Book Reviews

Summer Book Reviews

Oh yes!! It is that time again. Summer book reviews. My summer reading has been pretty enjoyable overall. Here's what I've been reading.

A Desperate Fortune by Susanna Kearsley

Susanna Kearsley is one of my favorite authors. I usually dive right into her books and can't put them down. This one...not so much. I really liked one of the storylines and didn't care much for the other. When I was reading about the present I could take it or leave it. It was just too slow. It was an interesting premise with the main character having Aspergers but it just didn't work for me. Sara was too vague. I could never "see" her. But when it was in the past, I liked it and once things started to get rolling, I was hooked.

From Goodreads:

For nearly 300 years, the mysterious journal of Jacobite exile Mary Dundas has lain unread — its secrets safe from prying eyes. Now, amateur codebreaker Sara Thomas has been hired by a once-famous historian to crack the journal's cipher. But when she arrives in Paris, Sara finds herself besieged by complications from all sides: the journal's reclusive owner, her charming Parisian neighbor, and Mary, whose journal doesn't hold the secrets Sara expects. 

The love story that takes place in the past was unique in that it was very subtle; a word, a glance, a gesture but it was extremely effective. The romance Mary finds is unexpected and I don't even want to comment much on it because that was my favorite part of the book...as she slowly becomes aware of her feelings for a particular person. I love that he isn't the usual hero. He is complicated and broken. He (don't want to say his name) may be my favorite hero of Kearsley's yet. I really hope he pops up in another book like some of her characters tend to do. I also like all the code breaking and ciphers. Very cool.

My Rating: Good. Would of been excellent if not such a slow start and the modern day storyline being a bit of a snooze but the past storyline has some of Kearsley's best characters yet!



Mr. Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore

This is a book that both my husband and mother have been jabbering about for over a year. They both loved it and highly recommended it. I FINALLY read it and they were right. It was great!!

From Goodreads:

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon away from life as a San Francisco web-design drone and into the aisles of Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after a few days on the job, Clay discovers that the store is more curious than either its name or its gnomic owner might suggest. The bookstore’s secrets extend far beyond its walls.

It thought it was a super fun read. I loved the mystery, the secret society, the clues, and the technology. I loved all the cultural references...like Googlers!! Craziness. It is also a book about books. It doesn't get much better than that! But wait... it does...it's hilarious too. I also really liked the juxtaposition of the old and the new...Mr. Penumbra vs Clay, books vs the Internet, technology vs knowledge.

My Rating: Charming!! I loved it. Great hipster book.


Dangerous Women by George R.R. Martin

I only read this because I wanted to read the stories written by George R.R. Martin and Diana Gabaldon. They were both worth it!!

First up: The Virgins by Diana Gabaldon-- An Outlander Story

This novella takes place before Outlander...a prequel. Before Jamie meets Claire. As I am currently in Droughtlander...ie...no new book for another few years I was happy to get my hands on anything that takes place in the Outlander world...and of course Jamie Fraser. It was so fun to read about the adventures of Ian and Jamie. It gave me great insight into their friendship and even brought me to tears as it hit upon something that was mentioned in the latest Outlander book. That right there is worth 5 stars.

Next Up: The Princess and the Queen by George R. R. Martin --A Song of Ice and Fire Story

Pretty much anything that pertains to the world of Westeros interests me. I have loved this series of books for a long time so of course I wanted to read this novella. Especially when George R. R. Martin is such a notoriously slow writer!! This tale is a history of Westeros and we find out about the rivalry for succession between the House Targaryen. In it you also learn about all the old dragons and find out their fates. I enjoyed it.

My Rating: Good. I didn't read all of the stories but the ones that I did read, I really enjoyed. The anthology contains a great variety of authors with wide appeal.


Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

This book was hilarious! I read it while on vacation. It was the perfect vacay read. It also came at the perfect time as I just had a child in Kindergarten this last year and found the premise amusing and the cliquey moms and school hierarchy spot on!! Enjoyable.

From Goodreads:

Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one. Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her... Big Little Lies is a brilliant take on ex-husbands and second wives, mothers and daughters, schoolyard scandal, and the dangerous little lies we tell ourselves just to survive.

My Rating: Good. It was funny, relatable, and quite entertaining. I especially liked the mystery...someone is dead and someone is the murderer. You have to figure out both. That was fun!! Also, the parent interviews with the journalist were hysterical.


Girl On the Train

My sister, Kelley recommended this book to me while we were laying out poolside. She even had it in her car for me to borrow. I read it in two days. It is a crazy book. It is a fast-paced psychological thriller but it is also depressing with unlikeable characters. I loved how unreliable the narrators were. They were all so screwed up that you didn't know who or what to believe. It made the book more interesting and appealing.

From Goodreads:

Rachel takes the same commuter train every morning. Every day she rattles down the track, flashes past a stretch of cozy suburban homes, and stops at the signal that allows her to daily watch the same couple breakfasting on their deck. She’s even started to feel like she knows them. “Jess and Jason,” she calls them. Their life—as she sees it—is perfect. Not unlike the life she recently lost. And then she sees something shocking. It’s only a minute until the train moves on, but it’s enough. Now everything’s changed. Unable to keep it to herself, Rachel offers what she knows to the police, and becomes inextricably entwined in what happens next, as well as in the lives of everyone involved. Has she done more harm than good?

My Rating: Okay. I don't normally read this genre so it was kind of a fun crazy weekend read...with depressing, dark, unlikeable characters. Haha! I would've liked it to have been a bit more twisty in the end.

The Rose Girls by Victoria Connelly

I read this book due to it's cover, with a cover like that it has to be good, right? For the most part, it was. I am a sucker for books about crumbling English manor houses and sisters.

From Goodreads:

Thirty-year-old Celeste Hamilton’s life is at a crossroads: she has just left a disastrous marriage, and her estranged mother has recently died, leaving the family’s rose business in jeopardy. Reluctantly, Celeste returns to the family home, a moated manor house in Suffolk, to help her two younger sisters sort out the estate and revive the family business.

The atmosphere of this book was awesome. I felt like I could totally see the manor house, the rose gardens and grounds. I loved that!! I especially loved reading about the roses. I have many rose bushes in my yard and I had so much fun googling all the different rose varieties and reading about each one. I also liked each of the sisters and the whole novel had a comfy cozy feel to it. I just wish there was more of a plot line. No real drama or intrigue. Nothing too terribly exciting occurs. I kept thinking that there would be some kind of big reveal at the end but there wasn't. Just a predictable and tidy ending.

My Rating: Pretty good. If you like reading about a summer in the English countryside, surrounded by roses, and reading about sisters with secrets you will probably enjoy it. Just don't expect it to be something more than a cozy English novel. Rose enthusiasts will love all the rose references.


Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

Okay...So I thought The Martian by Andy Weir was my favorite book of 2015. Nope! I thought Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan was my favorite hipster book of the year. Nope! I have saved the BEST FOR LAST...although not written in 2015 it is DEFINITELY my favorite book so far of 2015. I really can't even describe how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!!

From Goodreads:

In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the  OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them. When Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.

I saw that my friend, Lucy, had read this book a few years ago and had written an intriguing review. I thought this book would be perfect for my husband. It was. He loved it. Both Lucy and Tyler thought I would like it too but it isn't my usual read so I didn't read it and time went by. Then I read Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore and loved it. Tyler, again, brought this book up. He said that if I liked Mr. Penumbra then I would love Ready Player One. So I gave it a go.

This book is pure reading joy and fun. It is addicting and interesting and a little creepy and thought-provoking. Throw in all the 80's references and it was this book lover's dream book. Let me preface this review by saying that I don't like science fiction, my video game history consists of Pac-man, Mrs. Pac-man, Asteroids, and Super Mario. Ergo... I was not and never have been a gamer and yet...I still loved it. If you were a gamer in the 80's even slightly... you will probably love it even more. The book was hilarious too. There are some of my all-time favorite quotes from books within it's pages.

I loved the world building. If felt completely plausible to me. I was sucked right in from the beginning. I loved the premise...a gigantic cyber treasure hunt. I liked the idea of the people of 2044 being fixated on '80s culture for clues to solving the puzzle. One crazy moment was when I figured out that the old lady that is a friend of Wade's was actually my age...born in 1972. Weird.  I loved the 80's and still do. I was a teenager in the 80s and it holds great nostalgia for me. Like the 1950s,  it seems like the 1980s were a more innocent time, more benevolent, and filled with more classic music, movies, TV shows, and styles than the 90s and other decades. This book is fast-paced and the characters are engaging. I will be recommending this book for a long time. I loved it and I devoured it. It was summer reading perfection.

My Rating: RAD!! (Thanks Ernest Cline for reminding me just how cool the 80s were!!)

The Drop Off

The Drop Off

We headed out SUPER EARLY in the morning...like 3am early... to drive to Utah. We were driving two cars down loaded up with all of Reilly's stuff. We had walkie talkies with us from Tyler's work and, let's just say, they kept us entertained for hours.

We stopped in Montana for an enormous breakfast that really turned out to be brunch. We made it to Utah before we were ready for any kind of meal. You've gotta love Montana Club breakfasts!!

We did stop in Idaho Falls for a dipped cone and butterscotch dilly bar run!! (Yep, Tyler does have ice cream on his face.) Trying to get to that Dairy Queen took us to parts of Idaho Falls I have never before seen. It turned out it was on Pancheri Drive. Crazy. (The street is named after the family of my college roommate's in-laws.)

Finally we pulled into SLC ,checked into our hotel, and ran down to Provo so that Reilly could get the lay of the land. Provo was in her GLORY!! It was my favorite time of day...the golden hour. The sun was just beginning to set and the mountains were aglow. It was gorgeous!! Tyler and I were loving it. Reilly was starting to look a little tense and nervous. We checked out her apartment complex, went to her school, and ran a few errands. Then we hit Swig for drinks and pink cookies and drove up to Kirk and Meki's house to see that new nephew of ours.

Kirin was OF COURSE adorable!! He was the perfect anecdote to our nervous tension. There is nothing like snuggling a new baby to get those endorphins pumping. He is such a little cuddler and we melted at the sight of him.

The next day we met up with my sister-in-law, Marissa, and our niece on Tyler's side, cute Liv.  Tyler's brother Brett was in Oregon working as an EMT with the firefighters there. (The poor Pacific Northwest really took a hit this summer.) It was so fun to see Marissa and Liv and we had a great visit with them.

All the Johnson cousins...they are a small but cute group. Kameron better have all boys to carry on the family name. :)

These two girls adore each other!! They are also the cutest little pen pals.

Later that afternoon we met up again with Kirk's family. We went up to Park City to play and eat. It had been so long since we had been up there. I can't believe how much it has changed just in the last three years. We ate and wandered around. We went to a street fair and hung out for a few hours. Then we needed to get a few more supplies for Reilly and needed to go back to Provo. (Move in was the next day.)

We drove the Heber way back down to Provo. We stopped in Oakley where my Mom lived for a few years...and Kirk and Jordin went to high school. It hasn't changed that much. It is also where Tyler and I went on our first date. We went to the Oakley parade and rodeo on the 4th of July in 1993. Look at us now!!

The place that blew my mind was Heber!! It was completely unrecognizable. It is huge and apparently the new trendy place to live. Hard to believe it used to be a sleepy little town with nothing going for it but the Dairy Keen. So crazy.

Then it was onto my favorite part...Provo Canyon. My mountains were calling. Oh, before that...another shocker...when did Deer Creek Reservoir become a place that people liked to hang out at? There were boats, water skiers, and wakeboarders galore! Deer Creek was jam-packed. Unbelievable. In my day it was only the fishermen and the windsurfers. The kids from the dell would occasionally go swimming and cliff jumping but even that was fairly rare. I couldn't believe my eyes when we drove past. Boy have things changed.

Then it was onto my neighborhood...

"So, you see, my heart is held forever by this place..." ~The Winter Sea

We drove into Springdell and it worked it's magic. Oh I noticed small changes here and there...the tree with the rope swing is gone and it hurt my heart a little. How many hours of my life did I spend spinning and swinging over that pond? How many squeals of joy and delight did it provide? Another tree  has been planted in it's place... waiting to grow tall and strong and for another rope swing to be tied to it's limbs. But besides that the place and it's spirit remain. One of my kids said, "I love how it feels here." Me too.

After our trip down the canyon we stopped at the cemetery  to pay our respects. We weren't prepared with flowers but the kids did their best to decorate the headstone of their Grandpa. I think he would be pleased. Tyler told funny stories about his dad and made us laugh. I think he would be so proud of his amazing grandchildren and son. 

It was getting late and we were were starving. Where to eat on a Sunday in Provo? Yep, Chuck-a-rama!! The Chuck-a-rama in Provo holds special memories for me. My grandparents used to take me to dinner there all the time when I was in college. When Tyler and I started dating he would come along too. My sisters and I have so many fond memories of eating there with our Grandma and Grandpa McKinnon. My kids love a buffet and we never go...unless it is a good one...like at the Davenport Hotel or something. So this suggestion was met with joy!! Maybe it isn't gourmet but I loved every minute of introducing our children to the joys of scones with honey butter and apple beer!! I want some right now!! It was neat to be there and share memories of my grandparents with our children. 

We then drove out past where my grandparents used to live on Geneva Road and continued on out to Utah Lake. That lake is so interesting and un-lake like. The kids kept saying "this is the weirdest lake ever". For reals.  Especially compared to the lakes around here. We are drawn to water like nothing else in our family and not a one of us felt any urge to jump in or even so much as dip a toe. It  is a good thing because that water is disgusting and I was forbidden by my parents to ever swim in it. But it is a rather pretty place to take pictures. So we did.

The next morning was THE BIG DAY...drop off day. I woke up with a pit in my stomach. Even Reilly lacked her usual bravado and was subdued and a little green. We needed to be in Provo early. She needed to check in at her apartment complex and at her cosmetology school. I dropped off Tyler and Reilly to get those things done and took the rest of the kids to go bum around. We did some back to school clothes shopping. (I hadn't done one bit of back to school shopping and school was starting in less than six days!) Then it was time to unload and move her in.

Here are some pictures of her new digs...

The apartment she lives in is for six girls but some how Reilly lucked out and has her own room...for the time being. The 6th roommate has so far been a no show. She likes her roommates. Especially these two.

One goes to UVU and one goes to BYU. Her other two roommates are seniors and are rarely seen and rarely mentioned. But these two girls were new just like Reilly and they have hit it off. I was surprised at how many kids attend other schools like UVU and yet live in what I think of as BYU student housing. I also like that her apartment complex has more of a dorm like feel to it. They have RAs and everything. Boys were offering their services to help carry in Reilly's belongings. She was pretty excited about her life. Once we got her unloaded we headed over to Los Hermanous for a goodbye lunch. That place was such the date spot when I was at BYU.

Good news! Apple beer on tap!!

Then we took a few family pictures...

Ailey and Bryn wanted pictures with Reilly that they could frame for their new rooms. (Oh yes...the big room swap is happening!!) I guess Kameron didn't want in on the picture action. Ha ha.

Then we got her stocked up on some groceries. Takes me back to my college days!!

We intended to drop her off then but Reilly said that she "wasn't quite ready" for us to say goodbye so we left her to get settled and decided to go play for a few hours and told her that we would stop back by at 6pm.

After we dropped off Reilly we headed up to one of my very favorite places...Sundance Ski Resort. That place was like a second home to me growing up. It was the last stop on our school bus route. We would turn around there. We used to put our skis on the school bus in the morning and then in the afternoon we get a ride from a parent up the little road to Sundance after school and night ski. Tyler and I even had our first unofficial meeting at ski school there when we were little kids. My family loved it there. We skied there all the time and were regulars at the Tree Room. Not to mention the summer theater, horseback riding, and hiking. It is fabulous. I was excited to share it with the kids. They loved it!!

How could you not?

I loved pointing out memories around every corner like, "Here is where Kelley's ski once fell into the water.", "Here is where there used to be a drinking fountain on the bridge and we used to make wishes while we were drinking what we called 'lucky water', "There is where I nearly wiped out a crowd of people when I fell at the finish line in a ski race", "There is where the bunny hill used to be that Kelley skied down on her butt", "Here is the lift where Stacey fell off of and Kelley was hanging by her neck", "There is the mogul hill that the ski patrol had to come get me and Stacey off of", "Here are my favorite suckers...only eat the blue raspberry and chocolate mint ones...NEVER the cinnamon.", "There is the hill that Dad and Aunt Lori yelled at me and Aunt Stacey once when we were kids and didn't know them", "There are the lockers that I used to put all my stuff in", "There is the restaurant that a boy that liked me used to work at. He used to sneak me coconut shrimp", "There's the house I used to babysit at" and "There is the road that goes to the house of my jr. high enemy"... and on and on....

We had to buy some Sundance gear. I used to live in Sundance clothes. I'm glad to be restocked. Ailey decided that this was the place to spend her birthday money. Smart girl.

Kameron was much more interested in these bad boys!!

Sadly the Tree Room wasn't open when we were there. No coconut shrimp for me.

After our afternoon at Sundance it was time to say goodbye to Reilly and head back to Salt Lake. She had made some great progress on her room. Things were starting to look cute! That night she texted us this picture.

It was NOT EASY saying goodbye...Ailey and Bryn probably had the hardest time that day. 

Poor Brynnie

And then we told Reilly that we loved her and drove away...THAT was hard. Since we were all a blubbering mess we needed to do something to cheer us up. We drove to the Provo Temple and got out and walked around. I don't think I truly appreciated just how pretty the Provo Temple is while I lived there. It really is so beautiful.

The mountains around it aren't too bad either!! I love Rock Canyon.

We walked around and took pictures. We sat on the grass, said a family prayer, and just chilled out. It was much needed respite. Such peace to be found on those grounds...inside the temple and out. Then we decided that we really needed some frozen custard and shopping!!

Nothing beats the blues like IKEA!! 

(Especially when you have new rooms to decorate after the ol' room switcheroo!!)

Back at the hotel we read the sweet letters that Reilly had left for each of us. 

We face-timed with Reilly who was having a grand time!! She and her roommates had gone to an ice cream social and when they came home they saw that boys had already come and decorated their doors with funny signs. She was doing just fine and was happy and excited about her new life. Good!!

The next morning we were on the road for home. This is how these two roll!! Hilarious.

FYI--My roughest day was when we got home that night and I walked downstairs and into Reilly's empty bedroom and cried my eyes out. But hey, now we are several weeks in and we are all doing fine. :)