#68 - The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

I have somehow been transported back to the beginning of World War II in my reading.  I just finished with "The Buddha in the Attic" and I'm currently reading "The Girl You Left Behind" by Jojo Moyes both of which have settings in that era.  Funny how my choices seem to coincide like that without conscious effort.

I really enjoyed this novel.  It is written in an unfamiliar tone (first person plural) but that really added to the idea that the author was trying to convey, namely that these women who came over on the boat from Japan were seen as nameless and faceless to those who crossed their paths.  Their stories and experiences were so similar that a single voice could tell the story of the untold thousands of Japanese women who were enticed to the states by the "mail order bride" advertisements.  They came expecting a better life and were stashed away in fields and maids quarters and integrated into a society who only noticed them after they were gone.

It is easy to forget that work camps existed in this country as well as overseas.  Easy to forget that the fear of foreign invasion caused such a stir that we ordered thousands of people into exile while a mirror was happening in Germany and Poland.  The last chapter was especially disturbing, when we "Americans" wake up one day and people are gone.  It's only too late that we notice that something unjust has occured.  What does that say about us that they went silently while we were yammering away about some trivialities?

Goodreads rating 4.5 stars

In progress (nook) The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
(paper) Golden Boy by Abigail Tartellin

#67 - Super Boys by Brad Ricca

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Let me just say to start - that this was a very thorough book.  VERY thorough.  I am a fan of the Superman saga but you need to be  a serious fan of Superman and even just of comic books in general to really appreciate this biography.  Brad Ricca fished out every detail of the journey of Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and I mean every.single.possible.detail.  I found myself skimming a lot of parts - much of the early correspondence was just too detailed for the casual reader.

Many parts, however, I found fascinating.  Seeing the creative process behind a creation as big as the Superfranchise as well as the behind the scenes deals that could line the pockets of executives while leaving the talent behind were very interesting. Just too much detail for me.

Goodreads rating 2 stars - just not fo rme.

In progress (audio): The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka
(nook) The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
(paper) Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin

#66 - Life Of Pi by Yann Martel

I have a feeling that I was supposed to like this book a lot more than I did.  It's the critically acclaimed - made it into a movie - must read pick but it just didn't click with me.

It had a good start.  I enjoyed hearing about Pi's upbringing, his time at the zoo, the influence of his father and his uncle.  I especially enjoyed the discussion about how Pi ended up being a Christian, a Muslim and a Hindu all at the same time.

Then the boat sank...

At first there was the tension - the discovery of the unexpected cargo on the life boat and the uncertainty of how this would all play out.  Then there was the monotonous middle.  I know that was by design - to illustrate the days and weeks and months all strung together but I got to a point where I really didn't need to hear about each fish that was caught, etc.

The end worked for me and I'm grateful for the little piece of intrigue that left me going hmmm...I wonder....

All in all - not the mind shaking experience that I was expecting with all of the hype but a good book nonetheless.

Goodreads rating: 3 stars

On Deck: (nook): The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes
(audio): The Buddha In The Attic by Julie Otsaka
(paper): Golden Boy by Abigail Tarttelin

#65 - Innocent in Death by JD Robb

I finished two books in one week!  Look at me go!

I love me some brain cell rotting JD Robb mysteries - this one just didn't grab my attention the way some of them do.  Actually - I'm pretty sure that I have read this one a long time ago before I even knew what I was reading.

The tension between Eve and Roarke really felt manufactured.  I know that there are only so many ways that life can try to drive a wedge in a marriage, no matter how emotionally complicated the characters might be but I am to the point where I enjoy the books better when Eve and Roarke just work together and not fight.  Please! Pretty Please! With Sprinkles on Top! Just leave them alone.

Of course I loved that we got a peek at Mavis' baby Belle (why do I love Mavis so much?) and the case had just enough twists to keep it interesting but, in the end was a little bit predictable.

Amazingly, we are in book #24 of the series and I still don't hate it!

In Progress: Life of Pi by Yan Patel
Non Fiction: Super Boys by Brad Ricca
Fiction: The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

#64 - The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison

Darn it darn it darn it.  I really did.  I really wanted to love this novel. I had it on my "to read" list and then - The Starbucks Effect happened and it was a free ibooks download so that sealed the deal.

The first half of the book is slow.  No that is giving it too much credit it was...SLOOOOOOOOOOOOW.  It did, however give enough intrigue to keep me plugging through and I'm glad I did.  So make it through some of the more pathetic parts to reach the moments of brilliance in the last third of this book.

And there were moments of brilliance.  There were moments in that last half that literally took my breath away and moments that made me feel like I was being punched in the gut. But then there were moments that were just stupid and pointless right after that.  It was almost as if Evison was trying too hard to smooth out all of the raw emotional edges.

I wavered for days between a three and a four rating so effectively a 3.5. I rounded down for the sake of Goodreads but don't let that stop you from trying this book.  I just had to take the half out for the offenses of the pre-roadtrip part of the book.

Goodreads rating: 3.5 rounded down to 3

In progress: (audio) Life of Pi by Yan Patel
Non-Fiction: Super Boys by Brad Ricca
Fiction: The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

#63 - Shut up, Stop Whining and Get a Life

Ah the things we do to try to get a new job.  When the hiring manager invoked Larry Winget during an interview I immediately made a show of writing down the title and author and immediately found the audio version so I could keep "real" reading the ones I already had in progress.  Win Win

I do love me a good "self help" book every once in awhile and I did find the blunt straight talk refreshing and very real.  I didn't find the advice particularly relevant to my own situation but for people who really are out there to look for a new perspective on their life I recommend the change of approach that Larry Winget has to offer.

I'm glad I read it - and I got the job :) - but I don't see myself reading the entire Larry Winget collection.

Goodreads rating: 2.5 rounded up

On Deck: Innocent in Death by JD Robb (audio
In Progress: Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathon Evison and Super Boys by Brad Ricca.

#62 - Honeymoon in Paris by Jojo Moyes

A huge thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Books, and Jojo Moyes for allowing me to read this Novella in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with Jojo Moyes after reading Me Before You.  In fact I think I shoved that book into the hands of anyone I came across who hadn't read it yet.  So when I had the opportunity to read Honeymoon in Paris as well as its companion novel "The Girl You Left Behind" through Netgalley I sprung at the chance!  When I downloaded the book and realized that it was only 75 pages I bumped the books that I was currently reading to slide this quick one into my list.  I didn't regret it.

Jojo Moyes is uncomfortably spot on when it comes to describing relationships and emotions every time she takes on a character. This novella is set up in such a way that it reminds the reader that love, marriage, and conflict are universal even though the stories are separated by a century of time.  I found myself physically nodding my head as I read through the challenges that each couple faced during their honeymoon period thinking; "Yes! I have thought the same way about my marriage!" It's a beautiful thing, the kind of connection that is created between reader and story when a writer can be so raw and honest in her writing.

So now, I am going to have to clear the bottle neck that I have built for myself so I can dive into "The Girl You Left Behind" as soon as possible.

Goodreads Rating: 5 stars
In Progress: (nook) Super Boys by Brad Ricca
(iBook): The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison
(audio): Shut Up, Quit Whining and Get a Life by Larry Winget
**told you it was a bottleneck**