Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, starts this evening at sundown, and continues for eight nights. I’m looking forward to celebrating with my family — we’ll light the menorah, sing songs, play dreidle, eat latkes, and get a little silly. And what better way to prepare for the holiday than by thinking about books?
Here’s a round-up of some of my family’s favorite Hanukkah books — these are mainly children’s books, but really fun to enjoy with all ages.
Hanukkah books for grown-ups seem to be a trend now, especially in romance. Here’s one I’ve read (The Matzah Ball), and a few whose covers made me smile (or, okay, burst out laughing).
Whatever you choose to read and whatever you celebrate, wishing you a holiday season filled with lights, good cheer, great company, and awesome reading!
Title: In Every Generation Series: In Every Generation, #1 Author: Kendare Blake Publisher: Disney-Hyperion Publication date: January 4, 2022 Length: 400 pages Genre: Young adult fiction Source: Purchased Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
A new Slayer for a new generation…
Frankie Rosenberg is passionate about the environment, a sophomore at New Sunnydale High School, and the daughter of the most powerful witch in Sunnydale history. Her mom, Willow, is slowly teaching her magic on the condition that she use it to better the world. But Frankie’s happily quiet life is upended when new girl Hailey shows up with news that the annual Slayer convention has been the target of an attack, and all the Slayers—including Buffy, Faith, and Hailey’s older sister Vi—might be dead. That means it’s time for this generation’s Slayer to be born.
But being the first ever Slayer-Witch means learning how to wield a stake while trying to control her budding powers. With the help of Hailey, a werewolf named Jake, and a hot but nerdy sage demon, Frankie must become the Slayer, prevent the Hellmouth from opening again, and find out what happened to her Aunt Buffy, before she’s next.
Get ready for a whole new story within the world of Buffy!
The first in an all-new series by New York Times best-selling author Kendare Blake continues the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer featuring the next generation of Scoobies and Slayers who must defeat a powerful new evil.
After listening to the terrific original-cast audiobook production Slayers last month, I was primed to want more Buffyverse… and turned to In Every Generation, a book that’s been sitting on my shelf for over a year.
The first in a trilogy, In Every Generation takes place 16 years or so after Sunnydale collapsed into a sinkhole and sealed up the Hellmouth, when Buffy defeated the First and saved the world. (She tends to do that.)
As In Every Generation opens, Frankie Rosenberg, daughter of Willow, is a mildly-powered witch (mainly, she’s good at spells that help with recycling) attending New Sunnydale High along with her best friend Jake, a werewolf whose uncle Oz is his parent-figure. Life is as normal as it can be in Sunnydale, until Frankie is knocked off her feet by a powerful force.
Coming to, she learns that an explosion seems to have wiped out every last Slayer, all of whom were gathered for one of their regular meet-ups… and Frankie has apparently been called as the new Slayer, something that hasn’t happened since Willow used the power of the Scythe to turn all potentials into slayers so many years ago.
The Sunnydale group — Frankie, Jake, Oz, and Willow — are frantic, as they hear from Xander that it looks like no Slayers survived the blast. Spike returns with Hailey, younger sister of slayer Vi, who is among the missing and presumed dead Slayers. Who attacked the Slayers, and why?
Meanwhile, vampires and demons are turning up in greater numbers than usual, as word spreads about the elimination of the Slayers, and the forces of evil are drawn back to the Hellmouth, hoping to reopen it once again. As Frankie starts training as a Slayer, under the guidance of Spike, her new Watcher, it’s clear that a brand new Scooby gang will be needed to keep the vampires and bad guys under control. But Frankie is well aware that she’s no Buffy, and worries that she’ll never be good enough to try to fill her shoes.
In Every Generation is an exciting new addition to the world of Buffy, and gives us tastes of beloved characters (Willow, Oz, Spike) while introducing and focusing on a new generation. Frankie is a fun character, with some of a younger Willow’s nervousness and self-doubt, and it’s terrific seeing her grow into her Slayer powers.
Willow doesn’t necessarily come across as very Willow-y. It’s explained that she stopped doing magic after the destruction of Sunnydale (or Spikesplosion, as Frankie and Jake call it), but she still has power, and starts to allow it back into her life when Frankie is in danger. Spike is always fabulous — here, in order to give him access to his new slayer-in-training as well as all the books, he poses as the new school librarian (magicked into tweed and an older face courtesy of Willow), which is rather a hoot. (The high school kids do comment on the boring old librarian’s black fingernails, but otherwise seem just as oblivious as Buffy’s schoolmates were back in the day).
“Ow,” Frankie said. “You know this isn’t fair. Buffy never had to train with a glamoured-old, librarian-cosplaying vampire.”
“That’s true,” said Jake. “She had to train with an actually-old, librarian-dressing librarian. Who can’t beat that?”
The storytelling occasionally skews a little young for my taste — on the younger side of YA — and the simplistic writing style reflects that. Still, there are some cute, quippy moments that almost bring back the joy of a Buffy episode, or as close as something that isn’t really Buffy can get.
” […] Last time I checked, slayers don’t usually leave messages in entrails and remove hearts to take as trophies. Unless something’s changed?”
“Nope.” Willow shook her head. “Heart collection still frowned upon.”
I was entertained enough by In Every Generation to want to keep going. Up next in the series is One Girl in All the World (currently available), and the trilogy’s 3rd volume, Against the Darkness, will be released next spring.
Despite my quibbles with some elements of In Every Generation, it’s still fun to visit Sunnydale, Spike, and the new gang of Scoobies. Of course, what I mainly want to do now is launch into a full-scale Buffy rewatch!
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is a freebie — which means we all choose our own topics.
Hanukkah starts in just two days (this Thursday night), and since Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, my TTT post will be all about candles, lights, and flames!
Here are 10 books whose titles fit my topic — all are books that I’ve either read or plan to read!
Light From Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoka
The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2) by Terry Pratchett
Light Years From Home by Mike Chen
Midnight Blue-Light Special (Incryptids, #2) by Seanan McGuire
Light a Single Candle by Beverly Butler
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
What was your TTT topic this week? If you wrote a post, please share your link!
My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.
Life.
I’m in the middle of a huge project at work with big deadlines looming… so while everyone else seems to be winding down into holiday mode, I’m getting more and more stressed — which is probably why I haven’t had much reading time or focus this past week. Sigh… should see an improvement in 2 – 3 weeks (fingers crossed!).
What did I read during the last week?
Clanlands in New Zealand by Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish: A really fun road trip/buddy adventure — lots of adrenaline, banter, and a smidge of history too. My audiobook review is here.
The Honeymoon Crashers by Christina Lauren: A fun, fluffy audiobook original. If you enjoyed The Unhoneymooners, check this one out — it’s a follow-up, with some new and some familiar characters.
In Every Generation by Kendare Blake: Book 1 in a Buffyverse trilogy! I’ll post a review later this week.
Pop culture & TV:
Virgin River dropped its two Christmas episodes this past week, wrapping up season 5. They’re exactly what you’d expect from Christmas episodes — they mostly feel like something you’d see on Hallmark, with not much at all of substance happening except in the final few minutes of the second episode (where some drama is introduced to set up the next season). Oh, and for those keeping score, Charmaine finally has her babies! The pregnancy lasted more than four seasons on the show — no wonder they have her comment that she feels like she’s been pregnant for years!
In other viewing news, my daughter introduced me to Fisk, which is a terrific Australian comedy that just dropped its second season. I’ve only watched the first season so far — six 30-minute episodes, so much fun.
Fresh Catch:
I had some trade-in credits at my favorite bookstore, and came home with these two books:
I read Doll Bones years ago, but didn’t have my own copy, and I’m excited to read it again. Hag-Seed is a retelling of The Tempest, and now that I’ve both seen a production of and read The Tempest, I’m looking forward to seeing what Margaret Atwood does with the story.
I thought I’d had my fill of spending money on books (ha!), and then I found out about the new anniversary edition of Fangirl… how could I resist? My copy arrived this week.
What will I be reading during the coming week?
Currently in my hands:
Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros: I bought this book right when it came out last month, and feel like this is a good week to get started. Just about to dive in…
Now playing via audiobook:
The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (The Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins: After seeing the new movie a couple of weeks ago, I’ve decided to revisit the book.
Ongoing reads:
My current longer-term reads:
Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2). We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week. Anyone who’s interested is welcome to join in — message me for info! Coming up this week: Chapters 20 and 21 (of 49). Progress: 36%.
Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 24%.
Title: Clanlands in New Zealand: Kilts, Kiwis, and an Adventure Down Under Authors: Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish Narrator: Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish Publisher: Mobius Publication date: November 7, 2023 Print length: 288 pages Audio length: 8 hours 8 minutes Genre: Travel/adventure/history/non-fiction Source: Purchased Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
With a forward by Sir Peter Jackson.
Buckle up, grab a dram, and get ready for another unforgettable wild ride.
They’re back! Stars of Outlander, Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish are no strangers to the rugged beauty of Scotland. But this time they’re setting their sights on a new New Zealand.
Join our intrepid Scotsmen on their latest epic adventure across The Land of the Long White Cloud in this thrilling follow-up to Clanlands . Setting out to explore a country that Graham calls home, and that Sam has longed to visit, these sturdy friends immerse themselves in all that New Zealand has to offer — stunning landscapes, rich history, world-class food and drink, and – much to Graham’s mounting anxiety and Sam’s deep satisfaction – famously adrenaline-fuelled activities! As ever there’s not nearly enough space in their trusty camper van and with plenty of good-natured competition and tormenting to go around, Sam and Graham’s friendship is put to the test once again. Along the way we learn about the length and breadth of this jewel of the Southern Seas, exploring the fascinating story of its people while testing the very limits of Graham’s sanity.
Like the very best buddy movie sequel, this latest installment is full of unforgettable experiences and loveable characters and promises to be an even more memorable ride with two of the most entertaining travel companions around.
So, say goodbye to your inhibitions and kia ora to New Zealand like you’ve never seen it before.
If you’re a fan of Outlander, Men in Kilts, buddy road trips, or simply two likable guys who banter a lot, Clanlands in New Zealand will likely tickle your funnybone.
Actors Graham McTavish and Sam Heughan are back with another silly, over-the-top road trip, this time in New Zealand. The two friends (who play at being adversaries) travel all over New Zealand, experiencing history, culture, food and drink, and tons of pulse-pounding adventure (much to Sam’s delight and Graham’s dismay).
They come off as an odd couple — the young daredevil and the older, stodgier gentleman who just wants to enjoy his lattes and a good wine. But clearly, beneath the bickering, they really enjoy each other’s company and are having a blast.
Their first Clanlands book followed the two Scottish actors around (of course) Scotland, serving as a sort of narration and accompaniment to the filming of their TV series Men in Kilts. Here, it’s a similar approach while they film season 2 of Men in Kilts. The season was — sadly — quite abridged, being only four 30-minute episodes (vs the 10 episodes of season 1). From reading this book, it’s clear that they filmed much more material, so perhaps Starz just didn’t want to commit to a longer show.
In any case, Clanlands 2 is a fun, somewhat rambling account of their odyssey, as they try rocket boats, ziplining, Zorbing, shark cage-diving, and more. They also spend time visiting places of historical significance and learning about Maori culture, as well as sampling the foods and wines of New Zealand.
I listened to the audiobook, which is definitely the way to go. The two actors/authors narrate the book in somewhat alternating sections, each getting a chance to tell their version of each day’s events — often depicting their adventures very, very differently. They also interrupt each other a lot, offer insults and comments, and altogether just never, ever stop bantering and bickering. It’s silly, but very fun.
Graham narrates many vignettes from New Zealand’s history, and these can be quite interesting, although they tend to be somewhat shoehorned in amidst all the adventures. Overall, it’s a bit of an uneven experience, going from adrenaline-spiking outings to stories about Maori and British encounters from the 1800s… every part is interesting or entertaining, but the flow can be a bit weird.
But look, we (I) read or listen to Clanlands for the personalities and their charm. This isn’t a serious history book. It’s the story of two guys on a road trip! The New Zealand setting is wonderful to hear about, and while I had the pleasure of visiting New Zealand about 10 years ago, listening to Clanlands make me itch to go back and spend more time.
While I recommend the audiobook, it’s also worth checking out the print edition, so as not to miss the photos and illustrations, which are part of the terrific whole.
A final note: Listening to Clanlands in New Zealand made me sad that we didn’t get to see more of this adventure in season 2 of Men in Kilts (and there’s no indication that there will be more episodes at some future date) — but if you haven’t had a chance to watch this silly show, here’s a little taste:
Title: Good Girls Don’t Die Author: Christina Henry Publisher: Berkley Publication date: November 14, 2023 Length: 320 pages Genre: Thriller Source: Review copy courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
A sharp-edged, supremely twisty thriller about three women who find themselves trapped inside stories they know aren’t their own, from the author of Alice and Near the Bone.
Celia wakes up in a house that’s supposed to be hers. There’s a little girl who claims to be her daughter and a man who claims to be her husband, but Celia knows this family—and this life—is not hers…
Allie is supposed to be on a fun weekend trip—but then her friend’s boyfriend unexpectedly invites the group to a remote cabin in the woods. No one else believes Allie, but she is sure that something about this trip is very, very wrong…
Maggie just wants to be home with her daughter, but she’s in a dangerous situation and she doesn’t know who put her there or why. She’ll have to fight with everything she has to survive…
Three women. Three stories. Only one way out. This captivating novel will keep readers guessing until the very end.
Wow. What a wild ride. I didn’t have a very clear idea of what to expect when I picked up Good Girls Don’t Die — but having read a bunch of Christina Henry’s books already, I was pretty sure it would be dark and full of twists… and I was totally right about that.
As Good Girls Don’t Die opens, we’re thrust right into a weird and confusing situation. Celia is in the kitchen making her daughter’s lunch… but she doesn’t recognize the kitchen, the daughter, or even the fact that she has a daughter. Where is she? What’s going on? Her husband wishes her a good day, her best friend calls to see if she wants to go for a run before work… but who are these people? Since when is she a runner? And why aren’t there any books in her house?
Is this really my life? Did I sacrifice everything interesting about myself in order to get married, have a baby, drive a compact car?
Every time a hint of a memory enters her mind (like, hey, I prefer yoga, actually), it’s accompanied by a sharp headache. Still, something tells Celia not to admit that she remembers nothing, so she heads off to the restaurant she apparently owns to start her day.
Things go downhill pretty quickly. The irate old lady next door stops by to confront Celia over a non-existent problem, then the old lady’s nephew — an obnoxious, bigoted cop — comes to accuse Celia of assault. When the old lady winds up dead, guess who’s the prime suspect?
Then there’s Allie, in a situation nothing like Celia’s. Allie and her two friends were planning a girls’ weekend at the beach to celebrate Allie’s birthday, but suddenly not only are the friends’ boyfriends coming along, they’ve also changed the destination… to a cabin in the woods. That can’t be good. (It’s not.) As they stay at the remote cabin, Allie notices more and more details that just don’t add up, and before long, extreme danger comes for all of them.
And finally, there’s Maggie, who finds herself in a bizarre, danger-filled environment with no option but to fight through it, if she ever wants to see her daughter again. It may feel like something out of a novel or movie, but the life-threatening obstacles are all too real.
What do these three scenarios have in common? Well… I’m not telling, because that would ruin all the fun!
Good Girls Don’t Die presents the three main characters’ stories sequentially, in separate sections of the book, and then wraps it all up. Each section is fascinating, twisty, and mind-warping, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be tying your brain in knots trying to understand what’s going on.
I loved how each woman deals with her unique situation, having to figure out what’s going on, who to trust, what the risks are, and — hopefully, how to survive. The characters are each quite different, but they all have the determination needed to keep fighting, even when the odds are decidedly not in their favor.
It’s only in the final, concluding section of the book that I felt just a little bit let down. Without going into detail, I’ll say that the wrap-up felt almost too easy to me, and I wasn’t entirely convinced that the book as a whole sticks the landing.
Still, Good Girls Don’t Die is a trippy, exciting, compelling thrill. I absolutely couldn’t put this book down, and finished it all in one day.
There’s plenty of violence and blood, so be aware if that doesn’t appeal to you. Otherwise, do check it out! Good Girls Don’t Die is fascinating — pick it up when you have time to keep reading. You won’t want to stop.
My Monday tradition, including a look back and a look ahead — what I read last week, what new books came my way, and what books are keeping me busy right now. Plus a smattering of other stuff too.
Life.
I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving had a great holiday! We had a small but very fun (and delish) family dinner, and I loved having my daughter home for the long weekend.
What did I read during the last week?
Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison: Terrific horror story with an amazing twist. My review is here.
Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell: My latest Classics Club Spin book, warm and cozy. My thoughts are here.
Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert: This YA novel is a fun read, but made almost no impression on me. 3 stars — didn’t feel like I had enough to say to write a review.
Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry: What a ride! I gobbled this book up in one day. Review to follow.
Pop culture & TV:
I went to see the new Hunger Games movie! The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was actually very good — and now I want to reread the book.
I finished watching the first batch of season six episodes for The Crown (the rest of season six drops in a couple of weeks). It’s heartbreaking to watch the events leading up to and including Diana’s death, knowing what’s about to happen and reliving the tragedy of it all. These episodes were very well done, I thought, but difficult to watch.
Fresh Catch:
I treated myself to this gorgeous special edition of The Cruel Prince:
It’s so pretty!!
What will I be reading during the coming week?
Currently in my hands:
In Every Generation by Kendare Blake: After listening to the new Slayers audiobook, I’ve been in the mood for more of the Buffyverse! I’m just getting started with this book (first in a trilogy), but so far, so good.
Now playing via audiobook:
Clanlands in New Zealand by Sam Heughan & Graham McTavish: A road trip through New Zealand with these two guys… full of banter, adventure, and snippets of history too. All good fun.
Ongoing reads:
My current longer-term reads:
Outlander Book Club is doing a group re-read of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, #2). We’ll be reading and discussing two chapters per week. Anyone who’s interested is welcome to join in — message me for info! Coming up this week: Chapters 18 and 19 (of 49). Progress: 33%.
Daniel Deronda by George Eliot: My book group’s current classic read! We’re reading and discussing two chapters per week. Progress: 22%.
Elizabeth Gaskell’s portrait of kindness, compassion, and hope
Cranford depicts the lives and preoccupations of the inhabitants of a small village – their petty snobberies, appetite for gossip, and loyal support for each other in times of need This is a community that runs on cooperation and gossip, at the very heart of which are the daughters of the former rector: Miss Deborah Jenkyns and her sister Miss Matty, But domestic peace is constantly threatened in the form of financial disaster, imagined burglaries, tragic accidents, and the reapparance of long-lost relatives.
The women of an English country village star in this Victorian classic that inspired a BBC series, from the author of North and South. Welcome to Cranford, where everyone knows one another and a cow wears pajamas. It’s a community built on friendship and kindness, where women hold court and most of the houses—and men—are rarely seen. Two colorful spinster sisters at the heart of Cranford, Miss Matty and Miss Deborah Jenkyns, are daughters of the former rector, and when they’re not playing cards or drinking tea, they’re feeding an endless appetite for scandal and weathering commotions to their peaceful lives, from financial troubles to thieves to an unexpected face from the past. First published in installments in Household Words, a magazine edited by Charles Dickens, Cranford was a hit of its time and today offers modern readers a glimpse into a small English town during the mid-nineteenth century.
Cranford is a lovely snapshot of a time and place. The gentle storytelling paints a portrait of a small village dominated by the various women who rule local society. Men are largely absent or unimportant; it’s the women’s gatherings, chats, rules, and visits that create the atmosphere of this sweet read.
In the first place, Cranford is in possession of the Amazons; all the holders of houses above a certain rent are women. If a married couple come to settle in the town, somehow the gentleman disappears; he is either fairly frightened to death by being the only man in the Cranford parties, or he is accounted for by being with his regiment, his hip, or closely engaged in business all the week in the great neighbouring commercial town of Drumble, distant only twenty miles on a railroad. In short, whatever does become of the gentlemen, they are not at Cranford.
Narrated by Mary Smith, whose name we don’t actually learn until late in the book, Cranford depicts a series of events in the lives of the community. We quickly discover who sets the tone and who follows along; who is considered respectable and who is most decidedly not. Whether it’s the matter of clothing or when to burn candles, there are rules for everything, and woe to those who don’t follow the rules!
There isn’t much of a plot; rather, Cranford is a series of vignettes of the characters’ lives, covering silly events (such as a visiting magician) as well as deaths, marriages, births, and the loss of fortunes. While some characters appear to be ridiculously rule-bound, there are moments of loveliness when the various residents of Cranford come together to offer help and support, often without the recipient having any idea of how much is being done for them (so as not to damage their pride).
The writing is often quite funny:
“Mrs Forrester … sat in state, pretending not to know what cakes were sent up, though she knew, and we knew, and she knew that we knew, and we knew that she knew that we knew, she had been busy all the morning making tea-bread and sponge-cakes.”
And yet, the story includes sad moments as well — stories of lost love, estranged family members, and sudden accidents.
Overall, Cranford is a gentle read, full of humor and sharp descriptions, but it is also kind and generous, even with the more ridiculous of the characters.
I’m glad to have read this little gem. Once again, another terrific read thanks to a Classics Club Spin!
Title: Black Sheep Author: Rachel Harrison Publisher: Berkley Publication date: September 19, 2023 Length: 289 pages Genre: Paranormal/contemporary fiction Source: Library Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
A cynical twentysomething must confront her unconventional family’s dark secrets in this fiery, irreverent horror novel from the author of Such Sharp Teeth and Cackle.
Nobody has a “normal” family, but Vesper Wright’s is truly…something else. Vesper left home at eighteen and never looked back—mostly because she was told that leaving the staunchly religious community she grew up in meant she couldn’t return. But then an envelope arrives on her doorstep.
Inside is an invitation to the wedding of Vesper’s beloved cousin Rosie. It’s to be hosted at the family farm. Have they made an exception to the rule? It wouldn’t be the first time Vesper’s been given special treatment. Is the invite a sweet gesture? An olive branch? A trap? Doesn’t matter. Something inside her insists she go to the wedding. Even if it means returning to the toxic environment she escaped. Even if it means reuniting with her mother, Constance, a former horror film star and forever ice queen.
When Vesper’s homecoming exhumes a terrifying secret, she’s forced to reckon with her family’s beliefs and her own crisis of faith in this deliciously sinister novel that explores the way family ties can bind us as we struggle to find our place in the world.
This is my third book by Rachel Harrison, and just confirms what I already knew: This is an author who belongs on my auto-read list. I really enjoyed Cackle and Such Sharp Teeth — and Black Sheep is another terrific expedition into darkness and disturbing developments, but written with such a sharp voice that I still found myself laughing despite the awful events.
It’s going to be hard to talk about Black Sheep, because there’s a big twist that happens pretty early on and turns every expectation on its head… and while some reviewers may reveal what that is, I’m not going to. Suffice to say, I had a screeching-brakes moments of “wait… what???”, and was quietly blown away after that.
Given that, there’s really only the barest of bare bones to share. When Vesper receives the wedding invitation — to the wedding of her best friend and her own former boyfriend/first love — it’s the cap of a very depressing day working at a chain restaurant and then getting fired. What else could go wrong? When Vesper left the family and community six years earlier, it was with the very clear knowledge that she could never return. So who invited her to the wedding, and why?
With everything else in her life basically sucking, Vesper decides to go, and journeys to the remote rural town where she was raised. Her mother’s house is as she remembers — her mother Constance is the queen of slasher horror, and her house is full of terrifying bits of movie memorabilia. Vesper finds herself welcomed back by her friend Rosie and the rest of the family, but little disturbing things keep happening.
As the story progresses, it becomes clear why Vesper left in the first place — and increasingly difficult to not shout at her to run away as fast as she possibly can. But as Vesper discovers, the past doesn’t necessarily want to let her go, and some things can’t be escaped forever.
Black Sheep is creepy and wonderful, and Vesper herself is sharp, world-weary, and sarcastic, torn between memories of loving moments in her past and the scary possibility that her community and its religion are even worse than she remembers:
I was so tired of being told that faith was the answer to everything when it never seemed to solve anything. I wondered what the difference was between being told to have faith and to be quiet. I suspected there wasn’t one.
I highlighted so many great passages while reading Black Sheep — but most are too spoilery to share, so I won’t.
Let’s just leave it like this: Black Sheep is fast, entertaining, dark, and full of great surprises. In a sense, it’s utterly ridiculous, but also, Vesper herself lets us know how bizarre she finds every single thing about her life.
Black Sheep never feels less than riveting. Don’t miss it.
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Reasons Why I’m Thankful for Books. What a great topic!
Here are 10 of my reasons why I’m thankful for books:
Escape: I love immersing myself in the world of a book and shutting out reality while I’m reading.
Learning: Although I’m almost exclusively a fiction reader, I still find myself learning so much from what I read — from medical conditions to world history to cultures that are different than my own, there’s so much to explore and experience.
Connection: When I meet someone new and learn they’re a reader too, suddenly, there are endless topics to discuss and bond over.
Comfort: When days are stressful or my brain feels overloaded, it’s lovely to be able to curl up with a well-loved book and feel calm and cozy again.
Boredom busters: I can never be bored if I have a book with me (and I always have a book with me). Waiting rooms? Long lines? Holding for customer service? That’s okay — I have something to read.
Book buddies: I love my inner circle of book buddies, those real-life people who love books as much as I do — we swap, share thoughts, make recommendations, and have book-related experiences that our non-bookish friends just don’t get.
Nostalgia: Certain books take me back to places and people from my earlier years, so reading them again is not only a wonderful reading experience in and of itself, but also brings memories of family and experiences that are tied to those books.
Imaginary journeys: I love it when the world of a book is so immersive that it just sweeps me away.
Words, words, words: Beautiful writing, intricate wordplay, unusual vocabulary… these are a few of my favorite things.
The glamour of it all! Oh, I’m kidding, but I do love just looking at my bookshelves and enjoying how pretty they all are.
Bookshelf Fantasies 