3 Up, 2 Across – Reviewing books in a busy world…

The Bookshop on the Corner

A friend from my Scottish county dance group, who is also one of my library patrons, recommended this novel as a good light read. Light read or not, I was captivated from the very beginning. If you enjoy reading popular fiction and need a heartwarming book to read between The Goldfinch and All the Light We Cannot See, then The Bookshop on the Corner, by Jenny Colgan, just might be the right book for you.

Nina Redmond is a former librarian who needs a new situation, in more ways than one. After summoning a great deal of courage, and with a little prodding and encouragement, Nina sets off to realize a long-held dream. Whether it’s Nina’s bravery, creativity, her dreams, or her doubts, readers will not have trouble relating to Nina on a personal level. With her stacks of books on every surface and multiple editions of beloved novels, not to mention her efforts to rescue books from estate sales and abandoned libraries, Nina is a character after my own heart.

There was a universe inside every human being every bit as big as the universe outside them. Books were the best way Nina knew – apart from, sometimes, music – to breach the barrier, to connect the internal universe with the external, the words acting merely as a conduit between the two worlds.

Readers who like Jojo Moyes books and The Little Paris Bookshop, by Nina George, will enjoy this novel. If you have been wanting to try an audio book, this would be a good place to start; the narrator performs several very nice Scottish accents. As far as I’m concerned, any novel that can skillfully combine books, traveling, following your dreams, and Scottish country dancing is well worth a go.

If you are a crafty researcher, or just a book nerd like me, you might have noticed that this novel is also available under a different title, The Little Shop of Happily-Ever-After, which actually makes a lot more sense given the context.

Sit back with a cup of tea, and enjoy!

What Do You Do with a Problem?

Have you ever fallen in love with a picture book? It happens to me a couple times each year. My latest picture book love is called What Do You Do with a Problem?, written by Kobi Yamada and illustrated by the amazing Mae Besom. I have seen some reviewers criticize this book as being “preachy” to the point of sacrificing a plotline. As a former homeschool parent, I personally love a picture book that is educational, intriguing, and beautiful all in one precious package. Mae Besom’s stunning artwork caused me to pause amidst piles and bins of library books to take a closer look. Kobi Yamada’s beautiful story gave me a reason to keep reading. As adults, I think it’s important that we never minimize a child’s concern. Even five-year-olds can be overwhelmed by very real worry and suffering. Yamada’s words give readers, both young and not so young, a new way to look at their problems. This story offers a path to hope.

My problem held an opportunity! It was an opportunity for me to learn and to grow. To be brave. To do something.

Yamada and Besom’s first collaboration, What Do You Do with an Idea?, was nominated for the Goodreads Picture Book Choice Award in 2014.

The Book of Speculation

The Book of Speculation, by Erika Swyler, is a captivating novel about family, tradition, loss, the power of books, and fighting for the people you love. Simon Watson, a young librarian, lives in his family home on the Long Island shore. Over the course of the novel, the vitality of Simon’s home helps tell the story as Simon races against time to break a destructive family tradition.

Swyler’s debut novel introduces intriguing characters from multiple generations and weaves them together using an old book, a traveling circus, tarot cards, magic, and the sea. If you are fascinated by rare books, you will enjoy the description of Simon’s book. Though, in my opinion, the antiquarian book seller and his relationship with Simon are the weakest elements of this novel. The traveling circus characters are all fascinating, from the Wild Boy of the past to the present day man who can turn on light bulbs. Perhaps I enjoyed this novel because of the horseshoe crabs. Horseshoe crabs, which have been on earth for approximately 10,000 years, crop up many times throughout the novel and lend the story an air of mystique. Though magic is present, I would not classify this novel as a fantasy; the magic exists in the background, as aspects of the characters’ personalities.

If you loved The Night Circus, by Erin Morgensten, you will enjoy The Book of Speculation. The plot builds to an exciting climax, so you may find it difficult to put down towards the end. Expect a late night to finish the novel, or expect to take the long way home as your audio book comes to a close!

We carry our families like anchors, rooting us in storms, making sure we never drift from where and who we are. We carry our families within us the way we carry our breath underwater, keeping us afloat, keeping us alive.

Crooked Kingdom

Crooked Kingdom is a successful sequel to the popular and well-written novel, Six of Crows, by Leigh Bardugo. The two books in the duology are both engaging and deeply personal. As the main protagonist and his cohort plan a rescue, exact revenge, and seek the reward promised to them, the story flows seamlessly from one novel to the other. And, the beautifully executed writing in Crooked Kingdom is easily on par with the captivating first book.

Previous to the Six of Crows duology, Leigh Bardugo developed an intriguing and multi-faceted fantasy world for her popular Grisha Trilogy. The author creatively places Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom in this same world. There is very little character crossover from one series to another, yet the elements of the world stay the same. In my opinion, the duology far surpasses The Grisha Trilogy.

The Crooked Kingdom chapters alternate in perspective between a core set of characters; so, several personalities and plot lines are well developed throughout the novel. The main characters are all thieves and swindlers of one kind or another, yet they are all completely endearing. Kaz, a resourceful mastermind and the gang leader, is especially cunning and ruthless; but, his portrayal is never overdone. Even though Kaz always seems to have the right answer and has thought of nearly every outcome to every situation, his scenes are believable. Kaz, Inej, Nina, Matthias, Jesper, and Wylan are all struggling to forget an event or events in their past. They are struggling to find their place in the world and become better people. As a reader, I find myself rooting for every single one of them.

…perched side by side on a wire, their balance precarious, their lives tethered together by hope and belief in one another.

The physical hardcover book is beautifully designed. The cover art builds on the crow imagery from the first novel. The edges of the Crooked Kingdom pages are red; and, the Six of Crows pages have black edges. So, the two novels look lovely together. The boxed set is worth owning in hardcover.

Crooked Kingdom was recently awarded fourth place in the Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction division of the 2016 Goodreads Choice Awards.

The Return of the Native

Though first published towards the end of the 19th century, The Return of the Native presents many themes that are still relevant today: jealousy, infatuation, the importance of family, and a desire to do something worthwhile in life. In beautiful prose that is, at times, nearly poetic, Hardy describes the land and country life in the English heath. We read about bonfires, Maypoles, group hair cutting sessions, a holiday mummers play, and the chaos caused when a bucket is lost down a well. If this sounds a bit dull, rest assured there are multiple complicated relationships, clandestine meetings at midnight, and even a woman dressing as a man, all of which would please Shakespeare immensely. As with other novels of the Victorian era, it can be frustrating to read about women’s roles, or lack thereof, in society and the limited choices available to women at the time.

What a strange sort of love, to be entirely free from that quality of selfishness which is frequently the chief constituent of the passion, and sometimes its only one! The reddleman’s disinterestedness was so well deserving of respect that it overshot respect by being barely comprehended; and she almost thought it absurd.

After having read and enjoyed Far From the Madding Crowd, another Thomas Hardy masterpiece, I discovered The Return of the Native mentioned in a list of the top ten best audiobooks. I’m not sure if I would grant the audiobook “top ten” status; but, I will gladly admit that I thoroughly enjoyed the 1985 audiobook version narrated by Alan Rickman. He does a marvelous job. As a coworker claimed, “Alan Rickman could narrate the dictionary and it would sound wonderful.” It’s difficult to believe it has been a year since the world lost such a wonderful artist and human being.

3 Up, 2 Across – A Book Review Blog

Greetings. My name is Autumn. I have a background in technical writing and editing. I am a former homeschool educator, and I have worked for a large public library system for the past decade. I love to read, and I believe in the power of books to battle loneliness, curb fear, motivate and empower, guide and instruct, and promote peace. I enjoy reading classic novels, plays, travel stories, fantasy titles, cookbooks, historical fiction, poetry, and young adult novels. I try to read from multiple genres so that I may better serve my library patrons. With that in mind, I’d like to boost my collection of nonfiction, memoirs, popular and realistic fiction, short stories and essays, and famous historical speeches. 3 Up, 2 Across is a book review blog that will allow me to share my recently read books with all of you. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, and please let me know if you have a book recommendation for me!

Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. ~Dickens