This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.

This is why I love reading. We are all, by virtue of who we are born, limited to a single life experience. But books, amazing books like this one, can take us beyond our own experience to see life the way another person sees it. To, however briefly, live their perspective. There are so many cultures, opinions, places, realities, that I will never visit or know on a personal level, but reading creates the opportunity for me to do so. And this is invaluable. Though there are so many important nonfiction explorations of these, sometimes very difficult and controversial, topics and viewpoints, there is something about a good fictional story that allows you to put yourself in someone else’s shoes in a way nothing else can. It’s just a different way of gaining understanding in the myriad options available. If you are looking for that kind of fictional perspective growth…please, please, please take advantage of this book.

The Hate U Give is timely, powerful, honest, and completely necessary. Thomas not only gives voice to the black experience in the US in general (both the ups and the downs), but more specifically, she humanizes it in a way that scholarly essays or news-like reports cannot. Our heroine, 16-year-old Starr, lives in Garden Heights, a disadvantaged minority neighborhood, troubled by gangs, drugs, and general poverty. But she and her brothers go to a nearby private school, Williamson, populated by more privileged, primarily white, students. Starr feels like she is living two different lives, acting as two different people – the Garden Heights Starr and the Williamson Starr. Neither is fully her real self, but neither is not her real self either. When one night, out at a party in her neighborhood, she becomes the only witness to her childhood friend, Khalil’s, murder (an unarmed black youth shot unprovoked by a white police officer), Starr has to learn, in dealing with the aftermath, to sort her emotions, find her voice, combine her lives, and decide who and what are important to her and worth fighting for. This is not an easy read, not by any means. For all that this is categorized as YA, there is nothing young about the topic(s). But the reality is that this is what youth are living, seeing, dealing with today – and so their literature should reflect that and allow them this type of fictional outlet to experience and sort through their own emotions and reactions, so that they can be better prepared to deal with their reality. And this type of medium, with multiple viewpoints (some of which are definitively not something the actual media gives/allows), making “fiction-coated reality” like this ever more important.

This book has everything, discussing and exploring themes from family and who qualifies and what you owe them to the legacy of racism in the US to interracial friends/couples to the role of media in the court of “public opinion” to the morality of who may or may not “deserve” to be killed to exploring if one bad decision is what truly makes a person who they are to the many levels of guilt, anger and fear felt by the characters. And that’s just the beginning. There is the gravitas maintained regarding the main storyline, Khalil’s murder, and the general adversities faced by black people in the US today, simultaneous with the small details and interactions of everyday life that make you laugh and roll your eyes (after all, Starr is just like any other 16-year old embarrassed by her parents, annoyed by her little brother, dealing with boyfriend drama, and binge-watching her favorite old tv shows). There is the universality of the importance of family and just being a teenager juxtaposed with an insightful exploration of the cultural differences among different families and friend groups. There is the balance of celebrating the good and rejecting the bad, both in Starr’s Garden Heights life and in her Williamson life, which is key for any reader, regardless of their background. As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie points out in her essay Dear Ijeawele (which I just read and cannot stop thinking about…so sorry for the drop here), it is possible to be both proud and supportive of your heritage, while still recognizing and renouncing the negative aspects. Nothing, ever, is completely black and white. And Thomas delves deeply into this theme throughout the book, exposing and addressing, celebrating and rejecting, the good and bad of numerous cultures and sub-cultures, from gangs to families to the police to friend groups, all of varying and mixed racial representation and viewpoints. Everything is so complex, so nuanced, and so gorgeously, precisely, depicted.

Angie Thomas - I can see why this book exploded onto the scene the way it did. It is everything we all need to read right now. You did exactly what you helped Starr learn – you used your own weapon, your voice, to fight what you know is wrong. Although Khalil and Starr may be fictional, their experiences and feelings, and those of their family and friends, are absolutely not. There are countless people living these exact lives and emotions (gorgeously acknowledged at the end) and that is what the best fiction does, providing that experiential insight to those of us who have not lived it. I hope, I know, that Starr’s voice, your voice, and the voices of an ever-growing number of people in real life (our voices) can have the influence and make the difference that will give justice and honor to those for whom Khalil and Starr’s story is reality. And I want to say thank you for your words and your voice and your efforts.

Quotes:

"The truth casts a shadow over the kitchen—people like us in situations like this become hashtags, but they rarely get justice. I think we all wait for that one time though, that one time when it ends right. Maybe this can be it."

“I always said that is I saw it happen to somebody, I would have the loudest voice, making sure the world knew what went down. Now I am that person, and I’m too afraid to speak.”

“Good-byes hurt the most when the other person’s already gone.”

“…get them fucking tanks out my neighborhood…Claim folks need to act peaceful, but rolling through here like we in a goddamn war.”

“Neither one of them thought they had much of a choice. If I were them, I’m not sure I’d make a much better one. Guess that makes me a thug too.”

“There’s that word again. Bravery. Brave peoples’ legs don’t shake. Brave people don’t feel like puking. Brave people sure don’t have to remind themselves how to breathe if they think about that night too hard. If bravery is a medical condition, everybody’s misdiagnosed me.”

“Brave doesn’t mean you’re not scared, Starr,” she says. “It means you go on even though you’re scared. And you’re doing that.”

This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.

I had never heard of this book, or rather collection of short stories, until about a month ago when it was chosen as the September book for one of my book clubs. On top of that, I honestly had no idea that the new “alien” movie, Arrival, had been based on any novel/story, much less one from this collection. So that was really cool. I love little gems like that. And now, after reading these stories (in particular, “Story of Your Life,” the story Arrival is based on) I definitely plan to Redbox the movie soon.

As a bit of a caveat to this review, I am not usually into short stories. I have a few reasons for that, but the primary one is that after I spend time getting invested in the plot and characters…it’s all suddenly gone. I feel like the time spent getting into the feel of a novel, the world it creates, is both the best and most exhausting part of reading. So when I expend all that effort getting into things, only to have to say goodbye and restart that part all over so quickly…it’s just not my favorite type of reading experience. However, I truly respect the skill that creating such intricate plots and characters that say so much so quickly and I do enjoy a collection like this every once in a while, to mix things up. And this served that role beautifully. Not only as a style change, but also as a huge genre shift. This was heavy sci-fi (of the theoretical math-sci variety), very different than my normal choice, and it was refreshing (if a bit of effort) to jump this far out of my normal zone all at once.

I decided to give a little blurb about each of the stories, since I liked some much more than others and I feel like that’s the fairest and clearest way to give feedback. The 3 star rating is an average of how I felt about the stories overall, so this way you can get a little more individual thoughts. So here goes:

Tower of Babylon: This was not bad, but not one of my favorites in the collection. It was a super philosophical and theological way to start, neither of which necessarily appeal to me. The exploration of the idea for reaching for God both physically and theoretically, simultaneously, with a mix of magic and realism (the idea of building a tower being realistic but the extent to which it happens as mythical) is intriguing but also weird. It was perhaps a bit too abstract to follow, or, for me, not worth trying to follow since I am not inherently faithful. It was a solid, mysterious start though. Quote I liked: “Now the light of day shone upward, which seemed unnatural to the utmost.”

Understand: To be honest, about half of what was talked about here was over my head to the point that I didn’t even try to understand it, I just went with it. And the story was fine with that kind of reading, but again, not one of my favorites. It was an interesting philosophical exploration of intelligence as a means versus as an end (and how far it’s ok to take your influence to achieve said means or said end). And even with the super technical and metaphysical aspects of the story, I think some interesting insights on the limiting nature of being self-absorbed and introspective versus the benefits of studying those around you and the world in general were raised. This was like a super strange version of X-men, or any other story of people with special abilities, but there are others (Vicious, in particular) that I liked more. Also, he used the word gestalt a lot. Quote I liked: “I am a lover of beauty, he of humanity. Each feels that the other has ignored great opportunities.”

Division by Zero: I really enjoyed this one. The 1/1a/1b style of chapters, each with their own view or point, paralleling mathematical history, theory lessons, and real life, was creative and well executed. The juxtaposition of a relationship with math theory, where both everything and nothing can be proven/shared, is something we can all, on some level, identify with. And the loss of your perceived understanding of either, depending on what matters in your life, could be equally destabilizing. This was a wonderful short, creative, to the point, and compelling glimpse of life and math and what happens when the equations you think should add up no longer do.

Story of Your Life: This is the story that Arrival is based on. And it was one of my favorites. I can see how it got chosen. Stylistically, it mirrors the last story, where different sections are more technically focused and those are interspersed with sections that focus on life (both in present time and, in this case, the remembered future). The theory that is presented and explored here, a new way of understanding and experiencing all of life, past/present/future, simultaneously, is so interesting. The idea that everything has already happened in circular fashion, but is just unfolding for us in a linear way is fascinating. Essentially the story is nothing but a new awareness gained, though learning to communicate with an alien life form, that allows the narrator to remember what will happen in the same way the aliens view things. This allows her to take actions to make what she remembers will happen to actually happen, but the story itself has almost no “action” other than knowledge gain. Super original “alien encounter” story and interaction. Quote I like: “…the notion of a ‘fastest path’ is meaningless unless there is a destination specified.”

Seventy-Two Letters: An incredibly unique take on the idea of a golem – an animated clay figure/servant from Jewish legend. The golem creation theory created for this story is impressive in depth and scope for such a short piece – how the 72 letters are used and manipulated to imbue the golem with different skills and uses is very fully developed. Scientifically, I was less interested in the effort to create a “human” golem to “save” the human race. Morally, I enjoyed the inevitable discussion of nature vs nurture for the poor/lower classes (especially in light of common thought during the period that this seemed to be set) and the conversation about eugenics that followed was not unexpected, but was a serious and sadly universal ending twist on any story where this kind of power, in this case reproductive nomenclature, is developed. That conclusion was crazy – convoluted and metaphysical and so complex, but adroitly reached and deftly done as far as avoiding the possible eugenics and reproduction bottleneck immorality.

Human Science: Yikes. This was my least favorite. I mean it was cool that it was presented like a journal article opinion piece. But it was just way too short, and dry, for discussion of a completely foreign and super complex argument. This took a lot of (read: too much) concentration to get through and I’m really glad it was short.

Hell is the Absence of God: The tone of this story is wildly different from the rest, straightforward and factual instead of philosophical or divine. Which I found a bit ironic and pretty cool, since it dealt directly with interactions with religion, faith, and actual angels and miracles. Some widely recognizable human failings appear here, like the main characters self-shame when he acknowledges he’d rather his wife be in Hell, knowing he could then be with her forever, rather than having a better “afterlife” in Heaven, but to have to be separated from her forever. I really identify with that. Also, the paradox of having to learn to truly love a vengeful God that has taken something from you, in order to get the outcome you want (to be reunited with a dead wife, in this case) was interesting, and abhorrent, to read about as a non-faithful person like myself. Altogether, after the less than satisfying, and in fact super creepy, ending the main character gets regarding true devotion and unconditional love (it just seemed really unhealthy and disturbing), this story left me really unsettled. I didn’t hate the story, but I hated the taste it left in my mouth. And it made me happy to be non-faithful. Quote I like: “Sometimes even bad advice can point a man in the right direction.”

Liking What You See: A Documentary: This was my other favorite. I loved the style, “documentary-style” in writing form. And I love the content that was explored, the idea of judgements based on how a person looks, which is currently an unnamed and impossible-to-protect-against “-ism.” Just a fascinating study. And this is the way we get arguments nowadays, in little spurts and blurbs, through all the technologies we have access to. Seeing it reflected here is eye-opening and captivating. And the way looks are discussed, in the same way we are talking about issues like gender and race now…it’s a feature we haven’t talked much about, in this way, in real life. The way author is able to apply to looks the same theories and sides and arguments that already exist for other issues, but for the first time (the first time at least this fully) on this topic, makes this feel very original. A very thought-provoking perspective on the ever popular look at the impossibility of utopia. Also, that twist at the end – jumping from simply controlling how we see others to an extreme like that, a supernormal stimuli to that extent, is powerful and terrifying. What a phenomenal ending to the collection. Quotes I like: “You can’t liberate people by narrowing the scope of their experiences.” “If you want to fight discrimination, keep your eyes open.”

I’d like to take this moment to say damn, the dimension that this man thinks in is so far beyond mine. And to that point, I enjoyed his little notes at the end about his inspirations and goals for each of the stories. That insight was really helpful for me, as a reader. I think I have never used the words theoretical, philosophical, technical, fascinating, or original more in a review…ever. My overall thoughts on these stories were generally positive. They are super cerebral and super intensive and technical in the math/science/language used and described. I think my brain was more turned on during these stories than they have been while I’ve been reading anything in a long while. Like I said, a little exhausting, and not the escapism feel that I usually prefer when reading. Plus, as with all story collections, some were markedly better than others. But in the end, I’d say definitely worth the effort.

This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.

Yet again, Muse Monthly has chosen a great book. Touching and diverse, this novel is really something. There are so many cultural juxtapositions here that it’s truly staggering that the author was able to appropriately address them all. And, perhaps, the fact that this many different perspectives are all so smoothly interwoven speaks to the fact that they coexist much more commonly than they are given credit for. The cross-realities of immigrant vs first generation American vs longer term “Americanization,” man (husband) vs woman (wife), working as a passion vs working as a job, child vs parent, heterosexual vs homosexual, and a myriad of types of friendships are explored both on their own and in combination with each other. Some of these combinations are ones that I’ve never read or experienced before and I love this book for that.

Satyal wrote this novel from many different viewpoints. Ranjana, whose son just left for college, who thinks her husband might be cheating, who is secretly writing to express/deal with how she is feeling. Prashant, Ranjana’s son, who is in his first year at Princeton and dealing with the typical first year issues of choosing a major and getting a girlfriend. Harit, whose sister has just died and who is dealing both with his own grief and his mother’s, as well as trying to decide for the first time who he is, where he fits, and what he actually wants. And there are all the side characters we see through their eyes (who have occasional POV snippets of their own), like Ranjana’s husband Mohan, coworker Cheryl, and other acquaintances and writing group friends, Harit’s coworker Teddy and mother Parvati, and more. When the central two characters, Ranjana and Harit, meet and create their own bond, they both start to make decisions and take small chances that will lead to incredibly compassionate parallel personal and sexual awakenings that will truly change their lives.

What impressed me about this novel was how effortlessly we were dropped into these characters lives, and then again how easily we were disengaged at the end. As we are introduced to each of the characters, they are immediately described as completely full – their lives already lived for years and solidly present. It was like meeting new friends…even though you weren’t there for all of it, you know they had lives and experiences before meeting you and you piece it together over time from the stories they tell. There was never a doubt for me that these characters existed prior to my reading about them. It did not seem as if they sprang into being purely for a role in this story. And the same at the end. I leave them knowing that while the written portion of their lives are wrapped up, their experiences aren’t ending. Each character, down to even those minimally present, was so tangible. Satyal’s writing truly makes you believe that these characters exist outside the boundaries of this transcribed part of their lives. I also love the way such unassuming characters like Ranjana and Harit, people just like many you and I pass by on any given day that may make no impression on us, made such compelling protagonists. There is so much depth and feeling and personal growth in this story, and it was achieved without any personality needing to be excessively attractive/exciting or negative/ugly. The relationship developments and complications are exactly the same (at base level) as those we all face on a daily basis, and the everyday [subtler kind of] courage they show in stepping outside comfort zones and take changes is the kind that we all aspire to. Through adroitly handled small details, “any given day” providence encounters, and average-person feelings/thoughts, Satyal has created stories that will be recognizable to us all. Plus, the language itself is clear and precise, saying exactly what it needs to without unnecessary embellishment, but still managing to deliver periodic passages of great insight and beauty (I collected a number of passages and quotes that stuck out to me, illustrating this point – check them out at the end of the review.)

My one complaint is that the primary friendship, that of Ranjana and Harit, seemed to not bear up under the weight of what it supposedly helped each of them achieve. That’s not to say that it’s poorly done, I just felt that it wasn’t any more special that any of the others. And perhaps because of the pressure put on it as the linchpin of each of their “coming into their own” stories, it felt less than what it needed to be, for me. However, perhaps that is also because each of the other, smaller, friendships/relationships were so intricately wrought. As I said, no matter how small, each character (and their role) was expertly rendered. So with each of those being so well done, perhaps it would be impossible to make the primary one any better. Possibly that’s also the point – that even a non-extraordinary friendship can be the one that helps you make your change. You never know. Regardless, it felt a little strained to me. Another awkward note, Harit’s story about how his sister died seemed a little too contrived – it rang false with the rest of the story. It’s a small part of the overall plot, so it’s not a huge deal, but it felt big enough to mention.

Overall, this was a masterfully told story of humanity. Fascinating and tender in its portrayal of the daily and ordinary. Although it may not be the day to day that I know, through this novel I experienced cultures and points of view that I hadn’t before (or at least don’t normally). And it is clear that Satyal is writing (at least partially) of what he personally knows and feels, his own day to day. His knowledge of what he writes about shines through, in remarkable clarity, on every page. And it was captivating to read.

Favorite passages/quotes:

“Real-life stories often found their way into fiction, but the opposite could be true: fiction could, cruelly, become real life.”

“If insanity were truly doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result, then en masse Indians represented the most dangerous of psychotics.” (This can absolutely be applied to any sub-group of people, but I really loved the phrasing and the picture it painted.)

“That was what a person was – a curio cabinet of experiences.”

“Every night, he cataloged these problems in his head and thought how much easier it would have been if one or more of them could be erased. Each one was devastating, but taken together, they created a broken man.”

“It was astounding how many times you could discover anew the same revelation.”

“In reality, it was extraordinary. And it was extraordinary that this – being here, with her – was reality as well.”

“She wanted to believe that if you worked passionately enough, you could create the appearance of something truly great.”

“[she was]…pleased to discover that you could feel a friendship’s construction if you took the time and care to notice it.”

“There was no emotion as swift and complete. Happiness spread through you and tingled. Sadness hooked your limbs and pulled them down slowly. Bu jealousy yelled hello from within you.”

“Forcing yourself to be cheery. Happiness begetting happiness. Ranjana wanted to think it ridiculous, yet that is why she had come here: to tell stories. To fabricate things. This was its own kind of forced emotion. If you had the capacity to install fear in a fictional person’s heart, if you had the capacity to shove love into a princess or fury into a winged monster, you had the capacity to generate passion or mirth or humility or patience in yourself. It wasn’t just pen to paper or fingers on a keyboard. It was through your own generosity of imagination that you made yourself great.”

This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.

“She explained. She elaborated. She scolded. She demurred. She even laughed. Ultimately, she conquered.”

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Notorious RBG, has somewhat, of recent, become a pop culture icon. Last year, on International Women’s Day, the lunch/break room for my grad school department (Maternal and Child Health) had printed coloring book pages of her and provided crayons so that we could all celebrate with some RBG coloring fun. And it truly was lots of fun. But until I picked up this book, a sort of spur of the moment audiobook choice for my next “car read,” I truly had no idea how amazing she actually was. And now that I have a better idea, let me just say, holy f***, she is AMAZING. I definitely have a new hero(ine).

Before starting this review, I have to be honest…this is a dense book. I think that had I tried to actually read it, instead of listen, I might have easily gotten bogged down and had trouble making it through. But listening really helped me keep it moving along at a steady pace. Additionally, the fact that all the speeches, bench announcements, introductions, etc. that are reproduced in the book in transcript were actually played from recordings of Justice Ginsburg herself (and in some cases her husband, Marty) was pivotal. Hearing her speak her own words (I see what they did with the title) truly added a lot to the experience and I don’t think it would have been as fulfilling if I had simply read the book.

As to what the book itself covers, we get a variety. There are some short pieces (editorials and letters to the editor) that Ruth wrote as a young girl and student, some of her thoughts on the role of law in opera (which apparently she loves), some commentary and insight on the traditions and practices of the Supreme Court, and definitely some amusing and touching stories about her youth, her relationship with Marty and her family. These parts help to balance out some of the more ‘serious’ aspects, like her experiences working for sex/gender equality in the US, publications and lectures from her time as a law professor, and, of course, many opinions and dissents from her time as a judge and Supreme Court Justice.

It’s one thing to know that she was one of the first tenured law professors in the country and only the second ever female Supreme Court Justice, but it’s quite another to really hear what that means in practice. Going to law school primarily with men, with a young child at home, is something that took quite a bit of effort and compartmentalizing on RBG’s part, as well as considerable support and understanding from her husband and family (remarkable for the time, to be sure). It’s inspiring on so many levels what she accomplished at the forefront of a field that, still today, is dominated by men (though the ranks of women lawyers have definitively swelled over the years and we all know there are now 3 females Justices!). And her consistent and unyielding work as one of the liberal Justices on the Supreme Court (and now as the most senior of this, minority, group) is just impressive beyond measure.

I learned a ridiculous amount reading this book. And though I can say for sure that some things went over my head (there was a lot of language I wasn’t familiar with and that took some adjusting), I can also say that I still came away with so much knowledge. The history of equality for women in this country, and what RBG has managed to do for women as a leader and icon, but also her efforts through law, is something that, the specifics of which, I absolutely wish were more widely known. I was completely fascinated reading about gender discrimination in the law – I believe myself to be a staunch feminist, but this legal/judicial/constitutional perspective of feminism is newer to me – and hearing about the specifics of important cases and rulings affecting gender equality in our country was fascinating. Plus, there are quite a few sections in which RBG pays homage to other great women in history, who have either been overlooked or helped pave her way, from previous Supreme Court Justices' wives to Gloria Steinem to Sandra Day O’Connor – and it’s beautiful and heartfelt and, again, so educational. Some of the concepts discussed, like the ideas of laws based in romantic paternalism and the important role of cases in which men were discriminated against [in fighting the legalized methods of gender discrimination], were just eye opening and sometimes jaw dropping. I also just loved that, even though in all her speeches and statements Justice RBG’s tone stays measured and controlled (almost monotonous), as I got more familiar with it, I could feel a little bit of attitude in the words she uses. Some of her bench announcements in dissent, especially recently, with the Hobby Lobby contraceptive and U of Texas/Fisher affirmative action cases, made me snort and want to cheer in support. And the (subtle?) snark is great in her Justice nomination hearing speech, when she essentially “warns” the legislators that they are evaluating her as a judge, and surely they know that asking her, as an advocate, how she might vote on a certain issue without a case in front of her would show disdain for both the case itself and the entire judicial system of impartiality and decision-making based on constitutional interpretation in each individual situation. (* definitely insert my cheers of support here*)

Each time she read a speech, opinion or dissent, it was concise, clear, and full of feeling. And though I know being in ideological agreement with her might bias me on this front, I cannot say enough how much I respect her own unparalleled respect for the basic human dignity, equal justice under the law, and right to self-determination of each and every person. It’s not a light or easy read, but this is one that I am so glad I undertook. I am impressed and inspired and I truly hope that RBG has many more years of service left to give because I (we) need more of her!

To sum up, this is why every woman in the US should love this strong female leader with attitude: "When Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has been asked when there will be enough women on the Supreme Court, her eyes twinkle as she responds, 'My answer is, when there are nine.'"

This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.

“Stories were wild, wild animals that went off in directions you couldn’t expect.”

For all that it was published back in 2011, I hadn’t heard of it until recently…when it apparently hit some kind of popularity spike and now I’ve kind of seen it everywhere. I mean I saw it in the obvious places, like Goodreads and Bookstagram, and that put it on my radar. But then when I was at the library the other day, it was out on a special “recommended by the librarians” display. And really at that point, with it sitting right in front of me, my curiosity got the better of me (I mean come on, it’s a NYT Bestseller and has won multiple awards; not just for the writing, but also the illustrations!) and I couldn’t help but grab it.

This is the story of Conor O’Malley, a 13-year-old boy whose mother is gravely ill. He’s been having nightmares since his mother’s diagnosis, so when a monster shows up outside his window at 12:07 one night, he’s expecting the terror from his dreams. But this monster is a different one, something old and wild, and he’s not there to scare Conor in the traditional sense. Oh no, he’s there because he wants something from Conor, something that does, in fact, terrify Conor to think about. This wild monster wants the truth. And he’ll bide his time, telling Conor stories of his own, standing behind Conor as he processes his reality. But in the end, Conor will owe the monster the story of his own story, his truth.

I actually had no idea what this story was about going in, no idea what I was getting into, other than a gorgeously illustrated “monster story.” So wow, I was not expecting all the feels that came with it. This is a tender and heartbreaking story, delving into the emotional depths of children who suffer great loss(es), while also recognizing and celebrating the resiliency inside those children. It’s touching and tragic and incredibly poignant. And you will need some tissues. But for all that harsh reality it contains, it’s written with a fable-like feel, like an old school fairy tale might be (think of the atmospheric, but simple fairy tales of your youth, like Hans Christian Anderson or Grimm’s). It’s a haunting combination. I (luckily) did not have any difficult experiences like this growing up, but I could see the truth and universality of Conor’s feelings. And I think if I had experienced anything like that, reading this book would have been very cathartic.

As for the illustrations, I have good things to say. Super, positive, amazing things. I mean, the textures are just phenomenal. I read in the back of the book that he used everything from beetles to breadboards to make those textured looks…and that full commitment is so clear from the final products. He conveys so much emotion, from fear to sorrow to comfort, in his images. And to be able to have that much depth with so little color (all the illustrations are black and white, and innumerable shades of grey, of course) really just demonstrates his mastery in the craft. So even on their own they are something special. But then alongside the story, the two parts come together to create a totally new reading dimension – an incredibly immersive experience.

This is the type of story that you get lost in. I pretty much finished it in one sitting and, when I was done, I realized that I had totally lost track of the time and where I was (good thing I didn’t have any commitments on the calendar or I totally would have missed them). Although I have read other books that deal with similar concepts, and there are things I like better about those stories (I think this middle grade reading level is just not quite my favorite style), I can truly say that my experience reading this book was completely unique. Since the story and illustrations are presented jointly, they must be judged jointly, so my final thoughts are: this book is something really, really special.

This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.

“Sister in battle, I am shield and blade to you. As I breathe, your enemies will know no sanctuary. While I live, your cause is mine.”

I have to be honest, I am not a person that has always loved Wonder Woman (I’m not really a comic book person and I have a lot of issues with the misogyny around them). Regardless, I’ve gotten pretty interested in the new iterations, if you will, of her story. I went to see the new Wonder Woman movie because I literally heard nothing bad about it (and it definitely lived up to the hype). And then this book was essentially an auto-buy for me because of the author (and how cool for her to have the cahnce to write something like this?!). So I can’t pretend that I am anywhere in the ranks of the “we liked WW before she was cool” population. However, I can say that I have always loved stories of the Amazons (one of my favorite books is The Lost Sisterhood by Anne Fortier – I recommend it) and, in general, Greek (or any) mythology. So the return of WW to the pop culture mainstream, and my realization of how closely her story intertwines with some of my favorite myths and gods, has got me jumping on the WW bandwagon pretty hard.

I’d like to just start by saying this book was pretty much everything I wanted it to be. (So you may be wondering about the 4-star rating. To be honest, it was just a feeling I had - I cannot say that there is anything that would easily have bumped it up, I have no obvious complaints. I think that maybe, just knowing what Bardugo has written in the past, this doesn't quite equal those. That's likely unfair to her, but I can't help it.) As per usual for Bardugo, the pacing and writing itself were on point. The plot moved quickly enough that I never wanted to put the story down, but not so fast that I felt rushed. The relationships were introduced and developed at a reasonable pace at each point of the story, changing speeds and comfort as necessary for what the plot realistically called for. This goes for the pre-set connections (like those between Nim and Theo and Alia) and the new ones that are created as Diana enters the mix. The mix of reality and mythology was balanced in a super interesting way. That piece was the part I was most apprehensive about going in (I truly dislike stories where that interaction is not well handled and I didn’t want that to happen here), but I shouldn’t be surprised that Bardugo nailed it. The mix of genetics/technology with lore/legend honestly seemed possible within the context, which is so impressive. And I loved loved loved the ending. I didn’t see the twist coming (always a good thing) and the defeat of the “big bad,” if you will, the use of the strength of the connection among the Amazons, was perfectly creative and inspiring and lady strong. Yessssss. I also thought the post-denouement ending, when Diana travels back to Themyscira and speaks with the Oracle again brought everything to a close in this story and set up the next chapter (in my mind, I’m thinking about the movie as the next chapter) flawlessly. And I was also happy with the way things were left between Diana and her mortal friends – it’s real and emotional and not contrived to make anything easier. I turned the last page with a giant, satisfied smile on my face.

The diversity in this cast of characters was commendable – by race, sexuality, interests and skills. The feeling of being an outsider, the need to “be quiet, be careful, hold in your anger” that Jason and Alia’s parents preached in everyday life due to their position and the color of their skin paralleled those same cautions for them as they realized their “other” sides as well. It was a skillfully developed metaphor. And its continuance, Alia’s journey to be comfortable and in control of her power, for herself as a girl, a scientist, a Warbringer, really strikes a beautiful feminist chord. Similarly, Diana’s coming of age (and, to a lesser extent, Nim and Theo’s as well) and the different ways they each learned to accept and celebrate who they are and what they can do, regardless of who knows it, is uplifting. Plus, the power of strong female friendships that Bardugo celebrates here is something we all want and aspire to – it’s beautiful. It’s exactly what one looks for in a well written YA adventure, particularly one about such a famous female figure as young Diana, as she grows into her own as the Wonder Woman heroine that we all recognize and know.

I have some questions, after finishing (vaguely, to avoid spoilers)… Isn’t is possible for Jason (or someone else) to re-start his research? I feel like this ending (while well done) is not necessarily a full stop conclusion to the situation. Also, and likely my biggest question/complaint, was what Diana meant when she said ‘Let’s say I let you believe what I wanted you to believe.’? I thought she had just finished saying that she hadn’t seen the “twist” coming either, so how could she have prepared anything in response? Unless it was just that she was saying, in the moment she yelled “No!” that she knew what might happen and the advantage it’d give her and wanted to trick it into definitely happening…in which case I think that just wasn’t clear enough in the moment.

Regardless, both are small things that overall didn’t change how awesome this adventure was.
The only other thing I want to say, referencing both Wonder Woman the movie and this novel, is that I just wish there was more time spent on Themyscira. I mean I loved both the movie and the book, but I feel like it’s not too much to ask to hear more about the rest of the Amazons on the island, about their stories, about their lives together. That’s where my heart truly lies, and I just wish I could spend more time there. However, that doesn’t take anything away from these works – and they both (but particularly Warbringer, since that’s what this review is actually about) get my full recommendation.

“They were all pieces of the lives the Amazons had led before they came to the island, little landscapes of the heart.”

“It’s the people who never learn the word impossible who make history, because they’re the ones who keep trying.”

“We can’t help the way we’re born. We can’t help what we are, only what life we choose to make for ourselves.”

“Diana hooted in triumph as her feet met the path, sprinting higher to where the trees were sparse, their trunks bent and twisted by the wind. They looked like women, frozen in a mad dance, the tangle of their hair tossed forward in abandon, their backs arched in ecstasy or bent in supplication, a processional of dancers that led Diana up the mountainside.”

I just loved this book. The Amazons have always been a fascinating part of mythology to me (and I do love mythology in general), and added together with the popular Troy/Helen story and all told in an absolutely original way....I cannot think of anything better. But then to have that story melded together with an equally intriguing story in the present tense...of modern day Amazons and the need for strong women to protect other women from men and the lack of justice sometimes inherent in the law. Plus, a fairly juicy love story wrapped in a mystery and a little bit of danger (mmmmm, Nick). Holy wow. I loved the little detail of the current day Amazons adopting the names of their original members, Kymee, Myrina, Lilli...and the story of how those women were added to the ranks. The research you could tell the author did came through on every page, and though you know it is still a retelling of a myth, you just want to believe it all so badly. Everything here so beautifully flowed together. And the role Granny (Kara) played in Diana's life, the relationship they, what it was based on, the lessons Granny taught, and the help Diana gave her in the end to go back home...that was the perfect tie in for everything. Wonderful read.

This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.

I love Trevor Noah on The Daily Show – I think his social and political commentary is some of the best (hilarious, but one of the most cutting). I didn’t really know much about his past, but I have always appreciated the perspective he brought to the table and his occasional references to sayings or events from his country of origin (South Africa). Pretty much in the world of late night comedy hosts, hilarious though they all are, any minority POV is something different/special. But I never really thought about it (Noah’s history) beyond that. Well, this book gives so much information, much of which is hard (but necessary), to swallow. And it’s an absolutely fascinating and entertaining read.

There are two main threads in this memoir. Partly, this is a collection of Noah’s personal memories – events and moments that stuck out to him from childhood. Partly, this is a commentary on apartheid and racism, looking at it both specific to South Africa and commenting in a more general sense. The personal stories and real, touching, and (when appropriate) hilariously rendered. In a departure from the normal celebrity memoir topics, Noah does not talk at all about his rise as a comedian, how he actually got to where he is now, or his experiences as a mainstream and very popular figure. Instead, this book is exactly what the title claims “Stories from a South African Childhood” – which is refreshing. Noah shares scary stories (like jumping from a moving vehicle as a 9-year-old), hilarious stories (like shitting on the kitchen floor or the always amusing tales of dating blunders), personal and heartbreaking stories (like what his mother did with her life to give him opportunity or his stepfather’s abuse and the threat to his mother’s life as a culmination of that), insane stories (he burned down a house?! or their neighbor that tried to steal their dog), unbelievable stories (it was literally illegal for his parents to have him, since they were different races, and he could have been taken away from them at any time, if found out, because he was now a different race from both of them), and illustrative stories (like how he became a local pirated music “kingpin” and DJ). All of which are written with his characteristic style of straightforward, harsh truths with a soft-ish comedic edge. His life kept me on the edge of my seat and, more than once, made me yell “what?!” out loud – a number of his stories border on the ridiculous and for one person to have experienced it all…it’s clear why he (or an agent) wanted his to turn it into a memoir.

Regarding the commentary on racism, it’s handled flawlessly for a book like this. Between each of the chapters there is a little section with a comment on apartheid or other aspects of South African life that, concisely and clearly, demonstrated the insanities of apartheid (and racism in general) or illuminated key (sometimes funny) cultural differences. These were short and pointed, making you think and question, but not to the point where the enjoyability of the rest of the book is overshadowed. Essentially, these are the written versions of his late-night monologues, all focused on one topic. So good. Also, periodically throughout the book, there would be times in the middle of a story that Noah would stop and make a quick observation/explanation on how absurd some of the social constructs that made the experience what it was actually are. These were on anything from the universal way middle/high school friends communicate and set each other up with “dates” to the way the South African government took advantage of black South Africans’ cultural differences in order to manipulate them into, essentially, keeping themselves down. There are also many other types of lessons, those that Noah pulls together himself and those that have come from his mother. He talks about the things like the oversight in the common adage “give a man a fish and you’ll feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you’ll feed him for life” – sure then he’ll know how to fish, but if no one is willing to give him a rod, what good does that do? He talks about the necessity of perspective when speaking of human rights atrocities – the prevailing Western point of view that that the worst offender is obviously Hitler versus the completely overlooked experiences of people across the African continent throughout history. He talks about his mother’s lessons that in order to be whatever you dream to be, you need to have enough experiences that you are not limited by the fact that you don’t know how to dream any bigger. He talks about, as a colored (mixed) kid who didn’t ever fully fit anywhere, sometimes it’s easier to be an insider as an outsider than an outsider as an insider (your own “people” are harder on you, if you don’t conform, that those you might consider “other” to yourself).

Although apartheid has officially ended, every reader should be able to see the parallels between the remaining prejudices and inequalities, born of years of law-enforced racism, in South Africa and in the United States. This parallel, the enduring need for so much effort in both places before the effects can truly be overcome, might be (as an American reader) the most important take-away. Between the humorous childhood misadventures and the poignant mother to son lessons and bond, there is a distinct, if subtle, call to action. The drama in this book is what makes it hard to put down, but the historical and moral education (I learned a lot) is what will hit home. You won’t be able to come away from reading this without taking both with you. Sometimes laugh out loud funny and sometimes so brutally serious that it’s hard to listen to, this memoir has a little bit of everything and I definitely recommend it.

**I listened to the audiobook version and, after looking at the print version, I highly recommend the audio. Noah’s accents and pronunciations are (obviously) perfect. And I know I would have come nowhere close to them if I had been guessing at it in my head while reading. It’s a much more immersive and authentic feel and, more so than any audiobook I’ve listened to in the past, I think that makes a significant different here. The only thing is that the book is so good – so funny and so dramatic – that there were times that I did not want to stop listening and get out of the car when I reached my destination…

It took me awhile to get around to reading this, which I’m now regretting. It had been long enough between the publication of the first book and this one that I had lost some of the urgency to find out what happened next for all our characters. So I kinda let this one languish on the TBR for too long. But let me just say, when I finally picked it up, I got back into the story so quickly and effortlessly that, to be honest, it was a little surprising (very impressive work on the author’s part). And yet again I find myself in the position of waiting impatiently for the next installment (hopefully I won’t let it get away from me so much next time…).

The story telling style, the collection of the series titular “files” ranging from recordings to letters to journal entries to interviews, remained the same (as expected, as that was a central characteristic of the first book). And it was handled just as well as before. It’s “jump around” style allowed for quick pacing and plot development, including the major points of character growth, without getting bogged down by unnecessary exposition and detail. Again, it left a lot up to us as readers, regarding filling in blanks between events and conversations, but in a way that was flexible and fun and didn’t require too much effort to be enjoyable.

As far as the characters, the background information that we get on them in this second book really fills in a lot of blanks. Our main “narrator,” our mystery agent, has the same caustic attitude and decision making style as before, but we definitely get to see more and more of what I suppose you could call his personality shining through. What happens to Dr. Franklin is explained (phew) and we get either some good wrap ups on previous supporting characters (like Ryan Mitchell), plus the introduction of some great new ones (like Eva). And, no spoilers, but OMG some of the people that we have to say good-bye to are a huge surprise! I mean, there’s just a lot of death in general, but a lot of it is written about distantly (and in such numbers that it’s hard to fully grasp what it means). However, there are a couple main losses that are gutsy and unexpected – and hats off to the author because I was skeptical about things moving forward after that but the author pulls it off.

A little differently than the first book, the plot of this novel, I felt, moved even faster. The first one was a bit more set-up and scientific process, in discovering and learning about Themis and bringing all our characters together. But here, now that she is more “understood” we really get into the meat of the interstellar sci-fi interaction action (check out that phrase –that would be a bit of a tongue twister if you tried to say it out loud.) Anyways, things really pick up here. While there is still discussion of genetics and other scientific concepts and theories, this book is less intellectual and much more like the typical conflict-based sci-fi that we see in blockbuster movies: the aliens have come and their technology is better so what sneaky loophole can we find? Plus, the author really moves into addressing some larger, more philosophical questions, like what it actually means that we found something we didn’t create on our Earth (and if it happened once, what else can’t we take credit for) or what (if anything) makes us as humans special, or individual? This focal transition was handled well, not too abruptly. Plus, the sprinkling of metaphor stories from our eyebrow-less man (Mr. Burns – he has a name now!), keeps us grounded and connected to the first book nicely.

All in all, just like the first one, I couldn’t put this book down. It was entertaining and exciting and terrifying and really kept you on the edge of your seat. Although still compelling in all the ways the first one was, there were a couple plot points that I thought were a little…borrowed, maybe? I’m not sure exactly what I’m trying to say but, in essence, even though it was a great page turner, it didn’t feel quite as original as the first one did. And some of the emotional responses of the characters are not quite as in depth as they were in the first book. That could be because the action picked up and they didn’t have time for it all or because we already know the characters and can maybe insert some of their reactions on our own, but still, it was a difference that I definitely noticed.

Regardless, this was a fantastic read. It never fell prey to the “filler” book feel that I think second books can often have. It moved the story and characters forward at breakneck, but well written and developed, speed. And yet again, I am left on the edge of my seat waiting for the next book to answer a cliff-hanger (seriously, where are they?!?!). Two books in and I still give this series my full recommendation – so good!

This review originally appeared on the book review blog: Just One More Pa(i)ge.

This was a re-read for me, but considering it’s been about 10 years since the last time I read it, it was almost like I was reading it for the first time. The re-read was prompted by an awesome group of bookstagram friends…we were talking about all the books mentioned in Gilmore Girls (because who doesn’t love GG??) and decided to start a “Rory Buddies” reading group. We are going to attempt to read through the list of GG book references (very slowly, because OMG the list is long). In any case, one of us was already planning to start The Bell Jar soon, and with the plethora of Plath allusions throughout the series, we figured that was as good a place as any to start. Personally, I was psyched. I remembered loving The Bell Jar the first time I read it and this second time was no different!

“I am I am I am.”

I was reading a commentary on this novel and it spoke to how, though this may not seem as impressive now, the openness of a woman writing about mental illness in a woman was, at the time that this book was first published, absolutely groundbreaking. The writer cautioned readers of The Bell Jar to keep that in mind, as they read, to really understand the greatness of this novel. Well, I definitely won’t deny the greatness here, but I will say that I think it’s great even without that caveat. To be honest, I don’t know that I have ever read a more insightful, gritty and unself-conscious description of the descent, if you will, into mental instability.

Covering everything from the beginnings of Esther’s distorted interpretation of reality that precipitate the greater collapse to come to the unreliability of her own thoughts to self-harm to suicidal ideation and attempts to institutionalization to the isolation created by her situation to the various (both positive and harmful) responses to her “breakdown” from family, friends, and medical providers, this is a masterfully created, comprehensive picture. Even with an (at least partially) more accepting public view of mental illness, there are still few descriptions of the experience that match Plath in her candor and lucidity. The way she writes everything going through her mind is done so in an unbelievably relatable way, either in that one can actually relate or it’s so clearly detailed that you can at least understand and empathize. Both are incredibly important, for one allows the reader to know that, if they relate, they are at least not alone in it, while the other allows someone who has never felt that stifling or loneliness a real glimpse at what it’s like. In creating that atmosphere of either support or compassion, this novel did something amazing.

Beyond that, this is a gorgeous exploration of the accumulated stress of female expectations – marriage, motherhood, virginity – and the overwhelming mental stress of living up to expected standards therein, while simultaneously not being able to make any decisions about it for oneself without excessive judgement and having to deal with the myriad double standards set for men on those same topics. The internal and external questioning of one’s womanhood, if you do not fully conform to those standards (being too “extreme” in either direction of the norm), are tremendous, widespread, and absolutely still suffered today. This confusion over what it means to be a woman versus what one actually wants out of life is interwoven smoothly with the mental deterioration that our heroine Esther (and Plath herself) experience.

Plath’s courage in sharing this, a story of mental illness and female aspiration outside the home, both taboo topics, is phenomenal. She once referred to The Bell Jar as an “autobiographical apprentice work which I had to write in order to free myself from the past.” But just like Esther’s concerns at the end, her nebulous and always present fear of the possibility of another breakdown, Plath too could not fully escape from her own mind. Though unfortunately the writing and publication of this story didn’t seem to be enough to fully free her, in the end, its impact on generations following cannot be underestimated. And hopefully that legacy is somewhat of a comfort to Plath.

So. Many. Good. Quotes.

“I couldn’t stand the idea of a woman having to have a single pure life and a man being able to have a double life, one pure and one not.”

“The same thing happened over and over: I would catch sight of some flawless man off in the distance, but as soon as he moved close I immediately saw he wouldn’t do at all. That’s one of the reasons I never wanted to get married. The last thing I wanted was infinite security and to be the place an arrow shoots off from. I wanted change and excitement to shoot off in all directions myself, like the colored arrows from a Fourth of July rocket.”

“I felt my lungs inflate with the inrush of scenery – air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, ‘This is what it is to be happy.’”

“I thought the most beautiful thing in the world must be shadow, the million moving shapes and cul-de-sacs of shadow. There was shadow in bureau drawers and closets and suitcases, and shadow under houses and trees and stones, and shadow at the back of people’s eyes and smiles, and shadow, miles and miles and miles of it, on the night side of the earth.”

“The more hopeless you were, the further away they hid you.”

“A heavy naughtiness pricked through my veins, irritating and attractive as the hurt of a loose tooth.”

“…I would be sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in my own sour air.”

“He was terribly nervous the whole time, and I could tell he thought I was crazy as a loon, because I told him I believed in hell, and that certain people, like me, had to live in hell before they died, to make up for missing out on it after death, since they didn’t believe in life after death, and what each person believed happened to him when he died.”

“To the person in the bell jar, blank and stopped as a dead baby, the world itself is a bad dream. A bad dream. I remembered everything.”

“Maybe forgetfulness, like a kind snow, should numb and cover them. But they were part of me. They were my landscape.”

“There ought, I thought, to be a ritual for being born twice – patched, retreaded and approved for the road…”