Chaos & Confetti

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!

My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante – 3/5 Stars

This is the story of two girls living and growing up in Italy during the middle of the 1900s.  Elena and Lila become young friends, but their bond strengthens, weakens, and evolves as they traverse life’s journey.  The narrator, Elena moves through life with an eye always towards Lila.

In many ways, My Brilliant Friend is a timeless story of female and childhood friendship.  The challenges and changes the two girls go through are relatable for most: parent troubles, school, work, family issues, relationships with boys, etc.  What helps this novel stand out is its ties to the culture and country in which it is set, Italy in the mid twentieth century.  The peak into ordinary lives of the time period and region helps add a bit of interest to the story.

For the most part, the novel is low on action and meanders through the plot, which focuses on the mostly normal life of Elena.  The only real connective tissue and narrative thread is that Elena is growing up parallel to her friend Lina, and their existences act as reflection and foils to one another.  As the narrator, Elena’s young perspective adds weight to the events of the novel. 
To an outsider, the schooling, lost dolls, fears, and crushes of a teenage girl don’t mean much, but to that teen, they mean everything.

The slower pace and heavy expository nature of My Brilliant Friend will not be for all readers, but I recommend it for those who wish to indulge in the Italian atmosphere, enjoy reading about the ordinary and small moments in life, or want a look into young female friendship in a very down to earth way.  

She Wouldn’t Change a Thing by Sarah Adlakha – 3.5/5 Stars

Maria Forssmann, a 39 year old wife and mother, wakes up in her 17 year old body after a series of events she can’t fully remember.  Her new reality makes no sense, but she can focus on one thing: her goal to return to her old(er) life.  Maria’s husband, successful job, children, and unborn son all wait for her if she can just get back to where she belongs.  But, when Maria realizes she has the opportunity to prevent a very personal tragedy, she must also weigh this unique time-altering chance against the possibility of changing her future irreparably.

Adlakha creates an interesting premise as she tells a story across two timelines.  The story of Maria’s attempts to regain her life are interesting in themselves; as is the tale of the consequences of what put her in that predicament to begin with in the present.  The characters and story work well and it is easy for a reader to become invested.

At the heart of the novel sit several moral dilemmas: what should one be willing to do to get what they want, and what are our responsibilities to others?  Along with these larger questions come smaller themes of forgiveness, love, honesty, and faith.  These are interesting quandaries that are exciting to think about and create an easy push of interest for reader as they eagerly await answers and to see how events play out.

The biggest drawback for the novel however is that after a point the book’s answers seem too obvious, and some of the decisions that need to be made become easier due to some hand-wavey reasons.  For the characters themselves, any sacrifice, risk, or loss means a lot.  Those emotions are captured and conveyed, but as a reader, some of the impact is loss when the book goes out of its way to force a happy ending or to ensure readers know everything will be good.  A decision is made, but the impacts feel slightly lessened.

The novel might have been better with more time to flesh out characters and situations, along with a little more leeway for consequences to mean more.  

Overall, I enjoyed She Wouldn’t Have Changed a Thing.  I would recommend it for those who like stories dealing with moral dilemmas, time travel tales, romance, and characters placed in strange situations.

Long Chills and Case Dough by Brandon Sanderson – 2.5/5 Stars

As a special gift to backers, Brandon Sanderson capped off his Year of Sanderson Kickstarter with a free surprise book.  Long Chills and Case Dough is a previously unpublished story from earlier in Sanderson’s career.  The novella follows Jack Derrin, a private eye, on his latest case.  Jack may live in the far off future, but he prefers to view his reality through the lens of an old pulpy detective.

Despite being the product of a less polished and skilled Sanderson, Long Chills and Case Dough is a quick and fun read.  The tongue in cheek absurdity of Derrin’s self-imposed old-school PI ways adds to what would otherwise be a more shallow and straightforward story.  The extra bit of flavor is enjoyable and helps imagine what Sanderson could do with this character, even if what is actually there is a little wanting.  

The novella is a quick and pleasant read that should definitely be interesting for Sanderson fans.  Getting a chance to see an earlier work from an author who has risen to great success and churned out numerous quality books is quite the treat.  

I would recommend Long Chills and Case Dough to those looking for a quick, quirky read, or to those who would enjoy a look at a famous author’s earlier work.  

The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan – 5/5 Stars

Presented in a dictionary-like format, this book tells the story of a relationship through a series of non-chronological entries.  Readers will experience the highs and lows of one couple’s relationship.

The Lover’s Dictionary is worthy of multiple reads.  The non-chronological aspect of the glimpses into the relationship give readers information in an unorthodox way, which successfully builds on what comes before but also re-informs what has come prior.  Leviathan maximizes what he is able to communicate through the use of short form writing.  

Leviathan is able to pull off peeks into what feels like a genuine relationship and captures feelings which feel sincere.  The high and romantic feelings are joyous and relatable.  The lows are heartbreaking.  Readers should have no problem connecting with the text.

The Lover’s Dictionary is a fantastic collection of narrative poetry.  I would strongly recommend it to those who enjoy poetry, those who enjoy reading about relationships, and for anyone who has ever felt love and heartbreak before.

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy – 4/5 Stars

Llewellyn Moss comes across a drug deal gone wrong in the dessert.  Suddenly two million dollars richer, Llewellyn quickly realizes that his find isn’t a dream come true.  Now being hunted, Llewellyn is on the run from the law and from those with more sinister intention.

McCarthy presents a wild ride as Llewellyn does his best to survive, Chigurrah hunts him down, and Sheriff Bell hopes to do anything in time.  The novel is a strong piece of literary work.  There are moments of action, but often the intensity comes from the more quiet moments, especially with Chigurrah.  

Readers will feel the impending doom hanging over these men, knowing that not everyone can have a happy ending, and not everyone deserves one.  The three characters each follow their own moral code and belief system, which play off each other nicely and add depth to the novel.

McCarthy presents is story with an interesting writing style that is uniquely his and caters to the story he is telling.

I would recommend No Country for Old Men to those who like intense stories, are okay with violence, enjoy a Western feel to their stories, and are looking for a novel with literary merit.

Rules for a Knight by Ethan Hawke – 3/5 Stars

Before heading off to battle, a knight sits down to write to his children.  He fears that he may not return home and wishes to leave behind as much wisdom as possible, hoping to contribute to his children’s betterment, even if he can’t be there for it in person.  Through a series of short tales, the knight shares all he knows.

Ethan Hawke does a good job of pulling together many short stories, each sharing good advice on how to be a good and noble person.  The tales are mostly inoffensive and could be great for sharing quick morality lessons with children.  They are easy to understand and the lessons are simple to pick up on.  

While Hawek’s collection of knightly tales are good, there is nothing that feels deeply unique or insightful about them.  These are morals, lessons, and stories that can be found elsewhere with equal quality.     

I would recommend Rules for a Knight to those who like quick inspiration stories with solid moral centers and younger audiences.

Comics Read:

• Defenders: There are No Rules by Al Ewing
• Miles Morales vol. 8: Empire of the Spider by Saladin Ahmed