This series is so fun but these titles and covers are embarrassing to read in public. Anyway, for a “romance” adventure these are primarily murder/crime mysteries chalked full of magic and world building. This book pivots to a new main character and primarily serves to move the series along, clearly setting up the next book. I don’t love what they did with Nevada’s story and I hope that gets worked out more satisfyingly in the next book.

Another science-fiction revisit from my youth, though it was copyrighted in 1950 before my mother was even born. Several of these remarkable short stories take place in 2015 and 2021 (and beyond). Asimov imagined a much more evolved world; one humans were probably capable of achieving but didn’t. Regardless I love these robot stories. Such fun here, mixed with psychological interest, social metaphor, and great science fiction. Did I mention a major character is a woman? Who is a scientist and discussing her career? 1950s sci-fi got there y’all. #SusanCalvin #irobot #asimov #asimovsthreelawsofrobotics #scifi #nowreading

This book definitely had some moments that made me laugh out loud and our main character, June, was relatable though not terribly likable. It was depressing and dry too - it definitely thought it was very smart and clever, though I’m not sure if it was. Mostly I’m coming away from it feeling depressed and a little annoyed by people who are drawn to being in “show business” and think it’s a pursuit greater than all others.

Carry On and Wayward Son are definitely both YA novels but are well-crafted and entertaining enough to suit any adult. Simon and Baz are at once charming and deeply flawed, but so lovable and enticing. Their love story is broken and messy and just so so appealing. Rainbow is an author that lives to serve her characters before her plot and I mean that as a high compliment. I really enjoyed the scenes in Nebraska during Wayward Son too. It’s not often my home state is in novels I read. Her description and depiction of the Omaha Renaissance Faire and Carhenge were spot on and had me smiling the entire time - as two places I cherish.

In looking forward to the new movie coming out on Christmas I decided to re-read Little Women via audiobook. I enjoyed this re-visit immensely. While much of the messages and phrasing is rather pious and outdated, the reminder of virtues of charity and poverty was so endearing. As an adult who enjoys history and period dramas I’m not at all surprised at how much I enjoyed it now - but I’m a little surprised by how much I loved it as an 11 or 12-year-old when I first read this, but I did, quite deeply.

Reading these out loud to my son is a true joy and a whole new experience. We’re following the “no movie until you’ve read the book” philosophy and now we’re excited to watch Chamber of Secrets this week!