Jana Says

Show Us Your Books, March 2021

March 9, 2021 by Jana 23 Comments

Happy panniversary, guys. What a fucking year. Really looking forward to…I don’t even know anymore. I’m trying not to look forward to anything because I’m so tired of being disappointed when it’s inevitably canceled. You know, like concerts, vacations, seeing family, my sanity. Stuff like that.

But at least there’s still books. I have books to look forward to. Like You Love Me, which NetGalley forked over yesterday and I can’t wait to read because I’m obsessed with Joe Goldberg. And the new Andy Weir book which NetGalley ALSO gave me. I don’t know why they trust me so much now. But I like it.

Maybe it’s a reward for reading two last month. Who knows. I’m not questioning anything. I’m just going to sit back and read because quite frankly, there’s not a whole hell of a lot else to do (and let’s be honest, even if there was, that’s what I’d do anyway).

Last month was a good reading month, save for one book which was so terrible I didn’t make it past page 50 and even that was a struggle. Unfortunately, almost all of them were written by white women so the diversity was pretty lacking and that’s a failing on my part so I’ll need to work on that.

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid. NetGalley book #1. I love her, and I swear, each book she writes gets better than the previous one. This is far and away my most favorite one she’s written. It’s just SO GOOD. If you’re looking for something deep or moving or that’s going to change your life, this is not that book. But if you want a fantastic story told in a pretty creative way, this is that book.

The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah. I know there are some complaints that it’s a little slow, but I didn’t find it slow. I found it massively depressing and heartbreaking, and not because of when it takes place (the Depression). It’s just sad for like the whole book, and the end was not what I wanted it to be at all. I wanted something better for Elsa. She deserved it.

The Survivors by Jane Harper. Not the strongest showing from her, but still a good book. Solid plot, interesting characters, good writing. Oh, and The Dry is a movie now so if you liked that one, be on the lookout in May-ish for the U.S. release.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano. I adore her YA books (seriously, read Holding Smoke and The Suffering Tree) so I was super excited for her first adult novel (that sounds weird. It was not “adult” like porn. It was just for grown-ups, I guess). It was a fun, light, easy read (I finished it in a day) and while I wouldn’t call it a thriller, it was a mystery. And definitely an interesting, twisty one. This is a perfect vacation book, if we ever get those or if you want to pretend you’re on one and need a book to read.

Deacon King Kong by James McBride. This book is weird and wonderful and definitely niche/genre-bending since it’s a mystery AND general fiction with a side of social commentary and historical fiction (it takes place in the 60s) and it’s probably not for everyone but I loved it.

Dark Roads by Chevy Stevens. NetGalley #2. There’s a reason she and Paul Cleave are my favorite thriller writers (he has a new book coming out this year, too!). Her books never disappoint, although this one was a little stranger than her others in the way it was written (there were two characters who were prominent in one part and then just disappeared in the rest), and it was a similar formula to her others but I did like that you knew who one of the villains was up front. This is also sadly based on true events.

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline. Some books are not meant for a sequel, and this one proves exactly why. It was garbage and that’s where it belongs. Do not waste your time on one page of this book (I wasted my time on 50 of them so you don’t have to).

TL; DR: Every book I read this month was excellent and worth the spot on your TBR except for Ready Player Two which is good only for kindling and toilet paper (unless you get it on your Kindle, in which case, delete it and save the space).

Currently reading: The Removed by Brandon Hobson

Now it’s your turn! Link up and show us your books! Don’t forget to visit my co-host Steph who is also celebrating her birthday month this month and some of the other bloggers joining us. And mark down April 13 for the next one.

I feel like I’m forgetting something. Oh well. Happy reading!

Show Us Your Books, February 2021

February 9, 2021 by Jana 24 Comments

Well, here we are again. New month, new books. New president. Same fucking pandemic. Sigh. It’s frustrating. Interesting time to live in Delaware, though.

Not sure what else to say.

Before I start reviewing what I read last month, has anyone else found themselves absolutely drowning in new books by authors they love? It’s like every author I love has a new book coming out this year (except for Dean Bakopoulos and trust when I say I will lose my shit when he finally publishes a new one) and NetGalley is being generous for some reason and I also finally set a book budget to preorder or buy new books every month and I can’t stop accumulating books. I legit don’t need the library for a year, and I definitely need a new bookshelf. And my Kindle is probably closing in on capacity.

I suppose I could have worse problems, like incessant chapped lips or terrible sleeping habits or an inability to stop eating all the Doritos in my house. Oh wait. Never mind.

In any event, I read seven books last month, putting my to-date total at 11. I don’t think I have a DNF yet, either, but it is only the beginning of February. But still good.

Here are the short reviews of what I read since the last time we met (short because Oscar has taken up permanent residence in my lap and even though he’s only seven pounds, he gets heavy and it’s a little cumbersome to work around him):

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas. She doesn’t write a bad book. I loved hearing Mav’s story in his voice (which does take a few pages to get used to) and learning more about why he is the way he is in THUG. It definitely sets the stage and if you read On the Come Up as well, you’ll recognize a couple of other names.

The Cousins by Karen McManus. Not quite as strong as her other books, but still a solid mystery (note: it leans heavily on the YA so if that’s not your thing, you might want to pass) and a quick read.

Crooked Hallelujah by Kelli Jo Ford. Reminded me a little of Valentine. Solid writing, sometimes seemingly disconnected stories woven throughout the larger plot, but not my favorite of the month. I didn’t dislike it. It was just meh for me.

So We Can Glow by Leesa Cross-Smith. What I like about books of short stories is that if I don’t like a story, I can skip it. I don’t think I skipped over a single one in this book. Don’t take that as a glowing endorsement, though. While she’s a great writer, I didn’t particularly love this collection.

Everywhere You Don’t Belong by Gabriel Bump. I don’t really know how to describe this book except it’s not an easy read at times. It deals a lot with race and brutality and bullying among telling the story of family and love and growing up not feeling like there’s a place for you. I’m not sure if it’s YA or not. Maybe new adult so take that for what it is.

The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein. If you ever wondered why neighborhoods look the way they do, this is the book to read. It explores government-endorsed (and sponsored) segregation and racism in housing in the U.S. and how those policies, rules, and laws created what we see now. It’s fascinating but as a warning, this is a very dense book and not a fast read at all. There’s a ton to unpack and learn but absolutely worth it.

Dear Child by Romy Hausman. Ah, a thriller. My brain was happy to read one, particularly because it’s well done, fast, and despite the fact that I HATED the ending, it’s a great read. The jacket says it’s like Room meets Gone Girl which is pretty accurate, but heavier on the Room but AFTER they escape.

TL;DR: All the books I read this month are good depending on your preference, but the best were The Color of Law, Concrete Rose, and Dear Child.

Currently reading: Deacon King Kong by James McBride.

OK. Now it’s your turn to link up and show us your books! Don’t forget to visit my co-host Steph and some of the other bloggers joining us. And don’t forget to mark down March 9 for the next one (where we’ll celebrate both books and Steph’s birthday a little early).

Show Us Your Books, January 2021

January 12, 2021 by Jana 22 Comments

Well, friends, here we are at the start of a new year. Where everything is fresh and we have a clean slate and optimism is high except instead of all that, now we’re living in the shadow of a fucking coup attempt by lunatic white supremacists stoked by the words of a fucking narcissistic madman.

Let me be clear: if you are in any way, shape, or form OK with what happened at the Capitol last week and can defend it by saying “they’re just upset”, I don’t want to hear it. Not only do I not agree with you, but you’re also wrong. Being upset that your preferred candidate lost an election is not an excuse or justification to rain down terror, chaos, and murder in the halls of the U.S government. Or plant bombs. Or call for the hanging of the vice president simply because he was intending to do what the president chooses not to: uphold the Constitution and do his job.

Now, I am fine with the fact that there were protests. I don’t agree with why they were protesting, but that’s as much my right as it is theirs to protest. But it crossed a big fat line. If people with black or brown skin tried to do that…well, we all know how that would turn out. Because they’ve tried to exercise that same right to protest and were met not with handholding down some stairs or a wide berth to cross a threshold but with tear gas and rubber bullets and fire hoses. And all they wanted was something far simpler than the overturning of a legitimate election.

So don’t tell me it’s the same. And don’t tell me we don’t live in two Americas.

Oh, and also? These motherfuckers made me feel bad for Mike Pence and agree with Mitch McConnell, so they can go double fuck themselves.

/rant (which could actually be much longer but I don’t have much left to say that hasn’t already been said and said better than I can say it).

I had initially decided it didn’t feel right to write about books in the wake of what happened, and I wanted to share a list of books that might help to explain how there’s two Americas but when I started going through what I read last month, I realized that most of those books, most of them fiction, actually do a good job of that. So, this post is what it’s intended to be: just a review of what I read last month.

Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson. This is the sequel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, which I loved so much I bought this one from some Amazon UK seller because I didn’t want to wait for it to be released in the US. Anyway, it was great. Not quite as good as the first one, and she’s definitely setting this up for a series, but it was a thoroughly enjoyable, well done YA thriller.

This is All I Got by Lauren Sandler. This is nonfiction, and it focuses on a young homeless mother’s quest to find housing in New York City. It is an eye-opening read, even if you’re familiar with a lot of the challenges faced by homeless mothers. It’s incredibly well-written and while the subject of the book, Camila, isn’t entirely sympathetic, she’s determined and strong and it makes the book that much more compelling.

The Daughters of Erietown by Connie Schultz. Some random lady on Twitter recommended this book to me and I’m so glad she did. I loved it so much, it was one of my favorites of 2020. I don’t want to say too much about it but if you’re a fan of books like The Mothers, An American Marriage, or Mrs. Everything, I think you’ll like this one a lot. It’s not a perfect book, and parts will make you angry or sad or even puzzled, but it’s worth reading.

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel. This is a HARD book to read. It’s almost as depressing as The Story of Edgar Sawtelle, filled with grief and loss and tragedy on a grand scale. There’s also abuse (sexual, physical, and animal) as well as suicide and overt racism, so if you’re triggered by those, I’d refrain from reading this book. But if you can deal with those subjects, this book is excellent.

Midnight Atlanta (Darktown #3) by Thomas Mullen. Like all the Darktown series, this one is a thriller set in 1950s Atlanta and highlights the rampant racism the officers (and now reporters because one of the cops from the other two books is now a reporter) face. The whole series is outstanding, this book is great, and I can’t wait for book 4, whenever that comes out.

Earthings by Sayake Murata. I liked Convenience Store Woman enough to read this one, but it is one of the fucking weirdest books I’ve ever read. It started off strong but then it went off the rails into really fucking gross. I think there’s some fairy tale elements going on but I’m not sure I got it. I was too disgusted. Some of the themes the book tackled, like motherhood, are interesting, though. If this glowing review entices you to read it, note that it does deal with sexual and physical abuse and there’s also some incest going on.

Black Buck by Mateo Askaripour. OMG, did I love this book. It’s satire on some level (if you know who Gary Vee is, you’ll definitely appreciate one of the characters) but it’s also a commentary on race, workplace culture, family, and relationships. It’s so well done and well written and I got it from NetGalley but I didn’t finish it before it was published.

Upright Women Wanted by Sarah Gailey. I learned about this book from a few SUYB participants and it’s short, engaging, different, and interesting. The best way I can describe this is like if The Postman (Kevin Costner movie) and The Handmaid’s Tale had a baby being raised by queer quasi-vigilante feminist Pack Horse Librarians fighting for a more inclusive world.

The Arrest by Jonathan Lethem. Didn’t make it past page 10. This book was so stupid. I liked Motherless Brooklyn but this one was not worth the gas to drive to the library to pick it up. Yup, it was so bad it wasn’t even worth leaving the house for. And in the age of COVID, how often do you turn down the option to leave the house?

TL; DR: All of the books I read last month save for The Arrest and Earthings are worth reading.

Currently reading: The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I know it was a lot this month. Perhaps this is why I should go back to regular blogging? I don’t know. We’ll see. Anyway, now it’s your turn to link up and show us your books! Don’t forget to visit my co-host Steph and some of the other readers joining us this month. And don’t forget to mark your calendars for February 9 for the next one.

Show Us Your Books, 2020 Favorites Edition

December 29, 2020 by Jana 16 Comments

This year was, to say the least, pretty fucking crappy. Sure there were some bright spots like the big orange baby getting his eviction notice, Curtis Flowers getting his release from death row (and prison!), Shinedown released new music (yup, new music from someone besides Taylor Swift), and I have a niece now.

There are also a few significant personal achievements but maybe we’ll talk about those another day.

I survived much of this year thanks to Netflix, Amazon, and books. I read more than I usually do, picking up 100 and finishing 96. While I know it didn’t pan out this way for many readers, that’s OK. And it’s OK this year and every year. Reading isn’t a competitive sport and shouldn’t be treated that way. When we start comparing our reading habits to others or feeling guilty for not doing as much as we think we should, it takes the fun out of it. At least for me it does. So I don’t do that.

But some I DO do is take a look at some statistics. Not so much so I can make changes but because I’m curious about how I read and what I choose. I know this year, for instance, I read less nonfiction than in previous years because this wasn’t really the year for that. And I read a more even split of men and women this year, with no tracking at all of how many books by BIPOC authors.

I also bought a lot more books than I usually do. And I’m pretty sure I read none of the books from my 2020 reading goals list (I checked. I did not). Which is totally fine. Because when a global pandemic combined with a (much needed) social uprising and an attack on democracy hits, priorities fucking shift. And shift them I did.

That said, here are my fiction and nonfiction favorites, along with the honorable mentions. My favorites aren’t necessarily the best books I read; rather, they’re the ones that stuck the most and deserve a spot on the favorites list. As always, I 100% recommend reading the summaries and/or topics before deciding if they’re for you. My taste might not be your taste and that’s just fine.

If you want a list of books I do NOT recommend, let me know and I’ll throw them in another post.

Fun fact: I had to double-check the dates of some books. Was not sure if I truly read them this year. Another fun fact: I did. 2020 is a strange year.

Had to add some honorable mentions in as well. Too good to leave out, not quite on my favorites list.

And now for the nonfiction. It’s a smaller list, but these books are quite impactful. My honorable mention for this category is White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. Buy it, though. Don’t get it from the library. Trust me.

Now it’s your turn! Link up and show us your yearly favorites! Don’t forget to visit my co-host Steph and some other bloggers so you can round out your 2021 list.

Oh, and P.S. Every year, Steph and I make a donation on behalf of Show Us Your Books. Although we typically try to pick a literacy-focused organization, we went a step beyond this year. We chose one, The Conscious Kid, which is Black-owned, promotes diverse reads, and is also assisting with rent relief. People deserve to stay in their homes. People deserve to feed their kids and stay warm. Organizations like The Conscious Kid are stepping in since the government has failed, and I’m glad they are. If you have the ability, I encourage you to donate to them or a similar organization.

Show Us Your Books, December 2020

December 8, 2020 by Jana 24 Comments

It’s been a month since we all last met. In that time, Tanya fixed my website (thanks, Tanya), I watched all 16 episodes of The Boys (do NOT recommend if violence bothers you; 8/10 do recommend if you can stand it), made note of at least 8 books to buy next year because let’s face, I’m not getting shit from NetGalley, and woke up past 8:00 a.m. TWICE.

I live fucking huge, you guys. But I did figure out how to make hot chocolate bombs so there is that. And I read 6 books so hooray for me.

Let’s recap the books in no particular order except the order that I remember that I read them without using Goodreads to cheat.

Show Us Your Books. Join the Link-Up! Talk books the 2nd Tuesday of Every Month

Find Layla by Meg Elison. This is a YA novel that will absolutely break your heart, especially if you struggle with reading about issues like neglect, bullying, and addiction. The author got a lot right (from my experience working with DFS) and some stuff wrong but let’s just say my daughter wants to read the book now and that’s high praise from my kid (for real. She doesn’t like reading).

The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin. I’ve been trying to figure out why I struggle with certain things so I retook her Four Tendencies quiz (still a rebel) and decided maybe the book would give me some additional insight. It did but it also didn’t. I learned a lot about my tendency, as well as my kid’s, but I don’t know that it wasn’t anything I couldn’t have gotten from her website or podcast. Read it depending on how you learn.

Make Them Cry by Smith Henderson and Jon Marc Smith. Fine. This book was fine. I feel like at times it had a lot of words that went nowhere and I kind of wish everything was a little more developed but it was a decent enough book. I think I enjoyed Fourth of July Creek a little more, though, so if you’re dying to read one of his books, read that one instead.

Rural Voices edited by Nora Carpenter. The best way I can describe this is a YA-antidote to the abomination that is Hillbilly Elegy (which, the more removed I become from the reading of it, the less I like it. Also, the movie is shit. Don’t see it. I watched it so you don’t have to). It’s an almost-lovesong to small and rural towns, told through short stories written by different authors who all bring their unique perspective to everything. Like any short story collection, some are great, some are not but it was a good book. If you’re on the fence, go for it and skip the stories you don’t like.

My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby. In case you missed it on IG, Blacktop Wasteland is one of my favorite books of the year, and finding out he has other books was super exciting (he’s also one of the authors in Rural Voices). This book is violent and brutal and interesting and graphic and my biggest gripe is that the proofreader at the publishing company made some seriously glaring errors. But they’re not worth not reading the book. He’s a great storyteller if you like those kinds of stories. Which I do.

Zikora by Chimimanda Ngoza Adichie. This spectacular little novel/short story fails only in its brevity. It’s free on Amazon. Get it and read it.

TL; DR: Zikora and Find Layla are this month’s must-reads. Maybe My Darkest Prayer depending on your stomach for violence. Do what you will with the rest.

Currently reading Good Girl, Bad Blood by Holly Jackson (the sequel to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder).

OK. Now it’s your turn to link up and show us your books! Don’t forget to visit my co-host Steph and mark your calendars for both December 29 for our yearly favorites linkup and January 12, 2021 for the first SUYB of next year.