Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson ★★★☆☆

A charming light read with a bit of depth.

Fiction – Adult - Classic

234 pages
Publication Date:  1938 

After a colorless life as an English governess, Miss Pettigrew, is mistakenly sent to work for glamourous nightclub singer, Delysia LaFosse, changing the course of both women’s lives.    

This story takes place in a different time and setting than I usually read, but I found it rather refreshing, especially since this was written as a contemporary piece instead of the usual historical fiction I see.  It was beautifully contrived, with lovely writing and a fascinating premise and well executed plot.  And being written before England entered WWII puts an interesting perspective on life during this time.

Miss Pettigrew was an interesting mix of contradiction and a stark contrast to Delysia and her anything goes crowd.  I would by no means this book a sort of moral compass, but I did love Miss Pettigrew opening herself up to new experiences and ideas.  This allows her to decide things for herself and stop depending on the morality forced upon her by others.  She finally got to become more herself and less what she was told to be.  A sort of universal human struggle, we can relate too.

Because of its time period I was a little taken a back my by the language, but I did quickly adapt, but it should be noted that there are a couple of blatantly racist parts that really threw me.  I will make no excuses for them, and only mention them as something to be aware of.

I also really adored the movie with Frances McDormand and Amy Adams, but the book and movie should really be treated as two separate things and not the book coming to life on the big screen.

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach ★★★★☆

Space travel is way funnier than I thought!

Non Fiction – Adult – Science/History

334 pages

Publication Date:  2010 

Mary Roach applies her own unique brand of scientific curiosity and fun humor to explore the development of space travel.

Okay so I do acknowledge that I love Mary Roach and am prone to like her books.  When I read them I feel like I am having a drink with a very animated friend (I am also convinced we could be good friends in real life, though it would be very one sided with her delighting me and me not adding much to her life other than my adoration), but in all fairness this was a very well done book in its own right.  Well written and researched, Ms. Roach has really looked into the information not commonly discussed.

I also like that Ms. Roach tends to find the same things interesting as I do (there are some pretty great poop jokes in this one for those of us who enjoy that grade school humor and I loved the whole bit alcohol in space), and she does a fantastic job searching out the strange and overlooked.  And while this book proved to me that I was right in never wanting to go to space - it is way more horrible than even I dreamed - the creativity and ingenuity needed to create and develop these projects is so far and beyond anything I ever imagined.  I found the whole subject very thought provoking.  I have really come to admire the people involved in these types of projects.  And while I will always tend toward the practical I started to understand the overall value to humanity to push ourselves beyond the mundane, because of this book. 

Velveteen vs. The Junior Super Patriots by Seanan McGuire ★★★★☆

A charming new addition to super power lore

Fiction – Adult – Urban Fantasy

204 pages

Publication Date:  2012 

Velveteen vs. #1

I wanted to like this book from the first moment I found it on Goodreads and after a few minutes of reading I was ready to be delighted and jump in with both feet.  The beginning was a bit jumpy, but amazingly funny.  I also fell deeply in love with the narrating voice.  It described fantastic word pictures coupled with just the right amount of snark.  I also found her power to control toys charming.

I debated about giving this book 4 or 5 stars, but I have to say the lack of a crescendo at the end of the book knocked it down to 4.  Mrs. McGuire obviously had the talent to turn the last scenes into a real climax, but for some reason chose not to and the book ends without the real bang it deserved.

Something else that really bothered, though no fault of the book or author, was the limited run.  I got it on kindle, but would love to get to have a hard copy and the same goes for book two.

I have to say this has got me totally rethinking my own super power plans.  First I wanted the power to freeze and speed up molecules, you know like Piper from Charmed.  Then I became a mom and being a speedster sounded pretty, at least until my letter from Hogwarts for adult correspondence classes arrived, but now I see that I shouldn’t close myself off to the possibilities.  Human mutation and transformation through lab accidents shouldn’t be limited by my tiny imagination.

The Girls of Atomic City: The Untold Story of the Women Who Helped Win World War II by Denise Kiernan ★★★☆☆

A fascinating look into the parts needed to make the Manhattan Project succeed.

Non Fiction – History – World War II

416 pages

Publication Date:  2013  

Women from all over the US were asked to come and work in a town that didn’t officially exist, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  The only information they were given was that it would help the war effort, but other than that they were told to do exactly as they were instructed and follow the number one rule, never ask a question.  Here are the stories of these women’s lives and how they contributed to the Manhattan Project.

I first discover this book on a trip to the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque (by the way definitely worth the time if you are in the area, great exhibits and information, with helpful guides).  After spending time learning about the Manhattan Project my eyes were opened and I realized how very little I really understood what it took to make this project work and I was very eager to learn more.

This subject is amazingly interesting and worth learning about for anyone interested in WWII or even atomic energy.  I was very impressed with how well this book was document and researched; kudos to Ms. Kiernan for taking the time and attention to be thorough.  I also really appreciated the cast of characters and map at the beginning for reference.  Ms. Kiernan clearly cares about the subject people and thoughtfully portrays the people she features as accurately as she can. 

Now the downside.  Focus is a major problem.  I think that the book really suffers from trying to tackle too much.  All of the snippets in themselves were incredibly fascinating, but the constant changes of voice and subject focus made it really hard to keep everything straight.  This is not a book to dip in and out of.  Also, I personally struggled to understand the science stuff, which isn’t a natural strength for me.  When I visited the museum they had a great video and visual to explain it all, but using strictly words completely confused me.  But then I again I see this as part of the organization problem.  A tighter focus would have cut down on the breaks between the information and made it a more continuous flow.   And last – and not to be exactly unexpected – there was a bit of a feminism kick.  Not exactly horrible, but in a couple places it was incredibly overt and didn’t really do anything to add to the narrative.

Overall I was glad to have a chance to read this book and it has only added to my desire to learn more, which is always a good occurrence from this type of book.

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp ★★★☆☆

A soul laid bare

Non Fiction – Adult – Christianity/Spirituality

232 pages

Publication Date:  2011

A woman’s transformation from fear to faith through thankfulness to God.

This is not a how to, but more of a blog styled record of the author working through the issues that haunt her.  She completely exposes herself sharing her thoughts and experiences in all of their beauty and ugliness as she hunts for reasons to be grateful.  The writing is very romantic, flowery, and poetical – which could be a turn off for some people, but I thought it was rather beautiful.  Each entry is full of raw emotion and written as a string of consciousness thoughts and not structured essays.  I will have to say this seems to be written for Ann to clarify her own thoughts and so on occasion I found it hard to follow, but the empathic bond created by one struggling human to another made the strength of her emotions and epiphanies hit me almost as hard as if they were my own.  This book is not for everyone, but for those who are attracted to it expect a soul wrenching experiences and a challenge to your own inconsistencies between belief and actions.

The Shambling Guide to New York City by Mur Lafferty ★★★★☆

A Joyful reading experience.

Fiction – Adult - Urban Fantasy

361 pages

Publication Date:  2013

The Shambling Guides #1

Zoe is sure she can find the right job in New York City as a travel book editor, but when she thinks she may have found it one thing holds her back.  The fact that she is human.  Tenacious with a hardy helping of desperate Zoe finally convinces them she is the right girl for the job, now all she has to do is convince herself. 

This was a fun and quirky story from page one, with a clever and snarky writing style that made me laugh out loud.  Lafferty creates an interesting world with a well-constructed back story and subcultures.  The lovely eccentric characters added texture and various view points, from John the incubus who is slightly obsessed with Zoe to Arthur the human who can understand Zoe, but is still way more of an outsider than Zoe. 

Zoe is smart, observant and tenacious.  She is affected by the monster world, but doesn’t let it completely overwhelm her, she is also just a vulnerable human, but not impotent in a world of super powers and monsters which is a very nice balance.  I loved the excerpt sections in between the chapters and the foreshadowing in them.  One thing wasn’t my favorite.  There is one very racy scene and I have to say if the whole book was like that I would have been really unhappy, but fortunately it was only a brief part sandwiched in between deliciously scrumptious other ones.

This book is a jewel; yep I have been reduced to a gushing fangirl over this book.  I have been thinking of giving my fangirl side a name since she seems to have her own personality.  Maybe something like Mildred, a sassy girl with a black Daria bob, thick glasses and enough curves to warrant a drive carefully sign.  I’ll have to think on it.  But I digress back to review.  I felt in the very core of my being that this book could be delightful and it was.  Of course I tend to be a sucker for quirky.  The closet feeling I can relate my excitement to while reading this story is bubbly.  This book made me feel bubbly - not a great descriptor, I know - but that is how it made me feel, bubbly with joy at the writing, the characters and the story possibilities.

The Applause of Heaven by Max Lucado ★★★★★

You are a child of a King!

Non Fiction – Adult – Christian/Self Help

224 pages

Publication Date: 1990

 Max Lucado shows that The Beatitudes are more than just a teaching on the mountain, but that Jesus was actually showing us a way to grasp peace and joy to live a fulfilling life.

The inspiring writing – as always with Max Lucado – in this modern Christian classic is compelling and beautifully phrased.  He utilizes amazing examples to highlight his message.  Now, I have always thought of the Beatitudes as a list to check off – you know like, 70% or better is a passing grade, but Mr. Lucado shows that is actually a step-by-step progression to rebuild a believer’s heart.  And honestly his way makes a lot more sense and is way more productive than my checkup list.  He provides ways to overcome the road blocks between you and Jesus.  With the focus on changing your heart and attitude so that you may have a more fulfilling relationship with God, it allows you to defeat the world and those critical voices in your head with the truth.  You are a worthy child of a King and by remembering that and giving yourself over to God you can face anything with the confidence that Jesus is always in your corner. 

When I get bogged down in the ugliness of myself and the world, I reread this book to remind myself what really matters.  I savor it, and let the message soak into my soul like a soothing balm.  It is a reminder that I am precious to God, that he can even use me - flawed, broken and weak - for his purposes.  And in those moments when I truly believe and can see past myself, that is when I am at peace and resting in the arms of Jesus.   

When Mr. Lucado speaks of God and his delight in us it reminds me of my Grandma.  Grandma J is engaging, passionate, and energetic, and when she talks with you, you feel like she genuinely wants to hear about your life and there is nothing more important she would rather do.  She hurrays the good, mourns the sad, calls you on your mistakes, but has the faith that no screw up is too big to overcome.  Everyone leaves her feeling like they are her favorite.  This is the kind of relationship God would like to have with us.

Frost Burned by Patricia Briggs ★★★★☆

Always just Right!

Fiction - Urban Fantasy/Mystery

340 pages

Publication Date:  March 5th 2013

Mercy Thompson #7

After a seemingly normal car accident during black Friday shopping Mercy quickly realizes that things are not normal.  Her mate, Adam, and his werewolf pack are missing and Mercy believes it might have to do with the political battle for public acceptance.  Feeling very alone and without too many options, Mercy, asks for help from anyone she can.

I have a favorite pillow and its name is “Squish”.  My husband compares it to my daughter’s silky blanket, and frankly he isn't very far off.  Squish is always just right and comfortable and that is how I feel about this series.  I always know the writing, characters and plot will be superior.  I never worry about, struggling to overcome some major deficit in order to get through one of these novels.  So far Patricia Briggs has always delivered.  I used to feel this way about Janet Evanovich, but as my regular readers know when it comes to up and downs with an author as of late it has been mostly down for me and Janet.

As always the action starts right off and instantly sweeps you up in the story.  It is a quick, compelling read, but definitely not a stand-alone book.  To be honest part of the reason this review is so short is, because I was so caught up in the twists and turns of the story I most of the time forgot my responsibilities to actually review the book and not just read it.  I liked getting to Ariana (Samuel’s mate and a fae) better and Asil, the Moor, as a newer character was very interesting.  He was a question mark through the whole thing.  His vanity and violence mixed with shrewdness added a new dynamic and freshness to the drama.  I definitely expect to see him show up again!

This book was great break from having to read books of unknown quality and I would love to own and reread it soon.

I am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert ★★★☆☆

Stephen Colbert for President!

Non Fiction – Humor

230 pages

Publication Date:  2007

Former Presidential candidate in South Carolina and the handsome(if he does say so himself) anchor of the Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert, endows his followers from the Colbert Nation with his hilarious, “enlightened” and in no way well-informed world views that he wasn’t able to elaborate enough on during his show.

Stephen Colbert is either a national treasure or bat crap crazy … or possibly both.  No matter what category he falls in I, as always, found him delightful.  As a fan of his show, I am well acquainted with his humor.  His writing is incredibly clever, witty, deliciously sarcastic and oh so wrong.  Colbert enjoys universally poking fun at pretty much everything and everyone.  Nothing is sacred in the Colbert Nations.  Taken with a good sense of humor, I found even the values I hold dear thrown on the chopping block for comic fodder to be pretty dang funny.  And as I finished this book I realized I would never be the same.  Stephen Colbert’s sage advice of, “Don’t Suck,” is something I will carry with me always.

ISBN  0446580503 (ISBN13: 9780446580502)

Metro Girl by Janet Evanovich ★★☆☆☆

A chore to read.

Fiction – Mystery(Cozy)

384 pages

Publication Date:  2004

Alex Barnaby #1

Alexandra (Barney) Barnaby is in pursuit of her wayward brother, Bill, in Miami.  She hopes to find him and save him from whatever fresh catastrophe he has gotten himself into this time.  During her search she runs into Sam Hooker, a NASCAR driver who is pursuing Bill for the theft of his boat.  They learn that Bill is in pursuit of a sunken treasure, but he isn’t the only one.  Together Barney and Hooker race to the finish line to find Bill before the  “others” can get to him and the sunken treasure he has found.

Try as I might I could never find the rhythm of the story and slip into it.  While things did get a little better as the story progressed it never reached the point of redemption and in the end just trying to finish the book was a real chore.  I never warmed up to Barney and as a first person narrative from viewpoint that was a real problem.  Barney’s character just didn’t feel authentic to me for some reason.  I found Hooker unlikable and got sick of his constant NASCAR references really quickly.  The secondary characters were rather disappointing, especially since I know that is one of the areas Evanovich tends to shine in.  The mystery itself could have been incredibly interesting, but the characters were just too distracting to really get into it.  I regret the time I spent on this one!

ISBN  0060584025 (ISBN13: 9780060584023)