Monday, September 18, 2017

Mini-Reviews: A Round Up

I realize I failed to post anything last week. I don't have a good excuse. I had a couple extra days off work for a vacation that didn't end up happening so I could have used that time. But instead I started playing The Sims again so yeah, that has taken some time.
Even right now I know I NEED to get to reviewing but that doesn't seem like it's going to happen today. So instead, let's look at the books I should be reviewing. Which I will get to. Eventually.
State of Wonder by Anne Patchett
Read as part of book club and it was...fine. I suppose. I woman travels to the Amazon to find out what happened to a colleague. There are a bunch of things set up that never actually go anywhere so that was frustrating.
Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell
A gift from a fellow blogger (who is super swell and wonderful, btw) this is a short story/novella* by Rainbow Rowell written for World Book Day and it is delightful. About a girl, Elena, waiting in line to see the new Star Wars movie. It's short and sweet and I read it twice in as many days.
White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg
This book has been recommended as a "let's try to understand wtf happened to this country" read and I was at a local bookstore and you can't leave those empty handed. I got some interesting looks on the subway while reading, including two women who stopped to ask me about it. They were BIG fans of the title. The book is a bit dense and she is not kidding when she says we're going through the whole 400 years. I don't know that I had any "ah-HA" moments while reading but it is an area I think we could stand to know more about.
I'm Judging You: The Do-Better Manual by Luvvie Ajayi
I was at the airport when I realized I didn't have a book with me. I think. Like I think I had some in a checked bag because I KNOW I had more than one book with me for this trip. But regardless, I didn't have a book right then and this seemed like a good excuse to get this. Because again, we CLEARLY need to do better. Collections of essays by hilarious women are my jam and this was no exception. It wasn't quite as serious as I expected, but that's not the worst thing.
Sex Object by Jessica Valenti
Feminist memoir that can be rough to read at times because she just deals with so much shit. She talks about how you shouldn't let it get to you cos then they win but man, it can eat away at you. Very good.
Atlanta Burns by Chuck Wendig
I will read pretty much any Wendig without knowing what the book is about** so this was no exception. Except I feel like there should be a spoiler cos a good amount of the book is about dog fights so things can get violent and surprise dog violence was not my fav. It's my fault cos it does mention this in the description I failed to read. All that said, I did enjoy the book. Maybe not my fav Wendig but still quality read. Also I love the cover. He has some great covers
The Regional Office is Under Attack by Manuel Gonzales
An office of lady assassins, one of whom has a cyborg arm. Still not quite The Office crossed with ridiculous action (which I SUPER want to be a thing and have yet to find) but it comes closest and is definitely the best entry into that category. Story loses me a little as it goes on, but entertaining nonetheless.
Grotesque by Natsuo Kirino
Another book club read that was about as successful as State of Wonder. It is a very slow, very quiet book which is odd considering the topic is about a woman who is murdered. There are even multiple POVs and unreliable narrators and stuff I usually like but not in this case.
My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag...and Other Things You Can't Ask Martha by Jolie Kerr
It's a book about cleaning. And how to clean. And it was great. This is not like Marie Kondo's which was more a way of being with some advice that no, I am not thanking my purse every day. This is more practical instructions. Part of it is her tackling different projects (deep cleaning the kitchen, tackling clothing stains) and another part is her answering questions and she is SUPER nonjudgemental and will provide advice for cleaning your sex swing because dammit, cleanliness is important. Thank you, Glynis, for the reco.
One Day We'll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul
Another collection of essays by a funny lady. Perhaps not quite as successful as others in this category, but still entertaining, especially a story about the power clothing can give you and a particular skirt. I was expecting it to be a bit less memoir than it was but that's FINE and it was still entertaining.

So there we are. Some quick thoughts to keep me honest and maybe help me remember what I'm supposed to review. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go see how my Sim families are doing.

*I tried to Google the difference and it said "a novella is considerably longer than a short story but shorter than a novel" so. Thanks. That was helpful...
**Exception is the Star Wars stuff. Which, tbh, if I'm going to read any Star Wars stuff, it would be his. It's just that in general that is not my thang