The Manhattan Projects Volume 3-5

Title: The Manhattan Projects Volume 3, 4 The Four Disciplines, 5 The Cold War

Author: Jonathan Hickman, Nick Pitarra

Publisher: Image 2013; 2014; 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 152; 144; 144

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Graphic Novel

What if the research and development department created to produce the first atomic bomb was a front for a series of other, more unusual, programs?

It's the fourth volume of the world's greatest secret science history, The Manhattan Projects! "The Four Disciplines" follows our fractured cast as they focus on their own diverse, secret experiments and global power plays resulting in inevitable betrayal.

It's the fifth volume of the world's greatest secret science history, The Manhattan Projects. "The Cold War" reveals the dark days of the 'real' Cuban Missile Crisis, the assassination of an American President, and the end of the Manhattan Projects-Star City alliance.

Three more awesome volumes of The Mahattan Projects. So many twists and turns. The storyline wraps up a few threads and begins a few others. Plus, we get to see what happens to the Soviet-American alliance and what's out there in space. I sped through these three volumes on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to see what happens next!!!

Four Seasons in Rome by Anthony Doerr

Title: Four Seasons in Rome: On Twins, Insomnia, and the Biggest Funeral in the History of the World

Author: Anthony Doerr

Publisher: Scribner 2007

Genre: Travel memoir

Pages: 210

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction

Exquisitely observed, Four Seasons in Rome describes Doerr's varied adventures in one of the most enchanting cities in the world. He reads Pliny, Dante, and Keats -- the chroniclers of Rome who came before him—and visits the piazzas, temples, and ancient cisterns they describe. He attends the vigil of a dying Pope John Paul II and takes his twins to the Pantheon in December to wait for snow to fall through the oculus. He and his family are embraced by the butchers, grocers, and bakers of the neighborhood, whose clamor of stories and idiosyncratic child-rearing advice is as compelling as the city itself.

I listen to a podcast called What Should I Read Next? This was a recommended read a few weeks back. I loved Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See so I was intrigued about his travel memoir based on part of the time that he wrote the novel. This slim volume is a love letter to Rome punctuated by musings of parenthood and insomnia. I loved getting to know Doerr and his family. I especially loved his descriptions of the fountains of Rome. Overall, I really enjoyed this memoir. It made me want to travel to Rome immediately.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Title: The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner #1)

Author: James Dashner

Publisher: Delacorte Press 2009

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 374

Rating: 3/5 stars Movie: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NPR YA; 100 YA); Popsugar - Recommended by Someone You Just Met; Books to Movies

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his name. He’s surrounded by strangers—boys whose memories are also gone.
Nice to meet ya, shank. Welcome to the Glade.
Outside the towering stone walls that surround the Glade is a limitless, ever-changing maze. It’s the only way out—and no one’s ever made it through alive.
Everything is going to change.
Then a girl arrives. The first girl ever. And the message she delivers is terrifying. Remember. Survive. Run.

I feel like I would have really liked this book if I was a 13-year-old boy. (In fact, maybe I should give it to the twins to read this summer...) As I am not a in fact a 13-year-old boy, this book felt a bit tired and predictable. It definitely has a big influence from Lord of the Flies. And it reminded me of The Hunger Games series. Which isn't to say that it's a bad book. I just think I've read too much to be blown away by it. Other than the predictability, my biggest complaint is with the lack of characterization. I wanted to get more from the characters and their motivations. Unfortunately, the books glosses over a lot of that in favor of lots of action. Oh well. I'll keep reading the series. Now I want to know more about WICKED and the trials.

Movie:

J and I both agree that the movie was better than we excepted, but it still wasn't that good. I understand most of the changes from the book. They make sense for the movie. And I did enjoy the visuals for the maze. Nice to see it up close and personal. I wasn't a fan of how they changed the grievers. I like their design in the book much better. I still have issues with some of the character motivations and the entire premise of the series. But that's to be excepted. We have the second movie sitting on the server, but I would like to read the second book before watching the movie.

The Maze Runner

#0.5 The Kill Order
#0.6 The Fever Code
#1 The Maze Runner
#2 The Scorch Trials
#2.5 Thomas's First Memory of the Flare
#3 The Death Cure
#3.5 The Maze Runner Files

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

Title: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

Author: Robin Sloan

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux 2012

Genre: Fiction

Pages: 305

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Popsugar -- Set in Home State (bit of a cheat, but I'm claiming California as my home state now)

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone—and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything, instead "checking out" impossibly obscure volumes from strange corners of the store, all according to some elaborate, long-standing arrangement with the gnomic Mr. Penumbra. The store must be a front for something larger, Clay concludes, and soon he's embarked on a complex analysis of the customers' behavior and roped his friends into helping to figure out just what's going on. But once they bring their findings to Mr. Penumbra, it turns out the secrets extend far outside the walls of the bookstore.

One of my book club selections for March. It was recommended by a friends, and I'm so glad we choose it. By the end of the first chapter, I was hooked. A mysterious bookstore in San Francisco? Sounds like the perfect place! As the story progressed, the plot went someone I did not anticipate, but was definitely entertaining. I loved following the twists and turns and attempting to solve the mystery before Clay. While some of the characters were not my favorite (hello Kat), I enjoyed most of them and realize their place in the story. Definitely recommend to all the bibliophiles in my acquaintance.

The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell

Title: The Partly Cloudy Patriot

Author: Sarah Vowell

Publisher: Simon & Schuster 2002

Genre: History

Pages: 197

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction; 52 Books - W10

In this insightful and funny collection of personal stories Vowell travels through the American past and in doing so ponders a number of curious questions: Why is she happiest when visiting the sites of bloody struggles like Salem or Gettysburg? Why do people always inappropriately compare themselves to Rosa Parks? Why is a bad life in sunny California so much worse than a bad life anywhere else? What is it about the Zen of foul shots? And, in the title piece, why must doubt and internal arguments haunt the sleepless nights of the true patriot?
Her essays confront a wide range of subjects, themes, icons, and historical moments: Ike, Teddy Roosevelt, and Bill Clinton; Canadian Mounties and German filmmakers; Tom Cruise and Buffy the Vampire Slayer; twins and nerds; the Gettysburg Address, the State of the Union, and George W. Bush's inauguration.

So I love Sarah Vowell. She is funny, but also insightful and relevant. Sometimes she writes exactly what I am thinking about a situation. I think she's my spirit animal. I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of essays. I love her perspective. My favorite essay was about Gettysburg. I had many of the same thoughts when I visited years ago. My only issue with this collection is that some of the essays feel very dated when reading them 14 years after the fact. I remember the events, but wow, such old news. Still an entertaining read for this history buff!

Morning Glories Vol. 4-8

Title: Morning Glories Volume 4 Truants; Volume 5; Volume 6; Volume 7; Volume 8

Author: Nick Spencer, Joe Eisma

Publisher: Image 2013; 2014; 2015

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 216; 136; 144; 124; 120

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel; I Love Libraries

Volume 4: Still reeling from the climactic events of "P.E.," the Glories find themselves lost in time and space, confronted by a new group of students who might be even more dangerous than the faculty themselves — the truants! Questions are answered and new mysteries emerge as Season One comes to a shocking end!

Volume 5: The Glories are scattered, The Faculty broken, and The Truants on the attack! Collecting the explosive, mind-bending Season 2 premiere event, "Tests.

Volume 6: The Glories are scattered, the Faculty is broken, and the Truants are on the attack!

Volume 7: The Truants are back in class, and that means new mysteries abound! And whatever happened to Abraham? The answer to that question and more as Season Two races on!

Volume 8: It's time to stop running! Allegiances are formed, rivals are challenged, and the Glories take a defiant stand against the faculty in the explosive turning point-arc "Assembly."

I am so invested in this storyline. I sped read through five volumes and am left hungering for even more. I dove into the Truants storyline and made even more connections to the characters. Irina is fascinating, Ian is an enigma, and Akiko is just plan awesome. I can't wait to see how their stories interact with the original Glories. And I think Ms. Hodge is my new favorite overall character. As to the plot, I was on pins and needles waiting to find out what happens next. I even gasped aloud at a few of the crazier plot twists. Some questions have been answered (I think), but so many more have been raised in these volumes. I need Volume 9!

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Morning Glories Volume 1-3

Title: Morning Glories Volume 1; Volume 2 All Will Be Free; Volume 3 P.E.

Author: Nick Spencer, Joe Eisma

Publisher: Image 2011; 2012

Genre: Graphic Novel

Pages: 192; 168; 240

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Graphic Novel; 52 Books - W9; I Love Libraries

Vol. 1: Morning Glory Academy is one of the most prestigious prep schools in the country... but something sinister and deadly lurks behind its walls. When six gifted, but troubled, students arrive, they find themselves trapped and fighting for their lives as the secrets of the academy reveal themselves!

Vol. 2: Collecting the second story arc of the smash series in one volume. Learn (some) of the secrets in the Glories' lives as we delve into their pasts and see how it affects their present. Each chapter focuses on a different Glory while maintaining the narrative and moving the mystery forward.

Vol. 3: The critically acclaimed, smash-hit series rolls on with this collection of the blockbuster third arc, "P.E.!" The first days were just the beginning — when the faculty cancels classes and sends the students on an outing in the nearby woods, all hell breaks loose, sending the Glories on a mysterious journey through time and space. Nothing is what it seems to be as Academy's hold on the kids collapses and new threats emerge!

Picked these volumes up on a whim at the library and am so glad I did. This series is just amazing. I've heard it described as Gossip Girl meets Lost and that's a pretty apt description. We get all the drama of high school, but coupled with a bigger mystery and lots of deception. I sped through the first three volumes. By the end of the third volume, I'm still super lost as to what's really going on, but I'm enjoying the journey. Now I need to return to the library and grabbed the next couple of volumes...

Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs

Title: Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #3)

Author: Ransom Riggs

Publisher: Quirk Books 2015

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 458

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Finishing the Series

A boy with extraordinary powers. An army of deadly monsters. An epic battle for the future of peculiardom.
The adventure that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued in Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls. As the story opens, sixteen-year-old Jacob discovers a powerful new ability, and soon he’s diving through history to rescue his peculiar companions from a heavily guarded fortress. Accompanying Jacob on his journey are Emma Bloom, a girl with fire at her fingertips, and Addison MacHenry, a dog with a nose for sniffing out lost children.
They’ll travel from modern-day London to the labyrinthine alleys of Devil’s Acre, the most wretched slum in all of Victorian England. It’s a place where the fate of peculiar children everywhere will be decided once and for all.

Finishing off this series with a good book. I liked the third one much more than the second book. This time we get actual movement with the storyline. We meet a few new folks (Sharon was my favorite) and encounter some old friends. Plus there's tons of action and adventure. And of course, lots of photographs. I am amazed at how Riggs incorporates the photographs into the storyline seamlessly. It's just like they were meant to be in the book. Very glad I finally got the rest of the series from the library.

Miss Peregrine:

#1 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
#2 Hollow City
#3 Library of Souls

Coffee Nerd by Ruth Brown

Title: Coffee Nerd: How to Have Your Coffee and Drink It Too

Author: Ruth Brown

Publisher: Adams Media 2015

Genre: Nonfiction - Popular Culture; Food

Pages: 206

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); Nonfiction; 52 Books 0 W8

Ever wonder what goes into making the perfect cup of coffee? There's more to it than you think, and a new breed of coffee nerds has transformed the cheap, gritty sludge your parents drink into the coolest food trend around, with an obsessive commitment to sourcing, roasting, and preparation that has taken the drink to delicious new heights.
Coffee Nerd details the history behind the beans and helps you navigate the exciting and sometimes intimidating new wave of coffee. From finding obscure Japanese brewing equipment to recipes and techniques for brewing amazing coffee at home, you'll increase your geek cred--and discover a whole new world of coffee possibilities.

Mom bought me this book as a stocking stuffer for Christmas. Overall, it was an enjoyable little volume detailing the ins and outs of coffee. I learned a lot about the different types of coffee and growing regions. I even learned more about what makes a good cup of coffee. My only issue with the book was that at times Brown got a little too high and mighty for my tastes. She definitely implies and a few times, states that to not seek out local roasters and brewers, you don't actually like coffee. I do like coffee, but sometimes I don't have the time or energy to make the perfect cup. And that's okay in my book. Still a interesting little book.

The Temptation of the Night Jasmine by Lauren Willig

Title: The Temptation of the Night Jasmine (Pink Carnation #5)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: New American Library

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 473

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books

After years abroad, Robert, Duke of Dovedale, has returned to England to avenge the murder of his mentor. To uncover the murderer's identity, he must infiltrate the infamous, secret Hellfire Club. But the Duke has no idea that an even more difficult challenge awaits him-in a mistaken, romantic-minded young lady.
Charlotte Lansdowne wistfully remembers the Robert of her childhood as a valiant hero among men. Too aware of his own flaws, Robert tries to dissuade Charlotte from her delusions, even as he finds himself drawn to her. When Charlotte takes up a bit of espionage-investigating a plot to kidnap the King-Robert soon realizes that she is more than the perfect partner in crime.
Caught in a dangerous game full of deadly spies and secret rites, Robert and Charlotte must work together to reveal the villain...and confront their true love.

Another great volume in the Pink Carnation sage. And we didn't even get to encounter the Pink Carnation in this one. But no matter. We get an intriguing mystery involving the Hellfire Club, the French, and the King of England. Charlotte was a lovely plucky heroine on par with the previous ones. And Robert was a nice hero comparable to our Charlotte. This has become my go-to series for an enjoyable few days read.

Pink Carnation:

#1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
#2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
#3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
#4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
#5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
#6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
#7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
#8 The Orchid Affair
#8.5 Away in a Manger
#8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
#9 The Garden Intrigue
#10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
#11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
#12 The Lure of the Moonflower

The Map That Changed the World by Simon Winchester

Title: The Map that Changed the World

Author: Simon Winchester

Publisher: Perennial 2002

Genre: History, Geology, Geography

Pages: 329

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Nonfiction

In 1793, a canal digger named William Smith made a startling discovery. He found that by tracing the placement of fossils, which he uncovered in his excavations, one could follow layers of rocks as they dipped and rose and fell—clear across England and, indeed, clear across the world—making it possible, for the first time ever, to draw a chart of the hidden underside of the earth. Smith spent twenty-two years piecing together the fragments of this unseen universe to create an epochal and remarkably beautiful hand-painted map. But instead of receiving accolades and honors, he ended up in debtors' prison, the victim of plagiarism, and virtually homeless for ten years more.

A fascinating subject matter even if the volume was a bit dry. Going into the book, I knew almost nothing about William Smith's map of England. In this respect, I learned a lot about his project and in general science in the late 18th, early 19th century. Winchester even mentions a few stories that I did now about. Specifically, he mentions Mary Anning and her discoveries. I read a fictionalized account of Anning life and discoveries about a year ago (Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier). The few times that Winchester dived into rock layers, I started to get less interested in continuing to read. But continue I did. I am glad that I finished the book. Another random subject that I now know more about.

Impulse by Candace Camp

Title: Impulse

Author: Candace Camp

Publisher: HQN 1997

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 382

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors; 52 Books - W7

Torn from the arms of the woman he loved and cast into the night by her highborn family, Cam Monroe vowed revenge on those who had wronged him.
Fifteen years later, after amassing a small fortune of his own, Cam returns to England with but one ambition. Now the power is his, power to ruin the Stanhope family if they refuse his demands. And what he demands is simple: that Angela Stanhope be his wife.
Then the mysterious "accidents" begin. Are the Stanhopes trying once again to remove him from their lives? Or is it someone from Cam's past, someone desperate enough to kill to prevent him from uncovering a shocking lie?

A nice historical romance to entertain me for an afternoon's reading. I enjoyed the romance between Cam and Angela. They were both feisty characters. My disappointment laid in the question and reveal of Cam's paternity. I was not impressed by the twist. Very contrived. Oh well. That's what happens.

A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking

Title: A Brief History of Time

Author: Stephen Hawking

Publisher: Bantam 1998

Genre: Nonfiction -- Science

Pages: 212

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); Nonfiction; Popsugar -- Haven't read since high school

A landmark volume in science writing by one of the great minds of our time, Stephen Hawking’s book explores such profound questions as: How did the universe begin—and what made its start possible? Does time always flow forward? Is the universe unending—or are there boundaries? Are there other dimensions in space? What will happen when it all ends?
Told in language we all can understand, A Brief History of Time plunges into the exotic realms of black holes and quarks, of antimatter and “arrows of time,” of the big bang and a bigger God—where the possibilities are wondrous and unexpected. With exciting images and profound imagination, Stephen Hawking brings us closer to the ultimate secrets at the very heart of creation.

A book I first read back in high school. I have to say that I understand a lot more of this volume now than I did then. I appreciate Hawking's conversational style in explaining very large complicated topics. Definitely a must read.

You Did What edited by Bill Fawcett and Brian Thomsen

Title: You Did What? Mad Plans and Great Historical Disasters

Edited by: Bill Fawcett and Brian Thomsen

Publisher: HarperCollins 2004

Genre: Nonfiction - History

Pages: 287

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); Nonfiction

History has never been more fun than it is in this fact-filled compendium of historical fiascoes and embarrassingly bad ideas.
Throughout history, the rich and powerful, and even just the dim-witted, have made horrifically bad decisions that have had resounding effects on our world. From kings to corporate leaders, from captains to presidents, no one is immune to bad decisions and their lasting legacy. The fiascoes that litter our history are innumerable ... and fascinating in their foolishness. This witty collection of historical mayhem chronicles unwise decisions from ancient Greece to modern-day Hollywood and everything in between.

A decent collection of historical vignettes. By biggest issue with the book is that I knew almost every story. The perils of being a history major... But I'll say it was a nice little diversion for the afternoon.

The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig

Title: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose (Pink Carnation #4)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: New American Library

Genre: Historical Fiction 2008

Pages: 433

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; Women Authors; 52 Books - W6

Determined to secure another London season without assistance from her new brother-in-law, Mary Alsworthy accepts a secret assignment from Lord Vaughn on behalf of the Pink Carnation. She must infiltrate the ranks of the dreaded French spy, the Black Tulip, before he and his master can stage their planned invasion of England. Every spy has a weakness and for the Black Tulip that weakness is beautiful black-haired women, his petals of the Tulip. A natural at the art of seduction, Mary easily catches the attention of the French spy, but Lord Vaughn never anticipated that his own heart would be caught as well. Fighting their growing attraction, impediments from their past, and, of course, the French, Mary and Vaughn find themselves lost in a treacherous garden of lies.
And as our modern-day heroine, Eloise Kelly, digs deeper into England's Napoleonic-era espionage, she becomes even more entwined with Colin Selwick, the descendant of her spy subjects.

Another satisfying volume in this series. I really can't see why I held off for so long. This is a great historical romance series. They may not have been my absolute favorite couple so far (hello Miles and Hen!), but I really did enjoy Mary and Vaughn. Those two were definitely suited to each other. I love that Willig didn't have a delicate young debutante paired with the cynical Vaughn. That would have been too much! Thankfully Mary is fairly cynical in her own way. They were a nice match. And we get so much more information about the Black Tulip. I'll admit to being surprised by the big reveal. Did not guess that at all! I think that makes it a good plotline. Can't wait to read the next one!

Pink Carnation:

#1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
#2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
#3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
#4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
#5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
#6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
#7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
#8 The Orchid Affair
#8.5 Away in a Manger
#8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
#9 The Garden Intrigue
#10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
#11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
#12 The Lure of the Moonflower

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

Title: Station Eleven

Author: Emily St. John Mandel

Publisher: Knopf Books 2014

Genre: Fantasy -- post-apocalypse

Pages: 333

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Popsugar - Dystopian Novel (although I would classify as post-apocalyptic...); Women Authors

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.
Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.

I've heard such great things about this book. Finally picked it up at the library as one of my random choices for February. I sped through this one, reading it in two days while home sick. At first, I felt like Mandel was telling too many unrelated stories, but quickly it became apparent that all these stories were connected. We just had to dig into these characters to see the connections. Pretty soon, I was deep into their characters and their survival (or non-survival as the case may be). I was fascinated by the recurring appearance of water and its importance to the character. I loved the Shakespeare connection. While the plot focuses on survival in a post-apocalyptic world, I felt like the book was really focused on the human condition. We dug deep into these characters, finding out their motivations, secrets, and dreams. I loved it! Kirsten was such a great main character. I wanted to spend so much more time with her. Highly recommend.

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

Title: The Kitchen House

Author: Kathleen Grissom

Publisher: Touchstone 2010

Genre: Historical fiction

Pages: 368

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Popsugar -- Finish in a day; Women Authors

Orphaned during her passage from Ireland, young, white Lavinia arrives on the steps of the kitchen house and is placed, as an indentured servant, under the care of Belle, the master’s illegitimate slave daughter. Lavinia learns to cook, clean, and serve food, while guided by the quiet strength and love of her new family.
In time, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, caring for the master’s opium-addicted wife and befriending his dangerous yet protective son. She attempts to straddle the worlds of the kitchen and big house, but her skin color will forever set her apart from Belle and the other slaves.
Through the unique eyes of Lavinia and Belle, Grissom’s debut novel unfolds in a heartbreaking and ultimately hopeful story of class, race, dignity, deep-buried secrets, and familial bonds.

Our book club selection for February. I'll admit that the first two chapters didn't really hook me, but I kept on reading. And the book and characters got much more interesting. The plotline was fairly predictable. I could ignore the predictable based on the strength of the characters. I was drawn into Belle and Lavinia and Miss Martha and Jamie and Fanny and Mama. I was rooting for all of them but knew this wasn't going to be the happily ever after kind of story. The ending seemed like the happiest one that could happen given the storyline. I appreciate that Grissom didn't go for a fairytale ending. In the end, I very much enjoyed this book. Now I have to wait until late February for book club to discuss.

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

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Title: Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children #2)

Author: Ransom Riggs

Publisher: Quirk Books 2014

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 396

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: I Love Libraries; Finishing the Series; 52 Books -W5

September 3, 1940. Ten peculiar children flee an army of deadly monsters. And only one person can help them—but she’s trapped in the body of a bird. The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. There, they hope to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. And before Jacob can deliver the peculiar children to safety, he must make an important decision about his love for Emma Bloom.

I finally got to pick up the sequel to Miss Peregrine and it did not disappoint. I love seeing the characters travel through 1940 London and attempt to save Miss Peregrine. I especially loved their visit to the menagerie and meeting Addison. The wights and hollowgast were thoroughly scary. Something about the storyline and writing wasn't quite as tight and magical as the first book, but I still really enjoyed reading it. Hoping to pick up the last book in the trilogy soon.

Miss Peregrine:

#1 Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
#2 Hollow City
#3 Library of Souls

The Great Influenza by John M. Barry

Title: The Great Influenza

Author: John M. Barry

Publisher: Penguin Books 2004

Genre: Nonfiction -- History, Science

Pages: 546

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); Nonfiction

At the height of WWI, history’s most lethal influenza virus erupted in an army camp in Kansas, moved east with American troops, then exploded, killing as many as 100 million people worldwide. It killed more people in twenty-four months than AIDS killed in twenty-four years, more in a year than the Black Death killed in a century. But this was not the Middle Ages, and 1918 marked the first collision of science and epidemic disease. Magisterial in its breadth of perspective and depth of research and now revised to reflect the growing danger of the avian flu, The Great Influenza is ultimately a tale of triumph amid tragedy, which provides us with a precise and sobering model as we confront the epidemics looming on our own horizon.

Such an interesting premise! The 1918 Flu is one of my great interest areas. I was excited to learn more. Unfortunately, I can't praise this volume. Barry is no Erik Larson. I kept getting very distracted by the slow plodding nature of the writing. I wanted more of a storytelling approach a la Larson. Some of the asides dealing with medical history or epidemiology went on too long and were too detailed. About 250 pages in, I was getting very weary of the book, but I wanted to find out more about the pandemic and end result. I'm glad I finished it, but it's not going on my favorite books list at all. Just couldn't fully endorse this one.

The Deception of the Emerald Ring by Lauren Willig

Title: The Deception of the Emerald Ring (Pink Carnation #3)

Author: Lauren Willig

Publisher: New American Library

Genre: Historical Fiction 2006

Pages: 430

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Read My Own Damn Books; What's in a Name - Clothing Item; 52 Books - W3

Eloise Kelly has gotten into quite a bit of trouble since she started spying on the Pink Carnation and the Black Tulip-two of the deadliest spies to saunter the streets of nineteenth-century England and France.
Not only has she unearthed secrets that will rearrange history, she's dallied with Colin Selwick and sought out a romantic adventure all her own. Little does she know that she's about to uncover another fierce heroine running headlong into history.

Another great volume this is series! I really enjoyed Geoff and Letty's story (although I think my favorite is still Miles and Hen). Plus, the larger storyline took some interesting twists and turns. I can't wait see what happens next... Hope we get more info about the Black Tulip's actual identity.

Pink Carnation:

#1 The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
#2 The Masque of the Black Tulip
#3 The Deception of the Emerald Ring
#4 The Seduction of the Crimson Rose
#5 The Temptation of the Night Jasmine
#6 The Betrayal of the Blood Lily
#7 The Mischief of the Mistletoe
#8 The Orchid Affair
#8.5 Away in a Manger
#8.7 Ivy and Intrigue
#9 The Garden Intrigue
#10 The Passion of the Purple Plumeria
#11 The Mark of the Midnight Manzanilla
#12 The Lure of the Moonflower