Oh y'all, I posted that whole breathless monologue about how I was going to start blogging again, and then realized I had COMPLETELY spaced on how much work it is to actually blog.  Even a super simple book review post like I am doing here... so many links, images, formatting, alt text, ughhh.  No wonder it has been years since I managed it!  I actually had a mini panic attack and tried to POSTPONE that last post, announcing my (possibly unwanted) return to your inboxes, but then discovered it had automatically published already yesterday.  Ooooooooops... So here I am, trying to follow through with a promised book review post, but it is a stretch, I can tell you, ha!  Give me grace here, Invisible Internet Friends -- hold my hand and pat me on the back and say nice things to me!!  Thankfully, I found a draft of a book review post I started in June of 2018, so I will happily take that shortcut for today, courtesy of Past Me, and I will save my more recent reads for another post soon.  Knock on wood (link for a trippy but awesome sonic blast-from-the-past), it will be days and not years from now!

READ/ Don't Read, Brutal and Funny Book Reviews in Miniature, Big Little Lies, Storied Life of AJ Fikry, Saints at the River, Aeronaut's Windlass

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty 
Mystery, Suspense
READ, but especially if you like whodunnits, Agatha Christie, etc

I loved this one! I found it through a book club and enjoyed it so much. (Note from the present: like I said in the intro, I wrote these reviews in the summer of 2018... since then I've read every. single. book. Liane Moriary has written. I adore her and I almost never find anything to be brutal about... with the exception of her newest, Apples Never Fall, which has some stuff I can nit-pick. However, I will save that review for next time!). I love how this book keeps you guessing at the big reveal from literally the first chapter... you know from the beginning that someone is dead, BUT you don't know who, and you don't know why.  Vivid characters, fun twists, and a satisfying wrap-up at the end. Current Day Me is also vaguely aware that Big Little Lies is a tv show now, but I think I was in a blind parenting haze of sleep deprivation when it came out, and I haven't seen it yet. I bet it is amazing though, bucket list to watch! Click here for a free kindle book preview

The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin 
Literary Fiction, Romance
Read, especially if would call yourself a "bibliophile" just casually, as if that is a normal word to use in a conversation, ha! (ummmm yeah, guilty...)

I picked this up on a whim off of Amazon Prime reading and I really enjoyed it! A sweet story about life and books and second chances. Note from the present: I have NO memory of this book, and I am not sure if that means it was honestly a tiny bit bland, albeit "sweet"? OR if I was just that sleep deprived in the moment reading it, which is possible. Apologies for repeatedly whining about being sleep deprived, but I not slept more than 3 hours in a row more than a handful of times in the last 6 years... and that realllllllly effs with a brain. I am leaving the "read" rating since I do trust Past Me, but just being honest about my lack of specific recall lol. This one is also a movie now, maybe I'll watch the movie and see if it jogs my memory... Click here to go straight to a kindle preview!

Saints at the River by Ron Rash 
Southern Fiction
Maybe read, if the region is home for you or you enjoy environmental drama a la Erin Brockovich 

I felt like this story dipped into preachy territory more than once, but the setting in the Appalachian hills of South Carolina was vivid and enjoyable and the tension of the environmental dilemma (whether to disturb an untouched river's natural sanctuary status in an attempt to recover the body of a drowned child) was well depicted. My biggest peeve here was that the female narrator felt flat and one-dimensional.... I'm always interested in whether an author can pull off writing in first person for a character of the opposite gender, and this one didn't really work for me. The emotions felt stilted, and at one point the narrator quickly put on a little makeup... and chose blush and lipstick. I have since taken an informal poll among my friends, and all of us agree that lipstick, yes, but blush, no, not if you're choosing only two items of makeup to apply. All the friends I asked agreed that they would do lipstick and eye liner, or lipstick and mascara. That's just one example, but I almost would say that the author wrote it originally with a male narrator, and then decided after the fact that it would sell better if the main character was female, so just sorta switched all the pronouns and went with it. If you enjoy Southern Fiction already it's worth a read, but if you're new to Ron Rash (he's fantastic, I read this one because I've read two or three of his others and loved them), or new to this kind of regional literature, I would pick another of the author's books. Click here to go straight to a kindle preview!

The Aeronaut's Windlass by Jim Butcher
Fantasy, Steampunk
Don't read, unless you're a huge fan of detailed battle scenes

I expected to love this one... it's written by the author of the Dresden Files and the premise seems really cool... a steampunk world where people live in cities high in the clouds, navigating flying ships, and wielding magic... but I felt like this story got bogged down in detail. I had this sense that the editors would have been a lot more ruthless with a newer author but since Jim Butcher has such a loyal following they just kind of threw their hands in their air and were like, "do whatever you want, dude! Just give us another book!" The nautically-airborne battle scenes in particular were excruciatingly long and boring. I did like some of the characters a lot, and I totally would watch a movie version of the story when I could mess around on my phone during battle scenes, but I probably won't read any more of the series. (Note from the present, Jim Butcher actually hasn't published any more books in this series yet and it was released in 2015, soooooo I might not be the only one who thought the book lacked compelling momentum. Just sayin'.) Click here for a kindle preview though, if you want to check out those battle scenes to prove me wrong!

Okay dear friends, I DID IT.  I finished a book review post, haha, even if it DID technically take me four and a half years from writing the first words to hitting "publish." If you are here reading, pretty please leave me a comment to let me know!   

Even more importantly, if you have a book to recommend to me, tell me!!  I started reading again, REALLY reading, for the first time in years last spring when my dad died, and getting back to books is like coming home... but I have also missed SO much good stuff in the past few years! So recommend your favorites to me and I will try to catch up. And thank you for being here with me, truly! I am honored by your presence, when you could be looking at any content at all in this immense online wilderness, and I appreciate your eyes on my words. *HUGS*

Like what you're reading? Subscribe via email, and I'll keep the good stuff coming! 

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Time Sensitive!! Popping by with a Book Review for Sci Fi Lovers - STRUCK by Rachel Langley!

Hello my dear, dear readers…. 

It is I, your long lost Boredom Devastator, Sarah Eliza, now "Mama Boredom Devastator" who NEVER gets bored because suddenly naps are fascinating and eagerly pursued at every opportunity… 😂

I have been stealthily working behind the scenes lately to dust off my blog (and dust off my brain) to make a Big Comeback.  This Big Comeback includes an exciting guest post series from ladies (and maybe gentlemen too, who knows!) who have used ideas and tips from my book Secrets of the Capsule Wardrobe to transform their closets.  Oh wait, does that describe YOU?  If so, you need to submit your info here, and maybe I’ll be highlighting gorgeous YOU in a guest post soon!  Stay posted!!

BUT back to important and time-sensitive matters at hand…  I have interrupted my Stealthy Behind the Scenes Work to pop by with a post and let my wonderful readers know about a fun free book download, available this week only – a YA science fiction title called Struck, written by none other than my talented cousin, Rachel Langley.   *applause*

Here’s the description of Struck from Amazon!

The headline read: A Deserted Town: Where Are the Missing?The missing. That’s what their friends and family had become. 

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READ or DON'T Read -- 2017 Mini Book Reviews, Part 1! Something for every reader!

What to READ and What NOT Read -- 2017 Book Reviews in Miniature, Part 1!  Big Magic, The Giver Quartet, Hallelujah Anyway, Hollow City, and More!

Hello friends!  Why yes, it is ME in your inbox / on your computer screen!  At long last!  

Hmmmmm three exclamation points in a row... I'm pretty sleep-deprived.  But at least my 4 month old reason for sleep deprivation is awfully stinkin' cute!  She also has a magical ability to sense whenever I leave the room where she is napping.  I leave NOISELESSLY, I swear!  And the white noise machine is BLASTING!  Yet somehow she knows if I leave, and wakes up 15 minutes later like clockwork.  So for at least some of her naps lately, I end up staying in the room with her, reading or writing.  And sometimes sleeping too, but I'm honestly not a great napper (sound familiar?) so more often reading or writing.  So, I have a TON of books to review for you, and I'm not even counting the parenting / baby books I'll save for another post.  As always, I'll do my best to give you a pithy review-in-miniature, with a READ / DON'T Read verdict for each.  You can check out past reviews here as well!

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A Year in Books - What to Read and What NOT to Read! Book Reviews in Miniature, 2016 Edition

A Year in Books -- What to Read and What NOT to Read! 

It's been a full year since I did a true "READ vs DON'T Read" rundown, partly because I was just distracted for a while there, and then partly because I was reading some Really Random Stuff.  Like... I reread about 14 vintage Nancy Drew books, because they were sitting on my shelf and I wanted to decided if they were really bringing me joy or if I just owned them out of habit.  They were actually decently entertaining, but I didn't figure y'all would necessarily want to read reviews of all of them. 😜 And THEN I got some exciting news, and shifted to pregnancy / natural childbirth / baby research, which I'll post about eventually I'm sure, but didn't particularly fit with the rest of my literary explorations.

All that to say, here is the scoop on the "fun reading" I did unreported this past year, with the READ / DON'T Read verdicts and miniature reviews you know and love!  

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Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller - Samantha Says READ or DON'T Read - Book Review in Miniature

Today's book review is brought to you by my life-long bestie and fellow-bibliophile Samantha Y!  Also be sure to check out her past book reviews on romance novel The Wedding Wager, family drama Everything I Never Told You, and historical novel Corridors of the Night!

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Blue like Jazz, Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality by Donald Miller

Spirituality, Introspection, Memoir

READ if you are interested in exploring the boundary of where religion meets the real world, and finding the freedom that awaits there. 

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#FridayFrivolity Wishlist of a Book Worm -- Reading Recommendations!

The Wishlist of a Book Worm...

My pal Audrey over at Munofore picked our theme for tonight's #FridayFrivolity, and I have to admit it caused me a little angst!  I have the same angst every time somebody asks me what my favorite book is... so many books... how am I ever to choose just ONE?     

So yea, please don't ever ask me what my favorite book is.  I will probably involuntarily roll my eyes at you, and then feel bad about it later.

However, my current Book Worm Wishlist is pretty easy to pinpoint, because in the end I just decided to share what I have on hold at the library.  ;)  So here goes:

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READ / DON'T Read: SAT Prep Edition -- Book Reviews of SAT Preparation Aids

(Please note: this post contains affiliate links, meaning that if you click and / or purchase items via those links, I may receive a small commission as a result, at no cost to you.  If you would prefer to view an item via a non-affiliate link, use the contact form to let me know and I will be happy to email one to you.  Thank you for supporting Devastate Boredom!)  

As my dear patient readers will already know, a few months ago I started a "side gig" tutoring SAT / ACT / GRE / GMAT prep.  In all modesty, I have to say, I'm a pretty kick-butt tutor!  ;P  

I recently was provided with a complimentary copy of Tutorverse's The New SAT workbook for my honest review.  I will be comparing and contrasting it with Peterson's Master the New SAT, in my typical READ vs DON'T Read review style.  

I know this isn't necessarily a standard book review for this blog, but I also know that many of you have young people in your lives who are preparing, or soon will be preparing, for that all-important college entrance exam, the SAT.  Forward this review on to them, and then pat yourself on the back for giving their studies a boost!

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Samantha Says READ or DON'T Read - Guest Book Review of Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Novel, Fiction about Families, Debut novel

READ unless you are feeling blue, because it’s amazing and rich but it’s not particularly uplifting.

The people we live with, our family and loved ones. We may spend our lives in the same house; we may see each other day in and day out, but how much do we really know about what is going on inside their heads? It takes the death of their middle child,

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Corridors of the Night by Anne Perry - Samantha Says... READ or DON'T Read - Book Review in Miniature

My dear life-long friend Samantha York is a fellow bibliophile, and a talented writer.  She's been awesome enough to guest-post on Devastate Boredom with book reviews in the past, and is back with another today!  Welcome to the newest ongoing component of our READ or DON'T Read series, "Samantha Says"!


Corridors of the Night by Anne Perry

Mystery, Police Investigations 

READ, because I bet you’ve never thought about medical discovery like this before! 

Blood. That life sustaining liquid coursing through our veins. We take it for granted until it malfunctions or seeps out, and then we rely on a miracle –the transfusion of another’s surplus supply  - to save us. It’s really quite routine in modern hospitals, but (and I

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Did My House Stay Organized?? Or Did I -- *gasp* -- BACKSLIDE into Messiness?? My Konmari Update

I hope you all aren't rolling your eyes, muttering "not another minimalism post!"  I promise, it will be worth it!!  Because I am going to give you the SCOOP about whether the Konmari method "worked," as Marie Kondo promises. 

As a quick summary for anybody new here -- I've been pursuing minimalism for a while (since "before it was cool," I'm always careful to point out... haha!) but I'm still always looking for new ideas and perspectives to help me put my space and stuff to better use.  I recently reviewed Marie Kondo's book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up, and thought it was time for a 

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READ or DON'T Read - I'm Happy For You (Sort Of... Not Really), by Kay Wills Wyma - Book Review in Miniature

I'm Happy For You (Sort Of... Not Really) by Kay Wills Wyma
Self-Improvement, Christian, Faith, Non-Fiction, Memoir
READ, if you're a human being

I "won" this book recently, which part of me thinks was God handing it to me and going, "here, you need this."  Because, I SO totally did.  I don't even want to admit to you how often lately I had been comparing myself to other people, both in person and online, and feeling good or bad about myself based on the results.... it's too embarrassing.  Let's just say

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READ or DON'T Read - A Book Review in Miniature of The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin

In the past I've done monthly summaries of the books I've read and that's been fun... but when a month slips by and I haven't done much reading it seems a little embarrassing to have a a grand "monthly list" that consists of... two books.  ;P  So, I'm trying out posting book reviews on a more "as I read them" basis... if you have thoughts on the new format, be sure to let me know!

The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Self-help, memoir
READ, if you're a human being

A New York journalist and author decides to spend a year researching and experimenting on different ways to "be happier," highlighting her month-by-month progress, struggles, and conclusions.

I LOVED Rubin's emphasis on mindfulness and proactivity -- two of her foundational tenants are that people should become aware of what makes us happy, and should actively seek out ways to improve our day-to-day.  Rubin tackled a different "area of 

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What to Read / NOT to Read, 4th Edition - Why Not Me?, Bird by Bird, People I Want To Punch In the Throat, Expecting Better, Bringing Up Bebe, more! Some Free on Kindle!

I was too busy with Nanowrimo in November to read a whole lot, so I just saved the reviews from that month to add in with my December reading list. Some great ones, and some you really need to avoid... plus, a number of them are free to download on kindle! Check them out, and be sure catch up on any of my previous Read / Don't Read digests that you might have missed: 1st Edition, 2nd, and 3rd. :)


Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling

Essays, Humor, Memoir, Modern Life

READ - If you like authenticity and laughter.

This was a really enjoyable, authentic read, by a seriously funny woman.  The pages flew by, and I laughed out loud at least a few times and was genuinely amused pretty much all the rest of the time.   Hard to go wrong with this one!

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10 Free Kindle Books to Download Pre-Holiday Travels!! Suspense, Mystery, Romance, Historical Fiction, Steampunk, Zombies, and more!

Dear friends - please note, these are affiliate links, which means I get a small commission for your purchases at no additional cost to you.  Thank you for helping keep me caffeinated and my dog supplied with treats!  As always, all opinions are my own, and I will never recommend something I wouldn't buy myself.

It occurred to me today that you, like me, might be doing a lot of traveling over the next month or so.  And furthermore, that you, like me, might prefer to travel light, while still having plenty of reading material to help pass time in the car or on the plane.

(Please note, if you are DRIVING the car, I recommend saving the reading for later...  same for the plane.  If you are PILOTING the plane, step away from the kindle / phone / book, my friend!)

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Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up - The Aha! Moments and Perspective Shifts That Make This Book Worth Reading - A Review

Oh man, at long last, the much anticipated review of The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up!  Oooooooh ahhhhhhhhhh!!  ;P  

The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, by Japanese organizational expert Marie Kondo, is one of those books that EVERYONE is talking about right now...  Yay for minimalism and simplicity living becoming more mainstream ideas!  :D  
The book is popular for good reason too... whether you're already a hardcore minimalist, or a borderline hoarder, or somewhere in between, it probably has something to say to you that you will find helpful.  Depending on your level of familiarity with the philosophy behind minimalism, simplicity living, etc, a lot of the ideas might not be NEW to you, but there were subtle shifts in Marie Kondo's approach that gave me a whole new perspective on aspects of the topic (photos and childhood mementos, for example), and really helped me "finish" my own minimalist household transition.  

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What to Read and What NOT to Read, Third Edition - Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer, Bossypants by Tina Fey, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, Cinder, and more!

Time for the October edition of What to Read... and What NOT to Read!  I'm sure you will all be glad to hear that this month was a happier / funnier one than September, which makes for some entertaining miniature reviews and READ! verdicts to share with you!

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The 6 Books Your Dog Wishes You Would Read! The Best Resources for Raising a Puppy or Training Your Dog, Approved by Kaylee's Mom

After adopting our sweet puppy Kaylee last December, I went on something of a puppy-book reading-rampage!  I read nine books on dog training over the next couple of months, and while almost all of them were helpful to some degree or another, six of them made a bigger impression on me than the others, and several of them I LOVED.  Here are my favorite dog-training / puppy-raising books, in increasing order of favorite-ness:

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What to Read and What NOT to Read #2: Reviews of Black Valley by Charlotte Williams, Whole Body Barefoot by Katy Bowman, When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris, more!

Last month I did a review post for all the books I read over the first half of the year... fun but a little overwhelming!  ;P  I'm aiming for a monthly collection of reviews going forward.  If you haven't already, be sure to check out the first edition of What to Read.. and What Not to Read! and then the most recent Read / Don't Read posts as well!  :)

New month, new books!  I read six books over the course of September... Black Valley, Whole Body Barefoot, When You Are Engulfed in Flames, Bradstreet Gate, The House of Silk, and Reading, Writing, and Leaving Home.  Here are my reviews in miniature, plus the Read / Don't Read verdicts!  :)

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What to Read... and NOT to Read! This Year's Library List Run-Down So Far... Book Reviews in Miniature - Some Free On Kindle!

Already read this one?  Check out my September edition of What to Read / What Not To Read for 6 more reviews!  :)

Inspired by Little Gold Pixel, whose monthly "what I've been reading" book review posts I always enjoy, here's a summary of my reading this year so far... I love recommendations, so if you have something unforgettable for me, please mention it in the comments section!

A few caveats..  I was cleaning off my bookshelves knowing that a big move was coming up this summer, so a number of these are re-reads.  I also was clearing out my personal "classroom library collection" so I read a number of kids books as well, which are not included here.  I also didn't include books about puppies/dog training, which I will post soon separately. 

As for the rest, they're arranged below roughly in order of how much I liked them.  :)  A number are currently free on kindle, so keep an eye open for those!

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
YA, Mystery, Time-Travel, Coming of Age
Read!  No matter your age!

This book should be read by every teen/preteen/tween on the planet, and by every adult who loved Madeleine L'Engle as a child.  A Wrinkle in Time features in the plot of the story itself, and this book carries the L'Engle mantle well.  (We miss you, Madeleine, rest in peace... oh geez, now I'm crying)  Suffice to say, it's a subtle time travel novel with such a good soul... easy and memorable read. 

The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
Classics, Mystery, Suspense, Romance
Read! 

This Victorian author is best known for his novel The Moonstone -- usually considered one of the first English-language detective novels -- and The Woman in White is written in a similarly creepy vein.  I bought this book in Spain years ago as a study abroad student, and enjoyed it then with a very uncritical eye.  Reading it again now, I was struck by the male/female stereotypes, entirely typical of the time, that are scattered throughout the book.  The author chose to narrate the book through different characters' eyes, one of them a strong woman character, and her strength is constantly described as "manly"... she is "steady as a man," "with a man's fortitude" etc.  She even decries that she is only "a weak woman" several times (and needless to say, the hero never considers her a possible love interest, falling in love with her wispy, fainting, more appropriately "delicate" sister instead).  However, having a strong woman character in the novel, and giving her voice as a narrator, were both undoubtedly progressive acts for a male author at the time.  This would be an awesome book to analyze for a college lit class, haha!  That aside, it is still a gripping and intricate suspense novel.  At the end, I swear you'll be like, "Sheesh, they should have just killed her for real..."  Come back and tell me if I'm wrong!

Magnificent Obsession by Lloyd Douglas
Romance, Bad-Boy-Makes-Good
Read (if you don't mind a bit of preachy)
This 1929 novel follows a rich, self-centered young man who tries to follow in the footsteps of the brilliant brain surgeon whose death he inadvertently caused... and then finds himself in a sticky situation when he falls in love with the man's widow.  An interesting philosophical system of secret acts of kindness ensuring a successful, happy life for the doer is expounded throughout... a sort of Christian-tinged karma.  It is an intriguing novel and a sweet love story.

Crazy Little Things by Tracy Brogan.  
Romance, Beach Fiction
Read (if you enjoy a fun beachy romance)

This is a lighthearted story about a divorcee with children (and a super quirky aunt) rediscovering love  -- witty, lively writing, with a beach background that makes for perfect on-location vacation read.. or if you didn't make it to the beach this year, and want to experience it second-hand, and sans sunscreen.  Entertaining and easy-breezy read.

Clutterfree with Kids by Joshua Becker.  

Minimalism, Simplicity Living, Parenting
Read (if you have kids and/or interest in a simple / minimalist lifestyle)

Now, full disclosure, I do not have kids.  But my bestie, who shares my fascination with achieving a simple / minimalist lifestyle and who DOES have a kid, lent me this book.  Future in mind (my mom is going to be so excited when she reads this, and will probably try to hold me to this one sentence as a solemn vow), I enjoyed this exploration of how to balance children and modern life with simplicity and priority-based living.  This guy swears it is possible to live minimally, even with a houseful of bambinos, and he sure makes it seem possible!  Can't vouch for it myself personally yet, but you should definitely check this book out for lots of inspiration and good advice.

Fluency by Jennifer Foehner Wells. 
Sci-Fi, Adventure, Romance
Read! (unless you hate sci-fi)
Fluency is a surprisingly smart sci-fi novel centering around a linguist who has been hired by NASA to travel into space with a group of astronauts.  Their destination, an alien spacecraft that was seemingly abandoned in an astroid belt way back in the 1940s.  As a linguist, she has been brought along to learn from the artifacts that remain on the ship, Rosetta Stone style.  But is the alien ship truly abandoned, or does something lurk there, awaiting their arrival?  It got a little convoluted towards the end (the dream sequences started to be a little much for me), but I'm still looking forward to the sequel.

The Man with Two Left Feet And Other Stories by PG Wodehouse. 
Humor, Classics, British Fiction, Short Story Collection
Read
This isn't the best example of prolific British humorist PG Wodehouse's work (he is most famous as author of the Jeeves books -- if you want a mind-bender, check out the old BBC Jeeves shows staring "Dr Gregory House" as flutter-brained Bertie!), but it is pretty good nonetheless.  This is an enjoyable collection of funny short stories, finding humor in unlikely happenstance and elaborate turn of phrase.  Added plus, it's a free download for kindle.  ;)

This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper.  
Contemporary Fiction, Dark Humor, Family Drama
Read (if you don't mind crass)

This darkly humorous novel (now a movie, starring Tina Fey, Jason Bateman, and lots of other seriously funny people) dishes out the crass in generous amounts... but alternates with profound moments and really moving one-liners.  Basically, the plot is that a large, non-observant Jewish family all come home to sit shiva for their deceased father, and various and sundry familial chaos ensues.  Aside from the half-assed "drive off into the sunset" ending (pretty sure the author just didn't know how to wrap things up without being cheesy), it's worth reading.

Cupcakes, Trinkets, and Other Deadly Magic by Meghan Ciana Doidge. 
Fantasy, Mystery
Read (if you like witchy/warewolvie/vampirey type books) 
This is a fun and playful take on a magicky contemporary universe, along the lines of Twilight or Vampire Diaries or-- well, take your pick, it's a popular genre right now.  I say "fun and playful" but then, it is a murder mystery, so there's that.  The upbeat half-witch narrator, as well as plenty of scenes in yoga class and the cupcake bakery, help to keep things light.  You'll totally see the ending coming, but it is still an entertaining airplane read... and currently free for kindle!

A Fairly Honourable Defeat (Penguin Twentieth Century Classics), by Iris Murdoch. 
British Fiction
Read (if you like philosophy and can handle depressing -- otherwise Don't Read.)
The title, speaking of defeats that aren't quite honorable, should have been a clue, but it had been a long time since I read this book and I had completely forgotten how meanderingly depressing it is.(this one was carted from move to move as well, shhh!)  Set in the 1960s with a large cast of characters, this story of complicated lives and lies intersecting in London forever changes everyone involved...  And you definitely don't see this ending coming!  Some of the characters will drive you crazy, and I'd be surprised if anybody made it through the book without growing thoroughly attached to Simon and Axel...  there are also some moving passages about life and love, and plenty of philosophical material to chew on throughout, if you're up to it. 

Lady of Devices: A steampunk adventure novel by Shelley Adina. 
Fantasy, Steampunk, Adventure
Read (if you have time on your hands)

This is an enjoyable novel about a free-thinking young society lady who loses her fortune and becomes the underworld / blackmarket queen of London, thanks to her penchant for building steam-devices and concocting chemical potions.  The story ends too soon and doesn't really feel "finished," (typical of self-published serial novels, where they're angling for you to buy the rest of the series) but hey, it was still a lot of fun and it is free for kindle!  I might even buy the second one, at some point.

Simple Living - 30 days to less stuff and more life by Lorilee Lippincott. 
Self-Help, Simplicity Living, Minimalism
Read
Good starting place for someone new to the topic of simple living / minimalism.  Different tasks / focus for each of 30 days... organizing tips, etc.

Stress proof your life (52 Brilliant Ideas) by Elisabeth Wilson. 
Self-Help, Simplicity Living
Read
Tips and inspiration for living simply and breaking free of the stress cycle -- some are good, some are meh.  Definitely worth a skim, if you're in a stressful place in your life right now.

Maids of Misfortune: A Victorian San Francisco Mystery by M. Louise Lodge. 
Mystery, Historical Fiction
Don't Read (unless you like Victorian era mysteries... and are tolerant about the quality of your reading material)
This somewhat meandering mystery story features Annie, a strong-willed boarding house owner, who doubles as a clairvoyant to get away with dispensing business advice to MEN in the Victorian era (oh the audacity...).  When one of her clients is murdered, Annie goes under cover as a servant in his family's household, determined to discover who was responsible for the foul deed.  Some very contrived plot twists, and the author drags other parts out much longer than necessary, but I found the characters colorful and engaging, so I kept reading.  You'll see this ending coming too, though maybe not quite so... dramatically.  Rolling the bad guy up in a carpet is one way to bring him to justice!  *rolls eyes*  In other good news, it was (and is) free for kindle!

How To Declutter And Simplify Your Life by Kathy Stanton. 
Self-Help, Simplicity Living
Nah, skip this one.
Reading books about minimalist living has become kind of like consuming mental comfort food for me... I find them really pleasant and soothing when I have insomnia, even when they aren't well written or very original.  I'm much less critical when it is very late at night, haha.  Why yes, tell me again the six reasons why I should organize... and then maybe some ideas I've heard before about making my home beautiful and clutter free...

A Slip In Timeby Kathleen Kirkwood.  
Romance, Time-Travel
Don't Read (unless you really like romance or/or time travel and are tolerant about the quality of your reading material)

This is technically what I would call a bodice-ripper (you know, those romance novels they sell at Kroger...) but has the added benefit of being a time-travel novel.  It's mildly entertaining (but also predictable and often annoying) story about a girl in the 1800s finding a "slip in time" that transports her to the 1400s and introduces her to a (sexy) Scottish laird.  And of course, they must overcome time and great difficulties to be together, yada yada.  Not terrible, for what it is... at least there was an actual story line!

His Dark Kiss by Eve Silver. 
Romance, (Attempted) Gothic Suspense 
DON'T READ.
I am embarrassed to even admit I read (some) of this one and I just want to say right now that when I downloaded it, it was free, and that's about all anyone should pay for this... TOTAL bodice-ripper.  Described as a gothic suspense story, with shades of Jane Eyre, it was just... exasperating.  I started skipping chunks because reading it in its entirety was so insupportable (said in my best Elizabeth Bennet voice), but I still wanted to find out what was inside the creepy tower...  My critiques include... jumbled plot, totally manipulated characters to have a surprise bad guy, an annoying heroine, and anachronistic dialogue... the heroine kept saying she wanted to make a difference in her student's life... how 21st century sounding is that?  I didn't really like any of it -- even what was inside tower was more unnecessarily gross than creepy.  Oh well. 

In summary.... you should definitely read When You Reach Me and The Woman in White!  A bunch there in the middle you might love or hate depending on the genres you enjoy, and if you pay money for His Dark Kiss I will not be friends with you any more.  Sorry, but it was really, really bad.

Going forward these What to Read / What Not to Read posts will be shorter, I swear!  What do you think, are there any you might give a try?  Come back and tell me your thoughts if you do!  :)

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