Books I Read in December

I was about to put together my favorite books of the year post, but since one or two (maybe THREE?) I read this month stand a chance of going on the list, I thought I should do the monthly roundup first!  (For some yearly favorites, here's 2012, 2013 and 2014.)




An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir

This was SO worth the hype!  I'm glad I got it in before the end of the year, because I'm pretty sure it's going on my best of 2015 list.  Much like Cinder (on my 2014 list), this book is reminiscent of so many great stories - yet wholly original.  If I had to pin it down, it's like Game of Thrones with Harry Potter, Romeo & Juliet and The Hunger Games thrown in.  That narrows it down, right?  The world building (complete with a map in the opening pages, which I love) is so vivid, as are the unforgettable (and bad-ass) characters.  Following the story of Elias (a graduating soldier from Blackcliff Academy) and Laia (a scholar who's family has been killed by said soldiers) is complex, intense, romantic, engrossing and exhilarating.  I CAN'T WAIT for the next book.



The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Oh man, I have a love/hate relationship with WWII novels, and try to read no more than one a year.  Or in some cases, like after reading Sarah's Key, I needed a few years to recover.  Having read All the Light We Cannot See back in January,  I was able to squeak this one in before the end of the year.  I'm having a hard time deciding if I like one better than the other (they were both outstanding) - and if one, or both, should be on my favorites for the year.  This story of French sisters Vianne and Isabelle is heartbreaking, obviously in terms of their struggles during the war, but also in terms of their struggles as sisters.  At the heart of the novel is a beautiful story about family, and what we do for love.  Another book worthy of the hype.

A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan

I received this book via NetGalley and you can read my review here!

Winter Stroll by Elin Hilderbrand

I think I could just copy/paste my reviews for every Hilderbrand book, they are all very much the same to me - and still very enjoyable.  Her fallible characters are people you'd love to know and be friends with, the island of Nantucket is another prominent and fully realized character, and she tells her stories with great humor and heart.  This one ended on a BIG cliffhanger, and I'm looking forward to next Christmas' fluffy read about the Quinn family.

Euphoria by Lily King

This book was EXCELLENT!  It reminded me so much of one of my all time favorite books, State of Wonder by Ann Patchett.  I also LOVE The Poisonwood Bible, so maybe there's something about missionaries, scientists, anthropologists in far flung lands trying to communicate and interact with natives that intrigues me.  Probably because anything can happen, and usually does.  And, of course, the drama of the stories revolve not around those being studied, but those doing the studying.  As with the aforementioned novels, this book is equal parts disturbing and enlightening.  The tension wrought between this love triangle of anthropologists studying tribes in New Guinea just builds and builds until the inevitable gut-punch conclusion.      

A Window Opens by Elisabeth Egan (NetGalley Review)

I got my first denied request on NetGalley (wah!), and realized that I should probably do some catching up on all the books I requested after I joined.  The ratio of reviews to requests is a factor in whether a publisher chooses to give a galley.  And, though I have EVERY intention of reading all the books I requested, I've only read about one a month!  Without further ado...

A Window Opens, by Elisabeth Egan, is the story of Alice: a middle aged mom of three, who is forced to begin working full time after her husband quits his job as an attorney.  This was a very familiar feeling story, with nuances of Where'd You Go Bernadette and a little bit of every Liane Moriarty book I've read.  Maybe it was also familiar because of the myriad similarities to my own life.  This quote cracked me up, when her company 'Scroll' was talking about their target customer as a female who is 25-45, has pets, shops at Anthro, splurges on face cream, averages 3 books a month, etc:

"I felt like I was watching a nature program about myself.  'She dwells in that gray area between family obligation and a desire to satisfy her own sense of adventure.  Here she is now, coming in for the kill.  Watch as the mom sinks her unmanicured claws into the dad's neck.  He has failed in his mission to gather food for their young, so she must feed them tacos instead...'"

Not only does Alice have kids the same ages as mine, but she's a total bibliophile.  Novels that include books as another main character are always compelling to me (see also: The Storied Life of AJ Fikry and Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore).  The job she takes at a big box retail conglomerate aiming to put small bookstores out of business gives Alice a great deal of angst, and the corporate culture satire was HILARIOUS.  I'm not a working mom, but I certainly remember those corporate days and the ridiculousness of such phrases as: deep dive, shift gears, and (new to me) pivot.  In addition to her crazy stressful job, she's also worrying about her husband's downward spiral, a beloved nanny who is moving on with her career, and a parent going through cancer (another life similarity).  

This book is very fast paced, and I blew through it in just over a day.  With all of the heartrending chaos in Alice's life, I wanted desperately to see her get back on track.  Most of the narrative was predictable, but nonetheless enjoyable.  I'd categorize it in the 'grown up chick-lit, with some heft' category, and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to my mommy contemporaries.  Outside of that audience, I'm not entirely sure how it would go over, but I'd say the commentary on corporate culture, books and media would make it worth checking out.

Book Advent Activities for the Kids (and my steady decline thereof)

Years ago, I came across a great idea to wrap up a book to open daily as an advent activity.  I did this successfully ONE year for ONE child with a combination of books from the library (yep, I'd wrap them up and then return!), gifts from family and a few new ones I'd buy.  

Once I had a second kiddo, that felt overwhelming.  So I did a 'Twelve Days of Books' to whittle things down - either the first 12 days of December, or the final 12 days leading up to Christmas.  And, lo, this became an overwhelming endeavor as well with two kids (especially when they have different preferences in books).  

I really wanted to keep the yearly fun of new holiday books in some way.  So now I include it as an activity in our personalized advent calendar.

This is the best way to go with books for advent, in my opinion!  I can fit two chocolates in each day's pouch, as well as a note with a fun activity for the day.  Some are just 'listen to Christmas music' or 'drink hot chocolate' for days we're busy or days I just can't even, versus the days we go out to see lights, make ornaments or cookies, etc.  Now I pile up all the holiday books at the beginning of the month, and dole out the cards for a 'open a Christmas book' activity throughout the calendar.  

At the end of November, the library puts out the displays of holiday books and I grab as many as I can (and maybe throw in a book of my own).

Then I do some investigating on what's new, or what I think the kids would love, and put a bunch on hold for a second round of books (and maybe a Seth McFarlane CD, because I love that dude).

We got a good haul this year and I must say that both kids are entertained by Little Red Gliding Hood.  And I must give a shout out to my favorite kid Christmas book that we own: Minerva Louise on Christmas Eve is just adorable, funny and sweet.

So if the idea of a wrapped book every day in December is a new and cool idea to you, give it a go next year!  And know that if it's a bit too difficult to accomplish, the kids still love getting surprises, however they arrive.

The Stack - December 2015

Ahhhh, I'm so excited to finally get my hands on An Ember in the Ashes!  It's the first one I'm reading from my December library haul, and can definitely see why it's on so many best of 2015 lists (including Amazon's top 20 of the year).

I didn't get around to Euphoria last month, and that's good because it's a KCLS pick of the month and I can renew it two more times!  A Man Called Ove was also on the paperback picks.  I'm curious about this book after reading this really interesting article from Shelf Awareness about it's growth from word of mouth. 

I also didn't get around to Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson last month, but I have the ebook ready on Overdrive whenever I want to cancel my suspension and pick it up.  I may read Seveneves first (also a SciFi novel), since it trumped Aurora on best of 2015 lists. 

Speaking of best of 2015, I also have The Nightingale on ebook, and will definitely read that this month.

Lastly, I had to pick up Winter Stroll for a little holiday reading since I already finished Winter Street.

Any feedback or opinions on this stack, or otherwise, is very much welcome!

Books I Read in November

A Fall of Marigolds by Susan Meiser

I'm a sucker for books that weave a story together from narratives taking place in the past and the present.  This story connects fictitious characters during the time of the New York Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911, and during September 2001 in New York.  It's the first time I've braved any kind of 9/11 lit, and I'm glad I did.  It reminded me a great deal of The Girl You Left Behind with lovely (yet flawed) characters who find their way through unimaginably horrifying circumstances.  Upon further research, I gather that Meiser writes all of her books with this technique and so I shall probably be reading more!


Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead

At first I thought that this was going to be another 'manic pixie dreamgirl' who is devoid of emotion story - see also: Unbecoming, Hausfrau, Paper Towns.  But the story of Joan, the corps ballerina who assists the Russian star dancer to defect, becomes way more complex than the aforementioned titles.  There is a 'secret reveal' plot point past the halfway mark that isn't at all surprising, yet where the story goes afterwards and with the supporting characters is, well, astonishing.    


This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

I've always wanted to pick up a book by Jennifer E. Smith.  Her novels always seem to resurface on top YA lists and Bookriot posts.  Plus I really dig the whimsical covers.  It was a sweet read and I my inner pre-teen LOVED the premise of just a regular girl happening upon a correspondence with a celebrity, unbeknown to her - a fun take on a fairytale romance.  I'd also recommend it as a summer read, as the setting of a sleepy little Maine town that bustles during the summer months (and during the filming of a movie) really comes to life and feels like another character.


The Lake House by Kate Morton

You can read my full review here, but in brief: I thought it was excellent and was slightly miffed at myself for not reading one of her books in so long.  I read The Forgotten Garden years ago, but I hope to read The Secret Keeper soon.


Winter Street by Elin Hilderbrand

After finishing The Lake House, this felt like reading a short story in comparison.  Yet in a welcome manner, as I was ready for a good chaser of light, fluffy and entertaining.  Hilderbrand definitely sticks to formulas, especially ones that involve people not seeing the perfect love for them that happen to be right under their noses.  But, she writes them well and with great humor and heart.  I enjoyed getting to know the Quinn family and hope to get around to reading Winter Stroll, the follow up, before the end of the holidays.  

The Lake House by Kate Morton (NetGalley Review)

After starting this blog, I finally signed up for NetGalley.  I had contemplated it for awhile, since I've been reviewing books regularly on my other blog since 2012.  But, I felt like I wanted a dedicated book blog first.  I went a little nutty requesting titles, not sure if I'd get approved.  And, lo, I got every book I asked for!  Including The Lake House by Kate Morton and I was THRILLED.  I read The Forgotten Garden many moons ago (aka: pre-blogging), but trust me when I say that I loved it and have been meaning to read another one of her novels.  

The Lake House did not disappoint!  At first, I thought I might not be able to keep all the story lines and characters straight.  She throws a lot of information at you in the beginning: there are many important players at various points in time.  As with The Forgotten Garden, the story vacillates between the past and the present.  (I LOVE this method of storytelling and would also suggest Beautiful Ruins, The House Girl, The Girl You Left Behind, or The Last Letter From Your Lover).  After some initial stumbling, I was up to speed in no time, as Morton breathes so much life into every aspect of the worlds she creates.  

Her books are of the Gothic, atmospheric variety and usually lengthy - The Lake House clocks in at 512 pages.  Oh, but it goes FAST.  It's one of those books I was glad was long and one I could really sink my teeth into.  I felt completely immersed in the story and turned the pages furiously.  There are so many layers to the mysteries (yes, there are multiple mysteries to be solved in this book), and once you think you have one figured out, a new one reveals itself.  Calling this novel expertly and 'intricately plotted' is a colossal understatement.  I would love to be a fly on the wall as Morton outlines her stories.  In addition to all the meticulous plot twists, this story is full of so much heart.  I went through every emotion reading this book, and ultimately, was so very happy by the end.  It's just a truly satisfying read.  Two thumbs WAY up.

For plot overview, here is the Amazon description:

From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of The Secret Keeper and The Distant Hours, an intricately plotted, spellbinding new novel of heartstopping suspense and uncovered secrets.

Living on her family’s idyllic lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, inquisitive, innocent, and precociously talented sixteen-year-old who loves to write stories. But the mysteries she pens are no match for the one her family is about to endure…

One midsummer’s eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest child, eleven-month-old Theo, has vanished without a trace. What follows is a tragedy that tears the family apart in ways they never imagined.

Decades later, Alice is living in London, having enjoyed a long successful career as an author. Theo’s case has never been solved, though Alice still harbors a suspicion as to the culprit. Miles away, Sadie Sparrow, a young detective in the London police force, is staying at her grandfather’s house in Cornwall. While out walking one day, she stumbles upon the old estate—now crumbling and covered with vines, clearly abandoned long ago. Her curiosity is sparked, setting off a series of events that will bring her and Alice together and reveal shocking truths about a past long gone...yet more present than ever.

A lush, atmospheric tale of intertwined destinies, this latest novel from a masterful storyteller is an enthralling, thoroughly satisfying read.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley for promotional and review purposes, but all opinions are my own.

Gift Guide for the Book Lover

Last year, I did a holiday wish list in the guise of a 'Gift Guide' at Born and Raced in Chicago.  I plan to do the same this year, because it was too fun.  But first, even more fun?  Bibliophile specific gifts!  

Okay, let's start with the obvious: BOOKS.  Although, you may want to do some sleuthing to make sure you find something your recipient does not already own.  As for myself, I RARELY buy books.  I am a library girl, through and through.  However, there are certain books I buy every once in a blue moon, or wouldn't mind having a special edition.  For example, Puffins Classics.

I'm partial to this Puffin Classics 'In Bloom' Collection with Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, Heidi and A Little Princess.

Or this Barnes and Noble exclusive collector's edition of one of my favorite books: Eleanor and Park.

Jonathan Adler Kindle case from Amazon.
If the book lover in your life doesn't already have a Kindle, please get them one! Even though I read on my iPad, I prefer to train my eyes on the gentler Kindle when I can.  I have the old school one, which I still love, but my husband swears by his Paperwhite.  And Kindle cases are a great gift, especially these ones from Jonathan Adler.

Book Jigs Bookmarks
I'm a fan of shopping local, and Fireworks is a great Seattle based store for gift giving.  There's an outpost in the airport, if you're ever flying through SeaTac, and these bookmarks are awesome.  I love ribbon bookmarks and the fact that it's always attached to the book in the back so that you don't lose it!

Time Turner Necklace
I mean, how awesome is this for a Harry Potter fan?  Aren't we all?

Game of Thrones Quote Poster
This is another local-ish business, OutNerdMe is based in Portland and I've always been drawn to his prints.  Game of Thrones and Lord of The Rings are among his bookish options (but they're all really cool).

Outlander Coloring Book
I have yet to get on the adult coloring bandwagon.  If I have free time with a book, I want to be reading!  Alas, these would make a really fun gift and there are also Harry Potter and Game of Thrones versions.

Literary Scarf
Uncommon Goods is the BEST for fun gifts, and these literary scarves are perfection.  I'm partial to the Wuthering Heights version.

Please Go Away I'm Reading throw blanket
Bookworm boutique is an absolute goldmine of fun reader themed gifts.  I love the idea of a cozy blanket designated for reading.

Library Card Grey Tote
And last, but not least, the ultimate store for fun book gifts is the Book Riot store.  So many things to choose from, but I went with a staple that I think would be a great addition to my multiple trips per week to the library.

Happy shopping!  I think I shall pass this list along to my husband now...