Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

REVIEW: 4 / 5 stars

This book is a great modern adaptation of key old Norse mythology stories. I do not believe all of the Norse stories are represented here, but many are, and of course all the humorous and action-oriented tales are included! Neil Gaiman might be better known for his novels, such as American Gods, but he is also a really big fan of Norse mythology. I really appreciated the introduction by the author; it was great to hear Gaiman talking about how he first came across the stories and his advocation for retelling them.

These are great! While I prefer more direct translations of The Prose Edda and The Poetic Edda, this is a modern retelling of them. I really enjoyed the freshness of this audio experience, but that might be in part because I already liked the original tales. While I of course will always advocate for studying translations that are closer to the originals, this could be a bridge that gets younger people or those that are less academically inclined interested in these tales.

As Hamilton: The Musical got a younger generation interested in American history, so too can exercises such as Norse Mythology get people interested in older texts. This is great to have if you are a fan of Norse mythology (especially Thor, Loki, and Odin), Old Norse, Nordic history and culture, Icelandic history and culture, as well as Viking history and culture. Because of the narrative structure of gods and creatures getting into trouble and having to cleverly get themselves into better situations, I would also recommend this to fans of other mythologies, such as Greek/Roman/Egyptian/Mesopotamian. Even if you’ve never read the Norse tales before, there is a lot to gain here.

The Audible narration is by Neil Gaiman himself, and while sometimes author-narration comes off as simply vanity reads, Gaiman performs these perfectly! He does different voices for different characters, and even Fenryr is done really well. Loki’s delivery is PERFECT! The ridiculousness and humor of these were highlighted so well. What a joy. I’m not a fan of Gaiman’s other work, so don’t dismiss this if you’re not a Gaiman fan.

These stories are great fun, and Neil Gaiman handles them well. I’ll be re-reading this sometime and recommending to many.

Song of Achilles & Circe by Madeline Miller

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

REVIEW: 5 / 5 stars

2018 was a really good for me in terms of reading good books, and Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles is one of those books that has definitely stuck with me. The vivid and fully realized characters, as well as an interesting new take on a classical tale, draws me back to this story again and again from time to time.

The Song of Achilles features much of the content that is told in Homer’s The Iliad, though not everything is highlighted because Miller does a phenomenal job of scaling such a large war from the perspective of a finite set of characters. I would characterize this piece as more of a ballad of Achilles’ and Patroclus’ relationship, which is much more developed here than in The Iliad. I LIVED FOR the LGBTQ elements in this story, and it is so touching yet so tragic at the same time. I was crying when I was reading the ending in public, and I will probably cry again when I re-read this someday.

I completely agree with Miller’s decision to tell this story from Patroclus’ POV. Achilles is an interesting character for sure, but he is so stubborn for most of the action that takes place on the beaches of Troy, that a book told from his personal perspective might end up being really repetitive in these parts. I also really appreciate that this goes into so much of Achilles’ and Patroclus’ lives before joining Troy, and highlights how much certain soldiers tried not to be pressed into the service of fighting to get Helen back for Menelaus.

When Achilles and Patroclus are on that island together while Achilles is training…. so many good moments. ❤ I also loved how the build up to Patroclus taking Achilles’ armor to fight on the battlefield in his stead was done. I have read folklore retellings and modern fantasy in which gods and goddesses are written poorly, but Miller is such a master at making gods and goddesses relevant and interesting and important to the development of plot. Achilles’ mom and Apollo and just everyone else are really impressive.

I read this before Miller’s latter work, and probably more widely renown, Circe. I definitely recommend that one as well. I listened to The Song of Achilles on audiobook, and the narrator for my edition, Fazer Douglas, is perfect. I know this book isn’t for everyone, but the premise and content and delivery of this tale are just all right up my alley. This is the kind of thing I want to freaking WRITE! This is definitely on my To Read Again List.

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Circe by Madeline Miller

REVIEW: 5 / 5 stars

Circe is a character study novel focused on the lesser known goddess of the same name in Greek mythology. While within the same sphere as Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles, Athena and Odysseus are really the only characters that cross over, which of course makes sense if you’re familiar with your Greek mythology. One of the things I appreciate most about Miller’s storytelling, however, is that you DON’T need to know the history of these characters in order to enjoy this work to its fullest. I purposefully did not refresh my memory on Circe’s story before reading this book, and I was not disappointed! Miller artfully weaves backstory and characterizing descriptions into action scenes that flesh out her magnificent world and full-bodied characters without either giving away too little or too much context.

The prose descriptions are poetically beautiful, and the Audible audio book version narrated by Perdita Weeks is perfectly cast. I did not cry as I did while listening to The Song of Achilles the year before I read this, but my heart twanged at the tragic moments. I am not surprised at all that there are long lists of favorite Circe quotes out there. Circe’s internal thought processes and her revelations about others’ motivations throughout the narrative are tactfully unveiled.

Being Greek mythology, Circe features gods, goddesses, demigods, monsters, beasts, and humans. And yet, Miller deftly demonstrates the limitations to powers that at face value seem boundless, and expertly portrays the follies and faults to immortality. The ending kind of skips the last twists so Circe can reflect on events, then backtracks a bit so the last paragraph can describe one of her most powerful spells (which was a little confusing), but overall the novel was well structured.

I loved loved so much of this book and will be recommending it to many. Any fan of Greek mythology, The Song of Achilles, The Iliad, The Odyssey, strong female characters, well written male lovers, a lyrical writing style, character studies, and even maybe Roman/Roman mythology stories would be interested in this. This could be a great introduction to Greek mythology for those who may have heard of some stories but do not know everything.

In large part due to Miller’s compelling storytelling talent, I finally got around to finally reading Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey last year. I will be keeping an eye on Miller’s hopefully very long and prolific career.

The Iliad & The Odyssey by Homer

The Iliad by Homer

REVIEW: 5 / 5 stars

The Iliad is the classic Ancient Greek tale of Achilles and Agamemnon, and the Siege and subsequent Fall of Troy. While Paris and Helen are mentioned, the protagonists are mainly “the Achaeans” AKA “the Danaans” camped out in their ships on the Trojan beaches.

I loved the description of the action sequences and that every character had their own backstory. No one was completely evil and no one was completely good either, which lends itself well to interesting encounters when different individuals face off one another. Sometimes the battle scenes would go on for a while, but the diversity in which deaths were described during all of the battles was so riveting! The drama and stakes are high. Key characters like Achilles, Odysseus, Athena, Apollo, Hector, and King Priam were captivating.

In all honesty, I read this after reading The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller, so I was shipping Patroclus & Achilles so hard way before Achilles overreacts to Pactroclus’ death. I also saw the Netflix mini-series “Troy: Fall of a City” before reading this, so I’m imagining Louis Hunter as Paris, Bella Dayne as Helen, Jonas Armstrong as Menelaus, Joseph Mawle as Odysseus, Tom Westen-Jones as Hector, Chloe Pirrie as Andromache, Johnny Harris as Agamemnon, and Alfred Enoch as Aeneus. Mini-series with Joseph Mawle as Odysseus, please please please!

Regardless of what adaptation of this tale you might or might not have experienced previously, there is so much to enjoy in the original! I was pleasantly surprised by how active the gods and goddesses were, and the parts in which they changed the weather, inspired heroes, or directly interfered with human affairs were great reads.

I read an English translation, so I cannot speak to possible merits or reading this in Ancient Greek. Nonetheless, I really appreciated the narrative parallels in which events surrounding the deaths of Sarpedon, half-human son of Zeus, and Patroclus, comrade of Achilles, were described.

I would recommend this to any fan of Greece, Ancient Greece, Greek literature, Roman literature, Greek mythology, Roman mythology, classical literature, the classics, the Odyssey, Game of Thrones, and/or Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles and Circe novels. I loved it! Taking a refresher break, but then reading Homer’s The Odyssey this year, too!

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The Odyssey by Homer

REVIEW: 5 / 5 stars

This is so good! The action scenes are really vivid and I am glad I got around to reading this classic in full. So much about this story isn’t portrayed well in the adaptations that have been made. The Odyssey is also shorter than The Iliad, so it was not too much to get through.

Although The Iliad is longer, I think reading The Iliad first gave me a better appreciation for the moments in The Odyssey when characters and references to the earlier story comes into play within the more popular story. Knowing Odysseus’ and his men’s history validates the struggles they have already gone through, and explains why they are so frustrated and sometimes do not listen to Odysseus’ orders. Odysseus’ men are not evil nor stupid; they are exhausted and haggard.

Furthermore, the scenes with Agamemnon’s, Achilles’, and Patroclus’ ghosts in the underworld are so much more profound after experiencing previous discussions with these characters on the shore of Troy. I thought the parallels made between Agamemnon’s marriage and Odysseus’ marriage were done really well.

I definitely advocate people to read this classic, even if you have seen many adaptations and therefore think you know all the key plot points in this story. Some highlights from the original that I liked include:

• Odysseus taunting the Cyclops unnecessarily,
• Penelope testing Odysseus to ensure it truly is him upon his return,
• and the satisfying slaughter of the insolent suitors in Odysseus’ house.

Madeline Miller’s characterization of Athena in Circe occupied much space in my mind whenever Athena was in play during The Odyssey.

Because of how prevalent it is in popular culture, I was surprised that the Trojan Horse is hardly mentioned. I was also previously unaware how much of Odysseus’ travels are dictated retrospectively instead of chronologically told. I do believe this supports the belief that The Odyssey was originally told with the intention of being heard rather than read.

I am so glad I read this; this kind of story is right up my alley. I recommend this to all fans of Ancient Greece, Greco-Roman stories, entertainment adaptations of these tales, classic literature, the classics, heroic narratives, the relationship between gods and men, and Greek mythology.

Autoboyography by Christina Lauren

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH 2020! I thought I would read and review Autoboyography by Christina Lauren to celebrate.

REVIEW: 4 / 5 stars

Five minutes after finishing this audiobook, I rated this 5/5 stars because I enjoyed it so much while reading it. However, upon reflection, I recognize a couple of flaws in the story and incomplete elements that require me to review this book at 4/5 stars.

Autoboyography is a contemporary Western USA high school story mainly told from the close first person POV of self-proclaimed recently re-closeted half-Jewish queer kid. Tanner is bisexual, and while out in CA, for his high school years in super-Mormon Provo, Utah, he is closeted again. This becomes challenging when he starts falling for the Bishop’s hot 19-year-old son, who also turns out to be an in-denial closeted gay kid.

The structure of this novel is centered around a senior seminar creative writing class, in which students have to write a first draft of a book manuscript by the end of the year, and Tanner writes about his relationship with Sebastian. As a creative writer myself who has done NaNoWriMo and taken some creative writing classes, I really loved the meta-structure of this book BEING the autobiography Tanner writes while experiencing this formative year in his life.

Full disclosure, I am not LDS (Latter Day Saints, AKA: Mormon) and do not know about the LDS experience outside of what I learned from reading Tara Westover’s Educated memoir (which is GREAT by the way, I highly recommend). However, my audiobook ends with a 24min interview with the authors, during which they describe interviewing LDS and ex-LDS members to make sure they got religious facts right, as well as staying in Provo, UT for weeks to get a feel for the town. As such, I trust they get LDS elements correct, but of course leave those criticisms to members of the LDS community.

As an LGBTQ book, I really appreciated the complex representations of bisexual, gay, allies, and non-supporters/homophobes in this story, and I think the authors do a great job of characterizing the main characters’ relationships with their respective parents. As a romance, I really loved some of Tanner and Sebastian’s scenes, especially how important hiking in the isolated mountains of Utah became to their routine as a secret couple. All of their intimate/kissing scenes are PERFECT! I loved how Sebastian’s experiences during these shone through even though told in Tanner’s POV.

Even so, there are some issues which prevent this book from being a 5/5 star review. #InstaLove is a cliche. Both Tanner and Sebastian have siblings, and while we get a good interaction or two with them, they aren’t mentioned at all towards the end even though they’re supposed to be “close” or whatever. Prom is a stickler stressful event discussed earlier on, but we never actually see Prom or find out what happens there. I know the authors wanted a happily-ever-after ending, but the “wrap-ups” seem sloppy and incomplete. I feel like a shorter book length was prioritized over properly winding down post-climax. I liked the POV shift 5/6ths of the way through the book and loved how Sebastian’s book tour is handled, but we never see the large life-changing decisions Sebastian makes which effect his career, relationships, school, and living situation. There is a huge time jump, so the last chapter feels more like a lazy epilogue.

Overall, many elements in this book were so sweet/funny.sexy and important to read. Tanner’s prose and perspective are the strongest sections of this work; the sloppy ending is its biggest weakness. I am so glad I read this, especially for Pride Month 2020, and now want to visit some of those Utah hiking trails!

The Golden Orchard by Flora Ahn

The Golden Orchard by Flora Ahn

REVIEW: 5 / 5 stars

The Golden Orchard is a novel in which heart, family, food, friendship, and time travel are in abundance. This audio book is only 5 hr 15 min long, so I wasn’t expecting a very profound story, and thus was pleasantly surprised at the depth that this goes into. I definitely recommend to all those who might be interested in this.

Although this table is categorized as suitable for those nine years and older, the quality to which this is written makes it applicable to adult listeners as well. The subject matter includes middle school group projects and classroom crushes, but it also deals with grief, loss, determinism, neglect, and Alzeimers Disease. The family dynamics are so believable, and I loved how the protagonist becomes more mature as she learns how to navigate the “friend-Maya” and “family-Maya” parts of herself.

I really appreciated how food, home cooking, and family histories were all woven together here. My upbringing is Sicilian Italian and Cantonese Chinese, so food is imperative to our self identity as a social unit. From the book description, I didn’t get that the main characters are South Korean, but maybe someone more familiar with the culture would pick up on “Halmunee” being Grandmother in Korean. Most of my prior knowledge of Korean literature comes from The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See and Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. I really appreciated the primarily Korean cast in this.

Overall, this is a lovely read with great world building and solid heart. The messages this conveys are sound advice for us all, not just children. This is the best Audible Original I have experienced all year so far, and it is not one I will soon forget.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

REVIEW: 4 / 5 stars

Amy Tan’s popular The Joy Luck Club is a treatise of the Chinese American mother-daughter experience that is still applicable today. This novel’s debut was so poignant because there wasn’t anything else like it on the market. She wrote of her own experiences, so this work was relatable to what everyone of her generation was going through. But there are still plenty of Chinese born immigrants and first generation Chinese Americans, and as those Chinese Americans have their own children, they can share this book as an example of what their childhood was like.

Tan’s greatest strength is her sense of character. The main protagonist in The Joy Luck Club is collecting stories from her “aunties” and their daughters, so every chapter is from a different person’s perspective. Not only does each character have a different background, but they each bring something new to the table in their different ways of adjusting to American life. You really get the sense of each character’s believable internal personhood. This is the most evident when both the mothers and their daughters recount similar events in their own chapters. The Joy Luck Club is a practice in reconciliation in its approach to understanding one’s American and Chinese ways of thinking and bridging the generational gap.

This book was written by mothers and daughters for mothers and daughters, so naturally the female characters are going to be center stage. Even so, I was troubled by how men were handled in this work. They are annoying younger brothers, fathers who do everything just right and love the mother’s cooking, or most commonly, white boyfriends/husbands that just don’t understand what their girlfriends/wives are going through. I cannot recall one successful Chinese-American & American marriage–or any Chinese-American & Chinese marriage–featured here. Men in The Joy Luck Club exist to be fed, married, escaped from, divorced from, or otherwise generally forgotten. In this aspect of life, the story is lacking, and for this I only granted it 4 stars.

Nonetheless, this is an important modern work that I would recommend to most. The narrator for the Audible edition was good, and I am glad I read this. I have not yet watched the movie adaptation, but I hope to be able to soon.

The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne

The Girl Beneath the Sea: Underwater Investigation Unit #1 by Andrew Mayne

REVIEW: 4 / 5 stars

This contemporary crime thriller set in Miami, FL and its surrounding waterways is a great read! I really enjoyed this. The main protagonist is a part-time marine diver for MiamiPD while working towards a PhD in Underwater Archaeology, which mainly involves bringing up dumped bodies or evidence to assist cops in their investigations.

This is one of those audio books that I purchased right after listening to the audio sample. The narration performance is perfect, and the descriptions of diving, the ocean, and marine animals are marvelous. The audio sample also happens to be the book’s opening, so the beginning is really compelling. I felt that all of the tense and action scenes were really well done. I almost couldn’t stop listening!

Full disclosure: I am looking forward to summer, am moving to Miami towards the end of summer, and will be getting certified as an open water diver sometime this year. As such, I was probably either biased in favor of this novel, or I had high expectations.

I loved all the diving scenes! These descriptions are more what I was looking for when I read Ladyfish by Andrea Bramhall earlier this year. The two main characters in Ladyfish are supposed to be Florida Keys divers, but diving scenes are lack luster, rare, and unnecessary to the plot. In The Girl Beneath the Sea, however, the diving scenes are compelling, well structured, believable for the characters to be doing, and important to the progression of the investigation.

Although I enjoyed this and would be willing to consider a sequel, this book is not perfect. The protagonist does a great job as a salvage diver for the task force she’s assigned to. But she’s also supposed to be in a PhD program? She mentions her adviser and analyzing finds in the lab once or twice, but she never mentions going to classes, doing homework, developing her thesis, conducting independent research, applying for funding, etc. I know the book sweeps up into a criminal conspiracy that is action-packed over a week or two, but she doesn’t seem worried about grad school at all. This doesn’t sound like ANY grad student I know. Maybe this’ll be more important in other books in the series, but in this one, it was lacking.

In addition, Sloan (the protagonist) is supposed to be really close to the Chief of her task force, but she doesn’t seem broken up about having to not work with the task force she’s used to during this difficult and stressful time. I wish there was more explanation–or at least emotional processing from Sloan’s perspective–about why she has to find out what’s going on from outside the law. And when the worst of things gets blown over, why doesn’t she just go back to her previous assignment? I would have liked more proactive decision making on her part with the career shift at the end.

Overall, I found this an engaging and entertaining story. I recommend to those who think they might be interested in this premise. The narrative voice and setting for this piece are definite strengths.

The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: The Official Black Spire Outpost Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel and Marc Sumerak

REVIEW: 4 / 5 stars

This is the official cookbook accompaniment to the Disney Parks Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge locations. Full disclosure: I am biased in favor of this cookbook because I had visited the Orlando, FL Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge location before getting this, so the references to Ronto Roasters, Oga’s Cantina, the Milk Stand, and Kat Saka’s Kettle evoke specific pleasant moments for me. Regardless of when or if you are able to visit a Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge location, however, this is a great gift for any Star Wars fan who wants to bring a little more of a galaxy far far away into their home.

Additional disclosure: I have not made every recipe in this book (yet), but I have made a few and have read all the backstory content and introductions for each section. The recipes I can personally vouce for include:
– Pitmaster’s Choice,
– Roasted Chando Peppers,
– Spicy Mandalorian Stew,
– Polystarch Portion Bread,
– Huttese Slime Pods, and
– Gruuvan Shaal Kebab.

There are plenty of other recipes I am interested in trying, and there seems to be a little bit for every type of foodie. Appendices include a list of Dietary Considerations and Measurement Conversion Charts, which not every cookbook has, so that’s a thoughtful touch. Recipe sections include:
– Condiments, Sauces & Garnishes,
– Sides, Starters & Snacks,
– Soups & Stews,
– Breads,
– Main Courses,
– Desserts, and
– Drinks.

The backstory is nice, featuring the chef from Maz’s castle who seeks new ingredients along the Outer Rim. I also really like the production presentation, photos of the recipes, and quality artwork sprinkled throughout.

I think the introductions to some of the sections is a bit preachy, though, like we had to prepare random condiments and sauces before trying out hand at any of the main courses. What a silly notion. Just dive in and try what waters your pallet! Don’t make your kid munch on Moss Chips when they want to make Sweet-Sand Cookies with you. And don’t labor over Chadian Dressing when all you want is a cool Bantha Chai!

This is a fun book, and I recommend to every intrigued Star Wars fan. Happy May the Fourth!

Alone with the Stars by David R. Gillham

Alone with the Stars by David R. Gillham

REVIEW: 3 / 5 stars

This is an audio production of an alternative historical fiction young adult story set in the 1930s and 40s. One of the February free-for-members Audible Originals, Alone with the Stars is about a girl named Lizzie who uses her father’s radio antennas to pick up SOS signals from Amelia Earhart’s crashed plane. Lizzie tries to convince her local Coast Guard’s office to redirect the search for Amelia Earhart’s aircraft to where she picked up the SOS signals.

This is a cute premise for a story, and definitely of appeal to fans of Amelia Earhart’s legacy. It is wrong to expect too much from a less-than 3 hour audio production, but I wish there had been more action in this than there was. I loved all the parts with Amelia Earhart herself, and wish we had spent more time with her. If this had been split 50/50 between Amelia’s and Lizzie’s stories, I think there could have been some insightful parallels made.

Instead, listeners spend most of their time with Lizzie, and she has a lot of thoughts but doesn’t get a lot of things done. Her father is really supportive, but the Coast Guard commander is an asshole. The narrative voice in the Coast Guard scenes just feels way too modern for me. It feels like David Gillham couldn’t make up his mind whether to truly alter history in this fictional work, or to write a truthful historical work. Either way, this is fine to listen to, but it could have been a lot better.

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

REVIEW: 5 / 5 stars

Flowers for Algernon is not just a classic science fiction novel, but classic literature period, and should be taught in every high school senior year English literature class. Algernon is a special laboratory mouse for whom an operation to increase his intelligence lasts longer than any other animal test subject.

The protagonist of the novel, Charlie Gordon, is the first human test subject in this science experiment, and he is chosen for his amicability, willingness to learn, and low risk of failure being perceived as malpractice due to his level of natural mental retardation.

This is so well written, and some parts are truly heart wrenching. When I finished, I was crying catharticly and needed to squeeze my loved ones close because I never want to lose them the way certain characters are lost in this book.

Flowers for Algernon was first published as a short story in 1959, and then expanded into a book for 1966 publication. There has also been a film adaptation and a West End, London musical production.

I would definitely recommend reading the print version, because a lot of information is gained by having the story written from Charlie Gordon’s perspective. The format is told as though readers are reviewing all of Charlie Gordon’s journal entries written throughout the duration of his involvement with the scientific experiment. Spelling and grammar development is crucial to character development here, which would be essentially completely lost if you listened to an audio version or just watched the movie.

Overall, this deals with a lot of engaging themes and issues that lends itself well to classroom discussion and essay assignments. Key aspects include: gaining knowledge without accompanying wisdom, family dynamics, recognition and forgiveness, memory loss, personhood, unconditional love, ethics in scientific research, and caring for the mentally impaired. I am especially sensitive to memory loss and mental retardation as topics due to my family history, and I think this book handles those subjects with thought and respect.

Gender roles and relations aren’t very healthy, but this was published in the ’60s, so I try to take that into account. I would still recommend this to many, especially those working on scientific research with human subjects, medical ethics, or in the care of mentally impaired persons.