APRIL 2019

1) NINE PERFECT STRANGERS by Liane Moriarty / A / ***1/2 / Kindle
Liane Moriarty tells the story of nine strangers attending an expensive health spa to "re-set" their lives. They each have their reasons for being there... and they each have their secrets. They all are pulled together when their stay takes a surprising twist.
I read somewhere that this book hasn't been as well received as her others, and I can see that, but it is totally character-driven writing which is what I've always liked about Moriarty.

2)THE CLOCK MAKERS DAUGHTER by Kate Morton / A / *** 1/2 / Kindle
This book is a story of historical fiction written from several points of view. It alternates between the present and the 1850's.  It tells the story of an English artist that fell in love with a street urchin and a modern-day archivist unraveling the past. It was a bit of mystery / bit of mysticism / bit of ghost-story.
I enjoyed this book and the writing although it had a TON of characters to keep track of.



3)ONE DARK THRONE (Three Dark Crowns Series book 2) by Kendare Blake / YA / ** / Kindle
I don't know why I read this stuff.  I will tell you why - it is because my daughter and her friends read it and I want to be cool like them.  But then I also want to slap them for reading this crap.   I still remember the day Elissa's friend Elyse got a copy of the third and final book and read it in like a day and came giggling and screaming to our house to share it will Elissa.  I wanted to see what the attraction was. I'm still trying to figure it out.
As I said about the first book, the story line is actually pretty fascinating in a morbid hunger-games kind of way. Three sisters are destined to be Queen but to take the throne they must kill the other two sisters. The author tries to portray the mental anguish that each person goes through as they work to commit murder, gain power and decide their fates.  But it is just so full of mundane drama and ridiculous romance. And so many glaring discrepancies.  People don't stay dead.Their capabilities and powers change. It feels like someone is trying to jerk me around AND I DON'T LIKE IT.   But will I read the third book? Yes, yes I will. Someone slap me.

4)EVICTED: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond / A / *****
This Pulitizer Prize winner explores the role of stable housing in escaping poverty. It follows the lives of several individuals as they struggle to make ends meet, provide a stable home for their children, and climb the nearly impossible hill to a better life. The stories are interspersed with well-researched facts on the realities people in poverty face and the true societal cost of eviction. It touches on the different housing and subsidy programs out there... something I've administered for the last 23 years of my life ... and puts a human face on it. 
It also shares information from the point of view of landlords, court officials, law enforcement, social workers, and family members. 
This book was so engaging and thought provoking. It gave me all the feels as I felt angry and hopeless and heartbroken and mad and disgusted and discouraged and then suddenly hopeful.  It also  made me think about the literally 100's of people I've talked to on the phone calling for help to avoid eviction.  Utah has been working to reduce inter-generational poverty and has really focused on the trauma created for children when their home environment is not stable.  My Department is piloting some different programs to try and help the next generation succeed.  
One thing I loved about this book is that the author presented what felt like real honest information showing all sides of the issue but then lets the reader come to their own conclusions as to what CAN be done and what SHOULD be done.  


5) SHADOWCASTER (Shattered Realms Series book 2): by Cinda Williams Chima / YA / ****
I loved this sequel even more than the first book of this new series. This novel continues the story-line of the first but with an new set of characters and a return to the kingdom of the Fells introduced in the first series of books (The Seven Realms stories). It shares the story of a warrior princess trying to end the war that has plagued her people for 25 years.  It has the right amount of adventure and romance, and even more world-building as the author shares more information about the rest of the 7 Realms and what may lie beyond.  It also handles diversity right and has strong female characters. Good job Chima!

6) UNSHELTERED by Barbara Kingsolver / A / *** / Kindle
This is a story about a house.  And a family.  And a town. And how people can find it hard to change.

The timeline switches between two different families that lived in the same house 200 years apart. One group is working to understand (through Darwinism and evolution) that things are not as they previously thought. The modern group is also working to understand (through hard life experiences) that they too can survive and prosper even though their lives are not as they previously thought.  

Although this book did not change my opinion that Kingsolver is a beautiful writer, this story was not my favorite.  I think she was really trying to show that Willa (the modern day mom with the world on her shoulders) was a kindred spirit to Thatcher (the teacher struggling against the opinions of the day) but I just didn't feel it.  I also thought Kingsolvers unveiled contempt for conservatives or anyone thinking differently from her really detracted from the story.  I don't like getting preached to when I read.

7)CLOCK DANCE by Anne Tyler / A / **** / Kindle
I love me some Anne Tyler.  This was a typical Tyler book... her stories aren't earth shattering... but the tender way she writes characters is just special to me. This author recognizes and celebrates and shares the uniqueness innate in each person.
The ending was a little abrupt... I had to turn a few pages back and make sure I read it right... and it has a lot of similarities to other novels Tyler has written, especially the main character, Willa.  That being said, I still enjoyed it. And does anyone else think it is weird that both of the main characters in the last two books I read were named Willa?