Happy New Year: Read Harder Challenge 2016

Since I completed my Read Harder Challenge of 2016 and filled in all the categories recommended by BookRiot, I created some of my own unique categories.  As part of my continued challenge, I've decided to:

1. Read a book by or about a librarian (or about a library)
2. Read a medical book (fiction or nonfiction)
3. Listen to an audiobook romance
4. Read a brand new, recently published book (anything from 2016)
5. Read a spin-off from a classic novel and/or fairy tale
6. Read a book about cake (fiction or nonfiction)
7. Read a fantasy book featuring dragons

Gotham Books

I thought it might prove fun to dive into some new books I might not otherwise find.  Some are based on recommendations from co-workers, while others are based on books from my TBR pile--and still others are just ideas that seemed like fun.  And with the countdown to the New Year on, I can't wait to tell you all about the books I've read, starting with a book by (and about) a librarian:  The World's Strongest Librarian by Josh Hanagarne.

If you've never read Josh Hanagarne I highly recommend his memoir.  It's funny, it's candid, it's insightful, and, ultimately, it's uplifting.  Although Hanagarne does discuss religion, his main focus is his family, his battle with Tourette's, his struggles with infertility, and his general love of the library and all things literary.  It's enjoyable to see his passion for his family, his books, and his weightlifting come to the forefront as he learns to balance all the different aspects of his life.  Overall, it's a pretty great read.

Next, I read (or, rather, listened to) a medical book--a historical medical drama, fyi--by Tessa Harris:  The Anatomist's Apprentice.  Narrated by  Simon Vance, The Anatomist's Apprentice was an interesting deviation from my usual reading material.  Thomas Silkstone is a young anatomist from Philadelphia who finds himself in England about the time of the Revolutionary War, caught in the midst of a medical mystery...and a murder  It's dark, rather macabre, but it's ultimately fascinating with the sheer depth of detail and history included.  I enjoyed my time in Silkstone's world, and I found myself quickly gravitating to book number two, The Dead Shall Not Rest.

Bantam

As for listening to an audiobook romance, I decided to check out more by Sarah Addison Allen and picked up The Peach Keeper.  Now, let me give you a warning, I have read almost everything by Allen, except Lost Lake (that one is currently in my TBR), and I have loved almost everything she's written.  The Peach Keeper was no different.  I loved the characters and the complexity of their histories; I loved the little hints of every day magic she weaves into her novels; I even loved the ghost story, which is saying something, as I am not a fan of ghosts.  It was a wonderful visit back to her world, and it was so much fun recognizing an old friend.

I also picked up a brand new book just published this year, a little novel by J. Ryan Stradal called Kitchens of the Great Midwest.  Another audiobook, I know, but it was just as rewarding as any other.  Although it follows a myriad of characters, it focuses on Eva Thorvald and her life as she grows into her own--and all the foods that influenced her in the process.  That's really the simplified version; Kitchens of the Great Midwest is much more complex, much more nuanced than I make it out to be.  It's a recurring cast of characters centered around Eva, but it's quite unlike anything I've ever read.  It's wonderful, and I absolutely adored the narrators, Amy Ryan and Michael Stuhlbarg.

G.P. Putnam & Sons

Speaking of new books, I also discovered Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye, which fit nicely into my category for a spin-off novel based on a classic work or a fairy tale.  There were several options for this particular category, but I decided on Jane Steele because Jane Eyre.  I love Jane Eyre (as is probably apparent here), and I loved having the opportunity to reimagine her story not as the quiet, resolute girl who refused to give ground to anyone or relinquish her personal beliefs, but as the sharp, deadly woman with no qualms whatsoever of killing if it means protecting herself and her own.  It's fascinating the contrasts, and I came to love Jane Steele equally for her unwavering commitment to being bad.  It's a rousing good time.

Next, I decided to keep my love of food alive with a book about cake and sisterhood:  The Secret to Hummingbird Cake by Celeste Fletcher McHale.  While I will admit that I liked Garden Spells and The Glass Kitchen better, I enjoyed reading McHale's debut novel--and I absolutely loved getting to know her characters.  I liked Carrigan and I liked Ella Rae for their bravery, sass, and sheer stubborness, but I adored Laine.  She's the impetus of the story, the reason for it all, and, like Carrigan and Ella Rae, I felt an unexpected affection and wonderful kinship with her.  I enjoyed reading their story more than I thought I would.  For a debut novel, The Secret to Hummingbird Cake was pretty great.

Little, Brown Books for
Young Readers

Last but not least, I read a fantasy book featuring dragons with How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell.  I picked Cowell's novel up because I fell in love with the movie of the same name; however, I was a little disappointed.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed reading How to Train Your Dragon.  It's fun, it's inventive, and it's a great series for young readers (I especially liked the Hairy Scary Librarian), but, unfortunately, it's not what I expected.  I made the critical mistake of judging the book in comparison to the movie--and they're two very different creatures.  How to Train Your Dragon the book is very different from How to Train Your Dragon the movie, and it's best not to go into either one with the same expectations.

Unfinished, Six

Bantam

I didn't get very far with Them Bones by Carolyn Haines.  I picked it up as an ebook and started reading it on my tablet, but I couldn't stay with the story.  It intrigued me, I won't deny, but I couldn't seem to invest myself in the plot or even enjoy the characters.  For some reason, it just didn't seem right for me and, honestly, I didn't feel like trying to force myself to fall for a book that obviously wasn't for me.

I don't think I even managed to make it past the first chapter, so I don't have much to say about it.

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I am an avid reader of Jana DeLeon.  I've read almost everything written in the Miss Fortune Mystery series (which includes Louisiana Longshot, Lethal Bayou Beauty, Swamp Sniper, Swamp Team 3, Gator Bait, Soldiers of Fortune, and Hurricane Force) and a handful of other novels; however, I think I'm finished with Fortune Redding.  At least, for the time being.

Jana DeLeon

I tried to read Fortune Hunter, but after binge reading the Miss Fortune Mystery series, I can't say I was excited to return.  Fortune Hunter, like it's predecessors, is good, mindless fun.  It's a thrill-a-minute joy ride that takes you across the bayous of Louisiana at breakneck speed and it doesn't stop.  It's hilarious, it's fun, and it's packed with interesting--I'm being diplomatic here--characters.

Honestly, I had fun with Louisiana Longshot and I really enjoyed Gator Bait (it's probably my favorite), but I just can't take more of the sheer absurdity.  It's fun and it's funny, but, after a certain point, I just need a break from the insanity of Gertie, Ida Belle, and danger-prone Fortune Redding.

I might come back to the series one day.  For now, I just need some distance--and, maybe, an infusion of something more series.  Like Tolkien.  Or Tolstoy.

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Feiwel & Friends

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making by Catherynne Valente was an interesting book.  September, a very ordinary girl living in Omaha, Nebraska, finds herself transported to a mythical fairy world and throw into a not-so-ordinary adventure.  As I read the book jacket, it struck me as a fascinating story, especially when I heard about the villainous Marquess and the book-loving Wyvern and an array of strange, delightful creatures and characters, like the Green Wind.  I was uncommonly excited to read Valente's novel.

And then, suddenly, I wasn't.

I don't know if it just wasn't the right time for me to read The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making or if I was simply distracted by all the other novels I had in my TBR.  Regardless, I couldn't disappear into the world of Fairy, like September does, and I didn't find myself enchanted by the wondrous things she saw.  I couldn't stay committed to the story, so I simply put it aside to read another day.

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I started Perfume:  The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind with every intention of finishing it; however, it turned into a bit of a nonstarter, like Them Bones.  I didn't get very deep into Perfume, before I put it aside, but, honestly, I don't know why I did.  I mean, yes, it's a bit grisly at the beginning (and I don't imagine it gets any better), but, for some reason, I thought it had the most beautiful language.

That is, the most beautiful language considering it's about the makings of a homicidal maniac.

Penguin

If I hadn't had such a massive TBR (and another book on the back burner that I really wanted to finish) and if I hadn't had a due date, I might have spent a little more time getting to know Perfume.  Something about it enchanted me, something about the language and the dismal streets of eighteenth century Paris that had me hooked; however, I made the mistake of putting it down...and I didn't pick it back up.

It's a bit like Game of Thrones in that respect.  It's wonderfully detailed, it's fascinating, it's well-written, but I just can't seem to keep my attention focused on more than one book at a time.  One always ends up suffering.  In this case, it was Perfume.

I will note that I have every intention of finding Süskind's novel once more, after I finish reading I Am Malala and Julie and Julia and My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry...among others.

How to Train Your Dragon

Little, Brown

How to Train Your Dragon
Cressida Cowell
2003

The Summary
"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a truly extraordinary Viking hero known throughout Vikingdom as "the Dragon Whisperer"...but it wasn't always so.  Travel back to the days when the mighty warrior was just a boy, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans.  Can Hiccup capture a dragon and train it without being torn limb from limb?  Join the adventures as the small boy finds a better way to train his dragon and becomes a hero!"

The Good
How to Train Your Dragon is an excellent book.  It's fun and original and, for a kid of a certain age, it's an awesome book.  It's geared for a younger audience, which is obvious in the writing, but it's still appealing for its silly sense of humor and it's originality.

I really liked the diversity of dragons.  Like the movie of the same title, How to Train Your Dragon has a fantastic variety of dragons with unique skills and traits.  You have dragons that fly and dragons that swim or stomp around; you have dragons the size of a small fruit, and dragons the size of mountains; you have dragons that breath fire, dragons that spit poison, and dragons that chew with their sizable teeth.

It's fun and exciting to see what new dragons the book will introduce next.

Otherwise, I'm afraid I don't have much to say about it, because it's such a short book.  At just a little over a hundred pages (with illustrations taking up a sizable handful of those), it's not a lengthy endeavor by any means.  It's just good, wholesome fun:  Hiccup landing into trouble as he's trying to train his dragon, Hiccup and Toothless struggling to get along, Hiccup coming up with ingenious ways to fight and train dragons.

It's a great kid's novel, and I highly recommend it.

The Bad
I loved watching How to Train Your Dragon.  I loved the diversity of the dragons, the oddball story, the funny and endearing characters.  Honestly, I was a little spoiled by the movies--and so I was a tad disappointed by the book.

Don't get me wrong, it's a great book.  I loved Hiccup, who is shy and thoughtful and nervous, and I couldn't help but enjoy the Hairy Scary Librarian.  (He only received a mention, but I was tickled at the idea.)

But I would warn those who loved the movies shouldn't go into this book with the same expectations or story in mind.  Don't judge the book by its movie, as the saying goes.

The Ugly
Bullying.

And dragons fighting to the death.

Unfinished (Part 4)

For every ten books I enjoy, I find myself stumbling across a book I simply don't like or one I don't care to finish.  Some books, I initially loved; others, not so much.  Regardless, I must sadly admit defeat and say I didn't finish a single book I have listed here.

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Punk Planet Books

The Boy Detective Fails by Joe Meno was an interesting book.  I was initially intrigued by the  title and the cover, a gray cover with the white-and-blue image of a young boy (i.e. the boy detective) looking at what appears to be a severed arm.  It's a strikingly macabre illustration that made me first pick up the book; however, as I continued to read the novel, I was less enthusiastic.  While Joe Meno crafts an intriguing young adult novel about a boy still reeling from the loss of his sister to suicide, still struggling to find a new balance in his life and deal with his mental illness, I can't stay I stayed intrigued.

There's something about the tone of the novel that eventually put me off reading.  Part of it may have been the fact that Billy Argo, the Boy Detective, spent the majority of his adolescence in a mental institution, or the fact that Billy, once released, is dead set on finding out what happened to his sister, looking for killers who may or may not exist.  With facts like these, I couldn't help but predict one of two outcomes for the book:  one, Billy Argo is seriously deluded and ends up hurting and/or killing someone in the pursuit of "justice"; or, two, Billy Argo discovers his sister was murdered and then his world/case unravels.

I could have jumped the gun by predicting the outcome of the book.  I mean, I could be completely wrong about how The Boy Detective Fails ends; however, I wasn't ready to risk reading an entire book when my two options seemed so very unappealing.

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Broadway Books

I really enjoyed Erik Larson's Thunderstruck.  As a lover of books and a lover of history, Thunderstruck seemed to hit all the right notes with me.  It helped me learn about an obscure part of history I simply didn't know and it introduced me to a startling new world of science and engineering, telling me about Guglielmo Marconi and his startling new invention, the wireless telegraph.  I mean, I really enjoyed reading Larson's book.

But I couldn't finish it.

Don't ask me why, but I couldn't seem to commit myself to more than a handful of pages at a time.  I'd read five pages, then stop; I'd read another six pages, then stop myself again, and promptly find myself distracted by another book.  (Like The DUFF by Kody Keplinger, or The Martian by Andy Weir--which I highly recommend, by the way--or A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.)  It was a frustrating cycle and, eventually, I just gave up.

I still intend to finish reading Thunderstruck.  I want to find out what happens with Marconi's machine, how a brutal murder in London is connected to the wireless telegraph--and how a mild-mannered physician became what he became.  One day, I'll have answers to these questions; one day, I'll finish reading Larson's book.

Today, however, just isn't that day.

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Hyperion

The Anatomy of Ghosts by Andrew Taylor was an interesting novel.  Part mystery, part drama, it combines vaguely supernatural elements with human desperation and tragedy.  It's a strangely compelling narrative.  I'd liken it to watching a train crash: you simply can't look away from the devastation.

I listened to it as an audiobook, listening to John Holdsworth's personal tragedies as his life and story begin to unravel, listening as Holdsworth investigates the haunting at Jerusalem College at Cambridge--and, admittedly, I was hooked for several hours.  However, I hit a point in the story when I simply didn't want to hear anymore.  Perhaps, it was the antics of the Holy Ghost Club; perhaps, it was the macabre images of ghosts and corpses; perhaps, it was Frank Overshaw's imprisonment in a mental institution.

Regardless of the cause, I found I couldn't bear to witness anymore and I had to put the story aside and move on to something happier.  Something with a little less gore, I thought.  Something that wouldn't make my stomach squirm quite so much.

As a sidenote, I'll point out that John Telfer was an extraordinary narrator.  I loved how he gave a different tone, different voice to each and every character.  I couldn't help but enjoy how he managed to give each character a uniquely distinguishable voice.  It was wonderful, and I'd love to find another story narrated by him.

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Bantam

Last, but not least, I must admit failure with one very special, very wonderful book:  A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.

I absolutely loved reading George R.R. Martin's novel.  I loved the way the book felt:  heavy with stories, full of suspense, riddled with elements of fantasy--and don't forget the dragons.  But, for some reason, I just couldn't muddle through A Game of Thrones.  Like Thunderstruck by Erik Larson, I couldn't stay committed to just one book.

I became distracted by other books, by slimmer volumes that offered immediate gratification, by stories that weren't quite so...tragic.  It's a grim story, blood-soaked and twisted.  And after witnessing a number of harrowing misadventures and horrible deaths, I found myself less and less inclined to finish reading A Game of Thrones.

I suppose having the story ruined by the HBO show didn't help matters either.

In Progress: A Game of Thrones (Continued)

Bantam

As much as I have enjoyed reading A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin, as much as I love his style of writing and the intricacy of his story, I have hit a wall in my reading.  While I was waiting for a copy of A Game of Thrones to return to my library, I made the fatal mistake of picking up another book - and, now, I seem to have my momentum.

I'm just short of being half-way through Martin's novel, but I'm stuck.

Part of me wants to finish the book, but I can't fathom why I would force myself through a book that another part of me isn't so sure I want to finish.  I like A Game of Thrones, but I find myself feeling a bit depressed when I try to continue.  And, as disappointed as I am (with myself) to not finish Martin's novel, I'm equally relieved to simply let it go.

One day, I might try again.

For now, I'm going to just admire Martin's work from afar and rest easy in the knowledge that I might some day return.

Uprooted

Del Rey

Uprooted
Naomi Novik
2015

The Summary
"Agnieszka loves her valley home, her quiet village, the forests and the bright shining river.  But the corrupted Wood stands on the border, full of malevolent power, and its shadow lies over her life.

"Her people rely on the cold, driven wizard known only as the Dragon to keep its power at bay.  But he demands a terrible price for his help:  one young woman handed over to serve him for ten years, a fate almost as terrible as falling to the Wood.

"The next choosing is fast approaching, and Agnieszka is afraid.  She knows - everyone knows - that the Dragon will take Kasia:  beautiful, graceful, brave Kasia, all the things Agnieszka isn't, and her dearest friend in the world.  And there is no way to save her.

"But Agnieszka fears the wrong things.  For when the Dragon comes, it is not Kasia he will choose."

The Good
Uprooted is a truly intriguing piece of fantasy.  It has all the elements of traditional fantasy - a menagerie of magical creatures, a malevolent forest, a grumpy wizard - but it feels different from the usual books I pick up.  Sure, I can see where Tolkien, among others, might play a part in Novik's novel, and I can pinpoint familiar myths that have influenced many fantasy writers; however, Naomi Novik pulls from unexpected resources, dipping into multiple mythological pools.  Most notably, she incorporates pieces from Slavic folklore, even engaging Baba Yaga in her work.

For this reason, Novik's novel has a different flavor to it than most fantasy I've read.  It's a complex amalgamation of political and social intrigue, magic, myth and folklore, and, most importantly for young Agnieszka, coming-of-age, but Novik manages to keep it fresh and interesting.  I'm unfamiliar with much of the background, with the intricate history and folklore of Agnieszka's native Polnya, so I found it particularly invigorating.

I also liked Agnieszka.  She's clumsy and inexperienced, but she's very intelligent and she's incredibly candid about her experiences.  As she shares her fears, her hopes and dreams and desires, you have the opportunity to see her character in many different ways and through many different experiences that will change her, mold her and make her into a new person.  She's a fantastic narrator.

I was especially taken with her descriptions of magic.  Agnieszka, who spent her entire childhood and much of her adolescence in the great outdoors, climbing trees and running through the woods in bare feet, has an earthy quality to her character that reflects in her descriptions of the world and, most importantly, magic.  She engages tactile sensations, like digging your fingers into fresh dirt, and offers descriptions that often evokes images of soil, summer, and green, growing things - new life.

I loved the way Agnieszka saw the world.

Additionally, I was pleased with Novik's character development.  Although the Dragon - Sarkan - remained fairly unchanged (he was very stalwart in his refusal to bend), I liked how Agnieszka developed.  She goes from a shy, fearful young woman to a powerful, self-reliant young witch.  I enjoyed seeing her mature, develop and grow as a person and as a magical practitioner.

The Bad
Uprooted felt almost too long.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't mind a lengthy story, but Novik's novel just seemed to keep going.  So many secrets unfolded, so many bad things kept happening, so many narrow escapes occurred that it bordered on ridiculous.

I can't tell you how many times Agnieszka escaped an immediate and painful death, even down to the last 50 pages.  As another reviewer pointed out in his article, "It's just that one can't help but be reminded that Novik's Temeraire series will conclude next year as a nine-novel cycle and wonder why a writer so skilled at pacing a long, complicated chronicle over multiple books has crammed this story into one."

This rings true through much of the book.  The last few chapters feel especially rushed, having too much adventure and too many discoveries jammed into a little portion.  Uprooted really does need to be cut into separate novels, preferably a trilogy.

The Ugly
Blood and gore.

Honestly, I didn't expect this novel to be as horrifyingly gory as it was.  Perhaps, because Agnieszka was unused to such violence, we (as readers) see the tragic events as she does - with new eyes and a burgeoning sense of a horror.

Like Agnieszka, we are scarred by terrible things we witness.

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For more of the article I quoted, check out Mac Roger's article on Slate.com:  http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/books/2015/06/naomi_novik_s_fantasy_novel_uprooted_reviewed.html

In Progress: A Game of Thrones (Continued)

Bantam

I'm afraid I haven't gotten much farther on A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin.  I read a couple additional chapters, but I haven't completed much in the grand scheme of things.  Three more chapters, while impressive in some other books, hasn't really made a dent in Martin's novel.

I'm a little disappointed at my slow pace, but I suppose that's to be expected.  I mean, who would have thought that the three circulating copies at my library would constantly have holds?  I really just need to buy my own copy of A Game of Thrones, because it seems I will never get it finished at this rate.

Then again, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised.  Martin's novel is excellent and, if the popularity of HBO's show of the same name is any indication, it's following is expanding.  It's a wonderful series - an imposing series of books, of course, but it's amazing nonetheless.