Reading End of Feb through Today

 I did finally get back on track with my February reading.

The Circus Train by Amita Parikh is historical fiction about the disabled daughter of a circus performer. Her father is wildly overprotective and tries to keep her safe from everything which eventually backfires. Set against the backdrop of Europe during the Second World War as the war escalates. I absolutely loved this book. I'm obsessed with old time circuses and am always on the lookout for new books in the genre. I'm shelving this with Geek Love, Water for Elephants, and Spangle which are some of my favorites. Strongly character driven and absolutely mesmerizing. 

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer is a non-fiction account of how a young man from a "good family" walked into the Alaskan wilderness only to be found dead several months later. It's funny, many reviews of the book focus on how stupid and self indulgent Christopher McCandless was to think he could reinvent himself and survive in Alaska without much preparation etc, etc. While this is true, it has nothing to do with the writing. I love Jon Krakauer I think he does a great job and unlike some I enjoy when he intersperses his own (relevant) personal musings into his books. This was a reread for me and this time I listened to it on audio. I had forgotten that Chris survived pretty well for a lengthy period of time and it was eating a misidentified plant that probably killed him.

The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston. This was a recommendation for me by my bibliologist at My TBR.co. They described it as a collection of essays that focuses on the author's experience of growing up Chinese-American in California, and all the ghosts of her homeland that haunt her. It's a fascinating blend of horror, mythology, and nonfiction that I think you will enjoy because it's so clever. I agree for the most part. It is super clever, a little difficult to figure out, and best taken in smaller doses (at least for me) so I tackled it a section at a time while also reading some non-challenging fiction. I found it challenging, probably because being a white second generation American I didn't have any of the same experiences as the author. I certainly don't feel qualified to comment on whether her commentary on being Chinese in America is valid. All I can say is that I enjoyed the window into another culture and feel like I learned something.

99 Red Balloons by Elisabeth Carpenter was our March Let's Get Lit Bookclub selection and the consensus was that it's a good story and had a fascinating twist but there were too many characters, and too many storylines and most of them weren't resolved at the end. How's that for a run on sentence! Our fearless leader summed it up by saying "it's the author's story, I want to know what how the author thinks it ends, not to have to figure it out for myself. I hate it when authors do that." I have to agree. There were some really great red herrings and some memorable (and sympathetic) characters so I didn't hate it. I just wanted to know what happened.

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James. Another thriller that I'm feeling ambivalent about. The writing was great it kept me interested until the end but I wasn't a huge fan of the supernatural ghostly elements in the story. I guess I was hoping for more of a crime based thriller like More Than You'll Ever Know. Maybe I read the two too close together. I loved The Broken Girls, also by St. James, and have several of her other books on my TBR so it's probably just me and my mindset going in.

I'm currently reading Perfume by Patrick Süskind, which was the February selection from the Down the Rabbit Hole book box. I'm still enthralled by the action of reading and opening related gifts as I go. It's the little things. When I'm done I'll have an unboxing post. Unlike some bloggers I get into the whole secrecy aspect and don't peek. 

Under the Dome by Stephen King which was next up in my chronological read/reread through his oeuvre. This is a reread, and my comments the last time were that it was ok and I didn't like the ending.  Under the Dome is another one of his epics. So far I have my usual King likes and dislikes.

And finally, I'm listening to The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi. I love John Scalzi. His humorous science fiction is always a treat and I get very excited when he puts out a new book. I especially love that most of his work is read by Wil Wheaton who is an absolute treasure. 

Coming up I have: (assuming I keep to my planned schedule)

The Perishing by Natasha Deón

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The Great Alone by Kristen Hannah (April Let's Get Lit Bookclub pick)

Her Buried Lives by Katlyn Duncan (a one off purchase from the Unplugged book box)

Claw Heart Mountain by David Oppegaard (Twisted Retreat book box)

What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher (Night Worms book box - I am so behind)

and Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner

and, of course, I will have to read Hell Bent at some point assuming I like Ninth House.