Reading Lately: March 2021

In 1791, Nella uses her London apothecary shop to sell poisons for women to use against abusive men. The only rules are that the poisons cannot be used against another woman and that you must leave a record in the apothecary’s register. When she befriends a 12-year-old girl, her rules will be tested and the consequences will last generations.

I fell right into Sarah Penner’s gorgeous historical fiction novel, loving the connection between Nella, the killer apothecary, and Eliza, the curious servant wanting to learn more. Unlike many stories with a historical/modern alternating structure, I felt the modern-day tale of a woman dealing with a cheating husband worked well with the feminist themes throughout the book. A beautifully rich novel that would be a great one for a book club discussion.

My Rating:
Publication Date: 2 March 2021
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Picked by Jenna Bush Hager for her February book club pick, Black Buck is a debut novel about a Black salesman on a mission. Twenty-two-year-old Darren is content to work at Starbucks and live with his mother until the charming CEO of New York’s hottest tech startup convinces Darren to join an elite sales team. The only Black person in the company, Darren reimagines himself as “Buck,” a ruthless salesman, and hatches a plan to help young people of color enter America’s sales force. 

Askaripour’s novel is over-the-top, but intentionally so, satirizing startup culture and racism in America’s workforce. I thought Askaripour’s writing was strong and he had a great story to tell. However, while reading this, the overused cliches and stereotypes inherent in satires drove me crazy. It’s just not my favorite genre. Thus, Black Buck was not the book for me, but I can see why others would love it.

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Publication Date: 5 January 2021
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Blythe Connor is determined to be the kind of mother to her daughter Violet that she never had. Except, quickly Blythe begins to suspect that there is something wrong with her daughter. As her husband is quick to dismiss her fears, you have to wonder, is there something wrong with Violet or is there something wrong with Blythe.

I loved the idea of Audrain’s debut novel, but I didn’t find it nearly as suspenseful as I would have liked. Blythe’s character does an excellent job of narrating the dark thoughts of motherhood and the expectations placed upon women to be the perfect mother. However, there’s not much wavering in the plot – it’s not an unreliable narrator story like the jacket implies. Maybe my expectations limited my viewpoint, but I didn’t love this one.

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Publication Date: 5 January 2021
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With the strange ability to detect emotions left behind on objects, Ev has always kept herself apart from those around her, worried she will fall to the same horrific end as her father. When she meets Harriet, an older woman with the same ability, Ev decides that they might be able to help each other. Ev will assist Harriet in sorting through her hoards of treasures and Harriet will teach Ev learn to control her ability. When Ev’s sister returns pushing for answers to their past, Ev suspects Harriet might have a connection to her family.

With one of the most unique premises I’ve seen in a while – a mix of contemporary fiction and magical realism, The Memory Collectors draws you in with its engaging storytelling. Ev, a modern-day Elsa struggling with her powers, is an easy character to cheer for as she begins to discover herself. If you want a dash of magic in a character-driven story, The Memory Collectors is a great choice to read this spring.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Publication Date: 16 March 2021
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From the author of Still Alice, comes a look at how memories are made. Neuroscientist Lisa Genova explains why we remember some things and why we forget others. Genova presents a basic primer of how memories work, what you can reasonably expect from your memory as you age, and how to help protect your memory. While extremely informative and easy to understand, Remember isn’t particularly captivating. Genova does a great job explaining how memory works but I wish she had taken a more journalistic approach and dived deep into the complicated real-life implications. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harmony through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Publication Date: 23 March 2021
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Published just days after the copyright for The Great Gatsby expired, Nick is an unofficial prequel to the American classic telling the tale of Nick Carraway’s life before moving to West Egg. Trying to escape the horrors he witnessed while serving in the First World War, Nick sets off on a journey of self-discovery, visiting Paris and New Orleans during the Golden Age.

While a good writer, Michael Farris Smith is no F. Scott Fitzgerald. I reread The Great Gatsby before touching Nick, and I couldn’t get past the stark difference in writing styles. Although Nick has long flowing prose, it lacked the vividness of Fitzgerald’s writing. I think I would have liked the book better if it had stood on its own; with no foreshadowing of the classic novel, there is no reason Smith couldn’t have just used any American as a protagonist instead of borrowing Fitzgerald’s narrator. Although framing it as a prequel was a stunt grab for publicity that I, unfortunately, fell for.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Little, Brown and Company through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating: DNF
Publication Date: 5 January 2021
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Recently unemployed, Kevin Gogarty has enough on his hands with his rebellious teenage daughter. When Kevin’s eighty-three-year-old mother is caught shoplifting again, he is forced to hire a home aide to help keep an eye on her. But the American aide turns out to cause a crisis bigger than anything they’ve handled yet. I’d seen Good Eggs on Instagram, so I blindly grabbed a copy without reading reviews. From the first chapter, I realized my mistake. Hardiman’s style is basically word vomit – endless descriptions of nothing. I really tried, but I could not force myself past the first few chapters.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

My Rating: DNF
Publication Date: 2 March 2021
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In 1634, Sammy Pipps, the world’s most famous detective, is being transported across the ocean to Amsterdam to stand trial for murder. When strange things begin to happen aboard, his loyal bodyguard Arent must solve the mystery. Could demonic forces be at work?

Turton’s debut novel, The 7½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, was a bizarre mix of genres that worked brilliantly. Unfortunately, The Devil and the Dark Water just didn’t; It was far too long, the historical setting fell flat, and the horror aspects left me rolling my eyes. His protagonists are a Sherlock Holmes and Watson duo, but instead of playing on your assumption of stereotypes, he just sticks to the clichés. A thoroughly disappointing read for me.

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Publication Date: 6 October 2020
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In a post-apocalyptic world, a father and son set off on a journey through the devastated remains of civilization with only a pistol to protect themselves. With gorgeous prose and simplistic style, McCarthy vividly paints a bleak picture of life in a world with no hope. I was captivated by the audiobook, and know that this short Pulitzer Prize-winning story will stick with me for a long time.

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Publication Date: 26 September 2006
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Sometimes what’s best for your business is to remain small instead of seeking endless growth. Jarvis shows you how to run a company of one – a company that uses productivity, automation, and customer relationships to run a successful business that allows room for your preferred lifestyle. Since I do run a company of one with no plans to become a media empire, I was hoping Jarvis’s book would have great practical tips and tricks. Instead, the book is mostly about mindset, which quickly became repetitive. 

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Publication Date: 15 January 2019
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Just days away from her wedding to her charmingly attentive rich fiance, Nellie feels like someone might be following her. Meanwhile, his ex-wife Vanessa is obsessed with her replacement and desperate to stop the wedding. You might think you know how this domestic thriller will end, but appearances can be deceiving. In their first collab, Hendricks and Pekkanen have plenty of tricks up their sleeve, keeping the plot twisting and you second-guessing how it’s all going to end. A roller coaster ride of fun if you love thriller books.

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Publication Date: 2 January 2018
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Forget business plans, outsider investing, and constant growth. Fried and Hansson show a new way to run a business – one that is small, agile, and wildly successful. Rework is a concise and straightforward compilation of realistic business advice for modern businesses. It’s an extremely quick read; the audiobook is under 3 hours. I loved the matter-of-fact approach to the basic principles that are common sense but often overlooked.

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Publication Date: March 2010
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When a robot finds herself stranded on an island, she realizes the only way to survive is to learn from the forest animals how to be wild. Slowly, Roz befriends the creatures, becoming a beloved part of the island, until her past comes back to haunt her. My kids loved the story of Roz’s adventures and especially enjoyed Peter Brown’s illustrations.

Although the story was overall well-done, I have two caveats I want to mention. First, you should know that there was a lot more violence than I was expecting. My kids watch a lot of Star Wars, so it didn’t phase them, but it could be a problem if your children are sensitive. Secondly, you can’t just read the one book. The ending to The Wild Robot left my younger two children in tears, which downgraded their five-star rating a bit. If you want a happily-ever-after ending, you also have to read the sequel, The Wild Robot Escapes.

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My Kids’ Rating:
Publication Date: 5 April 2016
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In his look at the new business landscape, Gary Vaynerchuk sets out to convince you that social interactions are the new way to do business. The problem is, a decade later, we don’t need any convincing that social media, authenticity, and customer relationships are key to success. I was impressed with how accurately Vaynerchuk predicted the course business would take, but I didn’t see anything that would help me in today’s world.

My Rating: DNF
Publication Date: 2010
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We’ve all had that feeling of utter joy when we are truly off the clock with nowhere we need to be and nothing we need to do. Time management expert Laura Vanderkam explains how time-free people manage to feel calm on even their busiest days. I am a huge fan of Laura Vanderkam’s 168 Hours, and all of her books are interesting add-ons to that bestseller. If you want to do a job of managing your time (and have the privilege to be able to adjust your schedule), then I can’t recommend Vanderkam’s books enough.

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Publication Date: 29 May 2018
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F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Great American novel serves as the quintessential work of the Jazz Age. As the narrator enters the world of Long Island’s fabulously wealthy, we meet the mysterious Jay Gatsby and the beautiful Daisy Buchanan. I love this book more every time I read it; this short but memorable book is one that everyone should read in their lifetime.

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Publication Date: 10 April 1925
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Peter and his pet fox Pax are inseparable until Peter’s dad enlists in the military, forcing Peter to return Pax to the wild. As Peter embarks on a journey through the mountains to find his beloved pet, Pax begins adventures of his own while patiently waiting for Peter’s return. I was hoping Pax would be a great story to read aloud with my children (ages 9, 7, and 5), but my younger two struggled with the first few chapters. They hated the sad beginning, and the writing was too advanced for them – too many things were implied instead of specifically stated. My oldest son will probably finish it on his own, as the book is best for older children, ages 9-12.

My Rating: DNF
Publication Date: 2 February 2016
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