WWW Wednesday: May 1, 2019

May 1, 2019May 1, 2019 silverbuttonbooks10 Comments

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and is now hosted by Taking on a World of Words. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to admire. Also, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. I love this meme – it never fails to keep me organized!

What Did I Recently Finish Reading?

Only two books went into the finished pile this week but they brought me so much joy! I finished the third book in the Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater, Blue Lily, Lily Blue, and it was everything I hoped it would be. Admittedly, it started slowly but I credit that to the time I let lapse between book two and three and not necessarily the story itself. I hope to read the fourth book and do a review of the full series soon!

I also had a wonderful time rediscovering Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. My Harry Potter full read through has been extra fun with these illustrated versions. They are gorgeous.

What am I Currently Reading?

Poor Wonderling. I really need to finish it already. Hamlet has been great fun especially since I am reading the no-fear version which includes side-by-side contemporary English meaning. Most of the time it is easy to understand the dialogue but being able to check for understanding has been key to me enjoying the experience of reading it for the first time. I am more than half way through the third Magnus Chase as an audiobook and it is perfect for keeping me company during my commute or while I clean. I am also nearly finished with A View to a Kilt and it is still light and fun!

What am I Reading Next?

I would really like to clear my currently reading shelf and finish off the Raven Cycle series this coming week. Other than that, I will be happy to return to full-time mood reading now that my OWL readathon challenge has ended.

Tell me, please!

What is on your WWW?

not a review

In Defense of Buying Books

April 27, 2019 silverbuttonbooks15 Comments

One of my Challenges for 2019 is to read and enjoy the books that I already own. To support that goal I vowed to celebrate every five books I read of my own by purchasing a new book. Theoretically, I would get ahead.

One of my other challenges was to use the library more. This one has been easy since I love my library. They have a great option where you can request books online and they put them aside for you. And, because I live in one of the best library systems in the United States, the selection is unbelievable.

In January I read sixteen books. But, only four of them were from my own shelf. I read wonderful books and listened to even better stories as audiobooks from my library. Still, the experience was not as satisfying as usual. The rest of the year has followed in a similar pattern.

Today is independent book store day. Walking around these wonderful stores is one of my favorite things to do. But today it made me sad. I know I have a lot of books. It is something people comment on (usually derogatorily) when they come into my home. I felt like I shouldn’t buy any more. It felt like being surrounding by people that I knew couldn’t talk to me. It was the unique feeling of being utterly alone while simultaneously surrounding by people.

I’m done with not buying books.

Owning books means that I have them in my home. I can flip to the middle and just read one little section again. If I want to relive how Neville got those last 10 points for Griffendor, I can. I can pile them up in front of me on a Saturday night and feel the excitement of the night in front of me. I can call on them at any time and they never ever tell me they are too busy. If I put them aside, they wait for me. Always. I can pick up a book and travel to the moment it first became precious to me. Unread, but owned books, are the promise of adventure.

Some people see books as unnecessary. Countless studies tell us how important it is for children to own books and have them in their home. Dolly Parton has given away more than one million books in an effort to give kids the same feeling I have when I see my books lined up on the shelf. Finding an adult that opposes putting books in the hands of kids is difficult. But once you are grown suddenly owning books is clutter.

It is undeniably a privilege to be able to buy books when I don’t need to do so. But why is book buying so different than owning a basement of wine or a closetful of shoes? Is it because I keep them out in the open? A privilege is a privilege. Just because it’s not your interest doesn’t mean that it is hoarding.

Books are my friends. They are my memory keepers. I can remember where I bought a book, when I bought a book, and sometimes, more importantly, why I purchased a new book. I have books from my childhood that I can remember my Mom or Dad buying for me. I buy books as souvenirs on vacation and they are tangible evidence of my history. I get books for presents. They bring me joy.

And I know I need to read the books I buy and not just lovingly store them on a shelf. That is akin to buying art and not framing it or displaying it. Still, the more I promise NOT to buy books, the more I want them. Perhaps this, like a diet, needs to just have a more healthy approach than this all-or-nothing that I have tried in the past.

In the end, the world feels like a mess right now. Some people are prepping for a disaster by stockpiling food. I’m going to go ahead and do the same with books that I love. If something bad happens, come on over. I’ll be here reading and I’m happy to share.

Tell me, please!

How do you feel about buying books? Is it important to you to own your favorites?

Meet Cute by Helena Hunting

April 26, 2019 silverbuttonbooks6 Comments

I used to be wretched at remembering author’s names. In fact, long ago, I was interviewing for a job at a book store and when they asked me my favorite authors I completely blanked. It was mortifying. I looked like a fake book lover. Since then, I have nearly compulsively tried to remember author’s names and give due respect to the people who work tirelessly to bring me such joy.

Sometimes I still mess up. For example, I thought Meet Cute was by the author of The Kiss Quotient. To be fair, Helen Hoang and Helena Hunting are not far off and I knew that Helen Hoang had a new book coming out but still, the mix up feels like an unintentional slight to Helena Hunting. Amazon doesn’t help things either with this blurb:

“As charming as its title, but it’s also so much more… Fans of Jasmine Guillory’s The Wedding Date and Helen Hoang’s The Kiss Quotient will love Meet Cute.” —The Washington Independent Review of Books.

meetcute Either way, this mistake led me to the fresh and fun contemporary romance that is Meet Cute. From cute cover to the delightful ending, the book is adorable with moments of deep introspection and feeling. The premise may sound a bit ridiculous and the blurbs are misleadingly simplistic, but I challenge you to start reading and try and put it down.

Kailyn Flowers was obsessed with childhood actor Daxton Hughes when she was a teen. Running to her first law school class she collides into him and knocks him down. As she lays on top of him she does the unthinkable, she professes undying love. Cue three years of law school filled with Dax and Kailyn flirting and challenging each other but never dating. After Dax betrays their friendship they part ways. Five years later they meet again when Kailyn becomes involved with the legal needs of Dax’s thirteen year old sister.

If you read the jacket synopsis for this book it might seem like a simple enemies to lovers romance. And, as much as I love these books I’m getting a little tired of watching couples just fall in bed with each other. I want them to actually resolve their differences! Similarly, I despise when a strong female character has a tenderhearted moment of forgiveness and forgives the bad boy instantly of all wrongdoing. This book has neither of these common traps.

Instead, Kailyn is intensely driven and has an intricate backstory of her own. I loved watched this character change as the story progressed independent of the romance. Similarly, Dax’s change occurred internally instead of being wholly inspired by Kailyn. Add in a cast of supporting characters that felt three dimensional and true and this story was a winner for me!

One thing I can assure you, I won’t forget Helena Hunting’s name ever again. By creating a sweet spin on a tried and true contemporary romantic theme she has completely won me over. I can hardly wait to read her other books.

Tell me, please!

Do you have trouble remembering author’s names? Have you ever gotten them confused? Don’t tell me I’m alone in this!

Middle Grade

Solving for M by Jennifer Swender

April 25, 2019 silverbuttonbooksLeave a comment

You know when you are searching for an apartment and you see certain words and instantly understand that they have a different meaning? Like, “garden apartment” means basement. Or, “charming” means old with low water pressure. Books are the same. We know “poignant,” “tender,” and “heartbreaking” all mean sad. But do kids know that? Do they know what these buzzwords actually mean? Take a look at how Solving for M by Jennifer Swender is being sold:

Perfect for fans of Raymie Nightingale and The Fourteenth Goldfish, this heartfelt middle-grade novel seamlessly melds STEAM content with first loss in an honest and striking debut.

When Mika starts fifth grade at the middle school, her neat life gets messy. Separated from old friends and starting new classes, Mika is far from her comfort zone. And math class is the most confusing of all, especially when her teacher Mr. Vann assigns math journals. Art in math? Who’s ever heard of such a thing?

But when challenges arise at home, Mika realizes there are no easy answers. Maybe, with some help from friends, family, and one unique teacher, a math journal can help her work out problems, and not just the math ones.

Debut author Jennifer Swender delivers poignant prose and illustrator Jennifer Naalchigar brings Mika’s journal to life in this perfect equation of honesty plus hope that adds up to a heartwarming coming-of-age story.

Would you know that this book puts Mika in a position to sit along the sidelines as her single Mom deals with a sudden and wholly unexpected diagnosis of melanoma? Would “challenges arise at home” instantly let an adult or child understand that Mika’s whole world is changed overnight with her mother’s illness? Does “messy” convey the idea that Mika’s hyper-supportive, organized, and involved is Mom suddenly spending days in bed and no one is explaining anything to Mika? I certainly didn’t.

I wish the publishers would make this more obvious. Because this is a really hard story to read but wonderfully written. There was so much to love about this book that had nothing to do with her Mother’s cancer that could easily be missed.

Some middle grade readers will love this book for highlighting the strangeness of making new friends when life-long ones are right there. This will resonate with so many 11-14 year olds who question why different schools and adolescence means that sometimes friends simply drift apart. No one is mad, they are just different. This book is also wonderful for showing the deep and abiding importance of giving people a second look.

solvingforM But, without a little warning, this book becomes shockingly hard to read. This is especially true for kids whose parents are dealing with illnesses of their own. In a world full of trigger warnings, why can’t we give kids fair warning that there are some serious themes present? Or, do we simple expect that if they watch Disney / Pixar movies then they probably know someone will get sick or die anyway because it is everywhere in children’s media?

What this book did so masterfully, and what the world needs so much more of, is show the immeasurable importance of teachers in a child’s life. Mika has never been good at Math. She has the heart and soul of an artist. Her Math teacher has the students keep journals and uses their personal interests to connect them to new Math content. Mika uses art, her friend uses baking, and another friend attacks the subject from a science angle. While teaching them to love a difficult (and often hated) subject he also provides his students with a safe place to be every single day. And, in the chaos of middle school and the upheaval of her Mother’s diagnosis, Mika finds acceptance and peace in math class. In math class.

I liked this book. Tremendously. And I wouldn’t change a thing about it. But I do want parents and kids to know that the “challenge” this book is referring to is cancer. Some kids will be absolutely fine with everything this book has to offer. But, I would not recommend this book for the students and children in your life for whom anxiety is an issue or for those who have dealt with sickness and loss.

Tell me, please!

How do you feel about more frank thematic disclosure for children and middle grade books?

WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesday: April 24, 2019

April 25, 2019 silverbuttonbooks9 Comments

It is 9:30 p.m. here and I have gone through nearly the whole day believing it was Tuesday. This is what happens when you take a Monday off! Since it is Wednesday (for a few more hours) it is also time for WWW Wednesday. Make sure and head over to Sam’s site, Taking on a World of Words, where you can see what is on everyone else’s list for this week. Please feel free to leave any links below. My TBR won’t continue to be brimming without your help!

What Did I Recently Finish Reading?

It may not look like much but this week I experienced an enormous feeling of accomplishment when I finished not one but two books off of my huge physical TBR.

Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan is the second in this delightful Norse Mythology series. I am already 35% into the third book and I am loving it. Expect a review of the trilogy shortly!

I also read the first graphic novel / comic book I have enjoyed in quite some time. The Star Wars by JW Rinzler is based on the original screenplay itself. The art is fantastic and, for the epic storyline it is attempting to cover, it is a really well done book.

I also finished Last of the Summer Moet by Wendy Holden. Holden is a long-time favorite author of mine and I love her style. I had a little trouble getting into this story. This made sense when I went to log it on Goodreads and discovered I was reading #2 in the series. Ah-Hah! It was still great fun and I am already several chapters into the third book. I will probably circle back and read books 1 and 1.5 at some point because I love Holden just that much.

I also finished Eon by Alison Goodman. Eon has been on my physical TBR for so long and I am proud to have finally read it. It wasn’t a hard read or a complicated story but for some reason it just kept getting passed over for other books. I enjoyed the story of Eona who is disguised as a boy in order to wield Dragon magic but I am not sure I will continue with the series only because I have so many (honestly, so many) series on my shelf that I need to finish first.

What am I Currently Reading?

Jeesh. I know. This looks bad. But, I am re-reading Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Illustrated over breakfast. I listen to Magnus Chase, The Ship of the Dead as an audiobook and A View to a Kilt is on my Kindle for those night insomnia comes a-callin’. All three of them are sequels to books I just finished!

Meanwhile, the poor dear Wonderling is a buddy read I am doing and neither my buddy nor I are prioritizing this truly sweet story. I hope to finish it this week!

I am zipping through Hamlet which is good because it is for my OWL read-a-thon and, with only a week left, it is one of the few categories I am not sure I would be able to easily fill.

Finally, Blue Lily, Lily Blue is going strong. As the third book in The Raven Cycle I only regret waiting so long to finally crack into it. In fact, all I plan to do this evening is read more of this book!

What Will I Read Next?

The only subject I know I haven’t covered for my OWLs is Defense Against the Dark Arts which requires me to read a book that starts with the letter “R.” I have had this particular book on my physical TBR for quite some time so I hope to finish it before the end of April.

Tell me, please!

What is on your WWW?

Fantasy · fiction · funny

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

April 22, 2019April 25, 2019 silverbuttonbooks14 Comments

This book was one hundred percent, straight up, delightfully weird. There is no other way to describe the experience and no other books that compare. It was, quite simply, wonderfully odd.

goodomens Originally entitled Good Omens, The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Alice Nutter, Witch this book was originally published in 1990. At the time, neither Neil Gaiman nor Terry Pratchett were the major authors that they are today but it is clear from this book that both already had an excellent handle on their craft. In 1985 Neil Gaiman interviewed Terry Pratchett for an article at the beginning of Mr. Pratchett’s career. The two struck up a friendship that has spanned decades and wrote Good Omens together by sending floppy disks back and forth and collaborating over the phone. This was during the time that Gaiman was working on Sandman and I just wish I could get my hands on all those floppy disks….

I really struggled to not highlight the entire book’s often hilarious phrasings. The witty repartee between the Angel Aziraphale and the Demon Crowley was fast paced and had the feel of a life long, or in this case, centuries long friendship. Both beings have lived on Earth for so along and through some of the most difficult phases of humanity but have grown accustomed to the comforts of modern England. When the son of Satan is born on Earth, Crowley and Aziraphale decide that their job is to maintain the balance by interfering. Sadly, due to a mix up with the baby at the hospital they end up watching over the wrong child right up until the moment the Hound of Hell is released. This seems like a simple premise but add in additions layers that include: witch hunters, Alice Nutter’s 17th Century completely accurate prophesies, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and a pack of children straight out of the 1950s and this book really brings the weird in full technicolor.

I can see where some readers have attempted this book and felt confused by the narrative which bounces from character to character with little introduction and no warning. However, fans of Pratchett and Gaiman know this writing trick and the pay off that will be experienced at the culmination of the story. As you see the threads of the stories weave together you cannot help but gasp as the completed tapestry becomes visible. I always feel like applauding as I turn the last page on one of their books.

I will be honest, I didn’t know this book existed until I saw the preview for the new Amazon show. Like most people I love to read books that have been made into television shows or movies. Now that I have read the story I cannot wait to see the characters comes to life on the screen! But, even if you do not plan to watch the show the book is just too much fun to pass up. This is definitely destined to be one of my favorite reads of 2019.

Tell me, please!

What is your favorite wonderfully weird book?

historical fiction · Romantic

Highland Crown by May McGoldrick

April 18, 2019May 6, 2019 silverbuttonbooks3 Comments

Do you love Diana Galbadon’s Outlander Series? Or, like me, did you love books one through four but you just couldn’t take it anymore? I mean, Jamie is great but can Claire just stay out of trouble for two minutes?!? Sheesh. If, like me, you love a lot of things about Outlander but not the infinite never-ending drama, look no further then Highland Crown by May McGoldrick.

highlandcrown Highland Crown is going to be compared to Outlander. I don’t enjoy making comparisons like this but let’s just look at the facts.

Both set in historic Scotland? Check

Hot male character that is instantly admired? Check

Gorgeous medical female lead? Check

Instant love connection in the midst of turmoil? Check

Time travel? Nope, that is just Outlander.

So, I felt a duty to get this out into the open. Yes. I see the similarities. But, I want to focus on the differences and why it all worked so beautifully. Written by Nikoo and Jim McGoldrick under the pen name Mary McGoldrick, Highland Crown is a fast paced romance told in shifting narratives with loads of historic facts that brought the action to life. Alternating between the beautiful doctor and fugitive, Isabella Drummond, and the strikingly handsome ship captain, Cinead Mackintosh, the reader is literally tossed into the action from chapter one. And, since half of this writing duo has a PhD in sixteenth century Scottish and English literature, the historical aspect felt so true and alive it was hard to step back into the present.

I am an absolute sucker for romances where the male character falls deeply in love and has to either reassure the female character of his love or somehow earn her trust. This book gave me that romantic aspect in spades and I cannot wait for the next two books in the series! I appreciate NetGalley providing me a digital copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Tell me, please!

What is your favorite kind of romance novel?

WWW Wednesday

WWW Wednesday: April 17, 2019

April 17, 2019 silverbuttonbooks31 Comments

Last Wednesday got away from me but I’m back for this week and ready to stay on top of my reading (I need a push to get back on track with my posting though!). As always, a big thank you to Sam at Taking on A World of Words for hosting this meme which asks the big three questions:

What did you just finish reading?

What are you currently reading?

What will you read next?

What Did I Just Finish Reading?

This is two weeks worth of reading! I loved the enemies to friends romance of Meet Cute by Helena Hunting. I got it from my local library because the cover was just too cute and inhaled it in a day. It is a sweet story with enough depth to keep it out of fluff territory.

I also listened to the audiobook of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them while simultaneously following along in my gorgeous illustrated copy. At a short two hours the experience was as good as watching a movie. I put a full review up here.

I also wrapped up this week with the wonderfully weird Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Guess what? Review coming soon!

I managed to clear all of my ARC books (well, sort of / kind of / not really). I finished Highland Crown by Mary McCormick which I loved. It is a romantic historical fiction set in Scotland. I am having trouble writing a review that doesn’t compare it to Outlander but it is nearly impossible to avoid since the parallels are so strong and only the time traveling component is missing. But it felt like a completely different book! I need to make that clear in my review but I am, obviously, having a bit of a reviewing-block.

I also finished Solving for M by Jennifer Swender which I expected to be a middle grade book about math but turned out to be a middle grade book about melanoma. It is very well written and I am glad it exists but it would require some serious thought before handing it to a 10-14 year old. When I can figure out how to explain that a review will be up.

Finally, I put Dreaming in Code in the DNF pile. It is not bad but it didn’t catch my interest after the first three chapters and I already missed reviewing it before it came out so I only DNFed it for the sake of time. Does that count as clearing my ARC list?!?

What am I Currently Reading?

I am almost finished with Eon by Alison Goodman. This is my selected book for my Charms OWL as part of my OWL Readathon. I am going to need to focus if I have any hope of getting through all of my OWLs but this has been a great place to start because Eon is an exciting fantasy read about a sixteen-year old girl posing as a boy in order to become a Dragon Magic user. Additionally, both Eon and another character have disabilities and the author (so far) has handled this issue perfectly.

Hamlet I have barely begun but since it is for my History of Magic OWL I know I need to keep working on it. I am hoping that I can attack it the same was I did LOTR, a little bit everyday.

I am listening to and reading Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard by Rick Riordan. It is read by Kieran Culkan and he does a wonderful job. This book also has an excellent portrayal of a Deaf character in it and (hopefully) finishing it will help me with my non-OWL April reading list.

Finally, insomnia is baaaacccckkk! Thankfully, one of my favorite authors, Wendy Holden, has put out two new books. I started the first one, Last of the Summer Moet, a few nights ago and it is as delightful as all her other books. They are light romances with loads of intrigue and British (a perfect combination for me!). Reading on my Kindle is my favorite kind of insomnia reading. It is reminiscent of reading under the covers.

What Will I Read Next?

This is one book off my Non-OWL reading list and one from my OWL list. If I can clear my currently reading I will be thrilled to start both of these books this week!

Tell me, please!

What is on your WWW?

fiction · YA

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Phillippe

April 11, 2019 silverbuttonbooksLeave a comment

I can’t seem to stop reading cute high school romance books even though they are really not my favorite. I thought the premise of this book sounded fun – a fish out of water story told from the boy’s perspective – but when I cracked into it I know I emitted a loud sigh. High School was not my favorite. I absolutely see why someone in high school would want contemporary books but I don’t enjoy revisiting the endless drama. Then I noticed that the main character is from Canada. I can’t get enough of Canada! So, I forged onward.

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager by Ben Phillippe is the story of Norris who grew up in Montreal, Canada. He and his Mom have relocated to Austin, Texas for her job after the divorce. And, of course, poor Norris now has to combat with the heat, the culture and high school. I know we have probably all read this story one-hundred times but paired with genuinely sweet friendships and a slow burning romance I found the story sweet and fun to read.

Admittedly, Norris is difficult to like at first. His quick wit and over use of irony and sarcasm give him a hard edge. This, oddly, is completely acceptable in a female character (usually white) who is dealing with high school life. I was really struck with how little patience friends of mine had for Norris as, apparently, dudes aren’t supposed to have all the feelings. I loved that Norris was unlikeable at first. It made him feel genuinely teenager-y. Now, if he hadn’t developed and changed as a person through the book that would be a different story but he did and it was enjoyable to watch. As his friendships grow and change Norris has to decide whether he is going to take a chance on being himself or not.

Like many books set in high school, the background cast of characters is essential to creating a balance to the story. This is especially true when the main character is abut off a butt. Surrounding Norris are my two waring favorites; Maddie, the cheerleading overachiever who guides him, and Neil, the awkward rich kid who wants to learn hockey. There is also Aarti Puri, the girl of Norris’s dreams and the character I actively didn’t like.

Unlike many other teenage stories, I really appreciated the constant presence of Norris’s mother. So many stories featuring kids in high school have a glaring absence of parental involvement. In The Field Guide not only is Norris’s Mom involved in his life in a consistent and positive manner, but his friend Maddie’s Dad is incredibly involved in her life. It was a relief to see a teenagers talking to their parents instead of just a stock character there for the kids’ to hide their emotions from throughout the story.

The Field Guide to the North American Teenager was a truly enjoyable read. Norris may not be perfectly likable from chapter one but the person this character develops into is worth the read.

Tell me, please!

What is your favorite fish out of water story?

all ages · Audible · Fantasy · SeriousSeriesLove

Magical Non-Fiction Friday: Newt Scamander’s Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

April 5, 2019April 5, 2019 silverbuttonbooks1 Comment

I am sitting for my O.W.Ls this month through the OWL Readathon hosted by G at Book Roast and I am more excited than I can possibly explain. The universe must sense my excitement because the library delivered an audiobook version of Fantastic Beasts early last evening. This is just one more reason I never make it through a predetermined list of books – my wonderful library! I sat down with my illustrated copy of the book and listened to the audiobook simultaneously and had an amazing two hours of total immersion in the world of Fantastic Beasts.

fantasticbeasts The audiobook is narrated by Eddie Redmayne in the very same clipped manner he gives to the sweet Newt Scamander he plays on film. However, unlike the shy film version of Newt, the audiobook personality is the knowledgable and excited Newt that we see, briefly, when he is talking about his fantastic beasts. Matched with the gorgeously illustrated Fantastic Beasts I sat like a child and listened to the whole book in one sitting.

If you have previously read this book, you know that it is filled with footnotes. Footnotes can be extremely annoying in audiobooks but this one has the most savvy and smooth use of auditory footnotes I have ever experienced. In addition there are animal sound effects that add that special little bit of interest to what is, basically, a fake non-fiction book. If you have a hard time with audiobooks or you are trying to get a child interested in the platform, this would be an amazing place to start. And, at only two hours long, it is easy to successfully complete the whole book.

If you have the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, I highly recommend it. And, if you already own a copy of this beautiful illustrated book or can use kindle unlimited to read along, it is a wonderful experience that I cannot recommend enough!

Tell me, please!

Have you ever listened to an audiobook while you simultaneous read one?