The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

This is the thread where you can submit reviews for the Best Review contest. The thread is open for submissions and will close at Midnight EST on August 15, 2020. Voting will start the next day and run until the end of the GR day on August 31. The person whose review gets the most votes will have the opportunity to design a 20 point task for the Fall Challenge.

To be eligible for this task opportunity you must have achieved at least 100 points on the Summer 2020 Challenge Readerboard by midnight Eastern Time on August 14, 2020. Only one task per person per challenge.

Just a reminder that each person can only submit one review - but you can make edits to your review up until the end. The review does not have to be any particular length and doesn't have to be a positive one (i.e. you can choose to review a book you didn't like).
Please include your Readerboard Name.

PLEASE DO NOT comment on people's reviews in this thread - this is for submissions only - you will be able to comment when voting begins.

SPOILER ALERT!- These reviews may include spoilers

LAUREN JODI

The Killer Across the Table: Unlocking the Secrets of Serial Killers and Predators with the FBI's Original Mindhunter by John E. Douglas

5 Stars

This is an exceptionally well-written, in-depth and insightful analysis of the why? section of the serial killer equation: why? + how? = who?.

Retired FBI criminal profiler, John E. Douglas, one of the foremost experts on serial killers, provides a fascinating look into the minds and behaviors of 4 very different killers. While the book focuses on the investigations and interrogations of these particular monsters (Douglas's term), there is also a wealth of detail and analysis given to other serial and mass murderers that fans of the Netflix original series, Mindhunters, will recognize: Ed Kemper, David Berkowitz, Richard Speck, Charles Manson, and many others.

The often horrendous details of the murders are presented in a direct and straightforward manner without any unnecessary, gruesome, or sensationalized descriptions. The cases speak for themselves and the authors have untold respect for the victims and their families.

In sum, this is an absolutely brilliant read and I will definitely be reading some of Douglas's previous works.

Joanna T

Never a City So Real: A Walk in Chicago by Alex Kotlowitz

Like Studs Terkel's Working: People Talk about What They Do All Day and How They Feel about What They Do, this book is a collection of portraits of semi-random individuals. While here the author tells their stories rather than having the people speak directly, the book appeals for the same reason: a peek into diverse and interesting lives.

In one of the chapters, the author tells the story of a series of photographs that were taken to document Chicago and the photographers quickly realized that showing people would be more interesting than showing buildings. This book is the written equivalent of these photographs--these are the people of different neighborhoods.

I heard about this book when I watched the four-part documentary series that is based on this same work and shares the title (City So Real). I highly recommend the documentary if you have the opportunity to see it--it also focuses on people and walks its way through various neighborhoods and political races in Chicago.

Highly recommended.

To the Bright Edge Of the World – Eowyn Ivey
Audiobook narrated by John Glouchevitch, Christine Lakin, & Kiff VandenHeuve.
4.5****

The novel has two stories of exploration and adventure. In 1885, Col Allen Forrester leads an expedition to explore the Wolverine River in Alaska, a trek that has been deemed impossible. His wife, Sophie, remains at Vancouver Barracks, Washington, where she explores the wonders of nature, birds in particular, through her growing expertise in photography.

This is a marvelous adventure story, and an engaging look at personal growth. Both these lead characters experience heartache and difficulties and yet both persevere in reaching their goals despite obstacles, naysayers, and setbacks.

I loved the use of diary entries and letters to tell this bifurcated story. Allen is a strong leader, compassionate but demanding, taking care of his men as best as circumstances and supplies allow, giving clear orders, delegating authority, taking his share of the burden, championing the cause, and always, holding dear to his heart his beloved wife.

Sophie is equally marvelous and tenacious as she pursues an unusual outlet for her intelligence, creativity and curiosity. If the doctor will not lend her a book to further her understanding and knowledge, she’ll steal borrow it! Rather than ask politely, or even forcefully, for help in creating a dark room, she sets out to do it herself.

The book is full of Native Alaskan people’s culture, traditions, and stories. There are several very strong Native characters. I love magical realism and Ivey seamlessly weaves these elements into her story. I particularly like the woman, Nat’aaggi, and her trusty dog, Boyo. She’s cautious, self-reliant, determined, loyal to the group and yet fiercely independent. I loved the scene where Forrester stood up (view spoiler)[against native tradition and insisted that she ride a horse alongside his men as a member of his party rather than walk behind as other native women were doing (hide spoiler)]. Her growing relationship with the men was beautifully played out, as each learned to trust and rely upon the other, and their mutual respect blossomed.

The audiobook is wonderfully narrated by three talented voice artists: John Glouchevitch, Christine Lakin and Kiff VandenHeuve. Ms Lakin obviously narrates all of Sophie's letters and diary entries. I’m not certain which man narrates which of the other sections, but all do a marvelous job.

I was happy that I also had a text version of the book handy, for it contains maps, drawings and photographs that supplement Ivey’s wonderful prose.

The Book of Lost Friends, by Lisa Wingate

Set in Louisiana, on parallel timelines, one around 1875, after the secession war and another one close to present, in 1987, the book tells a story of family bonds, freedom and outgrowing one’s own condition.

“The lost friends” was a section in a newspaper distributed through the Methodist church, where people would post adds enquiring for their lost relatives. Lost could have meant sold as slaves, runaways, dead or simply disappeared, situation that used to occur frequently after the emancipation.

The two main characters, Hanni and Benny, are two strong women of different upbringing, each of them confronted with harshness, judgement and oppression by others, each of them finding their way and discovering the courage to take those risks that change their lives and their community for the better.

Vivid action, realistic characters, insights into the life of a teacher in a troubled community as well as treachery, greed and abuse within a family of former plantation owners, the book is a challenge to the reader to search for the truth and take in its disruptive value, while connecting with past generations and going down one’s roots, through history.

The ending is hopeful and not simple. Multiple characters entangle their personal stories into what promises to become a more authentic future, while secrets still unfold.

A special touch is given by sections throughout the book from the newspaper column where lost relatives were searched.

Kelly L

Review of I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness - posted on July 13, 2020

Today felt like one of those perfect moments where you happen to read a book at the exact time you're most prepared and open to receive it. I picked this up because I saw it being shared widely on Instagram, and had no background on it. I was pleased to receive Austin Channing Brown's powerful and generous account of her experience as a Black woman in America. Her perspective specifically as a Christian who works in ministry and religious organizations sets this memoir apart from many of the other memoirs and essay collections I've been reading by BIPOC, and it was eye-opening for me, as someone who has spent my whole life in religious spaces. I want to learn more about Black liberation theology and the church she describes so beautifully, which is such a departure from my experience of the Catholic church.

Reading this alongside Ijeoma Oluo's So You Want to Talk About Race highlighted a few specific blind spots and biases I need to unpack and examine, particularly around how Blackness defines the classroom experience for children, and the intersection of race and religious identity. I am grateful for this book and know I will be thinking of it for some time to come.

I rate this 5 stars / A+. This is a great complementary read to R. Eric Thomas's collection of personal essays, Here for It: Or, How to Save Your Soul in America; Essays, which I finished recently, as well as So You Want to Talk About Race.