I'm Still Alive

I'm Still Alive is a graphic memoir of author Roberto Saviano's life in police protective custody after writing an expose of the mafia in his native country Italy. Saviano grew up in Casal di Principe where the Camorra clans dominate society. Trained as a journalist, Saviano decided to expose the clans by writing a fiction book that was 100% based on fact.  The clans didn't take it well. His life was threatened on many occasions but ultimately he would have become more powerful if he was dead. His life, on the other hand, was stunted. He was unable to do ordinary chores for himself, such as grocery shopping, and longed for the freedom to be able to do simple things for himself. Eventually, Saviano had to leave Italy for his safety. His life, however, was not any different. He was still in protective custody as he has been since 2006.

While this comic has a serious topic, it is a fast read. I was hooked from the first page and read it in one sitting. At 130 pages that doesn't sound like much a feat, but some graphic memoirs I have read were so dull that reading them was a chore.  The illustrations by Asaf Hanuka helped to tell the story. Hanuka basically used black and white drawings with limited muted colors on each page. The comic strip panels gave the book a lighter feel.

I'm Still Alive is a fantastic comic on the realities of organized crime.  I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

Acting Class

Acting Class is cartoonist Nick Drnaso's third graphic novel. I had high expectations for the book as his earlier Beverly and Sabrina novels were excellent reads. When I saw the advertisement that said it was a follow-up to Sabrina I thought that it would be a sequel.  It wasn't.

The publisher's summary:

From the acclaimed author of Sabrina, Nick Drnaso’s Acting Classcreates a tapestry of disconnect, distrust, and manipulation. Ten strangers are brought together under the tutelage of John Smith, a mysterious and morally questionable leader. The group of social misfits and restless searchers have one thing in common: they are out of step with their surroundings and desperate for change.

A husband and wife, four years into their marriage and simmering in boredom. A single mother, her young son showing disturbing signs of mental instability. A peculiar woman with few if any friends and only her menial job keeping her grounded. A figure model, comfortable in his body and ready for a creative challenge. A worried grandmother and her adult granddaughter; a hulking laborer and gym nut; a physical therapist; an ex-con.

With thrumming unease, the class sinks deeper into their lessons as the process demands increasing devotion. When the line between real life and imagination begins to blur, the group’s deepest fears and desires are laid bare. Exploring the tension between who we are and how we present, Drnaso cracks open his characters’ masks and takes us through an unsettling American journey.

I was disappointed with the novel. It is not a straight fiction story like Sabrina and I was bored throughout the entire book. Also, it was hard to tell the characters apart because their faces sometimes looked similar. A female character looked like a male character at one point so when they began an improv exercise, it was difficult to tell who was working on their acting skills. The improv exercises were geared toward easing each character's shortcomings so when a few succumbed to fugue states, I was very confused. At the end I did not see any strings being tied up so what was the point of the book?

2 out of 5 stars.

Wrap-Up of the 2022 Nonfiction Reader Challenge

There were no book requirements for this challenge.  Knowing that I don't have to meet a specific quota of books to read and review helps me actually read more.  This year I did something I never do.  I read gossipy books about Britain's royal family.  Check out my reviews below:

The Widow Clicquot by Tilar Mazzeo

Revenge by Tom Bowers

Nazi Gold by Tom Bowers

Starry Messenger by Neil deGrasse Tyson

William at 40 by Robert Jobson

Salt by Mark Kurlansky

A Billion Years by Mike Rinder

Favorite Book:  The Widow Clicquot, a biography of the woman who started the Veuve Clicquot Champagne House

2nd Favorite Book:  A Billion Years, a biography of a former scientologist

Least Favorite Book:  Nazi Gold, the history of gold stolen by the Nazis from their Jewish victims

Wrap-Up of the 2022 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

When I signed up for this challenge a year ago, I agreed to read books from between 5 and 8 series.  I ended the year by reading 17 books from 12 series. Most of these series were mysteries.  Here is what I read:

Stacy Green's Nikki Hunt Mystery Series
The Girl in the Ground

Nathan Dylan Goodwin's Morton Farrier forensic genealogical mysteries:
The Spyglass File
The Orange Lilies

P. K. Adams Jageillion Dynasty series
Royal Heir

Leslie Meier's cozy culinary series:

Easter Bonnet Murder
Mother's Day Murder
Father's Day Murder
Star Spangled Murder

Ellen Crosby's wine county cozy mystery series:
Bitter Roots

A. S. Stuart's ____
Evil in Emerald

Cleo Coyle's coffeehouse cozy mysteries:
Honey Roasted

Brad Thor's Scot Harvath spy series
Black Ice
Rising Tiger

Anna Castle's Francis Bacon cozy mysteries:
Lock Up Honesty

James Rollins' Sigma Force Series
Kingdom of Bones

Steve Berry's Cotton Malone series
The Omega Factor

Laura Childs' Indigo Teashop Mysteries
A Dark and Stormy Tea

Favorite Book:  Evil in Emerald

2nd Favorite Book:  Honey Roasted

Least Favorite Book:  Star Spangled Murder

2023 Finishing the Series Reading Challenge

I enjoyed participating in the challenge during the past year and am excited to participate next year. I had planned on reading entire series this year but only read one series in its entirety. Most of my books were the latest installment of my favorite series. Hopefully, I can do better next year.  

The Rules:

1)    The challenge will run from January 1st, 2023 to December 31st, 2023.  Books must be read during this time frame to count.  Sign up is open from now until December 1st, 2023, so you may join even just for the last month of the year.

2)    Series can be already completed as well as still ongoing.  For ongoing series, the goal is to catch up to the most recent book published by the end of 2023.

3)    It doesn't matter if you have only 1 book or 10 books to read in order to finish your series, as long as you’ve started the series before 2023 (ie read at least one book in the series), it counts.  Re-reads are not required.

4)    Any format and length of book counts – print, ebook, audio, ARC, etc.

5)    A series can be any length (even if it’s just a Duet).

6)    Crossovers from other challenges are totally acceptable!

7)    Reviews are not required, but highly encouraged.

8)    Declare your intentions to participate in this challenge somewhere on the internet!!  You do not need to be a blogger to participate, there are many ways to declare.  You could write a blog post, create a reading challenge page, create a Goodreads shelf containing series you hope to finish, post about it on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc...

9)    Use the hashtag #FinishingTheSeries2023 on any social media to keep up with other participants!

10)    There are 3 different “Celebrity” levels of achievement for this reading challenge. I am hoping to finish the challenge as a B-Lister.

C-LIST SERIES FINISHER ⇒ COMPLETE 1-4 SERIES.

B-LIST SERIES FINISHER ⇒ COMPLETE 5-8 SERIES.

A-LIST SERIES FINISHER ⇒ COMPLETE 9+ SERIES.

2023 Cloak and Dagger Reading Challenge

I love reading mysteries so signing up again for this challenge is a no brainer. I will sign up once more at the Inspector level. This requires that I read between 26 and 35 books. 

Challenge Rules:

• You can read any book that is from the mystery/suspense/thriller/crime genres. Any sub-genres are welcome as long as they incorporate one of these genres.
• You don’t need a blog to participate but you do need a place to post your reviews to link up. (blog, Goodreads, Instagram, etc.)
• Make a goal post and link it back here with your goal for this challenge.
• Books need to be at least 100 pages long. Please no short stories.
• Crossovers with other challenges are fine.
• The Challenge will run from Jan. 1st to Dec. 31st. (Sign up ends March 15th)

We still have a Facebook group so if you haven’t joined you should check it out. Here is the group’s link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/350512171977943/. It’s a closed group so just ask to join and we’ll let you in. 

There will be a monthly link-up so we can see what everyone’s reading – and probably add some to our own tbr lists. At the halfway mark and at the end there will be a giveaway for those participating.

We are going to continue to use the hashtag #CloakDaggerChal.

Levels:

5-15 books – Amateur sleuth

16-25 books – Detective

26-35 books – Inspector

36 – 55 – Special agent

56+ books – Sherlock Holmes 

I hope you join me in this challenge!

2023 Monthly Key Word Reading Challenge

The Monthly Key Word Challenge is a monthly challenge that runs all year long from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023. Eight “key words” are given for each month. Your task is to read one book that includes one or more of the key words in the title that month. Synonyms and different suffixes are allowed. For example, if the keyword is ‘Lake’ you may also use the words ‘Lakes’, ‘Water’, ‘Sea’, ‘Ocean’. If the keyword is ‘Run’ you may also use the words ‘Running’, ‘Ran’, ‘Runs.' I wish that I had remembered this rule as I struggled to find books in a few months. 

However, this is a fun and easy challenge and I plan on participating next year. A check in post will be published on the host blog, girlxoxo.  Reviews can also be posted on Goodreads GXO Reading Challenges group and on Instagram each month. The challenge is also posted to Storygraph.  If you post what you’ve read to social media please use the hashtag #MonthlyKeyWordGXO. If you are on Goodreads, you can join the GXO Goodreads Reading Challenge Group. You can get book suggestions, do progress check-ins and meet other challenge participants. Below are the key words for 2023.

 

2023 Historical Fiction Reading Challenge

The Historical Fiction Reading Challenge is my favorite challenge so I am signing up to participate again next year. Like this year, I am participating at the Ancient History level which requires that 25 books be read. I probably read more historical mysteries than fiction as some historical fiction books are rather dry. However, I am ready to read both subgenres.

The Rules:

1)    Write a review of the book you read. If you don't have a blog you can post a link to your review if it's posted on Goodreads, Facebook, or Amazon, or you can add your book title and thoughts in the comment section of the challenge post.

2)    Any sub-genre of historical fiction is accepted (Historical Romance, Historical Mystery, Historical Fantasy, Young Adult, History/Non-Fiction, etc.)

3)    You can choose to participate at

one of the different reading levels:

20th Century Reader - 2 books
Victorian Reader - 5 books
Renaissance Reader - 10 books
Medieval - 15 books
Ancient History - 25 books
Prehistoric - 50+ books

4)    To join the challenge you only need to make a post about it, add your link at the challenge host post at The Intrepid Reader. 

5)    Use the challenge hashtag #histficreadingchallenge, join in on the Facebook page, and grab the challenge badge from The Intrepid Reader.

Happy reading!

Invisible Wounds

Invisible Wounds is Jess Ruliffson's debut graphic novel. For five years she traveled from coast to coast interviewing veterans of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars. Inside the book are comic strips of twelve veterans detailing their experiences with war. They all had different ranks and job assignments but all suffered in the same way from being involved in a war. 

The veterans are from different backgrounds. One is transgender and another was the only African American in his regiment. They are from different parts of the U. S., from New York City to New Orleans and Vermont. The one problem that they all had in common was trauma from having served. All of them had issues to deal with upon returning home.

The book reads fast. Since mental health issues are a big part of the veterans' homecoming, I wonder whether reading a graphic novel on war would be helpful for them when dealing with their emotions.

5 out of 5 stars.

Granite Kingdom

I received an advanced review copy Granite Kingdom through the Early Reviewer's Program at Librarything in exchange for an honest review. The book was published on November 29, 2022 and it is Eric Pope's debut novel.

The publisher's summary:

It is 1910, and the northern Vermont village Granite Junction is the nation's largest supplier of finished granite for construction. Newspaper reporter Dan Strickland, a stonecutter's son who hopes to find the right wife and climb the social ladder, finds himself caught between the village's two big granite producers, George Rutherford and Ernest Wheeler. Several fatal industrial accidents prompt Rutherford to ask Dan to look for anarchist saboteurs, while Bob Blackstone, Wheeler's right-hand man, bullies Dan for working for the paper that supports their competitor. Despite the prosperity at the top, almost everyone in the village struggles to attain economic security; some fear ending up at the poor farm. Although Dan triumphs in the end, it is not in the way he had imagined.

The story had a slow start. I had a hard time becoming interested in the novel and stopped and started several times before continuing with the story. As a whole, though, the book was a slow read. There was alot of description of the book's many characters with the exception of the characters in the newspaper business. The scenes with them were fast paced. Why the difference?  Perhaps because the author is a retired journalist. In addition, there was too much narrative. If the backstory was given via dialogue the book would have been faster paced.

The setting was interesting. I have never read about a community that worked in the granite industry and the setting helped to inform as well as entertain. The author certainly knows his subject well. It is a good thing when historical fiction readers get a setting different from the usual England, France and Italy, particularly when the setting is an industry. There is also a sense of history to the novel. During the celebration of the 45th anniversary to the end of the Civil War, celebrated in the 3 days before July 4, Dan interviews an old soldier about his experience fighting in the Battle of Gettysburg. The soldier discusses the movements of his regiment in a parlor "unchanged since Lincoln died." 

I liked the novel but have to say that the amount of narrative slowed down my reading.  I am rating it 3 out of 5 stars.

Dust Child

I received an advanced review copy of Dust Child from the Early Reviewer's Program at Librarything in exchange for an honest review. This historical novel will be published in March 2023 and it is a winner. The story is about a Vietnamese man who wants to emigrate to America. He has been mistreated his entire life because he is Amerasian, born to a Vietnamese mother and African American father. Tens of thousands of these children were born and they are called bụi đời (the dust of life). Dust Child is the author's second novel, following her 2020 novel The Mountains Sing.

The publisher's summary:  

In 1969, sisters Trang and Quỳnh, desperate to help their parents pay off debts, leave their rural village and become “bar girls” in Sài Gòn, drinking, flirting (and more) with American GIs in return for money. As the war moves closer to the city, the once-innocent Trang gets swept up in an irresistible romance with a young and charming American helicopter pilot. Decades later, an American veteran, Dan, returns to Việt Nam with his wife, Linda, hoping to find a way to heal from his PTSD and, unbeknownst to her, reckon with secrets from his past.  

At the same time, Phong—the son of a Black American soldier and a Vietnamese woman—embarks on a search to find both his parents and a way out of Việt Nam. Abandoned in front of an orphanage, Phong grew up being called “the dust of life,” “Black American imperialist,” and “child of the enemy,” and he dreams of a better life for himself and his family in the U.S. 

Past and present converge as these characters come together to confront decisions made during a time of war—decisions that force them to look deep within and find common ground across race, generation, culture, and language. Suspenseful, poetic, and perfect for readers of Min Jin Lee’s Pachinko or Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing, Dust Child tells an unforgettable and immersive story of how those who inherited tragedy can redefine their destinies through love, hard-earned wisdom, compassion, courage, and joy. 

 

Dust Child is a poignant tale told from three alternating perspectives, Phong, Trang and Dan. The chapters alternate between each of  them which is both a blessing and a hindrance. While all three storylines are interesting, I found that as I became engaged in one I did not want to change to the next one. However, I doubt that the novel would have been as captivating without this literary device. It made me continue reading until the end. The characters have been chosen from among the Viet Cong, American soldiers, the ARVN (Army of the Republic of Vietnam) and the citizenry of Vietnam so there are even more perspectives for the reader to get to know. Reading about all of these perspectives was an educational experience for me.

I think most people view Vietnam as a poor country. In the beginning of the novel just about all of the characters were living in poverty. When Dan's storyline begins to be fleshed out, he sees it as an urban place. His impression is based on its paved roads and new businesses. However, I would still say that the setting was an impoverished nation. Poverty runs deep throughout the book for all of the characters whether in their past lives or their present. It is always in the back of their minds and shapes their decisions. It is a sad setting appropriate for the difficult lives that the Vietnamese must lead. You want to root for them though, hoping that they can overcome not only the physical but the emotional scars from the past.

5 out of 5 stars.

2023 Nonfiction Reader Challenge

 

I don't read alot of nonfiction but have enjoyed the 7 books I read for the challenge this year. Thus, I am signing up to participate in the challenge in 2023.  The aim of the Nonfiction Reader Challenge is to encourage readers to make nonfiction a part of their reading experience during the year.  You can select, read and review a book from the categories listed below for a total of 12 books; OR select, read and review any nonfiction book. Books can be in any format such as print, electronic or audio. To participate you need to select one of the goals shown below:

Nonfiction Nipper:  read and review 3 books from any 3 listed categories

Nonfiction Nibbler:  read and review 6 books from any 6 listed categories

Nonfiction Nosher:  read and review 12 books, one for each category

Nonfiction Grazer:  read and review any nonfiction book.  Set our own goal.

Categories:

history

memoir/biography

crime and punishment

science

health

travel

food

social media

sport

relationships

the arts

published in 2023

Additional Rules:

1)    Readers can choose books as they go or create a list in advance. 

2)    You can combine this challenge with others

3)    When a book qualifies for more than one category, it can only count for one category.

4)    Books can be read in any order, at any pace.

5)    To join the challenge, create a blog post concerning your participation in the challenge. Non-bloggers are welcome to join however. 

6)    You can create a shelf for the challenge at Goodreads or Librarything and post via Instagram or Twitter. Just add your name and a link to your shelf/account in the signup.

7)    The challenge runs from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023.  Participants can can at any time before December 1, 2023.

8)    Each time you read and review a book as part of this challenge, please identify the post by adding either a direct statement and/or the challenge image badge to the post. It’s also helpful if you indicate the category the book fulfills.

9)    Use the hashtag #ReadNonFicChal on social media. You can tag the challenge host on Twitter:  @bookdout or Instagram: @shelleyrae _bookdout to share or Mastodon @shelleyrae@aus.social.

My Challenge:

I am signing up for the Nonfiction Grazer level. It would be hard for me to find books that I want to read in categories other than history and memoir/biography. I did read a science book this year but that was a rare read. Most likely all of the books I end up reading for the challenge will be published in 2023. 

2023 Library Love Reading Challenge

I have loved this challenge since it began 6 or 7 years ago. Perusing the library shelves is fun and I find alot of good books and authors from doing so. It saves money too! Nothing bad about that. I am downsizing my personal challenge in 2023 because I am still skittish about COVID-19. Normally I would take the top level challenge of 60 books per year. However, in 2023 I am signing up at the Thrifty Reader level which requires that 24 library books be read and reviewed. I may not even begin the challenge until Spring because infection rates have climbed this month in my state.

The Rules:

 Runs: January 1, 2022 – December 31, 2022. You can join anytime. The sign-up will remain open until Dec. 31st, 2022.

 The goal is to find your love of your local library and to read at least twelve (12) books from the library, but you can read more.  While twelve is the minimum; there is no maximum limit.  See the different levels below and pick the one that works best for you.

 Any format will work for this challenge (prints, ebooks, or audios); as long as you checked it out from the library, it counts.

 Books can be any genre (fiction, nonfiction, romance, fantasy, mystery, thriller, horror, etc.).

 Crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed, including re-reads.  The goal is to support your local library and save money.

 You do not have to be a book blogger to participate; you can track your progress on Goodreads, Facebook, LibraryThing, etc.

 If you’re a blogger grab the button and do a quick post about the challenge to help spread the word.  If you’re not a blogger you can help by posting on Facebook or Tweet about the challenge.  Please link back to both hosts: Angel’s Guilty Pleasures & Books of My Heart.

 As an added bonus: The challenge hosts are offering up FOUR GIVEAWAYS plus a few surprise giveaways throughout the year (2022) with this Challenge.  The main giveaways will be posted for (Jan., Feb., & March), (April, May, & June), (July, Aug., & Sept.), & last (Oct., Nov., & Dec.).  A linky will go up on both Angel’s Guilty Pleasures and Books of My Heart; where you can leave your links for the reviews on your library books you have read.  So make sure to stop by to enter.  More details in the giveaway section below. 

 (Optional) Reviews: Write a review to enter the giveaway – 2 sentences or an essay, whatever works for you, but there is a minimum of 2 sentences.  Not sure what to write?  How about something like, “The plot was a delight, but the characters didn’t capture me.” “I enjoyed the story and really liked the characters.”

 Please use #LibraryLoveChallenge when sharing your reviews, library pictures, etc…

Levels: 

• Dewey Decimal: Read 12 books
• Thrifty Reader: Read 24 books
• Overdrive Junkie: Read 36 books
• Library Addict: Read 48 books
• Library Card on Fire: Read 60+ books 

If you are interested, there is also a Goodreads Group for the Library Love Challenge, where we talk, share, and discuss the books we snagged/read during the 2022 Library Love Challenge – Click Here