Backlist Mini-Reviews

The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick (2016)

While going through his late wife's things, Arthur Pepper finds a charm bracelet he doesn't recognize.  In learning about the bracelet and its charms, Arthur realizes his wife led an exciting life before she met him that she never told him about.

I just fell in love with this book, and Arthur, from the start.  The story was so heartwarming and endearing.  Arthur and his wife Miriam led a happy but quiet and predictable life for 40 years.  The stories behind the charms make Arthur begin to question if Miriam really could have been satisfied with him and how well he really knew her.  At the same time, though, the quest breaks him out of the funk he had been in for a year and helps him form better relationships with his children and friends.  I wanted Arthur to find the answers he craved, but to also learn that even though his wife had all these experiences before she met him, it didn't take away from her love for him.  

Patrick's writing is simple and readable, and the pacing of the story was perfect.  There are so many secondary characters that Arthur meets along the way, yet they are all unique.  I especially loved getting to know Miriam through Arthur's memories of her and through her charms.  If you liked the movie Up, then I think you'll love this book, too (keep some tissues handy!).  4.5 stars

The After Party by Anton DiSclafani (2016)

The After Party focuses on the friendship between two socialites in 1950s Houston.  Cece and Joan have been best friends since childhood, but now in their mid-twenties, Joan is becoming increasingly erratic.

I'm not quite sure what I just read.  This book is almost 400 pages, yet it felt like nothing happened.  Cece is the main character and she seems to have it all - a devoted husband, a young son, and tons of money.  Yet, she spends most of her time worried about her friend, Joan, almost to the point of obsession.  Joan isn't even worthy of Cece's worries - she's selfish and uncaring and keeps too many secrets.  I wanted to shake Cece and tell her to stop worrying so much about Joan and start focusing on what's in front of her.  It was so frustrating to see her continue to seek Joan out when it was obvious it was one-sided.

While I thought DiSclafani's writing was rich and flowing, the pacing was too slow; everything just felt dragged out and melodramatic.  2.5 stars

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Save The Date

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases!

Save the Date
Morgan Matson
Expected publication date: June 5, 2018

Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait—for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster—all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.

The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.

There’s the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, house alarm that won’t stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.

There are the relatives who aren’t speaking, the (awful) girl her favorite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo.

Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner’s nephew is unexpectedly, distractingly…cute.

Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future. - from Goodreads

Morgan Matson is a new author to me, but I love stories about weddings and this one sounds so cute!

Quotables #8

 

 

Why it speaks to me: Sorry, Anna, not sure I agree with you on this one!  I don't think your partner HAS to be your best friend, but they probably most likely are, right?  I mean, you probably have a lot in common, you spend a lot of time together, and they're with you through the highs and lows of life.  Sounds like a best friend to me!

 

Why it speaks to me:  I identified so much with this quote when I first read it.  This describes pretty well how I feel too often in my own life.  I'm afraid of speaking up, of joining a conversation, of having people take notice of me, because I'm nervous of how I will appear to them.  I wish I had more courage!

 

Why it speaks to me: This one just makes me chuckle - I mean, that's all?  Sounds like a very sensible list of qualities to look for in a man, haha!

 

Which of these is your favorite?

 

Out Of This World Fiction/Nonfiction Mini-Reviews

Ask an Astronaut: My Guide to Life in Space by Tim Peake (2017)

Tim Peake is a British astronaut who spent 6 months living on the International Space Station.  In Ask an Astronaut, Peake answers pretty much any question you could think of related to astronaut training and life on the ISS.

Peake has an easy-to-read, upbeat writing style and explained some difficult concepts pretty well.  I don't know much about the ISS or even the United States' own space program, beyond the major events, so I feel like I learned a lot.  Some of the questions he answered were serious, while others were in good fun.  I was amazed by the sheer amount of training that goes into a mission to space, literally years, including Russian lessons.   I also learned that the ISS is so massive, it was assembled in space, as various pieces were bought up.  One thing I was disappointed to learn, though, was that there is no official protocol if the ISS encounters aliens!

The book also contains some fun diagrams and several beautiful photographs that Peake took from space.    4 stars

The Space Between the Stars by Anne Corlett (2017)

After a deadly virus wipes out most of humanity across the galaxy, Jamie decides to try to find her partner Daniel, back on distant Earth.  She meets others along the way, and the survivors try to figure out what's next for themselves and humanity as a whole.

Jamie is not the most likable or consistent of main characters.  She's quick to judge and quick to anger; she has spent most of her life keeping her family and Daniel at arm's length, needing her space, yet at the same time she's very comfortable holding hands (and more) with people she's just met. 

I think this book suffered a little from trying to do too much.  It's character-driven, but it's also a bit post-apocalyptic with some romance thrown in there, too.  The world-building within the story is pretty decent; we get glimpses of how Earth's population has exceeded its limits and how colonies were established on other planets.  There were some points in the book that I thought would offer some great action and tension, but the author moves past them quickly and too neatly.  I think the story could have benefitted from expanding on some ideas more and leaving other scenes out entirely.  Thankfully, one big twist at the end helped bring the story more to life for me. 3 stars

Can't-Wait Wednesday: Legendary

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases!

Legendary (Caraval #2)
Stephanie Garber
Expected publication date: May 29, 2018

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister Scarlett from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice. But now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval...the games have only just begun. - from Goodreads

Tella was by far the most interesting (and under-used character) in Caraval, so I'm excited to see a story from her point of view!

Top Ten Tuesday: My Spring TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.  This week's topic is our spring TBR.  Since I've been adding so much nonfiction to my TBR lately, my list has basically been exploding and I have so much to catch up on!  Here are just some of the books I'm hoping to finally get to this spring.  Any suggestions for where I should start?

Spring Bucket List

Tomorrow is the first day of spring and with it will hopefully come nicer weather!  Here are some things I want to do in the next couple months:

• Clean up the overgrown, weed-riddled areas of our yard and possibly prepare a spot for a garden
• Buy flowers for our planters
• Break out our new cornhole boards and brush up on our skills
• Host our first big get-together at the house
• Take more walks around the neighborhood
• Explore at least 1 new local hiking spot
• Work on my travel wall
• Find some new lighter/healthier recipes
• Clean out our closets

What are you looking forward to this spring?