The Friday Society is set in a steampunk version of 1900's London, and follows three girls. All three have very distinct personalities. Cora's the braThe Friday Society is set in a steampunk version of 1900's London, and follows three girls. All three have very distinct personalities. Cora's the brainy, feisty, tomboyish one; Nellie's the giggly blonde, and Michiko's the quiet and badass one. She has a reason to be quiet, though. She can't speak or understand English very well, and I thought that made the dialogue between her and the other two girls interesting. We're given two chapters to introduce each character before we get to the actual plot.
The relationship between the girls and their masters was strange and somewhat disturbing. Each of these girls is a teenager all had been taken in by an older, more powerful, wealthier man. Sometimes the relationship was portrayed as a father/daughter relationship and at other times it seemed disturbingly sexual. Yuck!
"The Friday Society" is supposed to be a steampunk mystery but the girls did so little actual investigating that that they missed every important clue. One of the villains was so obvious, but they still couldn't figure it out.
The best part of the book was the action sequences. The girls were each unique. I hated that the characters had an internal modern monologue. Nellie, for example, thinks about how she looks "totally hot." Since the characters normally used Victorian dialect when speaking aloud, this was just stupid.
I am not the target audience for this book and I didn't care for it at all. But I think a younger audience might enjoy it more....more
The world of Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti is set in a post-war wasteland, where last bits of civilization survive in walled cities. It iThe world of Mechanique: A Tale of the Circus Tresaulti is set in a post-war wasteland, where last bits of civilization survive in walled cities. It is outside these cities that the Circus Tresaulti pitches its tents. Little George, the book’s narrator, is the circus’s advance scout, putting up posters and checking the mood of the inhabitants to see if they’re the kind of people who might welcome a circus.
"Mechanique" tells the story of how the circus came to be. It was created by a former opera singer who discovers she has the power bind living flesh to skeletons made of copper. The process is magic, rather than scientific. She becomes just Boss, the ringmaster and owner of the Circus Tresaulti, which features mechanical aerialists, strongmen and a walking one-man orchestra. The characters are able to be steampunk automatons in a magical way. The Boss doesn’t explain how she does what she does, nor does she really know.
We are told chapter by chapter about who came to the circus, why they joined and what really happened to Alec, the Winged Man who has been dead since before the book starts, but his story and death remains a mystery.
I enjoyed the book very much but thought the author wrote in a somewhat disorganized way. Valentine jumps randomly between a third-person narrative and first-person narrative, from different characters’ points of view, to an occasional second-person narrative. We switch tenses from past to present several times.
Genevieve Valentine builds a complex and inventive structure that enhances the story and makes it unique. The occasional slips do not compromise the narrative, and, in the end, the book captivated me. I ended up enjoying my visit to the challenging and unique world of Circus Tresaulti....more
We’re back in Autumnboro, the New Hampshire autumn-themed town, just in time for Thanksgiving. Maple Sugar Crush is the second book in Beth Labonte’s We’re back in Autumnboro, the New Hampshire autumn-themed town, just in time for Thanksgiving. Maple Sugar Crush is the second book in Beth Labonte’s Autumnboro series and it can be read as a standalone.
We met Josie in book #1 Pumpkin Everything and found out she is a lottery winner. She wants to help others so she decides to host a dinner for people who are alone for Thanksgiving. When Josie’s family turn up in Autumnboro to surprise her for Thanksgiving, Josie enlists Riley’s help and the two stage a fake relationship.
I really liked both the characters in this cozy romance. Josie won a Powerball jackpot a few years earlier and settled in Autumnboro to hide after being tricked by her boyfriend. She struggles to find real happiness in spite of her bank account balance. She feels like everyone is using her for her money and she can't trust anyone. Riley is a socially anxious funeral planner and the little brother of Kit Parker, a main character from the first book in the series.
This is a clean, cute, cozy Thanksgiving themed romance. It is fairly short and the story was well told. One of my favorite romance tropes is the "fake boyfriend". This book doesn't add anything new but it was cute and quick to read, especially if you’re looking for something in the PG 13 range....more
I liked the physical descriptions of all the places Theroux journeyed to in this book. He wrote this in 1970's we need to remember that his depictions represented the world as it was forty five years ago and often reflect typical American attitudes from that time. He is often extremely judgmental, which is common in all of his books that I have read.
Part of the charm of the book are the quick, sharp sketches of people Theroux meets on the way and his thoughts on the essence of the land he is traveling, its geography and the general condition of the local economy. "The Old Patagonian Express" is not just a book about traveling. It is a book about Central and South America.
He tells everything in the most natural way and, of course, with his personal views. Theroux is not an author who is described as arrogant, a snob, misanthrope, grumpy, etc.
Even though his trip is now decades ago, Paul Theroux's account of traveling the Americas (mostly) by train still paints a vivid picture. It's a worthwhile read for armchair travellers eager to experience the Americas....more
Voyage of the Beagle documents the second voyage of HMS Beagle, which sailed around the world visiting different countries. The original purpose of thVoyage of the Beagle documents the second voyage of HMS Beagle, which sailed around the world visiting different countries. The original purpose of the voyage was to survey the coasts of South America. While the seamen surveyed, Darwin would embark on land to observe the geography and wildlife. Based on the observations of animal diversity, Charles Darwin eventually developed his theory of evolution.
As the ship’s biologist, Darwin was responsible for cataloguing of the varieties of life they encountered, from Australian marsupials to Galapagos turtles, ferns to flowers. That his journal also contains the social events of lords and ladies his ship was greeted by at harbors around the world, gives a true travelogue feel to the narrative, one that indicates Darwin, along with being incredibly insightful, was was also an observer of human behavior.
The book consists of multiple journal entries, each documenting his observations of the surrounding geology and ecosystems. Similar to a scientific journal, Darwin describes the fine details of many plants and animals. Readers will note that Darwin had remarkable powers of observation.
It was interesting to see the world as it was almost 200 years ago but this was it bit of a boring read in many places. I think your enjoyment will depend on your personal interest of science, biology and animal studies....more
Maarten Troost and his girlfriend Sylvia move to “possibly the Worst Place on Earth” in search of an exotic life experience. They have no idea what to expect and even pack sweaters to take with them. They soon experience stifling heat, a variety of deadly bacteria, polluted seas, and toxic fish. To make matters worse the only music played on the island is La Macarena. It was hard not to laugh out loud.
Sylvia had accepted a two year contract job with the FSP (The Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific) where she helped create and maintain health, water and sanitation, nutritional and environmental programs for the citizens of Tarawa and the other islands of Kiribati. This leads to many other hilarious stories.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this travel story. Troost is an excellent narrator and adds just enough of himself into the story and provides excellent background on Kiribati. His writing is clear and humorous and I was disappointed to discover the book’s title is misleading: The Sex Lives of Cannibals has little about sex lives or cannibals....more
Having recently read of Aston's solo ski across the continent of Antarctica, I wanted to read more about Felicity Aston, groundbreaking physicist and Having recently read of Aston's solo ski across the continent of Antarctica, I wanted to read more about Felicity Aston, groundbreaking physicist and meteorologist.
Call of the White: Taking the World to the South Pole, is Felicity Aston’s account of her 2009 project to create a team of women from eight different Commonwealth countries, with no polar experience, and get them all to ski to the South Pole. She chose this expedition to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Commonwealth.
She selected women from Cyprus, India, Singapore, New Zealand, Ghana, Jamaica, Brunei Darussalam and the United Kingdom. Aston recounts their efforts to raise money, to deal with team conflicts, and ultimately, to ski (pulling a sledge) 900 km (560 miles) from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole. The expedition took 38 days.
Aston details her enormous efforts to find women and raise enough money so that the expedition could go ahead. The team was made up of a civil servant from Brunei, and IT worker from Cyprus, a journalist from Ghana, a trekking guide from India, a political adviser from Jamaica, a military doctor from New Zealand, a mother from Singapore, and an outdoor activity instructor from England. Some of the women had never before seen snow, let alone skiied.
Antarctica is one of the most brutal, merciless places on earth. There is one place in the book where Felicity describes the monotony on the Antarctic. Their willpower to have stuck to their journey is truly remarkable. Having experienced such isolation I can't believe that three years later she would choose to do a solo ski across Antarctica.
I enjoyed this book a little more than "Alone in Antarctica" and I think it was because of the stories of the individual women. Finding out what motivated them, especially with so little experience, to take on such a grueling challenge made for some interesting reading. I thought it was an amazing story about some inspiring women. If you enjoy non fiction exploration stories, give this one a try....more
Unnatural History is the first in a steampunk series called Pax Britannia. It's set in 1997, where Queen Victoria is about to celebrate her 160th yearUnnatural History is the first in a steampunk series called Pax Britannia. It's set in 1997, where Queen Victoria is about to celebrate her 160th year on the throne. The British Empire still spans the globe; and Magna Britannia has taken up a large part of the world.
Our hero, Ulysses Quicksilver, is a staunchly loyal agent of the Crown. He's also an adventurer, bon vivant and womanizer. At his side is his loyal butler, Nimrod, and later Simeon, a Neanderthal. He has been asked to investigate the disappearance of the evolutionary biologist Professor Galapagos, which leads him to the London Zoo and its menagerie of living dinosaurs, as well as a terrorist organization called the Darwinian Dawn.
""Unnatural History" is a mixed bag when it comes to genres. There are some horror elements, but also the classic adventure novel and a little historical fiction. The author shows a real flair for dramatic action sequences, including a dino-rampage which is vividly detailed.
I thought this was a fun story, in the vein of those classic adventures written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Ulysses was a wonderful mix of James Bond, Indiana Jones, Sherlock Holmes, and Doctor Who, all set in a steampunk London.
Don't get me wrong, this book has lots of flaws. It's campy and cliché-ridden. It's definitely not a literary masterpiece. The characters are simple and shallow, the romance is cheesy, the plot is predictable and we run from one over the top action scene to the next. But if you don’t take it too seriously, it was a lot of fun....more
Nefertiti's Heart is book #1 in the Artifacts Hunter series. Cara Devon has returned to London to settle her estranged father's estate. It soon becomeNefertiti's Heart is book #1 in the Artifacts Hunter series. Cara Devon has returned to London to settle her estranged father's estate. It soon becomes apparent why. When she was 14 years old, she was sold by her father to pay a debt, rather than give up one of his precious artifacts. She returned home to be beaten, surviving only because her grandmother saved her.
Cara has been shaped by her teenage years and those hardships have left mental, physical and psychological scars on her. These scars have formed her attitudes and her desire to be able to protect herself in any situation.
She teams up Nathaniel, Viscount Lyon, an allegedly villainous viscount, to sell her father's artifacts once she finds them. He's portrayed as this dark, cold, and calculating character, but of course, he and Cara are immediately attracted to each other. There’s also a serial killer in play and Scotland Yard Inspector Fraser is interested in how her father died and her whereabouts at the time.
"Nefertiti’s Heart" is a fun but dark romantic mystery story that offers a bit of many genres. The characters were engaging and I liked how the author developed the world and characters. In many ways Cara and Nate seem to be modeled on Eve Dallas and Rourke. She's a badass fighter whose had an abusive childhood and he's rich and powerful.
This was a fun romp through Victorian-era London, with the steampunk technological twist. I liked the way the mechanicals and the Victorian setting meshed together. The plot was riveting, the dialogue crisp, and all the loose ends wrapped up. I will definitely continue the series....more
Aniri is Third Daughter of the queen of Dharia and awaiting her eighteenth birthday so that she can marry for love, unlike her two older sisters. She Aniri is Third Daughter of the queen of Dharia and awaiting her eighteenth birthday so that she can marry for love, unlike her two older sisters. She is shocked when her mother arranges her betrothal to a "barbarian" prince of Jungali, a neighboring province. The Queen tells Aniri the choice is hers to make. After talking to Prince Malik, who makes an impassioned plea for her to marry him to forge peace between the two provinces, she reluctantly agrees. Her mother is also urging her to accept, travel to Jungali, and act as spy on her behalf. There are rumors that Jungali is building a huge airship, which could then be used to wage war on Dharia.
As soon as Aniri reaches Jungali, attempts on her life begin. As she becomes friends with Malik, she starts to feel guilty about potentially betraying him. She admires him and wonders if she is being lied to about Jungali's threats.
One of the things I like about Steampunk is that the female characters are physically strong and well versed in the use of weapons. There is never a boring moment in this book. The intrigue is layered enough to keep the reader guessing, and the characters were well developed. The action is nonstop, as Aniri goes from one situation to the next.
"The Third Daughter" has an East Indian setting. I am always looking for a non-traditional setting in a steampunk novel. I felt like it could have been utilized a little more but that may occur in the next two books of the trilogy. This is a very clean romance and the action is more prominent in the story. While not my favorite steampunk book, it wasn't as bad as the cheesy cover led me to believe.
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I thought Skies of Fire sounded interesting because it was set in a different version of 19th century Europe. Most steampunk novels have a Victorian EI thought Skies of Fire sounded interesting because it was set in a different version of 19th century Europe. Most steampunk novels have a Victorian Engand setting.
England is at war with the evil Hapsburgs, and not only do ships patrol the seas, but airships patrol the skies. The airships are under the command of Man O’ Wars. They are mentally, physically powerful men who have metal implants that make them stronger, faster, more aggressive, and even physically bigger. The Man O’ Wars have a symbiotic relationship with their airships. The metal implants generate energy that the ship collects and uses for power.
The main characters are Man O’ War, Christopher Redmond and Louisa Shaw, a British Naval Intelligence agent, and the woman who left him without telling him why, three years before. During a battle over Hapsburg territory, they get a distress signal. Christopher is amazed to discover that the agent they are rescuing is Louisa.
With Louisa on board and Christopher determined to help her with her mission to destroy a hidden munitions operation deep in enemy territory, the pair must confront their past so that the mission can be successful. Of course, all the tension, coupled with their possible deaths while attempting this mission, create an ideal situation for some steamy sex, enabling them to move forward.
I thought "Skies of Fire" was a bit light on the world-building, possibly because so much of it takes place aboard the airship. I thought it was an enjoyable read,. There are equal parts wartime spy thriller, action-adventure, and love story. The story moved seamlessly between the interpersonal stories and romance to the intensity of wartime. If you’re interested in testing out the steampunk genre and like based story, give "Skies of Fire" a look....more
Novelist and travel author Paul Theroux writes marvelous accounts of his far-flung excursions. In Riding the Iron Rooster, published in 1988, he spendNovelist and travel author Paul Theroux writes marvelous accounts of his far-flung excursions. In Riding the Iron Rooster, published in 1988, he spends a year crisscrossing China by train.
Theroux and his train journeys cover many corners of China, and even reach into Mongolia and Tibet. He has that very important knack of the good travel writer: he tells tales with highly specific details, but knows which details are not interesting for us. We meet fellow travelers, intriguing locals and see all manner of landscapes, foods and animals. He quizzes people about the Cultural Revolution, which in the mid-'80s was still a painful memory.
Theroux is cynical at times, especially as he encounters the lack of liberty he likes. He gets chaperoned and is incredibly annoyed by that. He is not there to write an article, but to understand a place and get a feel for the country.
Theroux will never be a tourist; he is the ultimate traveller. He became totally frustrated with the dirtiness and emptiness that is Northwest China and how worthless he found the “attractions” there. Certainly, China in the mid-80s must have differed greatly from the China of today.
I enjoy many of this author's travel books and the descrptions of places and people he meets. But I think the guy is probably a big, arrogant jackass and I wouldn't want to share a train ride with him....more
I can't imagine anything more awful than traveling by "vagabonding". I love the idea of a nice hotel reservation in every place I visit, hopefully witI can't imagine anything more awful than traveling by "vagabonding". I love the idea of a nice hotel reservation in every place I visit, hopefully with room service. I decided to read Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of Long-Term World Travel by Rolf Potts to see why so many people love this type of travel.
The first section deals with the philosophy of travel and why it doesn't take a huge amount of cash to make long term travel a reality. Getting Started covers the financial aspects of vagabonding, both in terms of saving for the journey and also earning money while you travel. On The Road deals with getting the most from your travels and goes into a great deal on cross-cultural interactions, safety, health and planning. The Coming Home section gives advice on how best to readjust once you return from your travels.
There are also some great tips for funding your adventures without needing a fortune, as well as strategies for overcoming the mental hurdles that come with having a fluid travel plan. Potts offers great tips on how to truly connect with places and people.
"Vagabonding" offers inspiration, practical advice and philosophical musings that can enrich even the most seasoned wanderer and be particularly helpful to inexperienced travelers. While I still think it looks like a horrible way to travel, I recommend reading this book before embarking on your own vagabond....more
Kiss of Steel is the first book in the London Steampunk series. Honoria Todd was once a part of the Echelon (the upper-class), but when her father wasKiss of Steel is the first book in the London Steampunk series. Honoria Todd was once a part of the Echelon (the upper-class), but when her father was killed, she was forced to take to the streets in order to protect her younger siblings. She is also being hunted by an extremely dangerous man named Vickers who wants her father's secret diaries. She has them carefully hidden but knows he'll stop at nothing to get them.
Now, having lost her job, she's forced to turn to one of the local crime lords for help, Blade, the Devil of Whitechapel, a rogue blue blood who managed to escape the Echelon and make an empire of his own among the rookeries where he has ruled for the past fifty years. Having no wish to become his mistress, Honoria offers her services as a teacher of elocution and etiquette three evenings a week.
Blade is a blue blood, whose infected vampire-like bodies are superior to those of the healthy people all around them. Honoria's father diaries contain a potential cure to keep blue bloods from descending into a blood mad zombie like frenzy.
The world-building is some of the most creative I’ve seen. with its steam cabs, bio-mechanic limbs, clockwork toys and Metaljacket soldiers. It's set in a recognizable Victorian London. The main characters have great chemistry and the secondary characters are sure to have their own books in the future.
I enjoyed the romance, but also the mystery, and adventure aspects of this book. There was a lot of action and world building to keep the story moving. The romance was a slow burn with but worth it in the end. Overall, I found the entire cast of characters, their chemistry, the premise, the setting, and unique storyline very interesting. I will definitely be reading more from this series....more
Adam & Evie's Matchmaking Tour was an absolutely adorable story. Growing up, Evie Lang found solace in her summer visits with Auntie Hao, who created Adam & Evie's Matchmaking Tour was an absolutely adorable story. Growing up, Evie Lang found solace in her summer visits with Auntie Hao, who created a sense of community and excitement at her beautiful row house in San Francisco. Evie's Vietnamese father that had passed away, and her American mother stepped back from anything that was her husband’s culture. When Auntie Hao dies, she leaves one stipulation in her will....the house belongs to Evie, but only if she agrees to go on a matchmaking tour in their homeland of Vietnam.
Evie is a poet who is currently experiencing writer's block. She had a boyfriend, until it turned out he was going to fire her because her unusual methods of teaching and lack of publication. Our other main character is Adam Quyen: CMO for Love Yeu, the matchmaking startup designed by his sister Ruby. A graduate of Stanford university he was a successful businessman until he was guilted by his family to join Ruby's business.
Adam thinks Evie is chaotic and unpredictable. Evie thinks Adam is grumpy and uptight. Evie does not fit into the strict standards Adam’s controlling family set for him, and Evie’s writing career is keeping her in America. This starts a “will they or won’t they” push and pull situation as both go from strong attraction to one another, to trying to be practical about the reality of their incompatibility.
The book offers alternating chapters from both Evie and Adam’s viewpoints. They had immense chemistry. I loved their banter and their almost connections in the first half of the book.
This author did a fantastic job of taking a romantic comedy just a step further to tell a really meaningful story. This book had such a great balance of romance, friendships, complicated family dynamics, humor, and spice.
Nguyen paints Vietnam in such vivid strokes. From the bustling streets of Ho Chi Minh City to the serene beauty of Ha Long Bay, it’s a love letter to a country that pulses with life and history. The supporting cast of characters were dynamic and entertaining, and I finished the book feeling like I’d been part of the tour group myself. A wonderful feel good read that was one of those hidden gems that surprises you as it unfolds. I ended up loving it much more than I expected, and I’m already looking forward to reading more from this author....more
When tall, white, gay Southerner, Tim Anderson decides his life in North Carolina is in a rut, he chooses to make a dramatic change and moves to JapanWhen tall, white, gay Southerner, Tim Anderson decides his life in North Carolina is in a rut, he chooses to make a dramatic change and moves to Japan. He took a job teaching English with MOBA, a popular Japanese language school. In Tune in Tokyo: The Gaijin Diaries. The book covers a range of topics, from crazy roommates to seductive Lolita students, featuring funny moments and observations on Japanese American cultural differences, gay Manga, and Tokyo street fashion.
I did enjoy Anderson’s stories of trying to teach English to his Japanese students and his own frustrations in trying to learn Japanese. Much of his teaching was in trying to have his Japanese students have a conversation in English. They discussed almost anything and everything, from the mundane to the more challenging subjects.
The author's observations were often laugh-out-loud funny and I enjoyed it more than I expected....more
In 2016, Mark Woods wanted to write a book about the National Park Service for its 100-year anniversary. Woods proposed visiting twelve national parksIn 2016, Mark Woods wanted to write a book about the National Park Service for its 100-year anniversary. Woods proposed visiting twelve national parks. He selected a nice mixture of huge, famous parks like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon as well as the the lesser-known parks, like the Dry Tortugas with decrepit facilities, no fresh water, and few visitors.
Woods’s year of national park travel dovetailed with the unexpected timing of his mother’s dying from cancer. Woods’s mother was an instrumental force in his love for the parks that started when he was a boy. This is not just a memoir of Woods’s year traveling through national parks, one park per month, it’s a memoir that hits upon the need for connection to place, to people and to self.
The best moments in the book involve the author’s interactions with the people he meets along the way: park rangers, superintendents, and fellow visitors. He meets colorful characters and recreates their conversations in a way that make one feel as though they’re sitting at the same table.
Our national parks are a wonder and source of pride for Americans of all political stripes, and we should celebrate both the people whose foresight led to their creation (Teddy Roosevelt, John Muir) and those alive today (rangers and volunteers) who keep them sacred.
All of Liv's friends think she is a “perfect” person, one who’s popular and pretty and has a perfect boyfriend. However, she’s still struggling with tAll of Liv's friends think she is a “perfect” person, one who’s popular and pretty and has a perfect boyfriend. However, she’s still struggling with the fact that her dad abandoned her and her mom when she was eight to search for the lost city of Atlantis. One day, she gets a postcard from him inviting her to Santorini to help with his documentary on Atlantis. She reluctantly goes. Soon she becomes immersed in his daily life in Greece at a bookstore owned by Ana, her dad’s business partner, and her son Theo. They head off in search of Atlantis while getting to know each other more.
The author was able to somehow perfectly portray the delicate, complex emotions of a daughter who is both furious at her father for leaving her and loves him deeply at the same time. At the beginning of each chapter, readers are introduced to an item left behind by her father that Liv has kept safe for all these years and recorded its significance. This was really emotionally charged and it created an intimacy between the reader and Liv, as well as building a backstory and context in order to appreciate the emotional part of the story.
Love & Olives depicted a girl struggling to reconcile with her father while they hunt for Atlantis in Santorini, Greece. The romance was cute, and I learned a lot about Atlantis. Theo made a good love interest and served as videographer of the documentary. He was funny and sweet and enjoyed being the go-between between Liv and her dad.
My very favorite part of the book, though, is the setting. Jenna Evans Welch is really excellent at bringing readers to the location she has her story set in. The descriptions of the water and the sunsets and the night sky were just beautiful, not to mention the winding pathways of Santorini and the white buildings with the blue roofs.
I felt like Love & Olives could have been shorter and it was fairly predictable as are most of the series. While part of the Love & Gelato series it's definitely a standalone novel. If you liked the other books in the series, you will probably like this one too....more
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