This is a historical romance, a novel based on true historical figures, read for the Read Harder 2019 task of An Historical Romance by an AOC. I have This is a historical romance, a novel based on true historical figures, read for the Read Harder 2019 task of An Historical Romance by an AOC. I have mixed feelings about the book. It is beautifully written and the vivid recreation of the Mughal era is fascinating. But the whole book is about zenana politics, intrigue and machinations and I just did not enjoy that. It is very odd to think of Mehrunissa as an 8 year old girl (I have an 8 year old daughter!!) catching a glimpse of Prince Salim and deciding that she would marry him some day. Prince Salim is a spoiled young man with a drinking problem- how attractive could that be? Or was is all about being a future empress? ...more
Task #20: A book written in prison. The introduction was so touching- a novelist is asked to volunteer in a women's prison, has trouble saying no, andTask #20: A book written in prison. The introduction was so touching- a novelist is asked to volunteer in a women's prison, has trouble saying no, and goes on to lead a writing program that culminates in this book. About a dozen inmates write short memoirs of their early years. This book was hard to read and yet so engaging and hopeful. These women who all ended up in prison are all very different but with common threads running through their narrative- most of them have faced domestic violence and sexual abuse. Many deal with mental illness and addiction. The therapeutic benefits of writing come through in this book. ...more
Read for Task 13: A book by or about someone that identifies as neurodiverse. Patrick Fort has Asperger's Syndrome and is a teenage student of anatomyRead for Task 13: A book by or about someone that identifies as neurodiverse. Patrick Fort has Asperger's Syndrome and is a teenage student of anatomy. This was a great read. ...more
Read for Task #5. A book by a journalist or about journalism. Bruder is a young journalist who chronicles the subculture of older American who find thRead for Task #5. A book by a journalist or about journalism. Bruder is a young journalist who chronicles the subculture of older American who find themselves "houseless", not homeless but living out of vans, RVs and campers, traveling from place to place looking for low-wage work to sustain their lives. ...more
Read for Task #10: A translated book written and/or translated by a woman. This book was written by a woman and translated from Japanese by a woman. TRead for Task #10: A translated book written and/or translated by a woman. This book was written by a woman and translated from Japanese by a woman. This quirky novella was a really fun read. I loved hearing about the hum of daily routine in a convenience store. The novel centers around a woman who does not fit into societal norms and the pressures she has to find a partner and to show ambition in her job....more
Task #23: A self-published book in Read Harder 2019. From Wikipedia: "Weir decided to put the book online in serial format one chapter at a time for fTask #23: A self-published book in Read Harder 2019. From Wikipedia: "Weir decided to put the book online in serial format one chapter at a time for free at his website." Then he self-published it as a 99 cent Kindle download. After it became a success, he sold the print rights to a publisher.
This is a smart, sciency, engrossing survival saga. Realistic sci-fi....more
Read for Task #12. A book in which an animal or inanimate object is a point-of-view character. This is a wholesome tale of a heroic and devoted motherRead for Task #12. A book in which an animal or inanimate object is a point-of-view character. This is a wholesome tale of a heroic and devoted mother (the central character, Mrs. Frisby, a mouse), woven with elements of fantasy and sci-fi. Lots of interesting themes in this book. ...more
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