November:
120. Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer - Evangelina Sage (aka Evie) is in a bind. She has lost her job, her father is ill and can't work, and her sister is only 10 so Evie must earn their keep. Dazed and frustrated, she wanders into the forest near her village and gets tangled up in a fight between the king's men and the man known locally as the Villain but she isn't easily rattled. Impressed, the Villain offers her a job as his assistant and Evie accepts. At his hidden compound, Evie gets to work and quickly becomes beloved amongst the many employees. When it becomes clear that there's a spy amongst them and he's trying to kill the Villain, Evie sets out to find out who is betraying her boss. This was my online book group's latest selection. The discussion was fun. Everyone enjoyed it and we all pretty much agreed on its flaws and better points. It's the first in a trilogy, apparently, and I haven't decided if I'll read on. The ending was a cliffhanger and I tend to rebel against cliffhanger endings by refusing to keep reading a series. But I liked the story and there's more I hope the author has elaborated upon so . . . maybe?
121. Weyward by Emilia Hart - Three parallel stories about women in the same family are told in Weyward. In 1619, Altha Weyward is arrested and tried as a witch. Her mother was a healer and Altha has continued the tradition. But, now she stands accused of casting a spell to kill the husband of her former best friend, Grace. In 1942, Violet is kept close to home, knows nothing about her deceased mother because nobody will even speak her name, and hasn't even been to the nearby village. She has a deep connection to insects, birds, and other wildlife. When a cousin comes to visit her home, the Viscount's estate, while on leave from the army, Violet is told that she must be on her absolute best behavior. In present-day London, Kate hastily packs a bag to escape her abusive husband, traveling to Weyward Cottage in Cumbria, which has been left to her by her Aunt Violet. Violet and her brother, Graham (Kate's grandfather) were disinherited by their father, many years ago. But, Kate knows nothing about them and has overcome the pull of nature felt by other women in her family.
What will happen to the women in their timelines? What is the scandal that led to the disinheritance of Violet and Graham? Will Kate succeed at escaping her violent husband? What will Violet and Kate find out about their unknown history? I loved this book. It's beautifully written, atmospheric, and compelling. My only complaint would be the fact that there are so many awful men. But, we're certainly seeing plenty of hideous behavior from men after our recent election so that's easily dismissed. As I read the book I thought, "This story is every reason women need bodily autonomy."
122. Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson - The second in the Moomin series is so much fun I'm having trouble imagining myself passing it on (something that I still need to work on: parting with books I love). A hobgoblin has left his hat on a mountain. When it's found and brought back to Moominhouse, all sorts of wild, magical things begin to happen. Each time something is put inside the hat, the object is transformed, for better or worse. Most fun of all are the clouds that Moomintroll and his friends are able to ride around upon and the jungle that grows in and around Moominhouse, enabling everyone to have adventures inside their home. We are also introduced to Thingumy and Bob, two tiny creatures who have a unique mode of speech and a slight problem with stealing things. So. Much. Fun. I love the sweetness, adventure, and welcoming nature of the Moomins. Anyone who wanders to their home is always given a place to sleep and fed, no questions asked.
123. Hanami: You, Me, and 200 Square Feet in Japan by Julia Cejas - This graphic memoir, which I checked out via Hoopla as an ebook, is about a Spanish couple who decide to go to Japan for a year. He is a civil engineer who has given up engineering to compose music for gaming. She is an artist and the author of the graphic memoir. She says it's mostly true. The book is about their life in Japan, including difficulty communicating, expense, daily shopping for fresh foods, going to language classes, and the side trips they take to see places outside of their home in Tokyo. I liked the book for the peek into what it's like to live in Japan as a foreigner (the rules for trash and recycling sound particularly tedious). Having been to Japan, I did get a glimpse of some important things like not blowing noses in public (considered extremely rude) and slurping soup (acceptable because it shows you're enjoying your food). I liked the color combination of this book but because it's in pinks and purples, it's very hard to read on a phone and I'd recommend locating a paper version if you find zooming in and out tiresome and have eyes that aren't what they used to be.
124. The Shelterlings by Sarah Beth Durst - This middle grade book is about a group of animals who live in the Shelter for Rejected Familiars. Each of them has a magical skill but they're all considered useless magic skills. The main character, for example, is a squirrel named Holly who can conjure pastries. Her best friend is an owl who can turn himself to stone and back. Holly is seemingly the glue of the group as she has a very welcoming and sweet personality. While the animals all have a bit of a complex about their rejection, they have a garden and an orchard and they keep house together pretty happily. While Holly is trying to break through to a new resident, a lemur whose skill is finding lost things (and possibly taking them when she shouldn't), former resident Charlie, a beaver, returns from his wanderings. Charlie has arrived with a quest and says everyone will need to help find 7 objects to reset the Moon Mirror that grants magical gifts. While the animals go on adventures to find the objects, Holly notices that something about Charlie has changed. A bit too adorable and sweet for my taste, but I think I would have absolutely loved this book as a child. As an adult, I liked it more the further I read but it's not a book I'd return to.
125. Termush by Sven Holm - Published in 1967, this post-apocalyptic novel tells the story of a group of people who have survived an apparent nuclear war. Termush is a hotel that they've bought into, knowing that such a disaster was likely. It has its own supplies of food and water, a shelter for when the radiation level becomes dangerous outdoors, security, and a group of people who are sent to explore the nearby towns to see what's left of them and assess the dangers. In spite of what's happened, the residents go about their day without too much stress. The narrator meets a neighbor and they quietly begin to hang out together. Management occasionally disrupts their solitude with announcements or required gatherings. They go outside, but not far. Then, things begin to go wrong. Dead bodies are found on the property and then survivors begin to wander in. Should they be treated by the doctor at Termush or sent packing? What will happen when the number of survivors begins to grow? An unusual post-apocalyptic novel in that most of it is just about life going on for a number of people who had the means to stay safe when most could not. However, things escalate and the tension gradually grows. I read this book for a new book club I joined called the Tiny Book Club on the Fable app. Discussion was unfortunately nonexistent. I am (as of December 1) the only person who has posted my thoughts.
126. Cat + Gamer 4 by Wataru Nadatani - The 4th in this delightful manga series has Riko getting some surprising advice: get a second cat to keep Musubi company. Riko rushes to an event where kittens are up for adoption and ends up with a second cat whose adoption is on a trial basis to make sure the two kitties get along. She is also given advice about how to introduce the second cat gradually. At first, Musubi is freaked out and hisses at the stranger, but then the kittens get to know each other and begin to play, box each other, sleep together, and create general havoc. Anyone who has two cats who were introduced to their home separately will relate. Mine were brought home a few months apart and fortunately they adapted to each other in much the same way. Riko is adorably besotted and fascinated by the differing personalities of her two kitties. I love this series. Once again, I read the ebook on Hoopla.
127. The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods - In 1920s England, Opaline flees her home when her older brother tries to force her into an unwanted marriage. In present-day Dublin, Martha has escaped an abusive marriage, found a job, and is hiding out. Henry is in Dublin to search for a missing manuscript and has had an unusual experience with a disappearing bookstore. Or, maybe he was just hallucinating. Opaline's journey takes her to Paris and then to Dublin, where she opens a store and finds that the building seems to be trying to tell her something. Meanwhile, in the present day, Martha's new basement home is doing something magical and Martha is falling for Henry. But, Henry is taken and is only in Dublin for a short time.
Will Henry and Martha find the missing manuscript and find a way to be together? Is Martha safe in Dublin? Will Opaline's brother find her, again? And, how, in the end, will their stories intersect? 'Cause you know it's going to happen. While that intersection always exists in parallel historical/contemporary fiction, I did keep coming up with theories and then changing them, so The Lost Bookshop kept me guessing. And, it also really sucked me in hard, so I enjoyed it for the fact that I had trouble putting it down. Having said that, I do believe that the story was confusing at times, there were a lot of plot holes, and there was one strand of the story that was not satisfactorily explained. Although, of course, we're talking magical realism so not everything has an explanation. I gave the book 4 stars. I still loved it, flaws and all.
128. Goblin Market by Christina Rossetti - I've never read Christina Rossetti's poetry before so I decided to start with Goblin Market, which sounded like a good title for fall reading. The title poem is especially fascinating, the craving for fruit and indulgence in it obviously symbolizing greed/gluttony and its consequences. Cool, cool. Other things that jumped out at me were her hyper-religious emphasis on death, rest, looking forward to heaven, and . . . thwarted love or resistance to love? After reading her poetry, I think I understand why Rossetti never married as she seemed to have taken on the mantle of a nun without becoming one, putting God over earthly love. There are plenty of references to nature's bounty, as well. Bottom line: At times I was mesmerized by her descriptions and at other times I just felt like, "Get a grip, lady." Mostly about yearning for death/the afterlife. I really liked "Goblin Market" (the poem) because it reminded me of childhood fairy tales and was so vividly written I'm surprised I didn't have goblin nightmares.
129. Small Bomb at Dimperley by Lissa Evans - Barbara, Lady Vere-Thisset, has chased down the Dowager Lady Vere-Thisset with a telegram saying the eldest son and inheritor of the Baronetcy of the Vere-Thissets (the original Vere-Thisset having been declared the Woodsman to the King in some far-off century) was killed in action in WWII. The war is over and the Dimperley estate, apart from having a bomb go off in its clover field, is intact. However, the place is really falling apart. The middle son is not able to take up the title because he had brain fever as a child and barely speaks. That leaves 23-year-old Valentine, who is quickly de-mobbed and sent home. Valentine is dyslexic, considered the plain/dull child, and not a businessman. With the help of one of the handful of people who work on the estate, an idea is hatched to try to save Dimperley from being sold for its land and the inhabitants turfed out. Will they succeed? A little romance, at least one exciting scare scene, a lot of gossip from the nearby village, and the interaction of various characters in this book make for yet another delightful and entertaining read by one of my favorite authors. I'm convinced Lissa Evans can do no wrong. I love her sense of humor. Side note: this is a very, very British book. I can usually read British English very well but I found myself wishing I still kept a vocabulary notebook so I could write down all the new words I learned.
130. The Grift of the Magi by Ally Carter - This ebook (read via Hoopla) is a seasonal novella from the Heist Society series. I haven't read the series but it's been on my radar so when I was looking for a quick Christmas read and happened across The Grift of the Magi, I tossed it in my cart. I'm pleased to say that it stands alone fine. Katarina Bishop, her cousin Gabrielle, and most of her family are thieves. Kat steals in the manner of a Robin Hood, finding stolen art to return to its rightful owners. When a Fabergé egg from a series of which there are only 3 in existence is stolen from the charity to which it's been given to auction off, an Interpol Agent asks her to retrieve it to keep from embarrassing the charity by making the search public. It just so happens that the charity was established by the grandmother of Kat's billionaire boyfriend. The hunt will lead Kat and her team around the world. Will Kat's crew be able to locate the missing egg? I can't say much more without giving away plot points but what fun! I am definitely going to look up the first Heist Society book at some point. Not now, though. I only get 3 borrows per month from Hoopla and I've used them all up (for the first time, actually)! Sad face.
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