Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

Ugh, I hate nonsense books. I get that this is for kids and the whole premise is fun nonsense. When Alice falls asleep she goes down into a rabbit hole and enters Wonderland, a place where everything is fun and nonsense. There is no point to anything and everyone is weird and can you tell how much I dislike this book. There is no plot, just a dumb kid named Alice, wandering around Wonderland talking to animals and packs of cards, playing croquet with flamingos and the like. Totally bonkers.

Florida

This was an excellent short story collection, there wasn't a dud in the bunch! I thoroughly enjoyed all eleven stories, each of which had ties to Florida in one way or another; whether it was a setting, a hometown, a memory, etc. Florida loomed in the background of these taut tales. From surviving a hurricane while drunk and hallucinating to overcoming a childhood surrounded by snakes and an abusive father to a mother forgetting to prepare for Halloween, these stories are expertly crafted and executed. Each story is a little dark, has some seedy elements, and some very real characters, all in all very Florida-eqsue. A wonderful collection, I would love to read more short stories by Lauren Groff. It takes extreme talent to build characters, setting and plot in a few short pages but she does it exceedingly well!

Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe Again

I love Deadpool and this collection.... was very... shit. It was shit. In order to kill off all the Marvel characters, their IQs and powers suddenly shrink and they are no match for Deadpool... puhleaze. At least be inventive about it. I probably would have enjoyed this more had the deaths been more thought out and not so quick. I just can't buy that they would all fall like dominoes. They didn't even show the hulks death, just his body. Ugh. For true Deadpool fans only.

Life on Mars

Pulitzer Prize winning collection of poetry from Tracy K. Smith. Split into four parts this beautiful and haunting collection will have a lasting impression on readers. One of my favorite passages is even about a library:

"Sometimes, what I see is a library in a rural community.
All the tall shelves in the big open room, And the pencils
In a cup at Circulation, gnawed on by the entire population.

The books have lived here all along, belonging
For week at a time to one or another in the brief sequence
Of family names, speaking (at night mostly) to a face,

A pair of eyes. The most remarkable lies."

There There

This novel is explosive, disarming, and unflinchingly passionate. Indigenous debut author, Tommy Orange, doesn't just emerge on the literary scene, he's kicked down the door. Readers will be gripped immediately and compelled to finish this astonishing work in one sitting. I could not bear to put it down, the rhythm of his work kept escalating, unrelenting, carrying the reader on a tidal wave of passion, much like the frenzied drumming mentioned in his novel. Set in Oakland California, There There follows a cast of Native Americans through several generations as they deal with identity, alcoholism, abuse, passion, family, and friendship. Their stories slowly start merging as all their paths start heading for the Big Oakland Powwow. Their voices are distinct, chapped, weary, and still... hopeful. These characters and their histories will stay with the reader long after this book is finished. A jaw-dropping debut, I can't wait to see what this author has in store next!

A Separate Peace

Not exactly what I anticipated, but still a mildly enjoyable read. It reads beautifully but I couldn't care much for the plot. Gene has always been introverted and jealous of his best friend Phineas. At a boy's boarding school in New England they find themselves competing in every manner of sport and game; only Phineas doesn't realize how seriously Gene takes it all. For once in his lousy life, Gene wants to be better at something than Phineas, even if it's just grades. He doesn't want to steal the spotlight he just wants to be an equal. One day while fooling around, tragedy strikes. Will things ever be the same again? Set during World War II, this tale of friendship, loyalty, and competition has still remained a classic decades later. Not my cup of tea, but not bad either.

Note to Self

King, Gayle. Note to Self. 2 CDs. unabridged. Audioworks. 2018. ISBN 9781508260493. $19.99. 

A remarkable, diverse, and talented cast reads aloud letters written to their younger selves. Gayle King (CBS This Morning) selected some of the most inspiring letters she collected over the years and compiled them in this honest, emotional, and uplifting audiobook. Celebrities, athletes, pop culture icons, doctors, astronauts and more read aloud letters that they wish their younger selves could have benefited from and be comforted by. Oprah, Danika Patrick, Kermit the Frog, Tyler Perry, Dr. Ruth, and President Jimmy Carter are just some of the many amazing contributors included. Gayle King does an excellent job introducing each essayist and their achievements. Note to Self is a wonderful and uplifting reflection on youth, lessons learned, and self love. A perfect gift for graduates and fans of inspiring reads. - Erin Cataldi, Johnson Co. Public Library, Franklin, IN