Recent Non-Fiction Reads

August 27, 2015 |

One of the benefits of slowing down my reading this summer has been wandering through a list I’ve kept of books I thought sounded interesting but that I hadn’t yet picked up. Most of the titles on this list are non-fiction and most of them are adult non-fiction. It’s a category of books I’ve always loved, but I don’t gravitate toward them as much as I once did.

Over the last few months, though, I’ve found myself seeking them out pretty voraciously. It’s not just in the act of slowing down, but it’s also because I’ve been working really hard to readjust some of the flow and focus of my life. I’ve really become invested in trying new things and pushing my thinking and creative limits in new ways. This has manifested in taking some risks and completing projects I’ve thought about but never found the [fill in the blank excuse] to do. This summer, I relearned how to cross stitch and picked up needle felting. I signed myself up for a class on pursuing your dreams for the fall, and I am really ready to dive right in to trying my hand at art journaling. I did a massive house cleaning that required renting a dumpster for hauling away the things I no longer needed, wanted, or had room for in my life.

Choosing to pursue the things that are interesting me at the moment means that I am finally picking up those books on the list. They tend to fall under the category of interesting reads on specific topics. I’d call them microhistories, but it’s not quite the correct term, nor does it encompass the books outside of this particular category I’ve been reading.

Here’s a look at some recent non-fiction I’ve read. Each of these ticked a box for me in some way, and I’m really eager to keep pushing through my list and reading more books that are outside of my comfort/quick pick zone. Having decided to finally try my hand at reading on my phone and using the free trial at Oyster (note: that’s not an affiliate link!), I made a big old list of books that have caught my attention and I’d like to dedicate some time to.

The Monopolists by Mary Pilon

How much do you know about the history of Monopoly? This was a fast-paced read that totally took everything I thought I knew about the classic game and turned it on its head. And, perhaps most interesting and/or infuriating about this, was the history of the game was one of removing the female creator.

In 1904, Lizzie Magie created a game that would become the model for Monopoly. Yet, her side of the story was never told when the Parker Brothers began producing it during the Great Depression. Anyone who has purchased the game — at least, I think it’s still the case in modern editions — knows the “story” behind the game comes in the box. But it’s incomplete, and Pilon’s book offers up the underbelly of greed and scandal.

At times, the legal elements of the book weigh down the narrative, but one of the things that works so well for me when it comes to non-fiction is that these parts are easy to breeze through without feeling like I’m missing out. This book lent itself perfectly to that. The parts that really fascinated me I could linger over and the less-interesting elements I could pass by without feeling like I wasn’t getting something from the read.

An easy, readable book that fans of board games, social history, and the overlooked contributions of women to business should pick up.

The Great Beanie Baby Bubble by Zac Bissonnette

Readers of a certain age probably remember the huge beanie baby phenomenon of the late 90s/early 2000s. This book takes a deep dive into the craze, including what caused it and what eventually made the bubble pop. It’s particularly fascinating for anyone who grew up in the Chicago area; I hadn’t realized that all of this sort of originated in my own backyard. It made a lot of the “craze” that surrounded the trend make more sense to me now, as an adult. I have memories of my mom taking me to O’Hare airport — back in the days before security! — so we could hit up the beanie baby store that was inside.

What made this book so compelling was just how rigid and gross Ty Warner was as a leader of his company. Bissonnette isn’t particularly sympathetic, but the way Ty is rendered — and his ego — is well done and eye-opening. “Limited” and “retired” beanie babies were little more than tools used to raise profits for the company, which anyone who understands basic business understands, but what made this fascinating was how those who collected these, hoping to make a profit, were the ones ultimately put out the most, as their toys didn’t do what they thought they would do. The insight into how Ty worked with McDonald’s for the Happy Meal beanies was a particularly interesting element of the book.

Remember old and new face teddies and how having an “old face” bear meant you had something valuable? The reason the bear’s face changed was 100% because of cuteness. Ty’s focus was on creating the cutest toys possible at a price point that virtually anyone could buy into, though his choice in the stores the toys were available in was very purposeful. You couldn’t get them at large retailers, but rather, at specialty stores only.

This was easily one of the better non-fiction titles I’ve read, and I would recommend it to anyone curious about the behind-the-scenes of a huge phenomenon.

Twelve by Twelve: A One-Room Cabin Off The Grid and Beyond The American Dream by William Powers

I’m fascinated and appalled by the tiny house trend. I hate-watch House Hunters: Tiny Homes pretty passionately. It took me a long time to sort of put my finger on what it was that really annoyed me about the trend and the people who are living this way, and it comes down to this: the same people who are being “eco-conscious” and “budget conscious” in purchasing tiny homes are the same people who would quickly ridicule the people who live in trailer homes because they have no other options. It’s exceptionally privileged, especially as many tiny housers end up getting free land from family to park their custom-built shacks.

Enter Powers and his radical plan to live in a 12×12 tiny house outside of Durham, North Carolina. When I started to read this one, I hesitated a bit, worried that it would be about how enlightened he became to this new way of life and how phenomenally important it was to do things this way in order to be a good human. But this book is not that at all. Instead, Powers talks about the very things this lifestyle affords people who are privileged, and he has enough self-awareness to pick apart the choices he’s made in his own life to see how much of a White Man With Privilege legacy he’s left. The insights are smart and thought provoking, and they don’t shy away from talking about race and racism, including what he witnesses on the property where the tiny home is parked. It isn’t his home, either — it’s one he’s borrowing while a local well known doctor who owns the place is off gridding out west.

What really resonated with me, and the biggest take away from this book, was how Powers talks about what purpose we as people should have on Earth and how it is we should figure out our calling. He does this through noting that the tiny house life and choosing to “do less” isn’t the answer. It can be a means to an answer and it can be a distraction to those who think it’s an answer. Rather, everyone has to have periods where they focus and think through their lives and what it is they can do to improve the world. His own moment of enlightenment wasn’t about how he traveled to other countries and “helped the poor” — in fact, he says he regrets some of the White Savioring that he took part in during those trips — but rather, about how he can enter into the world, respecting the world, and offering himself wholly to it as it is. For him, it’s about doing one nice, selfless thing per day for someone else. It’s simple, but it’s powerful.

I loved Powers’s tone and how he navigates himself through complex social and sociopolitical/economic issues. I’m eager to pick up another book of his because I feel like a lot of how he approaches life offers up much for me to chew on. And that’s what he gets at, too: no one can tell you the answers to your life’s mission and no one can tell you the answers. It’s your responsibility to think about it for yourself, listening to others who have forged their paths and taking/leaving from that what does/doesn’t/won’t/can’t work for you. The answer to his life wasn’t in the tiny house.

All three books are available now and were borrowed from either the library or via Oyster.

Graphic Novel Roundup

August 26, 2015 |

FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics vol. 2: Wish You Were Here by Simon Oliver and Robbi Rodriguez

A staff person at the comic book store sold me the first volume of FBP as a good comic for fans of the tv show Fringe, which was a really effective sales technique as well as being true. When I found myself at the comic book store again itching to buy something, volume 2 was a natural pick. Alas, it had been some time since I had read volume 1, and I felt a little lost as I made my way through this one. I vaguely remembered the characters and hoped I’d pick up a greater understanding of the plot as I moved along (sometimes you just have to trust the storytellers). It mostly worked, though I’d still recommend reading this one pretty closely upon a read (or re-read) of volume 1. It involves the two agents of the FBP visiting Nakeet, Alaska for a special experiment where they’re plugged into a machine to allow their minds to create a reality; it’s not meant to bleed into the real reality, but of course, it does in certain ways. A little confusing, but intriguing.

Fables vol. 22: Farewell by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham

Late Fables is nothing compared to early Fables, unfortunately. I think the series really ran out of steam near the end, but this final installment is still worth a read. I’m not a fan of the final story arc between Snow White and Rose Red, which was fabricated out of nothing and undid years of deliberate character development. That arc is resolved here in spectacularly anticlimactic fashion. Other threads, too, are wrapped up very quickly. Half the volume is finishing out the main storyline and the other half consists of epilogues telling the final stories of certain characters. I rather enjoyed these (particularly the ones featuring Snow White’s and Bigby’s kids), but I’m a sucker for extended epilogues (I wouldn’t have minded if Return of the King had gone on another half an hour). And while I didn’t care for the last story between Snow White and Rose Red, I was really moved by their epilogue, which takes places thousands of years later. Not a triumphant conclusion, but not a bad one either.

Exquisite Corpse by Penelope Bagieu

Zoe is a “booth babe” with a loser for a boyfriend and no direction in life. One day while on a break at work, she’s sitting outside and notices a man standing out a window in his apartment building. She decides to ask to use his restroom, and he obliges – and they strike up a romance. It turns out he’s quite a famous novelist. Because Zoe never reads novels, she hasn’t even heard of him, which makes it easy for her to remain oblivious to a big secret he’s hiding. He’s quite a bit older than her, eccentric, egotistical. There’s definitely a flavor of a Woody Allen film to the story – until the end, which throws everything for a major loop. I was feeling pretty lukewarm to the story until I got to that point. Then I had to sit there for a long time and really consider whether I like the way it ended or not. And I ultimately decided I did. You’ll have to read to find out, but it doesn’t end like an Allen film, which I think is really the point (I avoid anything he does like the plague now). Bagieu is a French comic and I look forward to seeing what else of hers gets brought to the US.

Rat Queens vol. 2: The Far Reaching Tentacles of N’Rygoth by Kurtis J. Wiebe, Roc Upchurch and Stjepan Sejic

I was in the comic book store wanting to buy Lumberjanes, Nimona, or the second Rat Queens, and all that was available was Rat Queens. One out of three isn’t bad (for my wallet in particular), especially when Rat Queens is as awesome as it is. The second volume collects issues 6-10, and the new illustrator (Stjepan Sejic) begins with issue 9. I really dig Upchurch’s art, but I like Sejic’s just as much (and he’s not an abuser, so extra good human points to him). His lines are a little cleaner, but each character is just as easily recognized, full of sass and personality. I could describe the plot to you, but the characters are really the draw here. We get a little backstory on them, seeing a vulnerable side to each – but no worries, there’s also plenty of bloodshed, foul language, sex, and even some full-frontal male nudity. While a good bit of the story revolves around Dee and a secret person from her past, she still remains the most unknowable to me. Wiebe really seems to love Hannah, and while this is an ensemble story, it’s easy to see how she may be the series’ overarching protagonist. And I mean, she is pretty awesome. Highly recommended.

Strangely for me, all of these graphic novels were published for the adult market. All were personal copies except for Exquisite Corpse, which was provided by the publisher.

Romance Roundup – Eloisa James Edition

August 25, 2015 |

An author whose writing is such that I will listen to her books despite a narrator I dislike is rare. Fortunately for me, Eloisa James is such an author. Most of her books are quite good, almost good enough that I can ignore the annoyances in the narration. Susan Duerden narrates all four of the books below, and while I’m sure many listeners quite enjoy her work (otherwise audiobook producers wouldn’t keep hiring her), she is distinctly not my cup of tea. Every line she reads comes out sing-song, like a teacher trying to get a student to understand the rhythm of iambic pentameter. Oh it is grating. But the books! They are almost all good. I love that many of her heroines have careers, or at least useful passions that occupy a lot of their time (one is a novelist, another is an interior designer) and that she incorporates real historical events into her novels – and not just passing mentions of big wars and the like. In fact, most of them include an author’s note where she expands upon what history is real and what history she tweaked for the purposes of her story. Historical romances with historical author’s notes are my jam.

Three Weeks With Lady X by Eloisa James

Lady Xenobia India is an interior designer, though she’s never referred to by that phrase (I’m assuming because such a thing didn’t really have a name at this point in time). She needed to find a way to to earn money after her parents died, and she has a knack for design and a way of transforming huge, run-down estates into gleaming, modern palaces. Her most recent client is Thorn Dautry, a bastard son of a duke who is in need of sprucing up his image so as to convince the stuck-up mother of the very respectable and sweet Leticia (who is dyslexic but merely thought to be stupid) that he should be allowed to marry her. Thorn has hired India to make over the estate he has purchased, which previously belonged to a man we’d call a party animal in this century. There are lots of leftover X-rated paintings and statuary, for example. The two strike up a flirtation which deepens into true friendship, and then into love. It’s a lovely progression that feels natural, and the bumps in their path to happily ever after are organic. There’s plenty of banter plus a really nice secondary love story between Leticia and another man, which makes the fact that Thorn pursued her and then fell in love with someone else a softer blow. The epilogue to this one even made me tear up a little.

Four Nights With the Duke by Eloisa James

This one features a novelist as the heroine! When she was a child, Mia had a tremendous crush on Evander Brody and wrote a poem about him, which she meant to keep completely secret. Of course it didn’t remain that way, and Vander got a hold of it – or rather his friends did, and they teased him mercilessly about it. To save face, he mocked Mia in return, and of course she was there and overheard. Instant enmity. Flash forward a decade or so and Mia needs a husband for reasons too complicated to get into in this short review. But she doesn’t need just any husband – she needs to marry Vander. Not for long, just for a few weeks, and then she’ll secure an annulment. He’s hardly likely to marry her of his own volition – he’s holding out for a love match – so she blackmails him. Not a great start to a marriage. The premise is a bit contrived, but the emotions are genuine. James does a good job of bringing these two together in love when it seems like it wouldn’t ever be possible. Vander is angry, as he should be, and it provides a believable way for him to act like an asshole without actually being an asshole (unlike some other romance “heroes”). And Mia is awesome. Each chapter begins with her work-in-progress on her newest novel, which is giving her more than a bit of trouble. James drops a couple names of her own writer friends as Mia’s colleagues, and she provides an author’s note that describes in greater detail what the landscape for gothic romances like Mia’s were during that time. This is a love letter to romance novels – those from Mia’s time and those from our own.

Duchess By Night by Eloisa James

Cross-dressing romances are usually pretty fun. Sarah MacLean did one of my favorites, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, and I had high hopes for this one (especially after listening to James’ other books above). Harriet is a duchess, a widow whose husband killed himself after a bad game of chess (he loved chess more than he loved her). One of her husband’s responsibilities when he was alive was to help decide court cases, and now it’s fallen her to decide them – like that of a woman who had married five men consecutively and wasn’t quite sure which one was her legal husband. There’s a male judge there who is the “official” decider, but he’s drunk and passed out most of the time, and what she says goes. This is a really interesting bit of history that James elaborates upon in her author’s note, but it doesn’t have a huge amount to do with the romance (aside from character development, I suppose). Harriet is tired of being the staid widow and decides to have a little fun, which is where the cross-dressing comes in. She accompanies one of her female friends to the house of Julian Strange, a notorious partier. Her friend is female and dresses as such, but she decides to go as a man – the better to experience all that the party house has to offer, I suppose. Again, it’s pretty contrived, but it’s good fun. Strange is an OK hero, not terribly memorable but at least he’s not an asshole. When he discovers she’s a woman, it’s pretty funny (most of James’ novels have a good bit of humor in them). I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the previous two, but it was still a worthwhile read.

The Duke is Mine by Eloisa James

While the three novels above are all worth a read (and the first two are highly recommended), this one was a total dud. I love the concept of it – it’s a re-working of the Princess and the Pea – but the execution is terrible. I gave up about halfway through, and I never quite figured out exactly how it related to the fairy tale. Perhaps it would have become apparent later, but I wasn’t inclined to stick around long enough to find out. The heroine, Olivia, has been engaged to a man five years younger than her since his birth. Unfortunately, something happened during his birth that damaged his brain, and he never matured beyond the intellect and understanding of a child. Olivia isn’t thrilled to be marrying him, but she’s resigned to it. When her future father in law encourages them to consummate the relationship before her fiance goes off to war (because if she got pregnant the baby would be considered legitimate and he’d have an heir even though his son was dead, which seems specious to me), they both agree. The resulting scene is painful. And not in a funny awkward way. This man is 18 but acts like he’s 8 and he obviously can’t do anything in the bedroom. Just thinking about this scene makes me feel icky. But I persevered (why, I do not know), finally getting to the part where Olivia meets the hero. And he’s supremely boring and is bad at sex. I gave up.

All books borrowed from my local library.

Guess The YA Book By Its Subject Headings

August 24, 2015 |

Library catalog subject headings are amazing to me. For the most part, they are useful to librarians who are trying to locate books for patrons. Out of context, though, they can make little or no sense. Because their purpose is to organize information contained within a book (or movie or tv show or anything else being cataloged), they distill something complex into something much more simplistic. They’re also constrained — there are designated subject headings, meaning that cataloging is consistent across libraries, rather than tagged by individuals who may choose to describe the contents of an item in a different way. There are other tools within individual catalogs to do that.

I used to play a game on Twitter periodically, where I’d share a handful of a television show’s subject headings from WorldCat and ask people to guess what it was. It’s not as easy as it sounds, since it requires thinking about a piece of art differently than you normally would. I thought I’d try doing this game on STACKED, but with YA. So without further ado, how good are you at identifying a YA book from its library subject headings? I’ll copy and paste the screen shot of the catalog headings from WorldCat and you’ll try your best at guessing what book is being described. I’m sticking with more well-known books, since even those aren’t easily recognized by their headings only. Answers are at the bottom of the post, so don’t scroll down unless you’re ready to get your answers.

I’d love to know how you do, too, so feel free to share in the comments which ones you got right away and which ones were challenging.

10.

1. Forever . . . by Judy Blume, 2. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, 3. Feed by M. T. Anderson, 4. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han, 5. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo, 6. Legend by Marie Lu, 7. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, 8. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, 9. The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, 10. Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Change Can Happen

August 22, 2015 |

This morning, I finished sending off 30 boxes of Some Girls Are down to Andria Amaral at Charleston County Public Library. She’ll be working to get all of the books out to teens at West Ashley High School who would like a copy, for free, since they had the option of reading this book over the summer removed from them. If you don’t know the backstory to this situation, NCAC has a great wrap-up, including a look at how the administration failed to follow their own policies in this situation. That one parent can do this is unacceptable. . . but look what we, the book community, did in response:

In addition to the over 830 copies being sent down, more copies are trickling into my house still, which will be packed and sent next week. Further, when asked if people could help with the cost of shipping the books, you all rose to the challenge, too, sending over $600 to help cover shipping.

The total cost of shipping, in the interest of being transparent, was $450. For 30 boxes ranging in weight from 20 to 45 pounds, that feels like a steal, especially knowing the impact this will have on the lives of those teens. Of course, the book will touch them, but what really matters here, and what this will really and truly show to those teens, is how much they matter. How much people care about them. How they have advocates in their own community who want to allow them the opportunity to find themselves.

That is a feeling that cannot be articulated or measured.

We’ve done right by these teens, and I cannot wait to share what happens when Andria receives the books and puts them into the hands of teens. The thought really does bring tears to my eyes.

If you’re wondering what came of the additional $150 donated for shipping, it’s this:

I sent 100 copies directly to Andria.

There will be a longer, more in-depth piece coming when the books are distributed, but I wanted to send a tremendous and heart-felt thank you to everyone. This project was incredible and moving, and it really reiterated to me how wonderful the book community is and how much you care about the well-being of teenagers.

Teens don’t get that every day. Teens who have situations like this happen certainly don’t feel respected or cared about. They learn early on that the things that impact them are too much to be seen or talked about.

But we’re going to show them the opposite.

Thank you. Truly. I am honored and moved to be part of such a thoughtful, generous community.

This is what change and advocacy and passion look like.