Chaos & Confetti

On the traditional text side, my June reads lacked a unifying theme.  Instead, I read what I had available/what I happened to start.  I do love keeping my reading varied and getting a taste of many different offerings.  My hopping around paid off because I did find a few strong selections amongst the seven books I read.  

On the comics side of things, my selection had a much clearer focus.  After watching Across the Spider-Verse at the beginning of the month, I felt inspired to dive into some of my Spider-Man related comics that I’ve been meaning to get around to reading.  Knocking out collections for five different Spider-heroes felt good, and of course, two of those heroes were also represented in my traditional prose reading as well.

As always, books will be rated on a 1 – 5 star scale with 1 being bad, 2 being meh, 3 being good, 4 being great, and 5 being absolutely excellent.  If you enjoy what you see and don’t want to wait until the next book post, please follow us on Goodreads.  We’ll stay consistently updated there before compiling our month’s reading and thoughts here.

The comics I have read will also be included at the end of the post.  Those will just be listed and not officially reviewed.  However, if you ever want to hear about any specific comic in particular or want my thoughts, don’t be afraid to ask.  I enjoy discussing everything I read. 

Let’s go!

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng – 5/5 Stars

Shaker Heights is a perfect town for those seeking pleasantly happy lives, but of course nothing is ever as good as it seems on the surface.  The Richardsons and Warrens are extremely different, one a family of privilege the other a unit built on art and secrets.  When their lives become entangled they bring out the best and worst of each other, changing their trajectories forever.  What feels like a great fit changes when a custody battle engulfs the interests of the town and the many find themselves on opposing sides.

Little Fires Everywhere is a highly engaging story featuring multiple characters navigating lives that collide into each other and their desires.  Ng expertly shifts amongst the cast, highlighting characters and stories at just the right moments.  All the characters feel well-rounded and developed, fully understandable, even if readers don’t always agree with their actions or ways of thinking.

Developments unfold in natural yet surprising ways that keep the novel a quick and entertaining read.  Readers will want to see how everything unfolds and how plot points will be resolved.  Little Fires Everywhere is a satisfying read.  It shows many aspects of humanity in a way that will touch many readers on a deep level.

Araña and Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow by Alex Segura – 3/5 Stars

Young Spider-hero Anya Corazon, a.k.a. Araña already has a tough time balancing life and heroics, but things have gotten even harder since her mentor died.  Then, while trying to stop the theft of an artifact, Araña finds herself thrown into the future.  At least Spider-Man 2099, Miguel O’Hara is around.  Unfortunately, he retired a while ago and is reluctant to suit back up.  The two heroes need to step up because the stolen artifact is being put to use in a scheme that might just spell the end of the world in all timelines.  

While I am a big fan of both of these heroes, the reality is that they are both far from A-list (though Spider-Man 2099’s profile has been boosted by the release of Across the Spider-Verse).  That means the novel spends a good chunk of itself trying to catch reader up on who these characters are.  Expect a lot of exposition and reflection on past events and a much slower start.

Outside of the info dumps, the heroes are likable and the plot is a classic superhero story about overcoming self doubts in order to save the world.  The novel makes good use of the Spider-Man corner of the Marvel franchise, but again, it straddles a bit of a strange line between needing to explain aspects and hoping readers will simply roll with what is being included.  I, personally, enjoyed the use of some obscure elements, though the use of one villain felt a bit off and the comic history between other characters had to be ignored.  

This is an interesting but slow read for fans of these characters that is aimed more at the middle/high school reader.  For those new to the characters, there is still a lot to like, but there are stretches of the novel where interest levels may wane.

Worlds Apart by Jane Crittenden – 3/5 Stars

Eighteen years ago, teenager Amy left with her family from England to Australia.  Pregnant, she left behind a letter for Chris, the father-to-be.  He never responded and never came to find her.  Now, suddenly after all these years, Chris shows up at her bakery looking to reconnect and maybe more.  How can he ignore past hurts and what secrets does he hide?  Maybe a series of flashbacks told through the eyes of Chris and Amy’s friend Olivia will shed some light on the situation.

Worlds Apart is a novel where most of the conflict comes from what characters bring upon themselves by making assumptions, not speaking their minds, and keeping secrets.  There is also the issue of some real estate, but that ties in the emotional troubles as well.  Whether it’s adult Amy and Chris or teenage Olivia and her friends, readers will wish that characters would simply talk to each other.  It may not fix the problems, but at least it would bring them out into the open and leave characters less wishy-washy on what they should do.

At its core, Worlds Apart is a romance story, telling the tale of who lovebirds refinding each other after years and miles apart.  Despite some missteps and poor decision making at times, the characters as a whole are quite likable.

There won’t be too many surprises in this one, but fans of romance novels should still enjoy the ride.

Now That You Mention It by Kristen Higgens – 3.5/5 Stars

Nora Stuart worked hard and strived to become who she is today: the recipient of the Tufts Scholarship, who made good and went on to become a gastroenterologist in Boston.  The flaws in her life are laid bare when Nora gets hit by a car and her boyfriend decides to cheat over her seemingly unconscious body.  Needing to heal and reevaluate her life, Nora returns to her tiny hometown in Maine.  This is the island where Nora’s father abandoned her, she suffered through high school, her mother failed to properly support her, the boy who lost the Tufts scholarship still holds a grudge, and Nora’s imprisoned sister’s daughter is staying.  This is also the island where Nora just might refind her purpose, family connection, and romantic love.

Higgens does a good job of spicing up the classic chick lit/romance formula with interesting characters and a few twists along the way.  Though the genre isn’t elevated to new heights, Higgens keeps it fresh and interesting.  Readers may be able to guess where most of the novel will play out, but they may also still be surprised by a few results.

For the most part, Nora is a relatable character that readers will like and want to support.  However, she does have a few flaws that stand out.  As a gastroenterologist and formerly overweight child, she has an interesting view of food.  Her inner monologue is regularly judging people’s eating habits and what certain foods might do to their insides.  Nora is also a lover of pop culture and a huge Harry Potter nerd.  It can feel a bit silly at times and some of her references come off as a bit dated.  

Overall, Now That You Mention It is a sweet and enjoyable novel that should appeal to those who like stories about people finding themselves, home, and love.  

School Library Management, 8th Edition by Carl Harvey – 4/5 Stars

School Library Management offers a collection of writings and articles that look to cover a wide variety of essential library topics.  These subjects include leadership, advocacy, budgeting, scheduling, evaluation, and more.

This text is a strong collection of texts that will cover a lot for those interested in going into librarianship and those who are already there.  The proved pieces feel up-to-date and endlessly useful.

Like all collections, some texts are better written and some will prove more relevant to certain readers than others, but the book as a whole is a great resource for those working in or interested in libraries.      

One Day: The Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary 24 Hours in America by Gene Weingarten – 4.5/5 Stars

Through a randomized process Gene Weingarten selected the date of December 28, 1986 for a large undertaking.  Weingarten planned to write a book proving that no day is ordinary by showcasing all the incredible things that happen during a so-called normal day in America.  After six years of research, Weingarten book exists and in it are stories that cover a gamut of stories covering diverse topics including love, murder, politics, race, truth, sports, luck, freedom, achievement, family, and more.

One Day is an amazing collection of real-life stories.  Weingarten did an incredible job of researching and curating a selection of experiences that readers should find fascinating.  While every tale might not be the most captivating for every reader, it’s hard to ignore the amount of work and detail that went into this book.

Obviously, Weingarten is able to cheat a little by often using events of December 28, 1986 to tell spark broader and more complete stories that take place over larger spans of time or to connect to events that occurred on different dates.  However, each point and story does tie directly into his target date, and Dec. 28 does stay the main focus throughout.  

Weingarten fluidly weaves together themes and events in a way that allows him to stuff a lot into one book.  Many will enjoy this book, but it should especially be thrilling for those who enjoy human interest pieces, history, and the seemingly ordinary.

Under the Feet of Jesus by Helena Maria Viramontes – 2.5/5 Stars

Under the Feet of Jesus is the story of migrants living and working in California.  Characters experiencing all phases of life deal with the hardships of being away from home and living as second class citizens.  At the heart of the novel are Estrella and Alejo, two kids coming into adulthood.

As a piece of writing, Under the Feet of Jesus is well crafted.  As a novel, it is lacking.  Viramontes gives wonderful descriptions of the settings and brings to life interesting and fully formed characters.  However, the plot of the book feels more bare and meandering.  This is most likely a novel that one should sit with and ponder, instead of trying to simply take in the story.  This is especially true since the novel ends a bit suddenly and ambiguously.  

Those looking for a peek into immigrant lives and wanting characters to examine will be able to find them in Viramontes novel.  Those seeking a full fledged story with a clear arc may want to skip this one.

Comics Read: 

• Araña: Night of the Hunter by Fidna Avery and Tania Del Rio
• Miles Morales: Empire of the Spider by Saladin Ahmed
• Spider-Gwen:  Gwenverse by Tim Seeley
• Spider-Man 2099: Exodus by Steve Orland
• Spider-Punk: Battle of the Banned by Cody Ziglar