The Notorious RBG by Irin Carmon

 

This book sat on my TBR pile for the longest time, but then, I have always believed that we read the right book at the right time.  That was certainly true in this case.   I have had a bumpy relationship with Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  When I was younger, I was told that she was gauche for so actively pursuing her seat on the Court, that it simply "wasn't done".   Now that I am older and have experienced life for myself, I realize these comments for what they are - the commentary of white men designed to keep a woman in her place.  Whether these comments were direct sexism or indirect matters not at all, because the impact of these comments and others like them are the same.   I see that now.

As I grew and matured,  there was so much about RBG that I admired.  Most of all her grit and determination to stand up for what she believed was right and her meticulous administration of the law. She led an incredible life - from her marriage to her career - from her volunteer work to her fitness regimen.  RBG wasn't nothing if not determined, motivated and driven.  There is so much about her and her life to admire.

This is particularly a GREAT book for young women and any who don't know much about RBG's life.  It is written in a very conversational and engaging fashion and I would recommend it highly to all.  Five stars simply isn't enough, but it's all that goodreads will allot me.  I would give it 20 if I could.  A must.

The A to Z Challenge

 So my bookish work friend asked me to join another challenge.  I LOVE her!   Of course I said yes.  This time, it is reading through the alphabet in a year.  I am not going to plan this one out too much.  Just fill in as I go along.  Feel free to follow along or even to join!

A-  The Awakening by Nora Roberts

B

C

D- Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in 15 suggestions.

E-  Every Last Secret - RA Torre

F  - Furyborn by Claire Legrand

G

H  Hawthorne and Heathcliff by RK Ryals

I - In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

J- Josh and Hazel 's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

K

L- Layla by Colleen Hoover

M- Mind the Gap, Dash and Lily by Cohen and Levithan

N- The Notorious RBG by Carmon and Khiznick 

O - The Orchid Throne by Jeffe Kennedy

P

Q

R- Restorative Yoga by Julia Clarke

S-  Sweet Water by Cara Reinard

T-  The Twelve Days of Dash and Lily by Cohen and Levithan.

U -  The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauran 

V -  A Vow so Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer

W -  The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

X

Y - You Had Me At Hello by Mhairi McFarlane

Z

The Kiss Quotient

 

This was a really cute story that kept me engaged in reading.  Stella thinks that she is bad at relationships and bad at all that involves because she is somewhere on the autistic spectrum.   So what's a girl to do?  She hires and escort to teach her how to do things correctly.   Enter Michael.  He's handsome, talented and in a lot of trouble with money because of some family problems.  Maybe they will both be the answer for all one another's problems.

So to be honest, the book is borderline porn.  But it reads well for what it is.  I enjoyed it and found it highly entertaining.  It certainly didn't hurt that Stella drives a Model S.  Sometimes you just need something fun and frivolous and this book completely fit the bill.  No, it won't win the Pulitzer but it was a fun way to spend a rainy day. 

Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarland

 

Georgina gets fired from the worst pub in town and just when she thinks her day can't get any worse, she finds her boyfriend in bed with his assistant.  I'm not giving anything away, that all happens in the first chapter.  I call days like that 'quicksand".  One thing after another just isn't going your way.

Georgina is in need of a new job, so her brother in law sets her up with a "on time deal" for a wake at a new pub opening in town.  She loves the job but there is just one problem.... the boy that got away in highschool is the boss's brother.  

I really enjoyed this story because it wasn't the obvious let's pick right back up where we left off story. In fact, Lucas, acts like he doesn't even remember Georgina from high school and she believes him ( which was the most incredible part of the story)This book really is more about Georgina finding her stride than it is about her finding a way to get together with Lucas.  It was cute... slow in some parts.  I gave it three out of  five stars. 

The Aviators: Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindburgh and the Epic Age of Flight by Winston Groom

  My dad is a pilot, so when I was growing up, he often told me the stories of great pilots - like these and others.  Rickenbacker was a particular favorite of mine - America's Ace of Aces from the 94th Hat in the Ring squadron.  This book had a lot of details that weren't in my dad's stories though.  Fascinating details

Here's just few - Rickenbacker was told by the Army that he was too old to fly, so he had to work around.  He started as a race car driver but eventually became interested in flying.  He  survived being shot down in a B-17 for 24 days at sea with 6 other men.   He went on to become the founder of Eastern airlines.

Jimmy Doolittle was one crazy Mick.   Who else would agree to a one way trip to bomb mainland Japan - taking off in a bomber from the decks of a Naval ship?  He also went to MIT and went on to receive the first PhD in Aeronautics from the school.   His work as a test pilot helped improve instrumentation on planes and solve many problems facing pilots in the early days of flying - like fog and storms.   

I don't think anything really needs to be added about Charles Lindburgh and he's my least favorite of the trio, for whatever reason.  But there is so much interesting information about him, too for those who are interested in learning more about his story and the many ways he contributed to flying.

This is a nonfiction that reads like a page turner.  I loved it.  Every minute was fascinating!  5 out of 5 stars.

Mask by Andrea Fink

    I found this one on kindle unlimited for free.  Emily was busy leading a quiet life when a strange man shows up at her home with a young woman who appears unconscious.  He pushes his way into her apartment, tells her the young woman is her sister and that she's been cursed and only Emily can help. 

Further, both this man and Emily's sister live in another world where magic is very real and both Emily and her twin are part human, part demon and therefor have magic.  Apparently, her sisters gifts are somewhat limited by Emily's are not.  She was exiled as a baby to the human world with her mother because she was the second born and her father didn't want her to be a danger to her sister.

So Emily is thrust into unfamiliar circumstances forced to pretend to be someone she's not.  She faces a lot of challenges along the way, not the least of which is her attraction for a vampire named Wit, who is NOT her sister's fiance.

This is part of a series.  It was engaging, not sure how I feel about continuing.  I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. 

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno Garcia

     I mean, look at this cover!  I had to read it.  It's so lush my curiosity was immediately peaked.  This is the story of Noemi, a young socialite who receives a frantic letter from her newly married cousin that things are very wrong and she must come rescue her.

This had a Bram Stocker's Dracula meets Daphne DeMaurier's Rebecca kind of feel to it to me.  And yet, the story was remarkably unique.   Noemi makes her way to the far away manor of High Point to ascertain for herself what is going on with her cousin.  She finds a nearly abandoned manner - almost like that which Ms. Havisham lives in within the pages of Great Expectations.  There is definitely a mystery that Noemi will need to unravel.  Will she be able to rescue her cousin and herself?  Gotta say,  I just thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Even though it is branded as horror - I wouldn't say that is really accurate.  I don't like horror, but gave this one a try anyway because I enjoy the author's writing.  She also wrote Gods of Jade and Shadow.   I would say it's more suspenseful with some aspects of horror mixed it.  I gave it four stars.  I look forward to reading more from this author.