Saturday, November 16, 2024

Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pages: 304 pages
Published: September 2024

Often on this blog I have written, Not every book is for everybody. If that statement was applicable to only one book I’ve reviewed on this blog, Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell would definitely be that book. What Campbell has done in this dystopian novel is creatively craft a fictional utopia that allows people of color, specifically Black people, to consider ideal beauty, ideal power, ideal wealth, and ideal success without the concept of white being that ideal. The end result is a story that taps into Black consciousness, a love letter of sorts to Black culture.

I’ve seen several reviews that the book is racist. I don’t think that is a fair criticism. I think the book, like any good form of art, makes the audience experience a level of discomfort. If that is not something you enjoy in your entertainment, this book is not for you because not every book is for everybody. The story is also science fiction; emphasis on fiction. No one is wishing any one group of people walk to the nearest body of water never to return. This is simply the fictional plot device the author used to create a vehicle that allows the reader to think deeper and ponder what a literal post-racial America might look like. I didn’t find it hateful. I found it cerebral, thought-provoking; an example of identity.

The writing is absolutely outstanding. The sentence structure, the use of metaphors, the lyrical prose kept me thoroughly engaged until the satisfying end. I consumed this book in hardback while also listening to the audio (thanks Spotify!). The writing is strong enough to stand on its own, but the narrators on audio acted out a superb performance. While I highly praise this book, it is not perfect. There are some plot holes and ideas that don’t really seem plausible (refer back to the sci-fi part). The concept is lofty, and I think the execution was pretty solid for a debut.

Recommendation: I truly enjoyed this book, and I appreciated the recommendation from my reading buddy, so much so that I paid to forward to my husband who is listening to the audiobook now. This is a read I’d like to revisit because there’s so much detail to unpack and ponder. I can’t wait to read what Mr. Campbell writes next!

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

In a League of Her Own by Kaia Alderson

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pages: 352 pages
Published: August 2024

In a League of Her Own is my second read by author Kaia Alderson. I really enjoyed Sister in Arms, and highly anticipated her sophomoric, historical fiction novel. In this story, we learn about Effa Manley, a Black business-minded woman who wanted more for herself than to be someone’s wife or mother. In this, I could relate. The book synopsis teases that she becomes a pivotal figure in the male-dominated industry of baseball and, to date, the only woman inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Effa Manley the person seems larger than life, but this dramatized retelling of her life fell short for me.

While the writing is solid, the structure of the novel didn’t flow very well, and I think the reader should have walked away with an appreciation of Manley’s glass-breaking efforts. However, she was presented in a disappointing way. The relationship with her husband was odd, and I’m not sure what value it added to this story. The main character seemed a little self-absorbed and more focused on her name, pride, and reputation than the good of the community.

I also thought the book would be more focused on her career in the baseball industry, but two-thirds of the story focused on her career in fashion and local civil rights. So, the title almost seems to be a misnomer. Additionally, because the author took so many liberties with the story, additional research is required to determine which parts are fictional and which are historical.

Recommendation: I did enjoy picking up on some of the cross-over characters from Sisters in Arms, and I do want to know more about Manley’s real life, but perhaps because my expectations were high, this one was a bit of a letdown for me. I think if you know what you’re getting before reading this, it could be a more enjoyable read. I am hopeful this review helps with that.

I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pages: 352 pages
Published: May 2024

I found this gem of a book the old fashioned way, perusing a book store and letting the good read find me! I Hope This Finds You Well is not only a familiar adage for those of us working (emailing) in corporate business situations, but it is a humous story with many layers and a debut for author Natalie Sue. It's a solid debut. The story is centered around Jolene, who is an administrative worker for a corporation in Canada. As a coping mechanism, she writes sarcastic messages at the bottom of real emails but changes the text to white ... until she doesn't. She makes a mistake with her arch nemesis and gets in hot water with management. When the new HR representative puts tracking software on her computer during her probationary period, she inadvertently gains access to the entire company's email and chat (think Microsoft Teams) messages. She attempts to use the intel to her advantage in hopes of securing her job, but instead she learns that not all things are what they seem, and people are so much more than their email addresses and usernames.

I found this book to be quite delightful. It had a little bit of everything. It was funny, touching, romantic, and entertaining. While I do question the realistic ability for someone to gain access to the communication Jolene was privy to, the overall message was greater than the technicalities. At the end of the day, we're all trying to survive and be the best person we can be. And sometimes that can be lonely. This book made me think about connecting with people on a level beyond digital, and it made me thankful I found it in a non-digital way.

Recommendation: As one of my school teachers used to say, "Life is hard. Then you die." I think this book reminds readers that we can make what happens in between more pleasant for ourselves and those around us. I am thankful for this copy, and highly recommend it to others look for a read that touches on all the emotions. If this book is any indication, I think Sue has a healthy writing career ahead!

The Wedding People by Alison Espach

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pages: 384 pages
Published: July 2024

Another summer reading pick by Barnes & Noble, The Wedding People by Alison Espach did not disappoint. Written in third person, the novel takes us on a weeklong journey where Phoebe Stone has booked a suite at the extravagant Cornwall Inn for one-night with plans to die of suicide after living through the Covid pandemic and dealing with the grief of the end of her marriage. Unbeknownst to her, Lila, who can be a bit of a bridezilla, has booked the rest of this beautiful hotel for the perfect wedding she's been planning throughout Covid and to fulfill her dying father's wish. When Lila meets Phoebe and learns of her plans, she is intent on stopping her from ruining her perfectly planned soiree.

For the remainder of the story, we learn more about Phoebe, Lila, and a diverse cast of characters. The plot has some deep elements that are a bit heavy, but the author takes great care with them. Her writing allows space for the read to contemplate the ramifications of one's actions (or inaction). Everything comes together well in the end, but not perfectly, and that makes the book all the more endearing. Life is not perfect either.

But there are a lot of perfect quotes in this book that I highlighted in the Kindle version I borrowed from my local library. Here are just a few -

“I just mean, a story can be beautiful not because of the way it ends. But because of the way it’s written.”

And Matt could do that—turn off the TV, quit a marriage—right in the middle of the climactic scene.

She was always too embarrassed to admit that she ever wanted anything, as if there was something humiliating about being a person with desires.

This is exactly what Phoebe has always hated and loved about life—how unpredictable it is, how things can change in an instant.

How are you supposed to go from being the center of someone’s world to being irrelevant? To sobbing in your best friend’s arms unthinkingly to being afraid to call them after your father dies? Phoebe doesn’t know. She, too, was caught unprepared by that kind of loss.

But Phoebe is starting to understand that on some nights, Lila is probably the loneliest girl in the world, just like Phoebe. And maybe they are all lonely. Maybe this is just what it means to be a person. To constantly reckon with being a single being in one body. Maybe everybody sits up at night and creates arguments in their head for why they are the loneliest person in the world.

At the time, the darkness felt like life. It is all about moving on. Saying goodbye to whoever you thought you were, whoever you thought you would be.

“Your husband is not going to take care of you the way you think,” Phoebe says. “Nobody can take care of you the way you need to take care of yourself. It’s your job to take care of yourself like that.”

It is not an easy thing to do, walk away from what you’ve built and save yourself.

She is so good at predicting what will happen in books, so bad at predicting what will happen in life. That is why she has always preferred books—because to be alive is much harder.

Recommendation: I really enjoyed this book. This is a story of healing, and there were many touches of humor, but I would definitely categorize it as literary fiction. I think this is one that could be read at any time.

Trigger warnings include suicide, death in the family, marital affair, and infertility.

Sisters with a Side of Greens by Michelle Stimpson

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Duration: 12:38:00
Published: March 2024

I learned about Sisters with a Side of Greens from one of my book community groups on Facebook, and I am so thankful I did. After listening to the audiobook I borrowed from my local library, I already know I would appreciate reading more by Michelle Stimpson who has a knack for women's fiction that speaks to women in general and African American women specifically. This story is about ... you guessed it ... two estranged sisters who are struggling to find forgiveness with each other and more forward to their third act in life.

Rose, who has recently retired from the U.S. Post Office plans to complete her unfilled dream of starting a restaurant using her mother's secret seasoning to pave her way to success. Her sister, Marvina, is living in east Texas and much of her identity is wrapped up in serving her community and church. However, Rose needs Marvina's cooperation and financial help to get her restaurant started. Marvina's primary church outreach service is coming to an end, and she needs to find a new life purpose. The sisters are both strong-willed and opinionated, and the author takes us on their journey of discovering what's happened in the past, what's next, and their love for each other again.

I truly enjoyed this story, and it was a bonus that it was set in Texas, so there were familiar points of reference in the novel. Stimpson has created realistic characters, a memorable story, and an entertaining read that kept me company for a couple of days on my commute to work. I can't wait to read what she writes next.

Recommendation: I am thankful for this recommendation I got through Facebook. As a reader, a foodie, and a sister, I found the story quite relatable and very enjoyable. I strongly recommend this book.

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pages: 478 pages
Published: July 2024

At 500 pages in hardback, The God of the Woods looks long but it doesn't feel long. This mystery truly captivated me. And not necessarily because of the mystery but more so the lyrical prose that guided the reader through the story. There were a lot of characters with two vacillating time periods, but the author crafted the plot in such a way that I never felt lost or overwhelmed.

The novel opens in 1975 where 13-year old Barbara Van Laar has gone missing from a summer camp owned by her family. While this is tragic enough, her brother also vanished 14 years earlier. A full-scale search ensues, and the reader is provided clues to the dark family's past that seemingly make everyone feel like a suspect. Coupled with the frantic search and family secrets is a challenging economic dynamic among the community that creates even more suspects in the disappearance of both children.

There's a lot going on with this book, but it done really well and there is a complete ending that I found satisfying, but I will warn future readers, it's not tied up all nicely in a bow at the end. One of my favorite parts of this book was the writing. Here are a couple of my favorite, poignant passages.

It came from the Greek god Pan: the god of the woods. He liked to trick people, to confuse and disorient them until they lost their bearings, and their minds. -p. 40

The best part of being married to George Barlow for a decade was learning that it’s all right not to do everything that’s expected of you all the time. This is a notion that has been positively liberating for me. The way we were raised - the way our parents raised us, I mean - it trained us to think it’s our job to be absolutely correct in everything that we do. But it isn’t, Bunny. Do you see? We can have our own thoughts, our own inner lives. We can do as we please, if we only learn not to care so much about what people think. -p. 112-113

Rich people, thought Judy-she thought this then, and she thinks it now-generally become most enraged when they sense they’re about to be held accountable for their wrongs. -p. 158

Recommendation: Barnes & Noble selected this book for one of its summer monthly reads, and it was a good selection, indeed. I highly recommend this one. Don't rush to learn the ending, but rather take your time and enjoy the journey.

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pages: 384 pages
Published: June 2024

Jackpot Summer by Elyssa Friedland was a top pick in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club's 2024 Summer Reading Guide. It was listed under family drama, and this book had plenty of that. A year after their mother dies of lung cancer, the four adult Jacobson children gather in their family's beloved beach home for one last vacation before their father sells it to retire in Florida. While cleaning out their things, the youngest sibling, Noah decides to buy a lottery ticket. The two sisters go in with him, but their older brother and his wife refuse to participate. As luck would have it, they win and are quite literally millionaires overnight. But as we have often learned in real life, money does not buy happiness. Instead this family gets a lot of unfulfilling material items, emotional baggage including guilt and resentment, and a large physical rift amongst the haves and have-nots within the Jacobson clan.

The story was engaging and kept my interest in that I was curious to learn what happened to this fictional family, but I didn't really care. It wasn't like they were truly struggling before, and the winnings brought out some of their most undesirable traits. I do appreciate the greater lesson, the author crafted along the way. I do enjoy this particular author's writing style (see The Most Likely Club), but this story just didn't live up to the hype like I thought it would. It was a light summer read with a happy ending, and, upon reflected, I think that's all I should have expected.

Recommendation: This book was a little on the long side, and it wasn't my favorite read for the summer nor was it the worst thing I've read. I'm putting this one in the take it or leave it category.

The Guncle by Steven Rowley

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Duration: 11:24:00
Published: May 2021

I've had an audio copy on my Audible app of The Guncle by Steven Rowley for a couple of years now. The premise sounded intriguing, and I suspected I might enjoy it audibly. Guncle is a portmanteau of gay and uncle, and in this story, Patrick is the titular character. He is often referred to as guncle and also gup for Gay Uncle Patrick by his niece and nephew, Maisie and Grant respectively. Sadly, we meet the children just after their mother, Sarah, has died from cancer, and their father is trying to overcome depression and drug addiction. Greg, the father, asks his brother, Patrick, to take care of the children over the summer in California while he is at a nearby recovery facility. So, Patrick reluctantly takes the children from the east coast to his home to help his brother and help the children during this dark time.

Patrick has some sadness of his own he's trying to heal from and in the midst of helping Greg, he self-actualizes and fulfills a greater purpose for his extended family. Throughout the novel, he espouses his "guncle rules." I think the author intended these as comedic relief for heavier topics; however, I honestly do not remember many of them. They were a lot and difficult to keep up with on audio. I do remember chuckling at some of them and the scenarios that necessitated the rules.

My main issue with this book is the religion bashing. I don't understand why religion and homosexuality always have to be pitted against one another and we can find a way to co-exist in real life and in fiction. The multiple religious mentions in a condescending manner were a put off and soured the book.

Recommendation: I finally hit play on this audiobook in hopes to quickly move to the sequel - The Guncle Abroad. However, this one didn't meet my expectations, so I instead, moved to something else more appealing. I think this book is for a specific audience that I am not a member of.

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean by Kim Scott

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pages: 279 pages
Published: March 2017

Radical Candor was recommended by a colleague for a professional development program in which I was enrolled. I found the book, along with it supplementary podcast of the same name, to be very informational and transformational in the way that women leaders (aka just plain old leaders) can communicate effectively within the corporate workspace. The author is an established leader in her own right having served in high-level positions at Dropbox, Twitter, Google, and Apple. In her work, she posits that radical candor is where relationship and honesty combine thus you can care personally but also challenge directly to effect change and accomplish goals at work.

Some of my key takeaways from this book were:

Placing a focus on achieving growth collaboratively,
Recognizing that an organization is comprised of people, so it's OK to take things personally,
Tolerating bad work is unfair to people who are doing excellent work,
Working to praise publicly but criticize privately,
Realizing that a team needs both rock stars for stability and super stars for growth, and
Listening is a key component in developing a good team.

"A boss's ability to achieve results has a lot more to do with listening and seeking to understand than it does with telling people what to do." -Kim Scott

Recommendation: Overall, I found this book to be well-written and touch on a myriad of points essential to being an effective leader. I enjoyed that it was written by a woman as I could relate to that perspective. The book was a little long and could have benefitted from some tighter editing, but it was a fulfilling read that included many tips that I could and have put to practice professionally.

You Are Here by David Nicholls

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pages: 368 pages
Published: May 2024

You Are Here by David Nicholls was selected by Anne Bogel for her annual 2024 Summer Reading Guide as part of my benefits as a member of the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club. Bogel always does a good job with picking diverse selections for the organization, even if they don’t always hit home with me. Gratefully, this one did. It’s one I slowly savored over its nearly 400 pages and thought about long after I closed the hardback cover.

The story centers around Michael and Marnie, both recovering from romantic relationships that have come to an end. Michael, a geography teacher in London plans to embark on a weeklong coast-to-coast walk on the English countryside in solitude. His colleague, boss, and well-meaning friend, Cleo, asserts herself into the adventure by tagging along. She also invites Marnie, another friend who has become a bit of a recluse in the years following her divorce from her difficult husband. As a freelance proofreader who worked in the field during the Covid pandemic, she has become comfortable and accustomed bo being alone. Cleo attempts to play a bit of a matchmaker by bringing a female friend for Michael and a male friend for Marnie along for the journey. However, due to circumstances beyond all their control, the hike starts with many and ends up with Michael and Marnie on the trek alone together.

I really enjoyed the slow burn of this book. The prose is captivatingly descriptive, and there isn’t much dialogue. Nicholls does an excellent job of painting vivid pictures with his words. As someone who found love later in life, and traveled the bumpy road to get here, I was drawn to this book because of the parallels in my own life. While the story was relatable it provided so much more. The talking and walking that Michael and Marnie engaged in was akin to getting a voyeuristic gateway into the relationship development of others, making the story enticing. I especially loved the section of the book where Marnie extended her walk with Michael and they listened to and shared their favorite songs and meanings that impacted their respective formative years. As a music love and bibliophile, this scene was simply perfect.

Private, intimate, a book was something she could pull around and over herself, like a quilt. -p. 51

She would shrug off this self-pity but shrugging hurt and here it was, creeping in again like damp in the walls, the loneliness, present even in company. -p. 86

For the moment she felt content, not because she’d spoken but because she’d been listened to. -p. 153

In the Lavender Suite she had felt like a teenager but also exactly her own age, and that combination was thrilling and rare, lust and experience, together at last. -p. 242

Perhaps solitude is more frightening when something is snatched away. -p. 244

While the ending wasn’t neatly wrapped up in a bow, it was satisfying and left me feeling fulfilled. I read Nicholl’s One Day years ago, but I have to say this one found me at just the right time, and I loved it all the more. My one minor criticism is based on my limitations in geographic knowledge of the UK. The map provided in the front of the book did help provide some context, but I wish I had more first-hand experience with the area for a greater understanding.

Recommendation: If you’ve ever been in love or overcome (or are overcoming) heartbreak, I think you could find value in this novel. Just keep in mind, it’s not about the destination. It’s the slow, quiet journey through two characters’ perspective.

Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pages: 432 pages
Published: April 2024

Just for the Summery is Abby Jimenez' third book in her Part of Your World series. I’ve secured all three books from Book of the Month and devoured them as they have published. While the three books have some crossover characters, it is not necessary to read them in order as they are standalone. However, there are some fun nuggets in this third book that the reader would recognize and enjoy having read the previous two. I love book series like this one that are a little loose.

This latest installment features Justin and Emma who both believe they are cursed with the strange situation that every person they date goes on to find their forever person after they break up with them. They learn about this commonality on a hilarious Reddit thread, and Justin goes out on a limb and asks Emma, who is a traveling nurse, to date him so they can both find their respective forever person post-experiment/break up.

This is a romcom, so you can imagine what ultimately happens, but as with all Jimenez' books, she gives us a fully-fleshed plot with complex character development. Her books are of substance - physically and literarily. In addition to some of the deeper topics like abuse, neglect, and depression to name a few, the story author balances those with lighter banter and appropriate humor. For example, the Toilet King advertisement is a continual thread of humor throughout the entire book that helps break up some of the heavier scenes.

Recommendation: I read this book over a few days while I was on a business trip, and business was really getting in the way of my reading time! I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the creative way in which it was told. This book is all the rage this summer - and rightfully so. As one of my book friends said, "You speak so highly of her books!" And it's true. This is one I highly recommend for your summer reading pleasure. Grab your copy today!

The Husbands by Holly Gramazio

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Pages: 352 pages
Published: April 2024

I first learned about The Husbands by Holly Gramazio via the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club's Spring 2024 Book Preview, then the club chose the book as its June selection. The premise seemed intriguing and fun, so I ordered and copy and dug in so I could finish it in time to engage in the forums and listen to the upcoming author talk.

One night, Lauren, the main character, comes home from a girl's night out and finds a man coming down from her attic who purports to be her husband. This seems innocent enough except she's never been, nor is currently, married. She's never seen this man before, and everyone in her life knows him as her husband. From there, Lauren learns that she can generate a new husband, and thus a new life, by sending the existing husband back into the attic for a random, made-up task.

I was sorely disappointed.

I shouldn't have gone into this book with any expectations, but I did. I thought Lauren would have experienced a handful of husbands and I, as the reader, would learn more about them and their respective relationships with her. Unfortunately, Lauren used the attic as a revolving door to overly judge and pick apart just about every husband we meet in depth. By the middle of the book, she's had over 100 husbands, but the reader has only gotten to know a fraction of them and sometimes for only a few paragraphs. The only character really featured in this book is the main one, and she's not very likable. By the midway point, I just wanted to quit because I didn't care whether she found her soulmate or not, but I preserved hoping that it would get better and so that I would have a richer experience in book club.

It didn't get better.

I think the problem with this book is there was no set-up for Lauren, the inciting action literally takes place on page 1. There's no build-up, no development. And from there Lauren's interactions with her husbands, friends, and family are largely superficial. I don't really feel like I got to know any of the other characters with the exception of Bohai, and he's largely a secondary character for Lauren's using to avoid potential plot holes. (And speaking of plot holes, since she was regenerating lives, like a video game, why didn't she just purchase her own air rifle? That one really bugged me.) There was just nothing to root for in this story. It was simply Lauren never ever being satisfied with her life, which, honestly, is kind of sad.

Recommendation: Neat premise; poor execution. If the author chooses to write again, I think she could benefit from some better editing and beta readers. Overall, the plot seemed to be somewhat of a game, which makes sense because Gramazio is a game designer, even creating an interactive husband generator game on her website to promote the book. In terms of recommending this book, it's gonna be a no for me.

Coming Home by Brittney Griner with Michelle Burford

Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Duration: 10:36:00
Published: May 2024

I used my last Audible credit on my birthday, before I canceled my membership, to purchase Brittney Griner's Coming Home where she recounts the horrifying 10 months she was wrongfully detained in Russia for mistakenly bringing 0.7 grams of medically-prescribed hash oil on a flight from her home in Phoenix. She was returning to Russia to finish out the season playing for the Russia women's basketball team after recuperating from a COVID-19 diagnosis.

This story is so maddening I don't know that I could have made it through the book if I didn't know the ending. The non-fictional story is presented in an engaging way and provides insight and details to Griner's horrifying ordeal that we, as a nation, did not hear about on the news. Griner narrates the prologue and epilogue, and Andia Winslow does a beautiful job narrating the story in between. I was also really was inspired by how much effort her wife, Cherelle, invested in keeping the campaign for her return alive in the midst of dealing with her own trauma and carrying out her daily responsibilities including passing the bar exam.

From a personal level, what's even more infuriating than what happened to Griner is the lack of empathy from her fellow U.S. citizens, including some I know personally, who had such vitriol to share about her. It is disappointing that people can be so black and white and not give grace or space for others. I try not to dwell on the negativity but rather the community that came together and embodied the #WeAreBG movement. Whether you agree with the politics of her detainment and ultimate release is of little-to-no consequence. She is back on U.S. soil, thank God, and you will never be able to make me believe in the same situation, you wouldn't take whatever opportunity presented to you to get back home to your loved ones. My only hope is that one day the majority of people in the U.S. will have the same amount of compassion and energy for people who look like Griner as they do for people like Amber Guyger and Michael P. Fay.

For Griner to come out on the other side of this as a person who is not only healing from her trauma but also exhibiting a very positive mindset is commendable. What she is doing to help bring light to other wrongfully detained U.S. citizens across the globe is inspiring. I admire her courage and her strength to carry on, including her plans to represent the U.S. in the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.

Recommendation: I enjoyed getting to know more about Griner, her family, and how she is moving forward. I have nothing to send her but positive and healing energy for the future.

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Pages: 387 pages
Published: August 2023

Happiness Falls, at the surface, is a literary mystery about a father who goes missing in a Washington DC-area park, and the last person who was with him was his young son who has a rare genetic condition that prohibits him from speaking. What's more is the fictional story takes place during the summer of 2020, which posed additional challenges in solving the missing person case in the midst of a global pandemic. On a deeper level, the story is more philosophical and thought-provoking. It begs the questions, what does it mean to be happy? What is the difference between being non-verbal and non-communicative? How does verbal language communicate intelligence? What role does race play in how we perceive and are perceived? How do we protect the ones we love, especially in the most challenging of circumstances?

The book is narrated by the older sister, who is a twin. She and both her brothers and mother come together as a family to work out and reconcile what has happened to the patriarch of their family. The specific plot of the mystery is not necessarily the most important aspect of the book, but it helps propel the story forward. I found this story to beautifully written, and I appreciated the way it made me think about things. There's a lot to unpack beyond the mystery, which is resolved in the course of the books nearly 400 pages. This is one I slowly savored and wouldn't mind reading again.

Recommendation: This book was on my TBR list for far too long. I am happy I read it. This is one of those books where you're not going to get a nice and tidy ending, but you will get a complete and fulfilling story. I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy cerebral reads that can easily be discussed with others.

Up Home: One Girl's Journey by Ruth J. Simmons

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Duration: 06:51:00
Published: September 2023

I first learned about Up Home: One Girl's Journey, an autobiography by Ruth J. Simmons through one of Audible's many monthly sales. Convincing myself I didn't need to purchase another book (ha!), I borrowed the audiobook from my local library. Ruth J. Simmons did such a beautiful job telling her story, in her words, in her way, I had to purchase a physical copy.

I will start this review by providing a bit of background about Dr. Simmons. She the first African American to serve as president for an Ivy League institution, Brown University. She holds an undergraduate degree from an HBCU, Dillard University, and received her graduate degrees, including her doctorate, from Harvard University. Her research is in romance languages and literature. And as she tells the story of her humble beginnings in east Texas, she explains how her local school teacher made an impact on her, sparking her love of words. It was at this point in the audiobook I empathized with Simmons. On page 71 of the hard copy she said:

Fascinated with the precision afforded by mysterious multisyllabic words, I began memorizing some that Miss Ida Mae used. I collected words as some children my age collected dolls, stamps, or baseball cards; the pursuit was not merely empowering, it was as if I was inheriting a fortune.

It was her love of words and the way she shared them that made me fall in love with this book. I was also engrossed and moved by the story of this woman who grew up the youngest child of 12 and sharecroppers who would go on to become an effective leader in academia and be held in high regard. I'm sure no one in her family could have imagined that she would attain such status coming from a home where they often lacked the basic necessities. I related to so many parts of her story. My parents grew up similarly in their respective homes and have also overcome the odds of racism, societal expectations, prejudice, redlining and so much more to be successful pillars of society. When Simmons spoke of her childhood and her mom straightening her hair with a hot comb, again I related and I smiled.

The majority of the book, Simmons talks about her childhood, the challenges with her father, her mother's untimely death, and her quest to get an education. As a reader, I felt as though she was walking me down her life's path. I only wish the journey would have been longer and she would have shared more about her career and what challenges she faced in being the "first" in a lot of spaces. Perhaps Simmons is saving that for a future book. I sure hope so. I'm not going to fool myself. I'll be buying a copy of that one too if it comes to fruition!

Recommendation: This is definitely one of those books where representation is important and needed. Simmons testimony is not only a beautiful one but is greatly needed, and I am thankful she published her story of triumph over everything. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. said, of her book, "Destined to take its place in the canon of great African American autobiographies." I certainly agree, but I might revise his quote to say this book will take its place in the great canon of autobiographies, period.

The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Pages: 336 pages
Published: December 2023

After reading All We Were Promised, I was in search of a lighter read, so, from my TBR list, I picked up The Second Chance Year by Melissa Wiesner. It was definitely lighter, and the premise was fun and imaginative, but I had hoped for a little more mature book. The novel features Sadie who, at the opening of the book, has lost her job, apartment, and boyfriend because, according to her, she speaks her mind. On New Year's Eve, she accompanies her best friend to a party where she meets a fortune teller who gives her a do-over of the very bad year that resulted in her losses. The remainder of the book is a series of situations that Sadie tries to correct from the previously-lived year. In the midst of discovering who she was, she learns who she needs to be to be true to herself.

I really enjoyed the overall idea of the story. It was an entertaining plot. However, I would classify the novel more as young adult fiction, and I do enjoy my fair share of that genre, I just would have had different expectations going in if it was labeled as a more juvenile story - not because the characters are young but because some of their actions seem immature and underdeveloped.

While Sadie was a likable protagonist, she seemed one-dimensional. The constant repetition of her "very bad year" reminded me of Judith Viorst's "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day." By employing this repetitive tactic, I think the author short-sells the reader assuming they won't be able to discern between the timelines. The story and plot were clearly written, and I don't think this distinction was needed. There were also a couple of plot holes that left me scratching my head - like how did the old lady know to bring Gio the cat to the coffee shop on that exact day? How could Sadie not realize that changing her life would change those around her?

Recommendation: This was a relatively short book, but I really had a hard time sticking with it. This was my first read by this author. I think I might choose another written by her because I do think she has good story ideas. This one just didn't do it for me.

All We were Promised by Ashton Lattimore

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Pages: 368 pages
Published: April 2024

All We Were Promised is the debut historical fiction novel by Ashton Lattimore, an award-winning journalist and former lawyer. The book is set during the pre-Civil War era in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and features three female protagonists serving as soldiers for justice: Charlotte, who has escaped slavery with her father, who is hiding in plain sight while his daughter poses as his housemaid; Nell, a well-to-do aspiring abolitionist; and Evie, a freedom-seeking friend from the plantation that Charlotte and her father absconded. All three of these characters' lives collide in Philadelphia where they help each other to make the ideal of freedom a reality because none of us are free unless we are all free (Fannie Lou Hamer).

The premise of the story is not new. There have been many non-fiction and fiction stories that covered the topic of Black people who knew they did not belong to anyone and fought for something different. Additionally, the phenomenon of passing (e.g., Imitation of Life, Did You Hear about Kitty Karr, and Passing, etc.) is touched on with the relationship between Charlotte and her father. But overall this books is about American's greatest ill - its participation in the transatlantic slave trade. Do we need another book about slavery? Yes, let us continue to tell the stories and learn from history lest we repeat them, especially in today's society when the historical facts are being skewed to pacify those who cannot accept the atrocities that occurred in these United States of America.

I truly enjoyed reading this story. I think the author did a wonderful job with portraying the horrendous acts of one group of people treating another group of people as property without being overly graphic. Her research into the actual, historical event of the burning of Pennsylvania Hall within days of its grand opening was not only handled well, but was so compelling it enticed me to seek out more about this true event. Lattimore also did a great job of created in-depth characters in Charlotte, Nell, and Evie. She also presented Charlotte's father in such a way that I was truly angry with this fictional character. To me, he was simply a slavemaster of another kind. When a book evokes emotion and provokes action, I tend to label it a good one.

My only critique was the lack of development of some of the secondary characters and plots - like that of the relationship between Alex and Nell. I would have loved to know more about the Darcel, who befriended Charlotte as well as Irene and Daniel, who she left behind at the plantation and were mentioned by name several times throughout the book but had no fleshed-out back story development.

Recommendation: This novel had strong themes of justice, grief, and belonging. The ending was a little abrupt, and I feel like there could have been so much more to it. My hope is that Lattimore writes a sequel to All We Were Promised because there are so many promises unfulfilled in this first writing. If she does write a follow-up story, I'll be first in line to get a copy.

The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Duration: 04:11:00
Published: September 2022

The 6 Types of Working Genius by Patrick Lencioni was recommended by a couple of colleagues. Because it was a relatively short book I chose to consume it via audio during a week's commute to and from work. The premise of the working genius model is that each person has natural talents and gifts and when they are put in roles that accentuate these talents, they are more successful in, energetic about, and fulfilled in the work they perform. Their non-dominate talents tend to deplete one's energy. The six working types make the acronym WIDGET. They are:

Wonder
Invention
Discernment
Galvanizing
Enablement
Tenacity

Lencioni presents the model and the resulting working types in the form a fables, or short stories, as a creative way to define and illustrate the model. Readers can also elect to take the working genius assessment for about $25, or three fancy Starbucks drinks, to determine where you fall. The results are delivered in an easy to read PDF report and outline what your two working genius areas are, your 2 working competencies, and your 2 working frustrations. It is recommended to take the assessment before reading the book - probably because more tenured professionals can figure out where they fall after reading the short book.

The book, its theory, and model are all presented in an easy-to-understand format. It made for an easy listen while driving. However, if I am completely honest, at this point in my career I know myself well enough to know what fills my cup up. The gem here is learning what types of workers others are on my team so I can better relate and lean in to their strengths.

Recommendation: Books are knowledge, and knowledge is power. I would definitely recommend this book to people who work in teams - as a career or in a volunteer role - for a resource to better understand others. And we know from another professional development book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, are better when we first seek to understand others before trying to make others understand us.