Never Have Your Dog Stuffed

Never Have Your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned

Alan Alda, 2005

A collection of stories starting from Alda's childhood in the burlesque world to his present-day life.

I thought that this was a good biography. I've always been a big fan of M*A*S*H, but aside from seeing him on that show and in the occasional movie, I never really knew much about him and, honestly, pictured that he would be in person like Hawkeye, his M*A*S*H character. Apparently I was very wrong about this. Alda is a down to earth, somewhat shy individual, who started out with an unorthodox childhood but who turned into a pretty well-rounded adult. It actually left me liking him more than I did when I started. An enjoyable read.

Side note: I listened to the audiobook, and the one negative I have is that I really wish that Alda had read the book himself. I'm familiar enough with what his voice sounds like that, at times, it actually took me out of the story a little bit hearing someone else tell it. Made it feel a little more like fiction than biography. 

The Casual Vacancy

The Casual Vacancy

J.K. Rowling, 2012

When Barry Fairbrother dies suddenly, the whole town of Pagford is thrown into upheaval. Not only was he a well-known, well-liked individual, but his death leaves an opening on the parish council. Whoever fills the spot could be the deciding vote on a number of important issues facing the council at present. As power plays are made, and dirty laundry is aired for all to see, this quiet town will soon face a war that no one anticipated.

I really liked this book. It was a great story about how one man's death affects and pretty much tears apart one small town. Really well-written with some fascinating, well-defined characters, few of whom are actually all that likable. 

I think if you go into this book thinking 'Oh, J.K. Rowling wrote this. I liked Harry Potter, maybe I'll give this a shot', you're going to be extremely disappointed. But if you think of this more as an author debut, it's a very good read. 

Whistling Past the Graveyard

Whistling Past the Graveyard

Susan Crandall, 2013

For nine-year-old white girl Starla, being raised by her grandmother in 1960s Mississippi, the biggest thing she worries about is her grandmother's punishments. When she sneaks out to see the Fourth of July parade after being grounded and gets caught, she fears that her grandmother will send her to reform school as promised, and decides to run away to find her mother in Nashville. Along the road, she is offered a ride by a black woman, Eula, who is traveling with a baby... a white baby, as Starla discovers. Soon, Eula and Starla set on together on the road to Nashville, and Starla discovers that there are bigger dangers in the south than she thought.

This was a great book. It had the same feel as To Kill a Mockingbird (one of my favorites) - 1950s/60s racial tension as seen through the eyes of a young white girl - but at the same time it didn't feel like it was stealing from Mockingbird; it felt like its own original story. A fast read, although not necessarily an easy one. Highly recommended.

Bellman & Black

Bellman & Black

Diane Setterfield, 2013

When William Bellman was 11, he killed a rook with a slingshot. As an adult, William meets a strange man dressed in black, who gives him an idea for a brilliant business: making and selling fine mourning attire. Because death is a growing business. But who is the mysterious Mr. Black?

This book is a really difficult one to evaluate. On the one hand, it was beautifully written and I would often find myself reading big chunks of the book at a time, simply because I wanted to keep reading. On the other hand, I find it hard to even explain what the book was about, because so very little happened. It's one of those rare books that is hard to describe, hard to even figure out why I liked it, but enjoyable anyway. Certainly not a page-turner in the classic sense, but worth a read anyway.

Side note: Many websites list this book as Bellman & Black: A Ghost Story. This is not a ghost story. Not really. So don't go into it looking for a scary ghost story to keep you up at night. In fact, go into it with no expectations at all. I think it's better that way.

Allegiant

Allegiant (Divergent #3)

Veronica Roth, 2013

The war that broke apart the factions and brought the factionless to power has destroyed the world that Tris knew. So when offered a chance to leave the city, go beyond the fences that are the limits of the world as she knows it, she jumps at the chance. But what Tris discovers outside the fence throws into question everything she has ever known. Told in the dual perspective of both Tris and Tobias, Allegiant gives us a final glimpse into where the quest for perfection can lead, and what true courage is all about.

I know that a lot of readers were shocked and disappointed in the way that the author chose to end this series. I am not one of those readers. I actually loved the ending. I was shocked, but I loved it. I thought it really fit the tone that the author was trying to create. An enjoyable young adult dystopian series overall. 

I Am Malala

I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

Malala Yousafzai, 2013

The true story of Malala Yousafzai, a girl from Pakistan who spoke out about the right for everyone to get an education and who, at the age of fifteen, was shot and almost killed by the Taliban.

This was a great book. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the writing style, but in the end I really liked that it was written in Malala's voice. I could almost hear her speaking through the pages. She could have chosen to use a ghost writer to make the writing sound more "adult", but I don't think that the story would have ended up having the same power if she had. It was fascinating to hear what her life was like. She's an extraordinary girl. I hope that young girls all over the world look to Malala as a role model for what can be accomplished if you only stand up for what you believe in.

To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird

Harper Lee, 1960

Growing up in small town Alabama in 1935, Jean Louise "Scout" Finch is growing up in a time when racism and intolerance are a way of life. So when her father, Atticus, is tasked with defending a black man accused of raping a white girl, everything that Scout understands about life will be put to the test.

I had read this book before, back in school about fifteen years ago, and I had been meaning to re-read it for a few years now. (I've also seen the movie a few times - great film - but it had been a few years). So, while I remembered the big plot points, there was a lot about this book that I didn't remember.

I am so glad that I re-read this. In fact, I think it's going to get added to my exclusive list of books to re-read every few years. I absolutely loved it. Even though the story takes place in the 1930s, and racism isn't as prevalent now as it used to be, thankfully, the book doesn't feel dated. And the characters are amazing; I think Atticus and Scout Finch are two of the best written and endearing characters in literature, period. Just an all-around excellent book.