Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Title: Hex Hall (Hex Hall #1)

Author: Rachel Hawkins

Publisher: Disney Hyperion 2010

Genre: YA Paranormal

Pages: 323

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (YA of US); Popsugar -- Alliteration; Finishing the Series

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father—an elusive European warlock—only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium

I have School Spirits sitting on my unread shelves and put it on my TBR list for this year, but didn't realize that this was a spin-off series. So I decided to start at the beginning with Hex Hall. I sped through this book, not that it was life-changing or super emotional, but because it was highly enjoyable and easily read. I immediately loved Sophie and the assortment of side characters at Hecate Hall. I was drawn into the world and loved discovering the secrets locked within. I will definitely be continuing on with this series. In fact, I've already put the other two books in the trilogies on hold at the library.

Hex Hall:

• #1 Hex Hall
• #2 Demonglass
• #3 Spell Bound

Next up on the TBR pile:

Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Title: Herland

Author: Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Published: 1915

Genre: Classics - Feminism

Pages: 128

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Feminism); Reading Assignment; Popsugar - About Feminism

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935) was an American sociologist, writer, and a lecturer for social reform. She was a utopian feminist. Her best remembered work today is her short story, "The Yellow Wallpaper".
"Herland" (1915) describes an isolated society comprised entirely of women who reproduce via parthenogenesis. The result is an ideal social order, free of war, conflict and domination. 

I've read and loved Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper", but somehow I never picked this one up. Thankful that I did as it's an interesting bit of feminist history. I immediately fell for the account of this utopian society populated only by women. Gilman allows the reader to feel the wonder and confusion along with her three main male characters. Her thoughts of motherhood and societal worth are interesting if a bit outdated. But reminding myself that she wrote this in 1915 gives me the correct lenses to read it through. I don't expected 21st feminist critique from her, but am fascinated by her early 20th century approach. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights

Title: The Arabian Nights: Tales from a Thousand and One Nights

Translated: Richard Burton

Publisher: 1932 version

Genre: Classics

Pages: 1049

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (FanPro); Reading Assignment; Modern Mrs. Darcy - More than 500 pages

Full of mischief, valor, ribaldry, and romance, The Arabian Nights has enthralled readers for centuries. These are the tales that saved the life of Shahrazad, whose husband, the king, executed each of his wives after a single night of marriage. Beginning an enchanting story each evening, Shahrazad always withheld the ending: A thousand and one nights later, her life was spared forever. 

This volume reproduces the 1932 Modern Library edition, for which Bennett A. Cerf chose the most famous and representative stories from Sir Richard F. Burton's multivolume translation, and includes Burton's extensive and acclaimed explanatory notes. These tales, including Alaeddin; or, the Wonderful Lamp, Sinbad the Seaman and Sinbad the Landsman, and Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, have entered into the popular imagination, demonstrating that Shahrazad's spell remains unbroken.

I would give this 5 stars, but I realize that they are issues with this translation and compilation. I really did enjoy many of the stories listed in this volume. They are full of intrigue and adventure. But after reading the wikipedia page on the work, I have wish I would have read the new Syrian translation and compilation. Burton's volume took many liberties in editing and adding elements of the stories. Darn Victorians! Maybe someday I will get around to reading a newer version of the tales and see how they compare. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels

Title: The Origin of Satan: How Christians Demonized Jews, Pagans, and Heretics

Author: Elaine Pagels

Publisher: Vintage Books 1995

Genre: Nonfiction - Religion

Pages: 214

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Mount TBR; A to Z: O

From the religious historian whose The Gnostic Gospels won both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award comes a dramatic interpretation of Satan and his role on the Christian tradition. With magisterial learning and the elan of a born storyteller, Pagels turns Satan’s story into an audacious exploration of Christianity’s shadow side, in which the gospel of love gives way to irrational hatreds that continue to haunt Christians and non-Christians alike.

I really enjoyed Pagels's The Gnostic Gospels and hoped this one would be just as good. Unfortunately, I found this volume to be too meandering but also dense. I was bogged down by all the information included. I really enjoyed history tomes, but this one bored me a little too much. I was hoping for a much more lively account of the history of the Satan figure. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

2018 Perpetual Reading Challenge

I have a whole list of Perpetual Reading Challenges that I've been trying to tackle for the past few years. To help myself out, I make a yearly Perpetual Reading Challenge. This year, I'm going to shoot for 30 books to read off my perpetual lists. I have a list of 39 choices to start with. A lot of these books are from my own shelves. Some of these I will be visiting the library to acquire. The words in parentheses are in reference to which perpetual challenges they come from. Pop on over to my Perpetual Reading Challenge Page to see the complete lists.

1. Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (NonAd)
2. Frida by Hayden Herrera (NonAd)
3. The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan (NonAd)
4. The Words We Live by Linda Monk (NonAd)
5. The Origin of Satan by Elaine Pagels (NonAd)
6. Arabian Nights (FanPro)
7. The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo (FanPro)
8. Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis-Klause (FanPro)
9. Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (FanPro)
10. Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning (FanPro)
11. The Dark Tower by Stephen King (NPR Scifi)
12. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde (NPR Scifi)
13. Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon (NPR Scifi)
14. Looking for Alaska by John Green (NPR Teen, 100 YA)
15. Delirium by Lauren Oliver (NPR Teen, US of YA, 365)
16. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith (NPR Teen)
17. Fairest by Gail Levine (100 YA, YA Retellings)
18. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale (100 YA)
19. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (21st Century)
20. Arcadia by Lauren Groff (21st Century)
21. The History of Love by Nicola Krauss (21st Century)
22. The Diviners by Libba Bray (US of YA, 365)
23. White Cat by Holly Black (US of YA)
24. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh (Time 100)
25. Possession by AS Byatt (Time 100)
26. Bitch by Elizabeth Wurtzel (Rory, Feminism)
27. The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (Rory)
28. Out of Africa by Isak Dineson (Rory)
29. Ramses 2 by Anne Rice (Anne Rice)
30. The Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice (Anne Rice)
31. The Vampire Lestat by Anne Rice (Anne Rice)
32. How to be a Woman by Caitlyn Moran (Feminism)
33. Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (Feminism)
34. The Boundaries of Her Body (Feminism)
35. Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay (Feminism)
36. The Selection by Kiera Cass (365)
37. For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (365, YA Retellings)
38. After the End by Amy Plum (365)
39. Alice in Zombieland by Gina Showalter (YA Retellings)

2017 Reading Challenge Round-up -- Completed

Goal: 20/20   100%

1. Jane Ashford (1/21/17)
2. Ginny Baird (12/19/17)
3. Juliet Blackwell (10/8/17)
4. John Campbell (11/10/17)
5. John Connolly (10/27/17)
6. Juliet Dark (11/28/17)
7. Imogen Edwards-Jones (4/7/17)
8. Lia Habel (7/29/17)
9. Peter Hernon (10/6/17)
10. Antony Johnston (11/21/17)
11. Lisa Kleypas (12/22/17)
12. Marjorie Liu (3/17/17)
13. Susan Meissner (11/18/17)
14. Liane Moriarty (7/19/17)
15. Kim Newman (5/14/17)
16. Danielle Paige (5/29/17)
17. Ray Russell (10/25/17)
18. Jodi Taylor (1/30/17)
19. Sherry Thomas (2/10/17)
20. Brenna Yovanoff (10/24/17)

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Goal: 24/24   100%

1. The Runaways Complete Collection Vol. 1 (1/3/17)
2. A Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas (2/10/17)
3. The Daily Show by Chris Smith (2/10/27)
4. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (2/17/17)
5. Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs (2/19/17)
6. Cress by Marissa Meyer (2/22/17)
7. A Symphony of Echoes by Jodi Taylor (2/28/17)
8. The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (3/9/17)
9. Fairest by Marissa Meyer (3/9/17)
10. Winter by Marissa Meyer (3/15/17)
11. Monstress Vol. 1 (3/17/17)
12. Hamilton The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter (3/21/17)
13. Unmentionable by Therese Oneill (3/29/17)
14. Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates (4/2/17)
15. Atlantia by Ally Condie (4/13/17)
16. Mostly Void, Partially Stars by Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor (4/28/17)
17. Dorothy Must Dies Stories Vol. 3 by Danielle Paige (6/14/17)
18. Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson (6/19/17)
19. Zombies: A Brief History of Decay (6/20/17)
20. The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige (7/1/17)
21. Locke and Key Small World (7/15/17)
22. Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige (7/17/17)
23. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty (7/19/17)
24. The End of Oz by Danielle Paige (7/22/17)

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Goal: 12/12  100%

1. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (2/17/17)
2. Cress by Marissa Meyer (2/22/17)
3. Fairest by Marissa Meyer (3/9/17)
4. Stars Above by Marissa Meyer (3/15/17)
5. Winter by Marissa Meyer (3/15/17)
6. Atlantia by Ally Condie (4/13/17)
7. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (5/27/17)
8. Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 1 by Danielle Paige (5/29/17)
9. Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 2 by Danielle Paige (6/9/17)
10. Dorothy Must Die Stories Vol. 3 by Danielle Paige (6/14/17)
11. The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige (7/11/7)
12. Yellow Brick War by Danielle Paige (7/17/17)

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Goal: 24/24  100%

1. Revival Vol. 3 (1/2/17)
2. Runaways Complete Collection Vol. 1 (1/3/17)
3. Hark! A Vagrant by Kate Beaton (3/10/17)
4. Monstress Vol. 1 (3/17/17)
5. The Complete Love Hurts by Kim Andersson (3/18/17)
6. Pretty Deadly Vol. 1 (3/20/17)
7. Pretty Deadly Vol. 2 (3/21/17)
8. Saga Vol. 6 (4/21/17)
9. East of West Vol. 5 (4/21/17)
10. East of West Vol. 6 (4/21/17)
11. The Walking dead Vol. 25 (4/22/17)
12. The Walking Dead Vol. 26 (4/22/17)
13. Lady Killer by Joelle Jones (4/28/17)
14. Step Aside, Pops by Kate Beaton (5/5/17)
15. Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson (6/19/17)
16. Zombies: A Brief History of Decay (6/20/17)
17. Locke and Key Small World (7/15/17)
18. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 1 (8/16/17)
19. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 2 (8/18/17)
20. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 3 (8/18/17)
21. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 4 (8/18/17)
22. The Wicked + The Divine Vol. 5 (9/3/17)
23. The Coldest City by Antony Johnston (11/21/17)
24. How to Talk to Girls at Parties by Neil Gaiman (11/24/17)

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Perpetual Reading Lists Challenge
Goal: 20/20  100%

1. The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (2/6/17)
2. The Daily Show by Chris Smith (2/10/17)
3. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (2/17/17)
4. Cress by Marissa Meyer (2/22/17)
5. The Wordy Shipmates by Sarah Vowell (3/24/17)
6. Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates (4/2/17)
7. The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order (4/12/17)
8. The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto (5/26/17)
9. Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige (5/27/17)
10. Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (6/23/17)
11. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (7/8/17)
12. 50 Great American Places by Brent D. Glass (7/19/17)
13. Dead Feminists by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring (7/27/17)
14. The Great Quake by Henry Fountain (9/2/17)
15. The Lost City of Z by David Grann (9/23/17)
16. The Mummy by Anne Rice (10/18/17)
17. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly (10/20/17)
18. A Tea Reader by Katrina Avila Munichiello (10/20/17)
19. Bad Girls Throughout History by Ann Shen (11/19/17)
20. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman by Carol Karlsen (11/22/17)

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Goal: 92/92  100%

1. An alphabet book — Take Away the A by Michael Escoffier (February)
2. A counting book — One, Two, Three, Mother Goose by Iona Opie (April)
3. Concept book: shapes or numbers or opposites or colors — Happy-pea All Year by Keith Baker (April)
4. A book set on a farm or in the country -- Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack! by Doreen Cronin (July)
5. A book set in the city or in an urban area -- Little Elliott Big City by Mike Curato (Nov)
6. A book set at the beach, in the ocean, or by a lake -- Uh-Oh Octopus by Elle van Lieshout and Erik van Os (June)
7. A book with human characters — Michael Recycle by Ellie Bethel (March)
8. A book with animal characters — Miss Fox’s Class Shapes Up by Eileen Spinelli (January)
9. A bedtime book -- Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson (Nov)
10. A rhyming book — Too Many Moose by Lisa M. Bakos (February)
11. A book celebrating art -- Matisse's Garden by Samantha Friedman (Nov)
12. A book celebrating dance -- Dancing Feet by Lindsey Craig (Nov)
13. A book celebrating music -- The Carnival of the Animals by Jack Prelutsky (Nov)
14. A book celebrating family (parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc.) -- Froggy Goes to Grandma's by Jonathan London (Oct)
15. A book about feelings, expressing feelings -- How to Mend a Heart by Sara Gillingham (Sept)
16. A book with a twist (unexpected) ending -- Bluebird by Bob Staake (Sept)
17. A book about pets (cats, dogs, fish) -- Henry Hodges Needs a Friend by Andy Andrew (Sept)
18. A book celebrating libraries or reading — My Pet Book by Bob Staake (January)
19. A book translated into English (originally published in another language/country) -- Blanche hates the night by Sibyl Delacroix (Nov)
20. A book about trains or planes — Yellow Copter by Kersten Hamilton (February)
21. A book about cars or trucks -- Demolition by Sally Sutton (Oct)
22. A book about starting school -- Harry and the DInosaurs Go to School by Ian Whybrow (Nov)
23. A book about friendship (sharing, caring, forgiving) — The 329th Friend by Marjorie Weinman Starmat (January)
24. A book about being ME, about being unique, special, loved, etc. — Half of an Elephant by gusti (January)
25. A fairy tale -- Cinderella by Marcia Brown (Dec)
26. A twisted (adapted) fairy tale -- There was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight by Penny Parker Klostermann (Nov)
27. A book about a holiday -- Countdown to Halloween by Patricia Reeder Eubank (Sept)
28. A new-to-you author — It Came in the Mail by Ben Clanton (April)
29. A new-to-you illustrator — Zoo Zoom illustrated by Macky Pamintuan (February)
30. A book about new experiences (dentist, doctor, sleepovers, movies, playing sports, learning to swim, etc.) — Bike On, Bear by Cynthea Liu (February)
31. A series book — Absolutely One Thing by Lauren Child (April)
32. A book celebrating food (cooking, eating, trying new foods, eating healthy) -- Gobble, Gobble, Tucker by Leslie McGuirk (Oct)
33. A book published before 1950 --  Many Moons by James Thurber (Nov)
34. A book published in the 1950s -- Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss (Dec)
35. A book published in the 1960s -- Once a Mouse by Marcia Brown (Nov)
36. A book published in the 1970s -- The Giant Jam Sandwich by John Vernon Lord (Dec)
37. A book published in the 1980s -- The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle (Nov)
38. A book published in the 1990s -- The Day Jimmy’s Boa ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble (Nov)
39. A book published in the 2000s -- Word Builder by Ann Whitford Paul (Sept)
40. A book published 2010-2016 — Poo in the Zoo by Steve Smallman (April)
41. A book published in 2017 - Monster's New Undies by Samantha Berger (August)
42. A book by Dr. Seuss -- Hop on Pop (Oct)
43. A book by Mo Willems — Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late (January)
44. A book by Jan Thomas -- What Will Fat Cat Sit On? (December)
45. A book by Eric Carle -- Friends (Nov)
46. A book by Laura Numeroff -- If You Take a Mouse to School (Oct)
47. A book by Patricia Polacco -- An A from Miss Keller by Patricia Polacco (Nov)
48. A book by Jon Klassen -- I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen (Sept)
49. A book by Beatrix Potter -- The Unfortunate Tale of a Borrowed Guinea Pig (Nov)
50. A book by Kevin Henkes -- The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes (Nov)
51. A book written or illustrated by LeUyen Pham -- Real Friends by Shannon Hale (Nov)
52. A Caldecott winner -- Flotsam by David Weisner (Nov)
53. A Caldecott honor -- Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds (Nov)
54. A picture book biography -- The Girl wWho Though in Pictures by Julia Finley Mosca (Nov)
55. A nonfiction picture book -- The Autumn Equinox by Ellen Jackson (Sept)
56. A book from your childhood -- The True Story of the Three Littles Pigs by John Scieszka (Nov)
57. A book you discovered as an adult -- Cinnamon by Neil Gaiman (Sept)
58. A book celebrating writing, being an author or illustrator — A Poem in Your Pocket by Margaret McNamara (March)
59. A library book — Frankie Stein by Lola M. Schaefer (February)
60. An audio book -- How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss (Dec)
61. A book about dinosaurs OR dragons -- Dinosaurs in Disguises by Stephen Krensky (july)
62. Nonfiction book about animals (or animal) — Animals by the Numbers by Steve Jenkins (March)
63. A challenged book OR a controversial book -- In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak (Dec)
64. A book that makes you laugh -- Open Very Carefully by Nicola O'Bryne (july)
65. A book that makes you cry --  Book by David Miles (Sept)
66. Hate the text, love the art -- Toy Boat by Randall de Seve (Oct)
67. Love the text, hate the art — I Wanna Go Home by Karen Kaufman Orloff (February)
68. A book with a great cover — Monster Park by Annie Bach (April)
69. A book with an ugly cover -- Molly and Her Dad by Jan Overrod (Oct)
70. A book about toys — Toys Meet Snow by Emily Jenkins (February)
71. A book about weather -- Freddy the Frogcaster and the Huge Hurricane by Janice Dean (Nov)
72. A picture book for older readers -- Enzo and the Fourth of July Races by Garth Stein (Oct)
73. A book of jokes, riddles, tongue-twisters -- Kitty Riddles by Katy Hall (Oct)
74. A book about seasons -- Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak (Sept)
75. A song -- Ten Little Sleepyheads by Elizabeth Provost (Oct)
76. A poetry book -- WonderFall by Michael Hall (Sept)
77. A book by a celebrity — Never Play Music Next to the Zoo by John Lithgow (February)
78. A book published in Australia -- Animalia by Graeme Base (Dec)
79. A book published in the UK -- Agnes and Clarabelle by Adele Griffin and Courtney Sheinmel (Nov)
80. A book about science or math -- The Earth Book by Todd Parr (Sept)
81. A book about history or historical event -- Patience Wright by Pegi Deitz Shea (july)
82. A book about sports -- Big Kicks by Bob Kolar (August)
83. A book about celebrating birthdays -- Scaredy Squirrel has a Birthday Party by Melanie Watt (Nov)
84. A book about a President or world leader -- Hillary Rodham Clinton by Michelle Markel
85. A book about another country -- All Aboard for the Bobo Road by Stephen Davies (Sept)
86. A book celebrating faith -- By the Hanukkah Light by Sheldon Oberman (Oct)
87. A pop-up book, or, a book with cut-outs or flaps or fold-outs -- Little People Zoo (Oct)
88. A bilingual book -- Buenas Noches Luna by Margaret Wise (Dec)
89. A television series that has been adapted to a book — Meet Tracker by Geof Smith (March)
90. A book that has been adapted to a television series -- Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace (Nov)
91. An adaptation of a myth or legend — The Sandman by William Joyce (February)
92. A book about babies — Funny Face, Sunny Face by Sally Symes (March)

The Devil in the Shape of a Woman by Carol Karlsen

Title: The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England

Author: Carol Karlsen

Publisher: Norton and Company 1987

Genre: Nonfiction U.S. History

Pages: 370

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd); Mount TBR

Confessing to "familiarity with the devils," Mary Johnson, a servant, was executed by Connecticut officials in 1648. A wealthy Boston widow, Ann Hibbens was hanged in 1656 for casting spells on her neighbors. The case of Ann Cole, who was "taken with very strange Fits," fueled an outbreak of witchcraft accusations in Hartford a generation before the notorious events at Salem.

More than three hundred years later, the question "Why?" still haunts us. Why were these and other women likely witches―vulnerable to accusations of witchcraft and possession? Carol F. Karlsen reveals the social construction of witchcraft in seventeenth-century New England and illuminates the larger contours of gender relations in that society.

I'm always up for a good history book. And this one doesn't disappoint. I was fully into Karlsen's examinations of the events that led to and resulted from the Salem Witch Trails. More than merely a recounting, Karlsen dives into the motivations of the colonists in New England and focuses on gender dynamics of the time. This volume is very dense, but a great examination of the time. Diehard history fans will love this volume.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Bad Girls Throughout History by Ann Shen

Title: Bad Girls Throughout History: 100 Remarkable Women Who Changed the World

Author: Ann Shen

Publisher: Chronicle Books 2016

Genre: Biography

Pages: 222

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd)

Aphra Behn, first female professional writer. Sojourner Truth, activist and abolitionist. Ada Lovelace, first computer programmer. Marie Curie, first woman to win the Nobel Prize. Joan Jett, godmother of punk. The 100 revolutionary women highlighted in this gorgeously illustrated book were bad in the best sense of the word: they challenged the status quo and changed the rules for all who followed. From pirates to artists, warriors, daredevils, scientists, activists, and spies, the accomplishments of these incredible women vary as much as the eras and places in which they effected change. Featuring bold watercolor portraits and illuminating essays by Ann Shen, Bad Girls Throughout History is a distinctive, worthy tribute.

An awesome collection of short biographies of extraordinary women throughout history. I knew the stories of most of the women featured, but it was still a joy to read about their lives. And I even learned about some women I hadn't known before. On top of the great biographies, the beautiful watercolor portraits are a joy to behold. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

A Tea Reader by Katrina Avila Munichiello

Title: A Tea Reader: Living Life One Cup at a Time

Author: Katrina Avila Munichiello

Publisher: Tuttle 2011

Genre: Nonfiction - Food

Pages: 256

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure)

This anthology shares the ways that tea has changed lives through personal, intimate stories. Read of deep family moments, conquered heartbreak, and peace found in the face of loss. A Tea Reader includes stories from all types of tea people: people brought up in the tea tradition, those newly discovering it, classic writings from long-ago tea lovers and those making tea a career. Together these tales create a new image of a tea drinker. They show that tea is not simply something you drink, but it also provides quiet moments for making important decisions, a catalyst for conversation, and the energy we sometimes need to operate in our lives.

The entire premise of this collection really intrigued me on the library shelf, but I just didn't love it like I was hoping I would. Some of the essays were quite enjoyable. Some of them seemed unfinished, as if an except was taken losing all context. And some essays just didn't land at all. Fairly disappointed in this collection. Oh well...

Next up on the TBR pile:

Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

Title: Hidden Figures 

Author: Margot Lee Shetterly

Publisher: William Morrow 2016

Genre: U.S. History

Pages: 349

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); Mount TBR

Starting in World War II and moving through to the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement and the Space Race, Hidden Figures follows the interwoven accounts of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden, four African American women who participated in some of NASA’s greatest successes. It chronicles their careers over nearly three decades they faced challenges, forged alliances and used their intellect to change their own lives, and their country’s future.

We watched the movie a few months back and I've been itching to read the book. I heard it included much more information and I wasn't disappointed. In this deceptively slim volume, Shetterly packs in so much information. We trace the careers and lives for four women but also learn about social movements, the space race, court cases, and the inner workings of Langley through a very tumultuous time in our nation's history. I was completely entranced by the stories from page one although I will admit to taking a few breaks to allow my brain to absorb the information. The movie did a great job taking very complicated stories and distilling it down to something that could be enjoyed in two hours. But after reading the book, I'm a little disappointed that we didn't get to see more of Mary Jackson's story. Hers was the journey that really stood out for me. Her passion for engineering, helping her neighbors, and promoting education was fascinating. Definitely a must read! This one will most likely end up on my Top 10 Reads of 2017 list!

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Mummy by Anne Rice

Title: The Mummy (Ramses the Damned #1)

Author: Anne Rice

Publisher: Ballantine Books 1989

Genre: Horror

Pages: 399

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Anne Rice); Mount TBR; Popsugar - Eccentric Character

He was Ramses the Damned in ancient Egypt, but awoke in opulent Edwardian London as Dr. Ramsey, expert in Egyptology. He mixes with the aristocrats and samples their voluptuous lifestyle, but it is for his beloved, Cleopatra, that he longs, and will do anything to be with...

In my middle school and high school obsession with Anne Rice, I somehow never actually read The Mummy. I think I got sucked into the Interview with a Vampire series and neglected her other works. I'm so glad that I finally picked this one up. I love Egyptian history and the early 20th century interest in archaeology. I immediately fell in love with the setting and characters. I loved traveling from England to Egypt throughout the course of the book. My favorite character has to be Elliott. I loved his entire storyline. Definitely an interesting character study. As Rice is the author, I was expecting a full out horror story. I won't call this horror necessarily, but the story has sufficient suspense and horror to keep me guessing as to what would happen next. This was such a page-turner. After getting about 20 pages in, I just couldn't pause in my reading. Loved it! I can't wait to pick up the sequel next month.

Ramses the Damned:

• #1 The Mummy
• #2 Ramses the Damned: The Passion of Cleopatra

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

 Title: The Lost City of Z: A Tale of Deadly Obsession in the Amazon

Author: David Grann

Publisher: Doubleday 2005

Genre: Nonfiction - History; Travel

Pages: 339

Rating: 4/5 stars Movie: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction); Popsugar (Set in the wilderness)

In 1925, the legendary British explorer Percy Fawcett ventured into the Amazon jungle, in search of a fabled civilization. He never returned. Over the years countless perished trying to find evidence of his party and the place he called “The Lost City of Z.” In this masterpiece of narrative nonfiction, journalist David Grann interweaves the spellbinding stories of Fawcett’s quest for “Z” and his own journey into the deadly jungle, as he unravels the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century.

Been meaning to pick this one up for awhile now. It did not disappoint in terms of the subject matter and story. I was captivated by the story of Fawcett and his pursuit of the Lost City of Z. I was fascinated by the concept of exploration in the 1900s and the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Fawcett and party. My issues with the book came from the writing style. Grann does not excel at smooth transitions between the history and the current situations. I have been spoiled by Erik Larson's wonderful narrations. Grann doesn't quite stand up to that example, but I did very enjoy the book.

Movie:

Full disclosure: I did not have high hopes for this movie. I assumed they would change so much of the story that it would unrecognizable. Thankfully they stuck fairly close to the real history. A few things were change here and there, but understandable in terms of movie making. And then we get to the last 20 minutes of the movie where everything that happens is speculation and outright fiction. I would have loved to see Fawcett and his son (they cut out Jack's friend Rimmel) bond and share a conversation or two (like the one around the fire after being captured), and then have them walk over a hill and fade to black. That would have been a great ending, full of the ambiguiity of the real story. Instead with get a whole sequence in the jungle with a tribe. Not what I wanted. 

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Great Quake by Henry Fountain

Title: The Great Quake: How the Biggest Earthquake in North America Changed Our Understanding of the Planet

Author: Henry Fountain

Publisher: Crown 2017

Genre: U.S. History

Pages: 288

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (nonfiction)

At 5:36 p.m. on March 27, 1964, a magnitude 9.2. earthquake – the second most powerful in world history – struck the young state of Alaska. The violent shaking, followed by massive tsunamis, devastated the southern half of the state and killed more than 130 people.  A day later, George Plafker, a geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, arrived to investigate.  His fascinating scientific detective work in the months that followed helped confirm the then-controversial theory of plate tectonics.

In a compelling tale about the almost unimaginable brute force of nature, New York Times science journalist Henry Fountain combines history and science to bring the quake and its aftermath to life in vivid detail.  With deep, on-the-ground reporting from Alaska, often in the company of George Plafker, Fountain shows how the earthquake left its mark on the land and its people -- and on science.

Picked this one up on a whim from the Lucky Day shelf at the library. I loved a good history and this one's cover intrigued me. I knew little of the 1964 Alaska quake or really the history of our understanding of earthquakes. Fountain does have quite the storytelling dexterity as Erik Larson, but I must say that this slim volume was informative and engaging. I learned a lot about the history of earthquakes and our understanding plus how the theory of plate tectonics really came into being. George Plafker is a fascinating person. I loved hearing about his personal journey in science interwoven with the Alaska quake. Definitely a great read!

Next up on the TBR pile:

Dead Feminists by Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

Title: Dead Feminists: Historic Heroines in Living Color

Author: Chandler O'Leary and Jessica Spring

Publisher: Sasquatch Books 2016

Genre: Nonfiction - Women's History

Pages: 192

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NonAd; Feminism);  Popsugar - About an Interesting Woman(en)

Based on the beloved letterpress poster series of the same name, Dead Feminists interweaves intricate broadside art with archival photographs and ephemera. This book brings feminist history to life, profiling 27 unforgettable forebears of the modern women’s movement such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Gwendolyn Brooks, Rachel Carson, and more. Across eras and industries, passions and geographies, this collection of diverse, progressive, and perseverant women faced what looked like insurmountable odds and yet, still, they persisted.

Random grab at the library, although someone on some blog had mentioned it. I did not read the description before diving in. I assumed it was just a book of short biographies of extraordinary women (which I would have loved to read). Instead, we get short bigraphies and artisitc broadsides created specifically for each woman. I loved the biographies of these amazing ladies, but the real interest was in the art that was created. I loved how the authors included some explanations as to their choices for each broadside. They incorporated so many aspects of life from each woman. Fascinating work! I would love to own a few of these broadsides for my walls.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Title: Clockwork Angel

Author: Cassandra Clare

Publisher: McElderry Books 2010

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 497

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (NPR Teen); Mount TBR

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them....

A friend loaned me this trilogy after we discussed how I was not a fan of the Mortal Instruments series. She claimed this one was better. So I finally go around to reading it and this series is most definitely better. Even the moments when Tessa really annoyed me, it was just her. I didn't loathe every character like in the other series. And thankfully this volume was free of absolutely ridiclous plot twists. The twists were appropriate and well timed. To took me awhile to finish this volume, but I really did enjoy reading it. I'll be continuing this series just as soon I finish my book club book...

The Infernal Devices

• #1 Clockwork Angel
• #2 Clockwork Prince
• #3 Clockwork Princess

Next up on the TBR pile:

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

Title: Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood

Author: Trevor Noah

Publisher: Spiegel and Grau 2016

Genre: Nonfiction Memoir

Pages: 304

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (Nonfiction Adventure); Popsugar - Book by a person of color 

Born a Crime is the story of a mischievous young boy who grows into a restless young man as he struggles to find himself in a world where he was never supposed to exist. It is also the story of that young man’s relationship with his fearless, rebellious, and fervently religious mother—his teammate, a woman determined to save her son from the cycle of poverty, violence, and abuse that would ultimately threaten her own life.

Such a powerful collection of stories. Noah has an amazing ability to tell a funny story and embed a serious conversation about a hard topic right there in the middle. His stories read a lot like Jenny Larson's from Let's Pretend This Never Happened. Her stories aren't about growing up under and after apratheid in South Africa, but they have a similar tone. I laughed along with his youthful misadventures. I marveled at his ability to move in and out of communities. I commiserated with this troubles at school. And then I was absolutely gutted by his frank discussions of racism and hate. Noah gives us an inside view of a tumultuous transition. I had to pause multiple times to place his own stories into a larger tragic context. Very good, but very powerful. And do not get me started on the final story about his mother. I was in tears reading it. I knew what was coming, but that didn't mean I was any more prepared for the story. An amazing read! And in a few days I get to discuss it with friends at book club. Hoping for a great conversation.

Next up on the TBR pile:

Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige

Title: Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1)

Author: Danielle Page

Publisher: Full Fathom Five 2014

Genre: YA Fantasy

Pages: 452

Rating:  4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual (YA Retellings); Popsguar - Character's Name in Title; Fairytale Retellings (I'm counting Wizard of Oz as a more modern fairytale)

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas. I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I've been trained to fight. And I have a mission: Remove the Tin Woodman's heart. Steal the Scarecrow's brain. Take the Lion's courage. And—Dorothy must die.

Such a fun retelling of one of my favorite childhood stories. I loved the twists on each character while keeping true to Baum's original story. The Lion is truly terrifying. And we get elements of the rest of the original Oz stories with Ozma, the witches, etc. I sped through this book in only two days. I had to see where it ended, or should I say, where it left me hanging. Of course this is just the first book in the series. Thank goodness I have the rest of the series out from the library just waiting for me to die in.

Dorothy Must Die

• #0.1 No Place Like Oz
• #0.2 The Witch Must Burn
• #0.3 The Wizard Returns
• #0.4 Heart of Tin
• #0.5 The Straw King
• #0.6 Ruler of Beasts
• #0.7 Order of the Wicked
• #0.8 Dark Side of the Rainbow
• #0.9 The Queen of Oz
• #1 Dorothy Must Die
• #2 The Wicked Will Rise
• #3 Yellow Brick War
• #4 The End of Oz

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Island at the Center of the World by Russell Shorto

Title: The Island at the Center of the World

Author: Russell Shorto

Publisher: Doubleday 2004

Genre: U.S. History

Pages:  384

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual .(Nonfiction Adventure); Mount TBR; Popsugar - Bought on a Trip

The Dutch colony pre-dated the “original” thirteen colonies, yet it seems strikingly familiar. Its capital was cosmopolitan and multi-ethnic, and its citizens valued free trade, individual rights, and religious freedom. Their champion was a progressive, young lawyer named Adriaen van der Donck, who emerges in these pages as a forgotten American patriot and whose political vision brought him into conflict with Peter Stuyvesant, the autocratic director of the Dutch colony. The struggle between these two strong-willed men laid the foundation for New York City and helped shape American culture. The Island at the Center of the World uncovers a lost world and offers a surprising new perspective on our own.

I do love my history books and this one was amazing! Being a former history teacher, I have a basic understanding of the Dutch colony in the New World, but that understanding had a lot of holes and questions. This book gave me so much more knowledge. I was amazed at the complexity of the Dutch situation stuck between multiple English colonies, various native groups, and even the Swedish. I loved hearing the narratives of prominent players of the time. Adriaen van der Donck was my favorite. I had never heard of the man prior to reading this book, but he was so incredibly important to the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. Shorto does an amazing job of brining the people and places to life. He excels at tracing the settling of the region through growth and turmoil to the surrendering of the colony to the English. His argument that the culture of New York City owes itself to the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam is compelling. Due to crazy home life, this book took me two weeks to read but it wasn't for lack of interest. If I could, I would have read it in one day.

Next up on the TBR pile:

The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order

Title: The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order

Edited By: Marcelle Karp and Debbie Stoller

Publisher: Penguin Books 1999

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 376

Rating: 3/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Feminism; Mount TBR

Both a literary magazine and a chronicle of girl culture, Bust was born in 1993. With contributors who are funny, fierce, and too smart to be anything but feminist, Bust is the original grrrl zine, with a base of loyal female fans--all those women who know that Glamour is garbage, Vogue is vapid, and Cosmo is clueless.The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order contains brand new, funny, sharp, trenchant essays along with some of the best writings from the magazine: Courtney Love's (unsolicited) piece on Bad Girls; the already immortal "Dont's For Boys"; an interview with girl-hero Judy Blume; and lots of other shocking, titillating, truthful articles. A kind of Our Bodies, Ourselves for Generation XX, The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order is destined to become required reading for today's hip urban girl and her admirers.

A reread from way back when I bought this at the end of high school. And I'm disappointed. Most of the essays in here are way too dated to enjoy 18 years late. The whole "grrrl zine" thing is super grating to my 35 year old ears. I just can't get over the Spice Girls-ness of the whole collection. There may be some good essays in there, but overall I just couldn't get over the book screaming at my "It's 1999!"

Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates

Title: Everyday Sexism

Author: Laura Bates

Publisher: Thomas Dunne Books 2016

Genre: Nonfiction

Pages: 406

Rating: 5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Feminism; I Love Libraries

The Everyday Sexism Project was founded by writer and activist Laura Bates in April 2012. It began life as a website where people could share their experiences of daily, normalized sexism, from street harassment to workplace discrimination to sexual assault and rape.

While this book is extremely depressing, it is also very informative and should be required reading. I could only read a few pages at a time because their were so powerful. I needed extra time to digest the information and experiences. Thank you Laura Bates for giving people a place to share their stories and receive some sense of support.