Sassymonkey Reads: October 2016

Sassymonkey Reads: October 2016

A Gentleman in Moscow: A Novel by Amor Towles. It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a novel as much as I enjoyed this one. I really liked his first novel and this one is really quite different. He went from jazz age NYC in his first novel to post-revolution Russia in this one. It's a slow novel and you have to have patience with it, but that's one of the things I liked about it. Settle in with it on a cold day and with a good drink at your side.  

Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels, and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day by Joel Selvin. A really good read about Altamont but perhaps not the best to read right before bed (especially the second half) unless you want to have rather violent dreams. May cause the need to rewatch Gimme Shelter with a new eye.  

Seinfeldia: How a Show About Nothing Changed Everything by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong. An interesting look at Seinfeld's place in tv and cultural history. But don't expect a whole of of insider stuff. It was obvious that while the author had access to some of the show writers, she didn't get close to any of the stars. 

Lumberjanes Vol 3: A Terrible Plan. If you haven't picked up this graphic novel series do it! Do it if you were a Girl Guide (or Girl Scout). Do it even if you were a Girl Guide and hated it. You'll wish you were a Lumberjane. I only wish I was able to read all of these volumes closer together. 

The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean. Sometimes you just need to read a romance novel and you can't go very wrong with a Sarah MacLean romance novel. (Even if I didn't like that other series about scoundrels she wrote.)  

Marrying Winterborne (The Ravenels #2) by Lisa Kleypas. Sometimes you just need to read two romance novels in a month and you really can't go wrong with a Lisa Kleypas historical romance. (I'm iffy on her contemporary romances.) 

Ninjas Have Issues by Greg Stones. Not as good as Zombies Hate Stuff. 

Have a Little Pun: An Illustrated Play on Words by Frida Clements. I'd like these as art prints but I don't really like it as a book. 

Shooting Victoria: Madness, Mayhem, and the Rebirth of of the British Monarchy by Paul Thomas Murphy. Interesting topic but would have been a better book if it had been a bit tighter and shorter. Honestly, it was a bit of a slog to get through. If you pick it up take heart — the last 100 pages or so are made up of references and the index. 

Presto! How I Made Over 100 Pounds Disappear and Other Magical Tales by Penn Jillette. In theory I got this book from the library so Lee could read it but since he was in the middle of another book I grabbed it first. Not my favourite. When Lee picked it up he returned it to the library without finishing it. Not a winner for either of us. 

Running Man by Charlie Engel. My problems with this memoir is less about this book than about running memoirs in general. I'm a bit weary of reading about people who pick up running and with little training are running (and winning) marathons and ultras. I need a journeyman's running memoir. Please. 

Breaking Vegan: One Woman's Journey from Veganism and Extreme Dieting to a More Balanced Life by Jordan Younger. I read this mostly out of curiosity. Part of that is from wanting to hear about her experience with orthorexia but also because I know that when a vegan blogger steps away from veganism it is a Very Big Deal. A lot of the negative reviews on her book stem from that, but some of the less awful reviews of her book (from people who have actually read it rather than people who are just opposed to her being a former vegan) are justified. This is a case where a successful blog does not translate into a good book. 
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