Chaos & Confetti

While a good book is appreciated at any time of the year, there is nothing quite like a little Summer reading.  My Summer may still be very busy, but I made sure to squeeze in a hand full of books anyways.  I am happy to say my reading ways paid off as I found myself discovering quite a few wonderful books this July.  Lots of 4s and above this time around.

Sadly, comics once again got pushed to the background, but I did fit in another volume of Rainbow Rowell’s She-Hulk.  It’s a great series, which is of course expected by the excellent Rowell.  As is my usual practice, I’ll try to follow up a month short on comics with a a stronger month next time.

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!

There’s Just One Problem…: True Tales from the Former, One-Time, 7th Most Powerful Person in WWE by Brian Gewirtz – 4/5 Stars

Brian Gewirtz, a former WWE head writer, details his journey from aspiring sitcom writer to someone who found himself in charge of writing hours of WWE programming every week.  Gewirtz provides a behind the scenes look into the thoughts behind certain storylines, the experiences of working with specific wrestlers, and survival of a non-stop ever changing job.

There’s Just One Problem is a fascinating look into the world behind the WWE camera for over a decade.  Obviously a book like this will work best for those who already have some interest in the world of wrestling and this era of WWE, but Gewirtz does a good job explaining things along the way for newcomers and using humor to add a bit more fun to the book.  

The book mostly comes off as a mix of memoir and a fun collection of history and stories pulled from Gewirtz tenure.  He views his former life through a lens of thankfulness, humor, and respect.  While he’s not afraid to poke fun at storylines and people, most of his jokes paint himself as the target.  Overall, the man comes off as quite likable.  He enjoys sharing his stories and accomplishments, but isn’t afraid to admit the creative missteps he may have made along the way too.

Gewirtz’s book should be a fun nostalgia dive for fans of his era of wrestling, but should also provide lots of new insights and information as well.  I definitely recommend this book for fans of wrestling and those who have always been curious about what it’s like to write for a wrestling promotion.     

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus – 4.5/5 Stars

Follow the life of 1960s female scientist Elizabeth Zott.  She is a woman devoted to science and her beliefs.  Her journey will include love, loss, gender politics, family, rowing, fame, and science.  Through her quest to better herself and to serve those she cares about, Elizabeth will soon become a role model who teaches women to be more than society has told them they can be.

There is a lot about Lessons in Chemistry that shouldn’t work, yet it all comes together to create an incredible tale built on the back of it’s main character, Elizabeth Zott.  Zott is the kind of stereotypical scientist that could never exist in the real world, but she is formed in a way that is still relatable.  Despite her peculiar, rigid, and condescending ways, Zott is easy to care and root for.  The greater ideals she represents and struggles for, make her a fantastic character.

Like the main character, the narration of the novel is also a bit clinical and removed, yet it still tells the story artfully and is able to get across a good amount of humor.  Garmus finds a way to weave, unweave, and reweave the many characters and plot threads together in artful ways. 

As a whole, Lessons in Chemistry is an empowering story of a woman trying to be her best in every way, working to mold the world around her into what it should be.  The story feels original and fresh, providing a story that is worth getting lost in.

Where the Missing Go by Emma Rowley – 3/5 Stars

Kate’s daughter went missing years ago.  She struggles as her life continues to feel like it’s falling apart.  One of the few ways she hangs on is by volunteering at a missing persons helpline.  Then one night, Kate receives a call from a girl who wants her parents to know she’s safe.  The problem is that Kate knows this girl is her daughter, Sophie, and something tells her that Sophie isn’t safe at all.  Kate must now, more than ever, figure out how to find her missing daughter, despite everyone else telling her to move on.

Where the Missing Go is a good thriller with an intriguing premise.  Kate’s struggle to make progress towards finding her daughter, while everyone else questions both Kate’s actions and well-being creates a good amount of tension.  While readers themselves may never question Kate, the conflicts she faces should still be entertaining.

The novel doesn’t do much to rise above many other thrillers, but there are some strong revelations, even if a good number of them shouldn’t be too surprising. 

 Where the Missing Go will please those who love mysteries and thrillers.  It’s an enjoyable ride while it lasts.

The Sentence is Death  by Anthony Horowitz – 4/5 Stars

In this sequel to The Word is Murder, author Anothny Horowitz and detective Daniel Hawthorne find themselves on another unusual case.  Someone beat a big-time divorce lawyer to death with a bottle of wine worth thousands, and then left some mysterious numbering on the wall in green paint.  Potential suspects abound, but a famous poet seems the most likely culprit thanks to a recent threat.  Could the case be that easy, or is there more going on?  Hawthorne is on a mission to solve the case and Horowitz hopes to write the book on the investigation, but there may be dangers looking to prevent both men’s goals. 

The Sentence is Death is a strong follow up novel, taking the character dynamics of the first book and exploring them further.  Hawthorne continues to be his closed off self, while Horowitz reluctantly writes of this escapade while also trying to figure out more about his books’ star.

Horowitz’s dedication to actually solving the crime himself his time around and maybe even outpacing his partner provides him with a solid mission statement for the character.  Horowitz is set up for a good character arc in this novel as he works through obstacles, and he is primed well for potential future novels too.

A mystery novel is only as good as the actual mystery, and thankfully readers will enjoy another interesting case as they sort through clues, hoping to solve the case before Horowitz and Hawthorne.  Of course, they will have to figure out what’s important and what’s irrelevant.  The book provides a lengthy list of suspects and motivations without feeling overwhelming.  This fleshed up world should keep readers guessing and honing it on different leads and insights.

Fans of the first novel will definitely enjoy this one, but The Sentence is Death also stands along as a strong mystery itself.  

Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi – 4/5 Stars

Like so many during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Jamie Gray finds himself struggling to survive financially.  Getting fired from a nice job and then having to work for a food delivery app leaves Jamie feeling hopeless.  However, a chance delivery to an old schoolmate opens a world of possibility to Jamie.  Jamie is recruited to an secretive animal rights organization for large animals.  He’ll soon find out that those large animals are bigger than he ever imagined, as he crosses into another dimension, one where the world evolved differently, and Kaiju roam the land.  It’s a dangerous job, but it probably still beats food delivery.

Kaiju Preservation Society is a novel with a really interesting premise and Scalzi does a good job fleshing out both the alternate world of the Kaiju and the organization working to protect them.  

The first half of the novel can feel a bit slow at times, with a lot of exposition, since there is a lot to learn about the life Jamie is stepping into.  However, Scalzi does his best to provide a little action and humor here and there to try to keep things moving.  Once most things are established, the novel is free to ramp up the pace, which creates a much more exciting second half that is a nice blend of action, science-fiction, and humor.

This novel is a lighthearted adventure story that relishes in setting up the kaiju dimension and covering the science behind them.  There isn’t a lot of depth in terms of message or character but they are enjoyable enough not to hinder the story being told.

If you like big monsters, world-building, science-fiction, or action-adventure, Kaiju Preservation Society is a good choice.

Not Cinderella’s Type by Jenni James – 2/5 Stars

Indy Zimmerman is a modern day Cinderella, with a life nobody would envy.  Then, after accidentally hurting Indy, Bryant Bailey decides he must become a much bigger piece of Indy’s life.  Soon, Indy will be trying to decide between two boys, and will be forced to deal with how terribly her aunt and uncle have treated her for years.  Not all changes are good, but maybe Indy can finally find a little hope to add to her story.

It doesn’t take long for the story James presents to feel strange.  In many ways this novel aims to be a modern retelling of Cinderella presented in a very teenage way for young readers.  However, the novel also sets up a nonsensical and shallowly handled love-triangle, while also deciding it would like to deal with the heavy topic of emotional and family abuse (by mostly not dealing with it in a meaningful way).  The novel sets itself up to explore several potentially interesting threads, but instead focuses on a shallow teen romance.

While it may be easier for younger readers to get wrapped up in the budding romance between Indy and Bryant, it is still easy to see how problematic and strange the entire relationship is, especially due to Bryant’s insistence that Indy try dating someone else.  Bryant is written as a charming, smooth, wise beyond his years, good guy, but he ends up sounding a bit false instead.

The book’s shorter length keeps it from really following through on a lot of its story setup, which keeps it a quick and light read.  Overall, Not Cinderella’s Type feels too shallow and simple, especially when it tries to add depth by bringing up and then quickly handling larger issues.

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter by Brandon Sanderson – 5/5 Stars

Yumi and Painter come from different worlds.  Yumi holds an important role in a land of heat, sun, and spirits.  Painter wishes to be a hero, despite his isolating behavior, in a land of darkness, technology, and nightmares.  When their lives become connected and each finds themselves thrust into the other’s world, they must figure out why they were brought together in time to save themselves and their communities.

In traditional Sanderson fashion, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter weds fantastic character work with excellent world building.  Sanderson is able to expertly introduce readers to his characters and worlds.  Then, he uses the plot to continue unveiling more and more as the novel continues, crafting a story that is engaging and satisfying throughout.

The slow burn relationship and understanding between Yumi and Painter allows them to grow closer, but it also helps readers find value in each as well.  Both a strong character alone, but even better together.  

The mystery of the characters’ intertwined lives takes a while to unfold completely, but the journey is well worth it.  The other characters and situations they meet along the way add to the strong story.  Sanderson does a good job of fleshing out all aspects of his story, while still keeping it tight and focused.    

This novel is a great choice for those who love fantasy, romance, strong character work, and good world building.  Whether familiar with Sanderson’s Cosmere stories or not, readers should have no problem enjoying Yumi and the Nightmare Painter.  

Comics Read:

• She-Hulk: Jen of Hearts vol. 2 by Rainbow Rowell