problems. It's more important to focus on the journey and be the best artist you can be. Love yourself and love your work.

Now get out there and jump into a "shitty first draft" and tell your story.

You can find Bird by Bird at a library near you or purchase it on Amazon.

Heartbreak Hotel by Deborah Moggach

Heartbreak Hotel is a recent work by Deborah Moggach, author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, set to release in paperback in January of 2016. Heartbreak Hotel was my first experience of Deborah Moggach. I listened to the audiobook while interstate travelling and enjoyed the fragile characters and warm setting.

The story focuses on Buffy, a retired actor, who inherits a B&B in Wales and moves there to escape the noise of London. To get it up and running, he goes through minimal preparation hoping the shabby but chic look will appeal to potential residents. He then talks with his daughter who expresses a desire to fix her own car following a break-up in which she was reliant on her partner. This sparks the idea of turning the B&B into a "destination workshop series" of sorts. Recently divorced or separated persons who might have relied too heavily on the talents of their former partners could come and learn to cook, clean, garden, repair their car, etc. and be self-sufficient. These classes couldn't possibly all be taught by Buffy, but he gets some help along the way in leading them.

Basically, the residents then help Myrtle House look better through their work in the classes. For example, the jungle of a yard is tended to and made to look beautiful by the newly trained green thumbs. And by the end of the novel, Myrtle House has moved from divorcee retreat to become an executive retreat bringing money to the community. I found this ending transformation to be a bit of a stretch. Sure, executives might be searching for something a little less Marriott for their retreats, but they wouldn't likely choose an isolated house with a few leaky, drafty bedrooms for their location. But then again, in these retreats they're practicing hands-on skills and getting dirty - not polishing portfolios and sealing deals.

Author, Deborah Moggach

As far as the characters, I really appreciated Buffy's struggles. He's overwhelmed immediately upon moving into the B&B as any person his age (70's) and jumping into an adventure like this would be. He also works to reconnect with his children and to possibly explore a relationship. But when this relationship begins to blossom, I find it a bit unbelievable. The characters involved, Monica (botox-injecting woman who can find a bed partner, but not a life partner) and Buffy, become too neat and tidy. Monica takes the slightest offense at the smallest unintended arrangement of words and is intimidated by Buffy's younger days when he had multiple partners. Buffy wants desperately to alleviate her worries, but she runs away so, naturally, he abandons the B&B temporarily and chases after her. It all ends too tidily. I felt that the last third of the book was a rush to the finish. It tied up the loose ends, but I feel like the imperfect Buffy I met in the beginning became a polished character, dipped in gold, by the final chapter.

Perhaps one of the most interesting conflicts in the novel is the one between Voda and her ex-boyfriend Conner. She's in love with Buffy's daughter, India. He's a drug-influenced and alcoholic mess of a jail fly. When Conner, quite possibly abusive, is in trouble Voda still cares. When he bursts into Myrtle House and discovers her new relationship, she doesn't lose her mind. These two imperfect characters were the most interesting to me of the novel. Though Amy, a makeup artist for the stars, was interesting as well in watching her transform from childless and happy to longing for a relationship and child.

All in all the book is a pleasant read. Not too deep, but not too shallow either. A neutral read, you might say. And though I wasn't particularly moved by Heartbreak Hotel, Moggach's writing tone still kept me engaged. I will, in the future, seek another Moggach novel.

You can check for Heartbreak Hotel at a library near you or purchase it from Amazon.

Anything Could Happen by Will Walton

Tretch lives in a very small town where everybody's in everybody else's business. Which makes it hard for him to be in love with his straight best friend. For his part, Matt is completely oblivious to the way Tretch feels – and Tretch can’t tell whether that makes it better or worse.

The problem with living a lie is that the lie can slowly become your life. For Tretch, the problem isn’t just with Matt. His family has no idea who he really is and what he’s really thinking. The girl at the local bookstore has no clue how off-base her crush on him is. And the guy at school who’s a thorn in Tretch’s side doesn’t realize how close to the truth he’s hitting.

Tretch has spent a lot of time dancing alone in his room, but now he’s got to step outside his comfort zone and into the wider world. Because like love, a true self can rarely be contained. 

Summary from Goodreads.com

There’s much to appreciate about Will Walton’s debut novel, but a lot going on too. Anything could happen for Tretch Farm, and a lot certainly does during his winter break.

Tretch is in love with his straight best friend, Matt, who has two dads. His straight best friend is in love with a girl who may or may not like him back. Tretch tries to avoid a pretentious, yet clueless girl who works in book shop. He struggles with coming out. Then there’s the bully who called him out on his crush. And a grandparent dying of cancer. On top of all that, Tretch learns that his best friend is moving away, which causes him to attempt suicide, but not really. Oh, and a cow gives birth to a breached calf.

That’s only some of it. I appreciate that, underneath all that’s going on for Tretch, Walton’s novel is another coming of age coming out story. I like that he presents Matt’s dads as decent parents who raise a well-adjusted child. Tretch’s feelings for his best friend are honest and realistic. I felt, though, that his maturity was inconsistent. Tretch reads classics and has mature, sexual thoughts about his best friend, but then narrates about fearing and avoiding a black cat because of bad luck. 

I would still recommend this book to anyone who may be struggling with coming out. Walton shows that it’s okay to take that risk and that the results may not be as bad as you expect. Overall, I gave Anything Could Happen 3 out of 5 stars.

You can find Anything Could Happen at a local library by clicking here, or you can order it through Amazon here.

Orange is the New Black by Piper Kerman

I first heard of Orange is the New Black when season one came to Netflix. I wasn't aware it was based on a true story or that there was a book out there telling the tales. I had watched the first two seasons before finally discovering and beginning the book. And a week or so later I shut it with a new perspective.

If I could do over, I would read the book first to understand what inspired the show. I would have conjured images of these characters in my mind before seeing the casting choices and having that imagination robbed from me. This is the case with any book to film situation though.

Piper Kerman really did go to prison for her involvement with drug trade. And the relationship between Piper and her fiance was truly hard to maintain while in prison. And the characters she met were just as eccentric and unique as you'll meet on Netflix. For the most part, we see what Piper experienced on the screen as well.

Author, Piper Kerman

However, as TV shows do, we see a bit more violence and complexities in the Netflix series. And the depth of the post-imprisonment relationship between Piper and Alex is mostly fictional though they do actually reunite in a prison for court purposes prior to Piper's release.

My favorite thing about the book was that it was a raw truth. There was a wonderful, horrible, life-changing lesson that took place and through it all, Piper was able to maintain a good sense of self and humor. We learn with Piper and experience the shocking contrast of outside prison and inside prison. It prompts numerous thoughts such as the difficulty for some long-term prisoners to be released into a world they no longer recognize.

If you're a fan of the show, you should read the book. Jump into orange and see the origin of Piper's story by checking out the book from your local library or purchasing it on Amazon. Then head to Netflix to see the screen depiction which will not disappoint.

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez

After their daughter Maribel suffers a near-fatal accident, the Riveras leave México and come to America. But upon settling at Redwood Apartments, a two-story cinderblock complex just off a highway in Delaware, they discover that Maribel's recovery--the piece of the American Dream on which they've pinned all their hopes--will not be easy. Every task seems to confront them with language, racial, and cultural obstacles.

At Redwood also lives Mayor Toro, a high school sophomore whose family arrived from Panamà fifteen years ago. Mayor sees in Maribel something others do not: that beyond her lovely face, and beneath the damage she's sustained, is a gentle, funny, and wise spirit. But as the two grow closer, violence casts a shadow over all their futures in America.

-Summary from Goodreads.com

The Book of Unknown Americans is a powerful, eye opening portrait of what it's like to be a Latino immigrant in the United States. Henríquez tells the story of the Riveras and the Toros, alternating between Maribel's mother Alma and Mayor. In between their chapters, short vignettes detail the experiences of a number of other Latino immigrants.

What I really liked about the book was how real the characters seemed to me. Alma is fiercely protective of Maribel, especially since she comes to blame herself for Maribel's accident and condition. Her husband, Arturo, devotes himself to keeping a job and staying out of trouble so they can stay in the United States so their daughter can receive the help she needs. Mayor is a freshman in high school who lives under the shadow of an athletically gifted older brother and can't quite live up to his father's expectations.

A neighborhood troublemaker, Garrett, is at the center of the events that lead to the climax of the story. He begins to stalk and pursue Maribel, and it's his interactions with both Mayor and Alma that lead the reader to fear for the girl's safety. What also concerned me, though, was how quickly Mayor's feelings for Maribel developed and how far he takes them. They talk a few times and suddenly he's in love with her and feeling her up.

Overall, though, the story was moving and heartbreaking. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a clearer picture of how hard some immigrants do work to get into this country and how dedicated they are to doing the right thing.

This review is also posted on BeyondtheBookend.com

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Puberty, improv, breastfeeding, oh my!

Lately as I would traverse the town by foot, I would hurriedly put my headphones in and prepare myself for a few solid laughs before reaching my destination. No headphones, no problem. I'd put my phone to my ear on speaker held like a slice of toast. Sure, in the beginning I tried to limit the public laughter to avoid being seen as completely insane, but by the end I was laughing and smiling so much it hurt and didn't care who watched. Tina Fey is to blame.

I would highly recommend listening to Tina read her book Bossypants via the audiobook format. There's no other way to fully appreciate her intended accents here and there, the whispers, the tone of thoughts, etc. And who doesn't love hearing fantastic stories told by their owner? And many of the stories are only fantastic because Tina has an excellent sense of humor about what some of us might consider bad luck or life hiccups.

Author, Producer, Actress and
Comedian Tina Fey (without the hairy arms)

Did I mention Tina Fey is a mad fan of the gays? That makes it super easy for me to love her (and her audiobook) that much more. She doesn't hold back and try to be delicate about gay people. Instead she treats us like regular yet extraordinary average Joes and Joannes. Her telling of adventures with the lesbians and gays in the book come from a place of honesty and fondness.

I don't want to spoil any specifics of the stories as I encourage you to get a copy asap and listen to them yourself. But everything from improvisation group adventures to a honeymoon gone awry to the pre-college daze will have you giggling if you're modest and guffawing if you're obnoxious.

Fey has proved again that women can be funny. So she can shove that in her critics' tailpipes. And Tina, if you need a co-writer for Bossypants: The Movie (Or Musical) you know where to find me.

You can check out Bossypants (the audiobook) or Bossypants (the novel) from your local library or purchase the novel on Amazon.

Follow You Home by Mark Edwards

Follow You Home was a surprising find for me. I borrowed this Mark Edwards novel from Amazon as my book of the month. You can do the same with an Amazon Prime membership, or if you have a KindleUnlimited membership this title is included for free as well.

Typically when borrowing a KindleUnlimited title, I'm disappointed. But I really enjoyed the pace and mystery of Follow You Home. It all starts eerily with a traveling couple getting abandoned near a forest in Romania. We don't know exactly what happens in the forest, but upon exiting it they're never the same. We watch their relationship strain and suffer, their well-being crumble and their futures become cloudy all because of whatever happened in the Romanian woods.

Author, Mark Edwards

It becomes clear however that the horror in the woods is not the only threat to Laura and Daniel. Suddenly, back home in London, it feels like something followed them home. Bad luck, strange sights and experiences, etc. Will they maintain a grasp on reality while protecting themselves and those around them from whatever they "brought home?"

Follow You Home will be revealing secrets clear through the last page of the epilogue. The story unfolds from multiple perspectives but holds together, engrossing the reader in every minute, every breath of the story. Edwards writes in his letter that the onset of the novel was inspired by a similar experience of his own. And, quite rightly, he mentions Stephen King as an influencing style. The combination of keeping the story grounded but embellishing to make it interesting and suspenseful resulted in what will certainly be one of my recommendations for suspense novels in the future. I say keep writing, Mark Edwards. Whatever you're doing is working and I enjoyed every page.

You can borrow Follow You Home from your local library or purchase it from Amazon.

Finders Keepers by Stephen King

 After having read the prequel Mr. Mercedes, I had my doubts that a sequel could rival it. I was pleasantly surprised. Before reading any description, I assumed we'd pick up where we left Bill Hodges and Brady Hartsfield. Bill in quiet retirement, Brady bashed up and barely alive in the hospital. But instead we fall back decades to the murder of an iconic author by thugs interested mostly in his cash on hand. Morris Bellamy, the sharpest of the thugs and coincidentally a super-fan of Author John Rothstein, is interested in revenge though. He loved Rothstein's Jimmy Gold novel series - but he was enraged with the last installment's ending. After murdering Rothstein, he discovers additional manuscripts along with the cash in a safe. A series of events leads this discovery to a trunk hidden out of sight on a stream bank.

Author, Stephen King

We flash forward again to present day when a kid stumbles upon the cash and manuscripts Morris Bellamy stole and hid. Morris is in prison for rape (never found as murderer of Rothstein) but due to release soon and return to his treasure. The kid, Pete Saubers, will have to decide what to do with the manuscripts (he's also a big Jimmy Gold fan) and the cash but regardless, Morris is bound to be upset. And he's killed before but this time he's desperately thirsty to finally read what happens to Jimmy Gold. A kid in his way would prove a small obstacle.

Things get complicated with a parole officer, Bill Hodge's involvement in the case and Pete's family. Find out who ends up with what, how the cards fall for Morris and check back in briefly with Brady of Mr. Mercedes. You can find Finders Keepers at your local library or purchase it on Amazon.

Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King

As a fan of Stephen King, I jumped right into Mr. Mercedes as soon as it was delivered to my doorstep. I wasn't disappointed whatsoever. In fact, I struggled finding a stopping point because I would become so engrossed in the story.

Mr. Mercedes is an exciting read as we jump back and forth between protagonist (retired cop Bill Hodges) and antagonist (Brady Hartsfield, mentally unstable and living with mom). Due to a number of factors, Brady's life was troubled from birth. His alcoholic mother offers no comfort, just additional stress. Brady's had enough and crashes - he crashes through a crowd of people with a stolen Mercedes. The thrill is medicinal, but he's seeking another.

Author, Stephen King

Here enters Bill Hodges, the retired cop who never found Brady (the Mercedes killer). Retirement is tough for him and he struggles with thoughts of suicide. Only when Brady starts playing with fire, teasing Bill anonymously, does he step up out of his gloom and into danger to solve the case once and for all.

My favorite part of Mr. Mercedes has to be the internal moments with Brady Hartsfield. I can't recall a character I've read about in the past which struck me so significantly. Brady is sick - really sick. His thoughts are twisted, his actions are questionable, his health is wavering and no one is safe. King paints a picture so raw yet real of this danger through the thoughts of Brady.

I encourage you to check for Mr. Mercedes by Stephen King at your local library. You can also purchase Mr. Mercedes on Amazon.

Zoo by James Patterson

Zoo was my first novel by James Patterson. I began reading it with high expectations due to the sheer volume of books he cranks out so frequently. I have to admit, though, I was disappointed in Zoo.

Patterson's Zoo has some really strong features. For those of us who sincerely appreciate easy stopping points, this book has 98 chapters and an epilogue. It's absolutely great for fitting in five minutes of reading here and there. However, some chapter breaks seemed unnecessary. One might end with an event of some sort, but nothing too suspenseful. Some chapters might have been more effective blended together.

Author, James Patterson

The plot of Zoo could be summed up to say the world is experiencing an animal apocalypse. Due to humans' lack of care with the environment and their stubborn nature of not wanting to believe warning signs, they've brought on a chemically/environmentally borne "smell" that affects all mammals. Suddenly dolphins, rats, squirrels, leopards, and hippos (oh my!) all have this wasp-like hatred of humans and, as hives, attack humans en masse.

This really could have been exciting. The plot blossomed from a great idea but wilted because of the characters. I felt the characters were dry and "regular" and I also didn't find myself sympathizing with the human experience hardly at all. It seemed no relationships were developed fully enough to care if the protagonist's wife and kids were eaten, for example. There wasn't one character introduced that really struck a line of familiarity with me.

That being said, I'd still recommend this book for a quick read. You could finish it in a couple dedicated nights (one if you're crazy). The fictional science and plot development is interesting. And it'll have you wondering about your own behavior in the environmentally fragile world in which we live and breathe. Just don't open the book expecting to have your heart shredded by an emotional tempest of suffering, courage and hope (like I did, clearly).

You can check Zoo out from your local library or purchase it on Amazon.

Time and Again by Jack Finney (Time Series, Book One)

Time and Again is the first of two books in Jack Finney's Time Series. I added it to my "To Read" list after finishing Stephen King's 11/22/63 and seeing his reference to this book as "THE great time-travel story." I struggled with the pace, but appreciated the vivid imagery that brought 19th century New York to life.

Author Jack Finney (1911-1995) was a wealth of information on history due, in large part, to the decades he experienced first hand. Being a millenial, I appreciated not only his fictional account of New York but the fact confirmed in his epilogue that he and his associates researched extensively to verify and write about late 19th century New York exactly as it actually was in the 19th century. He admits there were some intentionally adjusted dates to suit the purpose of an entertaining story but for the most part, by reading Time and Again, you're stepping back into 19th century New York as it very much were.

If you love New York and maybe even have a bumper sticker saying so on your car, you may really like Finney's excessively descriptive nature. But (maybe because I'm a millenial?) I found the story to lose its grasp on my attention multiple times when descriptions got too lengthy. Finney writes in depth about nearly everything our protagonist encounters. But it's also important to consider this book was published first in 1970 for a different era of reader and market.

Author, Jack Finney (1995)

That being said, the imagery from both the 20th and 19th centuries' New York was wonderful and clear even if in excess. You would have no issue visualizing the scenes Simon Morley (or Si as he's known by most) walks into. And it's fun reading along knowing that the arm of the statue of liberty actually did set near Madison separated and awaiting construction at another site until a later date. In the book, Si is able to climb just the arm and sit near the torch.

The story's action was intriguing. If I were to re-edit it for 2015, I would cut the majority of the first 50% of the book, leaving the bare essentials to describe the time travel method and project. I also wouldn't bother with too much depth into Si's career as he's soon to abandon it for the remainder anyway. And as far as the "complicated love situation" mentioned in the description between two women it falls rather flat. Si is primarily interested in one (I won't spoil which one, in case you're interested to find out for yourself) and I feel the other could be cut completely without the story losing any of its value.

My opinion on edits aside, the last half of the book carries along nicely. Glazing through the occasional slump of adjectives and scenery, I found myself wondering "How is he going to get out of this?" or "What would I do if I found myself in his situation?" and most often "How is this going to affect the present?" And it's interesting to consider all the ways 19th century civil workers (police, firemen, politicians, etc.) and citizens responded and reacted to crisis and crime. We certainly have better technology and resources today, but what about the character composition of our communities? Would we jump into danger to help a stranger (enjoyed the rhyme, did you?)? Or would we rely on diffusion of responsibility and perhaps even pretend we didn't see anything, absolving ourselves of the need to act?

Time and Again is a book that'll have you asking questions not only about yourself but about the world you live in today. It's worth a read if you have the time - and if you don't, crack the book open halfway in and fill the gaps in as best you can. We all need to experience a bit of time travelling and I can't think of a better, more engaging way than through historically-near-accurate fiction.

Check out Time and Again from your local library or purchase it on Amazon.

The First Bad Man by Miranda July

The First Bad Man by Miranda July is an emotional storm detailing Cheryl Glickman's experiences during a difficult and wonderful time in her life. Cheryl, never married and without children, is a baby-obsessed later-middle-aged woman and I absolutely loved her. Cheryl, in her forties, experiences internal lifetimes of love with Philip, a co-worker and board member at her workplace which aims to reduce domestic violence and teach women how to defend themselves. Cheryl harbors a fierce love of two things: babies (not any baby, but certain babies that seem to embody the soul of one in particular) and Phillip. But Phillip, in his sixties, harbors a fierce love not for Cheryl but for a teenage girl named Kirsten. This news shatters Cheryl, but she comes to believe Phillip is only texting her graphic tales of his endeavors as a sort of game - that, perhaps, Kirsten is imaginary.

Author, Miranda July

Phillip aside, Cheryl later meets Clee through an unexpected and unwelcome turn of events. Her bosses' daughter Clee is a beautiful blonde girl that has seemingly has no respect for herself or anyone or anything. Clee, more or less, invites herself to live with Cheryl and arrives with garbage bags of belongings. Her pepsi-guzzling, cheeto-crunching character is only accentuated by her sexual promiscuity and violent, threatening behavior. But Cheryl, after summoning the courage to stand up to Clee, begins to thirst for the violence and they begin to regularly act out self-defense scenarios which satisfies them both immensely. And then they fall in love.

When Cheryl finds out Clee is pregnant (from an unknown partner), she gets involved and loves the idea of sharing a baby. And where Clee was once a revolting character, I found myself cheering her on at times and wishing the both of them every happiness. But life isn't always so simple. And for this cast of characters it can be quite complex. Read the book and experience the birth of love and courage. Find out what happens to Cheryl and Phillip. But most of all, envelop yourself with the intricacies of the human spirit and mind.

This was the first book I experienced by Miranda July. Miranda writes with a unique voice and an important voice for youth and adults alike. If you're looking for something different, but something intimate and raw look no further. The First Bad Man will keep you turning pages, wishing fiercely, celebrating, sympathizing, laughing and fighting tears as you unwrap this tale of losing, gaining and loving.

Be sure to check out The First Bad Man by Miranda July from your local library or purchase it on Amazon.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Stephen King is, without a doubt, one of my top five favorite authors (if not the very first!). So a review for 11/22/63 comes easily to me as I have no disappointment in it or the familiar writing style that encapsulates and engages my imagination for days on end.

Author, Stephen King

11/22/63 answers a question: "What could interfering with the past do the future?" It's tested through various adventures into the past changing first a small thing, then maybe a bigger thing later. But the most interesting and unique thing about 11/22/63 is that time travel happens by descending a particular "invisible staircase" in a closet. Each time you enter the past (always the exact same date and time) you reset all previous changes you made as if you'd never interfered. And even if you spend five years in the past, when you return to the present you've only been gone two minutes. Fascinating.

I encourage you to read this book and see what could happen if JFK's assassin was unsuccessful. I encourage you to put yourself in Jake Epping's shoes and experience the present and the past as he encounters complications in both. Where would you want to stay? What would you want to do? How would you handle the responsibility? Especially when you knew the past didn't want to be changed and would throw obstacles in your path if you tried - jeopardizing your life, even.

Be sure to check for 11/22/63 at your local library or purchase it on Amazon.

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton is a new kind of novel for me. For me, it's not quite science fiction, it's not quite fantasy, it's not quite historical fiction and so on and so forth. It was a sorrowful, yet beautiful tale - the title is spot on.

Ava Lavender, in the time the story is written, is the most recent addition to a long line of sad ancestors. She's cursed or blessed with enormous, feathery wings. But the feathers are gray. Ava is holed up in her house growing up, unaware of all that's out in the world for her own protection. But with the assistance of some questionable friends she sneaks out a few times to explore the coastal town.

Nathaniel Sorrows, taking care of his mother, lives in town and sees Ava out and about with her wings. He mistakes her as an angel at once and speeds down a dangerously unhealthy slope of obsession. When the summer solstice celebration comes, Ava blends in well as most people wear costumes. The freedom is surely a relief but the dangerous man waiting for her to be alone doesn't cross her mind.

Author, Leslye Walton

Ava's story is sorrowful - and exciting. Her mother's story is sad - yet moving. Her grandmother's story is miserable - but wonderful. It continues, and continues but each relative experiences redeeming, beautiful and exciting events that keep us engaged and thrilled for their special break in the clouds.

Grab a handful of sorrow and wonder. You may feel it's slow at times but hang in there and allow yourself to open yourself to experience the story being told on an emotional level.

Be sure to check for The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender at your local library or purchase it on Amazon.